Destroying Angel vs Horse Mushroom
Amanita virosa and Agaricus arvensis are confused for one another often enough to be worth putting next to each other.
Pure white and deadly. Same amatoxins as the Death Cap; a single cap can kill an adult.
Large meadow Agaricus smelling of aniseed. Distinguished from the Yellow Stainer by that pleasant smell.
Side by side
| Amanita virosa | Agaricus arvensis | |
|---|---|---|
| In this game | Poisonous | Edible |
| Habitat | Damp broadleaf and mixed woodland on acid soil, often with birch. | Pasture, meadows, verges and lawns, often near nettles. |
| Season | Summer to autumn. | Summer to autumn. |
| Spore print | White. | Chocolate-brown. |
The recorded spore prints differ: white for Amanita virosa, chocolate-brown for Agaricus arvensis. That is one documented difference, not a test you can pass.
This comparison cannot make a mushroom safe to eat. It sets out the few characteristics this game records, in general terms, for two species that vary by region, age and growing conditions. Real specimens overlap in ways no table and no photograph can separate, and the deadly one here is deadly in a single meal. Ask a qualified local expert, every time.
Read more
Amanita virosa is also confused with Death Cap and Parasol Mushroom.
Agaricus arvensis is also confused with Yellow Stainer, Death Cap, Livid Entoloma and Field Mushroom.
Play today’s puzzle →