76 



The Canadian Field-Naturalist 



[Vol. XXXIV. 



lighter in shade, becoming discolored on handling. 

 It ends in an abrupt bulb which generally has a 

 sharp rim standing up around it, forming a sort of 

 cup, called poison cup or volva. This poison cud 

 is usually deeply buried in the soil, so that in order 

 to find it it is necessary to dig the plant up. 



Gills white and remain white, never becoming 

 pink or brown. 



The ring is white, prominent and is high up on the 

 stalk close to the cap. The ring is attached to the 

 stalk, not loose as in the smooth white mushroom or 

 parasol mushroom. 



The poison in the Deadly Agaric is phallin. This 

 poison, unfortunately, has no pronounced taste or 

 odor and gives no warning of its presence. Un- 

 fortunately, also, the symptoms of poisoning do not 

 manifest themselves until 9 to 14 hours after the 

 fungus IS eaten. There is then considerable ab- 

 dominal pain, and there may be cramps in the 

 legs accompanied by convulsions and even lock-jaw 

 and other tetanic spasms. The pulse is weak and 

 abdominal pain is rapidly followed by vomiting and 

 extreme diarrhoea, the intestmal discharges assum- 

 ing the rice-water condition characteristic of chol- 

 era. These later symptoms persist, generally with- 

 out loss of consciousness until death ensues, which 

 happens in from two to four days. 



There is no known antidote for phallin. The un- 

 digested portions of the fungus should be removed 

 from the stomach and intestines by methods similar 

 to those suggested under Fly Agaric. If the poison 

 already absorbed is not tco great, it may wear it- 

 self out and the patient recover. Of course, when 

 symptoms of poisoning appear a physician should 

 be sent for immediately. 



The Destroying Angel (Amanita verna. 

 Bull). Deadly poisonous. 



This fungus is probably the cause of more cases 

 of mushroom poisoning than any other. (Fig. 3). 



The plant is pretty, clean, pure white and attrac- 

 tive. 



It usually occurs in the woods or near them, but 

 may grow in lawns newly made from forest soil. 

 It is generally found in June and July. 



The cap is 1.5 to 4 inches in diameter, at first 

 bell-shaped, later becoming nearly flat; pure white, 

 shining, viscid or slimy when fresh. 



The stalk is 2 to 6 inches long, '/4 to '/i an inch 

 thick, pure white, hollow in age. The stalk ends in 

 an abrupt bulb, with a free border closely surround- 

 ing the base of the stalk and forming the poison cup 

 or volva. This may be seen in even young speci- 

 mens. This poison cup is buried in the soil, so that 

 in order to see it it is usually necessary to dig up the 

 plant. For this reason wild mushrooms growing 

 in the soil should always be dug, not pulled up or 

 broken off. 



The gills are pure white and remain white, never 

 becoming pink or brown. 



The ring is broad and high up on the stalk, just 

 under the cap. It is firmly attached to the stalk 

 and is not Icose, as in the smooth white mushroom. 



Since this is our most poisonous mushroom its 

 main characters should be thoroughly learned and 

 remembered. 



The cap is pure white, shining and slimy when 

 fresh. The stalk is pure white, ending in a dis- 

 tinct poison cup or volva. Gills pure white and re- 

 main white. Ring white, broad, high upon the 

 stalk to which it is firmly attached. 



Fig. 3. Destroying Angel (Amanita verna Bull. J 



Deadly Poisonous. 



From Bulletin 263, Ontario Department of Agricul- 



ture, Ontario Agricultural College. 



The poison in this fungus is the same as that in 

 the Deadly Agaric and the symptoms of poisoning 

 and treatment are the same. 



Scarlet Cap (Russula emeiica, Fr.) Reputed 

 to be mildly poisonous. 



This fungus occurs very commonly in the woods 

 from summer till autumn. It gets its name from the 

 bright scarlet cap. (Fig. 4). It is hot and peppery 

 to the taste and some report it to be mildly poison- 

 ous, while others say that it is edible. 



The cap is 1.5 to 3 inches wide, thin, brittle, 

 deep pink to rich red; furrowed near the edge, 



