Pine Barrens Amanita Species List - 1/26/01 - Tulloss

Species of Amanita (Amanitaceae, Agaricales)
Known from Collections (1978-2000)
in New Jersey Pine Barrens

Warning! There is insufficient information in this list to allow positive identification of species of Amanita in New Jersey. There are as many undescribed species of Amanita in New Jersey as there are species that are known to science.

North American field guides cannot hope to include all the described species much less those never described by scientists.

Foreign field guides may describe edible species that don't occur at all in North America. Edible species in foreign books may looking very similar to poisonous, even deadly North American species. Don't rely on foreign books to identify mushrooms.

Don't experiment with eating amanitas. Neither the author nor the Pine Barrens Coalition can accept any responsibility for the results of ingesting amanitas.

No one should ever eat any mushroom that has not been positively identified by someone experienced in collecting and preparing wild mushrooms.

Remember: There are old mushroomers and bold mushroomers, but no old, bold mushroomers.

Warning! The deadly species Amanita phalloides (Death Cap) has been imported to New Jersey from Europe as a symbiont of pine. There is a well-described population in southern Cape May Co. The species easily moves from imported to native trees and is expanding in the Pine Barrens as well as many other places throughout our hemisphere.

Before collecting mushrooms for the table, learn the defining characteristics of this killer and related native species such as Amanita bisporigera (American Destroying Angel).

POISONINGS: If you feel you, a friend, or a member of your family may be suffering from poisoning after eating wild mushrooms, do not hesitate to call NJPIES (New Jersey Poison Control) at 1-800-POISON-1.

Set aside some uncooked wild mushrooms whenever they are prepared. These should never be placed in a plastic bag or air tight container. Use a paper bag. Having specimens of the suspected poisoner will make it much easier to determine whether they are a possible cause of poisoning and (if so) what poisons are involved.

The most serious types of Amanita poisoning do not show symptoms soon after eating. There is a delay of 6 or more hours in many cases. There also may be a false period of recovery. Doctors may send a patient home from the Emergency Room thinking the poisoning case is over. Errors are less likely to happen if the ER doctor can learn the nature of the mushrooms involved. Poison Control will obtain an experienced wild mushroom collector or expert identifier to work with the medical doctors as needed.

UNDESCRIBED SPECIES AND PROVISIONAL NAMES: Many species of mushroom have never been formally (or informally) described by mycologists -- the scientists who study fungi. About 100 species of Amanita occur in NewJersey, and about half these are unnamed. When enough information has been gathered to feel confident that a mushroom represents a new species, a provisional name may be given. You will not find these names in books or other literature. I have included those that have been provisionally named to give a better idea of the number of species in the Pine Barrens and the amount of research that is under way.

If you feel you have found a species of Amanita that is not on this list, you can contact the author by email (address above).

Amanita subgenus Amanita
Amanita section Amanita
Note: All members of this section should be treated as very poisonous.

Amanita section Vaginatae
Note: This section contains many edible species, but no one without training and guidance should eat any Amanita.

Amanita subgenus Lepidella
Amanita section Lepidella
Note: Some members of this section are known to cause malfunction (occasionally permanent) of liver and kidney.

Amanita section Amidella
Note: There is very little data on edibility of members of this section. They are suspect.

Amanita section Phalloideae
Note: All taxa in this section should be treated as deadly poisonous!

Amanita section Validae
Note: All taxa in this section should be treated as liable to cause severe gastrointestinal illness, especially if eaten without thorough cooking.

For further information about the genus Amanita on the web, try the following site which is being developed a bit at a time: