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Byrain


Registered: 01/07/10
Posts: 9,664
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Amanita vaginata group edibility question.
#13747719 - 01/07/11 01:38 PM (13 years, 1 month ago) |
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I found some mushrooms that which I am pretty sure fall into the Amanita vaginata group and from what I have read so far, they should be an relatively safe Amanita for the table? (I reviewed the descriptions of the deadly Amanitas I am aware of as well and I believe they are definitely not one of them (Destroying angels, death cap, A. smithiana)) Though, I'd prefer some feedback before I get too far ahead of myself. 
Habitat: The mountains/mostly oak with some pine woods near Lake Berryessa, CA, found growing in an oak grove from the under the duff.
Gills: White, not attached.
Stem: 10.5 to 18.5 cm long, 1-2 cm thick, white, smooth to grainy texture, mostly solid, and a small, membranous + fragile saclike volva.
Cap: 5.5 to 14 cm diameter, brown grey, smooth almost rubbery texture, and heavily striated margin.
Spore print color: Not taken, but likely white.
Bruising: No clear bruising, the stem discolors over time the veil patch doesn't seem to stain.
Other information: The stem smells fishy after one night in the fridge and my camera died before I found them, so the pics are a day old. And even though I had a hard time removing the volva from the ground in one piece and an even harder time getting back down the trail without damaging it even further (Or loosing one stem along the way). I am positive that all the specimens had the same small, membranous + fragile saclike volva.

The two small ones where growing from the same spot in the ground and the two bigger ones growing off to the side. There where also some older specimens and some Amanita eggs at the spot, but I left those.
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elprawn
Mushroom Guestimator



Registered: 10/17/09
Posts: 14,303
Loc: Ilford, England
Last seen: 2 years, 1 month
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Re: Amanita vaginata group edibility question. [Re: Byrain]
#13747828 - 01/07/11 01:56 PM (13 years, 1 month ago) |
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Bobzimmer
Crawlin' Kingsnake



Registered: 09/07/08
Posts: 8,696
Loc: NY
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Re: Amanita vaginata group edibility question. [Re: elprawn]
#13748451 - 01/07/11 04:12 PM (13 years, 1 month ago) |
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Ya man, chow that vaginata!
Seriously though, A. vaginata is a European taxon strictly speaking and some authors recommend caution when experimenting with unknown members of section vaginatae.
-------------------- Mr. Mushrooms said: I will confess something that should be quite obvious, CC. I love mushrooms, i.e. fungi. I really do. I am talking about a strong feeling, i.e. emotion, for them. I think they are beautiful. I even dream of them.
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Byrain


Registered: 01/07/10
Posts: 9,664
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Re: Amanita vaginata group edibility question. [Re: Bobzimmer]
#13750164 - 01/07/11 10:31 PM (13 years, 1 month ago) |
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Thanks for the input and after reading a lot more on it, I think the best sounding names for it so far would be what is listed under the name of A. vaginata in mushrooms demystified/mycoweb or A. pachycolea. The size of the two bigger specimens seem to indicate the latter while the less then substantial volva seems to indicate the former. Both being edible and reading up on section vaginatae here doesn't seem to bring up any other possibilities. And the NAMA poison reports seem to support Amanita species that look like that being relatively safe (Unless I overlooked it).
And anyone from California have any experience with these?
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Lhun
Fungal Fixation



Registered: 01/07/10
Posts: 2,106
Loc: Other side of your screen...
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Re: Amanita vaginata group edibility question. [Re: Byrain]
#13750212 - 01/07/11 10:54 PM (13 years, 1 month ago) |
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I have eaten a small cap once out of curiosity from that species here in Napa. So pretty close by distance-wise from you. It was not bad. Other than that one time though, I usually fill up all I can carry with other edibles that are not only more tasty, but less scary... Damn Amanita 
Lhun
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Byrain


Registered: 01/07/10
Posts: 9,664
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Re: Amanita vaginata group edibility question. [Re: Lhun]
#13777714 - 01/12/11 10:16 PM (13 years, 1 month ago) |
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It occurred to me that I should update with my experience in trying them, I cut off one slice from a larger cap and cooked it well and ended up tasting around 4 small bites worth. It tasted good, but not great, though shortly afterward I started experiencing faint placebo like symptoms which I recognized as such (Symptoms didn't match with a poisoning at all) and needless to say, I'm not all that interested in trying more. At least for some time. In the end, I agree with Lhun, there are tastier edibles that aren't as scary... 
Edit: Phrasing was misleading.
Edited by Byrain (01/13/11 12:26 AM)
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psylosymonreturns
aka Gym Sporrison



Registered: 10/16/09
Posts: 13,948
Loc: Mos Eisley,
Last seen: 3 years, 6 months
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Re: Amanita vaginata group edibility question. [Re: Byrain]
#13777762 - 01/12/11 10:25 PM (13 years, 1 month ago) |
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well ya got bigger balls than i.
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Byrain


Registered: 01/07/10
Posts: 9,664
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Quote:
psylosymonreturns said: well ya got bigger balls than i.
Knowing it wasn't a death cap or destroying angel helped.
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Alan Rockefeller
Mycologist


Registered: 03/10/07
Posts: 48,311
Last seen: 1 day, 1 hour
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Re: Amanita vaginata group edibility question. [Re: Byrain]
#13778154 - 01/12/11 11:53 PM (13 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
Byrain said: In the end, I agree with Lhun, there are tastier edibles that aren't as scary... 
Edible Amanitas are not scary.
I have never heard of someone who knew they were eating an Amanita to be poisoned. All the poisings happen with people who have never heard of Amanita.
The "Eating Amanitas are scary" thing is mostly a US thing - In China and Mexico they are eaten all the time.
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Byrain


Registered: 01/07/10
Posts: 9,664
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Quote:
Alan Rockefeller said:
Quote:
Byrain said: In the end, I agree with Lhun, there are tastier edibles that aren't as scary... 
Edible Amanitas are not scary.
I have never heard of someone who knew they were eating an Amanita to be poisoned. All the poisings happen with people who have never heard of Amanita.
The "Eating Amanitas are scary" thing is mostly a US thing - In China and Mexico they are eaten all the time.
The scary part would be that the genus contains potentially deadly species and I have such limited experience & knowledge of the genus outside of a handful of species. Though, you are correct and I will probably find myself eating this species again as it wasn't bad at all, but I'll wait till I am more comfortable with the genus.
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