The
volva is a
mycological term to describe a cup-like structure at the base of a
mushroom that is a remnant of the
universal veil, or the remains of the
peridium that encloses the immature fruit bodies of
gasteroid fungi. This
macrofeature is important in wild mushroom identification because it is an easily observed,
taxonomically significant feature that frequently signifies a member of
Amanitaceae. This has particular importance due to the disproportionately high number of deadly
poisonous species contained within that family.