12 CIRCULAR 14 3, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



This I'unjiU.s appesirs mostly on si'sissy places, such as lawns and parks, during 

 the summer montlis, I'rcMpiently formins large "fairy rings." 



LEPIOTA NAUCINA. SMOOTH LEPIOTA 



(Fig. 10) 



In this species the cap is smooth, white or smoky, almost gloliose when young, 

 then convex, expanding, and becoming somewhat giblious; 'the flesh is white; 



I'lcuKE 9. — Lcpiota morgnni. (Poisonous) 



the gills are free from the stem, crowded, white, becoming smoky pink when 

 old; the stem is rather stout, enlarged below, nearly hollow or loosely stuffed; 

 the ring adheres to the stem. 



The cap is l^/^ to 3 inches broad ; the stem is 2 to 3 inches hmg and 4 to 8 

 lines thick. 



Peck* describes and discusses a form closely allied to Lepiota naucina which 

 he calls Tj. nnuclnoidefi, the differences consisting in the smoother cap and in 

 the shape of the spores. This latter charactei", being a microscopic feature, is 

 of no practical assistance to the amateur. 



Tliese two forms are both considered edible, but extreme caution must be used 

 in order not to collect ixiisonous or deadly white Amanitas for specimens of 

 Lepiota before the pink tinge of the gills is apparent. 



* Peck, Charles II. 35th Ann. Report of the New York State Mu.'seum of Nat. Hist., 

 pp. 160-161. 1884. 



