Geograph - photograph every grid square

I think that this fungus which was growing right at the base of a living beech tree is probably Amanita rubescens known as The Blusher. It gets its English name from the fact that it readily forms red spots or bruises. The only feature that makes me wonder about my identification is that the cap is somewhat indented at the centre which is not typical of the species. As with many Amanita species it is considered by many to be poisonous, but nowhere near as dangerous as A. phalloides (Death Cap) or A. virosa (Destroying Angel). Some references suggest it is in fact edible even "choice", but its similarity to some poisonous species, and the fact that other references suggest it is poisonous, would certainly make me steer well clear of it - especially as I'm not even 100% sure of its identification in this example, and it is also a little "over the hill" and not in prime condition. (For a photo of a "perfect" Blusher see SU3306 : Amanita rubescens fungus in Denny Wood, New Forest photographed by Jim Champion).
The fungus with which this species can be most readily confused is the decidedly poisonous Panther Cap (Amanita pantherina), but this latter species has snow-white scales rather than the fawn "warts" seen here. In fact the best way to think of a Panther Cap is like the well known Fly Agaric toadstool (see SP9207 : Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria) group) but with a brown cap rather than a red one.