What mushroom is this?
You saw a mushroom and all you know is what it looked like - large, white and round in a meadow; brown with gills on a stump; yellow and funnel-shaped under pines. Pick the features you saw and the list shrinks to the profiles that match. Every profile describes its lookalikes in detail.
An identification aid, not permission to eat. No mushroom is eaten on the strength of a website. This page does not say what is edible - it narrows down which profiles fit your features, and it only shows a red flag where the profile itself calls the mushroom poisonous or deadly. Mistakes can kill: before eating anything, have it checked by a mushroom expert or a mycological society. If poisoning is suspected, call poison control or emergency services at once and keep the remains of the mushroom.
90mushroom profiles
5flagged deadly in their own profile
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90 of 90 profiles match
Agarikon bracket on wood · pores / tubes under the cap · white / cream · on wood / tree trunks · conifer woods The fruit body is a large perennial bracket, often 10-60 cm tall, hoof-shaped in youth and becoming elongated, columnar, or beehive-shaped over years of growth, hanging f… Agarikon is a heart-rot fungus of old conifers, principally larch in Europe and Douglas fir, larch, and other conifers in western North America. Almond Mushroom gills under the cap · brown · on wood / tree trunks · on soil near trees The cap is 5-18 cm across, at first rounded then flattening, whitish to pale brown and covered in fine brownish fibrous scales, especially toward the centre. Wild, it favours rich, composted ground - leaf litter, garden beds, mulch piles, compost heaps, and the edges of woods - in warm temperate and subtropical regions, origin… Amethyst Deceiver gills under the cap · purple / blue · white / cream · meadow, lawn, roadside · conifer woods The cap is 1-6 cm across, deep violet to lilac when fresh and moist, convex then flattening with a slightly depressed centre, and the surface is finely scurfy rather than… Amethyst deceivers are mycorrhizal with broadleaved trees, especially beech and oak, and also with birch and conifers. Artist's Conk bracket on wood · pores / tubes under the cap · brown · grey / black · on wood / tree trunks · meadow, lawn, roadside The fruit body is a hard, woody, flat bracket, 10-60 cm across and occasionally larger, semicircular or fan-shaped, growing shelf-like from a trunk. Artist's conk is a white-rot decayer of hardwoods, especially beech, oak, maple, poplar, and many others, and it also occurs on conifers. Bay Bolete gills under the cap · pores / tubes under the cap · brown · green / olive · on wood / tree trunks · conifer woods The cap is 4-15 cm across, chestnut to dark bay-brown, and slightly sticky when wet but dry and finely felted in dry weather. Bay boletes are mycorrhizal, meaning they wrap their threads around the roots of living trees and trade nutrients for sugars. Beech Mushroom (Shimeji) gills under the cap · on wood / tree trunks · broadleaf woods Tight clusters of small mushrooms with rounded caps 1-3 cm across on slender stems fused at a common base. A wood-rotting fungus of dead hardwoods, especially beech (hence the name), across temperate East Asia, Europe, and North America, fruiting in autumn. Beefsteak Fungus bracket on wood · pores / tubes under the cap · white / cream · brown · on wood / tree trunks · meadow, lawn, roadside The fruit body is a thick bracket 10-25 cm across, semicircular or tongue-shaped, attached to the wood by a short lateral stem or directly by its base. Beefsteak fungus is a parasite and then saprotroph on living and dead oak, and less often on sweet chestnut and other hardwoods. Birch Bolete pores / tubes under the cap · brown · meadow, lawn, roadside · conifer woods The cap is 5-15 cm across, greyish-brown to dull tan or almost beige, dry and slightly felty, becoming greasy in wet weather and often overhanging the pores at the margin… Birch boletes are mycorrhizal with birch and only with birch, which makes them one of the easiest mushrooms to search for: find birch, search under birch. Birch Polypore bracket on wood · pores / tubes under the cap · brown · grey / black · on wood / tree trunks · broadleaf woods The fruit body is a smooth, hoof-shaped or kidney-shaped bracket 5-25 cm across, attached to the trunk by a short thick lateral stub or directly by its side. Birch polypore is a saprotroph and weak parasite of birch, causing a brown rot in the heartwood, and it fruits on dead standing birches, fallen trunks, and stressed livin… Black Trumpet funnel or vase shape · grey / black · brown · broadleaf woods · on soil near trees A hollow, trumpet- or funnel-shaped