Fly Amanita Amanita muscaria (Linnaeus) Lamark    Synonyms: Amanita muscaria guessowii, Amanita muscaria var. formosa (misapplied), Amanita muscaria var. guessowii, Fly Agaric.
Kingdom Fungi   >   Phylum Basidiomycota   >   Class Agaricomycetes   >   Order Agaricales   >   Family Amanitaceae   >   Genus Amanita   

Status:

Although reported from Maryland historically, recent studies suggest that Amanita muscaria sensu stricto does not occur on the East Coast. Amanita muscaria var. guessowii is common in Maryland and treated as a synonym of Amanita muscaria for now (IndexFungorum, 12/2022). Other similar-looking species that occur in Maryland are Amanita flavoconia, Amanita frostiana, Amanita parcivolvata, and Amanita persicina.

Relationships:

Although poisonous, it has a long history as an inebriant, used by the Russian shamans to induce visions among their tribe members. Because of its toxicity, it was eaten only by the holy men, who were said to be immune to its toxins and who would then distribute their urine around for its hallucinatory purposes. Other alleged uses, such as the cap being placed in a dish of milk to kill flies, has not been documented. (L. Biechele, pers. comm.)

There are 107 records in the project database.

View taxon at MycoBank

View taxon at iNaturalist

View taxon at NatureServe

Search Google Images

Search MBP Facebook posts (beta | requires login)


[View seasonality details]
GA ALWA FRCL MO HO BA BCHA CEPG AA CV CH SMKEQA CN TA DO WI SO WO
A Fly Amanita (Amanita muscaria var. guesowii) in Somerset Co., Maryland (10/23/2014). Photo by Lance Biechele. (MBP list)

A Fly Amanita (Amanita muscaria var. guesowii) in Somerset Co., Maryland (10/23/2014). Photo by Lance Biechele. (MBP list)

A Fly Amanita in Garrett Co., Maryland (6/24/2013). Photo by Matt Tillett. (MBP list)

Fly Amanita in Montgomery Co., Maryland (11/3/2020). (c) wearethechampignons, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by wearethechampignons via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Fly Amanita in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (10/30/2020). (c) Matthew Beziat, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Matthew Beziat. (MBP list)

Fly Amanita in Howard Co., Maryland (11/1/2013). (c) Joanne and Robert Solem, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Joanne Solem. (MBP list)

Fly Amanita in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (10/30/2020). (c) Matthew Beziat, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Matthew Beziat. (MBP list)

Fly Amanita in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (10/30/2020). (c) Matthew Beziat, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Matthew Beziat. (MBP list)

Fly Amanita in Montgomery Co., Maryland (11/3/2020). (c) wearethechampignons, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by wearethechampignons via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Fly Amanita in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (10/21/2016). (c) Matthew Beziat, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Matthew Beziat. (MBP list)

A Fly Amanita in Caroline Co., Maryland (10/2/2009). Identified by Paul Noell. Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Fly Amanita in Carroll Co., Maryland (11/3/2020). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

Fly Amanita in Carroll Co., Maryland (11/3/2020). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

Fly Amanita in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (8/6/2017). Determined by Jo and Bob Solem. Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Fly Amanita in Carroll Co., Maryland (11/3/2020). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

Fly Amanita in Montgomery Co., Maryland (11/3/2020). (c) wearethechampignons, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by wearethechampignons via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Fly Amanita in Howard Co., Maryland (11/1/2013). (c) Joanne and Robert Solem, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Joanne Solem. (MBP list)

Fly Amanita in Howard Co., Maryland (11/1/2013). (c) Joanne and Robert Solem, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Joanne Solem. (MBP list)

An Amanita muscaria in Howard Co., Maryland (9/1/2009). This was our 3,000th photo species posted for Maryland Biodiversity Project! Photo by Richard Orr. (MBP list)

Fly Amanita in Harford Co., Maryland (9/17/2017). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

Fly Amanita in Harford Co., Maryland (9/17/2017). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

Fly Amanita in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (6/14/2018). Determined by Jo Solem. Photo by Anne Looker. (MBP list)

Fly Amanita in Montgomery Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Matt Cohen and Elizabeth Hargrave, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Matt Cohen via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Fly Amanita in Montgomery Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Matt Cohen and Elizabeth Hargrave, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Matt Cohen via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Spores collected from a Fly Amanita specimen in Howard Co., Maryland (9/17/2008). Eliptical, smooth; measured 8.9-11.4 X 6.1-6.8 microns. Photo by Robert Solem. (MBP list)

Fly Amanita in Montgomery Co., Maryland (11/3/2020). (c) wearethechampignons, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by wearethechampignons via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Spores collected from a Fly Amanita specimen in Howard Co., Maryland (11/1/2013). (c) Joanne and Robert Solem, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Joanne Solem. (MBP list)

Spores collected from a Fly Amanita specimen in Carroll Co., Maryland (11/3/2020). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

Fly Amanita in Montgomery Co., Maryland (11/8/2017). Determined by Jo Solem. Photo by Anne Looker. (MBP list)

Fly Amanita in Montgomery Co., Maryland (11/8/2017). Determined by Jo Solem. Photo by Anne Looker. (MBP list)

Fly Amanita in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (10/4/2020). (c) Wayne Longbottom, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)


View All Images

Use of images featured on Maryland Biodiversity Project is only permitted with express permission of the photographer.

Eating mushrooms can be dangerous. One should do so only with expert advice and great care. MBP accepts no liability for injury sustained in consuming fungi or other biodiversity.