Systematic Resources

Fungal Descriptions and Keys On-Line

This list is alphabetical by genus (e.g. Agaricus, Mycena), group (e.g. Boletales, Marasmioid Fungi), or location (e.g. California, Costa Rica).

Agaricaceae: Key to genera in the Agaricaceae in California
Key to agaricoid members of the Agaricaceae, including Lepiotaceae, in California Based on both macroscopical and microscopical characters [PDF]
Agaricus: Trail Key to Common Agaricus Species of the Central California Coast
"The Fungi of California" key by Fred Stevens [PDF]
Agaricus: Trial field key to the species of Agaricus in the Pacific Northwest
A Pacific Northwest Key Council Agaricus key #1. Also available as a MS Word file.
Agaricus: Trial field key to the species of Agaricus in the Pacific Northwest
A Pacific Northwest Key Council Agaricus key #2. Also available as a MS Word file.
Agarics and Boletes: Generic Keys
Keys to the British Genera of Agarics and Boleti.
Agrocybe: Trial field key to the species of Agrocybe in the Pacific Northwest
A Pacific Northwest Key Council key. Also available as a RTF file.
Amanita: Trial key to the species of Amanita in the Pacific Northwest
A Pacific Northwest Key Council key by Janet Lindgren. Also available as a RTF file.
Amanita: Amanita Studies
Over 500 species described. With many photographs and extensive keys. By Rodham E. Tulloss.
Arcangeliella: Keys
Key to the Genus Arcangeliella in California by Herb Saylor and Key to Arcangeliella in the Western United States by Dr. H. D. Thiers. [PDF]
Armillaria: The state of taxonomy of the genus Armillaria
By Tom Volk and Hal Burdsall. Especially useful here is the Key to Armillaria.
Armillaria: Armillaria in the Pacific Northwest
A Pacific Northwest Key Council key. Also available as a MS Word file.
Armillaria: Field key to suspected British species of Armillaria
Keys by Roy Watling.
"Astrogastraceus Series": MICH Fungal Bioinformatics Project
Keys, descriptions and illustrations to Gymnomyces, Martellia, Zelleromyces, Octavianina, and Hydnangium. From "Singer, R. and A. H. Smith. 1960. Studies on secotiaceous fungi. IX. The asrogastraceus series. Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 21(3): 1-112."
Bird's Nest Fungi: Trial field key to the species of Bird's Nest Fungi in the Pacific Northwest
A Pacific Northwest Key Council key. Also available as a RTF file.
Boletaceae: The Boletes of California
The MykoWeb on-line reprint of "Thiers, Harry D. 1975. California Mushrooms: A Field Guide to the Boletes. New York, NY: Hafner Press. 261p." Includes keys and complete descriptions of all species of the Boletaceae known from California in 1975.
Boletaceae: The Boletes of Michigan
The complete contents of "Smith, A.H. & Thiers, H.D. (1971). The Boletes of Michigan. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press. 426p." From the "University of Michigan Herbarium Fungus Monographs". Each page is available as image, PDF, or text. Poorly implemented and hard-to-use, but it's all here.
Boletaceae: Draft Key to Some Bolete Genera
By Roy Halling [PDF].
Boletaceae: Trial field key to the Boletes in the Pacific Northwest
A Pacific Northwest Key Council key. Also available as a RTF file.
California: The Fungi of California
Descriptions of over 400 species of California fungi, over 530 species illustrated with over 3400 photographs. Included are links to other descriptions and photos on the web for the species covered.
California: Key to the Common Mushrooms and Other Fungi of Salt Point
By Mike Davis, Department of Plant Pathology, University of California, Davis
Canada: George Barron's Fungi of Canada -- East
Photographs of mostly Eastern Canadian/Northeastern US species, most with a short description.
Chanterelles: Key to Pacific Northwest Chanterelles
Chanterelle-Like Mushrooms, and Look-Alikes. Selections from "Ecology and Management of Commercially Harvested Chanterelle Mushrooms" By David Pilz, Lorelei Norvell, Eric Danell, and Randy Molina. Also available as a MS Word file.
Chanterelles: Veined Fungi of the Pacific Northwest
A Pacific Northwest Key Council key. "The term Veined Fungi covers the genera Cantharellus, Craterellus, Gomphus, and Polyozellus, (the chanterelles), and some other species whose spore-bearing surface is wrinkled, veined or ridged, but not gill-like." Also available as a RTF file.
Chlorophyllum: Key to the agaricoid species of Chlorophyllum in North America.
Key by Dr. Elsa Vellinga [PDF]
Chlorophyllum: What’s Become of Macrolepiota Rachodes?
A Pacific Northwest Key Council key. Also available as a MS Word file.
