BKPOBT OF THE BTATE BOTANIST. 159 



the presence of the dull-red hues and stains it may be distin- 

 guished from any of our poisonous species. 



Some writers have referred to this species as of doubtful qual- 

 ity, suspected character or as poisonous, but later authors agree 

 in classing it with the edible species. According to Cordier it is 

 largely used in the eastern part of France, and is one of the most 

 delicate mushrooms. Gillet agrees with him in this opinion. 

 Cooke says it is pleasant both in taste and smell, and is a very 

 common, safe and useful species. Stevenson records it as delicious 

 and perfectly wholesome. 



Amanitopsis Jioze. 



The principal feature wherein the genus Amanitopsis dififers 

 from Amanita is in the absence of a collar from the stem. Its 

 species were formerly included in Amanita. We have one edible 

 species. 



Amanitopsis vaginata Roze. 



Sheathed Amanitopsis. 



Plate 17. 



Pileus rather thin, fragile, glabrous or adorned when young 

 with one or more adhering fragments of the volva, deeply and 

 distinctly striated on the margin ; lamellie free, white or whitish ; 

 stem destitute of an annulus, sheathed at the base by the torn 

 remains of the rather long, thin, flabby volva; spores globose, 

 white, .0003 to .0004 in. broad. 



The Sheathed amanitopsis is distinguished from any species of 

 Amanita by the absence of a collar from the stem. 



In this plant the cap is quite smooth except in rare instances in 

 which one or two fragments of the ruptured wrapper adhere to 

 it for a time. The striations on the margin are deep and distinct, 

 as in the Orange amanita. The cap is quite regular, but it is 

 fragile and easily broken. In some instances a slight blunt pi-o- 

 tuberance or umbo develops at its center. It varies considerably 

 in color, and several varieties depending on this variation have 

 been described. 



The flesh is white, but in the darker-colored forms it is grayish 

 under the separable epidermis. 



