J2 



MINNESOTA MUSHROOMS 



VOLVARIA 



Characterized among the pink-spored forms by the presence of a volva and 

 the absence of a veil. It corresponds with A m a n i t o p s i s among the white-spored 

 •agarics. Many of the species grow upon wood, often on living trees, while others 

 ^re found in very rich soil, and especially in greenhouses. The genus is generally 

 suspected, but most of the species tried have proven edible. The name refers to the 

 volva. 



Key to the Species 



Cap soft or silky, not sticky 



a. Cap white 



b. Cap dark, sooty or smoky 

 Cap sticky, at least when moist 



a. Cap very small, 1-2 cm. wide 



I'. parvi/Ia 



b. Cap medium to large. 4-15 cm. wide 

 ( 1 ) Cap very sticky, scarcely um- 



bonate ; large 



J', speciosa 

 Cap sticky Avhen moist, umbon- 



(2) 



ate; medium 



V. nmbonata 



Volvaria bombycina Silky Volvaria 



Cap large. 8-25 cm. wide, all white, 

 and silky, more rarely somewhat scaly. 

 hemispheric or bell-shaped to convex : 

 stem 8-12 cm. by 1-2 cm. white, smooth. 

 tapering upward, solid, volva large and 

 spreading ; gi 1 1 s free, salmon-pink, 

 crowded; spores elliptic. 6-7 X ^M- 

 The name refers to the silky cap. 



On the trunks of standing or fallen 

 trees, from June to October; said to be 

 edible. 



Volvaria volvacea Dark Volvaria 



Cap medium, 5-9 cm. wide, grayish 

 or sooty, darkened with black fibrils, bell- 

 shaped to convex; stem 8-14 cm. by 1 

 cm., white, smooth, solid, volva large. 



V. bombycina 

 V. volvacea 



Figure 30. Volvaria bombvcixa 



