Do's and Dont's When it Comes to Fungi?

[CarlUK]

Please bear with me as these may seem like obvious questions however until fairly recently I was reluctant to even touch fungi having always been told as a child that they where all poisonous

• If I use a knife to cut a poisonous fungi to see if it has a colour change and then use the same knife on an edible mushroom would this mushroom then be unsafe to eat? (I realise that WAB is not about identifying mushrooms to consume)
• A lot of identifications can only accurately be done by removing and destroying the fruiting body is this not a bad thing?
• Are all fungi safe to touch? are poisonings only possible through ingestion?

there the only few I can think of off hand although I shall probably think of some more at some by tomorrow

Many thanks,

Carl

[Dorts]

Although there are many more qualified in this area, I'll answer where I can.
It is possible that using a knife to cut a poisonous fungi could transfer parts to a non-poisonous one, but just as with any poisonous plant, it would not be for members of this forum to say whether poisoning could or could not take place after such an event.

Removing a single fruit-body for identification purposes is unlikely to harm the plant, it's little different to picking a flower. But it would'nt do much good if for example, it's a single specimen of a rare epiphitic species.

Generally, yes, all fungi are safe to touch. But again, where there is a possibility of plant material being inadvertantly transfered to the mouth, poisoning could take place. So caution is a must when handling very poisonous species.
As with al things, common sense must prevail.
Dorts.

[fairplay]

I'll go along with all what Dorts says, but you seem to be under the illusion that using a "knife to check a poisonous fungi for a colour change" is an indication that a species is poisonous - the Bay Bolete turns blue, but it is not poisonous, and the Death Cap doesn't change at all. But perhaps I misunderstood you.

Using the same knife to cut a Death Cap and then a specimen you intend to eat is extremely unlikely to transfer sufficient toxic material to have any noticeable effect on a normal person, but plain common sense is the order of the day - just wipe the blade on your trousers after cutting a Death Cap - it's as simple as that.

I know you do not mention the Death Cap by name, but why would anybody want to CUT a Death Cap anyway ? This would only happen if you fail to recognise it and anybody who fails to recognise a Death Cap should be right out of the game.
If you are in it for consumption, play safe, join a group or go on an organised foray, and ask the leader to explain the poisonous species to you, but then again, don't expect them to point out all the edibles !

Neil.

EDIT: Regarding your last bullet point - Yes, ALL* known fungi are safe to touch, but it is where you place your hands afterwards that matters - as an example, if you handled Lactarius turpis, which produces copious amounts of very hot latex, and then rubbed your eyes, it is conceivable you could have a burning sensation in your eyes, rather like handling onions or chillies.

* Athletes Foot comes to mind here - by scratching your feet, spores can/will spread to your hands and if your hands are continuously moist, you will spread it between your fingers or onto other people maybe.

[CarlUK]

Originally Posted by fairplay

I'll go along with all what Dorts says, but you seem to be under the illusion that using a "knife to check a poisonous fungi for a colour change" is an indication that a species is poisonous - the Bay Bolete turns blue, but it is not poisonous, and the Death Cap doesn't change at all. But perhaps I misunderstood you.

Using the same knife to cut a Death Cap and then a specimen you intend to eat is extremely unlikely to transfer sufficient toxic material to have any noticeable effect on a normal person, but plain common sense is the order of the day - just wipe the blade on your trousers after cutting a Death Cap - it's as simple as that.

I know you do not mention the Death Cap by name, but why would anybody want to CUT a Death Cap anyway ? This would only happen if you fail to recognise it and anybody who fails to recognise a Death Cap should be right out of the game.
If you are in it for consumption, play safe, join a group or go on an organised foray, and ask the leader to explain the poisonous species to you, but then again, don't expect them to point out all the edibles !

Neil.

No I'm under no illusion I assure I realise that it is only one of many ways to tell some fungi species apart from similar ones not a test to see which are poisonous and which aren't.

(what are the rules about fungi on WAB? with reference to eating etc..)

I have no intention of picking mushrooms to eat any time soon it was just a question which I was curious about and I'd certainly never pick anything from the Amanita family even if some of them are meant to be edible

Thank you for your replies

[FungiJohn]

Originally Posted by CarlUK

No I'm under no illusion I assure I realise that it is only one of many ways to tell some fungi species apart from similar ones not a test to see which are poisonous and which aren't.

(what are the rules about fungi on WAB? with reference to eating etc..)

I have no intention of picking mushrooms to eat any time soon it was just a question which I was curious about and I'd certainly never pick anything from the Amanita family even if some of them are meant to be edible

Thank you for your replies

Hi Carl and welcome to WAB

Our 'important' rule is here:

Is my fungus edible or psychotic requests

Other than that I'm sure you will find us a very useful resource.

John

[CarlUK]

Originally Posted by FungiJohn

Hi Carl and welcome to WAB

Our 'important' rule is here:

Is my fungus edible or psychotic requests

Other than that I'm sure you will find us a very useful resource.

John

Thank you John now I know what I can and can't ask

this pretty much sums it up well though

If you do collect fungi for consumption take three samples:

One for yourself
One for your Doctor
And another for the Coroner

[MattPrince]

Originally Posted by CarlUK

[*]A lot of identifications can only accurately be done by removing and destroying the fruiting body is this not a bad thing?

Going back to this point - more often than not, there are many specimens, and only one (or two, sometimes it pays to have them at different ages) are taken, so this is very rarely an issue.

You can use a mirror to check for characters such as gill attachment and colour without removing the fruiting body if you want to leave things as you find them. With experience you'd be able to get most things to genus, if not to species.

Cheers,
Matt