Since ancient times, narcotic properties have been widely used in the rites and rituals of the peoples. Images of fly agaric mushrooms were found on rock paintings in ancient chronicles.
Shamans in those days, before performing the ceremony, ate fly agaric to acquire new mental and physical strength. After eating such food, they had numerous hallucinations.
Reconnecting with the spirits was the goal of their drug sessions. Through experiments with food, our ancestors learned about the mysterious properties of these plants.
The tribes of the Mayans, Aztecs and many other tribes also did not avoid this method in acquiring superpowers. Spiritual sessions, rituals, rituals, meditations, shamanism, all this was accompanied by the use of narcotic drugs.
Referring to historical facts, it can be argued that in order to give fearlessness, the Vikings also ate mushrooms before important battles. In combat, a drink made from hallucinogens was often used.
Warriors acquired bloodlust and fearlessness with the help of this drink. The action of the active substances of the fungus kindled the rage in the warriors, they became invincible, instilled stupor and horror in their opponents.
Despite all these very interesting mysterious events associated with these mushrooms, in the modern world you should not use them without the advice of specialists.
Useful information about the world of mushrooms
We all love to visit forests, just for a walk, or in search of something tasty and beautiful. Avid mushroom pickers know about all the intricacies of this species, but ordinary inexperienced people may not get exactly what they were looking for.
There are many forests in Europe, more than 80 species have found their refuge in the forests, which harm the human body when they are eaten. Even touching the mushroom with your hands, poison from your hands can get into your mouth. Approximately 30 species of these mushrooms are dangerous, many of them are deadly poisonous, the red fly agaric falls into this number. Beware of mushrooms if they are unfamiliar to you.
- What should we know first of all about his appearance, so as not to confuse him with anything? Short description, has a hat on a leg, fruit, dense, fleshy body.
The cap of the mushroom does not exceed 20 cm in diameter, it is also fleshy, at the beginning of growth it acquires a spherical shape, after a while it becomes convex-prostrate, a thin ribbed edge, sticky orange-red. When it begins to age it acquires a yellowish tint, the colors fade.
On the hat there are large white spots, dots - there are mushrooms without them, but very rarely. Under the skin, the cap is light orange, it is surprisingly tasty, the mushroom tastes sweet and exudes a pleasant aroma. In all books and booklets, red fly agarics are very clearly depicted, it is difficult to confuse them with something else.
Many different species prevail in our area. It is important to know that absolutely all fly agarics are poisonous.
Where does it grow?
Amanitas are not whimsical and are located in forests of all kinds. The color of the mushroom cap depends on the trees growing nearby.
Amanitas are found on all continents, they are settled all over the world. Almost any forest soil is suitable for mushroom growth. most likely each of us, who visited his nearest forest, met a fly agaric on his way.
Is fly agaric dangerous?
A very potent poison, muscarine, is included in the chemical composition of the red fly agaric. The smallest dose of this substance used by a person can cause terribly serious consequences, a fatal outcome is not ruled out. Muscarine is an alkaloid. All alkaloids can be used as a stimulant. The dose should not be large to avoid toxicity.
Examining the fly agaric, scientists noticed that pure muscarine poisoning differs from mushroom poisoning: muscarine does not affect the nervous system, delirium, rabies and hallucinations are excluded.
A complex of three active substances acts on the brain, we will not delve into chemical terms. The toxic protein substances of the fly agaric are death for flies, which is why the fungus got such an original name. Even the smallest doses kill these insects.
Amanita muscaria contraindications
Always remember that fly agaric is a mushroom filled with poison. It must be used with great care, responsibly refers to the calculation of dosages. After rubbing and using fly agaric products, be sure to wash your hands with soap and do not give them to children.
It is also not recommended to treat children with fly agaric, it is difficult to calculate the dose for children, you can easily get poisoned in case of a mistake. Do not use untested tinctures or decoctions, without prescriptions and dose calculations. We can easily distinguish the red fly agaric from other mushrooms, so it is not so dangerous.
Deadly danger is unknown to people and almost indistinguishable from edible, they are very similar to champignons and russula, inexperienced mushroom pickers can easily mistake them for a good mushroom. Despite this, cases of poisoning were rarely recorded.
What to do if it was not possible to avoid poisoning?
The very first and necessary action is to clear the stomach of all contents. Drink at least a liter of water, induce a gag reflex in all familiar ways (two fingers in your mouth). It is necessary to induce vomiting until the stomach is completely cleansed of food.
- Take a strong laxative.
- If there are no suitable drugs at hand, make an enema from a warm soapy solution (household or baby soap is suitable).
- You need to take any medications as directed by your doctors.
- A lethal dose of poison is contained in 3-4 fly agarics.
- Despite the improvement in the condition, in any case, you need to see a doctor.
The use of fly agaric in everyday life
Tinctures, decoctions, dry powders are made from fly agaric, mixed with various other drugs, used in all areas of non-traditional medicine.
Disorders of internal organs, chronic diseases. In such medicine, only mushroom caps are used, the entire mushroom is not used for drugs.
Fly agaric photo
The vast majority of the population, who do not even include themselves in the category of mushroom pickers, have heard or read somewhere that the red fly agaric is not eaten. But is it worth it to unambiguously ignore it in the forest, or a beautiful mushroom on a white leg, “dressed” in a red hat can do good service to health - it’s worth figuring it out.
Fly agaric (Amanita muscaria) - belongs to the class Agaricomycetes, genus Amanita, family Amanitaceae. The name comes from an ancient use - against flies. Other names are amanita, fly agaric. Refers to poisonous, psychoactive mushrooms.
- The cap is initially spherical, gradually turning from flat-round to flat, with a diameter of 8-20 cm. Skin color from yellow-orange and orange to many variants of red. With age, stripes form along the edge of the cap. All over the surface there are white scales, rounded irregularly shaped, washed off after rains. In wet weather, the cap becomes slimy.
- The flesh is white or pale yellow. Under the cover of a hat with a yellow or orange tint. Smells nice, slightly sweet taste.
- The plates of the red fly agaric can be described as thick, uneven at the edges, often located, do not reach the stem, with intermediate plates. White at first, turning slightly yellow with age. Width 0.8-1.2 cm.
