Deadly Mushroom Found in Australia

[mjshroomer]

Hi Mates,

A student friend of mine from the Australian College of Natural Medicine in Brisbane who is seeking his masters in Plant and Fungal Toxicology sent me this article and URL for an article that the Deadly species, Amanita Phalloides was found in Australia for the first time in South Australia.

Read below:

http://www.news.com.au

Deadly Death Cap mushroom found in Adelaide
July 17, 2008

A DEADLY mushroom that has caused more deaths worldwide than any other fungus has been found for the first time in South Australia.

The discovery has prompted SA Health to warn of the dangers of eating unidentified mushrooms.

The Death Cap mushroom (Amanita phalloides) was found growing in the University of Adelaide's Waite Arboretum in Urrbrae, and its identity has been confirmed by DNA analysis.

SA Health Chief Medical Officer Professor Paddy Phillips said the Death Cap may be confused with other, edible mushrooms such as the Straw Mushroom used in Asian cuisine.
"The discovery of this dangerous mushroom emphasises the importance of not consuming any wild mushroom unless it has been identified by an expert and you are certain it's not poisonous," Professor Phillips said.

The discovery was made by South Australia fungi specialist Pam Catcheside and colleagues from Botanic Gardens of Adelaide and State Herbarium.

This article is probably correct but should have read as "identified for the first time in South Australia" rather than first found.

Incorrect for the country as I have recently read here in Thailand at the University, a paper by Dr. Southcott on toxic fungi in Australia.

Below here is a reprint image from one of his papers on mushroom poisoning in Australia.



Amaita Phalloides was first identified in a paper by him in the early 1970s.

This page is from his journal publication on toxic and poisonous mushrooms from Austrlaia and this image shows that this very toxic and dangerous mushroom was known of in Victoria in the early 1970s. That would mean it would most likely be in other Australian States as well.

Please, if seeking edible mushrooms, do not pick or handle this species as toxins may enter the skin through eye to finger contact. Or by rubbing or picking your nose after handling this toxic species.

Woot Mates.
Mjshroomer

[roc]

Thanks for the warning!