What do we know about Amanitas?
We all know that some of the deadliest mushrooms are in this genus in subgenus Lepidella, section Phalloides and section Lepidella. There are also a number of edible species.
Using the system defined by Rod Tulloss and his predecessors, I am organizing amanitas into groups based on morphological and chemical differences. Each group has a representative type species that embodies characters found more or less in its group companions. Amanitas must all have the following three features: White Spore Print, A universal veil, Divergent gill. The latter refers to the arrangement of tissue within the gills, in which the cells appear to stream out from center top of the gill.
SUBGENUS: AMANITA
Subgenus Amanita characteristics: inamyloid spores - no color reaction to Meltzer’s Solution (iodine)
sec. Amanita have a stipe with a bulbous base (some are annulate, some are exannulate).
sec. Caesare (annulate)
sec. Vaginata (exannulate) have an elongating base encased in a universal veil.
SUBGENUS AMANITA: Sec. Amanita (A. muscaria is type species for the subgenus as well as the sec.)
Inamyloid spores (do not darken with iodine), Prominent bulbous base prior to maturity & absence of a membranous saccate volva Examples: Amanita muscaria var. guessowii, Amanita crenulata, Amanita gemmata, Amanita frostiana, Amanita farinosa
SUBGENUS AMANITA: Sec. CAESARE: (Type sp. is amanita caesarea – s. Europe)
Persistent veil, Volva usually attached at base, No patches, No poisonous species
Examples: Amanita jacksonii, Amanita spreta
SUBGENUS AMANITA : Sec. VAGINATA (Type sp. is A. vaginata)
Many of the taxa have a membranous saccate volva (universal veil) on the stipe base and no partial veil. Examples: Amanita vaginata, Amanita fulva, Amanita ceciliae
SUBGENUS: LEPIDELLA
Spores are amyloid - color reaction with Meltzer’s solution
There are 4 sections. 2 have appendiculate margins (sec. Amidella and sec. Lepidella)
sec. Amidella has a robust, saccate volva
sec. Lepidella has an elongated base
2 have a pileus that is not appendiculate.
sec. Phalloideae has a limbate to saccate volva.
sec. Validae Several species have marginate bulbs.
SUBGENUS LEPIDELLA , sec LEPIDELLA
Appendiculate margin; most are white; have a radicating base; some have distinctive odors; no volva
Examples: Amanita rhopalopus, Amanita ravenelii, Amanita polypyramus, Amanita onusta, Amanita cokeri, Amanita abrupta
SUBGENUS LEPIDELLA sec. AMIDELLA Type: Amanita volvata
Spores darken when exposed to iodine (amyloid); flocculate and shredded appendiculate cap; saccate volva surrounding an elongate bulb. Often exhibit pink to reddish bruising. Unlike the Vaginatae, if they have striations they are small – not deep, & have a firm, not fragile, cup at the base (Type sp. Is Amanita vittadinii – Eur.), appendiculate margin; elongated bulb
Examples: Amanita volvata, Amanita pseudovolvata. Amanita peckiana
SUBGENUS LEPIDELLA: Sec. VALIDAE (Type sp. Amanita validus)
Amyloid spores - darken with iodine (Meltzer’s); Partial veil (annulate); White and colored, some are ‘blushers’, they exhibit reddish staining with bruising. (No universal veil, no appendiculate pileus) Examples: Amanita brunnescens (lrg cleft bulb), Amanita brunnescens var. pallida (no bulb), Amanita rubescens (no bulb), Amanita flavorubescens (no bulb), Amanita flavoconia small tough rounded bulb, Amanita citrina w/ soft, cottony bulb, smells of potatoes (edible in Europe, but awful taste)
SUBGENUS LEPIDELLA: sec. PHALLOIDES ( Type species: Amanita Phalloides)
Amyloid spores - darken with iodine exposure, No appendicate material on pileus edge, Annulate
All but one have limbate volva attached at top of basal bulb, White to colorful.
Examples: Amanita phalloides Death Cap. There is also a white version of Amanita phalloides, which has an old ham odor. Amanita bisporigera (virosa)