Fly Agaric
The iconic and most commonly known mushroom, this red fungus is well known throughout the world. In short, mushrooms from this genus are heavily investigated scientifically and extremely well known conceptually; in many ways, they have become an integral part of society.
Basic Information
Anatomy
The quintessential toadstool, it is a large white-gilled, white-spotted, usually deep red mushroom. Cap might be orange or yellow due to slow development of the purple pigment. Wide cap with white or yellow warts which are removed by rain.
Growth Rate & Stages
Fly agaric fruiting bodies emerge from the soil looking like white eggs. After emerging from the ground, the cap is covered with numerous small white to yellow pyramid-shaped warts. As the fungus grows, the red color appears through the broken veil and the warts become less prominent; they do not change in size, but are reduced relative to the expanding skin area. The cap changes from globe shape to hemispherical, and finally to plate-like and flat in mature specimens. Fully grown, the bright red cap is usually around 8–20 cm (3–8 in) in diameter, although larger specimens have been found. The red color may fade after rain and in older mushrooms.
Ecology and Habitats
Amanita muscaria is a cosmopolitan mushroom, native to conifer and deciduous woodlands throughout the temperate and boreal regions of the Northern Hemisphere, including higher elevations of warmer latitudes in regions such as the Meru Valley, Arcadid and even introduced regions like Aztlàn.
Additional Information
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Although it is generally considered poisonous, deaths from its consumption are extremely rare, and it is eaten as a food in parts of Dinahalli, especially after parboiling. Fly agaric is noted for its hallucinogenic properties, with its main psychoactive constituent being the compound muscimol. It was used as an intoxicant and trance agent by the peoples of the Mammoth Steppe and has a religious significance in these cultures.
As food, fly agaric does need special handling. Apparently most people eat only the caps or the very young buttons. They must be boiled in a large volume of water for a period of time, and then you need to toss out that water. After that, most cultures will either fry them like normal mushrooms, or pickle them, or preserve them in oil.
Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms
Amanita muscaria forms symbiotic relationships with many trees, including pine, oak, spruce, fir, birch, and cedar.
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