Welcome to Mushroom World
Step into the enchanting world of fungi with Mushroom World – your trusted companion for learning about mushrooms. Whether you're a curious beginner or a seasoned nature enthusiast, our site provides clear, accessible information and beautiful images to help you better understand and appreciate the mushrooms you encounter.
If you're curious about what fungi actually are, and how they differ from plants and animals, be sure to visit our what are fungi? page for an easy-to-understand explanation.
With thousands of mushroom species known to science, we've chosen to focus on the most common and easily recognisable ones. Each entry includes helpful descriptions, identification tips, and high-quality images, and we’re always working to expand our collection with new species and updated content.
Come and explore the wonders of mushrooms with us. We hope you find our site informative, inspiring, and a valuable resource on your journey of mushroom discovery.
What you can do on Mushroom World
Browse the database
Explore mushrooms from the alphabetical list or search by name or properties.
Identify a mushroom
Know some characteristics but not the name? Use our mushroom identification helper to narrow it down.
New to identification? Start with identification basics.
Test your knowledge
Try our identification quiz and see how many mushrooms you recognise. Each run gives you new questions.
Upload your photos
Have good mushroom photos to share? Use the upload form and we will see if we can include them on the site.
Today's Mushroom
A quick highlight from our database
Today's mushroom is Coprinus comatus (Shaggy-mane Inky Cap). It grows in North America, Europe, South America.
Dimensions: Cap 5-15 cm tall * variable diameter, stem 10-30 cm tall * 1.5-2.5 cm thick
Description:
Coprinus comatus, also known as shaggy-mane ink cap is a common fungus that has a white, conical, shaggy cap which blackens and dissolves itself in black, ink-like liquid at maturity. It grows solitary, scattered or in small clusters on soil in short grass.
Cap almost cylindrical and initially covers most of its stem, later becomes conical. It is mostly white with shaggy scales, which are more pale brown at the apex. The flesh is white and fragile. Gills free from the stem, very crowded, white, becoming pinkish, then black. Finally turning to black "ink". Stem white, hollow, smooth, often very tall, slightly swollen at the base and sometimes rooting. It has a loose ring that is white, thin and often slipping down the stem towards the base. Spore print black.
Microscopic Features: The spores have an ellipsoidal shape and are smooth in texture. They measure 9-13 x 7-9.5µm and have a germ pore positioned centrally or slightly eccentrically.
Coprinus comatus on the First Nature Web site.
Coprinus comatus on the mykoweb.com web site.
Coprinus comatus on the MushroomExpert.Com Web site.
If you are interested in this mushroom, look it up in our database for more detailed photographs and additional information.
Many mushrooms are poisonous, and some can be lethally toxic. Distinguishing between edible and poisonous mushrooms can be very challenging. Therefore, we strongly advise against consuming wild mushrooms. This website does not contain any information about the edibility or toxicity of mushrooms.
Although efforts have been made to ensure accuracy on this website, the information may contain errors and omissions. Therefore, all content provided is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be relied upon or used as a basis for consuming any plants or mushrooms.
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