Royal fly agaric

About

Royal fly agaric is a northern and mountain relative of the red fly agaric. It forms mycorrhiza with coniferous trees, primarily with spruce and pine, and is less commonly found in mixed forests with birch. It is widespread in Scandinavia, northern and eastern Europe; in the Ukrainian Carpathians, it is mostly photographed in spruce forests.

The cap is large, 7–16 cm, sometimes up to 20 cm, initially hemispherical, then almost flat, with a ribbed edge. The coloration ranges from dark umber and brown to ochre or gray-yellow. It is covered with yellowish scales that turn white in the sun and are easily washed off by rain. The gills are creamy, the stem is white with a white ring, and at the base is a bulb, above which remain rings of yellowish-ochre fragments of the veil.

The mushroom is poisonous and, like the red fly agaric, contains the psychoactive substance muscimol. Poisoning has been reported when people confused it with the parasol mushroom: within one to two hours, severe vomiting, confusion, hallucinations, profuse salivation, and sweating began.

It is distinguished from the red fly agaric by the complete absence of red color. Pale yellowish-brown mushrooms are sometimes confused with the blushing fly agaric, which is conditionally edible. However, in the blushing fly agaric, the flesh at the break and in damaged areas slowly turns pink, and the flesh under the cap skin is white, while in the royal fly agaric it is yellowish. The simplest rule for mushroom pickers is to not collect any fly agarics.

Where in the Carpathians

The map shows where naturalists recorded the species (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY records), not every place it lives. The Ukrainian Carpathians are less studied, so a blank area does not mean the species is absent.

Countries

Slovakia · Romania · Ukraine · Poland

Mountain ranges

Piatra Craiului, Low Tatras, Western Tatras, Slovak Central Mountains, Gorgany, Maramureș Mountains, Kysuce Beskids, High Tatras, Lesser Fatra

Altitude belts

Beech forests (600–1200 m) · Conifer forests (1200–1600 m)

When to see it

From naturalists’ observations in the Carpathians (iNaturalist, research grade): the darker the cell, the more often the species is seen that month.

Safety

Poisonous, affects the nervous system. Do not collect fly agarics for food or 'microdosing'. In case of suspected poisoning, call 103 (or 112).

Look-alikes — how to tell them apart

Protection and rules

Not protected.

FAQ