- The leg is cylindrical, tuberous at the base, swollen. The base is covered with scales, which are located concentrically, in several rows (remains of a bedspread). In the upper part of the stem there is a membranous, white with yellowish hazel ring, which hangs down with age. The leg is long, 8-20 cm in height, 1-3.5 cm in girth. In young fly agarics it is dense, becoming hollow with age. The color is white, turning yellowish as it matures.
Spreading
Amanita muscaria usually appears in symbiosis with spruce forest and especially birch. Occurs in small groups and single specimens. Prefers acidic soils. Fruiting from June to late autumn (frost).
In our country, the red fly agaric grows throughout the territory, in mountainous areas it "climbs" to the edge of the forest, along the tundra - next to shrub birches. Settled throughout the forest expanses of the temperate climate zone of the Northern Hemisphere, there is an option to meet even in Australia.
Similar species and how to distinguish from them
It is important to distinguish the red fly agaric from similar species, especially edible ones. To do this, you can use the table below.
Caesar mushroom in Russia is practically not found.
Chemical composition
The mushroom of the red fly agaric, has in its composition a whole "laboratory" of chemical compounds, most of which are dangerous to humans. The main chemical composition is presented in the table below.
| Chemical substances | Human impact |
|---|---|
| Ibotenic acid | Destroys brain cells. In small doses - insecticidal action |
| Muscarine | It dilates blood vessels, reduces cardiac output, lowers blood pressure, causes vomiting and salivation. In advanced cases - edema of the lungs and bronchi, death |
| Muscimol | Sedative-hypnotic, dissociative effect. The main toxin of the fungus |
| Muscazon | Minor psychoactive effect |
| Bufotenin | hallucinogenic effect |
| Muskafurin | Antibiotic, in small doses raises the tone, improves the functioning of the endocrine glands, antitumor effect |
| Muscaridine | Acts on the parasympathetic nervous system |
The main concentration of toxic substances, primarily alkaloids, is recorded in the cap of the red fly agaric. Less dangerous specimens become by autumn.
Procurement and storage
For harvesting for further treatment, you can collect red fly agaric at any time. It is better to choose smaller mushrooms. Use only hats.
Drying technology
- Mushrooms cut into smaller pieces and send to the oven. Large ones - pre-dry on the street, where the direct rays of the sun do not fall, 1-2 days.
- Keep in the oven at a temperature not exceeding 50 degrees. Heat until almost all the water is gone (then the smaller specimens will darken).
Store fly agarics in plastic containers or glass jars. Close the lid well. Clean up in the dark and cool.
Application
The many medicinal properties of the red fly agaric make it possible to use it in folk medicine, the economy.
Use in medicine
In folk medicine, anyone can use tinctures and ointments from the red fly agaric to treat the bone apparatus, various types of radiation burns, and allergies. Properly prepared tincture will stimulate the immune system, anthelmintic and anti-cold remedy.
It is not used in official medicine due to its high toxicity.
insecticidal action
The red fly agaric perfectly uses its poisonous properties to influence harmful insects. To kill flies - the mushroom cap is placed in a saucer with water, and placed in places where insects accumulate. After drinking water, in which the alkoids of the fungus dissolve well, the flies fall asleep, and sometimes drown. When fighting bedbugs with liquid mushroom gruel, it is necessary to smear the passages from where insects appear.
Is it possible to eat fly agaric?
If you eat a red fly agaric, poisoning will occur. Moreover, the officially lethal dose is 1/4 of the cap.
But there are some areas where the population knows how to eat fly agaric. So in Nagano Prefecture (Japan), red fly agaric is salted and pickled, apparently considering its beneficial properties more important than the risk of poisoning. In Ukraine, they are used to make a vodka tincture for ingestion. In Kamchatka, the local population, after repeated boiling of the mushroom, can use it internally as an immunostimulant. Popular with shamans in magical practices.
It must be borne in mind that these people have been using fly agaric for a long time, which means they know how to process it to a state suitable for consumption. It is not advisable for ordinary amateurs to do this, because the risk of fatal poisoning from the red fly agaric is very high.
Signs of poisoning and first aid
Fly agaric is usually poisoned by children, because. for adults, such a fly agaric is difficult to confuse with any other mushroom due to its colorful appearance.
Signs of poisoning appear quickly, usually 30-40 minutes pass:
- increased nervousness;
- sweating;
- nausea;
- vomit;
- abdominal pain;
- saliva flow;
- cyanosis;
- crazy words;
- possible hallucinations;
- convulsions;
- pupils constrict;
- turning off consciousness.
If symptoms are detected, call a doctor, provide first aid:
- give the victim water and provoke vomiting - repeat more than once;
- drink magnesia sulfate laxative (30 g) - in 1/2 cup of water or put an enema - in 1 cup of slightly warm water 1 teaspoon of baby soap.
Traces of poisoning usually completely disappear after two days, if the dose of fly agaric eaten did not exceed the lethal dose.
As with many forest gifts, the benefits and harms of this mushroom appear in accordance with how correctly a person uses it. Amanita muscaria will destroy a person prone to dangerous experiments in gastronomy, but will be an excellent medicine for anyone who can use it wisely.
Everyone is familiar with such as fly agarics. They are found in literature, in children's fairy tales. The red-capped fly agaric is the most recognizable mushroom in the world. Today we will take a closer look at the main types of fly agaric, talk about their appearance, and also talk about where they grow. Find out if there are types of fly agaric.
Let's start with the most recognizable type of fly agaric, which is familiar to every person. It is he who is found in fairy tales and it is with him that everyone is associated.
Edible or not
It would seem that the fly agaric cannot be edible in any way, because it is not only the strongest poison, but also causes hallucinations. 
However, it is worth knowing that toxic and psychoactive substances dissolve well in hot water. This tells us that if you cook a fly agaric, changing the water several times, then there is a chance to get a completely edible mushroom. You should not check this information, because the amount of poisons in each individual mushroom varies, which is why even with proper cooking, you can be seriously poisoned.
In the scientific literature, the following names of the fungus are found: Agaricus muscarius, Amanitaria muscaria, Venenarius muscarius. All names are associated with the use of the mushroom against flies.
