Amanita muscaria

12 October 2005 Surrey. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin

Species

Amanita muscaria

Common Name

Fly Agaric, Tue Mouche

Cap

Convex, then flattened, initially covered with white veil remnants forming a distinctive pattern of spots which often wash off with age, margin lined, bright red to orange, to about 20 cm across

Gills

Broad, free, white

Stem

+/- equal, with a large fleshy ring, white but often with yellow on the ring, base bulbous

Flesh

White

Smell

Pleasant

Taste

Do not taste

Season

Autumn

Distribution

Common

Habitat

With Birch or conifers

Spore Print

White

Microscopic Features

Spores broadly ellipsoidal, smooth (9-12) x (7-9) µm²

Edibility

Poisonous, potentially deadly, causing nausea, coma, and delirium

Notes

This is the classic mushroom of children's fairy tales

Additional Photographs

27 October 2006 Surrey. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin