An overview of illustrations and explanations of different types of gills, which are extremely helpful for identifying mushroom species.
![](https://fungiroom.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/skiver.jpg)
Illustrations taken from Wikipedia user Debivort with license: CC-BY-3.0.
![](https://fungiroom.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/frie_skiver_free_Debivort.png)
Free
The gills do not have contact with the stem
![](https://fungiroom.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/avrundet_Adnexed_Debivort.png)
Adnexed
The gills have some contact to the stem
![](https://fungiroom.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/tilvokste_Adnate_Debivort.png)
Adnate
The discs have wide contact with the stem, whilst also growing at a similar angle to the stem.
![](https://fungiroom.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/nedlopende_Decurrent_Debivort.png)
Decurrent
The gills clearly grow down along the stem.
![](https://fungiroom.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/svakt_nedlopende_Subdecurrent_Debivort.png)
Subdecurrent
The gills are attached downwards along the stem, but only slightly. N.b this is not always visible.
![](https://fungiroom.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/utrandet_Emarginate_Debivort.png)
Emarginate
alt. Recessed
The gills recess along the stem.
![](https://fungiroom.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/utrandet_med_tann_Sinuate_debivort.png)
Sinuate
alt. Recessed with notches
Gill are recessed at the innermost part of the stem, but also a descent into notches along the stem.
![](https://fungiroom.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/losnet_Seceding_Debivort.png)
Seceding
The gills are well established in young fungi, but in older specimins the edges will break away. You can sometimes see remnants of this still attached to the stem.