Volvariella speciosa

Key to Gilled Mushrooms Key

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.

Agaricales Order

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

Big Volvariella Section

Cap typically more than 2" across

Volvariella speciosa (Fries) Singer

Here are the characters that distinguish this species from the others in its group. For its more general characters, see higher up on the page.
If there's just a few words or a microscopic feature here, a more thorough description can be found above.

Diagnosis

Cap up to 6" across; white to light grey or light brown; glabrous; viscid when fresh or wet
Volva white
Grows on just about everything, even dung, which is unusual for a Volvariella

Microscropic Characters

Spores 11.5-21 x 7-12.5 µm

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Volvariella speciosa

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

Cap typically more than 2" across

Volvariella speciosa (Fries) Singer

Diagnosis

Microscropic Characters

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