Dear Editor,
In our recent telephone conversation, you asked me to provide you with some information regarding the death cap mushrooms and how to identify them. I agree that this is very important information for your readers to know. We want to do all we can to prevent further incidents of accidental poisonings.
Although the death cap mushrooms are relatively rare in North America, they are found in California, Oregon and New York. They live off the roots of trees, so they are typically found in wooded areas.
The death cap mushroom presents a special threat to persons who have lived in Asia. It does not grow in Asia, but it closely resembles the edible paddy straw mushroom that is often picked for food in Asia. People from Asia are not familiar with the death cap, so when mushrooming here, they often mistake it for the paddy straw.
The death cap mushroom has a cap that is 2.25 to six inches wide. The cap, which is smooth with greenish-yellow pigments, can be dry, but it is more likely to be sticky or slippery.
The death cap's stalk can be up to six inches tall. It has a large rounded bulb at the base. This bulb includes a sac-like growth called a volva. The bulb and volva are often buried in the soil and are not visible without a little digging.
Death cap mushrooms are poisonous and deadly. They are probably responsible for more mushroom deaths than any other species. Two or three grams are potentially lethal.
The poison works by affecting the liver and kidney functioning. After ingesting the mushroom, symptoms may be delayed for five to 24 hours. Symptoms resemble the flu, and include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramps. Many people appear to improve temporarily after the symptoms occur, but delaying treatment can be fatal.
If diagnosed early, the poisoning may be treated with massive doses of penicillin. Otherwise, liver transplants will be necessary.
I hope this information will be useful to your readers. Please contact me if you have further questions.
Sincerely,
Your Name
"As a mycologist, you are sometimes asked to speak to groups or to provide information to people about mushrooms and other fungi," says David Fischer. He is an internationally recognized mycologist.