Mushrooms - Blewit (Lepista or Clitocybe nuda) lookalikes

This is going to be a post about identifying the beautiful mushroom blewit.

There are two similar species, wood blewit (Clitocybe nuda) and the field blewit (Clitocybe saeva). Both are usually edible but some people experience allergic reactions. For the sake of simplicity, we will not concentrate in the differences between the two types of blewit, but rathet the difference between blewits and poisonous lookalikes.

Blewits appear when the first frosts are just approaching and nights are getting cold. The mushroom have a white/lavender hue. And often the margin of the cap is tinted with blueish lavender color.

Gills: The gills are of same color, a pale lavender. But variations of cream, pale pink and pale brown also possible. The gills are very close together. 

Stem and base: They have also an enlarged thick short stem. But importantly, there shouldn't be any sac surrounding the base (volva), typical of amanitas.

Habitat: Usually grow in leaf litter.
Spores: Spore prints are whitish to pale pink.

Lookalikes:
Similar lookalikes, also showing lavender hues, include the deadly Cortinarius (which main difference is the cobweb veil, but it might be absent in adult speciments) and spores will be rusty brown, and Entolomas (also should be avoided), which usually have thinner stems and salmon spore prints. Important: spores are the best way to distinguish them!

Blewits do not contain a ring. That's another key difference. Importantly, inspect for the presence of a ring with rusty brown appearance, that's a warning sign of Cortinarius (deadly mushroom).

Also it's good to distinguish them from other Clitocybe species.

Identifying with full certainty the blewit is definitively not for beginners.

Blewit

Cortinarius (deadly) is very similar, the base is more enlarged. One warning trait of Cortinarius is the rusty brown ring and edge of the cap (but be aware it might not be present!)

Disclaimer: this is only intended for educational purposes. Do not eat mushrooms based on the information found here. In general, do not eat mushrooms unless you are 100% sure about its ID.

Mushrooms - Chanterelles lookalikes

Today we are going to talk about chanterelles! A common and well-known wild edible mushroom.

Chanterelles are often a sought-after wild mushroom, growing under forests. The purpose of this post, which is meant for intermediate skilled mushroom foragers, is to identify the chanterelle lookalikes. Chanterelles have three toxic lookalikes which are quite important to be aware of.

We are only comparing them with the common chanterelle type species, Chantharellus cibarius. There are other species of chanterelles (which furthers adds to the complexity of their identification) but here we are only focusing in the common chanterelle.

Chanterelles look-alikes: 

The chanterelle look-alikes include 3 groups of species:
1) Jack o'lanterns (Omphalotus). These are quite poisonous but not deadly

2) False chanterelle (Hyfrophoropsis). These are very similar (well, not to experts!) and they are slightly toxic (not deadly)
3) And importantly, some species of Cortinarius, which are deadly. The cortinarius shape are usually very different than chanterelles (with a typical gilled-mushroom shape) but the confusion can happen to beginners. It can be somewhat strikingly similar in color and size to chanterelles, with a similar yellowish color, and thus it can be a big danger if both are growing together! And I have seen both together. Anyone with a bit more skill than a beginner, should distinguish them fairly easily.

Jack o lanterns

• Chanterelles have forked false gills, whilst Jack o'lanterns have true gills. But be aware false chanterelles can have forked gills.
• Chanterelles have a blunt curving edge while Jack'o lanterns have gills right up to the edge
• Chanterelles grow individually. Jack o'lanterns have stems attached (and grow in groups, often at base of trees), whilst Chanterelles do not.
• Chanterelles flesh can be pure white, whilst Jack o'lanterns will have an orangeish flesh.
• Chanterelles never grow in dead wood (Jack o'lanterns grow in dead wood, but it could be buried., giving a false impression)
• Chanterelles have ridges running down the stem
• Chanterelles false gills are strong and sharp, whilst Jack o'lanterns true gills are quite fragile.

Jack o lanterns on the left. Chanterelles on the right. Notice the edge of the cap

Jack o lanterns grow in groups!

Chanterelles grow individually!

False Chanterelles

• Chanterelles have a deep yellow color, while False chanterelles have no yellow, color is deep orange . But be aware that Jack o'lanterns can have a yellow hue (but usually are bright orange).
• Chanterelles have almost pure white flesh (but not always, sometimes pale yellow too), whilst False chanterelles have pale yellow flesh or darker. This can be seen if you cut them all the way down along the stem. There is a very clear difference in color between them.
• Chanterelles have blunt edges curved down, whilst False chanterelles do not. This is one of the best differences to spot, after the color.
• Chanterelles have an apricot smell. False chanterelles do not. But be aware Jack o'lanterns can have a fruity taste too.
• Spore print is not to distinguish them. Chanterelles spore print is white or light yellow. False chanterelle spore print is white or cream.
• Chanterelles have a normal texture and fragile false gills, which fork near the edge of cap, whilst False chanterelles have a felt texture and also strong gills. But this is probably a difficult characteristic, if you are not familiar with them.

