Epping Forest, London, UK, October 2020Warted amanita (Amanita strobiliformis)These young specimens

Epping Forest, London, UK, October 2020

Warted amanita (Amanita strobiliformis)

These young specimens still have their stem ring in place - the delicate ring around the top of the stipe, left behind from when the mushroom opened up, splitting the veil to reveal the gills and leaving behind fragments around the stipe and on the cap, which forms the ‘spots’ of the amanita. However, this delicate stem ring will soon fall, leaving very little evidence behind.

These fungi can be identified by their patchy grey warts on a brilliantly white cap, slightly bulbous stem base, and crowded white gills. 

Some sources report that these fungi are edible, but due to the possibility of confusing them with the highly toxic members of the Amanita genus, gathering them is not recommended, for beginners at least.