Amanita caesarea 2525224 224983024 2008-07-11T08:48:51Z Laikayiu 7244763 {{Taxobox | name = ''Amanita caesarea'' | image = Amanita caesarea.JPG | image_width = 260px | regnum = [[Fungus|Fungi]] | divisio = [[Basidiomycota]] | classis = [[Homobasidiomycetae]] | subclassis = [[Hymenomycete]]s | ordo = [[Agaricales]] | familia = [[Amanitaceae]] | genus = '''''[[Amanita]]''''' | species = '''''A. caesarea''''' | binomial = ''Amanita caesarea'' | binomial_authority = ([[Scop.]]) [[Pers.]] }} {{mycomorphbox | name = Amanita caesarea | whichGills = free | capShape = convex | hymeniumType=gills | stipeCharacter=ring and volva | ecologicalType=mycorrhizal | sporePrintColor=white | howEdible=choice | howEdible2=caution}} '''''Amanita caesarea''''', commonly known in English as '''Caesar's Mushroom''', is a highly regarded edible [[mushroom]] in the [[genus]] [[Amanita]], native to southern [[Europe]] and North Africa. It has a distinctive orange cap, yellow gills and stem. Similar orange-capped species occur in North America and India. It was known to and valued by the Ancient Romans, who called it ''Boletus'', a name now applied to a very different type of fungus. ==Taxonomy and naming== ''Amanita caesarea'' was first described by Italian [[mycology|mycologist]] [[Giovanni Antonio Scopoli]] in 1772 as ''Agaricus caesareus'', before later being placed in ''[[Amanita]]'' by [[Persoon]]. The common name comes from its being a favorite of the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] emperors, which took the name [[Caesar (title)|Caesar]] (originally a [[Cognomen|family name]]) as a title. The Romans called it ''Bōlētus'', derived from the [[Ancient Greek]] βωλιτης for this fungus as named by [[Galen]].<ref name = "Ramsbottom53">{{cite book | author = Ramsbottom J | year = 1953 | title = Mushrooms & Toadstools |pages=p. 6 | publisher = Collins | id = ISBN 1870630092}}</ref> Several modern common names recognise this heritage with the English Caesar's mushroom and royal amanita, French ''impériale'', [[Polish language|Polish]] ''cesarski'' and [[German language|German]] ''Kaiserling''. In [[Italian language|Italian]], it is ''ovolo'' (pl. ''ovoli''), due to its resemblance to an egg when very young.<ref name = "Carluccio03">{{cite book | author = [[Antonio Carluccio|Carluccio A]] | year = 2003|pages=pp. 23-24 | title = The Complete Mushroom Book | publisher = Quadrille | id = ISBN 1-84400-040-0}}</ref> Other common names include ''Amanite de César'' and ''Oronge''. It has also been classified as ''A. umbonata''. ''A. hemibapha'' is a similar species originally described from [[India]], and this name has sometimes been applied to North American collections. The relationship of the similar [[North America]]n species ''A. arkansana'' and ''A. jacksonii'' to ''A. caesarea'' is not clear. The edibility of some of these similar species is also unclear, though ''A. jacksonii'' is eaten by many and there have been no reports of illness from it. ==Description== This mushroom has an orange-red [[pileus (mycology)|cap]], initially hemispherical before convex and finally flat. The surface is smooth, and margins striated, and it can reach 15 (6 in) or rarely 20 cm (8 in) in diameter. The free [[lamella (mycology)|gills]] are pale to golden yellow, as is the cylinder-shaped [[Stipe (mycology)|stipe]], which is 8-15 cm (3-6 in) tall and 2-3 cm ( appr. 1 in) wide. The ring hangs loosely and is lined above and smooth below. The base of the stipe is thicker than the top and is seated in a greyish-white cup-like [[Volva (mycology)|volva]], which is a remnant of [[universal veil]]. The [[spore]]s are white.<ref name=Breit91>{{cite book | author = Breitenbach J & Kränzlin F | year = 1991 | title = Fungi of Switzerland 4: Agarics, 2nd Part|pages=p. 146 | isbn= 3-85604-240-7}}</ref> It could be confused with the poisonous fly agaric (''[[Amanita muscaria]]''), which has a red cap dotted with white warts, though these have been known to have been washed off after heavy rain. The latter mushroom will always have white gills and stalk rather than yellow, and a ringed volva.<ref name=Breit91/> ==Distribution and habitat== This mushroom fruits in [[oak]] woodland, sometimes mixed with [[conifer]]s, from early summer to mid autumn. It is found in North Africa and southern Europe, particularly in the hills of northern Italy. It is thought to have been introduced north of the Alps by the Roman armies as it is most frequently found along old Roman roads.<ref name=Breit91/> ==Edibility== This mushroom is highly prized, but many mycologists warn against seeking it out as it can be easily confused with other deadly members of the ''Amanita'' family.<ref>[http://www.mushroomexpert.com/amanita_jacksonii.html http://www.mushroomexpert.com/amanita_jacksonii.html]</ref> ==References== {{Reflist}} == External links == * [http://americanmushrooms.com/taxa/Amanita_jacksonii_04.htm Photos of ''A. jacksonii'' at AmericanMushrooms.com] * [http://pluto.njcc.com/~ret/amanita/species/caesarea.html Photos and description of ''A. caesarea''] * [http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/mar2002.html Photos and description of related North American species, with some discussion of relationships] * [http://www.mushroomexpert.com/amanita_jacksonii.html Classification problems of this mushroom] {{Commons|Amanita caesarea|Amanita caesarea}} [[Category:Amanita]] [[Category:Edible mushrooms]] [[Category:Fungi of Africa]] [[Category:Fungi of Europe]] [[bs:Blagva]] [[bg:Булка гъба]] [[ca:Ou de reig]] [[cs:Muchomůrka císařská]] [[co:Cocca]] [[de:Kaiserling]] [[es:Amanita caesarea]] [[eo:Oranĝfungo]] [[eu:Kuleto]] [[fr:Oronge]] [[hr:Blagva]] [[is:Keisaraserkur]] [[it:Amanita caesarea]] [[hu:Császárgomba]] [[ja:セイヨウタマゴタケ]] [[pl:Muchomor cesarski]] [[pt:Amanita caesarea]] [[ru:Цезарский гриб]] [[sr:Јајчара]] [[fi:Keisarikärpässieni]] [[tr:İmparator mantarı]] [[uk:Мухомор цезарів]] [[zh:橙盖鹅膏菌]]