mushroom 3-12 cm tall, in dark grey, brown, or near-black, with a thin, wavy, brittle body. Black trumpets grow in late summer and autumn in mycorrhizal partnership with hardwoods - especially oak and beech - on mossy or leaf-littered ground across temperate for… Blue Oyster Mushroom gills under the cap · on wood / tree trunks · conifer woods Caps are 5-15 cm across, fan or shell shaped, with an inrolled margin when young that flattens and often waves at the edge with age. Wild Pleurotus ostreatus is a wood-rotting saprotroph found on dead and dying hardwoods across Europe, Asia, and North America, especially beech, poplar, willow, and elm. Brown Roll-Rim poisonous gills under the cap · funnel or vase shape · brown · green / olive · meadow, lawn, roadside · conifer woods The cap is 5-15 cm across, ochre to olive-brown or rusty brown, slightly downy when young and becoming smooth and sticky when damp, and it is funnel-shaped in maturity. Brown roll-rims are ectomycorrhizal, associating with birch above all, and also with pine, spruce, willow, and other trees. Button Mushroom gills under the cap · white / cream · brown · on wood / tree trunks · meadow, lawn, roadside A smooth, rounded white or pale-brown cap 2-10 cm across on a short, straight stem with a thin ring. In the wild, Agaricus species grow in grassland, pasture, and compost-rich soil rather than on wood, appearing in rings and scattered groups after rain. Candy Cap gills under the cap · brown · orange · on wood / tree trunks · conifer woods Candy caps are small to medium, with caps 2-6 cm across, orange-brown to reddish-brown or dull cinnamon, dry and often slightly wrinkled or velvety rather than shiny, bec… Candy caps are mycorrhizal. Cauliflower Fungus coral or cauliflower-like · on wood / tree trunks · conifer woods The cauliflower fungus is unmistakable once known. Cauliflower fungus is a parasite and wood-decayer of conifers, especially pines, and is found at the base of living trunks, on stumps, or arising from buried conifer root… Chaga bracket on wood · crust or lump on wood · grey / black · on wood / tree trunks · broadleaf woods A rugged, cracked, black external mass - the "sterile conk" - 10-40 cm across, resembling a chunk of burnt charcoal on a birch trunk. Chaga grows almost exclusively on living birch trees in cold-climate forests of Russia, Scandinavia, the Baltic states, northern Asia, Canada, and the northern United Sta… Chanterelle ridges instead of gills · funnel or vase shape · yellow · conifer woods · broadleaf woods A vase- or funnel-shaped mushroom in warm egg-yolk yellow to golden, 3-10 cm across, with a wavy, irregular cap edge. Chanterelles grow in summer and autumn in mossy woodland - mixed and conifer forests, often near oak, beech, birch, and pine - across the Northern Hemisphere. Charcoal Burner gills under the cap · club / cylinder · purple / blue · green / olive · meadow, lawn, roadside · conifer woods The cap is 5-15 cm across, convex then flattening and finally slightly depressed, and the colour is famously variable: shades of lilac, violet, green, olive, grey, and wi… Charcoal burners are mycorrhizal with broadleaved trees, especially beech and oak, and also with birch and conifers in mixed woodland. Chestnut Mushroom gills under the cap · brown · yellow · on wood / tree trunks · broadleaf woods Clusters of convex caps 2-6 cm across, bright honey to chestnut-brown, often slightly sticky and dotted with fine pale scales. A wood-rotting fungus of dead and dying hardwoods across cool temperate East Asia, Europe, and North America, fruiting in clusters from trunks and stumps in autumn. Chicken of the Woods bracket on wood · pores / tubes under the cap · yellow · orange · on wood / tree trunks · broadleaf woods Large overlapping shelves, each 10-30 cm across, in vivid sulphur-yellow and orange, with a suede-like upper surface and a bright yellow pored underside (no gills). A wood-rotting fungus on living and dead hardwoods - especially oak - across temperate forests of the Northern Hemisphere, fruiting from late spring through autumn, often… Common Inkcap poisonous gills under the cap · grey / black · white / cream · on wood / tree trunks · meadow, lawn, roadside Caps are 3-8 cm across and 4-8 cm tall, pale grey to grey-brown, egg-shaped or bell-shaped, never opening flat, with fine radial grooves and often small scales near the c… Common inkcaps fruit in dense clusters from buried wood, tree stumps, roots, and rich disturbed ground, in gardens, parks, verges, waste ground, and woodland edges. Common Puffball ball / puffball · gills under the cap · on wood / tree trunks · conifer woods The fruit body is 2-7 cm across and 3-9 cm tall, pear or club shaped with a broad rounded top narrowing