John Miller
The Fly Agaric, or Amanita Muscaria, is a distinctive red and white mushroom that has been featured in fairy tales, legends, video games, and artwork. Its name comes from its traditional use as an insecticide, specifically for attracting and killing flies. This mushroom has been used for hundreds of years among tribal groups in Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, and Russia for its analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic, and stimulant properties. It is also known for its psychoactive and hallucinogenic effects, with some sources claiming that it can cause people to feel like they are flying.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Amanita muscaria |
| Common Names | Fly agaric, fly amanita |
| Colour | Bright red with white spots |
| Properties | Psychoactive, hallucinogenic, toxic, poisonous |
| Uses | Insecticide, religious ceremonies, medicinal |
| Occurrences in Popular Culture | Super Mario franchise, Disney's Fantasia, fairy tales, Christmas cards and decorations in Germany and Austria |
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What You'll Learn
- Fly agaric mushrooms are the scientific name for Amanita muscaria
- They are red and white mushrooms with psychoactive properties
- They are poisonous but rarely cause human deaths
- They are used in religious ceremonies, especially in Asia
- They are believed to be the inspiration behind the character design of Super Mario Mushrooms
Fly agaric mushrooms are the scientific name for Amanita muscaria
Fly agaric mushrooms, scientifically known as Amanita muscaria, are a type of fungus that typically features a bright red cap with distinctive white warts or spots. They are native to forests, pastures, and fields throughout temperate and boreal regions of the Northern Hemisphere, but have also become naturalised in the Southern Hemisphere.
Amanita muscaria is a highly recognisable species of mushroom, known for its distinctive appearance and its long history of use in religious and cultural traditions. It has been featured in artwork, literature, and popular culture, often associated with magic and hallucinations. The mushroom has been used in religious ceremonies and shamanistic practices for thousands of years, particularly in Asia and Siberia, where it was consumed for its hallucinogenic and psychoactive properties.
The scientific name Amanita muscaria is derived from its traditional use as an insecticide, specifically for killing flies. The name "fly agaric" also reflects this traditional use, with "agaric" referring to a type of mushroom. The mushroom contains compounds like ibotenic acid and muscimol, which are toxic to insects and can also cause poisoning in humans if ingested, especially in children. However, fatal poisonings are extremely rare.
Amanita muscaria is a large and conspicuous mushroom, often found in groups with basidiocarps in various stages of development. It exhibits complex genetic diversity, suggesting that it may be a species complex rather than a single species. The mushroom has a distinct life cycle, with the fruiting bodies emerging from the soil resembling white eggs. As the mushroom matures, the cap changes shape and the red colour becomes more prominent, while the white warts become less noticeable.
In summary, Fly agaric mushrooms, scientifically known as Amanita muscaria, are a well-known species of fungus with a distinctive appearance, cultural significance, and a range of biological properties that have been utilised by humans for various purposes throughout history.
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They are red and white mushrooms with psychoactive properties
The fly agaric, or fly amanita, is the common name for the Amanita muscaria mushroom. It is a large, conspicuous, white-gilled mushroom with a bright red cap covered in distinctive white warts. It is one of the most recognisable fungi in the world. The red colour may fade after rain and in older mushrooms.
Fly agaric is a highly poisonous mushroom that exhibits psychoactive properties. It contains the psychoactive compounds muscimol, ibotenic acid, and muscarine. Muscimol is a central nervous system depressant that may engage GABAa receptors to deliver sedative-hypnotic, depressant, and hallucinogenic psychoactivity. Ibotenic acid interacts with glutamate receptors, making it more stimulating and energizing. Muscarine exists in trace quantities and is the weakest psychoactive compound in this spotted species.
The consumption of fly agaric has been recorded throughout history, from ancient rituals to modern recreational use. In Central Asia, shamans wore special red and white garments to collect the mushrooms. They would then return to their village and enter the yurt through the smoke hole, a gateway to the spiritual world. The shaman would then consume and share the sacred mushrooms with the participants, who would experience hallucinations and visions.
In modern times, the consumption of fly agaric has increased among young people due to its hallucinogenic properties. However, it is important to note that fly agaric is highly poisonous and can cause severe intoxication and even death. Accidental ingestion and severe intoxication are rare due to the mushroom's distinctive appearance.
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They are poisonous but rarely cause human deaths
The red mushroom, Amanita muscaria, commonly known as the fly agaric or fly amanita, is a poisonous mushroom that rarely causes human deaths. It is a large white-gilled, white-spotted mushroom with a bright red cap covered with distinctive white warts. It is one of the most recognisable fungi in the world. Native to the forests of the Northern Hemisphere, it has also spread to the Southern Hemisphere.
The major toxins involved in Amanita muscaria poisoning are muscimol and ibotenic acid, which are psychoactive compounds. These toxins are not distributed uniformly in the mushroom, with most found in the cap, a moderate amount in the base, and the smallest amount in the stalk. The effects of consuming this mushroom are unpredictable and vary depending on the habitat and the amount ingested per body weight. Symptoms can include mild nausea, twitching, drowsiness, low blood pressure, sweating, salivation, auditory and visual distortions, mood changes, euphoria, relaxation, ataxia, and loss of equilibrium.
