Technical description (t.b.d.)

BRIEF DESCRIPTION: The following is based on the descriptions by Peng and Liu (1981) and Yang and Zhang (2002).

The cap of A. hunanensis is 40 - 130 mm wide, dark gray-brown at first, paler towards the margin, becoming paler upon expansion but when the center remaining dark and with concentric circles of dark spots ranging from a solid-colored center at least part of the way through the striate area towards the margin, at first hemispheric, then convex to plano-convex, with a long striate (60% or more of the radius) and nonappendiculate margin, commonly splitting. The volva is often present on the cap as one or more membranous patches. The flesh is white.

The gills are crowded, free, and white. Short gills are present.

The stem is 70 - 140 × 5 - 20 mm, white with gray-brown squamules arranged in irregular concentric bands from the underside of the ring to the top of the volval limb, hollow, fleshy, narrowing upward. The ring is membranous, persistent, thin, skirt-like, placed anywhere between one-quarter distance from the top to slightly below the midpoint of the stem, grayish white on the upper surface, and dark brownish gray on the lower surface. The volva is short saccate, white on the outer surface, inner surface probably concolorous with the cap [illustration shows dark inner surface], and 15 - 35 × 15 - 35 mm.

Peng and Lui (2002) give the following spore measurements: 8.5 - 14 × 7.5 - 9.5 µm and are ellipsoid and inamyloid. Clamps are present at bases of basidia. Spores measured from an isotype by Yang and Zhang (2002) are as follows: 10.0 - 12.0 × 6.5 - 8.0 µm.

This species was originally described from a pine forest where it was gregarious in the province of Hunan, China. 

The authors point out that the division of the cap skin into concentric circles of dark spots is unique among similar taxa. A. hunanensis can be placed in Amanita stirps Hemibapha. Dr. Z. L. Yang informs us that he currently views this species as potentially close to A. esculenta Hongo & I. Matsuda and A. yuaniana Zhu L. Yang. 
-- R. E. Tulloss and L. Possiel

Return to Section Vaginatae page.

Last change 24 July 2006
This page is maintained by R. E. Tulloss.
Copyright 2006 by Rodham E. Tulloss.