Pavement Mushroom

Pavement Mushroom is a common and widespread, gilled mushroom. It is common in Europe and North America, and there are reports of it in Asia and Australia. It occurs throughout the United States and southern Canada. It is found from spring through fall, alone, scattered, or in groups but not clustered (gregarious). It grows on the ground in disturbed sites in hard-packed soil. It is often seen in lawns, parks, playgrounds, and ditches, and along roadsides, sidewalks, curbs, and trails. It can sometimes be seen pushing up through cracks in concrete. This is the feature that gives the mushroom its common name. It sometimes fruits entirely underground.

When it first appears, the cap is convex, smooth, and white or whitish. The surface is dry, without hairs or scales (bald), and often dirty. The margin is rolled inward, often far enough to conceal the ends of the gills. As it ages, the cap spreads out, becoming broadly convex. Mature caps are 1½″ to 6″ (4 to 15 cm) in diameter and broadly convex or flat, often with a broad, low depression in the center. The margins are not lined. The surface often develops shallow cracks. It does not turn yellow when bruised, but it often becomes yellowish or tan in old age.

The gills are closely spaced and are free, not attached to the stalk. They are pinkish at first, becoming grayish pink, then reddish brown, then dark brown, and finally blackish brown as the spores mature. Between the main gills there are frequent short gills that do not reach near the stalk.

The stalk is solid, very firm, white or whitish, ¾″ to 4″ (2 to 10 cm) long, and ⅜″ to 13⁄16″ (1 to 3 cm) thick. It may be equal in thickness from top to bottom, but it is sometimes thicker below, and it is always narrowed or pointed at the very bottom. The surface is bald but often slightly roughened. There is a white, “double-flanged” ring near the middle of the stem. It is composed of the remnants of the partial veil, the upper part of the ring that covers the gills when young, and the universal veil, the lower part that covers most or all of the mushroom during early development. The upper edge of the partial veil remnant often flares outward. The universal veil remnant tightly sheathes the stem from the base.

The flesh is white, thick, and very firm. It does not change color when bruised or sliced. It is edible and often sought after. However, when growing in polluted areas, it accumulates heavy metals and should be avoided.

The spore print is dark brown.

Disturbed sites including lawns, parks, playgrounds, and ditches, and along roadsides, sidewalks, curbs, and trails

Spring through fall

Sources

4, 7, 24, 26, 29, 30, 77.

Agaricus bitorquis
Mushroom Cult

Agaricus bitorquis, Huge mushroom. The Pavement Mushroom, edible mushrooms, Wild Food
Wild Food in the UK Ltd

Sidewalk Mushrooms: Agaricus bitorquis
EdibleWildFood.com

Finding Agaricus bitorquis aka Pavement Mushrooms
Adam Berkelmans

Paul
5/16/2024

Location: St. Cloud, MN