← Species guidePoisonous
Yellow Stainer
Agaricus xanthodermus · Agaricaceae
A field-mushroom lookalike that turns bright chrome yellow when cut and makes most people ill.
Poisonous. Causes severe cramps, sweating and vomiting in most people. Cut the base of every Agaricus you pick: instant chrome yellow plus an inky smell means discard the lot.
Read the full foraging safety guidance.
Season
June to November
Where it grows
- Grassland
- Parks
- Gardens
- Hedgerows
Identification
- Cap
- 5-15cm, white, often flat-topped when young, bruising yellow at the edge when rubbed.
- Gills / pores
- Free, pale greyish-pink then brown.
- Stem
- White, with a large ring, and instantly bright CHROME YELLOW at the very base when cut.
- Flesh
- White, yellowing quickly at the stem base.
- Spore print
- Dark brown.
- Smell & taste
- Of ink, carbolic or old iodine, strongest when cooking.
Lookalikes
Field, Horse and Wood Mushrooms. Horse Mushroom yellows slowly and smells of aniseed.
In the kitchen
Do not eat.