Amanita pantherina Panthercap

Panther Cap (or False Blusher) is an uncommon toadstool with a grey-brown or yellow-brown cap speckled with small, white veil remnants and a stem with a small ring that lacks striations. It is similar to the Blusher (Amanita rubescens) but the fruiting body of that species bruises red when cut or damaged and 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. It is very rare in West Glamorgan and the only reliable records have been from Gower. It is a toxic species which contains the 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).