sample taxa of the seven sections      
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Amanita is defined by the combination of longitudinally acrophysalidic stipe tissue [with inflated cells elongate-clavate, terminal in most species (in terminal chains in others)]; divergent lamella trama; and schizohymenial development (an ontogeny unique to Amanita among all agarics). Essentially, the "button" of an Amanita includes no empty spaces; the stem (stipe), cap (pileus), gills (lamellae), and veil(s) develop in place and the tissues dividing these parts of the fruiting body become friable and/or die to enable the unhindered expansion of the maturing mushroom. [NB: Images and well-documented dried collections of material from outside their respective regional collecting areas are sought by both editors.] The genus is divided into 2 subgenera depending on the reaction of spores to iodine (Melzer's Reagent). A darkening reaction is called an amyloid reaction and lack of such a reaction classifies the spores as inamyloid. By starting at the "genus Amanita" bar in the navigation panel (on left) and descending/ascending through the supraspecific ranks, the viewer can explore the these ranks (subgenera, sections, subsections, etc.) and the species of the genus Amanita.
