Cherry Ballart vs Common Fieldcap

Exocarpos cupressiformis compared with Agrocybe pediades

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Cherry Ballart	Common Fieldcap
Kingdom	Plantae (Plants)	Fungi (Fungi)
Phylum	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)
Class	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)
Order	Santalales (Santalales)	Agaricales (Gilled Mushrooms)
Family	Santalaceae	Strophariaceae
Genus	Exocarpos	Agrocybe
Species	Exocarpos cupressiformis	Agrocybe pediades

Conservation Status

Cherry Ballart

LC — Least Concern

Common Fieldcap

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Cherry Ballart	Common Fieldcap
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Cherry Ballart

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Common Fieldcap

Habitat

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

Range

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

Cherry Ballart

The Cherry Ballart (Exocarpos cupressiformis) is a species in the genus Exocarpos. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

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.