44 



MUSHROOMS, EDIBLE AND OTHERWISE 



The gills are free, white, 

 then pallid, ventricose, broad- 

 est in front, irregular. The 

 flesh is white, but in the 

 darker forms stained under 

 the easily separating skin. 

 The spores are white and 

 nearly round, 7-10/x. 



The stem is cylindrical, even 

 or slightly tapering upward, 

 hollow or stuffed, smooth or 

 sprinkled with downy scales, 

 not bulbous at the base. 



The volva is long, thin, 

 fragile, forming a permanent 

 sheath which is quite soft and 

 readily adheres to the base of 

 the stem. 



The striations on the margin 

 are deep and distinct, as in the 

 Orange Amanita. The cup is 

 quite regular but it is fragile, 

 easily broken and usually deep 

 in the ground In some plants 

 a slight umbo is developed at 

 the center. 



The mushroom-eater wants 

 to distinguish very carefully 

 between this species and Amanita spreta, which is very poisonous. 



It is found in woods, in open places where there is much vegetable mould. 

 sometimes found in stubble and pastures, especially in meadows under trees. 

 Found from June to November. 



The plant varies considerably in color, and there are several varieties, separable 

 by means of their color : 



A. vag'nata. var. alba. The whole plant is white. 

 A. vaginata var. fulva. The cap tawny yellow or pale ochraceous. 

 V vaginata var. livida. The cap leaden brown: gills and stem tinged with 

 smokv brown. 



Figure 30. Amanita vaginata. One-third natural size, 

 a portion of the volva adhering to the cap. 



Notice 



