9 Different Types of Poisonous Mushrooms You Should Avoid

Written by August Croft
Updated: August 1, 2023
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Whether you want to start your mushroom-hunting journey or simply have an invested interest in fungi, there are several different types of poisonous mushrooms you should be aware of. Mushrooms are often misidentified when foraged, which is why knowing your fungi is key for your safety. So many mushroom species look alike, making it difficult to tell the poisonous ones from the edible ones!

Here’s a list of some of the most common types of poisonous mushrooms for you to be aware of before you go mushroom hunting.

9 Different Types of Poisonous Mushrooms You Should Avoid

What Happens if I Ingest Certain Types of Poisonous Mushrooms?

Types of Poisonous Mushrooms

Mushrooms can be misidentified when foraged.

©iStock.com/aletheia97

Depending on the mushroom you ingest and the amount ingested, your symptoms of mushroom poisoning can vary wildly. Some mushrooms will cause symptoms immediately. An even smaller amount of toxic species doesn’t produce symptoms in the human body for hours, if not days. By the time symptoms occur, it is often too late, as the liver has already processed the toxins.

Some symptoms of poisonous mushroom ingestion include:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Headache
  • Fatigue
  • Chills
  • Hallucinations 
  • Loss of motor skills
  • Organ failure

If you choose to forage for mushrooms in the wild, it is always best to only do so with the guidance of a fungi expert. There are hundreds of new fungi species discovered each and every year, with many sharing similar features. There are also no hard and fast rules for identifying types of poisonous mushrooms versus nonpoisonous mushrooms. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, so never consume a mushroom that you can’t 100% identify as edible!

Types of Poisonous Mushrooms

Types of Poisonous Mushrooms

There are also no hard and fast rules for identifying poisonous mushrooms versus nonpoisonous mushrooms.

©iStock.com/Dan Fog Madsen

Knowing where poisonous mushrooms typically grow is a good place to start when you begin your wild mushroom hunting journey. With all of this in mind, let’s go over some of the most deadly types of poisonous mushrooms that you should avoid!

Death Cap (Amanita phalloides + Others)

Types of Poisonous Mushrooms

The death cap mushroom is often considered the most poisonous mushroom in the world.

©iStock.com/empire331

If there’s one mushroom you should be sure to avoid, it has to be the death cap mushroom. Studies suggest that half of a single mushroom is enough to kill a fully-grown adult. Many historical assassinations suggest that the death cap mushroom may have been utilized, including the potential death of Charles VI. 

The Amanita genus contains multiple poisonous species, as well as edible ones. The death cap mushroom can be found around the world in a variety of settings but prefers the company of broadleaf tree species. It is fairly easy to identify, though it appears differently depending on its region. Most death caps have a greenish hue to their white caps, but this is not an entirely reliable identifier.

The death cap that grows in Latin America is known as Amanita arocheae, while the East Asian death cap is known as Amanita subjunquillea. Amanita phalloides refers to the death cap that is commonly found throughout Europe and North America. Symptoms of death cap poisoning often don’t appear for several hours, but if left untreated, the end result is typically liver failure.

Destroying Angel (Amanita ocreata + Others)

Types of Poisonous Mushrooms

There are many different species of the highly poisonous, destroying angel mushrooms.

©iStock.com/dabjola

Similar to the death cap, there are a few different mushrooms known as the destroying angels. For example, Amanita bisporigera grows in the Eastern United States, Amanita exitialis grows in China and India, Amanita magnivelaris grows in North and South America, Amanita virosa grows in Europe, and Amanita ocreata grows in North America, particularly the Pacific Northwest.

Like the death cap (they are closely related!), destroying angel mushrooms look strikingly similar to many edible species. However, nearly all destroying angels are pure white in coloration, which may help with identification. Consumption of these mushrooms leads to liver and kidney failure a few hours to a few days after eating.

Lepidella

Types of Poisonous Mushrooms

Some Lepidella mushrooms have swollen stems.

©iStock.com/MattCuda

While not nearly as deadly as the destroying angels or death caps, some Lepidellas can still cause kidney or liver failure. Plus, they look just like a variety of edible mushrooms, particularly the highly-prized matsutake mushroom found in the Pacific Northwest. Other common Lepidella species reside in eastern Asia and Japan, and there are less-common species all over the world.

Fool’s Mushroom (Amanita verna)

Types of Poisonous Mushrooms

The average fool’s mushroom is pure white.

©iStock.com/naotoshinkai

Also related to death caps and destroying angels, fool’s mushrooms are all white. They have delicate gills and a striking appearance, but they are just as poisonous as their relatives. While the fool’s mushroom only grows in Europe, it occurs in numerous types of woodland settings. You may be able to identify these types of poisonous mushrooms better because they fruit in spring as opposed to fall, a time of year when fruiting is common for many other mushroom species.

False Champignon (Clitocybe rivulosa)

Types of Poisonous Mushrooms

While false champignons aren’t going to kill you, they are still poisonous and common.

