Large. White. It smells like aniseed. The Horse Mushroom is the big brother of the field mushroom. It demands attention through its size and scent. The cap is white. It spans ten to fifteen centimetres across. With age, it turns yellowish. The gills tell a different story. They are pink when young. They turn dark brown as the mushroom matures. The stem is tall and thick. A large, skirt-like ring clings to it. The base is bulbous. It anchors the fungus in the soil. The smell is the key. Crush the base of the stem and sniff. That sweet, liquorice scent is the giveaway. Field mushrooms smell mushroomy. Horse Mushrooms smell like candy. The distinction is sharp. It separates the edible from the merely common. The aroma lingers on the fingers. It is a promise of flavour. It grows in pastures and grassy areas. It often appears in rings. These fairy rings mark the spread of the mycelium underground. It is common throughout New Zealand. An introduced species, it arrived from Europe. It has made itself at home in modified landscapes. It thrives where humans have altered the land. It does not need the deep forest. It needs the grazed paddock. Edible and excellent. The flesh is firm and white. It has a rich, mushroomy flavour. There is a hint of aniseed. Fry it in butter. Grill it. Add it to a steak. It is one of the best wild mushrooms you can find. The culinary potential is high. The risk is low, provided identification is correct. The Maori name is not recorded. Another introduced fungus, arriving without invitation. It brought its aniseed smell with it. It found a niche in the new landscape. It did not ask permission. It simply grew. Caution is required. It should be distinguished from the poisonous Yellow Stainer. That mushroom stains bright yellow when cut. It smells like chemicals. The Horse Mushroom stains pale yellow or brown. It smells like aniseed. Cut the base of the stem. Check the colour. Check the scent. A yellow stain means leave it alone. The difference is subtle but critical. Mistake one for the other and the meal becomes a medical emergency. Accuracy is not optional. That is the Horse Mushroom. Large, white, aniseed-scented. A mushroom worth getting excited about. Provided you know what you are looking at. The reward is substantial. The penalty for error is severe. The forest floor offers both. The choice is yours. No one told it otherwise.