National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

Klamath Network Featured Creature February 2014

Death Cap, Destroying Angel, Coccora, ect. ( spp.)

General Description: Edibility: Some Amanita are edible, How could one not be intrigued by Where to See it and Habitat: Most others are deadly poisonous. In fact names like Death Cap, Destroying Amanita are ectomycorrhizal, meaning 90% of all poisonings are Angel, or Fly Amanita? These are all they attach to the outside of tree roots in from Amanita!! Proper identification common names given to members of the symbiotic relationship. Thus when of an Amanita is paramount before Amanita genus: some of the world’s best looking for Amanita you ingesting!! Arguably the most famous known and most recognizable fungi. need to be near trees. Different species of Amanita is , also Much of this recognition is due to the Amanita have different associations with known as fly or fly amanita. combination of beauty and danger. Some trees species, some prefer hardwoods This mushroom is well known and members are deadly poisonous. while some prefer conifers. A keen eye documented throughout history for its are gilled mushrooms medium could find an Amanita in any treed area hallucinogenic properties. to large in size (5-30cm in diameter), of the Klamath Parks. However it would Interestingly, Danish historian Samuel usually with pale gills, and a have be unlikely to find one in the arid Odman claimed that the ferocious variety of cap colors. A distinctive and environment of Lava Beds national Viking Berserkers would eat A. interesting feature of the Amanita genus Monument. muscaria before battle. Its recreational is the universal veil use is limited due to unpleasant side effects. However, (and also A universal veil is a tissue enclosing the fascinating, if disgusting) these side entire button mushroom. It serves to effects can be minimized by drinking protect the immature mushroom, and the urine of those who have consumed makes it look rather like an egg. When the mushroom recently. sliced in cross-section, button mushrooms encased in universal veils reveal the mushroom-to-be inside. The universal veil is ruptured by the growing mushroom, and it may disappear entirely or leave warts or patches on the cap of the mature mushroom--and/or fragments at the base of the stem. Image of Amanita muscaria from wikipedia Reproduction: Amanita are in the fungi Phylum . Unlike most fungi, basidiomycota reproduce sexually as opposed to asexually. This group of fungi produces basidia (singular ). The club shaped Basidia are the reproductive organs of these fungi.Two different mating strains are required for the fusion of genetic material in the basidium which is © followed by meiosis producing Mushroomexpert.com basidiospores. Mycelia of different mating strains combine to produce a Additional Information: secondary mycelium that contains http://www.mushroomexpert.com/aman haploid basidiospores, where the fungi ita.html remains until a (mushroom) is generated with the developing basidia Field guide to mushrooms of Westerm http://www.naturephoto-cz.com on the gills under its cap. North America.