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What are the dangers of eating death cap mushrooms?

Amanita Phalloides, commonly known as the death cap, is a deadly poisonous fungus. A few mouthfuls of the death cap mushroom can kill.

They often grow near established oak trees, and are found when there is warm, wet weather.

The fungi stand out due to the pale green colouring of their caps, a bulbous end at the foot of the stalk and an annulus - a ring-like collar - at the top. 

Amanita Phalloides, or death cap, often grow near oak trees and are highly toxic

Amanita Phalloides, or death cap, often grow near oak trees and are highly toxic

The death cap is native to Europe, where it is widespread in Britain and Ireland. It is also commonly found in northern Africa and in many parts of Asia, including the forests of Iran.

People are warned against picking or consuming wild death cap mushrooms. Cooking the fungi does not remove the death cap’s deadliest toxins, called amatoxins.

Looking like a delicious white button mushroom when young, the death cap's appearance is far from deadly. It can be extremely difficult even for experienced collectors to distinguish them from an edible mushroom.

Symptoms of death cap mushroom poisoning generally occur six to 24 hours or more after ingestion of the mushrooms. They include stomach pains, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. 

The symptoms may subside after one to two days, giving a false impression of recovery. However, by this stage the toxin would have already caused serious liver damage and may result in death.

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