Scientific Name
Paxillus involutus
Common Name
Poison Paxillus, Naked Brimcap
Anatomy of a Mushroom

Plant Pathology Information Note

HIGHLY TOXIC, MAY BE FATAL IF EATEN!

Characteristics

Mushroom Description
CAP brown to reddish brown, dry to slimy in wet weather, covered with fine hairs that are often matted together; margin strongly enrolled especially when young. GILLS dirty yellow to olivacious at maturity, crowded, forked, decurrent (descending down the stalk a short distance). STALK brown, smooth; ANNULUS none. SPORE PRINT clay brown.
Origin
USA, NC
Distribution
Chiefly in the Piedmont and mountains.
Where Found
Forest or natural area, landscape. Singly to grouped, on the ground or rotted wood in mixed hardwood-conifer forests.
Mode
Ingestion
Poisonous Part
Mushroom
Symptoms
May appear within an hour of ingestion and can include an acid-sour taste, cold extremities, stomach cramps, sweating, weakness and coma. A separate set of symptoms can occur and may be reflective of the degree of cooking; they are centered around kidney functions.
Edibility
NOT EDIBLE!
Comments
There is considerable variation in toxicity reports. It is reported edible in the western United States but not in the eastern U. S. Reports in Europe report it as decidedly toxic.
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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