It is important to know that there are at least 10 reasons why
people
get sick from eating EDIBLE mushrooms:
1. Too many mushrooms are eaten – mushrooms are hard to digest; chewing
well is advised.
2. Mushrooms are eaten raw or undercooked.
3. Too much butter is used in cooking the mushrooms.
4. Alcohol sometimes causes an adverse reaction when eating mushrooms.
5. The mushrooms are not in good condition; they are in some state
of decomposition.
6. Some poisonous mushrooms are inadvertently mixed in with the
edibles.
7. A personal allergy can cause anything from GI distress to a rash.
8. A prescription drug (MAO inhibitor) can cause a reaction with
particular
mushrooms, such as polypores.
9. Edible mushrooms that are badly canned can cause botulism.
10. A GI reaction (cramps, diarrhea) or nausea may occur after a meal,
not related to the mushrooms eaten. A pre-existing virus may cause
this.
There is also the Fear Factor. Someone may be eating wild
mushrooms
at your table for the first time ever, and be petrified, and become, or
imagine becoming, ill because of stress.
Mushrooms known to cause death in Northeastern North America: --
photos
1. Amanita virosa AG 551
2. Amanita phalloides AG 543
3. Galerina autumnalis AG 620
4. Lepiota josserandii AG 517
5. Gyromitra esculenta AG 336
Because of the very real possibility of misidentification (for whatever reason) and the very real consequences of severe mushroom poisoning, the following is advised:
Do not eat any Amanitas even though some are known to be edible.Mushrooms to be avoided because a few species in Europe have caused kidney failure and the toxins are found throughout the genus:
Do not eat any LBM (Little Brown Mushroom).
Do not eat any small species of Lepiota.
Do not eat any large Lepiota without first finding out its spore color. Definitely avoid the green-spored Lepiota, Chlorophyllum molybdites -- it will make you seriously ill. -- photo
Do not eat any Gyromitra (False Morel), at least not when found east of the Mississippi River. -- photo
Do not eat Jack O'Lantern, Omphalotus olearius, mistakenly thinking it is a chanterelle. -- photo
Always keep a fresh specimen in the refrigerator, in case identification is needed for treatment.
Mushrooms known to cause muscarine-like symptoms [profuse
sweating,
tunnel vision] in Northeastern North America:
1. Clitocybe dealbata AG 745 -- photo
2. Inocybe, all species AG 626ff. -- photo
Mushrooms known to cause a reaction when alcohol has been
consumed
up to 72 hours after eating the mushroom:
1. Coprinus atramentarius AG 596 -- photo
2. Clitocybe clavipes AG 745 -- photo
Mushroom known to cause disorientation, GI symptoms,
muscarine-like
symptoms:
Amanita muscaria AG 538 -- photo
Mushrooms known to cause transient hallucinations: photos
1. Psilocybe caerulipes, and other blue-staining
species of Psilocybe AG 719
2. Gymnopilus spectabilis AG 623
Mushrooms known or suspected to cause mild to severe GI
distress:
photos 1-7 photos
8-14
Gilled Mushrooms:
1. Agaricus meleagris AG
507
2. Amanita gemmata (= A.
crenulata) AG 537
3. Armillaria
mellea
AG 736
4. Chlorophyllum
molybdites
AG 509
5. Entoloma, many species
6. Hebeloma, all species
suspected
7. Lactarius, many species
8. Lepiota
naucina
AG 519
9. Naematoloma (= Hypholoma)
fasciculare AG 709
10. Omphalotus
olearius
AG 787
11. Paxillus involutus
AG 671
12. Russula, several species
13. Tricholoma, several species
14. Tricholomopsis
platyphylla
AG 807
Boletes: photos
1. Boletus huronensis (in
Bessette, North American Boletes)
2. Boletus (= Chalciporus)
piperatus AG 571
3. Boletus
sensibilis
AG 567
4. Boletus, some species
with red pore-mouths
5. Suillus luteus (can be
laxative) AG 586
6. Tylopilus
eximius
AG 592
Other Mushrooms: photos
1. Morels eaten
raw
AG 326
2. Gomphus
floccosus
AG 396
3. Ramaria formosa and
possibly
other coral fungi AG 408
4. Scleroderma
citrinum
AG 839
5. Calvatia gigantea,
occasionally
reported. AG 823