Amanita velosa

Taxobox
name = "Amanita velosa"


image_width=200px
regnum = Fungi
divisio = Basidiomycota
classis = Homobasidiomycetae
subclassis = Hymenomycetes
ordo = Agaricales
familia = Amanitaceae
genus = "Amanita"
species = "A. velosa"
binomial = "Amanita velosa"
binomial_authority = (Peck) Lloydmycomorphbox
name = Amanita velosa
whichGills = free
capShape = convex
hymeniumType=gills
stipeCharacter=volva
ecologicalType=mycorrhizal
sporePrintColor=white
howEdible=choice
howEdible2=caution

"Amanita velosa" (also known as the springtime amanitaArora D. (1986). "Mushrooms Demystified" (2nd ed). Ten Speed Press: Berkeley, CA. "Amanita velosa"; p 286–287.ISBN 0-89815-169-4] or bittersweet orange ringless amanitaTulloss RE. (2005). [http://pluto.njcc.com/~ret/amanita/species/velosa.html "Amanita velosa" (Peck) Lloyd.] "Tulloss "Amanita" website".] ) is an edible species of agaric found in California, as well as Oregon and Baja California.

Description and classification

It is part of "Amanita" section "Vaginatae", and like other species in this group, it is characterized by its lack of an annulus, pileus margin, thick universal veil remnants comprising the veil, volva, and pileus patches, inamyloid spores, and lack of characteristic "Amanita" toxins such as amatoxins and ibotenic acid. Jenkins DT. (1986). "Amanita" of North America. ISBN 0-916422-55-0] It is distinguished from other species in section "Vaginatae" by its lack of any kind of on its pileus, its short pileus , and its distinct pale orange to pale salmon coloration when young. Its coloration can become more brownish with age and entirely white specimens are occasionally seen as well. Like many other "Amanita", the gills are white, but occasionally have a distinct pinkish or orangish tint. In older specimens, the odor can become pungent and fishy. Rich R. (2002). [http://www.rrich.com/msamavelo.html "Amanita velosa".] "Robert's Wild Mushroom Cookbook" (website).]

Habitat and range

"Amanita velosa" is a late-season mushroom in its range of occurrence, being found from midwinter into spring, up until the end of the California rainy season. Its favored habitat is the ecotone between oak (particularly coast live oak) woodlands and open grassland, living in an ectomycorrhizal relationship with young oak trees. Wood M, Stevens F. (2004). [http://www.mykoweb.com/CAF/species/Amanita_velosa.html "Amanita velosa".] "MykoWeb" (website).]

Although this species is primarily known from the coastal regions of California, Oregon, and Baja California, it is also reported to have been found in association with aspen and conifers in the Sierra Nevada and there is also one report of this species being found growing with spruce in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, in the eastern United States .

Edibility and identification

It is considered to be an outstanding edible species with a distinctively sweet or nutty flavor. However, great caution must be exercised to properly identify it, as the deadly "Amanita ocreata" (and occasionally "Amanita phalloides") is also found in the same habitat at the same time of year, and can often be found in close proximity to each other. "A. ocreata" and "A. phalloides" have thin universal veil remnants, a sac-like volva, an annulus, a non-striate pileus margin, and a pileus that is a different color than "A. velosa". These differences can fade as the fruiting body ages, making it important to collect only specimens that have all of their identifying characteristics intact. [Street C. (2004). [http://www.codehappy.net/site.cgi?ac=1&aid=112 So which mushroom is edible?] "Codehappy.net" (website).] Some authorities go so far as to say no "Amanita" should be considered for eating. [Kuo M. (2006). [http://www.mushroomexpert.com/amanita_velosa.html "Amanita velosa".] "MushroomExpert.Com" (website).]

References

External links

* [http://www.bayareamushrooms.org/mushroommonth/amanita_velosa.html "Amanita velosa"]
* [http://mushroomobserver.org/observer/show_name/362 Mushroom Observer: "Amanita velosa"]