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Hungry? This red mushroom in the moss is not for eating

A small red cap with white spots among the pine needles is a classic clue. It may look tempting at this stage, but this is the wrong mushroom to take a chance on.

Photograph submitted by the reader

This is fly agaric. The bright red to orange cap with white spots, white gills and location among pine needles and moss fit it well.

The answer to whether it is something to eat is no. Fly agaric is poisonous and must not be eaten, however attractive or familiar it looks in the woodland.

Many young fruiting bodies appear in woodland like this in Hartungviken, Sweden, in late August. Small specimens can be particularly deceptive because they look firm and fresh. If you are collecting edible mushrooms on the same outing, keep this species separate or leave it where it is so that nothing gets mixed up.

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  1. Original reader contribution ↗Reader question
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