Champignon and pale grebe: comparison, how to distinguish

The similarities and differences between pale grebe and champignon must be clearly understood by every novice mushroom picker. One of the most popular edible mushrooms and the deadly pale grebe are very similar in appearance, an accidental picking mistake can be fatal.

What are the similarities between pale grebe and champignon

With a huge difference in nutritional value, it is not so easy to distinguish between an outwardly edible and inedible find. Without much experience, it is very easy to confuse fruiting bodies, because they are similar:

• structure and size;
• coloring of the hat and legs;
• structure and density of the pulp;
• places and times of growth.

The similarity and difference between the pale grebe and champignon should be studied in more detail. This will allow you to find out exactly what features you need to look at carefully when collecting, how to distinguish one fruiting body from another.

By place of growth

Both the pale grebe, which is also called the white or green fly agaric, and the delicious edible champignon can be found throughout Our Country in a temperate climate. Varieties choose the same places for growth, they can be found on forest edges, on the sides of country roads, in meadows and lawns, in fields with small groups of shrubs.

At the same time, both the edible mushroom and the green fly agaric usually grow in small groups of several mushrooms. Sometimes varieties can be located next to each other, which makes it even more difficult to distinguish them.

seasonality

An edible and safe mushroom begins to grow in early summer, it can be found from late May to November. White poisonous fly agaric appears in meadows and fields later – from August to November.

Thus, in spring and early summer it is quite easy to distinguish fruiting bodies – poisonous ones usually do not grow until August. But closer to autumn, fruiting begins to intersect, and it becomes more difficult to distinguish them.

Appearance

Edible and poisonous fruiting bodies are most similar in appearance, which is why they are so difficult to distinguish. Similar signs include:

• the diameter and shape of the cap – in both mushrooms it will grow up to 12-15 cm in width, in young fruiting bodies it has rounded convex outlines, straightens and flattens with age;
• the height and shape of the stem, both mushrooms rise 7-15 cm above the ground, while the stem of both is cylindrical and even, with a ring closer to the top;
• color – hats and legs have a white, light brown or yellowish tint;
• pulp – in both varieties of fruiting bodies it is dense and white;
• lamellar structure – the underside of the cap in the fruiting bodies of both species is covered with thin frequent plates;
• thickening at the bottom of the leg.

What is the difference between pale grebe and champignon

Despite the fact that it can be difficult to distinguish a deadly poisonous mushroom from an edible one, there is still a difference, and it is quite large. It is enough to study the comparison of pale grebe and champignons properly in order to accurately determine the variety of the find.

In appearance

There are several signs by which champignon and deadly poisonous white fly agaric can be distinguished externally:

1. Despite the same structure and size of the legs, in the pale grebe it is usually thinner and not as fleshy.
2. The thickening at the bottom of the leg of a pale grebe is a Volvo – a kind of pouch from which the poisonous white fly agaric is born. An edible mushroom does not have such a bag, the leg simply thickens at the surface of the earth.
3. The color of the upper and lower parts of the cap of the toxic white fly agaric is the same – white, slightly yellowish or greenish. But in an edible mushroom, the flesh under the hat is slightly pinkish.

In the center of the cap, an adult champignon has a small dent. In the grebe, on the contrary, there is a tubercle in this place, although it can be smoothed and poorly distinguishable, not allowing a clear distinction.

By smell

If you smell a pale grebe, then you won’t be able to feel any specific aroma, it smells of almost nothing. And from the edible pulp comes a tangible and rich mushroom smell with a slight almond tint, which allows you to correctly distinguish a safe fruiting body.

When cut

If you cut the cap of an edible champignon, it will quickly darken, and the pale grebe on the cut will remain white. The leg of the edible fruiting body is homogeneous at the break, while the poisonous white fly agaric has a kind of rod inside the leg – a section of pulp that is very different in structure.

Fruiting bodies can also be distinguished by the degree of elasticity of the pulp. In edible mushrooms, it is dense and elastic, while in the poisonous white fly agaric it crumbles heavily.

When cooking

If the species affiliation of the fungus raised doubts after it was brought from the forest, you can distinguish the pale grebe in the following way. A suspicious fruiting body is placed in water along with a small onion, placed on the stove and waiting for the water to boil.

If the onion in the pan turns slightly blue, then there is no doubt that there is a pale grebe in the boiling water. When boiling the edible pulp, the onion will not change its color.

How to distinguish champignon from pale grebe

If we sum up all the signs that make it possible to distinguish between fruiting bodies, we can derive the following rules:

1. The champignon leg is thicker and denser, uniform, while the pale grebe has a very thin and dense stem inside.
2. In the lower part of the leg, the white fly agaric has a Volvo pouch, while the champignon does not have it.
3. On the cut, the poisonous toadstool pulp will remain white, and the champignon will darken from contact with air.
4. The flesh in the lower part of the mushroom cap is pinkish, while that of the poisonous fruiting body is white or greenish, the same color as the entire cap.
5. Champignon emits a pleasant mushroom smell, while poisonous mushrooms do not smell like anything.

The listed signs are more than enough to distinguish an edible fruiting body from a deadly poisonous one, both in the photo of champignons and pale grebe, and live when harvested. But, in extreme cases, you can boil the mushroom with the onion and throw it away if the onion turns blue.

Why you can not collect champignons growing next to the pale grebe

Edible and poisonous mushrooms often grow very close. Many mushroom pickers, having managed to accurately distinguish the species of each find, are tempted to collect champignons, leaving the toxic white fly agaric untouched.

However, this should not be done. The pale grebe scatters its spores around itself, and they are also highly toxic. Accordingly, if the spores fall on the caps of neighboring fruiting bodies, they will become deadly. Edible fruiting bodies growing next to toxic ones are best left untouched and bypassed.

Symptoms of poisoning, first aid

Despite all the signs that make it possible to distinguish an edible find from a white fly agaric, even experienced mushroom pickers are not immune from mistakes. Therefore, it is necessary to know the symptoms of poisoning:

1. The first signs of poisoning appear 8-30 hours after consumption. At first, alarming symptoms are not noticeable, the poison is still spreading throughout the body.
2. Then an acute gastroenterological reaction occurs – vomiting and diarrhea begin, severe pain in the abdomen, this condition lasts up to 2 days.
3. After that, for some time the person feels better – the symptoms may disappear for 2-3 days, but the poison still remains in the body.
4. After a few days, the symptoms return, but at the same time they are joined by a sharp pain in the right side, jaundice, blood pressure drops, the patient develops liver and kidney failure.

In the absence of medical care, death occurs 10-12 days after poisoning. However, with timely access to a doctor, a person can be saved. At the first sign of poisoning, you need to call an ambulance. While the doctors go to the patient, you need to give the person to drink about 2 liters of water, and then make him vomit so that most of the poison leaves the body.

Conclusion

The similarities and differences between the pale toadstool and the mushroom must be learned before you go in search of delicious edible mushrooms. It is quite easy to make a mistake, but it can be expensive, the toadstool is not in vain considered the most poisonous mushroom in the world.