Amanita phalloides (Death Cap)

This fungus is one of the most dangerous of all fungi (deadly poisonous) because of its content in phallatoxins and amatoxins. It occurs summer and autumn under beech, oak or pines.

Amanita phalloides
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The aspect of the fungus is characteristic to the members of Amanita family: it has a volva and a ring on the stem. The cap is olive-green to white, convex when young. The volva usually is buried in the leaf-leatter.

Description: Medium size. Cap averages 7 cm, whitish, darkened centrally by radiating fibres of green (or sometimes yellow). Gills white (differentiating this species from edible mushrooms); free. Flesh white. Stem tallish, white; it usually has a ring but often the veil which forms the ring remains hanging on the cap edge instead; the stem base is surrounded by a marked volva.

Edibility: DEADLY POISONOUS. Eating one cap only can cause death.

Ecology: Occurs in woodland, usually under oak.

Look-alike: May be confused with other members belonging to the Amanita family, therefore we do not recommend consumption of species belonging to this family, even if there are some edible mushrooms (eg. Amanita caesarea). In case of toxicity symptoms appear up to 30 hours after ingestion and include stomach pain, diarrhea,  and vomiting. In such cases urgent medical aid is needed. For instructions when toxicity occurs with this mushrooms check out The Golden Rules of Mushroom Foraging. 

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