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Amanita

(Genus)

Overview

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The genus Amanita contains about 600 species of agarics including some of the most toxic known mushrooms found worldwide. This genus is responsible for approximately 95% of the fatalities resulting from mushroom poisoning, with the death cap accounting for about 50% on its own. The most potent toxin present in these mushrooms is a-amanitin.

The genus also contains many edible mushrooms, but mycologists generally discourage amateur mushroom hunters from selecting these for human consumption. Nonetheless, in some cultures, the larger local edible species of Amanita are mainstays of the markets in the local growing season. Samples of this are Amanita zambiana and other fleshy species in central Africa, A. basii and similar species in Mexico, A. caesarea in Europe, and A. chepangiana in South-East Asia. Other species are used for coloring sauces, such as the red A. jacksonii with a range from eastern Canada to eastern Mexico.

Many species are of unknown edibility, especially in countries such as Australia where many fungi are little-known. Understandably, this is not a genus that lends itself to safe experimentation.

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The name is possibly derived from Amanon, a mountain in Cilicia.

The genus Amanita was first published with its current meaning by Christian Hendrik Persoon in 1797.[1] Under the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature, Persoon's concept of Amanita, with Amanita muscaria (L.) Pers. as the type species, has been officially conserved against the older Amanita Boehm (1760) which is considered a synonym of Agaricus L.[2]

Toxicity

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A. phalloides (deadly)

Several members of the section Phalloidieae are notable for their toxicity, containing toxins known as amatoxins which can cause liver failure and death. These include the death cap A. phalloides, species known as destroying angels including A. virosa, A. bisporigera and A. ocreata and the fool's mushroom A. verna.

More recently, a series in the subgenus Lepidella have been found to cause acute renal failure, including A. smithiana of Northwestern North America, A. pseudoporphyria of Japan, and A. proxima of southern Europe.[3]

Edibility

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A. caesarea (edible)

Although there are a few species of edible amanita, many fungi experts advise against eating a member of amanita unless the species is known with absolute certainty.[citation needed] Because so many species within this genus are so deadly toxic, if a specimen is identified incorrectly, consumption may cause extreme sickness and possibly death.

Edible species of Amanita include Amanita fulva (grisette), Amanita vaginata, Amanita calyptrata (coccoli), Amanita crocea, and Amanita rubescens (blusher). [4]

Inedible species of Amanita include Amanita albocreata (Ringless Panther), Amanita atkinsoniana, Amanita citrina, Amanita daucipes, Amanita excelsa, Amanita flavoconia, Amanita franchetti, Amanita jacksonii (American Caesar's Mushroom)), Amanita longipes, Amanita magniverrucata, Amanita onusta, Amanita rhopalopus, Amanita silvicola, Amanita sinicoflava, Amanita spreta, and Amanita volvata.

Poisonous species include Amanita brunnescens, Amanita cecilae, Amanita cokeri (Coker's Amanita), Amanita crenulata, Amanita farinosa (Eastern American Floury Amanita), Amanita flavorubescens, Amanita frostiana, Amanita pantherina (Panther cap), and Amanita porphyria.

Deadly poisonous species include Amanita abrupta, Amanita arocheae, Amanita bisporigera (Eastern NA Destroying Angel), Amanita exitialis (Guangzhou Destroying Angel), Amanita magnivelaris, Amanita ocreata (Western NA Destroying Angel), Amanita phalloides (Death Cap), Amanita smithiana, Amanita subjunquillea (East Asian Death Cap), Amanita verna (Fool's Mushroom), and Amanita virosa (European Destroying Angel)[4][5]

See also

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aria (L.) Pers. as the type species, has been officially conserved against the older Amanita Boehm (1760) which is considered a synonym of Agaricus L.[2]

Toxicity

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A. phalloides (deadly)

Several members of the section Phalloidieae are notable for their toxicity, containing toxins known as amatoxins which can cause liver failure and death. These include the death cap A. phalloides, species known as destroying angels including A. virosa, A. bisporigera and A. ocreata and the fool's mushroom A. verna.

