Amanita velosa (Peck) Lloyd
Mycol. Writ. I: Volv. 9, 15. 1898.

Common Name: Spring Amanita

• Pileus

  Cap 5-11 cm broad, ovoid, becoming convex, then nearly plane, margin conspicuously grooved or striate; surface viscid when moist, smooth, pinkish-buff to orange-buff, fading in age to buff-brown, typically partially covered with a cottony white patch; flesh thick, white, not staining.

• Lamellae

  Gills close, white, sometimes with pinkish tones in age, attachment variable: free to slightly adnate or adnexed.

• Stipe

  Stipe 4-11 cm tall, 1.0-2.5 cm thick, equal or tapering to a enlarged base; surface white, smooth to pruinose above, sometimes scaly below, partial veil absent but a velar scar or zone may be present; universal veil forming a membranous, white cup-like volva at the base.

• Spores

  Spores 8.5-12 x 7-11 µm, elliptical, smooth, nonamyloid; spore print white.

• Habitat

  Solitary to scattered under hardwoods during the spring; in our area associated Quercus agrifolia (California Liveoak).

• Edibility

  Edible and excellent, but not often recommended due to the possibility of confusion with deadly Amanitas, e.g. Amanita ocreata, which also fruits with California Liveoak in the spring.

• Comments

  Amanita velosa is one of our more attractive and distinctive Amanitas. It is recognized by a pinkish-buff to orange-buff, cap, usually partially covered by a conspicuous white universal veil patch, a striate cap margin, and the absence of an annulus. It is most likely to be confused with another spring Amanita, A. novinupta, which also has a pinkish-brown cap, but the latter has warts rather a cottony cap patch, and has an annulus. Amanita ocreata, a deadly species, is white to cream-colored, but may become pale-buff in age, thus the possible confusion with A. velosa. Amanita ocreata can however, be distinguished by the presence of an annulus, usually the lack of cottony cap patch, non-striate cap margin, and a thin sac-like rather than thick membranous volva.

• References

  Jenkins, David T. (1986). Amanita of North America. Mad River Press: Eureka, CA. 197 p.
  Smith, A.H. & Rea, P.M. (1944). Fungi of Southern California -- II. Mycologia 36(2): 125-137.
  Smith, A.H. (1949). Mushrooms in their Natural Habitats. Sawyer's Inc: Portland, OR. 626 p.
  Thiers, Harry D. (1982). The Agaricales (Gilled Fungi) of California. 1. Amanitaceae. Mad River Press: Eureka, CA. 53 p.

• Other Descriptions and Photos
  • Terry Goyan: Amanita velosa (CP)
  • Ari Kornfeld: Amanita velosa (CP)
  • Fred Stevens: Amanita velosa (CP)
  • Bob West: Amanita velosa (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Amanita velosa (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Amanita velosa (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Amanita velosa (CP)
  • Beverly Hackett: Amanita velosa (I)
  • Beverly Hackett: Amanita velosa (I)
  • Beverly Hackett: Amanita velosa (I)
  • Rod Tulloss: Amanita velosa (D & CP)
  • Nathan Wilson: Amanita velosa (CP)
  • Mushroom Observer: Amanita velosa (CP)
  • MushroomExpert.com: Amanita velosa (D & CP)
  • Robert Rich: Amanita velosa (D & CP)
  • Bob Summers: Amanita velosa (CP)
  • Mushroom Observer: Amanita velosa (CP)
  • Arora (1986): p. 286 (D), plate 64 (CP)
  • Arora (1991): p. 71 (D & CP)
  • Lincoff: p. 550 (D), plate 148 (CP)
  • Thiers (1982): p. 42 (D), p. 42a (CP)
  
  

  (D=Description; I=Illustration; P=Photo; CP=Color Photo)