Amanita caesarea

Amanita caesarea was first described by Italian mycologist Giovanni Antonio Scopoli in 1772 as Agaricus caesareus, before later being placed in Amanita by Persoon in 1801. The common name comes from its being a favourite of the Roman emperors, who took the name Caesar (originally a family name) as a title. It was a personal favorite of Roman emperor Claudius. The Romans called it Bōlētus, derived from the Ancient Greek βωλίτης for this fungus as named by Galen. Several modern common names recognise this heritage with the English Caesar's mushroom and royal amanita, French impériale, Polish cesarski and German Kaiserling. In Italian, it is ovolo (pl. ovoli), due to its resemblance to an egg when very young. In Albanian it is kuqëlorja from its colour (< Albanian kuqe 'red'). Other common names include Amanite des Césars and Oronge. A. caesarea was first domesticated in 1984. ==Description==

This mushroom has an orange to red cap, initially hemispherical before convex and finally flat, reaching in diameter. producing a white to faintly yellow spore print. An investigation of the heavy metal content of mushroom samples found cadmium levels in A. caesarea four times greater than allowed in cultivated mushrooms by European Union standards. The amount of lead in A. caesarea also exceeded allowed levels. The study concluded that the accumulation of heavy metals may be a species-specific property of mushrooms, and that chronic consumption of some mushroom types could potentially be harmful. A study of the organic acid composition of mushrooms found a relatively high level, about 6 g/kg, in A. caesarea. Malic acid, ascorbic acid, citric acid, ketoglutaric acid, fumaric acid, shikimic acid and traces of succinic acid were detected. Malic and ascorbic acids were the most abundant compounds. Ergosterol has also been isolated from A. caesarea. Similar species Similar species include the poisonous Amanita muscaria (fly agaric), which has a distinctive red cap dotted with fluffy white flakes, Certain varieties (e.g. A. muscaria var. guessowii) are close to yellow even at the juvenile stage. A. caesarea is also similar to the poisonous death cap and destroying angels. The eastern North American species A.&nbsp;arkansana, A.&nbsp;jacksonii, and A. angelica are similar. A.&nbsp;calyptroderma appears in similar habitats in western North America. A. garabitoana (also occurs in La Esperanza, Honduras), A. laurae, and A.&nbsp;yema. There are many similar species in India and China, with the most notable being A.&nbsp;hemibapha. ==Distribution and habitat==

It is found in North Africa and southern Europe, particularly in the hills of northern Italy. It is thought to have been introduced north of the Alps by the Roman armies as it is most frequently found along old Roman roads. and possibly Iran, although Iran is not a well explored area mycologically so may have undescribed species erroneously using the taxon. In Europe, A. caesarea inhabits primarily oak and pine forests. It grows individually or in groups from early summer to mid autumn. In warmer climates this mushroom fruits in higher oak woodlands, sometimes mixed with conifers. == Conservation ==

A. caesarea is listed in the Red Data book of Ukraine, and it is protected by law in Croatia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Germany. ==Uses==

A. caesarea is a highly appreciated edible mushroom in Europe. It is traditionally gathered and consumed in Italy, where it is known as ovolo or ovolo buono or "fungo reale". It has been traditionally taken as food in Mexico. There it is consumed roasted with a bit of the herb epazote, Dysphania ambrosioides. The international export market developed in the 1990s. It is widely eaten in the Himalayas and the Tibetan areas. ==See also==