Amanita crocea explained

Amanita crocea, the saffron ringless amanita, is a species of Amanita widely distributed in Europe. It is not recommended for consumption due to its similarity to poisonous species of the genus.

Description

• Cap: The cap is free of rings with the volva and has a diameter of NaNcm (-2,147,483,648inches), yellow-orange in colour with an apricot tinge at the centre. It expands to become flat or sometimes convex at the umbo, a small raised central area.
• Volva: Thick, white, at least NaNcm (-2,147,483,648inches) wide, saffron orange or a little browner than that in colour in the centre when fresh and paler at the margin.
• Gills: Gills are free and cream in mass (sometimes with a slight salmon or pinkish reflection, and 2–3± millimetres broad.)
• Stem/stipe: The stem or stipe is NaNcm (-2,147,483,648inches) long and 1–1.5 cm in diameter, tapering, decorated with paler fibrils in a "flame" pattern, with the decoration later becoming orange or brown-orange (darker than the underlying stipe surface) with a membranous sack-like volva at the base.
• Spores: The white spores measure (8.0-) 9.4 - 11.8 (-18.8) x (7.5-) 8.5 - 11.0 (-16.0) μm.^{[1] [2]}

Similar species

It is similar to Amanita fulva (orange-brown ringless amanita or tawny grisette) and A. caesarea (Caesar's mushroom), belonging to the Vaginatae and Caesareae sections of the Amanita genus, respectively.

The edible tawny grisette is a basidiomycete mushroom located in North America and Europe.^[3] It is easily confused with the 'death cap', though is not as substantial. The structure is relatively flimsy and the hollow stem often breaks, even when handled very gently.^[4] It has fibres on its stalk usually.^[5]

The second similar species, the Caesar's mushroom, is the type species (a species to which the name of a genus is permanently linked) of the Caesareae section of the genus Amanita. It has a distinctive orange cap, yellow gills and stem. Similar orange-capped species occur in North America and India.^{[6] [7]}

Ecology

The fungi can occur infrequently between July and October in mycorrhizal with hardwood trees, particularly birch and beech in clearings. Its odour is sweet-smelling and it has a mildly nutty sweet taste.^[8] It has also been reported from Iran.^[9]

Uses

While edible, guides advise not to eat it as many similar-looking Amanitas are very poisonous.^[10]

See also

• List of Amanita species

Notes and References

1. Web site: Amanita crocea . 2010-11-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110714185658/http://www.njcc.com/~ret/amanita/species/croceas.html . 2011-07-14 . dead .
2. http://www.first-nature.com/fungi/id_guide/amanitaceae/amanita_crocea.php Amanita crocea-Pictures, habitat and identification guide.
3. http://www.rogersmushrooms.com/gallery/DisplayBlock~bid~5539.asp Rogers mushrooms.
4. http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/tawny-grisette Tawny Grisette | Wild About Britain.
5. http://www.mushroomthejournal.com/greatlakesdata/Taxa/Amanifulva22.html Amanita fulva
6. Amanita caesarea. http://alphagamma.150m.com/Amanita_caesarea.html
7. http://www.eticomm.net/~ret/amanita/species/caesarea.html by R.E. Tulloss.
8. Web site: Amanita crocea . 2010-11-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101226055532/http://www.first-nature.com/fungi/id_guide/amanitaceae/amanita_crocea.php . 2010-12-26 . dead .
9. Bahram. M. Asef, M. R.. Zarre, Sh.. M. Abbasi. S. Reidl. Addition to the knowledge of Amanita (Agaricales, Pluteaceae) from Iran. Rostaniha. 2006. 7. 2. 107–119. 1608-4306.
10. Book: Phillips, Roger . Mushrooms and Other Fungi of North America . 2010 . Firefly Books . Buffalo, NY . 978-1-55407-651-2 . 22.