John Miller
Mushrooms and toadstools are both fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting bodies of fungi, typically produced above ground on soil or another food source. While the two terms are often used interchangeably, there is no standard definition for a toadstool, and no scientifically accepted way to tell them apart. In common parlance, toadstools are considered to be poisonous mushrooms, and mushrooms are considered to be edible. However, this is not always the case, and poisonous mushrooms can resemble what we traditionally associate with toadstools.
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What You'll Learn
Toadstools are often poisonous mushrooms
Toadstools are typically colourful species that grow in the woods and have distinct characteristics. For example, the Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria) is often associated with poisonous toadstools due to its scarlet-red, white-spotted cap. Other highly toxic toadstools include the Death Cap (Amanita phalloides), which has green-yellow caps, and the Destroying Angel (Amanita virosa), with its white-cream caps.
It is important to distinguish between edible mushrooms and poisonous toadstools, especially when foraging or dealing with cases of poisoning. To identify a toadstool, one must observe its key features, such as colour, size, shape, habitat, and smell, and compare them against identification guides. This is crucial as some toadstools may resemble edible mushrooms but can cause severe stomach upsets or even fatalities if consumed.
While toadstools are generally considered poisonous, it is worth noting that not all toadstools are toxic. The term "toadstool" is subjective and loose, and its usage varies. Some people may use it to refer to any poisonous fungi, while others may use it for mushrooms that do not resemble field or cultivated mushrooms. Therefore, it is essential to properly identify any wild fungi before consumption and to seek expert advice when in doubt.
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Mushrooms are typically edible
Mushrooms are the fruit bodies of members of the order Agaricales, whose type genus is Agaricus and type species is the field mushroom, Agaricus campestris. In modern molecularly defined classifications, not all members of the order Agaricales produce mushroom fruit bodies, and many other gilled fungi, collectively called mushrooms, occur in other orders of the class Agaricomycetes.
The term "mushroom" is also used to describe a variety of other gilled fungi, with or without stems. Some mushrooms have pores underneath (often called boletes) and others have spines, like the hedgehog mushroom and other tooth fungi. The term "mushroom" has been used for polypores, puffballs, jelly fungi, coral fungi, bracket fungi, stinkhorns, and cup fungi.
However, it is important to note that not all mushrooms are edible. Some mushrooms are poisonous and can cause serious illness or even death if consumed. It is always best to consider all mushrooms as poisonous unless you are an expert at mushroom identification. Proper identification of edible mushrooms is crucial to avoid potential health risks associated with consuming poisonous varieties.
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Toadstools are colourful and grow in woods
There is no standard definition for a toadstool, and no clear distinction between toadstools and mushrooms. Both terms refer to the fruiting bodies produced by fungi. While the toadstool or fruiting body is the most visible sign of the fungus, these are transient structures designed for spore dispersal. Many of the fungi produce their fruiting bodies in autumn, although this will vary with the species. For the rest of the year, the presence of the fungus is less obvious, existing as numerous fine threads or filaments known as hyphae.
Toadstools are often considered colourful species that grow in the woods. The 'classic' image of a toadstool is that of a fruiting body with a stalk and a rounded cap, believed to be inedible or poisonous. The word toadstool first appeared in 14th-century England, possibly referring to a "stool" for toads and implying an inedible, poisonous fungus. Toadstool may also derive from the German or Old Norse 'tote', meaning death, and 'stole' or 'stol', meaning chair or stool.
Mushrooms, on the other hand, are typically considered edible and are usually shaped like an umbrella. They are a type of fungus that usually has a stem (stipe), a cap (pileus), and gills (lamellae) on the underside of the cap. The gills produce microscopic spores, which help the fungus spread. However, not all mushrooms are gilled, and the term "mushroom" is loosely used, making a full classification difficult.
It is important to note that the distinction between toadstools and mushrooms is not scientific, and these terms are used to describe specific types of fungi. When foraging for mushrooms, it is crucial to correctly identify the species before consumption, as some wild fungi can be poisonous.
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Mushrooms are often white and grow in fields
Mushrooms are a type of fungus, usually shaped like an umbrella, and many of which are edible. The standard for the name "mushroom" is the cultivated white button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus. It has a stem (stipe), a cap (pileus), and gills (lamellae) on the underside of the cap. The gills produce microscopic spores, which help the fungus spread across the ground or its occupant surface.
Mushrooms that grow in fields are often white and considered safe and edible. The field or meadow mushroom is one of the most commonly eaten wild mushrooms in Britain and Ireland. It is closely related to the common button mushroom and has a creamy-white cap, 1-4 inches (3-10cm) in diameter.
However, it is important to note that not all white mushrooms are safe to consume. Some species of mushrooms that grow in fields can be poisonous. For example, the yellow stainer is a poisonous mushroom that is virtually indistinguishable from horse and field mushrooms, except for the yellow staining that occurs on its base when scuffed. Therefore, it is essential to properly identify mushrooms before consuming them.
To distinguish edible mushrooms from inedible toadstools, it is crucial to observe all the characteristics of the mushroom, including colour, size, shape, pores/gills/spines, spore colour, flesh colour, habitat, season, stem colour, ring, volva, root, mycelium, smell, taste, latex, warts, colour change, and growth medium. These characteristics should then be compared against a quality identification guide to ensure accuracy in identification.
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Toadstool etymology
The word "toadstool" has an interesting etymology that dates back to the Middle English "tadde" or "tode", meaning "toad", and "stole", meaning "stool" or "seat". This name likely originated from the belief that toadstools grew from the excrement of toads, which were regarded as venomous and malevolent creatures in folklore. The term "paddock-stool" from the mid-15th century was also used to refer to toadstools.
Another interpretation of the etymology of "toadstool" traces it to Germanic roots: "tod" or "tot" (meaning "death") and "stuhl", "stool", or "stol" (meaning "chair" or "seat"), thus giving it a dark connotation as the "stalk of death". This interpretation aligns with the historical usage of the term "toadstool" to refer to colourful or unusually shaped mushrooms, implying danger or toxicity.
In older texts, the words "mushroom" and "toadstool" were used interchangeably to refer specifically to fungi with the classic cap-and-stem shape. However, over time, the word "mushroom" has become an umbrella term for diverse shapes and structures, while "toadstool" has been restricted to poisonous or inedible fungi. This distinction is unique to the English language, as most other languages have a single term for all visible fungal fruiting bodies.
The association between toads and toadstools is further reinforced by historical names for certain types of fungi, such as "toad's cap", "toad's cheese", "toad's meat", and "Tommy toad". These names contribute to the perception of toadstools as potentially harmful or untrustworthy, in contrast to the more neutral connotations of "mushroom".
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Frequently asked questions
There is no scientific distinction between mushrooms and toadstools. Toadstools are often considered to be poisonous mushrooms, but this is not always the case. Mushrooms are typically considered to be edible.
Mushrooms are the fruit bodies of fungi. They typically have a domed cap on a stalk, with gills on the underside of the cap. They come in all shapes, sizes and colours.
Toadstools are often colourful species that grow in the woods. They are the spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, usually in the form of a rounded cap on a stalk.
Observe the characteristics of the mushroom (colour, size, shape, pores/gills/spines, spore colour, flesh colour, habitat, season, stem colour, ring, volva, root, mycelium, smell, taste, latex, warts, colour change and growth medium). Compare these characteristics against a quality identification guide.
