Amanita Verna - Similar Species

Similar Species

Edible species

Many edible species resembles this mushroom and other amanitas, which is why the consumption of amanitas accounts for 95% of all mushroom fatalities.

The edible mushroom Leucoagaricus leucothites very closely resembles the fool's mushroom. However, Leucoagaricus leucothites lacks a volva, unlike A. verna. Sometimes, the volva of A. verna is hidden under leaf litter or soil, raising the need to dig out rather than cut L.naucina from the ground, so as to prevent misidentification.

Various young edible Agaricus spp. closely resemble A. verna, such as the tasty field mushroom Agaricus campestris, Agaricus silvicola and Agaricus arvensis. While older specimens of these do not resemble A. verna, when these fungus are young, they do resemble A. verna. All of these mushrooms lack volvas, unlike their deadly lookalike.

Amanita caesarea, with its bright orange shade, does not resemble A. verna, while this fungus is in bulb stage, it is also pure white. Amanitas closely resemble each other in bulb stage.

Another group of mushrooms in the Volvariella genus are frequently mistaken for the deadly amanitas. Volvariella volvacea has often been mistaken for deadly amanitas, and most of the time, they are mistaken for a relative of the fool's mushroom, the death cap (Amanita phalloides). Volvariella speciosa looks very similar to the fool's mushroom, but with close examination, one would realise that V.speciosa has salmon gills, while the fool's mushroom has white gills. Like Amanita, Volvariella species have volvas, hence their name.

Amanitopsis vaginata, formerly Amanita vaginata, can be pure white, and thus sometimes looks nearly identical to the fool's mushroom. However, unlike all Amanita species, Amanitopsis species lack rings. However, the ring of A. verna may sometimes be eaten by worms, and thus may be missing.

While in bulb stage, A. verna, as well as its relatives, are commonly mistaken for the edible puffballs, like those form the Lycoperdon or Calvatia species. To prevent confusion, it is important to cut puffballs into half. If there is the outline of Amanita's cap and stem in the 'puffball', the mushroom is an amanita.

The fatal poisoning caused by the fool's mushroom and closely related species makes amateur mushroom hunters avoid any species similar to them, and buy them form a grocer instead. Unless one can truly be sure if the species he or she is digging is edible, one should never pick a similar mushroom.

Poisonous species

Of course, the other pure white amanitas, like the destroying angels (Amanita virosa, Amanita bisporigera, Amanita ocreata) closely resemble Amanita verna. However, unlike Amanita verna, Amanita virosa stains yellow in KOH. Pure white specimens of the death cap also look like the fool's mushroom, and sometimes, Amanita verna is considered a subspecies of Amanita phalloides.

Other toxic species of Agaricus, such as Agaricus xanthodermus, also resemble A. verna. However, Agaricus xanthodermus stains yellow if bruised, gives off a repulsive smell when cooked, and most importantly, lacks a volva.

List of similar species

Agaricus arvensis (Horse Mushroom) : excellent edible

Agaricus campestris (Field mushroom) : excellent edible

Agaricus silvicola (Wood mushroom) : excellent edible

Agaricus xanthodermus (Yellow-staining mushroom) : toxic or at least unpleasant-tasting (varies with consumer)

Amanita bisporigera (Destroying angel) : deadly poisonous

Amanita caesarea (Caesar's Amanita) (bulb stage only) : excellent edible

Amanita ocreata (American destroying angel) : deadly poisonous

Amanita phalloides (death cap) : deadly poisonous

Amanita virosa (European destroying angel) : deadly poisonous

Amanitopsis vaginata (Grisette) : Edible

Calvatia spp. (Giant puffballs) : (bulb stage only) : Mostly edible when young

Leucoagaricus leucothites : Edible and good, but can cause mild poisonings in some individuals

Lycoperdon spp. (Puffballs) : Mostly edible when young

Volvariella speciosa : Edible but not tasty

Volvariella volvacea (Paddy straw mushroom) : Edible and good