Species guide
Death cap
DeadlyAmanita phalloides
What does Death cap look like?
A medium mushroom with a greenish to olive-yellow cap, white gills not joined to the stem, a skirt-like ring high on the stem, and a cup-like sac (volva) around a swollen base. Spore print is white.
Is Death cap dangerous?
One of the deadliest mushrooms in the world and responsible for most fatal mushroom poisonings. Its toxins cause delayed liver and kidney failure — symptoms can appear a day later, after damage is done.
Commonly confused with
- Edible puffballs: solid white inside, no gills
- Paddy straw / Caesar's mushrooms: dangerously similar to beginners
What should I do about Death cap?
Never pick or eat a wild mushroom identified from a photo. If you suspect anyone has eaten one, seek emergency medical care immediately — don't wait for symptoms.
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.