Species map · Amanita phalloides
Death cap map of Turkey: where and when it grows
Our map holds 37 verified records of the death cap (Amanita phalloides) from 12 provinces of Turkey. Most come from İstanbul, Bolu, Kocaeli and Kırklareli; records peak in September, October and November.
- records
- 37
- provinces
- 12
- regions
- 5
- latest record
- Nov 2026
Records by province
- İstanbul16
- Bolu6
- Kocaeli3
- Kırklareli3
- Trabzon2
- Karaman1
- Osmaniye1
- İzmir1
- Kastamonu1
- Bartın1
- Yalova1
- Bursa1
- Marmara 24
- Black Sea 10
- Central Anatolia 1
- Mediterranean 1
- Aegean 1
Linked provinces have their own page with every species recorded there. Record density also reflects where observers work.
Which months?
This page covers only where and when the species is recorded in Turkey. For identification and edibility, see the species page. Built from research-grade, geo-referenced GBIF and iNaturalist records, refreshed at the start of every month.
Death cap is poisonous: species it is mistaken for
- Yellow knight Tricholoma equestre Poisonous
- Common earthball Scleroderma citrinum Poisonous
Records by region: Marmara 24; Black Sea 10; Central Anatolia 1; Mediterranean 1; Aegean 1. Most records come from İstanbul, Bolu, Kocaeli, Kırklareli, Trabzon, Karaman, Osmaniye and İzmir.
Records peak in September, October and November; about 94% of dated records fall in September–November and 0% in March–May.
The death cap is common in woods in early summer and autumn, fruiting from July to November in Europe. In Turkey, GBIF records peak in August and October–November.
The death cap grows with broadleaf trees, most often under oak but also beech, chestnut, horse chestnut, birch, hazel and hornbeam, and sometimes pine and spruce. It is native to Europe and has spread to other continents with planted trees.
Yellow knight (Tricholoma equestre, poisonous): Once thought edible, now known to be toxic (muscle damage after repeated meals). No ring or volva.
Common earthball (Scleroderma citrinum, poisonous): The earthball has a thick scaly rind and a purple-black interior. An egg-stage death cap shows the outline of cap and gills inside.
Button and field mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus, edible): Agaricus gills turn pink then brown and there is no volva; death cap gills are always white. Unopened young caps hide the gills — that is where the danger lies.
Paddy straw mushroom (Volvariella volvacea, edible): Also has a volva, but no ring. This resemblance is one of the main causes of deaths.
Green brittlegill (Russula virescens, edible): Green Russulas have chalk-brittle flesh and neither ring nor volva.
False deathcap (Amanita citrina, inedible): Cream patches on the cap and a rimmed bulb instead of an open sack; smells of raw potato.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the death cap grow in Turkey?
Most records come from İstanbul, Bolu, Kocaeli, Kırklareli and Trabzon.
When does the death cap fruit in Turkey?
Records peak in September, October and November.
Which province has the most death cap records?
İstanbul, followed by Bolu, Kocaeli and Kırklareli. The order also reflects where observers are active.
What habitat does the death cap prefer?
The death cap grows with broadleaf trees, most often under oak but also beech, chestnut, horse chestnut, birch, hazel and hornbeam, and sometimes pine and spruce. It is native to Europe and has spread to other continents with planted trees.
Can I pick mushrooms where they are recorded?
A record is not a permit. Commercial picking in state forests needs a permit; picking in national parks is prohibited.
How current is this map?
Records are re-fetched from GBIF and iNaturalist at the start of every month and this page updates automatically.
What should I do in case of mushroom poisoning?
Call 112 at once; Turkey's poison centre is 114.
Sources
- 6831 sayılı Orman Kanunu (mevzuat.gov.tr) mevzuat.gov.tr
- 2873 sayılı Millî Parklar Kanunu, md. 14 (mevzuat.gov.tr) mevzuat.gov.tr
- GBIF ve iNaturalist: Türkiye gözlem kayıtları (sitemizin haritası) gbif.org
All sources (6)
- Wikipedia (EN): Amanita phalloides en.wikipedia.org
- Vikipedi (TR): Köygöçüren mantarı tr.wikipedia.org
- First Nature: Amanita phalloides first-nature.com
Data sources and licences
Observations from GBIF.org (human observations and herbarium specimens; records flagged with geospatial issues excluded) and iNaturalist research-grade records, retrieved 2 November 2026. Macrofungi only (Agaricomycetes, Pezizomycetes), named to species. Every point links to its own record, with the recorder and licence (CC0, CC BY, CC BY-NC).
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Province centres: Wikidata. Region comes from the record's GADM province, or the nearest province centre when missing. For protected species (iNaturalist "threatened" or IUCN VU/EN/CR) locations are rounded to ~10 km; locations obscured by iNaturalist are marked "approximate".
An observation shows that a mushroom was seen there on that day, not that it is there now or that it may be picked. Counts reflect how many people record fungi in an area more than how common a species is.
Last updated: Prepared by the Poros Mantar editorial teamReport a correction