What does it look like
The appearance of the fungus does not need a detailed description, but it is worth pointing out the most basic points.
Important! In old mushrooms, white warts can be washed off by precipitation.
When and where it grows, twins
This variety can be found exclusively in those forests where or grows. All for the reason that the mycelium enters into symbiosis with these trees, after which it develops and forms the aerial part. Amanita muscaria is found only in the temperate climate of the Northern Hemisphere. Grows on oxidized soils. The above-ground part is formed from August to October. 
Separately, it should be said about what other mushrooms this species can be confused with. The Caesar mushroom, which is not very common in our country, is very similar to the poisonous "brother", although it is quite edible. He also has a kind of "skirt" on the leg, but differs in that his hat is similar in color to.
Found only in Southern Europe. 
Edible or not
Eat pale toadstool prohibited in any way. Even after boiling with a change of water, this mushroom retains its toxicity. 
To kill an adult, it is enough to give him about 30 g of pulp. Death occurs as a result of the most powerful intoxication, which causes the appearance of toxic hepatitis (liver fails), as well as acute heart failure. As a result of the action of toxic substances, the liver begins to rapidly collapse. The kidneys do not have time to remove toxins and simply refuse.
Important! The danger lies in the absence of symptoms of poisoning in the first day. The lethal outcome after the use comes in 1,5 weeks in any case.
Other name
The pale grebe is also called the green fly agaric or the white fly agaric. The Latin name of the species is Amanita phalloides. 
What does it look like
When and where it grows, twins
You can meet the most dangerous mushroom in the world on fertile soils, where it feels best. As in the case of the red fly agaric, the toadstool enters into a symbiosis with trees, so you can find this mushroom in any deciduous forest where beeches grow,. Sometimes found in open areas, where often.
Distributed in the temperate climate of Eurasia, and also found in North America.
Separately, it is worth mentioning the twins. The fact is that because of the toadstool, a huge number of people die every year for the sole reason that it is confused with.
If the toadstool is painted pure white, then an inexperienced mushroom picker, having cut off only a hat, can easily confuse and eat an incredibly dangerous mushroom. Also, the toadstool is confused with green russula, floats and. 
In order not to confuse champignon with grebe, you should first of all look at the color of the plates, which darken with time in champignons. In the green fly agaric, they always remain white. As for, they never form a Volvo, and there is also no ring at the top of the leg. The pulp of the russula is brittle, while that of the fly agaric is fleshy, dense.
Video: how to distinguish between pale grebe and green russula
In greenfinch, not only the outer part of the hat is colored, but also the plates. They are greenish in color. Also, the greenfinch lacks a Volvo.
fly agaric battarra
Another type of fly agaric, which is not very toxic. 
Eating
Amanitas of Battarra are classified as conditionally edible mushrooms. It means that they are poisonous raw, however, after proper heat treatment, they lose their toxicity and can be eaten.
Important! Toxicity depends not only on the correct preparation, but also on the age of the fungus, as well as the place of growth, so experimenting with this variety is highly discouraged.
Other name
This species is also called the battarra float. The Latin name is Amanita battarrae. 
What does it look like
When and where it grows, twins
You can meet a conditionally edible mushroom in mixed and coniferous forests. The formation of the fruiting body occurs from July to October.
Important! Battarra is not found on alkaline soils, which is worth remembering.
You can confuse the variety under discussion with a "brother" from the genus Amanita - a gray float, which is completely edible. The gray float has a white base and legs, and its plates are much lighter.
Consider an unusual variety that is not typical for our climate. Let's talk about the features of Vittadini. 
Edible or not
A rather contradictory characteristic of the fungus in terms of edibility. Some scientists claim that it can be eaten, since it does not contain poisons, others classify Vittadini as slightly poisonous.
In any case, given the rarity of the mushroom, it is dangerous to collect it, since there is a high chance of confusing it with toxic varieties of the same fly agaric.
Other name
The Latin name is Amanita vittadinii. This species has a large number of alternative names, namely: Agaricus vittadinii, Armillaria vittadinii, Aspidella vittadinii, Lepidella vittadinii, Lepiota vittadinii. 
What does it look like
The mushroom has a very strange appearance, so it is very difficult to confuse it with mushrooms familiar to our zone.
When and where it grows, twins
Let's start with the fact that this is one of the few species that does not enter into symbiosis with trees or shrubs. It occurs in the steppe and forest-steppe regions.
As for the climate, vittadini loves warm, mild weather, so it is common in southern Europe. Rarely found in southern Asia, as well as in some regions of Russia (Stavropol Territory and Saratov Region).
This species can be confused with deadly white fly agaric, which differs from the mushroom under discussion in smaller sizes. Also, a deadly "brother" grows exclusively in the forest, forming.
May be confused with umbrellas, which do not belong to poisonous mushrooms, so this error will not affect health in any way.
The fruit body is formed for about 7 months - from April to October.
Fly agaric white smelly
Edible or not
This deadly poisonous mushroom, the use of which leads to death. No processing will help to make the fruiting body edible for humans, and even extremely small doses will cause organ failure and intoxication of the whole organism. 
Other name
This variety is known to us under the alternative names of white grebe or snow-white grebe. It is also called fetid fly agaric. The Latin name is Amanita virosa.
What does it look like
When and where it grows, twins
You can meet this smelly variety in coniferous and deciduous forests, where the fungus enters into symbiosis with trees and shrubs. Prefers moist sandy soils. Distributed in the northern part of the temperate zone in Europe and Asia. The formation of the above-ground body occurs from June to October. 
Let us omit the similarity of this species with other fly agarics, since most of them are not eaten, and if they are used, then only by experienced mushroom pickers. But the similarity with champignons is worth talking about. The fact is that inexperienced mushroom pickers can mistake white toadstool for champignon, especially if the collection is carried out at dusk. Champignons have a short stem and a more fleshy cap, and the mushroom plates are painted black or pink. Also, the champignon does not have a vulva, which the white grebe has (hidden in the ground).
Did you know? The Vikings drank an infusion based on fly agaric before the battle, after which their minds clouded and they did not feel pain or fear, even if they were going to certain death.
