Green-spored parasol: poisonous

Identification in 5 steps

The green-spored parasol is a large parasol mushroom with an olive-green spore print. It is a common cause of mushroom poisoning and is not edible.

SeasonJuly to October

Spore printolive green

FamilyAgaricaceae

Cap. The cap is 5 to 20 cm wide, pale brown with brown scales.
Underside. The gills are whitish and turn greenish.
Stem, ring and volva. The stem is slender with a movable ring. There is no volva.
Smell and taste. The smell is unremarkable to unpleasant. Never taste it.
Flesh and colour change. The flesh is whitish and does not change colour.

Lookalikes

The most common poisonous look-alike of the parasol mushroom in warm areas; an olive-green spore print is the most reliable feature.

Chlorophyllum venenatum

poisonous

Also poisonous; spore print whitish. Can be told apart safely only under the microscope.

View on the map

Chlorophyllum brunneum

poisonous

Also poisonous; often in gardens. Spore print white.

View on the map

Parasol mushroom Macrolepiota procera

edible

Edible; spore print white, stem with snakeskin pattern.

View on the map

Side by side

	Green-spored parasol	Chlorophyllum venenatum	Chlorophyllum brunneum	Parasol mushroom
Cap	pale brown scaly, 5 to 20 cm	brown scaly	brown scaly, medium-sized	brown scaly, large
Underside	gills turning whitish	whitish gills	whitish gills	white gills
Stem	slender stem, ring	ring on the stem	double ring	snakeskin pattern on the stem
Flesh	whitish	whitish	white	firm
Edibility	Poisonous	poisonous	poisonous	edible

Habitat & Season

Nutrient-rich soils in warm areas. Mainly lower, warmer altitudes.

Host trees

No tree partner; lawns, parks, gardens, verges.

Season

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

possible good main season

Warm summers and autumns.

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.

All mushroom regions →

Safety

Never eat a mushroom you have not identified with certainty. Poisonous mushroom: do not eat it. If you suspect someone has eaten it, call the emergency number and the poison centre 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, except single specimens for identification.

Poisoning

ToxinGastrointestinal toxins, partly heat-stable.

SyndromeGastrointestinal syndrome.

SymptomsNausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhoea, sometimes dizziness.

OnsetUsually within a few hours of the meal.

What to do now: This is an emergency, even if there are no symptoms yet. Go to a hospital immediately or call 999 / 112 and the poison centre (NHS 111, England). Do not wait to see whether symptoms appear, and do not be misled by an apparent improvement. Do not induce vomiting. Keep leftover mushrooms, cleaning scraps and vomit, and tell everyone who shared the meal.

Frequently asked questions

Why is an olive-green spore print important?

In the green-spored parasol it is olive green, in the edible parasol mushroom it is white. Always check the spore print.

Is the species widespread in Central Europe?

Yes, especially in warmer regions and years; it is increasing.

What should I do if I have eaten it?

Call the emergency number and the poison centre immediately.

Related species

Chlorophyllum venenatum Chlorophyllum venenatum
Yellow-stainer Agaricus xanthodermus
Flat-top agaricus Agaricus placomyces
Parasol mushroom Macrolepiota procera
Field mushroom Agaricus campestris
Lawyers' wig Coprinus comatus

Open the mushroom map Mushroom trainer: test yourself

Sources

Photo credits

Photo: Roberto Goldschmidt · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Chlorophyllum venenatum: Photo: MM1994 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Chlorophyllum brunneum: Photo: J.M.Garg · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Parasol mushroom: Photo: Fredy.00 · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

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