Amanita phalloides

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/amanita-phalloides

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Amanita phalloides
2. What is the native range?Europe
3. What does the Death Cap mushroom look like?The Death Cap has a pale green to yellowish or white cap that can be 5 to 15 centimeters wide. It often feels slightly sticky, has a sac at the base of the stem, and a ring near the top of the stem.
4. Why is the Death Cap mushroom dangerous?It contains strong toxins called amatoxins that stay alive even after cooking. These toxins stop the body from making proteins, harming the liver and kidneys.

Morphological mimicry: Resemblance in form or appearance to another species, often leading to confusion.
Ectomycorrhizal association: A symbiotic relationship where fungal hyphae surround tree root tips, aiding nutrient uptake.
RNA polymerase II: An enzyme essential for transcribing genetic information from DNA into RNA.
Hepatotoxicity: The quality of being poisonous or destructive to the liver.