Horse Mushroom

The horse mushroom, Agaricus arvensis, is an edible fungus with a whitish, smooth, dry cap seven to twenty centimeters across, gills that darken from pale pink to dull chocolate brown with age, and a distinctive double ring on the stalk with a cogwheel-like pattern. It is often found near stables and in meadows across Britain, West Asia and North America, and gives off a characteristic almond-like smell. Though considered a choice edible, it closely resembles deadly Amanita species and can accumulate heavy metals from the soil, so careful identification matters.