MUSHROOMS AND OTHER COMMON FUNGI. 9 



Amanita solitaria. 



Cap when young hemispherical, later convex to expanded, margin even, somewhat 

 elevated when old, scales flaky or floccose and of a sticky, farinaceous character, easily 

 rubbed off, chalky white; gills white or cream, free or attached by only the upper 

 inner angle; stem when young mealy or scaly, equal, solid or stuffed, with a bulb of 

 the same character which prolonged into a rootlike process penetrates into the soil a 

 considerable distance; ring torn, often adhering as fragments to the margin of the cap 

 and gills; volva breaking up into scales which finally disappear. 



Cap 3 to 6 inches broad; stem 4 to 6 inches long, one-half to 1 inch thick. (PI. II, 

 fig. 1.) 



A comparative discussion of this species is to be found under Amanita strobiliformis. 



Amanita strobiliformis. 



Cap convex or nearly plane, white, sometimes cinereous or yellowish on the disk, 

 with large angular, pyramidal warts, which are adnate and mostly persistent; margin 

 extending slightly beyond the gills, sometimes bearing fragments of the ring, which 

 is large and lacerated; gills broad, rounded behind, whitish; stem thick, equal or 

 tapering above, solid, floccose scaly, white, bulb very large with concentric-marginate 

 ridges and corresponding furrows, somewhat pointed below. 

 Cap 3 to 10 inches broad; stem 3 to 8 inches long, 1 to 2 inches thick. (PI. Ill, fig. 2.) 

 There is some uncertainty as to the identity of Amanita strobiliformis and A. solitaria 

 as they occur in America, but as this bulletin has for its object the popular treatment 

 of the subject, the desire is to call attention to the differences of Amanita solitaria and 

 A. strobiliformis as generally recognized by the collector and not their systematic posi- 

 tion as determined by mycologists. Amanita solitaria does not always occur solitary, 

 as its name suggests, but is more readily separated from A. strobiliformis by its long 

 rooting base and conic scales than by its method of growth. While these differences 

 are present in typical specimens, it must be remembered that many intermediate 

 forms may occur, thus making the separation of the two species extremely difficult. 



Amanita verna. Destroying angel. 



Cap white, smooth, viscid when moist, convex then expanded, margin even; gills 

 free and white; stem stuffed, or hollow in age, bulbous, sheathed at the base by the 

 membranous volva; ring reflexed, forming a wide collar. 



By most authorities Amanita verna is considered a mere form of A. phalloides, as it 

 has no constant morphological characters and is only separated by the pure white color 

 and its generally more slender form. Because of its exceedingly poisonous nature 

 it is popularly known as the "destroying angel." 



AMANITOPSIS. 



By some mycologists Amanitopsis is considered a subgenus of 

 Amanita, from which, however, it differs in the absence of a veil and 

 a ring. The volva is ample and persistent, and the gills are com- 

 pletely free from the stem, which is readily separable from the cap. 

 Great care must be observed in collecting species of this genus for 

 food in order not to collect specimens of Amanita from which the 

 ring has disappeared. 



Amanitopsis farinosa. (Edible.) 



Cap gray or grayish brown, convex, becoming almost plane or depressed in the 

 center, thin with deeply striate margin, nearly covered with a grayish powder which 

 is readily rubbed off; gills whitish, free; stem hollow or stuffed, whitish, enlarged 

 at base, subbulbous, with flocculent, pulverulent volva which may soon disappear. 



