Sarah Brown
The death cap mushroom, scientifically known as Amanita phalloides, is a deadly poisonous fungus that can be found worldwide. Originating in Europe, the death cap has since spread to other continents, including North America, South America, and Australia. In the United States, death caps are prevalent on the West Coast, particularly in California, where they are considered an invasive species, as well as in parts of Canada. On the East Coast, they can be found in smaller patches ranging from Maryland to coastal Maine. Outside of North America, death caps have been reported in various countries across Europe, Western Russia, North Africa, and Australia. The mushrooms typically grow in forested areas, parks, and gardens, often near or under trees, especially oak trees.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Amanita phalloides |
| Common Name | Death Cap |
| Type | Mushroom, fungus |
| Poisonous | Yes |
| Toxins | Phallotoxin, alpha-amanitin (also called amatoxin) |
| Poisoning Symptoms | Abdominal cramps, vomiting, diarrhoea, severe nausea, dehydration, kidney damage, electrolyte imbalances, organ damage, liver failure |
| Native Regions | Europe, California, Australia, South America |
| Regions Now Found | Europe, North America, Australia, South America |
| Habitats | Forests, urban and suburban areas, parks, gardens |
| Trees Found Near | Oak, chestnut, pine, eucalyptus |
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What You'll Learn
- Native to Europe, found in Scandinavia, Ireland, Russia, Poland, the Balkans, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, and Algeria
- Invasive species in California, where it was first sighted in 1938
- Spreading in British Columbia, Canada, and Vancouver Island
- Found in Australia, South America, and South Africa
- Typically found in forests, but also in urban areas
Native to Europe, found in Scandinavia, Ireland, Russia, Poland, the Balkans, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, and Algeria
The death cap mushroom, or Amanita phalloides, is a deadly poisonous fungus native to Europe. It is now found across the world, including in North America, Australia, and New Zealand, but it is especially prevalent in certain parts of Europe.
Scandinavia, Ireland, Russia, Poland, the Balkans, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, and Algeria are among the European regions where death cap mushrooms are native or commonly found. In these areas, the fungus has likely been a part of the local ecosystem for centuries, and its toxic effects have been recognised since ancient times.
Death cap mushrooms have a symbiotic relationship with certain tree species, particularly oaks, and they are often found growing near or under these trees. They can also be found in parks and gardens, where they may grow on or near exotic tree species, such as Eucalyptus. Death caps typically produce fruit bodies in the summer and autumn, and their large fruiting bodies can be seen growing in circles, forming what are known as fairy rings.
The death cap is considered the most poisonous of all known mushrooms, and it is responsible for the majority of mushroom-related fatalities worldwide. Its toxins, amatoxins, are thermostable and resist changes due to heat, so cooking, drying, or freezing does not reduce their toxicity. As little as half a mushroom can contain enough toxin to kill an adult, and symptoms of poisoning may not appear immediately, making it a dangerous and insidious poison.
Due to its extreme toxicity and prevalence in certain regions, it is important for foragers and mushroom enthusiasts in these areas to be able to identify the death cap mushroom and avoid accidental poisoning.
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Invasive species in California, where it was first sighted in 1938
Amanita phalloides, commonly known as the death cap, is a deadly poisonous basidiomycete fungus and mushroom. It is believed to have been introduced to California from Europe and was first sighted in 1938 at the Del Monte hotel in Monterey. Since then, it has rapidly spread and become an invasive species in the state.
Death caps are not native to North America but have proven to be highly adaptable to new lands and mycorrhizal hosts. They are believed to have first arrived in California on the roots of imported trees, most likely cork oak (Quercus suber). The mild climate in California also contributes to their spread. Death caps can now be found throughout California, from the Sierra foothills to the Channel Islands, and as far north as Vancouver Island and as far south as Los Angeles County.
Death caps are the first invasive ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungus reported in North America. ECM fungi grow linked with the root tips of woody plants, allowing the fungus and plant to swap nutrients. In California, death caps have been found to form countless mycorrhizal associations with native coast and interior live oak. They have also been spotted in forested areas like the Point Reyes National Seashore in the greater San Francisco Bay Area.
Death caps are responsible for 90% of mushroom-related fatalities every year. They contain amatoxins, which are thermostable and resist changes due to heat, so their toxic effects are not reduced by cooking. As little as half a mushroom contains enough toxin to kill an adult human. The principal toxic constituent is alpha-amanitin, which causes liver and kidney failure by inhibiting RNA polymerase II, a vital enzyme in the synthesis of messenger RNA (mRNA).
