Galerina

The genus galerina consists of around 300 species of saprophytic mushrooms. The majority of species contain an extremely deadly amatoxin. Unfortunately, the genus is often mistaken for many other mushrooms, such as honey mushrooms and members of the Psilocybe genus. Mushroom hunters must learn how to identify the galerina species to avoid deadly mistakes.

Galerina species are small and fragile, resembling little brown mushrooms with an orange, brown, or yellow cap. They are found from spring to fall and often grow scattered on rotting wood and mossy areas. A main identifying characteristic is that they leave a brown spore print, which usually gives the gills a rusty brown color.