AMANITA
AMANI’TA, a genus of Fungi, nearly allied to Agaricus, but bursting from a volva. A. muscaria, which is pretty common in woods, especially of fir and beech, in Britain, is one of the most dangerous fungi. It is sometimes called FLY AGARIC, being used in Sweden and other countries to kill flies and bugs, for which purpose it is steeped in milk. The pileus or cap is of an orange-red color, with white warts, the gills white, and the stem bulbous. It grows to a considerable size. Notwithstanding its very poisonous nature, it is used by the Kamchatkadales to induce intoxication, and it imparts an intoxicating property to the urine of those who swallow it, of which they or others often avail themselves, when abundance of the fungus is not at hand.
