Fauna
Fungus · GBIF taxon 5240273

Yellow Patches

Amanita flavoconia

Also known as Yellow Wart, Orange Amanita, Yellow-dust Amanita, American Yellow Dust Amanita

Bright yellow-orange caps dotted with fragile yellow warts make this mycorrhizal fungus a striking sight along forest floors in eastern North America. It forms vital underground partnerships with hemlocks, oaks, and pines, exchanging soil nutrients for sugars produced by trees. As fruiting bodies mature, the vibrant cap margins smooth out and leave behind a delicate, powdery skirt on the upper stem.

FungusForest FloorMycorrhizal
Yellow Patches reference1 / 7
Licensed reference(c) Matthew Rozanoff, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Mycorrhizal (symbiotic with trees)
Predators
  • Fungus gnats
  • Slugs
  • Squirrels
ThreatsHabitat destruction, clear-cutting, prolonged drought
HabitatsBroad-leaved and mixed forests, particularly near eastern hemlock and oak
Life spanFruiting body lasts 5–10 days; underground mycelium persists for decades
Classification
  1. OrderAgaricales
  2. FamilyAmanitaceae
  3. GenusAmanita
  4. SpeciesAmanita flavoconia
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is high
May cause gastrointestinal illness and wild fungi have toxic look-alikes; never ingest wild mushrooms.
Why it is dangerous
Contains mild toxins causing severe gastrointestinal distress, and closely resembles several lethally poisonous Amanita species.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Look for an orange-yellow cap covered in bright yellow warts, paired with a powdery bulb at the base.
What to do
Observe and photograph in place without consuming, and wash hands thoroughly after touching wild mushrooms.
Responsible observation
  • Check the Base: Carefully inspect the stem base to observe yellow remnants of the universal veil.
  • Look Near Hemlocks: Search rich forest floor leaf litter under eastern hemlocks and oaks from summer through autumn.
  • Photograph Key Details: Capture photos of the cap surface, stem ring, and base to assist with correct identification.
Related species
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