False honey mushrooms: photo and description

Content

1 General description of false mushrooms
2 Are false honey mushrooms dangerous?
3 What edible and false honey mushrooms look like (photo)
4 False honey mushrooms that look like edible ones
5 How to distinguish false mushrooms from real ones
6 Signs of poisoning by false honey mushrooms
7 Is it possible to eat false honey mushrooms?
- 7.1 How to check for false honey mushrooms when cooking
- 7.2 How else can you check whether honey mushrooms are poisonous or not?
8 Conclusion

When going into the forest, a mushroom picker should stock up not only with a knife and a basket, but also with knowledge of the characteristic signs by which false honey mushrooms differ from real ones. If the latter, properly collected and prepared, are edible and tasty, then eating some varieties of their “doubles” can cause severe poisoning. The ability to distinguish forest honey mushrooms from false ones can save the health of a mushroom hunter and his loved ones, and sometimes life.

General description of false mushrooms

The first thing that will help you figure out how to distinguish false mushrooms is a photo and description of their various types.

It is difficult to classify these mushrooms.Their species diversity is widely represented within several families (strophariaceae, dungworts, and, according to another taxonomy, psatirelaceae).

What they have in common with their edible “brothers” is the time of year in which they grow and their habitat – stumps, fallen trees, dead wood, tree roots and trunks.

Due to the similarity of external characteristics - growth in large groups, convex plate-like caps, thin and long legs, hollow inside - at first glance it is difficult for a non-specialist to determine what kind of mushrooms are in front of him. False and “normal” honey mushrooms sometimes even grow next door on the same stump.

Attention! The first rule of experienced mushroom pickers: “If you’re not sure, you can’t take it.”

If there is even the slightest doubt whether it was possible to correctly recognize whether the honey mushrooms are false or not, you should not risk cutting these mushrooms into your basket. You should not take everything in order to figure it out at home or ask specialists. If at least one poisonous mushroom gets into the basket, the rest will have to be thrown in - they can no longer be eaten.

Are false honey mushrooms dangerous?

Many varieties of these mushrooms are considered inedible and poisonous - they should not be eaten under any circumstances.

Some species are classified as conditionally edible. After proper processing (soaking, boiling), it is possible to prepare dishes from them.

Important! Even if the mushroom is considered conditionally edible and all preparation rules are followed, we must not forget that its safety for the human body has not been proven! The possibility that you can be poisoned by false honey mushrooms still remains!

What edible and false honey mushrooms look like (photo)

Edible and false honey mushrooms look almost the same.

However, there are a number of differences that make it possible to separate one from the other.Please pay attention to the following:

color and shape of the cap;
the color of the plates on its underside;
the presence of scales on the surface;
the presence of a ring growth (“skirt”) around the stem of the mushroom;
smell.

The photo will help you imagine how to distinguish false and edible honey mushrooms:

False honey mushrooms that look like edible ones

It is necessary to dwell in more detail on the characteristics of the most common types of mushrooms, known as false honey mushrooms, and provide their photos and descriptions.

How to distinguish the bordered galerina from honey mushrooms

One of the most dangerous types of false mushrooms is the fringed galerina.

Warning! The toxins of the toadstool and galerina fringed are identical - eating these mushrooms is dangerous for life!

Characteristic features of galerina fringed:

Edible or not	Poisonous
hat	Small (1–4 cm), bell-shaped, later becoming flat. Color ocher, brown
Records	Medium, yellowish (turn brown with age)
Pulp	Thin, dirty yellow, with a faint odor and floury taste
Leg	2–5 cm, fibrous, hollow, slightly thickened at the bottom. There is a yellowish ring
Season	June – October
Habitats	Rotten pine and spruce wood
How it grows	In groups of 2–3 pieces.

The difference between this type of false mushrooms and the real ones will be illustrated by the following photos:

Summer honey fungus:

larger (hat – up to 6 cm in diameter);
grows in large “families”;
the pulp has a pleasant smell and taste;
the bottom of the leg is covered with scales.

Autumn honey fungus:

grows in large bunches;
the flesh is thicker;
the surface of the stem and cap is covered with scales.