to a stalk-like base. Common puffballs are saprotrophs of forest soil and litter, fruiting in conifer and broadleaved woodland, along paths and tracks, on mossy banks, in clearings, and someti… Coral Tooth Fungus spines or teeth under the cap · coral or cauliflower-like · white / cream · on wood / tree trunks · broadleaf woods The fruit body is 10-40 cm across, a repeatedly branched white to cream structure with spines hanging in rows from the underside of the branches. Coral tooth grows on dead and dying hardwood, particularly beech, birch, maple, and occasionally other broadleaved trees, appearing on fallen logs, standing dead trunks,… Cordyceps Mushroom gills under the cap · club / cylinder · orange · yellow · cultivated mushroom Small, finger- or club-shaped fruit bodies 2-8 cm tall, bright orange to deep yellow-orange, growing upright in dense stands from the substrate surface. Cordyceps militaris occurs naturally across temperate regions worldwide, where it parasitises the buried pupae of moths and butterflies, sending its orange club up throug… Deadly Webcap deadly gills under the cap · brown · orange · conifer woods · broadleaf woods Caps are 3-8 cm across, tawny orange-brown to foxy red-brown, dry, finely fibrous or slightly scaly, conical then flattening with a persistent pointed central bump. Deadly webcaps are mycorrhizal, associating with conifers, especially spruce and pine, and with birch, and they favour damp mossy woodland on acidic soils. Death Cap deadly gills under the cap · green / olive · white / cream · broadleaf woods The cap is 5-15 cm across, smooth, and typically a pale olive-green to yellowish-green, sometimes brownish, bronze, or in some forms almost white, often with faint radial… The death cap is ectomycorrhizal, associating principally with oak and also with beech, chestnut, hornbeam, birch, and others. Destroying Angel deadly gills under the cap · white / cream · meadow, lawn, roadside · conifer woods The cap is 5-12 cm across, pure white throughout, smooth, dry to slightly sticky, conical or bell-shaped when young and flattening with age, sometimes with a slightly irr… Destroying angels are ectomycorrhizal with broadleaved and coniferous trees, the European Amanita virosa favouring birch, beech, and conifers on acidic soils, the North A… Dryad's Saddle bracket on wood · pores / tubes under the cap · white / cream · brown · on wood / tree trunks · meadow, lawn, roadside The fruit body is a large bracket, 10-40 cm across and occasionally much larger, fan or kidney shaped, pale cream to ochre-yellow with a striking pattern of flattened dar… Dryad's saddle is a saprotroph and weak parasite on hardwoods, especially elm, beech, sycamore, maple, ash, and poplar. Elm Oyster Mushroom gills under the cap · white / cream · brown · on wood / tree trunks · meadow, lawn, roadside Caps are 5-15 cm across, convex then flattening, whitish to cream or pale buff, sometimes developing faint watery spots or a cracked surface in dry weather. Hypsizygus ulmarius is a weak parasite and saprotroph on hardwoods across Europe, Asia, and North America, with a documented preference for elm, hence both the common and… Enoki Mushroom gills under the cap · white / cream · on wood / tree trunks · broadleaf woods Cultivated enoki: bundles of long, thin, ivory-white stems topped with tiny round caps, grown tall and pale on purpose. A wood-rotting fungus of dead and dying hardwoods across the Northern Hemisphere, unusual for fruiting in late autumn and winter, even pushing up through snow. Fairy Ring Champignon gills under the cap · funnel or vase shape · brown · on wood / tree trunks · meadow, lawn, roadside The cap is 2-5 cm across, tan to pale buff, drying paler, convex with a distinct low central bump, and the margin is often faintly grooved. Fairy ring champignons are saprotrophs of grassland, growing in lawns, playing fields, pasture, meadows, dunes, roadside verges, and churchyards, from late spring through… False Morel deadly honeycomb / brain-like · brown · purple / blue · on wood / tree trunks · conifer woods The fruit body is 4-15 cm across and 3-10 cm tall, an irregular, lobed, wrinkled brain-like or saddle-shaped mass in reddish-brown, chestnut, or dark purple-brown, sittin… False morels are saprotrophs of sandy, disturbed conifer ground, fruiting in spring, often on sandy soil under pine and spruce, along forest tracks, on old burn sites, an… Field Blewit gills under the cap · brown · purple / blue · on wood / tree trunks · meadow, lawn, roadside The cap is 6-15 cm across, pale buff to greyish-tan or dirty cream, smooth, slightly greasy in damp weather, convex then flattening with a wavy margin, and it does not ca… Field blewits are saprotrophs of grassland, fruiting