|
Amanita fuscostriata
Pegler
"Dark Eyed Ringless Amanita"
Technical description (t.b.d.) BRIEF DESCRIPTION: The following is based on the original description by Pegler (1978). The cap of A. fuscostriata is 40 mm wide, chestnut brown to fuscous, soon applanate with a depression in the center, smooth, with a densely striate margin [Striations appear to occupy one-third of the radius according to the illustration]. No volval remains are present. The flesh is very thin, white, and unchanging. The gills are free, subcrowded, white, 3 - 4 mm wide, with a distinctly uneven edge. The short gills are of at least two lengths. The stem is 80 × 40 mm, cylindric, hollow, white with scattered appressed fibrils. No ring is present. The volva is saccate, forms a narrow sheath at the stem base, membranous, and white. The flesh is very thin, white, and unchanging. The spores measure 9 - 11.5 × 6 - 7 µm and are ellipsoid to elongate and inamyloid. Clamps are absent at bases of basidia. This species was originally described from the island of Martinique in the Lesser Antilles. The collection was made in a secondary mesophytic forest. The present species is rather isolated as
far as the section Vaginatae is now known. Among the factors which,
in combination, contribute to this isolation are relatively narrow spores
and a cellular (similar to plant tissue) subhymenium, in addition to a
ringless stem and a membranous volval sac, a strongly pigmented cap. All
other things being equal, spore shape alone segregates this species from
the most similar taxa -- these taxa have spores so broad that the overlap
of the ranges of spore length with the spore length of the present species
is nearly nil. RET having examined some undescribed taxa of section Vaginatae
from Africa with dark caps and narrow spores suggests that if any close
relatives of A. fuscostriata are to be found, they would be found
in central Africa or in forests of leguminous trees in northern South
America. Return to Section Vaginatae page. Last change 13 July 2006 |