Emily Johnson
Foraging for wild mushrooms can be an exciting and rewarding activity, but it is crucial to know how to distinguish between edible and poisonous varieties to ensure your safety. There are approximately 15,000 types of wild fungi in the UK, and while almost all mushrooms are technically edible, many are too fibrous to consume, and about 250 species are significantly poisonous. To identify mushrooms, it is essential to examine characteristics such as their colour, spore print, stem, and the type of surface they grow on. Learning from an expert in the field or consulting multiple sources, including regional field guides and online resources, can provide valuable knowledge and reduce the risk of misidentification. Additionally, seeking guidance from experienced mycologists during foraging trips can enhance your understanding and confidence in recognising safe-to-eat mushrooms.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Colour | Gold-yellowish, brilliant orange, cream to black, white |
| Pattern | Honeycomb, wavy |
| Gills | White |
| Stem | Short |
| Spore print colour | Varied |
| Where it grows | East and west coasts of the U.S., UK, Australia |
| Mushroom type | Chanterelles, Jack-O'-Lanterns, Morels, False Morels, Birch Bolete |
| Mushroom weight | Up to two pounds |
| Mushroom toxicity | Amanitas are the most poisonous |
| Mushroom edibility | Almost all mushrooms are technically edible, but many are too fibrous to consume |
| Mushroom identification | Use multiple sources, including field guides, experts, mycological societies, online groups, and courses |
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What You'll Learn
Learn the key differences between edible and poisonous mushrooms
It is important to be able to tell the difference between edible and poisonous mushrooms, as consuming the wrong type can lead to severe symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abnormal heart rhythms, seizures, and even liver failure and death. While some sources suggest that colour and shape are good indicators of whether a mushroom is edible, others caution against relying on these factors, as they vary and can change over time.
Instead, it is recommended that you identify the individual mushroom you have found. Some rules of thumb for avoiding poisonous mushrooms include staying away from those with white gills, a skirt or ring on the stem, and a bulbous or sack-like base, known as a volva. These characteristics are typical of the deadly Amanita family, which includes the Destroying Angel (A. virosa) and the Death Cap (Amanita phalloides), the latter being responsible for the most mushroom poisonings worldwide.
Another toxic mushroom to be aware of is the Jack O'Lantern, which can be mistaken for the edible Chanterelle due to their similar appearance. However, the Jack O'Lantern has true gills, while the Chanterelle has folds, and the gills of the Jack O'Lantern end abruptly along the stem, whereas the folds of the Chanterelle run along the stem and end unevenly.
If you are foraging for mushrooms, it is essential to take precautions, such as bringing two collecting baskets—one for mushrooms identified as edible and another for those of uncertain edibility. It is also advisable to seek the guidance of an experienced mycologist, especially if you are a novice forager.
Remember, unless you are a mushroom expert, it can be challenging to identify mushroom species accurately, so always exercise caution and refrain from consuming a mushroom unless you are absolutely certain it is edible.
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Know the colour of the spore print
Knowing the colour of a mushroom's spore print can be very helpful when trying to identify a wild mushroom. Spore prints are usually white to cream, black, or shades of red, purple, or brown. The poisonous false parasol (Chlorophyllum molybdites) has a green spore deposit, for example.
To make a spore print, you can remove the stem from a mushroom and place it on a sheet of white paper overnight. The mushroom may leave a thick enough spore deposit on the paper that you can determine its colour. You can also place a cup or bowl over the mushroom cap to keep the spores from blowing around.
It is important to note that the colour of the spore print can vary depending on its thickness. For example, in the genus Lactarius, thin deposits are usually white, while thick deposits are cream to yellow.
Spore prints are an important diagnostic tool in most handbooks for identifying mushrooms. While a mushroom cannot be identified from its spore print alone, it is an important characteristic used in taxonomic determination.
In addition to colour, the spore print can also indicate the maturity of the mushroom. Young mushrooms typically have white gills, but as spores mature, the gill colour changes to a darker shade, reflecting the colour of the spores.
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Identify the mushroom's genus
Identifying mushrooms can be a challenging task, and it is crucial to be able to distinguish between edible and poisonous mushrooms. There are several factors to consider when identifying mushrooms beyond just colour and size. Some mushrooms exhibit chemical reactions when exposed to certain substances, while others have microscopic characteristics that aid in identification. Here are some tips to help identify the genus of wild mushrooms:
Agarics
Agarics are characterised by either pink, brown, or black spore prints. They typically have a cap and stem, with gills on the underside of the cap that are initially pink and then turn dark brown as the mushroom matures. The flesh of these mushrooms is usually white and firm. Some species have brown caps, while others have white caps.
Melanoleuca
The Melanoleuca genus includes medium to large-sized mushrooms commonly found in grasslands, meadows, and wooded areas. They produce white spore prints and have smooth, flat caps that are often shades of white, beige, or brown. Their fibrous stems lack both a ring and a volva. Some smaller species within this genus have thin stems and mainly conical caps.
