thumb|Young specimens like this are sometimes confused with [[puffballs or other non-deadly mushrooms.]]

The name destroying angel applies to several similar, closely related species of deadly all-white mushrooms in the genus Amanita. They are Amanita virosa in Europe and A. bisporigera and A. ocreata in eastern and western North America, respectively. Destroying angels are among the most toxic known mushrooms; both they and the closely related death caps (A. phalloides) contain amatoxins. Amanita bisporigera is associated with oaks and conifers.

Toxicity

The destroying angel (A. bisporigera) and the death cap (A. phalloides) account for the overwhelming majority of deaths due to mushroom poisoning. The toxin responsible for this is amatoxin, which inhibits RNA polymerase II and III. Symptoms do not appear for 5 to 24 hours, when the toxins may already be absorbed and the damage (destruction of liver and kidney tissues) is irreversible. As little as half a mushroom cap can be fatal if the victim is not treated quickly enough. The symptoms include vomiting, cramps, delirium, convulsions, and diarrhea. In one study, people who had ingested the toxin were treated with "fluid and electrolyte replacement, oral activated charcoal and lactulose, IV penicillin, combined hemodialysis and hemoperfusion in two 8-hour sessions," some with "IV thioctic acid, others IV silibinin" and all received a "special diet". A report concluded that "intensive combined treatment applied in these cases is effective in relieving patients with both moderate and severe amanitin poisoning."

List of destroying angels

  • Amanita albolimbata
  • Amanita amerivirosa
  • Amanita bisporigera
  • Amanita eburnea
  • Amanita elliptosperma
  • Amanita exitialis
  • Amanita franzii
  • Amanita gwyniana
  • Amanita helmettensis nom. prov.
  • Amanita hygroscopica
  • Amanita magnivelaris
  • Amanita oberwinklerana
  • Amanita ocreata
  • Amanita parviformis
  • Amanita pseudoverna
  • Amanita sp-S04 cryptonom. temp.
  • Amanita sturgeonii nom. prov.
  • Amanita subjunquillea var. alba
  • Amanita verna
  • Amanita verniformis
  • Amanita virosa
  • Amanita virosiformis

See also

  • List of Amanita species
  • List of deadly fungus species

References

  • Amanita bisporigera: the destroying angel
  • Experience: I nearly died after eating wild mushrooms The Guardian 13 November 2010
  • I survived the “Destroying Angel” Cornell Mushroom Blog 22 November, 2006