Family: Agaricaceae

Fungi:> Basidiomycota:> Agaricomycetes:> Agaricales:> Agaricaceae:> Agaricus, Bovista, Calvatia, Chlorophyllum, Coprinus, Lepiota, Leucoagaricus, Leucocoprinus, Lycoperdon, 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 woodchip mulch.

Resently DNA evidence has moved a number of other familys 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 campestris
cf. var floccipes

Agaricus lanipes

Agaricus praeclaresquamosus

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 echinatum

Cystolepiota

Cystolepiota petasiformis

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.

Genus: Chlorophyllum

Genus: Lepiota

Chlorophyllum rachodes

Lepiota americana

Genus: Lepiota Unidentified

The fungi below are those that I have been unable to identify beyond there genus. This maybe due to me miss understanding the keys or a species that has not yet been described (named).

Lepiota species

Genus: Leucoagaricus

Leucoagaricus Unidentified

Leucoagaricus leucothites

Leucoagaricus species

Genus: Leucocoprinus

Leucocoprinus birnbaumii

Leucocoprinus cepistipes

Leucocoprinus cretaceus

Leucocoprinus fragilissimus

Genus: Macrolepiota

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

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

Bovista species

Genus: Calvatia

Calvatia cyathiformis

Calvatia excipuliformis

Calvatia gigantea

Lycoperdon sp.

Genus: Lycoperdon

Lycoperdon perlatum

Lycoperdon compactum

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