Common Fieldcap vs Hare'S Ear

Agrocybe pediades compared with Otidea onotica

Key Differences

• Common Fieldcap is Least Concern while Hare'S Ear is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Fieldcap	Hare'S Ear
Kingdom same	Fungi (Fungi)	Fungi (Fungi)
Phylum	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)	Ascomycota (Sac Fungi)
Class	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)	Pezizomycetes (Pezizomycetes)
Order	Agaricales (Gilled Mushrooms)	Pezizales (Pezizales)
Family	Strophariaceae	Otideaceae
Genus	Agrocybe	Otidea
Species	Agrocybe pediades	Otidea onotica

Evolutionary Relationship

Common Fieldcap and Hare'S Ear share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Fungi. (Fungi)

Conservation Status

Common Fieldcap

LC — Least Concern

Hare'S Ear

VU — Vulnerable

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common Fieldcap	Hare'S Ear
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Common Fieldcap

Habitat

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

Range

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

Hare'S Ear

Habitat

Native to Europe and North America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and United States. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

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 5 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇺🇸 United States