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Edibility
Choice
Lookalike Danger
3 / 5
Habitat
🌱 Pastures, meadows
Season
Aug – Oct
"The wild portobello. Pink gills turn chocolate-brown with age. Learn it — avoids the amanita trap."
Mushroom ID is a rule-out game. Every entry below describes something that looks similar — learn the differences before eating.

Young death caps are easily mistaken for button-stage meadow mushrooms. Meadow mushrooms have PINK → CHOCOLATE-BROWN gills and NO VOLVA at the base. Death caps have WHITE gills and a prominent sack-like volva. Excavate the whole base.

Destroying angels are pure white TOP TO BOTTOM with white gills and a WHITE VOLVA. Meadow mushrooms have PINK-TO-BROWN gills and NO VOLVA. If in doubt about a young all-white agaric, leave it — most deadly amanita poisonings are this mistake.
This species is found with or partners with the following hosts. Ectomycorrhizal hosts (green border) form a root-level partnership; ericoid / arbutoid shrubs (purple border) share the same mycorrhizal networks.

Old pasture and unimproved meadow — waxcap indicator habitat, meadow mushroom, fairy ring champignon, giant puffball.
The wild cousin of the supermarket white button. Pink gills turning chocolate brown, white smooth cap, no ring (or minimal ring). Classic pasture mushroom — often in the same spots as horse mushroom and parasol.
Pastures, lawns, and manured fields across temperate North America and Europe. Summer through fall after rain.
Min Soil Temp
58°F
Moisture Need
rain 0.5in 7d
Drought Tolerance
moderate
Elevation Range
0–8,000 ft
DEADLY. Amanitas have WHITE gills (never pink), a sack at the stem base, and a persistent ring. Many deaths from this confusion.
TOXIC. Stains bright yellow at base when cut and smells of ink/phenol.
Pastures, meadows
Photograph it and log your observation on iNaturalist. The community can help confirm your ID — always get confirmation before eating.