Fly agaric spring
The next species got its name for the reason that it massively forms above-ground bodies in the spring, and not at the end of summer or autumn, like most other fly agarics.
Edible or not
The spring fly agaric is deadly poisonous mushroom, similar in toxicity to white toadstool. The use of even an extremely small amount of pulp leads to death. 
Other name
Since the toxicity is similar to the white toadstool, this fly agaric is called the spring toadstool and the white fly agaric. The Latin name is Amanita verna. Scientific synonyms: Agaricus vernus, Amanitina verna, Venenarius vernus.
What does it look like
When and where it grows, twins
The spring toadstool loves a warm climate, so it can be found in the southern parts of the temperate zone. The variety grows exclusively in deciduous forests.
Important! The fungus loves alkaline soils. Doesn't grow on acids.
You can confuse the spring toadstool with a white float. A poisonous mushroom differs from an edible one in an unpleasant odor, as well as the presence of a ring on the leg. There is also a resemblance to the beautiful Volvariella. The main differences are the color of the cap and the smell. Volvariella has a sticky substance that is absent in the toadstool.
Consider the type of fly agaric that is found in the forest zone. Let's talk about the differences and features.
Eating
A controversial variety, listed as an edible mushroom in some sources and inedible in others. Given that the species are similar to each other, it is highly discouraged to eat even after repeated heat treatment. 
Other name
The Latin name is Amanita excélsa. The following names are also found in the scientific literature: Agaricus cariosus, Agaricus cinereus, Amanita ampla, Amanita spissa and others.
What does it look like
When and where it grows, twins
Most often it grows in coniferous forests, where it forms a symbiosis with trees. Sometimes it can be found in deciduous plantings, but quite rarely. The species is distributed in the temperate zone. The formation of the fruiting body occurs in summer and autumn.
We wrote above that although the mushroom is edible, it is very easy to confuse it with another “brother”, which is highly toxic. The problem is that the panther fly agaric, which the tall fly agaric looks like, differs only in snow-white warts on the cap. It is for this reason that it is very risky to collect, and even more so to eat, the species under discussion.
Fly agaric yellowish brown
Let's discuss the properties and appearance of a completely edible fly agaric, which is still ignored not only by novice mushroom pickers, but also by experienced ones. 
Eating
Another conditionally edible mushroom that can be eaten, but only after heat treatment. In its raw form, it is dangerous to humans.
It is not particularly popular, not only because it can be confused with dangerous specimens, but also because of the lack of fleshiness of the cap.
Did you know? The poisonous fly agaric contains two dangerous ingredients: muscarine and muscaridine. Interestingly, the first causes kidney failure, and the second has an intoxicating effect, but at the same time blocks the action of the first. As a result, a person survives if the amount of muscarine and muscaridine is approximately the same.
Other name
The people called this species "float", which is why the following alternative names appeared: red-brown float, brown float, orange fly agaric. The Latin name is Amanita fulva. 
What does it look like
When and where it grows, twins
The variety loves waterlogged waterlogged soils, therefore it forms mycorrhiza with those trees that grow in such places. Found in both pine and deciduous forests. It is interesting that you can meet a float not only in Eurasia, but also in North America, as well as in Africa. The fungus also reached the Japanese islands.
The formation of the above-ground body occurs from July to October.
Important! There are both single mushrooms and groups.
It is easy enough to confuse with other types of the so-called float, but this is not critical, since they are conditionally edible. The absence of a ring helps to distinguish from poisonous fly agarics.
Fly agaric royal
Next in line is a hallucinogenic species of fly agaric, which at the beginning of the 2000s was chosen as the “mushroom of the year”. Let's take a closer look at the appearance and properties. 
Edible or not
In extremely small quantities, the royal variety causes severe hallucinations, which last about 6 hours, after which a severe hangover occurs. But if you use a sufficiently large amount of pulp, then a lethal outcome is guaranteed. In terms of toxicity, it is comparable to the red and panther variety.
Other name
The Latin name is Amanita regalis. This mushroom is also called royal in England, but in other European countries the species received its alternative "names": the king of the Swedish fly agaric, brown red fly agaric, Agaricus muscarius, Amanitaria muscaria. 
What does it look like
When and where it grows, twins
As is the case with many other types of fly agaric, the royal forms mycorrhiza with coniferous and deciduous trees (spruce, birch). Distributed in Europe and Russia, and also found in Alaska and Korea. The fruiting period is from July to October.
You can confuse the royal mushroom with the red and panther fly agaric, but this does not change the situation in any way, because all three species are dangerous to humans, so it makes no sense to consider the differences.
In the previous sections, we recalled this species, which is also not safe for humans. Next, we indicate a detailed description. 
Eating
The mushroom is comparable in toxicity to henbane and. When using even an extremely small volume, it causes failure of organs and organ systems, which ends in death.
Other name
In the people, this species is called gray fly agaric. The Latin name is Amanita pantherina. Other scientific synonyms: Agaricus pantherinus, Amanitaria pantherina, Agaricus pantherinus. 
What does it look like
Important! The hat can have several colors, namely: brown, light brown, gray, dirty olive.
When and where it grows, twins
It enters into symbiosis with coniferous and deciduous trees, therefore it is found in the corresponding plantings in the temperate zone. You can find panther fly agaric under, beech, oak. Feels great on alkaline soils, but does not like acidification. The fruit body is formed from the beginning of July to the end of September.
We turn to another interesting species of fly agaric, which belongs to a separate subgenus Lepidella.
Edible or not
Even if the mushroom were edible, you would hardly eat it, given the disgusting appearance of a ripe above-ground body. 
There is no unequivocal answer about edibility, since the variety has been little studied. Given this, it is dangerous to eat fly agaric rough tap, because you do not know how to properly prepare the product and how your body will react to it.
Important! There is no information on deaths after eating this mushroom.
Other name
This variety has no alternative names, but only the Latin version - Amanita franchetii.
What does it look like
When and where it grows, twins
To meet this mushroom in nature is very difficult, but possible. It forms mycorrhiza with oak, beech, hornbeam. Grows in mixed forests. It is found throughout Europe, as well as in Central and South Asia, Japan, the USA, Algeria and Morocco. The above-ground body is formed from June to October.
