Death Cap
Amanita phalloides
Family: Amanitaceae
Also called: Death Cap, Phalloides, Green Death Cap
Overview
The world's deadliest mushroom. Greenish cap with white ring and basal volva, white gills. Amatoxin liver failure. Now widespread under planted hardwoods on West Coast and Northeast.
Edibility
Deadly poisonous
Rarity
common
Trophic mode
mycorrhizal
Typical peak
Sep–Oct
Season
Sep–Nov — typical fruiting months: Aug, Sep, Oct.
Host trees & substrate
- Mycorrhizal with oak
- Mycorrhizal with beech
- Mycorrhizal with maple
- Mycorrhizal with birch
Where it grows
See live fruiting predictions for Death Cap on the forecast home page, or browse the full field guide.
Always confirm wild-mushroom identification with multiple sources and a knowledgeable local expert before consuming. Read the foraging safety guide.