''Amanita farinosa'', commonly known as the Eastern American floury amanita or the American floury amanita,
is a
North American
poisonous mushroom
Mushroom poisoning is poisoning resulting from the ingestion of mushrooms that contain toxic substances. Its symptoms can vary from slight gastrointestinal discomfort to death in about 10 days. Mushroom toxins are secondary metabolites produc ...
of the genus ''
Amanita
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 resul ...
'', a genus of fungi including some of the most deadly mushrooms.
Taxonomy
Two recent molecular studies show that ''Amanita farinosa'' is part of a subgroup within ''
Amanita
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 resul ...
'' with its close relatives ''
Amanita muscaria'', ''
A. gemmata'' and ''
A. roseotincta''.
[Drehmel D, Moncalvo J-M, & Vilgalys R. (1999). Molecular phylogeny of ''Amanita'' based on large subunit ribosomal DNA sequences: implications for taxonomy and character evolution.
''Mycologia'' 91:610-618]
Description
The cap is 2.5–7 cm (1–2.8 inches) in diameter, domed in young and flat in older specimens, with a striate margin. It is whitish grey and covered with brownish grey volval or mealy material. The
gill
A gill () is a respiratory organ that many aquatic organisms use to extract dissolved oxygen from water and to excrete carbon dioxide. The gills of some species, such as hermit crabs, have adapted to allow respiration on land provided they are ...
s are white. They may be attached to the stem or free. They are close and crowded and not bruising. The stem, or the stipe, lacks a ring and at its base a smallish bulb or
volva. It measures up to 6.5 cm high, 1–3 centimeters thick. The stem is white to tan in color.
[Kuo, M. (2008, March). Amanita farinosa. Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.Com Web site: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/amanita_farinosa.html] The spores are white. They are 5.5–8 x 6–8 µm in measurement and inamyloid. The spores are smooth and round to broadly elliptical. The flesh is white in color. It doesn't stain on exposure.
In old specimens, the smell can be strong and that of
mink.
Distribution and habitat
An uncommon mushroom, it is found across North America in late summer to late autumn in
coniferous or
deciduous
In the fields of horticulture and Botany, the term ''deciduous'' () means "falling off at maturity" and "tending to fall off", in reference to trees and shrubs that seasonally shed leaves, usually in the autumn; to the shedding of petals, ...
woodlands.
See also
*
List of ''Amanita'' species
Footnotes
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1934877
farinosa
Poisonous fungi
Fungi of North America
Fungi of Central America
Fungi of Mexico
Fungi described in 1822
Fungi without expected TNC conservation status