Pleurotus (Oyster Mushrooms)
Oyster mushrooms are characterised by their broad, fan-shaped, or oyster-shaped caps. They typically grow on wood or debris and have a lateral or almost absent stem. Their caps are whitish-grey, sometimes tan, and may also be blue, yellow, or pink in cultivated varieties. Oyster mushrooms can be found throughout the year but are most abundant in cooler weather.
Amanita
Amanita mushrooms are among the deadliest in the world, with the Amanita phalloides (Death Cap) being the most common cause of mushroom poisoning globally. They have a white fruiting body, a sticky cap that can be yellowish, brownish, whitish, or greenish, and white gills. The cap has a few loose flecks from the veil that covered the mushroom in its early fruiting stage. Destroying Angels, another deadly species in this genus, have pure white stalks and caps.
It is important to note that mushroom identification requires practice and a thorough understanding of the characteristics of different genera. Online tools like iNaturalist can be helpful in narrowing down the identification to the genus or family level, but they may not always be accurate. When in doubt, it is best to consult a mushroom expert or a highly-rated guidebook specific to your region.
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Learn from an expert in the field
Learning from an expert in the field is the fastest and safest way to learn about wild mushrooms. There are many ways to find an expert to learn from. One way is to find a local foraging guide and pay for a guided foray or identification class. Another way is to join your local mycological society and attend forays. You can also join mushroom Facebook groups focused on your area, such as Wild Food Wisconsin or Foraging Minnesota. These groups can provide images and descriptions of different mushrooms to aid in identification. Additionally, consider purchasing a regional field guide to learn about the mushrooms that grow in your area.
When learning from an expert, there are several key characteristics to look out for when identifying wild mushrooms. First, the colour of the spore print is very helpful. To obtain a spore print, simply remove the stem and place the mushroom gills down on a piece of clear glass or paper for a few hours or overnight. The colour of the spore print can help narrow down the possible mushrooms and tell you what it isn't. Additionally, pay attention to the stem, what the mushroom is growing on, and the structure of the stem base, which could be below ground.
It is important to be comfortable with your local mushroom varieties and know exactly what you're eating. While many mushrooms are technically edible, some are too fibrous to consume, and some are significantly poisonous. The consequences of misidentification can be severe. Even similar-looking mushrooms can have very different properties; for example, chanterelles are edible and prized by chefs for their unique flavour, while their look-alikes, Jack-O'-Lantern mushrooms, are poisonous and will cause digestive discomfort if consumed.
Another example of similar-looking mushrooms with different properties is morels and false morels. Morels are highly regarded for their flavour and range in colour from cream to almost black, with a distinctive honeycomb pattern. On the other hand, false morels are toxic. Learning to identify key differences between similar-looking mushrooms is crucial for safe foraging. Remember, it is always better to be safe than sorry—if you are ever unsure about a mushroom's edibility, it is best to avoid consuming it.
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Use a regional field guide
Using a regional field guide is a great way to identify wild mushrooms. Regional guides are considered the best mushroom identification books as they focus on mushrooms that grow in a specific area. This is important because mushrooms are regional, and a national guide may not list all the species that grow in your locality.
When using a regional field guide, you should aim to identify at least the genus of the mushroom. Identification keys include the stem, a spore print, what the mushroom is growing on, and the structure of the stem base, which could be below ground.
For those in the Northeastern United States, Timothy Baroni's "Mushrooms of the Northeastern United States and Eastern Canada" is a comprehensive guide that details 500 of the region's most common mushroom species. It features helpful photographs, identification keys, and information, but it may be better suited to those with some prior knowledge. Another guide for this region is Teresa Marrone's "Mushrooms of the Northeast", which covers 400 mushroom species and provides basic identification, excellent pictures, and easy-to-follow guides.
For those in the Pacific Northwest, the iNaturalist app offers a digital field guide to identify mushrooms found in the rainforests of this region.
If you are in the Rocky Mountains, "The Essential Guide to Rocky Mountain Mushrooms by Habitat" by Cathy Cripps, Vera Evenson, and Michael Kuo is a comprehensive guide that covers hundreds of mushrooms, edible and not, and is organized by habitat.
For those on the East Coast, "How to Forage for Mushrooms Without Dying" is a great beginner book with rules for getting started and information on common mushrooms. "Mushrooms of the Northeastern United States" by TJ Baroni is also recommended for beginners.
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Frequently asked questions
Learning from an expert in the field is the fastest and safest way to learn about mushrooms. You can also buy a regional field guide to learn what mushrooms grow in your area. It is important to be comfortable with your local varieties and know exactly what you're eating.
Knowing the colour of the spore print can be very helpful as it helps narrow down your options. A spore print can be obtained by removing the stem and placing the mushroom gills down on a piece of clear glass or paper overnight. Other identification keys include the stem, what the mushroom is growing on, and the structure of the stem base.
Chanterelles and Jack-o'-lantern mushrooms look very similar, but the latter is poisonous and will cause digestive discomfort if consumed. Morels are one of America's most popular mushrooms, but they have a toxic identical twin called false morels.
