Brown Cobblestone Lichen vs Coccora

Acarospora fuscata compared with Amanita calyptroderma

Taxonomic Classification

Rank Brown Cobblestone Lichen Coccora
Kingdom same Fungi (Fungi) Fungi (Fungi)
Phylum Ascomycota (Sac Fungi) Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)
Class Lecanoromycetes (Lecanoromycetes) Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)
Order Acarosporales (Acarosporales) Agaricales (Gilled Mushrooms)
Family Acarosporaceae Agaricaceae (Agarics)
Genus Acarospora Amanita (Amanitas)
Species Acarospora fuscata Amanita calyptroderma

Evolutionary Relationship

Brown Cobblestone Lichen and Coccora share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Fungi. (Fungi)

Conservation Status

Brown Cobblestone Lichen

LC — Least Concern

Coccora

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute Brown Cobblestone Lichen Coccora
Diet
Average Lifespan
Average Length
Average Weight

Habitat & Geographic Range

Brown Cobblestone Lichen

Habitat

Native to Europe and North America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, Portugal, and United States.

Coccora

Habitat

Typically found in forest floors, decomposing wood, and soil ecosystems.

Brown Cobblestone Lichen

The Brown Cobblestone Lichen (Acarospora fuscata) is a species in the genus Acarospora. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Native to Europe and North America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Coccora

The coccora (Amanita calyptroderma), also known as the California golden Amanita or the coccora mushroom, is a large, prized edible fungus in the family Amanitaceae, native to the Pacific Coast of North America from Oregon through California and into Baja California, Mexico. The species is especially associated with oak woodlands and mixed forests containing coast live oak, valley oak, and madrone, with which it forms ectomycorrhizal partnerships that are mutually beneficial—the fungus exchanges mineral nutrients for photosynthetically produced sugars from the tree's roots. The fruiting body is substantial and handsome: the cap ranges from pale yellowish-gold to rich orange-tawny, typically reaching 10–20 centimeters in diameter when fully expanded, with a smooth, sometimes patchy surface bearing remnants of the universal veil as scattered white patches. The gills are white and free from the stipe, and the base bears a large, sack-like volva from which the mushroom emerges—a characteristic Amanita feature. Despite belonging to the same genus as some of the world's most deadly mushrooms (Amanita phalloides, A. ocreata), the coccora is well-regarded by foragers in California, particularly within Italian-American communities who have long tradition of harvesting it. However, extreme care is essential, as it bears superficial resemblance to deadly species. The coccora is classified as Least Concern given its stable populations in western North American forests.

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