Morels, Truffles and other Spring Mushrooms
by Michael W. Beug Email: beugm@evergreen.edu
The Evergreen State College, Olympia WA
Slide 68.
Amanita pantherina is a poisonous Amanita with a different
kind of volva, known as a rolled collar volva left at the base of the stem.
The warts on the cap will rub off and can wash off in the rain. Amanita
pantherina will fruit early in the spring. In the Northwest where
winters are mild, I have found it as early as late January. It can be abundant
and the flavor is great. Consequently many people mistakenly eat it and
wind up paying a big price unless they first boil it in water and throw
away the water. Amanita pantherina contains ibotenic acid
and muscimol which cause changes in size and time perception, often associated
with uncontrolled violent behavior followed by a deep coma-like sleep.
Death is rare, though the mushrooms are deadly for cats and dogs.
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