The Mycologic Flora of the 3Iiami Valley, 0. hi 



from the epidermis of tlie pileus. Hymenophore discrete from the 

 stipe. All terrestrial. 



A. Aanulus present. 



a. Volva entire, 1, 2. 



b. Volva circumscissile, 3, 4. 



c. Volva broken up, 5. 



B. Annulus absent, 6, 7. 



A. Annulus manifest, superior. 



a. Volva dehiscing at the apex; the limb free, persistent. 



1, A. c^SAREUs, Scop. — Pileus hemispheric, expanded, somewhat 

 orange-color ; the margin striate ; the flesh yellowish. Stipe somewhat 

 ventricose, flocculose, stuffed with cottony fibres ; the volva and annu- 

 lus lax. Lamellae free, luteous. 



In woods. This magnificent Agaric appears to be rare in the Miami 

 Valley ; it is not in Lea's Catalogue ; I have met with it as yetonl}'' at 

 the ''Pinnacles" near Dayton. My figures vary in size, with the pileus 

 4-6 in. in diameter, and the stipe 5-8 in. in height. The thick volva is 

 about the size of a hen's egg, and of like shape and color ; it is burst 

 at the apex by the growth of the pileus and remains entire about the 

 base of the stipe. The pileus is said to vary in color, being found yellow, 

 red and copper-color. This is the most showy of Agarics and well de- 

 serves the appellation "Fungorum Princeps" [Kaiserling, vulgodictus). 

 It has been celebrated as an article of diet from the most ancient times? 

 "Cibus Deorum," Clus. It was known to the ancient Romans under the 

 name "Boletus," and is said to have had the honor, under Agrippina's 

 orders, and Locusta's cookery, of poisoning the emperor Claudius ; in 

 memory of which event, it is now called Agaricus ccesareus, Caesar's 

 Agaric. It is the only ancient mushroom which we at once recognize by 

 the description of it. Pliny saj's " it originates in a volva or purse, in 

 which it lies at first concealed as in an egg ; breaking through this, it 

 rises upwards on its stalk ; the color of the cap is red ; it takes a week 

 to pass through the various stages of its growth and declension." 



2. A. VERNUS, Fr. — White. Pileus ovate then expanded, somewhat 

 depressed, viscid; the margin orbicular, even. Stipe stuffed, then hol- 

 low, equal, floccose ; the limb of the volva free and closely sheathing 

 the stipe ; annulus reflexed, tumid. Lamellae free. 



The spring Agaric is found in moist woods in spring and early 

 summer ; it is quite common, Pileus 2-.3 in. in diameter, the stipe 4-6 



