Just two per cent of the world’s fungi are truly deadly poisonous, yet that small percentage of these strange organisms have held a macabre fascination for centuries.
Perhaps it is because they are such strange, almost alien like organisms which seem to appear from nowhere, in some cases literary growing overnight.
- The deadliest poisons found in nature – including the most lethal mushroom you might find the woods
- The weirdest fungi in the world you (probably) haven't heard of, from the bleeding tooth to dead man's fingers
It was claimed that Emperor Claudious may have been poisoned by death cap mushrooms in a ploy to place Nero as Emperor of the Roman Empire.
Then centuries later composer Johan Schobert along with family, staff and friends died after eating mushrooms which he assured cooks were edible. Thankfully, accounts of deaths are rare and headline grabbing but they serve as stark reminders that at times there is a thin line between death and dinner.
10 deadliest mushrooms in the world
Death Cap Mushroom, Amanita phalloides
The Death Cap deserves the top spot as the world’s deadliest mushroom. Just 30 grams, about the same weight as a small plum or a slice of bread, is enough to kill a fully grown adult. It is responsible for more deaths worldwide than any other mushroom with 90% of all Europe fungi poisonings caused by this mushroom alone.
The way the toxin works on its victims has a cruel twist; within 12 hours of consumption most experience gastric upset, vomiting and diarrhoea. After this initial discomfort, symptoms start to fade and there may be a feeling of relief, even elation. But for the poor victim this is where the toxins are doing their real harm to the body, irreparably damaging both the liver and kidneys.
What makes the Death Cap so dangerous is that it bares more than a striking resemblance to two choice edible mushrooms; the Paddy Straw Mushroom which grows in Sub-Tropical and Tropical Asia and the Caesar's mushroom a fungi which has been eaten since antiquity.
Destroying Angel, Amanita virosa (Europe) Amanita bisporigera and Amanita Ocreata (North America)
Like the Death Cap (above) and the Asian Brown Death Cap (below) the Destroying Angel is a member of the Aminata family of mushrooms. This group of fungi contains wide range of different mushrooms some of which are not only edible but good to eatwhilst others can be hallucinogenic or deadly poisonous.
After the Death Cap the Destroying Angel is responsible for largest number of global fatalities from mushroom poisoning. Containing deadly amounts of amatoxins, anotoriously hard to treat toxic chemical which leads to liver and kidney damage, around 40% of all those who consume the mushroom don’t respond to treatment and ultimately die from poisoning.
Considering how deadly it is, the Destroying Angel is a strangely beautiful mushroom. With a perfectly white stem and white, slightly yellow, tan or even pinkishcap it can resemble the button mushrooms you see in the supermarket.
The pure white gills and delicate veil should be enough to distinguish it from more commonly eaten mushrooms. Despite these clear differences, every year overly keen amateur foragers fill their baskets in hope of a good meal when they get home and end up getting something quite different!
Asian Brown Death Cap, Amanita fuligineoides
Rarely found outside of Asia, the Asian Brown Death Cap is responsible for more poisonings than any other mushroom in Southern China.
Around a quarter of those who consume the mushroom suffer from fatal organ failure. In 1997 a group of 14 people in Southern China, shared a meal which contained a number of these lethal fungi. The entire group suffered symptoms of mushroom poisoning and within days of the incident, half of the group were dead.
Most of the cases of poisonings seem to occur when pickers pay little attention when collecting a mix of different species rather than focusing on picking one particular type. Given that just a single mushroom is enough to kill a fully grown adult even the smallest error in judgement can be lethal.
False Blacking Russula (Russula subnigricans)
The most dangerous mushrooms are those which resemble choice edible ones. The False Blacking Russula or Russula subnigricans, found in China, Korea and Japan is one such mushroom. Very much resembling the blackening brittlegill mushroom, a choice edible mushroom found in both broadleaf and conifer woodlands, the False Blackening Russula has a rather nasty way of poisoning those who are unfortunate enough to eat it.
The toxins in the fungi go to work on the victims’ muscles, breaking them down and sending harmful substances into the bloodstream. This can lead to irreversible kidney damage and complications which ultimately result in heart failure or respiratory failure. Needless to say, it’s a mushroom to avoid if picking in East Asia.
