Fungus · GBIF taxon 5452454
Ravenel's Lepidella
Amanita raveneliiAlso known as Pinecone Lepidella, Pinecone Amanita
Ravenel's Lepidella emerges in eastern pine-oak forests as a stout, heavily decorated mushroom adorned with prominent pinecone-like warts across its cap. Its thick stem terminates in a deeply rooted, scaly bulb, and fresh specimens emit a sharp, bleach-like chemical odor. As a mycorrhizal fungus, it forms vital underground partnerships with pine and hardwood tree roots.
FungusDistinctive OdorForest Species
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Mycorrhizal
Predators
- Fungus gnats
- Slugs
- Small rodents
ThreatsHabitat loss, deforestation, soil compaction
HabitatsPine-oak woodlands, mixed hardwood forests, sandy soils
Life spanPerennial mycelium; individual mushrooms last 1–2 weeks
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderAgaricales
- FamilyAmanitaceae
- GenusAmanita
- SpeciesAmanita ravenelii
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Toxic if ingested; many wild mushrooms have lethal look-alikes, so never eat wild fungi based on app identification.
- Why it is dangerous
- Contains toxic compounds that cause severe digestive illness, and belongs to a genus containing deadly species.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for coarse, yellowish-brown cap warts, a deeply bulbous stem base, and a chemical bleach odor.
- What to do
- Observe and photograph without touching or consuming, as wild mushrooms carry high misidentification risks.
Responsible observation
- Olfactory ID: Sniff fresh specimens to detect the strong chlorine or bleach scent.
- Base Examination: Observe the swollen, scaly bulb at the stem base for key identification features.
- In-situ Observation: Leave fruiting bodies intact to allow spore dispersal throughout the woodland.
Close Relative (c) Alan Rockefeller, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Django Grootmyers, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Django Grootmyers · cc-by-sa
Family Member (c) Davide Puddu, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Davide Puddu · cc-by
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