This fungus grows in my garden where the birds eat it as soon as they can. The LHS one was the best I've ever seen with a richer red colour than the local ones here in Cheshire. A fly agaric with a fly on it too - what more could you want?

This is an intoxicating mushroom which could do harm to someone with a heart condition if ingested. It is said that the men of some Siberian tribes drank a potion of this mushroom mixed with Vaccinium uliginosum (Bog Bilberry) boiled together in water or milk. Hallucinations happen after about 30 minutes but the really good bit is that the active ingredients aren't metabolised so you can drink your own urine for a further fix.

Well you can if you want to.....

LHS Silent Valley, Ireland 21st September 2001 RHS My Garden, Cheshire 9th October 2005

Added on 29th September 2004, updated 24th June 2008