Fly Agaric

This bright red toadstool with white spots is often portrayed in magical storybooks, often as seats for gnomes and fairies. It is often found under birch and pine trees.

Many people think it is deadly poisonous, probably because of its alarming appearance, with it's bright red colour and funny white spots.

Though not normally deadly poisonous, there is one known case, whereby a man ate twenty-four Fly Agaric mushrooms for breakfast. After hours of painful fits, the man died the next morning.

Fly Agaric Toadstools in a shoebox

There are stories of Vikings, known as the Berserks, eating Fly Agaric, in order to become fearsome. However, this is unlikely, as Fly Agaric is more likely to make people feel sleepy, as opposed to violent.

Fly Agaric Toadstools

Fly Agaric is so-called because people thought it could kill flies.

It was mixed with milk, or sprinkled with sugar to attract the flies.