Emma Wilson
Amanita muscaria, commonly known as the fly agaric or fly amanita, is a distinctive toadstool that is native to temperate and boreal forests of the Northern Hemisphere. It is a large white-gilled, white-spotted mushroom featuring a bright red cap covered with distinctive white warts. It is one of the most recognizable fungi in the world and has been used in religious ceremonies, particularly in Asia, for over 4,000 years. The fly agaric mushroom is poisonous and hallucinogenic, and its ingestion can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and in some cases, death.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common Name | Fly Agaric, Fly Amanita |
| Scientific Name | Amanita muscaria |
| Type | Basidiomycete fungus |
| Genus | Amanita |
| Colour | Bright red to orange with white spots |
| Size | 20 cm across and 30 cm tall |
| Smell | Savoury |
| Gills | White to cream, closely packed, located under the cap |
| Stipe (Stalk) | White with a brittle texture |
| Stipe Base | Bulbous volva with shaggy rings of scales |
| Spores | White and oval |
| Habitat | Forests, pastures, and fields in temperate and boreal regions of the Northern Hemisphere |
| Toxicity | Poisonous, can cause hallucinations and psychotic reactions |
| Traditional Use | Insecticide, religious ceremonies |
| Psychoactive Compounds | Muscimol, ibotenic acid, muscarine, bufotenine, and other toxic alkaloids |
| Related Species | A. pantherina (panther cap), A. gemmata, A. farinosa, A. xanthocephala |
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What You'll Learn
- Amanita muscaria, commonly known as fly agaric, is a large, bright red mushroom with white spots
- It is a hallucinogenic and poisonous mushroom, native to the forests of the Northern Hemisphere
- A. muscaria has been used in religious ceremonies and rituals for thousands of years, including in India, Iran, and Siberia
- It is also known as 'fly' mushroom because it was traditionally used as an insecticide to kill flies
- The mushroom has been linked to various cultural references, including Santa Claus, Super Mario, and Alice in Wonderland
Amanita muscaria, commonly known as fly agaric, is a large, bright red mushroom with white spots
The name 'fly agaric' comes from its historical use as an insecticide, specifically as a fly poison. The practice of using the mushroom in this way was recorded in Germanic- and Slavic-speaking parts of Europe, as well as in France and Romania. The mushroom was powdered and sprinkled in milk to kill flies. Its name in many European languages reflects this use. For example, in Latin, the word for fly is "musca", and the specific epithet of the mushroom's name, "muscaria", is derived from this.
Amanita muscaria is a poisonous mushroom that is infamous for its psychoactive and hallucinogenic properties. It contains the toxic compounds muscarine, muscimol, ibotenic acid, and other toxic alkaloids. Ingesting the mushroom can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive salivation, perspiration, watering of the eyes, slowed and difficult breathing, dilated pupils, confusion, and excitability. However, fatal poisonings are extremely rare.
Amanita muscaria has been used in religious ceremonies and rituals for thousands of years, particularly in Asia. It was used as a sacred and hallucinogenic ritual drink called 'soma' in India and Iran, and Siberian shamans would give it as a gift in late December. It has also appeared in art and literature, especially in fairy tales and children's books, and has influenced depictions of altered perception in works such as Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
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It is a hallucinogenic and poisonous mushroom, native to the forests of the Northern Hemisphere
Amanita muscaria, commonly known as the fly agaric or fly amanita, is a hallucinogenic and poisonous mushroom. It is native to the forests, pastures, and fields of the Northern Hemisphere's temperate and boreal regions. It has a bright red to orange cap with white "warts" and a white underside. The mushroom is easily recognizable and has been featured in art, literature, and media, such as Super Mario and Disney's Fantasia.
The history of Amanita muscaria dates back thousands of years, with evidence of its use in religious ceremonies and rituals worldwide. Indigenous peoples of Siberia used it as an inebriant and entheogen, and it has been linked to practices in ancient India and Iran. In Central Asia, shamans wore special red-and-white garments to collect the mushrooms, which they consumed and shared during spiritual ceremonies.
Amanita muscaria is also associated with the winter solstice and Christmas traditions. In the days leading up to the winter solstice, these mushrooms appear under trees, particularly firs and spruces. The practice of drying and stringing fly agaric mushrooms near the hearth was once common, and it is believed to have influenced modern Christmas decorations, such as strings of popcorn and cranberries hung on Christmas trees.
The mushroom contains psychoactive compounds like muscimol, ibotenic acid, and bufotenine, which can cause hallucinations and psychotic reactions. While fatal poisonings are rare, ingestion of these mushrooms can lead to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive salivation, perspiration, and other unpleasant symptoms.
Amanita muscaria has a complex genetic diversity, suggesting it may be a species complex rather than a single species. It forms symbiotic relationships with various trees and has been observed to spread invasively in some regions. Its name originates from its historical use as an insecticide, particularly effective when sprinkled in milk to kill flies.
