Size
Cap: 10-30 mm diam.
Lifespan
Unknown
Diet
Saprotrophic, decomposing dead wood.
Habitat
On decaying conifer and broadleaf wood in damp forest.
Range
Found in native and exotic forests throughout New Zealand, particularly on conifer wood.
Endemism
Not endemic
Main Threats
Habitat disturbance from logging, fire, or heavy grazing affecting soil moisture.
Population
Common in native and exotic forests throughout New Zealand.
Conservation Status
Not Threatened
The danger is absolute. The Deadly Skullcap contains amatoxins, the same lethal compounds found in the Death Cap. There is no antidote. There is no safe dose. A single mushroom can cause liver failure and death. It does not warn you with bright colours. It looks like a harmless brown mushroom. The cap is convex, smooth, and coloured a dull ochre or brownish-yellow. It is hygrophanous, meaning it changes colour as it dries, fading from dark brown to pale tan. This trick of light is its camouflage. It hides in plain sight. This fungus is saprotrophic. It does not form mycorrhizal relationships with trees. Instead, it feeds on decaying organic matter, breaking down dead wood. In doing so, it releases nutrients back into the soil. It is a recycler, working in the shadows of the forest. Without it, the debris would pile up. The forest floor would stagnate. The Deadly Skullcap is efficient. It consumes what is dead to feed what is living. Its toxicity is a defence, ensuring that few creatures compete for this resource. The Deadly Skullcap is found throughout New Zealand, from the northern forests to the southern beech lands. It fruits in autumn and winter, often in small clusters on rotting logs or buried wood. It is particularly common on conifer debris, but also thrives on broadleaf hardwoods. Its presence is a sign of decay in progress. Where it grows, lignin is being broken down. Nutrients are being released. The cycle continues. The gills are brown and crowded. They are attached to the stem and become darker as the spores mature. The stem is slender, hollow, and coloured like the cap. It has a fragile ring, which may disappear with age. The flesh is thin and fragile. It smells faintly of earth, nothing more. Unlike the Garlic Parachute, it has no distinct scent. Its defence is chemistry, not obscurity. Threats are minimal. The species is widespread and common. However, it is sensitive to changes in moisture and soil structure. Logging, fire, or heavy grazing can disrupt the delicate mycelial networks beneath the forest floor. Recovery is slow. The fungi wait for the conditions to return. They do not rush. It carries on.