THE AMANITA FAMILY 



Tlic picture on llic opposite page shows you four mush- 

 rooms of the Am-a-ni'ta family. These, Hke the poi- 

 sonous berries, should be let alone. Though they are 

 among the most beautiful of fungi, most of them con- 

 tain a deadly poison. 



Notice the tall, light-colored one. This is sometimes 

 called the Death Cup or The Destroying Angel. It 



contains the same 

 poison as that 

 of the rattlesnake 

 and other venom- 

 ous animals. 



This plant is 

 found from Jime 

 to O c t o b e r . It 

 looks so much like 

 some of the mush- 

 rooms that are 

 good for food, that 

 it is often picked 

 and eaten by mistake. Look at the base of the stem of 

 a mushroom before picking it. If it belongs to the 

 Amanita famil}^, there A\ill be a cup or socket either 

 just above the soil or hidden luider the ground. This 

 is known as the poison cup, and all fungi having 

 it should be avoided. 



It is not safe even to handle these mushrooms. Mr. 

 Palmer, who was well acquainted with all kinds of fungi, 



80 



Yovini^ Plants of the Amanita Family. 



