Agaricus bernardii, commonly known as the Salt-loving Agaricus, is a medium to large agaric with a whitish to greyish cap that often becomes scaly with age, pink gills turning dark chocolate-brown, and a sturdy stem with a persistent ring. It typically grows in trooping groups on soil, especially in saline habitats such as coastal grasslands, salt marshes, and areas influenced by road salt.

Cap whitish to buff, often developing brownish scales or warts with age. It begins convex, later flattening, with a thick and firm flesh that slowly stains reddish when cut or bruised. The margin is usually inrolled in younger specimens. Odour ranges from mild to distinctly briny or pungent. Gills free from the stem, crowded, pink when young, becoming reddish-brown and finally dark chocolate brown at maturity. Stem stout, shorter than the cap diameter, solid and firm, whitish to brownish, staining reddish on handling. It bears a thick, white, sheathing ring that flares outward near the middle of the stem. Spore print dark chocolate brown.

Microscopic Features: The spores are broadly ovoid and 5.5-7 x 5-5.5µm in size.

Agaricus bernardii on the www.first-nature.com web site.
Agaricus bernardii on the MushroomExpert.Com Web site.
Agaricus bernardii on the mykoweb.com web site.