Firstly, mushrooms. Like many have probably warned you, there are some extremely vicious ones that can cause severe illness and even death. Here are some warnings when consuming mushrooms.
1. Always have and identification book! Species can easily be confused! There are very often false versions of commonly eaten mushrooms to be mistaken with. This is a must for all wild edibles.
2. Eating a single bite of a toxic mushroom can get you sick right away. BUT it could take hours before you start seeing the effects from other species.
3. Death is very possible when eating the wrong mushrooms. Don't go by old wives tales to find out whether or not their edible, just identify it properly.
4. Mushrooms can affect people differently. Some reactions may be more severe.
5. Illness could also mean getting hhhiiiiiggghhh!
Destroying Angel (Amanita virosa)
The destroying angel mushroom is beautiful, but as inferred by it's name, it is deadly. This mushrooms has a frightening habit of not showing deadly symptoms until 5-24 hours after consumption. It is often confused with the button mushrooms (common mushrooms purchased at the grocery store), as it's all white, and in it's youth has a button cap.
This mushroom is completely white, and has a 'veil' along it's stalk, and long gills under the cap. Despite their gorgeous appearance, these mushrooms will cause vomiting, diarrhoea, and ultimately cause your liver to bleed out. You'll die slowly in a matter of days.... ugh.
Here are some other mushrooms to steer clear from!
Deadly Galerina- Amanitin(These kill the most in North America!)
(Can be confused with the delicious chantrelle)
Jack O'Lantern Mushrooms- Omphalotus olearius(Can be confused with chicken of the woods)
I feel like I'd personally rather purchase mushrooms from the store than risk my life on the efforts of finding my own... However if you're confident in this area it's pretty cool then.
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