Poisonous lawn mushroom types are quite a many and it is very important to identify them properly. The latter is due to ingesting mushrooms accidentally, which would result in severe health problems, some even being fatal.
In this guide, we list over ten such poisonous species that are best kept away from your lawns and homes.
Learn mushroom identification with their physical characteristics and differentiate them from the safe edible ones.
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Poisonous Lawn Mushroom Type and Ways to Spot Them
| Poisonous Lawn Mushroom Type | How to Spot Them |
| Death Cap | Green cap and white stems |
| Conocybe Filaris | Rusty brown gills and conical caps |
| Webcaps | Brown and orange all over with a conical or convex cap |
| Autumn Skullcap | Yellow or brown in color and grows to a height of an inch on coniferous trees |
| Destroying Angels | Small and white, similar to edible button mushrooms |
| Podostroma cornu-damae | Red body shaped like a deer’s horn |
| Deadly Dapperling | Find pinkish brown stems with white gills |
| Fly Agaric | Toadstool look with a bright red cap and white spots all over |
| False Parasol | Off white cap and spread over manicured lawns |
| Ivory Funnel | Funnel-shaped species found in meadows and grassy areas |
| Conocybe Filaris | Thin stems with a brown cap found in open lawns |
| Jack O’Lantern | A group of several orange caps and green luminous gills |
| False Champignon | White and funnel-shaped mushroom prominent over grass |
| Brown Roll-Rim | Wild brown-capped mushroom that grows on coniferous and deciduous trees |
| Yellow Strainer | A noticeable yellow color when the mushroom is cut |
| Inky Cap | Bell-shaped mushroom that flattens as it matures |
| False Morels Mushrooms | Reddish caps with brown-colored stems |
List of Poisonous Lawn Mushroom Types
There are over fourteen thousand mushroom species and not all are safe and edible. In this detailed list below we list over ten such deadly species that can cause mushroom poisoning in humans and pets and should be avoided entirely.
– Death Cap
This mushroom, also known as Amanita phalloides, is the deadliest of all lawn mushrooms and is largely prevalent in Europe.
It resembles the popular Caesar’s mushrooms and the edible straw mushrooms, and thus with its green cap and white stem it is often mistaken to be edible.
However, Amanita phalloides is a highly toxic mushroom and if accidentally consumed, it can have a devastating impact on human health.
Consumption of even the slightest amount of this poisonous lawn mushroom can result in the following symptoms, within forty-eight hours of ingestion. The heat-stable amatoxins present in the mushroom can potentially damage cells in the human body very quickly resulting in coma or even death.
- Severe abdominal pain or cramping
- Bloody diarrhea
- Excessive vomiting thereby resulting in loss of fluid
- Additionally, it causes intense thirst
- It can hamper the functioning of the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system.
– Conocybe Filaris
The conocybe filaris is a poisonous lawn mushroom that is prevalent in the Pacific Northwest region. It grows and thrives in damp months, the mushroom looks similar to the psilocybe mushroom and can be identified with its rusty brown gills and conical caps.
If accidentally ingested it can cause the below-mentioned reactions, which will be noticeable within six to twenty-four hours after consumption.
- Acute liver damage due to the presence of high levels of amatoxin in it
- Symptoms similar to food poisoning are accompanied by nausea and vomiting
- Extreme gastrointestinal distress
- Potential kidney failure
– Webcaps
Webcaps or the Cortinarius species comprise two types- the deadly webcap also known as Cortinarius rubellus and the fool’s webcap also known as Cortinarius orellanus.
Both these types have just a slight difference and even resemble some safe and edible mushrooms.
These are brown and orange all over and you will predominantly find them in their native of Europe and parts of North America
Webcaps are poisonous and cause symptoms that are often mistaken to be the common flu. The toxin orellanin has a long latency period and thus throws up symptoms as late as two weeks. The common health problems that ingestion of webcaps results in include:
- Gastrointestinal irritations
- Kidney failure
- Liver failure
- Potential death, when left untreated
– Autumn Skullcap
The autumn skullcap, or the Galerina marginata grows to a length of about an inch or two. It is commonly found on coniferous trees and manifests a yellow or brown color.
It may be accidentally ingested, as it sometimes gets confusing with the velvet foot mushroom or honey fungus, two extremely popular edible varieties. The mushroom is prevalent throughout the world and is deadly if consumed due to the presence of amatoxin in it.
It is important to note that if you have accidentally ingested this mushroom and noticed these symptoms, rush to the nearest hospital as the species is highly toxic and can get fatal. The symptoms and health problems it can potentially lead to are:
- Diarrhea,
- Vomiting
- Excessive Thirst
- Gastro-intestinal distress
- Liver failure
- Potential death if left untreated
– Destroying Angel Mushroom
Destroying angels or the amanita species is a white mushroom species that is very common looking to the popular edible button mushroom. Due to this particular similarity, the species is also called the fool’s mushroom.
It is among the most poisonous mushrooms in the world due to the high presence of amatoxins and the symptoms commonly occur within five hours to a day.
This is yet again a highly toxic species of mushrooms thus it is important to visit your nearby hospital as soon as you spot any of these symptoms. A delay can make it fatal for the human body. Symptoms and conditions that may occur on ingestion are
- Vomiting
- Feeling delirium
- Convulsions
- Diarrhea
- Stomach cramping
- Liver
- Kidney failure
- Potential death if left untreated
– Podostroma Cornu-damae
The red fruiting body of the mushroom is shaped like a deer’s horn and possesses mycotoxins and trichothecene as toxins. If accidentally ingested it causes fatal conditions as mentioned below.
