#death cap

[fungitopia]

Went on a fungi foray today with the Devon Fungus Group and we found a beautiful specimen of a Death cap, Amanita phalloides.

[decemberblue]

Amanita phalloides, commonly known as the death cap. It is one of the most poisonous of all known mushrooms. 

Even very small fragments can be lethal (about 0.1 milligrams of fresh weight for every kilogram of weight of the person who ingests it), so about 7 mg for a 70 kg adult man; furthermore, the mushroom retains all its poisonous properties even after cooking, drying and freezing.

Found it today, 15 October 2023.

[cherrytreegrove]

CHAT!! IM IN LOVE!!

One of my moots told me they’d look cute together and I can’t get them out of my head!! AHHH!!!

[mushroom-showdown]

[rebeccathenaturalist]

Okay. Okay okay okay. So. This is a HUGE discovery. Death caps and destroying angels are two of the deadliest mushrooms in the world; both are in the genus Amanita. Both species contain both amatoxins and phallotoxins, though the latter are likely not a major factor in the massive cell death that occurs in the liver and/or kidneys after consuming these mushrooms.

The most medically significant of the amatoxins is α-amanitin. When a deadly Amanita is consumed, you're likely to get the expected gastrointestinal upset that accompanies many toxic mushrooms within a few hours, and they may last for a few days. Then you start to feel better--but you can't just say "Okay, learned my lesson, I won't eat THAT one again." That's because α-amanitin has been stuck in your liver and kidneys the whole time, destroying their cells left and right, and its deleterious effects are catching up to you. So you can expect to end up in the hospital, potentially dealing with acute organ failure.

Supportive care generally includes IV fluids and electrolytes along with penicillin, oral activated charcoal, and other medications, along with hemodialysis and hemoperfusion. Some people have needed organ transplants, and numerous people have died, especially those who got medical help too late.

While compounds from milk thistle (Silybum marianum) have shown success in treating amatoxin poisoning in a small study several decades ago, there hasn't been much follow-up since. Recently, researchers studied the molecular effects of α-amanitin, and discovered that the enzyme STT3B plays a crucial role in creating N-glycans that facilitate the cell death caused by α-amanitin. Then they went looking for anything that could inhibit STT3B from a list of possible treatments approved by the FDA.

Enter indocyanine green. Developed as a dye for photography in the 1950s, it received approval for medical use a few years later, and has been used for everything from measuring cardiac performance to opthalmology. But it just so happens to also significantly reduce cell death both in vitro in human cell lines, and in vivo in mice. There haven't been any in vivo studies in humans just yet, but results are very promising.

There's one limitation--indocyanine green must be given as soon as possible after ingestion. When it was given eight or twelve hours after α-amanitin poisoning, it was no longer effective due to cell death having already occurred.

Still, the fact that we now have a potential new tool in treating acute α-amanitin poisoning is a massive hope for the future. Couple this with increasing education about safe mushroom foraging and how to identify poisonous species, and we could see a significant reduction in poisoning from those two deadly Amanita species.

[mushrooms-switzerland]

Grüner Knollenblätter Pilz, Amanita Phalloides, aka ,, death cap‘‘ 11.08.23

with all characteristics

[ai-dadaism]

The death cap mushroom (Amanita phalloides) is one of the most toxic and deadly mushrooms in the world. It’s responsible for the majority of fatal mushroom poisonings, as it contains potent toxins called amatoxins that are highly resistant to heat and enzymes, meaning they remain toxic even after cooking.

Characteristics of the Death Cap

Appearance:

Cap: It has a pale green to olive-brown, smooth cap that can be mistaken for other edible mushrooms. The cap is usually 5–15 cm in diameter, with a somewhat sticky surface when wet.

Gills: The gills beneath the cap are white and free (not attached to the stalk).

Stalk: The stalk is white or pale, with a swollen base that may have a cup-like structure (volva).

Spore Print: The spore print of the death cap is white.

Habitat:

It is most commonly found in temperate regions, particularly in Europe and North America, often growing in association with hardwood trees like oak, chestnut, and pine.

It thrives in moist environments, typically appearing in late summer or fall.

Toxicity and Symptoms of Poisoning

Death cap mushrooms contain several toxic compounds, with amatoxins being the most lethal. These toxins inhibit RNA polymerase II, a critical enzyme in protein synthesis, leading to cell death—especially in the liver and kidneys.

Poisoning Stages:

Latency Period (6-12 hours): After ingestion, there is a deceptive phase with no symptoms, which can lull people into a false sense of security.

Gastrointestinal Phase (12-24 hours): Violent abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea occur, leading to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance.

Apparent Recovery (1-2 days): Symptoms seem to improve, but this is an illusion. Meanwhile, liver and kidney damage is worsening internally.

Liver/Kidney Failure (3-5 days): If untreated, the liver and kidneys begin to fail, leading to coma and potentially death.

Treatment

Immediate medical attention is critical. Hospital treatment often involves:

Activated Charcoal: Administered to absorb any remaining toxins.

Intravenous fluids: To manage dehydration.

Liver Transplant: In severe cases, patients may require a liver transplant to survive.

Unfortunately, even with aggressive treatment, the death rate for death cap mushroom poisoning can range from 10–30%.

Edibility Confusion

One of the most dangerous aspects of the death cap is its resemblance to edible mushrooms. It can easily be confused with mushrooms like the paddy straw mushroom (Volvariella volvacea) and the caesar’s mushroom (Amanita caesarea), particularly in its early stages of growth.

Cultural Impact and History

Death caps have a long and infamous history:

In ancient Rome, they were believed to have been used in political assassinations, notably in the death of Emperor Claudius.

Poisonings continue to occur worldwide, often involving foragers who mistake the death cap for an edible mushroom, particularly in areas where foraging is common.

Conclusion

The death cap mushroom is a highly toxic species that requires caution and awareness. It highlights the importance of proper identification and knowledge for those who forage mushrooms.

Get yourself my art works to add to your collection of mushrooms:

[jonreytrevino]

Don't Touch It!

pixel_dailies : mushroom : 6/23/24

Twitter | Ko-fi | Upwork

[ab-rinart]

Death Cap

[rjupiterj]

look at these mushroom pictures i took this morning!! 🍄✨🍁🍂

[mulchmouth]

Eating random mushrooms is a totally good and well advised idea

[jebkenobi]

☠️ Toxic ☠️

[sophiedoesherbest]

Shrooms across the seasons 1 - Spring

The little mudhroom folks in their tiny village are having a big fest! They have just set their little maytree up!! Everyone is having fun - except Levi, he's busy foing the spring cleaning.

Can you guess who lives in what house? 👀🏡

Pieck - flyamanita

Porco - panther cap mushroom

Ymir - Devil's tooth mushroom / Hydnellum peckii

Historia - rosy veincap mushroom

Levi - death cap mushroom

Sasha - bleeding fairy helmet mushroom

[theasternautart]

Looked up a bunch of different kinds of mushrooms for this. There are some absolutely wild looking ones out there. BTW Don't Google Bleeding Red Death Cap Mushrooms if you have trypophopia.

Day #5: Mushroom.

Don't forget to like and follow for more art! ✨

@mabgraves

[insiderzx]

Death Cap (Funguary drawing) by @feefal_

[crustaceousfaggot]

I think I might have found a Destroying Angel? Or a Death Cap?

I'm new to mushroom identification and it was impossible to see the gills, so I'm asking Mycology Tumblr for a hand

Found in central Alberta