There are many varieties of mushrooms that people come across while foraging in their local forests for a delicious bounty.
However, while almost all mushrooms are edible, many are harmful to consume.
It’s important to note the differences between poisonous mushrooms and edible ones in the wild. Learning these distinctions dramatically lowers the risk of a costly mistake.
For instance, there are a few ways to differentiate morel vs false morel without taking a potentially fatal bite.
Keep reading for an in-depth look at how to tell look-alike fungi apart from each other, including tips on common markers shared by many poisonous wild mushrooms. In addition, you may learn more about mushroom anatomy by reading this informative post from Mushroom Revival.
The Main Difference Between Edible and Poisonous Wild Mushrooms
Wild mushrooms are a delightful treat for many foragers when identified correctly.
For example, chanterelles have a unique, peppery yet fruity flavor when cooked. Morels are utterly delicious and highly sought after.
Sulfur-shelf mushrooms have a unique, meaty taste, unlike any mushrooms you’ll find in the average grocery store.
However, there are notable differences between varieties like morel vs false morel, and mistaking the two can be fatal.
One quick rule of thumb is to check whether the mushroom you’re looking at has a frill below the cap, like a bib that goes all the way around the stem.
Every mushroom that has this frill is poisonous and should be avoided; however, not every poisonous mushroom has it.
When added to meals, edible wild mushrooms add a lot of flavors.
Keep in mind that even experienced foragers can make mistakes when identifying mushrooms, so it’s always best to err on the side of caution and only consume wild mushrooms if you are confident of their identification.
However, poisonous mushrooms will quickly make the consumer seriously ill. So what can be done to tell these fungi apart?
Tips on How to Tell Them Apart
Depending on the mushroom, there are a few ways to tell each edible one apart from the poisonous variety.
These differences can be vital in determining whether you’ll make a delicious dish or a trip to the hospital.
From the color and shape of a fungus’ cap to the texture of the stem, every detail is worth noting to avoid mushroom poisoning.
Learning the key identifying characteristics of both edible and poisonous mushrooms is essential. Please familiarize yourself with their appearance, habitat, and growth patterns.
Some mushrooms have unique features, such as a distinct smell, color, or shape, that can help identify them.
You can also use a mushroom identification guide. Many are available online and in print to help you identify different types of mushrooms. However, make sure to use accurate and up-to-date guides to ensure that you are identifying mushrooms correctly.
Many mushrooms can be identified by the color and pattern of their spores. To take a spore print, place a mushroom cap and gills down on a piece of paper and cover it with a bowl for a few hours. The spores will fall onto the paper and leave a visible print that can help identify them.
If you need clarification on a mushroom, it’s best to consult a professional mycologist or a knowledgeable forager who can help you identify it.
Several edible varieties have imposters that look similar but harbor harmful or deadly effects. The consequences of ingesting dangerous fungi can be avoided with careful evaluation and identification.
Morel vs False Morel
True morel mushrooms are a delightful addition to one’s palette, but with 80 different species to sift through, there are bound to be similarities that can cause confusion.
A true morel comes in various colors, including tan, yellow, and olive. The fungus is completely hollow from stem to cap, which is spongelike and resembles a honeycomb.
The morel is typically longer than it is wider due to the cap’s small size.
False morels contain toxins that cause nausea, cramps, diarrhea, or worse when consumed in large amounts.
The cap doesn’t always have the same honeycomb texture of a true morel. False morels, such as the early false morel, can have smooth or wrinkled caps that are full instead of hollow.
Bell morels, another poisonous look-alike, have smaller caps that are umbrella-shaped. These can be hollow while young, impersonating a young true morel while containing toxins that are harmful if ingested.
Deadly false morels look misshapen as if melting or left in the sun to wither. Ingesting them can lead to vomiting and diarrhea, with dizziness and lethargy that lead to a comatose state or death within the week.
The best way to tell if a mushroom is a morel vs false morel is to see if the cap is the right size, shape, and texture, and that the fungus is hollow on the inside.
This will ensure that what is consumed is indeed a true morel and not a poisonous imposter.
Chanterelles vs Jack-O’-Lanterns
Both chanterelles and jack-o’-lanterns are bright and vivid, but one is delicious, and the other will cause days of digestive discomfort.
Both mushrooms grow in summer and early fall and are remarkable for their vivid autumnal coloration. There are a few ways to tell the two apart without risking a taste test.
Jack-o’-lanterns are sometimes shiny, giving away their poisonous nature. They tend to be found in large clusters near rotting wood like logs or stumps.
The jack-o’-lantern’s inside is orange, which is where it gets its name, and it has sharp descending gills along the stalk of the fungus.
Chanterelles grow in small groups, away from decaying wood. The inside is white, solid, and pulls apart in strings.
They come in a bright orange or golden color, though they tend to be smaller than the jack-o’-lantern; on average, they’re about the size of a fist.
The Deadliest Mushrooms
Among some of the most dangerous mushrooms to consume are death caps and destroying angels, which can often be mistaken for safe-to-eat look-alikes.
Death caps are native to Europe and are sticky to the touch. They may smell sweet, but they lead to severe poisoning.
Destroying angels have pure white stalks with attractive wide caps. While they may look pretty, a single mushroom is more than enough to kill a healthy adult.
Conclusion
A good piece of advice is not to eat a mushroom you cannot identify with absolute certainty.
If you’re out in the woods and realize you can’t remember how to distinguish morel vs false morel, you’re better off heading home to review your notes.
Foraging can be a fun pastime that comes with a slew of benefits, but consuming a deadly mushroom could put an end to more than just your adventurous palate.
Keep an eye out for the differences between safe and dangerous fungi and know what risks are at stake.