Archive for July, 2009

• Amanita muscaria

  Date: 2009.07.12 | Category: Horticulture | Response: 2

  The beautiful Fly Agaric Mushroom (Amanita muscaria) is a fungi species that is not native to Australia. It has however become readily naturalised in our Southern states. This particular one is growing under some Monterey Cypress at my place of work.

  

  As it emerges from the ground the cap is usually rounded but then turns flat with age. The cap also the very pretty red surface with little white warts on it. It is a mushroom that many people would associate with fairy’s and other little fantastical garden creatures!

  

  Something else that I find fascinating about this mushroom is that because of it’s psychoactive ingredient, it was apparently used by Vikings to enter their berserker rages. This theory though has never been proven and to some it is just an urban legend that has perpetuated over the years.

  The wonderful fairy image above is taken from here.