Guide to the Mushrooms 103 



VOLVARIA Speci0Sa(Fr.) speciosus, liandsomc. 



Cap. — 3 to 5 inches brond, globular, at lengthy 

 flat, soinewliat gibbous, suiootli, viscid when young, 

 later dry and silky, slightly tinged with gray in 

 center, all other parts white; margin ])ressed to 

 stem when young, striate when cap ex])ands, uneven 

 and thin. 



Flesh. — Rather thick, firm, tender, white. 



Gills. — P'ree, pressed together closely at first 

 later expanding but crowded, forked, rather broad, 

 rounded at margin; white at first then ])ink. 



Spores. — Brownish-pink. elli))tical. smooth. 



Stem. — 1 to 1 inches long, u]) to 1-2 inch thick, 

 solid, smooth, moist at first, later dr^^ and silky, 

 colored like cap. 



Ring. — None, 



Tolva. — Free, persistent, hanging in rather 

 thick folds about the base of stem, white. 



Odor.— Mild.. 



Taste.— Mild. 



Habitat. — Rich garden soil, in clusters and sing- 

 ly, spring months, rather rare in all sections of th>e 

 United States except on the Pacific slope. 



Edible. 



