Amanita lanei

Amanita lanei
Amanita lanei
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Basidiomycota
Class:	Agaricomycetes
Order:	Agaricales
Family:	Amanitaceae
Genus:	Amanita
Species:	A. lanei
Binomial name
Amanita lanei (Murrill) Sacc. & Trotter
Synonyms
Amanita calyptrata Amanita calyptroderma

Amanita lanei
Mycological characteristics
	gills on hymenium
	cap is flat or convex
	hymenium is free
	stipe has a ring and volva
	spore print is white
	ecology is mycorrhizal
	edibility: edible but not recommended

Amanita lanei (= Amanita calyptrata and Amanita calyptroderma), also known as coccora or coccoli, is a white-spored mushroom that fruits naturally in the coastal forests of the western United States during the fall and winter. A spring form occurs which has a light yellow cap.

Description

This mushroom is recognized by its large, orange-brown cap partially covered by a thick patch of universal veil, its white gills and spores, its cream-colored stalk adorned with a partial veil, a partially hollow stem (filled with a stringy white pith), and by the presence of a large, sacklike volva at the base of the stalk.

The spores of this species do not change color when placed in a solution of Melzer's reagent, and thus are termed inamyloid. This characteristic in combination with the absence of a bulb at the base of the stalk place this mushroom in the Section Vaginatae.

Classification

Rodham E. Tulloss suggests that there may in fact be several distinct species currently grouped under the name Amanita lanei. For a brief discussion of the confused history behind the species name of this mushroom, read Nathan Wilson's article on A. lanei

Distribution and habitat

This mushroom forms mycorrhizae with Madrone (Arbutus menziesii) in the southern part of its range (Central California northwards to Washington). However, in the northern part of its range (Washington to southern Canada), its preferred host is Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii).

Edibility

Experienced mushroom hunters regard this mushroom as a good edible species, but caution must be exercised when collecting A. lanei for the table, since it can be confused with other species in the genus Amanita. This genus contains some of the deadliest mushrooms in the world, most notably A. phalloides, A. ocreata and A. virosa. The spring form of A. lanei is nearly the same color as the A. phalloides and the edible species can be differentiated by its striate cap margin, lack of a true bulb at the base of the stem, volva attachment and inamyloid spores.

See also

Fungi portal

• List of Amanita species

External links

• Amanita lanei at BayAreaMushrooms.org
• Amanita lanei at Mykoweb
• Amanita lanei at Mushroom Expert