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Lewis Carroll didn't specify what type of mushroom the Caterpillar is sitting on so we have to put on our detective hats and work it out for ourselves.
Carroll describes the mushroom as being large, and about the same height as Alice (she is three inches tall at this point). He also says that it is perfectly round, and that Alice has to "stretch her arms round it as far as they would go" in order to reach both sides.
From this, we might surmise that it is three inches tall and its circumference is about six inches, which suggests a veryapproximate diameter of two inches.
We know that the Caterpillar is sitting on it, so it seems reasonable to assume that it has a flat top and we know that Alice finds it growing from the ground in a grassy area in a wood, in England, in early May.
Tenniel's illustration of the mushroom greatly resembles the original picture Carroll drew in his hand-written manuscript, Alice's Adventures Under Ground, the precursor to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, except that Carroll's depiction shows it as slightly more domed than Tenniel's. In the coloured versions of his pictures, Tenniel shows the mushroom as being typically 'mushroom' coloured. It is not unreasonable to accept the illustrations of the mushroom as evidence as to what type of mushroom it might be, as Carroll closely oversaw Tenniel while he was drawing the pictures for Alice, and gave him very specific instructions as to what he wanted.
To see the illustrations of the mushroom, follow the related links below.
Using the Rogers Mushrooms website (see related link) as an identification guide, several candidates occur as to which mushroom is featured in Carroll's book; Entoloma saundersii, Melanoleuca cognata, Russula nauseosa, Entoloma clypeatum, and Stropharia aeruginosa. Follow the related links to see more details of these mushrooms.
Martin Gardner's Annotated Alice suggests that it might be Amanita fulva.
Many readers have referred me to old books, which Carroll could have read, that describe the hallucinogenic properties of certain mushrooms. Amanita muscaria (or fly agaric) is most often cited. Eating it produces hallucinations in which time and space are distorted. However, as Robert Hornback makes clear in his delightful "Garden Tour of Wonderland," in Pacific Horticulture (Pall1983), this cannot be the mushroom drawn by Tenniel:
Amanita muscaria has bright red caps that appear to be splattered with bits of cottage cheese. The Caterpillar's perch is, instead, a smooth-capped species, very like Amanita fulva, which is nontoxic and rather tasty. We might surmise that neither Tenniel nor Carroll wanted childrento emulate Alice and end up eating poisonous mushrooms.
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Is it easy to tell a edible mushroom from a poisonous mushroom?
Flippant answer: Yes, eat some and find out. Correct answer: No, it can be very difficult. Never eat a mushroom if you are unsure of its identity. In fact, don't eat things you have not identified without the help of an experienced mushroom collector.
What is Edible Mushroom?
An edible mushroom is ant type of mushroom that you can eat without fear of toxic side effects.
Can you eat down part of mushroom?
No, if you have you should see a doctor immediately this could be life threatening.
What are mushroom muncher?
"Mushroom muncher" is a term used informally to describe someone who enjoys eating mushrooms either as a snack or as a regular part of their diet. It is often used in a lighthearted or playful way.
How many species of mushroom are found in the mushroom burger?
There are 4 species of mushroom in Mushroom Burger.
What kind of mushroom is the caterpillar sitting on in alice in wonderland?
There's no mention of the mushroom's name in the book's original text.
Does Alice eat mushrooms in Alice in Wonderland?
Yes, Alice eats a mushroom in "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland". She consumes pieces of a mushroom to change her size. The mushroom causes her to grow extremely tall and then shrink down to a very small size.
Why did Alice in Wonderland eat the mushroom pieces?
Alice eats the mushroom pieces because she wants to gain control of her height and the Caterpillar has advised her that eating the mushroom will enable her to do so.`What size do you want to be?' it asked.`Oh, I'm not particular as to size,' Alice hastily replied; `only one doesn't like changing so often, you know.'`One side will make you grow taller, and the other side will make you grow shorter.'`One side of WHAT? The other side of WHAT?' thought Alice to herself.`Of the mushroom,' said the Caterpillar, just as if she had asked it aloud; and in another moment it was out of sight.
What room can you eat?
A mushroom.
What does Alice eat and drink in the Alice and wonderland movie?
She drinks a potion that makes her small and eats cake to make her bigger and the mushrooms(two different ones) can make her do either.
What kind of water turtle can you eat?
you acctualy cant eat box turtles they eat mushrooms ther mushroom toxins get into their meat and that can poison you. i would just eat a common snapper
What is mushroom identification?
Identify means to ascertain the kind of mushroom . If you are looking for mushrooms to eat , it is necessary that you be expert in such identification because some are deadly poison and some edible mushroom look very much like some poisonous varieties.
Does a moose eat a mushroom?
Yes, Moose tend to eat from foods off the ground so if they see a mushroom they are tempted to eat it.
What kind of room has no windows or door?
mushroom
Is it easy to tell a edible mushroom from a poisonous mushroom?
Flippant answer: Yes, eat some and find out. Correct answer: No, it can be very difficult. Never eat a mushroom if you are unsure of its identity. In fact, don't eat things you have not identified without the help of an experienced mushroom collector.
What is Edible Mushroom?
An edible mushroom is ant type of mushroom that you can eat without fear of toxic side effects.
How is fungus harmful?
no it is not you eat it it is a mushroom