Candoll's honey fungus

The photo below shows what Candolle’s false honey mushrooms look like:

Edible or not	Conditionally edible
hat	Small (3–7 cm), resembles a bell; in a mature one, it is umbrella-shaped with a protrusion in the center.Color varies (from white to yellowish brown). White fringe along the edge
Records	Gray, turning brown over time
Pulp	Milky brown, with a pleasant mushroom smell
Leg	About 10 cm. Hollow, white, slightly pubescent below
Season	May – September
Habitats	Deciduous tree roots, stumps
How it grows	Large groups

Psatirella moisture-loving

In this photo of false honey mushrooms - psatirella, or watery honey fungus (hydrophilic, spherical), otherwise known as watery honey fungus. This species is very common in Russia.

Edible or not	Conditionally edible (according to other sources - inedible)
hat	Convex, 2–6 cm in diameter. Later it becomes flat. Color – from cream to chocolate
Records	Light (darkens with age), frequent
Pulp	White-cream color, relatively dense, has no pronounced smell or taste
Leg	Hollow, but dense, smooth, 3–8 cm. Light, covered with a powdery coating. There is a false ring
Season	June – October
Habitats	On wood remains and stumps
How it grows	In large groups, uniting in bunches

Attention! The color of the spore powder of this fungus is purple, which makes it possible to distinguish it from other similar species.

Poppy honey fungus

An idea of what false honey mushrooms look like can be obtained from the example of poppy or gray-plated honey mushrooms.

Important! Although this species is designated as “false,” it is classified as an edible mushroom.

Edible or not	Edible
hat	Medium (3–7 cm), can be either in the form of a hemisphere or spread out, with a convexity. Color – dull yellow to brown
Records	Adherent, light yellow, frequently located
Pulp	Pale, thin, smells faintly of dampness
Leg	5–10 cm, sometimes curved, yellow above, reddish-brown below
Season	Spring – autumn (sometimes even mild winter)
Habitats	Coniferous forests, stumps and roots covered with soil
How it grows	Bunches

Sulfur-yellow honey fungus

It is very important for a mushroom picker to keep in mind the description and differences of the false sulfur-yellow honey fungus, since this species is not only inedible, but poisonous.

Attention! Even a single specimen of this mushroom, if placed in a pan with edible varieties, can ruin the dish and cause severe poisoning!

Edible or not	Poisonous
hat	Small (2–7 cm), bell-shaped, then it becomes similar to an umbrella. Color – yellowish with a dirty brown or gray tint, the center is darkened
Records	Grown. Young mushrooms are sulfur-yellow, then change color to olive or greenish
Pulp	White or yellow-white. Bitter taste, with an unpleasant odor
Leg	Approximately 10 cm, light yellow, fibrous, straight
Season	June – October
Habitats	Rotten branches and trunks, the surface of stumps and the area around them
How it grows	Large "families"

Brick-red honey fungus

The photo below of hemp honey fungus shows a species known as brick red.

In Europe, this mushroom is not considered edible, but dishes made from it are quite popular in Japan and the USA.

Important! The pulp of this mushroom contains strong toxins. Even knowing how to cook it correctly, eating it is risky.

Edible or not	Conditionally edible (but requires long boiling)
hat	Large (from 4 to 12 cm), convex, but becomes flatter with age. Red-brown color (darker in the center)
Records	Yellow, over time - brown, attached to the leg
Pulp	Pale yellow, bitter taste
Leg	Pale yellow above, brown below
Season	August – October
Habitats	Dead wood
How it grows	In groups

How to distinguish false mushrooms from real ones

Photos and analysis of a certain set of features will help you learn to distinguish false honey mushrooms from real ones:

This video will help you learn how to distinguish false honey mushrooms from real ones.

Appearance of mushrooms

The false and edible honey mushrooms shown in the photo can be identified correctly if you look closely:

the caps of the false species are more brightly colored (bright yellow, terracotta-red), while those of the edible species are relatively modest, mostly pale brown in color;
young edible specimens often have scales on the surface of the cap and stem, while scaly false mushrooms are not found;
the plates on the back of the cap in edible species are usually white-yellow or cream-colored; in false varieties their color is greenish or olive-black;
Edible mushrooms are characterized by a noticeable leathery ring (“skirt”) around the stem; in false mushrooms it is hardly noticeable, or even completely absent.

Here is another photo demonstrating the differences between false mushrooms and real ones:

How do false honey mushrooms differ from edible ones in smell?

Their smell will help you distinguish true honey mushrooms from false ones:

thanks to the essential oils in the edible specimens, they smell pleasantly like mushrooms (and the aroma intensifies during cooking);
The smell of false varieties is unpleasant - they smell of mold, damp earth or rotten grass.

Taste

False honey mushrooms taste unpleasant and bitter - however, it is quite natural that they are tasted not raw, but already cooked.

