Top 20 Most Common Toxic or Poisonous Mushrooms in Oregon

This generalist mushroom, found across North America, can be found in all sorts of moist woodland settings. The species appears to be particularly fond of wood chips or mulch, and so it is often found in garden or park settings. The onion-stalk parasol mushroom, despite the word "onion" in its name, is inedible.

Birch knight is likely to be found in large groups at the margins of damp woodlands. The name birch knight refers to its affinity for birch trees. This mushroom smells somewhat like flour dough. It has distinctive brown-spotted gills underneath its cap.

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.

Small funnel-veil amanita thrives primarily in deciduous forests but is also found growing underneath conifers. Its umbrella-shaped cap covered with small warts makes it easy to spot, along with its cream-colored stem.

During the reproductive phase of its life cycle, Spinellus fusiger grows throughout the cap of the mushroom host, eventually breaking through to produce radiating reproductive stalks (sporangiophores) bearing minute, spherical, terminal spore-containing structures called sporangia. Ultimately, the spores in the sporangia are released after the breakdown of the outer sporangial wall, becoming passively dispersed to new locations via wind, water, and insects. The sporangia contain non-motile mitospores known as aplanospores. Like other Spinellus species, S. fusiger is homothallic, a condition where sexual zygospores can be produced union of branches from the same mycelium and so can be produced by the growth from a single spore.

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.

Angel wings(Pleurocybella porrigens) is a delicate, almost ethereal mushroom most commonly found on decaying conifer logs and stumps. In spite of its disarming name, this species is highly toxic and should not be consumed under any circumstances; once considered edible, it has been responsible for numerous deaths in Japan.

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.

Coker's amanita may appear similar to other Amanita mushrooms but can be distinguished through careful observation of its features. The large size of this mushroom is one of its most distinctive features. This mushroom can be found in a variety of situations, growing alone or in groups, forming connections with hardwoods or conifers, and growing in the summer to fall season.

American abrupt-bulbed amanita looks almost indistinguishable from other Amanita species in most ways. However, as hinted by its name, american abrupt-bulbed amanita has a distinctively shaped base. This unique appearance has been described as a mushroom stem growing from the lower half of an egg.