Michael Davis
Mushrooms are a tasty treat and can be a great addition to recipes. However, it is important to be cautious as some mushrooms are toxic and even deadly. There are over 14,000 species of mushrooms worldwide, and while only 1-2% are poisonous, it can be hard to identify them. Poisonous mushrooms can grow in your garden and can be mistaken for edible varieties, sometimes with fatal effects. Some of the most poisonous mushrooms include the Death Cap, Web Cap, Destroying Angel, Autumn Skullcap, and Fool's Conecap. These mushrooms contain toxins that can cause severe stomach pain, liver and kidney failure, delirium, convulsions, and even death. It is important to correctly identify mushrooms before consuming them and to seek expert advice if you are unsure.
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What You'll Learn
- The Death Cap mushroom is potentially fatal and found throughout Europe
- The Destroying Angel is one of the most poisonous mushrooms in the world
- The Death Angel is the most toxic mushroom worldwide and causes severe stomach pains
- The Jack O'Lantern mushroom causes severe gastrointestinal distress
- The Fool's Webcap is similar in appearance to edible varieties and deadly
The Death Cap mushroom is potentially fatal and found throughout Europe
Mushrooms are a great addition to recipes, but it is important to be cautious as not all are safe to eat. There are over 14,000 species of mushrooms worldwide, with only 1-2% containing poisonous toxins. However, this small percentage still amounts to a large number of toxic mushrooms, and it can be hard to identify them. Many poisonous mushrooms bear an unfortunate resemblance to edible species, and some even become toxic with age.
The Death Cap mushroom (Amanita phalloides) is one such toxic fungus. It is potentially fatal and found throughout Europe, though it has also been introduced to other parts of the world. The Death Cap is considered the deadliest of all mushrooms and has been involved in the majority of human deaths from mushroom poisoning. Its heat-stable amatoxins quickly damage cells throughout the body and are not destroyed by cooking. The principal toxic constituent is α-Amanitin, which causes liver and kidney failure.
Death Caps have a white to green cap colour with a satiny sheen, white gills, a skirt on the stem, and a cup at the base of the stem found below the ground. They emerge rounded and will develop into a flat pane. They can be found on lawns, in parks, along roadsides, or in forests, and often resemble straw mushrooms and Caesar's mushrooms.
If you suspect that you or someone else has eaten Death Cap mushrooms, wash your hands with soap and running water, and contact Poison Control immediately.
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The Destroying Angel is one of the most poisonous mushrooms in the world
Mushrooms are a diverse group of fungi, with over 14,000 species worldwide. While most mushrooms are not toxic, some species contain deadly poisons. The Destroying Angel is one such mushroom, and it is considered one of the most poisonous mushrooms in the world.
The Destroying Angel is the name given to several closely related species of deadly all-white mushrooms in the genus Amanita. These include Amanita virosa in Europe, and Amanita bisporigera and Amanita ocreata in eastern and western North America, respectively. The Amanita bisporigera species is considered the most toxic mushroom in North America. The Destroying Angel is often mistaken for edible fungi, such as button, meadow, and horse mushrooms, due to their similar appearance. However, consuming just half of a Destroying Angel mushroom can be deadly for adults.
The toxins in the Destroying Angel, namely amatoxins and phallotoxins, are not destroyed by cooking and can recirculate in the human body. Amatoxins consist of at least eight compounds with similar structures of eight amino-acid rings. The chief component, α-amanitin, is toxic to liver cells and passes through the kidneys, causing further damage. Phallotoxins, on the other hand, are highly toxic to liver cells but are not absorbed through the gut, thus having minimal impact on the Destroying Angel's toxicity.
Symptoms of Destroying Angel poisoning can start several hours after ingestion, with severe vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and delirium. This is followed by a period of apparent recovery lasting a few days, after which the individual experiences liver and kidney failure, which can lead to death. Treatment options include excessive hydration, an extract of milk thistle, dialysis, and, in severe cases, liver and kidney transplants.
The Destroying Angel can be identified by its white gills and white stalks. The cap can be pure white or have yellowish, pinkish, or tan hues at the centre. It typically has a diameter of 5-12 cm. The presence of a volva, or universal veil, is a telltale feature, as it encapsulates the entire mushroom. Destroying Angels grow in or near woodlands, lawns, and grassy meadows, often near trees or shrubs. They are commonly found in parts of Scotland and Wiltshire.
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The Death Angel is the most toxic mushroom worldwide and causes severe stomach pains
Mushrooms are a great addition to recipes, but it's important to be cautious as not all are safe to eat. Of the 14,000 mushroom species worldwide, only 1-2% contain poisonous toxins, but there is no standard identifier for toxic mushrooms. Many poisonous mushrooms bear a striking resemblance to edible varieties, making them especially dangerous.
The Death Angel mushroom, or Amanita virosa, is considered the most toxic mushroom worldwide and causes severe stomach pains. It is also known as the Destroying Angel in Europe and is responsible for the highest number of fatal mushroom poisonings globally. It is characterised by its white gills and stalks, and its cap can be pure white or white at the edges with a yellowish, pinkish, or tan centre.
