THE FUNGI 407 
body. ‘The pileus expands transversely and the gills keep pace. 
After a while the veil ruptures, leaving a portion attached to the 
stipe. This constitutes the annulus or ring (true annulus). The 
hyphe in the pileus form the Tela contexta. If we make a section 
through a gill, the hyphz are seen to run longitudinally. The 
central part is called the ‘rama; next and outside trama is the 
sub-hymenium; next, hymenium, consisting of basidia (hence a 
basidial layer). Each basidium bears two or four little points 
Fic. 302.—Deadly amanita (Amanita muscaria) showing volva at base of stipe 
and frill-like stipe ring. (After Chestnut, V. K., Bull. 175, U. S. Dept. Agric., pl. 
i, Apr. 29, 1915.) 
known as sterigmata. Each sterigma bears a purplish-brown 
basidiospore. The basidiospores falling to the ground germinate 
into hyphz and these become interlaced to form a mycelium. 
In the wild mushroom the gills are at first white in the button 
stage, later pink; in the cultivated, fawn-colored. Ultimately in 
the wild form the gills turn blackish brown. The spores are 
purplish-brown. The color of the stipe is white; that of the 
upper surface of the pileus varies from satiny white to pallid 
brown. 
Tue AMANITAS (Polsonous FuNGI).—Amanita muscaria and 
Amanita phalloides, commonly known as the “‘fly agaric’? and 
