Deadly Fibrecap
Distribution
Southern Britain (including the New Forest), Ireland, and across central and southern areas of continental Europe including Slovenia, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Austria, and Italy.
Habitat
Mycorrhizal with broadleaf trees. Typically fruits at the edges of woods beneath Hornbeam (Carpinus) and Beech (Fagus) in alkaline or neutral soils. Prefers calcareous woodland.
Season
Summer and autumn (late June to September in Britain and Ireland).
Toxin Type
Muscarine
Symptoms
Overview: Severe muscarinic syndrome with potentially fatal outcome. Mechanism: Extremely high muscarine concentrations cause massive parasympathetic overstimulation. Onset: Rapid onset within 15-30 minutes. Symptoms: Intense salivation, profuse sweating, tearing, severe abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bronchoconstriction, severe dyspnea (difficulty breathing), bradycardia, hypotension, and circulatory shock. In fatal cases: cardiac arrest and respiratory failure. Treatment: Immediate atropine administration is critical. Supportive care including cardiac monitoring, IV fluids, activated charcoal, and respiratory support.