After the last post about one of the most infamous mushrooms on the planet (nevertheless, a beautiful wonder of nature), today we're going to continue focusing on the Amanita genus.
This time, I'm going to talk about Amanita pantherina (DC.) Krombh., commonly known as Panthercap!
So, this is also a mycorrhizal mushroom that occurs in mainland Europe - especially in southern Europe where it's much more common - and also in western Asia.
Quick identification:
- The cap is approximately 5 to 12 cm in diameter; it's hemispheric at first and then convex to plane; it's smooth, with traces of the universal veil in the form of numerous concentrically arranged white scales or warts (easily detachable); it has a very striated margin; its color is variable: it can be dark brown, grayish brown or purple brown; slimy when wet.
- The hymenium is composed of free, crowded, white or greyish-white gills.
- The stem (6-15 cm x 0.5-1.5 cm) is cylindrical (subcylindrical) and white; flocculent; narrows from the base to the top; bulbous base.
- The ring is simple, persistent, membranous and fragile; white in color; slightly fluted.
- The volva is white (sometimes greyish at maturity), flocculent and hemispherical; forms concentric circles of scales at the base of the stem (like a "curled sock").
Habitat: It's an ectomycorrhizal species, common in hardwood (e.g. holm oak, cork oak, chestnut, beech, eucalyptus) and softwood (e.g. pine) forests.
WARNING: It is an inedible TOXIC species.
PHOTOS (all the following photos were taken in the Alentejo region, southern Portugal).
Amanita pantherina © David Germano | All rights reserved.
Amanita pantherina © David Germano | All rights reserved.
