Caesar's mushroom
Amanita spp.
mushroom
⚠️ Toxic look-alike
Never eat this mushroom unless you are certain it is not its toxic look-alike.
Closed, in its egg, it can be confused with the death cap, which is deadly, and with the fly agaric, which is toxic. Only Caesar's mushroom has yellow gills and stem, never white: cut an egg in half before picking, and when in doubt, do not eat it.
If in the slightest doubt, leave it. If you feel unwell after eating it, even several hours later, call Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) or 911.
A bright orange cap emerging from a white volva as if from an egg, yellow gills and stem, eaten raw in thin slices in Italy.
- Origin
- Open forests of southern Europe and the Mediterranean
- Season (United States)
- July to October
- Preparation
- Picked open, or cut in half to see yellow gills. If you pick it yourself, have the mushroom checked by a pharmacist or a mycological society before eating it.
- Molecules
- Mushroom beta-glucansIn small amounts, not counted Ergothioneine
- Did you know?
- The Romans reserved it for the imperial table, hence its name, Caesar's mushroom.