Not all mushrooms are created equal, especially the Death Cap Mushroom.
Some varieties are healthy additions to your diet. Others are dangerous and even toxic.
The Death Cap mushroom is one of those types that you should avoid. In fact, the Amanita phalloides is poisonous and deadly. They’re found across Europe and are now spreading to other parts of the world. And since they resemble safe varieties of mushrooms, it’s worth knowing about them and understanding their danger.
If you’ve often wondered: What is the most lethal mushroom? The answer is likely the Death Cap. So let’s take a look at Death Cap mushrooms, including their season, Identification and ill effects.
Identification of Death Cap mushrooms
If you forage for mushrooms, or you have children or pets, it’s important to know what a Death Cap mushroom looks like. Can you die from Amanita? Yes. In 2016, a child in Canada died after eating a Death Cap mushroom.
The Amanita phalloides has a large cap that grows as wide as 6 inches across, and can be up to 6 inches in height. But at first their cap is quite small, making them appear like other varieties of mushrooms. The cap is dome-shaped when it’s immature, growing into a flatter shape in maturity.
The color of the cap is usually white or pale yellow, although it can also be a light olive color. The cap color alone is not a reliable identifier of the Death Cap. The stem is usually off-white, while the gills are white, turning to off white or pink as they age. In maturity its smell has been described as sweet or rancid, although it doesn’t smell at all in its initial fruiting stage.
The Death Cap is often confused with edible mushrooms like paddy-straw mushrooms, puffballs, Caesar’s mushrooms, matsutakes and pine mushrooms.
The type of toxins within the mushroom are heat resistant, meaning that the poisonous effects are not eliminated by cooking them. It is also not effective to peel, dry or soak the mushroom. How does death cap mushroom kill you? The main toxin damages the liver and kidneys, causing failure of the organs that can be fatal.
The Death Cap is one of the most poisonous of all mushrooms. It’s reported that just half a mushroom can cause death, and it is the most common cause of death from mushroom poisoning.
History even calls it the “killer of kings” because it may have caused the death of Roman Emperor Claudius in AD 54 and Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI in 1740. The Romans and ancient Greeks recognized it as a poison that served as an invisible murder weapon.
The British Columbia (Canada) Centre for Disease Control reports that Death Caps cause 95% of all mushroom deaths, and in some instances, a liver transplant is needed. It also states that 1-3 out of every 10 people who get sick from Death Cap mushrooms will die.
Seasons to find it and habitat
The Death Cap forms a symbiotic relationship with several types of trees, usually hardwood trees and sometimes conifers. In Europe, for instance, it is typically found under oaks, beeches, chestnuts, birches and some pines and spruces.
It has been introduced in other areas when non-native trees are introduced. In this way, the Amanita phalloides has spread to new areas with the cultivation of non-native species of oak, chestnut, and pine.
For instance, in some cities it grows under imported trees, such as beech, hornbeam, chestnut, and English oak trees. It can appear in rural environments as well.
The Death Cap typically fruits from July through November, depending on the climate of the area. In some places, such as Vancouver Canada, more wild mushrooms grow during months with high rainfall levels. They can also grow earlier in your yard if you water your lawn often.
Facts and value of its existence
Despite the danger to humans, there are apparently some animals, such as rabbits and squirrels, that can eat the mushroom and not be poisoned.
The Death Cap, like other mushroom species, also serves a valuable role in the forest ecosystem.
The Amanita phalloides is a mycorrhizal fungi, meaning it forms a symbiotic relationship with the trees it takes on as a host. The mushroom and the tree both benefit: the mushroom provides the tree with water and protection against certain diseases, and the mushroom receives some of the tree’s sugar, helping it to thrive.
The Death Cap also releases nutrients back into the soil, allowing for reabsorption by plants, further helping the forest.
Ways to avoid the Death Cap
As with any type of mushroom, you should seek advice from an expert before foraging for, and identifying and eating any type of wild mushroom. Death Cap mushrooms are especially toxic to children and pets. Since they often produce circles of fruiting bodies, children are attracted to the “fairy rings” and may be tempted to eat one.
Keep children and pets away from areas where Death Caps are known to grow. If you find them in your yard, remove and dispose of them immediately. You may want to check with local authorities to see if they are tracking the growth of Death Caps, for instance if they have been introduced into a city.
It’s best to dispose of them by bagging them and putting them in the garbage, since even the heat of a compost may not eliminate the danger. Mowing the lawn may not be effective either. Since mushrooms live underground, it’s best to remove them before mowing the grass, or you may risk spreading them around the yard. If you find them, avoid watering the area for several days.
Can you touch Death Cap mushroom? It’s not a risk to touch a Death Cap, but wear gloves if you can, and wash your hands thoroughly after touching.
If you suspect ingestion of a Death Cap, here are the steps to take:
- Remove any part of the mushroom from the mouth of a child or pet.
- Go to an emergency room immediately as early treatment is essential.
- Take a sample of the mushroom with you, and provide information about where it was found.
The initial symptoms of Death Cap poisoning begin about 8 to 12 hours after ingestion:
- nausea
- cramping and pain in the abdomen
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- dehydration
What’s tricky is that the symptoms may disappear in about 24 hours, leading you to believe you’re fine. But the symptoms of liver and kidney damage begin 3 to 6 days after the mushrooms were eaten.
These can include severe illness resulting in low blood pressure, jaundice, seizures, convulsions, gastrointestinal bleeding and a coma. Liver and kidney failure often occur, and death can happen from 7-10 days after eating the mushroom.
That’s why it’s vital to seek medical attention immediately, even if you’re not certain it was a Death Cap mushroom.
Uses for the Death Cap Mushroom
Despite the dire consequences of eating a Death Cap mushroom, science is finding uses for the Amanita phalloides.
A lab at the University of British Columbia has isolated one of the unique compounds found in the mushroom, and has discovered that it can be used to kill some kinds of cancer cells. In a 2012 study, the lab found that the toxin α-amanitin, when applied to pancreatic tumors, cured 60 per cent of mice with cancer.
UBC chemist David Perrin is studying a way to synthesize and customize α-amanitin, with a goal of making it less toxic to the liver and “selectively toxic to cancer cells.”
Perrin told the Vancouver Sun that since the natural toxin can’t be modified, the “goal is to build a derivative with specific toxicity and that’s not something you can do working with the natural compound.”
Another study used homeopathic dilutions of Amanita phalloides, specifically containing amanitin, to help treat a patient with leukemia. The former duplication of leukemic cells was stabilized, and no leukemia-associated symptoms or liver damage occurred.
These researchers concluded that “this new principle of tumor therapy shows high potential to provide a gentle medical treatment.”
Remember that these examples are from clinical studies. Do not try to eat a Death Cap mushroom under any circumstances.
Final Thoughts
We continue to learn about the many health benefits that a variety of mushrooms can provide, along with the flavor and texture they can add to many dishes. From the beloved Reishi or “mushroom of immortality,” to the flavor burst from a fresh-picked Morel, many mushrooms are worth adding to your daily routine.
But the Death Cap mushroom is an exception. This deadly and poisonous fungi is believed to account for the majority of deaths from mushrooms. Some patients need a liver transplant to survive the effects of even half a mushroom.
By knowing the season, identification and effects of the Amanita phalloides, you can keep yourself, your children and pets safe from this toxic mushroom.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amanita_phalloides
http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/prevention-public-health/death-cap-mushrooms
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/fungi-and-lichens/deathcap/
https://www.islandhealth.ca/learn-about-health/seasonal-health/death-cap-mushrooms
https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/fatal-death-cap-mushroom-may-ultimately-be-a-life-saver
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