Emily Johnson
Identifying mushrooms can be challenging, but it can be a fun and rewarding skill to develop. While some sources suggest leaving mushroom foraging to professional mycologists, there are a number of ways to identify mushrooms for yourself. You can use online tools, books, and other resources to help you identify mushrooms by their appearance, including their colour, gills, stem, and cap. However, it's important to exercise caution as many poisonous and non-poisonous mushrooms look alike, and some mushrooms can change their appearance depending on growing conditions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Colour | Brown, grey, white, yellow, orange, green, purple |
| Habitat | Woods, grasslands, meadows, wooded areas, decaying wood, leaf litter, soil |
| Shape | Cup-shaped, vase-shaped, long and thin stems, stout appearance |
| Texture | Fibrous, smooth, brittle, tough |
| Gills | Tan, brown, white, purple, greenish, wrinkled folds ("false gills") |
| Stem | May or may not have a ring or partial veil |
| Smell | Fruity/flowery |
| Taste | Sweet |
| Excretions | Milky-white, coloured, or transparent liquid when damaged |
| Spore print | Greenish, pink, brown, black |
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What You'll Learn
Colour and size
Cap Colour
The colour of the cap can vary widely, even within the same genus. For example, the Kuehneromyces genus has caps that are typically brown or tan, while the Melanoleuca genus includes shades of white, beige, and brown. The Xerocomellus (or Xerocomus) chrysenteron has a light-coloured cap with pale-coloured fissures, while the Russula genus has brownish caps.
Cap Size and Shape
The size and shape of the cap can also vary, from small to medium to large. For instance, the Kuehneromyces genus has small to medium-sized caps that are typically convex to bell-shaped, while the Melanoleuca genus includes medium to large-sized caps that are often smooth and flat with a central umbo. The Gyromitra genus, or false morels, have irregularly shaped, brain-like caps, while the Lycoperdon, Calvatia, and Bovista genuses, also known as puffballs, have round, ball-shaped caps.
Spore Colour
Spore colour is another important characteristic in mushroom identification. Spores can range in colour from white, buff, pink, tan, chocolate brown, rusty brown to black. A spore print can be made to observe the spore colour, which is an essential part of identifying certain mushrooms, such as honey fungus.
Stipe and Stem Size and Colour
The size and colour of the stipe and stem can also vary. For example, the Xerocomellus (or Xerocomus) chrysenteron has a thin stipe, while the Melanoleuca genus has fibrous stems that lack a ring or volva. The Russula genus has stems that are brown-white, while the Kuehneromyces genus typically has a central stem.
While colour and size are important factors in mushroom identification, it is crucial to consider other characteristics such as texture, location, substrate, season, tree species, and odour. Additionally, the use of field guides, microscopic observation, and chemical tests can aid in accurate identification.
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Shape and texture
The shape and texture of a mushroom can be important characteristics to help identify it. For example, the shape of the stem (stipe) can be used for identification. The stem can be bulbous, slender, thick, or central, lateral, or reduced in relation to the cap. The cap can be convex, bell-shaped, or flat, and it can have a concave centre. The cap can also be shiny, scaly, striated, or smooth. The texture of the mushroom can be slimy, spongy, woody, or fibrous.
Mushrooms can be differentiated by their hymenium, the spore-producing layer. Gilled mushrooms (agarics) have true gills that are brown or tan in edible mushrooms. Some mushrooms have false gills, which are actually wrinkled folds. Mushrooms in the Galerina genus have gills attached to the stem, while those in the Hypholoma genus have crowded gills.
The shape of the fruiting body can also be used to identify mushrooms. Cup fungi have cup-shaped fruiting bodies, while puffballs have round, ball-shaped fruiting bodies. Polypores have a distinct fruiting body with pores on their undersurface, resembling shelves or brackets.
Some mushrooms have distinct shapes, such as the trumpet-shaped stalk of chanterelles, the umbrella-shaped cap of shiitake mushrooms, and the thick stem of king oyster mushrooms.
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Habitat
Mushrooms are versatile organisms that can grow in a variety of habitats. Here are some common habitats where mushrooms thrive:
Forests and Woodlands
Mushrooms often grow in forests and woodlands, taking advantage of the rich organic matter and shade provided by trees. Chanterelles, for example, are commonly found in mixed hardwood forests, near trails, or at the base of trees. They can also be found in leaf litter, especially in mountainous forests. Oyster mushrooms, or the Pleurotus genus, are commonly found in woods and are known for their fan-shaped or oyster-shaped caps. They grow on wood or debris, and their gills and flesh are brittle.
