HYPORHODII. 



183 



from the epidermis of the pileus (constituting a volva). Hymen- VolvaHa. 

 ophore distinct from the stem. The Volvarise are as it were 

 Amanitse with rosy spores, but they 

 are more nearly related to the Plutei 

 and the Psalliotae. Gills rounded be- 

 hind and free, ventricose. Fr. Hym. 

 Eur. p. 182. 



Volvaria corresponds with Ama- 

 nita, The species appear early in the 

 year. They grow chiefly on rotten 

 wood or in rich mould or manured 

 ground; hence they are more frequent 

 in gardens, hothouses, &c., than in 

 woods. Some are said to be edible, 

 but they soon acquire a disagreeable 

 taste from the rapidity with which 

 they decay. 



* Pileus dry, silky or fibrillose. 



** Pileus more or less viscous and smooth. 



XII. Agaric7is {Volvaria) vol- 

 vaceus. One-fifth natural size. 



* Pileus dry, silky or fibrillose. 



400. A. bombycinus Schaeff. — Pileus 7.5-20 cent. (3-8 in.) 

 broad, wholly white, fleshy, soft, at first globose, soon campan- 

 ulate, at length convex, somewhat umbonate, everywhere silky- 

 ox^ when older, sq2ia7?2tiloso-villous, more rarely becoming smooth 

 at the vertex ; flesh not thick, white. Stem 7.5-15 cent. (3-6 in.) 

 long, 12 mm. {}4. in.) thick or more at the base, solid, equally 

 attenuated from the base to the apex, even, smooth, white. Vol- 

 va soon torn asunder, ample, 5-7.5 cent. (2-3 in.) broad, mem- 

 branaceous, lax, laciniate, somewhat viscid, persistent. Gills free, 

 very crowded when young, almost cohering, ventricose, in groups 

 of 2-4, then toothed, flesh-coloured. 



Ovate when young. According to some becoming fuscous. The stem is 

 curved-ascending on vertical trunks and straight on prostrate ones. Com- 

 monly solitary, sometimes however caespitose. 



On decayed wood, stumps, &c. Rare. Aug.-Sept. 



Spores elliptic. Considered edible. Name — bombyx, silk. Silky. Schceff. t. 

 98. Fr. Monogr. \. p. 259. Hym. Eur. p. 182. Berk. Out. p. 139. t. 7./. 

 I. C. Hbk. n. 231. Illust. PL 293. Krombh. t. 23./. 15-21. Brig. t. 34. 

 /. 1-6. Barla t. 25./. 1-5. Mich. N. gen. t. 76./. 2. 



401. A. volvaceus Bull.— Pileus j-S cent. (3 in.) broad, rarely 

 more, cinereous, black-streaked with adpressed fibrils, cam pan - 

 ulate then expanded, obtuse. Stem 7.5-12.5 cent. (3-5 in.) long, 



