Destroying angel 194786 226076609 2008-07-16T18:50:34Z 72.193.148.93 /* External links */ Removed unscienfic religious article {{otheruses}} The name '''destroying angel''' applies to several similar, closely related species of deadly all-white [[mushroom]]s in the genus ''[[Amanita]]''. They are ''Amanita bisporigera'' and ''[[Amanita ocreata|A. ocreata]]'' in eastern and western North America, and ''[[Amanita virosa|A. virosa]]'' in Europe. Another very similar species, ''[[Amanita verna|A. verna]]'' or '''fool's mushroom''' was first described in France. Closely related to the [[death cap]] (''A. phalloides'') they are among the most toxic known mushrooms, containing [[amatoxin]]s as death caps do. ==Description== [[Image:Destroying Angel 02.jpg|thumb|A half-grown destroying angel]] Destroying angels are characterized by having a white stalk and [[Lamella (mycology)|gills]]. The cap can be pure white, or white at the edge and yellowish, pinkish, or tan at the center. It has a partial veil, or ring ([[Annulus (mycology)|Annulus]]) circling the upper stalk, and the gills are "free," not attached to the stalk. Perhaps the most telltale of the features is the presence of a [[Volva (mycology)|volva]], or universal veil, so called because it is a membrane that encapsulates the entire mushroom, rather like an [[Egg (biology)|egg]], when it is very young. This structure breaks as the young mushroom expands, leaving parts that can be found at the base of the stalk as a boot or cuplike structure, and there may be patches of removable material on the cap surface. This combination of features, all found together in the same mushroom, is the hallmark of the family. While other families may have any one or two of these features, none have them all. The cap is usually about 5–12&nbsp;cm across; the stem is usually 7½–20&nbsp;cm long and about ½–2&nbsp;cm thick. They are found singly or in small groups. [[Image:Destroying Angel.jpg|thumb|left|Young specimens like this are sometimes confused with [[puffball]]s or other non-deadly mushrooms]] Destroying angels can be mistaken for edible fungi such as the [[Agaricus bisporus|button mushroom]], [[Agaricus campestris|meadow mushroom]], or the [[Agaricus arvensis|horse mushroom]]. Young destroying angels that are still enclosed in their universal veil can be mistaken for [[puffball]]s, but slicing them in half longitudinally will reveal internal mushroom structures. This is the basis for the common recommendation to slice in half all puffball-like mushrooms picked when [[mushroom hunting]]. Mushroom hunters recommend that people know how to recognize both the [[death cap]] and the destroying angel in all of their forms before collecting any white gilled mushroom for consumption. ==Distribution and habitat== All ''[[Amanita]]'' species form [[mycorrhiza|ectomycorrhizal]] relationships with the roots of certain trees. Thus destroying angels grow in or near the edges of woodlands. They can also be found on lawns or grassy meadows near trees or shrubs. Several species called destroying Angel are found all over the world. ==Toxicity== The destroying angel and the [[death cap]] (''Amanita phalloides'') are responsible for the overwhelming majority of deaths due to [[mushroom poisoning]]. The toxin responsible for this is [[amatoxin]]. 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) done. As little as half a mushroom cap can be fatal if not treated quickly enough. The symptoms include vomiting, cramps, delirium, convulsions, and diarrhea. One experiment treated some patients with "fluid and electrolyte replacement, oral activated charcoal and [[lactulose]], IV penicillin, combined hemodialysis and hemoperfusion in two 8 hour sessions", some with "IV [[Lipoic acid|thioctic acid]], others IV [[silibinin]]" and "all received a special diet." It was concluded that "...intensive combined treatment applied in these cases is effective in relieving patients with both moderate and severe amanitin poisoning."<ref>{{cite journal | last = Sabeel | first = A.I. | coauthors = Kurkus J., Lindholm T. | year = 1995 | month = September | title = Intensive hemodialysis and hemoperfusion treatment of ''Amanita'' mushroom poisoning | journal = [[Mycopathologia]] | volume = 131 | issue = 2 | pages = 107–114 | pmid = 8532053 | language = English | accessdate = 2007-03-08 |quotes=no | doi = 10.1007/BF01102888}}</ref> "Physicians have had success in treatment of amatoxin poisoning using "anti-hepatoxic" compounds from the milk thistle, <i>Silybum marianum</i>. A crude extract of flavolignans from <i>S. marianum</i> seeds, called silymarin (trade name <i>Legalon</i>) has proven useful in amatoxin poisoning cases. In a recent trial of one of the flavolignans silybin, in 60 patients poisoned by amatoxin-containing <i>Amanita</i> species, there were no deaths. (see Der Marderosian & Liberti 1988 and Foster 1991 for a summary of this work)."<ref>{{cite book | last = Ott | first = Jonathan | authorlink = Jonathan Ott | title = Pharmacotheon | publisher = Natural Product Co. | date = 1993 | location = Kennewick, WA | pages = 354 | isbn = 0-9614234-2-0 }}</ref> == References == {{reflist}} == External links == * [http://americanmushrooms.com/deathcap.htm AmericanMushrooms.com] * [http://www.mushroomexpert.com/amanita_bisporigera.html ''Amanita bisporigera'': the destroying angel] [[Category:Amanita]] [[Category:Poisonous mushrooms]] [[Category:Deadly fungi]] [[bg:Бяла мухоморка]] [[cs:Muchomůrka jízlivá]] [[de:Kegelhütiger Knollenblätterpilz]] [[fr:Amanite vireuse]] [[it:Amanita virosa]] [[lt:Smailiakepurė musmirė]] [[hu:Hegyeskalapú galóca]] [[nl:Kleverige knolamaniet]] [[ja:ドクツルタケ]] [[no:Hvit fluesopp]] [[pl:Muchomor jadowity]] [[sl:Koničasta mušnica]] [[fi:Valkokärpässieni]] [[sv:Vit flugsvamp]] [[tr:Amanita virosa]] [[uk:Мухомор білий смердючий]]