80 



STUDIES OF AMERICAN FONGI. 



occurs singly or scattered, is more slender, often umbonate. L. 

 rachodes has a veil with a double edge, the edges more or less fringed. 

 The veil is fixed to the stem until the plant is quite mature, when it 

 becomes movable. The flesh of the plant on exposure to the air 

 becomes a brownish orange tint. 



Lepiota morgan! Pk. This plant occurs from Ohio, southward and 

 west, it grows in grassy places, especially in wet pastures. It is 



Figure 82. Lepiota americana. Scales and center of cap reddish or 

 reddish brown. Entire plant turns reddish on drying (natural size). 

 Copyright. 



one of the largest of the lepiotas, ranging from 20-40 cm. high, the 

 cap 20-30 cm. broad, and the stem about 2 cm. in thickness. The 

 pileus, when fully expanded, is whitish, with large dark scales, 

 especially toward the center. The ring is large, sometimes movable, 

 and the gills and spores are greenish. Some report the plant as 

 edible, while others say illness results from eating it. 



Lepiota americana Pk. Edible. This plant is widely distributed in 

 the United States. The plants occur singly or are clustered, 6-12 