in old pasture, meadows, downland, dunes, churchyards, and long-established lawns, typically in rings or arcs, from l… Field Mushroom gills under the cap · white / cream · meadow, lawn, roadside The field mushroom has a white to pale cream cap 3-10 cm across, dry and sometimes slightly scaly, rounded then flattening with age. Field mushrooms grow in nutrient-rich, undisturbed grassland: old meadows, grazed pastures, lawns, playing fields, and roadside verges, often where livestock have manured… Fly Agaric poisonous ball / puffball · gills under the cap · white / cream · red · meadow, lawn, roadside · conifer woods The cap is 8-20 cm across, brilliant scarlet to orange-red, fading with rain and age to orange or yellowish, covered in white to pale cream warts, remnants of the univers… Fly agaric is ectomycorrhizal, associating strongly with birch, pine, spruce, and other trees, and it is one of the most widespread mushrooms in the world, native across… Funeral Bell deadly gills under the cap · brown · meadow, lawn, roadside · conifer woods Caps are 1.5-4 cm across, tawny to date-brown or ochre, smooth, and hygrophanous, fading dramatically as they dry so that a single cluster shows caps of several different… Funeral bells are wood decayers, fruiting in clusters or scattered groups on rotting conifer and hardwood logs, stumps, buried wood, and wood chips, and they are common i… Giant Puffball ball / puffball · white / cream · meadow, lawn, roadside A large, round to slightly flattened white ball, typically 10-50 cm across (occasionally far larger), with a smooth or slightly suede-like skin and no stem, cap, or gills… Giant puffballs grow in late summer and autumn in meadows, pastures, grassy field edges, and open woodland across temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, often appe… Golden Oyster Mushroom gills under the cap · funnel or vase shape · yellow · broadleaf woods · cultivated mushroom Clusters of small, bright yellow funnel-shaped caps on slender pale stems, growing in tight rosettes. Native to eastern Russia, northern China, and Japan, growing on dead hardwoods, especially elm. Green-Spored Parasol poisonous gills under the cap · white / cream · on wood / tree trunks · meadow, lawn, roadside The cap is 8-30 cm across, whitish to cream, breaking up into coarse brownish scales over a paler background, convex then flattening broadly, often with a darker centre. Green-spored parasols are saprotrophs of rich grassland, fruiting in lawns, parks, sports fields, golf courses, roadside verges, and pasture, frequently in large rings an… Hedgehog Mushroom pores / tubes under the cap · spines or teeth under the cap · white / cream · orange · conifer woods · broadleaf woods An irregular, cream to pale-orange cap 3-15 cm across, often lobed and uneven. Hedgehog mushrooms grow in autumn in mycorrhizal partnership with conifers and broadleaf trees across temperate forests of the Northern Hemisphere, often on mossy ground… Honey Fungus gills under the cap · brown · yellow · on wood / tree trunks · meadow, lawn, roadside Caps are 3-15 cm across, honey-yellow to tawny or olive-brown, often darker in the centre and covered in fine dark hairy scales, especially when young. Honey fungus attacks and then decays the roots and lower trunks of a very wide range of broadleaved and coniferous trees and shrubs. Horse Mushroom gills under the cap · white / cream · meadow, lawn, roadside The horse mushroom has a large white to creamy cap, often 8-20 cm across or more, smooth and rounded then flattening, sometimes ageing to a warm yellowish tone. Horse mushrooms grow in nutrient-rich, undisturbed grassland: old pastures, meadows, paddocks, grassy roadsides, and the edges of woodland, often where horses or cattle h… Huitlacoche meadow, lawn, roadside · cultivated mushroom Infected kernels swell into irregular galls, from the size of a marble to the size of a fist, replacing normal corn kernels on the cob. Ustilago maydis infects maize and its wild relative teosinte, and it occurs wherever maize is grown, across the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Jack-o'-Lantern poisonous gills under the cap · funnel or vase shape · orange · on wood / tree trunks · meadow, lawn, roadside Caps are 5-20 cm across, bright orange to pumpkin or brownish-orange, smooth, convex then flattening and finally funnel-shaped with a wavy margin. Jack-o'-lanterns are wood-decay fungi, growing on stumps, buried roots, and the bases of living and dead hardwoods, especially oak and olive in southern Europe and oak in… King Alfred's Cakes ball / puffball · crust or lump on wood · on wood / tree trunks · broadleaf woods The fruit body is a hard, hemispherical or cushion-shaped ball, 2-7 cm