Happy and blessed Monday to you all!
In many places the world it’s foraging season and one of the things most foraged is Mushrooms, Fungi. This is all well and good but there are many that are dangerous and even deadly to consume. This is a list of Dead Fungi of the British Isles!
🍄 Deathcap – Amanita Phalloides – deadly poisonous fungus. This toxic mushrooms resembles many edible forms of fungi. Toxic effects are not reduced by cooking as the toxins are thermostable. This is one of the most poisonous of all mushrooms known. Half a mushroom contains enough toxin to kill the average adult human.
🍄 Fools Webcap – Cortinarius Orellanus – belongs to a group called Orellani; all of which are HIGHLY toxic and eating them will result in irreversible kidney failure.
🍄 Deadly Fibrecap – Inocybe Erubescens – also known as brick-red tear mushroom and red-staining Inocybe. One of many in their genus and one of the few to have caused death as it contains a fatal amount of the toxin muscarine. There is an antidote if you get to it quick enough; but why risk it?
🍄 Fool’s Conecap – Pholiotina Rugosa – when researching I am directed to Conocybe Rugosa. Contains the same mycotoxins as the Death Cap mushroom and is described as deadly poisonous; attacking the liver.
🍄 Fool’s Funnel – Clitocybe Rivulosa – also known as False Champignon and sweating mushroom. It contains potentially deadly levels of muscarine with symptoms very similar to that of a nerve agent. Death is RARE however however may result from respiratory failure in severe cases. There is an antidote.
🍄 Funeral Bells – Galerina Marginata – also known as deadly skullcap, autumn skullcap or deadly galerina. Extremely poisonous mushroom which contains the same toxins as the deathcap muahroom (Amanita Phalloides). Toxic amounts cause severe liver damage with vomiting, diarrhoea, hypothermia, and eventual death if not treated promptly.
🍄 Destroying Angel – Amanita Virosa – also known as the European Destroying Angel. Highly toxic and responsible for many mushroom poisonings. One cap is enough to kill an adult human.
🍄 Jewelled Amanita – Amanita Gemmata – also known as jonquil Amanita. Toxic mushroom containing ibotenic acid and muscimol. Cases of death are rare but again, why take the risk?!
🍄 Angel’s Wings – Pleurocybella Porrigens – this was once regarded as edible. However since 2011 it has been implicated in two outbreaks (documented) involving fatal encephalopathy.
🍄 Panthercap – Amanita Pantherina – also known as false blusher and panther amanita. This fungi is poisonous and psychoactive. While not necessarily deadly to humans it can cause diarrhoea, vomiting and hyperhidrosis. The variant of pantherinoides is poisonous and not recommended for eating.
🍄 Deadly Webcap – Cortinarius Rubellus – contains Orellanine, a powerful mycotoxin which affects the kidneys. Can result in permanent kidney damage and a need of transplant.
🍄 Brown Rollrim – Paxillus Involutus – also known as common roll-rim. This fungi was widely eaten in Europe (central and eastern) until WW2 however the English guidebook didn’t recommend it. Rapid onset of symptoms start with diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain, decreased blood volume. After these symptoms there will be hemolysis, reduced urine output, blood in urine, absence of urine altogether and anemia followed by acute kidney injury, shock and respiratory failure resulting in death.
🍄 Deadly Dapperling – Lepiota Brunneoincarnarta – often mistaken for edible mushrooms but is highly toxic with several deaths to its name. Contains deadly amounts of alpha-amantin and was responsible for a deadly poisoning in Spain in 2002. Symptoms include gastrointestinal issues, nausea and vomiting followed by liver damage.
If these descriptions and names weren’t enough of a deterrent; please don’t eat these mushrooms – there is a high risk to your health and even your life! If you’re not sure what you’re foraging, just don’t risk it!
Originally posted on The Emporium of The Enchanted Forest and here is their Instagram
Fran Hall 