Amanita muscaria, commonly known as the fly agaric or fly amanita, is a basidiomycete of the genus Amanita. It is a large white-gilled, white-spotted, and usually red mushroom.
The genus Amanita contains about 600 species of agarics, including some of the most toxic known mushrooms found worldwide, as well as some well-regarded edible species. The genus is responsible for approximately 95% of fatalities resulting from mushroom poisoning, with the death cap accounting for about 50% on its own. The most potent toxin present in these mushrooms is α-Amanitin.
Muscimol is one of the principal psychoactive constituents of Amanita muscaria and related species of mushroom. Muscimol is a potent and selective orthosteric agonist for the GABAA receptor and displays sedative-hypnotic, depressant and hallucinogenic psychoactivity. This colorless or white solid is classified as an isoxazole.
The blusher is the common name for several closely related species of the genus Amanita. A. rubescens, or the blushing amanita, is found in Europe and eastern North America, and A. novinupta, also known as the new bride blushing amanita, is found in western North America. Both their scientific and common names are derived from the propensity of their flesh to turn pink upon bruising or cutting.
The European white egg, bearded amanita or European egg amidella, is a species of fungus of the genus Amanita in the family Amanitaceae. It is a large, white-colored fungus, often tinged with cream. Native to Europe, it is found on plains as well as mountains in the Mediterranean region. It is similar to some deadly poisonous species.
Amanita smithiana, also known as Smith's amanita, is a species of agaric found on soil in coniferous and broadleaved woodland in the Pacific Northwest of North America. It fruits in August and September.
Amanita pseudoporphyria, also known as Hongo's false death cap, is a species of agaric fungus from the genus Amanita.
Amanita ochrophylla is a fungus of the family Amanitaceae native to southeastern Australia. Its large and distinctive buff fruit bodies are common after rainfall.
Amanita beckeri or Becker's ringless amanita is a species of Amanita from Europe. It is named after Georges Becker (1905-1994), who identified it.
Amanita battarrae, also known as the grey-zoned ringless amanita, is a species of Amanita found in Italy in the fall as well as in eastern Europe.
Amanita lividopallescens, also known as the pale amanita, is a species of Amanita in Europe that grows near oaks.
Amanita multisquamosa or the small funnel-veil amanita is a species of Amanita from the coniferous forest of eastern North America.
Amanita curtipes is a species of Amanita from southern Europe.
Amanita gilbertii or Gilbert's limbed lepidella is a species of Amanita from France and Germany.
Amanita polypyramis is a species of Amanita found in the Eastern United States. It is a large, bone white mushroom with a chlorine-like odor. Its species name, polypyramis, refers to the pyramid-like warts on the surface of the pileus (cap).
Amanita calyptratoides, or Peck's candlestick amanita, is a species of Amanita found in southern California
Amanita carneiphylla is a species of Amanita found in Western Australia growing among Eucalyptus, Banksia, and Allocasuarina
Amanita betulae is a species of Amanita found in growing in birch and mixed hardwood in Europe
Amanita fuligineodisca is a species of Amanita found in Honduras to Andean Colombia.
