EEPOET OF THE STATE BOTANIST 213 



less scaly iv:>m the fragments of the ruptured volva ; spores 

 broadly elliptical, white, .0(i03 to .OOOi inch long. 



The Fly amanita is our most common poisonous species. It is 

 also very variable in size and in the color of its cap. It is gen- 

 erally a most showy and attractive plant. The cap is adorned 

 with numerous white or yellowish warts, the remains of the 

 upper part of the wrapper. It is more or less striated on its 

 margin, but individuals sometimes occur in which the striations 

 are very inconspicuous or even wholly wanting. The color is 

 bright-red, scarlet or orange in the young plant, but this nearly 

 always fades to yellow on the margin in the mature plant. 

 In one variety the cap is wholly yellow, and in another it is 

 white. The fading process often goes on until the orange and 

 yellow hues are replaced by whitish ones. The warts of the cap 

 are sometimes washed off by heavy rains, so that it is possible to 

 find specimens of this species without warts. The llesh is white, 

 but except in white forms it is yellowish just under the epider- 

 mis. The gills are white, or in some cases slightl}^ tinged with 

 yellow. The same remark applies to the stem. This is furnished 

 with a collar and terminates in a bulb at the base. This bulb 

 is not broad and abrupt above as in the Poison amanita, but is 

 gradually narrowed into the stem so that it has a somewhat 

 ovate form. It, as well as the base of the stem, is more or less 

 scaly from the adhering fragments of the wrapper, the remains 

 of which do not adhere in an entire membranous sheath as in the 

 Orange amanita and Sheathed amanita. As in other species, the 

 stem may l)e either stuffed or hollow. 



Cap three to eight inches broad ; stem four to six inches long ; 

 one-half an inch or more in thickness. 



It grows both in woods and in open places and pastures. It 

 occurs from June till the freezing weather of October or 

 November. . 



Very diverse statements concerning the properties of this 

 fungus have been recorded. While some have attributed to it 

 edible qualities, others have asserted that it is a most active 

 poison and has caused numerous accidents by being confused 

 with the Orange amanita. It is said to have caused death even 

 when eaten in small quantities, and again it is said to have been 

 eaten in abundance without any evil result. According to Quelet, 



