Family: Agaricaceae |
Fungi:> Basidiomycota:> Agaricomycetes:> Agaricales:> Agaricaceae:> Agaricus, Bovista, Calvatia, Chlorophyllum, Coprinus,, Leucoagaricus, Leucocoprinus, Lycoperdon, Morganella, Macrolepiota. |
This family contains several large genera of gilled saprobic fungi both native and introduced exotics that grow on the ground or organic debris, such as wood chip mulch. Recently DNA evidence has moved a number of other family's such as Lepiotaceae, Lycoperdaceae also into the Agaricaceae. |
Genus: Agaricus (Spore print dark brown to chocolate brown) |
The gills are free, or almost free, from the stipe, and initially are covered by a partial veil which breaks to leave a well defined annulus, or ring, around the stipe. The spore are blackish, or dark brown, or pink in young specimens. Unfortunately little research has gone into this group so many of the natives are unnamed. |
![]() Agaricus arvensis |
![]() Agaricus arvensis (yellow form) |
![]() Agaricus campestris? |
![]() Agaricus spcies |
![]() Agaricus purpureoniger |
![]() Agaricus species |
![]() Agaricus species |
![]() Agaricus species |
Genus: Coprinus (Black Spored) |
This small genus consists of Coprinus comatus and several close relatives, This is all that is left in this genus after most members were moved to the Psathyrellaceae family. |
![]() Coprinus comatus |
Lepiota and related fungi (White Spored) |
Lepiota and allied fungi are fleshy saprobic gilled fungi similar in macro-characters to the Agarics but with a white or pale spore print. Gills are free from the stem with partial veils that typically leaves a ring on the stem that maybe loose. The spores are smooth, dextrinoid under a microscope. Some members are good eating while others are poisonous unfortunately this group of fungi have never been studied in New Zealand thus many are not named. Those that are named have ever been introduced or are also native to Australia. It's a challenge to place them into the right genus and needs careful study of the keys. The diffrent genus can be identifyed by: Chlorophyllum - large, shaggy mushrooms whose stems stain orange when cut or scratched. Leucocoprinus - Tthe smallest (<5cm across) and most delicate with a well developed ring and somewhat granular membranous scales on the cap but not truly cottony. Often with striate margins in age. Clamp conections on the hyphae Cystolepiota - small (<5cm across) mushrooms with cottony scales (that might wear off) and a poorly developed ring. Never striate. Leucoagaricus - with either no cap scales or regular membranous scales. Leucoagaricus is more likely to be larger then Leucocoprinus. No clamp conections on the hyphae |
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Genus: Chlorophyllum |
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This genus contains several large shaggy mushrooms whose stems stain orange when cut or scratched, with a double ring on the stalk. |
![]() Cystolepiota petasiformis |
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![]() Chlorophyllum rachodes |
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Genus: Leucoagaricus |
Except for a few introduced species, most of New Zealand’s native Leucoagaricus have not been named. Even though they are a common genus, they are found early in the season in large numbers. Many are quite distinctive and easily recognised, while others are not so. Separating these from the similar Leucocoprinus is not so easy. They have no cap scales or regular membranous scales, with a ring that is initially fixed (but may later be movable), and they are generally larger than Leucocoprinus. |
![]() Leucoagaricus americanus |
![]() Leucoagaricus leucothites |
Leucoagaricus Unidentified |
![]() Leucoagaricus species |
![]() Leucoagaricus species |
![]() Leucoagaricus species |
![]() Leucoagaricus species |
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![]() Leucoagaricus species |
![]() Leucoagaricus species |
Genus: Leucocoprinus |
Separating Leucocoprinus from Leucoagaricus can be very difficult. They tend to be smaller, and most are delicate, with a well-developed ring and somewhat granular membranous scales on the cap, but not truly cottony. Often with striate margins in age. Like the Leucoagaricus, only introduced species are named, while few, if any, native species are not. |
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![]() Leucocoprinus cepistipes |
![]() Leucocoprinus fragilissimus |
![]() Leucocoprinus sp. |
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Genus: Macrolepiota |
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A native to both New Zealand and Australia believed to be quite tasty |
![]() Leucocoprinus species |
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![]() Macrolepiota clelandii |
Puffballs |
These were until recently in the Lycoperdaceae family but now from DNA evidence are place here instead. Puffballs have soft, fleshy texture, which remains white inside until they reach nearly full size. The spores them selves are entangled amongst a brown cotton wool-like fibre, which ensures that they drift out sparingly over a period of time. |
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Genus: Calvatia |
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In this genus spores are released by irregular cracking of the wall. |
![]() Bovista species |
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![]() Calvatia species |
![]() Calvatia gigantea |
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Unidentified |
![]() Lycoperdon perlatum |
![]() ![]() Lycoperdon excipuliforme |
![]() Lycoperdon species |
Genus: Morganella |
![]() Morganella compacta |
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