Setúbal Mushroom Species Guide
Three ecosystems — three sets of mushrooms
The Setúbal Peninsula is unique in that three contrasting ecosystems coexist within a small area, each with its own set of fungi:
- Serra da Arrábida — limestone oak forests (alkaline soils)
- Pine forests and dunes — coastline and Tróia (acidic sandy soils)
- Sado Estuary — wetlands and meadows
Knowing the ecosystem is key to identification. Finding Suillus in a pine forest makes sense. Finding it under an oak is reason to doubt your identification.
Edible species by ecosystem
Arrábida limestone forests
| Species | Season | How to recognise | Look-alikes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caesar’s mushroom (A. caesarea) | Summer–autumn | Orange cap, yellow gills and stem, white volva | Fly agaric (red cap, white gills) |
| Chanterelle (C. cibarius) | Autumn | Yellow funnel, false gills (ridges) | Jack-o’-lantern (toxic! — true gills, bioluminescent) |
| Bronze bolete (B. aereus) | Summer–autumn | Dark brown velvety cap, white reticulation on stem | Bitter bolete (Tylopilus felleus) — bitter taste |
| Horn of plenty (C. cornucopioides) | Autumn | Black funnel, smooth outer surface | No dangerous look-alikes |
| Russula spp. | Autumn | Brittle, colourful caps | Many species; bitter/peppery ones inedible |
Pine forests (coast, Tróia)
| Species | Season | How to recognise | Look-alikes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saffron milk cap (L. deliciosus) | Autumn–winter | Orange, green stains, orange latex | L. torminosus (white latex, toxic) |
| Suillus collinitus | Autumn | Brown slimy cap, fine-pored hymenophore | Other Suillus — all edible but bland |
| Slippery jack (S. luteus) | Autumn | Slimy cap, ring on stem | Other Suillus |
| Boletus pinophilus | Autumn | Reddish-brown cap, thick reticulated stem | Bitter bolete (T. felleus) |
| Parasol mushroom (M. procera) | Autumn | Tall (up to 40 cm), movable ring, scaly cap | Chlorophyllum molybdites (toxic! — greenish spores) |
Meadows and edges
| Species | Season | How to recognise | Look-alikes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Field mushroom (A. campestris) | Autumn | Pink→brown gills, ring, no volva | Death cap (deadly! — white gills, volva) |
| Parasol mushroom (M. procera) | Autumn | See above | See above |
Spring species (February–May)
| Species | Where to look | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Amanita ponderosa (silarca) | Oak groves (montado) | “White gold” of the Alentejo; spring fruiting |
| Terfezia arenaria | Sandy areas with Tuberaria guttata | Subterranean; look for soil cracks |
| Morel (Morchella esculenta) | Warm edges | Honeycomb cap |
Dangerous species of the region
Deadly species are found in all ecosystems of the peninsula. Never collect mushrooms you cannot identify with 100% certainty.
Deadly
| Species | Where | Season | Confusion risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Death cap (A. phalloides) | Oak forests | Autumn | With field mushrooms, greenling |
| Deadly webcap (C. orellanus) | Oak forests | Autumn | With other webcaps |
Toxic
| Species | Where | Season | Confusion risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fly agaric (A. muscaria) | Pine and oak forests | Autumn | Young specimens with A. caesarea |
| Panther cap (A. pantherina) | Pine forests | Autumn | With grey edible Amanita |
| Livid pinkgill (E. sinuatum) | Oak forests | Autumn | With clitocybes |
| Jack-o’-lantern (O. olearius) | At oak bases | Autumn | With chanterelles |
Conditionally edible (exercise caution)
| Species | Where | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow knight (T. equestre) [DISPUTED] | Pine forests | Cases of rhabdomyolysis; not recommended |
| Morel (M. esculenta) | Edges | Only after thorough cooking |
| Honey fungus (A. mellea) | Broadleaf forests | Only after boiling |
Seasonal calendar for Setúbal
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
░░░ ▓▓▓ ▓▓▓ ▓▓▓ ░░░ ··· ··· ··· ░░░ ▓▓▓ ▓▓▓ ▓▓▓ Saffron milk cap
··· ··· ··· ··· ··· ··· ··· ··· ··· ▓▓▓ ▓▓▓ ░░░ Bronze bolete
··· ··· ··· ··· ··· ··· ░░░ ▓▓▓ ▓▓▓ ▓▓▓ ░░░ ··· Caesar's mushroom
··· ··· ··· ··· ··· ··· ··· ··· ··· ▓▓▓ ▓▓▓ ░░░ Chanterelle
··· ··· ··· ··· ··· ··· ··· ··· ··· ▓▓▓ ▓▓▓ ▓▓▓ Slippery jacks
··· ▓▓▓ ▓▓▓ ▓▓▓ ··· ··· ··· ··· ··· ··· ··· ··· Silarca
··· ▓▓▓ ▓▓▓ ▓▓▓ ▓▓▓ ··· ··· ··· ··· ··· ··· ··· Terfezia
▓▓▓ = peak season ░░░ = possible ··· = noMore details: Seasonal calendar
Safety rules
- Never eat a mushroom you cannot identify with 100% certainty
- Learn the death cap (Amanita phalloides) — it grows here and it kills
- One unknown mushroom in your basket can contaminate everything
- Young mushrooms (Amanita “eggs”) are impossible to identify — leave them
- Show your harvest to an experienced mycologist or cross-check with multiple field guides
More: Basic safety rules, Dangerous look-alikes
Sources
- Rinaldi A.C. et al. — Ectomycorrhizal fungal diversity // Plant Biosystems, 2008
- Águeda B. et al. — ECM fungi of Pinus pinaster // PMC, 2013
- CCRES — Cogumelos silvestres em Portugal
- BioDiversity4All — Checklist de Parque Natural da Arrábida
- Museu Virtual de Biodiversidade — Universidade de Évora
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