Panther: Amanita pantherina

Pileus
Cap 4-15 cm broad, convex at first, then plane in age, viscid, margin striate; color variable: from buff-yellow (usually darker at the disc) to dark brown; universal veil remnants forming pointed warts. Odor mild.

Lamellae
Gills adnexed to free, white to cream, close.

Stipe
Stipe 7-11 cm long, 1-2.5 cm, tapering to a basal bulb. Partial veil membranous leaving a superior skirt-like ring. Universal veil forming a single roll or collar on the basal bulb.

Spores
Spores 9.5-13 x 7-9.5 µm, smooth, elliptical, nonamyloid. Spore print white.

Habitat
Scattered to gregarious under pine, especially Monterey pine from midwinter to spring. Because Monterey pine is widely planted in the San Francisco Bay area, the Panther Amanita is abundant and easily found in urban parks.

Edibility
Toxic, but normally not deadly. Contains ibotenic acid and muscimol.

Comments
Amanita pantherina is an extremely variable species in the S.F. Bay area with cap color varying from yellowish-buff to dark brown. Most collections fall in the former category. Amanita gemmata is similar but with a yellower cap. There is speculation that the two species hybridize locally causing the variation that is seen.