Amanita Muscaria

Fly Agaric

The fly agaric has been used as an insecticide diluted in milk. In reality, the fly agaric does not kill flies but puts them to sleep...

Family : Amanitaceae

Shape

The red cap (8 to 10 cm) is dotted with white scales. The red color fades under the effect of rain and fo the oldest mushrooms. The gills and spores are white. At the base of the stem (5 to 20 cm), the volva bears remnants of the veil, in the form of one or two concentric rings.

Name

Amanita Muscaria derives from the latin fungus muscarum, "mushroom of the flies". It is common to several European languages and derives from its use as an insecticide.

Habitat

It grows in woodland and heathland on light soils among birch, pine or spruce. This cosmopolitan mushroom grows in all temperate and boreal regions of the Northern Hemisphere.

Geographical area

This cosmopolitan mushroom grows in all temperate and boreal regions of the Northern Hemisphere.

Flavor and odor

No particular smell, pleasant taste of fresh hazelnut but toxic.

Culinary notes

Although its consumption as a food remains strongly

discouraged by mycologists, the consumption of detoxified Amanita Muscaria (by boiling them) has been practiced in many countries.

Medical uses

Derived from Amanita muscaria, muscimol has been shown to treat stress and anxiety, ease muscular pain and promote restorative sleep.

Already known by the Mayas and Indians, the fly agaric has been used for a very long time for ritual purposes. Unlike magic mushrooms containing psilocybin, the effects of fly agaric are unpredictable. Sometimes hypnotic and sedative, this mushroom can also cause hallucinations.