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You are here: Home / Science / What is the Difference between Mushrooms and Toadstools and are all Mushrooms Toadstools?

What is the Difference between Mushrooms and Toadstools and are all Mushrooms Toadstools?

August 16, 2020 by Karen Hill

Not all mushrooms are toadstools, only the ones that’ll kill you.

And that’s where the name comes from. The German word for poisonous mushrooms is todesstuhl, meaning “death’s stool.”

English speakers heard “toad stool,” and this botched translation stuck.

Since many mushrooms do resemble little chairs, it wasn’t too hard to imagine little forest toads taking a quick sit-down on one of them on their way through the woods.

Take note, however, there is no clear distinction between mushrooms are toadstools as the terms were never precisely defined.

The word “mushroom” and other variations may have been derived from the French word mousseron in reference to moss.

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Filed Under: Science

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

Previous Post: « What Nutritional Value does a Mushroom have and how are they Good for You?
Next Post: Where can I find a List of Poisonous Plants so I can Grow a Baby and Kid-Safe Garden? »

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