Poisonous mushrooms of the Leningrad region - names and descriptions

Mushrooms

The northwest of European Russia is characterized by a rich flora, especially striking for its diversity of mushrooms, which mushroom pickers actively collect from spring until the first frost. As in other regions of Russia, in the Leningrad Region, along with edible mushrooms, poisonous mushrooms abound in the forests. Before heading into the forest, it's important to carefully study their photos and descriptions.

Where are dangerous mushrooms common in the Leningrad region?

Poisonous mushrooms can be found throughout the region. However, the likelihood of ending up with edible mushrooms is higher in popular "quiet hunting" areas:

In the Volkhov district (Kolchanovo village).
In the Vsevolozhsky district (Vsevolozhsk - Berngardovka microdistrict).
In the Vyborg district (city of Vyborg).
In the Gatchina region (Vyritsa village).
In the Kurortny district (Dibuny station).
In the Kirovsky district (Sinyavino settlement, Gory village).
In Lodeynoye Pole district (Alekhovshchina settlement).
In the Priozersk district (Borisovo, Kommunary, Kuznechnoye, Losevo, Michurinskoye, Snegirevka, Sosnovo villages).

Name of the mushroom	Where can you find it?
Death cap	Found singly or in groups, primarily on fertile soils, in well-lit deciduous forests, near beech, oak, and hazel. It can also grow in mixed forests. The toadstool prefers cool, dark places.
Champignon russetii	It grows primarily in deciduous and mixed forests. It can also be found in meadows, gardens, and parks.
Panther fly agaric	Despite the abundance of coniferous and deciduous trees, it prefers to grow near pine, oak, or beech. It prefers alkaline soils.
White fly agaric	It grows singly or in groups in damp, mossy areas of spruce, mixed, and deciduous forests, forming a symbiotic relationship with oak, birch, and alder. It can only be found in wooded areas with plenty of shade. It prefers calcareous soil.
Galerina marginata	It inhabits various types of forests. Alone or in groups, it climbs coniferous (and sometimes deciduous) trees. It also grows on underground wood.
Cortinaria pulcherrima	Prefers oak and pine forests, often found near spruce trees.
Satanic mushroom	In deciduous (less commonly mixed) forests, it can be found alongside beech and oak, hornbeam, hazel, linden, and chestnut. It prefers calcareous soils.

The main types of poisonous mushrooms in the Leningrad region

To avoid making a mistake in your choice in natural conditions, it is important to study the main characteristics of the most dangerous mushrooms in the region.

Death cap

An extremely dangerous member of the Cap-Shanks family. It resembles green or yellow russulas, as well as button mushrooms. Young fruiting bodies are ovoid and completely covered with a film. The cap of adults grows to 5-15 cm and transforms from a hemispherical shape to a flatter one. The surface is fibrous, the margin is smooth. The color is whitish-olive, becoming grayer with age. There are no spots or scales. The gills are soft, loosely arranged, and white.

The cylindrical stem (often with a moiré pattern), 1-2.5 cm thick and 8-16 cm high, initially has a fringed, membranous ring, but this often disappears later. The stem is white from top to bottom, greenish below. The stem has a thickened, sac-like base, 3 to 5 cm wide. The white, fleshy flesh of a young mushroom has no distinct odor, while that of an older mushroom is unpleasant.

No treatment can neutralize its deadly poison. The main symptoms of poisoning are nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, bloody diarrhea, and liver damage (jaundice).

Champignon russetii

First of all, its toxic nature is revealed by an unpleasant odor, similar to phenol. It may not be immediately noticeable, but becomes noticeable during cooking.

The fleshy, white-brown cap grows from round to bell-shaped. It ranges from 5 to 15 cm in diameter. The margin is slightly curved and may crack. The surface is smooth and dry. An important characteristic is that the mushroom turns yellowish when pressed. The thin gills are initially white or pinkish, but turn brown as they mature.

The white, hollow stem, swollen at the base, grows 6-15 cm in height and 1-2 cm in width. When cut, a bright yellow-chrome zone can be found at the base of the mushroom. A two-layer membranous ring is present.

Eating the reddish-brown button mushroom can cause mild poisoning. The toxins only negatively affect the digestive system. Poisoning is accompanied by persistent abdominal cramps. Headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are also possible.

Panther fly agaric

This fly agaric contains toxins common to henbane, datura, and other poisonous plants. Researchers claim it's more dangerous than its red relative. It contains hyomycin, which can cause death. Mild poisoning can cause attacks of aggression and hallucinations.

This fly agaric is distinguished by its white warts (remnants of the spathe) scattered across a light, dark, or gray-brown (sometimes olive) cap measuring 7-12 cm. The central portion of the cap is darker. The shape is initially rounded-convex, then semi-prostrate. The gills beneath the cap are white, widening toward the periphery.

The stem, narrowed at the top and thicker at the bottom, averages 1-1.5 cm thick and rises 6-10 cm. It has rows of warts and a thin, striped, drooping white ring, which disappears in older mushrooms. The panther mushroom can also be distinguished from other mushrooms by the collar-shaped volva at the base. The white flesh of the mushroom emits an unpleasant odor.