Clavariod Fungi: Key to the genera of clavarioid fungi in Northern Europe
A PDF file by Jens H. Petersen.
Clitocybe: Trial field key of selected species of Clitocybe in the Pacific Northwest
A Pacific Northwest Key Council key. Also available as a MS Word file.
Club Fungi: Trial field key to Club Fungi in the Pacific Northwest
"Club fungi as understood here include the upright, unbranched fungi that do not fit into other morphological groups. There are not only clavate (club-shaped) fungi, but cylindric fungi, and upright fungi with differentiated heads. Both ascomycetes and basidiomycetes are included." Also available as a MS Word file and a RTF file.
Collybia : A revision of Collybia s.l. in the NE United States and adjacent Canada
This is a revised edition of "Halling, Roy E. 1983. The genus Collybia (Agaricales) in the Northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. Mycologia Memoirs 8: 1-148." Three genera are recognized: Collybia s.s., Gymnopus, and Rhodocollybia. Included are keys, descriptions, photographs, and illustrations of the microscopic features. Unfortunately the introductory sections from the book dealing with history, nomenclature, taxonomic features, and materials and methods are not included in the on-line revised reprint. Even without the introductory sections, this is an excellent resource.
Coprinus s.l.: Coprinus-site
The very informative Coprinus site by Kees Uljé. Go to the Index to get to the descriptions. Many species are illustrated by photographs and/or illustrations of microscopic features. Included are Keys and a downloadable mushroom identification program. An excellent resource.
Coprinus s.l.: Trial Field Key to Coprinus in the wide sense
This Pacific Northwest Key Council by Dr. Fred Van De Bogart key covers Section Coprinus, Section Lanatuli and Section Atramentarii. Revisions and additions by Ian Gibson and Harvey Janszen. Also available as a RTF file.
Cortinarius: Myxacium and Phlegmacium
Introduction and keys by P. D. Orton.
Cortinarius: Inoloma and Dermocybe
Introduction and keys by P. D. Orton.
Costa Rica: Macrofungi of Costa Rica
Photographs, photomicrographs and descriptions of over 170 species. Included are keys to some groups.
Crepidotus: North American species of Crepidotus
The complete contents of "Hesler, L.R. & Smith, A.H. (1965). North American Species of Crepidotus. New York, NY: Hafner Publishing Company. 168 p. + 18 pl." This is the MykoWeb re-print of the Hesler & Smith monograph.
Crepidotus: North American species of Crepidotus
The complete contents of "Hesler, L.R. & Smith, A.H. (1965). North American Species of Crepidotus. New York, NY: Hafner Publishing Company. 168p." From the "University of Michigan Herbarium Fungus Monographs". Each page is available as image, PDF, or text. Poorly implemented and hard-to-use, but it's all here.
Crepidotus: Crepidotus in the Pacific Northwest
A Pacific Northwest Key Council key by by Ian Gibson. Also available as a RTF file.
Cup Fungi: Cup Fungi of the Pacific Northwest
A Pacific Northwest Key Council key by by Ian Gibson. Also available as a RTF file.
Cystoderma: Trial field key to the species of Cystoderma in the Pacific Northwest
A Pacific Northwest Key Council key. Also available as a RTF file.
Cystolepiota: Key to the Cystolepiota species in western North America
Key by Dr. Elsa Vellinga [PDF]
Dermocybe: Key to Cortinarius subgenus Dermocybe
A key to the species of Dermocybe found in the Nordic countries.
Ecuador: Fungi of Ecuador
Photos of 1200 Ecuadoran fungi, with collection records, etc.
Entoloma: Entoloma: characteristics
An introduction to the study of the genus with a synopsis of the genus and its sections. Some species are illustrated. By Machiel Noordeloos.
Entolomataceae: Trial field key to the species of Entolomataceae in the Pacific Northwest
A Pacific Northwest Key Council key. Also available as a RTF file.
Europe: MycoKey
A synoptic key to the genera of macrofungi of North Europe. Includes 280 genera and 1080 illustrated species.
Flammulina: The Genus Flammulina
"A Tennessee Tutorial". This is a monograph of the 12 species of Flammulina.
Galerina: A monograph on the genus Galerina Earle
The complete contents of "Smith, A.H. & Singer, R. (1964). A Monograph of the Genus Galerina Earle. New York, NY: Hafner Publishing Company. 384p." From the "University of Michigan Herbarium Fungus Monographs". Each page is available as image, PDF, or text. Poorly implemented and hard-to-use, but it's all here.
Gasteromycetes: Key to the Gasteromycetes of Great Britain
Key by V. Demoulin and J. V. R. Marr
Gomphidiaceae: Field key to Gomphidiaceae in the Pacific Northwest
