Michael Davis
Mushrooms are a delicious addition to many dishes, but not all mushrooms are edible, and some are even poisonous. One of the ways to identify mushrooms is by looking at their gills. In mycology, a gill is a papery hymenophore rib under the cap of some mushroom species, most often agarics. They are used by the mushrooms for spore dispersal and are important for species identification. While gills are a common feature of mushrooms, not all mushrooms have them. Some mushrooms have pores or spikes instead, while some have gill-like structures called false gills, which are little more than folds, wrinkles, or veins. Therefore, it is important to examine the gills and other features of a mushroom carefully and consult reliable sources before consuming any wild mushrooms.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition of gills | Papery hymenophore ribs under the cap of some mushroom species, most often agarics |
| Purpose of gills | Used by the mushrooms as a means of spore dispersal |
| Mushroom types without gills | Chanterelles, puffballs, stinkhorns, coral fungi, cup fungi, morel mushrooms, jelly-like fungi, molds, mildews |
| Types of gills | True gills, false gills, free gills, decurrent gills, short gills, forking gills |
| Mushroom types with false gills | Chanterelles, Gompus |
| Mushroom types with free gills | Portobellos, Amanitas |
| Mushroom types with decurrent gills | Oyster mushrooms |
| Mushroom types with forking gills | Jack o'lanterns |
| Mushroom types with short gills | Cortinarius sp. |
| Mushroom types with true gills | Russulas, Amanitas |
| Identification of edible mushrooms | Brown or tan gills, tan/brown/white caps and stems, no scales on the cap, no ring around the stem |
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What You'll Learn
Gills are important for identifying mushrooms
While not all mushrooms have gills, they are an important feature for identifying certain types of mushrooms. In mycology, a gill is a papery hymenophore rib under the cap of some mushroom species, most often agarics. The gills are used by the mushrooms as a means of spore dispersal.
Gills can be classified according to their attachment to the stem. They may be "decurrent", meaning they run down the stem, as with oyster mushrooms. They may be "free", meaning they don't attach to the stem at all, as with portobellos or amanitas. Alternatively, they may be attached directly or by a notch. The colour of the gills is also important. Edible mushrooms typically have brown or tan gills, while mushrooms with white gills are often deadly. For example, the most poisonous mushroom family, Amanitas, nearly always have white gills and spores.
Other features of gills that can be used to identify mushrooms include the spacing and length of the gills, whether they fork, and whether they are brittle or soft and pliable. For instance, Russulas have very brittle gills and stems, some of which are poisonous. False gills, or folds under the cap, are not true gills. They are found on mushrooms such as chanterelles, which drop spores from the undersides of their curled caps.
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False gills vs true gills
In mycology, a gill is a papery hymenophore rib under the cap of some mushroom species, most often agarics. The gills are used by the mushrooms as a means of spore dispersal, and are important for species identification. The attachment of the gills to the stem is classified based on the shape of the gills when viewed from the side.
Chanterelle mushrooms (species of Cantharellus and Craterellus) are common edible fungi that are most commonly found during hot and humid times of the year. They have blunt "false gills", which set them apart from other mushrooms that have bladelike "true gills". False gills are like a single layer of flesh that covers the whole underside with wrinkles in it, while true gills have gaps between them where the underside of the cap is exposed. False gills cannot be individually plucked and do not move as freely—they are more like ridges than the true gills found in most other mushrooms. To test whether a mushroom has true gills or false gills, one may run a finger across the gills or try to pluck the blades.
The genera Gompus, Gomphidius, Chroogomphus, Tapinella atrotomentosa, and Lenzites betulina, among others, also have false gills. These primitive lamellae indicate how the evolution toward true gills probably happened. Lamellula (partial gills) do not reach the stipe.
True gills are more distinct from the cap, often like papery little sheets that can be pulled apart. They can usually be plucked individually and resemble individual blades. They look like sharp blades and have a more distinct edge than false gills.
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Gill spacing and length
Not all mushrooms have gills, but for those that do, gill spacing and length are important characteristics for identifying the species. Gills, or lamellae, are the papery hymenophore ribs under the cap of some mushroom species, most often agarics. They are used by the mushrooms as a means of spore dispersal.
