Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria)

Description: Notable annual, appearing first as a cracked white sphere before flattening to 8-20cm across by which time the fleshy cap will be bright red covered in distinctive white warts. These will be washed off by rain leaving a smooth fading skin. Fleshy white stem 8-20cm. Spores exuded from gills giving a white spore print
Habitat: Generally with birch and pine trees, occasionally others
Season: Autumn
Strategy: Mycorrhizal
Significance: Beneficial to host species. Can help prevent colonization of parasitic species such as Armillaria
Notes: Common. Poisonous, hallucinogenic.