Ascomycetes | Basidiomycetes | Classifications | Fruit Body Structure | Slime Molds
Tricholomataceae
This is a VERY large and diverse family!! It's members all have light spore print colours. They do not have a cup or a volva at the base of the stem which is mostly present except a few individuals do lack the stem.
Group: Clitocybe
In this group the caps are sometimes depressed or flat. They all have
whitish spore prints. No veil, (ring around the stalk), or volva, (cup at
the base of the stem) present. Found mostly growing from the ground but a
few grow on wood.
Clitocybe Fragrans
This mushroom was found on the lawn of a house in Havelock North in July,
2000. It seemed to be growing in a ring.
Cap: Soft and looks waxy. Tan or off-white in colour.2-3cm in
diameter. Convex in shape when young but then notably depressed in the
center.
Gills: Tan or off-white. Attached to stalk and running down it
slightly.
Spore Print: White
Stem: Darker in colour than the cap and gills with almost a brownish
or reddish tinge. 5mm thick and 2-3cm high.
Edibility: Unknown to me!! Some clitocybes are edible but they are
easily confused with other poisonous species and some react with alcohol. So
best try something else.
This is a very persistent mushroom, I saw the ring every day for at least three weeks without showing any signs of rotting or deterioration.
Group: Unknown
I am not sure under which group to place these species, they are not
necessarily from the same group, but they do belong to this family.
Hohenbuehelia Podocarpi
Found at Te Mata Trust Park in Havelock North in July, 2000. Growing from a
small broken and decaying branch.
Cap: 0.5-3cm wide. Fan to bracket like shaped. Upper surface a dirty
gray colour and covered in small white hairs. Margin of the cap reasonably
wavy.
Gills: White. Close together.
Spore print: White. ( see link below )
Stem: Absent.
Edibility: Unknown. (DON'T EAT IT!!)
Oudemansiella Australis
I found this mushroom from February to the end of July, 2000 at Tangoia
Falls, Hawkes Bay and Te Mata Trust Park in Havelock North. Grows on dead
wood. You can walk right past this mushroom without seeing it, I have
usually found it growing high up on dead tree branches. But it is a
relatively heavy mushroom and often falls to the ground!! I have also found
it on fallen branches
Cap: 8-10cm in diameter but smaller when younger. All white but
slightly off-white towards the center.
Gills:
Widely spaced, relatively thick and
joined by veins. White in colour.
Spore print: White. (See link below, with other pictures)
Stem: Fleshy not hollow. Slightly flattend at the connection with the
cap.
Edibility: Unknown. But if it is, we'll find out!!
This is my all time favorite wild mushroom!! There is something about coming
across this bright white mushroom in the middle of the bush. Spectacular
appearance. 
Not only that, but when backlit by the sun it gives an amazing display, I
think this is one of the most photogenic mushrooms around.
Group: Laccaria
Mushrooms in this group grow from the ground or from forest ground littler.
No veil or volva, (ring around the stem or cup at the base of the stem). Cap
can be centrally depressed but sometimes uplifted. Gills are usually waxy in
appearance and joined to the stem.
Laccaria Tortilis
I found this mushroom in a plant bed at work and also in one of our orchards
from the lawn, single or in groups. From February to March, and July, 2000.
Cap: 1-2cm in diameter, can be slightly bigger or smaller. A dull
reddish brown colour as a whole.
Gill: Thick and widely spaced, slightly waxy appearance. Slightly
paler in colour than the cap but still reddish. Joined to stem and running
down it.
Spore print: White. (see link below, with other picture)
Stem: Darker in colour than the cap, dark reddish brown. 2mm thick
and about 1.5cm high. No ring or volva present.
Edibility: Edible. But as always, you need to be sure of your
identification
Group: Marasmius & Collybia
Some members of this group have free gills while other run down the stem.
Spore prints are usually white to off-white. Veil and volva are absent.
Flammulina velutipes (Enokitake Mushroom)
Also called 'Velvet Foot Mushroom'. I found this mushroom growing from dead
wood from February to July, 2000 at Te Mata Trust Park in Havelock North.
Cap: 2-10cm in diameter. Orange yellow in colour but darker towards
the center. Smooth texture but slimy. Starts off convex in shape but then
becomes flattened.
Gills: Pale yellow in colour. Free from stalk or just barely
attached.
Spore print: White.
Stem: 3-10mm thick and 4-8cm high. Light coloured at the top but the
lower half is a dark browny colour and covered in hairs giving it a velvety
appearance, hence the name Velvet Foot.
Edibility: Edible. This is another mushroom that is commercialized
and can be bought from some supermarkets at an expensive price. It is grown
in a different form having very long stalks and small caps and is sometimes
called the 'Golden Needle Mushroom' for this reason.
Click here to
see more photos of this mushrooms
Unknown group
This fungus looks like a pore fungus but is actually an Agaric with inflated gills.
Favolaschia calocera (Orange Pore Fungi)
This fungus was quite abundant in Te Mata Trust Park from May through to the
end of July, 2000. Growing on dead and rotting wood, also found in the
Manawatu Gorge Track!! In large groups.
Cap: Bright orange to yellowish with a relatively bumpy surface,
otherwise smooth with no hairs or scales!! About 0.5-3cm in diameter.
Pores: Wide and well spaced, more like holes. Same colour as the cap
surface.
Spore print: White
Stem: Very short, 3-5mm long. Laterally joined to cap.
Handling this fungus stains the fingers orange.
Group: Pleurotus
This group mainly grows on wood. Some are parasitic while others are saprophytes. Most have lateral stems that grow out of the host, some better developed than others. This group includes some of the more important cultivated edible species in the world.
Pleurotus Opuntiae
This mushroom seems to be quite common growing on dead cabbage
trees,(Cordyline australis) in New Zealand. An exciting edible find if
picked fresh (before the maggots get stuck in).
Can be purchased from the supermarket occasionally. (similar species).
Other species (not available in New Zealand) can be quite colorful, some are
bright yellow, pink and sometimes gray.
Fairly easy to grow. Quite fragrant. Has a short lateral stem that is tough
in texture.
This is a fairly large growing mushroom to about
30cm cap diameter.
Gills run down the stem. White in colour.
WARNING
Different people react differently to different mushrooms.
NEVER eat a wild mushroom without being 100% sure it is safe to do so.
Best Gourmet Mushrooms in New Zealand
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Last Update
12 Feb 2007