A significant characteristic for the agarics in the following groups or genuses is that they have white spore prints.

Amanita

The mushrooms in this group typically have white gills, a sac-like structure (volva) or a bulb at the base of the stem, and often a rim at the base of the stem. The majority of them also have a ring on the stem.

Armillaria

The mushrooms in this group typically grow on trees and woody debris, often appearing in clusters around the base.

Cantharellus and Craterellus

The mushrooms in this group have gill-like wrinkles rather than gills on the underside of the cap.

Clitocybe

The gills run down the stem (decurrent) in most of the species and the cap is usually convex or funnel-shaped.

Collybia and Megacollybia

Mushrooms in this group have gills that are typically attached to the stem. They do not run down the stem but stop at the attachment point. The gills are usually narrow and closely spaced. The stem of Collybia mushrooms is typically thin and fibrous.

Hygrophorus

Mushrooms in this genus are known as "woodwaxes" in the UK or "waxy caps" in North America. The caps of most species are smooth and become viscid to glutinous when damp, though not all exhibit this trait. The lamellae beneath the cap are typically distant, thick, waxy, and broadly attached or decurrent.

Lepiota and Macrolepiota

Usually have rings on the stem and scales on the cap. Some are very large, some small.

Laccaria

The main species in this group are very common. The stem is fibrous and gills are usually attached to the stem and are often in shades of purple.

Lactarius

The species in this group exude droplets of milky-white, coloured or transparent liquid when damaged. The stem is usually brittle and does not have a ring or partial veil.

Marasmius

The species in this group are mostly small and white with tough flesh. The stem is typically long, thin, and tough, with a smooth or slightly fibrous texture. It is usually equal in width throughout and does not have a ring or partial veil.

Melanoleuca

The caps are normally flat with a central umbo. The stem is fibrous.

Mycena

Very small species with thin stems and mainly conical caps. Some exude a liquid on breaking the stem.

Pleurotus

Mushrooms in the Pleurotus genus, often called "oyster mushrooms," are characterized by their broad, fan-shaped or oyster-shaped caps. They grow on wood or debris. The stem is either lateral or almost absent.

Russula

Very common in woods, often with bright colours. The gills and flesh are brittle, the gills white or creamy and the stem does not have a ring or partial veil.

Tricholoma and Tricholomopsis

The species in this group are generally brown, grey, white or yellow and thick-fleshed with a stout appearance.

A significant characteristic for the agarics in the following groups is that they have a greenish spore print.

Green spored Chlorophyllum

The species in this group have greenish spores, causing them to often have greenish gills.

A significant characteristic for the agarics in the following groups or genuses is that they have either pink, brown or black spore prints.

Agaricus

The mushrooms in this genus have a cap and stem, with gills on the underside of the cap that are initially pink and then turn dark brown as the mushroom matures. The flesh of the mushroom is typically white and firm. Some have brown caps, some white.

Agrocybe

Agrocybe mushrooms are typically small to medium-sized, with brown spore prints and dry caps. Their caps can be convex, bell-shaped, or nearly flat, and their colours range from yellow-brown to tan. They grow on grass, wood chips, dung, garden mulch, or in woods.

Coprinus, Coprinopsis and Coprinellus

The mushrooms in this group are Inc Caps. The gills very quickly turn to a black liquid in most of the members of these genuses.

Cortinarius

A very large and varied genus. Most have a distinct cobweb-like partial veil called a cortina that covers the gills when the mushroom is young, but often disappears as the mushroom matures. All Cortinarius mushrooms have spores that are rusty brown, and their caps can range in colour from brown and red to purple and yellow.

Entolomatoid Mushrooms

The gills of the species in this genus are usually attached to the stem and eventually turn pink as the pink spores mature. Most of them grow in grass.

Galerina

The mushrooms in the Galerina genus typically have a conical to bell-shaped cap, a slender stalk and gills that are attached to the stem. The caps can range from light to dark brown and may be smooth, striated, or scaly. They obtain nutrients from decomposing organic matter, meaning they often grow on tree stumps.

Hypholoma

Mushrooms in the Hypholoma genus typically have small to medium-sized agaric bodies with features like a reddish-brown cap, crowded gills, and a stem that may be curved. They often grow in clusters, lack a ring, and can be found on stumps or debris of broad-leaf or conifer trees.

Kuehneromyces

Mushrooms in the Kuehneromyces genus are characterized by their small to medium-sized fruiting bodies, typically with convex to bell-shaped caps and a central stem. They often have brown or tan colours and gills beneath the cap. They obtain nutrients from decomposing organic matter, meaning they often grow on tree stumps.

Pholiota

Mushrooms in the Pholiota genus typically grow in large clumps on wood, and are characterized by their dry caps that are often covered in scales or fibers. Some species have caps that are sticky to the touch, while others have caps that are very scaly.

Psathyrella

Mushrooms in the Psathyrella genus are typically small to medium-sized fungi characterized by their fragile, thin caps and slender stems. They often have gills that can be grey, or brown and may be attached to the stem or slightly free. Most have conical caps. They often grow in clumps.

Tapinella

Mushrooms in the Tapinella genus are characterized by their reddish-brown to dark brown velvety caps, decurrent gills, and a preference for growing on dead or decaying trees.

Instead of gills, the mushrooms in this category exhibit diverse features on the underside of their caps, such as pores, ridges, or a spongy surface.

Boletes

Boletes are a type of mushroom characterized by a fleshy, typically convex cap and almost always a porous or spongy underside instead of gills, although there are some boletes with gills. They are often found in forested areas and can range in colour from brown to red to blue.

Morchella

Mushrooms in the Morchella genus, also known as morels, are characterized by their distinctive honeycomb-like cap and hollow stem.

Gyromitra

Mushrooms in the Gyromitra genus, also known as false morels, are characterized by their irregularly shaped and brain-like caps. They are found in a variety of habitats, including forests, and can range in colour from tan to reddish-brown.

Lycoperdon, Calvatia, Bovista and other puffballs

Mushrooms in the Lycoperdon, Calvatia and Bovista genuses, also known as puffballs, are characterized by their round, ball-shaped fruiting bodies that release spores through an opening at the top. They are found in a variety of habitats, including grasslands, forests, and disturbed areas, and can range in size from just a few centimetres to over a meter in diameter.

Polypores and similar fungi

Polypores are a group of fungi that have a distinct fruiting body with pores on their undersurface. They are also known as bracket fungi because their fruiting bodies often resemble shelves or brackets that grow on trees or logs.

Tooth fungus

Tooth fungus are characterized by their tooth-like projections on the underside of their cap, instead of traditional gills. They often have a fleshy, funnel-shaped cap, and can range in color from brown to orange to yellow.

Cup fungi

Cup fungi are a group of fungi characterized by their cup-shaped fruiting bodies, which resemble small, often colourful bowls or cups. These fungi typically belong to the Ascomycota phylum and are known for their diverse colours and habitats. They are commonly found growing on decaying wood, leaf litter, or in soil.

This section contains fungi that do not fit into any of the previous sections, like for example odd and rare species.

Other

This section contains fungi that do not fit into any of the previous sections. It mainly comprises odd and rare species.