Amanita muscaria, the fly agaric, is a large ectomycorrhizal Amanita with a bright red cap covered in white to yellowish warts, white gills, and a basal bulb ringed with veil remnants. It is poisonous and psychoactive, containing ibotenic acid and muscimol. Genetic studies show it is a species complex with distinct Eurasian and North American lineages.
Poisonous and psychoactive. Contains ibotenic acid and muscimol (muscarine only in trace amounts). Effects begin in 30–90 minutes: nausea, sweating, drowsiness, confusion, hallucinations, delirium, and in severe cases seizures or coma; most people recover in 12–24 hours. Deaths are extremely rare with modern care. Seek medical help if it is eaten. Legal status varies; the US FDA does not permit it in food.
Psychoactive species. Provided for scientific, educational and research purposes only. Psychoactive mushrooms — including those containing psilocybin or muscimol — are restricted or illegal to possess, sell or cultivate in many countries and jurisdictions; some permit regulated, medical or decriminalized use. Check the laws where you are. WeMush does not encourage illegal activity.
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Mycology is an evolving science: names, classifications and safety information change as research advances. Entries are compiled from cited sources and reviewed, but may be incomplete or out of date — check the sources, and never rely on this library alone to identify or eat a mushroom.
Habitat
Ectomycorrhizal with pine, spruce, fir, birch, oak and cedar, often under planted trees.
Distribution
Native to temperate and boreal regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Introduced to the Southern Hemisphere with pine plantations, including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and South America, where it can be invasive. North American populations belong to distinct lineages, including the red, yellow-warted subsp. flavivolvata (southern Alaska through the Rockies to Colombia) and the yellow var. guessowii of the northeast.
Characteristics
Cap: 5–30 cm; bright red, fading with rain and age (yellow in some varieties); with irregular white to yellow pyramidal warts that can wash off. Gills: Free, white. Stem: 5–20 cm tall, 1–2 cm thick; white, slightly brittle and fibrous. Ring: White, becoming wide and flaccid with age. Volva: Basal bulb with two to four rings or ruffs of veil remnants; young buttons egg-like, with a yellowish layer under the veil. Spore print: White; spores oval, 9–13 × 6.5–9 µm, inamyloid.
