Amanita caesarea
Amanita caesarea (Scop. : Fr.) Pers.
Amanitaceae
Conservation status. Vulnerable [VU A2acd+3cd; B1ab(i,iii)].
Morphology and biology. Fruit-body at first covered by a general membranous, white veil. Cap semi-globose to umbonate or almost flat, 8–15 cm in diameter, orange red, seldom with veil remains; margin in the young specimens coalescent with the stipe through a yellow partial veil, then straight and with radial lines. Gills free, yellow. Stipe cylindrical, 8–16 × 2–3 cm, yellow; with a yellow membranous ring; bulb-like at the base and embraced by a white shredded volva. Flesh thick, yellow. Spores ellipsoid, 9–12 × 6–7 mm, smooth, colourless. Fruit-bodies single or in groups, VI–X.
Habitats and populations. On drained soils in light and warm oak forests and mixed deciduous (oaks – Quercus, beeches – Fagus, sweet chestnut – Castanea) forests. Long-term observation in some localities shows a decrease in the fruit-body number (10–30 years).
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea Coast, Forebalkan, Balkan Range, Znepole region, Rhodopi Mts, Thracian Lowland, Tundzha Hilly Country, Strandzha Mts.
General distribution. Europe (mainly in the Mediterranean countries), Asia, North America, N Africa (Algeria, Morocco).
Threats. Habitat loss/degradation caused by agriculture (farming), wood plantations, selective logging, development of tourism/recreation infrastructure, fires, gathering for food.
Conservation measures taken. Included in the Red List of Fungi in Bulgaria. Several localities are within the borders of Rila National Park, Strandzha Nature Park, Ropotamo Strict Nature Reserve, and Yankyovets Nature Monument. Some localities are in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Study of the population numbers and range; better understanding of the species biology and ecology; conservation of the habitats; regular monitoring; introduction of permitted amounts for gathering but only in definite territories and in a definite time periods.
References. Burzakov 1926, 1939; Hinkova 1955a, 1958b, 1961; Hinkova & Fakirova 1970; Drumeva & Stoichev 1980; Kuthan & Kotlaba 1981, 1989; Gyosheva 1997a; Gyosheva & Gussev 1998; Gyosheva et al. 2000, 2006; Assyov et al. 2010.
Author: Melania Gyosheva
