Michael Davis
Identifying mushrooms is a complex process that requires a keen eye for detail. While colour and size are important factors, there are several other characteristics to observe. These include the presence of gills or pores, the shape and texture of the cap, and the structure of the stem. Some mushrooms exhibit unique chemical reactions when exposed to certain substances, while others are distinguished by microscopic features. Spore colour, for instance, can be determined by creating a spore print, which involves placing the cap of a fresh mushroom on a sheet of paper and waiting for a few hours. Additionally, the substrate, or the material from which the fungus is growing, can offer valuable ecological insights. While there are identification apps and online resources available, they may not always be reliable, and it is crucial to exercise caution before consuming any wild mushrooms.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cap colour | Orange-yellow (Chanterelle), whitish (Northern Tooth), golden yellow (Cantharellus), grey or black (Craterellus) |
| Gills | False gills (Chanterelle), small "teeth" or spines (Northern Tooth), forked ridges (Cantharellus and Craterellus), Y-shaped (some species) |
| Stem | Vase-shaped cap with no bulb or ring (Chanterelle), no stem (Northern Tooth), fibrous (some species), long and thin (some species) |
| Habitat | Ground at the edge of a trail in a mixed hardwood forest (Chanterelle), dying maple tree (Northern Tooth), trees and woody debris (Cantharellus and Craterellus) |
| Spore colour | Produced by laying the cap of a fresh mushroom on a sheet of paper |
| Size | N/A |
| Bruising | Chanterelle caps turn orange-yellow after bruising |
| Chemical reaction | Some mushrooms display a chemical reaction when exposed to certain substances |
| Microscopic characteristics | Some mushrooms are distinguished by microscopic characteristics |
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What You'll Learn
Observe the substrate, or the material the mushroom is growing from
When identifying a mushroom, it is important to observe the substrate, or the material the mushroom is growing from. This can help you understand the mushroom's ecology and narrow down its identity. Mushrooms can grow from a variety of substrates, including soil, living trees, and rotting wood. Some mushrooms are host-specific, meaning they only grow on certain types of trees. Therefore, identifying the host plant can be crucial in determining the type of mushroom.
Some common substrates for mushrooms include straw, corn stalks, and other agricultural products. Sawdust or wood chips are also popular choices, as they provide the necessary woody, fibrous materials that mushrooms need to grow. When using sawdust or wood chips, it is important to consider the species of tree the materials are sourced from, as different mushrooms may have preferences for specific tree species.
Mushrooms in the Pleurotus genus, often called "oyster mushrooms," typically grow on wood or debris. They have broad, fan-shaped or oyster-shaped caps and lateral or absent stems. Mushrooms in the Kuehneromyces genus often grow on tree stumps, while those in the Tapinella genus favour dead or decaying trees.
In addition to natural substrates, mushrooms can also be grown on prepared substrates. For example, coffee grounds are a commonly used substrate that can be obtained for free from local coffee shops. The brewing process pasteurizes the grounds, making them ready for mushroom cultivation. By combining coffee grounds with mushroom spawn, and optionally adding straw, a suitable substrate for mushroom growth can be created.
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Look at the underside of the cap, where spores are formed
The underside of a mushroom's cap is often the fertile surface where spores are formed, called the hymenial layer. This is a key characteristic in identifying mushrooms, as many species look similar based on the appearance of their caps. The underside of a mushroom can have one of four types of structures: gills, teeth, ridges, or pores.
Gills are thin sheets of tissue suspended in a spokelike arrangement from the underside of many capped mushrooms. They can be widely spaced or crowded, forked, or have short gills unconnected to longer gills. They can also be crinkled, crisped, sawtoothed, serrated, fringed, or ornamented with tiny bumps of droplets. The edges might be a different colour than the faces; these are known as marginate gills. Small folds, or "crossveins", sometimes run across the underside of the cap, connecting adjacent gills. The gills can vary in the way that they are attached to the stalk, which can also guide you to a more clear identification. For example, attached, notched, decurrent, strongly decurrent, and free. Some mushrooms have ridges that look deceptively like gills, but these are actually false gills, and they cannot be easily plucked from the cap.
