736 ADDITIONAL EXERCISES 



volva persisting as scattered, floccose, or rather compact scales, color subject to 

 great variation, ranging from yellow to orange, or blood red, gills white or yellow- 

 ish, free but reaching the stem; stem cylindrical, at first stuffed, later hoUow, upper 

 part torn into loose scales, bulb prominent, generally marked by concentric scales 

 forming irregular ridges; ring typically apical, lacerated, lax, large. 



Cap 33-2 to $}^ inches broad, stem 4 to 6 inches long. 



Amanita muscaria may be found during the summer and fall, occurring singly, or 

 in small associations, or in patches of considerable size. It grows in cultivated soil, 

 partially cleared land, and in woods or roadsides. It does not demand a rich soil, 

 but rather exhibits a preference for poor ground. The color is an exceedingly vari- 

 able character, the plants being brighter colored when young, and fading as they 

 mature. The European plant possesses more gorgeous colors than the American 

 form. 



This is a very poisonous species, and it has been the subject of many pharmaco- 

 logical and chemical investigations. Its chief poisonous principle is muscarine, 

 although a second poisonous element is believed to be present, as atropine d(Jes not 

 entirely neutralize the effect of injections of Amanita muscaria in animals. 



This species has been responsible for many deaths, and numerous cases of severe 

 illness have been caused by persons mistaking Amanita muscaria, the poisonous 

 species, for Amanita caesarea, the edible species. The most satisfactory treatment 

 is to administer hypodermic injections of atropine beginning with a dosage of }io 

 grain after the giving of a strong emetic. While typical specimens of these two 

 species possess distinguishing characters, as already shown, it is again recommended 

 to shun all Amanitae. 



In Siberian Russia the natives make several uses of Amanita muscaria. Pre- 

 served in salt it is eaten, though probably more as a condiment than as a main 

 article of diet; a decoction is popular as an intoxicant, and deaths are reported upon 

 good authority as resulting from a "muscaria orgy." 



Amanita phalloides. Death Cup {Deadly Poisonous) 



Cap white, lemon, or olive to umber, fleshy, viscid when moist, smooth or with 

 patches or scales, broadly oval, bell-shaped, convex, and finally expanded, old speci- 

 mens sometimes depressed by the elevation of the margin; gills free, white; stem 

 generally smooth and white, in dark varieties colored like the cap but lighter, solid 

 downward, bulbous, hollow, and attenuated upward; ring superior, reflexed, gener- 

 all}^ entire, white. 



The large, free volva, its lower portion closely adherent to the bulb, and the large 

 ring are of assistance in distinguishing this species. 



Cap 3 to 4 inches broad; stem 3 to 5 inches long. 



This species and its forms are subject to great variation in color, ranging from 

 white, pale yellow, and olive to brown. Amanita phalloides is a very cosmopolitan 

 plant and one of very common occurrence. It is the most dangerous of all mush- 

 rooms, for no antidote to overcome its deadly effect is known. It exhibits no special 

 preference as regards habitat and is found growing in woods or cultivated land from 



