☠ deadly
The German Mycological Society (DGfM) says a reliable identification always has to take all identifying features into account. In photos, often not all features are visible, and many, such as smell, taste, spore print colour and ecology, are missing completely, and quite a few species can only be identified with a microscope. A mushroom can only be cleared for eating by an adviser who has seen it in person.
The DGfM estimates that there are 14,400 species of fungi in Germany, of which only about 200 are edible and 150 are poisonous, 10 of them deadly.
MushroomExpert.com puts it bluntly: mushroom identification is difficult, often technical and sometimes impossible. Much of the time you need a microscope. Most field guides show a few hundred mushrooms at most, while North America may have 10,000 to 30,000 species.
The DGfM recommends taking mushrooms carefully out of the ground, because important features often sit at the stem base, such as the sheath (volva) of the death cap. Gilled mushrooms in particular should be levered out of the ground together with the stem base.
Of an unknown mushroom, you can take 2 or 3 specimens, ideally at different stages of development, and identify them at home. MushroomExpert.com also says you need several specimens covering all stages of development, especially for Russula, Cortinarius and boletes. Very small mushrooms often have not developed their features yet.
Keep unknown mushrooms apart from the ones you collect to eat: even small pieces of a deadly poisonous mushroom can spoil the whole basket, the DGfM warns. Use a basket so the mushrooms get air; plastic bags are completely unsuitable because the mushrooms sweat in them and decay very easily.
MushroomExpert.com says mushroom identification depends in large part on ecological information. It suggests asking whether the mushroom grows from wood and, if so, whether that wood is dead or living. At a minimum, note whether you are under hardwoods or conifers. Another question on its list is whether the mushroom grows alone or in clusters.
The DGfM points out that identification requests often lack concrete details about the site, such as companion plants and soil, while vague notes like "in mixed woodland" are rarely helpful.
MushroomExpert.com recommends keeping a journal and describing each mushroom carefully before you try to identify it. Missing details and compromised objectivity are among the top causes of misidentification.
Start at the top of the mushroom and work downwards, because most mushroom guides describe their species in that order. Some details are essential: a Lactarius, for example, cannot be identified accurately without the colour of its latex. Do not lean on colour alone; MushroomExpert.com calls it one of the least reliable features of a mushroom.
First Nature explains that the colour of the spores, seen en masse, is one of the best ways to work out which family a mushroom belongs to. Examples are the Amanitaceae with whitish spores, the Cortinariaceae with rust brown spores and the Entolomataceae with pinkish spores.
You need a relatively mature mushroom; buttons, young mushrooms and mushrooms whose gills or pores are still covered by a partial veil are unlikely to drop spores. Remove the stem so the gills sit close to the paper. Lay the cap gills down on white paper; for white spored mushrooms, First Nature suggests black paper, clear plastic or glass. Cover the cap with a glass tumbler so it does not dry out and leave it for two or three hours. MushroomExpert.com notes that some prints appear within a few hours but it is often best to wait overnight.
Subtle shades can be hard to judge, but telling a white print from a brown or pink one is easy enough and helps enormously.
The odour of a mushroom can be important in identification. MushroomExpert.com crushes a piece of the mushroom, or a whole cap for small ones, between finger and thumb before judging the smell.
The DGfM says there are no methods, recipes, objects, plants such as garlic or metals such as a silver spoon that show whether a mushroom is poisonous. Eating as little as 50 grams of one death cap fruitbody can be fatal.
MushroomExpert.com calls scientific keys the most efficient way to identify mushrooms. A key asks you to make choices one by one to narrow down the possibilities. Once you have a few candidates, carefully compare your own description with the descriptions in mushroom guides.
MushroomExpert.com calls comparing mushrooms to photos probably the least successful method of identification. Photos almost never show the many details that decide a mushroom's identity.
The DGfM says that, just like mushroom books, apps on smartphones can help identify edible mushrooms by their features. It warns, however, against scan apps with automatic identification, because they do show wrong results. Collectors should never rely on such aids blindly.
According to the DGfM, an identification beyond doubt is often impossible from pictures alone. Such remote identifications are dangerous for collectors and are therefore forbidden for the DGfM's certified mushroom experts.
The DGfM says the death cap (Amanita phalloides) is most often mistaken for edible Agaricus mushrooms or green brittlegills (Russula). Its free gills and its spore print are whitish, and the bulbous base sits in a lobed, open sheath. The DGfM also advises levering unknown and similar gilled mushrooms out of the ground instead of cutting them off.
In Germany, mushroom experts certified by the DGfM (Pilzsachverständige) can recognise and identify the mushrooms shown to them and assess their value as food. The DGfM shows experts near you on a map. A responsible expert does not clear any mushroom for eating that has not been shown to them in person.
Show the expert all your finds and always bring complete fruitbodies. Freshness matters too: most mushroom poisonings are caused by eating overaged specimens of edible species, the DGfM says. Its advice is clear: in your own interest, do not eat mushrooms that have not been identified with certainty and/or cleared for eating by a certified expert.
The DGfM advice: with severe symptoms, go to hospital and call the emergency services on 112 if needed; with mild symptoms or if you are worried, contact a poison centre. Keep any peelings, leftovers or vomit for the paramedics or the doctor; photos of the collected mushrooms are very helpful too. Do not try to find the cause yourself by searching online or using mushroom apps. Symptoms do not always start right after the meal and can appear hours, in rare cases days, later.
In the UK, the NHS says to call 999 or go to A&E if you think someone may have swallowed something harmful, and to call NHS 111 if you are not sure whether it is harmful. Symptoms may take a few hours or days to start, so get medical advice quickly.
In your own interest, do not eat mushrooms that have not been identified with certainty and/or cleared for eating by a certified mushroom expert, the DGfM advises.
Often not. The DGfM says photos often do not show all features, and many, such as smell, taste, spore print colour and ecology, are missing completely. Quite a few species can only be identified with a microscope.
The DGfM says apps can help identify edible mushrooms by their features, just like books. It warns against scan apps with automatic identification because they do show wrong results, and says collectors should never rely on them blindly.
To make one, you place a relatively mature cap, gills or pores downwards, on a piece of paper or glass. First Nature says the colour of the spores en masse is one of the best ways to work out which family a mushroom belongs to.
Of an estimated 14,400 species of fungi in Germany, only about 200 are edible and 150 are poisonous, 10 of them deadly, according to the DGfM.
Take them out carefully. The DGfM says important features often sit at the stem base, such as the sheath of the death cap, and that gilled mushrooms should be levered out together with the stem base.
In Germany, certified mushroom experts of the DGfM identify the mushrooms shown to them and assess their value as food. The DGfM lists experts near you on a map.
Forage shows you the species in your region and pings you when the season starts.
All information without guarantee. This text is orientation on season and habitat, not an identification guide, and it makes no claim about whether any specific plant or mushroom is edible. Many species have toxic, some deadly, lookalikes. Never eat or use anything that has not been identified with certainty by an expert, such as a qualified mushroom inspector. We accept no liability for any harm arising from the use of this information. If you suspect poisoning, call your local poison control center or emergency services right away. Mind conservation law and property rights.
