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Facts and Myths About Poisonous Mushrooms

Learning about poisonous mushrooms is crucial if you want to start eating specimens you find in the woods. The consequences of eating the wrong wild mushroom range from dizziness to severe diarrhea to even death. Yes, you can die from making a mistake.

poisonous mushroom That said, mushroom hunting isn't the hazardous experience that some would have you believe. Many people, myself included, have safely eaten wild mushrooms. We do this through a combination of education and caution.

Always make a positive identification and only eat young, fresh specimens. For your own safety, there must be no doubt in your mind. If eating something new for the first time, only try a small amount and wait 24 hours to see if it effects you negatively.

If you're not interested in eating wild mushrooms that's okay. Truthfully, most of them don't taste very good (although some are delicious). It's still fun to learn the poisonous species, as some of them are very beautiful. You just may be surprised at just how many poisonous mushrooms you see on a daily basis!

Please remember that this is not a definitive guide, only an introduction. Don't eat anything based on what you've read here. No page on the Internet will replace real life experience and instruction.

We'll start by looking at some of the famous poisonous mushrooms like amanitas, little brown mushrooms, and false morels. These are responsible for almost all the deadly poisonings in the United States. They're often mistaken for something edible, so it's important to learn how to recognize and avoid them.

Next I'll discuss the jack o'lantern, which is easy for beginners to confuse with an edible chanterelle. I've also included a brief, but by no means exhaustive, list of some other species. Finally we'll conclude with some myths in hopes to dispel some of the misinformation out there.

Click here to share a poisonous fungi story with visitors to this page!

The Infamous Amanitas

With names like the "death cap" and "destroying angel" it's no wonder the Amanita contains some of the most famous and deadly of all poisonous mushrooms. Certain species of Amanita contain amanitin, a deadly amatoxin.

Amatoxins are some of the most lethal poisons found in nature. These toxins work by slowly shutting down the liver and kidneys. Often the victim will appear sick initially and then seem to get better. Unfortunately the amatoxins are still at work, and death may occur anywhere from a few days to a week after ingestion. This poison knows no antidote.

Amanita species are gilled mushrooms, most of which are suspected to be mycorrhizal (forming symbiotic relationships with trees). For this reason they are most often found on the ground in the woods, although occasionally they will occur in grassy fields. They're seen usually in the summer and fall, or winter and spring in warmer climates.
Mushrooms in the Amanita genus start their lives as small buttons in the shape of an egg. This egg-like covering is actually a layer of tissue called the "universal veil". Often it will have a "partial veil" as well, which is a layer of tissue that covers and protects the growing gills.
These poisonous mushrooms are often identified by their white gills, sac like base (a remnant of the universal veil), ring around the stem (remnant of the partial veil), and patches on the cap. See this page for a more detailed description on how to identify the Amanita genus.
Because they form as a small button, an amanita may sometimes be mistaken for an edible puffball. This is why it's essential to slice a puffball open before eating it. Puffballs are white and solid on the inside with no gills. If you see gills you may have an amanita on your hands!
The majority of fatal mushroom poisonings worldwide are attributed to the aptly named "death cap", or Amanita phalloides. The death cap is native to Europe but has spread to many other parts of the world, including North America. It is usually a greenish color but may be light brown or yellow. A few grams (about the weight of a cap) contain enough amatoxins to kill an adult. Click here for a great article about a biologist studying the death cap in California.
Another infamous poisonous mushroom is the destroying angel. The term "destroying angel" refers to the species Amanita bisporigera and Amanita ocreata. (Another species, Amanita virosa, is known as the "European destroying angel", although there is some confusion about whether this mushroom exists in the United States.) They're recognized by their rounded base, white color, and smooth cap. One bite of these may contain enough amatoxins to kill.

It's important to learn how to recognize amanitas (especially the death cap and the destroying angel) if one is going to start eating wild mushrooms. Proper knowledge can prevent a fatal mistake!

LBMs (Little Brown Mushrooms) Are Everywhere

Do you think all those little brown mushrooms on the ground look similar and are hard to identify? Well, mycologists agree with you! That's why they're referred to as "LBMs", which stands for "little brown mushrooms."

