Identification Guide

Introduction

New Zealand has an estimated 10,000 different fungi species of which only about 4,000 have been described. Of these only 400 or so are show on this site so don't be surprised if you can not identify the one you have. It helps if you have made a spore print to determine the spore colour to use this quick guide as the spore colour helps to reduce the number of posability!

Agarics: (Gilled Fungi)

Growing from the ground or rotting wood and sometimes from living trees with or with out stalks. This is were the larges number of fungi are found and were spore prints help to reduce the posibilitys. White spores Growing from the ground Genus:leucoagaricus Genus: leucocoprinus Genus: Lepiota Family: Hydnangiaceae Genus: Amanta Family: Russulaceae Genus: Gliophorus Genus: Humidicutis Genus: Hygrocybe Genus: Hygrophorus Genus: Mycena Genus: Tricholoma Family: Tricholomataceae Growing on wood with stalk Genus: Armillaria Family: Marasmiaceae Genus: Oudemansiella Family: Pleurotaceae Growing on wood without stalk Family: Marasmiaceae Genus: Crepidotus Family: Atheliaceae Pink spores. Growing from the ground Family: Agaricaceae Family: Entolomataceae Growing from wood Family: Pluteaceae Family: Schizophyllaceae Brown spores Growing on the ground Family: Bolbitiaceae Family: Cortinariaceae Genus: Psathyrella Family: Paxillaceae Growing on wood Family: Bolbitiaceae Family: Strophariaceae Black spores Family: Coprinaceae Family: Strophariaceae

Agarics: (Spine Fungi)

These are fungi that have spines rather then the usual gills sometimes a magnifying glass is need to see them. These can be found growing from the ground or rotting wood. Growing on the ground Family: Hydnaceae Family: Coniophoraceae Family: Exidiaceae Family: Gomphaceae Growing from wood Family: Bankeraceae Family: Hericiaceae Family: Steccherinaceae

Boletes: (Pore Fungi)

These are fungi which have pores rather then the more common gills most of which are Mycorrhizal. Therefore are found under leptospermum and Nothofagus trees or introduced exotics. Growing on the ground Family: Boletaceae Family: Gyroporaceae Family: Boletinellaceae Growing from wood Genus: Favolaschia

Pouch & Tuberous Fungi:

With or with out a short stalk, with no obvious way to release there spore. Relying instead on been eaten by insects which then spread the spore in there faeces. Some are brightly coloured others not so. With a short stalk Family: Leotiaceae Family: Strophariaceae Family: Cortinariaceae Family: Vibrisseaceae Family: Discinaceae Growing on wood Family: Hypocreaceae Family: Lasiosphaeriaceae On or partly buried in ground Family: Boletaceae Family: Hysterangiaceae Family: Hydnangiaceae Family: Pyronemataceae Family: Rhizopogonaceae

Puffballs, Earthballs & Earthstars Fungi:

These fungi release there spores ether through a pore at the top or disintegration of the outer wall. Exposing sponge like interior. Family: Calostomataceae Family: Agaricaceae Family: Sclerodermataceae Family: Sphaerobolaceae

Stinkhorns Fungi:

Immature plants look like eggs as the mature the smell soon indicate were this group gets its name from. Many of which mimmic flowers with bright colours. Family: Phallaceae

Birdsnest Fungi:

Another group that is easy to identified by there appearance which are cup shaped which appear to contain eggs. Family: Agaricaceae

Club or Coral Fungi:

A very difficult group to identify with out a microscope and a lot of experience. Found in a wide verity of colours and shapes from a simple club to a much branched structure. Growing singly or in small groups or clumps from the ground or less common wood. Branched Family: Auriscalpiaceae Family: Gomphaceae Genus: Ramaria Family: Tremellodendropsidaceae Family: Xylariaceae Unbranched Family: Clavariaceae Family: Clavulinaceae Family: Gomphaceae Growing on wood Family: Xylariaceae Family: Gomphaceae

Polypores:

Thin bracket like or typical mushroom shaped growing from wood. Spores are realised from pores which in most cases are to small to see. Family: Steccherinaceae Family: Stereaceae Family: Podoscyphaceae Family: Polyporaceae

Jelly Fungi:

Soft jelly like fungi which come on a wide range of colours from transparent to yellow, orange and red. Family: Tremellaceae Family: Auriculariaceae Family: Exidiaceae Family: Dacrymycetaceae

Crust Fungi:

Another group of fungi that are difficult to identify. It's easy to mistake immature bracket and polypore fungi as belonging to this group. Family: Meruliaceae Family: Stereaceae

Cup Fungi:

These come in a wide range of colours, some of which have short stalks. Size very from less then 1 mm to up to 100 mm. Family: Bulgariaceae Family: Helotiaceae Family: Pezizaceae Family: Pyronemataceae Family: Sarcoscyphaceae Family: Sarcosomataceae Family: Meruliaceae

Bracket Fungi:

Fungi that grow from wood can be hard with pores that are to small to see or soft and fleshy with gills. Growing from the ground Family: Thelephoraceae Growing from wood with gills Family: Atheliaceae Family: Geoglossaceae Hard and woody with pores Family: Ganodermataceae Family: Hymenochaetaceae Family: Meruliaceae Family: Xylariaceae

Fungi on insects:

Many insects are attached then eventually killed by fungi. When I see these I always feel pleased I am at the top of the food chain. Family: Clavicipitaceae

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