Common names: gunpowder amanita, Gunpowder Lepidella.
Extract from Wikipedia article: Amanita onusta, commonly known as the loaded Lepidella or the gunpowder Lepidella, is a species of fungus in the Amanitaceae family of mushrooms. It is characterized by its small to medium-sized fruit bodies that have white to pale gray caps crowded with roughly conical, pyramidal, or irregular gray warts. The stipe is whitish-gray with woolly or wart-like veil remnants, and at the base is a spindle- or turnip-shaped base that is rooted somewhat deeply in the soil. The species is distributed in eastern North America, from Nova Scotia to Mexico, and may be found growing on the ground in deciduous forests, particularly those with oak, hickory and chestnut. Fruit bodies smell somewhat like bleaching powder, and their edibility is unknown, but possibly toxic.
Amanita onusta is a species of mushroom that belongs to the genus Amanita. It has a brownish-gray cap, 3-6 cm in diameter, and a white or light gray volva at the base of the stem. In East and Central Texas, Amanita onusta typically fruits from June to October, often in association with oak and pine trees. The fungus is found in a variety of habitats, including deciduous and coniferous forests, as well as woodland edges and roadsides. It is considered a moderately rare species in the region, but can be locally common in areas with suitable host trees and climate conditions.
Gunpowder Lepidella mushroom (Amanita onusta) on a slope of a small creek in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, June 10, 2018
Iron Bridge Trail, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Underside of gunpowder Lepidella mushroom (Amanita onusta) on a slope of a small creek in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, June 10, 2018Iron Bridge Trail, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Dissected gunpowder Lepidella mushroom (Amanita onusta) on a slope of a small creek in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, June 10, 2018Iron Bridge Trail, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Gunpowder Lepidella mushroom (Amanita onusta) on floodplain on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest, near Huntsville. Texas, July 21, 2018Little Lake Creek Loop Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Gunpowder Lepidella mushroom (Amanita onusta) on white background on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest, near Huntsville. Texas, July 21, 2018Little Lake Creek Loop Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Gills of gunpowder Lepidella mushroom (Amanita onusta) on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest, near Huntsville. Texas, July 21, 2018Little Lake Creek Loop Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Side view of gunpowder Lepidella mushroom (Amanita onusta) on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest, near Huntsville. Texas, July 21, 2018Little Lake Creek Loop Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Dissected gunpowder Lepidella mushroom (Amanita onusta) on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest, near Huntsville. Texas, July 21, 2018Little Lake Creek Loop Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Gunpowder amanita mushroom (Amanita onusta) in Big Creek Scenic Area of Sam Houston National Forest. Shepherd, Texas, May 30, 2020Lone Star Hiking Trail, Coldspring, TX 77331, USA
Side view of gunpowder amanita mushroom (Amanita onusta) in Big Creek Scenic Area of Sam Houston National Forest. Shepherd, Texas, May 30, 2020Lone Star Hiking Trail, Coldspring, TX 77331, USA
Dissected gunpowder amanita mushroom (Amanita onusta) in Big Creek Scenic Area of Sam Houston National Forest. Shepherd, Texas, May 30, 2020Lone Star Hiking Trail, Coldspring, TX 77331, USA
Underside of gunpowder Amanita mushroom (Amanita onusta) on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, June 7, 2020Little Lake Creek Loop Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Warty cap of gunpowder Amanita mushroom (Amanita onusta) on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, June 7, 2020Little Lake Creek Loop Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Gills of gunpowder Amanita mushroom (Amanita onusta) on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, June 7, 2020Little Lake Creek Loop Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Cross section of gunpowder Amanita mushroom (Amanita onusta) on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, June 7, 2020Little Lake Creek Loop Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Cap of gunpowder amanita mushroom (Amanita onusta) on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, June 21, 2020Little Lake Creek Loop Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Underside of gunpowder amanita mushroom (Amanita onusta) on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, June 21, 2020Little Lake Creek Loop Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Gunpowder amanita mushroom (Amanita onusta) in muddy area on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, June 21, 2020Little