Pantherina Mushroom Caps (Grade A)
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MORE EXPECTED LATE 2008 - DO NOT ORDER!
These yellowish forms are difficult to distinguish from A. gemmata; one of the most common causes of mushroom poisoning in the Pacific Northwest. But these certified Amanita pantherina speciemsn come from a religious sect in Siberia that still uses these caps listed as poisons in their rituals to this day. Pantherinas have much more concentrated active components in them, but are strictly not for human consumption.
The cap of Amanita pantherina is brown to hazel-brown to pale brown, rather than the brightly orange-red color that most are familiar with when thinking of the Amanita species. The cap is hemispheric at first, but then opens upwards like an umbrella blown inside-out by the wind. The volva is present as the infamous, densely distributed warts, pure white to cream to sordid cream, and easily removable, just as with Amanita muscaria. The flesh is white, and continues that way regardless of whether it’s cut or bruised.
The tell-tale ring which is a common characteristic to all Amanita mushrooms is rather low on the stem (lower than most other European Amanitas), and it’s bright white, while quickly collapsing on the stem, usually on the upper surface and flaring upward. The volva is white, becoming gray with age, easily broken, and forming at least one ring on the joint of the stem and bulb which is sometimes described as looking just like a rolled-up sock!
This species can be found under Oaks, Chestnuts, and Conifers, unlike the trees that Amanita muscaria prefers; the Birch tree. This symbiotic relationship with just a few trees is the main reason why this spectacular mushroom is rarely cultivated, and almost always Wildcrafted. Material described as A. pantherina in the Americas seems to belong to a number of distinct taxa, only some of which have been described, and there are a number of mushrooms in Eastern and Southern Asia to which the name A. pantherina has been mistakenly applied, so great care in understanding the true identity of this mushroom is critically important.
These are TRUE Amanita Pantherinas picked by a dear friend who is an expert mycologist, and who also has been picking these rare amanitas for years from the same general area. We get these in extraordinarily small quantities, and they aren’t often available. These dried caps are also sold for their historical and ethnobotanical interest only and are not for human consumption; they are listed as a poison by the FDA. |
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