Mushrooms are sprouting across Las Cruces and New Mexico State University, thanks in large part to recent rains and warm temperatures. While the flourishing fungi may look like harmless mushrooms you might buy at a grocery story, but they’re anything but, says one NMSU researcher, who is warning humans and animals alike not to pick or eat them.
The mushrooms are members of a fungal group called Chlorophyllum molybdites, also known as false parasol, said Soum Sanogo, a professor in NMSU’s Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Weed Science in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. False parasol commonly grows in southern New Mexico and other regions in the United States, including the Southwest, during the fall as the season transitions from summer to winter.
“These mushrooms are harmful to people when consumed,” Sanogo said. “These are not the typical death-causing mushrooms, but when consumed they can ‘teach you a lesson’ as they may cause symptoms that include perspiration, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea.”
He added, “If a significant ingestion occurs, especially if one is experiencing symptoms, it may be advisable to go to the emergency room for examination and possible treatment.”
People may be tempted to eat false parasol, Sanogo said, because it can resemble a button mushroom at its early stages. But as these mushrooms mature, the underside of the cap turns greenish color, a unique identifier for false parasol.
“Many types of mushrooms appear in the autumn,” Sanogo said. “It is important for people to refrain from consuming any mushrooms they find in their backyards, parks or along hiking trails. Mushrooms do play an essential role in our environment as recyclers and as contributors to soil health.”
In addition, false parasol can be harmful to animals. Sanogo advises pet owners to remove and dispose of the mushrooms to prevent ingestion.
Still, Sanogo said it is fine to let the mushrooms grow as they will eventually die off. He and staff members in his research program are collecting the mushrooms to evaluate their potential in combating plant pathogens that affect crops in New Mexico.
For more information, contact Sanogo at ssanogo@nmsu.edu.
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Cutline: A New Mexico State University researcher is warning against mushrooms growing around Las Cruces and on the main campus. (NMSU photo)