Amanita virosa (Fr.) Bertillon in De Chambre Destroying Angel Amanite viteuse Wiesser Knollenblätterpilz Cap 5-12cm across, convex-conical at first, then expanded with broad umbo; pure white; smooth, slightly viscid when moist. Gills free, crowded; white. Stem 90-120 x 10-15mm, usually swelling toward base; white with surface often disrupted into shaggy fibrils; base enclosed in a baglike, white, sheathing volva; apex of stem fragile, ring often torn or incomplete. Flesh firm; white. Odor sweet and sickly. Spores globose, amyloid, 8.5-10(11) x (7)7.5-9µ. Deposit white. Habitat in mixed woodlands. Common. Found in many parts of North America. Season June-November. Deadly poisonous-many deaths are caused by this fungus in North America. Comment Flesh turns instantly golden yellow with KOH, differentiating this species from the very similar Amanita verna (Bull. per Fr.) Roques (found in the Pacific Northwest), which has a smooth stem. Symptoms of poisoning Amanita virosa and its relative Amanita bisporigera both contain the deadly amatoxin poisons, and since they are so common in North America they have been responsible for many cases of severe poisoning and death. The first symptoms of poisoning are vomiting, persistent diarrhea, and severe stomach pains; the onset of symptoms normally occurs some eight to ten hours or as long as twenty-four hours after eating a meal containing these amanitas. After this there may be a period of apparent improvement before the second effect of the poisoning occurs; this is a deterioration in function of both the liver (hepatic failure) and the kidneys (renal failure). These will show up in the patient as yellowing or discoloration of the whites of the eyes and skin, as in hepatitis, and also in discoloration of the urine. Thus, it is crucial not to leave the patient untreated during the first stages. The sufferer should be taken immediately to the nearest hospital and the doctors informed that mushrooms were eaten during the past few days so that there is no possibility the doctors will misidentify the cause of the poisoning.