BRIEF DESCRIPTION: The reader will find that the above illustration, which would be widely recognized as a variant of A. franchetii in Europe, does not match the following description.  Neville and Poumarat (2004) segregate collections similar to the photographed material under the name A. franchetii f. queletii (M. Bon & Dennis) Neville & Poumarat. Specimens that have a yellow volva, but are otherwise milk white are segregated under the name A. franchetii f. lactella (E.-J. Gilbert & Kühner) Bon & Contu in Contu.  Their accompanying comments discuss the "taxa" only with regard to cap color at maturity.  The two non-type forms have been typified, but the types were not examined by the authors.

For f. lactella, the authors note that it occurs (only?) among typical specimens of the dark "form" (f. queletii).  The dark-capped "form" is said to be the most common.  While some microscopic data is provided, these data are never used for the purpose of comparing the "taxa."  While the word "albino" is used for f. lactella, the authors do not seem to have specifically considered the question of whether a taxonomic value is attached to the absence of pigment.  With evidence similar to that available in the present case, several authors (including RET) have decided to treat "white varieties" or "white forms" of such species as A. phalloides (Fr. : Fr.) Link and A. caesarea (Scop. : Fr.) Pers. as cases of albinism of individual fruiting bodies and of no taxonomic value.  RET suggests that the information currently available is insufficient for the making of decisions on the taxonomic value of the non-type forms; consequently, the species itself is in need of careful revision.

The following is largely based on the description of the type form of A. franchetii by Neville and Poumarat (2004).

The cap of Amanita franchetii is 65 - 80 mm wide, citron yellow to yellow, often palest towards the margin, sometimes whitish, hemispheric then convex, finally planar, often rather irregular, sometimes depressed in the center in age, shiny, viscid then silky, not virgate, with an appendiculate margin, sometimes striate in age.  The volva is present as small, generally pyramidal warts, sulfur-yellow becoming paler and sordid (for example, pale grayish ochre), easily removable, densely placed.  The flesh is 5 mm thick above the stem, white, with a thin yellow region just below the cap skin, tending to turn brown when wounded.

The gills are free at maturity, distant, white, up to 7 mm broad, not or only finely floccose.  The short gills are truncate, rounded truncate, or attenuate.

The stem is 65 - 80 × 18 - 20 mm, white, solid, firm, striate above the ring, smooth or slightly flocculose below the ring, with a napiform bulb up to 33 mm wide.  The ring is membranous, white, striate on the upper surface, with yellow volval warts on the edge.  The volva is present as 2 or 3 incomplete rings of warts at the top of the bulb, at first yellow becoming yellowish to pale grayish-beige with age.  The flesh is white, tending to turn brown when wounded especially at the base of the stem and the bulb.

The spores measure 7.5 - 9.5 (-11) × (5-) 5.5 - 7 (-7.5) µm and are broadly ellipsoid to ellipsoid and amyloid.  Clamps are absent at bases of basidia.

This species was originally described from France but has been reported from much of Europe and northern Africa.  This species occurs in the same environments with its form queletii.  It is associated with woody plants: Oaks (Quercus pubescens, Q. robur, Q. suber), Chestnut (Castanea sativa), Carpinus betulus, and Pine (Pinus).

The name "A. franchetii" is mistakenly applied to an otherwise undescribed taxon (per RET) that is commonly found in California.  The name "Amanita aspera" [for example, see H. D. Thiers (1982)] has also been applied to both the European and North American taxa; however, the latter epithet applies to a lepiotaceous fungus.  -- R. E. Tulloss and L. Possiel

Photo: Christophe Robin (Forêt de Lespinasse, Rhöne-Alpes, Loire, France).

Note: RET us grateful to Janet E. Lindgren for pointing out several problems with the original text of this page. Janet is a valued collaborator in expanding the knowledge of Amanita, and the editors thank her for her continuing effort and interest.>

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Last changed 25 October 2009.
This page is maintained by R. E. Tulloss.
Copyright 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 by Rodham E. Tulloss.
Photograph copyright 2009 by Christophe Robin.