It was first described as Agaricus pediades by Swedish mycologist Elias Magnus Fries in 1821, and moved to its current genus Agrocybe by Victor Fayod in 1889.

[3] Technically it is edible, but it could be confused with poisonous species, including one of the genus Hebeloma.

The mushroom cap is 1–3 cm wide, round to convex (flattening with age), pale yellow to orange-brown, smooth, sometimes cracked, and tacky with moisture but otherwise dry.

[4] A partial veil quickly disappears, leaving traces on the cap's edge,[4] but no ring on the stem.

[4] Some experts divide A. pediades into several species, mainly by habitat and microscopic features, such as spore size.