Extract from Wikipedia article: Amanita brunnescens, also known as the brown American star-footed Amanita or cleft-footed amanita is a native North American mushroom of the large genus Amanita. Originally presumed to be Amanita phalloides by renowned American mycologist Charles Horton Peck, it was described and named by George F. Atkinson of Cornell University. He named it after the fact that it bruised brown.
AI-generated description
Amanita brunnescens is a species of mushroom that belongs to the genus Amanita. It has a brown cap, 3-6 cm in diameter, with a velvety texture and wavy margin. The gills are free from the stem and white. The stem is 4-8 cm tall and 0.5-1.5 cm thick, with a bulbous base. In East and Central Texas, Amanita brunnescens typically fruits in late summer to early fall, often in association with oak and pine trees. It can be found in a variety of habitats, including woodland edges, roadsides, and floodplains. The fungus is considered rare in the region, but can be locally common in areas with suitable host trees and moisture levels.
Cleft-footed Amanita (Amanita brunnescens)(?) mushrooms in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, September 25, 2018
Caps of cleft-footed Amanita (Amanita brunnescens) mushrooms in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, October 3, 2018
Cleft-footed Amanita mushrooms (Amanita brunnescens) in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, October 3, 2018
Side view of cleft-footed Amanita mushrooms (Amanita brunnescens) in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, October 3, 2018
Dissected cleft-footed Amanita mushrooms (Amanita brunnescens) in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, October 3, 2018
Cleft-footed Amanita mushroom (Amanita brunnescens) in Little Thicket Nature Sanctuary. Cleveland, Texas, November 3, 2018
Side view of cleft-footed Amanita mushroom (Amanita brunnescens) on Winters Bayou Trail in Sam Houston National Forest. Cleveland, Texas, October 12, 2019
Cap of cleft-footed Amanita mushroom (Amanita brunnescens) on Winters Bayou Trail in Sam Houston National Forest. Cleveland, Texas, October 12, 2019
Cap of cleft-footed Amanita mushroom (Amanita brunnescens) in Big Creek Scenic Area of Sam Houston National Forest. Shepherd, Texas, October 20, 2019
Side view of cleft-footed Amanita mushroom (Amanita brunnescens) in Big Creek Scenic Area of Sam Houston National Forest. Shepherd, Texas, October 20, 2019
Cleft-footed Amanita mushroom (Amanita brunnescens) under oaks in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, August 19, 2020
Dissected cleft-footed Amanita mushroom (Amanita brunnescens) in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, August 19, 2020
Blue-green cracking Russula mushroom (Russula parvovirescens) together with cleft-foot Amanita (Amanita brunnescens) under small oaks in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, June 30, 2021
Underside of cleft-foot Amanita mushroom (Amanita brunnescens) in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, June 30, 2021
Cleft-foot Amanita mushroom (Amanita brunnescens) on Winters Bayou Trail in Sam Houston National Forest. Cleveland, Texas, October 16, 2021
Cleft-foot Amanita mushrooms (Amanita brunnescens) under blackjack oaks in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, November 4, 2021
Mushrooms Amanita brunnescens on Yaupon Loop Trail in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, April 29, 2024
Bulbous base of a mushroom Amanita brunnescens on Yaupon Loop Trail in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, April 29, 2024
Cross section of mushrooms Amanita brunnescens on Yaupon Loop Trail in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, April 29, 2024
Spores of mushrooms Amanita brunnescens from Yaupon Loop Trail, collected in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, April 29, 2024
AI-generated summary of observations
Observations of Amanita brunnescens in East and Central Texas were made over several years, from 2018 to 2024. The fungus was found in various locations, including Lick Creek Park, Little Thicket Nature Sanctuary, Sam Houston National Forest, and Big Creek Scenic Area. It typically grew under oaks, such as blackjack oaks, and was often associated with other mushrooms like Russula parvovirescens. The caps of the mushrooms were observed to be variable in shape and size, and the stems had a distinctive cleft or bulbous base. Dissections and cross-sections revealed the internal structure of the mushrooms, and spores were collected for further study. The observations suggest that Amanita brunnescens is a common species in East and Central Texas, particularly in areas with oak trees. It was found during different times of the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.