Blushing wood mushroom or Agaricus haemorrhoidarius

Cap 5-12 cm across, hemispherical to egg-shaped when young, becoming convex-flat with age. Color brown to dark brown, with distinct radially arranged dark brown or blackish-brown scales. The center is solid-colored; toward the edge the scales thin out. The surface is dry, not slimy.

The cap of Agaricus haemorrhoidarius reaches 5 to 10 centimeters across. When young it is hemispherical, opening out with age to convex and flat. The surface is covered with numerous flattened, fibrous scales of dark brown, reddish-brown color on a paler background, radiating from a darker center. The scaly, reddish-brown cap is a characteristic feature of the species.

Gilled hymenophore: gills free, crowded. When young they are pinkish-white, and with age they become dark brown to chocolate-blackish. Spore print dark brown.

The hymenophore is gilled. The gills are free, not attached to the stem, and very crowded. Their color changes with age: in young mushrooms they are pale pink or grayish-pink, later darkening to chocolate brown and almost black. The spore print is dark brown. The pinkish young gills set Agaricus apart from the white-gilled poisonous amanitas.

Stem 6-12 cm tall, 1-2 cm thick, cylindrical, slightly thickened at the base. Color white to cream, with fine brownish fibers or scales below the ring. A white membranous ring in the upper part, distinct in young specimens.

The stem is cylindrical, white, 5 to 10 centimeters tall, with a slightly thickened base. In the upper part there is a prominent hanging ring — a trace of the veil. When cut, the stem flesh, like the cap, quickly turns red. There is no volva at the base — an important difference from the poisonous amanitas.

Flesh firm, white; when cut it quickly and distinctly turns wine-red, especially in the lower stem. This is the classic protective feature against Amanita. Pleasant mushroomy smell with an almond-anise note.

The flesh is white and, when cut, turns red quickly and vividly, taking on a blood-red tint, especially at the base of the stem — hence the name. The taste is mild and pleasant, with no bitterness and a light mushroomy note. The vivid reddening (not yellowing) is a useful feature that distinguishes this species from the poisonous yellow stainer.

Pleasant and mushroomy, with an almond-anise note. It does not smell of ink or medicine (that would point to the yellow stainer).

The smell is pleasant, mushroomy, with no sharp notes. But if the mushroom smells of ink or carbolic, and the flesh turns yellow (not red) when cut, it is the poisonous yellow stainer, and you must not pick it.