Comparison
Parasol mushroom or shaggy parasol? How to tell them apart
Parasol mushroom is an edible mushroom, while the shaggy parasol is a poisonous mushroom. Compare the two mushrooms point by point.
The shaggy parasol has flesh that turns red/brown when cut (especially in the stem), a smooth stem without a zigzag pattern and coarser, raised scales; it does not smell like the parasol. In some people it causes gastrointestinal illness.
The parasol has a zigzag pattern on the stem, flesh that does not change colour when cut, finer, flattened scales and a distinct sweetish-nutty smell. The mistake the other way round (shaggy parasol instead of parasol) happens very often.
Feature by feature
| Feature | Parasol mushroom | Shaggy parasol |
|---|---|---|
| Edibility | Edible | Poisonous |
| Cap | Large, 10–30 cm across, egg-shaped when young (a “drumstick”), then parasol-shaped with a central umbo; whitish with large, brown, raised scales, the centre uniformly brown. | 8–15 cm, globose when young, then convex to parasol-shaped, usually without a distinct umbo; grey-brown, covered with coarse, overlapping (shingled), raised, woolly scales, the centre smooth. |
| Under the cap | Gills white or cream, crowded, broad, free – clearly separated from the stem. | Gills white, crowded, free; turn red when pressed, brownish with age. |
| Stem | Tall (15–40 cm), slender, with a bulb at the base; covered with a brown zigzag (“snakeskin”) pattern; a thick, double ring that can be slid along the stem. No volva. | Up to 15 cm, smooth, whitish to brown, without a zigzag pattern; a distinct bulb at the base; ring double, thick, movable. The base quickly turns brownish-red when rubbed. |
| Flesh | White, soft in the cap, fibrous in the stem; does not change colour when cut. | White; when cut first yellow-orange, then brownish-red, especially in the stem. |
| Smell and taste | Smell pleasant, sweetish-aromatic, nutty; taste mild. | Smell indistinct or faint (without the sweetish aroma of the parasol); taste mild. |
| Habitat | Saprotrophic; edges of broadleaf and coniferous forests, glades, clearings, meadows, parks, roadsides. Avoids acidic and waterlogged soils, likes calcium-rich clay soils. | Saprotrophic; coniferous forests (under pine and spruce), mixed and broadleaf forests, forest glades, forest edges, parks, scrub. |
| Season | July, August, September, October | July, August, September, October |
How to recognise it: parasol mushroom
- Cap usually over 10 cm, with brown scales on a pale background and a dark umbo
- Stem with a brown zigzag pattern and a bulb, but no volva
- Ring thick, double, movable – it can be slid along the stem
- Flesh does not turn red when cut
- Spore print white
How to recognise it: shaggy parasol
- Flesh turns red when cut, then brown
- Stem smooth, without the parasol's snakeskin pattern
- Coarse, raised scales on the cap
- Distinct bulb at the stem base and a movable ring
Safety rule
Never eat a mushroom identified only from a website, a photo or an app. Show any doubtful specimen to a certified mushroom inspector at the sanepid (state sanitary inspection); in season the advice points are free. Do not give wild-picked mushrooms to children.
The golden rules of foraging →Frequently asked questions
Parasol mushroom or shaggy parasol: how can you tell them apart?
The shaggy parasol has flesh that turns red/brown when cut (especially in the stem), a smooth stem without a zigzag pattern and coarser, raised scales; it does not smell like the parasol. In some people it causes gastrointestinal illness. The parasol has a zigzag pattern on the stem, flesh that does not change colour when cut, finer, flattened scales and a distinct sweetish-nutty smell. The mistake the other way round (shaggy parasol instead of parasol) happens very often.
Shaggy parasol: what to do if you have eaten it?
Call 112 at once or go to A&E (SOR), and take any leftover mushrooms with you. The responsible substance is not identified in the sources; in some people a gastrointestinal syndrome (nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea).
Sources
- Wikipedia (pl): Czubajka kania
- grzyby.pl (M. Snowarski): Macrolepiota procera
- First Nature: Macrolepiota procera, Parasol
- Wikipedia (pl): Czubajnik czerwieniejący
- grzyby.pl (M. Snowarski): Chlorophyllum rhacodes
- First Nature: Chlorophyllum rhacodes, Shaggy Parasol
Last checked: 9 November 2026. Spotted a mistake? Write to us.