Leucocoprinus

Leucocoprinus
Leucocoprinus birnbaumii
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Agaricales
Family: Nidulariaceae
Genus: Leucocoprinus
Pat. (1888)
Type species
Leucocoprinus cepistipes
(Sowerby) Pat. (1889)
Synonyms
Leucocoprinus
Mycological characteristics
Gills on hymenium
Cap is ovate or umbonate
Hymenium is free
Stipe has a ring
Spore print is white
Ecology is saprotrophic
Edibility is unknown or poisonous

Leucocoprinus is a genus of fungi in the family Agaricaceae. The best-known member is the distinctive yellow mushroom Leucocoprinus birnbaumii, which is found in plant pots and greenhouses worldwide. The type species is Leucocoprinus cepistipes. The genus has a widespread distribution and since many members of the Leucoagaricus genus were transferred to Leucocoprinus in 2024 it contains over 240 recognised species. Prior to this reclassification species described as Leucocoprinus often tended to be found in tropical regions whereas many species described as Leucoagaricus were found in temperate regions however there is now no such distinction with Leucocoprinus species frequently found in diverse habitats worldwide.