Laura Smith
Mushrooms are a tasty addition to any meal, but they can be deadly if you pick the wrong ones. It's best to leave foraging for wild mushrooms to professional mycologists, but if you're determined to give it a go, there are some key things to look out for. First, you need to know the types of mushrooms you're looking for and their preferred habitats. Then, you need to learn how to identify them by their appearance, including the colour, shape, and texture of the cap and stem, the presence of gills, and whether there is a ring around the stem. You should also check for a bulbous base and dig up the mushroom to look for this. Finally, you can make a spore print to check the colour of the spores. If you're ever unsure, don't eat it!
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What You'll Learn
How to identify edible mushrooms
While mushrooms make a tasty addition to many dishes, it is best to leave the identification of edible mushrooms to professional mycologists. If you still want to identify edible mushrooms, caution must be exercised. Here are some tips to help you identify edible mushrooms:
- Observe the appearances of mushrooms in your area, and learn more from reliable sources.
- Edible mushrooms typically have brown or tan gills, while mushrooms with white gills are often deadly.
- Choose mushrooms with tan, brown, or white caps and stems rather than red. Edible mushrooms usually do not have scales on the cap or a ring around the stem.
- Avoid mushrooms with patches or scaling of a lighter or darker shade on the cap, which may appear like spots. These scaly spots are common among poisonous mushroom varieties.
- Take two baskets when you forage. Place mushrooms you are confident are edible in one basket, and mushrooms you aren’t sure about in another.
- Consult a knowledgeable expert, such as a mycologist, to identify any mushrooms you aren’t sure about.
- Buy a mushroom field guide for your area. Take the book with you when you go foraging to practice identifying different mushrooms.
- Learn which family the fungus belongs to. For example, the edible members of the Agaric family have pink to brown/black gills and a white cap, but there are toxic members of this family that look very similar.
- If you eat an unidentified mushroom, look for troublesome symptoms and seek immediate medical care.
Remember, do not eat a mushroom unless you are 100% sure it is edible.
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How to identify poisonous mushrooms
It's important to be able to identify poisonous mushrooms, as some can be deadly. While only 3% of known mushrooms are poisonous, looks can be deceiving, and some poisonous and non-poisonous varieties look very similar. Some mushrooms can even change their appearance depending on growing conditions, making identification difficult.
If you are foraging for mushrooms, it's a good idea to take two baskets. Place mushrooms you are confident are edible in one basket and mushrooms you aren't sure about in another. Consult a knowledgeable expert to identify any mushrooms you are unsure about. You can connect with a mushroom expert through a local mycological group or at a local university.
- Avoid mushrooms with white gills. Edible mushrooms typically have brown or tan gills.
- Avoid mushrooms with scales on the cap. Poisonous mushroom varieties often have patches or scaling of a lighter or darker shade on the cap, which may appear like spots.
- Avoid mushrooms with a ring around the stem. Check beneath the cap of the mushroom for a second veil-like ring of tissue that looks a bit like a mini-cap beneath the cap. Many mushrooms with this feature are poisonous.
- Avoid mushrooms with a bulbous or sack-like base, called a volva.
- Avoid red mushrooms. Red is a natural warning colour to tell predators, including humans, to stay away.
- Avoid Boletes with any red on the mushroom, including the cap, stem or pores. If a Bolete passes this test, cut the mushroom in half vertically. If the flesh immediately or rapidly stains blue, treat it as poisonous.
- Avoid Milkcaps from the Lactarius family. They mostly exude a milky substance from the gills when touched or damaged. This milk can be very acrid and/or hot, and most of the Milkcaps are toxic.
- Avoid False Morels. Some species within this group contain a highly toxic and carcinogenic chemical called gyromitrin, which affects the central nervous system and can lead to anything from nausea and convulsions to coma and death. False Morels have a wavy and crumpled cap, whereas the cap of a true morel is pitted. The stem of a False Morel is nearly solid, whereas a true morel has a smooth hollow stem.
- Avoid the Jack O'Lantern mushroom. Unlike the Chanterelle, which is edible, the Jack O'Lantern has true gills rather than folds. The gills of the Jack O'Lantern also end abruptly all at the same spot along the stem, whereas the folds of the Chanterelle run along the stem of the mushroom, ending unevenly at various points. The gills of the Jack O'Lantern also glow a soft greenish light late at night.
- Avoid the Destroying Angel, which is one of many deadly poisonous species within the Amanita genus. The Shaggy Mane is one species that survivors of Amanita poisoning have cited as the mushroom they thought they were collecting.
- Avoid the Funeral Bell, which grows on wood.
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Where to forage for mushrooms
While there is no single rule for finding mushrooms, there are some general guidelines you can follow. Firstly, it is important to know what types of mushrooms you are looking for, as different varieties prefer different habitats. For example, chanterelles grow in mossy coniferous forests and mountainous birch forests. You can also look up the habitats of the mushrooms you are interested in.
Secondly, it is crucial to identify the right time to go foraging. Some mushrooms, like chanterelles, tend to regrow in the same location, while others may appear only once every few years. By experimenting with different forests and keeping an eye out for mushroom sightings posted by others, you can increase your chances of finding the right time and place.
Additionally, it is important to be cautious when foraging for mushrooms. Many poisonous and non-poisonous mushrooms look alike, and some varieties can change their appearance depending on growing conditions. It is recommended to join a local mycological group or consult a knowledgeable expert to identify any mushrooms you are unsure about.
