Guide to the Mushrooms 59 



frost. Very coiiunoii in central sections of United 

 States in earlv fall. 



Edible. — Great care must be taken not to con- 

 fuse this mushroom with A. phalloides. In the Lep- 

 iota the bulb and stem are continuous, rino; smaller, 

 ii'ills turn brownish with age. In the Amanita the 

 junction of the bulb and stem is abrupt, bulb more 

 or less enclosed in a volva, ring larger, gills always 

 white. The Amanita is very rarely found in pas- 

 tures or grassy spots, the Lepiota is rarely found in 

 woods. 



ARMILLARIA mellea (Vahl.) from melleus, 

 color of honey. "Honey jNlushroom." 



Cap. — 1 to 4 inches, broad, convex, dry, varying 

 from smooth to tufted with blackish scales or hairs, 

 varying in color from light yellow to a reddish 

 brown; margin at first slightly curevd under, some- 

 times striate and split along the edges. One of 

 the most variable mushrooms, yet when once deter- 

 mined, easy of recognition. 



Flesh. — Rather tough, thin, whitish. 



Gills. — Extending down the stem (decurrent), 

 rather crowded, thin, creamy white, streaked with 

 brown when mature. 



Spores. — Elliptical, white. 



Stem. — 1 to 4 inches long, up to 3-4 inch thick^ 



