John Miller
Mushrooms with white spores can be tricky to identify and require multiple sources of identification. Some mushrooms with white spores include Amanita lavendula, Agrocybe, and Cortinarius. White Oyster mushrooms are edible and have a firm texture and a mushroomy flavor. Giant puffballs, or Calvatia gigantea, are large, round, and white, with white flesh that yellows with age before turning into spores. Mushroom identification is important as some poisonous mushrooms can be deadly.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Colour | White, Beige, Brown |
| Smell | Mushroomy |
| Texture | Fleshy, Firm |
| Gills | White, Not Brittle |
| Stem | Not bulbous, No attachments |
| Cap | Smooth, Flat with central umbo |
| Spore Print Colour | White |
| Additional Characteristics | Rim at the base of the stem, Ring on the stem |
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What You'll Learn
- White Oyster Mushrooms are edible and have a firm texture
- Giant puffballs are easy to identify and safe for novices to forage
- White fuzz on mushrooms is usually mushroom mycelium, not mould
- Mushrooms with white gills, a skirt or ring on the stem, and a bulbous base are often poisonous
- Mushroom identification relies on spore prints, but this is non-trivial and can be inaccurate
White Oyster Mushrooms are edible and have a firm texture
Oyster mushrooms, or Pleurotus spp., are a common variety of edible fungi. They are one of the most widely consumed mushrooms globally due to their delicious taste and versatility in cooking. Oyster mushrooms are also considered a medicinal food. They are called oyster mushrooms because of their oyster-shaped cap and very short (or non-existent) stem. They are typically light grey or greyish-brown but can also be found in other colours like yellow and pink.
White Oyster Mushrooms are a variety of the common oyster mushroom. They are edible and have a firm texture. They are also known as Pleurotus ostreatus and are closely related to the King Oyster variety. They are usually white but can vary in colour from white to grey to brown. They are commonly found growing on deciduous hardwood trees like aspen or beech but can sometimes be found on coniferous trees as well. They are saprotrophic, meaning they feed on dead material, so they are often found on sick or dying trees or dead logs.
White Oyster Mushrooms have a mild anise odour, meaning they smell a little sweet like licorice. They are also commonly found with little black beetles in them, which can be used as an identification point. They are typically found in mid to late fall, but this depends on the weather. They can also be found in early spring in warmer areas.
When identifying White Oyster Mushrooms, look for the presence of decurrent gills. This means that the gills are attached to and run directly down the stem. The gills on White Oyster Mushrooms always clearly run down the stem but not all the way to the bottom. They are smooth, with no warts or scales. The flesh is firm and white, and the mushroom is usually light white to brown on top.
It is important to remember that not all mushrooms that look similar are edible. Always use multiple sources of identification when foraging for mushrooms and be 100% sure of what you are eating.
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Giant puffballs are easy to identify and safe for novices to forage
Giant puffballs (Calvatia gigantea) are considered one of the easiest mushrooms to identify and are safe for novices to forage. They are large white mushrooms that can grow to the size of a football or beach ball, sometimes weighing several kilograms. They are commonly found in meadows, fields, grasslands, lawns, and deciduous forests in late summer and autumn.
To identify a giant puffball, look for a large, roundish, white mushroom with a lumpy and leathery surface. They often have craters caused by insects and wrinkles near the base, where they are connected to the substrate by a root-like cord. When cut open, they should have a solid white interior with "no gills or other imperfections".
Giant puffballs are edible when young and have a white spore print. However, as they mature, the interior turns yellowish or greenish-brown, indicating that the spores have begun to form, and they should no longer be consumed as they can cause digestive issues. An overripe puffball will easily fall apart when touched or cut open.
It is important to distinguish giant puffballs from other similar-looking mushrooms, such as the poisonous earthball (Scleroderma citrinum), which has a darker interior and grows much smaller. Always use multiple sources of identification when foraging for mushrooms and never consume a mushroom that you are not 100% sure about.
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White fuzz on mushrooms is usually mushroom mycelium, not mould
Mushrooms with white spores include Amanita lavendula, some agarics, and mushrooms in the Melanoleuca genus. Giant puffballs, or Calvatia gigantea, are large, round, and white all over, but their flesh yellows with age before turning into spores.
Mushroom growers may encounter white fuzz on their crops, which can be a normal part of mushroom growth or a sign of potential problems. High humidity is necessary for mycelium growth and mushroom development, but if the humidity is too high, it can encourage excessive mycelium growth on the mushroom caps, leading to a fuzzy appearance. Proper air exchange is critical in mushroom cultivation, as mushrooms release carbon dioxide (CO2) as they grow, and if CO2 levels become too high, it can inhibit fruiting and cause mycelium to grow on the caps instead of mushrooms.