- Stomach cramping or pain
- Peeling of skin
- Hair loss
- Fall in blood pressure
- Liver necrosis
- Chronic kidney failure
- Severe cases can result in multiple organ failure
- Potential death if left untreated
– Deadly Dapperling
Deadly dapperling or the Lepiota brunneoincarnata are wild mushrooms that are predominantly found in Europe, Asia, and North American coniferous forests.
These are very commonly mistaken to be an edible variety with their pinkish-brown stems and white gills. These gilled mushrooms are incredibly toxic and have a high amatoxin content. Accidental ingestion causes the below conditions.
- Severe liver toxicity
- Gastro-intestinal distress
- Stomach cramping
- Potential death due to liver failure
– Fly Agaric
The Fly agaric or the Amanita muscaria is rampantly prevalent and can easily be identified with its iconic toadstool look.
The bright red cap of the species bears white spots and can easily be spotted from a distance as well.
Much as it makes for a pretty sight, it is poisonous due to the presence of muscimol and ibotenic acid.
The toxins affect the body and the below-mentioned symptoms and conditions can occur. You will notice symptoms as early as one hour after ingestion.
- Loss of coordination due to distress to the central nervous system
- Extreme nausea
- Hallucinations
– False Parasol
False parasol or chlorophyllum molybdites is prevalent in North America. Though toxic, the species isn’t fatal if ingested.
You will often find these mushrooms growing in manicured lawns, the mushroom sports an off-white cap. Common symptoms if accidentally ingested are:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Gastro-intestinal irritations
– Ivory Funnel
Ivory funnel or clitocybe dealbata is a white funnel-shaped mushroom commonly found in grassy lawns. Hence you can also call this a meadow mushroom species.
It is commonly confused with the fairy rings. It induces some intense symptoms, however, it is not fatal and rarely leads to death.
The main symptoms are:
- Sweating
- Salivation
- Abdominal pain
- Digestive issues
– Conocybe Filaris
Conocybe filaris is a poisonous mushroom that can be fatal. This species comes with a thin stem and a brown cap and contains a considerably large level of amatoxin.
It commonly grows in open lawns and compost and is highly toxic producing the following symptoms.
- Nausea and vomiting similar to food poisoning conditions
- Acute liver damage
- Gastrointestinal distress
– Jack O’Lantern
The Jack O’Lantern or the Omphalotus illudens is a large fungus with several orange caps and green gills. They can often be mistaken to be the edible species chanterelles. Jack O’lantern has a medium level of toxicity and causes:
- Severe digestive tract irritation
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Dehydration
– False Champignon
False Champignon or Clitocybe rivulosa looks similar to the ivory funnel and is just mildly toxic.
White and funnel-shaped, this species can commonly be found in grassy areas. The symptoms if accidentally ingested are not fatal and are:
- Sweating
- Salivation
– Brown Roll-Rim
The brown roll-rim or Paxillus involutus are wild mushrooms that are brown capped and highly toxic species, growing in coniferous or deciduous trees.
It is also called the common roll-rim due to its cap rolling inwards. The common symptoms include
- Acid-sour taste in the mouth
- Cold extremities
- Stomach cramps
- Sweating
- Weakness
- If neglected, it can even lead to coma
– Yellow Strainer
The yellow strainer or the Agaricus xanthodermus are mildly poisonous mushrooms. Beware, it is similar to the edible Agaricus campestris species.
But, the distinctive characteristic of the yellow strainer is the yellow color that is noticeable when the mushroom is cut.
If accidentally ingested, the symptoms and conditions are not fatal though one may experience:
- Nausea
- and Digestive irritation
- Vomiting
– Inky Cap
Inky cap is also known as Coprinopsis atramentaria is a safe-to-eat mushroom species. However, what makes this toxic is when it is consumed with alcohol.
The toxicity exists even if alcohol is consumed three days after it is ingested.
In such a scenario it manifests the below symptoms. The species has a gray-brown cap that is bell-shaped which flattens out as the mushroom matures
- Digestive distress
- Increased heart rate
- Tingling limbs
– False Morels Mushrooms
This species is very often mistaken to be the edible variety of Morchella genus or otherwise also called the true morels.
Both the morel mushrooms bear a brown look, hence the chance of accidentally ingesting stays high.
You will need to give them a closer look to note that the poisonous one has brown or reddish caps with light-colored stems. The toxin present is monomethylhydrazine and thus the symptoms can be fatal and include:
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
- Diarrhea
- Death if left untreated
Conclusion
You have now understood that amongst the several edible species of mushroom some toxic and poisonous types need to be avoided.
Here is a quick recap of the important information this mushroom guide has covered.
- Many poisonous lawn mushroom types can resemble safe and edible ones. They may be similar in form and color. Therefore, it is important to look carefully so that they are not accidentally ingested.
- Poisonous mushrooms may possess toxins such as amatoxin, mycotoxins and trichothecene These toxins not only cause health problems but can be fatal and even lead to death if unattended soon.
- The most dangerous of the poisonous lawn mushroom types are Destroying angel, Death Cap and Conocybe Filari.
- Accidental ingestion of these types can cause severe disorders that may even become fatal if not attended to immediately.
- Some of the most severe symptoms caused by poisonous mushrooms are digestive disorders, liver dysfunctioning, a weak central nervous system or even kidney failure.
Having read this guide you know now that poisonous mushroom types on the lawn are best avoided. It is important to be cautious by learning to identify them with the information we have provided.
The content on this page is for informational purposes only and may contain inaccuracies. Please verify all information independently. Evergreenseeds.com says: do not eat any wild mushrooms or plants without firsthand knowledge that they are safe for consumption.
