Mushrooms occupy a strange place in human culture. They are celebrated as delicacies in countless cuisines, prized for their earthy flavors and nutritional value, yet feared for their ability to cause sudden and devastating harm. For centuries, people have relied on mushrooms for food, medicine, and ritual, while at the same time passing down warnings about which varieties must never be eaten. That tension between nourishment and danger still exists today, especially for anyone who encounters wild mushrooms outside of controlled farming environments.