White-spored Series 



whether they grow down on the stem; and whether the stem is 

 hollow, solid, or filled with web-like mycelium, and whether it is 

 fleshy or has a tough and hard rind. The lamellae may be of 

 different or of equal lengths, and their edges may be entire or 

 toothed or thin or blunt. 



To know a genus of the gill-bearing fungi, one must know 

 the cap, gills, stem, and habit of growth which characterise that 

 genus. 



A very young plant of the genus Amanita is enveloped in a 

 membranous wrapper. The relation of the young plant to the 

 wrapper will readily be understood by cutting 

 a young plant through its length. 



As the plant grows, the wrapper is ruptured, 



a part is left at the base 

 to form a cup or sheath, 

 or a part may be carried 

 •Veil up on the cap, to ap- 

 pear in small patches. 



The cap is, as a 



rule, regular and 



broadly convex. It may be almost 



flat when mature. The stem has a 



conspicuous collar and the gills are 



free from the stem. 



There are twenty American species in the genus Amanita ; 



some of them are the most poisonous patches. 



fungi known, while others are most 



highly esteemed for the table. Since Free giiis^ 



Wrapper 



Young plant in 

 wrapper 



Section of young plant in 

 wrapper 



Stem 



the most dan- 

 cap gerous species 

 belong to this 

 genus, it would 

 be better for the 

 ...Voiva amateur not to 

 eat of specimens 



Ring 



.Wrapper 

 remains 



A. muscaria (See Plate III.) 



Wrapper ruptured 



which havestalks 



with a swollen base surrounded by a cup- 

 like or scaly envelope, especially if the gills are white. In gath- 

 ering all white-gilled species, care should be taken to get 



X-mSn'-Y-ta 

 47 



