458 



The Greex-gili. Mushroom (Poisonous) 

 Lepiota Morgani Peck 



This is one of the largest and handsomest of mushrooms. It oc- 

 curs in pastures and other open grassy places or in gardens and is 

 sometimes cjuite abundant. It may be looked for from June to Octo- 

 ber, and will be found very easy to recognize. It often forms well- 

 marked fairy rings a rod or more in diameter. 



The cap is from lo to 30 cm. (4 to 12 inches) broad, rather soft 

 and fleshy, nearly globose at first, then expanded and sometimes de- 

 pressed in the middle. The predominant color of the cap is white, but 

 it is ccjvered by a brownish cuticle which l)reaks up into scales except 

 at the center. The flesh of both the cap and the stem is white, but 

 when it is cut or bruised it changes to reddish and then to yellowish. 



The gills are close together, quite broad, and entirely free from 

 the stem. They are at first white, but when mature they are green. 

 The spores are green when they are first shed but after exposure to 

 the light for some time they gradually become yellow. 



The stem is firm, cylindrical but more or less bulbous at the base, 

 or sometimes tapering slightly upwards, and smooth. It is whitish 

 but tinged with brown, and is from 15 to 20 cm. (6 to 8 inches) long. 

 The ring is rather large and conspicuous and is usually movable on 

 the stem. There is no volva. 



This plant is not closely related to any other Lepiotas. It merely 

 happened to be placed in this genus because there is no green-spored 

 group and therefore no place for it. It is perhaps unfortunate that 

 it was placed here for it has given a bad reputation to a really very 

 dependable genus. Many people are afraid to eat any Lepiotas be- 

 cause they have heard that Lepiota Morgani is poisonous, but, in 

 truth, there are no common species of Lepiota other than this one that 

 are not perfectly safe, and the only shadow upon the good name of 

 the genus has been cast by this green-spored mushroom which prob- 

 ably ought not to be in this genus at all. 



It is said that some persons can eat Lepiota Morgani with perfect 

 safety, but since it is poisonous to some it should be carefully avoided. 



Collected in Champaign county. 



