Panthercap
Amanita pantherina
This mushroom contains higher concentrations of ibotenic acid and muscimol than its famous relative, the Fly Agaric, making it significantly more dangerous.
- Scientific name
- Amanita pantherina
- Taxonomy
- Fungi › Basidiomycota › Agaricomycetes › Agaricales › Amanitaceae › Amanita
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Temperate deciduous and coniferous woodlands, often found near beech, oak, and pine trees.
- Diet
- Mycorrhizal; absorbs carbohydrates from host tree roots in exchange for soil minerals.
- Range
- Europe, Western Asia, Northern Africa, North America
- Size
- Cap diameter 5-12cm; stem height 5-15cm.
- Lifespan
- Fruiting body lasts 7-14 days; the underground mycelium can live for decades.
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat destruction, soil acidification, and nitrogen pollution from intensive agriculture.
- Safe to approach?
- Highly toxic. Do not ingest. While harmless to touch, you must wash hands thoroughly after contact to avoid accidental ingestion. If consumed, seek emergency medical services immediately; symptoms include hallucinations, confusion, seizures, and potentially coma.
Amanita pantherina , also known as the panther cap and false blusher due to its similarity to the true blusher (Amanita rubescens) , is a species of fungus found in Europe and Western Asia.
Photo: Davide Puddu, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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