This is my contribution to FungiFriday by
it might be fun to include a recipe preparing wild mushrooms presented here but since today's two are deadly poisonous even in small quantities, i am sure you will appreciate why i omit the recipe.
Deathcap Amanita phalloides
the latin name doesn't give much clue that of all the poisonous fungi, this is the one that causes the most fatalities.
this view gives a better sense of the phallic reference in the latin nomenclature. though the deathcap commands respect, this is not one to put in your mouth! not for any reason.
the view from above. this is a rather pale variety, almost white. indeed the palest can be hard to distinguish from
the destroying angel Amanita virosa. i am not authority on fungi but i believe this to be a destroying angel rather than a pale deathcap but either way i am only admiring, not picking it. the latin term virosa means having a rank taste or smell. i suppose i could have smelled it for purposes of identification but better to leave it in peace. no need to disturb it, being alive and all, doing it's thing in the ecology of the forest.
there are quite a few of them spread throughout the sloping beech forest. according to my norwegian guide book: Sopp by Edmund Garnweidner the deathcap prefers beech and oak forests while the destroying angel is generally rarer but less fussy and prefers poorer but moist soil
i didn't find any very young but here are a few shots of a larger older one a little past it's prime
not exactly angelic looking...
ok enough of those. what i really was hoping to find were some porcino Boletus edulis but somebody has already been here picking the big ones. the newer, smaller ones are more likely to be free of bugs but they are extremely well camouflaged among the beech leaves on the forest floor.