across, attached firmly to dead wood. King Alfred's cakes are saprotrophs on dead hardwood, with a strong preference for ash, and they also occur on beech and occasionally other broadleaves. King Oyster Mushroom gills under the cap · club / cylinder · brown · meadow, lawn, roadside · cultivated mushroom King oysters have a tall, club-shaped white to cream stem 3-15 cm long and a small, flat, tan-brown cap. Native to Mediterranean grasslands, the Middle East, and parts of Asia, it grows in association with the roots and decaying stems of plants in the carrot family (Eryngium… Larch Bolete pores / tubes under the cap · yellow · brown · meadow, lawn, roadside · conifer woods The cap is 4-12 cm across, brilliant golden yellow to orange or chestnut-brown in older specimens, and distinctly sticky or slimy when damp, drying to a glossy sheen. Strictly mycorrhizal with larch, this species fruits wherever larch grows: forestry plantations, mixed woodland with planted larch, avenues, parks, and large gardens. Lion's Mane Mushroom gills under the cap · spines or teeth under the cap · white / cream · on wood / tree trunks · broadleaf woods A single rounded white cushion, 8-25 cm across, covered in soft hanging spines 1-4 cm long instead of a cap and gills. A wood-rotting fungus of hardwoods - especially oak, beech, and maple - across the Northern Hemisphere. Maitake (Hen of the Woods) pores / tubes under the cap · brown · grey / black · broadleaf woods A large rosette of many overlapping, spoon-shaped grey to brown fronds, fused into a common base. Maitake is a parasite and decayer of hardwoods, especially oak, growing year after year from the base of the same trunk or stump in late summer and autumn across temperat… Matsutake gills under the cap · brown · white / cream · meadow, lawn, roadside · conifer woods The cap is 6-20 cm across, firm and dense, white to buff and often overlaid with flat brown to reddish-brown fibrous scales that darken with age. Matsutake is mycorrhizal with pines and, depending on region, with spruce, fir, hemlock, or oak. Milky Mushroom gills under the cap · club / cylinder · white / cream · on wood / tree trunks · meadow, lawn, roadside Milky mushrooms are pure milk-white throughout, which is the origin of the name. Calocybe indica is a soil-inhabiting saprotroph originally described from West Bengal, and found wild in humid tropical regions on decaying organic matter in grassland, g… Morel Mushroom ridges instead of gills · honeycomb / brain-like · grey / black · brown · broadleaf woods A distinctive cone- to egg-shaped cap covered in a network of ridges and pits like a honeycomb, in tan, yellow, grey, or near-black. Morels fruit in spring across temperate forests of the Northern Hemisphere - near ash, elm, poplar, and old apple trees, on disturbed ground, and especially abundantly th… Nameko Mushroom gills under the cap · jelly-like · brown · orange · on wood / tree trunks · broadleaf woods Clusters of small convex caps 1-3 cm across, orange to amber-brown, coated in a clear gelatinous slime when fresh. A wood-rotting fungus of dead hardwoods, particularly beech, across cool temperate East Asia. Orange Birch Bolete pores / tubes under the cap · orange · grey / black · on wood / tree trunks · conifer woods The cap is 6-20 cm across, orange to orange-brown or brick red, dry and slightly downy, with the cuticle overhanging the pore layer at the margin as a small pale rim. This is a birch specialist, mycorrhizal with birch and fruiting in birch woods, on birch-scattered heaths, in mossy northern forests, and along the birch edges of conifer… Oyster Mushroom bracket on wood · gills under the cap · on wood / tree trunks · broadleaf woods Oyster mushrooms grow in overlapping shelves. In the wild it is a wood-decaying fungus found on dead and dying hardwoods - beech, poplar, oak, willow - across temperate regions worldwide. Paddy Straw Mushroom gills under the cap · cup shape · brown · grey / black · dung, compost, mulch Harvested young, it is a smooth grey-brown egg, 3-8 cm tall, wrapped in a membranous outer veil. A warm-climate decomposer of rice straw, compost, and plant debris across tropical and subtropical Asia. Panther Cap poisonous gills under the cap · white / cream · brown · conifer woods · broadleaf woods The cap is 5-12 cm across, tan to greyish or dark brown, sometimes almost olive, covered in pure white, evenly scattered wart-like flecks that are more regular and whiter… Panther caps are ectomycorrhizal with beech, oak, birch, and conifers, fruiting from summer through autumn in woodland, parkland, and occasionally gardens with mature tre… Parasol Mushroom gills under the cap · brown · meadow, lawn, roadside · broadleaf woods The parasol is large and