I had a lot of fun with this one, initially I wasn't too excited at the prospect of doing a talk mostly about taxonomy and ID characteristics, but ultimately it was a great learning/teaching experience for me. I go through the Genus Amanita, Section Amanita, and go into subsection Amanita, Gemmatae, and Pantherinae. I give a few examples of each and I have a large list at the end of the slides in addition to great resources and sources I recommend. A lot of great questions at the end to so stick around til the end. enjoy 😉 -Michael Harmonyacres.love
Class description:
Join Michael Wilson of Harmony Acres for an in-depth exploration of the psychoactive Amanitas of North America — the isoxazole-containing species bearing ibotenic acid and muscimol.
This class is focused exclusively on taxonomy and identification. We'll take a close look at the species native to the Northeast, and broaden our view to survey the full range of psychoactive Amanitas found across the continent — covering identification characteristics, distinguishing features, and seasonality.
Time will be reserved at the end for open discussion and questions.
Note: This is not a class on edibility or preparation. Attendees should come with curiosity and a desire to deepen their mycological literacy.
Psychoactive Amanitas of North America outline
Taxonomy Overview
Amanita genus (about 1,400 species)
Section Amanita (about 150 species)
(not all contain isoxazoles)
Amanita sect. Validae stirps Citrina Marginate-bulbed species may contain bufotenine or related compounds.
(stirps refers to a branch of a family or a lineage, often used to denote a permanent variety or a group of related organisms)
(taxon (plural: taxa) represents a named group of organisms classified together based on shared characteristics and inferred evolutionary relationships.)
Chemistry
What is an isoxazole?
Muscimol
Ibotenic Acid
Subsection Amanita (31 taxa, about half containing isoxazoles), stirps Muscaria containing the muscarioids
Amanita chrysoblema (American fly agaric – cap surface coloration ranging from red to orange to yellow to white)
Distribution and season
Identification
Chemistry
(Merging of Amanita muscaria var. guessowii and Amanita muscaria subsp. flavivolvata)
Amanita ‘muscaria PNW03’
Distribution and season
Identification
Chemistry
Amanita persicina (peach-colored fly agaric)
Distribution and season
Identification
Chemistry
Subsection Gemmatae (the gemmatoids – 19 taxa, all containing isoxazoles)
Amanita agglutinata (the bookbinder Amanita)
Distribution and season
Identification
Chemistry
Amanita aprica (sunshine Amanita)
Distribution and season
Identification
Chemistry
Amanita “gemmata-CA01” (may be conspecific with A. umbrinidisca)
Distribution and season
Identification
Chemistry
Amanita minutula (formerly A. sp-34)
Distribution and season
Identification
Chemistry
Amanita pacifigemmata
Distribution and season
Identification
Chemistry
Amanita pantherinoides (western American false panther)
Distribution and season
Identification
Chemistry
Amanita russuloides (Russula-like Amanita, group includes A. sp-N08, A. sp-N19, and A. sp-S01)
Distribution and season
Identification
Chemistry
Subsection Pantherinae (the pantherinoids – 22 taxa, all containing isoxazoles)
Amanita albocreata (ringless panther)
Distribution and season
Identification
Chemistry
Amanita alpinicola
Distribution and season
Identification
Chemistry
Amanita multisquamosa (small funnel-veil Amanita)
Distribution and season
Identification
Chemistry
Amanita stranella (little straw-colored Amanita, may be conspecific with A. praecox)
Distribution and season
Identification
Chemistry
Amanita subvelatipes (weak funnel-veil Amanita)
Distribution and season
Identification
Chemistry
Amanita tlaxcalipanthera (Tlaxcalan panther)
Distribution and season
Identification
Chemistry
Amanita velatipes (great funnel-veil Amanita, may be conspecific with A. sp-IN10)
Distribution and season
Identification
Chemistry
How to find isoxazole-containing Amanitas in your area?