Little Brown Mushrooms LBM isn't a scientific term for genus or species. Rather, it's a category used to lump together all small to medium brownish mushrooms. Brownish is a relative term as some drab yellow, white, or gray mushrooms are considered LBMs. There are hundreds of species out there fitting this description, and many of them are extremely difficult to identify outside of a lab.

Many LBMs will cause nausea or gastric distress. However, some contain the same amatoxins as certain amanitas. The most notable and deadly of these are species in the Galerina genus. They may not appear dangerous, but some of these little specimens can kill!

It's easy to avoid LBM poisoning: never eat them! When mushroom hunting, stay away from all small to medium brownish species. If it's not easily identifiable it shouldn't be on the table!

False Morels (Gyromitra and Verpa species)

The term "false morel" encompasses a number of different species including Gyromitra esculenta (the beefsteak mushroom), Gyromitra caroliniana, and others in the Verpa and Helvella genus. They are often mistaken for the edible delicacies in the Morchella genus (true morels).

The false morel is dangerous because many contain the chemical monomethyl hydrazine (MMH). MMH causes vomiting, dizziness, diarrhea, and sometimes death. Furthermore, MMH is suspected to be carcinogenic.

"But wait," you may be asking, "haven't I heard of people eating false morels with no ill effect?"

You probably have. Many people have eaten them and some even hunt for them specifically. It may surprise you that Gyromitra esculenta is considered a delicacy in parts of the Great Lakes region of the United States and in parts of Scandinavia. You can even buy them in Finland where they come with preparation instructions.

So what's the problem? One danger is the varying levels of MMH in different poisonous mushrooms. Some species contain very little, others contain enough to kill. MMH levels also vary among geographic regions within a single species. The point is nobody knows how toxic any false morel will be in any location.

Another reason people eat false morels is the belief that correct preparation renders them safe. Through drying and repeated boiling the toxins are reduced and the mushrooms become edible. However MMH is a cumulative toxin, meaning that its levels will build up in your body after repeated consumption. This could lead to illness or even death. Keep that in mind the next time someone insists to you that they've safely eaten these poisonous mushrooms.

Sure, plenty of people eat these for years with no problems. But why risk it? These are poisonous mushrooms that have caused deaths and many to become seriously ill. No one knows how toxic any given false morel will be so it's best to just avoid them altogether. Besides, true morels are said to taste better!

Some more false morel facts:

Most appear in the spring and summer and grow directly on the ground. Although some are found on wood or later in the year, they are unlikely to be mistaken for true morels.
Caps are usually brown or reddish brown and occasionally yellow. Most stems are a light color, ranging from white to tan.
False morels are considered saprotrophs, meaning they feed on dead and decaying organic matter. Some have suggested that they may be mycorrhizal as well (forming a symbiotic relationship with trees).
Like true morels, false morels are often found in areas where the forest floor has been disrupted. You're more likely to see them near washes, rivulets, man-made disturbances in the ground, and roadsides.

So how do you tell a true morel from a false morel? Observe the following:

Make note of the cap shape. False morels have caps that are "wavy" or "lobed". They appear to be bulging outwards. True morels have a more uniformly shaped cap with pits or ridges. They appear to be pitted inwards rather than bulging.
The cap of a false morel hangs freely from the stem. A true morel has a cap that will be attached to the stem. This is not always the case but more often than not it is.
If you slice an edible morel open from top to bottom it will be hollow inside. A non-edible one will usually be filled with wispy cotton-like fibers or chunks of tissue.

See the pictures below. Note how the false morel on the left seems to be bulging outward and the true morel on the right is pitted inwards?

False Morel Mushroom True Morel Mushroom

A seasoned mushroom hunter usually won't have a problem making this identification. If you feel sick or dizzy after eating what you thought was an edible morel seek help immediately!