Lake Creek Loop Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Dissected gunpowder amanita mushroom (Amanita onusta) on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, June 21, 2020Little Lake Creek Loop Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Close-up of gunpowder amanita mushroom (Amanita onusta) on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, June 21, 2020Little Lake Creek Loop Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Cap of gunpowder Lepidella mushroom (Amanita onusta) on Richards Loop Trail in Sam Houston National Forest. Texas, July 28, 2020Little Lake Creek Loop Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Underside of gunpowder Lepidella mushroom (Amanita onusta) on Richards Loop Trail in Sam Houston National Forest. Texas, July 28, 2020Little Lake Creek Loop Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Gills of gunpowder Lepidella mushroom (Amanita onusta) on Richards Loop Trail in Sam Houston National Forest. Texas, July 28, 2020Little Lake Creek Loop Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Cap of gunpowder amanita mushroom (Amanita onusta) near Pole Creek on North Wilderness Trail of Little Lake Creek Wilderness in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, June 8, 2021Lone Star Hiking Trail, Montgomery County, Texas, United States
Gunpowder amanita mushroom (Amanita onusta) in a pine forest near Pole Creek on North Wilderness Trail of Little Lake Creek Wilderness in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, June 8, 2021Lone Star Hiking Trail, Montgomery County, Texas, United States
Side view of gunpowder amanita mushroom (Amanita onusta) near Pole Creek on North Wilderness Trail of Little Lake Creek Wilderness in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, June 8, 2021Lone Star Hiking Trail, Montgomery County, Texas, United States
Gunpowder amanita mushrooms (Amanita onusta) in moss in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, July 3, 2021Iron Bridge Trail, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Gunpowder Amanita mushrooms (Amanita onusta) under oaks on Post Oak Trail in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, July 9, 20214833 Coopers Hawk Dr, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Side view of gunpowder Amanita mushrooms (Amanita onusta) on Post Oak Trail in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, July 9, 20214833 Coopers Hawk Dr, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Cap of gunpowder Amanita mushrooms (Amanita onusta) on Post Oak Trail in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, July 9, 20214833 Coopers Hawk Dr, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Bulbous stem of gunpowder Amanita mushrooms (Amanita onusta) on Post Oak Trail in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, July 9, 20214833 Coopers Hawk Dr, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Cross section of gunpowder Amanita mushrooms (Amanita onusta) in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, July 9, 20214833 Coopers Hawk Dr, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Cap of gunpowder amanita mushroom (Amanita onusta) in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, May 13, 2022Iron Bridge Trail, College Station, Brazos County, Texas, United States
Gunpowder amanita mushroom (Amanita onusta) on moss on Closed Trail in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, May 13, 2022Iron Bridge Trail, College Station, Brazos County, Texas, United States
Side view of gunpowder amanita mushroom (Amanita onusta) in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, May 13, 2022Iron Bridge Trail, College Station, Brazos County, Texas, United States
Underside of gunpowder amanita mushroom (Amanita onusta) in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, May 13, 2022Iron Bridge Trail, College Station, Brazos County, Texas, United States
Spores of gunpowder amanita mushroom (Amanita onusta) under a microscope, collected in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, May 13, 2022
Spores of gunpowder amanita mushroom (Amanita onusta) in Lugol solution, collected in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, May 13, 2022The fungus Amanita onusta, also known as the gunpowder Lepidella mushroom, was observed in East and Central Texas from 2018 to 2022. The majority of sightings were in Sam Houston National Forest, specifically on Caney Creek Trail and Little Lake Creek Loop Trail, as well as in Lick Creek Park in College Station. The mushrooms were found growing in various environments, including floodplains, slopes, and pine forests, often near creeks and under oak or pine trees. Observations included detailed descriptions and photographs of the mushroom's cap, gills, stem, and spores. The sightings occurred from May to July, with multiple observations in the same locations over several years, suggesting a consistent presence of Amanita onusta in these areas. The observations provide valuable information on the habitat and distribution of this species in Texas.
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