Agaricus is a difficult genus. I am not convinced it is A. campestris, not even if it is edible. There are poisonous agaricus as well. Need better photos, ecology information, odour, microscopy details or DNA-sequence to be able to confirm identity.

I think this is Agaricales, and edible.

Dear Ali, I am very thankful for your answer about the Identification of the fungus that I referred to, although there are some differences in the ring that surrounds the stipe of the fruiting body. Thanks again

Agaricus is a difficult genus. I am not convinced it is A. campestris, not even if it is edible. There are poisonous agaricus as well. Need better photos, ecology information, odour, microscopy details or DNA-sequence to be able to confirm identity.

Thanks Dr. Mattias Andersson for valuable comments, I agree with you that this fungus not represent exactly the A. campestris in particular the stipe of the fruiting body

Only DNA could solve this.

Thanks a lot Dr. Øyvind Weholt, certainly the DNA would solve the identification difficulties. I did grow this fungus in culture medium.. for Molecular purpose. But I expected to find an answer depending on asexual stage

Hi Jawad, Its look like Agaricus campestris ,

https://morrie2.wordpress.com/2010/05/13/identifying-a-field-mushroom/

Dear Prof. Jawad .

Good day ..

If you want to know this fungus is edible you must notice the following characters :

1. Basidiocarp is white

2. Basidiospores are colored ( brown , purple or black)

3. Basidiocarp without scale

As I think according to these characters its edible and not poison. So I think it may be Agaricus campestris or A. bisporus . Though you must make sure and confirm.

Best regards..

Thanks to all of you for valuable comments

Some informations about Mushroom:

Mushroom species can vary wildly, from the spotted amanita muscaria to the edible Lentinula edodes, or shiitake, mushroom. However, there are some features common to this diverse species that set them apart from other lifeforms on Earth, such as their caps, their growth, and how they reproduce. On the same note, some mushrooms look similar enough to trick humans into thinking they are safe for consumption, while, really, they contain deadly toxins.

Most mushrooms come from one of two phyla, Basidiomycota or Ascomycota. The main distinction between these is the manner in which their respective spores develop. "Basidios" are more common and include all mushrooms with gills many of which are familiar edible mushrooms, such as the shiitake. "Ascos" on the other hand have spores contained in tiny cup-like pockets called asci. One type of mushroom, Amanita phalloides, is responsible for the majority of mushroom-ingestion-related deaths in humans and is appropriately known as the common death cap. Unfortunately, this plain-looking specimen bears a strong physical resemblance to a number of harmless species. In addition, some types of mushrooms, including numerous species in the genus Psilocybe, can produce hallucinations and other effects on the brain; although none of these effects are believed to be long-term, the possession of these is illegal in the U.S. and other parts of the world.

Dear Prof. Jawad .. Also you can read:

A stalk, referred to as the "stipe", is the stem that supports the cap of a mushroom. Stipes evolved for spore dispersal purposes, as wind currents and animals will pick up more spores from a cap higher off the ground.

Not all mushrooms have stipes. Certain polypores, puffballs, and earthstars come to mind. The majority of gilled mushrooms do have one, commonly found at the center of the cap.

The stalk is an important feature to examine when identifying wild mushrooms. Some things to note:

• Shape and size. Is it long, thing, or fatter on the bottom?
• Color and bruising. If you pierce the stem with a knife or fingernail, does the area change color soon after?
• Whether the inside of the stipe is hollow or not.
• Any remnant of a partial veil (annulus) or universal veil (volva).
• Texture (brittle, soft, covered in hairs or scales).
• Whether the stipe has rhizomorphs (roots extending underground).

Some of these features appear underground. Thus it's important to gently dig the mushroom up rather than just cutting it mid-stalk. Below are some stipe characteristic examples for a few mushrooms:

• Bracket fungus - no stalk
• Morels (Morchella species) - hollow
• Shaggy mane (Coprinus comatus) - hollow, cylindrical, bulbous at base
• Hypholoma capnoides - enlarged at base, covered in hairs
• Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) - stem bruises brown

The Mushroom Pileus

Pileus is the mycological term for a mushroom cap, which is the fleshy fruit body of the organism. The pileus, like the stipe, is made up of interwoven multicellular filaments called hyphae. The filaments on the surface of the pileus may be colored or gelatinized, giving many mushrooms their familiar colors and slimy caps!

Caps evolved to release spores, and most species with a pileus have some sort of spore bearing tissue (hymenophore). To read more about this function see the page on gills, pores, and teeth.

Not all mushrooms have a pileus. However it is extremely common, appearing in amanitas, agarics, and boletes to name a few. If you find a specimen with a pileus, here are a few things to look for:

• Color and bruising. If you pierce the stem with a knife or fingernail does the area change color soon after?
• Hymenophore presence. Are there gills, pores, or teeth underneath the cap?
• Warts or scales on the top. This often indicates the remnants of a universal veil (volva).
• Texture (brittle, soft, covered in hairs).
• Shape and size. Possibly the most important thing to note. Although the familiar shape is convex, a cap can appear in many different forms.

Test for smell by crushing a piece of the cap and examining the odor. Many mushrooms won't have a smell at all. Others have quite a distinctive smell that should be noted and cross referenced with a local guidebook. Some well-known mushroom scents:

• Chanterelles (Cantharellus species) - fruity like apricots
• Many Agaricus species - almonds
• Marasmius scorodonius - garlic
• Stinkhorns - An unpleasant "rotting" smell. You'll know it if you sniff it!
• Be aware that not all mushrooms with scents have to smell "exactly like" something. Many have vague descriptions such as "farinaceous" (mealy, kind of like flour).

Thanks alot for reading.. With my best regards...

Thanks a lot Dr. Yehya

I appreciated all information you added for fungal identification

You most welcome dear Prof. Jawad.. Please accept my highly appreciation..

Dear Liqaa,

Greetings from Canada to great land of "Cradle of Civilizations"- Babylon & Nineveh.

https://www.researchgate.net/post/Have_you_any_idea_about_the_name_of_this_fungus

I have attached the above link on "Edible and poisonous Mushrooms of Canada" which I use extensively during my foray in the forests!! I strongly suggest that you review the introduction of the book which provide you morphological characteristics of mushrooms. In addition, there are coloured pictures of diverse mushrooms which you can notice and find out which one is edible or poisonous

Good luck in your reserach work..

Best wishes and regards to you and Dr. Jawad

Simon Francis Shamoun

Senior Reserach Scientist

Opps, sorry, Here is the link again:

http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2013/aac-aafc/agrhist/A43-1112-1979-eng.pdf

Dear Dr. Shamoun

I am really glad for your valuable advice and useful references

You very welcome Abu Mohamad. Hope all is well my friend in beuatiful Babylon- the great land of King NEBUCHADNEZZAR.

By the way Dr. Jawad, congratulation on your latest article on the discovery of a new fungus on reed. I think it has a potential for development as a biocontrol agent for management of reed in waterways and riparian zones.

From my experience in Biocontrol Science & Technology, I found that the critical key for development of a potential biocontrol agents are two major areas: 1) Formulation technology; 2) Delivery application and technology.

I hope we can stay in touch

Best regards,

Abu Martin

Many thank Abu Martin, I am very grateful for kind support and for fruitful comments. In fact, I am anxious to add your name to our research team, if you like of course, to strength our publications and to refine the manuscripts scientifically and linguistically.

Azizi Abu Mohamad, I would be happy to cooperate with you and your research team members. As an indigenous person of the great land of "Cradle of Civilization- Iraq", it gives me a great pleasure and an honour to contribute to your resercah program and team..

Best regards,

Abu Martin