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Paxillus involutus

Phonetic Spelling
PAKS-il-us in-vol-OO-tus
This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Naked brimcap is a mushroom in the Paxillaceae family.   It can be found singly to grouped, on the ground or rotted wood, in mixed hardwood-conifer forests across the US. 

The cap varies in color from yellow brown, olive brown, to grayish brown and is up to 6 inches across. It is convex to broadly convex with a strongly inrolled, cottony margin. It can be smooth or finely hairy. The flesh is yellowish and turns brown when exposed to air. The gills are unusual and a good identifying component.

The mushroom was once considered edible if cooked in Europe, but that has changed due to reported deaths. It initially causes nausea and vomiting and can be followed by an immunological allergic syndrome that can lead to kidney failure. 

Quick ID:

  • 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 olivaceous at maturity, crowded, forked, decurrent (descending down the stalk a short distance).
  • STALK: Brown, smooth.
  • ANNULUS: None.
  • SPORE PRINT: Clay brown.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Suseptable to cobweb disease and fungus gnats.

See this plant in the following landscape :
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#poisonous#mushrooms#poisonous mushrooms
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#poisonous#mushrooms#poisonous mushrooms
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Paxillus
    Species:
    involutus
    Family:
    Paxillaceae
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    USA, NC
    Edibility:
    NOT EDIBLE!
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Mushroom
    Poisonous
  • Cultural Conditions:
    NC Region:
    Mountains
    Piedmont
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Description:
    Spreads by spores
  • Flowers:
    Flower Description:
    No flowers
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Feel:
    Velvety
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Description:
    No leaves
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Gray/Silver
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    The thick, dry stem is usually the same color as the cap and can be smooth to finely hairy.
  • Landscape:
    Problems:
    Poisonous to Humans
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    High
    Poison Symptoms:
    Highly toxic, may be fatal if eaten. 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 of an immunological allergic syndrome that can lead to kidney failure.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    An antigen
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Fruits
    Stems