Amanita citrina

False death cap 235px Scientific classification Kingdom: Fungi Division: Basidiomycota Class: Agaricomycetes Subclass: Agaricomycetidae Order: Agaricales Family: Amanitaceae Genus: Amanita Species: A. citrina Binomial name Amanita citrina (Schaeff.) Pers., 1797 Synonyms Amanita mappa (Batsch) Bertill. Amanita citrina Mycological characteristics gills on hymenium cap is flat hymenium is free stipe has a ring and volva spore print is white ecology is mycorrhizal edibility: edible

Known as the false death cap, or Citron Amanita, Amanita citrina (previously also known as Amanita mappa), is a basidiomycotic mushroom, one of many in the genus Amanita. It grows in silicate soil in the summer and autumn months. It bears a pale yellow or sometimes white cap, with white stem, ring and volva. Though it is not poisonous, its similarity to the lethal death cap (Amanita phalloides) precludes its use in cooking.

Description

File:Amanita.citrina2.-.lindsey.jpg

Closer view of gills and ring of an Amanita citrina from Commanster, Belgium.

This mushroom has a fleshy pale yellow, or sometimes white, cap from 4–10 cm (1.5–4 in) across, covered in irregular patches. The gills and flesh are white. There is a large volva at the base of the 6–8 cm (2.5–3 in) tall stem, which has a clear ring. This mushroom is not eaten, having a smell of rapeseed or potato. It is often confused with the related death cap mushroom (Amanita phalloides), hence the name.

Distribution and habitat

The false death cap is found in deciduous and coniferous woodlands in Autumn in Europe. It is also found in North American oak and pine forests.

Toxicity

Scientific tests in the University of Cambridge have shown that this mushroom contains the alpha-amanitin toxin. However, the amounts of this toxin were found to be very small and would not cause any adverse effects unless the mushroom was ingested in very large amounts. The biggest danger with this species is its marked similarity to the death cap, which is reason enough to avoid it, even though it is edible.

Gallery

• Amanita citrina3.jpg

  A closer view of an emergent specimen.

• Amanita.citrina.-.lindsey.jpg

  Amanita citrina from Commanster, Belgium.

• Amanita citrina 1.jpg

  Amanita citrina at the 12-th countrywide mushroom exhibition 2008, Žofín, Prague, Czech Republic.

• Amanita citrina 2010 G1.jpg

  A. citrina in Ukraine (Co-ordinates:).

See also

• List of Amanita species

External links

• Amanita citrina on Mushroomexpert.com