When: Late summer to autumn
Where: Forests, meadows, and parks
What: The risks of misidentifying mushrooms and how to avoid them
Foraging for mushrooms is a fantastic way to connect with nature, especially in Sweden where “Allemansrätten” allows us to explore the outdoors freely. However, with that freedom comes responsibility, especially when it comes to picking mushrooms. Some mushrooms may look harmless, but eating the wrong ones can have serious—sometimes fatal—consequences.
In this blog post, we’ll cover the basics of identifying dangerous mushrooms, what can happen if you make a mistake, and what to do if you or someone you know accidentally consumes a dangerous mushroom. Remember, I’m not an expert, just an enthusiast, so please make sure to do your own research and consult reliable sources before foraging!
WHY PROPER IDENTIFICATION IS CRUCIAL
Identifying mushrooms isn't as simple as looking at their color or shape. Some edible mushrooms have deadly look-alikes. It’s essential to use a reliable guidebook or an app designed for mushroom identification, but nothing beats knowledge and experience.
For beginners, it’s best to stick to easily recognizable and safe mushrooms, such as chanterelles (kantareller) or porcinis (Karljohanssvamp). However, if you’re feeling more adventurous and want to explore beyond the basics, make sure you are 100% certain before consuming any wild mushrooms.
Even experts can sometimes make mistakes, so don’t hesitate to ask a local expert or join a guided foraging tour.
DANGEROUS MUSHROOMS TO AVOID
Some mushrooms cause mild discomfort, but others can be fatal. Here are a few to be extremely cautious of:
DEATH CAP (AMANITA PHALLOIDES)
This mushroom is one of the deadliest in the world, and its innocent appearance makes it especially dangerous. The cap is typically pale green or yellowish, but can also appear white, olive, or brownish, and smooth, ranging from 5 to 15 cm in diameter. It often has a sticky texture when wet. Beneath the cap are white gills, a common trait of many toxic mushrooms. The stem can grow up to 15 cm tall and features a skirt-like ring (annulus) just below the cap. One of the key identification markers is the bulbous base, which is enclosed in a cup-like sac (volva) that is sometimes partially attached to the cap. The base is often hidden beneath soil or leaf litter, so it may not be immediately visible. The spore print is white, which is typical of many Amanita species. The toxins in the Death Cap are extremely poisonous—consuming even a small amount can lead to fatal liver and kidney failure. Symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may take 6-12 hours to appear, by which time the toxins may already be causing severe damage.
DESTROYING ANGEL (AMANITA VIROSA / AMANITA BISPORIGERA)
The Destroying Angel is an all-white mushroom, and while it may appear delicate and harmless, it is one of the most poisonous mushrooms in the world. The cap is smooth, pure white, and can range from 5 to 10 cm wide. It starts off domed but flattens as it matures. Beneath the cap are white gills, which is a characteristic of many toxic mushrooms. The stem is tall and slender, typically 10 to 15 cm, with a white ring (annulus) below the cap. At the base, the stem emerges from a cup-like sac (volva), a key identification feature. Like the Death Cap, the spore print is white, which is another identifying feature. The toxins in the Destroying Angel are just as deadly, attacking the liver and kidneys. Early treatment is essential, and symptoms may take 6-12 hours to appear, often making timely intervention difficult. The Destroying Angel is just as deadly as the Death Cap, and because of its pure white appearance, it's easy for people to mistake it for an edible species like button mushrooms or field mushrooms. It's a mushroom to avoid at all costs when foraging!
FLY AGARIC (AMANITA MUSCARIA)
With its bright red cap and white spots, the Fly Agaric looks like it’s straight out of a fairy tale book. The cap can range from 8 to 20 cm wide, starting out dome-shaped before flattening as it matures. Despite its striking appearance, this mushroom is toxic. It contains psychoactive compounds that can cause hallucinations, confusion, nausea, and vomiting. While it is rarely fatal, consuming this mushroom is far from a pleasant experience. Symptoms usually occur within 30 minutes to 2 hours after ingestion.
FALSE MOREL (GYROMITRA ESCULENTA)
Often mistaken for the true morel, the False Morel has a wrinkled, brain-like cap that ranges in color from reddish-brown to dark brown. The cap is irregularly shaped and can be up to 10 cm wide. Unlike true morels, which are completely hollow inside, the False Morel is not hollow, making it an important feature for identification. The spore print is white to cream, which can help distinguish it from other mushrooms. Although some people claim that cooking can make this mushroom safe to eat, it contains a toxin called gyromitrin that can be lethal in large doses. Symptoms include nausea, dizziness, and seizures, and in severe cases, it can lead to coma or death. Because the risk is so high, I'd say it's better to avoid this mushroom entirely.
