Red mushrooms are highly fascinating due to their bright colors and unique shapes. These species sometimes sprout in lawns from seemingly nowhere and create beautiful clusters of red and orange hues.
Despite their striking appearance, only some varieties of red mushrooms are edible species, while others are among the most poisonous mushrooms you should definitely avoid. So, how can you differentiate between the two types of red mushrooms?
The line between poisonous and edible mushrooms is often thin because they all look similar to the untrained eye. This is why you must get your facts straight before consuming any red mushroom!
Caution: We highly advise you to accompany an experienced mushroom hunter to learn how to identify wild mushrooms for consumption. A spore print is sometimes the only way to be certain of a mushroom type, even for experienced mushroom aficionados
Red mushrooms are a fascinating group of fungi that stand out in the forest with their vivid red colors. These mushrooms come in various shades of red, from bright cherry red to deep crimson and many have unique shapes as well. While some red mushroom species are edible others are toxic, so proper identification is essential before consuming them. This article provides an in-depth look at these eye-catching fungi – their key features, habitat, edibility, and cultural significance.
What Makes Mushrooms Red?
The red color in mushrooms is produced by pigments called carotenoids. These pigments absorb certain wavelengths of light and reflect red wavelengths, giving the mushrooms their characteristic color. The same pigments are responsible for the red colors found in carrots, tomatoes, and other red vegetables and fruits. The depth of red in a mushroom depends on the type and concentration of carotenoids present. Environment and age also play a role, with some mushrooms becoming paler as they get older.
Where Red Mushrooms Are Found
Red mushrooms thrive in damp, shaded forests and wooded areas, especially under conifers and hardwood trees. They favor acidic soils rich in organic matter. In North America, red chanterelles and scarlet elf cups emerge in the summer and fall in eastern broadleaf forests, while fly agarics pop up in the Pacific Northwest’s conifer forests. Ox tongue and red chanterelle mushrooms fruit abundantly in Europe’s mixed forests. Backyards and lawns occasionally produce red mushrooms if conditions are right.
Common Types of Red Mushrooms
Fly Agaric
The fly agaric (Amanita muscaria) is the classic red mushroom with white spots. Toxic but used ritually in some cultures, it has a hallucinogenic compound.
Red Chanterelle
Cantharellus cinnabarinus have funnel-shaped red caps and false gills They’re edible with a mild flavor
Scarlet Elf Cup
Sarcoscypha coccinea are tiny red cups on sticks growing on buried wood. Though edible, they’re too small for eating.
Ox Tongue
Fistulina hepatica are large, tongue-shaped mushrooms growing on trees. They’re edible with a meaty texture.
Basket Stinkhorn
Clathrus ruber has a latticed ball shape and putrid smell. It grows in wood mulch.
Sickener Russula
Russula emetica is toxic and causes vomiting. It has a red cap and white gills and stem.
Scarlet Waxcap
Hygrocybe coccinea is all red with gills and stems. It fruits in coniferous forests.
Edibility and Toxicity
While a few red mushroom species like ox tongue and red chanterelle are choice edibles, most red fungi are unpalatable or toxic. The sickener russula and fly agaric cause gastric distress. Deadly poisonous red mushrooms include the devil’s bolete, the fool’s mushroom, and red-staining inocybe. It’s vital to correctly identify any wild mushrooms before eating them. Red color alone doesn’t signify edibility. When in doubt, it’s best to avoid consuming red mushrooms found in the wild.
Cultural Symbolism
The fly agaric’s recognizable looks have woven it into folklore worldwide. In Scandinavia, it was associated with magic and the Norse god Odin. Siberian shamans reportedly consumed it ritually. Its white-spotted red cap probably inspired the mushrooms in Nintendo’s Super Mario games and Alice in Wonderland. The fly agaric remains one of the most iconic mushrooms. Garden gnomes and fairy tales still use it to represent magic and whimsy today.
From the fairy tale fly agaric to the delicious red chanterelle, red mushrooms are diverse in appearance, habitat, edibility, and cultural meanings. While their scarlet colors attract attention, proper identification is necessary to avoid poisoning, especially when foraging. With caution and care, red mushrooms can be appreciated as fascinating examples of nature’s palette – and occasionally end up on the dinner table as well.
