Top 20 Most Common Toxic or Poisonous Mushrooms in Houston
Unveiling the stealthy dangers hidden beneath Houston's warm and moist climate, this page navigates you through the 'Top 20 most common poisonous mushrooms' in this diverse terrain. Steeped in rich, woodland soil and thriving in the subtropical humidity, these trickster mushrooms beguile even seasoned mycologists (mushroom experts). Our in-depth guide with quality-sourced data will enlighten you on their identifying characteristics for a safe mushroom hunting experience. Don't be a victim but enjoy the bounty this distinct biome presents.
* Disclaimer: Content feedback CAN NOT be used as any basis for EATING ANY PLANTS. Some plants can be VERY POISONOUS, please purchase edible plants through regular channels.
Most Common Toxic or Poisonous Mushrooms
1. 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."
2. 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.
3. Peach-colored fly agaric
If you're looking for peach-colored fly agaric (Amanita persicina), start by hunting around in the leaf litter of hemlock, pine, and oak trees on the eastern coast of North America. Their rotund cap can commonly be overlooked, but well worth seeking out just to view the freckles and color. This species is poisonous, so take nothing but a photograph.
4. Magpie inkcap
The magpie inkcap is a striking and poisonous species of inkcap that can be found in Europe, Australia, and North America. The species has an egg-shaped cap that is typical to inkcaps, but its coloration sets it apart; white spots or splotches adorn a solid, dark brown or black background, reminiscent of the coloration of a magpie.
5. Fragile dapperling
The fragile dapperling is a tropical and subtropical woodland species. As its name suggests, this mushroom is so tender and fragile that picking it becomes a real challenge. The stem is very thin and it easily snaps. The edibility of the fragile dapperling is unknown, but the mushroom is probably insufficient for any kind of meal.
6. Common earthball
With an appearance similar to a crusty potato, the common earthball blooms from acidic soils, including compacted paths on the forest floor. It matures to a yellowish tinge and is found across the northern hemisphere. It is a close cousin to bolete mushrooms but is considered to be poisonous and is never eaten.
7. Freckled dapperling
Freckled dapperling grows on decaying wood most commonly in woodlands but also on mulch or in gardens. Unfortunately, this mushroom may be indistinguishable from other species in the same genus, Echinoderma, without close inspection. However, its pyramid-shaped scales, as referenced by its name, are one aspect that can help differentiate freckled dapperling.
8. Panaeolus antillarum
The panaeolus antillarum is a small, nondescript mushroom that, like other members of the Panaeolus genus, favors fruiting in animal dung, though it may also be found in wet meadows or even lawns. Though its stalk and cap don't offer any quick or easy identifying characteristics, one distinguishing feature of this species is its spore print, which is jet black.
9. 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.
10. Petticoat mottlegill
The petticoat mottlegill is a little brown mushroom (LBM) with a truly global distribution; this mushroom is found on every continent save Antarctica. While relatively nondescript in appearance, it can be recognized by its preferred microhabitat - dung. Petticoat mottlegills are commonly found growing out of cow or horse dung, or they may be seen in open fields that are rich with animal manure.
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