distinctive. Parasols favour open, well-drained ground: unimproved pastures, grassy woodland rides, road verges, dune grassland, and the edges of deciduous or mixed woodland. Pavement Mushroom gills under the cap · white / cream · meadow, lawn, roadside · dung, compost, mulch Caps are 5-15 cm across, white to dirty cream, thick-fleshed, and often dented, cracked, or gritty from forcing their way up through hard ground. This is the mushroom of hard ground. Phoenix Oyster Mushroom gills under the cap · brown · white / cream · on wood / tree trunks · broadleaf woods Caps are 4-12 cm across, fan or tongue shaped, and noticeably paler than the common oyster, running from off-white through pale tan to light greyish-buff. Phoenix oysters are wood-decay saprotrophs found across Europe, Asia, and North America on dead and dying hardwoods, favouring beech, oak, poplar, and birch, and appearin… Pink Oyster Mushroom bracket on wood · gills under the cap · pink · broadleaf woods Bright pink to coral fan-shaped caps in dense, ruffled clusters, with pink gills and almost no stem. A tropical and subtropical species found on dead hardwood across Southeast Asia, the Pacific, and the Americas. Pioppino (Black Poplar Mushroom) gills under the cap · brown · grey / black · on wood / tree trunks · broadleaf woods Clusters of mushrooms with smooth caps 3-10 cm across, dark brown when young and fading to tan toward the edge, on long firm white stems with a thin ring. A wood-rotting fungus of poplar, willow, and other hardwoods around the Mediterranean and warm temperate regions, fruiting in spring and autumn from trunks and stumps. Porcelain Fungus gills under the cap · coral or cauliflower-like · white / cream · grey / black · on wood / tree trunks · broadleaf woods Caps are 2-8 cm across, pure white to slightly grey or ivory, thin-fleshed, convex then flattening, and covered in a thick layer of clear slime that makes them shine and… Porcelain fungus is a saprotroph and weak parasite almost exclusively on beech, occasionally on other broadleaved trees, and it is one of the characteristic autumn specie… Porcini (King Bolete) gills under the cap · pores / tubes under the cap · white / cream · brown · conifer woods · broadleaf woods A robust mushroom with a smooth, rounded brown cap 8-25 cm across, often glossy when damp. Porcini grows in summer and autumn in mycorrhizal partnership with the roots of pine, spruce, birch, oak, and beech across the temperate Northern Hemisphere. Portobello Mushroom gills under the cap · brown · grey / black · meadow, lawn, roadside · dung, compost, mulch A broad, flat, open brown cap 10-15 cm or more across, exposing dark chocolate-brown gills underneath. As Agaricus bisporus, it descends from a compost- and pasture-dwelling species. Red Cracking Bolete pores / tubes under the cap · red · brown · meadow, lawn, roadside · broadleaf woods The cap is 3-10 cm across, olive-brown to grey-brown, dry and velvety at first, and typically cracking into a network of small plates as it expands, with pinkish red fles… This is a mycorrhizal species of broadleaved and mixed woodland, associating with oak, beech, birch, and other hardwoods, and it is one of the first boletes to appear eac… Reishi Mushroom bracket on wood · pores / tubes under the cap · brown · orange · on wood / tree trunks · broadleaf woods A kidney- or fan-shaped bracket with a hard, woody texture and a glossy surface that looks varnished, banded in red, orange, and chestnut tones with a pale growing edge. A wood-rotting fungus of dead and dying hardwoods, especially oak, across warm temperate and subtropical regions worldwide, fruiting in summer and autumn. Saffron Milk Cap gills under the cap · honeycomb / brain-like · orange · on wood / tree trunks · conifer woods The saffron milk cap has a convex-to-funnel-shaped cap 4-12 cm across, coloured orange with darker concentric rings or zones, often greening where bruised or aged. Saffron milk caps are strictly associated with conifers, above all pines, and are found on sandy or acidic soils in pine plantations, mixed conifer woods, and dune forest… Scarlet Elf Cup pores / tubes under the cap · cup shape · red · pink · on wood / tree trunks · broadleaf woods The fruit body is a shallow cup or bowl, 1-5 cm across, brilliant scarlet to vermilion on the inner surface and whitish to pale pink and finely downy on the outside. Scarlet elf cups are saprotrophs on damp, mossy, decaying hardwood sticks and branches lying on the woodland floor, often partly buried in moss or leaf litter so that the… Shaggy Mane club / cylinder · white / cream · grey / black · on wood / tree trunks · meadow, lawn, roadside A tall, cylindrical white cap 5-15 cm high, covered in shaggy, upturned scales, on a