Species guide

Destroying angel

Deadly

Amanita bisporigera

Destroying angel
Photo: Drew Palmer · CC BY

What does Destroying angel look like?

A pure-white mushroom throughout — white cap, white gills, a ring on the stem, and a sac-like volva at the base. Spore print is white.

Is Destroying angel dangerous?

Deadly — it contains the same liver-destroying amatoxins as the death cap, with the same dangerous delay before symptoms appear.

Commonly confused with

  • White button mushrooms: store-bought lookalike risk
  • Puffballs: no gills, solid interior

What should I do about Destroying angel?

Never eat wild white mushrooms on sight. Seek emergency care immediately if ingestion is suspected.

Never decide what's safe to eat or touch from a photo or a web page. Identification here is for learning and curiosity only. For anything you might eat, handle or that could harm you or a pet, consult a qualified local expert, and seek medical or veterinary care if exposure has happened.

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