Amanita torrendii

Morphological Features:

Pileus very small; in collected specimens, the diameter ranged between 0.5 and 1.5 cm, occasionally exceeding 2 cm less frequently. It has a globose shape, sometimes somewhat irregular or subglobose; it never expands or flattens as it encloses the fertile part of the basidiocarp in the form of a gleba. The margin is rounded and closed over the stipe. It is whitish or grayish in color; the surface of younger specimens is felted or granular and later becomes glabrous, with the granulations sometimes tending to turn ochre. It usually bears a remnant of the universal veil that detaches with extreme ease, and it is common to find this fragment near the basidiocarp.

Gleba whitish or rather cream-colored; it is not compact but provided with small cavities that give it an alveolate appearance. It constitutes the fertile part or hymenial zone of the basidiocarp, as it completely lacks lamellae.

Stipe central and cylindrical, tapering towards the apex, elongated relative to the pileus, 3 to 5 cm in length. It is white in color and usually smooth or, more frequently, fibrillose, lacking a ring. It detaches easily from the pileus and is fragile.

Volva free, white in color, very fragile, broad, and not adnate. As a consequence of these characteristics, it is difficult to extract a specimen without leaving the volva behind.

Habitat:

A highly localized species of Mediterranean climate; it appears in the southern and eastern parts of the peninsula in very specific areas and is absent from the north and center. Due to this restricted distribution, it must be considered rare and worthy of protection. It exhibits gregarious growth, appearing in groups of numerous specimens under favorable conditions. It fruits on sandy soils associated with various tree species such as holm oak, cork oak, or pine, both in spring and autumn. The photographed specimens were found in Monesterio (Badajoz) alongside our friends from the local association "Pie Azul".

Observations:

A small and fragile species with a controversial taxonomic position. It possesses a volva like Amanita species, yet lacks lamellae and instead has a gleba. This has led to two trends: the one established in 2010 advocating for its inclusion within the genus Amanita, which we have followed, and the other trend of continuing to classify it among the Gasteromycetes as Torrendia, disregarding the study conducted by Justo, Morgenstern, Hallen.Adams & Gilbert. Based on its peculiar macroscopic characteristics, we consider it an unmistakable species; we find no resemblance to any other.