NAVIGATING PHOTOS: The displayed photos and descriptions of macrofungi are organized into two divisions:
1. the Ascomycota and
2. the Basidiomycota.
The included fungi are arranged morphologically by form as they are in field guides. However, in the interest of being up-to-date and scientifically accurate, the descriptions will provide you with phylogenetic information appropriate for each fungus covered in terms of its Order, Family, and Genus. Since mushroom enthusiasts have also long been drawn to the fascinating organisms popularly called ‘Slime Molds’, I have also included a collection of photos of common specimens belonging to the Myxogastria.
Click on the division you are interested in viewing (Ascomycetes or Basidiomycetes) in the QUICK LINKS pages on the name of a shape or form of fungi listed below and that you are interested in examining and learning about. The fungi in each morphologically defined group are pictured and described alphabetically under the following familiar categories:
CLICK ON QUICK-LINKS TO COMMON SHAPES OF MUSHROOMS & OTHER FUNGI
ASCOMYCETES:
BASIDIOMYCETES:
BOLETE-LIKE CAP & STEM MUSHROOMS WITH SPONGY PORES: some change flesh
CANTHARELLOID MUSHROOMS : vase to trombone-shaped
CLUBS & CORALS, CAULIFLOWERS & FIBERFANS
GASTEROID PUFFBALLS & STINKHORNS
GELATINOUS FUNGI & RUBBERY FUNGI
GILLED MUSHROOMS with PALE spores
GILLED MUSHROOMS with COLORED spores
LACTARIUS, LACTIFLUUS & RUSSULAS: relatively fragile, easily breaking fungi, some lactating
POLYPORES: Sturdy mostly wood-decay fungi with pores
TOOTHED FUNGI with downward pointing ‘spines'
Not all fungi have common names, and this is why we are using scientific binomials to refer to the various families and species within each family. Many fungi on this site are listed with two names: the new one (Genus and species) followed by the older name (in parentheses) that is used in many excellent, but older field guides published prior to 2018. You can use either name. They are generally considered synonyms.