Amanita muscaria (bristly fat man, fly agaric, amanita echinocephala): how it looks, where and how it grows, edible or poisonous

Amanita bristly (bristly fat man, prickly-headed fly agaric): photo and description

Amanita muscaria (Amanita echinocephala) is a rare mushroom of the Amanitaceae family. In Russia, the names Fat Bristly and Amanita are also popular.

What does this type of fly agaric look like?

The thick-fleshed mushroom cap has an almost round shape, which opens and becomes prostrate. Its length in diameter ranges from fourteen to sixteen centimeters, and its edges can be either smooth or with very small teeth. Remnants of the bedspread in the form of flakes are observed here. The thin skin on the cap is pale white and light gray in color, but later becomes a shade of light ocher. It also has a light green color. The surface of the cap is dotted with small and thick bristly warts in the form of pyramids. The spores of such a mushroom are smooth, very small and oval, and their powder, obtained from the fruiting body of the fly agaric, has a white or cream color.

Directly under it, near the fly agaric, there is a hymenophore in the form of a large number of plates located nearby, clearly visible from a distance, the color of which turns from white to turquoise, and then to green with a tint of yellowness.

As for the leg of this mushroom, which has a white or yellow tint, it begins to thicken and becomes swollen closer to the middle, and in the area of ​​the cap it acquires a cylindrical appearance. The height of the leg varies from ten to twenty centimeters, in girth it has a length from one centimeter to four. The base of the stem is slightly pointed and deep underground, and its surface has small white scales that appear when the cuticle begins to crack. A thin white ring, covered with small scars and located on the leg, disappears rather quickly.

Description of bristly fly agaric

It is a large mushroom of light color, its characteristic feature is innumerable rough growths on the cap. Can be confused with other species that are both good for food and poisonous. To distinguish from doubles, you need to know the description of the Amanita muscaria.

Description of the hat

The hat at the initial stage of development resembles an egg. As the fruiting body grows, it opens up, becomes flat. Diameter - 12-15 cm. The pulp is dense, fleshy. On the edge of the cap, mature Fat Men sometimes have small teeth.

The color is white or light gray, over time it becomes light ocher. There is a greenish tint. On the surface of the cap there are countless "warts" - conical growths of the same color as the fruiting body.

The hymenophore, which is located under the cap, is lamellar. The plates are wide and often placed, but freely. In young mushrooms, they are white; as they develop, they acquire a yellowish color.

Leg description

The leg is wide and powerful. At the very base it becomes wider. Its height is 12-20 cm, thickness is 1-5 cm. The color is white or light gray, sometimes yellow or ocher tones are present on the stem.

On the surface, small growths are visible, like on a cap, and whitish scales, but in small quantities. Sometimes they are absent.

A distinctive ring-skirt made up of loose fibers is placed under the cap on the leg.

Edible bristly fly agaric or poisonous

Amanita muscaria should not be eaten, even after heat treatment. The mushroom is classified as inedible - its fruiting body contains a large amount of toxic substances.

Poisoning symptoms and first aid

The first signs of poisoning appear 2-5 hours after eating. These include the following symptoms:

• severe nausea;
• vomit;
• profuse sweating and salivation;
• frequent loose stools;
• pain in the abdomen;
• constriction of the pupils;
• pronounced shortness of breath;
• lowering blood pressure.

In case of severe poisoning, which occurs after eating a large number of mushrooms, the nervous system is damaged. The victim is dizzy, delirious.

If nothing is done in time, the poisoning proceeds to the next stage - convulsive contractions of the pharynx, hallucinations, severe attacks of fear, while stomach upsets are alleviated. Sometimes attacks of aggression occur, the condition of the victim resembles alcohol intoxication.

At the first sign of poisoning, you need to call an ambulance. Before the arrival of doctors, alleviate the symptoms of poisoning:

1. Cleanse the stomach cavity by drinking 4-6 glasses of water or a weak solution of potassium permanganate (the liquid should be light pink, almost transparent).
2. If there is no stool, a laxative or castor oil should be given.
3. It is recommended to put cleansing enemas several times.
4. For severe pain, you can apply warm heating pads to the abdomen.
5. In case of nausea and vomiting, it is necessary to drink salted water in small sips (1 tsp for 1 tbsp. Of water).
6. If you are very weak, you should drink a cup of strong sweetened tea, black coffee or milk with honey.
7. To protect the liver from toxins, it is recommended to ingest milk thistle extract or "Silymarin".

