WHITE-SPORED AGARICS. 75 



nized by some as varieties, and by others as species. The plants 

 are 8-15 cm. high, the caps 3-7 cm. broad, and the stems 5-8 mm. 

 in thickness. 



The pileus is from ovate to bell-shaped, then convex and expanded, 

 smooth, rarely with fragments of the volva on the surface. The 

 margin is thin and marked by deep furrows and ridges, so that it is 

 deeply striate, or the terms sulcate or pectinate sulcate are used to 

 express the character of the margin. The term pectinate sulcate is 

 employed on account of a series of small elevations on the ridges, 

 giving them a pectinate, or comb-like, appearance. The color varies 

 from gray to mouse color, brown, or ochraceous brown. The flesh 

 is white. The gills are white or nearly so, and free. The spores 

 are globose, 7-10 // in diameter. The stem is cylindrical, even, or 

 slightly tapering upward, hollow or stuffed, not bulbous, smooth, or 

 with mealy particles or prominent floccose scales. These scales are 

 formed by the separation of the edges of the gills from the surface of 

 the stem, to which they are closely applied before the pileus begins 

 to expand. Threads of mycelium growing from the edge of the 

 lamellae and from the stem intermingle. When the pileus expands 

 these are torn asunder, or by their pull tear up the outer surface of 

 the stem. The volva forms a prominent sheath which is usually 

 quite soft and easily collapses (Fig. yj^. 



The entire plant is very brittle and fragile. It is considered an 

 excellent one for food. 1 often eat it raw when collecting. 



Authors differ as to the number of species recognized in the plant 

 as described above. Secretan recognized as many as ten species. 

 The two prominent color forms are quite often recognized as two 

 species, or by others as varieties ; the gray or mouse colored form 

 as A. livida Pers., and the tawny form as A. spadicea Pers. Ac- 

 cording to Fries and others the livida appears earlier in the season 

 than spadicea, and this fact is recognized by some as entitling the two 

 to specific rank. Plowright (Trans. Brit. Mycol. Soc, p. 40, 

 1897-98) points out that in European forms of spadicea there is a 

 second volva inside the outer, and in livida there are ** folds or 

 wrinkles of considerable size on the inner surface of the volva." 

 He thinks the two entitled to specific rank. At Ithaca and in the 

 mountains of North Carolina I have found both forms appearing at 

 the same season, and thus far have been unable to detect the differ- 

 ences noted by Plowright in the volva. But I have never found 

 intergrading color forms, and have not yet satisfied myself as to 

 whether or not the two should be entitled to specific rank. 



Some of the other species of Amanitopsis found in this country 



