The fly agaric is probably the most famous mushroom in the whole world because it looks like something straight out of a fairy tale! It has a bright red cap covered in white polka dots and a thick white stem with a little skirt around it. You can find this mushroom in storybooks, video games, and cartoons everywhere. It grows in forests all around the world, usually near birch and pine trees. The white dots on its cap are actually pieces of a thin covering that protected the mushroom when it was just a tiny baby popping out of the ground!
Even though the fly agaric looks very pretty and magical, like a little house for a fairy or a gnome, it is poisonous and can make you very, very sick. Remember: you should NEVER touch or eat any wild mushroom unless a grown-up who really knows about mushrooms says it is safe! The fly agaric got its funny name because long ago, people used to put pieces of it in milk to keep flies away. In nature, the bright red color is like a warning sign that tells animals “don’t eat me!” Some animals like squirrels and slugs can nibble on it without getting sick, but it is definitely not safe for people.