The Destroying Angel

Today we went out for a small hike/mushroom hunt at a local park.  It was a nice day out, a little hot and super buggy, but still refreshing.  I was hoping to find chantarelles and boletes for fresh eating, or wild reishi, artists conk, and other medicinal polypores.  We found a ton of boletes, but they were past their prime; last week would have been perfect.  There is always next year.  After a little while I stumbled across a single white mushroom - radiant and stately.  Instantly mesmerized, i plucked it out for a closer look and pictures.  As soon as i picked it up i knew what it was, though i had never seen one before; The Destroying Angel or Amanita bisporigera.  One of the deadliest mushrooms known to man.  Eating one cap of these mushrooms could easily kill a healthy adult.

This is one of those mushrooms you DON'T WANT TO EAT.  The most important tip i can give to any beginning mushroom hunter or forager is to know the poisonous mushrooms well.  This way they are easily avoided.  Also know the species your hunting for very well.  Use the current available literature, the internet, experienced persons, and/or web forums such as the shroomery with help identifying mushrooms.  Unless your willing to risk your health and possibly your life, dont eat it unless your %100 sure it is safe.  Wild mushrooms can be such a treat, but only if you are sure about what you're consuming!  The only other significant find was some young, beautiful Ganoderma applanatum or Arists Conk.

These mushrooms are common in our area during most of the year.  They are a healing mushroom and are not edible.  They must go through some sort of extraction process for us to be able to consume their constituents and healing properties.  The most simple and common method of extraction is a hot-water extract; also known as a tea.  This mushroom contains general immune boosting properties, anti-tumor activity, and more.  We will dry them and store them in a glass mason jar until we make a tea from them.

Remember, know your poisonous mushrooms in addition to your desired mushrooms when you go foraging or hunting. 

Thanks for reading