To differentiate between healthy mycelium and a potential problem, look for bright white, fluffy matter with a soft and slightly moist texture and no unusual odours. It should spread evenly across the substrate and be actively colonizing the material. If the white fuzz appears to be smothering the mushrooms or growing excessively thick, it could be a sign of over-colonization, which may happen if the mycelium doesn't receive the right environmental cues to transition from the vegetative to the fruiting stage.
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Mushrooms with white gills, a skirt or ring on the stem, and a bulbous base are often poisonous
Mushrooms with white gills, a skirt or ring on the stem, and a bulbous base are often members of the Amanita family, which includes some of the most toxic mushroom species. The presence of these features should be enough to deter foragers, as consuming these mushrooms can lead to poisoning or even death.
Amanita mushrooms, which typically have white gills and spores, are one of the most poisonous mushroom families. They often grow from a sack-like or bulbous structure called a volva, which can be hidden beneath the soil or leaf litter. Therefore, it is crucial to carefully examine the base of any mushroom you intend to identify or consume. While there are a few edible varieties within the Amanita family, novice foragers should generally avoid this group.
One of the deadliest mushrooms in the Amanita family is the Death Cap (Amanita phalloides), which is found throughout Europe. It closely resembles edible mushrooms like straw mushrooms and Caesar's mushrooms, making it especially dangerous. The Death Cap contains heat-stable amatoxins that quickly damage cells in the body, leading to violent abdominal pain, vomiting, and bloody diarrhoea within 6 to 12 hours of consumption.
Another toxic member of the Amanita family is the Destroying Angel (Amanita verna), which includes several species of all-white mushrooms. These fungi are dangerously similar in appearance to edible button mushrooms and meadow mushrooms, leading to numerous accidental collections. The Destroying Angel is considered one of the most toxic mushrooms in North America, causing vomiting, delirium, convulsions, diarrhoea, and liver and kidney failure, often resulting in death.
In addition to the Amanita family, other poisonous mushrooms with white gills include the Panther Cap, Fly Agaric, and the sweating mushroom. These mushrooms may not be fatal but can cause extremely unpleasant experiences, including psychoactive effects and unpleasant symptoms like sweating.
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Mushroom identification relies on spore prints, but this is non-trivial and can be inaccurate
Mushroom identification is a complex process that requires multiple sources of information and photography to confirm findings. While spore prints are a well-known method for identifying mushrooms, it is not a simple task and can be inaccurate for beginners. Spore prints are obtained by removing the stem and placing the mushroom gills on a clear surface, such as glass or paper, for several hours or overnight. The colour of the spore print is then used to narrow down the potential matches. However, this process can be challenging, and even dangerous, as some poisonous mushrooms can have similar spore colours to edible ones.
For example, the Amanita lavendula mushroom, identified by UNC Botanist Coker over a hundred years ago, has white spores that turn bluish-black when treated with iodine. This mushroom has a distinctive mushroomy smell and lavender shades that develop when night temperatures are near freezing. Another mushroom with white spores is the Agrocybe, which typically has brown spore prints and dry caps that can be convex, bell-shaped, or nearly flat. Their colours range from yellow-brown to tan, and they grow on grass, wood chips, dung, or in woods.
Additionally, the Melanoleuca genus of mushrooms, commonly found in grasslands and wooded areas, also has white spore prints. These mushrooms have smooth caps that are often flat with a central umbo and fibrous stems that lack a ring or volva. On the other hand, the Pleurotus genus, often called "oyster mushrooms," typically has white or creamy gills and a lateral stem or no stem at all. These mushrooms grow on wood or debris.
It is important to note that mushroom identification goes beyond spore colour and includes characteristics such as the shape and texture of the cap, the presence or absence of a stem, the firmness of the flesh, and the smell. For example, the Lion's Mane mushroom is typically white but can have a faint pink or orange hue, even when freshly harvested. Additionally, some rules for identifying safe mushrooms are misleading or incorrect. It is not true that "mushrooms growing on wood are safe," as some deadly varieties, like the Funeral Bell, grow on wood.
Therefore, it is crucial to use multiple sources and identification guides when foraging for mushrooms to ensure accuracy and safety.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushrooms with white spores include the Melanoleuca genus, Mycena crocea, Amanita lavendula, and Pleurotus genus, commonly known as oyster mushrooms.
To identify mushrooms with white spores, you can make a spore print by removing the stem and placing the mushroom gills down on a piece of clear glass or paper for a few hours or overnight. If the resulting print is white, then the mushroom has white spores.
While some mushrooms with white spores, such as oyster mushrooms, are edible, it is crucial to accurately identify the specific type of mushroom before consumption. Some poisonous mushrooms have white spores and can be deadly if ingested. Always use multiple sources of identification and guidelines to determine edibility.
