154 Mycclogical Bulletin Xo. Z9 [Vol. Ill 



tion of tlie genus. Additional remarks were made concerning the species 

 on the same page. Besides, a half-tone representing the Umbellate Om- 

 pha'-li-a was shown on p. 152. We give here an illustration of the com- 

 mon Om-pha'-li-a cam-pa-nel'-Ia, or Bell Omphalia — a charming little 

 plant found on very rotten, wet logs in shady woods. It occurs throughout 

 summer and autumn, often in enormous numbers spreading over an ex- 

 tended surface of its favorite matrix — a fallen, soggy, disintegrated log. 

 The cap is convex and umbilicate, of dull reddish color or dirty white, 

 having a watery appearance in damp weather. 



Lep-i-o'-ta MOR-r.AN'-i ; Morgan's Agaric. — This magnificent Mush- 

 room was first collected by Professor ^Morgan; he sent it to Professor 

 Peck, who named it as noted above. Though ordinarily placed in the 

 white-spored section of the Agarics, it has pale green spores, as pointed 

 out by its di'-coverer. The greenish spores and, when the plant is mature, 

 the greenish gills in connection with its great size, readily identities the 

 species. The figures shown in this Number of the Bulletin obviate the 

 necessity of an extended description. It is pure white and often grows in 

 huge fairy rings. It is a tempting subject for the amateur photographer. 

 An additional illustration sh.owing it in quantity in its natural habitat — 

 especially as a fairy ring— is desired. The annulus is usually movable. 

 As pointed out previously, the Lepiotas are botanically distinct from the 

 Amanitas in rot exhibiting a volva or sac at base of the stem. 



It is .shown in the two half-tones that the pileus is at first sub-globose 

 or nearly gloimlar; then it becomes expanded; in some old specimens it 

 may be depressed. The usual size is si.x to eight inches high and five to 

 nine inches broad. 



Is Lepiota Morgan! Poisonous? — Mcllvaine says the only species of 

 this genus known to be poisonous to some people is Lepiota morgani. Pro- 

 fessor Stevens gave a detailed account of the symptoms of poisoning by 

 this species, in the Journal of Mycology (Volume 9, pages 220-222). 

 Vomiting and diarrhoea were severe. He says: The extreme violence of 

 the symptoms produced by such a small quantity of the fungus makes 

 one wonder what a meal of such might do! The conclusion of the whole 

 matter is: exercise caution, and test with a small or moderate quantity 

 if at all. 



We close the comment by quoting, from One Thousand American 

 Fungi, a statement by H. T. Miller: "I have recently measured several 



which were more than twelve irches across Si.x families, here have 



eaten heartily of them. The experience is that one or two members of 

 eacli family are made sick, though in two families, who have several times 

 eaten them, no one was made sick. I enjoy them immensely, and never 

 feel any the worse for eating them. I doubt if we have a finer-flavored 

 fungus. The meat is simply delicious. One fairy ring yields a Inishel." 



Professor Morgan says: "I am this season (1S~!)) finding elegant 

 specimens of this remarkable Agaric, whicli was described in the March 

 number of the Bolatiical Gazette. One i)lant measures 11 inches across 

 the pileus and is 8'/, inches high; the bulbous base of the stipe is 2 inches 

 in diameter, taperins upward to one inch ; the heavy movable ring is situ- 

 ated above the middle of the stipe. It is a much heavier and stouter plart 

 than ./. proeerus Scop., though not as tall. It is stouter than any of the 

 /h) HI fit as and with a nuich greater expanse of pileus. It reminds me 

 somewhat of .4. maximns Vx., though with a much longer stii)e and a 

 more regular pileus. I am disposed to claim that it is the largest A"aric 

 in the world. The remarkable thing about the plant, however, and the 

 feature by which it differs from all other Agarics and Iiy which it is readily 

 recognied is its green spores. When first caught on white paper, the spores 

 of mature specimens are a beautiful bright green; they soon change, how- 

 ever, to a dull green." 



