Sarah Brown
Oyster mushrooms are edible fungi that are highly rich in taste and nutrients. They are popular among foragers due to their distinctive appearance, culinary versatility, and health benefits. However, there are several poisonous look-alikes that can be detrimental to human health, causing symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Therefore, it is crucial to be able to distinguish true oyster mushrooms from their toxic counterparts. Some poisonous look-alikes include the Jack-O-Lantern mushroom, Angel Wings, and the Luminescent Panellus. To identify oyster mushrooms accurately, foragers should consider characteristics such as cap color and shape, gill appearance, stem presence, and habitat.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of poisonous look-alikes | 3 |
| Poisonous look-alikes | Jack-O-Lantern mushroom (Omphalotus Olearius), Angel Wings (Pleurocybella porrigens), Stinking Orange Oyster or Mock Oyster (Phyllotopsis nidulans) |
| Key features of Jack-O-Lantern mushroom | Bright orange hue, gills give a blue-green hue under low light conditions, bioluminescent |
| Key features of Angel Wings | All white, grows on coniferous wood |
| Key features of Stinking Orange Oyster or Mock Oyster | Convex, semicircular cap often wavy or with lobes, surface covered in fuzzy white hairs, evenly light orange, paler with age |
| Symptoms of consuming poisonous mushrooms | Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, confusion, hallucinations, vision defects, abnormal breathing |
| Distinguishing features of oyster mushrooms | Cap color and shape, gill appearance, stem, habitat, spore print |
| Cap color | Light to brown, white to gray, brown |
| Cap shape | Fan or oyster-shaped, semicircular shelves with lobes, convex, nubby and fan-shaped |
| Gill appearance | White, decurrent, gills that run down the stem |
| Stem | Stubby and off-centered, well-developed, white flesh, no rings around the stem and no sack around the base |
| Habitat | Grows on deciduous trees, especially Aspen and Beech, occasionally on conifers |
| Spore print | Lilac grey |
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What You'll Learn
Oyster mushrooms have poisonous look-alikes
Oyster mushrooms are edible fungi that are rich in taste and nutrients. They are popular among foragers due to their distinctive appearance, culinary versatility, and health benefits. However, it is important to exercise caution when foraging for oyster mushrooms, as there are several poisonous look-alikes that can be detrimental to human health. Poisonous mushrooms can induce symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, vision defects, and abnormal breathing. Therefore, it is crucial to properly identify oyster mushrooms before consuming them.
One poisonous look-alike is the Jack-O-Lantern mushroom (Omphalotus olearius), which resembles both chanterelles and oyster mushrooms. It can be distinguished by its bright orange hue and bioluminescent gills, which exhibit a blue-green colour under low light conditions. Another similar species is the Elm oyster (Hypsizgus ulmarius), which is not a true oyster mushroom but is often mistaken for one. Angel Wings (Pleurocybella porrigens) is another poisonous look-alike that grows on coniferous wood and has white, oyster-like caps.
To identify true oyster mushrooms, it is important to examine their key characteristics. Oyster mushrooms typically have smooth, fan-shaped or oyster-shaped caps, ranging from white to grey or brown in colour. They usually grow in overlapping clusters and may have stubby, off-centred stems if growing on the side of a log. Their gills are decurrent, white, and may extend down the stem, although this is not always the case.
When foraging for oyster mushrooms, it is essential to be confident in your identification. If you are unsure, it is safer to err on the side of caution and discard the mushroom. You can seek help from experts or use identification guides and pictures available in literature and on the internet. By understanding the growth preferences, habitats, and distinctive features of oyster mushrooms, you can more effectively locate and identify these fungi in their natural environment.
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Jack-O-Lantern mushrooms are toxic
Oyster mushrooms are edible fungi that are rich in taste and nutrients. However, there are a few poisonous look-alikes, including the Jack-O-Lantern mushroom, that can be detrimental to human health.
Jack-O-Lantern mushrooms, or Omphalotus olearius, are poisonous and commonly confused with edible chanterelles. They are bright orange or pumpkin-coloured mushrooms that grow in hardwood forests during the summer and fall. They have a thick, fleshy, often curving stem and sharp, bendable, paper-like gills. The gills give off a blue-green light under low light conditions due to the presence of an enzyme called luciferase, which acts on a compound called luciferin to emit light. This bioluminescence is thought to aid in the reproduction of the fungus by attracting insects to spread its spores. However, unlike similar bioluminescent mushrooms, the Jack-O-Lantern does not seem to use its glow to attract insects, and the exact purpose of its bioluminescence is not yet understood.
Jack-O-Lantern mushrooms can be distinguished from oyster mushrooms by their bright orange hue and bioluminescence. While oyster mushrooms usually grow on deciduous trees such as aspen and beech, Jack-O-Lanterns favour the roots, decaying stumps, and bases of hardwood trees, particularly olive trees. Chanterelles, which Jack-O-Lanterns closely resemble, can be differentiated by their false gills that resemble blunt ridges, while Jack-O-Lantern gills are sharp and paper-like. Additionally, the inside of a chanterelle stem is paler than its outer flesh, whereas the Jack-O-Lantern stem is the same shade of orange throughout.
Consuming Jack-O-Lantern mushrooms can lead to poisoning, causing symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping, and diarrhoea. In some cases, individuals have reported weakness, dizziness, and abnormal laboratory results, including elevated liver function tests and hypokalemia. It is important to seek expert help or utilise available resources to properly identify mushrooms before consumption to avoid accidental poisoning.
