Sectioned specimen showing intense red staining
PEAK FRUITING MONTHS
SIMILAR SPECIES: Agaricus pattersonae, Agaricus fuscovelatus, Agaricus arorae
CRITICAL ID FEATURES:
NUTRITIONAL STRATEGY: Saprobic. Locally abundant in some tracts of Monterey Cypresses with good duff development, otherwise rare.
EDIBILITY: Very good. Strongly flavored and meaty (some might even say chewy). Darkens dramatically when cooked.
COMMENTS: A. pattersonae is a relatively rare species that is also large, often has bands of brown tissue around the base of the stipe, but doesn't stain red as strongly, and has a more squamulose cap. Agaricus fuscovelatus never stains red at all. A. arorae stains yellow with the application of KOH.