DRAFT KEY FOR SECTION VAGINATAE IN GSMNP
 including taxa probably present, but not yet confirmed in the current ATBI
 [ return to GSMNP ATBI Amanita page ]

R. E. Tulloss
.
1.  Annulate taxa.
2. At least 30% of basidia bearing only 2 spores.  Basidiophores small to very small, having pilei with proportionately long marginal striations.
3. Pileus gray with disc nearly black; spores (9.5-) 10.5 - 16.2 (-20.0) × (6.0-) 7.5 - 10.5 (-12.5) µm, (L = (11.3-) 11.7 - 14.5 µm; L’ = 13.1 µm; W = (8.1-) 8.6 - 9.7 µm; W’ = 9.0 µm; Q = (1.12-) 1.26 - 1.75 (-2.10); Q = (1.30-) 1.31 - 1.64; Q’ = 1.48).

A. pachysperma.
3. Pileus brown with pallid margin; spores (9.1-) 11.5 - 15.0 (-20.5) × (6.5-) 8.5 - 11.2 (-15.5) µm, (L = (11.7-) 12.3 - 14.0 (-14.1) µm; L’ = 13.2 µm; W = (9.1-) 9.2 - 10.5 (-10.9) µm; W’ = 9.9 µm; Q = (1.07-) 1.16 - 1.52 (-1.89); Q = (1.16-) 1.21 - 1.42 (-1.55); Q’ = 1.33).

A. virginiana.
2. Nearly all basidia bearing 4 spores in mature basidiophores.  Basidiophores not very small.
4. Pileus with shades of white, cream, or brown, lacking bright colors.  
5. Pileus pallid at first develop brown and gray tones and becoming virgate, rather thick over stipe, marginal striations proportionately short; partial veil becoming gray with age; spores (7.7-) 9.4 - 13.1 (-15.5) × (5.2-) 5.9 - 7.8 (-9.0) µm, (L = 9.9 - 12.4 µm; L’ = 11.4 µm; W = 6.2 - 7.3 µm; W’ = 6.9 µm; Q = (1.40-) 1.48 - 1.83 (-2.04); Q = 1.60 - 1.76; Q’ = 1.65).

A. spreta.
5. Partial veil not becoming grayish in age.  Differing also in other characters.
6. Basidiophore habit often rather squat (with pileus diameter similar to stipe length).  Pileus "light pallid tan, with a shade of smoky pink, fading to white at the margin, rather thick over stipe, with proportionately short marginal striations, lacking an umbo, often with patches of weakly membranous universal veil.  Partial veil narrow, often submedian to median.  Spores (based on possibly unreliable Coker data) 8.5 - 11.5 × 5.2 - 7.4 µm; approx. Q’ = 1.6.

A. recutita sensu Coker (excluding A. cokeriana).
6. Basidiophore habit slender.  Stipe notably longer than pileus diameter.  Pileus rather thin, with proportionately long marginal striations, usually lacking patches of universal veil (which is rather robust).
7. Pileus whitish, sometimes Tilleul buff or Vinaceous buff over disc  Spores per Singer's protologue are 11 - 14.5 × 5.5 - 7.5 µm, with Q' approx. 1.95.  [Location(s) of syntypes not yet confirmed. - RET]

A. cokeriana.
7. Pileus dominated by shades of white or cream, brownish (e.g., sordid isabelline) over the disc.  Spores (8.5-) 9.5 - 12.6 (-13.6) × (5.6-) 6.4 - 8.4 (-9.2) µm, (L = 10.4 - 11.8 µm; L’ = 11.2 µm; W = 6.6 - 7.9 µm; W’ = 7.4 µm; Q = (1.23-) 1.32 - 1.74 (-1.88); Q = 1.43 - 1.58; Q’ = 1.51).

Amanita murrilliana.
4. Pileus having bright colors (red, yellow, or orange) or brownish shades of such colors.
8.

Pileus entirely scarlet at first fading from margin inward.   Spores (7.0-) 7.8 - 10.0 (-12.1) × (5.2-) 6.0 - 7.5 (-8.7) µm, (L = (8.1-) 8.4 - 9.5 µm; L’ = 8.9 µm; W = (6.0-) 6.3 - 7.3 µm; W’ = 6.7 µm; Q = (1.11-) 1.20 - 1.53 (-1.63); Q = 1.25 - 1.40 (-1.42); Q’ = 1.33).

