Fungus · GBIF taxon 5243429
The Prince
Agaricus augustusAlso 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
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
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
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyAgaricaceae
- SpeciesAgaricus augustus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- 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.
Toxic Look-alike Velella / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) anonymous, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) anonymous, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.