Family: Agaricaceae

Fungi:> Basidiomycota:> Agaricomycetes:> Agaricales:> Agaricaceae:> Agaricus, Bovista, Calvatia, Chlorophyllum, Coprinus,, Leucoagaricus, Leucocoprinus, Lycoperdon, Morganella, Macrolepiota, Melanophyllum

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
(white form)

Agaricus arvensis
(yellow form)

Agaricus campestris
var campestris

Agaricus spcies

Agaricus species

Genus: Coprinus (Black Spored)

Genus: Melanophyllum

		Partial veil present, often leaving fragments on cap edge. Spore print reddish or greenish when fresh, drying darker brown
Coprinus comatus		Melanophyllum haematospermum

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.

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

Genus: Cystolepiota

Genus: Chlorophyllum

A small mushrooms with cottony scales that might wear off withage and a poorly developed ring. Never striate.

This genus contains several large shaggy mushrooms whose stems stain orange when cut or scratched, with a double ring on the stalk.

Cystolepiota petasiformis

Chlorophyllum rachodes

Genus: Leucoagaricus

Except for a few introduced species, most Leucoagaricus are not named in New Zealand, even though they are common. Found early in the season in large numbers within native bush, 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 which is initially fixed (but later may be movable). These are likely to be larger than Leucocoprinus.

Leucoagaricus americanus

Leucoagaricus leucothites

Leucoagaricus Unidentified

Leucoagaricus species	Leucoagaricus species	Leucoagaricus species	Leucoagaricus species
Leucocoprinus 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.

Leucocoprinus birnbaumii

Leucocoprinus cepistipes

Leucocoprinus fragilissimus

Leucocoprinus sp.

Leucocoprinus Unidentified

Genus: Macrolepiota

There are many small Leucocoprinus species found in NZ which appear early in the season unfortunately as far as I know there has been little attempt to name them.

A native to both New Zealand and Australia believed to be quite tasty

Leucocoprinus species

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.

Genus: Bovista

Genus: Calvatia

In this genus spores are released by irregular cracking of the wall.