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Jewel by the Lake

Margaret and I found a host of these beautiful toadstools under a tree on the banks of Thirlmere when taking a last walk on our recent holiday in the Lake District.

Fly Agaric or Fly Amanita, is a poisonous and psychoactive fungus, one of many in the genus Amanita. The quintessential toadstool ! Although it is generally considered poisonous, there are few documented human deaths from its consumption, and after having been parboiled it is eaten as a food in parts of Europe, Asia, and North America. Amanita muscaria is noted for its hallucinogenic properties, with its main psychoactive constituent being the compound muscimol. The mushroom was used as an intoxicant and entheogen by the peoples of Siberia, and has a religious significance in these cultures.

BUT - PLEASE don't try these at home!

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Uploaded on September 19, 2013
Taken on September 11, 2013