Small Mushrooms on Soil

These small to medium sized mushrooms are mostly saprobic, found on soil in the forest amongst litter and mosses, and some of the exotic species amongst grass in lawns (e.g. Panaeolus). This group includes the mostly brightly-coloured wax-gill fungi (Gliophorus, Hygrocybe, Hygrophorus, Humidicutis). Included here is the ectomycorrhizal genus Inocybe, species of which are difficult to distinguish without a microscope. Some species of the large ectomycorrhizal genus Cortinarius are also very small, but none are treated here (see under Large Mushrooms on Soil). The wax gills, Lepiota, Cantharellus, and Lichenomphalia all have white spores. Lepiota species are very delicate and have a well-developed ring on the stalk, which often becomes loose as the mushrooms becomes older. Cantharellus has poorly developed gills which are almost fold-like. Lichenomphalia is common at high altitiudes in Sphagnum bogs. The genus Entoloma, characterised by its pink spores, is extremely diverse, and its species difficult to distinguish. Panaeolus and Coprinus have blackish spores, in Inocybe they are rusty brown.

 

NameImageDescriptionNZFungi Entry

Cantharellus

Spore print white. Caps often distorted in shape, sunken in the centre and somewhat funnel-shaped. The gills are poorly developed, with a fold-like appearance. The stalk is short and has no ring. Brightly coloured, often in large swarms on the forest floor.
The bright yellow Cantharellus wellingtonensis is common throughout the country. Its biology is uncertain, but is particularly com...

Coprinus

The "ink-cap" mushrooms, characterised by the gills and cap collapsing into an black, inky mass as they mature. Flesh thin and delicate. Most species are small, the caps often more or less oval in shape, but the tall cylindric Coprinus comatus (shaggy mane) is up to 25 cm high. The small species are often found in large clumps, either on soil or dead wood. They can appear and be gone again ...

Entoloma

Small to medium sized, always on soil, cap smooth, gills attached to stalk, stalk central, without ring, spore print pink (gills typically with pinkish bloom when mature).
More than 60 species have been reported for New Zealand. Often difficult to identify to species level. Colour is an important character, but the differences in colour are often subtle, and colour is influenced by age of th...

Gliophorus

Gliophorus is one of the wax-gill mushrooms, a group of small, brightly-coloured, saprobic, soil-inhabiting fungi which have brittle flesh with a waxy feel when crushed between the fingers. The main genera of wax-gills are Hygrophorus, Humidicutis, Hygrocybe and Gliophorus. Gliophorus is recognised by the thick glutinous coating over the surface, the caps ...

Humidicutis

Humidicutis is one of the wax-gill mushrooms, a group of small, brightly-coloured, saprobic, soil-inhabiting fungi which have brittle flesh with a waxy feel when crushed between the fingers. The main genera of wax-gills are Hygrophorus, Humidicutis, Hygrocybe and Gliophorus. Gliophorus is recognised by the thick glutinous coating over the surface, the caps...

Hygrocybe

Hygrocybe is one of the wax-gill mushrooms, a group of small, brightly-coloured, saprobic, soil-inhabiting fungi which have brittle flesh with a waxy feel when crushed between the fingers. The main genera of wax-gills are Hygrophorus, Humidicutis, Hygrocybe and Gliophorus. Gliophorus is recognised by the thick glutinous coating over the surface, the caps o...

Hygrophorus

Hygrophorus is one of the wax-gill mushrooms, a group of small, mostly brightly-coloured, saprobic, soil-inhabiting fungi which have brittle flesh with a waxy feel when crushed between the fingers. The main genera of wax-gills are Hygrophorus, Humidicutis, Hygrocybe and Gliophorus. Hygrophorus species are typically dull in colour. Gliophorus is reco...

Inocybe

Small, dull brown mushrooms, found only on soil, most species with a dry, hairy or fibrillose cap, gills covered by cobweb-like veil when young, spore print dull brown in colour.
There are at least 12 species in New Zealand, including some exotic species (under pine and oak). In addition there are 12 species of the closely related genus Astrosporina, distinguished from Inocybe ...

Laccaria

Small fungi the size of a one or two dollar coin with a flattish cap that is usually either pink or violet, always on soil. The stem is central and fibrous, with no ring. They have thick and quite widely spaced gills which are flesh pink or violaceous and in older specimens are covered in white spores. Spore print white.
Laccaria is well represented in New Zealand with 12 species, sev...

Lepiota

Small, delicate, thin-fleshed mushrooms, always on soil, cap dry, with brown scale-like patches, white flesh becoming exposed as these break apart as the caps expand. Always with a ring on the narrow stalk, the ring sometimes becoming loose and detached. Gills white, free. Spore print white.
Although common in New Zealand forests, the genus is very poorly understood for New Zealand. Saprobes...

Lichenomphalia

Small yellow or orange mushrooms common amongst moss in swampy areas. The smooth cap is characteristically sunken in centre, gills extending down stalk. No ring on stalk. Spore print white.
Lichenised, associated with an alga, although the algal partner is restricted to near the base of the stalk. Common in Sphagnum bogs, especially at high altitudes.
Other small, soil-inhabiting mush...

Panaeolus

Delicate, thin-fleshed mushrooms on soil amongst grasses, dull brownish, bell-shaped to conical cap, narrow stalk with no ring. The sides of the gills are typically mottled in appearance. Spore print black.
Saprobes on soil and dung. Several species have been reported from New Zealand. All found on lawns and wood chip mulches and all presumed to have been introduced.
Can be confused wi...