Saturday, 04 February 2012

Amanita inopinata

Facts
Common Name: 
Amanita inopinata
Scientific Name: 
Amanita inopinata
Cap Diameter (mm): 
25-80mm
Stem Height (mm): 
45-70mm
Stem Diameter (mm): 
4-19mm
Information
Description: 

There is great curiosity as to where this strange species could have originated. At present, it seems most likely to have come from New Zealand.

Habitat: 

With broadleaf trees including Acer, Aesculus, Chamaecyparis, Fraxinus, Ilex, Picea and Taxus.

Cap: 

 Convex or applanate, finally shallowly concave with a downward curved margin, entirely covered with a thick, cottony, pale grey-brown felt which disrupts into very prominent darker pyramidal warts.

Flesh: 

The flesh is white.

Gills: 

The gills are rounded at the margin and at times are tinged salmon coloured.

Stem: 

Cylindrical to slightly enlarged below before tapering to a rooting base, with the lower portion at first densely spotted with very dark grey to almost black floccose scales, soon disappearing, leaving the lower part of the stem densely flecked with delicate, dark blackish brown, hair-like fibrils with recurved tips on a dirty salmon to bright tawny background, finally passing into blackish grey-brown. The volva may also be present as irregular bands of grey to nearly black material on the stem.

Additional Notes: 

Amanita inopinata, an extremely rare species in Britain - It seems to be confined to churchyards in Britain, usually associated with yew (ref: Nick Legon)