Amanita
Amanita
Amanita (/ˌæməˈnaɪtə/) is a genus of basidiomycete fungi, one of the most widely distributed and species-rich genera of its family, Amanitaceae.
Etymology
The name Amanita comes from Amanon, a mountain in Cilicia. It was first published by Antoine Laurent de Jussieu in 1789.
Description
Amanita includes about 600 species of ectomycorrhizal fungi. These fungi are characterized by a free gill attachment, a white spore print, and the presence of a universal veil that often creates a volva or other distinctive features on the cap, stem, or base of the fruiting body.
Toxicity
Many species of Amanita are toxic, some lethally so. The most notorious of these is the death cap (Amanita phalloides), which is responsible for the majority of mushroom poisoning deaths.
Related Terms
- Mycology: The branch of biology concerned with the study of fungi, including their genetic and biochemical properties, their taxonomy, and their use to humans as a source for tinder, medicine, and entheogens, as well as their dangers, such as toxicity or infection.
- Basidiomycete: A type of fungus that produces its spores on special cells called basidia. Most of the familiar mushrooms and toadstools belong to this group.
- Ectomycorrhizal: A form of symbiotic relationship that occurs between a fungal symbiont and the roots of various plant species.
- Spore: A unit of sexual or asexual reproduction that may be adapted for dispersal and for survival, often for extended periods of time, in unfavorable conditions.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Amanita
- Wikipedia's article - Amanita
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