Anyone who confuses poisonous mushrooms with edible mushrooms when collecting them can end up in the hospital. It happens again and again, especially in October and November, shortly before the end of the mushroom season: inexperienced enthusiasts collect poisonous mushrooms, which then end up on the table. In the best case, the dish is not seasoned and you can notice the unpleasant taste in time, in the worst case, the potentially deadly mushrooms are consumed, often with fatal consequences. We will show you the seven most dangerous mushrooms and you will see for yourself that they are not so easy to distinguish and that there is a great risk of confusion. That's why we recommend that you take a course at your local mushroom center.
Poisonous mushrooms in Germany: 7. Green death cap mushroom
The green death cap mushroom grows in theNear trees. It is published between June and November. The majority of mushrooms can be found in the summer after heavy rain. Eating just 40 grams can be fatal. This is due to the amatoxins, which are very harmful to the liver and can cause multi-organ failure. Because the poison's effects are very slow and those affected cannot recognize the symptoms, poisoning is difficult to diagnose. The symptoms can be felt one day after consumption: vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal and stomach pain. An apparent improvement follows and the affected person feels better over the next few days. After the fourth day, acute liver failure occurs. If not treated in time, the third phase of poisoning ends with the death of the patient.
6. Wrinkled bell sprout
The wrinkled bell mushroom is a light brown, poisonous mushroom with a humped center and a hat that is grooved from the edge to the hump. It appears in meadows and lawns in autumn, has almost no smell and leaveson the tastedon't recognize either. Since the mushrooms are very small and do not reach more than 1.5 cm in diameter, most people do not collect them. However, the fungus is potentially dangerous for pets and children.
5. The Poison Hatchling
The poisonous tree grows from spring to winter in coniferous forests, near or directly on trees. Young mushrooms have a slightly domed cap that becomes flat over time. Just 100 grams of the fungus is deadly. Since it contains the same toxin (amatoxins) as the green death cap mushroom, the poisoning is similar. Inexperienced collectors may confuse the mushroom with its edible counterpart, the stick fungus.
4. The Veillings
Nowadays the genus of veils is divided into several families and over 500 species. Although there are many edible mushrooms that belong to this genus, they are often confused with poisonous mushrooms such as the orange toadstool. Basically: Veils that have a reddish-orange-brown color are poisonous. However, you should definitely not rely on the color alone and you should definitely find out more details at your local mushroom center. They are very dangerous because they contain slow-acting nephrotoxins such as orellanin. The poisoning occurs with a time delay and is therefore difficult to diagnose. If left untreated, orellanin can cause kidney failure.
Poisonous mushrooms from Asia: 3. Trichoderma Cornu-Danae
The red poisonous mushroom Trichoderma Cornu-Danae is native to Asia, but has recently been found in Australia. Whether and when he makes it to Europe depends on many factors. The fungus is considered poisonous upon contact, meaning that humans can absorb its toxins through their skin. If consumed, it can cause brain damage. It is therefore very important that those affected are diagnosed and treated quickly.
2. The Amanitas
The Amanita genus includes more than 100 species, many of which occur in Germany. Many of them are edible mushrooms, but some of them, such as the fly agaric, are very poisonous. The fly agaric has a red cap with white spots and can usually be identified quickly. Less well known but very dangerous are the white spring death cap mushroom and the white death cap mushroom. They are very similar to mushrooms.
1. Flesh-brown umbrellaling
The flesh-brown umbrella grows in gardens and forests near trees. It is very poisonous and can be confused with several edible species. Fortunately, it is recognized by most amateur collectors, but refugees and immigrants from other continents can confuse it.
