1902] Webster, — Remarks on Volvaria 5 



blackish brown above, rupturing quite regularly along a middle zone 

 the upper half adhering to pileus, but breaking up into two or three 

 large pieces as the cap expands, and soon falling off. The lower 

 part of the volva remains large and loose, with a very free margin, 

 though somewhat appressed. Volva white within. 



The growth of these fungi was much affected by weather. After 

 a rain they would develop from the button stage to maturity in about 

 two days. Dry, hot weather with bright sunshine seemed to retard 

 the rapidity and luxuriance of growth, specimens then also being 

 smaller. The bed on which they grew was quite warm slightly 

 below the surface, showing that rapid decay of the mass was taking 

 place. 



The spores were smooth, oval, somewhat pointed at one end, and 

 about 8 to 9 x 5 to 6 p, (6 to 8 x 3^ to 4, Massee) . When collected 

 in a mass on paper they were of a rusty salmon color. 



At this writing, Aug. 18th, the bed is still bearing. 

 Lawrence, Mass. 



REMARKS ON VOLVARIA. 



Mollis Webster. 



Mr. Silsbee's observations on Volvaria volvacea furnish a peg on 

 which to hang a few notes about the genus, which may be acceptable 

 to readers who have gone no farther in the study of toadstools than 

 to safeguard themselves by learning the characteristics of the poison- 

 ous Amanitas. For a Volvaria is much like an Amanita, and would 

 surely be classed as one by a tyro in whose mind the image of the 

 wrapper or volva has temporarily obscured such things as veils and 

 rings, or the color of spores. Indeed the volva is more conspicuous 

 in Volvaria, as a rule, than in any Amanita except A. racsarca, in 

 which, as in the larger Volvarias, it consists of a large, fleshy bag that 

 can not possibly escape notice. From the prominence of this wrap- 

 per the genus takes its appropriate name. Unlike Amanita, Volvaria 

 has no partial veil, and hence no ring on the stem. In this, Vol- 

 varia is like Amanitopsis. But whereas both the ringed Amanita and 

 the ringless Amanitopsis produce white spores, Volvaria spores are 

 pink or flesh-colored. The same tint is usually to be seen in the gills, 