slender hollow white stem with a movable ring. Shaggy manes grow in late summer and autumn on lawns, roadsides, parks, woodchip, and disturbed or compacted soil across temperate regions worldwide. Shaggy Parasol gills under the cap · cup shape · orange · brown · conifer woods · dung, compost, mulch The cap is 6-15 cm across, starting as a rounded drumstick and expanding to a flattish disc, pale buff to greyish, and breaking up into large coarse upturned brown scales… Shaggy parasols like rich, disturbed, nitrogen-enriched ground: garden borders, compost heaps, conifer plantations, shelterbelts, hedge banks, and the edges of paths. Sheathed Woodtuft gills under the cap · brown · conifer woods · broadleaf woods Caps are 2-6 cm across, tawny to date-brown, smooth, and hygrophanous, meaning they change colour dramatically as they dry, fading from the margin inwards and often leavi… Sheathed woodtufts fruit in dense clusters on dead hardwood: stumps, fallen logs, buried roots, and occasionally conifer wood. Shiitake Mushroom gills under the cap · brown · grey / black · broadleaf woods · cultivated mushroom Domed tan to dark-brown caps 5-15 cm across, often cracking into a pale marbled pattern in dry air. Native to East Asia, growing on fallen and dying hardwoods - particularly oak, the wood that gives the mushroom its name (the Japanese "shii" tree). Slippery Jack gills under the cap · pores / tubes under the cap · brown · conifer woods · on soil near trees The cap is 4-12 cm across, chocolate to reddish-brown, and distinctly slimy or sticky, especially in wet weather. Slippery jack is mycorrhizal with pines, especially two-needle pines such as Scots pine, and is found in native pine woods and in planted pine stands, shelterbelts, and p… Snow Fungus pores / tubes under the cap · coral or cauliflower-like · white / cream · on wood / tree trunks · broadleaf woods The fruit body is a gelatinous rosette of thin, wavy, translucent white lobes, typically 3-8 cm across, looking like a cluster of frilly petals or a sea anemone. Wild snow fungus grows on dead, fallen hardwood branches in humid subtropical and tropical forests across Asia, Australia, Africa, Central and South America, and the Paci… St George's Mushroom gills under the cap · white / cream · brown · meadow, lawn, roadside St George's mushroom is solid and chunky. This is a grassland and hedgerow species. Sulphur Tuft poisonous gills under the cap · yellow · brown · on wood / tree trunks · conifer woods Caps are 2-6 cm across, bright sulphur-yellow to yellow-orange, usually with a distinctly darker orange-brown or tawny centre, smooth, convex then flattening. Sulphur tufts are wood-decay fungi, fruiting in dense clusters on stumps, fallen logs, buried roots, and wood debris of both broadleaved trees and conifers. Summer Truffle ridges instead of gills · coral or cauliflower-like · grey / black · broadleaf woods The fruit body is an irregular subterranean tuber, 2-10 cm across and occasionally larger, with a hard black outer skin covered in coarse pyramidal warts, each with visib… Summer truffles are ectomycorrhizal, forming partnerships with the roots of oak, hazel, beech, hornbeam, and lime, and they fruit underground, usually five to thirty cent… The Prince gills under the cap · brown · yellow · meadow, lawn, roadside · conifer woods The cap is 10-25 cm across and occasionally larger, domed then flattening, covered in fine golden-brown to tawny fibrous scales over a paler background, giving a shaggy,… The Prince favours disturbed, nutrient-rich ground: woodland edges, hedge banks, path sides, garden shrubberies, compost-enriched borders, and especially ground near coni… Tinder Fungus bracket on wood · pores / tubes under the cap · grey / black · brown · on wood / tree trunks · broadleaf woods The fruit body is a hard, hoof-shaped perennial bracket, 10-45 cm across, grey to greyish-brown, with concentric ridges marking successive years of growth and a blunt rou… Tinder fungus is a white-rot decayer of hardwoods, mainly birch and beech, also poplar, maple, and others, growing on standing dead trunks, dying trees, and fallen logs. Truffle gills under the cap · underground (truffle) · brown · grey / black · conifer woods · broadleaf woods A rounded, irregular, knobbly underground body 2-10 cm across, dark brown to black (or pale tan in some species), with a warty or marbled skin. Truffles grow underground in mycorrhizal partnership with the roots of oak, hazel, beech, and pine, in well-drained, often limestone-rich soils. Turkey Tail Mushroom bracket on wood · pores / tubes under the cap · brown · white / cream · on wood / tree trunks · broadleaf woods Thin, leathery brackets 3-8 cm across in overlapping rosettes, banded in