Shaggy parasol and parasol or Green-spored parasol
Chlorophyllum rhacodes, Macrolepiota procera · Chlorophyllum molybdites
Unidentified gastrointestinal toxins
Severe vomiting and bloody diarrhoea for hours. Rarely fatal but frequently hospitalising, and it is the most commonly eaten poisonous mushroom in North America, largely because it fruits in suburban lawns where people find it.
Check in this order
Most decisive first
| Feature | Shaggy parasol and parasol | Green-spored parasol |
|---|---|---|
| 01Spore print | White. | Green, sometimes subtly so. The definitive test, and the reason this pair is on the list. |
| 02Gills when mature | Stay white or cream. | Develop a greenish cast with age, though young specimens do not. |
| 03Habitat | Often woods, wood edges and compost. | Open grass. Lawns, parks and playing fields. |
Where people go wrong
Young specimens have white gills and look exactly like the edible ones. Only the spore print is reliable, and a big handsome mushroom on a lawn is exactly the one people skip the test on.
The specimen sheets
This page tells you what to check. It does not tell you the mushroom in your hand is safe, and it cannot. If you are not certain, do not eat it, and if you have already eaten something and feel unwell, contact a poison centre immediately and keep an uncooked specimen for identification.
Other pairs