John Miller
Horse mushrooms, or Agaricus arvensis, are edible fungi that grow in fields, pastures, and grassy areas with nutrient-rich soil. They are prized for their crisp texture and mild flavor, as well as their high vitamin D content. However, they can be easily mistaken for toxic lookalikes such as the Yellow Stainer or the Death Cap mushroom. While horse mushrooms are known to accumulate heavy metals, there is no indication that they are psychedelic. In fact, the psychedelic effects are associated with a different species, Psilocybe cubensis, commonly known as magic mushrooms or shrooms.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Psychedelic | No |
| Common name | Horse mushroom |
| Botanical name | Agaricus arvensis |
| Cap size | 7-20 cm |
| Cap colour | White |
| Gills colour | Pale pink to white, then grey and brown, then dull chocolate |
| Stem height | 4-12 cm |
| Stem width | 1-3 cm |
| Spore colour | Brown |
| Smell | Pungent anise or licorice |
| Taste | Sweet, mild almond flavour |
| Availability | Summer to fall, limited availability in spring in warmer climates |
| Habitat | Fields, pastures, grassy areas, permanent pasture land |
| Similarity to poisonous mushrooms | Agaricus xanthodermus (Yellow Stainer), Amanita virosa (Destroying Angel) |
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What You'll Learn
- Horse mushrooms are edible and have a sweet, mild almond flavor
- They are wild mushrooms that grow in fields, pastures, and grassy areas
- Horse mushrooms are declining in availability due to habitat loss
- They are often misidentified as poisonous yellow stainers
- Horse mushrooms are not psychedelic, but magic mushrooms (Psilocybe cubensis) are
Horse mushrooms are edible and have a sweet, mild almond flavor
Horse mushrooms, or Agaricus arvensis, are edible and have a sweet, mild almond flavor. They are found growing alone or in rings in fields, pastures, or grassy areas with nutrient-rich soil. They are commonly found in permanent pastures and roadside verges. Horse mushrooms are wild mushrooms and are favoured for their crisp texture and mild flavour. They are best suited for cooked applications such as sautéing, boiling, roasting, or grilling and can be used as an alternative to portobello mushrooms.
Horse mushrooms are medium to large in size, averaging 10-25 centimetres in diameter. They are rounded when young and flatten out as they mature. The creamy white cap is smooth, firm, thick, and dry, and as the mushroom ages, some light brown scales may appear in the centre. The gills underneath the cap are first light pink and then turn dark brown over time. The stem can grow 4-10 centimetres in height and is thin and hollow in older mushrooms. The caps of young horse mushrooms have a sweetly fragrant aniseed aroma.
Horse mushrooms are available in the summer through to fall, with limited availability in spring in warmer climates. They are becoming less common due to habitat loss. They are also known as the Almond mushroom in Australia and the Snowball mushroom in New Zealand.
It is important to distinguish horse mushrooms from toxic lookalikes such as the Yellow Stainer (Agaricus xanthodermus) and the Destroying Angel (Amanita virosa). The rule of thumb is that if the base of the stipe turns chrome yellow when bruised, it is not safe to eat. The pink or brown gills of the horse mushroom, as opposed to the white gills of the Destroying Angel, are another important distinguishing feature.
Psychedelic mushrooms, such as Psilocybe cubensis, are a different type of mushroom that contains the psychoactive compounds psilocybin and psilocin. These mushrooms are known for triggering psychedelic experiences after ingestion and are sometimes referred to as magic mushrooms or shrooms. They are found growing on cow or horse dung, sugar cane mulch, or rich pasture soil. While the possession and use of these mushrooms are illegal in many places, some jurisdictions have decriminalized them for recreational or therapeutic use.
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They are wild mushrooms that grow in fields, pastures, and grassy areas
Horse mushrooms, or Agaricus arvensis, are wild mushrooms that grow in fields, pastures, and grassy areas. They are commonly found in rings in nutrient-rich soil, often in pastures fertilized with horse manure, which is likely where they got their name. They are also found in hedgerows, wood edges, and roadside verges.
