602 THE AGARICACEAE OF MICHIGAN 



641. Amanita verna Fr. (Deadly Poisonous) 



Epicrisis, 1836-3S. 



Illustrations: Cooke, 111., Plate 3 (bulb imitates that of A. 



mappa). 

 Gillet, Champignons de France, (as A. bullosa var. alia). 

 Bresadola, Fungh. mang. e. vel., PI. 4. 

 Atkinson. Mushrooms, Fig. 59 and GO; also Fig. 55 (as A. 



phalloides var. alba), 1900. 

 Marshall, Mushroom Book, p. 48 (probably A. verna, given 



as A. phalloides) , 1905. 

 Murrill, Mycologia, Vol. 5, PL 87, Fig. 1. i As A. phalloides.) 

 Hard, Mushrooms, Fig. 1(3, p. 27, 190S. 

 Plate CXVI of this Report. 



PILETJS 5-12 cm. broad, elongated ovate then convex to subcam- 

 panulate, finally expanded, pure white, viscid when moist, glabrous r 

 without patches from the veil, even on margin. GILLS free or ad- 

 nexed by a line, not broad, subventricose, crowded, white, edge 

 floccose or pulverulent. STEM pure white, 8-20 cm. long, rather 

 stout, 8-15 mm. thick, cylindrical above bulb, or tapering upward, 

 stuffed, then somewhat hollow, glabrous or floceose-scaly, bulb oval 

 or orbicular, not as wide as in A. mappa, sunk in the (/round. AN- 

 NULUS ample, superior, pendant, white, membranous, not disap- 

 pearing normally. VOLVA firm, thick below, thinning out toward 

 lobed margin, derived from the entire universal veil, which de- 

 hisces at its apex, membranous, white, forming a genuine cup the 

 ample free margin of which is at first rigid then appressed to stem. 

 SPORES spherical-ovate, the ovate-pointed end terminating in a 

 rather stout apiculus, granular within, white, 9-12 (with apiculus) 

 x 8-9 micr., immature spores smaller. BASIDIA 4-spored. ODOR 

 nauseous or slightly so. 



Solitary or scattered gregarious. In conifer, mixed or frondose 

 woods or thickets, rarely on lawns, often in clearings. Very com- 

 mon throughout (lie State July-October (latest record October 

 11.) 



This beautiful, pure white, stately and deadly poisonous Amanita 

 is called Hie "destroying angel." In the egg-stage it is easily con- 

 fuse^ by Hie inexperienced with Agaricus campestris. The hidden 

 volva must be looked for in every white mushroom gathered for the 

 table so as to avoid it. A. verna lias spores like A. phalloides; and 



