Fly Agaric

While Alex was working in Stanground, I had a lovely walk round Holme Fen NNR, appreciating it in all its autumn finery. The birch trees are turning golden (see extra) but the wet autumn and windy autumn seems to have subdued their normal fiery display. Still beautiful though - I'd forgotten how much I love this reserve.

There were more fungi than last week including several species of brittlegill and deceiver. Despite being the largest birch wood in lowland England, the iconic birch-associated Fly Agaric are surprisingly difficult to find. It may be that much of the woodland is just too wet for this species. I found a small troop of them on a well-drained peninsula of the mere - most were broken but this youngster was in perfect condition. 

Fly Agaric has a rich cultural history, mostly related to the effects of the psychoactive compounds that it contains. Eating dried Fly Agarics can cause a range of symptoms ranging from drowsiness, nausea and sweating to distorted sight and sounds, euphoria and dizziness. These effects are very variable not only from person to person but also with the quantity consumed and the (equally variable) strength of the toxins in individual specimens of the Fly Agaric. If you want to read more about them then have a look here.