Mushroom Identification
Are there poisonous mushrooms in Ontario?
There are several poisonous species in Ontario, and some are deadly. Many edible species have poisonous lookalikes, and it's extremely difficult for an amateur to distinguish between them. The MST recommends very strongly that you don't eat any wild mushroom without the guidance of an experienced mycologist in person.
Is it safe to eat wild mushrooms?
There are several poisonous species in Ontario, and some are deadly. Many edible species have poisonous lookalikes, and it's extremely difficult for an amateur to distinguish between them. The MST recommends very strongly that you don't eat any wild mushroom without the guidance of an experienced mycologist in person.
Can I send a mushroom to the MST for identification?
No, the MST is not equipped to accept specimens by mail or in person. If you're an MST member, bring your specimen along to a meeting, walk or foray for identification.
I found a mushroom, can the MST tell me what it is?
The MST is not equipped to accept specimens by mail or in person. If you're an MST member, bring your specimen along to a meeting, walk or foray for identification.
It's possible to send us photos of your specimen by email, but please read and understand the warnings and instructions below beforehand.
It's very difficult to identify mushrooms only from photographs. Any identification we make from a photo will be tentative, and for reasons of liability the MST can't provide firm identifications.
Eating the wrong mushroom can make you very sick or even cause death, and the MST recommends very strongly that you don't eat any wild mushroom without the guidance of an experienced mycologist in person. The MST accepts no responsibility for any illness or complication resulting from eating a mushroom based on a tentative identification provided from photographs.
If your specimen was found outside Ontario, we won't be able to identify it for you. Species vary greatly between geographic locations and our members are familiar with the species that grow in our area.
If you still want your mushroom identified, please send your photos to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Please include as much of the following information as possible:
- Location (e.g. Guelph)
- Date the specimen was observed
- Habitat (e.g. in grass)
- Species of any nearby trees
- Spore print colour
- Distinctive smells
- Colour changes
Please send photos of the specimen from all angles (showing underneath the cap, the stem etc.) and of the specimen cut in half from top to bottom through the stem. Please make sure the mushroom fills the picture frame - blurry photos taken from eye-level guarantee that we won't be able to help you.
The more information you can provide, the more likely we'll be able to provide a tentative identification of your specimen.
Can I send photos of a mushroom to the MST for identification?
It's possible to send us photos of your specimen by email, but please read and understand the warnings and instructions below beforehand.
It's very difficult to identify mushrooms only from photographs. Any identification we make from a photo will be tentative, and for reasons of liability the MST can't provide firm identifications.
Eating the wrong mushroom can make you very sick or even cause death, and the MST recommends very strongly that you don't eat any wild mushroom without the guidance of an experienced mycologist in person. The MST accepts no responsibility for any illness or complication resulting from eating a mushroom based on a tentative identification provided from photographs.
If your specimen was found outside Ontario, we won't be able to identify it for you. Species vary greatly between geographic locations and our members are familiar with the species that grow in our area.
If you still want your mushroom identified, please send your photos to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Please include as much of the following information as possible:
- Location (e.g. Guelph)
- Date the specimen was observed
- Habitat (e.g. in grass)
- Species of any nearby trees
- Spore print colour
- Distinctive smells
- Colour changes
Please send photos of the specimen from all angles (showing underneath the cap, the stem etc.) and of the specimen cut in half from top to bottom through the stem. Please make sure the mushroom fills the picture frame - blurry photos taken from eye-level guarantee that we won't be able to help you.
The more information you can provide, the more likely we'll be able to provide a tentative identification of your specimen.
Where can I legally pick mushrooms?
Gathering or foraging wild mushrooms on private land with permission is legal. Picking mushrooms in provincial parks is not legal.
Many Conservation Areas, Nature Reserves, County Forests, public parks, etc. prohibit picking of mushrooms and other fungi. Take note of posted signage and, if in any doubt whether picking is allowed, contact the authority which manages the property.
Picking wild edibles on Crown land is considered a transient activity under the free use policy, made under the public lands act. You may harvest mushrooms on Crown land if food gathering is allowed on that land parcel. The Crown land use policy atlas will indicate whether or not food gathering is permitted in a particular parcel of land.
Regardless of where you pick, please make sure that your activities are not negatively affecting the plants or impacting the local environment. Harvesting mushrooms, berries, wild leeks, etc. should be done in a sustainable manner to allow for future harvesting. We suggest taking a small amount for personal use and leaving the rest for growth and for future harvests.
Please be aware that there are several poisonous species in Ontario, and some are deadly. Many edible species have poisonous lookalikes, and it's extremely difficult for an amateur to distinguish between them. The MST recommends very strongly that you don't eat any wild mushroom without the guidance of an experienced mycologist in person.
Is there a recommended field guide or mushroom identification book for Ontario?
The MST recommends Mushrooms of the Northeastern United States and Eastern Canada by Timothy Baroni, available from most booksellers.
Another useful field guide is Mushrooms of the Northeast by Teresa Marrone and Walter Sturgeon.