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Snakeskin Grisette
Edible 
Autumn 
Summer 
One of the Grisette section within the broader Amanita genus. Typically a chunky mushroom, with the cap usually narrower than the length of the stem. It has no ring, emerges from a volva or sack structure, parts of which adhere to the cap. It is uncommon and its edibility is debatable, however it is very similar to other toxic species such as the panther cap so not recommended for the novice forager.
| Mushroom Type | |
| Common Names | Snakeskin Grisette, Cecilia's Ringless Amanita, Strangulated Amanita, Amanita Croen Neidr (CY), Muchomor Złotawy (PL), Óriás Selyemgomba (HU) |
| Scientific Name | Amanita ceciliae |
| Synonyms | Amanita strangulata, Amanita inaurata |
| Season Start | Aug |
| Season End | Nov |
| Average Mushroom height (CM) | 8 - 14 |
| Average Cap width (CM) | 6 - 12 |
Cap
8-14 cm. Chestnut brown with easily removed grey scales. Well defined striations around the edge and a pale margin in immature specimens. Starting ovoid, convex but flattening out with age.
Gills
Typical Amanita, crowded white gills, free from the stem.
Stem
8-14 cm long, 1-2 cm diameter. No ring (as with all the Grisettes) but distinct shaggy grey zig-zag banding running across the stem – hence the term snakeskin.
Volva
It has a volva but this is fragile and collapses quickly
Habitat
Mycorrhizal with deciduous trees, often in a parkland setting.
Possible Confusion
The edibility of this mushroom is unclear, however the big potential for confusion here would be one of the other seriously poisonous Amanitas, particularly the Panthercap (Amanita pantherina) pictured. The Snakeskin Grissette does not have a skirt but these can be easily lost from look-a-like mushrooms leading to potential confusion. The stem of the Snakeskin Grisette should be a key identifier however this is not a mushroom for the novice forager!
Spore Print
White. Globose, smooth and colourless (hyaline).
Frequency
Mostly southern Britain, but uncommon.
Other Facts
The species name (epithet), ‘ceciliae‘ is honour of the Cecilia Berkeley, the wife of and contributor to the works of, the famous 19th century British mycologist, Miles Joseph Berkeley.
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