Solitary Amanita (Amanita echinocephala)

An appropriate common name given this large, impressive and distinctive specimen was most definitely solitary when I 'found' it.

I can't really claim to have 'found' it since it was located just feet from where I had parked my bike hours earlier to set off on a walk with my camera. I only noticed it on my return and I'm mighty pleased I did.

Amanita echinocephala is classified as "rare and vulnerable" (I know the feeling) on the UK Red List. it is usually described as 'very rare. It's presence is mainly restricted to alkaline soils in areas of of southern England, where it can be found growing on soil near trees, especially hardwoods like Beech.

The species identifying name originates from the Greek words "e'chinos", meaning either hedgehog or sea-urchin (both associated with spines) while "cepha'le" means 'a head'. Both terms were subsequently adopted into Latin, giving the prefix echino- meaning 'spiny' or 'spiky' and -cephalum, again meaning 'a head'.

Thus we have, Amanita 'a variety of fungus' echinocephala 'with a spiny head'.

Those spiny pyramidal warts grow on a white, ivory, or silver-grey cap of up to 15 cm in diameter on a stem of up to 16cm in height and between 1cm and 2cm in diameter. In wet weather many of the warts may wash off.

This is often one of the earliest of the autumn fungi to emerge and is notably drought resistant. Just as well given the wonderful hot and dry summer we've experienced, until that is. soppy September arrived.

Some reports suggest this mushroom may be eaten, but it is toxic and can cause long-term kidney damage.