HelpfulGardener.com

I found these growing in my yard the other day. They were not totally unexpected as they have been making a yearly appearance under some conifers for quite some time now.

Although I am no expert these are almost certainly Amanita muscaria. This is a very interesting species with a lot of history and lore associated with it.

These are also known as Fly Agaric due to their use in stupefying houseflies. The flesh is left out in a bowl of milk and the flies, after consuming the milk, become disoriented.

Depending upon which source you read they are poisonous, psychoactive, inedible or edible if prepared correctly. I have never seriously considered consuming them and would not suggest anyone else do either.

Norm

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All Amanita's are poisonous, but people rarely die from them, and if cooked or prepared right, are safe to eat. They contain Ibotenic acid and Muscimol which are the psychoactive parts. They've been used for a long time in spiritual rituals.

So, unless you want to see crazy things, hear crazy things, and not stop seeing/hearing them for a good long while, then you might not want them. Only someone who really, really, knows what they're doing should ever mess with them.