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Naked Brimcap Paxillus involutus

Other Common Name(s):

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. 

There is considerable variation in toxicity reports. It is reported edible in the western United States but not in the eastern US.  Reports in Europe list it as decidedly toxic.  Currently, it is considered fatally poisonous and not to be consumed.

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 olivacious at maturity, crowded, forked, decurrent (descending down the stalk a short distance).
  • STALK: Brown, smooth.
  • ANNULUS: None.
  • SPORE PRINT: Clay brown.
See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#poisonous#poisonous mushrooms#mushrooms
 
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Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#poisonous#poisonous mushrooms#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
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Feel:
    Velvety
    Hairs Present:
    No
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Woodland
    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 can occur and may be reflective of the degree of cooking; they are centered around kidney functions. There is no antidote.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    An antigen
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Fruits
    Stems