Going to the forest, the mushroom picker should stock up not only with a knife and a basket, but also with knowledge of the characteristic features by which false mushrooms differ from real ones. If the latter, correctly collected and cooked, are edible and tasty, then eating some varieties of their “twins” can cause severe poisoning. The ability to distinguish forest mushrooms from false ones can save the lover of “mushroom hunting” and his loved ones health, and sometimes life.

General description of false mushrooms

The first thing that will help you figure out how to distinguish false mushrooms is a photo and a description of their various types.

What do false mushrooms look like

It is difficult to classify these mushrooms. Their species diversity is widely represented within the framework of several families at once (strophariaceae, dung beetles, according to another taxonomy – psatirellaceae).

With edible “brothers” they are united by the season in which they grow and the habitat – hemp, fallen trees, deadwood, tree roots and trunks.

Due to the similarity of external signs – growth in large groups, convex lamellar caps, thin and long legs, hollow inside – it is difficult for a non-specialist at first glance to determine which mushrooms are in front of him. Mushrooms are false and “normal”, it happens that they even grow next door on the same stump.

Attention! The first rule of experienced mushroom pickers: “I’m not sure – you can’t take it.”

If there is even the slightest doubt whether it was possible to correctly recognize: mushrooms are false or not, it is not worth taking risks by cutting these mushrooms into your basket. You should not take everything in a row to figure it out at home or ask specialists. If at least one poisonous mushroom got into the basket, the rest will have to be thrown in – they can no longer be eaten.

Are false mushrooms dangerous

Many varieties of these mushrooms are considered inedible and poisonous – they should not be eaten under any circumstances.

Some species are conditionally edible. After proper processing (soaking, boiling), it is allowed to cook dishes from them.

Important! Even if the mushroom is considered to be conditionally edible and all the cooking rules are followed, we must not forget that its safety for the human body has not been proven! The likelihood that false mushrooms can be poisoned still remains!

What honey mushrooms look like edible and false (photo)

Edible and false mushrooms look almost the same.

However, there are a number of differences that make it possible to separate one from the other. Pay attention to the following:

  • hat color and shape
  • the color of the plates on its inside;
  • the presence of scales on the surface;
  • the presence of an annular growth (“skirt”) around the stem of the fungus;
  • smell.

The photo will help to imagine how to distinguish between false and edible mushrooms:

What do false mushrooms look like

False honey mushrooms, similar to edible

It is necessary to dwell in more detail on the characteristics of the most common types of mushrooms, known as false mushrooms, give their photos and descriptions. 

How to distinguish a bordered galerina from mushrooms

One of the most dangerous types of false mushrooms is bordered galerina.

What do false mushrooms look like

Warning! The toxins of the toadstool pale and the bordered galerina are identical – eating these mushrooms is life threatening!

Characteristic signs of bordered galerina:

Edible or not

Poisonous

head

Small (1-4 cm), bell-shaped, later becomes flat. Color ocher, brown

Records

Medium, yellowish (turn brown with age)

Pulp

Thin, dirty-yellow, with a slight smell and floury taste

Leg

2–5 cm, fibrous, hollow, slightly thickened below. There is a yellow ring

Season

June – October

Habitat

Decayed pine and spruce wood

How it grows

Groups of 2-3 pcs.

The difference between this type of false mushrooms and real mushrooms will help to present a photo:

What do false mushrooms look like

Summer honey agaric:

  • larger (hat – up to 6 cm in diameter);
  • grows in large “families”;
  • the pulp has a pleasant smell and taste;
  • the lower leg is covered with scales.

What do false mushrooms look like

Autumn honey agaric:

  • grows in large bunches;
  • the pulp is thicker;
  • the surface of the stem and cap is covered with scales.

Upenok Kandollya

The photo below shows what Kandoll’s false mushrooms look like:

What do false mushrooms look like

Edible or not

Conditionally edible

head

Small (3–7 cm), resembles a bell, in a mature one it is umbrella-shaped with a ledge in the center. The color varies (from white to yellowish brown). White “fringe” along the edge

Records

Grey, turning brown over time

Pulp

Milky brown, with a pleasant mushroom smell

Leg

About 10 cm. Hollow, white, slightly pubescent below

Season

May – September

Habitat

Deciduous tree roots, stumps

How it grows

large groups

Psatirella hygrophilous

In this photo of false mushrooms – psatirella, or moisture-loving chrysanthemum (hydrophilic, spherical), otherwise known as watery false honeycomb. On the territory of Our Country, this species is very common.

