Chapter 1
The sacred mushroom ceremonies of Oaxaca
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Chapter 2
Edible forest gold and cornfield delicacies
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Chapter 3
Deadly lookalikes and fungal survival science
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Chapter 4
From ancient rituals to modern medicine
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YOUR GOAL
Master of Mexico's mushroom kingdom
Ch 3 · Deadly lookalikes and fungal survival science
choko Deadly Mushroom Lookalikes
That pretty cap might look the same (look the same) / But those amatoxins can't be tamed (cannot be tamed)
choko Some toxic mushrooms closely mimic the appearance, smell, and habitat of prized edible species.
Fun Fact
Slowing down death: The deadly destroying angel mushroom tastes pleasant and mild, meaning victims have no sensory warning that they have consumed a lethal poison.
choko Amatoxins are incredibly resilient molecules that survive cooking, freezing, and human digestion.
Glossary
amatoxin (noun)
Any of a group of highly toxic peptides found in several species of mushrooms, notably the death cap. These lethal compounds occur in Amanita arocheae, a species documented in Mexican oak forests since 1992.
Any of a group of highly toxic peptides found in several species of mushrooms, notably the death cap. These lethal compounds occur in Amanita arocheae, a species documented in Mexican oak forests since 1992.
choko Sort Mexican mushrooms by their features to discover which are sacred, edible, or deadly.
Quiz
Approximately how long after eating a destroying angel mushroom do the first symptoms of poisoning usually appear?
Quiz
Which major Mexican university maintains extensive databases to track and map toxic mushroom species?
Quiz
Why can the young 'egg' stages of toxic and edible Amanita mushrooms easily fool foragers?
Quiz
Which deadly toxic mushroom is commonly known as the 'destroying angel' in North America and Mexico?
Quiz
What structural component of a mushroom is a 'spore print' used to analyze for identification?