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Spreading in British Columbia, Canada, and Vancouver Island
The death cap mushroom, or Amanita phalloides, is the most poisonous of all known mushrooms. It is estimated that even half a mushroom can contain enough toxin to kill an adult human. The death cap is not native to Canada but has been found spreading in British Columbia, Canada, and Vancouver Island.
Death cap mushrooms typically grow in cities under various species of imported trees, such as beech, hornbeam, chestnut, and English oak. They have also been observed growing with native Garry Oak trees. They can occur in any rural and urban environment. The large fruiting bodies (mushrooms) appear in summer and autumn, with caps that are generally greenish in colour, though the cap colour can vary, including white forms, and is thus not a reliable identifier.
In British Columbia, the BC Centre for Disease Control and Poison Control Centre chair a working group on death cap mushrooms. This working group helps inform cities, municipalities, health authorities, and the public about the risks associated with these toxic mushrooms. The working group provides information on how to identify and remove death cap mushrooms safely, as well as how to prevent their spread.
The death cap mushroom is similar in appearance to several edible species, including Caesar's mushroom, the straw mushroom, and puffballs. This increases the risk of accidental poisoning, as people may unknowingly consume these toxic mushrooms. It is important to buy mushrooms from a retail store that sources its products from a commercial source. If you are unsure about the type of mushroom, it is best to avoid consuming wild mushrooms from unknown sources. Foraging for mushrooms should only be done by those knowledgeable about local varieties or with someone who can accurately identify them.
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Found in Australia, South America, and South Africa
The death cap mushroom, or Amanita phalloides, is a highly poisonous species of fungi that can be found in Australia, South America, and South Africa.
Australia
Death cap mushrooms are common in Canberra and Melbourne, and in some Victorian country towns near Melbourne. They grow near oak trees during warm, wet autumn weather. The death cap mushroom is not native to Australia but was accidentally introduced from the northern hemisphere. Poisoning incidents are usually a result of misidentification, as the death cap mushroom resembles the edible paddy straw mushroom (Volvariella volvacea).
South America
The death cap mushroom can be found in Andean Colombia and ranges north at least as far as central Mexico.
South Africa
While I cannot find explicit sources stating that death cap mushrooms are found in South Africa, they are present in Morocco and Algeria in North Africa.
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Typically found in forests, but also in urban areas
Amanita phalloides, commonly known as the death cap, is a deadly poisonous basidiomycete fungus and mushroom. It is native to Europe but has spread to other parts of the world, including North America, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Death caps are typically found in forests growing on or near trees, especially oak trees, in parks, and gardens. They have also been introduced to new regions through the cultivation of non-native species of oak, chestnut, and pine.
In the United States, death caps are typically found on the East and West Coasts. On the East Coast, they are found in small patches ranging from Maryland to coastal Maine. They are more prevalent on the West Coast, where they can be found in large patches from Southern California to British Columbia in Canada. In Australia, death caps have been recorded in South Australia, Victoria, and the Australian Capital Territory (Canberra). In Victoria, death caps have been widely observed across suburbs of Melbourne.
Death caps are mycorrhizal fungi, meaning they live off the roots of trees and release nutrients back into the soil for reabsorption by plants. They are often found in urban areas, such as parks and gardens, and can produce circles of fruiting bodies known as fairy rings. Death caps typically emerge in the spring, late summer, and fall, with rainfall and temperature impacting their growth.
The death cap mushroom is extremely poisonous when ingested, containing high concentrations of toxins that can be fatal even in small doses. The principal toxic constituent is α-amanitin, which causes liver and kidney failure by inhibiting RNA polymerase II, a vital enzyme in protein synthesis. The symptoms of death cap mushroom poisoning typically progress through three stages, with the first stage occurring between six and 24 hours after ingestion, followed by a latent phase, and eventually leading to organ failure in the final stage.
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Frequently asked questions
Death cap mushrooms, or Amanita phalloides, are native to Europe.
Death cap mushrooms have spread to other parts of the world, including North America, Australia, South America, and Western Russia. In the United States, they are most prevalent on the West Coast, from Southern California to British Columbia, Canada, and as far north as Vancouver Island. They can also be found on the East Coast, in small patches ranging from Maryland to coastal Maine.
Death cap mushrooms are typically found in forests, growing on or near trees, especially oak trees. They have also been found in urban and suburban areas, such as parks and gardens.
The first known sightings of the death cap mushroom in California were at the Del Monte hotel in 1938 and on the University of California-Berkeley campus in 1945.
If you suspect that you or someone you know has ingested a death cap mushroom, contact your nearest poison control center, emergency room, or physician immediately. Information on mushroom poisoning syndromes and a registry of mushroom poisoning incidents are also available from the North American Mycological Association.