Keys to Gomphidius and Chroogomphus. A Pacific Northwest Key Council key. Also available as a RTF file.
Greater Antilles: Basidiomycetes of the Greater Antilles
Photographs of over 220 species with keys to selected taxa.
Gymnopilus: A Trial Key to Gymnopilus in the Pacific Northwest
A Pacific Northwest Key Council key. Also available as a RTF file.
Gymnopusoid Fungi: Gymnopusoid Fungi in the Pacific Northwest
Key to Collybia, Rhodocollybia, Dendrocollybia, and Gymnopus. A Pacific Northwest Key Council key.Also available as a RTF file.
Hawaiian Islands: Agaricales of the Hawaiian Islands
Photographs with comments on 84 species, a few with complete descriptions. Includes keys to selected taxa.
Hebeloma: The veiled species of Hebeloma in the western United States
The complete contents of "Smith, A.H., Evenson, V.S. & Mitchel, D.H. (1983). The Veiled Species of Hebeloma in the Western United States. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press. 219p." From the "University of Michigan Herbarium Fungus Monographs". Each page is available as image, PDF, or text. Poorly implemented and hard-to-use, but it's all here.
Helvellaceae: Trial Key to Helvellaceae in the Pacific Northwest
Key to Discina, Gyromitra, and Helvella. A Pacific Northwest Key Council key.Also available as a RTF file.
Hemimycena: Hemimycena: A difficult genus?
Generic concepts of Hemimycena by Machiel Noordeloos.
Hygrophorus s.l.: North American species of Hygrophorus
The complete contents of "Hesler, L.R. & Smith, A.H. (1963). North American Species of Hygrophorus. Knoxville, TN: University of Tennessee Press. 416p." From the "University of Michigan Herbarium Fungus Monographs". Each page is available as image, PDF, or text. Poorly implemented and hard-to-use, but it's all here.
Hygrophorus s.l.: Trial field key to the species of Hygrophorus in the Pacific Northwest
A Pacific Northwest Key Council key. Also available as a RTF file.
Hypocreales: Hypocreales of the Southeastern United States
Keys, descriptions, and photographs
Hypogeous and Gastroid Basidiomycetes: Key
A Field Key to the Common Genera of Hypogeous and Gastroid Basidiomycetes of North America by Dr. Steven Miller. Also available as a PDF.
Hypomyces: Systematic Botany and Mycology Laboratory: Hypomyces (Fungi, Ascomycetes, Hypocreales)
An interactive key with descriptions and over 500 images for the 30 species of Hypomyces that represent a majority of the Hypomyces found in temperate regions.
Hypoxylon: Keys to British Species of Hypoxylon
From Bulletin of BMS by A.J.S. Whalley.
Inocybe: Artificial Key to Common and Noteworthy Species of Inocybe from the Pacific Northwest
Key by P. Brandon Matheny (PDF)
Inocybe: Interim "Skeleton Key" to some common species of Inocybe
A Pacific Northwest Key Council key.Also available as a RTF file.
Laccaria: The Mushroom Genus Laccaria in North America
Essentially an on-line reprint of "Mueller, G. M. 1992. Systematics of Laccaria (Agaricales) in the Continental United States and Canada, With Discussions on Extralimital Taxa and Descriptions of Extant Types. Fieldiana: Botany, n.s., 30: 1-158." This is a monograph of Laccaria in North America, complete with descriptions, photographs, drawings of microscopic characters and SEM spore photographs. Includes a pictorial key. An excellent resource.
Lactarius: North American species of Lactarius
The complete contents of "Hesler, L.R. & Smith, A.H. (1979). North American Species of Lactarius. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press. 841p." From the "University of Michigan Herbarium Fungus Monographs". Each page is available as image, PDF, or text. Poorly implemented and hard-to-use, but it's all here.
Lactarius: Key to species of Lactarius in the Pacific Northwest
A macroscopic field key by the Pacific Northwest Key Council. Also available as a MS Word file and a RTF file.
Lactarius: Synoptic key to British species of Lactarius
By Patrick Leonard.
Leccinum: The genus Leccinum in Western and Central Europe
Keys, descriptions, and photographs.
Leccinum: Key to the genus Leccinum in Great Britian
A "user-friendly" key by G. Kibby.
Lasiosphaeriaceae: Studies in the Lasiosphaeriaceae
Monographs of two key genera and a family-level phylogeny.
Lentinellus & Neolintenellus: Trial field key to species of Lentinellus and Neolentinellus in the Pacific Northwest
A Pacific Northwest Key Council key. Also available as a RTF file.
Lepiota s.l.: Nomenclatural Overview of Lepiotaceous Fungi
A pdf file by Dr. Else Vellinga, listing c. 1400 epithets published in Lepiota and allied genera
Lichens: Lichen determination keys