Composition and properties

The body of the fungus contains several types of toxic components, which are mainly found in the cap and its skin, the leg has a lower content of them.

The chemical composition of the most common red fly agaric is represented by the following substances:

• muscimol - a hallucinogen with a hypnotic, sedative effect, capable of disrupting the work of consciousness;
• ibotenic acid - a toxic substance with a destructive effect on brain cells;
• muscarine is a natural alkaloid, leading to vasodilation and the inability of the heart to fully contract, as a result of its entry into the body, poisoning occurs with all the characteristic symptoms - a decrease in blood pressure, nausea and vomiting;
• muscarufin is an antibacterial substance that, moreover, has anti-inflammatory and antitumor properties, which makes it possible to use the mushroom for medicinal purposes;
• muskazone is formed as a result of the breakdown of ibotenic acid and is characterized by a weak effect on the functioning of the nervous system.

Most of the toxic substances accumulate in the fly agaric in spring and summer, and at this time it is especially dangerous.

Microscopic amounts of these poisons are successfully used in pharmacology to create drugs for insomnia, joint diseases, colds, infectious and cancer diseases. The preparations created with the use of fly agaric successfully heal wounds, relieve pain and spasms, increase immunity, and prevent bleeding.

Description

The cap is 6-14 cm in diameter, almost rounded, later opens up to spread, thick-fleshed. The edge is smooth or serrated, with flocculent remains of the bedspread. The skin is pure white or grayish, then becomes light ocher, sometimes with a faint greenish tinge, covered with thick bristly pyramidal warts.

The pulp is white, dense, yellowish at the base of the stem and under the skin of the cap, with an unpleasant odor and taste.

free, wide, very frequent, at first whitish, then they become pale turquoise, mature - with a greenish-yellow tint.

Stem 10-15 (20) × 1-4 cm, thickened in the middle, cylindrical top, pointed base immersed in the soil. The surface is white or yellowish, with an olive tint, covered with whitish scales that form when the cuticle is cracked.

Remains of bedspreads: volva adherent, grayish, loose; the ring under the cap itself, white, thin, ribbed, hanging down, quickly disappears.

Spore powder is white with a creamy or greenish tinge.

Microscopic signs

Spores 9-11 × 7-8 µm, broadly oval, smooth, amyloid.

Basidia are tetrasporous, clavate, 40-60 × 10-14 µm.

Tram of plates is bilateral, hyphae 2-10 µm in diameter.

Cheilocystids are colorless, pear-shaped or broad-headed, 20–60 × 15–25 µm in size.

Varieties

Amanita muscaria live, in fact, everywhere - the species of this mushroom can be seen in deciduous and coniferous forests of Russia and many other countries. They are also found in colder areas, for example, the tundra.

In addition to the red fly agaric, which grows everywhere, one can name its other varieties that differ in appearance:

• Amanita muscaria or yellow pale toadstool. The mushroom has an unpleasant odor, a hemispherical white cap with snow-white spots. Most often, it can be found in a coniferous or deciduous forest, from July to October.
• Panther fly agaric. It has a brown color, a cap from 5 to 12 cm and a cylindrical leg of about the same height with a porous surface and a low fragile frill. Its smell is unpleasant, the flesh is white.
• Amanita muscaria. You can see him in an oak or beech grove, in a pine forest. This variety, if poisoned, can cause severe hallucinations. It is a large (brown or olive) mushroom with a cap diameter of up to 20 cm and yellow flakes. The flesh is yellow-brown in color and does not darken when cut. This mushroom loves forests with a predominance of birch, spruce and pine, is common in our country, in Europe, comes across in Korea, England, Alaska.
• Amanita muscaria. It is a small fleshy mushroom of yellowish or olive color with a thick stem. In young mushrooms, the cap is almost round and resembles a ball, in adults it is flat, and the edges can be slightly bent upwards. On the cut, the white pulp quickly turns yellow and its smell, unlike other species, is pleasant. Amanita grows, both in Europe and America, Japan, South and Central Asia. In nature, however, it can be difficult to see him, he prefers to grow next to hornbeams, beeches, in oak groves.
• Prickly-headed fly agaric (bristly, fat). This mushroom is distinguished by an umbrella fleshy head, in young individuals it is round. The hat is covered with gray warts. A distinctive feature is a white leg thickened in the middle with scales at the base. Plates of an adult amanita are pink, the pulp is dense and with a pungent odor. Prefers symbiosis with conifers and oaks, often grows near water bodies. It is a poisonous variety that can cause poisoning even after heat treatment.

What species are similar?

Amanita muscaria can also be eaten. His hat is convex and has an unusual shade: from yellow it turns into dark brown. In addition, you can find small scales on it, resembling grains in shape. At the very bottom, the leg is thickened, has a white ring and a soft surface. Unlike other fly agarics, this mushroom has a pleasant taste and smell of light pulp, which slowly turns red on the cut. It is able to grow in almost any conditions, so it can be found in any forest. The fruiting period in this species begins in summer and lasts until the very end of autumn. Collect it very carefully, as it has several poisonous counterparts.

Amanita muscaria, edible

Orange fly agaric (Amanita fulva) is eaten in some regions (only after preliminary boiling), in others it is not harvested, considering it to be a poisonous mushroom. It is dangerous to confuse it with a bright yellow fly agaric.

The cap of young mushrooms is egg-shaped. 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. Its skin is smooth. There are grooves or rags along the edges of the cap. White plates do not grow to the stem.

The leg is fragile and elongated (up to 15 cm). Most often pure white, although brown spots and flakes may be present. In the lower part it is expanded (to a greater or lesser extent).

Amanita muscaria grows from late summer to autumn. Some mycologists attribute the orange fly agaric to an independent genus Float (yellow-brown float).

Amanita muscaria, photo from Wikipedia

Amanita gray-pink (reddening), very tasty

Amanita rubescens looks unappetizing, although it is a very tasty edible mushroom. It is fried and pickled. I know people who consider the gray-pink fly agaric one of their favorite mushrooms. Such brave lucky ones have few competitors among mushroom pickers. They regret that many people knock down these common fly agarics with their feet or sticks, considering them a poisonous toadstool. Amanita muscaria is loved by flies and worms, so it is often wormy.

The hat (up to 10 cm in diameter, rarely up to 18 cm) is a gray-pink fly agaric at a young age, hemispherical. A mature mushroom has a hunchback-shaped cap of a dirty pink or grayish pink color. It has many dirty gray or brownish warty growths that resemble flakes. The plates are frequent, wide, white. With age, they become slightly pinkish.

The pulp is fleshy, thick, white or slightly pink in color. At the break, it slowly turns pink or becomes wine-colored. Hence the second name of the fly agaric - "red mushroom". The taste is slightly sweet. There is no particular smell.

The leg (up to 15 cm high) is light, it has a soft falling ring. Over time, the leg turns pink or dark wine color. The base is thickened, but not always tuberous.

Amanita muscaria grows more often in open grassy places. Its fruiting time: June - October.

This mushroom can be cooked 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.

Amanita gray-pink, photo from Wikipedia

There are other edible fly agarics, but they should be left for those mushroom pickers who know these mushrooms "by sight". Among them are the edible fly agaric (Amanita solitaria), which is similar to the deadly poisonous fly agaric (Amanita proxima) and the white stinking fly agaric (Amanita virosa). The edible fly agaric (Amanita spissa) is easily confused with the panther fly agaric (Amanita pantherina).

Help with poisoning

How to behave if you nevertheless inadvertently become a victim of a panther fly agaric?

Let's analyze a situation in which you realized that you have consumed the wrong mushroom at all.

So, first you need to induce a gag reflex. Although this is an unpleasant procedure, it is mandatory, largely because only in this case you can count on helping your body recover at least a little.

Next, you need to drink as much water as possible and wait for the ambulance to pick you up.

It is imperative to call an ambulance, since the doctor must examine you in order to prevent falling into a coma, lethargic sleep and other unpleasant outcomes.

Then, if the doctor insists on this, it is better to go to the hospital. It is in the hospital that you will be given the appropriate washing, as well as other types of body cleansing will be offered.

If you do not understand that you were initially poisoned by a panther fly agaric, and this became known only some time later, in no case do not panic. With the development of nausea and vomiting, do not try to restrain it, on the contrary, help the body to cleanse itself.

1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Brew yourself Regidron or any other sorbent that will help remove all toxic substances from the body.
3. Call an ambulance or go to the hospital yourself.

