Possible Amanita phalloides?

Gledders1075 · #1 (**permalink**) 05-09-2011, 04:55 PM

I came accross at least a dozen or so of these mushrooms on a walk through the woods today. I've read a lot about Amanita Phalloides but to date have never actually seen one. Sadly I only had my mobile phone on me so the pictures are not the best.

Mushrooms had,

A green tinge to the cap.
Smelled like a cheap 80's perfume (sorry best I can think of)
Growing under beech
Approx 15cm wide

And what makes me question that this is the elusive Death Cap,

No, vulva that I could see??
Pinkish gills.

Any positive ID's of what this one could be would, as always be gratefully received.

Thank you all.

Dave

MattPrince · #2 (**permalink**) 05-09-2011, 05:03 PM

If it was amanita phalloides var alba. (or a. virosa, or a. citrina) I'm surprised you couldn't find the sac - as it looks like you've dug it up correctly. I think its probably an agaricus.

BUT do NOT take this as advice on its edibility! Deathcap does exactly what it says on the tin and is suprisingly common.

Was the smell sort of aniseed like? (Another agaricus pointer)

MattPrince · #3 (**permalink**) 05-09-2011, 05:13 PM

The general shape *is* very reminsent of an amanita.

Keep looking and it won't be too long before you spot the sickly olive green of the definite article.

Here in Devon I've had a. gemmata, a. muscaria and a. excelsia so far this year, but no phalloides or citrina as of yet.

One day I hope to see virosa...

NickCantle · #4 (**permalink**) 05-09-2011, 05:22 PM

This is without a doubt, Agaricus. The pink gills are a sign that it's not too old- these will brown with age.

Amanita gills are white from emergence to decay.

Gledders1075 · #5 (**permalink**) 05-09-2011, 05:29 PM

Thanks for that Matt, the smell is hard to describe. Very sweet smelling, I suppose maybe a background hint of aniseed but not overpowering. As for the colour, it did have a lurid sort of green cap not seen in the photo very well...

As for the Destroying Angel, I have not seen one of these either but I did come across a good Panther Cap last year. All interesting stuff anyway!

Oh and I had absolutely no intention of eating this, I don't have a spare liver or set of kidneys (and if I did I would rather put them to use after a real ale festival)

...

Gledders1075 · #6 (**permalink**) 05-09-2011, 05:34 PM

Thanks Nick, I will have to keep searching for my first Amanita phalloides then

!

Hopefully with all this rain we're having there should be plenty to see in the woods this year...

NickCantle · #7 (**permalink**) 05-09-2011, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gledders1075

Thanks Nick, I will have to keep searching for my first Amanita phalloides then

!

Hopefully with all this rain we're having there should be plenty to see in the woods this year...

Do you know, it's funny but lots of people on WAB are always very angsty to see A. phalloides yet I've been for a walk today and have seen loads. They just bore me a bit now! I wonder if when you see your first, you'll subsequently see millions!

Ken Burgess · #8 (**permalink**) 05-09-2011, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickCantle

I wonder if when you see your first, you'll subsequently see millions!

Not in my case. Just see it occasionally.

Ken

NickCantle · #9 (**permalink**) 05-09-2011, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Burgess

Not in my case. Just see it occasionally.

Ken

Really? I wonder if it's solely a habitat thing. The forests here are predominantly Pine & Birch but even in the small copses of Oak there are Death Caps. S'pose I should appreciate 'em more!