# Mower's Mushroom (*Panaeolus*)

The Mower's Mushroom is a small fungus that often grows in freshly mowed grass. It's a fun surprise after you cut the lawn!

- **Category:** [Fungi](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fungi)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 5
- **Habitat:** In lawns and fields

![Mower's Mushroom](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426819/objects/5133.jpg)

## Appearance

The Mower's Mushroom has a small, bell-shaped to convex cap, typically light brown to reddish-brown, often fading to buff as it dries. Its gills are mottled dark brown to blackish, unlike many uniformly colored mushrooms. It stands on a slender, pale brown stem.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Fungi
- **Phylum:** Basidiomycota
- **Class:** Agaricomycetes
- **Order:** Agaricales
- **Family:** Bolbitiaceae
- **Genus:** Panaeolus

## Interesting facts

- Its cap changes color as it dries, going from dark brown to light buff!
- Its unique mottled gills release spores over time, creating a beautiful dark pattern.
- Mower's Mushrooms are often found in lawns that have been recently fertilized by animals.
- You might spot these tiny mushrooms growing in mysterious "fairy rings" on grassy lawns!

## Special abilities

- **Grass Recycler:** Mower's Mushroom can break down dead grass because it releases special enzymes that help recycle nutrients into the soil.
- **Spore Sprinter:** Mower's Mushroom has purplish-black spores that can be carried by wind to new grassy areas, helping it spread quickly.
- **Rain Pop-Up:** Mower's Mushroom can appear rapidly after rainfall because it quickly absorbs moisture and nutrients from its environment.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 3-10 cm
- **Edible:** inedible
- **Size:** 1-4 cm
- **Growth Substrate:** soil
- **Season:** Spring to fall
- **Spore Color:** Purplish-black

## Ecological connections

- **Eats:** [Kentucky Bluegrass](https://www.snappit.app/explore/kentucky-bluegrass) (*Poa pratensis*) — Decomposes dead grass clippings to recycle nutrients.
- **Depends on:** [Cattle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cattle) (*Bos taurus*) — Thrives in soil enriched by cattle manure or dung.
- **Eats:** [Black Slug](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-slug) (*Arion ater*) — Slugs sometimes munch on its caps, leaving behind trails.

## Traits

- [Spore Producing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spore-producing): Spore-producing organisms reproduce by releasing small, often single-celled, reproductive units called spores.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.

## Collections

- [Fungi](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fungi)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Do not pick or eat anything you find. Some plants and mushrooms can be harmful.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Mower's Mushroom?

Compare the cap shape, the underside, the stem and base, and whether the fungus grows on wood or soil. Some fungi have gills, others pores or teeth. A cap seen only from above often hides the most useful features. Mushroom Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Mower's Mushroom?

3-10 cm

### Is Mower's Mushroom edible?

inedible

### How big is Mower's Mushroom?

1-4 cm

### Where is Mower's Mushroom usually found?

In lawns and fields

### What does Mower's Mushroom grow on?

soil

### When is Mower's Mushroom in season?

Spring to fall

### What color are Mower's Mushroom spores?

Purplish-black

## Where to spot

- [Delaware Division of the Pennsylvania Canal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/delaware-division-of-the-pennsylvania-canal) — Pennsylvania, US · Historic Site
- [Wilder](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/wilder) — New Hampshire, US · Neighborhood
- [ZooAmerica](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zooamerica) — Pennsylvania, US · Zoo
- [Dawson County Courthouse](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/dawson-county-courthouse) — Nebraska, US · Historic Site
- [Hershey Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hershey-gardens) — Pennsylvania, US · Botanical Garden
- [Peace Candle](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/peace-candle) — Pennsylvania, US · Nature Reserve

[View all places to see Mower's Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/mower-s-mushroom)

## More Fungi

- [Field Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/field-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Button Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/button-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Portobello Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/portobello-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Shiitake](https://www.snappit.app/explore/shiitake) (*Lentinula*)

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Source: [Mower's Mushroom: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mower-s-mushroom)