Death Angel mushrooms contain deadly toxins that result in severe stomach pains and poisoning of the liver and kidneys between 8 and 24 hours after consumption. The toxins cause severe, irreversible damage to vital organs, and symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vomiting, delirium, convulsions, and liver and kidney failure. Treatment for poisoning with these mushrooms is challenging, and there is currently no known antidote. However, urgent medical treatment can prevent severe symptoms and organ damage.
Destroying Angels are several species of all-white mushrooms in the genus Amanita, which also includes the Death Cap (Amanita phalloides). Amanita mushrooms are responsible for most deaths caused by mushroom poisoning, with liver toxicity and failure causing the majority of these fatalities. Heating or cooking does not inactivate the toxins in Death Angel mushrooms, and as little as half a mushroom cap can be fatal if ingested.
It is important to be able to recognise and avoid these deadly mushrooms, especially when foraging or consuming wild mushrooms. If you suspect you have consumed a Death Angel mushroom, seek immediate medical attention.
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The Jack O'Lantern mushroom causes severe gastrointestinal distress
Mushrooms are a fascinating type of fungi, but it's important to be cautious as some mushrooms are poisonous and can cause severe gastrointestinal distress. One such mushroom is the Jack O'Lantern, which is native to hardwood forests and can cause severe gastrointestinal issues.
The Jack O'Lantern mushroom, also known as the foxfire mushroom or Omphalotus species, is a poisonous mushroom that resembles edible chanterelles. It is bright orange or pumpkin-colored and grows in hardwood forests during the summer and fall. It is important to be able to distinguish this mushroom from chanterelles, as consuming Jack O'Lantern mushrooms can lead to severe gastrointestinal problems.
The toxins present in the Jack O'Lantern mushroom can cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping, diarrhea, weakness, and dizziness. In some cases, individuals may experience elevated liver function, and in rare cases, hypokalemia, which requires potassium supplementation. The symptoms of Jack O'Lantern mushroom poisoning can be so severe that hospitalization is often required, with patients being given IV fluids and oral activated charcoal for treatment.
To avoid accidental ingestion of Jack O'Lantern mushrooms, it is important to be able to identify them. One key distinguishing feature is their color—they are typically bright orange or pumpkin-colored, whereas chanterelles are often egg-yellow. Additionally, Jack O'Lantern mushrooms have a funnel shape when mature, which is not typical of chanterelles.
It is worth noting that mushroom poisoning can be caused by a variety of factors, including the ingestion of toxic mushrooms, large quantities of mushrooms, immunological reactions, and ethanol intolerance. Therefore, it is always advisable to properly identify mushrooms before consuming them and to seek medical attention if any negative symptoms occur after ingesting mushrooms.
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The Fool's Webcap is similar in appearance to edible varieties and deadly
Mushrooms are a great addition to recipes, but it's important to be cautious as not all are safe to eat. There are over 14,000 species of mushrooms worldwide, but there is no standard identifier for poisonous ones. Many poisonous mushrooms bear an unfortunate resemblance to edible varieties, making them especially dangerous.
One such mushroom is the Fool's Webcap, or Cortinarius orellanus, a species of deadly fungus native to Europe. It is generally tan to brown all over, with a concave cap of 3 to 6 centimetres in diameter, though some specimens can reach up to 8 centimetres. The cap is orange-brown and covered in fine, fibrous scales when young, becoming smooth as the mushroom ages. The Fool's Webcap is a member of the Cortinarius genus, which is the largest in the world, with possibly more than 1000 species. This genus is notoriously difficult to identify, and many species within it are highly toxic.
The Fool's Webcap is similar in appearance to edible mushrooms, particularly the chanterelle, a prized variety in Austria. This has led to several cases of poisoning, including an incident in Poland in the 1950s where 102 people fell ill and 11 of them died. In 1997, four people in Austria suffered renal toxicity after mistaking the Fool's Webcap for chanterelles. The relevant toxin in this mushroom is orellanine, a strong nephrotoxin that causes kidney failure, often irreversible.
The danger of the Fool's Webcap was first widely recognised in 1972 when several cases of poisoning were reported in Finland, resulting in permanent kidney damage for some victims. Since then, numerous incidents have been documented across Europe, particularly in Scandinavia and the United Kingdom. The long latency period of orellanine, which can take 2 days to 3 weeks to cause symptoms, often leads to a misdiagnosis. However, if left untreated, the toxin will result in kidney failure and death.
It is crucial to correctly identify wild mushrooms before consuming them, and if you are new to mushroom foraging, it is important to be clear on the differences between toxic and edible varieties. While most mushrooms are not toxic, very poisonous ones do exist, and consuming them can have severe consequences.
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Frequently asked questions
Only about 1-3% of known mushroom varieties are poisonous.
It can be hard to identify mushrooms just from photos, even more so from a vague description. The best thing to do is take photos and collect some to take to a vet or a mushroom expert for identification. There is no home test to distinguish between edible and poisonous mushrooms.
The symptoms of mushroom poisoning can vary from gastrointestinal discomfort to liver failure and death, depending on the type of toxin ingested. In less poisonous varieties, symptoms can develop as early as 20 minutes to four hours after ingestion. In more poisonous varieties, symptoms can take 6-24 hours to appear.
Some of the most poisonous mushrooms include the Death Cap (Amanita phalloides), the Destroying Angel (Amanita virosa), the Jack O'Lantern, and the Fool's Webcap (Cortinarius orellanus).
