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Have you ever wondered which particular mushroom served as the model for the recognizable red power-up gadget in Super Mario Bros. 
It is Amanita muscaria, The Super Mario Mushroom. There are many different variations of this mushroom, but the red-capped variety that gamers are familiar with and appreciate is the most prevalent. They can be discovered in both temperate and boreal regions all around the northern hemisphere if you are looking for one in the wild. If you want to have the highest chance of discovering one, search in deciduous and coniferous forests.

The fact that these mushrooms are dangerous should not be overlooked, though. Although they seldom result in mortality, they have been known to cause sleepiness, nausea, and vomiting. Additionally, they generate ibotenic acid, a hallucinogen, naturally. This raises the question of whether Mario was genuinely rescuing a princess from a huge, man-eating turtle or if he was simply dreaming it.

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