Dark Light
Fly Agaric
Amanita muscaria

The name of the mushroom in many European languages is thought to derive from its use as an insecticide when sprinkled in milk. However there are many other theories, so I’ll direct you to the wikipedia page on Amanita muscaria which has more information than you might expect on this species.

What I will say is that this is the iconic Toadstool mushroom. Don’t eat it.

Size: Cap 3–8 in fully grown
Family: Amanitaceae
Habitat: Conifer and deciduous woodlands.
Identification: White stem, red cap with white warts. The iconic toadstool (I know, I know, this is NOT a scientific identification description. For that, you can check out the link above to the Wiki page.
All text and photos copyright © 2022 Middle Way Nature Reserve, unless noted.
Related Posts
Club-like tuning fork fungus

Club-like Tuning Fork

You have to wonder what weird orange thing is emanating from that dead branch, and it's a fungus... Of course it's a fungus!

Violet Coral Fungus

A purple gem on the forest floor. I knew that fungus can come in all sorts of amazing colors, but coming across them yourself is a completely different experience.

Horsehair fungus

You really have to wonder how that thin little stem can support that cute little pink cap!
chicken of the woods orange mushroom

Chicken of the Woods

This edible mushroom actually does have kind of a chicken-like texture, and work well as a vegetarian substitute in chicken recipes.