Agaricus hondensis

Pileus
Cap 7-14 cm broad, convex at first, then plane; surface dry, white shading to a light greyish-brown disk, covered with appressed pale pinkish-brown to lilac brown scales. Odor mild or faintly of phenol. Turning yellow in KOH.

Lamellae
Gills free, close, pale at first then pinkish-brown, finally blackish-brown.

Stipe
Stipe 8-14 cm long, 1.5-2.5 cm thick, bulbous at base, smooth above and below the ring; veil thick, felt-like, yielding a well developed superior ring. Stipe base bulbous, turning pale yellow when bruised; odor faintly of phenol.

Spores
Spores 4.0-6.0 X 3-4.5 µm, elliptical, smooth; spore print blackish-brown.

Habitat
Found from late fall to early spring in mixed hardwood-coniferous forest.

Edibility
Toxic. Causes gastrointestinal upsets.

Comments
Agaricus hondensis is a handsome, robust species that unfortunately is toxic. It is recognized by its large size, flattened pale lilac-brown cap scales, thick felt-like ring and bulbous stipe base. The phenolic odor is often faint but KOH will cause a yellowing reaction. It is sometimes mistaken for A. subrutilescens (Wine-Colored Agaricus) with which it often fruits. The latter, however, has a distinctly darker cap, lacks a bulbous base, and has cottony scales on the stipe below the ring.