Fly Agaric Mushroom

fungi · forest · symbiotic relationships

Red and spotted. The fly agaric has a bright red cap covered with distinctive white warts, making it one of the most recognizable mushrooms in the world. You've probably seen pictures of this exact mushroom in fairy tale books.

Northern forests. Fly agarics grow naturally in temperate and boreal forests across the Northern Hemisphere, where they live in partnership with trees like birches and firs. They've also spread to the Southern Hemisphere, where they sometimes grow invasively.

Underground partners. This mushroom forms symbiotic relationships with tree roots, meaning the mushroom and tree help each other survive. The mushroom trades nutrients it gathers from soil for sugars the tree makes through photosynthesis.

Complex mystery. Scientists think fly agaric is actually a species complex, meaning what we call one mushroom might really be many closely related species that look similar. DNA testing is still helping them figure out all the different types.

Historical fly killer. The mushroom's name may come from its past use to kill flies, possibly by mixing it with milk or other substances to create a poison that repelled or killed insects.