Agaricus bernardii Quél. syn. A. campestris subsp. bernardii (Quél.) Konrad & Maubl. (illustrated 35% life size) Cap 1–15cm across, hemispherical, then flattened convex and often depressed; whitish to light brown, bruising reddish on handling; surface soon disrupting into coarse, brownish scales. Stem 50–70×20–40mm, narrowing slightly at the greyish-brown base; whitish; ring narrow, sheathing, whitish. Flesh white, becoming reddish-orange on cutting; taste slightly unpleasant, smell fishy. Gills free; pale grey then flesh-coloured, later dark brown. Spores 5.5–7×5–5.5¼, broadly ovate. Spore print dark brown. Cheilocystidia elongate, cylindrical, clavate, or fusiform, thin-walled. Habitat on sand dunes and meadows near the sea, also on roadsides inland, possibly due to the practice of salting the roads in icy weather; autumn. Uncommon. Edible but poorly flavoured.
