Identifying the Spring Coccora (Amanita vernicoccora) in Napa, CA

Check out these huge chonky Amanitas! They are the #SpringCoccora or #Amanitavernicoccora. Cousins to the more famous Coccora mushroom, but fruit in the spring instead of winter. They are also mycorrhizal, fruiting primarily with Oaks and occasionally Madrones. Often buried under shrumps, this mushroom can be spotted by its bright yellow cap - be careful not to confuse with other Amanita look alikes (gemmata, ocreata, etc...) . They are edible, but with extreme caution. Edible Amanitas can be identified by several traits, but they take experience to recognize them robustly. The thick white “skull cap” or cottony membrane that peels off easily is the most telling feature. Also look for striations on the edge of the cap, a hollow pithy stem/stipe, and a uniform/narrow/non bulbous base or “volva”. Gills should be creamy colored. Lacking a distinct partial veil. . I found this mushroom to be significantly more tasty than it’s winter cousin which has an off putting fishy flavor. The vernicoccora has great texture and a very mild seafood flavor that paired well with sake and miso. . Shout out to @yellowelanor for the brilliantly wonderful T-shirt I’m wearing in this video. . . . . . . . #mushroomeducation #amanita #mushroomidentification #fascinatedbyfungi #gordonwalker #napa #napavalley #springmushroom #mushroomvideo #bigmushroom #mushroomforaging #mushroomspotting