How to tell Blushing wood mushroom from Yellow stainer

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.

Cap 5-15 cm across; in young mushrooms firmly hemispherical to squared-off (a characteristic feature — the "square" young cap), later becoming convex to flat. Color white to cream, sometimes grayish-brown in the center. The most characteristic sign — touching the cap or its margin leaves bright chrome-yellow spots, especially noticeable in young mushrooms. The surface is smooth, slightly sticky in wet weather.

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.

Gilled hymenophore — gills free, crowded. When young — pale pinkish-gray, becoming with age dark brown, chocolate-blackish. Spore print dark brown. The gill color is typical of Agaricus — it doesn't help tell the yellow stainer apart.

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.

Stem 5-12 cm tall, 1-2 cm thick, cylindrical, with a pronounced bulbous base (a difference from other Agaricus species, whose stems are more even). Color white. The most important diagnostic sign: when cut, the flesh at the base of the stem and in the bulb is bright chrome yellow, often almost neon, and the reaction is fast (10-30 seconds). On the upper part — a white membranous ring, distinct in young mushrooms.

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.

Flesh firm, white in the cap and upper stem, bright yellow at the base of the stem even when undamaged. When cut, THE BASE OF THE STEM TURNS BRIGHT CHROME YELLOW — the main diagnostic sign. The cap yellows too, but more weakly. The smell is distinct and unpleasant — ink, phenol, medicinal ointment, creosote.

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

Distinct and unpleasant, with notes of ink, phenol, medicinal ointment, creosote, printer's ink. It comes out when you rub the flesh between your fingers, especially at the base of the stem. This smell is the most reliable sign: no edible Agaricus smells like this.