Panther Cap / Summer / Autumn / Toxic

Identification guide for Panther Cap (Amanita Pantherina), also take a look at similar species, key features and habitats – Toxic.

Common names

Panther caps, False blusher, Panther amanita

Botanical name

Amanita pantherina

Habitat

They are ectomycorrhizal with beech and oak. In Britain, they are typically found from August to November but have a longer season in Southern Europe.

Uncommon in the UK but more common throughout Southern Europe.

Identifying features:

Cap:

Caps are around 5-12 cm in diameter, initially domed but flattening with age. The caps have pure white scales which are fragments of the universal veil.

Gills

The gills are white, free and crowded.

James Lindsey at Ecology of Commanster, CC BY-SA 2.5 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5>, via Wikimedia Commons

Stem & Skirt

The stems are white with a chunky ring towards the cap. The base of the stem is bulbous with a distinctive gutter.

Thomas Pruß, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Spores

White

Known Hazards

These mushrooms contain the psychoactive compounds ibotenic acid, muscimol, muscazone and muscarine so should be considered toxic. Some field guides list it as deadly.

Potential lookalikes

Could be confused with The Blusher (Amanita rubescens) an edible Amanita, but these stain red when damaged, the False panther cap (Amanita excelsa) but these lack the distinct volval gutter.

Uses

These mushrooms contain the psychoactive compounds ibotenic acid, muscimol, muscazone and muscarine so should be considered toxic. Some field guides list it as deadly.

More info on the toxins in the Panther Cap