Mushroom Names: Why Scientific Names and Name Changes Matter
Why the scientific name on a mushroom label matters, with documented name changes for reishi, cordyceps, Agaricus, enoki, poria and turkey tail, and how names affect what a study can say.
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Safety first. Supplements can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read mushroom safety and interactions before you use any mushroom product.
Common names for mushrooms are loose. "Cordyceps" can mean more than one fungus. "Reishi" and "lingzhi" may or may not mean the same species. A study of one species or one product cannot be assumed to apply to another, so the scientific name, the part used and the form are the most useful things to look for on a label. This page explains the main name traps. It does not help you recognize any mushroom in nature, and it should never be used that way.
How to read a scientific name
A scientific name has a genus and a species, such as Hericium erinaceus. Sometimes an author's name follows it. When scientists revise how fungi are classified, a species can move to another genus, and the old name becomes a synonym. Databases such as GBIF record which name is currently accepted and which are synonyms. We checked the names on this page in GBIF's species match service on 2026-10-23. [1] Other databases, such as MycoBank and NCBI Taxonomy, were not checked for this page, and a name accepted in one may differ in another.
Name traps documented in the sources
| Name on a label or in older papers | What the sources say | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Ganoderma lingzhi and G. lucidum (reishi, lingzhi) | GBIF lists G. lucidum as accepted and G. lingzhi as a synonym of G. sichuanense. [1] Research papers still compare G. lingzhi with G. lucidum as similar but separate species. [2] | Studies may use either name. In one comparison the two were clearly separable by protein profile. [3] |
| Cordyceps sinensis | A synonym of Ophiocordyceps sinensis in GBIF. [1] A 2007 classification study rejected the idea that Cordyceps is a single natural group, and placed Ophiocordyceps in a new family. [4] | Old papers and some labels still use the old name. |
| Cordyceps militaris | Accepted name. [1] The same study treats it as the type of Cordyceps, in the family Cordycipitaceae. [4] | A different fungus from O. sinensis, so results for one do not carry to the other. See Cordyceps militaris vs Ophiocordyceps sinensis. |
| Agaricus blazei, A. brasiliensis | A 2005 study found a strong case that the Brazilian mushroom sold under these names is the same species as Agaricus subrufescens. [5] GBIF lists A. subrufescens as accepted. [1] | Product labels and case reports may use the older name. See Agaricus subrufescens. |
| Flammulina filiformis and F. velutipes (enoki) | GBIF lists both as accepted names. [1] | The same food may appear under either name. |
| Poria cocos | A synonym of Wolfiporia cocos in GBIF. [1] | Old texts and labels may use Poria. See Poria. |
| Coriolus versicolor | A synonym of Trametes versicolor (turkey tail) in GBIF. [1] | Medicine and supplement papers may use either name. See Turkey tail. |
| Antrodia cinnamomea | A synonym of Taiwanofungus camphoratus in GBIF. [1] | Labels and studies may use the older name. |
| Phellinus linteus | Listed as a synonym of Tropicoporus linteus in GBIF. [1] | The same species may appear under different genus names. |
Reishi in more detail
Papers describe Ganoderma lingzhi as a mushroom long used as a medicinal mushroom in East Asia, and G. lucidum as a close relative found across much of the world. [2] In a study that grew both in Slovakia and China, G. lucidum had more low-polarity triterpenes and G. lingzhi more high-polarity triterpenes. [2] In another study, variation between strains of G. lucidum reached up to 56% in the measurements reported, and antioxidant content was strain-dependent. [3] So a species name alone does not guarantee a product's makeup. See Reishi Species, Spores, Fruiting Body and Mycelium Products.
Why the part and form matter too
A correct name is only a start. Processing such as milling, drying or extraction can remove the features that identify a fungus, and this is particularly difficult for samples containing mycelia. [6] DNA barcoding has been used to check identity in powdered mycelium, store-bought mushrooms and supplement capsules. [6] Read How Mushrooms Are Grown and Processed for Supplements and How to Read a Mushroom Supplement Label.
Frequently asked questions
What is the correct scientific name for reishi?
It depends on the source. GBIF lists Ganoderma lucidum as accepted and treats G. lingzhi as a synonym of G. sichuanense, while papers still compare G. lingzhi and G. lucidum as separate species. [1][2] Check the name used in any study you read.
Is Cordyceps sinensis the same as Cordyceps militaris?
No. Cordyceps sinensis is an old name for Ophiocordyceps sinensis, while Cordyceps militaris is the type species of Cordyceps. [1][4]
Is Agaricus blazei the same as Agaricus subrufescens?
A 2005 study found a strong case that the Brazilian mushroom sold as A. blazei is conspecific with A. subrufescens. [5]
Can the same species give different products?
Yes. Even within one species, strain and growing conditions changed the compounds measured in reishi studies. [3][2]
Why does a name change matter for safety?
Reports and studies may use an older name. For example, a case report on liver enzyme changes names the product's mushroom as Agaricus blazei Murril. [9] Searching only one name can miss information. Ask a pharmacist to check a product by its full scientific name and part used.
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Safety
A name on a bottle is not a safety check. Supplements can interact with medicines or carry risks in certain conditions or before surgery, so talk with a clinician or pharmacist. [7] See How Interactions Work and Quality Testing and Certifications. Never use a name, photo or app to decide that a wild mushroom is safe to eat: identification apps tested against poison center cases were not reliable enough to exclude poisonous mushrooms. [8] After a possible poisoning call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US); call 911 for collapse, seizure, or severe vomiting with confusion.
For the full list of guides, see the A to Z directory.
References
- 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.
- 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.
- Fraile-Fabero R, Ozcariz-Fermoselle MV, Oria-de-Rueda-Salgueiro JA, et al. Differences in antioxidants, polyphenols, protein digestibility and nutritional profile between Ganoderma lingzhi from industrial crops in Asia and Ganoderma lucidum from cultivation and Iberian origin. Foods. 2021. PubMed 34441528. 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.
- Kerrigan RW. Agaricus subrufescens, a cultivated edible and medicinal mushroom, and its synonyms. Mycologia. 2005. PubMed 16389952. Read 2026-10-23.
- Raja HA, Baker TR, Little JG, Oberlies NH. DNA barcoding for identification of consumer-relevant mushrooms: a partial solution for product certification? Food Chem. 2017. PubMed 27507489. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Using Dietary Supplements Wisely. 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.
- 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.