iNaturalist l/u section Amanita
Sources & Resources:
Beginner’s guide
Amanita Science & Magic Facebook group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/amanitasciencemagic2
Amanita Revolution Facebook group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/amanitarevolution
Amanita Science & Magic Discord
Amanita Science & Magic Patreon (free/premium content, approved vendors list)
https://www.patreon.com/cw/amanitasciencemagic
Amanita muscaria subreddit
https://www.reddit.com/r/AmanitaMuscaria/
Amanitacea database (WAO)
https://amanitaceae.mushroomobserver.org/?Home
iNaturalist
Pacific Northwest Amanita species by Danny Miller
https://www.alpental.com/psms/ddd/Amanitaceae/index.htm
Spike Mikulski expert identifier YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/user/Seditious100/videos
Fly Agaric Compendium by Kevin Feeney
Harmony Acres Amanita products
https://harmonyacres.love/pages/redirect-from-all-things-amanita
Isoxazole-containing Amanitas of Canada & USA
List created by Vanillad Cummings, expert identifier on Facebook and admin in Facebook groups
―Canada―
Alberta:
A. chrysoblema
A. sp-IN10
British Columbia:
A. chrysoblema
A. ‘muscaria PNW03’
A. pacifigemmata
A. pantherinoides
A. pseudobreckonii
Manitoba:
A. chrysoblema
New Brunswick:
A. chrysoblema
A. frostiana (isoxazole unknown)
A. praecox/stranella group
A. russuloides group
A. subvelatipes
Newfoundland:
A. chrysoblema
Ontario:
A. albocreata
A. chrysoblema
A. frostiana (isoxazole unknown)
A. multisquamosa
A. sp-IN10
A. russuloides group
A. stranella
A. subvelatipes
A. velatipes
Prince Edward Island:
A. chrysoblema
Quebec:
A. chrysoblema
A. frostiana (isoxazole unknown)
A. multisquamosa
A. velatipes
Yukon:
A. chrysoblema
―United States―
Alabama:
A. agglutinata
A. crenulata
A. minutula
A. multisquamosa group
A. persicina
A. roseitincta (isoxazole unknown)
A. russuloides group
A. subvelatipes
A. velatipes
Alaska:
A. chrysoblema
A. ‘muscaria PNW03’
A. muscaria
A. regalis
Arizona:
A. chrysoblema
A. sp-AZ16
California:
A. aprica
A. breckonii
A. chrysoblema
A. “gemmata-CA01”
A. ‘muscaria PNW03’
A. pacifigemmata
A. pantherinoides
Colorado:
A. chrysoblema
A. pantherinoides
Connecticut:
A. chrysoblema
A. crenulata
A. frostiana (isoxazole unknown)
A. multisquamosa
A. subvelatipes
A. velatipes
Delaware:
A. chrysoblema
Florida:
A. agglutinata
A. crenulata
A. minutula
A. multisquamosa
A. persicina
A. pubescens (isoxazole unknown)
A. roseitincta (isozaxole unknown)
A. russuloides group
Georgia:
A. albocreata
A. crenulata
A. farinosa (isozaxole unknown)
A. persicina
A. roseitincta (isoxazole unknown)
A. russuloides group
Idaho:
A. alpinicola
A. aprica
A. chrysoblema
A. pantherinoides
A. pseudobreckonii
Illinois:
A. chrysoblema
A. minutula
A. multisquamosa
Indiana:
A. chrysoblema
A. minutula
A. russuloides group
A. sp-IN10
Iowa:
A. chrysoblema
Kansas:
A. multisquamosa
A. sect. Amanita stirps Muscaria
Kentucky:
A. chrysoblema
A. multisquamosa
A. russuloides group
Louisiana:
A. persicina
Maine:
A. chrysoblema
A. frostiana (isoxazole unknown)
A. praecox
A. stranella
A. velatipes
Maryland:
A. chrysoblema
A. crenulata
A. praecox/stranella group
A. sp-IN10
Massachusetts:
A. chrysoblema
A. crenulata
A. frostiana (isoxazole unknown)
A. multisquamosa-02
A. muscaria (imported)
A. russuloides group
A. subvelatipes
A. velatipes
Michigan:
A. chrysoblema
A. frostiana (isoxazole unknown)
A. multisquamosa
A. multisquamosa group
A. russuloides group
A. sp-IN10
A. velatipes
Minnesota:
A. chrysoblema
A. frostiana (isoxazole unknown)
A. multisquamosa
Mississippi:
A. multisquamosa
A. persicina
A. roseitincta (isoxazole unknown)
Missouri:
A. minutula
A. multisquamosa
Montana:
A. aprica
A. pantherinoides
A. sect. Amanita stirps Muscaria
New Hampshire:
A. chrysoblema
A. crenulata
A. frostiana (isoxazole unknown)
New Jersey:
A. chrysoblema
A. crenulata
A. minutula
New Mexico:
A. chrysoblema
A. sp-AZ07
New York:
A. chrysoblema
