Rockport Texas - The History, Legends & Lore 1st Printing | Page 62

WHITE AMANITA (sp. Amanita var.) This is one of the most deadly Mushrooms in the world, and though they’re not generally associated with South Texas, they do grow around here - seen them in the Doughty & Mathis area - most likely: A. virosa. The Amanita has a white cup on the bottom of its stem (stipe) that’s called a vulva. sp. Amanita virosa LORE: The poison they contain is called LORE: Pope Claudius II and Pope Clement VII were both killed by Amanita Poisoning - assassinated! Needless to say, Amanita Poisoning is a very painful death, and those who survive often suffer permanent liver damage. an Amino Toxin, and what it does is destroy the liver. LORE: The Genus: Amanita is responsible for more Mushroom fatalities worldwide than any other Genus of Mushroom. STINKING RUSSULA (sp. Russula Foetens) They’re not exactly the best smelling Mushroom, and they’re not really edible, but they’re not poisonous. The Stinking Russula just doesn’t taste good. They’re a rather common Mushroom in our area. LORE: Even if you ‘know’ a Mushrrom is edible, if it’s collected from the ‘wild’, then it could still be contaminated in some way. 61