Panther Cap (Amanita Pantherina) Identification -

Panther Cap / Summer Autumn / Toxic

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inyucho from Holland, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Thomas Pruß, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Andrey Gaverdovsky, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Dr. Hans-Günter Wagner, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

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

Meaning of Scientific classification

Amanita as it’s a member of the amanita family and Pantherina due to its two tone cap colour reminiscent of a panther’s skin.

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Agaricales

Kingdom: Fungi

Division: Basidiomycota

Could be Confused with

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.

Distribution

Uncommon in the UK but more common throughout Southern Europe.

Key features and habitat of Panther cap mushrooms

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.

inyucho from Holland, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

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

Habitat for the Panther cap

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

Spore Print

White

Edible 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