Portal:Fungi/Selected species/3

Amanita aestivalis, commonly known as the white American star-footed Amanita, is a species of fungus in the mushroom family Amanitaceae. The fungus is distributed in the eastern United States, south to Florida, and reaches north into the southeastern provinces of Canada. The cap of the fruit body is medium-sized, 5 to 8.5 cm (2.0 to 3.3 in) in diameter and white. It sits atop a stem that is 8.5 to 16 cm (3.3 to 6.3 in) long and has a rounded bulb its the base. The entire fruit body will slowly stain a reddish-brown color in response to bruising or aging. It remains unknown whether Amanita aestivalis is a distinct species from A. brunnescens, another similar Amanita with a comparable distribution. There are several other white-bodied amanitas with which A. aestivalis may be confused, including A. virosa, A. phalloides, and A. bisporigera.