Amanita citrina

Known as the false death cap, or Citron Amanita, Amanita citrina (previously also known as Amanita mappa) is a basidiomycotic mushroom, one of many in the genus Amanita. It grows in silicate soil in the summer and autumn months. It bears a pale yellow or sometimes white cap, with white stem, ring and volva. Though not deadly, it is inedible and often confused for the lethal death cap (Amanita phalloides).

False death cap
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Fungi
Division:
Basidiomycota
Class:
Agaricomycetes
Subclass:
Agaricomycetidae
Order:
Agaricales
Family:
Amanitaceae
Genus:
Amanita
Species:
A. citrina
Binomial name
Amanita citrina
(Schaeff.) Pers., 1797
Synonyms

Amanita mappa (Batsch) Bertill.

Amanita citrina
float
Mycological characteristics
gills on hymenium
cap is flat
hymenium is free
stipe has a ring and volva
spore print is white
ecology is mycorrhizal
edibility: inedible

Description
Closer view of gills and ring of an Amanita citrina from Commanster, Belgium

This mushroom has a fleshy pale yellow, or sometimes white, cap from 4–10 cm (1.5–4 in) across, covered in irregular patches. The gills and flesh are white. There is a large volva at the base of the 6–8 cm (2.5–3 in) tall stem, which has a clear ring. This mushroom is not eaten, having a smell of rapeseed or potato. It is often confused with the related death cap mushroom (Amanita phalloides), hence the name.[1]

Distribution and habitat

The false death cap is found in deciduous and coniferous woodlands in Autumn in Europe.[1] It is also found in North American oak and pine forests.

Toxicity

It has been shown that this mushroom contains the alpha-amanitin toxin. However, the amounts of this toxin were found to be very small and would not cause any adverse effects unless the mushroom was ingested in very large amounts. Although it is considered inedible, the biggest danger with this species is its marked similarity to the death cap.[2]

  • A closer view of an emergent specimen
  • Amanita citrina from Commanster, Belgium
  • Amanita citrina at the 12-th countrywide mushroom exhibition 2008, Žofín, Prague, Czech Republic
  • A. citrina in Ukraine (Co-ordinates:49°19′20.03″N 28°33′29.20″E)

See also

References
  1. P. Jordan & S. Wheeler (2001). The Ultimate Mushroom Book. Hermes House.
  2. Phillips, Roger (2010). Mushrooms and Other Fungi of North America. Buffalo, NY: Firefly Books. p. 27. ISBN 978-1-55407-651-2.
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