Coccora vs common greasewort

Amanita calyptroderma compared with Aneura pinguis

Taxonomic Classification

Rank Coccora common greasewort
Kingdom Fungi (Fungi) Plantae (Plants)
Phylum Basidiomycota (Club Fungi) Marchantiophyta (liverwort)
Class Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms) Jungermanniopsida (Jungermanniopsida)
Order Agaricales (Gilled Mushrooms) Metzgeriales (Metzgeriales)
Family Agaricaceae (Agarics) Aneuraceae
Genus Amanita (Amanitas) Aneura
Species Amanita calyptroderma Aneura pinguis

Conservation Status

Coccora

LC — Least Concern

common greasewort

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute Coccora common greasewort
Diet
Average Lifespan
Average Length
Average Weight

Habitat & Geographic Range

Coccora

Habitat

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

common greasewort

Habitat

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

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (Taiwan), Europe (6 countries), North America (United States), and South America (Brazil, Colombia).

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.

common greasewort

<em>Aneura pinguis</em>, commonly known as common greasewort, is a liverwort belonging to the genus Aneura within the family Aneuraceae. This cryptogamic plant inhabits ecosystems across Asia, Europe, and North America, thriving in moist or waterlogged environments. Its range encompasses Taiwan in Asia, six European countries, the United States in North America, and Brazil and Colombia in South America, indicating a broad geographic distribution across multiple continents. Common greasewort is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. The species typically forms flat, ribbon-like thalli in damp habitats such as stream banks, wet rocks, and boggy ground. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.

Nature FYI Family

Explore more of the natural world across our sister sites.

Part of the Nature FYI family — FYIPedia