Amanita muscaria

Names

Scientific: Amanita muscaria

English: Fly Agaric

Description

One of our best known species - often illustrated in children's fairy stories. the bright red cap with white spots is what many people will think of when asked about toadstools.

This fungus is related to some of the seriously dangerous toxic species and learning the main features that characterize the Amanita genus is important. All Amanita species have white spore prints and gills that do not actually join onto the stem - this is called having 'free' gills. Amanita species also have some kind of veil remains, sometimes just a universal veil mostly visible as a volva at the base of the stem and sometimes leaving spots on the cap - find out how the toadstool gets its spots. Amanitas often, but not always, also have a partial veil which leaves varying amounts of a skirt like structure or 'ring' half way up the stem.

Amanita muscaria has both sorts of veil remains, a ring, a volva and spots on the bright red cap. Be aware that these spots on the cap can wash off in heavy rain and leave you with a plain red cap. The gills and stem are both white providing a stark contrast to the red of the cap.

Amanita muscaria contains several toxic compounds some of which are not destroyed by cooking and we do not recommend that you eat this species. There are many interesting folk stories linked to this species,and it is clear that the hallucinogenic effects have been known about for millenia in many different countries of the world.

Distribution

This species is widespread and common in the UK and is mycorrhizal, almost always associated with birch on acid soils, although occasionally reported with other tree species.

Remnants of the veil can be seen as fluffy rings around the stem base.