As for the similarity with other mushrooms, then, perhaps, this is the only type of fly agaric that is not similar to other mushrooms. You can't confuse it even with "brothers". And given the rarity, this mushroom will be more of a valuable find for collectors than an unpleasant surprise for a novice mushroom picker.
Next, let's talk about the type of fly agaric, which from a distance resembles a white hedgehog. Let's discuss the features of the bristly fungus. 
Edible or not
The bristly fly agaric is classified as an inedible mushroom. It does not differ in monstrous toxicity, however, it will cause poisoning even after heat treatment. 
Other name
Other names of this species are common, namely: bristly fat man and prickly-headed fly agaric. The Latin name is Amanita echinocephala.
What does it look like
When and where it grows, twins
The bristly fly agaric is common in both deciduous and coniferous forests, but prefers to form mycorrhiza with oak. It grows on alkaline soils near rivers and lakes, loves a well-moistened substrate. It is most often found in Southern Europe, as there is the most suitable climate for it. Rarely enough can be found on the territory of Israel and in the Caucasus. The ripening period is from July to October.
You can confuse this variety with the pineal fly agaric. The pineal has a pleasant smell, as well as the white color of the plates, which does not change with aging. 
A colorful variety of fly agaric that an inexperienced mushroom picker may confuse with common edible mushrooms even when raw. Let's discuss the features and uses of the fungus. 
Edible or not
There is no specific answer to this question, since in some countries it is eaten, while in others it is classified as either conditionally edible or poisonous. The bright yellow fly agaric exhibits varying degrees of toxicity, which varies depending on the area and region of growth. It is for this reason that the mushroom is eaten in France, and in neighboring Germany it is classified as poisonous.
The problem lies not only in toxicity, but also in the fact that after using the product there are serious hallucinations, and if you use too much, then there is a high chance of falling into a coma.
Important! In case of poisoning, the symptoms are similar to panther fly agaric.
Other name
The Latin name is Amanita gemmata. Alternative names are represented by scientific synonyms, namely: Agaricus gemmatus, Amanitopsis gemmata, Venenarius gemmatus. 
What does it look like
When and where it grows, twins
The bright yellow fly agaric enters into symbiosis mainly with coniferous plants, but it can also grow in deciduous forests. It likes sandy soils, so it does not occur on loams. Widespread in temperate climates. The formation of the above-ground body occurs from May to September.
This variety can be confused with the float discussed earlier. The difference is in the size of the hat. The float has a clearly visible membranous volva, and the leg does not have a thickening. It can also be confused with the fly agaric. The main difference is the smell. The toadstool mushroom has a distinct smell of raw.
Next, we will consider a rather strange species of fly agaric, which belongs to a separate subgenus Lepidella. Let's talk about what is special about this mushroom. 
Edible or not
The mushroom is considered edible, but cases of poisoning have been recorded, so it is better for beginner mushroom pickers not to use it for cooking various dishes. Also, the mushroom should not be collected for the reason that it is very similar to other poisonous types of fly agaric.
Important!The egg-shaped fly agaric will be listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation for the Krasnodar Territory.
Other name
There are no alternative names. There is only a Latin designation - Amanita ovoidea. 
What does it look like
When and where it grows, twins
You can meet both in deciduous and coniferous forests, but most often the fungus comes into symbiosis with oak, beech and. Found in the southern part of the temperate zone. The egg-shaped fly agaric prefers alkaline soils. The formation of the above-ground part takes place from August to October.
It is easy enough to confuse the species under discussion with deadly poisonous "brothers", such as: smelly fly agaric, spring or close. The main difference is the wavy belt around the hat, as well as the presence of a ring.
Did you know? An ointment based on fly agaric is produced, which is used for radiation damage to the skin and mucous membranes (radiation).
Fly agaric Caesar
In conclusion, we will discuss in more detail the Caesar fly agaric, which we recalled in the previous sections. Let's talk about his qualities. 
Eating
A completely edible mushroom, which has been considered a delicious delicacy since ancient times. Cooking is not limited to boiling. It can be dried, fried, grilled. Young fruit bodies are used in their pure form, adding to salads. Perhaps this is the only type of fly agaric, which in all sources is classified as a completely edible mushroom. 
Other name
There are quite a few alternative Russian names: Caesar mushroom, Caesar mushroom, Caesar mushroom, Royal mushroom. The Latin name is Amanita caesarea.
What does it look like
Important! An overripe mushroom stinks of hydrogen sulfide (rotten eggs).
When and where it grows, twins
Forms mycorrhiza with oak, beech and chestnut. It occurs more often in deciduous forests, but has also been seen in coniferous forests. He likes sandy, not waterlogged soils, as well as a warm mild climate. The distribution area converges with the cultivation of grapes. You can meet him in Azerbaijan, Georgia, in the Carpathians, as well as on the Mediterranean coast. The formation of the fruiting body occurs in summer and autumn. 
It is very easy to confuse the Caesar mushroom with the red fly agaric, since at a certain stage of development the mushrooms are similar in color. In order to prevent a fatal mistake, you need to carefully examine the plates and the leg. In the red fly agaric, they are white, not yellowish. Also, do not forget about the white warts, which are absent in the Caesar fly agaric.
Video: the history of the Caesar mushroom
Remember that only an experienced mushroom picker can distinguish an edible species from a deadly one, so in no case should you eat mushrooms that are unfamiliar to you. Even a conditionally edible mushroom can cause serious poisoning if it grows near factories, plants or highways.
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Amanita muscaria is a psychoactive poisonous mushroom of the genus Amanita or Amanita. In Siberia, these mushrooms were used as an intoxicant, and in the local religious culture it had a special place.
The name of this mushroom is associated with the ancient method of its use - as a means against flies. Hats sprinkled with sugar were laid out on windowsills and furniture to attract flies, mosquitoes and other harmful insects. The tool worked no worse than modern aerosols. Hence the name fly agaric mushroom.
Description of the red fly agaric
The size of the cap of the red fly agaric ranges from 8 to 20 centimeters. At first, the shape of the fly agaric cap is hemispherical, but with age it opens up and becomes flat or concave. The color is bright red, while the color density is different. The skin is shiny with white warty flakes.
