If your posting a question that general- dont attempt to pick mushrooms. You eat the wrong shroom, you die. Or you get really, really sick from the poison and end up in the hospital. Its good to have a mushroom handbook, species list, materials to take a spore print, know how to identify gill structures, study bruising patterns, know the mushrooms climate and growing medium, etc. And even with all that, theres still a decent chance you can pick a poisonous shroom. Best to bring an experienced mycologist with you- or else make sure you, really, really know your shit.
the thing about mushrooms is most of them we know nothing about. many have never even been identified. there is no rule of thumb when it comes to differenciating poisonous and edible. mycology is a lifelong study, there are no easy answers if thats what your looking for.
