Nordic mushrooms – get to know the species
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Death Cap

Death Cap

Amanita phalloides
Deadly poisonous

How to identify it

Cap
The cap is convex to flat, yellowish-white to yellow-green or grey-brown, often with darker embedded fibres.
Underside
Free, white gills, sometimes with a slight greenish-yellow tint.
Stem
White with greenish banding, a thin ring and a large sac-like volva at the base.
Smell
Young specimens have little smell; older ones may smell sweet, pungent and unpleasant.

Occurrence and habitat

Grows with oak and beech on rich soil in deciduous woodland, parks and pastures in southern and central Sweden.

Preparation

Do not use as food. Poisonous species must never be cooked in an attempt to make them edible.

Recipe suggestions

No recipe – must never be used as an edible mushroom.

Images – study the mushroom from several angles

Click an image to display it as the main image.

⚠ Important safety information

Deadly poisonous. Contains amatoxins that can cause life-threatening liver damage. Never eat.

Facts and sources

Sources
Svampguiden; SLU Artdatabanken / Artfakta as an ongoing reference source
Fact text compiled and checked 2026-09-27