The flesh is white, and closer to the skin is light yellow or light orange, with a slightly pronounced smell. The width of the plates is 0.8-1.2 centimeters, their color is cream or white. The plates are located freely, and between them there are numerous intermediate plates.
The leg is 8-20 centimeters high, its diameter is 1-2.5 centimeters. The shape of the leg is cylindrical, the tuberous base is thickened, the color is yellowish or white. In adulthood, the leg becomes hollow. There are flakes on the hat - the remains of the bedspread. Flakes may fall off. In the upper part of the stem there is a membranous ring with uneven edges and a brownish surface. Spores are smooth, ellipsoidal in shape, spore powder is white.
The variability of the red fly agaric
The hat can have different shades - from bright red to orange-red, in older specimens the color brightens significantly. In young mushrooms, flakes are most often present on the hats, while in old mushrooms, rain can wash them away. Sometimes the plates can become light yellow. In North America, a form grows, characterized by a lighter yellow-orange cap.
Fly agaric habitats
Red fly agaric form mycorrhiza mainly with spruce and birch. They prefer to grow in acidic soils. Often found in temperate forests of the Northern Hemisphere. They can grow in the mountains, meeting up to the upper border of the forest. In our country, red fly agaric grows everywhere. These mushrooms bear fruit from August to October.
Similar species
Externally, red fly agarics are similar to the edible Caesar mushroom, which grows mainly in southern Europe, but these mushrooms can be distinguished by their golden yellow plates and stalk.
Also, the red fly agaric looks similar to its counterpart, the royal fly agaric, but it has a darker red-brown hat.
Toxic properties of red fly agaric
The red fly agaric contains muscarine, muscimol and ibotenic acid. The fruit bodies of fly agaric contain toxic substances that have a psychotropic effect.
Ibotenic acid is toxic, it provokes the death of brain cells. For a long time it was believed that muscarine is an active psychotropic substance, but then it was proved that muscimol and ibotenic acid mainly have a psychotropic effect. And muscarine dilates blood vessels and reduces cardiac output.
With a large amount in the body, muscarine causes nausea, vomiting, lowering blood pressure, increased sweating and salivation. In severe cases, choking occurs due to pulmonary edema, convulsions and bronchospasm. And in the most critical situations, loss of consciousness occurs and death occurs.
In case of poisoning with red fly agaric, fatal outcomes are very rare, because if one mushroom accidentally falls into a basket with edible ones, then the concentration of the poison is very low. And to recognize the fly agaric due to its characteristic coloring is very simple. The lethal dose is 15 caps of red fly agaric per person.
Despite its toxicity, fly agaric benefits humans. Since ancient times, priests have used these mushrooms for religious rites and ritual ceremonies. The prepared fly agaric tincture helped Siberian shamans to put themselves into a trance and communicate with the souls of the dead in other worlds.
The use of red fly agaric as an insecticide
As early as the 13th century, the toxic properties of these fungi in relation to insects were revealed. Infusions from insects were made from red fly agarics, which is why the characteristic name appeared.
Flies die not from poisoning, but for another reason. In adult fly agarics, the caps become concave, water accumulates in them, the flies drink this water with dissolved alkaloids, as a result of which, after a few minutes, they fall asleep and simply drown. The same situation occurs if there is a saucer with fly agarics in the water in the room. But if you take a fly out of the water, then after 10-12 hours it will wake up safely and fly away.
Psychotropic properties of red fly agaric
Red fly agaric contain psychoactive substances, due to which they have long been used by various peoples in religious ceremonies. Northern peoples used these mushrooms as an intoxicating remedy. The action of red fly agaric is similar to strong intoxication: hallucinations occur, bouts of joy and anger alternate, objects split in two, sounds begin to be heard, color visions appear. After there is a loss of consciousness, accompanied by amnesia.
It is interesting that reindeer, when red fly agarics are found, rush to feast on them. The Chukchi most often dried fly agaric. Then they bit off small pieces of dried mushrooms, chewed them thoroughly and washed them down with water.
Psychoactive and toxic substances dissolve well in hot water; if fly agarics are boiled in several waters, then the poisoning will be less severe. But since the content of the poison in the fruiting bodies can be different, it is dangerous to eat red fly agaric. But, despite this, fly agaric is eaten in Japan, Nagano Prefecture. Some sources report that when red fly agarics are boiled in two waters, they become edible, but this information is not substantiated.
After eating red fly agaric, a person can laugh or cry for 2 hours, be a prisoner of hallucinations or fall into an unconscious state. The poison of these mushrooms acts almost immediately, causing suffocation, convulsions, fainting, or excitation of the nervous system. These mushrooms began to be used as a drug in our country more than 1000 years ago.
The Mari and Mordovians considered these mushrooms the food of the gods. And the shamans of the Ob Ugrians used fly agaric to achieve a trance. Chukchi, Kamchadals and Koryaks used these mushrooms to communicate with spirits, predict the future and other ritual rites.
The Chukchi described 3 stages of intoxication with fly agaric. First comes pleasant excitement, fun, dexterity appears and physical strength increases. At the second stage, hallucinations occur, people see spirits, they hear voices, objects look disproportionately large, reality seems different, but people can answer questions and remain conscious. But the third stage is difficult, a person’s consciousness changes, communication with others is interrupted, he remains active, communicates with hallucinogenic spirits, and then falls into a heavy narcotic sleep.
The value of red fly agaric for animals
Many animals such as moose, deer, bears and squirrels eat these mushrooms. But the significance of fly agarics for animals has not been clarified.
What is useful fly agaric?
Fly agaric, the medicinal properties of which were discovered long ago, is used in medicine for medicinal purposes. For the preparation of medicinal tinctures, only hats are used. The list of diseases in which tinctures, extracts and ointments from fly agaric are used is quite extensive: arthritis, gout, various tumors, eczema, rheumatic pains. Treat with infusions and diseases of the digestive tract, diabetes. In addition, forest fly agaric helps rejuvenate the body and restore energy. In France, fly agaric extract is used to treat insomnia.
Fly agaric - application, treatment with fly agaric.