Keys to to various groups of lichens.

Lepiota & Allies: Trial Key to Pacific Northwest Lepiota and Allies
A Pacific Northwest Key Council key. Also available as a RTF file.
Limacella: Trial field key to the species of Limacella in the Pacific Northwest
A Pacific Northwest Key Council key. Also available as a RTF file.
Lycoperdaceae and Geastraceae: Trial field key to the Lycoperdaceae and Geastraceae in the Pacific Northwest
A Pacific Northwest Key Council key. Also available as a RTF file.
Marasmioid Fungi: Trial Key to species of Marasmioid fungi in the Pacific Northwest
Key to Baeospora, Crinipellis, Marasmiellus, Marasmius, Micromphale, and Strobilurus. A Pacific Northwest Key Council key. Also available as a MS Word file.
Miscellanea: University of Paisley: Index to the kingdom Fungi
Photographs and descriptions of selected taxa.
Mollisia: Key for mollisioid Dermateaceae
Provisional key.
Morels: Morels & False Morels of the Pacific Northwest
An Introduction by Ian Gibson. Also available as a RTF file.
Mycena: North American Species of Mycena
The complete contents of "Smith, A.H. (1947). North American Species of Mycena. Ann Arbor, MI: Univ. of Michigan Press. 521 p." From the "University of Michigan Herbarium Fungus Monographs". Each page is available as image, PDF, or text. Poorly implemented and hard-to-use, but it's all here.
Mycena: A Key to the Mycenas of Norway
A key to the Norwegian species of Mycena, with descriptions and photographs.
Mycenoid Fungi: Trial Key to the Mycenoid Species in the Pacific Northwest
A key to Mycena, Hemimycena, Chromosera, Fayodia, Gamundia, Hydropus, Mycenella, Myxomphalia, Resinomycena, and Rickenella. A Pacific Northwest Key Council key (unabridged version). Also available as a MS Word file.
Mycenoid Fungi: Trial Key to the Mycenoid Species in the Pacific Northwest
A Pacific Northwest Key Council key. "This shorter key includes the Mycenoid species that are colorful, exude juice, have slime on the stem, or have stems that attach by a disc or bulb. The genera are Mycena, Chromosera, Hydropus, and Rickenella." Also available as a RTF file.
Nidulariaceae: Trial field key to the species of Nidulariaceae in the Pacific Northwest
A Pacific Northwest Key Council key. Also available as a RTF file.
Pacific Northwest (USA): Pacific Northwest Key Council
Keys to Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest. A fabulous resource!
Panaeolus: Trial field key to the species of Panaeolus in the Pacific Northwest
A Pacific Northwest Key Council key. Also available as a RTF file.
Peziza: British Fungi -- Key to Peziza
Key by Brian Spooner.
Pezizaceae: Trial field key to the Pezizaceae in the Pacific Northwest
This key to the Pezizaceae includes the genera Pachyella, Peziza, Plicaria and Sarcosphaera. Also available as a RTF file.

