How to tell Fly agaric from Panther cap

Cap 8–20 cm across, egg-shaped when young, then flattened-convex or almost flat. The surface is bright red or orange-red, fading to orange in old mushrooms. It is covered with white or yellowish warts — remnants of the universal veil (easily washed off by rain).

Cap 5–12 cm across, spherical or bell-shaped when young, later flattened-convex. The surface is shiny, brown, gray-brown or olive-brown, dotted with small pure-white warts, usually spread fairly evenly; rain can wash them off.

Gills free, crowded, white, not changing color. Spore print white. White gills combined with a red cap, a ring and a volva are a reliable combination of amanita features.

Gills free, white, crowded. They don't change color when damaged — this sets them apart from a similar edible species (the blusher), whose flesh and gills turn pink.

Stem 8–18 cm tall, 1.5–2.5 cm thick, white, cylindrical, with a bulbous, swollen base. There is a well-developed membranous ring in the upper part and a characteristic ragged, sheath-like volva at the base, often hidden in the soil.

Stem 6–12 cm tall, white, smooth, with a thin membranous ring in the upper part. At the base there is a bulb with remnants of the veil — not a free, sac-like volva, but one or more white woolly rings or a spiral above a narrow gutter on the bulb; this rimmed bulb distinguishes it from the blusher.

Flesh soft, white, yellowish under the cap skin. Does not change color when cut. No distinctive smell. It contains toxic isoxazoles even in flesh that has no smell and no sharp taste.

Flesh firm, white, does not turn pink when damaged (a critical feature that distinguishes it from the similar blusher). No distinctive taste. The toxins are spread evenly throughout the whole fruiting body.

Smell faint, neutral or slightly sweetish. The very absence of a repulsive smell is part of the fly agaric's “trap”: the mushroom looks attractive and doesn't put you off by its smell.

Smell faint, neutral or slightly unpleasant — subtly radish-like or earthy. It is neither sharp nor repulsive, which makes it harder to sense the danger while foraging.