Agaricales are your stereotypical mushroom -- an umbrella-like cap with gills on the underside radiating from a centrally positioned stalk. While some members vary slightly from this formula (for example the Boletes have pores instead of gills underneath the cap) the Agaricales stereotype is so strong that people often exclaim "That's a mushroom?!" when shown members of just about any other mushroom order.

The following are but a few Agaricales:

L-R: Amanita Family (Amanitaceae), Agaricus Family(Agaricaceae), Russula Family (Russulaceae) (Golden Milk Cap -- Lactarius alnicola)

The Tricholoma Family (Tricholomataceae) is quite large and varied. Pictured here is but a small sampling of this family (L-R): Laccarria (Amethyst Laccaria -- Laccaria amethysteo-occidentalis), Omphalotus (Western Jack-O-Lantern -- Omphalotus olivascens), and Lentinus (Train Wrecker -- Lentinus lepideus)

L-R: Gomphidius Family (Gomphidiaceae) (Gomphidius oregonensis), Coprinus Family (Coprinaceae) (Shaggy Mane -- Coprinus comatus), Waxy Cap Family (Hygrophoracea) (Scarlet Waxy Cap Hygrocybe punicea)

And, of course, the aforementioned Bolete Family (Boletaceae). Here is a King Bolete (Porcini, Cepes, Boletus edulis) held by the author.

As you can see, even though the Agaricales all follow the same general form, they still come in an impressive variety of shapes, colors, sizes, and habitats.

Phylum: Basidiomycota (spores produced on basidia)

Class: Homobasidiomycetae (substantial mushrooms)

Subclass: Hymenomycetes (release spores gradually)

Order: Agaricales (umbrella-like mushrooms)

Families: various