Fool's mushroom Amanita verna
deadly poisonous
It always has pure white gills and sits in a lobed volva.
View on the mapIdentification in 5 steps
The horse mushroom is a large, white meadow Agaricus that smells clearly of aniseed and turns yellowish when pressed. It grows in fairy rings in pastures, never in woods.
SeasonJune to October
Spore printchocolate brown
FamilyAgaricaceae
- Cap. The cap is 8 to 15 cm wide, white to cream, smooth, and stains yellowish when pressed.
- Underside. The gills are free, grey-white when young, then pink-grey to chocolate brown, never pure white when mature.
- Stem, ring and volva. The stem is white, with a double ring whose underside has a cogwheel pattern, and has no volva.
- Smell and taste. It smells clearly of aniseed or bitter almond.
- Flesh and colour change. The flesh is white and yellows only slightly; the stem base does not turn chrome yellow.
Lookalikes
Accumulates cadmium, so eat only in moderation. Never mistake white Agaricus mushrooms for the fool's mushroom or the European destroying angel.
European destroying angel Amanita virosa
deadly poisonous
Pure white gills and a sac-like volva.
View on the mapYellow stainer Agaricus xanthodermus
poisonous
It smells of ink or carbolic acid, and the stem base turns chrome yellow at once when cut.
View on the mapHabitat & Season
Grassy, nutrient-rich soils. From the lowlands up into the hills and mountains.
Host trees
No tree partner; meadows, pastures, parks, gardens, never in woods.
Season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
possible good main season
Mushroom regions with a daily forecast
There are no records per region for this species yet. The country pages lead to all regions with a daily forecast.
Chance near you
How good are the chances of finding this species where you are right now? We calculate it from weather, soil moisture, altitude and forest at your location.
Safety
Never eat a mushroom you have not identified with certainty. For experienced foragers only: heed the restrictions, and if in doubt, do not eat it.
Advice for your country
Ireland
Poison centre:
National Poisons Information Centre (public line)(01) 809 2166
Emergency: 112 · 999
Germany
Poison centre:
Emergency: 112
Mushroom advice: DGfM: find a mushroom expert. Certified mushroom experts of the German Mycological Society (DGfM).
Collecting rules: Mushrooms that are not specially protected may be collected in small quantities for personal use unless a protected area or ban applies. Certain specially protected edible species (e.g. cep, chanterelle, birch bolete) may be collected in small quantities for personal use.
Austria
Poison centre:
Vergiftungsinformationszentrale (VIZ)01 406 43 43
Emergency: 112 · 144
Mushroom advice: Austrian Mycological Society (ÖMG): mushroom advice. Mushroom advice by the Austrian Mycological Society or regional services such as municipal market offices.
Collecting rules: At most 2 kg of mushrooms per person per day unless the forest owner has prohibited collecting; organised collecting events are prohibited. Additional state rules apply (collecting hours, closed seasons), e.g. Carinthia, Tyrol, Vorarlberg, Salzburg.
Conservation and collecting rules
Not specially protected.
No species-specific rule known.
Red List Germany: Least concern
In the kitchen
Fried, for sauces, stuffed. Cook thoroughly.
Possible. Aniseed Agaricus mushrooms accumulate cadmium; eat them only occasionally and in small amounts.
- Never eat wild mushrooms raw, and always cook them for at least 15 minutes.
- Use only young, fresh, maggot-free specimens that you have identified with certainty.
- Carry mushrooms in an airy basket, not in plastic bags, and prepare them the same day.
Frequently asked questions
Horse mushroom: is it edible?
Only with restrictions. Accumulates cadmium, so eat only in moderation. Never mistake white Agaricus mushrooms for the fool's mushroom or the European destroying angel. Cook thoroughly.
Horse mushroom: when and where does it grow?
In central Europe the season runs from June to October. Tree partners and habitat: No tree partner; meadows, pastures, parks, gardens, never in woods. Soil: Grassy, nutrient-rich soils. Elevation: From the lowlands up into the hills and mountains.
Horse mushroom: what are the lookalikes?
The most important distinction is from Fool's mushroom (Amanita verna, deadly poisonous): It always has pure white gills and sits in a lobed volva. Other lookalikes: Yellow stainer, European destroying angel.
Related species
- The prince Agaricus augustus
- Pavement mushroom Agaricus bitorquis
- Field mushroom Agaricus campestris
- Blushing Wood Mushroom Agaricus sylvaticus
- Parasol mushroom Macrolepiota procera
- Lawyers' wig Coprinus comatus
Sources
- Weißer Anis-Champignon (Wikipedia DE)
- GBIF: Agaricus arvensis Schaeff.
- Index Fungorum Record 325880
- Rote-Liste-Zentrum: Großpilze Deutschlands (Dämmrich et al. 2016)
- ÖMG: Pilzschutzbestimmungen in Österreich (Stand 29.01.2021)
- RIS: Forstgesetz 1975 § 174
- DGfM: Giftpilze und Pilzvergiftungen
- DGfM: Giftnotrufe in Deutschland, Europa und der Schweiz
- Gesundheitsportal Österreich: Vergiftung durch Pilze, VIZ 01 406 43 43
Photo credits
- Photo: Salix · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: Salix · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Fool's mushroom: Photo: Walter J. · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- European destroying angel: Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Bernypisa assumed (based on … · CC BY 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons
- Yellow stainer: Photo: Copyright ©2011 Byrain (Mushroom Observer) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
No substitute for having your finds checked in person. No guarantee of accuracy. Updated: 17.10.2026.