m STUDIES OF AMERICAN FUNGI. 



and the young cap. As the stem elongates and the pileus enlarges 

 and expands, the volva is torn into areolate patches. The lower 

 patches, those adjoining the margin of the cap and the upper part of 

 the bulb, are separated in a more or less concentric manner. One or 

 more of them lie on the upper part of the bulb, forming the " limb " 

 of the " ocreate " volva. Others lie around the margin of the pileus. 

 Sometimes an annular one bordering the pileus and bulb is left cling- 

 ing part way up on the stem, as shown in Fig. 66. The concentric 

 arrangement on the pileus is sometimes shown for a considerable 

 time, as in Fig. 67, the elongated areas being present in greater num- 

 ber at this age of the pileus. However, as the pileus expands more, 

 these are separated into smaller areas and their connection with the 

 surface of the pileus becomes less firm. 



The formation of the veil and annulus can be easily followed in 

 these figures. The margin of the cap in the button stage is firmly 

 connected with the outer layer of the stem at its lower end. This 

 probably occurs by the intermingling growth of the threads from the 

 lower end of the stem and the margin of the cap, while the edges of 

 the gills are quite free from the stem. Now as the stem elongates 

 and the cap expands the veil is " ripped " up from the outer part of 

 the stem. This is very clearly shown in Fig. 66, especially where 

 two strips on the stem have become disconnected from the margin 

 of the cap and are therefore left in position on the outside of the stem. 



This species is related to v^. exceha Fr., which is said to have a 

 superior ring. 



Amanita cotburnata Atkinson. Probably Poisonous. — The booted 

 amanita, Amanita cothurnata, 1 have found in two different years in 

 the Blue Ridge mountains at Blowing Rock, N. C, once in 1888, 

 during the first week of September, and again during the three first 

 weeks in September, 1899. It occurs sparingly during the first week 

 or so of September, and during the middle of the month is very 

 abundant. The species seems to be clearly distinct from other 

 species of Amanita, and there are certain characters so persistent as 

 to make it easily recognizable. It ranges in height from 7-12 cm. 

 and the caps are 3-7 cm. or more broad, while the stems are 4-10 

 mm. in thickness. The entire plant is usually white, but in some 

 specimens the cap has a tinge of citron yellow, or in others tawny 

 olive, in the center. 



The pileus is fleshy, and passes, in its development, from nearly 

 globose to hemispherical, convex, expanded, and when specimens 

 are very old sometimes the margin is elevated. It is usually white, 

 though specimens are found with a tinge of citron yellow in the 



