The key distinguishing macroscopic features are a thick volva that typically leaves a large patch, a distinctly striate margin, a skirt-like, membranous veil and thick saccate volva. The brown-orange color cap colors are also distinctive. Another notable feature is that the young “eggs” have a gelatinous core when fresh. However, this feature fades with age or can be missing all together in dry weather.
Western North America including California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Mexico.
With the clarifying publication of the name Amanita vernicoccora by Bojantchev, Pennycook, and Davis (http://www.ingentaconnect.com/...), this name now only applies to the fall coccora. This species fruits in the Fall (Nov.-Dec. with occasional records from early January) and has an orange to brown pileus and usually grows with madrone, tan oak, and Douglas fir. It has an unusually thick universal veil which leaves an ample volval sack and a thick white patch on the cap.
Most frequently associated with madrone, tanoak or fir, but can also occur with live oak.
Amanita vernicoccora, Amanita phalloides, Amanita ocreata, Amanita velosa, Amanita aprica
This one of the most popular edible Amanita species in western North America. It is particularly popular within the Italian immigrant community where it is known as either the Coccora or Coccoli. However, its similarity to several deadly poisonous Amanita species (A. phalloides and A. ocreata) make even very experienced mushroom collectors take particular caution in ensuring they have a correct id. This species is not recommended for beginning collectors and should not be commercial sold since it may give consumers the wrong impression of what wild mushrooms are safe to eat.