Teeth are long, thin, shaggy growths hanging from the mushroom cap. They can be a few millimetres to a few centimetres long. These teeth, also known as spines, are features that are not as present compared to gills or spores, making it easier to narrow down the species of mushroom.
Ridges are blunt and forked and run down the stem. They cannot be easily separated from the cap.
Pores are small, sponge-like holes that lead to tubes inside the cap. As spores mature, they eventually fall from the tubes out of the holes and into their environment.
To determine the colour of the spores, you can make a spore print at home. Take a capped mushroom that you’ve harvested and remove the stalk. Place the cap, with the gills facing down, on a sheet of white and black paper that overlaps. Place a large bowl, preferably glass, over the mushroom and check it in about four hours. Spores that are white will show up more on the black paper, and a darker spore print will be more visible on the white paper.
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Note the presence of gills, pores, or teeth
Mushrooms have a variety of unique characteristics that can be used to identify them. One of the fundamental features of mushrooms that can aid in identification is the presence of gills, pores, or teeth, which are the parts of a mushroom's anatomy that produce and release spores. These structures are found underneath the mushroom's cap, also known as the pileus, and can vary in appearance and arrangement.
Gills, or lamellae, are thin, papery structures that hang vertically under the cap of many common mushrooms. They are composed of two layers: the lamellae, which extend from the stem to the edge, and the lamellulae, which are shorter gills that do not reach the stem. The spacing between the gills can vary significantly from species to species, ranging from crowded to distant. Additionally, gills can be forked, crinkled, saw-toothed, or have other unique characteristics. The colour of the gills and the way they attach to the stem can also provide important identification clues.
Pores, on the other hand, are found in certain types of mushrooms such as boletes and polypores. Polypores, also known as bracket fungi, often resemble shelves or brackets that grow on trees or logs. Boletes typically have a fleshy, convex cap and a porous or spongy underside. Pores are essentially tiny openings through which spores are released, and their diameter, shape, colour, pattern, and quantity can help identify specific mushroom species.
Mushrooms with teeth, also known as tooth fungi, have long, thin "teeth" that hang downward from under the cap and produce spores. These teeth can vary in length, hanging down just a few millimetres or even more than a centimetre. Tooth fungi have a similar setup and function to gilled fungi, but they release spores through their spiny teeth. Examples of tooth fungi include the hedgehog mushroom and Lion's Mane.
Noting the presence and characteristics of gills, pores, or teeth is an important step in mushroom identification, as it can help narrow down the search and distinguish between edible and poisonous mushrooms. However, it is important to consider other features as well, such as the colour, shape, and texture of the cap, and to consult multiple guides and pictures for accurate identification.
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Examine the colour, size, and shape of the cap
When identifying mushrooms, it is important to examine the colour, size, and shape of the cap. The cap is often a crucial feature in mushroom identification.
Mushroom caps come in a variety of colours, including white, off-white, yellow, tan, brown, reddish-brown, golden yellow, grey, black, and even purple. Some mushrooms have caps with a single colour, while others have a combination of colours. For example, the death cap mushroom (Amanita phalloides) has an off-white cap with a hint of green or yellow, while the Gyromitra genus, also known as false morels, has caps ranging from tan to reddish-brown.
The size of the cap can also vary significantly. Some mushrooms have small caps, such as those in the Chanterelle genus, which have a small cap with a concave centre. In contrast, the death cap mushroom typically has a cap diameter between 3 and 6 inches. The cap of the mushroom can also provide clues about its edibility. For instance, when searching for porcini mushrooms, look for a medium-sized tan or brown cap.
