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Technical description (t.b.d.)

BRIEF DESCRIPTION: The following description is based on Beeli (1935) and Gilbert (1940).

The cap of Amanita strophiolata is 60 mm wide, plano-convex, umbonate, dirty white, baring no volval remnants, with a slightly striated margin. The flesh is thin and white. 

Gills are free, white, and rounded near the stem.

Its stem is 110 - 120 × 4 - 5 mm, cylindric, totally elongating, narrow, stuffed, smooth, white (pinkish in Madame Goossens watercolor). The ring is superior, membranous, white, and at least at first pulled upward with a form of a funnel. The volva is membranous and white, somewhat thickened at base.

The spores measure 10 - 11 × 6 - 7 µm and are ellipsoid to elongate and amyloid. Gilbert (1940) provides spores drawings from which the measurements are 8.9 - 10.6 × 5.3 - 6.5 (-6.8) µm and are ellipsoid to elongate, infrequently broadly ellipsoid or cylindric and amyloid.

The present species was originally described from the Republic of Congo in swampy forests. Amanita strophiolate var. bingensis was described from a rather large collection made in association with Gilbertiodendron. 

Beeli says that A. strophiolata has the habit recalling a lepiota. 

Gilbert observed that Beeli's argument for separation of the two varieties was not supported by the material of the type collections. In fact, while Beeli separated the varieties based on spore size, the spores are essentially identical as shown by Gilbert's (1940) spore drawings. 

I have some concern about placing this species in section Amidella. There doesn't appear to be a pulverulent inner-layer to the volva and Madame Goossens draws the volva as variable in thickness. An upward pointing ring is unknown in section Amidella. It is possible that this species can be more properly placed in Amanita section Phalloideae. Madame Goossens' paintings also differs from the original description by having a distinct pinkish tint on the gills in one of two cross-sectioned drawings and on the exterior of the stem in all three complete drawings. 
-- R. E. Tulloss

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Last changed 1 August 2005.
This page is maintained by R. E. Tulloss.
Copyright 2005 by Rodham E. Tulloss.