Attention! If bitterness suddenly appears in a finished dish made from supposedly edible mushrooms, you should immediately throw it away without regret and take measures to help avoid poisoning.

Signs of poisoning by false honey mushrooms

Knowing the signs of poisoning with false honey mushrooms will help you quickly and competently provide first aid to the victim. Next, you should, without wasting time, consult a doctor.

Symptoms of poisoning with false honey mushrooms

Characteristic symptoms of poisoning with false honey mushrooms:

the occurrence of heartburn, nausea, discomfort in the stomach;
the appearance of dizziness;
after a few hours lethargy, apathy occurs, weakness increases, limbs begin to tremble;
nausea increases, vomiting and diarrhea occur, accompanied by cramps and sharp pain in the abdomen;
cold sweat appears, including on the palms and soles of the feet;
loss of consciousness is possible.

First aid for poisoning with false mushrooms

Symptoms of poisoning with false mushrooms appear after a short period of time (according to various sources, from 1 to 6 hours) after eating mushrooms. During this period, it is important to take emergency measures as quickly as possible:

rinse the stomach (induce vomiting after drinking a large amount of clean cold water);
ensure intake of enterosorbents (activated carbon, polysorb, atoxil);
organize plenty of drinking;
seek qualified medical help.

Important! The main actions for poisoning with false honey mushrooms are timely identification of symptoms and treatment, including correctly provided first aid. The faster the victim gets to the doctor, the greater the chance of recovery, and the less the risk of negative consequences for the body.

Consequences of poisoning with false honey mushrooms

The toxins contained in the juice of these mushrooms enter the blood through the gastrointestinal tract, and are carried throughout the body with its current.

If the patient does not receive help, this may manifest itself:

severe headache and dizziness;
slowing heart rate and falling blood pressure (sometimes even to critically low values);
blue discoloration of the skin;
hallucinations, delusions (as a result of prolonged dehydration);
alternating periods of inhibition and excitement.

With proper treatment provided on time, the victim usually recovers within a few days. The risk of death is small, but it exists – especially for children or weakened bodies.

Is it possible to eat false honey mushrooms?

It is possible to eat only those species that are classified as conditionally edible. This is considered undesirable, but is acceptable if all the subtleties of culinary processing are observed. First, they are soaked in water for a long time, then thoroughly boiled.

These mushrooms cannot be eaten raw. Moreover, if you eat false honey mushrooms, which are considered conditionally edible, but prepared incorrectly, it will be dangerous for your health.

How to check for false honey mushrooms when cooking

There is an opinion among mushroom pickers that it is possible to distinguish honey mushrooms from false mushrooms when cooking. To do this, it is recommended to place a peeled, cut onion or cloves of garlic in the pan where the mushrooms are cooked. If the root vegetables take on a blue or brown tint, it means there are poisonous specimens there.

How else can you check whether honey mushrooms are poisonous or not?

In addition to the “folk” method given above, there are several more common tips on how to determine whether the honey fungus is poisonous or not. You can often hear suggestions:

cut a raw mushroom and rub it on a silver cutlery; if it darkens, the product contains toxic substances;
dip the dubious honey mushroom into raw cow's milk - the poison will cause it to quickly turn sour.

Important! All these tips fall into the category of myths and rumors. When trying to determine how honey mushrooms differ from false honey mushrooms, one should rely solely on scientific data. You should not trust dubious and untested methods, risking your own health.

There are even more “curious” ideas that turn out to be dangerous misconceptions:

“If a mushroom is eaten by insect larvae, this suggests that it is not poisonous” - not true. What is not poisonous to insects may well pose a danger to humans.
“If you cook mushrooms for a long time with the addition of vinegar and salt, you can “boil” the poison out of them” - not true. This method is conditionally suitable only for some species whose fruiting bodies contain few toxins; in the vast majority of cases it will not yield anything.
“Alcohol can help neutralize mushroom poison” is not true. On the contrary, drinking alcohol will help the toxins spread much faster!

Conclusion

False honey mushrooms are mostly inedible and even poisonous “doubles” of ordinary species, found in abundance during the mushroom season. False and “normal” honey mushrooms, upon careful examination, have a number of differences in the color and structure of the surface of the cap, stem, the presence or absence of a “skirt,” the color of the plates and smell. The mushroom picker must study these features well and be guided by them, and not by dubious tips heard “among the people.” Just in case, you need to remember how to recognize mushroom poisoning and be able to provide first aid.