UK Fungi

Amanita or similar?

Forums › Forums › Fungi ID requests (post here if you aren’t sure what type of fungus you’ve found) › Amanita or similar?

  • This topic is empty.
Viewing 3 posts - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • August 3, 2017 at 6:07 pm #30698
    jimmymac2

      Hello everyone

      This is what I assume to be an Amanita or a similar fungus. It was found growing at Old Lodge SWT, a reserve set in the middle of the heathland of Ashdown Forest. It was growing in a part with few trees, however it was under a solitary Oak with none others nearby. I’m having trouble matching it to any of the Amanitas in Phillips – thick stipe coupled with a dark-centred brown cap – so I’ve either overlooked something or it’s in a different genus.

      On the thick stipe was a noticeable white veil. The spore print was also white.

      Any IDs much appreciated!

      James

      August 3, 2017 at 7:27 pm #40164
      adampembs
      Keymaster

        The first thing to check for with an Amanita is the presence of a volva or bulbous base. If you use your knife to scrape away soil from the base, you can sometimes see this for the purpose of a photo.

        A gill shot is essential, showing gill attachment to the stem. I assume you collected it.

        Here is a lovely example (I usually frown on external images, as new finds are good to be seen here first, the poster keeps copyright, and some sources are questionable, but Wikimedia is a trustworthy one)

        [img]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/99/Amanita_phalloides_1.JPG[/img]

        August 4, 2017 at 12:38 pm #40165
        jimmymac2

          Hi Adam

          I didn’t personally see a clear volva however there may have been a less distinct one present. On this occasion I refrained from uprooting or collecting the fungus, except for a tiny portion of the cap for a spore deposit. I normally wouldn’t do this however it is a very special reserve and there was only a single fruiting body. It’s a well recorded reserve too, so I’m sure that there’s a high chance of the species, whatever it is, already being recorded here.

          On other occasions, when it’s not on a special reserve or there is more than one fruiting body, I would have uprooted it to see the gills.

          James

        • Author
          Posts
        Viewing 3 posts - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)
        • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.