248 SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF TORREY BOTANICAL CLUB 
difficult to see. In specimens of Amanita pantherina, which I 
have collected in the Jura mountains in France,* the spores at 
maturity, or in dried plants, still retain the granular content. 
This condition, however, may possibly vary in some specimens, 
and the presence or absence of an oil drop in the spores, may not 
be so important a specific character as is usually assumed. But 
it is worthy of note that in all specimens of Amanita cothurnata 
which I have examined, this change in the spore has taken place. 
Another witness of the specific distinction of Amanita cothurnata 
is its wide distribution, comparative abundance, and constancy 
in character, while typical Amanita pantherina is quite rare in this 
country according to my observations. Some of the few indi- 
viduals which I have found of this species in the United States 
raise some doubt as to their specific identity with Amanita pan- 
therina of Europe, and resemble strongly in some respects another 
American species, Amanita velatipes. Since the latter species is 
interpreted by one student as synonymous with Amanita baccata 
of Europe, it is readily seen to what an end such indiscriminate 
“lumping” would lead. 
Several other American species have recently} been added as 
synonyms to quite a long array of names of European forms, 
cumulatively assembled under Amanita jonquillea Quelet and 
Amanita baccata Fr. I will discuss here only two of these, which 
are not only specifically distinct from each other, but also from 
Amanita jonquillea. These are Amanitopsis albocreata,t and 
Amanita velatipes.§ 
Amanitopsis albocreata is a white species with now and then 
individuals showing a yellowish tint over the center of the pileus, 
which is striate оп the margin. The annulus is absent. The volva 
is circumscissile, the calyptra forming white floccose patches on the 
pileus, much as in Amanita cothurnata and Amanita pantherina. 
The lower part of the volva is ocreate, concrete with the base of 
the stem and fits it like the legging of a boot, but it is not so 
prominent, nor does it extend so high up on the stem as is usual 
f See Coker, W. C. Jour. Elisha Mitchell Sci. Soc. 33: 1-88. 1917. 
t Amanitopsis albocreata Atkinson, Jour. Mycol. 8: ттт. 1902 
$ Amanita velatipes Atkinson, Stud. Am. Fungi, Mushrooms, etc. rst edition, 
р. 63. f. 64—67. 1900; 2d ed. OI. ы 
