The medicinal properties of the fly agaric mushroom and its description (+21 photos)

Many people have a stereotype that the fly agaric mushroom is a poisonous forest dweller with a red cap covered in white polka dots. Few know that it's the collective name for a genus of agaric mushrooms with a wide variety of species. Most are poisonous, sometimes even deadly, but some are edible and considered delicacies.

Characteristic features of fly agarics

Fly agaric is a genus of mushrooms in the Amanitaceae family. Members of the genus are also called gilled mushrooms due to the characteristic gills on their stems.

Appearance and photo

Fly agarics are attractive. The cap of young specimens is hemispherical or ovoid, while in older specimens it can straighten out, becoming flattened. Remnants of the spathe, in the form of flakes, remain on the cap.

The surface of the cap can have the following colors:

• bright red;
• yellow;
• orange;
• gray-pink;
• white;
• red-brown;
• pale green;
• grayish;
• olive.

To get a complete idea of ​​the mushroom's appearance, you should carefully examine the photo of the fly agaric.

Morphology

Representatives of this genus have their own individual characteristics. Briefly, they can be described as follows:

1. The presence of characteristic plates on the stem.
2. Presence of a volva, sometimes a mushroom ring.
3. The presence of remains of the veil on the cap in the form of flakes, scraps, or rags.
4. Some species have a pungent smell of pulp.

Another distinguishing feature among species is the cap's ability to easily separate from the stem. The flesh is white. In some species, it takes on a pink tint when cut. In most cases, the odor is either absent or weak. However, some species have a pungent, unpleasant odor.

The stalk is cylindrical, often widened toward the base. The volva is clearly visible. The surface is covered with white, yellow, or cream-colored gills. The gills are loosely attached to the stalk or weakly adherent.

Place of distribution

Representatives of the genus grow in temperate climates in Europe, Asia and America.

The first mushrooms appear by mid-summer and bear fruit until the first frost.

Edible or inedible

Contrary to popular belief that all fly agarics are extremely toxic, some species are edible. The following species are considered edible:

• Caesar's;
• ovoid;
• lonely;
• gray-pink.

All other species are not only inedible but also poisonous. The only exceptions are the Sicilian fly agaric and the muscaria, which are classified as conditionally edible.

Types and their descriptions with photos

The genus includes over 20 species. The most common ones are described in the table.

Despite its prevalence and wide popularity, there is currently no unified classification of mushrooms of this genus.

Differences from edible mushrooms similar to the fly agaric

The Stinking variety can be confused with champignons. Mushroom pickers distinguish them by the presence of a volva in fly agarics and by their gills. In champignons, the gills are pinkish or lilac, while in fly agarics, they are white.

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The spring species also resembles the edible champignons and some species of russula. The poisonous mushroom differs from champignons by its volva on the stem. This same feature distinguishes it from the green russula. The green russula lacks a volva and annulus, and is significantly smaller than its poisonous counterpart.

Death caps are often confused with champignons and russulas. They differ from champignons by their white gills and the same volva. Russulas lack gills, so even inexperienced mushroom pickers can distinguish the edible mushroom from the deadly poisonous one.

The remaining species cannot be confused with edible mushrooms. Some species have lookalikes. However, such mushrooms are either poisonous or inedible.

Medicinal properties

Mushrooms are widely used in folk medicine. They are used to treat the following ailments:

• arthritis;
• gout;
• eczema;
• gastrointestinal diseases;
• sclerosis;
• eye diseases;
• joint diseases;
• insomnia.

Mushrooms have wound-healing properties. Many mushroom pickers apply crushed caps to injured areas. Fly agarics are used as a pain reliever for rheumatism. Many cosmetic companies use certain components of mushrooms to create anti-aging products.

Fly agarics contain the following active ingredients:

• muscarinic poisons;
• cholines;
• bufotenin;
• ibotenic acid;
• putrescine.

Some of the above substances in certain dosages can pose a danger to human health and life.

Medicine prescriptions

Preparing the medicine is not difficult, the main thing is to do it correctly. The most common remedies are ointments and tinctures for external use. Preparation methods:

1. To prepare the ointment, use only the caps. They are ground into a powder and weighed. A quantity of heavy cream equal to the weight of the caps is added to the powder. The finished ointment is stored in the refrigerator in airtight glass or ceramic containers.
2. The tincture is used externally for compresses and rubs. Only the caps are used for preparation. They are crushed and placed in a glass or ceramic container. The caps should be refrigerated for three days.

   

   Then, fill the container intended for infusion three-quarters full with crushed caps, and fill the rest with vodka. The mushrooms are infused in a dark place for two weeks. The alcohol tincture should never be taken internally, as alcohol increases the toxicity several times over.

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Due to the high risk of poisoning, utensils and tools used in preparing the medicines should be thoroughly washed. Keep the medicines out of the reach of children and pets. Medications should only be taken on the recommendation of a homeopathic practitioner.

Answers to frequently asked questions

The topic of poisonous mushrooms raises a lot of questions:

Fly agarics are a genus of agaric mushrooms, many of which are poisonous. Some are easily confused with edible species, so care and caution should be taken when harvesting.

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