The content of the article
The Amanita Panther is a mushroom belonging to the class of champignon, family of amanita agaric. This fungus is characterized by poisonousness and its possession of hallucinogenic properties. In Latin, the name of the mushroom sounds like Amanita pantherina.
This genus was called such a name due to the fact that previously these mushrooms were used to fight various insects. Including, carried out the fight against flies. This is where this somewhat unusual name came from.
It is wrong to believe that this genus consists only of poisonous representatives. Out of the total of 6 species, conditionally edible mushrooms are represented.
External description
The leg of the mushroom is covered with a hat. She in the process of growth can become quite large.In the process of growth, it can reach a diameter of 12 cm. At first, the cap is represented by a hemisphere, but then, as it grows, it becomes a level platform. Sometimes on the surface of the cap you can find flakes that are "remnants of the veil".
In nature, the first toadstools can be seen when the ambient temperature reaches about 20 degrees Celsius. The mushroom does not tolerate frost and likes to be in wet soil. There is a pronounced symbiosis of the panther mushroom mushroom with some trees (coniferous species). However, no less comfortable he will feel in the forest, consisting of deciduous trees.
On the cap there is a brown color. She herself is smooth, with the presence of a large number of white flakes. If you try to separate them from the cap, that is not difficult to do. It is believed that the fly agaric is associated with deadly poisonousness. However, fatal poisoning is extremely rare.
Among all the fly agaric, this species can be attributed to the smaller brothers. Its appearance, unlike other representatives, is not so attractive. Therefore, very often, especially inexperienced mushroom pickers, it is mistaken for an edible mushroom. He is especially confused when he is still small. Therefore it is necessary to be extremely attentive.In order not to make mischief, it is necessary to carefully study the external signs of the panther mushroom.
Among the variety of colors on the hat, the main shade is olive. This determines the fact that it is often confused with edible mushrooms. A mushroom picker poorly versed in all the subtleties may mistake him for a boletus or a mash. If you cut the mushroom, the pulp will not change and will remain white. At the same time, there is no excessive wateriness.
The leg of the panther mushroom can grow up to 12 cm. It is not distinguished by a pronounced massiveness, thin, with the presence of white nap on the surface. The leg has a low location of the ring or it is missing at all.
Breeding amanita is carried out using spores. It can be found in almost any forest. Find it among deciduous and coniferous trees. Very often it can be seen in a mixed forest. Often he finds himself a secluded place under a pine or oak.Amanita grows well on soils with high alkalinity.
For its growth is preferred weather with a temperate climate. It does not tolerate extreme heat and frost. Peak growth can be observed in mid-summer, and its end - in early autumn, in its first month. It is characteristic that in places where there is a panther mushroom, insects are never found. For them, his smell is destructive, so they prefer to be away from him.
What danger does this mushroom hold?
The danger of the fungus is caused by two groups, which include toxic substances. The ingredients in the first group are identical to those that contain red amanita. They are represented by muscarin, muscimol, ibotenic acid, bufotenin, serotonin, and other substances.
Substances of the second group are similar to those containing the black henbane. In their combination, these substances cause poisoning in humans. It is characterized by a specific clinical picture, which allows even to isolate the symptoms and combine them into a syndrome, which is called panther poisoning.
Clinical picture of poisoning
The point of application of the active principle is the central parts of the nervous system. As a result, at first poisoning is accompanied by auditory and visual hallucinations. Obvious changes in the behavior of the poisoned person are observed. The severity of clinical symptoms depends on the dose of poison that entered the body. In case of urgent conditions, convulsions appear. A person loses consciousness and may fall into a coma.
The appearance of the first symptoms does not take long. Sometimes it takes 30 minutes. In some cases, the time interval is 5-6 hours, which depends on the amount of poison in the body. It should be said that poisoning with a panther fly agaric is more difficult than in the case of the red fly agaric.
There are dyspeptic symptoms of the digestive tract in the form of vomiting, diarrhea. Tachycardia appears, breathing becomes rapid. The temperature may rise. Quite often a poisoned person hallucinates. Pupils expand, a state of euphoria arises. In severe cases, increased psychomotor function. May involuntarily contract muscles.It becomes painful for the patient to swallow, mucous membranes become dry.
First Aid
The patient is subject to mandatory hospitalization. But before the ambulance arrives, he needs first aid. Such events can be reduced to the following points:
It is necessary to carry out activities for washing the stomach. For this purpose, it is used in a weakly concentrated solution of potassium permanganate or baking soda. Flush the stomach must be very carefully. How long to rinse? Washing is continued until clean wash water flows from the stomach.
Use of effective sorbents. In this case, activated carbon is an indispensable tool. How much should be given to the patient of coal? Reception is carried out at the rate of 1 tablet per 8-10 kg of body weight.
If the patient is worried about severe pain, you can offer him to take antispasmodics, for example, no-silos.
Until the ambulance arrives, the patient is watered with salted water. He should use it in large quantities.
Hospitalization is required.Only within the walls of a medical institution can a qualified medical care be provided to the patient. Atropine is usually used as an antidote. It is important to provide timely assistance. If this is not done, even if the patient survives, poisoning can lead to serious complications. Encephalopathy or toxic hepatitis may develop.
The Use of the Panther Mushroom
Strange as it may sound, but such mushrooms, it turns out, have benefits. Separate types of fly agarics are used for preparation of medicines. You can use them for certain business purposes:
- It has long been observed that these representatives of the mushroom kingdom help to get rid of insects. This feature, in fact, determined their name.
- The composition of the mushroom contains a substance that is used for the preparation of drugs with antitumor activity.
- In antiquity, some peoples used toadstools to perform hallucinations when performing rituals and rituals.
- The legends say that the panthera toadstools were used by the warriors before joining the battle, because during the first time after their use they felt an incredible tide of fearlessness and aggression.
- Folk healers in their arsenal have recipes by which tinctures and extracts are made from amanita. They are used to treat diseases of the joints.
- Modern pharmacy in its arsenal has the funds that are prepared on the basis of mushroom. They are used to relieve spasm of cerebral vessels and as an anti-sclerotic agent.
We distinguish edible mushrooms from inedible species
To avoid the hassles associated with poisoning, it is necessary to be extremely careful when collecting mushrooms.Before collecting mushrooms, you should carefully study the external structure of the panther mushroom mushroom, because it can easily be confused with edible mushrooms. If it is good to know all the signs of this species of amanita, then it is rather difficult to confuse it with other mushrooms. The first thing that should push away from this fungus is its “flashy” look and characteristic unpleasant smell. It is impossible that this mushroom even on a small fragment hit the table. Otherwise, acute severe poisoning is simply unavoidable.
Video: Panther mushroom (Amanita pantherina)
To send