How to avoid being poisoned by mushrooms.
1. Never eat any mushroom that has a cup at the base of the stem. It may be a deadly Amanita.
2. Never eat any mushroom that has a veil that is fine and threadlike. It is a Cortinarius and the veil is called a cortina. There are some edible Cortinarius but you should know the mushrooms very well before you eat them.
3. Never eat more than one species of mushroom for the first time in any one day.
4. Never eat more than a taste of a mushroom the first time you eat it. Wait for at least six hours before eating that mushroom or any other mushroom again.
5. Never assume that just because a friend says that he eats the mushroom that it is safe for you. You may be allergic to that species.
6. Never eat a mushroom that smells bad or is starting to spoil.
7. Never eat any small brown mushroom that you can not identify as to genera and species. It might be a deadly galerina.
8. Never trust any so called test for a poisonous mushroom such as putting a quarter in the pan you are cooking it in and if it turns black the mushroom is poisonous. That just isn’t so.
9. Never overeat any species of mushroom as most mushrooms are rather indigestible and can make you sick even if they are not poisonous.
10. Never eat any mushroom you are not absolutely sure is an edible species.
11. Get a book that tells you how to identify the mushroom species and study it before trying any new mushrooms.
12. Join the New Mexico Mycological Society or some other society in your area and attend the meetings to learn more about mushrooms.
13. Eat the mushrooms that you know are safe and you have previously tried as soon as possible after picking them. Coprinus will turn to black ink within a day and become inedible.
14. If you have more edible mushrooms than you can eat at once then dry them or freeze them as soon as possible to preserve them for another time.
John Rahart and Calvatia Booniana mushroom aka Giant Puffball
This is NOT poisonous but IS over the hill. See item 6 above
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