Amanita jacksonii.
8. Pileus not entirely scarlet at first, although disc may be scarlet with proportionately broad yellow margin.
9. Lamellae white; pileus orange brown at maturity.   Spores [260/12/7] (7.0-) 7.7 - 11.4 (-15.0) x (5.6-) 6.0 - 8.0 (-10.2) µm,  (L = 8.0 - 9.9 (-11.1) µm; L’ = 9.1 µm; W = (6.3-) 6.5 -7.4 µm; W’ = 6.9 µm; Q = (1.10-) 1.18 - 1.53 (-1.69); Q = 1.22 - 1.38 (-1.50); Q’ = 1.31).  

Amanita arkansana.
9. Not with the above combination of characters.
10. Lamellae yellow; pileus bright yellow at first, developing brown or orange-brown coloration from center outward.  Spores [274/14/11] (7.5-) 8.4 - 11.9 (-15.0) × (5.2-) 5.9 - 7.8 (-9.8) µm, (L = 8.9 - 10.6 (-11.5) µm; L’ = 10.0 µm; W = 6.3 - 7.0 (-7.3) µm; W’ = 6.7 µm; Q = (1.14-) 1.33 - 1.71 (-2.14); Q = 1.39 - 1.61 (-1.69); Q’ = 1.49).

Amanita banningiana nom. prov.
10. ?
1. Exannulate taxa
7. Taxa with universal veil membranous, not graying or becoming friable.
8. Spores having Q > 1.19.
9. Spores [40/1/1] (9.0-) 9.2 - 12.5 (-15.5) × (6.5-) 6.8 - 9.2 (-11.8) µm, (L = 10.1 µm; W = 7.9 µm; Q = (1.06-) 1.08 - 1.60 (-1.86); Q = 1.26).

Amanita sp. S7.
9. Spores having Q = 1.71.

Amanita sp. GSM1.
8. Spores having Q < 1.20.
10.
10.
7. Taxa with universal veil becoming gray and, often, friable during development or by maturity.
a. Universal veil friable during early expansion. Often leaving a more or less dense pattern warts on the pileus even rather early in basidiophore expansion above substrate.  Except in entirely white or whitish basidiophores, the warts and other remnants of the universal veil turning grayish to nearly black with exposure and aging.
b. Basidiophore entirely white or whitish; universal veil remaining white for some time.  Spores (8.4-) 9.1 - 10.5 (-11.5) × (7.7-) 8.4 - 9.4 (-10.5) µm, (L = 9.8 µm; W = 9.1 µm; Q = 1.03 - 1.17; Q = 1.08).

Amanita species S3.
b. Basidiophore not white or whitish, except (at times) at pileus margin.
c. Basidiophore silvery gray with darker gray disc, warts on pileus notably thick; spores ??.

Amanita species GSM 3.
c. Basidiophore gray-brown to brown, often becoming more saturated with age; warts not thick; spores (7.7-) 9.4 - 12.0 (-14.2) × (7.0-) 8.8 - 11.2 (-13.5) µm, (L = 10.0 - 11.0 µm; L’ = 10.5 µm; W = 9.3 - 10.5 µm; W’ = 10.0 µm; Q = (1.0-) 1.02 - 1.11 (-1.12); Q = 1.04 - 1.07; Q’ = 1.06).

Amanita species V3. 
a. Universal veil not usually friable during early expansion, but often remaining saccate.  Nevertheless, graying and weakening of structure occurs from the top of the volval limb downwards by, or shortly after, maturation of the basidiophore.
d. Pileus olivaceous yellow or grayish yellow; spores (8.0-) 9.1 - 12.1 (-15.4) × (7.0-) 8.4 - 11.5 (-15.4) µm, (L = (9.5-) 9.8 - 11.4 (-11.7) µm; L’ = 10.6 µm; W = (8.7-) 9.0 - 10.6 (-10.8) µm; W’ = 10.0 µm; Q = 1.0 - 1.14 (-1.26); Q = 1.04 - 1.09 (-1.10); Q’ = 1.06).

Amanita sinicoflava.
d. Pileus 

Amanita species ??. 

 

 

This page is maintained by R. E. Tulloss.
The last change to this page was made 16 October 2006.
This page is copyright 2006 by Rodham E. Tulloss.