08 



STUDIES OF AMERICAN FUNGI. 



evidence is convincing that the two are distinct. Amanita fro stiana 

 occurs also at Blowing Rock, appearing earlier in the season than 

 A. cothumata, and also being contemporary with it. A.frostiana is 

 more variable, not nearly so viscid, nor nearly so abundant, the 

 stem is solid or stuffed, the annulus is more frail and evolved from 

 the stem in a different manner. The volva does not leave such a 

 constant and well defined roll where it separated on the stem trans- 

 versely, and the pileus is yellow or orange. When A. cothumata is 



yellowish at all it is a 



different tint of yellow 

 and then only a tinge 

 of yellow atthe center. 

 Albino or faded forms 

 of A. frostiana might 

 occur, but we would 

 not expect them to ap- 

 pear at a definite 

 season of the year in 

 great abundance while 

 the normal form , show- 

 ing no intergrading 

 specimens in the same 

 locality, continued to 

 appear in the same 

 abundance and with 

 the same characters 

 as before. The dried 

 plants of A. cothumata 

 are apt to become 

 tinged with yellow on 

 the gills, the upper 

 part of the stem and 

 upper part of the an- 

 nulus during the processes of drying, but the pileus does not change 

 in like manner, nor do these plants show traces of yellow on these 

 parts when fresh. The spores are also decidedly different, though 

 the shape and size do not differ to any great extent. In A. frostiana 

 and the pale forms of the species the spores are nearly globose or 

 oval, rarely with a tendency to become elliptical, but the content is 

 quite constantly finely granular, while the spores of A. cothumata are 

 perhaps more constantly globose or nearly so, but the spore is nearly 

 filled with a highly refractive oil globule or " nucleus." The pileus of 



IGURE 70. Amanita cothumata. Two plants in section show 

 ing clearly hollow stem, veil attachment, etc. (natural size) 

 Copyright. 



