Emma Wilson
The UK is home to a variety of deadly mushrooms, with sinister names such as deathcap, destroying angel, and funeral bell. While mushrooms might be beautiful to look at, they should never be touched or eaten unless you are absolutely certain they are not poisonous. Even half a cap of some deadly mushrooms is enough to kill an adult human. So, which deadly mushrooms should you be aware of in the UK, and how can you identify them?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of deadly mushrooms in the UK | At least 10 |
| Deadliest mushroom | Deathcap |
| Most toxic mushroom | Deathcap |
| Mushroom causing most fatal mushroom poisonings worldwide | Deathcap |
| Mushroom causing most recorded fatalities in the UK | Deathcap |
| Mushroom with the highest number of historical figures believed to have fallen victim to its poisoning | Deathcap |
| Mushroom with the highest number of toxins | Deathcap |
| Mushroom with the most dangerous toxin | Deathcap |
| Mushrooms with the same toxin as Deathcap | Destroying Angel, Fool's Conecap |
| Mushroom with the second-highest number of toxins | Deadly Webcap |
| Mushroom causing fatal poisoning in Japan | Angel's Wings |
| Mushroom with the second-deadliest toxin | Destroying Angel |
| Mushroom with the third-deadliest toxin | Deadly Fibrecap |
| Mushroom with the fourth-deadliest toxin | Fool's Funnel |
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What You'll Learn
- Deathcap: the world's most toxic mushroom, responsible for most fatal mushroom poisonings
- Destroying Angel: a pure white mushroom found in broadleaved and birch woodland
- Deadly Webcap: similar to Fool's Webcap, this mushroom contains a long-lasting poison
- Fool's Conecap: contains the same toxin as deathcap mushrooms and grows in leaf litter and rotting wood
- Angel's Wings: once considered edible, but recent reports have linked consumption to serious health risks
Deathcap: the world's most toxic mushroom, responsible for most fatal mushroom poisonings
While there are several types of deadly mushrooms in the UK, the Deathcap (Amanita phalloides) is considered the world's most toxic mushroom and is responsible for most fatal mushroom poisonings worldwide.
Deathcaps are fairly common in most parts of the UK, Ireland, and mainland Europe. They grow in mixed deciduous woods, often in widely spaced groups, particularly under oak and beech trees. They can be identified by their shiny olive-yellow to greenish-bronze cap, which is 5–15 cm in diameter. The cap is initially dome-shaped but flattens as the mushroom matures, and it is darker in the middle with faint radiating fibres that give it a streaked appearance. The gills are broad and pure white, turning cream or slightly pink as they age. The stem is off-white and can grow up to 15 cm tall. While the mushroom smells sickly sweet and rancid when old, it is virtually odourless at the button stage.
Deathcaps contain the poison amanitin, which causes liver and kidney failure. They are responsible for 90% of deaths by fungus, and even half a cap or less is enough to kill an adult. There is no known antidote for Deathcap poisoning, and treatment requires immediate medical intervention, including hospitalization and, in some cases, liver transplantation.
Other deadly mushrooms in the UK include the Destroying Angel, Deadly Webcap, Fool's Webcap, and Fool's Conecap, which contains the same toxin as Deathcaps. These mushrooms can be easily confused with edible varieties, so it is important to exercise extreme caution when foraging for wild mushrooms.
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Destroying Angel: a pure white mushroom found in broadleaved and birch woodland
In the UK, there are several species of deadly mushrooms, including the sinister-sounding deathcap, destroying angel, and funeral bell. One of these deadly mushrooms, the destroying angel, is a pure white mushroom found in broadleaved and birch woodland.
The destroying angel (Amanita virosa in Europe and A. bisporigera and A. ocreata in North America) is a deadly poisonous mushroom that grows on the ground in broadleaved and mixed woodland, especially birch woodland. It is characterised by its pure white appearance, with a stem ranging from 7-12cm and a cap width of 4-8cm. The shape of the cap changes as the mushroom matures, and it can be bell-shaped, egg-shaped, or flat. It is often mistaken for the false deathcap (Amanita citrina), which has a yellow tinge to its cap and a sharp smell.
The destroying angel is one of the most toxic mushrooms known, containing amatoxins that can cause liver failure and even death. It is important to know how to recognise both the death cap and the destroying angel before consuming any wild mushrooms, as they can be mistaken for edible fungi such as button mushrooms, meadow mushrooms, or horse mushrooms. Young destroying angels that are still enclosed in their universal veils can also be mistaken for puffballs, but they can be identified by slicing them in half longitudinally to reveal internal mushroom structures.
Destroying angels, like most Amanita species, form ectomycorrhizal relationships with the roots of certain trees, which is why they are often found in woodlands. They can also be found on lawns or grassy meadows near trees or shrubs. While they are rare, destroying angels are deadly poisonous mushrooms that should be avoided.
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Deadly Webcap: similar to Fool's Webcap, this mushroom contains a long-lasting poison
The Deadly Webcap (Cortinarius rubellus) is a gilled mushroom native to northern Europe. It has a reddish-brown to orange cap that is 2.5–8 cm in width and a stem that can be orange, red, or brown and up to 6–8 cm tall. It is often found in coniferous pine and spruce woods, growing on the ground among heather and bilberry.
