Mushroom ID assistance

[Bazzworx]

Hi All,

I was out on the farm earlier and one of the workers said there were a few puffballs in one of the fields. I went to take a look with bacon, egg and puffball on my mind but immediately found it wasn't to be. What I think they are is immature horse mushrooms - Agaricus arvensis. Whats your thoughts? They were found in a grassland field which also has real horses in it.

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[slowworm]

Any staining or colour change when cut or bruised? Any smell?

 

[Bazzworx]

No staining or colour change at all and I've probably got the worst sense of smell ever to tell if they smell (I'll ask the wife later)

 

[Broch]

Apologies; I am fairly happy with what they are but, as I suspect you intend to eat them, I'm not going to advise you. You must make your own identification based on a good reference source.

Our county fungi recorder will not identify fungus for eating based on photographs alone and he is vastly more experienced than I am.

 

[Bazzworx]

I hadn't intended to eat them as I couldn't positively ID them. There were quite a lot in the field but many had been squashed by the horses. I picked these to take home to cross reference with my books and see what people here thought. It more about expanding my knowledge than filling my stomach.

 

[Broch]

OK, then from the photo, the cap is smooth, and the fact you have picked it in a field not a wood (where it could be confused with some Amanita), I believe your identification is correct

 

[slowworm]

I've only eaten horse mushrooms a few times so am cautious with an id but I don't know what else they are likely to be if they don't stain yellow. It'll be interesting to see what your wife thinks they smell of as that'll help with the id. More here: https://www.wildfooduk.com/mushroom-guide/horse-mushroom

 

[demented dale]

Apologies; I am fairly happy with what they are but, as I suspect you intend to eat them, I'm not going to advise you. You must make your own identification based on a good reference source.

Our county fungi recorder will not identify fungus for eating based on photographs alone and he is vastly more experienced than I am.

That is a good approach.

I've only eaten horse mushrooms a few times so am cautious with an id but I don't know what else they are likely to be if they don't stain yellow. It'll be interesting to see what your wife thinks they smell of as that'll help with the id. More here: https://www.wildfooduk.com/mushroom-guide/horse-mushroom