concentric rings of brown, tan, grey, blue, rust, and cream - the colours vary widely. A wood-rotting fungus found year-round on dead hardwood logs, stumps, and branches across every temperate forest in the world. Velvet Shank gills under the cap · brown · orange · on wood / tree trunks · meadow, lawn, roadside The wild velvet shank has a smooth, sticky, shiny cap 2-10 cm across, coloured warm orange to tawny brown, often darker in the centre and paler at the margin. Velvet shank is a wood-decaying fungus of dead and dying hardwoods, especially elm, beech, willow, poplar, and ash. Weeping Milk Cap gills under the cap · funnel or vase shape · brown · orange · on wood / tree trunks · conifer woods The cap is 5-13 cm across, apricot to orange-brown, tawny, or rusty, dry and slightly velvety rather than sticky, convex then flattening and often becoming slightly funne… This is a mycorrhizal species of broadleaved and mixed woodland, forming partnerships with oak, beech, hornbeam, birch, and conifers. White Truffle ridges instead of gills · underground (truffle) · brown · white / cream · broadleaf woods The fruit body is an irregular, lumpy underground tuber, typically 2-12 cm across, with a smooth to slightly velvety pale skin in cream, ochre, or pale tan, which is the… White truffles are ectomycorrhizal with oak, poplar, willow, hazel, hornbeam, and lime, growing in specific soils in Piedmont, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Marche, and Molise… Wine Cap (Garden Giant) gills under the cap · brown · red · meadow, lawn, roadside · broadleaf woods Large mushrooms with caps 5-30 cm across, deep wine-red to chestnut when young, fading to tan. A decomposer of woody debris, found in mulched ground, wood-chip piles, gardens, and field edges across temperate regions. Winter Chanterelle ridges instead of gills · funnel or vase shape · brown · grey / black · on wood / tree trunks · conifer woods The cap is 2-6 cm across, brown to grey-brown or yellowish-brown, funnel-shaped with a wavy irregular margin, often with a small hole in the centre that runs into the hol… Winter chanterelles are mycorrhizal, forming partnerships with conifer roots, especially spruce, pine, and Douglas fir, and sometimes with beech. Wood Blewit gills under the cap · purple / blue · conifer woods · broadleaf woods The wood blewit is defined by colour. Wood blewits are widespread across temperate Europe, North America, and parts of Asia. Wood Ear Mushroom bracket on wood · cup shape · brown · grey / black · on wood / tree trunks · broadleaf woods Thin, rubbery, ear- or cup-shaped brackets 3-10 cm across, reddish-brown to near-black, with a smooth or faintly veined surface. A wood-rotting fungus found on dead and dying hardwoods - especially elder - across temperate and subtropical regions worldwide. Yellow Stainer poisonous gills under the cap · white / cream · grey / black · meadow, lawn, roadside The cap is 5-15 cm across, white to greyish-white, smooth, and characteristically squared-off or flat-topped when young rather than domed, sometimes developing fine grey-… Yellow stainers grow in grassland and disturbed nutrient-rich ground: lawns, playing fields, parks, hedge banks, gardens, roadside verges, and woodland edges, often in ri…
No profile matches all the chosen features. Drop one - colour is the least reliable filter, because caps fade with age and rain.
📐 Where the features come from
When the site is built, each profile's "Identification & Appearance" and "Where It Grows" sections are searched for fixed words - gills, pores, ridges, spines, bracket, puffball, funnel; cap colours; wood, meadow, conifer and broadleaf trees; centimetre figures for size; the seasons. The German twin of this page reads the same English text, so both languages show the same features. They are a first cut, not an identification: a profile may name more colours than the filter shows, and a mushroom in the field may not look like the text.
What this page does not do: it does not say what is edible, and it does not replace an expert. The red "poisonous" / "deadly" mark appears only on mushrooms whose own profile says so - its absence does not mean a mushroom is safe. For every candidate, read the profile's lookalike section, and then the profile of the lookalike.
Sources and help
- North American Mycological Association - poisoning information and how to find a local society: namyco.org
- If poisoning is suspected: your national poison control line or emergency services - keep the remains and take photos.
- The profiles themselves, with their "Identification & Appearance", "Where It Grows" and "Safety note" sections (linked on every card).
Free to quote with a link back to this page. Recomputed on every build of the site.