Magic Mushrooms

These are the fairy tale toadstools of our childhood! Fly Agaric - otherwise known as the magic mushroom because of its hallucinogenic properties. Possibly used in witchcraft to give an illusion of flying.

I found lots this morning in Epping Forest and very nearly left my camera at home because it was raining. Motto - "Take your camera everywhere"

 

They are absoloutely brilliant ..the colours are awesome..All the mushrooms here are the ugly brown flat ones.. :(

 

Yes Fantastic pics HB!!

Your fungi pics should have a section all of their own.
Was once told that Fly Agarics (like Datura) if ingested, will do one of 3 things : You will halucinate wildly, they will do nothing or they will kill you! Don't know how true it is??

 

I think they will only kill you if you eat a lot. They have certainly been used all over the world for medicine and by shamans and witches for magical trips into the underworld. It's called Fly Agaric because in the 13th century it was used in milk as a fly killer. Try spraying your greenflies with it! It'll kill them or make them so freaked out that they will fall off your roses with a silly grin on their faces.

 

:D :D Fascinating stuff HB!! :D :D

 

Outstanding and interesting pictures as usual Hornbeam..

 

we used to pick them as students, they do work, but have a horrid side effect of making you feel very sick! Wonder if that family poisened in Greece were trying their hand at mushrooms?

 

PS forgot to say FANTASTIC pictures

 

Lovely pics HB, I have seen these only once or twice before, I think they are becoming quite rare now because people tend to pick them, not to eat them but to look at them closely rather than get down on their hands and knees. Maybe that's why pixies are rare now also, haven't seen one for ages.

 

Too right, Blackthorn! Also - some people can't resist kicking at toadstools.