A. crenulata
A. frostiana (isoxazole unknown)
A. minutula
A. multisquamosa
A. sp-IN10
A. subvelatipes
A. velatipes
North Carolina:
A. agglutinata
A. chrysoblema
A. frostiana (isoxazole unknown)
A. multisquamosa
A. persicina
A. russuloides group
A. subvelatipes
Ohio:
A. chrysoblema
A. minutula
A. multisquamosa
A. praecox/stranella group
A. russuloides group
A. sp-IN10
A. velatipes
Oregon:
A. aprica
A. chrysoblema
A. farinosa sensu Thiers (isoxazole unknown)
A. “gemmata-CA01”
A. pacifigemmata
A. pantherinoides
A. pseudobreckonii
A. umbrinidisca
Pennsylvania:
A. chrysoblema
A. crenulata group
A. farinosa (isoxazole unknown)
A. minutula
A. praecox
A. sp-IN10
A. stranella
Rhode Island:
A. chrysoblema
A. crenulata
A. multisquamosa
A. praecox
A. russuloides group
A. sp-N60
A. stranella
A. subvelatipes
A. velatipes
South Carolina:
A. agglutinata
A. crenulata
A. persicina
A. roseitincta (isoxazole unknown)
A. russuloides group
South Dakota:
A. sect. Amanita stirps Muscaria
Tennessee:
A. chrysoblema
A. multisquamosa
A. persicina
A. russuloides group
A. subvelatipes
A. velatipes
Texas:
A. persicina
A. roseitincta (isozaxole unknown)
Utah:
A. chrysoblema
Vermont:
A. chrysoblema
A. crenulata
A. frostiana (isoxazole unknown)
A. russuloides group
Virginia:
A. chrysoblema
A. crenulata
A. multisquamosa
A. russuloides group
A. subvelatipes
A. velatipes
Washington:
A. aprica
A. chrysoblema
A. “gemmata-CA01”
A. ‘muscaria PNW03’
A. pacifigemmata
A. pantherinoides
A. pseudobreckonii
A. umbrinidisca
West Virginia:
A. albocreata
A. chrysoblema
A. multisquamosa group
A. persicina
A. subvelatipes
Wisconsin:
A. albocreata
A. chrysoblema
A. frostiana (isoxazole unknown)
A. multisquamosa
A. velatipes
Amanita 101: Taxonomy, Chemistry, Safety, and the Legal Landscape
A recap of Michael Wilson's (Harmony Acres) talk at the Ohio Mushroom Festival
Every year since the Ohio Mushroom Festival began, Michael Wilson of Harmony Acres has taken the stage to talk about one of the most misunderstood mushrooms in the world: Amanita muscaria and its lesser-known psychoactive relatives. This year's talk covered taxonomy, the chemistry behind the mushroom's effects, safe harvest and dosing practices, how to spot fake products, extraction methods, and the shifting legal landscape — both in the U.S. and abroad.
A Quick Note on Taxonomy
The genus Amanita contains roughly 1,400 species, most of which are neither psychoactive nor edible in the way people assume. This talk focused narrowly on Section Amanita (about 150 species), and within it, three subsections that matter most for psychoactive use:
- Subsection Amanita — includes Amanita chrysoblema (the yellow/orange/red fly agaric familiar across the Northeast and Midwest, recently consolidated from what used to be called A. muscaria var. guessowii and A. muscaria subsp. flavivolvata) and Amanita persicina (the southern peach Amanita, found in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama).
- Subsection Gemmatae — the "gemmatoids," including Amanita pantherinoides (the western false panther), a West Coast species reported to be significantly more potent by weight than muscaria.
- Subsection Pantherinae — the "pantheroids," including Amanita multisquamosa, a Northeast species.
Taxonomy in this genus is a moving target — species names are actively being revised as citizen-science DNA sequencing projects (like MycoBlitz) submit specimens for lab analysis. Provisional names like "Amanita PNW03" are common and simply reflect species awaiting formal classification.
The Chemistry: Muscimol and Ibotenic Acid
Unlike classic tryptamine psychedelics, psychoactive Amanitas contain isoxazole compounds — primarily ibotenic acid and muscimol. Fresh mushrooms are higher in ibotenic acid; as the mushroom dries, ibotenic acid decarboxylates into muscimol through heat and pH change (the same process happens in the stomach when eaten raw, or in a tea with added acid).
