Amanita simlensis - Amanitaceae.org - Taxonomy and Morphology of Amanita and Limacella
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name Amanita simlensis
name status insufficiently known
author R. P. Bhatt, Locq. & T. N. Lakh.
english name "Shimla Slender Caesar"
intro The following is based entirely on the original description in (Kumar et al., 1990).
cap The cap of this species is 70 - 160 mm wide, reddish orange (7A8), fleshy, convex when young, soon expanding and becoming applanate at maturity, umbonate, smooth, and ndecorated.  The cap's flesh is white to yellowish white.  The cap's margin is striate.  As far as can be told from the original description, there are no remnants of the volva on the cap.
gills The gills are very narrowly attached to the top of the stem or free, yellow to yellowish orange, "conspicuously thick and broad," with edges "dentate."  The short gills are said to be "of two lengths."
stem The stem is 100 - 180 × 15 - 40 mm, narrowing upward, and yellow to yellowish orange.  The stem's flesh is white to yellowish white, with soft cottony stuffing at first, and then hollow.  The ring on the stem is large, thin, membranous, orange (5A7), hangs close to the stem and flaring at the ring's edge.  The sack-like volva is up to 80 × 30 - 60 mm, white, fleshy and thick, "distinctive," usually with 3 lobes, and with an internal limb present.
odor/taste The odor of this mushroom is mild, and the taste is said not to be distinctive.
spores In the original description the spores are said to measure 7.0 - 11.5 × 6.0 - 9.0 μm and to be subglobose to broadly ellipsoid and inamyloid.  There are said to be no clamps in the fruiting body; however, since the original description includes an illustration that apparently shows an umbonate species of stirps Hemibapha, the authors are likely to be in error concerning absence of clamps.
discussion This species is known to the editors only from the type locality, the Himalayan region of northern India (Himachal Pradesh state).

The original description seems to indicate that hyphae from the fruiting body(ies) in the holotype collection were traced to the terminal roots of one or more Deodara Cedars (Cedrus deodara).

Because the original material can only be examined in HPUB (because it is preserved in liquid) and because of the brevity and partially (apparently) erroneous nature of the original description, this mushroom is not presently well-understood.

In general A. simlensis appears to be similar to Amanita caesareoides.—R. E. Tulloss
brief editors RET

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