AMANITA Pers. 



As noted in the preliminary report, this genus includes the 

 most violently poisonous species to be found among the fleshy 

 fungi. Therefore these species should be most carefully avoided 

 by the amateur collector. Never should " button " forms be 

 collected for eating, and by all means avoid white specimens. 

 However, the following species of Amanita are classed as edible. 



Amanita Caesarea Scop. Kingly Amanita. This is one of 

 the most striking forms of the genus. It is found abundantly in 

 open woods in Mansfield during July, and occasional specimens 

 occur, during the autumn months. Its large size, brilliant 

 coloring, striate or lined margins, with the absence of warts or 

 scales on the svirface of the cap, serve as characteristics which 

 distinguish it from its poisoitous relatives. The characters of the 

 species are so distinct that, when once positively identified, 

 A, Caesarea is not likely to be confused with non-edible kinds. 

 Unless positively identified, it might be possible to mistake this 

 edible Amanita for two of its relatives, A. Frostiana and A. 

 muscaria. The plants of the edible species, when small, resemble 

 the former ; while, in color, the edible species resembles the latter ; 

 but the fioccose or compact scaly cap of A. muscaria should 

 prevent confusing the two. 



A. Caesarea has a distinct white volva or cup at the base of 

 the stem. This is quite persistent, and is usually found on mature 

 specimens. The stem and usually the gills are distinctly yellow. 

 In the immature specimens, the gills are covered by a delicate 

 yellow veil which falls around the stem as the cap expands. The 

 stem is somewhat floccose or downy below the ring. The gills 

 are not attached to the stem, and var}- in color from white to 

 deep lemon-yellow, the yellow shades appearing in the typical 

 specimens. The flesh is white, with yellow or yellow-red tints 

 as it approaches the outside. 



Amanita rubescens Fr. (Plate I) is not liable to be con- 

 fused with any poisonous species. Its characters are quite 