What do false mushrooms look like

Edible or not

Conditionally edible (according to other sources – inedible)

head

Convex, 2–6 cm in diameter. Later it becomes flat. Color – from cream to chocolate

Records

Light (darken with age), frequent

Pulp

White-cream in color, relatively dense, has no pronounced smell and taste

Leg

Hollow, but dense, smooth, 3–8 cm. Light, covered with powdery coating. There is a false ring

Season

June – October

Habitat

On woody remains and stumps

How it grows

Large groups, uniting in bunches

Attention! The color of the spore powder of this fungus is purple, which makes it possible to distinguish it from other similar species.

Poppy honey agaric

An idea of ​​​​how false mushrooms look like can also be obtained using the example of poppy, or serolamella.

Important! Although this species is designated as “false”, it is classified as an edible mushroom.

What do false mushrooms look like

Edible or not

edible

head

Medium (3-7 cm), it can be both in the form of a hemisphere, and prostrate, with a bulge. Colour: Dull yellow to brown

Records

Adherent, light yellow, often arranged

Pulp

Pale, thin, faint smell of dampness

Leg

5–10 cm, sometimes curved, yellow above, reddish brown below

Season

Spring – autumn (sometimes even mild winter)

Habitat

Coniferous forests, stumps and roots covered with earth

How it grows

In bundles

Sulfur yellow honey agaric

It is very important for the mushroom picker to keep in mind the description and differences of the false sulfur yellow mushroom, since this species is not just inedible, but poisonous.

Attention! Even a single instance of this mushroom, once in a pan with edible varieties, can spoil the dish and cause severe poisoning!

What do false mushrooms look like

Edible or not

Poisonous

head

Small (2–7 cm), bell-shaped, then becomes similar to an umbrella. Color – yellowish with a dirty brown or gray tint, the center is darkened

Records

Grown. In young mushrooms – sulfur-yellow, then change color to olive or greenish

Pulp

White or yellow-white. Bitter in taste, with an unpleasant odor

Leg

Approximately 10 cm, light yellow, fibrous, straight

Season

June – October

Habitat

Decayed branches and trunks, the surface of stumps and the area around them

How it grows

Big “families”

Brick red honey agaric

The photo below of hemp false mushrooms shows the species known as brick red.

In Europe, this mushroom is not considered edible, but dishes from it are quite popular in Japan and the United States.

Important! The pulp of this mushroom contains strong toxins. Even knowing how to cook it correctly, eating it is risky.

What do false mushrooms look like

Edible or not

Conditionally edible (but requires a long boil)

head

Large (from 4 to 12 cm), convex, but becomes flatter with age. Red-brown color (darker in the center)

Records

Yellow, over time – brown, adherent to the leg

Pulp

Pale yellow, bitter taste

Leg

Pale yellow above, brown below

Season

August – October

Habitat

dead wood

How it grows

In groups

How to distinguish false mushrooms from real ones

A photo and analysis of a certain set of signs will help you learn to distinguish false mushrooms from real ones:

What do false mushrooms look like

Video will help you learn how to distinguish false mushrooms from real ones

False mushrooms! How to distinguish real mushrooms from false and inedible mushrooms.

Appearance of mushrooms

The false and edible mushrooms shown in the photo can be identified correctly if you look closely:

  • hats of false species are more brightly colored (bright yellow, terracotta red), while those of edible species are relatively modest, mostly pale brown;
  • young edible specimens often have scales on the surface of the cap and stem, while scaly false mushrooms are not found;
  • plates on the back of the cap in edible species are usually white-yellow or creamy, in false varieties their color is greenish or olive-black;
  • edible mushrooms are characterized by a noticeable leathery ring (“skirt”) around the stem, in false ones it is hardly noticeable, if not completely absent.

Here is another photo showing the differences between false and real mushrooms:

What do false mushrooms look like

 How do false mushrooms differ from edible ones by smell

Their smell will help to distinguish true mushrooms from false ones:

  • thanks to the essential oils in the composition of edible specimens, they smell pleasantly of mushrooms (and the aroma intensifies during the cooking process);
  • the smell of false varieties is unpleasant – they smell like mold, damp earth or rotten grass.

Taste

The taste of false mushrooms is unpleasant, bitter – however, it is quite natural that they are tried not raw, but already cooked.

