The name destroying angel applies to several similar, closely related species of deadly all-white mushrooms in the genus Amanita. They are Amanita bisporigera and A. ocreata in eastern and western North America, and A. virosa in Europe. Another very similar species, A. verna or fool's mushroom was first described in France.
Closely related to the death cap (A. phalloides) they are among the most toxic known mushrooms, containing amatoxins as death caps do.
Read more about Destroying Angel: Description, Distribution and Habitat, Toxicity
Famous quotes containing the words destroying and/or angel:
“Ritual will always mean throwing away something: destroying our corn or wine upon the altar of our gods.”
—Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874–1936)
“It is only for a little while, only occasionally, methinks, that we want a garden. Surely a good man need not be at the labor to level a hill for the sake of a prospect, or raise fruits and flowers, and construct floating islands, for the sake of a paradise. He enjoys better prospects than lie behind any hill. Where an angel travels it will be paradise all the way, but where Satan travels it will be burning marl and cinders.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)