Amanita strobiliformis
Amanita strobiliformis (Vittad.) Bertill.
Amanitaceae
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv)].
Morphology and biology. Fruit-body initially covered by a general, membranous veil. Cap semi-globose to umbonate or almost flat, 5–10(20) cm in diameter, white, ochraceous to grey brown; with large irregular, greyish warts. Gills free, curved, and notched, white to ochraceous. Stipe 6–12 × 2–4 cm, cylindrical; bulb-like and elongated at base, white to ochraceous, with greyish, fibrillose cross-stripes and hanging yellowish, furrowed ring, soon falling off. Flesh white, at the base of the stipe creamw. Spores broadly ellipsoid, 9–14 × 7–9.5(10) µm, colourless. Fruit-bodies single or in groups. VII–IX.
Habitats and populations. In deciduous and mixed forests with frutices mainly under oaks – Quercus, beeches – Fagus, hornbeams – Carpinus, and limes – Tilia), on limestone. A group of 5 fruit-bodies has been found in the locality in Mt Golo Burdo, and a group of 3 fruit-bodies – in Mt Lozenska.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Balkan Range (Western – Lakatnishki Skali protected area; Eastern), Sofia Region, Znepole Region (Golo Burdo Mt), Rila Mts, Sredna Gora Mt (Western – Mt Lozenska), Rhodopi Mts (Central, Eastern).
General distribution. Mainly in S and C Europe. Submediterranean species.
Threats. Habitat loss/degradation caused by selective logging, development of tourism/recreation infrastructure, fires; acid rains and soil pollution.
Conservation measures taken. Included in the Red List of Fungi in Bulgaria. The locality in Mt Golo Burdo is within the borders of Ostritsa Managed Nature Reserve. 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 1928; Stoichev & Dimcheva 1987a; Kuthan & Kotlaba 1989; Gyosheva 1994; Gyosheva et al. 2000, 2006; Assyov et al. 2010.
Author: Melania Gyosheva
