448 



The Spring Amanita (Poisonous) 

 Amanita z'crna Bull. 



This mushroom is deadly poison. It has probably caused more 

 deaths in this country than any other one species and possibly more 

 than all other poisonous species together. This, together with the 

 pure white color of the plant, has won for it the name "the destroying 

 angel". 



The whole plant is pure white. The cap is smooth, ovate at first 

 and then expanded, and somewhat sticky when moist. It is from 2.5 

 to 10 cm. ( I to 4 inches) broad. The margin is smooth. The gills 

 are free from the stem. The spores are white and very abundant. 



The stem is smooth, often hollow or merely stuffed, and from 5 

 to 20 cm. (2 to 8 inches) long. It is usually bulbous at the base. The 

 ring forms a broad collar high uj) on the stem. Nearly mature speci- 

 mens are often found with the inner veil still stretched from the stem 

 to the margin of the cap, thus completely covering the gills, but 

 eventually it is torn away from the cap and falls loosely about the 

 stem to form the broad collar. The volva is very conspicuous, with 

 a prominent free edge, and hugs the bulbous base of the stem rather 

 closely. 



This very attractive appearing mushroom usually occurs in the 

 woods and sometimes is quite common. It should be very carefully 

 learned and as carefully avoided when collecting mushrooms for the 

 table. It may be found thoughout the season from May to November. 



The active poison in this and closely related species is not well 

 understood and no antidote for it is known. The symptoms of poi- 

 soning when specimens of this mushroom have been eaten are practi- 

 cally always the same. No discomfort is felt until six to fifteen hours 

 have passed, when the patient is suddenly seized with a severe abdom- 

 inal pain, crami)-like in character and accompanied by vomiting. Pe- 

 riods of pain and vomiting alternate with periods of remission, and 

 loss of strength is very rapid. Death usually occurs in four to six 

 days in children and eight to ten davs in adults, but if large quanti- 

 ties of the fungus have been eaten death may occur within forty-eight 

 hours. There is no satisfactorv method of treatment. Medical advice 

 should be obtained as soon as possible and every effort made to rid the 

 alimentary canal of the poisonous material, but the absorption of the 

 poison takes place so rapidly that even when the first symptoms appear 

 it may be too late to save the patient. Stimulants should be employed 

 freely in the hope of tiding the patient over the periods of weakness, 

 and narcotics should be used to relieve the intense pain. Atropin has 

 no effect at all on this poison and should not be depended on. 



Collected in Champaign and Union counties. 



Anianita phnlloidcs, also poisonous, is closelv related to A. I'cnia 

 and is very much like if except that the cap is dark colored. 



