Emma Wilson
Mushrooms are a versatile and popular food worldwide, but it is important to know how to identify them as many edible and poisonous mushrooms look alike. The visible mushroom (or fruiting body) that we see above ground is only a small part of the fungi's anatomy. The underside of the mushroom is often the only way to distinguish between edible and poisonous varieties. The underside can have one of four structures: gills, teeth, ridges, or pores. Gills, for example, are small, thin-walled structures that surround the mushroom's stem and can be brown, tan, or white. White gills are often a sign of a poisonous mushroom. Other indicators of a poisonous mushroom include a second veil-like ring of tissue under the cap, or scales on the cap.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cap | Smooth, covered in scales or teeth. Shape varies from species to species, spherical, convex, expanded, or like a head of cabbage. |
| Underside | Gills, teeth, ridges, or pores. Gills are thin-walled structures surrounding the stem, composed of lamellae and lamellulae. They can be brown, tan, or white. |
| Stem | Can have an annulus (a skirt of tissue around the circumference) or a volva (a sack of tissue at the base). |
| Spore colour | Can be determined by placing the cap on a sheet of paper and waiting a few hours. |
| Hyphae | Minuscule structures that make up mycelial networks that can spread out for miles. |
| Colour | Can be yellow, golden-yellow, white, pale tan, brown, or red. |
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What You'll Learn
- Mushroom gills: Brown or tan gills indicate edibility, while white gills are often poisonous
- Cap characteristics: Mushrooms with red caps are typically dangerous to eat
- Fruiting bodies: The visible part of the fungi that grows above ground or on trees
- Mycelial networks: Minuscule hyphae that spread out for miles underground
- Poisonous mushrooms: Death caps are the deadliest species, often mistaken for field mushrooms
Mushroom gills: Brown or tan gills indicate edibility, while white gills are often poisonous
The underside of a mushroom is sometimes the only way to distinguish between edible and poisonous mushrooms. The underside of a mushroom can have one of four types of structures: gills, teeth, ridges, or pores. The gill is a small, thin-walled structure that surrounds the mushroom's stem. It has an opening on one side and is usually found in clusters around the stem. The gills are composed of two layers: the lamellae that reach from the stem to the edge, and the lamellulae, which are shorter gills that do not reach the stem.
Mushroom gills can have many distinct characteristics that can help identify a mushroom. For example, the colour of the gills and the colour of their spore prints act as indicators in determining the type and sometimes even the edibility of the mushroom. Mushrooms with brown or tan gills are typically edible, whereas mushrooms with white gills are often poisonous. Mushrooms with white spore prints typically have white gills, a sac-like structure (volva) or a bulb at the base of the stem, and often a rim at the base of the stem. These mushrooms usually grow on trees and woody debris, often appearing in clusters around the base.
It is important to note that no single, obvious trait will tell you if a mushroom is poisonous. Even mushrooms that look very similar based on the appearance of their cap can be very different in terms of edibility. Therefore, it is crucial to do your research on specific mushroom species and only eat a mushroom if you are 100% sure it is edible.
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Cap characteristics: Mushrooms with red caps are typically dangerous to eat
Mushrooms are a type of fungi that grow both above and below ground. The visible part of the fungi that we typically associate with mushrooms is called the fruiting body, which includes the cap and the stem. The cap is an important feature for identifying mushrooms, as many species look similar based on the appearance of their caps.
Caps can be smooth or covered with scales or teeth, and their shape varies from species to species. The familiar mushroom shape is somewhat spherical, like an umbrella. In the early stages of development, it can be evenly convex and then becomes more expanded as it matures. For example, the lion's mane mushroom is a type of tooth fungi, meaning instead of a spherical dome cap, it has "teeth" or shaggy hair-like structures that hang around the mushroom and produce spores.
When it comes to cap characteristics, it is important to note that mushrooms with red caps are typically dangerous to eat. One of the most common types of red-capped wild mushrooms is Amanita muscaria, commonly known as fly agaric or fly amanita. This mushroom has a bright red cap with distinctive white warts or flecks, and it is easily identifiable due to its prominent red colour. The poison fire coral mushroom is another example of a toxic red mushroom, and it is considered one of the deadliest in the world. Its toxins can even be absorbed through the skin, causing inflammation and dermatitis.
While most red-capped mushrooms are toxic, there are some exceptions. For example, the Amanita muscaria is considered both edible and toxic because the euphoric substances it contains can also act as toxins. Ingesting this mushroom can be poisonous to humans when consumed in large quantities, but fatal poisonings are extremely rare. Therefore, it is important to be able to accurately identify mushrooms before consuming them, as even non-fatal poisonings can cause unpleasant symptoms such as dizziness, disorientation, convulsions, abdominal discomfort, vomiting, and profuse sweating.
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Fruiting bodies: The visible part of the fungi that grows above ground or on trees
Mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of fungi that grow above ground or on trees. They are the only part of the fungi that is visible to the human eye. The mushrooms we see are just a small part of the fungi's anatomy. They have minuscule hyphae that make up mycelial networks that can spread out for miles.
Mushrooms have a unique appearance that varies from species to species. They can be identified by their cap and stem. The cap can be smooth or covered with scales or teeth. Some mushrooms, like lion's mane, have "teeth" or shaggy, hair-like structures that produce spores. The caps can be spherical, like an umbrella, or evenly convex, becoming more expanded as the mushroom matures. Chanterelle mushrooms have a trumpet-like shape with a depression in the centre of the cap. Maitake mushrooms, or hen of the woods, can look like a head of cabbage.
