Amanita verna

Amanita verna, commonly known as the spring amanita or fool's mushroom, is a species of fungus in the family Amanitaceae. It is a deadly poisonous mushroom, and is often mistaken for edible species due to its white color and pleasant smell.

Description

The Amanita verna has a white cap that can reach up to 10 cm in diameter. The cap is initially hemispherical, but flattens with age. The gills are free and white, and the stem is also white, with a ring but no volva. The spores are white, elliptical, and non-amyloid.

Distribution and habitat

The Amanita verna is found in Europe and North America, where it grows in deciduous and coniferous forests. It appears in the spring, hence its common name, the "spring amanita".

Toxicity

The Amanita verna contains amatoxins, which are highly toxic and can cause fatal poisoning. Symptoms of poisoning include abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration, liver failure, and death.

See also

• Amanita phalloides
• Amanita virosa
• List of Amanita species
• List of deadly fungus species