a poisonous woodland saprotrophic basidiomycetous fungus, Amanita phalloides, differing from the edible mushroom (Agaricus) only in its white gills (pinkish-brown in Agaricus) and the presence of a volva
See also amanita
death cap in American English
a deadly amanita (Amanita phalloides) with a white, scaly cap and a cuplike structure enveloping the base of the stalk of the mushroom
: also death cup
Examples of 'death cap' in a sentence
death cap
The death cap has killed more people than any other mushroom.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
He added that death caps do not have an unpleasant taste despite containing up to 20 different toxins.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
A woman has died after eating poisonous death cap mushrooms which she picked from her garden.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
You should also avoid the death cap, which looks that little bit too much like a field mushroom for absolute ease and comfort.