In cases of serious poisoning, the mushroom can cause delirium, hallucinations, and irritability, followed by central nervous system depression. Seizures and comas may also occur in severe poisonings. However, fatal poisonings are extremely rare. Symptoms typically appear within 30 to 90 minutes of ingestion and peak within three hours, but certain effects can last for several days.
Amanita muscaria has been featured in paintings, fairy tales, legends, artwork, and video games, such as the Super Mushroom power-up items in the Mario franchise. It is also associated with cultural and spiritual practices, such as shamanic rituals in central Asia and pre-Christian traditions in northern Europe. Despite its toxicity, some sources suggest that Amanita muscaria can be consumed as food after proper detoxification, similar to other edible mushroom species that are also toxic unless properly cooked.
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They are used in religious ceremonies, especially in Asia
While there is no evidence that red mushrooms give you the power to fly, there is evidence that they have been used in religious ceremonies, especially in Asia.
In Central Asia, shamans consumed fly agaric mushrooms (Amanita muscaria) in spiritual rituals. They wore special red and white garments to collect the mushrooms and returned to their villages to share the sacred mushrooms with participants. The shamans entered the yurt (a portable tent dwelling) through the smoke hole on the roof, which was believed to be a gateway to the spiritual world. The ingestion of fly agaric mushrooms was associated with hallucinations that gave the sensation of flying in a "spiritual sleigh" pulled by reindeer or horses. This may be the origin of the myth of Santa Claus, who wears a similar outfit and travels by sleigh to deliver gifts.
In ancient India, the gods in the Vedas and Upanishads, texts that form the basis of Hinduism, are said to have routinely consumed a ritual drink called soma, which is described as having psychedelic properties. In 1968, R. Gordon Wasson proposed that soma was in fact Amanita muscaria, noting that descriptions of soma omitted any mention of roots, stems, or seeds, and used the adjective hári, which can mean "dazzling" or "flaming" in Sanskrit, suggesting a red colour.
In addition to Asia, there is evidence of mushroom ceremonies in ancient cultures around the world, including Mesoamerica, North America, South America, Europe, and Africa. For example, the Aztecs of Mexico held psilocybin mushrooms in great reverence and used them in their most holy of ceremonies. The Florentine Codex, a sixteenth-century colonial text, describes a mushroom ceremony performed by traders to give thanks for a successful expedition. At the beginning of the ritual, participants ate the mushrooms with honey as shell trumpets were blown. When the mushrooms took effect, they danced and wept, sharing their visionary experiences with each other.
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They are believed to be the inspiration behind the character design of Super Mario Mushrooms
The red and white-spotted toadstool, Amanita muscaria, commonly known as the fly agaric or fly amanita, is believed to have inspired the character design of the Super Mushrooms in the Super Mario franchise. This distinctive mushroom has been featured in paintings since the Renaissance and has appeared in fairy tales, legends, artwork, and video games.
The fly agaric is a large, conspicuous mushroom with a bright red cap covered with distinctive white warts. It is one of the most recognisable fungi in the world and is native to the Northern Hemisphere's temperate and boreal forests. Its name comes from its traditional use as an insecticide, as it attracts and kills flies. The fly agaric has been used for its hallucinogenic and psychoactive properties for thousands of years in various cultures, including in religious ceremonies in Asia and among tribal groups in Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, and Russia.
The Super Mushrooms in the Super Mario franchise are likely inspired by the distinctive appearance of the fly agaric. In the games, Mario and Luigi take mushrooms to "power-up," referencing the mind and body-altering properties of the fly agaric. The red and white colours of the Super Mushrooms may also be influenced by the vibrant hues of the fly agaric.
The fly agaric has become a common image in popular culture, appearing in children's books, garden ornaments, and even emojis. Its association with magic and hallucinations may have contributed to its popularity and made it a fitting inspiration for the Super Mushrooms in the Super Mario franchise. The Super Mushrooms' design and colour scheme may have been influenced by the fly agaric's distinctive appearance and cultural significance.
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Frequently asked questions
These mushrooms are called Fly Agaric, or Amanita Muscaria.
Yes, Amanita Muscaria is poisonous and infamous for its psychoactive and hallucinogenic properties. However, reports of human deaths are extremely rare.
The main active compounds in Amanita Muscaria are muscimol, ibotenic acid, and muscarine. The effects of these compounds can vary, causing some people to feel very jolly or sad, jump about, dance, sing or give way to great fright.
No, eating Amanita Muscaria will not give you the ability to fly. However, Siberian shamans who consumed the mushroom reported hallucinations of flying in a spiritual sleigh pulled by reindeer or horses.
Amanita Muscaria is native to the UK, North America, and the Northern Hemisphere. It grows in woodland and heathland on light soils among birch, pine, or spruce trees.