- Ibotenic acid stimulates glutamate — neuroexcitatory, often described as speedy or euphoric, with vomiting, sweating, and disorientation at higher doses.
- Muscimol is a GABA-A receptor agonist — sharing a mechanism with benzodiazepines, lavender, chamomile, kava, and alcohol — producing calming, anxiolytic effects at appropriate doses, with similar adverse effects (sweating, vomiting, memory gaps, dissociative "liminal" states) at high doses.
A few myths worth retiring: Amanita muscaria does not contain amatoxins (the liver-damaging compounds found in death caps and destroying angels) and is not hepatotoxic. Brain-lesion concerns trace back to a single study involving intravenous injection of ibotenic acid in mice — a very different exposure route than oral ingestion in humans, given the protective role of the blood-brain barrier.
Harvest Timing and Habitat
The most potent window for harvest is right as the mushroom's partial veil is breaking — while it's still in its "cup" stage, similar to the potency curve seen in psilocybin species. Psychoactive Amanitas are primarily mycorrhizal with conifers (pine and spruce in particular), though hardwood and even hemlock associations have been observed. Interestingly, transplanting European spruce and Amanita muscaria spores together in North America has allegedly succeeded in establishing the relationship outside its native range.
Buyer Safety: What to Look For
This was one of the most practical parts of the talk. When shopping for Amanita products:
- Avoid flashy, "trippy" packaging — it's a strong signal of a low-quality or fraudulent product.
- Avoid gas station and head shop products entirely.
- Look for vendors who are transparent about what they're picking, how they're processing it, and how they test it.
- Independent lab testing has found some commercial Amanita gummies contain no muscimol or ibotenic acid at all — instead containing synthetic tryptamines, synthetic kratom (mitragynine), 4-AcO-DMT, or synthetic cannabinoids, in some cases causing people to fail unrelated drug tests.
Michael maintains a community-vetted approved vendors list on his Patreon, tied to the Amanita Science & Magic group, specifically to help buyers avoid these bad actors.
Extraction: Beyond the Basics
A few extraction notes from the talk:
- Amanita extraction is water-based, not alcohol-based — water pulls both muscimol and ibotenic acid effectively, while ethanol contributes little.
- Alcohol is added only at the end, primarily as a preservative (a minimum ~20% ABV is needed to prevent spoilage in a tincture; glycerin-based preparations need roughly 50% to achieve similar shelf stability).
- Historical/experimental preparation methods discussed included fermenting raw Amanita with lactobacillus (tied to theories about the Vedic drink soma) and long clay-pot fermentation methods used by extractors in Europe.
The Legal Landscape
Regulatory pressure on Amanita is increasing, though patchwork and inconsistent:
- Fully illegal / controlled substance status: Lithuania (a former hub for Amanita vendors, now enforcing jail time for sale), the Netherlands, Thailand, and Australia (Schedule 9).
- France: As of July 11, 2026, France's ANSM (national medicines safety agency) classified muscimol and ibotenic acid as psychotropic substances, banning their production, sale, and use nationwide — citing serious poisoning reports tied to Amanita-derived candies and gummies. This follows earlier bans in Lithuania, Poland, Sweden, and Switzerland, and a related draft proposal was submitted to the European Commission in June 2026.
- United States: No federal scheduling of Amanita muscaria itself, but increasing regulatory friction — the FDA has stepped up scrutiny of mislabeled and adulterated "Amanita" gummy products (following the 2024 Diamond Shruumz recall), and vendors report growing difficulty securing payment processing as they're grouped into high-risk merchant categories alongside tobacco, firearms, and gambling.
The pattern across most of these actions traces back to poisoning incidents tied to mislabeled or fraudulent products — not the traditional, correctly-identified mushroom itself. That distinction is central to why buyer education and vendor transparency matter as much as they do.
Resources Mentioned
- Beginner's Guide to Amanita muscaria
- Amanita Science & Magic and Amanita Revolution Facebook groups
- Amanitaceae database (Mushroom Observer / WAO)
- iNaturalist
- Pacific Northwest Amanita species guide by Danny Miller
- The Fly Agaric Compendium by Kevin Feeney
Michael Wilson is the founder of Harmony Acres, where he handcrafts small-batch Amanita and mushroom extracts from his property in Clarion, PA.
This article was adapted from Michael's talk with AI assistance for structure and editing — the research, experience, and opinions are his own.
Comments (0)
There are no comments for this article. Be the first one to leave a message!