©iStock.com/iosifbudau

While the false champignon is rarely deadly, the frequent occurrence of this mushroom is what makes it so dangerous. Found in grassy fields and lawns along the West Coast of North America, these tan or grayish mushrooms cause gastrointestinal issues when consumed. More notably, this mushroom is also known as the sweating mushroom for its ability to cause human tears, sweat, and salivation. It can cause death if the poisoned individual has respiratory complications or preexisting conditions that may be exacerbated by large doses of muscarine.

Webcaps (Cortinarius rubellus + Others)

Types of Poisonous Mushrooms

Most fool’s webcaps are confused for edible mushroom species.

©iStock.com/Marcobarone

There are over 2000 different webcap species in the genus Cortinarius alone. The fool’s webcap, deadly webcap, and splendid webcap are all toxic representatives of this type of mushroom, and you can find poisonous webcaps all around the world. Targeting the kidneys, orellanine containing mushrooms can cause either death or complete renal failure if left untreated.

False Morels (Gyromitra esculenta)

Types of Poisonous Mushrooms

There are different types of false morels found around the world.

©iStock.com/TT

While some of the false morels in the Gyromitra genus are toxic, some other species are reportedly edible. This is typically only possible after cooking these types of mushrooms. However, even this process isn’t 100% safe, as many individuals have suffered from neurological symptoms after eating cooked specimens, including coma and death, but this may be attributed to misidentification of species.

Jack-o’Lantern (Omphalotus illudens + Others)

Types of Poisonous Mushrooms

Found in Japan, North America, and Europe, jack-o’lantern mushrooms can resemble chanterelles.

©iStock.com/Weber

Another mushroom that isn’t quite deadly, the jack-o’lantern mushroom, is commonly found in Europe, North America and Japan. It is frequently mistaken for chanterelles, a prized type of culinary mushroom. Jack-o’lantern mushrooms cause gastrointestinal issues whether they are eaten raw or cooked, often severe but rarely if ever deadly. Their orange shade earns them their name as well as their reputation as a chanterelle look-a-like!

False Parasol (Chlorophyllum molybdites)

Green-spore Parasol ( Chlorophyllum molybdites ). A kind of widespread poisonous mushroom. Appear in lawns after the rain. If you eat this, you may vomiting, diarrhea, and colic.

Also known as the green-spored parasol, the false parasol, and the aptly-named vomiter,

Chlorophyllum molybdites

can cause gastrointestinal problems.

©GlimpseDays/Shutterstock.com

While it has yet to result in any fatalities, Chlorophyllum molybdites is one of the most consumed toxic mushrooms in North America. Also known as the green-spored parasol, the false parasol, and the aptly-named vomiter, Chlorophyllum molybdites can cause gastrointestinal problems. Given its proximity to populated locations and its appearance, this mushroom is frequently misidentified and eaten. In the United States in particular, it is pervasive and easy to confuse with other edible species!

Editor’s Note: While A-Z Animals does its best to ensure the accuracy of its content and photography, do not eat wild mushrooms without firsthand knowledge from a local mycologist or mushroom expert as many types of mushrooms look similar.

Summary of the 9 Different Types of Poisonous Mushrooms You Should Avoid

RankSpeciesKey FeaturesEffects of Ingestion
1Death Cap (Amanita phalloides + Others)Greenish hue on white capsLiver failure
Symptoms may not appear for several hours
2Destroying Angel (Amanita ocreata + Others)Pure white coloration
(in most cases)
Liver and kidney failure a few hours to a few days after eating.
3LepidellaA close resemblance to matsutake mushroomsKidney or liver failure
4Fool’s Mushroom (Amanita verna)Delicate gills and a pure white color
Fruit in spring rather than fall
Liver failure
5False Champignon (Clitocybe rivulosa)Tan or gray colorSweat and salivation
May be fatal
6Webcaps (Cortinarius rubellus + Others)Brown caps and gills in a darker hueKidney failure
May be fatal
7False Morels (Gyromitra esculenta)A close resemblance to morelsNeurological symptoms
Coma
Are often fatal
8Jack-o’Lantern (Omphalotus illudens + Others)A close resemblance to chanterellesGastrointestinal issues
9False Parasol (Chlorophyllum molybdites)Wide white caps with brown shavings scattered across their surfacesGastrointestinal issues
Table of the 9 Different Types of Poisonous Mushrooms You Should Avoid

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/MattCuda


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About the Author

August Croft is a writer at A-Z Animals where their primary focus is on astrology, symbolism, and gardening. August has been writing a variety of content for over 4 years and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Theater from Southern Oregon University, which they earned in 2014. They are currently working toward a professional certification in astrology and chart reading. A resident of Oregon, August enjoys playwriting, craft beer, and cooking seasonal recipes for their friends and high school sweetheart.

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Sources
  1. Bicyclic octapeptide alpha-Amanitin, the death cap mushroom toxin : the total synthesis and derivatives of the hydroxyproline residue, Available here: https://open.library.ubc.ca/soa/cIRcle/collections/ubctheses/24/items/1.0372310
  2. Mushroom poisoning, Available here: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/John-Mcpartland/publication/14112911_Mushroom_poisoning/links/5c03e59592851c63cab5bdbd/Mushroom-poisoning.pdf