CLASSIFICATION 8i 



Schizophyllum 



ScJiizophyllum commune, the only European representative of 

 tlie genus, is very rare in this country. I once found it on an old 

 trunk in the neighbourhood of Scarborough, and it has occurred 

 rarely elsewhere. It is not uncommon in the mountainous parts 

 of Europe. On the other hand, the genus is commonly represented 

 in tropical and subtropical countries. S. commune is a thin, dry, 

 whitish fungus, more or less fan-shaped, having the edge more or 

 less irregular, sometimes scalloped ; the gills are brownish, and 

 radiate from the point of attachment. The only truly distinctive 

 mark of the genus consists in the edge of the gills being split for a 

 short distance, the two portions of the split portion being curved 

 outwards. 



Amanita 



The uni\'ersal veil enclosing the whole fungus when young, be- 

 coming ruptured by the increase in length of the stem, one portion 

 remaining as a vol'va or sheath encircling the base of the stem, the 

 remainder usually forming separable patches or warts on the cap ; 

 stem central ; gills free. 



Amanitopsis differs in the absence of a ring, and Lepiota in the 

 absence of a volva. 



* Edge of volva loose and free from the stem, persistent. 



f Cap white or ivith a tinge of yellow. 



A. virosa (PI. I, fig. i). — Entirely white. Foetid. Cap 3-4 in. 

 across, conical, then expanded ; gills crowded ; stem 4-6 in. long, 

 stout, narrowed upwards, squamulose ; ring irregularh' torn, yoWa. 

 large, lax. 



In damp woods. Poisonous. 



var. grisea. — Similar in size to the typical form, but the cap is 

 shaded with grey. 



On the ground in Epping Forest. 



A. mappa. — Cap 2-3 in. across, orbicular, white or with just a 

 tinge of yellow ; gills crowded, narrow ; stem 2-3 in. long, white ; 

 ring lax, usually torn, volva adnate to the bulb of the stem with a 

 narrow, free edge. 



There are usually a few irregular patches on the cap. Differs 

 from A. phalloides in the shorter stem, and edge of the \'olva only 

 free. Smell strong. Poisonous. In woods. 



tf Cap yellow, sometimes tinged red. 



A. phalloides (PI. II, fig. i). — Cap 3-4 in. across, ^'iscid wlien 

 moist, usually pale primrose-yellow, sometimes with a tinge of 

 green, at others whitish ; gills pure white ; stem 3-5 in. long, 

 tapering upwards slightly from a bulbous base, white; ring large, 

 volva large, loose, edge uneven. 