Pezizales: PezWeb

Useful introductory material dealing with the features and characters of the Pezizales. Includes a "Preliminary Checklist of the Pezizales of Western North America".

Pezizales: Systematic Studies in Discomycetes: Pezizales

Keys and photographs are included.

Pezizales: Key to the genera of the operculate cup-fungi (Pezizales) of the Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountain Region

A Pacific Northwest Key Council key. Also available as a RTF file.

Phaeocollybia: MICH Fungal Bioinformatics Project

Keys and descriptions from "Smith, A. H. 1957. A contribution towards a monograph of Phaeocollybia. Brittonia 9: 195-217."

Phlegmacium: The Phlegmacium Website

Commented photographs of Cortinarius subgenus Phegmacium from Europe.

Pholiota: North American species of Pholiota

The complete contents of "Smith, A.H. & Hesler, L.R. (1968). The North American Species of Pholiota. New York, NY: Hafner Publishing Company. 492p. + 90 pl." This is the MykoWeb re-print of the Smith & Hesler monograph.

Pholiota: North American species of Pholiota

The complete contents of "Smith, A.H. & Hesler, L.R. (1968). The North American Species of Pholiota. New York, NY: Hafner Publishing Company. 492p." From the "University of Michigan Herbarium Fungus Monographs". Each page is available as image, PDF, or text. Poorly implemented and hard-to-use, but it's all here.

Pholiota: Trial key to the species of Pholiota in the Pacific Northwest

A Pacific Northwest Key Council key. Also available as a RTF file.

Pleurotoid species: Trial field key to the Pleurotoid species in the Pacific Northwest

A Pacific Northwest Key Council key. Also available as a RTF file.

Pleurotus: Biological Species in Pleurotus

A discussion of "biological species" or "intersterility groups" of Pleurotus. Included are photographs and keys.

Poland: Mushrooms and Fungi of Poland

Good descriptions (in Polish, with some parts in English) and photographs of about 300 species. Very useful is the Index of fungi pages or photographs on The Net (in English), which includes links to over 3700 pages or photographs. Unfortunately the site has started adding multiple watermarks to each photograph, which greatly reduces the appeal of the site.

Polyporaceae: Key to the genera of the Polyporaceae

Introduction and keys to the British genera of the Polyporaceae by D. N. Pegler.

Polypores: Annotated key to the Pacific Northwest Polypores

A Pacific Northwest Key Council key by J. Ginns. Also available as a MS Word file.

Psathyrella: North American species of Psathyrella

The complete contents of "Smith, A.H. (1972). The North American Species of Psathyrella (Mem. NY. Bot. Gard.: 24). Bronx, NY: New York Botanical Garden. 521p." From the "University of Michigan Herbarium Fungus Monographs". Each page is available as image, PDF, or text. Poorly implemented and hard-to-use, but it's all here.

Psilocybe: Psilocybe

Characteristics and a key to the European species of Psilocybe, sections Psilocybe & Coprophilae by Machiel Noordeloos.

Puffballs: Puffballs and their allies in Michigan

The complete contents of "Smith, A.H. (1951). Puffballs and their allies in Michigan. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press. 131p." From the "University of Michigan Herbarium Fungus Monographs". Each page is available as image, PDF, or text. Poorly implemented and hard-to-use, but it's all here.

Ramaria: Ramaria: Trial Key to the Pacific Northwest Species

A Pacific Northwest Key Council microscopic key by Ron Exeter. Also available as a RTF file.

Ramaria: Trial Field Key to species of Ramaria in the Pacific Northwest

A Pacific Northwest Key Council key by Kit Scates Barnhart & Michael Beug. Also available as a RTF file.