The Jack o'Lantern (Omphalotus olearius)

The jack o'lantern is a famous poisonous mushroom due to its often being mistaken for certain types of gourmet chanterelles. They contain the toxin muscarine, which causes severe cramps and diarrhea. Although not deadly, consuming this species may require hospitalization. Other facts about the jack o'lantern:

Colors range from bright orange to an orange-y green. They have smooth, convex to flat caps with no universal or partial veil. Usually found growing in clusters.
This species is a saprotroph, meaning it feeds on dead material. They tend to grow on dead hardwoods, mainly oaks, in late
summer through fall (or winter on the West Coast)
Like so many mushrooms, there is a current debate about the correct name. Omphalotus oleariusis a European species that may not be the same as the North American one. The debate still rages, with some insisting that what is called Omphalotus olearius in North America is actually Omphalotus illudens (East coast) or Omphalotus olivascens (West coast).
They glow in the dark! Well, not intensely but the jack o'lantern does have a bioluminescent enzyme which causes the gills to glow a faint blue-green color in the dark. How cool is that?

The easiest way to distinguish a poisonous jack o'lantern from an edible chanterelle is by looking at the gills. The jack o'lantern has sharp, non-forked, knife-like gills that could be carefully picked off. A chanterelle has false gills, which are folds or wrinkles on the underside of the mushroom and not easily picked off.

When I first learned to identify chanterelles the gills were described to me as having a "melted" appearance. I still love this explanation! I really do think chanterelle gills look more like melted ridges than real gills.

The best way for a novice to learn how to really distinguish between the two is to see them in real life. When mushroom hunting, take the time to compare any chanterelles in your area to a local jack o'lantern. With a little practice you'll never have an unpleasant surprise when hunting for chanterelles, and you may just get to see a jack o'lantern glow in the dark!

A Few Other Poisonous Species

I'm not going to go into detail on these but here are some other well-known poisonous mushrooms.

Poisonous species in the Lepiota genus such as Lepiota josserandii, Lepiota castanea, and Lepiota helveola. They have the same amatoxins as certain species of Amanita and can be deadly.
Chlorophyllum molybdites is sometimes known as the "green spored Lepiota" due to its spore print. These can cause extreme sickness.
Certain species of boletes are known to be poisonous such as Boletus satanas.
The Clitocybe and Inocybe genera contain a number of poisonous species. These can be difficult to identify and I think it's best to avoid these genera altogether.
The Cortinarius genus also contains many dangerous species. Some have a very beautiful purple color!

And many more! With so many poisonous mushroom species out there, you can see why it's important to educate yourself and be cautious.

Myths: Never Rely on These to Identify Mushrooms

Another cause of poisoning is relying on myths to help identify poisonous mushrooms. This strategy is dangerous, as many of these myths are inaccurate and have no scientific basis. To help avoid sickness (or worse!) never use a folk tale when making a classification. Instead use local knowledge gained from books and forays with experts.

Below are some common examples of poisonous mushroom "fiction".

All white mushrooms are safe to eat. I have actually heard people say this and it just may be the most erroneous myth of all. Not all poisonous mushrooms are brightly colored. The destroying angel from earlier in this page is just one glaring example of a hazardous white mushroom.
Heating a poisonous mushroom and stirring it with a silver spoon will turn the spoon black. Some believe that the toxins will blacken silver when heated. This myth has been around for a long time with no basis in fact. To date no toxins are known to have this reaction with silver.
Any mushroom is safe to eat once thoroughly cooked. This is an unreliable assumption. Most toxins are not broken down by heat and are not made safer by cooking.
Insects can tell which mushrooms are poisonous and will avoid them. Not true! Just because it's deadly to us doesn't mean it's deadly to a bug. Some toxic species, such as the death cap, will still harbor insects and their larvae.
Poisonous mushrooms taste bitter/sour/bad. Don't rely on those tricky taste buds! I've read reports of people mistakenly eating amanitas and saying they tasted good.
All poisonous mushrooms have a pointed cap. The shape of any part of a mushroom plays no role in its toxicity.

There you have it! Always stick to the species you know and seek hand-on local instruction. However, even experienced mushroom hunters have poisoned themselves so remember the age-old adage:

When in doubt, throw it out!

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The false morel picture was taken by Severine Meißner and is published on Wikipedia under the GNU Free Documentation License.

The information on this site is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult a qualified physician or health practictioner for diagnosis and treatment of any condition.

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