Imposters - edible fungi with toxic look-alikes

Many edible fungi have look-alikes that are inedible or even poisonous. Of these six pairs of fungi, the upper species in each case is a popular edible mushroom, while below are look-alike inedible fungi some of which are deadly poisonous.

Cantharellus
cibarius

Hygrophoropsis
aurantiaca

Agaricus
silvicola

Agaricus
xanthodermus

Kuehneromyces
mutabilis

Hypholoma
fasciculare

Safety First
It is particularly difficult to identify immature specimens of most fungi with certainty, and so experts advise that only those nearing maturity should be collected for food.