The common mushroom known as Fly agaric, Amanita muscaria, photographed in woodland. The cap (820cm across) is covered with white pyramidal warts which may be washed off by rain. The cap is globose or hemispherical at first and then flattens in the mature stage shown here. Fly agaric has strong hallucinogenic and intoxicant properties. The central nervous system is affected and the muscles of the intoxicated person start to pull and twitch convulsively. However, the effects of this mushroom are unpredictable depending on the concentration of the toxic agent (ibotenic acid). Photographed in Wiltshire, England.
