What this section covers
Useful scope
Species profiles connect accepted scientific names with visible characters, ecology, season, documented edibility context, cultivation, and meaningful lookalikes.
MushroomScope library
Mushroom Encyclopedia
A growing, carefully organized reference to the diverse fungi found around the world.
Editorial method
How pages are checked
Taxonomy and distribution are checked against recognized databases and specialist references. Identification statements use multiple characters rather than color or one photograph.
Important limit
Use information safely
A profile cannot authenticate a collected specimen. Never use an online page alone to decide whether a wild mushroom is edible.
Recommended clusters
Topic hubs for deeper reading
Connected species reading
Compare ecology and market names in context
These short paths connect related profiles without implying that similar appearance proves identity. Use them to compare the traits, substrates, and naming questions that separate each guide.
Grassland and cultivated Agaricus
Separate the cultivated stages in the portobello profile from the grassland context of field mushroom and the larger horse mushroom.
Wood-associated brackets
Compare the banded pores of turkey tail, the oak-associated form of beefsteak fungus, and the birch relationship documented for birch polypore.
Cultivated specialty mushrooms
Follow how cluster form and substrate differ among maitake, the gelatinous folds of wood ear, and the thick stem selected in king oyster.
Species index
Agaricus arvensis
Agaricaceae · Horse Mushroom: Ring, Odor, Staining, and Lookalikes
Europe · Asia · North America
Agaricus bisporus
Agaricaceae · Cremini Mushrooms: Button vs. Portobello, Nutrition, and Uses
Cultivated worldwide · temperate grasslands and compost-rich sites
Agaricus bisporus
Agaricaceae · Portobello Mushrooms: Mature Caps, Nutrition, and Cooking
cultivated worldwide
Agaricus campestris
Agaricaceae · Field Mushroom (Agaricus campestris): Identification and Safety Guide
Europe · Asia · North America
Armillaria mellea
Physalacriaceae · Honey Fungus: Armillaria mellea Identification and Tree Ecology
Europe · introduced or related species elsewhere
Auricularia cornea
Auriculariaceae · Cloud Ear Fungus: Auricularia cornea, Market Names, and Uses
tropical Asia · Pacific regions · Africa
Auricularia heimuer
Auriculariaceae · Auricularia heimuer: Wood Ear Mushroom Species Guide
China and East Asia · cultivated worldwide · related Auricularia species occur globally
Boletus edulis
Boletaceae · Porcini Mushrooms: Bolete Features, Tree Partners, and Safety
Europe · Asia · introduced or related porcini concepts elsewhere
Boletus pinophilus
Boletaceae · Pine Bolete: Red-Brown Cap, Pine Ecology, and Lookalikes
Europe · Asia
Calvatia gigantea
Agaricaceae · Giant Puffball (Calvatia gigantea): Identification and Safety
North America · Europe · temperate regions
Cantharellus cibarius
Cantharellaceae · Cantharellus cibarius: Chanterelle Identification Guide
Europe for Cantharellus cibarius in the strict sense · related Cantharellus species occur across North America · temperate and boreal forests of the Northern Hemisphere
Cerioporus squamosus
Polyporaceae · Cerioporus squamosus: Dryad’s Saddle Species Guide
temperate Europe · temperate Asia · North America
Coprinopsis atramentaria
Psathyrellaceae · Common Inky Cap: Alcohol Interaction, Habitat, and Lookalikes
Europe · Asia · North America
Coprinus comatus
Agaricaceae · Shaggy Mane Mushroom: Deliquescence, Habitat, and Lookalikes
Europe · North America · temperate regions elsewhere
Craterellus cornucopioides
Hydnaceae · Craterellus cornucopioides: Black trumpet Species Guide
Europe · temperate North America
Craterellus tubaeformis
Hydnaceae · Yellowfoot Chanterelle: Craterellus tubaeformis Field Guide
Europe · Asia · North America
Cyclocybe aegerita
Tubariaceae · Pioppino Mushroom Guide: Taxonomy, Cultivation, and Cooking
Europe · Mediterranean region · cultivated worldwide
Fistulina hepatica
Fistulinaceae · Beefsteak Fungus: Oak Ecology, Pores, and Lookalikes
Europe · temperate regions represented by verified occurrence data
Flammulina filiformis
Physalacriaceae · Flammulina filiformis: Cultivated Enoki Mushroom Guide
East Asia · cultivated worldwide · Flammulina relatives occur broadly in temperate regions
Flammulina velutipes
Physalacriaceae · Velvet Shank (Flammulina velutipes): Identification and Safety Guide
Europe · temperate Asia · North America
Fomes fomentarius
Polyporaceae · Tinder Fungus: Perennial Brackets, Birch Ecology, and Amadou
Europe · Asia · North America
Fomitopsis betulina
Fomitopsidaceae · Birch Polypore: Fomitopsis betulina Host and Decay Guide
