Death by Spring Mushrooms

A recent episode of mushroom poisoning is related to trees

As spring begins, we will have several stories in the next few days about what spring means for trees and for us. We begin with a very dangerous mushroom.

As you walk through a woods in very early spring, you may not see wildflowers quite yet, but you are likely to see mushrooms. Some mushrooms are bright and colorful, but the majority are rather drab, brown to pale white. Many of them look similar to one another. It takes considerable training and experience to discern whether a mushroom is delectable, flavorless, or toxic.

We have complex relationships with mushrooms. Many of us only know them as food from the grocery store or on top of a pizza. Or we may appreciate the beautiful mushrooms we see on our walks, including some with vivid colors. A few of us may forage for edible wild mushrooms and cook with them. In recent months, some foragers have collected the wrong mushrooms, resulting in several deaths among those who at them. Let’s find out what happened here and provide some cautions.