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The Pacific Northwest Key Council is dedicated to the creation and publication of field keys to the fungi of the Pacific Northwest. It was initiated in 1974 by Kit Scates of Post Falls, Idaho, and developed with the support and supervision of Dr. Joseph Ammirati and the late Dr. Daniel Stuntz, both of the University of Washington. The geographic area covered is southern British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and western Montana. The Key Council develops, refines, and field tests keys to selected species and genera of mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest. The mushroom characteristics in the keys are based on macroscopic features that can be seen by the naked eye or hand lens. All keys are subject to peer review and editing before publication. Key Council membership, which is by invitation, includes both professional mycologists and amateurs. |
For information on online keys contact Ian Gibson |
The following mushroom keys or trial keys were introduced by November 2026. Other possible keys are The following are currently considered too difficult: Cortinarius, Crepidotus, Galerina, expanded Clitocybe, and Truffles. Agaricus I 1981 Margaret Dilly, update 2026 Agaricus II 1997 Laverne Chariton, update 2026 Agrocybe 1985 Carl Hermanson, update 2017 Amanita 1986 Don Goetz, 1998 Janet Lindgren, revised 2014 Armillaria 2001 Tom Volk Bird's Nests 1981 Marguerite Fay, Kit Scates, Robert Ramsey, update 2019 Boletes 1982 Kit Scates, update 2019 Cantharellaceae 1978 Tina & Gerry Gospodnetich - see Chanterelles Chanterelles 2003 Pilz, Norvell, Danell, Molina, update 2023 Chlorophyllum 2007 Richard Sieger, update 2012 Clitocybe 2002 Sara Clark, update 2017 Club-shaped Fungi 2007 Ian Gibson, update 2017 Collybioid species Helen Kirkwood 1992, revised Buck McAdoo 2003, 2010, 2026 Conocybe 2008 Ian Gibson, update 2017 Coprinoid Species 1981 Fred Van De Bogart, update 2023 Cortinarius 1981 Daniel Stuntz (withdrawn as outdated) Crusts and Parchments notes, Stereum key 2007 Ian Gibson, update 2019 Cystoderma 1977 N. Laycock and R. Sandahl, update 2019 Entolomataceae 1996 Robert Ramsay, minor revisions 2002, 2019 Geoglossaceae 1983 Richard Sieger Gilled Boletes 2011 Ian Gibson, update 2017 Gomphidiaceae 1980 Kit Scates-Barnhart, update 2017 Gymnopilus 1994 Harley Barnhart, update 2017 Helvellaceae 2001 Herold Treibs, update 2019 Hygrophorus 1975 Daniel Stuntz, update 2026 Hypomyces 2008 Ian Gibson, update 2017 Inocybe 1978 Daniel Stuntz, minor update Ian Gibson 2004 Inocybe 2008 Brandon Matheny Jelly Fungi 2008 Ian Gibson, update 2017 Key to Keys 2002 Ian Gibson, update 2023 Laccaria 2012 Anne Leathem and Brian Didier Lactarius 1997 Coleman Leuthy, update 2019 Lentinus/Lentinellus 1979 Tak Mochizuki, update 2019 Lepiotaceae 1998, 2003 Richard Sieger Lepista 1981 Gene Butler, update 2004 Limacella 1981 Kit Scates-Barnhart, update 2019 Lyophyllum and Allies 2010 Ian Gibson Marasmioid fungi 2005 Jack Murphy, update 2019 Melanoleuca 2008 Ian Gibson, update 2019 Mycenoid Species - 1981 Amy Miller, additions by Ian Gibson 2004 Panaeolus 1980 Gary Menser, update 2019 Pezizaceae 1988 Elsie Coulter, update 2017 Pezizales 1980 H.J. Larsen, 2003 additions Ian Gibson, update 2017 Phaeocollybia 1975 Christel Goetz, 2010 Lorelei Norvell and Ron Exeter, update 2023 Pholiota 1981 Tina Gospodnetich & Kit Scates-Barnhart, update 2023 Pleurotus & allies 1981 Dorothy Brown, 2003 update Ian Gibson, update 2019 Polypores 1982 Daniel Stuntz, 2006 revised James Ginns, update 2019 Puffballs & Earthstars 1978 Robert Ramsey, update 2019 Ramaria I 1981 Kit Scates, revised Michael Beug 2010 Ramaria II 2006 Ron Exeter Russula I 1989 Ben Woo Russula II 2007 Christine Roberts Sarcodon 1978 Dorothy Henderson, 2007, update 2019 Sarcosomataceae 1982 Robert Maguire, update 2017 Sclerodermataceae 1993 Robert Ramsey, update 2019 Squamanita 2007 Ian Gibson, update 2023 Stereum 2007 Ian Gibson, update 2017 Strophariaceae 2009 Paul Kroeger Toothed Fungi 1981 Dorothy Henderson, 2007 additions Ian Gibson Tremellales 1978 Joy Spurr Tricholoma 1996 Coleman Leuthy, minor update 2023 Tricholomopsis 1975 Elsie Coulter Veined Fungi that are not Chanterelles 2007, update 2023 Volvariella 2012 Gene Butler Woody Desert Fungi 1977, update 2017 Xeromphalina 2008 Ian Gibson, update 2017 |