62 



STUDIES OF AMERICAN FUNGI. 



ing to the margin of the cap as 

 well as to the stem, as shown in 

 Fig. 62. The stem is also adorned 

 with soft floccose scales. Gillet 

 further states that the pileus is 

 conic to campanulate, not becom- 

 ing convex as in A. verna and A. 

 phalloides. 



The variability presented in 

 the character of the veil and in 

 the shape of the pileus suggests, 

 as some believe, that all these 

 are but forms of a single variable 

 species. On the other hand, we 

 need a more careful and extended 

 field study of these variations. 

 Doubtless different interpreta- 

 tions of the specific limits by 

 different students will lead some 

 to recognize several species where 

 others would recognize but one. 

 Since species are not distinct 

 creations there may be tolerably 

 good grounds for both of these 

 views. 



Amanita floccocephala Atkinson. 

 Probably Poisonous. This species 

 occurs in woods and groves at 

 Ithaca during the autumn. The 

 plants are medium sized, 6-8 cm. 

 high, the cap 3-6 cm. broad, and 

 the stems 4-6 mm. in thickness. 



The pileus is hemispherical to 

 convex, and expanded, smooth, 

 whitish, with a tinge of straw 

 color, and covered with torn, 

 thin floccose patches of the upper 

 half of the circumscissile volva. 

 The gills are white and adnexed. 

 The spores are globose, y-10 /j. 

 The stem is cylindrical or slightly 

 tapering above, hollow or stuffed. 



URE 62. Amanita virosa, white (natural size). 

 Copyright. 