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A. muscaria has been used in religious ceremonies and rituals for thousands of years, including in India, Iran, and Siberia
Amanita muscaria, commonly known as the fly agaric or fly amanita, is a large white-gilled, white-spotted mushroom with a bright red cap. It is one of the most recognisable fungi in the world. A. muscaria is native to the Northern Hemisphere's temperate and boreal forests, particularly in the higher elevations of warmer latitudes in regions such as the Hindu Kush, the Mediterranean, and Central America. It has been transported to the Southern Hemisphere, where it has formed symbiotic relationships with various trees and spread invasively in some regions.
In addition to its use in religious ceremonies, A. muscaria has also been used as an insecticide. Its name is derived from this traditional use, as the mushroom was broken up and sprinkled into saucers of milk to kill flies. It contains ibotenic acid, which attracts and kills flies, and muscimol, a psychoactive compound. These compounds can cause poisoning, especially in children and those seeking its hallucinogenic effects, but fatal poisonings are extremely rare.
The use of A. muscaria in religious contexts dates back thousands of years, with evidence of its use by Celtic druids before the advent of Christianity. Druids consumed the mushroom to experience hallucinations, believing that it would grant them ancient wisdom and allow them to directly contact the universe and see spiritual creatures. This use is reflected in the folklore of various cultures, including the Siberians, who have a story about the fly agaric (wapaq) that enabled Big Raven to carry a whale.
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It is also known as 'fly' mushroom because it was traditionally used as an insecticide to kill flies
Amanita muscaria, commonly known as the fly agaric or fly amanita, is a large white-gilled, white-spotted mushroom featuring a bright red cap covered with distinctive white warts. It is one of the most recognisable fungi in the world. Its name derives from its traditional use as an insecticide. Albertus Magnus was the first to record its use as an insecticide in his work De vegetabilibus, commenting, "vocatur fungus muscarum, eo quod in lacte pulverizatus interficit muscas" ("it is called the fly mushroom because it is powdered in milk to kill flies").
The practice of using A. muscaria as an insecticide was recorded in Germanic- and Slavic-speaking parts of Europe, as well as the Vosges region and pockets of France and Romania. The 16th-century Flemish botanist Carolus Clusius traced the practice of sprinkling it into milk to Frankfurt in Germany. Carl Linnaeus, the "father of taxonomy", reported the practice from Småland in southern Sweden.
The fly agaric mushroom is usually bright red to orange with white "warts" and a white underside. It grows in forests, pastures, and fields throughout temperate and boreal regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It is often found under trees, particularly birches, pines, spruces, and firs.
The mushroom is highly toxic and can cause poisoning, especially in children and those seeking its hallucinogenic effects. Illness usually begins within a few hours of ingestion, and recovery typically occurs within 12 hours. Poisoning symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, excessive salivation, perspiration, watering of the eyes, slowed and difficult breathing, dilated pupils, confusion, and excitability. However, fatal poisonings are extremely rare.
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The mushroom has been linked to various cultural references, including Santa Claus, Super Mario, and Alice in Wonderland
Amanita muscaria, commonly known as the fly agaric or fly amanita, is a distinctive mushroom with a bright red cap covered in white spots. It has been linked to various cultural references, including Santa Claus, Super Mario, and Alice in Wonderland.
The link between Amanita muscaria and Santa Claus is based on the mushroom's hallucinogenic properties. Some scholars have suggested that the traditional red-and-white colour scheme of Santa Claus's outfit may be derived from the colours of the mushroom. Additionally, the idea of flying reindeer in the Santa Claus story may be connected to reports of Siberian shamans and reindeer consuming the mushroom and experiencing hallucinations. However, other scholars dispute this connection, arguing that the Siberian shamans did not typically wear red and white or deal with reindeer spirits.
Amanita muscaria has also appeared in video games such as Super Mario, where the mushrooms are associated with the characters magically shrinking or growing in size. This theme of size alteration is also present in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, where Alice eats a mushroom that causes her to grow taller and shorter. This has been interpreted by some as a metaphor for the hallucinogenic effects of mushrooms.
The mushroom has been a part of art and literature since the Renaissance and has become iconic in fairy tales and children's books. Its distinctive appearance, with its bright red cap and white spots, has made it one of the most recognizable fungi in the world, often associated with magic and altered perceptions.
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Frequently asked questions
Mascara mushroom, or fly agaric, is the common name for the mushroom Amanita muscaria. It is a large, bright red mushroom with white spots and a white underside.
Mascara mushrooms are hallucinogenic and poisonous. They have been used in religious ceremonies and rituals for thousands of years, particularly in Asia.
Mascara mushrooms have a bright red to orange cap with white "warts" and a white underside. They can grow to 20cm across and 30cm tall and have a savoury smell.
