Agaricus augustus Fries
Epicr. 212. 1838.

Common Name: The Prince

• Pileus

  Cap 6-32 cm broad, convex expanding to plane; surface dry with yellow-brown to brown scales, bruising yellow in age, staining yellow slowly with KOH; Flesh thick, odor sweet, anise or almond-like.

• Lamellae

  Gills close, free, pale at first, then blackish-brown at maturity.

• Stipe

  Stipe 10-37 cm long, up to 6 cm thick, equal to enlarged at base, frequently buried; smooth above ring, scaly below; veil with cottony patches, later becoming membranous, forming a skirt-like annulus.

• Spores

  Spores 7.5-10.5 x 5-6.5 µm, elliptical and smooth. Spore print chocolate-brown.

• Habitat

  Fruiting during the warm months of the year, especially late summer. Most common along the coast after periods of foggy weather. Often found under conifers like redwood, Monterey pine, Monterey cypress, but may also occur in parks and gardens.

• Edibility

  An excellent edible, one of the very best. Unfortunately it is frequently infested with fly larvae.

• Comments

  One our largest and most spectacular Agaricus species. The yellow-brown scaly cap, sweet odor, blackish, free gills make it a distinctive species.

• References

  Kerrigan, Richard W. (1986). The Agaricales (Gilled Fungi) of California. 6. Agaricaceae. Mad River Press: Eureka, CA. 62 p.

• Other Descriptions and Photos
  • Michael Boom: Agaricus augustus (CP)
  • Michael Boom: Agaricus augustus (CP) -- the aroma of The Prince is very popular!
  • Boleslaw Kuznik: Agaricus augustus (CP)
  • Taylor F. Lockwood: Agaricus augustus (CP)
  • Taylor F. Lockwood: Agaricus augustus (CP)
  • Taylor F. Lockwood: Agaricus augustus (CP)
  • Fred Stevens: Agaricus augustus (CP)
  • Fred Stevens: Agaricus augustus (CP) -- cultivated by Don Simoni
  • Michael Wood: Agaricus augustus (CP) -- 18 mushrooms in this fruiting!
  • Michael Wood: Agaricus augustus (CP) -- a basket of the Prince
  • Boleslaw Kuznik -- Hunting for Mushrooms: Agaricus augustus (CP)
  • Tom Volk's Fungus of the Month: Agaricus augustus (D & CP)
  • Il Mondo dei Funghi: Agaricus augustus (D & CP)
  • Svampbok: Agaricus augustus (D & CP)
  • Robert Rich: Agaricus augustus (D & CP)
  • Page perso de JJ.Wuilbaut: Agaricus augustus (CP)
  • Pilze, Pilze, Pilze: Agaricus augustus (CP)
  • Mushroom Observer: Agaricus augustus (CP)
  • Arora (1986): p. 337 (D), p. 338 (P), plate 77 (CP)
  • Arora (1991): p. 106 (CP), p. 107 (D & CP)
  • Breitenbach & Kränzlin (vol. 4): sp. 169 (D, I, & CP)
  • Fischer & Bessette: p. 40 (D), p. 41 (CP)
  • Jordan: p. 221 (D & CP)
  • Kerrigan: p. 19 (D & CP)
  • Lincoff: p. 502 (D), plate 150 (CP)
  • McKenny et al.: p. 143 (D), p. 145 (CP)
  • Miller: sp. 211 (D)
  • Phillips: p. 191 (D & CP)
  • Smith & Weber: sp. 171 (D & CP)
  
  

  (D=Description; I=Illustration; P=Photo; CP=Color Photo)