Fly+Agaric


 * Latin Name-** Amanita muscaria
 * Kingdom-** Fungi
 * Psylum-** Basidiomycota



__**Description-**__ The Amanita genus contains both edible and poisonous species of mushrooms. There are over 600 different species of Amanita in the genus. The fly agaric mushroom itself is rarely toxic to humans, but some species of Amanita are. They are thought to be involved in a majority of human deaths from eating poison mushrooms. Although it does not look like Amanita muscaria, the most deadly mushroom in the Amanita genus is Amanita phalloides, more commonly known as the death cap, or deadly white cap. Amanita phalloides alone, is thought to be involved in about half of human deaths that result from eating poison mushrooms.

__**Features-**__ The Amanita muscaria is a very popular mushroom. It is commonly referred to as the red mushroom with white spots. When it is young, the mushroom is wrapped in a white universal veil. At this point it looks like a large white egg covered in white material. This stage is a common characteristics of the Amanita genus. The egg shape is retained until the mushroom pushes its way out of the white casing. As the mushroom grows, the top of the white veil will break and the white speckled warts (they can be washed off in a strong rainstorm) on the red cap will be all that remain of the veil. The rest of the veil will stay attached to the stalk of the mushroom. When fully grown, the cap usually measures from 2-12 inches (5-30 cm) in diameter and it is usually a distinct blood red color. However, some varieties have a cap that is orange or yellow in color and even specimens that have a red cap will turn yellow as they age.

__**Habitat-**__ The Amanita muscaria is a very popular mushroom. It is commonly referred to as the red mushroom with white spots. As the mushroom grows, the top of the white veil will break and the white speckled warts (they can be washed off in a strong rainstorm) on the red cap will be all that remain of the veil. The rest of the veil will stay attached to the stalk of the mushroom. They grow under birch or spruce trees on acidic soil.


 * __Cautions-__** Many species of fungus are poisonous or contain chemicals that can cause sickness. Never pick and eat any species of fungus that you cannot positively recognise or are unsure about. Some species are deadly poisonous and can cause death within a few hours if swallowed.



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