The Deadly Webcap is similar in appearance to the Fool's Webcap (Cortinarius orellanus), and both are similar to many edible mushrooms, including the chanterelle and the blusher. This has led to many incidents of mushroom poisoning, including one in 2008 when English author Nicholas Evans mistakenly served these mushrooms to his relatives, resulting in four of them requiring kidney transplants.
The Deadly Webcap and the Fool's Webcap contain the toxin orellanine, which causes a long-lasting poison with a latency period of 2–3 days before the first symptoms appear, and in some cases, symptoms may not appear for up to 3 weeks. The initial symptoms are similar to the common flu, including nausea, vomiting, stomach pains, and headaches. These are followed by early signs of kidney failure, such as increased thirst, frequent urination, and pain in and around the kidneys. Eventually, urine output decreases or stops altogether, leading to death if left untreated. There is currently no known antidote for orellanine poisoning, but early hospitalization and treatment can prevent serious injury and death.
It is important to note that the Cortinarius genus, to which both the Deadly Webcap and the Fool's Webcap belong, is notoriously difficult to identify, and many species within this genus are highly toxic. As a result, experts advise against consuming any Cortinarius mushrooms to avoid the severe consequences of mistaken identification.
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Fool's Conecap: contains the same toxin as deathcap mushrooms and grows in leaf litter and rotting wood
In the UK, there are several deadly mushrooms to watch out for. These include the sinister-sounding deathcap, destroying angel, and funeral bell. The deathcap, for instance, is considered the world's most toxic mushroom and is responsible for most fatal mushroom poisonings worldwide.
One such deadly fungus is the Fools Conecap, which contains the same toxin as deathcap mushrooms: alpha-amanitin. This toxin causes liver and kidney failure. Fools Conecap has a shiny, smooth brown cap, about 1 cm in width, and a stem that tends to be 1-3.5 cm tall. It starts with a conical shape, flattening as it expands. The gills are a rusty brown colour, and it has a stem ring.
Fools Conecap mushrooms can be found growing in leaf litter, rotting woodchip piles, sawdust, rich soil, and compost. They are uncommon but widespread and tend to fruit in the autumn. They are saprotrophic fungi, meaning they derive their nutrients from decomposing organic matter rather than living hosts.
Fools Conecaps can be confused with the common conecap (Conocybe tenera), which is found on lawns and grassy areas and lacks a stem ring. The common conecap is also poisonous and has been known to contain the same toxin as deathcaps. It is easily overlooked, looking like other little brown mushrooms, but it is extremely dangerous.
It is important to be able to identify these deadly mushrooms, especially as they can be found in people's gardens. However, it is also advised not to touch or pick mushrooms, as it was once believed that toxins could enter the body through the skin.
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Angel's Wings: once considered edible, but recent reports have linked consumption to serious health risks
Angel's Wings (Pleurocybella porrigens) is a species of fungus in the family Phyllotopsidaceae. Its medium-sized fruit bodies are whitish and fan-shaped, with a width of 4–9 centimetres. The flesh has a faint but pleasant smell. Angel's Wings are distinguished by their pure white colour when young, sometimes yellowing with age. They are wood-decay fungi found on conifer wood and are widespread in temperate forests of the Northern Hemisphere.
Angel's Wings have been widely consumed as a delicacy, especially in Japan, where they are known as sugihiratake. However, their edibility has been questioned due to the presence of an amino acid that can lead to the formation of pleurocybellaziridine, a toxic substance. While no cases of illness or death from Angel's Wings have been reported in North America, there have been fatal intoxications in Japan linked to this mushroom. As a result, the Japanese Ministry of Health has issued a warning against consuming Angel's Wings.
Angel's Wings are a subject of controversy in the mushroom world. Older foraging guides listed them as edible, but more recent guides now classify them as poisonous. The change in classification from edible to deadly occurred within a short period, leaving many confused. Some speculate that the poisoning cases may have resulted from a rare bacterial infection or the consumption of a different, highly toxic mushroom species. Others suggest that cooking methods or consuming large amounts may play a role in the toxicity.
It is important to exercise caution when encountering Angel's Wings mushrooms. While they may have been consumed safely in the past, recent reports of serious health risks, including fatalities, are concerning. It is advisable to avoid consuming any mushrooms that you are unsure about, especially those with potential toxic properties like Angel's Wings.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several species of deadly mushrooms in the UK. Some of the most common ones include Death Cap, Destroying Angel, Funeral Bell, Deadly Webcap, and Fool's Conecap.
The Death Cap mushroom has a shiny olive-yellow to greenish-bronze cap that is 5-15 cm in diameter. It has broad, pure white gills that turn cream or slightly pink with age. The stem is off-white and bulbous, and the mushroom has a sickly sweet and rancid smell when old.
The Death Cap mushroom is commonly found in broadleaved woods and mixed deciduous woods, particularly under oak and beech trees. It grows on the ground and is often found in groups.
The Destroying Angel is a pure white, deadly mushroom found in broadleaved and mixed woodlands, especially birch woodlands. It can be easily mistaken for edible mushrooms, but it contains toxic amatoxins.
Fool's Conecap is a deadly mushroom found in gardens, leaf litter, rotting woodchip piles, and compost. Its cap is shiny brown and smaller than 1 cm in width. It contains the same toxin as the Death Cap (alpha-amanitin) but is distinguished by its brown gills and shorter stem.
