Agaricaeeae 



Amanita. of their clan and rank the volva or sheath from which they spring, the 

 kid-like apron encircling their waists, and patch-marks of their high 

 birth upon their caps. In their youth, when in or just appearing above 

 the ground, they are completely invested with a membrane or universal 

 veil, which is distinct and free from the skin of the cap. As the plant 

 grows the membrane stretches and finally bursts. It sometimes ruptures 

 in one place only and remains about the base of the stem as the volva. 

 When such a rupture occurs the caps are smooth. In most species por- 

 tions of the volva remain upon the cap as scruff or warts pointed or 

 rough or as feathery adornment ; any or all of which may in part or 

 whole vanish with age or be washed away by rain. 



Extending from the stem to the margin of the cap, and covering the 

 gills, is the partial veil a membranaceous, white texture of varying 

 thickness. As the cap expands this veil tears from it. Portions fre- 

 quently remain pendant from the edges, the rest contracts to the stem 

 as a ring, or droops from it as a surrounding ruffle, or, if of slight con- 

 sistency, may be fugacious and disappear, but marks, remains, or the 

 veil itself will always be traceable upon the stem. 



The Amanitae are of all colors, from the brilliant orange of the A. 

 Caesarea, the rich scarlet or crimson of the A. muscaria, to the pure 

 white of the A. phalloides in its white form. 



Their stems are usually long, and taper from the base toward the top. 

 In some forms the base is distinctly bulbous. The volva at the base is 

 attached to the stem at its lower extremity. It may be visible as a 

 cup or ruptured pouch with spreading mouth, or it may be of such 

 friable texture as to appear like mealy scales. Often, when the plant 

 is pulled from the ground, the volva remains, but the marks of its 

 attachment will appear and should be carefully looked for. Their gills 

 are commonly white, are of equal length and radiate from near the 

 stem, which they do not reach, to the circumference of the cap. They 

 are white, unless tinged with age, excepting upon A. Caesarea and A. 

 Frostiana where they are yellow.* Their caps are umbrella-shaped, flat 

 or convex. Their flesh is white, does not change color when bruised. 

 They are scentless and almost tasteless when fresh, when old they have 

 a slightly offensive odor and taste. 



The family is not a large one, not over thirty members complete its 

 circle. Every feature, every part of its several members, should be 

 thoroughly known before the intimacy of eating. While at least nine 

 * A. Frostiana is not always yellow gilled. 



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