Amanita novinupta

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by Michael Kuo

This is the "western version" of the eastern species Amanita rubescens, and it passed for many years under the same name, despite the observations of many West-Coast collectors. Amanita novinupta does "blush" like its eastern cousin, but it is a paler, stockier mushroom with a frequently bulging stem base. When in the button stage, Amanita novinupta is nearly pure white. Amanita novinupta is more likely to develop one broad patch on its cap, while Amanita rubescens typically develops many warts--but exceptions can be found with both species. Microscopic differences also separate this mushroom from Amanita rubescens.

Do not eat these or any other Amanitas!

Description:

Ecology: Mycorrhizal with hardwoods, especially oaks--and under conifers; fall, winter, and spring ("in fact," writes David Arora, "I've found it every month of the year!"); California, Oregon, British Columbia, Arizona, and New Mexico.

Cap: 3-11 cm; round, becoming convex or nearly flat; dry; surface appearing dusted or chalky at first, later shiny or satiny; white at first, then developing pink shades "that at times seem to be located beneath the surface" (Tulloss & Lindgren); eventually ivory to tan; bruising and discoloring pale pinkish or darker reddish brown; universal veil taking the form of whitish to pale pink warts, or, more frequently, one or more patches; the margin not lined, sometimes hung with a few veil remnants.

Gills: Free from the stem or slightly attached to it; whitish; close or crowded; bruising pinkish.

Stem: 2-15 cm long; 1-3 cm thick; slightly tapering to apex; usually with a prominent basal bulb; more or less smooth, or finely scaly; white; bruising pinkish to reddish; with a white, skirtlike ring; occasionally with a few universal veil remnants near the base, but without a prominent volva; solid or partially hollow in age.

Flesh: White throughout; staining pinkish to reddish on exposure.

Spore Print: White.

Microscopic Features: Spores 8-11 x 5.5 - 7 µ; smooth; elliptical; amyloid.

REFERENCES: Tulloss & Lindgren, 1994. (Thiers, 1982; Arora, 1986; Tulloss & Lindgren, 1994; Wood & Stevens, 2003; Tulloss, 2003.)

Further Online Information:

Amanita novinupta at Tulloss's Studies in Amanita
Amanita novinupta at MykoWeb

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Cite this page as:

Kuo, M. (2003, March). Amanita novinupta. Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.Com Web site: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/amanita_novinupta.html