Young chanterelles start round and rather conical, and evolve to irregular shapes, whilst false chanterelles start a more perfect round and stay with a regular circular shape (as seen below)

False chanterelle. Notice the dull color, strong orange center spot, and also the felt-like texture

Notice the much more orange color of the False chanterelle, and also the edges which are not curved!

Cortinarius rubellus

As said above, do not confuse with Cortinarius species which are deadly. This is the greatest danger when identifying chanterelles. Cortinarius rubellus is the deadly webcap. Spores will be rusty red on this poisonous species, whilst chanterelles are white or pale yellow.

Cortinarius: it looks quite difference, but the slightly yellowish hue of some specimens and similar size to chanterelles, can pose a danger if picking chanterelles

Disclaimer: this is only intended for educational purposes. Do not eat mushrooms based on the information found here. In general, do not eat mushrooms unless you are 100% sure about its ID.

KEY TO IDENTIFICATION OF GILLED MUSHROOMS

This post is under construction. I am trying to design a simple practical key to idenfity mushrooms in the field, not the least to help me identifying mushrooms when I go on a ID-walk for them, here in Scotland.

Step 1 (Base)

First start by checking the base. 

- If the mushroom base is swollen, suspect an Amanita (lighter scales and ring), Lepiota (darker scales and ring), Volvariella (no ring), Cortinarius (brown rusty spores) and Fibrecap (fibrous cap).

- If stems go very deep into the ground, then suspect a Collybia (especially if cap has an incurved cap edge and absense of ring) or Xerula.

Step 2 (Cap behavior)

Second, check what happens when you break the cap. 

- If it milks and is brittle, it is a Lactarius. If it is just brittle, it is a Russula. If it is small and milks, it is a Mycena.

- If it liquefies easily, then it is an Inkcap/Parasola.

- If the color change, just take note of that trait.

- If it is sticky or slimy, you could suspect a few genus. Bright colorful waxy ones are Waxcaps. If stem is fleshy, it could be a Woodcap.

Step 3 (Cap color)

Third, take notice of the color. Bright yellow, pink, reds, purple, could point to specific genus, such as Deceiver/Laccaria, Waxcaps, Sulfur Tuft and others. If the cap is scaly, it could be a Pholiota-Scalycap (also with a ring).

Step 4 (Ring, Gill type, Spore print)

Fourth take notice of gills and do a spore print; this might help you identify other genus that are not identified yet. The presence of a ring may point you to Agaricus, Lepista/Blewit, Stopharia, Agrocybe and Gymnopilus/Toughshank. Absence of ring to Entoloma and Pluteus, Woodtuft and Clitocybe.

Step 5 (Small mushrooms)

Very small indistinct mushrooms are the hardest ones to identify, often their correct ID is only possible by experts (e.g. examining details under a microscope). In small mushrooms you also need to take notice of where they grow (forest litter or decaying wood): Galerina and Bolbitius (dark browns, growing in wood and transparent when wet), Conocybe, Psylocybe, Marasmius and Lepiota.

DETAILS FOR EACH STEP

Step 1) BASE 

- Swollen base: Amanita or Lepiota (see difference of scales, Amanita has a volva), Chlorophyllum  (reddens when cut), Volvariella-Rosegill (has a volva, pink spores and gills when mature, lack a ring!), Cortinarius and Fibrecap (cobweb when young or fibre aspect with central umbo, both have slightly swollen base but not volva), Ampulloclitocybe (decurrent gills. club-shaped) 

- Deep stem below: Xerula thin tall stem, no ring, dead stumps) and Collybia (incurved cap edge, strong convex cap then flattens, lack rings)

- White rhizomes: Megacollybia (incurved cap edge, strong convex cap then flattens, lack rings)

- Non central stem: Lentinellus, Wrinkled peach. Oysterling and Pleutorus (Oyster)

More detail to be added soon

Step 2) CAP:

2.1) CAP BEHAVIOR WHEN TOUCHED or BROKEN

Liquefying: Inkcap (Parasola or Coprinellus)

Brittle: Russula, Lactarius

Milks: Lactarius (big), Mycena (small)

Color change when cut: Chlorophyllium (reddens), Lyophyllum (blue), Agaricus... ...

