Amanita citrina - False Deathcap

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Agaricales

Amanita citrina, often referred to as the False Deathcap (sometimes written False Death Cap), is an inedible fungus, although not reported to be seriously toxic. In any cvase great care is necessary because it is easily confused with deadly poisonous Amanita species such as the Destroying Angel.

Very common in woodland on alkaline or neutral soil, these attractive mushrooms seem to be much less common in areas where the soil is very acidic.

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Identification guide

	Cap 5 - 10cm diameter; usually lemon-yellow with large veil fragments that are brilliant white, as shown in the picture on the left. Initially rounded, the cap usually flattens at maturity. An all-white variant is also quite common (Amanita citrina var. alba). The var. alba variety generally has a larger cap (up to 12cm diameter compared with 5 to 10cm for the more common lemon variety) and its stem is also white rather than lemon-yellow. Some experts consider this to be a separate species rather than just a variety.
	Gills White, free, crowded.
	Stem White; typically 5 - 8cm long and rising from a very large, white volva. There is a gutter-like ridge at the top of the volva. The large stem-ring hangs down slightly; it usually remains intact through to maturity.
Spore print	White.
Odour/taste	When cut or bruised, smelling like new potatoes or cut radish.
Habitat	Mycorhizal with hardwood and softwood trees but particularly common under beech trees.
Season	August to November.
Occurrence	Frequent.
Similar species	Amanita virosa (Destroying Angel) rarely retains veil fragments on its cap through to maturity, the cap remains somewhat domed, its stem-ring is usually high up and not very substantial, and it does not have a sharp smell. Amanita phalloides (Deathcap) rarely retains veil fragments on its cap, and it develops a sickly-sweet odour as it matures.