For Anyone Interested in the Wildlife of the U.K.
Death Caps
Scientific name: Amanita phalloides
Size: Can grow to 15cm tall. Cap diameter around 12cm
Distribution: Found in most parts of the U.K.
Months seen: July to November
Habitat: Deciduous woodlands. Frequently found beneath oak trees
Special features: Poisonous. Eating just one Death Cap toadstool is enough to kill an adult. They contain what are known as 'amatoxins' which destroy the liver and kidney.
The cap of the Death Cap is a yellow-green colour with darker streaks from the centre outwards. They are dome shaped when young, but flatten out as they mature. The gills are white, and the stem is white with some grey-brown zig-zag markings near the base.
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