White Fly Agaric

The white fly agaric, also known as the stinking fly agaric due to its chlorine-like odor, contains the same toxins as the death cap. It's common in the Leningrad region, and novice mushroom pickers may mistake it for a champignon, white floater, porcini parasol, or white russula, especially in its early stages. The first thing to look for is the smell.

In accordance with the "telling" name, this fly agaric is all white young fly agarics The cap is hemispherical or conical (with a pointed tip). Over time, it becomes convex. Its size ranges from 6 to 11 cm. The surface is sticky, shiny, slimy, covered with filmy flakes. The edges of the cap are slightly ribbed. The gills are frequent, loose, and soft, white, and do not darken.

The cylindrical stem, 10-15 cm tall and 0.7-2.5 cm thick, is covered with a flocculent bloom. It is hollow inside, thickened at the base, and surrounded by a free, cup-shaped volva, reaching 3 cm in diameter. The remnants of the bloom leave a wide, silky, white ring with a striped pattern at the top of the stem. This ring disappears in mature mushrooms.

Galerina marginata

Marginated galerinas and death caps have nearly identical toxins, but the former have a lower concentration of the poison. They resemble summer honey mushrooms. Marginated galerinas prefer coniferous forests, so it's best not to look for honey mushrooms there.

The mushroom has a small (2-5 cm), brown cap with a yellowish tint, the shape of which varies from bell-shaped and convex to flat. Translucent grooves of the gills are visible along the upper edges. The gills are of medium density and width and extend down the stem.

They are initially light (yellowish or ochre), but as the spores mature, they become reddish-brown or rusty-brown. The stem is thin (0.1-0.5 mm) but not tall (4-5 cm), hollow inside. At the top is a white or yellow ring, which disappears with age. From the cap down, the stem is covered with a mealy coating. The flesh is yellowish-brown, lighter in color at the cap, and has a faint, mealy odor.

Cortinaria pulcherrima

In late autumn, beautiful spiderworts appear in large numbers. The spiderwort's toxins cause kidney failure. Incidentally, they act slowly. This is where the danger lies: signs of poisoning appear 1-2 weeks after consumption.

If left untreated, death is possible. There are no similar edible species. Compared to honey mushrooms, poisonous agaric mushrooms have ochre bands on their stems. Their gills are almost cherry-red, while those of honey mushrooms are white or yellowish.

The mature cap of this beautiful mushroom ranges in size from 3-8 cm. Initially, it is conical or bell-shaped, then flat-convex with a blunt tubercle in the center. The velvety-fibrous (sometimes scaly) surface of the cap ranges in color from reddish-brown to tawny. Relatively sparse ochre-brown (later rusty-brown) gills are fused with a long (5-12 cm) and thin (0.5-1.5 cm) stem. The stem is cylindrical, slightly thickened at the base, with striations of spathes. Its surface is fibrous. The flesh of the mushroom is orange or yellow.

Satanic mushroom

Not all researchers believe that eating the satanic mushroom is dangerous—after cooking, the concentration of toxins decreases to an acceptable level.

Important!

Please note that without prolonged soaking and cooking for less than 10 hours, there is a risk of serious poisoning. Death is also possible.

The mushroom is impressive in appearance. The hemispherical, fleshy cap can grow from 8 to 25 cm in diameter, gradually becoming more spreading. It is dry to the touch and can be velvety or smooth. The color is white or dirty gray. A yellow tint and faint green streaks are possible. The tubular layer of young fruiting bodies is yellow, while that of mature ones is yellow-green. The small yellow pores gradually acquire a reddish tint and turn blue when pressed.

The dense, massive, barrel-shaped stem, reaching 3-9 cm in thickness and 5-15 cm in height, has a distinct reticulated pattern with rounded cells. It is tapered at the top and yellow-red. The middle part is red-orange, and the bottom is yellow-brown. The flesh is white and creamy. When cut, it turns red and blue. The smell of mature mushrooms is reminiscent of soured food or rotten onions. Young mushrooms may not have a smell.

Answers to frequently asked questions

Are there any common signs of inedible mushrooms in this region?

The main common characteristic of poisonous mushrooms is the presence of dangerous substances, not their external resemblance to or lack of characteristics of edible mushrooms. The mushrooms listed, with the exception of the devil's cap, are classified as lamellar. Many have whitish flakes on their caps and an unpleasant odor.

What is the most dangerous mushroom growing in the Leningrad region?

The most dangerous is the death cap. The lethal dose is 30 g.

What are the first signs of poisoning from poisonous mushrooms?

General symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, upset stomach, and high fever.

Is it possible to identify a poisonous mushroom by smell?

The odor isn't always pronounced, but in many cases it can be detected. It's often unpleasant—reminiscent of chlorine, medicine, or rotten onions.

The abundance of mushroom-growing areas and the mushrooms themselves is the reason for the popularity of "silent mushroom hunting" in the Leningrad Region. Poisonous mushrooms, which resemble morels, russula, honey mushrooms, and others, grow actively, especially in August. To distinguish edible from inedible, it's important to know and remember the key characteristics of dangerous mushrooms.