How to Identify Poisonous Mushrooms? 5 Practical Methods to Teach You

First, look at the color. Poisonous mushrooms have brightly colored caps, with colors such as red, green, ink black, and purple-blue; purple ones in particular are often highly toxic and tend to change color after being picked. Second, look at the shape. Non-poisonous mushrooms have relatively flat caps, smooth surfaces, no rings on the cap surface, and no volva at the base. Poisonous ones have oddly shaped caps, thick and hard cap surfaces, rings and volva on the stem, and thin or thick elongated stems that break easily. Third, look at the secretions. Non-poisonous mushrooms have thick, concentrated secretions that are reddish-brown and tend to change color in the air after being torn apart. Fourth, smell the odor. Non-poisonous mushrooms have a distinctive fragrance, while poisonous mushrooms have a strange odor, such as spicy, sour-astringent, or foul-fishy smells. Fifth, do the boiling test. When boiling wild mushrooms, put in a few stalks of rush pith, some garlic, or rice and boil them together. When the mushrooms are cooked, if the rush pith turns blue-green or purple-green, they are poisonous; if it turns yellow, they are non-poisonous. If the garlic or rice changes color, they are poisonous; if it keeps its original color, they are non-poisonous.