The 2 Sides of Amanita
The Amanita muscaria is being studied for its potential health benefits. It appears to support a healthy inflammation response [5], for example. It has also piqued the interest of humans throughout history for its psychedelic properties [6,7].
Interestingly, these types of red-capped mushrooms are considered to be both edible and toxic because the euphoric substances they contain also double as toxins. Amanita muscaria ingestion can be poisonous to humans when consumed in large quantities.
The mushroom poisoning symptoms appear very soon after consumption. Symptoms can include dizziness, disorientation, convulsions, fainting, abdominal discomfort, vomiting, dysentery, and profuse sweating.
These effects vary greatly from one person to another based on the amount of the Amanita muscaria taken and the potency in different samples.
Botanical Note: The bright red cap of Amanita muscaria is due to the presence of pigments that may also act as a deterrent to predators.
3 – Fly Agaric: Psychotropic and Toxic
The Amanita muscaria is one of the most common types of red-capped wild mushrooms. It’s sometimes referred to as the fly agaric. It’s extremely easy to identify because of its prominent red cap with white flecks.
The Amanita muscaria has a large, glossy, vividly red cap held up by a long white cylinder-shaped stalk. This particular species of red mushroom is the inspiration behind the signature mushroom in popular media, from the Super Mario video game to classic fairy stories.
At first, this mushroom’s crown resembles a white egg when it pops up from the ground. It then gradually assumes a hemispherical shape and turns yellow or orange before finally turning red.
This species of red mushroom becomes wider as it grows, eventually reaching a diameter of up to eight inches. Its surface becomes covered in irregular white spots that resemble warts. These spots are simply the remnants of the white, spikey, egg-like “shell” the mushroom emerges from.
Watch the video below to see a timelapse of Amanita muscaria growing and emerging from its “shell.”A timelapse of Fly Agaric growing.
Amanita Muscaria vs Psilocybin Mushrooms: What’s the Difference?
FAQ
Are red mushrooms OK to eat?
Red russula (russula emetica, latin for vomiting Russula) is called that because that’s what it’ll do to you when you eat it raw. It’s perfectly safe when boiled or pickled. Just not very tasty. There are poisonous members of the russula family though.
Are red morel mushrooms safe to eat?
“Remember, like all wild fungi, morels should be cooked thoroughly. Morels, in particular, must never be served raw. Raw morels contain toxins that will sicken almost everyone. Thorough cooking rids them of these toxins and makes them perfectly safe for almost everybody.
Are Amanita mushrooms legal?
It is federally prohibited in food or diatery supplements. Amanita mushroom is not included in the list of prohibited substances. Amanita mushrooms are not included in the list of prohibited substances. However, they are illegal to be sold for human consumption.
What are red mushrooms?
Red mushrooms can seem to appear in your backyard or lawn from nowhere. These red-colored fungi can grow overnight, creating small clusters of dark orange, deep red, or bright red spongy growths. And red mushrooms or toadstools are some of the most fascinating fungi due to their striking red colors and unusual shapes.
What are reishi mushrooms?
The reishi mushroom is a fungus with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory properties and that contribute to cardiovascular and immune health. However, the evidence is still inconclusive about its benefits.
Where do red mushrooms grow?
Some species can be found growing on decaying wood (fallen branches and rotting tree stumps) while others find their habitat in high-elevation alpine and subalpine areas. Red Mushrooms are found everywhere around the world from Australia, Asia, Africa, Europe, South America to North America.
Why are red mushrooms so popular?
Red mushrooms are highly fascinating due to their bright colors and unique shapes. These species sometimes sprout in lawns from seemingly nowhere and create beautiful clusters of red and orange hues. “Nature alone is antique, and the oldest art is a mushroom.”
What does a red mushroom look like?
A red mushroom in the shape of a star is the unusual starfish or sea anemone fungus. Like all types of stinkhorn mushrooms, this red species emerges as a white knobby egg. First, a pinkish-white stem appears, and then the top develops into red, pink, or orange-colored tentacle-like spongy arms.
What is a red capped wild mushroom?
The Amanita muscaria is one of the most common types of red-capped wild mushrooms. It’s sometimes referred to as the fly agaric. It’s extremely easy to identify because of its prominent red cap with white flecks. The Amanita muscaria has a large, glossy, vividly red cap held up by a long white cylinder-shaped stalk.