''Amanita calyptroderma'' also known as coccora, coccoli or the Pacific amanita, is a white-spored mushroom that fruits naturally in the coastal forests of the western United States during the fall and winter and spring.

Description

This mushroom's cap is about 10–25 cm in diameter, usually orange-brown in color (but sometimes white), and partially covered by a thick white patch of universal veil. It has white, close gills. Its cream-colored stalk is about 10–20 cm in length and 2–4 cm in width, adorned with a partial veil. It has a partially hollow stem (filled with a stringy white pith), and a large, sacklike volva at the base of the stalk. The spores of this species, which are white, do not change color when placed in a solution of Melzer's reagent, and thus are termed inamyloid. This characteristic in combination with the skirt-like

annulus Annulus (or anulus) or annular indicates a ring- or donut-shaped area or structure. It may refer to: Human anatomy * ''Anulus fibrosus disci intervertebralis'', spinal structure * Annulus of Zinn, a.k.a. annular tendon or ''anulus tendineus com ...

and absence of a bulb at the base of the stalk place this mushroom in the section ''Caesareae''.

Distribution and habitat

This mushroom occurs in

conifer Conifers are a group of conifer cone, cone-bearing Spermatophyte, seed plants, a subset of gymnosperms. Scientifically, they make up the phylum, division Pinophyta (), also known as Coniferophyta () or Coniferae. The division contains a single ...

forests, forming 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 The Douglas fir (''Pseudotsuga menziesii'') is an evergreen conifer species in the pine family, Pinaceae. It is native to western North America and is also known as Douglas-fir, Douglas spruce, Oregon pine, and Columbian pine. There are three va ...

''(Pseudotsuga menziesii'').

Edibility

Experienced mushroom hunters regard this mushroom as a good edible species, but caution must be exercised when collecting ''A. calyptroderma'' 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'' and '' A. ocreata''.

Similar species

Amanita vernicoccora The genus ''Amanita'' contains about 600 species of agarics, including some of the most toxic known mushrooms found worldwide, as well as some well-regarded edible species. This genus is responsible for approximately 95% of the fatalities result ...

'' is a closely related edible species, which fruits in hilly or mountainous areas from late winter to spring. Otherwise similar in appearance, its cap is yellow. '' A. caesarea'' is also related and edible. The deadly poisonous ''A. phalloides'' is similar in appearance.

References

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