Amanita crocea, the saffron ringless amanita,[2] is a species of Amanita widely distributed in Europe. It is not recommended for consumption due to its similarity to poisonous species of the genus.
Cap: The cap is free of rings with the volva and has a diameter of 5–10 centimetres (2–4 inches), yellow-orange in colour with an apricot tinge at the centre. It expands to become flat or sometimes convex at the umbo, a small raised central area.
Volva: Thick, white, at least 4–10 cm (1+1⁄2–4 in) wide, saffron orange or a little browner than that in colour in the centre when fresh and paler at the margin.
Gills: Gills are free and cream in mass (sometimes with a slight salmon or pinkish reflection, and 2–3± millimetres broad.)
Stem/stipe: The stem or stipe is 10–15 cm (4–6 in) long and 1–1.5 cm in diameter, tapering, decorated with paler fibrils in a "flame" pattern, with the decoration later becoming orange or brown-orange (darker than the underlying stipe surface) with a membranous sack-like volva at the base.
Spores: The white spores measure (8.0-) 9.4 - 11.8 (-18.8) x (7.5-) 8.5 - 11.0 (-16.0) μm.[3][4]
It is similar to Amanita fulva (orange-brown ringless amanita or tawny grisette) and A. caesarea (Caesar's mushroom), belonging to the Vaginatae and Caesareae sections of the Amanita genus, respectively.
The edible tawny grisette is a basidiomycetemushroom located in North America and Europe.[5] It is easily confused with the 'death cap', though is not as substantial. The structure is relatively flimsy and the hollow stem often breaks, even when handled very gently.[6] It has fibres on its stalk usually.[7]
The second similar species, the Caesar's mushroom, is the type species (a species to which the name of a genus is permanently linked) of the Caesareae section of the genus Amanita. It has a distinctive orange cap, yellow gills and stem. Similar orange-capped species occur in North America and India.[8][9]
The fungi can occur infrequently between July and October in mycorrhizal with hardwood trees, particularly birch and beech in clearings. Its odour is sweet-smelling and it has a mildly nutty sweet taste.[10] It has also been reported from Iran.[11]
^Bahram, M; Asef, M. R.; Zarre, Sh.; M. Abbasi; S. Reidl (2006). "Addition to the knowledge of Amanita (Agaricales, Pluteaceae) from Iran". Rostaniha. 7 (2): 107–119. ISSN1608-4306.
^Phillips, Roger (2010). Mushrooms and Other Fungi of North America. Buffalo, NY: Firefly Books. p. 22. ISBN978-1-55407-651-2.
