EDIBLE MUSHROOMS. 29 



RUDDY WARTY CAPS. 



Agaricus (Amanita) rubescens. 



(Plate I. Fig. 1.) 



This excellent esculent is one of the 

 commonest, under trees, from early summer 

 to late autumn. The cap is of a peculiar 

 reddish-grey colour, sprinkled with numerous 

 paler warts. The substance is firm and 

 robust, at first whitish, then tinged with 

 red, especially where touched or bruised, 

 and at the basis of the stem, where an 

 obscure scaly circle represents the margin 

 of the adnate volva. The stem is thick, 

 tapering upwards, having near the apex a 

 large white pendulous collar, or ring. The 

 gills are broad, reaching nearly to the stem, 

 but not attached to it, white at first, but 

 turning reddish when bruised. The tone of 

 red is that of brick-red, and not scarlet or 

 crimson. Sometimes it will stand about 

 five inches high, with an expanded cap of 

 three or four inches. The flesh is very 



