Amanita pantherina (DC:Fries) Krombh.
Abbild. 4: Pl. 29. 1936.

Common Name: Panther

• Pileus

  Cap 4-15 cm broad, convex at first, then plane in age, viscid, margin striate; color variable: from buff-yellow (usually darker at the disc) to dark brown; universal veil remnants forming pointed warts. Odor mild.

• Lamellae

  Gills adnexed to free, white to cream, close.

• Stipe

  Stipe 7-11 cm long, 1-2.5 cm, tapering to a basal bulb. Partial veil membranous leaving a superior skirt-like ring. Universal veil forming a single roll or collar on the basal bulb.

• Spores

  Spores 9.5-13 x 7-9.5 µm, smooth, elliptical, nonamyloid. Spore print white.

• Habitat

  Scattered to gregarious under pine, especially Monterey pine from midwinter to spring. Because Monterey pine is widely planted in the San Francisco Bay area, the Panther Amanita is abundant and easily found in urban parks.

• Edibility

  Toxic, but normally not deadly. Contains ibotenic acid and muscimol.

• Comments

  Amanita pantherina is an extremely variable species in the S.F. Bay area with cap color varying from yellowish-buff to dark brown. Most collections fall in the former category. Amanita gemmata is similar but with a yellower cap. There is speculation that the two species hybridize locally causing the variation that is seen.

• Other Descriptions and Photos
  • Michael Wood: Amanita pantherina (CP) -- closeup of universal veil remnants on cap and paritial veil
  • Michael Wood: Amanita pantherina (CP) -- older, paler sporocarps
  • Michael Wood: Amanita pantherina (CP) -- closeup of veil and gills
  • Boleslaw Kuznik -- Hunting for Mushrooms: Amanita pantherina (CP)
  • Eileen's Mushroom Mania: Amanita pantherina (CP)
  • The Bad and Ugly: Amanita pantherina (D & CP)
  • Tom Volk: Amanita pantherina (CP)
  • Il Mondo dei Funghi: Amanita pantherina (D & CP)
  • Informationszentrale gegen Vergiftungen der Universiteat Bonn: Amanita pantherina (CP)
  • Sommario funghi: Amanita pantherina (D & CP)
  • Pilzgalerie.de: Amanita pantherina (CP)
  • Pilzgalerie.de: Amanita pantherina (CP)
  • Pilze, Pilze, Pilze: Amanita pantherina (CP)
  • Ammirati et al.: p. 179 (D), fig. 82 (I), figs. 88 & 89 (CP)
  • Arora (1985): p. 280 (D & P)
  • Arora (1991): p. 78 (D & CP)
  • Benjamin: Chapter 16 (Toxicity Info), plate 9 (CP)
  • Jordan: p. 198 (D & CP)
  • Jenkins: p. 39 (D), figs. 23 & 86 (CP)
  • Lincoff: p. 541, plates 130, 131, 679 (CP)
  • McKenny et al.: p. 38 (D & CP)
  • Miller: sp.11 (D & CP)
  • Phillips: p. 14, 17 (D), p. 15, 16 (CP)
  • Smith: sp. 122 (D & CP)
  • Smith & Weber: sp. 149 (D & CP)
  • Spoerke & Rumack, eds.: Chapter 12 (Toxicity Info)
  • Thiers (1982): p. 34 (D), p. 34a (CP)

  (D=Description; I=Illustration; P=Photo; CP=Color Photo)