Mushrooms can be found in various places, including trees, logs, the forest floor, or on moss. They can also be found near human habitation, especially near damp wood chips. In relatively humid areas of North America, such as Washington, Oregon, and Northern California, they can be found growing in coastal dune grasses and along creeks. Remember to always follow local laws and regulations when foraging for mushrooms and only consume mushrooms that have been properly identified as edible.
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How to spot magic mushrooms
Magic mushrooms, or psilocybin mushrooms, are relatively rare and urban-proximate mushrooms with psychedelic properties when ingested. They are typically found in the Pacific Northwest, near damp wood chips, coastal dune grasses, and creeks. They have distinct visual markers, including characteristic caps, stems, gills, and colour-changing properties. Their habitats and growing seasons provide additional clues for identification.
When identifying magic mushrooms, it is crucial to exercise caution and restraint. While only 3% of known mushrooms are poisonous, ingesting a wild mushroom without a mycologist's opinion could be deadly. Magic mushrooms in the US are represented primarily by three varieties: "P. allenii," "P. cyanescens," and their cousin, which all have slender white stems, brown caps, and purple spores. However, "P. cyanescens" can be distinguished by its dome-shaped cap with wavy edges. Magic mushrooms may also have caps shaped like bells or cones, ranging from 1 to 10 cm in diameter, with thin, delicate gills.
To enhance the accuracy of mushroom identification, tools such as field guides, magnifying glasses, notebooks, and cameras can be utilised. It is important to recognise their unique features, such as their white stems, brown caps, and dark purple spores, to differentiate them from poisonous varieties. Magic mushrooms may also exhibit blue bruising when handled.
When foraging for magic mushrooms, it is recommended to take two baskets: one for mushrooms you are confident are edible and another for those you are unsure about. Consult a knowledgeable expert, such as a mycologist or a local mycological group, to identify any mushrooms you are uncertain about. Remember, it is illegal to possess psilocybin mushrooms, and they can lead to harmful effects and health risks.
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How to spot Amanita mushrooms
The Amanita genus includes some of the most well-known and deadly mushroom species. While some are edible, many are toxic and responsible for over 90% of mushroom poisoning deaths. Therefore, it is crucial to learn how to identify them. Here are some detailed instructions on how to spot Amanita mushrooms:
Appearance
Amanita mushrooms often have distinctive features that make them stand out. The classic example is the Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria), known for its bright red cap with white spots and a white stem. However, this variety can also have a yellow-orange cap in certain regions. Other notable appearances include the Death Cap, Destroying Angel, Gemmed Amanita, Panther Cap, and Spring Amanita. The Death Cap and Destroying Angel are particularly deadly and may appear meatier and more appetizing than other toxic mushrooms.
Growth Patterns
Amanita mushrooms typically grow in woodlands on the ground, often near living trees. They are more likely to be found during the second half of the mushroom season, in summer and fall, when the weather conditions are favourable.
Physical Characteristics
Amanita mushrooms have several physical characteristics that can aid in identification. They often have a trademark sack or collar-like structure at the base of the stalk, called the volva. This structure can sometimes be found on the cap as patches or warts. Additionally, many Amanitas have a partial veil that covers the gills during the immature stage, leaving a ring or skirt called the annulus on the upper stalk as the mushroom matures. The gills of Amanita mushrooms are typically white to off-white or yellow, and the spores are always white. The stems of Amanita mushrooms are usually bulbous at the base and may have rings around them.
Smell and Taste
Some Amanita species have distinctive smells, especially when they are fully mature. Crushing the gills or placing a piece of the cap in a sealed container can help enhance any odour. However, it is important to never taste Amanitas, as even a tiny amount could be disastrous.
Similarities to Other Mushrooms
Amanita mushrooms can sometimes be mistaken for other varieties, especially during their immature stage. Young Amanitas may resemble puffballs, young Agarics (field mushrooms), or even Stinkhorn eggs. Therefore, it is crucial to examine the colour of the gills, the shape and texture of the stem, and the presence of any remnants of the universal veil to differentiate them from other species.
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Frequently asked questions
Learning to identify poisonous mushrooms is crucial before foraging for edible mushrooms. Some of the most toxic mushrooms belong to the Amanita genus, which can be identified by their white gills and dry, umbrella-shaped caps. Other characteristics to look out for include the colour, size, and shape of the cap and stem, the presence of scales or warts, and whether the underside of the cap has pores, gills, or teeth.
One important feature used to identify mushrooms is their spores. A spore print can be made by placing a mature mushroom cap-down on a piece of glass and checking the colour of the spores the next day. Additionally, some mushrooms produce a colour change when specific chemicals like ammonia or potassium hydroxide are applied to their surface.
While there are some rules of thumb for picking safe mushrooms, they are not always reliable. For example, while some suggest that mushrooms with peelable caps are safe, this is not true of the highly toxic Death Cap mushroom. Similarly, while some suggest that mushrooms growing on wood are safe, others like the Funeral Bell are deadly.
There is no single rule for finding mushrooms, but it is important to know the right time and place. Learning about the types of mushrooms you are looking for and their preferred habitats can help you decide whether to search in a deciduous or evergreen forest. For example, chanterelles grow in mossy coniferous forests and mountainous birch forests. Using apps like All Trails or joining local mycological groups can also help you find potential foraging spots.
While it is best to leave the identification of wild edible mushrooms to professional mycologists, there are some general guidelines to follow. Edible mushrooms typically have brown or tan gills, while those with white gills are often deadly. Choose mushrooms with tan, brown, or white caps and stems rather than red, as red is a natural warning sign. Edible mushrooms usually do not have scales on the cap or a ring around the stem. However, remember that there is no single rule to identify a mushroom as edible, and you should not eat a mushroom unless you are 100% sure it is edible.
