Posted by
Monsieur-Anana
(05/31/12 09:11 PM)
If I might suggest a change to the structuring of the Amanita Muscaria section. You've placed the description for Amanita Muscaria right after the listing of it's poisonous cousins. This may be confusing to some as they may avoid Amanita Muscaria's thinking the description you gave was for one of it's more deadly cousins. I think that it should instead read as such:
The
Amanita muscaria
mushroom is also known as "Fly agaric" because of its (anecdotal) ability to attract and kill flies. The
Amanita muscaria
does not contain psilocybin or psilocin
. Rather, the hallucinogenic chemicals this mushroom contain are
muscimol and ibotenic acid
. Visually these are the classic "toadstool" with a bright red to orange cap covered in white flecks and a strong white stem and gills.
The fly agaric is related to some deadly mushrooms: the
Amanita virosa
(the "Destroying Angel");
Amanita verna
and
Amanita phalloides
(
the "Death Cap"
). These mushrooms contain toxins that destroy cells in the liver and kidneys. Five to 24 hours after eating one of these toxic mushrooms people may become sick with nausea and stomach problems. Later, severe liver and kidney damage may occur, often resulting in death.