There are many types of mushrooms that are toxic and can cause serious illness or even death if consumed. It’s important to be able to recognize these dangerous mushrooms and avoid consuming them. Even when researching these mushrooms great care must be taken, and doing so lightly, without the proper precautions or training can lead to dire consequences.
Here are some of the main examples of dangerous mushrooms that you’ll definitely want to steer clear of:
- Death Cap (Amanita phalloides) – This mushroom is one of the deadliest in the world, responsible for numerous deaths every year. It has a greenish-yellow cap and white gills, and can be located in parts of Europe, North America, and Asia.
- Destroying Angel (Amanita bisporigera) – Another deadly mushroom in the Amanita family, the Destroying Angel has a white cap and white gills, and is found in North America.
- False Morel (Gyromitra esculenta) – Similar to the edible Morel, this is a very toxic species and can cause severe illness or even death. It has a wrinkled cap and is found in North America and Europe.
- Panther Cap (Amanita pantherina) – This mushroom has a reddish-brown cap and white gills, and can cause severe symptoms if ingested. It is found in Europe and North America.
- Deadly Galerina (Galerina marginata) – This is a small and brown-colored mushroom, and can be found in North America and Europe. It contains the same deadly toxins as the Amanita mushrooms and can lead to liver failure.
But where do mushroom spores come from that are not poisonous? Read more about this at Shaman Mushroom Spores where safe mushroom spores of many types can be purchased for microscopy research.