16 



ous species of the Amanita as of any other group, and they should not be 

 eaten until this discriminating knowledge is acquired. 



Saccardo describes fifteen edible species of this group of mushrooms. 

 We have tested three of this number, which, on account of their abun- 

 dance in our locality and their good flavor, we would be loth to discard, 

 viz., A. rubescens, A. Caesarea, and A. strobiliformis. 



A type of the Amanita group, which is named first in the genera of the 

 order Agariciui, is shown in Fig. 1, Plate B. 



By reference to this figure some of the special characteristics of the 

 grouj) can be observed. There are mushrooms in other genera which 

 show a volva or sheath at the base of the stem, and which contain edible 

 species, but in these the stem is ringless. The Volvarise, for instance, 

 show a conspicuous volva, a stem that is ringless, and pinkish spores. 

 The Amanitopsis vaginata carries a volva, but no ring. The spores are 

 white, as in the Amanita. 



In gathering mushrooms either for the table or for the herbarium, care 

 should be taken not to leave any portion of the plant in the ground, so 

 that no feature shall be lost that will aid in characterizing the species. 

 In the careless pulling up of the plant the volva in the volvate species is 

 often left behind. 



AGAEICINI. Fries. 



Ledcospoki (spores white, oe yellowish). 



Genus Mussula Fr. The Mussulm bear some resemblance to the 

 iMCtars, their nearest allies, but are at once distinguished from them by 

 their want of milk. 



They are very abundant in the forests and open w^oods. The genus 

 is cited by some authors as the most natural of the agarics, but, as many 

 of the species very closely resemble each other, it requires careful analysis 

 to determine them. The plants of this genus are not volvate, and have 

 neither veil nor ring. The hymenophore is not separate from the trama 

 of the gills. Although some are pure white, the caps are usually brilliant 

 in coloring, but the color is very susceptible to atmospheric changes, and 

 after heavy rains the bright hues fade, sometimes only leaving a slight 

 trace of the original coloring in the central depression of the cap. 



The cap in youth is somewhat hemispherical, afterwards expanding, 

 becoming slightly depressed in the centre, somewhat brittle in texture ; 

 gills rigid, fragile, with acute edge ; stem thick, blunt, and polished, 

 usually short. The spores are globose, or nearly so, slightly rough, white 

 or yellowish, according to the species. In R. virescens the spores are 

 white, while in R. alutacea the sjDores are an ochraceous yellow in tint. 



A number of the species are of pleasant flavor, others peppery or acrid. 

 Out of seventy-two described by Cooke', twenty-four are recorded as acrid. 

 With some of these the acridity is said to disappear in cooking, and a few 

 mycophagists claim to have eaten all varieties with impunity. We have 

 recorded, however, some well autheiiticated cases of serious gastric dis- 

 turbance, accompanied by acute inflammation of the mucous membrane. 



