During the autumn months, Aberderfyn Nature Reserve in Johnstown becomes a site to see with hundreds of mushrooms sprouting up after heavy rainfall.
Species such as the brown birch bolete, jellyear, shaggy inkcaps, deceivers and possibly the most charismatic of them all; fly agaric!
Fly agaric is a very distinctive mushroom bright red in colour with white spots. It’s often featured in folklore and fairytales as the characteristic red fairy toadstool, the species is steeped in all sorts of tales. Fly agaric contains a substance called ibotenic acid, which is toxic to flies. Traditionally in European households, the mushroom was crumbled up into saucers of milk to attract flies, the flies either died from consuming the ibotenic acid or drowning in the milk, it is thought that this is where the name fly agaric originates from.
Fly agaric also contains a toxin known as Muscimol, which is a psychoactive toxin. When consumed by humans, it can cause sickness, cramps and sometimes death.
A magical Christmas?
In the Arctic circle, the Sámi people are famous for herding reindeer. One of the reindeers’ favourite foods happens to be fly agaric! The reindeer do not feel the effects of the mushroom, however, the Sámi people discovered that drinking the urine of the reindeer that had eaten the mushrooms had a hallucinogenic effect. It is thought that Santa’s flying reindeer may have originated from these hallucinations!
Please do not ingest any part of a fly agaric as ALL parts are poisonous. Also, do not try and drink reindeer urine!