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Amanita muscaria

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
am-ah-NEE-tah mus-KAR-ee-ah
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

The common name Fly Amanita comes from this musrhoom traditionally being used as an insecticide.  The caps were crushed and placed in a saucer of milk to attract flies. It is a variable species with several color varieties recognized (red, salmon-red, orange, or yellow),. The cherry-red form is not frequently found in North Carolina. 

Its fruiting bodies may reach nearly 12 inches in diameter and 6-8 inches high emerging from the ground covered with pointed white or yellow warts or "scales".  As it expands, the warts become more widely distributed and the cap color will show through.  Its margin is striate and the close white gills are not attached to stalk.  The stalk is white to off-white with a somewhat bulbous base.  The thin annulus is white or with some yellow patches.  The stalk below the annulus has scales, often in concentric rings.  The spore print is white.

They are typically found in forests or other natural areas either singly, scattered, in dense groups or even in "fairy rings" in mixed hardwood-pine forests.  They can also appear in landscaped situations.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • var. alba
    White cap
  • var. guessowii
    Bright yellow cap
  • var. lavivolvata
    Bright red cap
var. alba, var. guessowii, var. lavivolvata
Tags:
#poisonous#poisonous mushrooms#mushrooms#native mushroom#woodland
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • var. alba
    White cap
  • var. guessowii
    Bright yellow cap
  • var. lavivolvata
    Bright red cap
var. alba, var. guessowii, var. lavivolvata
Tags:
#poisonous#poisonous mushrooms#mushrooms#native mushroom#woodland
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Amanita
    Species:
    muscaria
    Family:
    Amanitaceae
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    USA, NC
    Distribution:
    Throughout NC
    Edibility:
    NOT EDIBLE! (Poisonous)
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Mushroom
    Poisonous
    Habit/Form:
    Dense
    Spreading
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
    Soil Drainage:
    Frequent Standing Water
    Moist
    Occasional Flooding
    Occasionally Wet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b, 13a, 13b
  • Leaves:
    Hairs Present:
    No
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Slope/Bank
    Woodland
    Problems:
    Problem for Children
    Problem for Dogs
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Low
    Poison Symptoms:
    Symptoms may include: Patient appears to be intoxicated, hallucinations, drowsiness, vomiting, nausea, stomach pains, diarrhea, muscle spasms, hypotension, agitation; some symptoms may appear in a few minutes to several hours following ingestion; most symptoms are gone after 24 hours. The few deaths reported are in very young, old, or chronically ill individuals who were severely poisoned.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    A. muscaria produces ibotenic acid which is converted to muscimol in the stomach and results in intoxication
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Stems