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 Conocybe apala (Milky Conecap). It grows in North America and Europe.
Dimensions: Cap 0.8-1.5 cm diameter, stem 3-6 cm tall * 0.2-0.3 cm thick
Description:
Conocybe apala, also known as Conocybe albipes and commonly referred to as the Milky Conecap, is a delicate, small agaric mushroom often found sprouting amidst short green grass in lawns, parks, and pastures. Recognizable by its fragile, conical cap that typically ranges in colour from pale cream to white, this mushroom has a fleeting presence, often appearing after rain and withering quickly under the sun. This species plays a minor role in the ecosystem, aiding in the breakdown of organic matter within grassy environments. Whether you're a mycologist or a casual mushroom enthusiast, spotting the Milky Conecap is a reminder of the diversity and ephemeral beauty found in the world of fungi.
Cap pale cream to silvery-white colour and may sometimes have a darker yellow to brown colouration towards the central umbo. Its hood-shaped conical cap expands with age and may flatten out, the surface being marked by minute radiating ridges. Gills adnexed or free, rust-coloured or cinnamon brown and quite dense. The gills may be visible through the thin cap. Stem coloured as the cap, elongated, thin, hollow and more or less equal along its length. The stem has no ring and is extremely fragile. Spore print rust-brown.
Microscopic Features: Spores are ellipsoidal, measuring 11-14μm in length and 6.5-9μm in width. They have thick walls and a broad apical germ pore.
Conocybe apala on the First Nature Web site.
Conocybe apala 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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