I just read that some people in Olympia were hospitalized after being poisoned by mushrooms that they ate. It appears that they confused
Amanita Pantherina with an edible mushroom. I think that it must have been the delicious Amanita Velosa.

I can see how someone could confuse them, though Pantherina's remaining veil (white stuff on the cap) is much thicker. There are other differences as well, like the striations on the edge of Velosa's cap, etc.

Picking an Amanita is always risky, you really have to know what you're doing. I've eaten Amanita Constricta (Grisette) before, but I always key it out in Mushrooms Demystified several times before eating.

Pantherina won't kill you, but who needs convulsions and vomiting? The deadliest Amanita is the all white Amanita Ocreata (the Destroying Angel) of course.

...and then there's the magical Amanita Muscaria (Fly Agaric) that can get you high but might also put you in a coma.



Amanitas on this page (in order of appearance) :
Amanita Pantherina
Amanita Velosa
Amanita Constricta (Grisette)
Amanita Ocreata (Destroying Angel)
Amanita Muscaria (Fly Agaric)

All images were borrowed from Fungi of California. (They look the same in Washington).