Collect fly agaric during the entire growing season. Only dark-colored hats are taken, rounded and even. Cut lengthwise, the mushrooms are dried in the oven at a temperature of no more than 50 °. If the fly agaric caps are large, it is advisable to pre-dry them in the open air. Store dried mushrooms in a sealed container in a dark, dry place. Medicines prepared from fly agaric should be taken only under the supervision of a homeopathic doctor.
External use always gives a good healing effect. Fly agaric in the forest is the first remedy for healing wounds. To do this, you just need to take a hat, stretch it and bandage it to the affected area. In less than 2 hours, the wound will begin to heal.
When using fly agaric, you should always remember that this mushroom is deadly poisonous! All mushrooms collected for storage, as well as preparations from them, must be kept in signed containers on the far shelves. Children and pets should not have access to them. If there are signs of fly agaric poisoning or even suspicion of it, you should urgently seek medical help.
Fly agaric red, poisonous
Fly agaric red (Amanita muscaria) grows in different forests, especially beautiful is born under birches. It belongs to poisonous mushrooms that cause suffocation, fainting, severe indigestion, and occasionally fatal cases of poisoning are noted. R.B. Akhmedov, whose opinion can be trusted, writes:
The fungus is poisonous, but deaths from poisoning by it are rare. An absolutely lethal dose of poison is contained in 3-5 fly agarics.
R.B. Akhmedov successfully uses "fly agaric" tinctures, ointments, extracts, etc. in the treatment of various diseases, including cancer.
Hat. The elegant mushroom has a red, orange-red hat (up to 20 cm in diameter) with dazzling white or yellowish specks-pine forests. In young mushrooms, its shape is spherical ("red egg"). With age, the hat straightens and becomes flat. On the underside of the cap of the red fly agaric, frequent white or cream plates are visible. The flesh is white, yellowish-pink under the skin, with a slight mushroom smell.
Leg(up to 25 cm high) strong, white, decorated with a white or yellowish hanging ring. Rows of white or yellowish warts are clearly visible on it. In the lower part of the leg there is a thickening-club with flakes. The mushroom grows in a variety of forests and appears en masse from July to October.
Usage. Amanita muscaria is used in everyday life to kill flies. His hat is placed on a plate, poured with hot water and sprinkled with sugar. It turns out poisonous syrup, flies flock to it to feast on and ... die.
Fly agaric bright yellow, poisonous
Fly agaric bright yellow (Amanita gemmata) is considered deadly poisonous in most countries. It grows from early summer to autumn.
Hat has a bright yellow, lemon or orange-yellow color. There are many white "flakes" on its surface, which are the remains of the bedspread. At a young age, the cap plates are white, later they can turn brownish. The aroma of the pulp resembles the smell of a radish.
Leg. The leg is fragile, not always velvety, often elongated. Her ring may disappear completely as the fungus matures. The base of the leg is expanded. It is on him that you need to pay attention so as not to confuse the poisonous fly agaric with russula.
Fly agaric panther (leopard), poisonous
Fly agaric leopard (Amanita pantherina), sometimes referred to as "leopard mushroom", refers to poisonous mushrooms. Their poisoning is serious, although deaths are rare. This mushroom should not be confused with the edible grey-pink fly agaric. The pleasant smell of pulp can be misleading. Its color does not change at the break.
Panther fly agaric, a very poisonous mushroom, grows in coniferous and deciduous forests. It bears fruit from July to October.
Hat(up to 9 cm in diameter, rarely more) gray-brown, ocher-brown and even black-brown. On its surface there are many small white warts resembling small drops of milk. The plates are white. The pulp of young fly agarics is white, with the smell of radish.
Leg thin, hollow, cylindrical (up to 13 cm long), at the end there is a tuberous thickening with two to three belts. A membranous ring is noticeable (sometimes very weakly) on the leg.
Amanita grebe (lemon, white fly agaric), inedible
Fly agaric (Amanita citrine) does not look as attractive as the red fly agaric. This mushroom is smaller. Amanita grebe has long been considered unambiguously poisonous. Recently, however, mycologists in some countries have removed it from the list of poisonous ones, transferring it to the "camp" of inedible ones (due to bitterness, unpleasant smell and taste of raw potatoes).
Hat(up to 10 cm in diameter) becomes not whitish with age, but yellowish-greenish and even brownish with large off-white growths. In adult mushrooms, they look like hanging shreds. The plates are white or cream, with a flocculent coating along the edges. The flesh is white or lemon.
Leg(up to 12 cm high) thin, with flakes, has a yellowish-beige hanging ring. At the base, it expands and forms a tuberous thickening.
White fly agaric appears towards the end of summer, grows from August to October. It has a variety - inedible fly agaric lemon white (Amanita citrine alba). A feature of this fly agaric is a pure white color. Such fly agarics look pretty: neat, clean mushrooms with a tuber at the base of the leg.
Fly agaric orange, edible
fly agaric orange (Amanita fulva) in some regions they are eaten (only after preliminary boiling), in others they are not collected, considering it a poisonous mushroom. It is dangerous to confuse it with bright yellow fly agaric.
Hat young mushrooms has an ovoid shape. Later, it straightens and becomes flat (up to 10 cm in diameter). A darker tubercle in the central part remains for the entire life of the fungus. The color of the cap varies from gray to orange. Her skin is smooth. There are grooves or tatters along the edges of the cap. White plates do not grow to the leg.
Leg fragile and elongated (up to 15 cm). Most often pure white, although brown dots and flakes may be present. In the lower part it is expanded (to a greater or lesser extent).
Fly agaric orange grows from late summer to autumn. Some mycologists attribute the orange fly agaric to the independent genus Float (yellow-brown float).
Fly agaric gray-pink (blushing), very tasty
Fly agaric gray-pink (Amanita rubescens) looks unappetizing, although it is a very tasty edible mushroom. It is fried and marinated. I know people who consider the grey-pink fly agaric one of their favorite mushrooms. Such brave lucky ones have few competitors among mushroom pickers. They regret that many people kick or stick these common fly agarics, believing them to be poisonous toadstools. The blushing fly agaric is loved by flies and worms, so it is often wormy.
