The Amanita mushroom family is a super important mushroom family to discover for many reasons. Not only does it contain the most notorious and notable-looking mushrooms, but it also boasts some of the world's favorite psychoactive shrooms.

Today, we're going to explore the mystical realm of the most popular types of Amanita mushrooms.

Key Features of the Amanita Mushroom Family

While all mushrooms in the Amanita family look different, they tend to all boast the following key features:

• They grow near the bases of hedgerows or trees. 
• They either have a bulbous base or a volva structure at the end of the stem. 
• They have white sports.
• The caps separate easily from the stems.
• The gills tend to be white or off-white, crowding around but free from the stem. 
• They tend to have a skirt or ring on the stem. 
• They tend to have warts or irregular patches on their caps. 

We're sure this goes without saying, but, toxicity from certain Amanita mushrooms plucked from the wild is pretty high. However, when they're processed and strained correctly (like all our Amanita products), the risk of toxicity is minimal at most!

The 6 Most Popular Strains of Amanita Mushrooms

Like any family of mushrooms, there are many, many types. We're going to introduce the six most popular right here, and the effects that have been anecdotally reported from properly strained, expertly processed varieties. 

#1 Amanita Muscaria (Fly Agaric)

We had to kick this list off with the OG Amanita, Fly Agaric. It's the mushroom that always comes to mind — the white stem and the red cap with white warts. Although, heavy rain may cause the white parts to drop off.

While it's a large, sturdy mushroom, the cap detaches wonderfully easily from the trunk-like stem. 

Very young Fly Agarics actually resemble puffballs. However, they grow into their iconic shape pretty quickly. 

It's different from classic psychedelic shrooms. However, it is certainly psychoactive. In other words, it's said to produce hallucinogenic effects and potentially delirium without the mind-manifesting characteristics represented by traditional magic mushrooms. 

Those who've taken Amanita Muscaria have reported colorful visions and spiritual insights alongside disassociation. 

According to hardcore Amanita fans, making mushroom tea is the best way to enjoy it. However, some people eat dried caps for the same effect (ensuring it has been properly processed beforehand, of course). 

#2 Amanita Pantherina (Panther Cap)

Commonly found in West Asia and southern Europe, the Panther Cap isn't technically a psychedelic mushroom, although avid fans often refer to them as magic mushrooms. 

It boasts a wide reputation for spiritual, recreational, and religious experiences, particularly among Pan-American and European Shamans. 

Anecdotal evidence shows that taking Amanita Pantherina elicits warped time awareness and out-of-body experiences. In some cases, users noted their motor skills changed, becoming clumsier, and in others, they felt more "electric."

#3 Amanita Muscaria var. Formosa (Yellow Fly Agaric)

The Yellow Fly Agaric is distinguishable from the regular Fly Agaric due to its yellow (surprise, surprise) cap and the puffball-like shape on the end of the stem. 

It's found growing naturally in forests in the Northern Hemisphere and contains muscimol and ibotenic acid, which produce psychoactive results like:

• Euphoria
• Hallucinations
• Dysphoria
• Retrograde amnesia
• Synaesthesia

Consider the effects to be similar to high doses of Ambien rather than what you'd experience on a classic, psilocybin-containing shroom. 

#4 Amanita Chrysoblema (American Fly Agaric)

Number four on our list is actually quite a rare one, characterized by its off-white or near-silver cap with white warts. The cap features cuts on the side but other than that, it has the same shape as the standard Fly Agaric. 

It was first discovered by Peck in 1880, who initially classified the mushroom as an Amanita muscaria variant. But it was renamed in 1918 by Kauffmann after a study in Michigan. 

#5 Amanita Muscaria var. Guessowii (American Yellow Fly Agaric)

As the name suggests, this variant produces the same effects and looks very similar to the aforementioned Amanita Muscaria var. Formosa. The only difference is their growing region. 

It grows in great quantities across northern Michigan, and easily produces dinner-plate-sized caps when growing along the edges of fields. 

#6 Amanita Muscaria var. Inzengae (Inzenga's Fly Agaric)

Last but certainly not least is the Amanita Muscaria var. Inzengae or Inzenga's Fly Agaric. 

It boasts a 50 to 215mm wide cap which tends to be red. Interestingly, sources suggest the caps are usually yellow in the eastern parts of Canada and the northeast of the United States of America. In fact, it can even be white in various regions in North America. 

The gills are free and range from crowded to subcrowded. 

The mushroom can be found along North and Central America, making it the overseas cousin of the standard Amanita Muscaria. They look incredibly similar — they may be more like siblings!

This Amanita strain contains the same amount of psychoactive compounds as the standard Muscaria mushroom, causing the same effects. 

The Bottom Line

You have the most popular strains of Amanita mushrooms under your belt! From the quintessential Fly Agaric to the American Fly Agaric, you are well and truly prepared to dive deeper into this vast mushroom family. 

Just always remember to purchase Amanita shrooms from trusted sources, like us at Psilomart. We specialize in providing top-of-the-range, expertly processed Amanita Muscaria capsules, extract powder, and so much more!

References

https://totallywilduk.co.uk/2022/01/17/introduction-to-the-the-amanita-family-of-mushrooms/

https://doubleblindmag.com/amanita-muscaria/

https://healing-mushrooms.net/amanita-pantherina

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amanita_muscaria_var._formosa

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/1074406-Amanita-chrysoblema

https://www.mushroomexpert.com/amanita_muscaria_guessowii.html

https://psychedelicspotlight.com/a-beginners-guide-to-amanita-muscaria-mushrooms/

http://www.amanitaceae.org/?Amanita+muscaria+subsp.+flavivolvata