Fungus
Bearded Fieldcap
Agrocybe molestaAlso known as Cracked Fieldcap, Hard Fieldcap
Bearded fieldcaps are robust grassland fungi characterized by pale, cream-colored caps that frequently crack into mosaic patterns during dry weather. The margin of young caps typically carries ragged remnants of the partial veil, creating the frayed fringe that inspires the common name. Operating as decomposers in lawns, pastures, and disturbed soils, these mushrooms break down dead grasses and enrich soil nutrients across temperate regions.
FungusGrasslandSaprotrophic
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyDecaying Organic Matter, Dead Grass Litter, Soil Humus
Predators
- Slugs
- Fungus Gnat Larvae
ThreatsExcessive herbicide application, intensive lawn mowing
HabitatsLawns, meadows, pastures, roadside verges
Life spanEphemeral fruiting body (4–8 days); perennial underground mycelium
Classification
- OrderAgaricales
- FamilyStrophariaceae
- GenusAgrocybe
- SpeciesAgrocybe molesta
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
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- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Many edible mushrooms have toxic look-alikes; never eat wild fungi based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
- Veil check: Look for delicate, ragged veil remnants hanging from the rim of younger caps.
- Weather observation: Check sunny pastures after rain, noting mosaic surface cracks as the caps dry.
- Spore print: Place a mature cap gills-down on paper to reveal the cigar-brown spore deposit.
Habitat Neighbor (c) anonymous, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative Alan Rockefeller / CC BY 4.0 · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Ross Krisztina, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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