Horse mushrooms are medium to large in size, averaging 10-25 centimeters in diameter. They are rounded when young and flatten out as they mature. The caps are creamy white, smooth, firm, thick, and dry, and some light brown scales may appear in the center as they age. The gills are first light pink, then transform into a dark brown, continuing to darken over time. The stem can grow 4-10 centimeters tall and is thin and hollow in older mushrooms.
Horse mushrooms are edible and favored for their crisp texture and mild flavor. They are best suited for cooking applications such as sautéing, boiling, roasting, or grilling. They are available in the summer and fall, with limited availability in the spring in warmer climates.
Horse mushrooms should not be confused with toxic lookalikes such as the Yellow Stainer (Agaricus xanthodermus) or the Destroying Angel (Amanita virosa). The rule of thumb is to avoid any mushrooms that turn chrome yellow when bruised or exposed to air. It is always best to positively identify a species before consuming it.
Horse mushrooms are not psychedelic. While they may cause stomach upsets if consumed, they do not produce any psychedelic or hallucinogenic effects. Psilocybe cubensis, commonly known as magic mushrooms or shrooms, are an example of a psychedelic mushroom species. They are widely known for their psilocybin content, which can trigger psychedelic experiences after ingestion.
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Horse mushrooms are declining in availability due to habitat loss
Horse mushrooms, or Agaricus arvensis, are wild edible mushrooms that belong to the Agaricaceae family. They are found growing alone or in rings in fields, pastures, or grassy areas with nutrient-rich soil. Horse mushrooms are saprobic, meaning they grow and obtain their nutrients from decayed organic material. They are characterised by their creamy white caps, which are smooth, firm, thick, and dry, and can grow to an average diameter of 10-25 centimetres. Underneath the cap, the gills are first light pink, then transform into a dark brown. The stem can grow to a height of 4-10 centimetres and is thin, becoming hollow with age.
Horse mushrooms are favoured for their crisp texture and mild, sweet almond flavour. They are predominantly used for culinary purposes but are also used in Chinese medicine for lower back and joint pain. Horse mushrooms are available in the summer through fall, with limited availability in the spring in warmer climates.
In addition to habitat loss, the decline in availability of horse mushrooms may be attributed to misidentification and underrating. On the one hand, non-fungi literate individuals may mistakenly consume the poisonous yellow stainer (Agaricus xanthodermus), which closely resembles the horse mushroom. On the other hand, wild mushroom aficionados may overlook horse mushrooms in favour of more exotic-looking woodland mushrooms.
Despite their decline, horse mushrooms are still foraged and cultivated on a small scale in certain areas. Foragers appreciate their large size and identifiable qualities, such as their distinct colour and pungent anise or licorice aroma. However, it is important to accurately identify horse mushrooms before consumption, as they share similarities with toxic look-alikes like the yellow stainer.
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They are often misidentified as poisonous yellow stainers
Horse mushrooms, or Agaricus arvensis, are often misidentified as poisonous yellow stainers. This is because the two species are virtually identical, except that the yellow stainer (Agaricus xanthodermus) turns chrome yellow when its base is bruised or exposed to air. The horse mushroom, on the other hand, may sometimes turn yellow when its cap is bruised or exposed to air, but it does not turn chrome yellow.
Horse mushrooms are medium to large in size, averaging 10-25 centimeters in diameter. They are rounded when young and flatten out as they mature. The caps are creamy white, smooth, firm, thick, and dry, and as the mushroom ages, some light brown scales may appear in the center. Underneath the cap, the gills are first light pink, then transform into a dark brown, continuing to darken over time. The stem can grow 4-10 centimeters in height and is thin and hollow in older mushrooms. Horse mushrooms have a pungent anise or licorice aroma and a sweet, mild almond flavor when cooked.
