Amanita franchetii (Boudier) Fayod
Ann. Sci. Nat. (Bot.) 7: 81. 1889.

Common Name: none

Misapplied name: Amanita aspera Fries

• Pileus

  Cap 4-12 cm broad, convex, expanding to plano-convex; margin incurved, becoming decurved, not striate or if so, obscurely; surface smooth, dry, light-brown, ochraceous-brown, to buff-brown, darkest at the disc with scattered yellowish to buff-brown warts; flesh soft, white to pale yellowish.

• Lamellae

  Gills close, adnexed to free, close, white, tinged yellowish near the cap margin.

• Stipe

  Stipe 5-15 cm long, 1-2 cm thick, stuffed, tapering to an enlarged, often bulbous base; surface whitish, sparsely pubescent or with scattered, flattened scales; partial veil membranous, cream-colored, forming a fragile, superior, skirt-like ring, the latter often with a yellowish margin; universal veil consisting of yellowish to grey warts or scales arranged concentrically on the basal bulb.

• Spores

  Spores 8-12 x 6-8 µm, elliptical, smooth, amyloid; spore print white.

• Habitat

  Solitary or in small groups in mixed hardwood/conifer woods; fruiting from late fall to mid-winter.

• Edibility

  Unknown.

• Comments

  Amanita franchetii is recognized by a brown to yellow brown cap with yellowish warts, a yellow margined annulus, and a scaly/warted volva. It is found regularly each season, but seldom in large numbers. We need a new name for this taxa, since according to Rod Tulloss "the name 'A. franchetii' is mistakenly applied to an otherwise undescribed taxon that is commonly found in California".

• References

  Jenkins, David T. (1986). Amanita of North America. Mad River Press: Eureka, CA. 197 p.
  Smith, A.H. (1949). Mushrooms in their Natural Habitats. Sawyer's Inc: Portland, OR. 626 p.
  Thiers, Harry D. (1982). The Agaricales (Gilled Fungi) of California. 1. Amanitaceae. Mad River Press: Eureka, CA. 53 p.
  

• Other Descriptions and Photos
  • Terry Goyan: Amanita franchetii (CP)
  • Terry Goyan: Amanita franchetii (CP) -- closeup of annulus and gills
  • Boleslaw Kuznik: Amanita franchetii (CP)
  • Taylor F. Lockwood: Amanita franchetii (CP) -- young sporocarp
  • Michael Wood: Amanita franchetii (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Amanita franchetii (CP)
  • Boleslaw Kuznik -- Hunting for Mushrooms: Amanita franchetii (CP)
  • Mushroom Observer: Amanita franchetii (CP)
  • Arora (1986): p. 278 (D), plate 56 (CP) [as Amanita aspera]
  • Arora (1991): p. 80 (D & CP) [as Amanita aspera]
  • Jenkins: p. 128 (D), fig. 8 (CP)
  • Lincoff: p. 526 (D), plate 145 (CP) [as Amanita aspera]
  • McKenny et al.: p. 33 (D), p. 32 (CP) [as Amanita aspera]
  • Phillips: p. 26 (CP), p. 27 (D)
  • Thiers (1982): p. 17 (D) [as Amanita aspera]
  
  

  (D=Description; I=Illustration; P=Photo; CP=Color Photo)