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amanita (am-uh-NEE-tuh, am-uh-NAY-tuh) - n., any species of mushroom of the genus Amanita, many of which are extremely poisonous.
The 'shroom with possibly the second most beautiful name is also beautiful:
Thanks, WikiMedia!
Around 600 species worldwide, including some of the most toxic fungi known. Some species, however, are eminently edible and can be found in markets here and there, but unless you're an expert and are absolutely sure, don't try any of them yourself. Only a few amanitas have the classic red cap with white spots of A. muscaria shown above, but they do all usually have a ring around the stalk and a rounded bulb at the base. The name comes (via Latin) from Ancient Greek amānītai, a kind of fungus -- and it's not clear to me whether we don't know which fungus or the dictionaries don't care.
---L.
The 'shroom with possibly the second most beautiful name is also beautiful:
Thanks, WikiMedia!
Around 600 species worldwide, including some of the most toxic fungi known. Some species, however, are eminently edible and can be found in markets here and there, but unless you're an expert and are absolutely sure, don't try any of them yourself. Only a few amanitas have the classic red cap with white spots of A. muscaria shown above, but they do all usually have a ring around the stalk and a rounded bulb at the base. The name comes (via Latin) from Ancient Greek amānītai, a kind of fungus -- and it's not clear to me whether we don't know which fungus or the dictionaries don't care.
---L.
