Amanitaceae
Encyclopedia
Amanitaceae are a family
of fungi or mushroom
s. The family, also commonly called the Amanita family, is in order
Agaricales
, gilled mushrooms. The family consists primarily of the genus
Amanita
, but also includes the genera Catatrama
and Limacella
.
Mycological works show great divergence in their definitions of families and the up-to-date and authoritative Index fungorum classifies these fungi as part of Pluteaceae
. For a long time, they were placed in Agaricaceae
.
The species are usually found in woodlands. They emerge from an egg-like structure formed by the universal veil
.
This family contains several species that are valued for edibility and flavor and others that are deadly poison. More than half the cases of mushroom poisoning stem from members of this family. The most toxic members of this group have names that warn of the poisonous nature, but others, of varying degrees of toxicity, do not.
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
of fungi or mushroom
Mushroom
A mushroom is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or on its food source. The standard for the name "mushroom" is the cultivated white button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus; hence the word "mushroom" is most often applied to those fungi that...
s. The family, also commonly called the Amanita family, is in order
Order (biology)
In scientific classification used in biology, the order is# a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, family, genus, and species, with order fitting in between class and family...
Agaricales
Agaricales
The fungal order Agaricales, also known as gilled mushrooms , or euagarics, contains some of the most familiar types of mushrooms. The order has 33 extant families, 413 genera, and over 13000 described species, along with five extinct genera known only from the fossil record...
, gilled mushrooms. The family consists primarily of the genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Amanita
Amanita
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...
, but also includes the genera Catatrama
Catatrama
Catatrama is a genus of fungus in the family Amanitaceae, order Agaricales. A monotypic genus, it contains the single species Catatrama costaricensis, found in Quercus pilarius forest in Costa Rica....
and Limacella
Limacella
Limacella is a genus of about 20 species of fungi in the Amanitaceae family in order Agaricales. Some of the species have been classified as members of genus Lepiota....
.
Mycological works show great divergence in their definitions of families and the up-to-date and authoritative Index fungorum classifies these fungi as part of Pluteaceae
Pluteaceae
The Pluteaceae are a family of small to medium-sized mushrooms which have free gill attachment and pink spores. Members of Pluteaceae can be mistaken for members of Entolomatacae but can be distinguished by their angled spores and attached gills...
. For a long time, they were placed in Agaricaceae
Agaricaceae
The Agaricaceae are a family of basidiomycete fungi and includes the genus Agaricus, as well as basidiomycetes previously classified in the families Tulostomataceae, Lepiotaceae, and Lycoperdaceae. The genus contains 85 genera and 1340 species.-Genera:...
.
The species are usually found in woodlands. They emerge from an egg-like structure formed by the universal veil
Universal veil
In mycology, a universal veil is a temporary membranous tissue that fully envelops immature fruiting bodies of certain gilled mushrooms. The developing Caesar's mushroom , for example, which may resemble a small white sphere at this point, is protected by this structure...
.
This family contains several species that are valued for edibility and flavor and others that are deadly poison. More than half the cases of mushroom poisoning stem from members of this family. The most toxic members of this group have names that warn of the poisonous nature, but others, of varying degrees of toxicity, do not.
Some notable species in Amanitaceae
-
Amanita caesareaAmanita caesareaAmanita caesarea, commonly known in English as Caesar's Mushroom, is a highly regarded edible mushroom in the genus Amanita, native to southern Europe and North Africa. It has a distinctive orange cap, yellow gills and stem. Similar orange-capped species occur in North America and India...
, Caesar's mushroom -
Amanita muscariaAmanita muscariaAmanita muscaria, commonly known as the fly agaric or fly amanita , is a poisonous and psychoactive basidiomycete fungus, one of many in the genus Amanita...
, fly agaric - Amanita rubescensEuropean blusherThe Blusher is the common name for several closely related species of the genus Amanita. A. rubescens, found in Europe and eastern North America, and A. novinupta in western North America. Both their scientific and common names are derived from the propensity of their flesh to turn pink on...
, blusher - Amanita pantherina, panther cap
-
Amanita phalloidesDeath capAmanita phalloides , commonly known as the death cap, is a deadly poisonous basidiomycete fungus, one of many in the genus Amanita. Widely distributed across Europe, A. phalloides forms ectomycorrhizas with various broadleaved trees. In some cases, death cap has been introduced to new regions with...
, death cap. - Amanita velosaAmanita velosaAmanita velosa is an edible species of agaric found in California, as well as Oregon and Baja California.-Description and classification:...
, orange spring amanita. - Amanita virosaDestroying angelThe name destroying angel applies to several similar, closely related species of deadly all-white mushrooms in the genus Amanita. They are Amanita bisporigera and A. ocreata in eastern and western North America, and A. virosa in Europe. Another very similar species, A. verna or fool's mushroom was...
, destroying angel. - Limacella solidipes, ringed Limacella