hollow. The collar is flabby, and often lacerated and imperfect. 

 The wrapper is very friable, and its remains at the base of the 

 stem are so evanescent that frequently no traces of it are seen. 

 Were there no warts on the cap, such specimens would scarcely 

 be thought to belong to the genus Amanita. 



The cap is commonly three to five inches broad, and the stem 

 three to six inches long. This mushroom grows either in woods 

 or in open, grassy places, and occurs here from July to Septem- 

 ber. It has been regarded by some of the old \vriters as poison- 

 ous, suspected, or of doubtful quality, but more recent authors 

 agree in classing it among the edible species. Cordier says it is 

 one of the most delicate mushrooms: Cooke savs it is a verv com- 

 mon, safe and useful species, and Stevenson pronounces it de- 

 licious and perfectly wholesome and valuable on account of its 

 abundance. 



In this country it is much more common than the Orange 

 mushroom. 



If attention is given to its sordid colors, its reddish stains, and 

 the almost total absence of remains of the wrapper at the base of 

 the stem, there need be no fear of confusing it with any poison- 

 ous species. 



The Fir cone amanita, Amanita sirohiUformis, sometimes 

 called the "Warted mushroom," is a very large, heavy species, 

 whose cap is adorned with firm, persistent warts. It is some- 

 times found in the more southern States, and is considered an 

 excellent esculent species; but not having any acquaintance with 

 its edible qualities, it is dismissed from further consideration 

 here. 



The genus Amanitopsis differs from Amanita, to which it was 

 formerly joined, chiefly in the absence of the collar from the 

 stem. We have a single edible species which is so variable in 

 color that its different forms have received several different 

 names. It is the Sheathed amanitopsis or Sheathed mushroom, 

 Amanitopsis vaginatus. 



The cap is rather thin and fragile, convex or nearly flat when 

 mature, perfectly smooth, or rarely with one or two patches of 

 the ru])tured ^vrapper still adhering to it, and distinctly marked 

 on the margin with deep striations, as in the Orange mushroom. 

 Its gills are narrowed toward the stem, but not attached to it. 

 They are white or wliitish, generally a little luore dingy in the 

 dark-colored variety. The stem also is white or dingy white, 

 and commonly sprinkled with minute mealy or branny particles 

 or flocculent scales, especially in the young, vigorous plant. It 



44 



