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Foraging for mushrooms? Or simply curious about what fungi you can't eat? Discover what the most poisonous mushrooms are from our detailed list.
Summary
1How to identify poisonous mushrooms
There are thought to be over 14,000 species of mushrooms worldwide, but sadly, there is no standard identifier for poisonous mushrooms. It simply...
2Why are some mushrooms poisonous?
Mushrooms have evolved to develop mechanisms, like toxins, that help keep them alive so they can reproduce, much like many other plants and animals...
3What mushrooms are safe to eat?
Many mushrooms are healthy and delicious, with only 1-2% of mushrooms containing poisonous toxins.32 So rest assured that your favourite button...
Mushrooms have been foraged, cultivated, and used throughout history.1 But whilst these fungi make a great addition to many recipes, it's important to be cautious with some mushrooms, as not all are safe!
You should always be aware of poisonous mushrooms, as they can grow just about anywhere, including your garden lawn. In the UK, there are several dangerous mushrooms you should be on the lookout for, like the death angel mushroom and the death cap mushroom.
So, we've put together a helpful list of 10 of the most toxic mushrooms and tips on poisonous mushroom identification so that you can stay safe and informed.
10 poisonous mushrooms to avoid
Whether you’re looking to forage wild mushrooms or just want to learn more about these mysterious fungi, it’s wise to know which mushrooms are poisonous or even deadly, as mushrooms can grow in so many places, including your garden.
If you spot one of these poisonous fungi growing on your garden lawn, by your shed or in your borders, be careful! Remove and discard them carefully, especially if you have pets or children playing outside.2
Regardless of whether you’re out foraging or spotted a mysterious mushroom in your garden, here are 10 of the most poisonous mushrooms to know about:
1. Death cap mushrooms
This small, green-tinted mushroom might look innocent enough, but it is actually the most toxic mushroom worldwide and is responsible for the highest number of fatal mushroom poisonings across the globe.3
2. Deadly webcap mushrooms
While these toxic mushrooms are rare in the UK, deadly webcap mushrooms are fatal, poisonous mushrooms responsible for many deaths in Europe. Sometimes confused for a chanterelle mushroom, deadly webcaps contain a poison called orellanine.6
3. Destroying or death angel mushrooms
With their striking, pure-white appearance, you might be fooled into thinking these mushrooms are harmless, but they are highly poisonous and sometimes deadly.
4. Fool’s conecap mushrooms
These small, cone-shaped, brown mushrooms are deadly poisonous, as they contain alpha-amanitin, which is toxic to your liver once ingested.
5. Funeral bell mushrooms
Poisonous and deadly, these little mushrooms definitely live up to their ominous-sounding name.
6. Panther cap mushrooms
Beautiful but sinister, panther cap mushrooms are brown, spotty, and poisonous.
7. Angel’s Wings mushroom
Possibly one of the most striking-looking mushrooms out there, angel’s wings mushrooms (Pleurocybella porrigens) might look harmless but are actually quite poisonous.
8. Deadly dapperling mushroom
Whilst it can be a rare find here in the UK, the deadly dapperling is one of the most poisonous lawn mushroom types as it likes to grow in grassy, open areas.
9. False morel mushroom
Easily confused with the closely related and tasty morel mushroom, the false morel mushroom contains a deadly toxin, gyromitrin.
10. Fly agaric mushroom
You’ll have definitely seen illustrations of these classic red and white mushrooms in your favourite storybook as a kid, but it turns out they’re pretty poisonous.
How to identify poisonous mushrooms
There are thought to be over 14,000 species of mushrooms worldwide, but sadly, there is no standard identifier for poisonous mushrooms. It simply depends on the mushroom itself.25,26
Why are some mushrooms poisonous?
Mushrooms have evolved to develop mechanisms, like toxins, that help keep them alive so they can reproduce, much like many other plants and animals. It’s a way of defending themselves from being eaten by animals, insects, and us.27
The mushrooms you see in the ground are actually the fruiting bodies of the fungus, which release spores into the air. One mushroom can release a billion spores, but if the mushrooms are eaten, the spores are lost.28 So, these poisons are a defence mechanism to protect the mushroom and help the spores disperse for more mushrooms to grow.
Whilst some mushroom poisons might only make the eater sick or feel unwell, some can be fatal.29 However, many animals and insects have evolved to avoid toxic mushrooms, with scientists seeing that some snails avoid poisonous mushrooms altogether.30
Some animals, like household pets, may be attracted to some mushroom species due to their scent. But they should be kept away from mushrooms in case they ingest one they shouldn’t. If you suspect your pet may have eaten a toxic mushroom, you should immediately take them to the vet.31
What mushrooms are safe to eat?
Many mushrooms are healthy and delicious, with only 1-2% of mushrooms containing poisonous toxins.32 So rest assured that your favourite button mushrooms in your local supermarket are perfectly safe.
The final say
Whilst there aren’t many mushrooms you can’t eat in the UK, it’s always important to keep an eye out for them to keep you, your family, and your pets safe when out and about.33
But poisonous mushroom identification can be challenging, so always make sure you’re 100% confident in what the mushroom is and that it is safe – especially if you’re out foraging. If you’re unsure what it could be, you should leave it alone – better to be safe than sorry!
- https://britishfoodhistory.com/2012/11/06/on-the-hunt-for-mushrooms/
- https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-get-rid-of-mushrooms-4706508
- https://www.britannica.com/science/death-cap
- https://www.britannica.com/science/death-cap
- https://www.wildfooduk.com/mushroom-guide/deathcap/
- https://www.first-nature.com/fungi/cortinarius-rubellus.php
- https://www.wildfooduk.com/mushroom-guide/deadly-webcap-2/
- https://www.first-nature.com/fungi/amanita-virosa.php
- https://www.uaex.uada.edu/yard-garden/resource-library/plant-week/death-angel-mushroom.aspx
- https://www.wildfooduk.com/mushroom-guide/destroying-angel/
- https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/179219-Conocybe-filaris
- https://www.first-nature.com/fungi/galerina-marginata.php
- https://www.wildfooduk.com/mushroom-guide/funeral-bell/
- https://www.mushroom-appreciation.com/angel-wings-identification.html
- https://www.first-nature.com/fungi/amanita-pantherina.php
- https://www.rhs.org.uk/biodiversity/bracket-fungi
- https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/fungi/angels-wings
- https://inaturalist.nz/taxa/515954-Lepiota-brunneoincarnata
- https://www.first-nature.com/fungi/lepiota-brunneoincarnata.php
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20870578/
- https://www.chemeurope.com/en/encyclopedia/Monomethylhydrazine.html
- https://nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/1265.pdf
- https://www.wildfooduk.com/mushroom-guide/false-morel/
- https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/fungi-and-lichens/fly-agaric/
- https://www.micropia.nl/en/discover/microbiology/mushroom/
- https://www.wildfooduk.com/articles/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-poisonous-and-edible-mushrooms/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16475091/
- https://www.britannica.com/video/81494/spores-Fungi-billions-fungi-rise-generations
- https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00988513
- https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(95)00773-3
- https://www.petmd.com/dog/poisoning/mushroom-poisoning-in-dogs
- https://www.mushroomthejournal.com/greatlakesdata/TopTen/Quest19.html
- https://www.gov.uk/government/news/take-care-when-picking-mushrooms-poisons-experts-warn
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