Northern Hemisphere
Ganoderma applanatum
Polyporaceae · Ganoderma applanatum: Artist’s conk Species Guide
temperate regions worldwide
Ganoderma lingzhi
Ganodermataceae · Ganoderma lingzhi: Reishi Mushroom Identification and Evidence Guide
East Asia · cultivated worldwide · related Ganoderma species occur globally
Geastrum triplex
Geastraceae · Collared Earthstar: Rays, Spore Sac, and Field Records
widespread records in temperate and subtropical regions · local occurrence requires verification
Grifola frondosa
Meripilaceae · Grifola frondosa: Maitake or Hen-of-the-Woods Guide
eastern North America · Europe · Asia
Hericium coralloides
Hericiaceae · Coral Tooth Fungus (Hericium coralloides): Identification and Ecology
temperate Northern Hemisphere records · Europe · Asia
Hericium erinaceus
Hericiaceae · Hericium erinaceus: Lion’s Mane Mushroom Species Guide
Europe · Asia · North America, with regional Hericium relatives
Hydnum repandum
Hydnaceae · Hedgehog Mushroom: Teeth, Woodland Ecology, and Lookalikes
Europe · temperate regions represented by verified records
Hypomyces lactifluorum
Hypocreaceae · Lobster Mushroom (Hypomyces lactifluorum): Identification and Safety
North America · temperate forests
Hypsizygus marmoreus
Lyophyllaceae · Hypsizygus marmoreus: Beech mushroom Species Guide
East Asia · temperate regions · cultivated worldwide
Inonotus obliquus
Hymenochaetaceae · Inonotus obliquus: Chaga Species Guide
northern Europe · northern Asia · northern North America
Lactarius deliciosus
Russulaceae · Lactarius deliciosus: Saffron milk cap Species Guide
Europe · introduced with pines elsewhere
Lactarius indigo
Russulaceae · Lactarius indigo: Indigo Milk Cap Species Guide
eastern North America · Central America · parts of East Asia
Laetiporus sulphureus
Laetiporaceae · Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus): Identification and Safety
Europe · North America in the strict or related species concept · temperate regions
Lentinula edodes
Omphalotaceae · Lentinula edodes: Shiitake Mushroom Identification and Cultivation
China · Japan · Korea
Macrolepiota procera
Agaricaceae · Parasol Mushroom: Stem Pattern, Ring, Spores, and Lookalikes
Europe · Asia · Africa
Morchella species
Morchellaceae · Morels (Morchella species): Identification and Safety Guide
temperate regions worldwide · regional species complexes vary
Pholiota microspora
Strophariaceae · Nameko Mushroom: Taxonomy, Cultivation, Texture, and Safety
East Asia · cultivated worldwide
Pleurotus citrinopileatus
Pleurotaceae · Golden Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus citrinopileatus): Ecology and Growing Guide
East Asia · cultivated worldwide · naturalized North America
Pleurotus djamor
Pleurotaceae · Pink Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus djamor): Species and Growing Guide
tropical Americas · Asia · cultivated worldwide
Pleurotus eryngii
Pleurotaceae · King Oyster Mushroom: Pleurotus eryngii Ecology and Cultivation
Mediterranean region · southern Europe · North Africa
Pleurotus ostreatus
Pleurotaceae · Pleurotus ostreatus: Oyster Mushroom Identification and Growing Guide
Europe · North America · temperate Asia
Pleurotus pulmonarius
Pleurotaceae · Phoenix Oyster Mushroom: Warm-Season Ecology and Cultivation
temperate and subtropical regions
Pseudohydnum gelatinosum
· Jelly Tooth Fungus: Gelatinous Texture, Teeth, and Conifer Wood
Europe · Asia · North America
Sarcoscypha coccinea
Sarcoscyphaceae · Scarlet Elf Cup: Red Cups, Dead Wood, and Species Limits
Europe · temperate occurrence regions represented by verified records
Sparassis crispa
Sparassidaceae · Sparassis crispa: Cauliflower fungus Species Guide
Europe · northern Asia
Stropharia rugosoannulata
Strophariaceae · Stropharia rugosoannulata: Wine cap Species Guide
Europe · North America · introduced elsewhere
Suillus luteus
Suillaceae · Slippery Jack: Viscid Cap, Pine Partnership, and Safety
Europe · Asia · introduced worldwide
Trametes versicolor
Polyporaceae · Trametes versicolor: Turkey Tail Mushroom Species Guide
cosmopolitan in temperate and many subtropical regions
Tremella fuciformis
Tremellaceae · Snow Fungus: Tremella fuciformis Cultivation and Market Guide
tropical and subtropical occurrence regions · cultivated internationally
Tremella mesenterica
Tremellaceae · Witch's Butter Fungus: Yellow Jelly, Hosts, and Lookalikes
widespread temperate records · local occurrence requires verified regional data
Tricholoma matsutake
Tricholomataceae · Tricholoma matsutake: Matsutake Species Guide
East Asia · northern Europe
Volvariella volvacea
Pluteaceae · Volvariella volvacea: Paddy straw mushroom Species Guide
South Asia · Southeast Asia · cultivated in tropical regions