Amanita crocea is a European species with a distinctively orangish cap and a very ragged stem that shows a base color of orange at first, but often “flips” its colors so that the shagginess becomes orange and the stipe becomes pallid in comparison. There are fairly good illustrations on the Amanita Studies page for A. crocea.

The species depicted here is much more like the European A. fulva; however, again, that species is not known from the US. I have two provisional names that might apply to the species pictured here. That’s why I didn’t offer a name when I saw these pictures last night. With no dried specimen, no certain identity can ever be provided.

MO doesn’t offer the ability to say “close to” or “affin.” or “cf.” in a name. I’m not complaining about that. MO is a true, oscar-winning-level, mycological asset, and the way it can become more useful is more dependent on its user community than on the programming of Nathan and his colleagues.

There is an old zen story about a wicked emperor who wished to “be saved” late in life. Three times he summoned an aged zennist. Three times he demanded to be told how he could wipe away his sin-ridden karma. Three times he received the same answer, “Pay attention.”

Dried material. Dried material. Dried material.

Very best to all the of MO’s collectors and photographers,

Rod