FOOL'S PARASOL (CHLOROPHYLLUM MOLYBDITES)
The Fool's Parasol looks a lot like edible parasol mushrooms, but it's highly toxic. Its wide cap can grow up to 30 cm and is white or tan with brown scales. The gills start white but turn greenish as the mushroom ages, which is a key sign. The spore print is green, a clear difference from edible parasol species that typically have a white spore print. True parasol mushrooms are thicker and more stocky, don’t have a "snake-skin" pattern on the stem, and often show some color when bruised. Eating Fool’s Parasol can cause severe stomach problems like vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain within a few hours. While it’s not usually life-threatening, it's definitely an unpleasant experience.
WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF YOU EAT A POISONOUS MUSHROOM?
Mushroom poisoning can range from mild discomfort to life-threatening consequences, depending on the species consumed. In mild cases, you might experience an upset stomach, nausea, or a bit of cramping. This could happen with less dangerous varieties that are simply not meant to be eaten, but won't do lasting damage.
More serious cases of mushroom poisoning involve intense vomiting, diarrhea, and severe abdominal pain. Ingestion of mushrooms like the Fly Agaric or Fool’s Parasol typically leads to these symptoms within a couple of hours, causing discomfort that can last for hours or even days. For most people, recovery is possible with proper medical treatment, but it can still be a traumatic experience.
The most dangerous scenario occurs when highly toxic mushrooms are involved. Mushrooms like the Death Cap or False Morel contain potent toxins that attack your liver or kidneys. The tricky part is that symptoms often don’t appear immediately. In the case of the Death Cap, it might take 6 to 12 hours before you feel the effects, at which point the toxins are already causing irreversible damage to your organs. If left untreated, this type of poisoning can be fatal, and even with medical intervention, a liver transplant might be needed.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU'VE EATEN A DANGEROUS MUSHROOM
Stay calm but act fast: If you suspect that you or someone else has consumed a poisonous mushroom, don’t wait for symptoms to appear. Contact a poison control center or head to the nearest hospital immediately.
Bring a sample: If possible, bring a sample of the mushroom you ate with you to the hospital. This will help doctors identify the type of mushroom and decide on the best course of treatment.
Do not induce vomiting: Unless instructed by a medical professional, avoid trying to induce vomiting. Some mushrooms cause more damage on the way back up.
SAFE MUSHROOM FORAGING: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
When you’re out in the forest, it’s tempting to pick all the beautiful mushrooms you come across, but remember, safety comes first. One of the best tips is to stick to the mushrooms you know. If you’re unsure about a mushroom, it’s always better to leave it behind. There's no harm in missing out on a potentially edible mushroom if it means avoiding a dangerous mistake.
It’s important to know that the shape of mushrooms can be deceptive. Many mushrooms with a cap and stem start out as almost round, button-like shapes. As they grow, the cap opens and flattens out, and in some cases, the edges can even curl upward as the mushroom ages. This makes identifying mushrooms by shape alone tricky, as the same species can look very different at various growth stages. That’s why it’s crucial to pay attention to other features like color, spore prints, and scent to make an accurate identification. It's also very helpful to examine the underside of the mushroom. While a mushroom might look identical to a look-alike from above, the underside can reveal much more—whether it has gills, teeth, or pores, which can clarify its identity significantly.
A good technique that can help with identifying mushrooms is taking a spore print. By placing the mushroom cap, gills down, on a white sheet of paper overnight, you can observe the color of the spores the next day. This is a reliable way to distinguish between edible and toxic species, as many mushrooms that look alike can have different spore colors.
Using multiple resources to identify mushrooms is also crucial. Whether it’s a guidebook, an app, or a combination of both, cross-referencing your findings helps reduce the risk of misidentification. Another great way to learn is by joining a guided foraging tour. Local experts can show you which mushrooms are safe and which to avoid, helping you build confidence in your identification skills.
In addition, a simple rule of thumb can help you avoid some of the most dangerous mushrooms in Sweden:
Don't eat white mushrooms with white gills.
Don't eat brown mushrooms with brown gills.
This rule isn’t foolproof, but it’s a helpful precaution, especially for beginners. Many of the deadliest mushrooms, such as the Death Cap and Destroying Angel, have white gills, while some toxic brown mushrooms share this trait with their gills as well.
Mushroom foraging can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience, but always make safety your top priority. As exciting as it is to discover new species, it’s essential to respect the power of nature and its potential risks. Personally, I started by photographing mushrooms first, capturing and identifying the different species. Later, I began picking mushrooms with an experienced friend, and even now, I'm still learning and I only pick mushrooms to eat if I’m 1000% sure of what I have in front of me. So happy foraging, and remember—when in doubt, throw it out!
HELPFUL TIPS:
Brochure about toxic mushrooms from the Swedish Poisons Information Centre:
My favourite mushroom guide (in Swedish):
You can take a course with this guide. She has a book and a great instagram page to learn more about mushrooms (in Swedish):
My foraging calendar:
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