Scientific Name
Naematoloma fasiculare
Common Name
Sulfur Tuft
Anatomy of a Mushroom

Plant Pathology Information Note

HIGHLY TOXIC, MAY BE FATAL IF EATEN!

Characteristics

Mushroom Description
CAP yellow, orangish yellow or greenish yellow, smooth, up to 3 inches in diameter. GILLS attached to the stalk, greenish yellow becoming purplish yellow as spores mature. STALK thin (up to 1/3 inch thick), yellow becoming brownish yellow; ANNULUS thin and fibrous leaving only a fibrous zone on the stalk. SPORE PRINT purple-brown. TASTE very bitter.
Origin
USA, NC
Distribution
Throughout NC.
Where Found
Forest or natural area, landscape. In dense clusters, often 20-30 fruiting bodies in a cluster, on logs, stumps, various tree species or on soil probably from buried wood.
Mode
Ingestion
Poisonous Part
Mushroom
Symptoms
Patient experiences abdominal pain and diarrhea. Extent and seriousness of poisoning by this fungus is not clear. An European case reported six deaths attributed to the ingestion of this fungus.
Edibility
NOT EDIBLE!
Comments
Although not recommended, the bitter taste, habit and habitat makes this species rather easy to identify. There are several related species that lack the bitter taste and are edible. Care should be taken in identifying these related species.
Severity
HIGHLY TOXIC, MAY BE FATAL IF EATEN!

"Poisonous Plants of North Carolina," Dr. Alice B. Russell, Department of Horticultural Science; Dr. James W. Hardin, Botany; Dr. Larry Grand, Plant Pathology; and Dr. Angela Fraser, Family and Consumer Sciences; North Carolina State University. All Pictures Copyright @1997Alice B. Russell, James W. Hardin, Larry Grand. Computer programming, Miguel A. Buendia; graphics, Brad Capel.

Disclaimer: The list of poisonous plants on this web site does not necessarily include every poisonous plant that is known, or that might be found in an urban landscape or home. North Carolina State University does not advise eating any of the plants included in this web site. The information concerning edibility is taken from the literature, and the degree of reliability is unknown. We discourage the use of any of these plants for self medication. In cases of accidental exposure or ingestion, contact the Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222.

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