# 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.

- **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.

## About

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.

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/1b4d5a95-f891-4a24-97e9-8b235b158ab6
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/48418
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amanita pantherina
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/29239726/medium.jpeg (Davide Puddu, CC-BY, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.