Amanita gemmata

The gemmed mushroom (Amanita gemmata) is a mushroom of the genus Amanita, a genus of fungi including some of the most deadly mushrooms, as well as notably psychedelic mushrooms. A. gemmata resembles the false death cap, tawny grisette and panther cap mushrooms. Its pileus (cap) is a more bright color than in the former and more yellow than that of the latter two.

The cap is 3–7 cm (1-3 inches) in diameter, domed in young and flat in old specimens. It is pale yellow in dry weather, becoming a bright corn color, lighter towards the furrowed margin, and somewhat slimy in high humidity. There are few and rather large flakes of the white velum present. The gills are white, as is the stipe (stem). The lower end of the latter is usually thickened, but does not feature a prominent sheath as found in the death cap.

The gemmed mushroom occurs in forest. It favors sandy and slightly acidic soild and often forms mycorrhiza with rootlets of the Norway Spruce (Picea abies). In Central Europe, it is found between June and October and in California it is found in December.

Two recent molecular studies show that Amanita gemmata is part of a subgroup within Amanita with its close relatives the fly agaric (Amanita muscaria), A. farinosa and A. roseitincta.

Amanita gemmata is a hallucinogenic mushroom which contains ibotenic acid and muscimol.