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Amanita muscaria
Best viewed large.
Amanita muscaria, commonly known as the ‘fly agaric’ or’ fly Amanita,’ is a poisonous and psychoactive basidiomete fungus, one of many in the genus Amanita.
With its bright orange-red or red, sometimes dinner plate-sized caps, Amanita muscaria is one of the most striking of all mushrooms. The white warts that adorn the cap, white gills, well developed ring and distinctive volva of concentric rings separate the Fly Agaric from all other mushrooms. There are several color varieties of A. muscaria in the U.S. ranging from red to orange, yellow and white.
I captured this ‘shroom’ while on vacation in the Smokey Mountains in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, as it grows wild there and is plentiful. I had no idea at the time that I was taking a picture of an “Amanita muscaria,”
a very poisonous mushroom that could bring death immediately to a human being if eaten raw!! Photo shot in natural color and light.
Photo shot with my Nikon CoolPix 4300 digital camera.
Van’s XTreme Photography
Photographer – Artist – Storm chaser
Van aka “The Cloud Lady”
Van Coleman
When not traveling, photographer resides in the beautiful foothills of northeastern Kentucky.
Winner of multiple awards, including a prestigious International award for her work, “Mammatus.”
Taking Photography to the XTreme!
Contact Information: kywxgal@gmail.com
Comments
Cracking shot, well done.
Thanks so much Steve!! These mushrooms were growing out back of the cabin “MAJESTIC MEMORIES” where we stayed in Gatlinburg. At the time I only had my digital Nikon with me and wished I could have gotten some shots of the deeper red caps on the side of the mountain!!!xx
– Van Coleman
Gorgeous Shroom x
Thanks so much Anita!! This one was growing close to the side of one of the mountains in the Smokies!!!xx
– Van Coleman
good shroom!
Dougie, thank you my friend!! There were several of these and then some redder ones close to the edge of the mountain!!!xx
– Van Coleman
What a pretty mushroom! Oh! I just read that it is extremely poisonous! AND! you found it in Gatlinburg..one of my favorite places in TN….that is the part that isn’t teeming with pancake/flapjack restaurants and little gift shops that sell miniature black bears!
Karen, several of the restaurants in the Smoky Mountains, including some in Gatlinburg, have now added different varieties of mushrooms to their menus, but “AMANITA MUSCARIA” is NOT one of them. Yes Gatlinburg is one of my favorite places in all the world, and there was the neatest trading post not far from us when we came off the mountain (outside of Gatlinburg). Thanks for your wonderful comments Karen!!!xx
Magical looking and poisonous too!
My dear Ronnie, thank you ever so much for stopping by
my Gallery today and leaving your incredible comments
on this image!!!xx
So beautiful and so deadly. Nature has a funny sense of humour!! Thank you for sharing and for the information. Very interesting. :)
Thanks so much Ann foryour comments!!
I agree about nature; we never know what
we may run across in the mountains!!!xx
– Van Coleman
I love the colors. A beautiful close-up.xo
Thank you Lori for your lovely comments on this one!!!xx
