Fly agaric

Amanita muscaria

Description:

The cap of Amanita muscaria ranges from 10 to 20 cm diameter at maturity and is red or occasionally orange. Caps usually flatten or even become slightly concave when fully developed, but occasionally the fly agaric remains broadly convex. Caps of the fly agaric usually retain irregular, white fragments of the universal veil, but in wet weather they can wash off even while the caps are young and domed. In all but the driest of weather, Amanita muscaria caps flatten at maturity. When damaged, the flesh just below the pellicle of a fly agaric is initially white but soon turns yellow on exposure to air. Amanita muscaria has white, free, crowded gills that turn pale yellow as the fruitbody matures. Stems are 10 to 25 cm long and 1.5 to 2cm in diameter. White and ragged with a grooved, hanging white ring. The swollen stem base retains the white remains of the sack-like volva, which eventually fragments into rings of scales around the base of mature specimens.

Habitat:

Usually recurring in the same place for several years, Amanita muscaria is found frequently throughout the northern hemisphere, including Britain and Ireland, mainland Europe, Asia, the USA and Canada. Amanita muscaria is ectomycorrhizal. It forms mycorrhizal associations with a range of hardwood and softwood trees, notably birches, pines and spruces.

Notes:

Spotted in a broadleaf forest in rural area of Colmschate, Holland. (sources:see reference and Michel Beeckman)

Species ID Suggestions

9 Comments

Jae 9 years ago

Oh wow I was way off on this one, I stand corrected. Lucky me then that I didn't ingest large amounts of it :) Thanks again, Michel.

MichelBeeckman 9 years ago

If you look at the places where insects/slugs have eaten, you'll notice an orange/yellow colour in the upper layer of the flesh. The Russula species you described does not have this, but it has white flesh. Also Russula nobilis does not occur in the Netherlands, here we have Russula silvestris (Loofbosbraakrussula), which is the broadleaf loving 'variety' of Russula emetica (the true Sickener). Lastly, check out the stipe: it is quite scaly near the base (pic 3 and 4). This is not found on Russulas. My suggestion: young Amanita muscaria.

Jae 9 years ago

Thanks again, Neil. I've heard the same thing, but I don't think it's true. "The fact that this mycorrhizal mushroom is toxic to humans does not mean that finding complete specimens should be easy: slugs love the Beechwood Sickener"(first-nature.com) also slugs seem to be fond of the deathcap (Amanita phalloides) and that's one of the most poisonous toadstools around. And I read that for the deathcap the toxicity won't be reduced by cooking it. Thoroughly cooking the beechwood sickener on the other hand should remove the toxins. That's why I buy my mushrooms at the supermarket :)

Neil Ross 9 years ago

Nice looking mushroom, Jae. A friend of mine said many years ago that "if snails and slugs eat the mushroom, it's safe for us." Do you reckon that's true? As you've already pointed out here, large quantities of this species eaten raw can make you sick Most people would cook the mushrooms, I would think..

SukanyaDatta 9 years ago

Ah! Thanks. Good to know ...and you are brave..tasting a sickener! :)

Jae 9 years ago

I read that the beechwood sickener is only slightly poisonous, however you can get really sick (diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach cramps etc) if you would eat large amounts of them raw. I've chewed a little piece of its gills and the taste reminded me of a really hot radish, not bad actually :)