Amanita pantherina Panthercap

Panther Cap (or False Blusher) is an uncommon toadstool with a grey-brown or yellow-brown cap speckled with small, pure white veil remnants. The margins of the cap are striated and the stem bears a prominent ring that hangs relatively low down on the stem and which lacks striations. The volva at the base of the stem has a narrow, gutter-like structure with helical veil remains above it. It is similar to the Blusher (Amanita rubescens) but the fruiting body of that species bruises red when cut or damaged and it has a ring with prominent striations (see description of Amanita rubescens). Panthercap grows with trees like oak and beech, often in grassland at the edges of woodland and prefers calcareous soils and it is predominantly a southern European species. It is uncommon in West Glamorgan with records from Gower, Margam Mountain and Gnoll Country Park. All parts of the fruiting body are poisonous which contain the neurotoxic isoxazole alkaloids, ibotenic acid and its decarboxylated derivative, muscimol. Poisoning is similar to that which occurs with Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria) and results from stimulation of neurotranmitter receptors in the central nervous system (see description of Amanita muscaria).