As you might have guessed, the panther fly agaric is a very dangerous forest dweller, which it is best not to encounter. Despite the fact that he is truly beautiful, attractive, nevertheless, he is incredibly dangerous. Unfortunately, meeting with him can have irreversible consequences, including for your health. Cases have been recorded when people who were poisoned by the panther fly agaric then acquired diseases of the kidneys, liver, stomach, and nervous system. After all, this fly agaric contains two types of toxic substances at once, which do not have the most favorable effect on the human body. By the way, using the panther fly agaric for medicinal purposes is also quite dangerous. The fact is that if the dosage is exceeded or if the recipe is used incorrectly, you also appear to be poisoned. Often, burns were recorded on the skin, as well as internal organs, in the case when a decoction or tincture of this mushroom was taken.

Therefore, in order to avoid the most unfavorable consequences, either ask your doctor for advice on preparing the tincture, or completely abandon this method of treatment. There are many other alternative means and ways to fight disease. Even the royal and red fly agaric fights against cancer, the effect of which is many times less harmful than that of the panther mushroom.

You shouldn't even touch him if you suddenly saw him in the forest. But you can stop, take a picture, and just admire its beauty. After all, this is the greatest beautiful natural creation that adorns the forest, but nevertheless is very dangerous for humans.

Amanita bristly

Fly agaric (Amanita echinocephala)

The main Russian synonyms for this type of mushroom are:

• Fat bristly
• Amanita muscaria

Amanita muscaria (Amanita echinocephala) is a mushroom belonging to the genus Amanita. In literary sources, the interpretation of the species is ambiguous. Thus, a scientist named K. Bas talks about the bristly fly agaric as a synonym for A. Solitaria. The same interpretation is followed by two more scientists: R. Talloss and S. Wasser. According to the studies carried out by Species Fungorum, the bristly fly agaric should be attributed to a separate species.

External description of the mushroom

The fruiting body of the bristly fly agaric consists of an initially almost round cap (which later transforms into an outstretched one) and a leg, which is slightly thickened in its middle, and at the top, near the cap, has a cylindrical shape.

The height of the mushroom leg is 10-15 (and in some cases even 20) cm, the diameter of the leg varies within 1-4 cm. The base buried in the soil has a pointed shape. The surface of the leg is yellowish or white, sometimes olive-green. On its surface there are whitish scales that result from cracking of the cuticle.

Mushroom pulp of high density, characterized by a white color, however, at the base (near the leg) and under the skin, the pulp of the mushrooms acquires a yellowish tint. Its smell is unpleasant, as well as the taste.

The diameter of the cap is 14-16 cm, and it itself is characterized by good meatiness. The edge of the cap can be serrated or even; there are visible remnants of a flocculent bedspread on it. The upper skin on the cap can have a white or grayish color, gradually it becomes light ocher, sometimes acquires a greenish tint. The cap is covered with pyramidal warts with bristles.

The hymenophore consists of plates characterized by a large width, frequent, but free arrangement. Initially, the plates are white, then they become light turquoise, and in mature mushrooms, the plates are characterized by a greenish-yellow tint.

Habitat and fruiting period

Amanita muscaria is common in deciduous and mixed forests, where oaks also grow. You can rarely meet this type of mushroom.It prefers to grow in coastal areas near lakes or rivers, thrive in calcareous soils. Bristly fly agarics are more widespread in Europe (mainly in its southern regions). There are known cases of detection of this type of mushroom in the British Isles, Scandinavia, Germany and Ukraine. On the territory of Asia, the described type of mushroom can grow in Israel, Western Siberia and Azerbaijan (Transcaucasia). Amanita muscaria actively bears fruit from June to October.

Similar species, distinctive features from them

There are several species similar to the bristly fly agaric. It:

• Amanita solitaria (lat.Amanita solitaria);
• Pineal fly agaric (Latin Amanita strobiliformis). Distinctive features of this type of mushroom are white plates, pleasant aroma. Interestingly, some mycologists consider this mushroom suitable for human consumption, although most still insist on its toxicity.

You should always be very careful with fly agarics!

Amanita muscaria, poisonous

Amanita muscaria (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. R.B. Akhmedov, whose opinion can be trusted, writes:

R.B. Akhmedov successfully uses "fly agaric" tinctures, ointments, extracts, etc. in the treatment of a wide variety of diseases, including oncological diseases.

