Destroying Angel Aka Death Cap mushroom

Girl Hiker · Post by **Girl Hiker** » Sun Jun 04, 2023 9:31 am

I believe I found this deadly, poisonous mushroom on my hike last week.

Very toxic can shut down your liver.

Amanita Phalloides

I read that it is not common in North America but others have found them here.

I wished I had taken more pictures.

JerryN · Post by **JerryN** » Sat Jun 17, 2023 3:59 pm

Not Amanita Phalloides (wrong coloration and shape) nor Bisporgera (not found here, but common back East), Correct about it being one of the most deadly mushrooms out there. You found Amanita Ocreata, the Western Destroying Angel.

JerryN · Post by **JerryN** » Mon Jun 19, 2023 8:58 pm

Continuing the theme of really pretty things that will kill you -- along the Hondo Canyon Trail in the Santa Monica Mountains, a death cap (Amanita Philloides)

Post by **dima** » Mon Jun 19, 2023 9:23 pm

How hard do you have to work to feel ill? Is touching ok? Do you have to eat a lot of it? Cooking doesn't matter at all?

JerryN · Post by **JerryN** » Mon Jun 19, 2023 9:32 pm

You have to eat it. Touching is not a problem with any mushroom. It doesn't take a lot, but a single mushroom can be your last. The toxin, amatoxin, is neither water not heat soluble, so there is no preparation that makes it other than deadly. The same toxin is in the destroying angel that GirlHiker found. Both are deadly, both can be handled without a worry; done it many time including the death cap I found today

Post by **HikeUp** » Mon Jun 19, 2023 9:38 pm

JerryN wrote: ↑You have to eat it. Touching is not a problem with any mushroom. It doesn't take a lot, but a single mushroom can be your last. The toxin, amatoxin, is neither water not heat soluble, so there is no preparation that makes it other than deadly. The same toxin is in the destroying angel that GirlHiker found. Both are deadly, both can be handled without a worry; done it many time including the death cap I found today

Just don't lick your fingers after touching it?

JerryN · Post by **JerryN** » Mon Jun 19, 2023 9:49 pm

There have never been reports of poisoning from that, only from eating the mushroom. Still why lick your fingers after digging in the dirt?

JerryN · Post by **JerryN** » Tue Jun 20, 2023 6:24 am

Just to be clear, the amatoxin is in the flesh of the mushroom and it doesn't rub off by handling them.