Destroying Angel Amanita bisporigera G. F. Atkinson    Synonyms: Amanita verna, Amanita virosa.
Kingdom Fungi   >   Phylum Basidiomycota   >   Class Agaricomycetes   >   Order Agaricales   >   Family Amanitaceae   >   Genus Amanita   

Status:

Deadly poisonous. "Amanita bisporigera is by far the most toxic mushroom known in North America." (M. Woehrel & W. Light. Mushrooms of the Georgia Piedmont and Southern Appalachians, 301.)

Usually found solitary, occasionally in small groups. On ground in hardwood or mixed forests, also on lawns.

Amanita virosa and Amanita verna often appear in older field guides. Recent research indicates that neither of those species may exist in North America.

Description:

Cap: Conic to flat, white (may have discolored disc), smooth, dry to sticky, unlined margin, white flesh. Disagreeable odor in age. Gills: White, close, free. Stalk: White, typically tapers up, skirt-like ring near top, smooth to floccose, hollow, sac-like volva. (J. Solem, pers. comm.)

Relationships:

Deadly poisonous to humans.

There are 31 records in the project database.

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Destroying Angel in Howard Co., Maryland (7/12/2020). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

Destroying Angel (mature fruiting body) in Howard Co., Maryland (7/20/2014). Photo by Joanne Solem. (MBP list)

Destroying Angel (partial veil covering gills) in Howard Co., Maryland (6/22/2019). Photo by Joanne Solem. (MBP list)

Destroying Angel in Howard Co., Maryland (6/22/2019). Fruiting body showing shirt-like ring, gills, stalk, and volva. Photo by Joanne Solem. (MBP list)

Destroying Angel in Howard Co., Maryland (6/22/2019). A fruiting body with partially discolored cap. Photo by Joanne Solem. (MBP list)

Destroying Angel in Harford Co., Maryland (10/29/2019). (c) Ryan Patrick, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by biglaughinggym via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Destroying Angel in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (9/16/2018). (c) Matthew Beziat, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Matthew Beziat. (MBP list)

Destroying Angel in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (9/16/2018). (c) Matthew Beziat, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Matthew Beziat. (MBP list)

Destroying Angel in Frederick Co., Maryland (7/4/2020). (c) callamo, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by callamo via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Destroying Angel in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (9/16/2018). (c) Matthew Beziat, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Matthew Beziat. (MBP list)

Destroying Angel in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (9/16/2018). (c) Matthew Beziat, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Matthew Beziat. (MBP list)

Destroying Angel in Howard Co., Maryland (8/12/2020). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

Destroying Angel in Howard Co., Maryland (8/12/2020). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

Destroying Angel in Howard Co., Maryland (8/12/2020). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

Destroying Angel in Howard Co., Maryland (7/29/2014). Photo by Nancy Magnusson. (MBP list)

Destroying Angel in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (9/10/2020). (c) Matthew Beziat, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Matthew Beziat. (MBP list)

Destroying Angel in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (9/10/2020). (c) Matthew Beziat, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Matthew Beziat. (MBP list)

Destroying Angel in Howard Co., Maryland (7/20/2014). (c) Joanne and Robert Solem, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Joanne Solem. (MBP list)

Destroying Angel in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/23/2020). (c) hbanana, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by hbanana via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Destroying Angel in Montgomery Co., Maryland (7/13/2020). (c) amycophile, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by amycophile via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Spores collected from a Destroying Angel specimen in Howard Co., Maryland (6/22/2019). Round, smooth, hyaline. Measured 7.6-9.1 microns. Photo by Robert Solem. (MBP list)

Destroying Angel in Howard Co., Maryland (7/20/2014). (c) Joanne and Robert Solem, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Joanne Solem. (MBP list)

Destroying Angel in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (6/26/2020). (c) Matthew Beziat, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Matthew Beziat. (MBP list)

Destroying Angel in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (6/26/2020). (c) Matthew Beziat, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Matthew Beziat. (MBP list)

CC BY-NC). (Photo ID: 187868 - Psn: 212)" onerror="imageError(25, 'Emilio', 'Concari', 'https://objects.liquidweb.services/images/202007/inat_1594647638-5f0caaf96dc95.jpg','https://static.inaturalist.org/photos/84173808/original.jpg?1594647638')" />
Destroying Angel spores collected in Howard Co., Maryland (7/12/2020). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

CC BY-NC). (Photo ID: 187867 - Psn: 214)" onerror="imageError(26, 'Emilio', 'Concari', 'https://objects.liquidweb.services/images/202007/inat_1594647635-5f0caaf8da744.jpg','https://static.inaturalist.org/photos/84173795/original.jpg?1594647635')" />
Destroying Angel spores collected in Howard Co., Maryland (7/12/2020). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

Destroying Angel in Howard Co., Maryland (7/12/2020). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

Destroying Angel in Howard Co., Maryland (7/12/2020). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

Destroying Angel in Howard Co., Maryland (7/12/2020). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)


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