Brown Rollrim, Paxillus involutus
The brown rollrim is a very common mushroom found throughout the Northern Hemisphere. And it is becoming more widespread elsewhere after being introduced to Australia and New Zealand. Over eager novice foragers have mistaken it for an edible funnel cap or the much sought after chanterelle mushroom.
Although some have lived to tell the tale after eating the Brown Rollrim, it deserves its place on this list as it is one of the only mushrooms to fool a mycologist (mushroom expert). In 1944, mycologist Julius Schäffer and his wife sat down to a meal of what they thought were of the russula species. Within two hours Julius wasextremely sick and had to be rushed to hospital, then just two and half short weeks later poor Mr Schäffer died.
Deadly Webcap, Cortinarius rubellus (syn. Cortinarius speciosissimus)
Famous for its association with Nicholas Evans, the author of the Horse Whisper, the deadly webcap can be found in coniferous woodlands across the northern Hemisphere from St. Petersburg in Russia and Perth in Scotland to Portland, USA.
Webcaps contain orellanine, a disconcerting, insidious toxin which can take anything from three days, to up to three weeks to show any kind of symptom. Unfortunately for the person who has eaten the mushroom, is that after this time the orellanine present in the mushroom has already caused irreversible damage to the kidneys. For poor Nicholas this meant months on dialysis which he was only saved from when his daughter gave him her kidney.
Webcaps should be easy to identify. They have a browny orange cap and can have a slightly bowed stem. The gills on younger specimens are cover by a weblike veil. As they age, they drop spores which turn the pale-yellow gills and a stripe across the stem rusty brown.
The Funeral Bell or Deadly Skullcap, Galerina marginata
Like the more well known a similar looking mushroom the honey fungus, the Funeral Bell or Galerina marginata is wood rotting mushroom found in clusters on dead and decaying wood and on tree stumps. Although a somewhat rare mushroom, the danger with the Funeral Bell is how much it can look like edible species. It can be mistaken for the honey fungus or a velvet shanks a choice winter mushroom. It also bears a very close resemblance to the Sheathed Woodtuft or, the Brown Stew Fungus. Although the Brown Stew Fungus is an edible mushroom, it is said to have an unremarkable flavour so mercifully few take the risk in this bland fungi.
Funeral Bells contain the same toxic chemicals as the death cap. Cases are rare as it’s not an overly common mushroom and, if treated quickly many patients do make a full recovery. However, just like the death cap, if the Amatoxins (the active toxin in the mushroom) are left untreated they can lead to kidney and liver failure and ultimately death!
Deadly Dapperling, Lepiota brunneoincarnata
The Lepiota species of fungi or dapperlings as they are more commonly known, are a potentially very dangerous mushroom as they can look very similar to the choice edible known as the Parasol Mushroom. They are much smaller than their edible cousins and although mistakes do occur, it is easy to avoid picking a dapperling by avoiding any would-be parasols with caps smaller than 10cm.
In 2010 a horrific incident occurred in Tunisa when a family enjoyed a meal made from what they thought to be parasol mushrooms. Within hours of ingestion, all four children aged between 3 and 15 had severe gastric upset which included diarrhoea and vomiting. A six-year-old girl died from acute dehydration just seven hours after eating the mushroom and after a little more than a week all four children were dead.
Fool’s Funnel, Clitocybe rivulosa aka C.dealbata
The Fool’s Funnel is another example of one of the golden rules of foraging; to be extremelycautious when picking any white gilled mushroom. What makes this mushroom dangerous is that it can resemble more edible species such as the St George’s Mushrooms, Calocybegambosa, or the much larger Trooping Funnel.
Fool’s Funnels contain a toxin known as muscarine and although only about 5% of people exposed to this poison die, it’s effects can be particularly unpleasant. Along with severegastric upset they muscarine can cause excessive salivation, blurred vision and breathingproblems similar to an asthma attack.
Jack O Lantern Omphalotus olearius (Europe), Omphalotus illudens (North America)
Although very rarely, if at all deadly, the Jack O’Lantern mushroom earns its place herebecause of its similarity to the chanterelle mushroom.
The Jack O’Lantern is a bright orange mushroom with true gills (rather than the false gills of a chanterelle) running down the stem. Like the honey fungus, they grow on dead or decaying wood, so you’ll often find them on the base of trees. The most fascinating thing about this mushroom can be seen after dark in the autumnal woods where it grows. The Jack O’Lantern will glow an eerie greenish colour thanks to it’s bioluminescent gills.