Sticky cap:

Yellow/Brown spores: Bolbitius (tiny), Woodtuft (greasy feel, XXX)

Pink spores: Gomphidus (whitish/pink, decurrent)

Very dark spores: Leratiomyce-Roundhead (red and orange, ring), Inkcap, Gomphidius, Stopharia

White spores: Velvet Shank (tufted often), Xerula (thin tall stem, no ring, root extended, dead stumps), Waxcaps (slimy, bright colors, decurrent, fragile stem, no ring), Wood cap (fleshy stem), Oudemansiella,    Many others might be sticky or slimy when wet

Slimy cap: Waxcap (when wet, bright colors, decurrent, fragile stem, no ring), Wood cap (fleshy stem, greasy or slimy, decurrent gills)

2.2) CAP VISUAL TRAITS

SCALES: Amanitas (lighter, ring), Lepiota (darker, ring), Pholiota-Scalycap (ring, what's the difference?), Many others sometimes: agrocybe ??????????

Striate: Fibrecap (fibrous cap, central umbo), Galerina, Mycena, Parasola, NOT DONE YET

Central umbo: Melanoleuca, Fibrecap, Macrolepiota, ... Entoloma, Clitocybe (decurrent), Mycena, Cortinarius, Psilocybe, Waxcaps?, many others, ... ....

Step 3) CAP COLOR

Yellow color: Honey fungus (white to cream gills, tufted, bigger, decurrent, large ring, parasite of living trees, white spores), Sulfur Tuft (tufted, gills maturing yellow to brown, black spore, cobweb when young, dead wood), Gymnopilus-Toughshank (gold yellow gills and cap, ring sometimes, tufted sometimes, dead wood, orange brown spores prolific), Plums and Custard (Lilac and yellow!, yellow gills, white spore), Hygrocybe-Waxcap (bright yellow, slimy when wet, decurrent, fragile stem, no ring, white spore), Xeromphalina (small Mycena-like), Omphalottus (yellow orange-ish, larger), Yellow bolbitius, Lemon Disco (cup), Jellybaby (head) 

Pink-Orange-Red-Lavender gills:

- Pinks: Volvariella-Rosegill (volva but lack a ring, pink spore), Plums and Custard (lilac and yellow, yellow gills, white spore), Agaricus (ring, maturing from pale pink to deep pink or chocolate brown, free gills, cap not colorful), Pluteus (free gills, no ring, grow on decaying wood), Entoloma-Pinkgills (gills attached to stem, grow on leaf litter, no cobweb), Gomphidus (whitish/pink, sticky, decurrent), many others like Collybia (incurved cap edge, strong convex cap then flattens, lack rings)

- Lavender: Lepista-Blewit (Pale lavender or cream hues, short stem, base not surrounded by sac, ring not brown!)

- All: Deceiver-Laccaria (Bright Purple, Red, Pink, spaced gills and non-decurrent, bit waxy but not slimy!), Hygrocybe-Waxcap (bright colors, pink, orange, red, no ring, slimy when wet, fragile stem, decurrent), Lactarius and Mycena (milks! gills, pink to orange sometimes),

- Orange and Red: Omphalottus (strong orange gills), Leratiomyces-Roundhead (red and orange, slimy and ring), Saffron lactarius (small to medium. nice round cap, bright orange gills, bruises green color), Chroogomphus (orange, strong decurrent), Chanterelles and look-alikes (shape), Eyelash and Orange peel (cup, red and orange)

Other color: jump to the following step

Step 4) RING IN STEM

You may have to do a spore print to distinguish between these.

White spore - Amanita or Lepiota (scales, swollen base), Oudemansiella (sticky), Cystoderma (powdery cap), Honey Fungus (yellow color, tufted)

Very dark spore - Agaricus (free gills, gills maturing from pale pink to chocolate brown, cap not colored!), Lacrymaria-Weeping Widow, Stropharia-Roundhead (slimy)

Pink: Lepista-Blewit (base not surrounded by sac, ring not brown!, Pale lavender or cream hues, short stem)

Brown or yellow spore -Leratiomyces-Roundhead (slimy and red/orange), Pholiota-Scalycap (very scaly), Woodtuft (greasy feel), Gymnopilus-Toughshank (cap yellow, individual, orange brown spores prolific),  Galerina (small slender, striate, never white), Agrocybe (never darker brown) 

Rusty brown ring visible: Cortinarius

4.2) GILLS

If ring is not present, observe gills and do a spore print.

DECURRENT gills: 

Pink spores: Lepista/blewit, Clitopilus

Dark spores: strong decurrent: Gomphidus (whitish/pink, sticky), Chroogomphus (orange)

Yellow/brown spores: strong decurrent: Paxillus 

White spores: Waxcaps (slimy when wet, bright colors, fragile stem), Moss oysterling, Wood cap (greasy or slimy), Clitocybe, Ampulloclitocybe club-shaped, base swollen), Honey Fungus (yellow color, large ring, tufted)

NOTCHED gills: Mycena, Plums and custard, Megacollybia (incurved cap edge, strong convex cap then flattens, lack rings), Melanoleuca, many others? More species to be added

FREE GILLS: Rhodocollybia (incurved cap edge, strong convex then flattens with umbo, slimy cap often thick, thick stem, gills white to pink cream, lack ring), Agaricus (pink gills, ring, cap not colorful), Pluteus (free gills, no ring, grow on decaying wood), Velvet shank (tufted often), Waxaps (bright colors, no ring, slimy when wet, decurrent), Xerula (thin tall stem, no ring, root extended, dead stumps), Lepiota and Amanitas (swollen base and scales) 

COWEB in young specimens: this is the hallmark of a Cortinarius species.

Step 5) SMALL MUSHROOMS

5.1) Yellow/Brown spores (usually no ring)

1) grows on wood: 

    Very small, transparency to water, dark brown: Galerina (striate), Bolbitius (sticky),  Tubaria (also very small), Naucoria (Alders), 

     Larger than 5cm: Agrocybe, Gymnopilus, Paxillus, Pholiota

2) grows in leaf litter : Conocybe-Conecap (fragile stem), Fibrecap (fibrous cap, central umbo), Cortinarius (small to medium but enlarged base)

5.2) Very Dark spores  - GILLS ARE GREY or dark

Parasola (striate, liquefying), Psylocybe, Agaricus (medium sized, pink gills)

Other larger mushrooms: Coprinus (cilindrical), Psathyrella (fragile), Stopharia (often larger and more colorful mushrooms), Panaelus

5.3) White spores: Marasmius (spaced gills, very tall), Mycena (milks, striate), Collybia (incurved cap edge, strong convex cap then flattens, lack rings), Lepiota (ring, swollen base, small to medium sized)

5.4) Pink spores: Mottlegill (all colors), Entoloma-pinkgill (usually medium-sized but also small, no cobweb, no ring, gills attached to stem) vs Pluteus (free gills)

I have not yet allocated the following species, in terms of cap color, in this key: Collybia-like, Gymnopus, Melanoleuca, Flammulina, Xerula (don't have a notch like Tricholoma) or colar (Marasmius), Volvariella and Pluteus

Disclaimer: this is only intended for educational purposes. Do not eat mushrooms based on the information found here. In general, do not eat mushrooms unless you are 100% sure about its ID.

Mushrooms - Parasol Mushroom (Macrolepiota procera) lookalikes

Parasol Mushroom (Macrolepiota procera):
- a very wide gilled mushroom, white gills
- grows in grassland in middle of the summer
- scaly cap and, importantly, a scaly stem (snake-like skin)
- a nipple like in the center top of the cap
- whitish mycelium at bottom of the stem
- a ring that unusually can go up and down the stem if you moved it.
- overall this mushroom is not recommended for beginners, due to deadly lookalikes

Lepiotoid mushrooms were once all groups in the Lepiota genus, but nowadays they are divided in several genus (Lepiota, Macrolepiota, Cystolepiota, Leucoagaricus, Leucocoprinus and Chlorophyllum). Almost all have white spores, ring and saprobiotic (growing in plant litter, rather than associated with tree roots). Identification of species level is very difficult even for experts.

In general, the lepiotoid mushrooms (of which the parasol mushroom is part of) are poisonous. Never eat small lepiota mushrooms.

Lookalikes:
Shaggy Mushroom (Macrolepiota or Chlorophyllum rhacodes), which can cause tummy trouble in some people, it is very similar to the parasol mushroom, but the stem is not scaly, and the size is smaller.

Chlorophyllum molybdites, false parasol or green spored parasol, it is similar, but again it is without the scally stem (and the gills and spores are pale green in adult specimens, but still white when young). It causes poisoning with severe gastrointestinal upset. It tends to have a much less scaly cap.

Amanitas can look very similar when young, and are deadly! So avoid picking parasols when young. Amanitas have lighter flakes on a darker surface, while Parasols have darker flakes on a ligher surface! Parasols have a central knob and regular scale patterns. Parasols also lack the volva from amanitas but they still have an enlarged base. Both have white spores.

Cystoderma amianthinum, saffron parasol. Also scaly stem, but the overall color is diferent. Much more of a dark yellow, instead of the black-brown snaky pattern from the parasol mushroom.

Lepiota castanea, deadly!, stem without scales and much smaller size (about 3cm wide).

Lepiota brunneoincarnata, deadly dapperling, also deadly, also growing in grass, again much smaller (about 4cm wide), despite the very similar appearance to the parasol mushroom! Stem has less scales. Confusion with the edible fairy ring champignon Marasmius oreades and with the very common Agaricus bisporus.

Disclaimer: this is only intended for educational purposes. Do not eat mushrooms based on the information found here. In general, do not eat mushrooms unless you are 100% sure about its ID.