Amanita verna: a deadly fungus

What does the Amanita verna look like?

The Verna is also known as the white hemlock and white morel. Like other hemlocks, it is a deadly mushroom! ! !

The Amanita verna has a volva that surrounds the stem. It is white in color and attached to the stem.

Toxicity of Amanita verna

This is a highly toxic species of mushroom. It belongs to the group of deadly amanita mushrooms (Amanita phalloides, virosa, and verna). A single specimen can kill an adult.

It is classified as a deadly poisonous mushroom. This mushroom contains many toxins, among which phalloides and amanitins stand out.

What is the habitat of Amanita verna?

This mushroom likes pastures and mixed pine forests. This often leads to confusion with certain meadow mushrooms, especially gurumelos, with which it shares its habitat and appearance period. This type of mushroom prefers acidic soils.

Where does Amanita verna grow, avoiding confusion

Fortunately, the two are not found in the same habitat. Amanita verna usually appears among holm oaks, while the mushrooms can be found both in meadows and in pine forests of Scots or white pines.

It prefers calcareous soils in beech and oak forests and, although less common, also in coniferous forests. It appears mainly from late April to early autumn.

In the mountains, these two completely different habitats can be separated by just a few meters. It is not at all difficult for a distracted collector to leave one and enter the other. In this way, they run the risk of picking up a few specimens of what at first glance appear to be excellent mushrooms. If, to make matters worse, they had the idea of cutting off the stems when removing them, as many people do very badly, the resemblance between the poisonous mushroom and the edible mushroom is so great that it is difficult for the untrained eye to distinguish one from the other.

When can we find Amanita verna in the wild?

This is mainly a spring mushroom. It normally grows alone, although we can also find it growing alongside other specimens.

Confusion between Amanita verna and other mushrooms

Poisoning from accidental consumption of this mushroom is common, and every year we hear tragic news of people who have picked it by mistake, confusing it with other mushrooms or with gurumelos de dehesa.

The difference between mushrooms is obvious if you look at the color of their gills, which in the case of Agaricus are pinkish and never have a volva, as is the case with spring hemlock.

Another common confusion is with Amanita virosa, although in this case it is an autumn mushroom. Confusion with this mushroom would also be tragic as it is another very dangerous amanita.

The appearance of Amanita verna is very similar to that of the green hemlock or Amanita phalloides, although in this case the grayish-green color of its cap makes it easily distinguishable.

But without a doubt, the most dangerous confusion, which unfortunately occurs season after season, is with Amanita ponderosa, the famous gurumelo.

Don't be fooled: Amanita verna and Amanita ponderosa, a dangerous mix-up.

In the fascinating world of mushrooms, there is a mix-up that can put your well-being at risk. We are talking about the confusion between two species: Amanita verna and Amanita ponderosa, also known as gurumelo. These two species belong to the same group, and it is easy to fall into the trap of confusing them. But don't worry! We are here to help you tell them apart and avoid any danger.

Let's start by analyzing the majestic Amanita ponderosa. Its cap, with a diameter ranging from 6 to 20 cm, is larger than that of its counterpart, Amanita verna. The size of the cap can be our first clue to differentiate them, provided we are at the upper end of this range. If we come across a cap measuring just 6 centimeters, confusion may arise.

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Amanita verna vs Amanita ponderosa - Gurumelo

The next distinguishing feature is the gills. In Amanita ponderosa, these are separate, unlike Amanita verna, whose gills appear closer together. In addition, when oxidized or rubbed, the gills of Amanita ponderosa take on a pinkish hue, a detail that can make all the difference. But there's more.

The flesh of Amanita ponderosa gives us another key clue. When cut, it takes on a beautiful pinkish hue and gives off a captivating earthy smell. However, the poisonous spring amanita has no distinctive smell and does not change color when rubbed or cut.

The spring amanita is one of the poisonous mushrooms most easily confused with other edible mushrooms such as button mushrooms or meadow amanita mushrooms.

The importance of paying attention to the mushrooms you pick

It is easy to confuse poisonous and edible mushrooms when we go out into the mountains with our mycological equipment and do not pay attention to certain basic aspects when picking them. It is not surprising that this mushroom season has seen several cases of poisoning.

The conclusion we must draw from this dangerous resemblance is very clear. Even more important than knowing which mushrooms can be harvested in the field is knowing the Amanita verna. This will help us avoid dangerous poisoning.

The best way to learn about these and other species is to consult a mushroom guide. Harvest mushrooms and edible mushrooms with care and select them one by one when you get home. There may always be one left that could cause confusion.

I hope this information will help you learn more about Amanita verna and how to tell it apart from other similar species. Remember, confusion can be dangerous, but by knowing these differences, you can safely enjoy the beauty and diversity of mushrooms. Don't take any risks and dive into this fascinating world with caution and wisdom!

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Cheers and mushrooms!