Springtime Amanita :

Bittersweet Orange Ringless Amanita
Amanita velosa

This pinkish-buff to orange-buff mushroom is a prized edible found in hardwood duff during late winter and spring.

Appearance

Cap is pinkish-buff to orange-buff, smooth with grooved margins about 5-11 cm. wide
Often has a white, cottony universal veil patch on top
Thick volva at the base
True gills present on the underside of the cap
Spore print white
Stipe (stem) is white, 4-11 cm. tall and 1-2.5 cm. thick
Grows alone or scattered

ID Tips

May be confused with the deadly Western destroying angel (A. ocreata)
- Springtime aminata
  - Cap has grooved margins
  - Usually has a white, cottony universal veil patch on top
  - Lacks a ring of tissue (annulus) around its stipe (stem)
  - Has a thick volva at the base
- Western destroying angel
  - Cap has smooth margins
  - Usually lacks the cottony universal veil patch
  - Has a ring of tissue (annulus) around its stipe (stem)
  - Has a thin volva at the base

At Edgewood

See iNaturalist for observations in Edgewood

About

Basidiomycetes – a major lineage of fungi that usually produce spores within basidia (club-like structures)
Found in late winter and spring
Grows in hardwood duff, especially that of coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia)
Edibility (San Mateo County Parks prohibits removal of any natural material)
- Edible; considered one of the best edible mushrooms
- Unless you are an expert, do not pick and consume wild mushrooms

Fun Facts

As it matures, produces a fishy fragrance, and the ability for humans to smell this odor is genetically determined
Amanita mushrooms are responsible for approximately 95% of fatalities associated with mushroom ingestion

Learn More

Kuo, M. 2021, Mar. The gilled mushrooms. MushroomExpert.Com.

Roehl, T. 2017, Jul. 14. #013: Characteristics of division Basidiomycota. Fungus Fact List. Fungus Fact Friday.

Roehl, T. 2017, Jul. 7. #027: Gilled mushrooms (agarics). Fungus Fact List. Fungus Fact Friday.

Roehl, T. 2017, Jul. 7. #172: The genus Amanita. Fungus Fact List. Fungus Fact Friday.

References

Bolla, K.I., and J.L. Cadet. 2007. Exogenous acquired metabolic disorders of the nervous system. C.G. Goetz (Ed.) Textbook of Clinical Neurology (3rd ed.).

Desjardin, D.E., M.G. Wood, and F.A. Stevens. 2016. California Mushrooms: The Comprehensive Identification Guide. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon.

Viess, D. 2024. Amanita velosa, the “springtime amanita”. Mushroom of the Month Archive. Bay Area Mycological Society.

Wood, M., and F. Stevens. 2023. Amanita velosa. The Fungi of California. MykoWeb.