How To Identify Poisonous Mushrooms

The presence of colored volva, white-colored gills, red cap of the stem, and acrid, chemical, or fishy odor are the signs of poisonous mushrooms. 

Mushroom poisoning is a type of poisoning that occurs with the ingestion of mushrooms that contain toxic substances.

Key Areas Covered

1. How to Identify Poisonous Mushrooms
– Definition, Features, Importance
2. What is Mushroom Poisoning
– Definition, Features, Importance
3. FAQ: How to Identify Poisonous Mushrooms
– Answers to frequently asked questions

Key Terms

Poisonous Mushrooms, Volva

How to Identify Poisonous Mushrooms

There are both common misconceptions and characteristics to avoid when using poisonous mushrooms. Among them, the first misconception is that the peeling of the cap of the mushroom easily. It is safe to eat mushrooms that contain caps that peel easily. However, this rule is not followed by death caps. Another popular way to choose non-poisonous mushrooms is animal eating. Animals do not eat poisonous mushrooms. Although it is not a good way to choose non-poisonous mushrooms, it is easy to distinguish poisonous mushrooms. The mushroom growing on trees is the last common misconception to choose poisonous mushrooms. Still, some poisonous mushrooms, such as Funeral Bell, are a toxic variety that grows on trees.

Figure 1: Funeral Bell

Furthermore, there are certain characteristics that are common in poisonous mushrooms. Therefore, these traits can be easily avoided when consuming. The presence of colored volva, white-colored gills, red cap of the stem, and acrid, chemical, or fishy odor are the signs of poisonous mushrooms.

Volva

The bulbous growth at the base of the mushroom stem is the volva. Also, it occurs under the soil. The presence of a volva or a volva with a colored ring is a sign of a poisonous mushroom. Therefore, one can dig the soil to check for the presence of a volcano.

Figure 2: Volva in Poisonous Mushroom

White Gills

Mushroom gills are the thin, papery structures that hang vertically under the cap. The color of the mushrooms’ gills is another sign of toxicity or safety. The poisonous types contain white gills. Therefore, it is important to examine the underside of the mushroom. The identifying feature of white gills is the presence of a series of ribs or a series of holes. Mushrooms with white-colored gills are usually poisonous.

Figure 4: Wild Mushroom Gills

Red on Cap or Stem

Importantly, many mushrooms with red caps are poisonous. If one cannot identify a non-poisonous mushroom, it is better not to pick red-capped mushrooms.

Figure 3: Poisonous Red Hat Mushroom

Strange Odor

One of the significant features of non-poisonous mushrooms is the presence of a pleasant, earthy aroma. Therefore, they are edible. In contrast, poisonous mushrooms have a chemical, fishy, or acrid odor.

What is Mushroom Poisoning

Mushroom poisoning is a type of poisoning that results from the ingestion of mushrooms that contain toxic substances. It can show variable symptoms, from slight gastrointestinal discomfort to death. Importantly, mushrooms produce secondary metabolites that can be toxic to humans and other animals. The main reason for the mushroom poisoning is the misidentification of poisonous mushrooms to toxic mushrooms. Close morphology to edible mushrooms results in poisoning mushrooms.

Some examples of deadly toxins that occur in poisonous mushrooms are alpha-amanitin, orellanine, monomethylhydrazine, and ergotamine. Some examples of potentially deadly toxins include muscarine, ibotenic acid, and muscimol. Non-lethal toxins in mushrooms include phallotoxin, coprine, arbitol, and bolesatine.

FAQ: How to Identify Poisonous Mushrooms

What are the most common poisonous mushrooms?

• Death Cap (Amanita phalloides) 
• Conocybe filaris. 
• Webcaps (Cortinarius species) 
• Autumn Skullcap (Galerina marginata) 
• Destroying Angels (Amanita species) …
• Podostroma cornu-damae. 
• Deadly Dapperling (Lepiota brunneoincarnata)

are the 7 most poisonous mushrooms in the world.

What is the top 1 poisonous mushroom?

Amanita phalloides is the most poisonous mushroom in the world. The death cap mushroom is the common name for the Amanita phalloides. It is responsible for 90% of the mushroom-related fatalities. 

How do you identify and classify mushrooms?

Spores are the key feature of the identification of mushrooms. Some mushrooms contain distinctly-colored spores. 

Conclusion

In brief, there are misconceptions and characteristic features to identify poisonous mushrooms. Peeling off the cap, eating by animals, and mushrooms growing on trees are the common misconceptions of poisonous mushrooms. Apart from that, the presence of colored volva, white-colored gills, red cap of the stem, and acrid, chemical, or fishy odor are the signs of poisonous mushrooms. Some examples of deadly poisons include alpha-amanitin, orellanine, monomethylhydrazine, and ergotamine.

References:

1. Lark, R. (2023, May 16). How to identify poisonous mushrooms. Environment Co. 

Image Courtesy:

1. “Amanita phalloides 1” By Archenzo – Own work (CC-BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Galerina marginata 100580499” By Sarah Culliton – Own Work (CC-BY 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia