On my walk ... the fly agaric

 


I have just paid my first visit to Muttersmoor and was delighted to find these specimens of fly agaric [Amanita muscaria] which were in almost perfect condition. Fungi fruiting bodies like this can have such a short life span and start to deteriorate almost as soon as they appear. They are also a target for young feet to kick over! This fungus is not uncommon in birch woods and it can be found in September and October and possibly into November.

The fly agaric must surely be the quintessential mushroom! Even if you have never seen one in the 'wild' you will have seen this fungus in children's books and cartoons; it is, of course, where faeries and other strange things live.

The fly agaric is quite unique in its appearance being the only really red fungus, especially one with white spots on it. They are not actually white spots but the remnants of the outer covering that covered the cap as it emerged from the ground.

The red colouring implies danger! You might think that this is deadly poisonous like other members of the amanita family (the death cap and destroying angel) but it is not. That said, this is the famous 'magic mushroom' and is hallucinatory and can make you quite sick so it is best left to the faeries unless you really want to be away with the faeries of course.

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