The Common Fieldcap, also known as Agrocybe pediades, is a species of fungus that can be found on grassland and is potentially edible, but is often confused with poisonous species, including one of the genus Hebeloma. Some field guides just list it as inedible or describe it as not worthwhile.
(m3fu-2025-image) Common Fieldcap
Phylum:
Basidiomycota
Class:
Agaricomycetes
Clade:
none
Order:
Agaricales
Family:
Strophariaceae
Genus:
Agrocybe
Species:
A. pediades
Common Name:
Common Fieldcap
Conservation Status:
NE
Subspecies:
None
Description
The mushroom cap is up to one inch (1–3 cm) wide, round to convex (flattening with age), pale yellow to orange-brown, smooth, sometimes cracked, and tacky with moisture but otherwise dry. The stalks are 3 inches (2–7 cm) tall and 1/4 inch (1–4 mm) wide. A partial veil quickly disappears, leaving traces on the cap′s edge, but no ring on the stem. The cap′s odor and taste are mild or mealy.
The spores are brown, elliptical, and smooth, producing a brown spore print. Some experts divide A. pediades into several species, mainly by habitat and microscopic features, such as spore size. It is recognized by the large, slightly compressed basidiospores which have a large central germ pore, 4-spored basidia, subcapitate cheilocystidia and, rarely, the development of pleurocystidia.
Habitat:
It typically can be found on lawns and other types of grassland,[8] but can also grow on mulch containing horse manure. It appears year-round in North America.
Range:
Agrocybe pediades has a broad global distribution, including Europe, North America, the Caribbean, South America, Asia, and Oceania. It is often found in temperate and Mediterranean areas, particularly in grassy areas, lawns, and meadows.
