Natural history story

I chose the Amanita muscaria (or Fly agaric) because it is such an iconic species that I before knew nothing about, let alone that it was here in California and in the East Bay!
Perhaps because it is such an iconic and mysterious looking mushroom it appears to have a lot of history.

Linneaus himself first named the Fly agaric! and then Lamarck re-classified it. So this mushroom should feel pretty famous in terms of natural historians. One theory suggests it was named for its use in getting rid of bugs in England and Sweden, and was even alternately referred to as a Bug Agaric. The mushroom has a compound which attracts insects, and it is believed that the flies actively seek out the mushroom for its intoxicating properties. Another theory proposes it was named in Medieval times where it was believed a fly could fly in through your ear and cause mental illness or delirium, like that caused when a person ate the mushroom.
While it is poisonous, it takes more than a few handfuls of them to kill you (according to documented cases). Many people in the past for spiritual rituals ate them for their psychoactive properties.
It is also I would argue the most iconic of all fungi because of its association with the Mario video games, and the character "Toad" short for toadstool, so it is a very unique fungus!

Posted on March 20, 2014 07:07 PM by