Folk signs, “allowing to identify poisonous mushrooms”, are based on various misconceptions and do not allow us to judge the danger of mushrooms:
* Poisonous mushrooms have an unpleasant smell, while edible mushrooms have a pleasant smell (the smell of pale toadstool is almost identical to the smell of mushrooms, although according to some, pale toadstool has no smell at all)
* “Worms” (insect larvae) are not found in poisonous mushrooms (misconception)
* All mushrooms are edible when young (pale toadstool is deadly poisonous at any age)
* Silver objects turn black in a poisonous mushroom decoction (delusion)
* An onion or garlic head turns brown when boiled with poisonous mushrooms (misconception)
* Poisonous mushrooms cause sour milk (delusion)