My magical toadstool is the Matter Grey Toadstool. Though somewhat rare in the wild, there is a small stand of them on a mossy, fern-covered slope in the woods at my grandmother's old homestead. The fungus thrives in a rich loam and requires cool shade, filtered sunlight, and heavy dew. My grandmother and mother found a suitable environment in the woods on our country estate and have developed a domesticated Matter Grey mushroom.
My family's fascination with the toadstool began with a family heirloom, a potions book written out by my great-grandmother, Anner, started by her own grandmother, we believe. It had lovely botanical drawings, properties, and potential uses, including some potions.
The stem and cap of the Matter Grey Toadstool have very different properties. Both parts (along with all fibrous matter, roots, and juice) may be used in mixing potions, to very different effects. It affects the brain, the blood, and to some extent, the central nervous system. Effects can be positive or negative, so great care must be taken in potion mixing.
Re the Leaping Toadstool: Baruffio had the right idea, but obviously, his original concoction was too strong. His elixir can be improved by using a bit less Leaping Toadstool and adding a good portion of Matter Grey. We have found the perfect mix. Our ultimate goal is to help people like the Longbottoms, who are lost in madness.
The Leaping Toadstool has bounce and innate energy, but it needs clarification and dilution. Our "Matter-Grey Clarifying Potion" acts as an antidote or diluting agent for it. Together, the two toadstools also make a great love potion. Other uses: by mixing equal portions of Matter Grey and Leaping Toadstool juice, we make tasty energy drinks and extra-body shampoos, as well as a unique charmed energy dip for broomsticks, tennis shoes, quaffles, and rubber ducks.
I have included my mother's Polaroud picture of this toadstool.*
*Mushroom and tiny toad image borrowed from Okamiarisu on Reddit; altered using a 1970s-vintage color filter and adding the clipped image of a 3D-model human brain from cgtrader.
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