Alexanders Rust vs Common Fieldcap

Puccinia smyrnii compared with Agrocybe pediades

Key Differences

• Alexanders Rust is Not Evaluated while Common Fieldcap is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Alexanders Rust	Common Fieldcap
Kingdom same	Fungi (Fungi)	Fungi (Fungi)
Phylum same	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)
Class	Pucciniomycetes (Pucciniomycetes)	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)
Order	Pucciniales (Pucciniales)	Agaricales (Gilled Mushrooms)
Family	Pucciniaceae	Strophariaceae
Genus	Puccinia	Agrocybe
Species	Puccinia smyrnii	Agrocybe pediades

Evolutionary Relationship

Alexanders Rust and Common Fieldcap share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Basidiomycota. (Club Fungi)

Conservation Status

Alexanders Rust

NE — Not Evaluated

Common Fieldcap

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Alexanders Rust	Common Fieldcap
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Alexanders Rust

Habitat

Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Portugal, and United Kingdom.

Common Fieldcap

Habitat

Typically found in forest floors, decomposing wood, and soil ecosystems.

Range

Found across Europe (5 countries) and North America (United States).

Alexanders Rust

The Alexanders Rust (Puccinia smyrnii) is a species in the genus Puccinia. Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Common Fieldcap

The Common Fieldcap (<em>Agrocybe pediades</em>) is a saprotrophic fungus belonging to the genus Agrocybe within the family Strophariaceae. It typically produces small, tan to pale brown cap-shaped fruiting bodies and is often found growing in clusters or scattered on lawns, grassy areas, forest floors, decomposing wood, and soil-rich ecosystems. The species typically inhabits forest floors, decomposing wood, and soil ecosystems, obtaining nutrients by breaking down dead organic matter. Its geographic range includes several European countries — Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden — as well as the United States in North America. <em>Agrocybe pediades</em> is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, reflecting its broad distribution and apparent stability. Biological traits of this species, including specific data on fruiting body size, lifespan, and ecological preferences, remain poorly documented in the scientific literature. Like other members of its genus, it typically fruits during warmer months and often appears after rainfall in nutrient-rich grassland and woodland habitats.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 2 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇵🇹 Portugal