Death cap mushrooms, a deadly fungus commonly mistaken for edible mushrooms, may have been spotted in Banjo Patterson Park this week.

Otherwise known as Amanita phalloides, the poisonous fungus is usually found during autumn but wet weather can prompt an early arrival.

“Council is aware of the reports of death cap mushrooms in Banjo Paterson Park,” a Yass Valley Council spokesperson said. “We expect to see mushrooms in open areas at this time of year, particularly after a wet winter.”

Ingesting just one death cap mushroom is enough to kill a healthy adult.

Please be aware all parts of the mushroom are poisonous. The poisons are found throughout the cap, gills, stem and spores.

There is no way to remove the poison from the mushroom. The poisonous compounds are extremely stable so you cannot remove them by soaking, cooking or drying.

“Council staff will remove death cap mushrooms if they find them in Council areas. In addition, Banjo Paterson Park is mown weekly.”

The caps of the mushrooms are 40-160mm wide, usually pale green to yellow in colour, with distinctive white gills and white stem.

It has a membranous skirt on the upper part of the stem and a cup-like structure around the base of the stem (called a volva).

Sometimes the bulbous base and the volva are partially buried in the soil or hidden by grass and leaf litter.

The cap may be slippery and sticky to touch and shiny when dry. Variations can see the cap an olive to light brown colour.

Death caps are common in Canberra and surrounds and can often be found growing near established oak trees during warm, wet autumn weather.

Symptoms of poisoning generally appear between six and 24 hours after ingesting the death cap and can begin with nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.

Death cap poisoning is considered a medical emergency. If you suspect you have eaten some go to hospital immediately. If possible, take a sample of the mushroom with you.

If you need more information or assistance regarding a suspected poisoning call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 (24 hours a day, seven days a week).

Photo: A possible Death Cap Mushroom in Banjo Patterson Park, Yass (Tom O’Dea)