Kingdom Fungi Order Agaricales Higher classification Panthercap | Division Basidiomycota Species A. pantherina Rank Variety | |
Scientific name Amanita pantherina var. pantherina Similar Blusher, Death cap, Fly agaric, Amanita virosa, Amanitaceae | ||
Amanita pantherina, also known as the panther cap and false blusher due to its similarity to the true blusher (Amanita rubescens), is a species of fungus found in Europe and Western Asia.
Contents
- Seta alucinogena amanita pantherina amanita pantera
- Description
- Habitat and distribution
- Biochemistry
- References
Seta alucinogena amanita pantherina amanita pantera
Description
Other than the brownish cap with white warts, distinguishing features of Amanita pantherina include the collar-like roll of volval tissue at the top of the basal bulb, and the elliptical, inamyloid spores.
Habitat and distribution
The panther cap is an uncommon mushroom, found in both deciduous, especially beech and, less frequently, coniferous woodland and rarely meadows throughout Europe, western Asia in late summer and autumn. It has also been recorded from South Africa, where it is thought to have been accidentally introduced with trees imported from Europe, and on Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada.
It is an ectomycorrhizal fungus, living in root symbiosis with a tree, deriving photosynthesised nutrients from it and providing soil nutrients in return.
Biochemistry
Amanita pantherina contains the psychoactive compound muscimol, but is used as an entheogen much less often than its much more distinguishable relative Amanita muscaria.