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About

Galerina marginata is an inconspicuous mushroom that is easy to overlook. However, it is dangerous for those who collect honey fungi: it grows on wood, often in clusters, and contains amatoxins—the same poisons found in the death cap. These toxins destroy the liver and are not neutralized by cooking.

The cap measures 1–6 cm, initially convex, then flat, smooth, ochre-brown, darkening in wet weather and lightening as it dries. The gills are yellowish, later becoming rusty-brown. There is a thin membranous ring on the stem that darkens with age from spores or disappears; below the ring, the stem is covered with silvery fibers. The spore powder is rusty-brown—this is one of the main differences from the honey fungus, which has white spore powder.

The mushroom decomposes rotten wood, mainly coniferous, but can also be found on deciduous: on stumps, logs, branches, often among moss. In the Carpathians, it can be found in spruce and mixed forests. Fruiting bodies appear from spring to late autumn, and in mild winters—even when other mushrooms are absent.

Galerina is confused with the autumn honey fungus, and even more often—with the summer honey fungus, which grows on the same stumps. Distinguishing them without experience is very difficult. Therefore, the safest rule is not to collect small brown mushrooms from wood, especially solitary ones, and to only take large clusters of honey fungi with scales on the cap and a white ring, checking the spore powder.

Where in the Carpathians

The map shows where naturalists recorded the species (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY records), not every place it lives. The Ukrainian Carpathians are less studied, so a blank area does not mean the species is absent.

Countries

Ukraine · Austria · Slovakia · Poland · Hungary

Mountain ranges

Gorgany, Maramureș Mountains, High Tatras, Vihorlat-Gutin Volcanic Ridge, Rivna Polonyna, Slovak Central Mountains

Altitude belts

Foothills (below 600 m) · Beech forests (600–1200 m)

When to see it

From naturalists’ observations in the Carpathians (iNaturalist, research grade): the darker the cell, the more often the species is seen that month.

Safety

Deadly poisonous: contains amatoxins, like the death cap. Symptoms of poisoning appear with a delay. Do not collect small brown mushrooms from wood. In case of any symptoms after consuming mushrooms, call 112 and keep the leftovers of the dish.

Look-alikes — how to tell them apart

Protection and rules

Not protected. It is not advisable to destroy mushrooms in the forest: they are needed by the forest and animals.

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