Resupinate Fungi: Resupinate Aphyllophorales

Descriptions, nomenclature, and photos of wood-inhabiting aphyllophorales and heterobasidiomycetes from Southern Switzerland.

Rhizopogon: A preliminary account of the North American species of Rhizopogon

The complete contents of "Smith, A.H. & Zeller, S.M. (1966). A Preliminary Account of the North American Species of Rhizopogon. Bronx, NY: New York Botanical Gardens. 177p." From the "University of Michigan Herbarium Fungus Monographs". Each page is available as image, PDF, or text. Poorly implemented and hard-to-use, but it's all here.

Rhizopogon: Key to Common Western Oregon Species of Rhizopogon

Key by Matt Trappe. Also available as a MS Word file.

Russula: Trial field key to the species of Russula in the Pacific Northwest

A Pacific Northwest Key Council key . Also available as a MS Word file.

Russula: On-line synoptic key to the species of Russula in North America

Key by Geoffrey Kibby and Raymond Fatto.

Russula: Keys and Descriptions of Russulas found in southern Vancouver Island coastal forests

Keys and complete macroscopic and microscopic descriptions, with color photos, drawings of microscopic features and photomicrographs. This is a huge PDF file (54 MB).

Russulales: The Russulales Website

Includes a "Visual Guide to Characteristics of Russula and Lactarius", some photographs, and PDFs of some recent papers.

Russulales: Russulales News

Descriptions, photographs, and keys. To see examples of what kind of information planned for all species, go here.

Sarcodon: Trial field key to Sarcodon in the Pacific Northwest

A Pacific Northwest Key Council key. Also available as a RTF file.

Sarcosomataceae: Trial field key to the species of Sarcosomataceae in the Pacific Northwest

A Pacific Northwest Key Council key. Also available as a RTF file.

Sclerodermataceae: Trial field key to the species of Sclerodermataceae in the Pacific Northwest

A Pacific Northwest Key Council key. Also available as a RTF file.

Sclerotiniaceae & Rutstroemiaceae: Synoptic keys to the inoperculate stromatic discomycetes in the Nordic countries: Sclerotiniaceae & Rutstroemiaceae

Squamanita: Squamanita in the Pacific Northwest

A Pacific Northwest Key Council key. Also available as a RTF file.

Stereum: Selected Crust & Parchment Fungi in the Pacific Northwest with a key to Stereum species

A Pacific Northwest Key Council key by Ian Gibson. Also available as a RTF file.

Tephrocybe: Keys to the genus Tephrocybe in Great Britian

By P. D. Orton.

Toothed Fungi: Trial field key to Toothed Fungi in the Pacific Northwest

Keya to Auriscalpium, Hericium, Hydnum, Phellodon, Pseudohydnum, and Bankera. A Pacific Northwest Key Council key. Also available as a RTF file. Also available as a RTF file.

Tricholoma: Key to Tricholoma of Quebec

A key to approximately 50 species.

Tricholoma: A Skeleton Trial Key to Tricholoma in the Pacific Northwest

A Pacific Northwest Key Council key. Also available as a RTF file.

Tricholomopsis: MICH Fungal Bioinformatics Project

Keys and descriptions from "Smith, A. H. 1960. Tricholomopsis (Agaricales) in the western hemisphere. Brittonia 12: 41-70."

Tricholomopsis: Trial field key to the species of Tricholomopsis in the Pacific Northwest

A Pacific Northwest Key Council key. Also available as a RTF file.

Truffles: Keys to the Genera of Truffles (Ascomycetes)

By James M. Trappe and Michael A. Castellano. Also available as an MS Word file.

U.S.A./China: Comparative Studies on the Macrofungi of China and Eastern North America

Discussion and some photographs.

Xylariaceae: Home of the Xylariaceae

Mongographs of the following genera of the Xylariaceae: Biscogniauxia, Creosphaeria, Daldinia, Discoxylaria, Entoleuca, Hypoxylon, Jumillera, Kretzschmaria, Kretzschmariella, Stilbohypoxylon, Vivantia, and Whalleya. Descriptions, photographs, and keys included. An excellent resource.

Zygomycetes: Zygomycetes

This website describes Zygomycetes, which are fungi that reproduce sexually by forming zygospores.