Fairy ring mushrooms
Marasmius oreades
The Button Mushroom is the common name of Marasmius Oreades also known as the Fairy Ring Mushroom. The French refer to it as Mousseron, the German as Nelken Schwindlinge and the Italian as Gambi.
This "petite" mushroom is a nuisance to lawn owners : its mycelium browns the grass in arcs and rings. But it redeems itself by being a fine food.
The Button Mushroom fruits abundantly during the warm months aboveall after rain.
The flat, dry, tan to brown mushroom caps are little more than one inch in diameter. The centers are raised and dome shaped. The widely separated buff-colored gills throw off many white spores.
The flavor and aroma of Button Mushroom are out of proportion to its size. Added mushrooms to soups, ragouts, and stews, it confers a definite, somewhat sweet taste.
This sweet quality also enhances the taste of cookies. It is excellent sautéed in butter with onions.
Surprise your friends and family with a subtle change in flavor by adding this tasty and fragant mushroom to your favorite soup.
