- Proposed
- 2Under Assessment
- 3Preliminary Assessed
- 4Assessed
- 5Published
Amanita ocreata Peck
- Scientific name
- Amanita ocreata
- Author
- Peck
- Common names
Western Destroying Angel- IUCN Specialist Group
Mushroom, Bracket and Puffball- Kingdom
- Fungi
- Phylum
- Basidiomycota
- Class
- Agaricomycetes
- Order
- Agaricales
- Family
- Amanitaceae
- Assessment status
- Proposed
- Proposed by
- Noah Siegel
- Comments etc.
- Noah Siegel
Assessment Notes
Taxonomic notes
Amanita ocreata was described from southern California, USA (Peck 1909). Amanita bivolvata Peck is a synonym.
Recent unpublished genetic studies have suggested that there may be a cryptic species falling under the umbrella of Amanita ocreata.
Why suggested for a Global Red List Assessment?
Amanita ocreata is a common species with oaks in California, especially in live oak woodlands. There is some decline of this habitat in California, and continued threats, but not sure it’s at a scale to list as anything other than Least Concern (LC).
Geographic range
Widespread in southern California, continuing north in coastal and Coast Range forests, to the northern part on the San Francisco Bay Area, continuing north inland on the eastern portion of the Coast Range, and around the Central Valley into the Sierra Nevada foothills.
Population and Trends
Population is widespread, and locally a common species. There has been some decline, due to habitat loss from urban development, Sudden Oak Death, and climate change. Corresponding data to assess population decline overall is lacking.
Population Trend: Decreasing
Habitat and Ecology
Ectomycorrhizal with oaks (Quercus spp.), especially Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia). Fruiting in spring.
Threats
Habitat loss, due to urban development, and clearing of woodlands for horticulture. Drought and climate change, especially in southern California. Sudden Oak Death (Phytophthora ramorum) has had detrimental affects on Coast Live Oak habitat. Stand replacing fires.
Conservation Actions
No specific conservation actions is needed with regards to this species.
Research needed
Research into if it’s a species complex is needed, as preliminary phylogenetic data has suggested it is.
Use and Trade
This species is deadly toxic.
Bibliography
Arora, D. 1986. Mushrooms Demystified. Ten Speed Press: Berkeley, CA. 959 p.
Desjardin, D.E., Wood, M.G. and Stevens, F.A. 2015. California Mushrooms: The Comprehensive Identification Guide. Timber Press: Portland, OR. 560 p.
Peck, C.H. 1909. New species of fungi. Bull. Torrey bot. Club 36: 329-339.
Siegel, N. and Schwarz, C. 2016. Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast. Ten Speed Press: Berkeley, CA. 601 p.
Thiers, H.D. 1982. The Agaricales (Gilled Fungi) of California. 1. Amanitaceae. Mad River Press: Eureka, CA. 53 p.
Wood, M.G. and Stevens, F.A. 2021. MykoWeb: The Fungi of California. https://www.mykoweb.com/CAF/species/Amanita_ocreata.html
