GILL FUNGI 7 



only the young plants ran then be told with certainty from L e p i o t a. Amanita 

 contains practically all \\)l- (U'adly ptiisonous species of the gill fungi. Although 

 several species are cdiL)lc, in particular, Ctesar's mushroom, the danger of mistaking 

 a poisonous Amanita for an edible one is so great that everyone should take the 

 greatest pains to avoid eating any A m a n i t a whatsoever, and especially mistaking 

 it in the young button stage for a puffball, or in old age for a L e p i o t a. 

 The ancient name for some mushroom. 



Figure 1. Amanita phalloides 

 Deadly! 



Key to the Species 



1. Cap typically wliite, rarely yellowish to olive or brown- 



ish; volva with more or less of a free border A. phalloides 



2. Cap W'hite or buff -brown; volva merely of scales A. solitaria 



3. Cap usually bright orange, red or yclloAv ; volva sack- 



like or merely of scales 

 a. Volva large and sack-like, white ; all other parts 



yellow or orange A. caesarea 



