Deadly galerina vs honey mushroom
- Deadly Galerina
Spore prints differ: honey mushrooms print white, the deadly galerina prints rusty brown. Galerina is also smaller, with a smooth brown cap.
Deadly galerina vs ringless honey mushroom: check the ring and the print
Quick answer
The ringless honey mushroom drops a white spore print and has no ring at any age; the deadly galerina drops a rusty brown print and has a thin ring or ring zone, though it can wear away. The galerina is also much smaller, with a smooth cap, while the ringless honey mushroom forms large clusters with small dark scales at the cap center.
Deadly lookalike
The deadly galerina can be fatal.
Unlike the ringless honey mushroom, the deadly galerina (Galerina marginata) contains amatoxins, the same toxins as the death cap, at similar concentrations, according to the University of British Columbia's Mushrooms Up! guide. Amatoxins stop cells from making proteins by blocking the enzyme RNA polymerase II. The Bay Area Mycological Society records that symptoms usually begin 6 to 24 hours after eating, followed by an apparent recovery and then liver damage from about 72 hours. Cooking does not destroy amatoxins.
If someone has eaten a wild mushroom and feels unwell, or may have eaten one of these, call poison control now: 1-800-222-1222 in the US. Do not wait for symptoms.
Side by side
The tell for each
Deadly
The tellSmall honey-brown caps in clusters on rotting wood, with rusty brown gills, a thin ring on the stem, and a rusty brown spore print.
Edible when well cooked
The tellLarge clusters of dry, honey-brown caps at the base of hardwoods, with no ring on the stem and a white spore print.
How they differ
| Feature | Deadly Galerina | Ringless Honey Mushroom |
|---|---|---|
| Spore print | Deadly GalerinaRusty brown. | Ringless Honey MushroomWhite. |
| Ring | Deadly GalerinaA thin ring or ring zone, sometimes worn away. | Ringless Honey MushroomNone at any age. |
| Cap surface | Deadly GalerinaSmooth and slightly sticky when moist. | Ringless Honey MushroomDry, with small darker scales at the center. |
| Size | Deadly GalerinaCap 0.5 to 1.5 inches (1 to 4 cm); stem thin, usually under 1/4 inch (0.6 cm). | Ringless Honey MushroomCap 1 to 4 inches (3 to 10 cm); stem 3 to 8 inches (8 to 20 cm) tall. |
| Gills | Deadly GalerinaYellowish at first, then rusty brown. | Ringless Honey MushroomWhitish, becoming pinkish to brownish with age. |
| Where it grows | Deadly GalerinaRotting conifer and hardwood logs and stumps, sometimes wood chips or moss over buried wood. | Ringless Honey MushroomLarge fused clusters at the base of hardwoods, especially oaks, and from buried roots in yards. |
FAQ
Common questions
Can a galerina lose its ring?
Yes. Its thin ring or ring zone can disappear with age, so a missing ring does not rule out a galerina.
What color is the ringless honey mushroom's spore print?
White. The deadly galerina prints rusty brown, and the Missouri Department of Conservation lists white spores as the difference between honey mushrooms and the galerina.
Sources
Where these facts come from
- Galerina marginata
MushroomExpert.com
- Armillaria tabescens (ringless honey mushroom)
MushroomExpert.com
- Deadly Galerina
Missouri Department of Conservation
- Amatoxin: The Deadliest of All Mushroom Poisonings
Bay Area Mycological Society
Keep checking
Read both pages in full
- More on the deadly galerina
- More on the ringless honey mushroom
- Not sure it is either? Narrow it down with the identification key
This page states what field guides record. It is not advice to eat, taste or handle anything, and a photo cannot settle edibility. If someone has eaten a wild mushroom that may be toxic, call poison control (1-800-222-1222 in the US) right away, before symptoms start: the deadliest species act hours later.
More comparisons
Honey mushroom vs ringless honey mushroom
The honey mushroom has a ring on its stem and a slightly sticky cap. The ringless honey mushroom has no ring at any age and a dry cap.
Big laughing gym vs deadly galerina
- Toxic: Big Laughing Gym
- Deadly Galerina
Both are rusty-spored clusters on wood. The big laughing gym is large and orange-yellow; the deadly galerina is small and honey-brown, with amatoxins.
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