Tree Stumps and Buried Wood
Some mushrooms have a preference for decaying wood, tree stumps, and buried wood. For example, jack-o'-lantern mushrooms can be found in large clusters at these sites. Mushrooms in the Kuehneromyces genus are often found on tree stumps, while cup fungi are commonly found growing on decaying wood.
Suburban Lawns and Meadows
Mushrooms are not limited to forests and woodlands; they can also be found in more open spaces such as suburban lawns and meadows. Destroying angels, for instance, can be found in or near woodlands, as well as in these more open spaces.
Moist Areas and Specific Tree Species
Certain mushrooms, like morels, thrive in moist environments and are often found near specific tree species such as ash, tulip, oak, hickory, sycamore, cottonwood, maple, beech, conifers, and apple trees. They can be foraged in early spring before the trees leaf out, making them harder to spot.
When identifying mushrooms, it is important to consider multiple characteristics, such as colour, size, gills, and spore print. However, habitat type is also a crucial factor in narrowing down the potential species of mushroom. Remember to exercise caution when identifying mushrooms, especially if you intend to consume them. Consulting guidebooks, field guides, or experts in mycology is always recommended.
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Gills
The way the gills are attached to the stem is important when identifying mushrooms. Free gills are not attached to the stem, while gills that are broadly attached are called adnate. Gills that extend down the stem are decurrent, and the edge of a decurrent gill usually approaches the stem at a slant, so the gill gets wider as it nears the stem. Adnexed gills are narrowly attached to the stem at an angle, usually between 45 and 90 degrees, and may appear almost free.
The colour of the gills is also significant. While some mushrooms with white gills are edible, the most deadly and poisonous mushroom family, Amanitas, nearly always have white gills. Therefore, it is recommended to choose mushrooms with gills that are brown or tan.
Other characteristics to note are the width, thickness, and density of the gills, any branches present, and whether they fork. To determine the colour of the spores produced by the gills, you can make a spore print by removing the stem and placing the mushroom gills down on a piece of clear glass or paper overnight.
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Spores
To identify mushrooms, mycologists often rely on creating spore prints. This involves placing the cap of a fresh mushroom onto a sheet of paper and waiting a few hours. The resulting print reveals the spore colour, which is a vital trait for identification. Many field guides are organised by spore colour, making it a useful starting point for identification.
The colour of the spore print can provide important clues about the mushroom's identity. For instance, a white spore print is characteristic of honey fungus and agarics, while greenish spore prints are typical of certain agarics, resulting in greenish gills. Mushrooms in the Pleurotus genus, often called "oyster mushrooms," have whitish or creamy gills, contributing to their spore colour.
It is important to note that mushroom identification goes beyond spore characteristics. Features such as the size, colour, and shape of the cap and stem, the presence of gills, pores, or teeth under the cap, and the odour of the mushroom are all important diagnostic features. Additionally, the colour change produced by applying specific chemicals, such as ammonia, potassium hydroxide, or iron salts, can aid in identification.
While identifying mushrooms based on spore characteristics is intriguing, it is crucial to approach this process with caution. Misidentification can have severe consequences, and consuming unidentified mushrooms can be fatal. Always prioritise safety and refer to expert guidance when dealing with mushroom identification.
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Frequently asked questions
Identifying mushrooms is a complex process that requires practice. It involves examining various characteristics such as colour, size, gills, stem, habitat, and spore print. It is recommended to use field guides, mycology classes, and online resources like iNaturalist for identification, but even then, there is a significant chance of misidentification.
Common mushrooms often have brown, grey, white, or yellow colours with thick flesh and a stout appearance. They usually have brown or tan gills, while white-gilled mushrooms are often deadly. Common mushrooms typically do not have scales on the cap or a ring around the stem.
Cup fungi are characterised by their cup-shaped fruiting bodies, resembling small, colourful bowls or cups. They typically belong to the Ascomycota phylum and are found growing on decaying wood, leaf litter, or in soil.
Chanterelles have wrinkled folds called "false gills" instead of regular gills. They have slightly vase-shaped caps and orange-yellow stems without bulbs, rings, or hollows. Chanterelles grow on the ground at the edge of trails in mixed hardwood forests, and they smell slightly fruity or flowery.
It is crucial to exercise extreme caution when foraging for mushrooms because many poisonous and non-poisonous varieties look alike. Do not consume a mushroom unless you are 100% sure it is edible. Always consult a knowledgeable expert or a local mycological group if you are unsure. If you experience any adverse symptoms after ingesting a mushroom, seek immediate medical treatment.
