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    Chlorophyllum venenatum

    Chlorophyllum venenatum (Bon) C.Lange & Vellinga · Agaricaceae

    ☠ Poisonous

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    Identification in 5 steps

    Chlorophyllum venenatum
    Photo: MM1994 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Chlorophyllum venenatum is a large parasol of gardens and compost heaps, with a smooth stem without snakeskin pattern and a sharply rimmed bulb. It causes gastrointestinal poisoning.

    SeasonJuly to October
    Spore printwhite
    FamilyAgaricaceae
    1. Cap. The cap is 10 to 20 cm wide, with brown scales on a pale background.
    2. Underside. The gills are white, free and crowded.
    3. Stem, ring and volva. The stem is smooth, whitish and without snakeskin pattern, with a movable ring and a bulb with a sharp, broad rim. There is no sac-like volva.
    4. Smell and taste. Do not taste it.
    5. Flesh and colour change. The flesh turns saffron red when damaged.

    Lookalikes

    Confused with the parasol and shaggy parasols; the boundaries between species are disputed.

    Habitat & Season

    Heavily fertilised, nutrient-rich soils. Low altitudes.

    Host trees

    No tree partner; gardens, compost heaps, greenhouses.

    Season

    possible good main season

    Mushroom regions with a daily forecast

    There are no records per region for this species yet. The country pages lead to all regions with a daily forecast.

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    Safety

    Never eat a mushroom you have not identified with certainty. Poisonous mushroom: do not eat it. If you suspect you ate it, call the poison emergency line immediately.

    Advice for your country

    United Kingdom

    Poison centre:

    NHS 111 (England)111

    Emergency: 999 · 112

    Ireland

    Poison centre:

    National Poisons Information Centre (public line)(01) 809 2166

    Emergency: 112 · 999

    Germany

    Poison centre:

    Giftnotruf Berlin030 19240Giftinformationszentrum München089 19240GIZ-Nord Göttingen0551 19240

    Emergency: 112

    Mushroom advice: DGfM: find a mushroom expert. Certified mushroom experts of the German Mycological Society (DGfM).

    Collecting rules: Mushrooms that are not specially protected may be collected in small quantities for personal use unless a protected area or ban applies. Certain specially protected edible species (e.g. cep, chanterelle, birch bolete) may be collected in small quantities for personal use.

    Austria

    Poison centre:

    Vergiftungsinformationszentrale (VIZ)01 406 43 43

    Emergency: 112 · 144

    Mushroom advice: Austrian Mycological Society (ÖMG): mushroom advice. Mushroom advice by the Austrian Mycological Society or regional services such as municipal market offices.

    Collecting rules: At most 2 kg of mushrooms per person per day unless the forest owner has prohibited collecting; organised collecting events are prohibited. Additional state rules apply (collecting hours, closed seasons), e.g. Carinthia, Tyrol, Vorarlberg, Salzburg.

    Conservation and collecting rules

    Not specially protected.

    Salzburg: collecting poisonous mushrooms is banned.

    Red List Germany: Data deficient

    Poisoning

    ToxinNot known in detail.
    SyndromeGastrointestinal syndrome.
    SymptomsNausea, vomiting, diarrhoea.
    OnsetUsually a few hours.
    What to do now: Call the poison centre immediately (NHS 111, England) and, in case of severe symptoms, the emergency number 999 / 112. Do not induce vomiting and do not give milk or salt water. Keep mushroom remains, trimmings and vomit for identification, and tell everyone who ate with you, as they should also be examined.

    Frequently asked questions

    Chlorophyllum venenatum: Is it edible?

    No, it is poisonous. Confused with the parasol and shaggy parasols; the boundaries between species are disputed. If you suspect poisoning, call the poison centre immediately (numbers for your country below).

    Chlorophyllum venenatum: When and where does it grow?

    In Central Europe the season runs from July to October. Partner and habitat: no tree partner; gardens, compost heaps, greenhouses. Soil: heavily fertilised, nutrient-rich soils. Altitude: low altitudes.

    Chlorophyllum venenatum: What are its lookalikes?

    The most important one to rule out is Chlorophyllum brunneum (poisonous): very similar; can only be separated reliably under the microscope. Other lookalikes: parasol mushroom, green-spored parasol.

    Related species

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    Sources

    Photo credits

    No substitute for having your finds checked in person. No guarantee of accuracy. Updated: 17.10.2026.

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