First Field Guide to Mushrooms of Southern Africa. Margo Branch

Gastrointestinal upsets

      Seldom fatal, these are caused by the Yellow Staining Mushroom, Green-gilled Parasol, and Copper Trumpet. The Common Ink Cap causes gastrointestinal upsets if eaten with alcohol.

      Begin by learning the following easy-to-identify mushrooms:

      Common poisonous mushrooms

Death Cap	p. 13
Fly Agaric	p. 12
Panther Cap	p. 14
Copper Trumpet	p. 31
Brown Roll-rim	p. 31
Poison Pie	p. 34
Umbo Toadstool	p. 35

      Common edible mushrooms

Field Mushroom	p. 20
Shaggy Ink Cap	p. 24
I’kowe	p. 26
Oyster Mushroom	p. 28
Pine Ring	p. 30
Chanterelle	p. 39
Cep (Boletus)	p. 40
Chicken of the Woods	p. 44

Fly Agaric

      Amanita muscaria

      Other name: Vlieëgifswam (Afr)

      Where found: This large red mushroom with white spots is common in pine and oak forests. Occurs throughout southern Africa and worldwide.

      Description: Cap: Up to 20 cm diameter. Scarlet, occasionally orange or yellow, dotted with white warty scales, which may be washed off by rain. Dome-shaped when young but becomes flat with a smooth margin. Stem: 8–20 cm long, 10–25 mm wide. White to yellowish, covered with shaggy scales. Bulbous base, with several ridges of warts. Ring: White; persistent; membranous. Gills: White; free; crowded. Flesh: Thick and soft; white, tinged yellow below the red skin. Odourless. Spores: White.

      Edibility: Poisonous. Although seldom fatal, it causes nausea, hallucinations, convulsions and even loss of consciousness within 1–4 hours of eating.

      Notes: For centuries the Fly Agaric was used to attract and kill flies. The bait was prepared by adding crushed mushroom to a saucer of milk.

Death Cap

      Amanita phalloides

      Other names: Slangkos (Afr), Duiwelsbrood (Afr)

      Learn to identify the deadly Death Cap by these combined features: a cup (volvaG) at the base of the stem, a ring and white gills.

      Where found: The Death Cap appears early in the rainy season under pines, poplars and oaks. It is widespread throughout southern Africa and the rest of the world.

      Description: Cap: 8–15 cm diameter. Smooth, shiny when wet. Colour ranges from smoky olive to yellowish-green, buff or almost white. Dome-shaped, becoming flat with a smooth margin. Stem: 5–15 cm long, 8–25 mm wide. White or flushed with yellowish-green. Bulbous base enclosed in a distinct cup (volvaG). Ring: Persistent; white; membranous. Gills: White; free; crowded; with smooth edges. Flesh: Thin; white, with faint yellow tinge. Sickly sweet to foetid smell. Spores: White.

      Edibility: Deadly poisonous. This lethal mushroom accounts for 90% of all mushroom fatalities worldwide. Consumption of just 30 g is enough to kill an adult. It is estimated that over 50% of those who have eaten Amanita phalloides do not survive. The symptoms, which include stomach pains, vomiting, thirst and diarrhoea, only appear 6–24 hours after ingestion, by which time the amatoxins will have caused extensive kidney and liver failure. If poisoning is suspected it is essential to get treatment as soon as possible. Repeated doses of activated charcoal together with a saline cathartic, and detoxification by forced diuresis and blood transfusions is recommended.