Yellow stainers, on the other hand, are toxic toadstools that can cause serious stomach upsets if consumed. They are fond of roadside grassy habitats, which is also a common habitat for horse mushrooms. This makes it even more dangerous for foragers to misidentify horse mushrooms as yellow stainers.
To differentiate between the two, one can look at the color of the stem base. If it turns chrome yellow when bruised, it is not a horse mushroom and should not be consumed. Additionally, the gills of a horse mushroom are pink or brown, while those of a yellow stainer are white.
It is important to be cautious when foraging for mushrooms and to properly identify them before consumption. The old mushroom gatherer's maxim, "Never munch on a hunch," emphasizes the importance of being certain about the identification of a mushroom before eating it.
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Horse mushrooms are not psychedelic, but magic mushrooms (Psilocybe cubensis) are
Horse mushrooms, or Agaricus arvensis, are not psychedelic. They are, however, highly prized for their taste and texture. They are commonly found in fields, pastures, and grassy areas with nutrient-rich soil, often in ring formations. Horse mushrooms have a creamy white cap that is smooth, firm, thick, and dry, with light brown scales appearing in the center as they mature. They are wild edible mushrooms, but caution must be exercised during foraging due to the presence of toxic lookalikes, such as the Yellow Stainer and the Death Cap mushroom.
On the other hand, magic mushrooms, or Psilocybe cubensis, are known for their psychedelic properties. They are widely recognized as one of the most common psilocybin-containing mushrooms, with psilocybin and psilocin as their principal active compounds. Psilocybe cubensis is found on cow or horse dung, sugar cane mulch, or rich pasture soil. The species has a wide distribution and is relatively easy to cultivate, making it one of the best-known psilocybin mushrooms.
The psychedelic effects of Psilocybe cubensis vary depending on the dosage ingested orally. A minimum of one gram of dried mushrooms is required for a modest effect, with 0.25 to 1 gram typically producing a mild psychedelic experience. Higher doses, such as 2.5 grams and above, can lead to strong and intense experiences. However, it is important to note that the body's composition, especially weight, plays a role in determining the effects, and for some individuals, even smaller doses can be overwhelming.
The legal status of Psilocybe cubensis varies across the world. For example, in Brazil, the mushrooms themselves are legal, but extractions containing psilocybin and psilocin are illegal. In the United States, growing or possessing these mushrooms is generally illegal, although some states and cities have decriminalized them for individuals above a certain age. In contrast, Horse mushrooms, while not psychedelic, are considered edible and are frequently sought after by foragers due to their taste and availability in the wild during the summer and autumn seasons.
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Frequently asked questions
No, horse mushrooms are not psychedelic. They are edible and greatly prized for their crisp texture and mild flavor. However, they can resemble poisonous mushrooms, so it is important to properly identify them before consuming them.
Horse mushrooms are wild mushrooms that grow in fields, pastures, or grassy areas with nutrient-rich soil. They have a creamy white cap that is smooth, firm, thick, and dry, with light brown scales appearing in the center as they age. The gills underneath the cap are first light pink, then turn dark brown over time. The stem can grow to be 4-12 cm tall and is thin, becoming hollow with age. The mushroom has a distinct pungent anise or licorice aroma when raw and a sweet, mild almond flavor when cooked.
Horse mushrooms can be mistaken for the Yellow Stainer (Agaricus xanthodermus) and the Death Cap (Amanita phalloides). The Yellow Stainer causes serious stomach upsets and can be identified by its chrome-yellow staining when bruised at the base. The Death Cap is a toxic toadstool that can be fatal. To avoid this deadly mushroom, check that the gills of the horse mushroom are pink or brown rather than white.
Psilocybe cubensis, commonly known as magic mushrooms or shrooms, are widely known for their psychedelic effects. They are found on cow or horse dung, sugar cane mulch, or rich pasture soil. The minimum dose for a modest psychedelic effect is one gram of dried Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms ingested orally.
