Amanita battarrae

Morphological Features:

Pileus exceeding 10 cm in diameter, bell-shaped when young, gradually expanding to become finally flattened, and may even become slightly depressed at the center. It typically retains a characteristic obtuse umbo in the center. Its color is brown with distinct olivaceous tinges, darker towards the center, and fading towards the margin, which is striate.

Lamellae white, free from the stipe, with a crenulate edge, not too crowded.

Stipe quite long relative to the pileus, cylindrical and somewhat thickened at the base, brownish-gray marbled with olive, especially when young. Ring absent; volva sac-like, white spotted with ochre.

Flesh white, not very firm, with a mild taste and pleasant odor.

Habitat:

An autumnal fungus that fruits in coniferous forests and also under broadleaf trees. It is abundant in some areas. The photographed specimens are from mountain pine forests, at an altitude of 1300 meters.

Observations:

There is some confusion regarding the different taxa of the subgenus Amanitopsis. This is the fungus that we have classified all along as Amanita umbrinolutea, which however does not correspond to what is found in certain literature as Amanita battarrae. It is a large-statured fungus from mountain coniferous forests, which according to Régis Courtecuisse might represent Amanita umbrinolutea ssp autc., = Amanita fuscoolivacea, separated from Amanita battarrae. Let us see if we can collectively clarify the taxonomy of this subgenus.