Community find

Fly Agaric

Amanita muscaria

Group

gilled mushroom

Spore print

White

Size

Cap diameter: 8–20 cm (3–8 in); Stipe height: 5–20 cm (2–8 in); Stipe diameter: 1–2 cm (0.5–1 in).

Season

Late summer to late autumn, often following periods of heavy rain.

Habitat

Typically found in woodlands, forming mycorrhizal relationships with both deciduous and coniferous trees like birch, pine, and spruce.

Distribution

Originally native to temperate and boreal regions of the Northern Hemisphere, it has been unintentionally introduced to many parts of the Southern Hemisphere.

Key characteristics

Bright red to orange cap covered with white, warty pyramidal scales; white gills and a white stem with a ring and a bulbous base with a volva.

Fruiting body

Cap is initially globose, then hemispherical to flat; surface is scarlet red with white universal veil remnants (warts). Hymenophore consists of free, white, crowded gills. Stipe is white, cylindrical, featuring a white pendulous ring and a basal bulb encased in woolly rings of veil material.

How to recognise it

Look for the distinctive red cap with white warts, white free gills, and a large basal bulb with concentric rings of veil remnants. Always check the base of the stem.

Look-alikes

Amanita caesarea (lacks white warts), Amanita pantherina (browner cap), and Amanita parcivolvata (lacks a ring).

Ecological role

Mycorrhizal; it forms a symbiotic relationship with tree roots, aiding in nutrient and water uptake for the tree while receiving sugars in return.

Notes

This species is the iconic 'toadstool' frequently depicted in folklore, fairy tales, and video games. It is also well-known for its relationship with the reindeer in northern cultures and its use in historical fly traps, where crumbled pieces were placed in milk to attract and stun houseflies.