Nature Deadly fungus sprouting across Kanto

[thomas]

Since July, several sightings of the deadly poison fire coral fungus (Podostroma cornu-damae or kaentake カエンタケ) have been reported in multiple locations across Kanagawa, Chiba, and Fukui. The kaentake ("fire mushroom") contains several trichothecene mycotoxins. It is considered the world's second-deadliest fungal species and the only known fungus whose toxins are absorbed through the skin. They are typically found on tree roots and in the soil. There are documented fatalities caused by the species in Japan and Korea.

Sightings were reported in Zama Yatoyama Park (座間谷戸山公園) and according to a TBS report this morning in Sagamihara Kita Park (相模原北公園).

Deadly brain-shrinking fungus popping up in parks, several prefectures throughout Japan

Sightings of the deadly poison fire coral fungus increased in Japan in the month of July, with reports coming from the prefectures of Kanagawa, Chiba and Fukui. The world's second-deadliest fungal species after the so-called Destroying Angel (amanita virosa), Podostroma cornu-damae, otherwise...

japantoday.com

Don't touch, don't eat.

Links:

Two Cases of Mushroom Poisoning by Podostroma Cornu-Damae

Podostroma cornu-damae is a rare fungus that houses a fatal toxin in its fruit body. In this case report, two patients collected and boiled the wild fungus in water, which they drank for one month. One patient died, presenting with desquamation of the ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Podostroma cornu-damae - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Deadly fungus native to Japan and Korea discovered in Australian rainforest

Poison fire coral, the only known fungus whose toxins are absorbed through the skin, found on the outskirts of Cairns

www.theguardian.com

 

[Petaris]

The scary thing is that is totally the type of thing a kid would run up to and touch.

 

[nice gaijin]

yeah that looks really neat, I can see why this is alarming. Time for some public service announcements!

 

[kirbythebean]

it looks like it could be a type of mushroom o-o

 

[nice gaijin]

it looks like it could be a type of mushroom o-o

Are you basing this observation on just looking at the image, or did you read the post?

 

[thomas]

Found this one last week while walking the dog. Though most likely not poisonous, I would have never touched or dipped it into my sake.