fungi · GBIF taxon 5243460
California Agaric
Agaricus subrufescensAlso known as Almond Mushroom, Mushroom of God, Royal Sun Agaric, Himematsutake
California agarics feature a distinctive cap covered in tiny, silky brown fibers and a robust stem with a prominent, skirt-like ring. When bruised or crushed, these mushrooms release a strong, sweet fragrance reminiscent of almonds or marzipan due to the presence of benzaldehyde. They typically grow in rich, organic soils, leaf litter, and compost piles across warm temperate regions.
Almond-ScentedDecomposerForest-Floor
1 / 7- diet
- Saprophyte (decomposes decaying organic matter)
- family
- Agaricaceae
- threats
- Habitat loss, soil contamination, and extreme drought
- life Span
- Mycelium lives for decades; individual mushrooms last 1 to 2 weeks
NE
Many edible mushrooms have toxic look-alikes; never eat wild fungi based on app identification alone.
- Check the scent: Gently crush a small piece of the cap or stem base to detect the characteristic almond aroma.
- Observe the bruising: Watch for a slow, golden-yellow color change when the flesh is cut or bruised.
- Examine the ring: Look for the thick, double-layered ring on the upper stem that resembles a delicate skirt.