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.
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Try our identification quiz and see how many mushrooms you recognise. Each run gives you new questions.
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Today's Mushroom
A quick highlight from our database
Today's mushroom is Aureoboletus projectellus (Long-stemmed Bolete). It grows in Europe, North America.
Dimensions: Cap 4-14 cm diameter, stem 6-17 cm tall * 1-3 cm diameter
Description:
Aureoboletus projectellus, also known as the Long-stemmed Bolete, is a striking mushroom recognised by its tall, reticulated stem and warm brown cap. Commonly found in pine forests, especially along the eastern parts of North America, this bolete forms mycorrhizal relationships with pine trees, aiding their growth while thriving on forest floors. In recent years, it has also become established as an invasive species in parts of Europe.
Cap initially convex, gradually flattening as the mushroom matures. When young, the cap surface is dry with a velvety or slightly hairy feel, but with age it often cracks into small patches. The margin typically develops an overhanging, sterile portion projecting 1–3 mm. In terms of colour, young specimens range from pale to deep cinnamon-brown, sometimes showing dull reddish or dark reddish-brown shades, and may even carry hints of grey or olive-green, especially in fresher examples. The flesh inside is whitish, occasionally displaying rosy tones, with no notable scent. Unlike many other bolete species, it does not stain blue when cut or bruised, but instead slowly shifts to a yellow-brown colour. Pore surface pale yellow when young, gradually becoming brownish-olive as the mushroom matures. Stem usually even in thickness or may have a slightly swollen base. At first, it shows shallow, lengthwise ridges, which become wider and prominently reticulate as the mushroom matures. When fresh, the stem is slightly sticky to the touch. Its colour varies from pinkish brown to brown. The mushroom has no ring. Spore print olive-brown.
Microscopic Features: The spores are smooth, oval to spindle-shaped, and typically measure 18–33 μm in length and 7.5–12 μm in width.
Synonyms: Boletus projectellus, Boletellus projectellus, and Ceriomyces projectellus are synonyms.
Aureoboletus projectellus 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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