COAfMOX MUSHROOiMS OF THE UxXlTED STATES 



403 



THE FLY MUSHROOM (Amanita 



muscaria and its varieties). 



Deadly poisonous ! 



tSec Color Plate II for mature plant 

 and Color Plate XV for 

 young specimens) 



Beaut}', though attractive, is often 

 deceptive. This is admirably illus- 

 trated in Amanita muscaria, the 

 "most splendid chief of the agaricoid 

 tribe," as Greville, r.n eminent Scotch 

 botanist, describes it. 



"In the highlands of Scotland," he 

 continues, "it is impossible not to ad- 

 mire it, as seen in long perspective, 

 between the trunks of the straight fir 

 trees ; and should a sunbeam pene- 

 trate through the dark and dense foli- 

 age and rest on its vivid surface, an 

 effect is produced by this chief of a 

 humble race which might lower the 

 pride of many a patrician vegetable." 



Contrast with this the dire effects 

 of its poisons on the human system. 

 Very shortly after eating the fungi 

 (from one to six hours, depending 

 upon the amount eaten) the victim 

 exhibits excessive salivation, perspira- 

 tion, flow of tears, nausei, retching, 

 vomiting, and diarrhea. The pulse is 

 irregular and respiration accelerated. 

 Giddiness and confusion of ideas are 

 also present. 



Delirium, violent convulsions, and 

 loss of consciousness develop in rapid 

 succession when large quantities have 

 been, eaten, the patient sinking into 

 a coma that is followed by death. 

 In light cases the patient, after an at- 

 tack of vomiting and diarrhea, falls 

 into a deep sleep, from which he 

 awakes several hours later profoundly 

 prostrate, but on the road to recov- 

 ery. Within two or three days, in 

 such cases, complete recovery takes 

 place. 



Atropin is the perfect physiological 

 antidote for muscarin, one of the 

 poisons present. However, being a 

 poison itself, it should not be ad- 

 ministered except by a physician. The 

 early appearance of the symptoms is 

 characteristic of poisoning by this 

 species,^ those caused by Amanita phalloides 

 presenting themselves much later ^see this 

 species. Plates V, X, and XVI). 



The Amanita muscaria is verj- common in 

 woods, thickets, in open places, and sometimes 

 in pastures, from June until the first frosts. 



THE JACK-O'LANTERN MUSHROOM, 



OR FALSE CHANTRELLE (Clito- 



cybe illudens). Poisonous 



{See Color Plate III) 



To see light emanating from a mushroom 

 is at least a novel experience that is possible 

 if one views perfectly fresh specimens of the 



Photograph by George Shiras, 3d 



A SPKCIRS OF PLEUROTUS MUSHROOM GROWING 

 FROM A FALLEN LOG 



A sight such as this is calculated to make the mush- 

 room-hunter's mouth water. Note that the central, ec- 

 centric, or lateral attachment of the stem to the cap is 

 a matter of position of growth ; the caps on the side of 

 the log have lateral stems, those on the top central, or 

 very nearly central, ones (see illustration, page 402). 



Jack-o'-Lantern by night; but this is the limit 

 of its interest for us. As an edible species, it 

 is not to be thought of; for, though pleasant 

 enough to the taste and enjoyed without in- 

 convenience by some, it acts as a powerful 

 emetic with most people. Moreover, recent 

 chemical investigation of the plant has demon- 

 strated the presence of muscarin in its tissues, 

 the same substance that plays such an impor- 

 tant role in poisoning by Amanita muscaria 

 (see text on this page). 



Dense clusters of this Clitocybc may often 

 be seen growing on or about old stumps of 

 chestnuts, oaks, and other deciduous trees. 

 Occasionally, such clusters contain hundreds 



