Melanoleuca

Melanoleuca is a genus of mushrooms in the Tricholomataceae family. Most are small to medium sized, white to brown, with white spores and close gills. They grow directly from the ground, have a nearly flat cap and a tough thin stem. The spores of members of Melanoleuca are ornamented with amyloid warts. They are difficult to identify without a microscope. DNA studies have determined that this genus is closely related to Amanita and Pluteus. The widespread genus contains about 50 species.