Gomphidius     Genus

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)

Spore print smoky-olive to black
Gills very decurrent, becoming smoky in age from developing spores
Cap typically slimy, or at least viscid
Under conifers only

Gomphidius     Genus     Fries

Diagnosis

• Flesh (and gills, before they become colored by developing spores) white to greyish
  
• Stalk typically yellow at the base (in one case it can be pinkish at the base)

Narrow down your identification:

• Slimy partial veil present in young fruiting bodies, leaving the stem viscid in mature fruiting bodies
  
• This veil often leaves a slimy ring on the stalk, which becomes black as falling spores collect on it

• Slimy partial veil not present in young fruiting bodies
  
• Stem not viscid in mature fruiting bodies

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