Big Volvariella     Section

This is a key to gilled mushrooms, that is, mushrooms having a definite cap with a fertile surface consisting of gills. The fruiting body usually also has a stem, although that may be lateral or absent (usually, then, the mushroom is growing from wood). You can use this key to identify mushrooms that you find.

Fruiting body containing fibers (usually in the stalk)

Spores pink or reddish

Gills free
Often growing on wood

With a saccate volva, or cup, at the base of the stalk
On a variety of substrates
Cap typically (but not in this picture) bluntly conical, not umbonate or convex

Diagnosis

• Cap typically more than 2" across

Narrow down your identification:

Cap up to 8" across; silky; white
On deciduous wood or wounds on living hardwoods
Volva whitish, with dingy light brown areas

Cap up to 6" across; white to light grey or light brown; glabrous; viscid when fresh or wet
Volva white
Grows on just about everything, even dung, which is unusual for a Volvariella

Cap up to 4" across; brownish grey; with blackish virgate streaks
Volva large; brownish, at least towards the top
On organic debris in greenhouses or other situations where it can be warm all year

Glossary

Mushrooms

People

Newsletter

Events