Hat. An elegant mushroom has a red, orange-red cap (up to 20 cm in diameter) with dazzling white or yellowish specks - boron odavas. In young mushrooms, its shape is spherical ("red egg"). With age, the cap straightens and becomes flat. On the underside of the cap of the red fly agaric, frequent white or creamy plates are visible. The pulp is white, yellowish-pink under the skin, with a weak mushroom odor.

The leg (up to 25 cm high) is 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 fungus grows in a wide 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 granulated sugar. It turns out a poisonous syrup, flies flock to it to feast on and ... die.

Float gray: features, photo

This mushroom is predominantly autumnal. Although in the summer, nothing prohibits the growth of the fruiting bodies of the gray float. But most often it can be found at the end of August - September.

What does a gray mushroom float look like?

As befits fly agarics, a young fruiting body is born covered with a veil. It soon bursts, and the mushroom itself becomes visible, with a thin stem and a bell-shaped cap.

With growth, the cap unfolds, becoming at first convex, and then almost flat. Only in the center is a small tubercle preserved, always more intensely colored.

A characteristic feature of all floats mushrooms is clearly visible at the gray float - a ribbed (ribbed) edge. This trait is noticeable even in young mushrooms.

This float, gray with light brown skin, still has the remains of the bedspread. The top of the volva is visible

In the photo - still a young gray float, its hat is not fully unfolded. The ribbed edge of the cap is visible.

The remains of the bedspread are a wide bag-shaped free volva of white or grayish-white color and white flakes on the cap, which do not hold well and disappear very quickly. The Volvo is often almost completely submerged in the soil. In the photo above, it is also only visible.

The gray float (and other mushrooms) does not have a ring on the leg, typical for fly agarics. The absence of a ring is the main feature that distinguishes float mushrooms from "real" fly agarics. Another difference is the ribbed edge of the cap.

There is no ring on the leg of the gray float

The stem can be smooth or covered with white scales.

The cap of the gray float is thin and very fragile. The skin color is gray, grayish brown, olive or even greenish. The most common are fruiting bodies with a gray cap. Occasionally there is a completely white form of a gray float (albino mushroom).

And this is how the old mushroom looks like. The color of the cap may be different, but both the ribbed edge and the tubercle in the center are clearly visible. The fragility of the mushroom is also noticeable.

The fragility of the mushroom is clearly visible in the old gray float

The plates on the underside of the cap are wide, white. They do not run on the leg. In a young mushroom, the plates are covered with a cobweb blanket (as in the saffron float).

The plates of the young gray float are still partially hidden by the veil

With the age of the fruiting body, the plates darken.

This is how the plates of the old mushroom look

I spoke above about the differences between the gray float and the fly agaric. This mushroom differs from other floats in the color of the cap. It is diverse, but the float does not have any hint of yellow or its shades.

This mushroom does not possess any special smell or taste.

Application of float gray

The gray float is an edible mushroom. It can be fried after boiling for a few minutes. But the taste is low. The mushroom is simply tasteless. Plus it is very fragile, like other mushroom floats. Delivering safe and sound from the forest is not easy.

Mycologist Mikhail Vishnevsky in his book "Medicinal mushrooms" writes about the high content of the gray substance betaine in the float. Betaine is used medicinally for liver diseases. The possibilities of using betaine for the treatment of a number of metabolic diseases are also being studied.

Incidentally, this is the only float included by Vishnevsky in his excellent guide to medicinal mushrooms.

However, the mushroom does not use traditional medicine and does not know.

The gray float is another edible relative of fly agarics, often found in our forests. It has no resemblance to poisonous or inedible mushrooms. But, given the not too high quality and fragility of the mushroom, each mushroom picker can decide for himself whether to take this mushroom or not.

Description of the mushroom and its features

Amanita is a lamellar mushroom of the Amish family. The bright, elegant appearance of this forest dweller is very deceiving - it is a poisonous fungus root, which is a symbiosis of mycelium (mycelium) with the roots of various plants and trees. At the moment, there are more than 600 species of fly agarics in nature, and their color is not always bright red, the caps can be brown, yellow and white. The most famous varieties are royal, caesar, panther, red fly agaric.

Outwardly, an ordinary red fly agaric is a large, fleshy mushroom, its cap can be thinner or thicker, sometimes with a small tubercle. White flakes are located along it - these are the preserved tissue segments in the process of formation. The base of the leg expands towards the ground. The ring or "skirt" in the upper part of the leg is the shell in which young individuals are enclosed; reproduction occurs with the help of spores.