14 



however, that the members of a family in that vicinity were made quite 

 ill from eating the Lepiota Morgani, a greeuish-spored species of Lepiota, 

 while he himself ate of the same dish, experiencing no unpleasant effects. 

 I have had no personal experience with this species. 



Two edible species of Lepiota, which are widely commended as of good 

 quality, and which are sufficiently abundant to have value as esculents, 

 are figured in Plate XI. A third, Ag. (Lepiota) cepaBstipes, var. creta- 

 ceus — Lepiota cretacea, figured in Plate XI^, is an exotic s|)ecies found 

 in greenhouses. It is of very delicate flavor. 



Plate XI. 

 Figs. 1 to 4. — Ag. (Lepiota) procerus Scop. (Lepiota procera). ^'Parasol Mushroom. ''' 



Edible. 



Cap at first ovate, then exjDanded, showing distinct umbo, cuticle thick, 

 torn into evanescent scales ; gills remote from the stem, free, white, or 

 yellowish-white : stem long, slender, variegated with brownish scales, 

 hollow or slightly stuffed, bulbous at the base, and beai'ing a well-defined 

 thickish ring, which in the mature plant is movable. Spores white, ellip- 

 ticah The color of the cap varies from a light tan or ochraceous yellow 

 to a dark reddish-brown. The surface showing beneath the lacerated 

 cuticle is of a lighter hue than the cuticle, and is silky and fibrillose, 

 giving the cap a somewhat shaded or spotted appearance. The flesh is 

 dry, soft and thready, white. Taste and odor pleasant. 



Cap from 3 to 5 inches broad ; stem from 5 to 10 inches high. 



This species is commonly found in pastures and in open grassy places; 

 sometimes in open woods near cultivated fields, usually solitary or in 

 very small clusters. It is a favorite among mycophagists. Lepiota 

 racodes closely resembles Lepiota procera, and by some botanists the 

 two are regarded as forms of the same species. In L. racodes the pileus 

 is at first globose, expanded, and finally depressed in the centre : the 

 cuticle is thin and broken into persistent scales ; the whole plant smaller 

 than L. procera. Flesh slightly reddish when bruised. Edible. There 

 is also a white variety (pueilaris) with a floccose squamose cap. 



Plate XI. 



Figs. 5 to 9. — Ag. (Lepiota) naucinus Fries (Lepiota naucinoides Peck). 



^'Smooth White Lepiota.'' 



Edible. 



Cap at first sub-globose, then curved, the surface smooth and satiny 

 when dry, creamy white ; gills close and slightly rounded at the inner 

 extremity towards the stem, free from the stem, white ; stem white, 

 smooth, hollow, and bulbous at the base ; ring thick, distinct, movable, 



