Little 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 less than 2" across

Narrow down your identification:

Cap up to 2" across; silky; white; sometimes becoming yellowish or brownish on the disk (occasionally overall) in age
Stalk white; often silky like the cap
Volva small; white; often lobed; barely wider than the stalk: almost caligate
On the ground, usually in woods and along roadsides

Cap up to 1 1/4" across; silky; white to greyish; striate
Stalk concolorous; glabrous
Volva white; fairly large in proportion to the stalk; often lobed
On the ground, usually in gardens, lawns, and greenhouses; less commonly in woods

Cap up to 2 1/4" across; grey to pinkish grey; somewhat silky; margin often lacerate in age
Volva pale grey or brown on the outside; lobed

Cap up to 1 1/4" across; grey to greyish brown
Volva white; deep; villose

Glossary

Mushrooms

People

Newsletter

Events