40 THIRTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 
tached to the margin. The annulus then has a lacerated or torn ap- 
pearance. The species are readily divided into two primary sections, 
depending on the presence or absence of the annulus. The species 
having an annulus have been again divided by Fries into subsections, 
depending on the character of the volva. These are thus charac- 
terized: 
1. Volva rupturing at the apex or circumscissile, the free margin 
persistent. Of our species A. cwsareus, A. spretus and A. phalloides 
belong to this subsection. 
2. Volva definitely circumscissile, persistent on the margined base, 
the covering of the pileus broken up into thick warts. Here belong 
A. russuloides, A. muscarius, A. Frostianus, A solitarius and A. 
strobiliformis. 
3. Volva wholly friable, reduced to scales and warts. Our only rep- 
resentative of this subsection is 4. rubescens. 
4. Volva wholly obsolete, flocculose, entirely evanescent. Of this sub- 
section we have thus far no representative. 
The second and third sub-sections appear to run into each other in 
such a way that it is difficult to keep them distinct. 
In collecting specimens for examination, the earth should be care- 
fully removed from the base of the stem before the plant is taken up, 
in order to obtain it entire and to secure the yolva in as perfect condi- 
tion as possible. Young plants taken just as the pileus is emerging 
from the volva, if kept in a warm, moist atmosphere, will continue to 
elongate the stem and expand the pileus. 
The characters especially to be noted in the determination of the 
species are found in the volva, whether membranous and persistent or 
floccose-scaly, and more or less evanesgent; in the pileus, whether 
smooth and naked or warty, and whether even or striated on the mar- 
gin; in the stem, whether with or without an annulus, whether solid 
or hollow and whether with or without a bulb at the base, and if bul- 
bous what is the character of the bulb. The color, though a conspicu- 
uous character, is so variable in some species that it is deemed of sec- 
ondary importance. The spores, beyond their color, can only be 
available in affording distinctive characters by the aid of a compound 
microscope and a micrometer. 
Some of the species have a very bad reputation for their deleterious 
and poisonous qualities, but a few are generally admitted by authors 
to be esculent. I have not personally tested the edible qualities of any 
of the species, and those indicated as edible are thus given on the au- 
thority of others. Ido not consider it safe for any one who is not 
fully able to distinguish the edible from the poisonous species to in- 
dulge in the use of the Amanitas for food. 
SYNOPSIS OF THE SPECIES. 
1. Stem furnished with an annulus..................+% mee wae! 2 
2. Volva membranous, persistent; pileus not warty.............,.00-.- Sie hey Oe 
3, Pileus widely striate on the margin, lamellie yellow.... A. cw@sareus. 
3. Pileus narrowly striate, lamella white....,............ A, spretus. 
3. Pileus even on the margin, lamellz white............... 4 1. phalloides. 
2. Volva squamose, friable, sometimes evanescent................+e00- Van ie 
4, Pileus striate on the margin.:!. 02... S00 0s). SAO WOT) 
