Created: 2008-06-25 17:47:11

By: Rod Tulloss (ret)

Summary: Why not check for clamps at the bases of basidia...

If you have access to a microscope or someone who can check for you, I’d suggest looking for obvious clamp connections (rather common, too) at the bases of basidia. The way the volva is clinging all over the pileus reminds me of A. aprica. Amanita aprica completely lacks clamps. All the mushrooms in the A. muscaria group have rather common ones. Use oil immersion lens at 1,000X.

Despite being a “gemmatoid” amanita, A. aprica can have the same rings of volva on the stipe base that are considered an important character for muscaria.

Clues on finding clamps are in the methodology PDF that can be downloaded from the home page of the Amanita Studies web site.

The “i” comes before the “e” in “Thiers.”

Very best,

Rod Tulloss