Scientifically known as the Amanita virosa, is poisonous, its cap, stem, and gills are all white, it looks like several edible species of mushroom enjoyed by humans, however, this mushroom is highly toxic. The toxin amantin, present in a number of mushrooms, takes up to 24 hours before symptoms are displayed and causes stomach virus like symptoms, diarrhea, nausea, abdominal cramps. If misdiagnosed and untreated, the toxin could elicit irreparable liver or kidney damage. There have unfortunately been incidences of death from ingestion of this mushroom.

The destroying angel is white and oval in appearance, as it matures the conical cap becomes more crescent shaped and flattens to about 12 cm in diameter at this time its gills become more evident. This mushroom is a good example of the dangers of picking and eating premature mushrooms, as at first it resembles versions of edible mushrooms and it is not until maturity that it can be properly identified by novices.