Amanita virosa
| Destroying angel | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Basidiomycota |
| Class: | Agaricomycetes |
| Order: | Agaricales |
| Family: | Amanitaceae |
| Genus: | Amanita |
| Species: | A. virosa |
| Binomial name | |
| Amanita virosa Bertill. (1866) | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Agaricus virosus Fr. (1838) (nom. illegit.) | |
| Amanita virosa | |
|---|---|
| Gills on hymenium | |
| Cap is convex or flat | |
| Hymenium is free | |
| Stipe has a ring and volva | |
| Spore print is white | |
| Ecology is mycorrhizal | |
| Edibility is deadly | |
Amanita virosa is a species of fungus in the class Agaricomycetes. In the UK, it has the recommended English name of destroying angel and is known internationally as the European destroying angel. Basidiocarps (fruit bodies) are agaricoid (mushroom-shaped) and pure white with a ring on the stem and a sack-like volva at the base.
The species occurs in Europe and northern Asia. It was formerly reported from North America, but similar-looking American species like A. bisporigera and A. ocreata are distinct. As the name suggests, the destroying angel is poisonous.