Top 20 Most Common Toxic or Poisonous Mushrooms in Sacramento

1. Western jack-o'-lantern mushroom

The western jack-o'-lantern mushroom (Omphalotus olivascens) may be the most visually striking mushroom of the forest during day and night. During the day, brilliant large orange flat caps grow from both the ground and decaying stumps. At night, these mushrooms may glow in the dark, depending on location and maturity.

2. Sulphur tuft

The sulphur tuft grows on rotting wood of all types of trees; it is a particularly efficient decomposer of hardwoods. The mushrooms appear from spring to autumn and are often so tightly packed that they interfere with each other’s shape. This poisonous mushroom can cause temporary paralysis, distorted vision, and stomach pain if consumed.

3. Yellow-staining milkcap

Like most other milkcaps, the yellow-staining milkcap will ooze a white, latex-like substance when cut or otherwise damaged, but, unlike closely related species, the latex of this mushroom will quickly turn canary-yellow when exposed to the air. Go ahead and try it out for yourself, but don't take this one home to the kitchen! The yellow-staining milkcap is toxic.

4. Oak-loving elfin saddle

5. Wolf lichen

The thallus, or vegetative body, has a fructicose shape — that is, shrubby and densely branched — and a bright yellow to yellow-green, or chartreuse color, although the color will fade in drier specimens. Its dimensions are typically 2 to 7 cm (0.8 to 3 in) in diameter. The vegetative reproductive structures soredia and isidia are present on the surface of the thalli, often abundantly.

6. False parasol

Though the false parasol appears unassuming, the species is famous—or, infamous—for its toxicity. It looks unfortunately similar to Agericus campestrus, a commonly eaten mushroom, but the false parasol can be distinguished by its highly unusual green spore print. Although they are no good to eat, they can be pretty to look at. The species may grow in ring-shaped groups in meadows and on forest floors in what are sometimes called "fairy circles."

7. Yellow stainer

The yellow stainer grows across North America and Europe and has been imported to Australia. It can be distinguished from other common white mushrooms by the bright chrome yellow color it turns when bruised. It is known to be poisonous, causing cramps, nausea, and purging. Unfortunately, it often gets accidentally eaten as it looks similar to several edible white mushrooms.

8. Woolly chanterelle

The woolly chanterelle, which looks only vaguely similar to its famed, edible chanterelle cousins, is vase-shaped and has large, pale folds and wrinkles on its underside (as opposed to having gills, like those of more sought-after chanterelles). Woolly chanterelles can cause upset stomach, vomiting, and diarrhea in some who eat them, while leaving others completely unaffected. Needless to say, the species is not considered a "choice edible".

9. Yellowfoot dapperling

The yellowfoot dapperling (Lepiota magnispora) is a shaggy-capped species of Lepiota that can be found growing in wet forests across the western United States. While the species lacks a foot, it does usually have a blush of yellow or tan coloration at the base of its stalk - caps also have a tan or yellow hue, though they tend to darken to brown at their centers.

10. Flowerpot parasol

This tropical/subtropical mushroom is known to be toxic. If eaten it causes a very unpleasant stomachache with the risk of fatal complications. In temperate zones, flowerpot parasol is only found in hothouses and greenhouses, so the risk of accidental foraging is low, but it may occur with potted plants and indoor landscaping and pose a risk to curious children.

11. Black bulgar

The black bulgar is an unusual fungus that looks a bit like black gumdrops. While some authorities classify it in an "unknown edibility" group, others claim it's a poisonous mushroom. Either way, its unappealing appearance surely makes it an easy choice not to consume the black bulgar.

12. False chanterelle

The common name of this mushroom refers to the fact that it looks very similar to the edible and highly prized Chanterelle. This species, however, tastes bitter and may cause poisoning symptoms. False chanterelle occurs around the northern hemisphere in autumn and winter, growing on coniferous detritus, and is more likely to fruit in dry conditions rather than the usual wet.

13. Mower's mushroom

The mower's mushroom, also referred to as the lawnmower's mushroom, is so named because it frequently crops up in lawns. The species is rather nondescript, and it is considered a member of the infamously hard-to-distinguish "Little Brown Mushroom" (LBM) family. While the mower's mushroom is not known to be toxic to humans or dogs, several of these close look-alikes are.

14. Poison pie

This toxic mushroom blooms on conifer and broadleaf forest floors around the northern hemisphere. It can appear singly, in tufted groups, or in fairy rings. The poison pie can be distinguished from its close relatives by the dark brown watery droplets that form in its gills. As the common name, "poison pie" implies, it is seriously toxic.

15. Creamy russula

The creamy russula is so-called because is one of the unusual species that fruits during winter. The species' range, the wet, northwestern coast of the United States, stays cool but rarely dips below freezing during this time. Red-capped and white-gilled, creamy russulas look very similar to a host of other russala species; this species is just bitter-tasting, but some of its look-alikes are toxic.

16. Hooded false morel

The hooded false morel (Gyromitra infula) does not look nearly as similar to true morels as some other false morels do. This mushroom has a highly irregular, often saddle-shaped cap that rarely has the honeycomb-like holes of a common morel. The species is widely distributed across the temperate northern hemisphere and tends to grow on rotting coniferous wood.

17. Persistant waxcap

This tiny mushroom was first classified back in 1893, and has been studied since by famed mycologists around the world. Despite its scientific popularity, the persistant waxcap (Hygrocybe acutoconica) is not a common mushroom to come across in the wild. It does have a twin in shape and size, the Hygrocybe cuspidata, but this twin is brilliant red instead of yellow.

18. Shaggy parasol

The shaggy parasol grows singly or in groups from spring to fall. It can be found in lawns and gardens as well as the forest. It has a tendency to cause allergic reactions. Take care with identification as it is difficult to distinguish from the more deadly Amanitas.

19. Common ink cap

Common ink cap mushrooms grow in clumps from buried wood or tree stumps. They come up with such strength that they have been known to lift pavement or break through asphalt. As they age, their gills will turn black and liquefy, creating the "inky" substance for which they are named.

20. Fragrant funnel

This delicate little mushroom grows on the forest floor in deciduous woodlands. It can also be seen sprouting up by roadsides, under hedges, or in parks and lawns. While there are many varieties of small white mushrooms in this habitat, only the fragrant funnel smells so sweet; its fragrance is similar to anise. Despite this, it is reported to be poisonous.

Cookie Name	Source	Purpose	Lifespan
_ga	Google Analytics	These cookies are set because of our use of Google Analytics. They are used to collect information about your use of our application/website. The cookies collect specific information, such as your IP address, data related to your device and other information about your use of the application/website. Please note that the data processing is essentially carried out by Google LLC and Google may use your data collected by the cookies for own purposes, e.g. profiling and will combine it with other data such as your Google Account. For more information about how Google processes your data and Google’s approach to privacy as well as implemented safeguards for your data, please see here.	1 Year
_pta	PictureThis Analytics	We use these cookies to collect information about how you use our site, monitor site performance, and improve our site performance, our services, and your experience.	1 Year

Cookie Name	Source	Purpose	Lifespan
_fbp	Facebook Pixel	A conversion pixel tracking that we use for retargeting campaigns. Learn more here.	1 Year
_adj	Adjust	This cookie provides mobile analytics and attribution services that enable us to measure and analyze the effectiveness of marketing campaigns, certain events and actions within the Application. Learn more here.	1 Year