Assessment Notes

Justification

Agaricus bitorquis is globally widespread edible saprobic fungus and there is no evidence of decline. It can be locally abundant where suitable habitat exists. Therefore, it is assessed as Least Concern (LC).

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Geographic range

The Pavement Mushroom is occasional throughout Europe, Asia, North and Central America, Australia and New Zealand (Boa 2004). The area of occupancy (AOO) of this species is much larger than 2,000 km², and its extent of occurrence (EOO) is much larger than 20,000 km².

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Population and Trends

The population size is likely to be very large since this is such a widespread species and adapted to non-threatened habitats. There is no indication of any decline.

Population Trend: stable

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Habitat and Ecology

Agaricus bitorquis is a decomposer fungus found growing solitarily or in small groups in gardens, parks, disturbed sites and at roadsides, often where salt is applied to combat ice in winter. It often grows in heavy soils. Capable of pushing through tarmac and between paving slabs, it is subterranean, and often matures underground.

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Threats

There are no major threats to this species. It is commonly and widely found in many kinds of man-made habitats.

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Conservation Actions

No conservation measures are needed for this species since it is widespread and there are no major threats to it.

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Use and Trade

Agaricus bitorquis is an edible species. As with all specimens picked from the wild, care should be taken to consider the suitability of the collection site, as this species can bioaccumulate toxic heavy metals, especially lead, from polluted areas.

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Source and Citation

Dahlberg, A. 2019. Agaricus bitorquis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T122090210A222966384. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T122090210A222966384.en .Accessed on 18 February 2024

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• Country occurrence