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Angel Wings mushrooms are toxic
Oyster mushrooms are edible fungi that are rich in taste and nutrients. However, they have a few poisonous look-alikes, including Angel Wings mushrooms, which are suspected to be potentially deadly.
Angel Wings mushrooms, or Pleurocybella porrigens, are a species of fungus in the family Phyllotopsidaceae. They are whitish and fan-shaped, resembling oyster mushrooms. However, Angel Wings only grow on conifer wood, whereas oyster mushrooms are commonly found on hardwoods like deciduous trees. Oyster mushrooms are also rarely pure white and are thicker and fleshier than Angel Wings.
Angel Wings mushrooms are suspected to be toxic, although the mechanism of their toxicity has not been definitively established. One theory suggests that they contain an unusual amino acid that is toxic to brain cells, as demonstrated in rat studies. Another possibility is that they contain toxic levels of cyanide salts, fatty acids, or hydrogen cyanide.
In 2004, an outbreak of serious illness and death in Japan was linked to the consumption of Angel Wings mushrooms. Seventeen people died from acute encephalopathy, a degenerative neurological condition with lesions in the brain. Most of the victims had underlying kidney disease, and the onset of symptoms occurred anywhere from one to 31 days after consuming the mushrooms. Since then, there has only been one other report of Angel Wings poisoning, in 2009 in Japan.
Given the potential risks, it is not recommended to consume Angel Wings mushrooms, especially for individuals with kidney disease. If you believe you or someone you know has been poisoned by consuming these mushrooms, contact your regional Poison Control Centre immediately for expert medical advice.
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Luminescent Panellus mushrooms are edible
Oyster mushrooms are edible fungi that are highly rich in taste and nutrients. However, care must be taken to select an edible oyster mushroom species because they have a few poisonous look-alikes. One such look-alike is the Jack-O-Lantern mushroom, which is bioluminescent and possesses gills that run down the stem, similar to oyster mushrooms. The key feature to distinguish between true oyster mushrooms and Jack-O-Lantern mushrooms is the bright orange hue of the latter. True oyster mushrooms do not turn orange.
Luminescent Panellus mushrooms, also known as Panellus stipticus, are often confused with oyster mushrooms due to their similar appearance. They are commonly found in northern temperate regions of Europe and North America, especially in the east. These mushrooms start out as tiny white knobs and develop into fan- or kidney-shaped caps that can be orange-yellow to brownish in colour. The caps are attached to decaying wood by short, stubby stalks. While they are indeed edible, they are known to have a bitter taste, which gives them the name "bitter oyster".
The bioluminescence of Luminescent Panellus mushrooms is most prominent during spore maturation. This light emission is believed to attract animals that can potentially carry fungal spores in well-hydrated areas, increasing the chance of spore deposition in optimal environments. Although bioluminescence has been observed in eastern North American strains, non-luminescent North American strains also exist. Additionally, bioluminescence has not been observed in European, Pacific North American, New Zealand, Russian, or Japanese specimens.
When identifying mushrooms for consumption, it is crucial to exercise caution. While all mushrooms are technically edible, some may only be eaten once without causing harm. Microscopes, spore samples, and other tools can aid in proper identification. Consulting experts or using online resources with information and pictures of various mushroom species can also help distinguish between edible and poisonous mushrooms.
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Splitgill mushrooms are grey and fuzzy
Oyster mushrooms are edible fungi that are highly rich in taste and nutrients. They are also known for their poisonous look-alikes, which can be detrimental to human health. One such look-alike is the split gill mushroom. While the split gill mushroom is reportedly edible when young, it is regarded as inedible by some due to its small size and toughness.
The split gill mushroom (Schizophyllum commune) is a species of fungus in the genus Schizophyllum. It gets its name from the Greek word "Schíza", meaning split, due to the appearance of radial, centrally split, gill-like folds. The common name also refers to how the gills split lengthwise when the mushroom dries out. These gills glow blue under UV light.
Split gill mushrooms usually wear fuzzy white coats, especially in winter or when they have had adequate moisture. However, they can lose their fuzziness and appear dry as they age. They vary in colour from creamy yellow to pale white, and the cap is 1-4 centimetres wide. They grow in shelf-like arrangements, without stalks, on every continent except Antarctica, as they require wood to grow.
The mock oyster mushroom may be confused with the split gill due to its similar fuzzy cap, small growth size, and radiating gills from a central point. However, mock oyster mushrooms are orange, orangish, or slightly pinkish, while true oyster mushrooms do not turn orange. Therefore, the split gill mushroom's grey colour and fuzzy cap can distinguish it from both oyster mushrooms and their poisonous look-alikes.
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Frequently asked questions
Jack-O-Lantern mushrooms are poisonous and resemble oyster mushrooms. However, they have a bright orange hue, while oyster mushrooms do not turn orange. Jack-O-Lantern mushrooms are also bioluminescent, giving off a blue-green hue under low light conditions.
Angel Wings (Pleurocybella porrigens) is a poisonous, oyster-like mushroom that grows on coniferous wood. Luminescent Panellus (Panellus stipticus) is another small, pinkish oyster-like mushroom that is very common and can be identified by its tan colour and "floury" surface.
Oyster mushrooms have oyster-shaped caps, ranging from white to grey or brown, and gills that extend down the stem. They usually grow on deciduous trees, such as aspen and beech, and occasionally on conifers.
