212 BEPOET OF THE STATE B'lTANIST 



Tue Crested clavaria grows in woods aad in open places. It is 

 especially common in the liilly and mountainous districts of the 

 State. It loves cool, shaded and moist places, and grows ou 

 naked soil or among mosses and sphagnum. It usually grows in 

 groups, sometimes in lines, and it is so plentiful that it is not 

 difficult in some localities to gather enough for the table in a 

 short time. 



Poisonous and UnAvholesome Fungi. 



As has already been stated, the most dangerous fungi appear 

 to belong to the single genus Amanita, and probably most of the 

 fatal accidents from mushroom poisoning are due to two or three 

 species. The characters of the genus need not be repeated here. 

 The prominent distinctive features of the species here described 

 are indicated in the brief tabular statement annexed. 



Cap warty, striate on tlie margin A. muscaria. 



Cap not warty, even on the margin 1 



1 Remains of the membranous wrapper closely {)re8sed 



to the base of the stem A. verna. 



1 Remains of the wrapper distant from the base of the 



stem A. j)halloide8. 



These plants are not ordinarily poisonous to handle, nor are 

 they repulsive in taste or odor. They are clean and attractive in 

 appearance, and the symptoms of poisoning that follow their use 

 as food are slow in appearing. 



On the other hand, those that are classed as unwholesome 

 usually possess some character that may be taken as an indication 

 of their unwholesomeness, though this is not always a sure guide 

 to follow. Their toughness of texture, their nauseous and acrid 

 taste, or their intolerable odor, will in most cases sound a note 

 of warning. 



A single species will here be illustrated and described as a 

 representative of this class of fungi. It is the Bitter boletus, 

 Jiulctus felleufi. 



Amanita muscaria A. 

 Fly Amanita. False Okange. 



Plate 42. 



I'ileus warty, slightly striate on the margin; lamellse white ; 

 stem an-^.ulate, bulbous thickened at the base where it is more or 