More recently, a series in the subgenus Lepidella have been found to cause acute renal failure, including A. smithiana of Northwestern North America, A. pseudoporphyria of Japan, and A. proxima of southern Europe.[3]

Edibility

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A. caesarea (edible)

Although there are a few species of edible amanita, many fungi experts advise against eating a member of amanita unless the species is known with absolute certainty.[cit ation needed] Because so many species within this genus are so deadly toxic, if a specimen is identified incorrectly, consumption may cause extreme sickness and possibly death.

Edible species of Amanita include Amanita fulva (grisette), Amanita vaginata, Amanita calyptrata (coccoli), Amanita crocea, and Amanita rubescens (blusher). [4]

Inedible species of Amanita include Amanita albocreata (Ringless Panther), Amanita atkinsoniana, Amanita citrina, Amanita daucipes, Amanita excelsa, Amanita flavoconia, Amanita franchetti, Amanita jacksonii (American Caesar's Mushroom)), Amanita longipes, Amanita magniverrucata, Amanita onusta, Amanita rhopalopus, Amanita silvicola, Amanita sinicoflava, Amanita spreta, and Amanita volvata.

Poisonous species include Amanita brunnescens, Amanita cecilae, Amanita cokeri (Coker's Amanita), Amanita crenulata, Amanita farinosa (Eastern American Floury Amanita), Amanita flavorubescens, Amanita frostiana, Amanita pantherina (Panther cap), and Amanita porphyria.

Deadly poisonous species include Amanita abrupta, Amanita arocheae, Amanita bisporigera (Eastern NA Destroying Angel), Amanita exitialis (Guangzhou Destroying Angel), Amanita magnivelaris, Amanita ocreata (Western NA Destroying Angel), Amanita phalloides (Death Cap), Amanita smithiana, Amanita subjunquillea (East Asian Death Cap), Amanita verna (Fool's Mushroom), and Amanita virosa (European Destroying Angel)[4][5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Persoon, C.H. (1797) Tent. disp. meth. fung.: 65
  2. ^ J. McNeill et al. (eds)(2006) International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (Vienna, 2005), Appendix IIIA Nomina generica conservanda et rejicienda, B. Fungi http://ibot.sav.sk/icbn/main.htm
  3. ^ Saviuc, P.; Danel, V. (2006). "New Syndromes in Mushroom Poisoning". Toxicological Reviews 25 (3): 199?209. doi:10.2165/00139709-200625030-00004. PMID 17192123.  edit
  4. ^ a b Phillips, Roger (2010). Mushrooms and Other Fungi of North America. Firefly Books. ISBN 9781554076512. 
  5. ^ Zeitlmayr, L. (1976). Wild Mushrooms: An Illustrated Handbook. Hertfordshire: Garden City Press. p. 77. ISBN 0-584-10324-7. 

External links

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Taxonomy

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The Genus Amanita is further organized into finer groupings including:

References

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  1. ^ Persoon, C.H. (1797) Tent. disp. meth. fung.: 65
  2. ^ J. McNeill et al. (eds)(2006) International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (Vienna, 2005), Appendix IIIA Nomina generica conservanda et rejicienda, B. Fungi http://ibot.sav.sk/icbn/main.htm
  3. ^ Saviuc, P.; Danel, V. (2006). "New Syndromes in Mushroom Poisoning". Toxicological Reviews 25 (3): 199?209. doi:10.2165/00139709-200625030-00004. PMID 17192123.  edit
  4. ^ a b Phillips, Roger (2010). Mushrooms and Other Fungi of North America. Firefly Books. ISBN 9781554076512. 
  5. ^ Zeitlmayr, L. (1976). Wild Mushrooms: An Illustrated Handbook. Hertfordshire: Garden City Press. p. 77. ISBN 0-584-10324-7. 

Sources

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Last Revised: August 24, 2012
2012/08/24 13:57:25