LEUCOSPORI. 13 



volva which is at length ruptured all round, and the lower part disappears Lepiota. 

 in the bulb of the stem, while the calyptra, which is connate with the piieus, 

 breaks up into scales. Stem not sheathed with the volva, as in the following 

 group, encircled at the apex with a (broad, depressed, Epicr.} cartilaginous 

 collar ; hence the gills are free and remote. Edible. 



** Clypeolarii (A. clypeolarius). Ring proper, fixed, homogeneous with the 

 universal veil which clothes the stem. The extended stem and piieus are from 

 the first distinct ; hence the former is clothed below the ring by the universal 

 veil, and the latter has the cuticle torn into scales or flocci. There is a non- 

 cartilaginous prominent collar encircling the top of the stem ; hence the gills 

 are commonly less remote than in the preceding group. Flesh soft. Odour 

 and taste unpleasant, like those of radishes. 



*** Annulosi. King superior, fixed, somewhat persistent, universal veil 

 adnate to the piieus. Stem from the first extended. Collar wanting or similar 

 in texture to the flesh of the piieus. 



**** Granulosi (A. granulosus). Universal veil sheathing the stem and at 

 first extending continuously from the stem to the piieus, biit ruptured at length 

 and forming an inferior ring. Piieus granulose or warty. Hymenophore less 

 distinct from the stem than in the rest of the Lepiotae. 



***** Mesomorphi (A. mesomorphus}. Smaller, slender, stem fistulose, 

 piieus dry, cuticle entire, neither granulose nor torn as in Clypeolarii. 



B. CUTICLE viscous, CONTINUOUS. 



A. EPIDERMIS DRY. 

 * Proceri. Ring proper, movable, &>c. 



18. A. procerus Scop. Piieus 10-20 cent. (4-8 in.) and more 

 broad, fleshy, at first ovato-acorn-shaped, then campanulate and 

 flattening, with a broad, obtuse, prominent umbo, the continuous 

 cuticle fuscous ; otherwise the cuticle is broken up into broad, 

 thick, becoming plane, at length separating scales, whence the whit- 

 ish surface is variegated-fuscous ; flesh very soft-cottony, tough, 

 white, unchangeable. Stem a span long, 12 mm. (^ in.) thick, 

 perfectly cylindrical with exception of the bulboso-inflated base, 

 firm, somewhat cartilaginous, variegated 'with adpressed fuscous 

 scales, deeply sunk at the apex in the cup of the piieus ; with a 

 definite internal tube, which is at first stuffed with lax spider-web 

 fibrils. Ring quite distinct from the stem, continuous with the 

 cuticle of the piieus when young (and adnexed at the apex of the 

 stem, but there very thin), free when the piieus is expanded, with 

 a tough cartilaginous swollen base, hence movable and persist- 

 ent. Gills not only absolutely free, but far remote from the stem 

 with a broad, piano-depressed, cartilaginous collar, crowded, ventri- 

 cose, broader in front, soft, whitish, sometimes becoming fuscous 

 at the edge. 



The gills vary, whitish, light-yellowish, flesh-coloured, black-margined. 

 Odour pleasant. 



