70 Totally Amazing Common Names for Fungi

By Caitlin Schneider |
ISTOCK PHOTO
ISTOCK PHOTO / ISTOCK PHOTO

Elaphocordyceps ophioglossoides—in case you didn’t know—is a species of fungus, and while its scientific name is certainly elegant, it doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. As such, it has a recommended common name: Snaketongue Truffleclub.

The British Mycological Society has an enormous list of fungi species with their scientific and common English names. It’s a lexical journey that does not disappoint, and seriously, if someone doesn’t feel compelled to pursue mycology and/or get a killer band name out of this, we’ll be very disappointed.

1. Pavement Mushroom // Agaricus bitorquis

2. Bearded Fieldcap // Agrocybe molesta

3. Pink Disco // Aleurodiscus wakefieldiae

4. Snakeskin Grisette // Amanita ceciliae

5. False Deathcap // Amanita citrina

6. Destroying Angel // Amanita virosa

7. Upper Crust // Amaurodon cyaneus

8. Club Foot // Ampulloclitocybe clavipes

9. Hair Sedge Smut // Anthracoidea capillaris

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Bulbous Honey Fungus.Tom Jutte via Flickr // CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

10. Bulbous Honey Fungus // Armillaria gallica

11. Purple Jellydisc // Ascocoryne sarcoides

12. Powdery Piggyback // Asterophora lycoperdoides

13. Barometer Earthstar // Astraeus hygrometricus

14. Drab Tooth // Bankera fuligineoalba

15. Lemon Disco // Bisporella citrina

16. The Pretender // Boletus pseudoregius

17. The Humpback // Cantharellula umbonata

18. Dewdrop Dapperling // Chamaemyces fracidus

19. Gassy Webcap // Cortinarius traganus

20. Golden Navel // Chrysomphalina chrysophylla

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Devil's Fingers fungi. BiteYourBum.com via Flickr // CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

21. Devil's Fingers // Clathrus archeri

22. Skinny Club // Clavaria incarnata

23. Mealy Frosted Funnel // Clitocybe ditopa

24. Lentil Shanklet // Collybia tuberosa

25. Tiger's Eye // Coltricia perennis

26. Wet Rot // Coniophora puteana

27. Distinguished Inkcap // Coprinus alopecius

28. Drumstick Truffleclub // Cordyceps capitata

29. Bug Sputnik // Cordyceps clavulata

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Turquoise Elfcup. Lynette via Flickr // CC BY-NC 2.0

30. Turquoise Elfcup // Chlorociboria aeruginosa

31. Hairy Parachute // Crinipellis scabella

32. Common Bird's Nest // Crucibulum laeve

33. Cinnamon Jellybaby // Cudonia confusa

34. Weeping Toothcrust // Dacryobolus sudans

35. King Alfred's Cakes / Cramp Balls // Daldinia concentrica

36. Dark Crazed Cap // Dermoloma pseudocuneifolium

37. Snaketongue Truffleclub // Elaphocordyceps ophioglossoides

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Witches' Butter. BiteYourBum.com via Flickr // CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

38. Witches' Butter // Exidia glandulosa

39. Elbowpatch Crust // Fomitiporia punctata

40. Funeral Bell // Galerina marginata

41. Cabbage Parachute // Gymnopus brassicolens

42. Bitter Poisonpie // Hebeloma sinapizans

43. Twisted Deceiver // Laccaria tortilis

44. Whiskery Milkcap // Lactarius mairei

45. Chicken of the Woods // Laetiporus sulphureus

46. Hairy Nuts Disco // Lanzia echinophila

47. Cat Dapperling // Lepiota felina

48. Dog's Mercury Rust // Melampsora populnea

49. Goblet Parachute // Marasmiellus vaillantii

50. Bald Knight // Melanoleuca melaleuca

51. Bedstraw Smut // Melanotaenium endogenum

52. Cryptic Bonnet // Mycena picta

53. Vampires Bane // Mycetinis scorodonius

54. Mint Mildew // Neoerysiphe galeopsidis

55. Hotlips // Octospora humosa

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Jack O Lantern. Liz West via Flickr // CC BY 2.0

56. Jack O Lantern // Omphalotus illudens

57. Mealy Oyster // Ossicaulis lignatilis

58. Midnight Disco // Pachyella violaceonigra

59. Pancake Crust // Perenniporia medulla-panis

60. Bonfire Cauliflower // Peziza proteana f. sparassoides

61. Lion Shield // Pluteus leoninus

62. Moon Carrot Rust // Puccinia libanotidis

63. The Flirt // Russula vesca

64. Potato Earthball // Scleroderma bovista

65. Contorted Strangler // Squamanita contortipes

66. Hairy Earthtongue // Trichoglossum hirsutump

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Plums and Custard. Willie Angus via Flickr // CC BY-NC 2.0

67. Plums and Custard // Tricholomopsis rutilans

68. Scurfy Twiglet // Tubaria furfuracea

69. Fingered Candlesnuff // Xylaria digitata

70. Dead Moll's Fingers // Xylaria longipes

[h/t @pourmecoffee]