Amanita mushroom belongs to the fly agaric family. The peculiarity of this species is paradoxical - outwardly beautiful, it will certainly turn out to be poisonous. And the mushroom, the use of which does not pose any danger to human life and he alth, will be characterized by an unsightly appearance, so to speak, unappetizing. This is one case where looks can be deceiving.
So, in order not to fall for the tricks of nature, let's figure it out.
Types of fly agaric: photo and description
Did you think that the poisonous fly agaric is the only one, and you can't confuse it with another mushroom? And here it is not. Nature has outwitted humanity here too. Consider the main varieties of these mushrooms and their features.
Amanita muscaria
Mushroom hat is red or orange-red. Its diameter is about 20 centimeters. On the surface of the cap are snow-white specks or dots-warts of yellow color. This part is characterized by a spherical shape. The bottom of the cap is covered with beige plates. pulpcharacteristic white color and slight mushroom aroma.
The maximum height of the leg can reach 25 centimeters. The description of the red fly agaric also contains distinctive features, among which one can note the fortress, white color, decor in the form of a ring and pronounced white warts. It is worth considering that the specks may have a yellow tint. The lower part of the leg of the red fly agaric is thickened with a tuber with flakes.
The mass appearance of the fungus is recorded from mid-summer to mid-autumn. The habitat of such a poisonous handsome man is a forest zone. The poisonous mushrooms that grow under the birch have a special beauty.
I would also like to add to the description of the red fly agaric: if you use it for a person, you cannot avoid trouble. It can cause choking, fainting, or severe gastrointestinal distress. Deaths from eating this mushroom are also known in history. A lethal dose of a poisonous substance can be obtained by ingesting 3-5 fly agarics.
Application
Where is this mushroom used if it is inedible? Fly agaric is an excellent remedy for flies. To do this, the mushroom cap is placed in a deep plate, poured with water brought to a boil, and sprinkled with a small amount of sugar on top. As a result of such manipulations, juice is released from the cap, which becomes sugar syrup. This is a kind of fly treat - delicious, but deadly.
Amanita bright yellow
This type of mushroom is also poisonous. But, unlike the previous one, hemost of the time it is deadly. The color of the cap is characterized by a bright yellow color, it is also called lemon or orange-yellow. Its surface is covered with many snow-white flakes.
Under the hat there are plates that change their color depending on the age of the mushroom. When the fly agaric is young, they are white, and when its life cycle reaches maturity, the plates turn brown. As for the pulp of the cap, it smells very much like the aroma of a radish.
The leg of a bright yellow fly agaric is characterized by fragility, velvety (but not always), elongation. As the fungus matures, the ring on it may completely disappear. Towards the base, the leg acquires an expanded shape. This is the main distinguishing feature of the poisonous fly agaric, which does not allow confusing it with edible russula.
Amanita, described above, can be found from June to September.
Leopard fly agaric
May also be referred to as a panther mushroom. Like the previous two species, it is not suitable for human consumption. Otherwise, serious poisoning cannot be avoided. May be fatal, but not always.
The pulp has a very pleasant aroma, which is often confused with the smell of gray-pink fly agaric, which is edible. In deciduous and coniferous forests, you can often find panther fly agaric. Read on for a description of this natural wonder.
The hat can be up to 9 centimeters in diameter. She hasgray-brown, ocher-brown or even black-brown. Its surface is strewn with small white warts, which are associated with drops of milk. The plates located under the cap of the mushroom have a white tint. The same color scheme is characteristic of the pulp. The smell is reminiscent of radishes. The leg of the fly agaric is hollow, thin, characterized by a cylindrical shape. In length it can reach 13 centimeters. At the base, there is a thickening in the form of tubers with several belts (usually 2-3). The decor of the leg is a membranous ring, often barely noticeable.
Mushroom grows from mid-summer to mid-autumn.
Amanita grebe
This mushroom is also known as the lemon or white inedible fly agaric. Its description is similar to the red view. However, this mushroom is inferior to him both in terms of attractiveness and size. A little earlier, the fly agaric was included in the class of poisonous, but now scientists have excluded it from this list and put it in the class of inedible. Such mushrooms are extremely bitter, have an unpleasant aroma, and taste like raw potatoes.
The cap does not exceed 10 cm in diameter. When the mushroom is young, it is painted in white tones, but when the mature stage of life comes, the cap becomes yellowish-green or even brownish, and large gray growths appear on its surface. The plates are cream or white, on the edges of which there is a flocculent coating. The flesh is white or lemon-colored. The height of the leg does not exceed 12 cm, it is characterized by a special subtlety and decor in the form of sagging beigerings. The base is expanded, giving rise to a tuberous thickening.
The grebe-shaped fly agaric, the description of which we have just considered, bears fruit from late summer to mid-autumn. One of the varieties of this mushroom is the white lemon fly agaric, the key feature of which is a pure white color.
Amanita orange
Although this mushroom is recognized as edible (after appropriate processing), many consider it poisonous. In appearance, it is very similar to the dangerous bright yellow fly agaric. Photo and description below.
The hat at a young age is characterized by an ovoid shape, and in mature age it is flat. The maximum possible diameter is 10 centimeters. A clear sign of an orange mushroom is a dark bulge that is located in the center. The very same color of the fly agaric hat can be gray or orange and their shades. The skin is smooth. The edges of the hat are decorated with grooves.
The leg can reach 15 centimeters in length, so it is considered elongated. As a rule, it has a pure white color, but visible blotches of brown are not ruled out. The lower part is extended.
This mushroom is harvested from August to September.
Amanita grey-pink
Known as the blushing mushroom. At first glance, you can’t say that it is edible, because it looks completely unappetizing. But, despite this, it belongs to the most delicious fly agaric mushrooms. It impresses with its taste qualities both fried and pickled. And this fly agaric is loved not only by people, but also by insects: flies, worms. If ayou will come across a wormy blushing fly agaric, do not be surprised.
A hat with a diameter of no more than 18 centimeters. The characteristic shape is a hemisphere for a young fungus and tuberous-convex at the stage of a mature life cycle. The color of the cap is grey-pink. On the surface there is a mass of gray (rarely brown) growths of a warty type, which are similar to flakes. The plates are white, but may have a slightly pink tint, which makes it possible to distinguish the old fly agaric. The description also indicates that these partitions are located densely.
The pulp is fleshy, impressively thick, white or pale pink. In the place of the fracture, it gradually turns pink and acquires a wine color. That is why this fly agaric is referred to as blushing. The pulp is sweet in taste. No peculiar smell.
The height of the legs varies up to 15 centimeters. As the fungus matures, its color can range from light tones to dark pink. At the base there is a thickening of a tuberous shape.
You can collect such mushrooms in grassy areas from early summer to mid-autumn.
Caesar fly agaric
This species is also called Caesar's mushroom. This is one of the most delicious edible mushrooms. It has excellent taste and medicinal properties.
The hat in diameter can vary from 8 to 20 centimeters, has an ovoid or hemispherical shape. Initially, it is characterized by a bulge, but as the fungus grows older, it becomes flatter. The skin of the cap is painted in golden orange or bright red,rarely yellowish.
Amanita mushroom, the photo and description of which you just saw, is popularly referred to as royal or caesarean.
Any edible mushroom needs to be cooked before being eaten.
