is either hollow or stuft'ed with a eottouy pith. It is not bulljous, 

 but its base is sheathed with a soft, liabby memljrane, the re- 

 mains of the wrapper. This is such a marked feature that it has 

 given name to the plant. Iliif this sheaili adlMi-cs very slightly 

 to the base of tJie stem, and if the ])lant is carelessly pulled up, 

 it is left in the grotnui. The cap is 2 to 4 inches broad, and 

 sometimes has a small jnoiuinence or umbo in its centre. The 

 stem is J? to o inches lou"- and 1-3 to 1-2 an inch thick. 



Tlic plant grows singly or scattered either in woods or in open 

 places. A favorite place of growth is in the deep vegetable 

 mold or humus of dense damp evergreen woods of hilly and 

 mountainous districts. It sometimes grows on much decayed 

 wood. It occurs from June to October. 



]ii I lie white A'ariety, var. alba, the whole plant is white. This 

 is A. nivalis Grev., and A. fungites, Batsch. 



In the Livid variety, var. livida, the cap is of a livid or leaden- 

 hrown color, and the gills and stem have a slightly dingy or 

 smoky tint. This is .1. livida and A. spadicea Pers. 



In the Tawny variety, var. fidva, the cap is tawny-yellow or 

 pale-ochraceous. This is A. fulva Schaeif. 



The Sheathed mushroom is at once distinguished from the 

 known jioisonous species of amanitas by the absence of a collar 

 and of a bulbous base from its stem. 



Some of the older authors classed it among the doubtful or 

 suspected species, but it is now regarded as not only harndess 

 but edible. Stevenson says it is edible and of excellent flavor. 

 Cordier says of it, "A delicate food;" Plancheon, "Truly deli- 

 cate;'' T)e Candolle, "^lost delicious." Cooke gives preference 

 to the white forms, but says the mouse-colored forms are most 

 common. In our country also the white forms are scarce. My 

 own experience indicates that it is a fairly good mushroom, but 

 there are mauv others that I like better. 



45 



