Field Mushroom (Agaricus campestris) Agar Plate$29.99
Availability: In stock (can be backordered)
Field Mushroom (Agaricus campestris) Agar Plate
$29.99
Looking for the best Field Mushroom (Agaricus campestris) Agar Plate around? Our Agar Plates are made-to-order, providing you with the absolute cleanest, aggressive mycelium on arrival.
| Species | Agaricus campestris |
| Difficulty ℹ️ | ??? |
| Spore Coloration | Brown |
| Ecology | Saprotrophic |
| Edibility | Choice |
The Latin specific epithet campestris means “of the fields”. Common names given to the fungus include “meadow mushroom”, “pink bottom”,and “field mushroom”.
The Field Mushroom, Agaricus campestris, is the most commonly eaten wild mushroom in Britain and Ireland. Meadows grazed by sheep, cattle or horses sometimes produce vast quantities of these fungi of summer and early autumn
The cap is white, may have fine scales, and is 3 to 12 centimetres (1+1⁄8 to 4+3⁄4 in) in diameter; it is first hemispherical in shape before flattening out with maturity. The gills are initially pink, then red-brown and finally a dark brown, as is the spore print. The stipe is 3 to 10 cm (1+1⁄8 to 3+7⁄8 in) tall, 1–2 cm wide, predominantly white and bears a single thin ring. The taste is mild. The white flesh bruises a dingy reddish brown, as opposed to yellow in the poisonous Agaricus xanthodermus and similar species. The thick-walled, dark brown, elliptical spores measure 5.5–8 μm by 4–5 μm.
Several species may be confused with Agaricus campestris. The most dangerous confusion may be with Amanita virosa, which is morbidly toxic, or with the deadly Amanita hygroscopica or ‘Pink-Gilled Destroying Angel’. A less serious, but more common, confusion is with Agaricus xanthodermus (“the yellow stainer”), which causes gastrointestinal problems in many people. In the US, it may be confused with the poisonous Agaricus californicus or Agaricus hondensis. Agaricus arvensis, the horse mushroom, is another similar mushroom, and an excellent edible. White Clitocybe species that also grow on lawns, and in grassy places may be dangerous to eat.
Agaricus campestris is found in fields and grassy areas after rain from late summer onwards worldwide. It is often found on lawns in suburban areas, appearing in small groups, in fairy rings, or solitary. Owing to the demise of horse-drawn vehicles, and the subsequent decrease in the number of horses on pasture, the old “white outs” of years gone by are becoming rare events. This species is rarely found in woodland.
The mushroom has been reported from Asia, Europe, northern Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and North America
Although edible and choice, this mushroom is not commercially cultivated on account of its fast maturing and short shelf-life. Culinary uses of the meadow mushroom include eating it sauteed or fried, in sauces, or even sliced raw and included in salads. In flavor and texture, this mushroom is similar to the white button mushroom available in grocery stores in most Western countries. Among the similar species mentioned above, there have been cases (in fact the most common cause of fatal fungus poisoning in France) where the deadly toxic destroying angel (Amanita virosa) has been consumed by individuals who mistook it for this species. The edibility of specimens collected from lawns is uncertain because of possible contamination with pesticides or other chemicals.
Some images on this page have been sourced from iNaturalist under CC-By-SA3.0 , taken by magriet b, bjoerns, Axel Ruiz or others.
Frequently Asked Questions
An agar plate is a petri dish with solidified nutrient solution (I make mine with light malt extract, generally). The dish is sealed with parafilm to keep it sterile while the transfer colonizes the plate. The mycelial bodies grow on our agar plates in sterile incubators before being shipped to you!
Keep your agar plates ideally in the fridge, within a ziplock bag. Let them come to room temperature before opening them – it’ll prevent condensation!
Grab your scalpel and get to work! Need a scalpel? Check my gear page!
Slides from agar plates can be propagated onto other mediums very easily. The beauty of agar plates is the ability to be absolutely certain that your sample is healthy and clean!
Some photos on this page have been sourced from iNaturalist or Wikipedia, taken mark-groeneveld, Alan Rockefeller, Matthew Borella, Denis Zabin, kaju, Andrey Loria, Juan Carlos Pérez Magaña or others not yet added to this list. See a photo your recognize that isn’t properly credited? Get a giftcard for letting us know!
Sometimes, contam happens! All of our samples come with a 30 day replacement policy. Please head to our Help Center to get the process started.
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All of my agar plates are made-to-order. This ensures that you have nothing but the freshest, most voracious mycelium when it gets to your doorstep.
Please check for your individual species on this page to see colonization times.
If you’re interested in ordering agar plates and other items like liquid culture, or mushroom spores, you can have your order shipped in two by adding this item!
Please note that once started, Agar Plates are non-refundable or returnable.
For each agar plate in your order, you’ll receive a healthy, colonized agar plate, and an additional piece of parafilm in case you need to reseal it.
Can’t wait to get your hands on your spore syringes or liquid cultures? Head over to our help center to get the most up to date information on your order.