🚨 CRITICAL SAFETY PROTOCOL 🚨
If a toxic mushroom ingestion is suspected, do not wait for symptoms to appear. Seek emergency medical care immediately.

In the US: Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222
In Canada: Call your provincial hotline (ON: 1-800-268-9017, QC: 1-800-463-5060, BC: 1-800-567-8911)
International: Contact your country's national emergency number (911 / 999 / 112 / 000) or local hospital emergency department right away

Spring Death Cap

Amanita verna

⚠ Severely Toxic

Seek emergency medical care immediately

Habitat: Tropical and subtropical forest, especially near oaks and introduced hardwoods; documented across Central America and Caribbean
Fruiting season: March–November
Peak season: Year-round in Caribbean, spring peak in Central America

Key Identification Features

All-white mushroom
smooth white cap 5–10 cm
free white gills
persistent ring on stem
volva cup at base
closely resembles edible Amanita species
white spore print

Symptoms & Toxicity

Amatoxin poisoning — identical clinical presentation to A. phalloides. Delayed onset 6–24 hours with GI phase followed by false remission then hepatic and renal failure. EMERGENCY PRESENTATION REQUIRED.

Regions Found

Central America — Costa Rica, Panama, Guatemala
Greater Antilles — Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico

Look-Alikes

No documented look-alikes on record.

Safety disclaimer: This page is for educational purposes only. Never eat a wild mushroom based solely on online information. Always verify identification using multiple reliable field guides and, when possible, consult an experienced forager or mycologist. When in doubt, don't eat it. Spore & Scout accepts no responsibility for identification errors or adverse reactions. If you believe someone has ingested a toxic mushroom, seek emergency medical care immediately. US: 1-800-222-1222 | Canada: contact your provincial hotline | International: dial your national emergency number (911 / 999 / 112 / 000).