Fauna
Fungus · GBIF taxon 5243429

The Prince

Agaricus augustus

Also known as Prince Agaricus, August Agaricus

The Prince is a striking wild mushroom recognized by its broad cap covered in warm yellowish-brown scales and its powerful aroma of sweet almonds or anise. It features a large, skirt-like ring on the upper stem and crowded gills that transition from pale pinkish-tan to deep chocolate brown as spores mature. Typically fruiting from midsummer through autumn in rich soils near conifers, parklands, and woodland edges, it functions as a vital saprobic decomposer breaking down organic leaf litter.

FungusAromaticDecomposer
The Prince reference1 / 7
Licensed reference(c) Garth Harwood, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Decaying leaf litter
  • Wood debris
  • Soil organic matter
Predators
  • Fungus gnats
  • Slugs
  • Squirrels
ThreatsHabitat loss, soil contamination, and extreme drought
HabitatsConiferous and mixed woodlands, parks, gardens, and rich soil edges
Life spanFruiting bodies last 1–2 weeks; underground mycelium lives indefinitely
Classification
  1. OrderAgaricales
  2. FamilyAgaricaceae
  3. GenusAgaricus
  4. SpeciesAgaricus augustus
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. 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
  • Aroma Check: Gently smell the cap or stem base for a distinct sweet almond or anise scent.
  • Inspect the Stem: Look for a broad, skirt-like ring on the upper stem with soft flakes underneath.
  • Spore Print: Observe the gill color change to deep chocolate brown as the cap flattens.
Related species
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