Amanitas

Photo of a blusher, a tan gilled mushroom, showing injured spot turning rust red
Poisonous
Not recommended/not edible
Scientific Name
Amanita spp. (about 600 species, worldwide)
Family
Amanitaceae
Description

Amanita species account for 90 percent of mushroom-related deaths, so you should be familiar with them. Each amanita starts as an egg-shaped button that can resemble a small puffball. This breaks open as the mushroom grows. Fully developed amanitas are gilled mushrooms with parasol-shaped caps that may be white, yellow, red, or brown. They also have: 1. A saclike cup surrounding the base of the stem. This often is buried just beneath the soil surface and may not be obvious. 2. A ring on the stem. 3. White gills. 4. A white spore print. Both the ring and the bulb may be destroyed by rain or other disturbance. For this reason, beginning mushroom hunters should avoid all parasol-shaped mushrooms with white gills.

This is a large group of mushrooms, which can be difficult to tell apart.  Some amanitas with memorable names include destroying angel, fly agaric, yellow patches, blusher, grisette, ringless panther, death cap and fool's mushroom.

Size
Size varies, depending on species and growing conditions.
Where To Find
image of Amanitas Distribution Map
Statewide.
Amanitas are usually found on the ground in woodlands in summer and fall, but be on the lookout for them elsewhere, and whenever you hunt for mushrooms. Though they are toxic to humans, their presence in the wild should be tolerated as they are part of a healthy ecosystem.
This group of poisonous mushrooms accounts for 90 percent of mushroom-related deaths, so every mushroom hunter should be familiar with amanitas. They contain amanitin, one of the deadliest poisons found in nature. Ingesting one cap of a destroying angel can kill a man.
Mushrooms exist most of the time underground or within rotting logs as a network of cells (mycelium) connected to tree and other plant roots, rotting material, and the soil. When ready to reproduce, the mycelium sends up the mushroom aboveground; this is a reproductive structure. Spores are produced in the gills and are released to begin new mycelia elsewhere. The mycelium of a mushroom can live for decades.
While some species of amanitas are edible, eating only a tiny amount of a poisonous species can be deadly. Most experienced mushroom hunters avoid amanitas for this reason. Identification can be difficult. Don't eat any parasol-shaped mushrooms with white gills.
Fungi are vitally important for a healthy ecosystem. Many form symbiotic relationships with roots of trees and other plants, helping them to survive. Fungi also feed off of decomposing materials, such as fallen leaves and logs, cleaning the forest and helping nutrients to cycle back into the soil.
Media Gallery
Photo of a blusher, a tan gilled mushroom, showing injured spot turning rust red
Anonymous
1/7
Photo of destroying angel showing large saclike cup around the base of stalk
Anonymous
2/7
Photo of an unknown amanita mushroom with a yellow cap
Eating only a tiny amount of a poisonous amanita species can be deadly. Experienced mushroom hunters avoid amanitas for this reason. Identification can be difficult. Don't eat any parasol-shaped mushrooms with white gills. Several experienced mushroom hunters asked to identify the one in this picture cannot say for sure what it is.
Cliff White
3/7
Photo of onusta amanita mushroom closeup on cap showing gray-tan scalelike warts
4/7
Photo of a grisette mushroom, mature, showing open cap and volva.
In the grisette mushroom, note the grooves around the edge of the cap, and the prominent white cup at the stalk base.
Lisa K. Suits
5/7
Photo of young grisette mushroom showing round gray cap and saclike cup at base
6/7
photo of fly agaric amanita mushrooms that are not found in Missouri
Some Amanita species have bright red caps with white spots and are commonly called "fly agarics." We've all seen them pictured in storybooks, cartoons, and sixties counterculture posters. None of these red species grow in Missouri, however.
H.J. Larsen, , Bugwood.org
7/7
Photo of a blusher, a tan gilled mushroom, showing injured spot turning rust red
Photo of destroying angel showing large saclike cup around the base of stalk
Photo of an unknown amanita mushroom with a yellow cap
Photo of onusta amanita mushroom closeup on cap showing gray-tan scalelike warts
Photo of a grisette mushroom, mature, showing open cap and volva.
Photo of young grisette mushroom showing round gray cap and saclike cup at base
photo of fly agaric amanita mushrooms that are not found in Missouri
Similar Species
About Mushrooms in Missouri

Mushrooms are a lot like plants, but they lack chlorophyll and have to take nutrients from other materials. Mushrooms are neither plants nor animals. They are in a different kingdom — the fungi. Fungi include the familiar mushroom-forming species, plus the yeasts, molds, smuts, and rusts.

Always be cautious when eating edible mushrooms. Be absolutely sure of the ID, and only eat a small amount the first time you try it to avoid a reaction..