58 Oklahoma Native Plant Record Volume 20, December 2020 SOME COMMON AMANITA SPECIES OF OKLAHOMA Clark L. Ovrebo Department of Biology University of Central Oklahoma Edmond, OK 73034
[email protected] Jay Justice 16055 Michelle Drive Alexander, AR 72002 ABSTRACT Brief descriptions and photos are presented for twenty species of the mushroom genus Amanita that are common to Oklahoma. The descriptions and illustrations introduce mushroom morphology and terminology for Amanitas that are important for their identification. Short diagnoses are also presented for each of the seven sections of Amanita. The species are arranged according to their placement in each section. One species, A. persicina, has not yet been reported for Oklahoma but we include it with the speculation that it is present in the pine forests of eastern Oklahoma. Key words: Agaricomycetes, Amanitaceae, mushrooms, biodiversity INTRODUCTION present. The geographical “hot spot” that has the greatest diversity of Amanitas in Amanita is a charismatic genus because North America, and perhaps the entire of its reputation for having some of the world, is the Southeastern/Gulf Coast deadliest poisonous species, because of the regions of the United States. We cannot lore associated with several species, and estimate for sure how many species occur in because of their artistic beauty. Amanitas Oklahoma but it could be as many as one rank among the most photographed or hundred. painted of all wild mushrooms. Illustrations In this article, we report on and illustrate of Amanitas are frequently featured on tea some of the frequently encountered towels, coffee cups and many other kitchen Amanitas in Oklahoma.