Welcome to Mushroom World

Step into the fascinating world of mushrooms with Mushroom World - your go-to resource for fungi information. Our site is a comprehensive resource offering information and stunning images of mushrooms. 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.

Since there are thousands of known species of mushrooms, we have tried to limit those we list to the most common ones. New species are also continuously added to the site.

So come on in 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.

Below is an overview of the main features and functionalities of our site.

Browse the database

You can browse the database from the alphabetical list or search the database based on mushroom names or properties.

Help identify a mushroom

If you know the characteristics of a mushroom but need help identifying it, try using our mushroom identification helper. It is a tool designed to assist you in identifying mushrooms that you may come across. If you're new to mushroom identification, be sure to check out our mushroom identification basics guide for an easy introduction to key features and terminology.

Identification Quiz

We have also created a quiz where you can test your fungi identification knowledge. You can repeat the quiz as many times as you want, each time with new questions.

Upload mushroom pictures

If you have pictures of mushrooms you would like to have included on our site, please use the upload form to upload these files and we will see if we can include them.

Today's Mushroom

Today's mushroom is Lactarius turpis (Ugly Milkcap). It grows in Europe.

Dimensions: Cap 5-15 cm diameter, stem 4-8 cm tall * 1-2.5 cm thick

Description: Lactarius turpis, also known as Ugly Milkcap, is a large, dull olive-brown agaric that is typically slimy or sticky and exudes white milk. The appearance is distinctive and the English name is very appropriate. It grows solitary or in scattered groups on soil in damp places under birch.

Cap margin at first involute with a somewhat depressed centre. The upper surface is olive-brown or yellow-green and is often sticky or slimy in the middle. When young it has velvety zones and may be shaggy at the rim. Later it becomes funnel-shaped and the colour darkens to blackish. Gills initially dirty white, stained olive-brown by old milk. They are fairly narrow, crowded and decurrent (extending downward). Damaged gills release plentiful white latex that dries to an olivaceous colour. Stem colour similar to that of the cap or lighter. It has a cylindrical shape that tapers towards the base, and there is no ring present on the stem. Spore print creamy white.

Microscopic Features: Spores are ellipsoidal, measuring 6.5-7.5 x 5.5-6μm. They have a textured surface with warty ridges that form a distinct network.

Lactarius turpis on the www.first-nature.com web site.

This site contains no information about the edibility or toxicity of the mushroom.

If you are interested in this mushroom, look it up in our database. You can find more detailed pictures there.

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.