Amanita? any suggestions please.

[andyj301]

Found under oak, about 75mm diameter, smell strong and musty (like over-ripe parmasan). Any suggestions please? I felt it prundent to take the fungi home as it was next to our local toddler playgroup area

[fairplay]

I really don't know what to say in reply to this post - is it 'prudent' for me to say 'sad' ?
Sad in the sense that the amount of fungi that can kill you, you can count on the fingers of one hand ?
Or sad, that in this day and age such misconceptions about fungi still exist ?

Neil.

[mollisia]

Hello,

most probably Amanita rubescens.

I hope you dont fell all the Taxus, Laburnum and whatever poisonous trees and shrubs you else find, don't devast all crocus, daphnes and possibly all the flowers (who knows, may be they are poisonous?) you find in reach of a child - your town gonna be quite colourless ....

best regards,
Andreas

[andyj301]

@mollisia thanks for the suggestion on the species.

To both of you, I hope this judgemental and myopic, 'bleeding heart' attitude to environmentalism doesn't run too deep in the mycology community. First, you ought to know the mushroom had already been kicked over before I found it, otherwise I would've been willing to consider the possibility that any parent would have the sense to educate, or at least protect, their child. Also, by the tone of your comments, I have to wonder if you prize the wellbeing of a mushroom over the health of someone of your own species. It's just this sort of condescending attitude that will put off people trying to learn, you should look in the mirror before accusing others of poor judgment. Shame on you both.

[FungiJohn]

Originally Posted by andyj301

@mollisia thanks for the suggestion on the species.

To both of you, I hope this judgemental and myopic, 'bleeding heart' attitude to environmentalism doesn't run too deep in the mycology community. First, you ought to know the mushroom had already been kicked over before I found it, otherwise I would've been willing to consider the possibility that any parent would have the sense to educate, or at least protect, their child. Also, by the tone of your comments, I have to wonder if you prize the wellbeing of a mushroom over the health of someone of your own species. It's just this sort of condescending attitude that will put off people trying to learn, you should look in the mirror before accusing others of poor judgment. Shame on you both.

I certainly don't regard these comments as condescending.

Given that these members have helped you with previous fungi identifications, and you state in one thread 'Many thanks. I only ever dare pick one type of mushroom in the wild, the rest I prefer to admire', perhaps this 'admiration' should extend to learning more about fungi.

Now look in your mirror and shame on you!

John

[mollisia]

Dear Andyj301,

may be I have not found the right tone to answer you. If that be so, I apologize. I wanted to be a little bit sarcastic, but never wanted to insult you or blame you for something.
I'm a little bit sensible on panic attacks because of mushroom fruibodies growing wherever they shall not do that. We have here in Germany several cases last year that parents collected signitures for a petition, that their kindergarden-garden shall be reconstructed, because of poisonous fungi occuring there, that childrens recreation places in parks have been closed and are now "nobodys-land" because of poisonous fungi. Of course I can understand that parents don't want their children be harmed by poisonous fungi. But to destroy all possible poisoning possibilities is the wrong end to begin with, in my opinion. Who gives you the garantee, that you really got all of the dangerous things. Fungi, shrubs, plants and animals - how shall one get rid of all those "dangerous" organisms? So the better way is to sensible children AND parents that not all organisms on this earth are healthy and that is THEIR OWN responsibility to learn their children that they shall not put thing in their mouth they do not know. And if the children are still too young to understand that, then THE PARENTS have the responibility to look what their children do.
All our three childs grew up in a forest childrengarden. The adults can surely not have always to any time their eyes on every child in the group. And nevertheless that they are all the day in the forest, I have never heared of any accident with poisonous fungi, berries, flowers or whatever. I have the strong faith, that children (from a certain age on, lets say when they are 2 years old) will always accept not to eat things. What concerns fungi, we have never had with any of our children problems that they tried to eat them without showing them first. Why should a child eat mushrooms, when you tell him that you only can eat the eatable one? O.k., it's easy to speak from my point, as I know the fungi, and we have sometimes collected (and eaten) fungi together with the children, even when they still where only one and a half year old. To say "we eat those which are eatable and don't eat those which are poisonous" will accept EVERY child, especially when you let them eat the eatables ones they find (of course cooked).
That doesn't mean, that one shall not pick up fruitbodies from the deadly poisonous species when they grow in a kindergarden or a childrens recreation place. I would do that myself too. Not because of MY children, but because I don't know what children will pass there and what parents ....
But to stress it again: To remove all dangerous things is not the way you really will have faith in the safety of your child. You will always have a feeling of "did I spot all? did I remove all?" in the back of your brain. But when you can trust in your child, that it has a natural behavior to dangerous and not dangerous organisms, then you can let a 3 years old stroll through the forest without being anxious of what will happen

best regards,
Andreas

[andyj301]

Hi Andreas

I appreciate you taking the time to write a reply and I take on board your points about education being better than eradication. I am retraining, after 20 years in retail, as a tree surgeon. I have learnt to recognise several different fungi in the past couple of months and don't disturb any that aren't suitable for the table. Thanks again for being the only person to offer a suggestion to my polite enquiry.

All the best

Andy J

[Toonami]

You got off lightly, Andy. I got shouted at in CAPITAL LETTERS last time I upset them. You have to walk on tiptoes around here.

[fairplay]

Did I just hear a mouse squeak ?

Neil.

[Toonami]

To hear, you must listen. Which is not possible WHEN YOU SHOUT.