Jewelled Amanita: Red Data Book of Armenia

Category. NT – Near threatened.

Brief description. Cap is 2,5–11cm across, yellow, lemon– coloured, darker in the center, yellow–greyish, fleshy, at first extended, hemispherical, then flat with the remnants of volva which have the shape of white warts or rags. Flesh and gills are white. Gills are free, crowded, thin with lamellae. Stipe is 7–10 x 1–1,5 cm, white or whitish, with whitish narrow ring. At the base it is large bulb or with remnants of volva. Sometimes volva is absent. Spore print is white. Spores 8–9 x 7–7,5 µm, coloureless, ovoid, smooth, nonamyloid.

Distribution. Generally in Europe, America, North Africa, Southern Caucasus (Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia). In Armenia it is found only in Zangezur floristic region – in "Plane tree grove" reserve, surroundings of Kapan City.

Ecological, biological and phytocenological peculiarities. It is rarely found, on the soil, in pine, oak and hornbeam forests on the altitude of 1200–1700 m above sea level. Mycorrizal fungi, with coniferous and broad–leaved trees.

Main factors of endangering. Limited distribution, loss of habitats, degradation and breakdown of ecosystems, intensive forest use caused by uncontrolled felling in Armenia.

Nature conservation measures. It is conserved in corresponding ecosystems of "Tsav" Reserve. It is necessary to carry out monitoring of the state of the discovered populations and discovery of new habitats.