How to Know What a Poison Mushroom Looks Like

If you are interested in identifying and collecting wild mushrooms, it is vital that you educate yourself thoroughly about the different types of the fungi. Just one nibble of a poisonous mushroom can be fatal, as stated by the Vanderbilt Bioimages website. Some people may even experience allergic reactions from eating a mushroom that is not poisonous.

Books and field guides by mushroom experts
Wild mushroom examples

Instructions

- 1
  Enroll in a class that educates you on how to identify wild mushrooms. Many botanical gardens, universities, biological stations and mushroom clubs offer classes on identifying wild mushrooms.
- 2
  Read books and field guides on the different aspects of mushroom identification. Research the appearance, habitat they grow in and spore characteristics of each type. Many of the books have diagrams and photographs of wild mushrooms.
- 3
  Inspect closely any wild mushrooms your instructor has available in class. Experience with the real fungi is invaluable in honing your identification skills. Keep in mind that even experienced gatherers sometimes ingest poisonous mushrooms, therefore it is wise to weigh the risks with the benefits before attempting to learn about this hobby.

How to Collect Oyster Mushroom Spores

Mushrooms That Are Harmful to Humans

Growing Mushrooms