The attachment of the gills to the stem is classified based on the shape of the gills when viewed from the side. The colour, crowding, and shape of individual gills can also be important features for identification. For example, the Lactarius species typically seep latex from their gills.
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Stem attachment
Mushrooms are classified based on their unique anatomical structures, which play a crucial role in their identification. Located beneath the cap of many mushroom species, gills are the primary site for spore production and dispersal. These spore-producing surfaces vary widely in their attachment styles to the mushroom's stem or stipe.
The attachment of the gills to the stem is classified based on the shape of the gills when viewed from the side, while colour, crowding, and the shape of individual gills can also be important features. The gills can be broadly or narrowly attached to the stipe. They may be smoothly notched before slightly running down the stipe, or notched abruptly before attaching to the stipe. In some cases, the gills may appear torn away or hanging, with evidence of attachment remaining on the stipe, usually in older specimens. Gills may be attached and extend down the stipe, or they may only slightly extend down. Some gills do not attach to the stipe at all, while others are attached to a collar or ring that encircles the stipe.
There are two main categories for gill attachment: free and attached. Free gills never reach over to touch the stem, and this is noticeable in older mushrooms as there is a small area around the stem devoid of gills. Attached gills are further divided into degrees of attachment. They may be barely attached (adnexed), run straight into the stem (adnate), or run down the stem for a short distance (de-current).
The presence or absence of gills is an important factor in discerning edible mushrooms from their toxic look-alikes. The manner in which the gills attach to the stem provides invaluable insights into a mushroom’s identity.
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Colour and bruising
Mushrooms come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, colours, and textures. Some even glow in the dark! One of the most fascinating characteristics of mushrooms is their ability to bruise and bleed when cut or damaged. This colour change is a result of a chemical reaction between the compounds in the mushroom and the oxygen in the air when the cell walls are broken. While bruising and bleeding can be a helpful indicator when identifying mushrooms, it is not a reliable method on its own, as some edible mushrooms bruise, and some toxic mushrooms do not.
One notable example of a mushroom that bruises is the Psilocybe cubensis, commonly known as the magic mushroom or hallucinogenic mushroom. The stems of this mushroom typically bruise blue or blue-green, although not all hallucinogenic mushrooms will bruise blue. It is worth noting that the Psilocybe cubensis is not the only blue-bruising Psilocybe mushroom, and some species may not bruise at all. Blue bruising is one of the most famous features of psilocybin-containing mushrooms, and it can indicate the presence of psychoactive compounds. However, not all blue-bruising mushrooms are hallucinogenic or safe to consume. Some, like the boletes, can be toxic, and it is recommended to avoid any mushroom with a red pore surface that bruises blue.
Another interesting mushroom that bruises is the Agaricus bisporus, or the common white button mushroom. This mushroom typically bruises pinkish, and you can test this by gently pressing your thumb into its cap. The Lactarius deliciosus, or saffron milk cap, is a unique mushroom that bruises green but does not change colour when its gills are cut; instead, it bleeds orange. The Russula rubescens is a mushroom that bruises reddish and then slowly turns black.
When identifying mushrooms through bruising and bleeding, it is essential to consider both the initial liquid colour and the final dried colour, as they often differ. For example, the Lactarius chrysorrheus bleeds a white latex substance that dries to a deeper yellow colour. Additionally, the smell of the mushroom can be a crucial factor in determining its edibility. Edible mushrooms typically have a pleasant mushroomy smell, sometimes with hints of aniseed or almond, while toxic mushrooms may have an unpleasant chemical odour or smell like Indian ink or iodine.
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Frequently asked questions
No, not all mushrooms have gills. Some mushrooms have pores, which are small holes on the underside of the cap, or spikes.
You can identify a gilled mushroom by observing the colour of the gills, how crowded they are, their length, and whether they fork. You can also identify a gilled mushroom by how they attach to the stem. They can be “decurrent”, meaning they run down the stem, “free”, meaning they don't attach to the stem, or attached directly or by a notch.
Mushrooms with white gills are often deadly. Edible mushrooms typically have brown or tan gills.
