Poisonous mushrooms
Poisonous mushroom varieties also grow in the wild in Finland.
Therefore, it’s important to collect mushrooms for consumption only if
you definitely recognize them as edible species. Some of the most
common, most toxic mushrooms include the destroying angel, fly agaric,
deadly webcap, brown roll-rim and funeral bell.
Always pick mushrooms with their “roots”, since the shape of the base is
an important distinguishing characteristic. A bulbous, onion-like base
hidden below the ground is a typical feature of Amanita spp. mushrooms.
Destroying angel (Amanita virosa) +++
This medium-sized mushroom is white all over. It is egg-shaped as it
emerges from the ground and may closely resemble edible Agaricus spp.
white mushrooms. The cap then broadens, and old specimens may become
slightly yellow at the centre. The gills are pure white. The stem is
long and has a wide, hanging ring near the top. The mushroom has the
typical Amanita spp. feature: the underground portion of the stem is
thick and bulbous. The destroying angel grows individually or in groups
in spruce-dominated heath forests. It is very common in southern and
central Finland. It damages the liver and kidneys and is lethally
poisonous, so it's advisable to avoid white mushrooms altogether when
collecting mushrooms to eat.
Fly agaric (Amanita muscaria) ++
The cap of the fly agaric is red and initially has a globular shape that later flattens out. There are white spots on the cap surface, possibly absent from some specimens. The gills are yellowish white and the flesh is white. The white stem has a hanging ring with a jagged edge, and an onion-like bulb at the base. The fly agaric is common throughout Finland. Despite its attractive appearance, it is poisonous. It contains toxic compounds that affect the nervous system in particular.
Deadly webcap (Cortinarius rubellus) +++
The deadly webcap is a medium-sized mushroom, brown throughout with a
matte surface. The cap is conical at first and broadens with age. The
cap is cinnamon brown with a distinct hump in the middle. The gills are
brown and wide-
ly spaced. There are fragmented zones of yellow on the brown surface of
the long, slender stem. The deadly webcap is found in mossy coniferous
forests, particularly in southern and central Finland. It is lethally
poisonous, so avoid collect-ing mushrooms with brown gills for
consumption.
Brown roll-rim (Paxillus involutus) ++
The brown roll-rim is a flat mushroom that becomes funnel-shaped with
age. The cap is felted and leather-brown with a slight hump in the
middle. The edges of the cap are prominently curled in. The gills are
decurrent, light-coloured when young and rusty yellow when older, and
darken where touched. They easily separate from the cap. The stem, of
the same shade of brown as the cap, often narrows toward the base. The
brown roll-rim is common in many types of habitat throughout Finland.
Funeral bell (Galerina marginata) ++