Go to Landcare Research home page
 
Home About Mushrooms Simple key Genus (A-Z) Help

« Back

Mushrooms

'Mushrooms', as defined here, are a phylogenetically diverse group all sharing the feature of having spores formed on gills on the underside of a fleshy fruiting body.

Ecologically they are diverse, but most play important roles in nutrient capture and nutrient flow within ecosystems. Some form mycorrhizas with vascular plants, other are saprobes, helping to break down complex molecules into forms more readily available as nutrient to other organisms. A few are pathogens.

All mushrooms

There are a series of 'mushroom' groups. Most genera belong in more than one of these groups. For example there is a "Mushrooms with Brown Spores" Group which also belongs in the "Mushrooms on Wood" Group.

Click on a link below to bring up the Genus belonging to that mushroom group.

White spores

Brown spores

Pink spores

Black spores

On wood

On soil

Central stipe

Stipe lateral or lacking

On wood

On soil

Central stipe

Stipe lateral or lacking

On wood

On soil

Central stipe

Stipe lateral or lacking

On wood

On soil

Central stipe

Stipe lateral or lacking

 

Brown spored mushroom with central stipe

Name (click to select)Image (click to enlarge)
 Agaricus  
 Agrocybe  
 Astrosporina  
 Austropaxillus  
 Bolbitius  
 Conocybe  
 Cortinarius  
 Cortinarius  
 Crucispora  
 Cystoagaricus  
 Dermocybe  
 Descolea  
 Flammulaster  
 Galerina  
 Galerina  
 Gymnopilus  
 Hebeloma  
 Hypholoma  
 Inocybe  
 Macrocystidia
 Melanophyllum
 Naucoria  
 Paxillus  
 Phaeocollybia  
 Phaeomarasmius  
 Pholiota  
 Phylloporus  
 Psathyrella  
 Psilocybe  
 Pyrrhoglossum  
 Ripartites
 Simocybe  
 Stropharia  
 Tubaria  
 Tympanella