Re:Fungi Foragers Freaked
by Matticus_Rex on Sunday October 16, 2022 @06:36AM
(#33222617)
I've used the apps for both flora and mushrooms, and they're much worse at mushroom identification. I always tell beginners to, at most, use an app to figure out where in an ID book to start looking.
So to be clear the app didnt say it was edible or makes any recommendations about eating them, it only said it potentially looks like its from a family of mushrooms which the author found out included edible mushrooms.
Technically the person themselves made the leap to calling it edible.
Although it wouldn’t hurt for the flora identification app to have warnings about not eating things unless you’re very certain and have expertise on the subject. Or make it clear it’s a well informed guess not a perfect identification.
Out of curiosity, have you used any of the apps?
They're really good at flora, and include identification of fungi because they are outdoors and attached to soil and flora. They greatly amplify the most passive and casual interest to something far the tools employed professionals would have. Even the state (but thats a low bar, admittedly).
But the identification isn't for eating things. But knowing that people do that, and for mushrooms I would say there is a case for a warning label in the apps, after positive identification of some things.