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Fly agaric (Amanita muscaria)
Holger Krisp · CC BY 3.0
Poisonous

Fly agaric

Amanita muscaria · Amanitaceae

The fly agaric is the storybook toadstool, with a bright red cap dotted with white warts.

FamilyAmanitaceae
SeasonAug–Nov
Spore printWhite
Stem length5–20 cm
Records in Turkey66 records
CultivationWild only
StatusPoisonous

The fly agaric is the storybook toadstool, with a bright red cap dotted with white warts. It is poisonous: it contains muscimol and ibotenic acid, which cause intoxication, delirium, hallucinations, twitching and confusion. Deaths are very rare with modern treatment, but poisonings happen in children and in people eating it to hallucinate.

Also called: fly amanita, red toadstool Turkish: Sinek mantarı, gelin mantarı

Fly agaric

How to recognise it

Fly agaric, part by part

Spore print: White Not distinctive.

Cap — Fly agaric
CapBright red (sometimes orange-yellow) with white to yellowish pyramid warts; rain can wash the warts off.
Gills — Fly agaric
GillsWhite gills, free from the stem.
Stem — Fly agaric
StemWhite, 5–20 cm tall, 1–2 cm thick, fibrous.
Ring — Fly agaric
RingYes; white and hanging.
Volva — the cup at the base — Fly agaric
Volva — the cup at the baseNot a sack: the basal bulb carries 2–4 rings or ruffs of veil remnants.

When and where

Aug–Nov

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Augin season
  9. Sepin season
  10. Octin season
  11. Novin season
  12. Dec

The fly agaric fruits from August to November in Europe; in Turkey, GBIF records run from August to October, peaking in October.

Where do fly agarics grow?

The fly agaric grows in temperate and boreal forests across the northern hemisphere, forming mycorrhizal partnerships with pine, oak, spruce, fir, birch and cedar. In warmer regions it grows at higher altitudes.

In Turkey

In Turkey, records of the fly agaric come mostly from the forests of the Black Sea region (Rize, Artvin, Trabzon) and the Marmara.

  • Rize16
  • İstanbul9
  • Artvin5
  • Bursa5
  • Kırklareli4
  • Bolu4
  • Trabzon4
  • Gaziantep3

66 observations on our map (GBIF, iNaturalist). Record density also reflects where observers work.

Latest fly agaric observations

See on the map

In its habitat — Fly agaric
In its habitat
In its habitat — Fly agaric
In its habitat

Look-alikes

What is it mistaken for?

Fly agaric
Fly agaric
Caesar’s mushroom
Caesar’s mushroom
Edible species

Caesar’s mushroom Amanita caesarea

Smooth orange cap with a striated edge and no warts; yellow gills and stem, and a white, sack-like volva. A fly agaric whose warts have washed off can be mistaken for it.

Toxins

The fly agaric's active compounds are ibotenic acid and muscimol, which act on the central nervous system. It contains only very low levels of muscarine. Source

Frequently asked questions

Are fly agarics poisonous?

Yes, the fly agaric is poisonous and must not be eaten. Symptoms usually start within 30–90 minutes and peak within three hours. If poisoning is suspected call 112 (Turkish poison centre: 114).

When is fly agaric season in Turkey?

In our calendar, fly agaric season runs Aug–Nov. The fly agaric fruits from August to November in Europe; in Turkey, GBIF records run from August to October, peaking in October.

Where do fly agarics grow?

The fly agaric grows in temperate and boreal forests across the northern hemisphere, forming mycorrhizal partnerships with pine, oak, spruce, fir, birch and cedar. In warmer regions it grows at higher altitudes.

Where are fly agarics found in Turkey?

In Turkey, records of the fly agaric come mostly from the forests of the Black Sea region (Rize, Artvin, Trabzon) and the Marmara.

What can the fly agaric be confused with?

The fly agaric can be confused with Caesar's mushroom (Amanita caesarea, edible species). Look-alikes are compared on this page.

What is the fly agaric called in Turkish?

In Turkish, the fly agaric (Amanita muscaria) is called Sinek mantarı; other local names include gelin mantarı.

Related species

All species → · Identify by photo →

Sources (6)
Photo credits (10)