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Frequently (and not so frequently) Asked Questions

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BRIEF: Is Death Parasol the same as Death Cap?

Tonight we heard on the news of a woman who died from eating a poisonous mushroom. They said it was called "Death's Parasol". My husband, son and I tried to look it up in our Peterson's Guide to Mushroom's book, but could not find it. Is Death's Parasol the same as Death's Cap?


Common names for plants vary widely. Sometimes the same name is used for many species or oone species has many common names. Unlike birds, there are no "official" common names. That's why we use Latin names alot. They are less variable and a little more reliable. I don't have a clue which species they meany by Death Parasol. Could have been a death angel, too.