Second opinion please - panthercap or grey spotted amanita

[pressld2]

Mornin' all!

I posted these images yesterday labelled as Panthercap - Amanita pantherina...



...but wildherbalian85 says it's a Grey Spotted Amanita - A. excelsa. From just looking at the pictures I'd stick with panthercap but from reading the descriptions, although I'm still uncertain, I'm coming down more on the side of grey spotted. Mainly because of the height of the ring and the fact that the stipe is lined above it - a bit easier to see in these images:



However, those images also show that the cap margin is "incurved and striate" which is descriptive of panthercap. And there was no smell of radish. A. excelsa var. excelsa lacks the smell but is "less common and more slender" - I wouldn't call this one slender!

I suspect that wildherbalian is right but would be interested to know how s/he was able to be so certain from the original photos. Is it just the height of the ring?

Dave P.

[Ken Burgess]

The remains of the veil on the cap are the most immediately apparent difference. Amanita pantherina has pure white spots, whereas in Amanita excelsa var. spissa, which yours specimens are, the veil is greyish.

Although the edge of the cap may appear lined in your photos, this is more because the cuticle is slightly radially fibrillose at the edge. A striate margin usually relates to the gills underneath, with the spacing of the striations matching up with the underlying gills. This is clearly not the case for your specimens.

You have already picked up on the striate ring, which is characteristic of Amanita excelsa var. spissa and not Amanita pantherina. The volva is also not very noticeable in the former but quite distinctive in the latter species.

Hope that helps.

Ken

[wildherbalian85]

Originally Posted by pressld2

Mornin' all!

I posted these images yesterday labelled as Panthercap - Amanita pantherina...



...but wildherbalian85 says it's a Grey Spotted Amanita - A. excelsa. From just looking at the pictures I'd stick with panthercap but from reading the descriptions, although I'm still uncertain, I'm coming down more on the side of grey spotted. Mainly because of the height of the ring and the fact that the stipe is lined above it - a bit easier to see in these images:



However, those images also show that the cap margin is "incurved and striate" which is descriptive of panthercap. And there was no smell of radish. A. excelsa var. excelsa lacks the smell but is "less common and more slender" - I wouldn't call this one slender!

I suspect that wildherbalian is right but would be interested to know how s/he was able to be so certain from the original photos. Is it just the height of the ring?

Dave P.

The pattern and colour of the veil remains was what i noted.

[pressld2]

Many thanks both - most helpful indeed!

Dave P.