Attention! In the event that bitterness suddenly appears in the finished dish of supposedly edible mushrooms, you should immediately throw it away without regrets and take measures to help avoid poisoning.

Signs of poisoning with false mushrooms

Knowing the signs of poisoning with false mushrooms will help to quickly and competently provide first aid to the victim. Then you should, without wasting time, consult a doctor.

Symptoms of poisoning with false mushrooms

Typical symptoms of poisoning with false mushrooms:

  • the occurrence of heartburn, nausea, discomfort in the stomach;
  • the appearance of dizziness;
  • after a few hours, lethargy, apathy occurs, weakness increases, the limbs begin to tremble;
  • nausea intensifies, vomiting and diarrhea occur, accompanied by cramps, sharp pains in the abdomen;
  • cold sweat appears, including on the palms and feet;
  • possible loss of consciousness.

First aid for poisoning with false mushrooms

Symptoms of poisoning with false mushrooms appear after a short period of time (according to various sources, from 1 to 6 hours) after eating mushrooms. During this period, it is important to take emergency measures as soon as possible:

  • rinse the stomach (induce vomiting after drinking a large amount of clean cold water);
  • ensure the intake of enterosorbents (activated carbon, polysorb, atoxyl);
  • organize a plentiful drink;
  • seek qualified medical attention.

What do false mushrooms look like

Important! The main actions in case of poisoning with false mushrooms are the timely identification of symptoms and treatment, including correctly provided first aid. The faster the victim gets to the doctor, the more chances he will have for recovery, and the less the risk of negative consequences for the body.

The consequences of poisoning with false mushrooms

The toxins contained in the juice of these mushrooms enter the blood through the gastrointestinal tract, and with its current they are carried throughout the body.

If the patient does not receive help, this may manifest:

  • severe headache and dizziness;
  • slowing of the pulse and a drop in blood pressure (sometimes even to critically low values);
  • blueness of the skin;
  • hallucinations, delusions (as a result of prolonged dehydration);
  • alternating periods of inhibition and excitation.

With proper treatment provided on time, the victim, as a rule, recovers in a few days. The risk of death is small, but it exists – first of all, for a child or a weakened organism.

Is it possible to eat false mushrooms

It is possible to eat only those species that are conditionally edible. This is considered undesirable, but acceptable subject to all the subtleties of culinary processing. First, they are soaked in water for a long time, then boiled thoroughly.

These mushrooms should not be eaten raw. Moreover, if you eat false mushrooms, which are considered conditionally edible, but cooked incorrectly, it will be dangerous for health.

How to check false mushrooms when cooking

There is an opinion among mushroom pickers that it is possible to distinguish mushrooms from false ones when cooking. To do this, it is advised to lower the peeled cut onion or cloves of garlic into the pan where the mushrooms are boiled. If the roots turn blue or brown, it means that there are poisonous specimens there.

How else can you check if mushrooms are poisonous or not

In addition to the “folk” method above, there are some more common tips on how to determine whether a false honey agaric is poisonous or not. You can often hear suggestions:

  • cut a raw mushroom and rub it against a silver cutlery, if it darkens, toxic substances are present in the product;
  • dip a dubious honey agaric into raw cow’s milk – the poison will help it quickly turn sour.
Important! All these tips are classified as myths and rumors. Trying to determine how mushrooms differ from false mushrooms, one should rely solely on scientific data. Do not trust dubious and untested methods, risking your own health.

There are even more “curious” ideas, which in fact are dangerous delusions:

  1. “If the mushroom is eaten by insect larvae, this speaks in favor of the fact that it is not poisonous” – not true. What is not a poison for insects may well be a danger to humans.
  2. “If you boil mushrooms for a long time with the addition of vinegar and salt, you can “boil” poison out of them” – not true. This method is conditionally suitable only for some species, in the fruiting bodies of which there are few toxins, in the vast majority of cases it will not work.
  3. “Alcohol can help neutralize mushroom poison” is not true. On the contrary, drinking alcohol will help the toxins spread much faster!

Conclusion

False mushrooms are mostly inedible, and even poisonous “twins” of ordinary species, found in abundance during the mushroom season. Mushrooms false and “normal”, upon closer examination, have a number of differences in color and structure of the surface of the cap, legs, the presence or absence of a “skirt”, the color of the plates and smell. The mushroom picker should study these features well and be guided by them, and not by dubious tips heard “among the people”. Just in case, you need to remember how to recognize mushroom poisoning, and be able to provide first aid.

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