Sunshine Amanita
A spring-fruiting species first described in 2005 and confined to the PNW this handsome species is toxic if consumed, and causes symptoms of nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, muscle spasms, disorientation, confusion, illusory misinterpretations and perhaps true hallucinations. It is likely that it contains toxins similar to Amanita muscaria, namely muscimol and ibotenic acid. It is found under pine and Douglas Fir, in sunny windbreaks, clearings, roadsides, etc. It may fruit solitarily or in groups. The caps may reach 9cm with stalks up to 7cm tall and 3cm across. The caps are lemon yellow to orangey yellow to apricot orange. Universal veil material is fairly tightly adherent to the cap forming large to scattered frosty white patches that can wash away in rain but which tend to be more persistent than veil material in other species. The gills are free, white and close to subdistant, with frequent short gills. The stalks bear a fragile and evanescent ring, with floccose material adherent below the ring zone. The universal veil forms a volva that has a free edge or may be ringlike (as seen here) or may disappear.