Edible mushrooms similar to toadstools, their description and appearance (+26 photos)

One of the most poisonous forest mushrooms is the death cap. Interestingly, other inedible and poisonous species are also commonly called death caps, but the death cap is extremely toxic and dangerous to humans. It can be distinguished from others by its characteristic features, which can be seen even in photographs.

Characteristic features of toadstool mushrooms

Death cap—that's the official name of this mushroom; in Latin, it's Amanita phalloides. It's also popularly known as the green fly agaric due to its genus, color, and toxicity. It's often found in forests, fields, and garden plots, and thrives in moisture. Its poison makes it dangerous to humans, so it's important to learn to recognize it and never even handle it.

Appearance and photo

The shape of the mushroom cap changes with age, becoming ovoid in young mushrooms and flattened in mature ones. The cap's color ranges from olive to gray and green, a metamorphosis that also occurs during the growth of the fruiting body.

The cap is covered with a film on the outside, its distinctive characteristic, and has a fibrous structure. The stem is cylindrical and small in diameter. Young mushrooms have a fringed ring that breaks over time. The stem and cap of the toadstool are generally the same color, but the stem may be lighter. Below are photos of the mushroom in its natural habitat for detailed examination.

Morphology

This mushroom belongs to the Amanita muscaria family and is classified by mycologists as poisonous. It is a small parasitic fruit with the following species-specific differences:

1. The cap is 5-15 cm in diameter, hemispherical in shape, and flattens out as it grows. It is olive, green, gray, and, in exceptional cases, pale white. It has smooth edges and a film on top. Young mushrooms develop white warts on the surface, which disappear as the fruiting body ages.

   

   

   

2. The stem is 8-16 cm tall, up to 2 cm in diameter, cylindrical, straight, and slightly widened at the base. It has a dense white ring that is not fused to the volva, giving the appearance of a separate stem and cap. The color is pale, but can have a similar hue to that of a toadstool cap.
3. The fruiting body is fleshy and light-colored, remaining unchanged when broken. The flesh is quite thin and has a pleasant aroma when young. As the fruit ages, the aroma becomes cloyingly sweet.

   

   

   

4. The plates are white and wide.
5. The spore powder of this mushroom is white, the round spores reach 7-8 microns in size.

This poisonous mushroom has a typical structure and, upon careful examination, can always be recognized in the forest by the color of its cap and the shape of its stem.

Place of distribution

This species is native to Eurasia, preferring deciduous and broadleaf forests in temperate climates. Linden, oak, pine, and sphagnum moss are suitable for symbiosis. In Russia, it can also be found throughout almost the entire territory, even in the taiga, but it prefers southern regions and often grows in vegetable gardens and cottages. The green fly agaric prefers humus-rich soils for growth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okv-f_QOOEg

Edibility

The death cap is one of the most poisonous mushrooms in our climate zone. Not only does it cause poisoning when used in cooking, but its poison is also quickly absorbed by other fruiting bodies. Thus, upon contact (for example, in a mushroom picker's basket) with the green fly agaric, even the best varieties become toxic.

Edible mushrooms similar to toadstools

Inexperienced mushroom pickers can confuse the toxic fly agaric with edible members of this kingdom, which can be life-threatening. Let's look at the edible mushroom species that resemble toadstools:

• The green russula is similar in appearance in color and the shape of its thin stem when young. The cap turns brown with age, so the mature mushroom no longer resembles a toadstool. The sticky, shiny cap of the russula can also be a useful reference point. The absence of a white ring and the cut surface allow one to distinguish it from its poisonous lookalike.

  

  

  

• The champignon mushroom resembles the green fly agaric when unripe, due to its pale cap and the presence of a ring on the stem. To identify the champignon mushroom, pay attention to the stem: it is much thicker in the edible mushroom and thinner in the poisonous one. The flesh underneath the champignon mushroom's cap is pink, while the flesh of the green fly agaric is white. Another distinctive feature is the pleasant almond scent of the champignon, which is clearly noticeable.

  

  

  

• The greenfinch, like the toadstool, has a convex cap on young fruits and a similar olive color. This variety is distinguished by its short, stocky stem, unlike the thin, tall stem of poisonous varieties. The edges of the cap are also raised when ripe. The main difference is the green gills, which differ from the white gills of the toadstool.

  

  

  

• The saffron floater is very similar to the poisonous species in question when mature, but can be distinguished by the absence of a white ring on the stem and its tuberculate structure. This species is not popular, but some mushroom pickers still collect it.

  

  

  

You need to be very careful when picking edible mushrooms similar to the death cap, because it only takes one mistake with one fruiting body to ruin the entire basket of catch.

Safety rules

Since the green fly agaric is one of the most dangerous mushrooms known to mycologists, it's important to limit your exposure to it and that of your loved ones. Follow these guidelines to avoid any negative health effects from the toadstool:

1. When picking, cover your lower extremities to avoid accidental contact with the poisonous fruits. Protect your hands with gloves.
2. If you touch a poisonous mushroom, you should wash your hands with soap or wipe them with an antiseptic.

   

3. If this species appears in a dacha, shed, garage, or near a house, immediate action should be taken to eliminate it. If you discover a death cap in your garden, dig it up and let it dry in the sun for several days to kill the mycelium. Residential and utility areas should be treated with chemicals available in specialist stores.
   Please note!

   Remember that high humidity or close groundwater levels are a friend of poisonous mushrooms. If necessary, insulate or insulate the room.
4. Do not allow this mushroom to grow near your place of residence or recreation, as it can harm animals and people even if they come into contact with it.

Symptoms of death cap poisoning and first aid

Accidental consumption of this product is fatal to humans. Eating just a quarter of the fruit is enough to cause poisoning and subsequent death. A characteristic feature of the poisonous type is that the effect of its toxic substances does not manifest itself immediately, and it may take 6-8, and sometimes 24-40 hours from the moment of consumption, before the primary symptoms appear.

Symptoms of poisoning are usually as follows:

1. The first symptom to appear is a sharp abdominal pain, accompanied by diarrhea and vomiting. The stool becomes green, slimy, and often contains blood.
2. Due to the loss of fluid, severe thirst occurs with headaches and dizziness, but it cannot be quenched due to vomiting.
3. Severe weakness is accompanied by double vision, blurred vision, colic and other symptoms that do not go away.

   

4. Blood circulation is impaired and cramps appear, the extremities become cold.
5. On the second day of poisoning, remission often occurs, and all pain subsides, followed by drowsiness. This condition can be fatal after the brief relief wears off.
6. Death occurs from paralysis of the vascular-motor center on the 6th-9th day, depending on the individual characteristics of the organism.

Because the poison is so potent, death can only be avoided by seeking medical attention within the first few hours of poisoning, which is often not achieved due to the lack of symptoms. At the slightest suspicion of death cap poisoning, seek emergency medical attention immediately.

Before the paramedics arrive, you can take the following steps:

• gastric lavage (give the patient 0.5 liters of boiled water with the addition of soda, salt, potassium permanganate);
• take activated charcoal (one tablet for every 10 kg of weight);
• Prepare a milk thistle decoction (pour a teaspoon of the herb with a glass of boiling water and simmer in a water bath for 25 minutes).

Answers to frequently asked questions

The death cap is a poisonous mushroom that should never be eaten in any form. Its toxins can damage human organs, leading to death. The mushroom's appearance allows you to identify it by carefully examining the color of the cap and the structure of the stem, but you should not handle it. Get rid of the death cap if you see one near your home or garden; it is toxic not only to humans but also to animals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_p8_gKv-uY