In addition to colour and size, the shape of the cap is another important characteristic. Caps can be conical, bell-shaped, convex, funnel-shaped, or irregularly shaped and brain-like, as in the case of the Gyromitra genus. Some caps may also have unique features, such as scales or spots, which can indicate whether a mushroom is poisonous. For example, the upper surface of the Aureoboletus mirabilis cap may have a scaly texture, while poisonous mushrooms often have patches or scaling of a lighter or darker shade on the cap.
Furthermore, the underside of the cap can provide valuable information for identification. For instance, the presence of gills or pores can be indicative of certain mushroom types. Gills can vary in colour, ranging from white to tan, brown, reddish-brown, or even pinkish-brown. Pores, on the other hand, may appear in bright yellow, as seen in the example of the mystery mushroom found on the Long Beach Peninsula.
Taking photographs of the cap from different angles, including the side and underside, can be helpful for identification. These images can then be compared to reference materials or uploaded to identification websites or applications.
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Observe any chemical reactions when exposed to certain substances
Some mushrooms display a chemical reaction when exposed to certain substances. Others are distinguished by microscopic characteristics. Here are some of the chemical tests that can be used to identify mushrooms:
Melzer's Reagent and Potassium Hydroxide (KOH)
A 3–10% solution of potassium hydroxide (KOH) gives a colour change in some species of mushrooms. For example, in Agaricus, some species such as A. xanthodermus turn yellow with KOH, many have no reaction, and A. subrutilescens turns green. Distinctive changes occur for some species of Cortinarius and Boletes. For boletes, place a drop of KOH on the cap, stem, sliced flesh, and pore surface. For polypores, apply the KOH to the flesh and the cap surface. For gilled mushrooms, place a drop on the cap surface. Note any colour changes that take place. A change to yellow is sometimes found in species of Agaricus and Amanita; magenta or olive reactions can help identify species of Russula and Lactarius; deep red or black reactions can help identify many gilled mushrooms; black reactions among polypores are crucial separators; and various colours are produced with boletes.
Schaeffer's Test
Developed by Julius Schäffer to help with the identification of Agaricus species. Schaeffer's test uses the reaction of aniline and nitric acid on the surface of the mushroom, indicated by an orange to red colour; it is characteristic of species in the section Flavescentes. The compounds responsible for the reaction were named schaefferal A and B to honour Schäffer. Two intersecting lines are drawn on the surface of the cap, the first with aniline or aniline water, the second with an aqueous solution of 65% nitric acid.
Iron Salts (FeSO4)
Iron salts are used commonly in Russula and Bolete identification. It is best to dissolve the salts in water (typically a 10% solution) and then apply to the flesh, but it is sometimes possible to apply the dry salts directly to see a colour change. Three results are expected with the iron salts tests: no change indicates a negative reaction; a colour change to olive, green or blackish green; or a colour change to reddish-pink.
Household Ammonia
A couple of drops of household ammonia are placed on the flesh of the mushroom. For example, Boletus spadiceus gives a fleeting blue to blue-green reaction.
Meixner Test (Wieland Test)
The Meixner test uses concentrated hydrochloric acid and newspaper to test for the deadly amatoxins found in some species of Amanita.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushroom identification is a complex process that takes practice. It involves observing factors such as the substrate (the material the fungus is growing from), cap colour, gills/pores, size, shape, and spore colour.
The first step is to determine the typical traits of mushroom families or genera. This will help you narrow down the possibilities and identify distinguishing features within a genus.
Some important characteristics to consider are the presence of gills or pores, the shape and colour of the cap, the structure of the stem, and the habitat in which the mushroom is found.
You can create a spore print by placing the cap of a fresh mushroom on a sheet of paper and waiting for a few hours. This will help you determine the spore colour, which is an important trait for identification.
It is recommended to use a highly-rated guidebook specific to your region. Additionally, the iNaturalist algorithm can be helpful in narrowing down the identification to the genus or family level. There are also mobile applications available, such as "Mushroom Identify - Automatic," which can assist in automatic species identification based on photos.
