Explore Mushrooms
An A to Z directory of medicinal, culinary and psychedelic mushrooms with scientific names, the main documented caution for each, and a link to its own guide.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Supplements can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read mushroom safety and interactions before you use any mushroom product.
This directory lists the mushroom guides on this site by common name. The scientific name is shown because labels, studies and databases often use different names for the same fungus, and a study result only applies to the species and product that was tested. The caution column gives one documented point from the sources we read. It is not a full safety review, so please open the guide before using any product. Not sure how the terms "medicinal" and "functional" are used? Start with What Are Medicinal Mushrooms?
Medicinal and functional mushrooms
These are the mushrooms most often sold as supplements or described in traditional medicine. A listing here is not a statement that a mushroom works. Each guide separates traditional use from research.
| Common name | Scientific name | Key caution in the sources we read | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agaricus subrufescens (also sold as "Agaricus blazei") | Agaricus subrufescens Peck; A. blazei and A. brasiliensis are names used for the same Brazilian mushroom [1][2] | A case report in a cancer patient linked liver enzyme changes to a product containing it, together with lion's mane. [3] | More about Agaricus subrufescens (also sold as "Agaricus blazei") → |
| Antrodia and other medicinal polypores | Taiwanofungus camphoratus; Antrodia cinnamomea is a synonym. Phellinus linteus is listed as a synonym of Tropicoporus linteus. [2] | Names have changed, so check which species a study or label means. [2] | More about Antrodia and other medicinal polypores → |
| Chaga | Inonotus obliquus [2] | Kidney injury from oxalate (oxalate nephropathy) has been reported after chaga powder. Clinical studies of safety and effectiveness are lacking. [4] | More about Chaga → |
| Cordyceps (cultivated) | Cordyceps militaris [2] | A label that says only "Cordyceps" does not say which species is inside. Sources describe possible added effects with diabetes and blood-thinning medicines. [5] | More about Cordyceps (cultivated) → |
| Cordyceps (wild caterpillar fungus) | Ophiocordyceps sinensis; the old name Cordyceps sinensis is now a synonym [2][6] | Same medicine cautions as above. [5] | More about Cordyceps (wild caterpillar fungus) → |
| Lion's mane | Hericium erinaceus [2] | Stomach discomfort, headache and allergic reactions are listed as possible side effects. [7] | More about Lion's mane → |
| Maitake | Grifola frondosa [2] | A case report describes a raised INR with warfarin, and maitake may add to diabetes medicines. [8] | More about Maitake → |
| Poria (fu ling) | Wolfiporia cocos; Poria cocos is a synonym [2] | Proper evidence not found in the sources we read for a specific caution; see the guide. | More about Poria (fu ling) → |
| Reishi (lingzhi) | Ganoderma lucidum; products may name G. lingzhi, which one database lists as a synonym of G. sichuanense [2] | Reports of liver injury (one fatal), a bleeding caution with anticoagulants and antiplatelets, and a caution with immunosuppressants. [9] | More about Reishi (lingzhi) → |
| Shiitake | Lentinula edodes [2] | A rash called shiitake dermatitis followed raw or undercooked shiitake in a poison center series. [10] | More about Shiitake → |
| Tremella (snow fungus) | Tremella fuciformis [2] | Proper evidence not found in the sources we read for a specific caution; see the guide. | More about Tremella (snow fungus) → |
| Turkey tail | Trametes versicolor; Coriolus versicolor is a synonym [2] | PSK, a medicine developed in Japan from this fungus, is a different thing from turkey tail supplements. [11] | More about Turkey tail → |
Edible and culinary mushrooms
These are foods. The guides cover nutrition, cooking and storage, not supplement claims.
| Common name | Scientific name | Key caution | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Button, cremini and portobello | Agaricus bisporus [2] | Food mushrooms; the guide covers cooking and storage. | More about Button, cremini and portobello → |
| Chanterelle | Cantharellus cibarius [2] | If wild-picked, a photo or phone app is not a safe test: apps were not reliable enough to rule out poisonous mushrooms. [12] | More about Chanterelle → |
| Enoki | Flammulina filiformis and F. velutipes are both listed as accepted names [2] | Food mushroom; see the guide for food-safety notes. | More about Enoki → |
| King oyster | Pleurotus eryngii [2] | Food mushroom; the guide covers cooking and storage. | More about King oyster → |
| Morel | Genus Morchella (several species) [2] | If wild-picked, apps and photos are not reliable enough to rule out poisonous mushrooms. [12] | More about Morel → |
| Oyster | Pleurotus ostreatus [2] | Food mushroom; the guide covers cooking and storage. | More about Oyster → |
| Porcini | Boletus edulis [2] | If wild-picked, apps and photos are not reliable enough to rule out poisonous mushrooms. [12] | More about Porcini → |
| Wood ear | Genus Auricularia (several species) [2] | Food mushroom; see the guide for preparation notes. | More about Wood ear → |
Psychedelic and poisonous fungi (link only)
Psilocybin and Amanita mushrooms are a different subject from medicinal mushrooms. They are covered in separate guides, and this site gives no use or preparation information for them. See Medicinal vs Psychedelic Mushrooms for how they differ.
