Puffballs are undifferentiated inside. Amanitas show the whole mushroom.
Deadly ‘Destroying Angel,’ is the most poisonous of our native eastern Amanitas and accounts for 90% of the deaths by wild mushrooms. It contains cyclopeptides that destroy the liver. There are two equally poisonous and virtually indistinguishable amanitas, Amanita verna and Amanita bisporigera. It is found June through October under hardwoods.
The toxin is a protein by the name of alpha amanitin, a cyclopedtide which works by slowly attacking an enzyme in the liver. Both the liver and the kidneys are ultimately affected about 6 to 24 hours after consumption. Symptoms include violent cramps and diarrhea. There is a false remission of symptoms by the third day. On the 4th and 5th day the liver and kidneys continue to break down. Death follows unless a liver transplant can be performed. The same toxin is in the Autumn Galerina. 059-001