Meadow mushroom vs yellow stainer
- Toxic: Yellow Stainer
Scratched or cut, a yellow stainer's cap and stem base turn chrome yellow, and it smells of ink. A meadow mushroom does not yellow and smells pleasant.
Horse mushroom vs yellow stainer: how to tell them apart
Quick answer
Where scratched or cut, the yellow stainer turns bright chrome yellow within seconds, strongest in the flesh at the stem base, and smells of ink or phenol; the horse mushroom yellows slowly and mildly, its stem base does not turn bright yellow when cut, and it smells sweet, of anise or almonds. Old yellow stainers can lose both the staining and the smell, so a faded specimen may show neither.
Toxic lookalike
The yellow stainer is toxic.
Unlike the horse mushroom, the yellow stainer (Agaricus xanthodermus) is toxic. MykoWeb's California Fungi records that it causes gastrointestinal upsets for most people, though some people report no symptoms, and that its phenol odor grows stronger when heated. The Bay Area Mycological Society describes a rapid onset of gastrointestinal symptoms and lists the toxins as unknown.
If someone has eaten a wild mushroom and feels unwell, or may have eaten one of these, call poison control now: 1-800-222-1222 in the US. Do not wait for symptoms.
Side by side
The tell for each
Edible
The tellLarge white cap that slowly bruises yellowish, grayish pink to brown gills, a large ring with a cogwheel pattern beneath, and an anise smell.
Toxic lookalike
The tellWhite Agaricus whose cap edge and stem base turn bright chrome yellow within seconds of being scratched or cut, with an ink or phenol smell.
How they differ
| Feature | Horse Mushroom | Yellow Stainer |
|---|---|---|
| Scratched cap edge | Horse MushroomSlow, mild yellowing. | Yellow StainerBright chrome yellow within seconds, then brownish. |
| Cut stem base | Horse MushroomFlesh stays white or turns faintly yellowish. | Yellow StainerFlesh turns chrome yellow immediately. |
| Smell | Horse MushroomSweet, of anise or almonds. | Yellow StainerInk, phenol or creosote. |
| Ring | Horse MushroomLarge, with a cogwheel pattern on its underside. | Yellow StainerThick and skirt-like. |
| Young gills | Horse MushroomWhitish to grayish, without a bright pink stage. | Yellow StainerWhitish to pink. |
| Range | Horse MushroomGrassy places across North America. | Yellow StainerMainly California and the Pacific coast, with similar yellow-staining species elsewhere. |
FAQ
Common questions
Does the horse mushroom stain yellow?
Slightly. Its cap bruises yellowish slowly and its flesh may turn yellowish when sliced. The yellow stainer turns bright chrome yellow within seconds, especially at the base of the stem.
What does the yellow stainer smell like?
Ink, phenol or creosote. MykoWeb notes the smell is strongest in fresh, young specimens and can fade with age, along with the staining.
Sources
Where these facts come from
- Agaricus fissuratus (horse mushroom)
MushroomExpert.com
- Agaricus xanthodermus
MushroomExpert.com
- Toxic Mushrooms
Bay Area Mycological Society
Keep checking
Read both pages in full
- More on the horse mushroom
- More on the yellow stainer
- Not sure it is either? Narrow it down with the identification key
This page states what field guides record. It is not advice to eat, taste or handle anything, and a photo cannot settle edibility. If someone has eaten a wild mushroom that may be toxic, call poison control (1-800-222-1222 in the US) right away, before symptoms start: the deadliest species act hours later.
More comparisons
Horse mushroom vs meadow mushroom
Horse mushrooms are larger, smell of almond, and have a big ring with a cogwheel underside. Meadow mushrooms have bright pink gills and a thin ring.
Destroying angel vs horse mushroom
- Deadly: Destroying Angel
Horse mushroom gills turn chocolate brown and it smells of almond, with no cup. A destroying angel keeps white gills and has a cup at the base.
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