Fungus · GBIF taxon 5240325
Amanita phalloides
amanita phalloidesAlso known as Death Cap
Partnering underground with broadleaved trees like oaks and chestnuts, this infamous fungus plays a vital subterranean role exchanging nutrients with forest giants. Producing large greenish-tinged caps with white gills and a prominent skirt-like ring in summer and autumn, its understated appearance conceals its status as one of the world's most toxic mushrooms. Mycologists respect its crucial ecological function while emphasizing strict safe-distance observation in the field.
ToxicFungusMycorrhizal
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Tree root carbohydrates
- Soil nutrients
Predators
- Fungus gnats
- Slugs
- Squirrels
ThreatsFungicide use, habitat destruction, soil compaction
HabitatsBroadleaf and mixed forests, oak woodlands, urban parks
Life spanPerennial mycelium (fruiting body lasts 1 to 2 weeks)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- Speciesamanita phalloides
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Ingestion is potentially fatal and many edible mushrooms have toxic look-alikes; never eat wild fungi based on app identification.
- Why it is dangerous
- Contains deadly amatoxins that destroy liver and kidney tissue, causing severe organs failure days after ingestion.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Recognized by its smooth olive-green cap, white free gills, skirt-like stem ring, and cup-like volva at the base.
- What to do
- Do not harvest or touch with bare hands, and keep pets and children far away from fruiting bodies.
Responsible observation
- Examine from above: Inspect the greenish cap and white gills from a comfortable distance without touching.
- Look for the volva: Observe the cup-like sheath at the stem base carefully, as it aids in accurate field identification.
Symbiont Look-Alike 
Close Relative Dan Molter (shroomydan) / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Borja Fierro, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Borja Fierro · cc-by
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