Amanita phalloides Deathcap

A deadly poisonous toadstool with a smooth cap that usually has green colouration, sometimes olive green, grey-green, brown-green or greenish-yellow and with darker fibrils that radiate from the centre. There is a floppy, striated ring on the stem and the bulbous base has a large sack-like volva.  It is a widespread species of broadleaved woodlands and parks growing particularly with oak and beech but it is not common in West Glamorgan where it has been recorded mostly in Gower woodlands. However it has also been found in some of the larger parks (e.g. Clyne Gardens) and bechwoods in Neath Port Tabot. The fruiting bodies of Death Cap contain amatoxins, phallotoxins and virotoxins. The main and most dangerous toxin is the amatoxin, alpha-amanitin, which is a cyclic peptide made up of 8 amino acids. It inhibits the enzyme RNA polymerase II, which is required for DNA transcription and protein synthesis and ultimately causes cell death, mostly in the liver initially. Currently there is no effective antidote. Because amatoxins are absorbed slowly they are slow to appear in the bloodstream and as a result toxic symptoms have a long delay. The gills of Amainta phalloides turn pale lavender in colour after the addition of sulphuric acid, which is a good test for this species.