Amanita muscaria

Amanita muscaria, 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.

Description

Amanita muscaria is noted for its hallucinogenic properties, with its main psychoactive constituent being the compound muscimol. The mushroom can be distinguished by its bright red cap covered with white spots. The cap changes from hemispherical to flat in maturity. The color may fade after rain and in age. The white spots are remnants of the universal veil, a membrane that encloses the entire mushroom when it is still very young.

Distribution and habitat

Amanita muscaria is native to temperate and boreal regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It is found in all layers of the forest and is common under conifer and deciduous trees. It has also been found in mixed forests, parks, and roadsides.

Toxicity

Although classified as poisonous, reports of human deaths resulting from its ingestion are extremely rare. After parboiling—which weakens its toxicity and breaks down the mushroom's psychoactive substances—it is eaten in parts of Europe, Asia, and North America.

Cultural significance

Amanita muscaria has been used in religious and shamanic rituals in Siberia and has a religious significance in these cultures. There have been suggestions that Amanita muscaria was used by the Vikings for its hallucinogenic properties.

See also

• List of Amanita species
• Psychoactive mushroom