Mushrooms represent a special category in the animal and plant kingdoms. Since they are not counted among the animals, but also not among the plants due to the lack of photosynthesis, the many different types of fungi are summarized under their own order "Funga".

Mushrooms and the danger they pose to the uninformed

Mushrooms are often surprisingly colorful sights in forests and meadows, especially in summer and autumn. For many centuries, they have been a regional and seasonal addition to the diet in many regions. Since there are many poisonous species among the mushrooms, some of which are extremely similar to edible mushrooms, caution is required, especially for beginners when collecting mushrooms.

Warning signs of mushrooms

In principle, mushrooms should only be eaten if they have been clearly identified as suitable for consumption by an expert or using an identification book. The following warning signs often indicate a potential hazard for fungi:

  • striking coloring in shades of red, green and yellow
  • pungent smell
  • lamellar mushrooms in particular are often poisonous

Even edible mushrooms can be poisonous when raw. However, conversely, the poison in inedible mushrooms is not broken down by cooking.

The most dangerous mushrooms in forest and meadow

The fly agaric (Amanita muscaria) and the panther mushroom (Amanita pantheria) are identified relatively quickly as toadstools due to their striking coloration. More dangerous are the toadstools, which can be confused with typical edible mushrooms due to their appearance. While the white, pointed-capped death cap (Amanita virosa) and the white, flat-capped death cap (Amanita verna) are often confused with the meadow mushroom, the green death cap (Amanita phalloides) often looks dangerously similar to the brown forest mushroom.

Common edible mushrooms in Central Europe

Among the edible mushrooms in Central Europe, porcini with their firm flesh and mushrooms are important representatives. In particularly productive years, porcini can also be dried and, if necessary, processed into porcini flour. Chanterelles can also be picked in summer and autumn and used to refine many dishes.

tips and tricks

Inexperienced mushroom pickers can not only avoid the danger of poisonous mushrooms by buying them at the market or in the supermarket. Complete sets for mushroom cultivation from specialist retailers contain the spores of edible mushrooms on a suitable substrate, which you can then cultivate by yourself.

Category:

Vegetable garden