The most important part of looking for edible mushrooms is learning how to identify poisonous mushrooms. A very common genus of mushrooms is the Amanita, and some of the most toxic types belong to this group. Check the visual characteristics of the fungi and the spore impression. Many edible species also resemble other toxic species. Use a field guide and join a local mycological group to learn how to effectively identify poisonous mushrooms.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Define the characteristics of Amanita mushrooms
Step 1. Look at the color of the mushroom
Most Amanita mushrooms are in the red, orange, yellow, white, or gray color range. Some Amanita mushrooms also produce red spots if broken or bruised.
While many mushrooms within this color range are Amanita mushrooms, you cannot rely on their color alone to identify them. To help you identify it, you should also check the other characteristics, such as the shape of the crown, and the presence of scales or warts
Step 2. Check if the crown is shaped like an umbrella
Amanita mushrooms have a crown that looks like a very wide letter "U" upside down. This form of crown can also be described as an umbrella.
Step 3. Determine if the crown is dry or looks slimy
All Amanita mushrooms have dry tops, therefore they do not look slimy or wet like many other varieties. Touch the crown to see if it is dry or if it is wet or sticky.
If it's rained recently and you're not sure if the pile is actually slimy, or if it's just from the rain, set it aside for a day or two to see if it dries out
Step 4. Check the crown of the fungus for scales or warts
Many Amanita mushrooms stand out because they have different colored spots on the crown. They could be somewhat brown scales on white mushrooms, or white warts on red mushrooms.
- Typically, warts are rows of small raised dots.
- The patches of a fungus are remnants of the universal veil that surrounded it at the beginning.
Step 5. Dig out the mushroom to find a bowl-shaped bulb around the base
Gently scoop the mushroom out of the ground with a pocket knife. The base at the bottom of the stem will have a very rounded bowl shape.
- This indicator is a good way to distinguish Amanita, because not all mushrooms have a bulbous base.
- This part of the mushroom is also part of the universal veil that it had at the beginning.
- When digging out the mushroom, make deep cuts around the base to avoid damaging it with the knife. You must be careful because the bulbous cup is usually very delicate and can be easily broken.
Step 6. See if there is a ring just below the crown
Many Amanita mushrooms have a distinctive ring around the stem. It is the same color as the stem, however, its presence is easy to notice.
- To see the hoop, you will have to dig out the mushroom or squat on the ground.
- The hoop is called a ring or partial veil, and it is the part of the stem that tears as the mushroom grows taller.
Step 7. See if the mushroom has white plates underneath
Flip the mushroom over to see the color of the slices. Amanita usually have white or very pale blades, which is an easy way to tell that they are poisonous unlike other mushrooms.
Step 8. Take a spore print of the fungus to see if it remains white
Use a pocket knife to separate the stem from the crown. Press the crown gently to press the sheets against a piece of dark paper. Wait overnight and see if the spores left on the paper are white.
Some Amanita mushrooms do not have white or pale blades, however they also produce a white spore print. In this way, you will be more sure that you have identified it correctly
Method 2 of 3: Identify Mushroom Looks
Step 1. Check the shape and interior of the crown of the morels to distinguish the false from the true ones
True morels have a crown that is completely attached to the stem, while false morels have a crown that hangs freely on the stem. Cut the crown in half lengthwise to examine its interior. The inside of the crown of true morels is completely hollow, from the tip to the bottom that is attached to the stem. In contrast, the interior of the crown of false morels is dimpled, cotton-like, and fibrous.
In addition, the crown of a true morel is usually uniform and longer than the stem, while that of a false morel is often irregular, flattened, and shorter than the stem
Step 2. Take a spore print to identify the fake parasols from the real ones
Both species of mushrooms resemble the white mushrooms you buy in supermarkets. The fake parasol is toxic and, if swallowed, can have serious consequences; while the real one is edible. The spore print of a false parasol mushroom will be green or gray, while the spore print of a true one will be cream colored.
In North America, the false parasol is the most commonly consumed toxic species of fungus. It generally grows during the summer and fall, especially after heavy rains
Step 3. Look at the pictures to distinguish chanterelles from Omphalotus olearius
Chanterelles have false laminae, which means that they cannot be separated from the crown without breaking. In contrast, Omphalotus olearius have true blades, and are bifurcated, knife-shaped, and can be removed without damaging the crown.
- Chanterelle slices also look like they've melted.
- The distribution of the fungi can also indicate the species. Chanterelles only grow near trees and in small groups. Omphalotus olearius grow in dense clumps and can grow where there are no trees, such as in the middle of a field.
- Chanterelles are safe to eat, while Omphalotus olearius are very toxic.
Step 4. Make a spore print to differentiate Armillaria mushrooms from deadly Galerina mushrooms
The Armillaria mushrooms, which are edible and safe, produce a white spore print, while the deadly Galerina mushrooms make a rusty brown spore print. Armillaria mushrooms also tend to have a larger ring than Galerina.
These species of fungi look very similar and often grow in similar locations, such as along the same tree stump. While searching for Armillaria, it is easy to accidentally add a Galerina mushroom to the basket, so it is important that you check each mushroom individually
Method 3 of 3: Learn About Mushrooms
Step 1. Join a mycological group to learn how to identify the different types
Look up a local mycological group on a search engine. Attend meetings and go out with the experts to look for mushrooms in your area to learn how to identify which are edible and which are poisonous.
A local group is often the best way to educate yourself on mushrooms because they are experts on what is found in your area. Knowing what is safe where you go to look for mushrooms is invaluable knowledge since they are very different in each region
Step 2. Buy a local field guide to learn about local mushrooms
You can buy a field guide at local bookstores or online. Choose one that is as specific as possible to your location, as it will represent the varieties of mushrooms that you will see when you go out looking for them.
- Another place to look for mushroom reference guides is at your local library.
- If you've already joined a mycological group, they may be able to recommend the best field guide in the region.
Step 3. Divide the mushrooms you find into 2 groups
Make 1 group with only the positively identified mushrooms and another for the mushrooms you are unsure about. Take 2 baskets when you go out to look for wild mushrooms and put the ones that you are sure are edible in one and in another place the ones you are not sure about. Take an expert to identify the mushrooms you are unsure about.
- If you only touch a toxic mushroom, it cannot harm you. You would have to cook or eat it first.
- Some types of mushrooms are very delicate and can easily break into pieces. Therefore, it is especially important that you separate edible mushrooms from those you are unsure about, as small pieces of poisonous mushrooms should not be mixed with the edible group.
Advice
Since there are a large number of mushroom species, there are no really clear rules for identifying poisonous mushrooms from edibles. Following some strict guidelines on the characteristics that identify the genus Amanita is by no means an exhaustive list of all poisonous types, and some safe and edible types are also included in these guidelines
Warnings
- If you eat an unidentified wild mushroom, or if you have symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, or difficulty breathing, seek emergency medical attention.
- Never eat a wild mushroom unless a mycologist (an expert in mushroom identification) tells you that it is edible. Eating wild mushrooms without correctly identifying them is dangerous and can have deadly consequences.
- It is common for there to be fungi that are similar to each other. This means that there are poisonous varieties that resemble edible varieties. This is also the reason why it is extremely important to identify them correctly.
- The climate and environment in which they grow makes many types of mushrooms differ in appearance. Therefore, identifying a mushroom in one location correctly does not mean that you will be able to identify the same mushroom in a different location correctly.