Amanita concentrica : Devil's Apple Amanita

Technical description (t.b.d.)

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

The convex cap of Amanita concentrica is up to 80 (or more) mm wide, white to cream with its center tending to become somewhat tan. The flesh is white or faintly orangish white. The margin is slightly striate and usually nonappendiculate, although pieces of the annulus may be left there in some specimens. The volval warts on the pileus are white often pyramidal; in age their tips become brownish. The cap’s skin does not peel very well.

The gills are white to yellowish white with a minutely fibrillose edge.

The stipe is about 80 × 7 mm, slender, narrowing upward, white, covered with flocculence above which is creamy white at first and then Titian red after handling. The lower stipe may have rings of white volva as on sees in Amanita muscaria (L.:Fr.) Pers. The flesh is white. The stipe’s bulb is ventricose to subnapiform with white “threads” of mycelium extending from the bottom third. The upper part of the bulb has its surface broken into rings of firm, recurved scales tipped with volval material.

The spores are (7.0-) 7.2 – 10.8 (-15.5) × (5.8-) 6.5 – 9.5 (-11.0) µm and are subglobose to broadly ellipsoid and inamyloid. Clamps are common at bases of basidia.

This species strongly suggests a species of Amanita section Lepidella; however, the spores are clearly inamyloid. The rings of volva on the stipe and the presence of plentiful clamps suggest an affinity with Amanita muscaria.

Amanita concentrica occurs with Castanopsis and Quercus.

This species was originally described from Japan. It has been found recently in Nepal and northern India where it appears to be rather common. Consequently, it is very likely to be found in southern China. — R. E. Tulloss and Zhu L. Yang

Photos: K. C. Semwal and Dr. R. P. Bhatt (Uttaranchal State, India)