Amanita muscaria

Amanita muscaria (pronunciation: /æməˈnaɪtə mʌsˈkɛəriə/), commonly known as the fly agaric or fly amanita, is a basidiomycete of the genus Amanita. It is also a muscimol mushroom. Native to temperate and boreal regions of the Northern Hemisphere, Amanita muscaria has been unintentionally introduced to many countries in the Southern Hemisphere, generally as a symbiont with pine and birch plantations.

Etymology

The name of the mushroom in many European languages is thought to have been derived from its use as an insecticide, when sprinkled in milk. This practice has been recorded from Germanic- and Slavic-speaking parts of Europe, as well as the Vosges region and pockets elsewhere in France, and Romania.

Description

Amanita muscaria is distinguished by its bright red cap covered with white spots. The cap is 5–20 cm in diameter. The stipe is white, 5–20 cm high by 1–2 cm wide, and has the slightly brittle, fibrous texture typical of many large mushrooms. At the base is a bulb that bears universal veil remnants in the form of two to four distinct rings or ruffs.

Toxicity

Amanita muscaria is noted for its hallucinogenic properties, with its main psychoactive constituent being the compound muscimol. The mushroom can also contain small amounts of the toxin ibotenic acid.

Related Terms

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Amanita muscaria
Wikipedia's article - Amanita muscaria

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Amanita muscaria