[2] P. porrigens, known as the angel wing, is a white-rot wood-decay fungus on conifer wood, particularly hemlock (genus Tsuga).

The mushroom species is distinguished by its fruit bodies, which begin as a pure white and then form a tinge of yellow over time.

[5] Although P. porrigens was once generally regarded as edible,[6] as of 2011, it has been implicated in two documented outbreaks involving fatal encephalopathy.

[7][8][9] The first incident occurred in September and October 2004[10] across nine prefectures in Japan, and involved the sickening of 59 people and the eventual death of 17.

[10] The second incident occurred in 2009, when a 65-year-old man who had been on hemodialysis died from acute encephalopathy after eating P. porrigens.