Wildflower Watch: Be on the lookout for eye-catching mushroom

Calling Amanita muscaria “eye-catching” is an understatement. This mushroom sports a bright red cap with small white spots, called warts. It can be seen in various shades of red, as well as orange and lighter colors. Highly toxic, it is found under planted trees. It favors fir, spruce, birch and pine and is commonly known as the fly agaric or fly amanita.

The season for fruiting varies in different climates. Fruiting occurs in summer and autumn across most of North America, but later in autumn and early winter on the Pacific Coast.

Perhaps the most iconic toadstool, it emerges from the soil near the winter solstice in northern Asia and Europe and is often used in rituals tied to the season.

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