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Fascinating Fungi

 Don't mistake the poisonous Cortinarius Australiensis for an edible horse mushroom.

24/11/2014

5 Comments

 
A. arvensis showing cogwheel
The Horse Mushroom, Agaricus  arvensis  is  a large field-type mushroom that is considered good eating  although it can be a little tough.
 The Poisonous Cortinarius australiensis The Poisonous Cortinarius australiensis can look quite like an edible horse mushroom.
However, in Australia foragers should take care  not to confuse it with the large and poisonous Cortinarius australiensis.  From a distance they look very similar.  

Both are
  •     about the same size
  •     fleshy
  •     have hints of yellow
  •     have a ring
  •     have a pale cream cap which may have fine scales.

How to tell the difference

Picture
 If the mushroom is young start by inspecting the unbroken ring.   The horse mushroom has a kind of cogwheel ring as shown in this photo. This partial veil is distinctive enough but the inner spokes are fine and  web-like like a cortina.

Picture of the unbroken ring of Cortinarius australiensisClose up showing the ring of Cortinarius australiensis to be a cortina
The picture to the left identifies the ring of the actual poisonous mushroom as a rather thick cortina  that extends over the whole cap  from low on the stem.   However, the cortina  threads  are so  thick that they look more like an agaricus veil.

Picture
If the mushroom is older check the colour of the gills.  The gills of the Horse mushroom change from cream to pink to dark brown with age.
Picture


The gills of the poisonous look-alike are  initially very pale mustard and darken to a distinct rust  brown  due to the typical rust coloured spores of Cortinarius mushrooms.   The specimen in this photo shows both a section of newly exposed, pale mustard gills.  Notice in this photo how much the  still attached parts of the cortina looks like  an agaricus ring rather than the usual fine threads a Cortinarius web.  However, the gill colour identifies this mushroom as a Cortinarius.

Differences in the mature mushroom

The photo on the left below shows a mature Cortinarius australiensis mushroom.   Here, the gill colour could be mistaken for those of the horse mushroom pictured on the right.  However, the Cortinarius gills are more rusty  than the Agaricus gills and the real give-away is the distinctly rust coloured spore stain  on the stem of the Cortinarius. Notice also the chiselled shape of the  Cortinarius base.  

The gills of the horse mushroom are chocolate brown even at this fairly early stage.   Notice also how much longer the stem is in the horse mushroom.

Side-view of mature Cortinarius australiensis mushroom
Side view of a mature Cortinarius australiensis mushroom showing rusty spore stains on the stem.
Picture
A maturing horse mushroom showing chocolate brown gills.
In conclusion, if this comparison makes you rather more wary  about any "horse mushroom" you might throw in the  pan, it is probably a good thing. These two species can look very alike.
5 Comments
Mushy
23/8/2018 04:33:53 am

I've been hesitant to try the mushrooms growing in my yard, now I'm certain their horse mushys.
Picking them tonight

Reply
Douglas
11/5/2019 08:03:33 pm

Wonderful clarity in horse mushie vs poisonous one. Thanks Douglas

Reply
Mike Grey link
1/5/2020 02:43:12 pm

Just picked what I believe is horse mushroom as use to pick many when living in highlands (eastern tiers) Tasmania some were 18" inches across with thick pith on top rough crown. If older use to cut this off and use older ones in wallaby stew. Also picked end of autumn paddock mushy's love these pan fried lucky year of 7 weeks. Note in highlands had to beat deer to mushrooms. Now live Exeter Basin near Winkleigh many durasic rocks and native wallaby grass which horses love. One picked today about 5 inches across.Cheers Mike

Reply
Debbie Viess link
30/1/2021 07:35:37 am

I understand that some corts and some known edible species can be quite similar ... but what evidence is there that this particular cort is actually poisonous at all? Have there been documented poisonings, and if so, what were the symptoms!

I am well aware of the truly dangerous corts in section Orellanii, but this is not one of them, and Cortinarius australiensis looks nothing like those species. The only orellanine species in Australia that I know of is found in Tasmania and is called Cortinarius eartoxicus.

Just like we only see orellanine corts in the far north in the northern hemisphere, so do you only see them far to your south.

Reply
Ho Rse Ha Arlem link
8/2/2021 12:59:52 pm

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Reply



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    I am not a mycologist  but have been fascinated by fungi  since childhood  sheep farm forays..   After moving  to the  northern edge of Australia's Otways National park I realised how many more wonderful species there are on  uncultivated  land..   I began photographing and researching and now sharing the ongoing results via FungiOz website and FungiOz app.  Fungi identification via field characteristics alone is tentative as are any suggested identifications in FungiOz app and website.

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