The underside of a mushroom is an important feature for identification. It can have gills, teeth, ridges, or pores. Gills are small, thin-walled structures that surround the stem and usually come in clusters. They can be brown or tan in colour, which typically indicates that the mushroom is edible. White gills, on the other hand, can signal that a mushroom is poisonous. The gills can also fork into a Y-shape or alternate between full-length and short, partial gills.
The stem of a mushroom, called the stipe, can also provide clues for identification. It may have an annulus, a skirt of tissue around its circumference, or a volva, a sack of tissue at its base. Some mushrooms have both, like the poisonous Amanita species.
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Mycelial networks: Minuscule hyphae that spread out for miles underground
Mushrooms are fascinating fungi that exhibit unique characteristics and play vital ecological roles. While the visible mushroom (the "fruiting body") that we often see sprouting from the ground or trees is intriguing in its own right, it is just a small part of the fungi's overall anatomy. Beneath the surface, mushrooms possess an intricate network of minuscule structures called mycelial networks, which consist of thin fungal strands known as hyphae. These hyphae are incredibly small, allowing them to spread out for miles underground.
The mycelial networks serve as the hidden dimension of fungi, acting as a complex underground network of fungal filaments. They play a crucial role in fungal reproduction, as the mycelia of compatible fungi can fuse together, allowing their cells and DNA to combine and form new spores. Fungi can also reproduce by splitting their mycelium into smaller fragments, each capable of forming independent mycelial networks. This adaptability in reproduction allows fungi to thrive and spread.
Beyond reproduction, mycelial networks have a similar function to the roots of plants. The hyphae explore the soil and secrete digestive enzymes onto their food sources, often decomposing dead organic materials and sometimes even living organisms. This decomposition process releases carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere, contributing to the carbon cycle. The nutrients obtained from this decomposition are shared with plants, particularly trees, through a symbiotic relationship known as mycorrhizal association.
Through this association, mycelial networks form a cross-kingdom web, connecting with plant roots to create a mutualistic partnership. Trees and other plants provide sugars and fats produced through photosynthesis, while the fungi help the plants absorb water and nutrients from the soil, reaching far beyond the plants' own root systems. This exchange of resources occurs at the periarbuscular membrane, which serves as an exchange medium for nutrients and electrophysiological signals.
The mycorrhizal network, dubbed the "woodwide web" by German forester Peter Wohlleben, enables trees to communicate and share resources. Hub trees, also known as "mother trees," are the older, more seasoned trees with the most fungal connections. They play a crucial role in distributing resources, particularly water and nutrients, to younger saplings, ensuring the health and survival of the entire forest ecosystem. This intricate network of mycelial connections highlights the complex and fascinating world of mushrooms, revealing that what we see above the ground is just the tip of the iceberg.
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Poisonous mushrooms: Death caps are the deadliest species, often mistaken for field mushrooms
Mushrooms are fungi, and the part that is visible above the ground or on a tree is known as the fruiting body. This is only a small part of the fungi's anatomy. The underside of a mushroom can have gills, teeth, ridges, or pores, and is sometimes the only way to distinguish between edible and poisonous mushrooms. Edible mushrooms typically have brown or tan gills, while mushrooms with white gills are often deadly.
Death caps (Amanita phalloides) are the deadliest mushroom species worldwide, responsible for 90% of mushroom-related fatalities every year. They are highly toxic and closely resemble edible mushrooms such as field mushrooms, straw mushrooms, and Caesar's mushrooms. The death cap has a large, greenish cap with white gills and a white stipe, though the cap colour can vary, including white forms. The white form of A. phalloides may be mistaken for edible species of Agaricus, especially young fruit bodies with unexpanded caps.
Death caps are found throughout Europe and in coastal California, and have been introduced to other regions through the cultivation of non-native oak, chestnut, and pine trees. They are not native to Australia but have been found in Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory. The toxicity of individual mushrooms may vary depending on their geographical location.
Eating even a small amount of a death cap mushroom can be fatal, with violent abdominal pain, vomiting, and bloody diarrhoea appearing within 6 to 12 hours of consumption. This leads to a rapid loss of fluids and intense thirst, followed by severe liver, kidney, and central nervous system involvement. Within one to seven days of ingestion, death can occur due to liver failure, kidney failure, and other organ shutdown.
It is important to note that no single, obvious trait will tell you if a mushroom is poisonous, and even experts can struggle to identify them. If you plan to forage for wild mushrooms, it is best to consult an expert or a professional mycologist.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushrooms with white gills are often deadly. Mushrooms with brown or tan gills are usually safe to eat. If there is a second cap or ring of tissue beneath the cap, do not eat it as it could be poisonous.
The underside of a mushroom can have gills, teeth, ridges, or pores. Gills are small, thin-walled structures that surround the mushroom's stem. They are composed of two layers: the lamellae that reach from the stem to the edge, and the lamellulae, which are shorter gills that do not reach the stem.
The stipe, or stem, of a mushroom can include many clues for identification. One important clue is whether the stipe is ornamented with an annulus, or skirt of tissue around the circumference of the stipe. Another clue is whether the base of the stipe has a volva, or sack of tissue.
Mushroom caps can be smooth or covered with scales or teeth. They can also be spherical, convex, or expanded. The caps of some mushrooms, like chanterelles, have a trumpet-like shape with a depression in the center.
