Poisonous Mushrooms
Poisonous mushrooms are often referred to as 'toadstools', but this is a folk name that has no precise meaning.
There is no quick and easy way to separate the edible mushrooms from the poisonous ones.
Of the approximately 6000 species of mushrooms that are known, there are probably no more than 60 that are poisonous, and of these 60, only a few will be lethal.There also are hundreds of other mushrooms that will cause anything from a mild stomachache to severe physical distress-including vomiting, diarrhea, cramps and loss of co-ordination.
Generally, there are several categories of poisonous mushrooms:
Even edible mushrooms can sometime cause illness (though non-threatening) as well. This could happen if you eat mushrooms that are already decomposing or are infested with bacteria and other fungi. It is also possible to suffer from an allergic reaction to edible species of mushrooms.
How
to avoid Poisonous Mushrooms?
The following descriptions and pictures on some poisonous mushrooms will teach you how to avoid them.
Amanitas (Amanita
spp.)
Amanita is an attractive mushroom with brightly coloured caps often ornamented with scales. Many Amanita species are highly poisonous and deadly when consumed.
Several members of this group contain amanitin, one of the deadliest poisons found in nature. One cap of a Destroying Angel (Amanita virosa) can kill a man.
Fully developed amanitas are gilled mushrooms with parasol-shaped caps that may be white, yellow, red or brown. Amanita spp. has the following characteristics:
Jack-O'-Lantern (Omphalotus
olearius)
The colour of this fungus is bright orange - it also glows in the dark. Fresh specimens sometimes give off a faint greenish glow at night or in a darkened room.
These common mushrooms have caused many poisonings because they look, smell and even taste good. Jack-O'-lanterns have a pleasant, fruity fragrance. They cause mild to severe stomach upset but are not life-threatening to healthy adults.
Green-spored Lepiota(Chlorophyllum
molybdites)
The Jack-O'-Lantern and green-spored Lepiota are only two of a large number of mushrooms that can cause mild to severe (though not life-threatening) illness if eaten.They cause violent gastrointestinal upset.
These large, common mushrooms often appear in fairy rings on suburban lawns. The green-spored lepiota is parasol-shaped and has a cream or tan, scaly cap, a large ring on the stem and cream-colored gills which turn dingy green with age. It has a size of about 4" to 12" tall with a diameter of 2" to 12".
Little Brown Mushrooms (LBMs)
Like the LGBs (little gray birds) of the birdwatchers, this is a catchall category. It includes all small to medium-sized, hard-to-identify brownish mushroom with spores of all colors-of which there are many hundreds. Many LBMs are harmless, some are mildly poisonous or hallucinogenic, and a few are deadly.
The innocent-looking little mushrooms of the genus Galerina are probably the most dangerous of the LBMs. They contain the same toxin as amanitas and have caused a number of deaths. Galerinas grow in clusters on wood and have brownish spores. Because they are so difficult to identify, all LBMs should be avoided. Poisonous LBMS may grow on soil or wood and may appear in lawns, pastures or forests.
False Morels (Helvella
and Gyromitra spp.)
Not all false morels are dangerous.
False morels do not fit clearly into the edible or poisonous mushrooms categories. Many people have enjoyed eating false morels for years and may even consider them a favorite wild mushroom. On the other hand, false morels can also cause serious illnesses and deaths.
Helvella spp.
The problem seems to involve the amount of a toxic chemical, called monomethyl hydrazine (MMH), present in these mushrooms. MMH causes diarrhea, vomiting and severe headaches, and occasionally it can be fatal. However, because of different cooking techniques and different individual sensitivities to MMH, false morels poison some people but leave others unaffected. In addition, false morels in some areas of the country contain more MMH than in other areas. All this makes these mushrooms a very doubtful group as far as edibility is concerned.
How to differentiate between a true morel and a false morel ?
False morels have wrinkled, irregular caps that are brainlike or saddle-shaped. They may be black, gray, white, brown or reddish. They are about 2" to 8"tall. Other names of false morels include elephant ears and Arkansas morels.
False morels differ from true morels in two ways
1. The
cap surface has lobes, folds, flaps or wrinkles, but it does not
have pits and ridges like a true morel. You might say their caps
bulge outward instead of being pitted inward.
2. The bottom edge of the cap of a false morel hangs free around the stem, like a skirt. On true morels, the bottom edge of the cap is attached to the stem.
How to
avoid poisonous
mushrooms
Stop believing that peeling the cap, testing with a silver spoon or checking for insect damage to the mushrooms can tell you whether that mushroom in your hand is poisonous or not.
The safest way to avoid mushroom poisoning is to follow these five rules
Although the symptoms of poisoning from these mushrooms may be alarming, they usually pass in 24 hours or less with no lasting effects. You should, however, notify your doctor immediately if you suspect mushroom poisoning of any kind.
More
tips on "Collecting
and Identifying Mushrooms"