June 5, 2009 | 26 comments

[Slide Show] Seven Deadly 'Shrooms

Fungi hunters and hikers beware, here are seven super toxic mushrooms to avoid

By Katherine Harmon

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DEATH CAP

This innocent-looking fungus is responsible for the bulk of mushroom-related deaths across the globe. Not to be mistaken for edible members of the Agaricus clan (including the common white, or button mushroom), the Amanita phalloides packs a toxic one-two punch with both phallotoxin and amanitin. As little as one ounce (30 grams)—less than a full mushroom cap—may be enough to kill a person. Symptoms may not appear for eight to 12 hours after consumption, but it can result in liver failure and death within a week.

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