[Leica] IMG: Poison Mushrooms

[len-001 at verizon.net (Leonard Taupier)]

After three days of on and off rain I found these mushrooms  
surrounding my small Spruce tree in my back yard. It was strange that  
they were no where else in the yard.

<http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/LeonardT/M8/AmanitaMuscaria.jpg.html>

<http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/LeonardT/M8/ 
AmanitaMuscaria_2.jpg.html>

One of the mushrooms behind the tree was about 10" in diameter.  
Before I could take it's picture it fell over and broke.

I identified the mushroom as a Amanita Muscaria var. formosa. These  
mushrooms are found throughout the USA. On the west coast the cap  
color is more red where on the east coast  they are more orange or  
yellow.  If anyone can identify it as a different type please correct  
me.

This mushroom is listed as poisonous but has been used as a  
hallucinogen if prepared properly and in small quantities but can  
also cause a person to go into a coma after becoming sick.

Thanks for looking.
Len