False Deathcap

Description

The false death cap has a fleshy, pale yellowish or yellow-greenish cap 5–10 cm in diameter, with a few patches left by the veil, which rain often washes off. The gills are white to yellowish-white and are not attached to the stem. On the stem there is a yellowish, drooping ring, and the base is bulbous, surrounded by a short volva with ragged edges. The flesh is white and smells like raw potatoes.

It grows from July to November in various forests, especially on sandy, acidic soils. In Poland it is very common.

It is not suitable for eating, and its greatest danger is how easily it can be confused with the deadly poisonous death cap and destroying angel, especially when rain has washed the patches off the cap. Do not collect any amanitas for eating.

Identification features

Cap

Fleshy, diameter 5–10 cm (descriptions also give 4–10 cm), pale yellowish, less often yellow-greenish or white; hemispherical when young, then flat. On the surface a few patches (remains of the universal veil) of various sizes, often washed off by rain. A young fruiting body is completely enclosed in the veil, the upper part of which forms patches on the cap and the lower part the ring.

Hymenophore (underside of the cap)

Gills crowded, free (not attached to the stem); white in young specimens, yellowish-white in older ones.

Stem

Height 5–15 cm (descriptions also give 6–8 cm), thickness 1–2 cm, cylindrical, narrowing towards the top, white or yellowish-white, easily separates from the cap. Ring yellowish, drooping in mature specimens. Base bulbous, surrounded by a short volva, up to 4 cm, with ragged, uneven edges.

Flesh

White, brittle, does not change colour when broken. Smell of raw potatoes (descriptions also give the smell of rapeseed), taste mild. Do not taste it; never taste the flesh of amanitas.

Spore print and spores

Spore print white. Spores smooth, diameter 7–10 µm; no detailed data on shape and amyloidity.

Habitat and distribution

Ecology. A mycorrhizal fungus. Grows in forests of various types, deciduous and coniferous, especially on sandy areas and acidic soils (descriptions also give siliceous soils). In North America in oak and pine forests. The fruiting bodies are a secondary food of the beetle Tritoma biguttata biguttata.

Distribution. Temperate zone of Asia, North America, Europe and Australia. Very common in Poland. Not legally protected in Poland.

Fruiting. From July to November.

What can it be confused with?

• Amanita phalloides (death cap) — Deadly poisonous; sometimes confused. Detailed differences — no data (the false death cap has a pale yellowish cap, usually with patches, and a smell of raw potatoes).
• Amanita virosa (destroying angel) — Deadly poisonous; very similar. Detailed differences — no data.
• Agaricus campestris (field mushroom) — Sometimes confused; field mushrooms have darker gills, pink to brownish, and no volva at the base.

Never rely on a single feature. If you are not sure — do not pick it; show the mushroom to a qualified mushroom expert.

Interesting facts

• The English name false death cap comes from frequent confusion with Amanita phalloides.
• It contains bufotenin, a substance also known from toad venom.
• It has over 40 Latin synonyms and many Polish names, including muchomor płowy, muchomor żółty and muchomor bulwiasty.
• It was already described in 1774 by Persoon.