Family: Agaricaceae

Fungi:> Basidiomycota:> Agaricomycetes:> Agaricales:> Agaricaceae:> Agaricus, Bovista, Calvatia, Chlorophyllum, Coprinus, Crucibulum, Cyathus, Cystoderma, Lepiota, Leucoagaricus, Leucocoprinus, Lycoperdon, Macrolepiota, Melanophyllum, Morganella, Notholepiota, Nidula

This family contains several large genera of gilled saprobic fungi both native and introduced exotics that grow on grow on the ground or on organic debris, such as woodchip mulch.

Resently DNA evidence has moved a number of other familys such as Lepiotaceae, Coprinaceae and gastroid fungi, Nidulariaceae, Lycoperdaceae into the Agaricaceae as well.

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)

Coprinus comatus

Genus: Cystoderma

Cystoderma clastotrichum

Genus: Melanophyllum ( Spore print reddish or greenish when fresh, drying darker brown)

Partial veil present, often leaving fragments on cap edge.
Melanophyllum echinatum

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

Chlorophyllum rachodes

Genus: Lepiota

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 leucothites

Genus: Leucocoprinus

Leucocoprinus birnbaumii

Leucocoprinus cepistipes

Leucocoprinus cretaceus

Leucocoprinus fragilissimus

Genus: Macrolepiota

Macrolepiota clelandii

Genus: Notholepiota

Notholepiota are sequestrate fungi growing close to the soil surface. They don't release their spores, but rely on animals, insects for spreading these.

Notholepiota areolata

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

Genus: Morganella

Morganella compacta

Birdnest fungi

Another group that was untill resently in its own family Nidulariaceae but has ben moved into the Agaricaceae due to recent DNA studys. These fungi have small fruit bodies which are completely closed at first, then the top crumbles away, to leave a cup which contains spore-bearing tissue called peridioles. When raindrops land in the cup, the peridioles are propelled into the air, thus dispersing the spore.

Genus: Crucibulum

Crucibulum laeve

Genus: Cyathus

Cyathus novaezelandiae

Cyathus striatus

Cyathus olla

Genus: Nidula

Nidula niveotomentosa

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