Amanita excelsa var. spissa
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''Amanita excelsa'' var. ''spissa'' is a variety of basidiomycete fungus of the genus '' Amanita''. This large, grey to brown-capped fungus has a very variable appearance but is commonly encountered in coniferous and deciduous forests in Europe and North America. It is sometimes referred to by the common name grey spotted Amanita.


Description

The cap is around 10 cm in diameter when fully expanded, and is various shades of brown or brown/grey, sometimes washing off to buff. Younger specimens have grey veil remnants often in quite large; flat patches, but these are usually removed later by the weather. The mature
stem Stem or STEM may refer to: Plant structures * Plant stem, a plant's aboveground axis, made of vascular tissue, off which leaves and flowers hang * Stipe (botany), a stalk to support some other structure * Stipe (mycology), the stem of a mushro ...
is usually fairly long, and has a bulbous base which is without a discernible volva, having just several flaky ring zones instead. It is marked above the ring with vertical lines. The
ring Ring may refer to: * Ring (jewellery), a round band, usually made of metal, worn as ornamental jewelry * To make a sound with a bell, and the sound made by a bell :(hence) to initiate a telephone connection Arts, entertainment and media Film and ...
is large and white, and also has lines. The gills are crowded; white, and have a slight decurrent tooth. The flesh is white; smells of radish, and turns purple when H2SO4 is applied.


Similar species

* ''Amanita excelsa'' var. ''excelsa'' is the less common, and more slender true form, which is said to lack the 'radish' odour. *''
Amanita rubescens The blusher is the common name for several closely related species of the genus ''Amanita''. ''A. rubescens'' or the blushing amanita, is found in Europe and eastern North America, and ''A. novinupta'', also known as the new bride blushing aman ...
'' (The Blusher), which can be reduced to much the same colour by weather. *''
Amanita pantherina ''Amanita pantherina'', also known as the panther cap, false blusher, and the panther amanita due to its similarity to the true blusher ('' Amanita rubescens''), is a species of fungus found in Europe and Western Asia. Description *Cap: 5†...
'' (The Panther Cap), which is poisonous; has white veil remnants; a definite rim around the base of the stem, and looks like a brown ''
Amanita muscaria ''Amanita muscaria'', commonly known as the fly agaric or fly amanita, is a basidiomycete of the genus ''Amanita''. It is also a muscimol mushroom. Native throughout the temperate and boreal regions of the Northern Hemisphere, ''Amanita muscar ...
'' (Fly Agaric)


Distribution and habitat

''Amanita excelsa'' var. ''spissa'' occurs in Britain, Europe, and eastern
North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...
in summer, and autumn. Growing with both broad leaved and coniferous trees. ''A. excelsa'' var. ''spissa'' is considered by some authors to be the more common variety of ''
Amanita excelsa ''Amanita excelsa'', also known as the European false blushing amanita, is a species of agaric fungus in the family Amanitaceae. It is found in Asia, Europe, and North America, where it grows in deciduous forests. Amanita excelsa var. spissa is ...
''.


Edibility

Pronounced edible by some,Mall Vaasmaa. Meie kärbseseeni 2 but probably best avoided in case of confusion with '' A. pantherina''.


See also

* List of ''Amanita'' species


References

excelsa var. spissa Fungi of Europe Fungi of North America Fungi described in 2004 Taxa named by Elias Magnus Fries {{Amanitaceae-stub