Species details
Grey spotted amanita
Amanita excelsa
Extra caution required
Photo: Jose Angel Urquia Goitia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo source · License
Description
A grey-brown amanita with whitish to grey warts, a ring, and a bulbous base.
Identification features
The upper surface of the ring is often finely striate, and the base lacks a clear sac-like volva. Confusion with the panther cap is very dangerous.
Identification checklist
The cap is grey-brown to brown with grey rather than pure white patches. Gills are white and the upper ring surface is usually finely striate. The bulbous base lacks sharply cut concentric rims, and the flesh does not redden when damaged.
Detailed features
- Cap
- Up to about 15 cm, ash-grey to sooty brown, hemispherical at first then expanded; often with pale grey patches and a smooth margin.
- Hymenophore
- Gills white, crowded and broad, free or nearly free from the stem.
- Stem
- Up to about 15 × 2 cm, white and sometimes very long, with a ring striate on its upper surface; base swollen, without a free sac-like volva.
- Flesh
- White, without characteristic reddening or other strong colour change.
- Smell
- Often of raw potato.
- Spore print
- White.
Size
- Cap diameter
- ≤ 15 cm
- Stem height
- ≤ 15 cm
- Stem diameter
- ≤ 2 cm
Habitat
In deciduous and coniferous woodland, often on mildly acidic soil.
Fruiting period
June, July, August, September, October
Ecology
- Trophic mode
- Mycorrhizal
- Host trees
- Beech (Fagus), Spruce (Picea)
- Notes
- A mycorrhizal species of beech and mixed woodland, fruiting from late spring into late autumn.
Distribution
- Notes
- Widespread in European beech and mixed woodland.
How to separate similar species
Panther cap often has purer white warts, a smooth upper ring surface, and sharp concentric rims at the base. Blusher characteristically turns pink to red when damaged.
Similar species
- Panther cap (Amanita pantherina) DANGEROUS
Panther cap has a smooth upper ring surface, cleaner white warts, and sharply rimmed bands on the bulbous base.
- Blusher (Amanita rubescens)
Blusher characteristically turns pink to wine-red when damaged; grey spotted amanita does not.
Interesting facts
Did you know? The striate upper surface of the ring is an important character when comparing it with panther cap.