Field Mushroom vs Green-spored Parasol
Agaricus campestris compared with Chlorophyllum molybdites — how to tell them apart in the field.
This is a dangerous confusion.
At least one of these species is toxic. Never eat a wild mushroom based on a photo comparison alone — verify with local experts.
Field Mushroom
Agaricus campestris
Edible
Green-spored Parasol / The Vomiter
Chlorophyllum molybdites
Toxic
How to Tell Them Apart
Edible. Also grows in lawns. Much smaller (5-10 cm cap), with pink to chocolate-brown gills (never green), and a dark brown spore print. Lacks the scaly cap pattern of Chlorophyllum.
Side-by-Side Identification
| Trait | Field Mushroom | Green-spored Parasol |
|---|---|---|
| Cap | 3–10 cm across. Starts as a smooth white dome, opens to a broad convex shape, sometimes flattening with age. Surface is dry, white to cream, occasionally developing fine brownish scales in the center. Feels silky when young. | 5-30 cm across. Initially egg-shaped, expanding to convex, then flat or slightly upturned with age. White background covered with coarse brown to tan scales arranged concentrically. Center often retains a solid brown patch. Surface is dry. |
| Gills | The key ID feature. Start bright pink in young specimens, darken to chocolate brown, then near-black as spores mature. Closely spaced, free (not attached to the stem). NEVER white — if they're white, you're looking at something else, possibly deadly. | Free (not attached to stem). White when young, becoming greenish to grayish-green as spores mature. This green discoloration of the gills is visible even without a spore print and is the key field mark. |
| Stem | 3–10 cm tall, white, sturdy but not bulky. Has a thin, fragile ring partway up that often disappears with age. No volva (cup) at the base — this is critical. Death Caps have a volva; Field Mushrooms don't. | 8-25 cm tall, 1-2.5 cm thick. White, smooth, often bruising brownish when handled. Has a thick, double-edged ring (annulus) that slides freely up and down the stem. Base is bulbous but lacks a volva. |
| Spore print | Dark chocolate brown — almost black. Drop it on white paper overnight. | Green to grayish-green. This is the single most important identification feature. No other common large lawn mushroom has green spores. Always take a spore print on white paper. |
| Odor | Pleasant, mushroomy. That classic 'fresh mushroom' smell you know from the grocery store. | Pleasant, mushroomy when fresh. Not distinctive enough to use for identification. |
| Habitat | Grasslands, pastures, meadows, lawns, and parks — anywhere with rich soil and short grass. Loves fields grazed by horses and cattle. A saprobe that feeds on decaying organic matter in the soil, not on tree roots. Avoids dense forests. | Saprotrophic. Fruits in lawns, parks, golf courses, athletic fields, pastures, and any well-watered grassy area. Prefers rich, fertilized soil and warm temperatures. Often fruits in fairy rings or large clusters after summer rains. |
| Season | Late summer through autumn. Peak fruiting after warm rain in August–October in the Northern Hemisphere. Can appear as early as June in mild years. | Late spring through early autumn, peaking in July and August. Requires warm soil temperatures above 18C (65F) and consistent moisture. In tropical regions, can fruit year-round. |
Found one of these in the wild? Don't rely on memory — identify it from a photo with Orangutany and check it against both species before you touch it.