| Fungus | Scientific name | Where to read more |
|---|---|---|
| Psilocybe mushrooms | Genus Psilocybe [2] | More about Psilocybe mushrooms → |
| Psilocybin truffles (sclerotia) | Sold as "magic truffles"; the name refers to Psilocybe sclerotia [13] | More about Psilocybin truffles (sclerotia) → |
| Fly agaric | Amanita muscaria [2] | More about Fly agaric → |
| Panther cap | Amanita pantherina [2] | More about Panther cap → |
| Panaeolus cyanescens | Panaeolus cyanescens [2] | More about Panaeolus cyanescens → |
What this directory does not cover
It does not help you recognize any mushroom. Never eat a wild mushroom on the strength of a photo, a name or an app. If someone has eaten a wild mushroom, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US) without waiting for symptoms, and call 911 for collapse, seizure, or severe vomiting with confusion. Read Plant and Mushroom Poisoning. For medicines, pregnancy, surgery and quality, see How Interactions Work and Quality Testing and Certifications.
Frequently asked questions
Is every mushroom here safe to take as a supplement?
No. Listing a mushroom in a directory is not a safety or effectiveness statement. In the US, FDA is not authorized to approve dietary supplements for safety and effectiveness before they are marketed. [14] Ask a pharmacist or clinician about your own medicines and conditions. [15]
Why do some mushrooms have two scientific names?
Names change when scientists revise classification. For example, the wild caterpillar fungus was once called Cordyceps sinensis, and a major classification study split the old genus into several. [6] A database such as GBIF records the older name as a synonym of the accepted one. [2]
Are reishi and lingzhi the same mushroom?
Not always. GBIF currently lists Ganoderma lingzhi as a synonym of G. sichuanense, while papers still compare G. lingzhi with G. lucidum as separate species. [2][16] See Mushroom Names.
Does a mushroom that is a safe food also work as a supplement?
Not necessarily. Food portions and concentrated products differ, and a result for one form does not transfer to another. Shiitake is eaten as food, yet undercooked shiitake caused rashes in a poison center series. [10]
Where do I report a bad reaction or get urgent help?
For a suspected poisoning in the US, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222, or 911 in an emergency. For side-effect reporting, see Side Effects, Allergic Reactions and Reporting.
References
- Kerrigan RW. Agaricus subrufescens, a cultivated edible and medicinal mushroom, and its synonyms. Mycologia. 2005. PubMed 16389952. Read 2026-10-23.
- GBIF Secretariat. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Names checked through the species match API (api.gbif.org/v1/species/match) on 2026-10-23. Read 2026-10-23.
- Strobbe G, Jeanjacquot M, Potey C, et al. Grade 3 cytolysis in a patient with metastatic colorectal cancer consuming a mushroom powder-based alternative therapy. J Oncol Pharm Pract. 2025. PubMed 39223928. Read 2026-10-23.
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Chaga Mushroom. Read 2026-10-23.
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Cordyceps. Read 2026-10-23.
- Sung GH, Hywel-Jones NL, Sung JM, et al. Phylogenetic classification of Cordyceps and the clavicipitaceous fungi. Stud Mycol. 2007. PubMed 18490993. Read 2026-10-23.
- Menon A, Jalal A, Arshad Z, Nawaz FA, Kashyap R. Benefits, side effects, and uses of Hericium erinaceus as a supplement: a systematic review. Front Nutr. 2025. PubMed 40959699. Read 2026-10-23.
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Maitake. Read 2026-10-23.
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Reishi Mushroom. Read 2026-10-23.
- Boels D, Greillet C, Langrand J, et al. Shiitake dermatitis: experience of the Poison Control Centre Network in France from 2014 to 2019. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2022. PubMed 35404185. Read 2026-10-23.
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Coriolus versicolor (Turkey Tail). Read 2026-10-23.
- Hodgson SE, McKenzie C, May TW, Greene SL. A comparison of the accuracy of mushroom identification applications using digital photographs. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2023. PubMed 36794335. Read 2026-10-23.
- Pellegrini M, Rotolo MC, Marchei E, et al. Magic truffles or Philosopher's stones: a legal way to sell psilocybin? Drug Test Anal. 2013. PubMed 22887928. Read 2026-10-23.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Information for Consumers on Using Dietary Supplements. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Using Dietary Supplements Wisely. Read 2026-10-23.
- Pavlik M, Zhou S, Zhang J, et al. Comparative analysis of triterpene composition between Ganoderma lingzhi from China and G. lucidum from Slovakia under different growing conditions. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2020. PubMed 33389873. Read 2026-10-23.