Hat(up to 10 cm in diameter, less often up to 18 cm) gray-pink fly agaric at a young age hemispherical. A mature mushroom has a cap of a hump-shaped, bulging, dirty-pink or grayish-pink color. It has many dirty gray or brownish warty growths resembling flakes. The plates are frequent, wide, white. With age, they become slightly pinkish.
pulp fleshy, thick, white or slightly pink. At a break, it slowly turns pink or acquires a wine color. Hence the second name of the fly agaric - "blushing fly agaric." The taste is slightly sweet. There is no special smell.
Leg(up to 15 cm high) is light, it has a soft falling ring. Over time, the leg turns pink or dark wine. The base is thickened, but not always tuberous.
Fly agaric gray-pink often grows in open grassy places. Its fruiting time: June - October.
You can cook this mushroom only after preliminary boiling, and the first water must be drained. When collecting, it is important not to confuse the gray-pink fly agaric with the panther fly agaric.
There are other edible mushrooms, but they should be left for those mushroom pickers who know these mushrooms "by sight". Among them, edible fly agaric lonely (Amanita solitaria), which is similar to the deadly poisonous fly agaric close ( Amanita proxima) and fly agaric white smelly ( Amanita virosa). Edible fly agaric thick (Amanita spissa) is easily confused with panther fly agaric ( Amanita pantherina).
(lat. Amanita muscaria) refers to poisonous mushrooms of the genus Amanita, this also includes smelly fly agaric, panther, white and other fly agaric.
Description of the mushroom
The fruiting body of the red is represented by a cap on a stalk. The maximum diameter of the cap is 20 cm. Initially, the shape of the cap resembles a ball, later it becomes more open and convex, however, the cap looks very voluminous, fleshy and sticky. The edge of the cap is chopped, the color is from yellowish to bright red, even the color of the mushroom cap symbolizes danger to humans, over time the cap fades, but despite any time frame, it always has white specks (scales). The pulp of the fly agaric is soft, thick, white, under the cap is light orange in color, has a pleasant smell. The fungus has frequent, white (if the mushroom is old, a yellowish coating is possible), fairly wide plates that are freely located. The red fly agaric has a white spore powder. Its white stem is capable of reaching 20 cm in length and 3.5 cm in thickness, resembling a thick cylinder with a thickening at the base of the mushroom.Red can even be confused with the edible caesarean mushroom found in the Caucasus mountains, but the latter has a yellow or bright red hat with rapidly disappearing white warts, an orange-yellow swollen leg and plates. Therefore, an attentive person can always distinguish them from each other.
Origin of the name and distribution
In nature, a large variety of fly agaric. In addition to red, there are species such as the smelly fly agaric, which is similar in chemical properties to the pale toadstool and has a disgusting smell. Their next representative is the toadstool-shaped fly agaric, which differs from the previous one in the presence of a large number of white grooves on the cap and is very similar to the toadstool. And also white and gray fly agaric, panther fly agaric, with a brown hat. But it should be remembered that they are all poisonous. Amanita stink, panther and gray are of particular danger, since in nature they are easy to confuse with champignons and get poisoned. True, cases of fatal poisoning by these fly agarics are rare.The name fly agaric itself was formed for a reason. Since ancient times, people have noticed that in wet weather, water accumulated in the bends of hats, after drinking which, insects died. It is this property of mushrooms that people began to use in the fight against flies and bedbugs. Hence the telling name.
We can say that red fly agaric is widespread throughout Russia, especially in forests and tundra zones. Yes, and in the world they have no number, they grow even in Africa and Australia. They prefer deciduous forests such as birch forests. They can be found from July until the end of autumn. In the same period, you can meet the smelly fly agaric, and all other species.
Chemical composition and properties
The chemical composition of the fungus has not been practically studied, but even the available information allows the use of these fungi in many directions. Priority in use is given to mushroom caps.
The mushroom contains potent poisons: muscarine, muscaridine, mycoatropine, muscimol and others. The most powerful of these is muscarine, the consumption of which by a person even 0.005 g can cause death. Therefore, as a stimulant, it can be used in extremely small doses. However, it should be noted that such an amount of muscarine is contained in 3-4 kg of fly agaric. Therefore, they also contain other potent poisons - this is a complex compound of muscimol, muscazone and ibotenic acid. It is assumed that the hallucinogenic effect is given by mycoatropin, which is part of the fly agaric. It is the complex of these components that gives such a poisonous effect of fly agarics, since it contains both poison and antidote at once. Moreover, the antidote is contained in large quantities and becomes more dangerous than the poison itself. This is the secret of fly agaric poisonousness.
In the composition of fly agarics, like any mushrooms, chlorophyll is completely absent, therefore their nutrition is carried out by ready-made organic compounds.
Fly agarics determined their pharmacological properties by their chemical composition. Muskarufin gives the fly agaric antibiotic, antitumor, narcotic and intoxicating effects. Sleeping pills and insecticides are made from these mushrooms.
Fly agaric poisoning
Mycoatropin, which is part of the fly agaric, gives a hallucinogenic effect.
Medical uses and medicinal properties
The red mushroom is actively used as a medicine that relieves many ailments. Their list includes oncological diseases, nervous diseases, endocrine, diseases of the cardiovascular system, respiratory organs, joints and muscles, digestive systems, sexual, eye, ear and skin diseases. The detailed list is simply huge.
As mentioned above, in medicine, the mushroom cap is of particular value. Numerous decoctions, ointments, tinctures, extracts are made from it.
But do not forget about the precautions in the use of the fungus. Strict adherence to dosages, hand washing, storage out of the reach of children and pets is necessary. It is not recommended to treat children with fly agaric preparations due to their increased susceptibility to poisoning.
Fly agaric tinctures
Signs of fly agaric poisoning, regardless of whether it is red or panther or smelly fly agaric, are considered to be severe nervous excitement, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, pain in the abdomen, excessive sweating and salivation, convulsions, hallucinations, loss of consciousness, delirium. As a first aid, the victim should be given a large amount of water to drink to induce vomiting, give a saline laxative or an enema using soap, give the victim 15 drops of a tincture containing belladonna (belladonna), but in no case exceed the indicated dose. It should be remembered that only doctors can provide qualified assistance in this case.
