Fly agaric, Fly amanita

This large mushroom is often found growing in clusters near bodies of water, or around
other damp terrain.

Agaricales

Amanita

Amanitaceae

The bright red cap is usually around 8–20 cm (3–8 in) in diameter, although larger specimens have been found.

Bitter

It has a bold blue stem accompanied by a large red cap, which makes these fungi extremely easy to identify.

The free gills are white, as is the spore print.

Earthy

Year long

The major defining trait that separates these fungus from others is the production of the basidium or basidia if used in plurality. These basidia produce sexual spores that are used to create more basidiomycota.

Professional herbalists often cut the head from the root, as the mushroom has the rare ability to re-grow its cap within a few short weeks.