praecox

Spring Fieldcap

Agrocybe praecox is a common wood-rotting fungus that typically appears in spring and early summer. It features a convex cap that flattens with age, ranging from 3 to 10 cm in diameter. The cap color is variable, often yellowish-brown to pale tan, fading as it dries (hygrophanous). The surface is smooth, sometimes cracking in dry weather. The gills are initially pale greyish-white, turning dark brown as the spores mature. The stem is whitish to pale brown, smooth, and typically bears a fragile, membranous ring that may disappear in older specimens. It often grows in clusters or troops on woodchips, mulch, and garden compost.