Fauna
Fungus · GBIF taxon 5452454

Ravenel's Lepidella

Amanita ravenelii

Also 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
Ravenel's Lepidella reference
Licensed reference(c) Bill Sheehan, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Bill Sheehan · cc-by-sa
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
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
Classification
  1. OrderAgaricales
  2. FamilyAmanitaceae
  3. GenusAmanita
  4. SpeciesAmanita ravenelii
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
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.
Related species
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