Brown Rollrim
Paxillus involutus
Identification: Highly Toxic Brown Rollrim (Paxillus involutus)
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Key Features
- Cap dark reddish-brown
- depressed center
- often velvety or fibrillose.
- Gills deeply decurrent
- thick
- widely spaced
- rusty orange-brown.
- Gills often cross-veined (anastomosing) near the stem.
- Stem pale brown
- curved
- lacking a ring or volva.
- Grows terrestrially in grass or soil
- often near trees.
Color:
Dark reddish-brown cap; rusty orange-brown gills; pale brown stem.
Smell:
No distinctive smell
Growth Pattern:
Clustered
Environment:
Soil/Grass
Habitat & Distribution
Habitat:
Lawn or grassy area, associated with trees (mycorrhizal).
Distribution:
Widespread across the Northern Hemisphere (North America, Europe, Asia).
Seasonality:
Summer to Autumn
Economic Value
Market Demand:
None - toxic
Price Range:
N/A
Commercial Use:
None
Toxicity Information
Symptoms:
- Severe gastrointestinal distress (vomiting, diarrhea).
- Abdominal pain.
- Rarely, potentially fatal autoimmune hemolytic anemia (Paxillus syndrome).
Onset Time:
30 minutes to 3 hours (GI symptoms)
First Aid:
- Seek immediate emergency medical attention.
- Contact poison control immediately.
- Retain a sample of the mushroom for identification.
Emergency Contacts:
- 911 (US)
- Poison Help (US): 1-800-222-1222
Similar Species
Velvet-footed Pax
Tapinella atrotomentosa
Key Differences:
- Stem is distinctly dark brown to black and velvety.
- Grows on wood, not soil.
Poison Pax
Paxillus rubicundulus
Key Differences:
- Typically smaller size.
- Cap often lighter, more yellowish-brown.
Recommended Action
Do not touch or consume. Ensure immediate disposal of all specimens. Wash hands thoroughly after handling.