48 Thtrty-third Annual Report or the 



specimens it does not adhere to the base of the stem but is left in the 

 ground. In appearance this species is rather slender and regular, in 

 mode of growth it is solitary or very much scattered. It grows in 

 woods either dense or thin and sometimes in open places, and it seems 

 to be able to accommodate itself to a great variety of circumstances. 

 As it often happens, the variability of this species has given rise to 

 numerous synonyms, which are mostly indicative of its various 

 colors. Among these may be mentioned A.plumbeus, Shasff., A. hyali- 

 nus, Schaeff., A. badius, Scha3ff., A. fulvus, Schaeff., A. trilobus, Bolt., 

 A. pulvinatus, Bolt., Amanita livida, Pers., and Am. spadicea, Pers. 

 Some authors class this among the edible species, others, among the 

 suspected or doubtful ones. Cordier pronounces it a delicate food. 



Agaricus nivalis, Grev. Snowy Agaric. Alpine Agaric. Pileus 

 at first ovate, then convex or plane, smooth, striate on the thin margin, 

 white, sometimes tinged with yellow or ochraceous on the disk, flesh 

 white ; lamellae subdistant, white, free ; stem equal, rather tall, nearly 

 smooth, bulbous, stuffed, white, the volva very fragile, soon breaking up 

 into fragments or sometimes persisting in the form of a collar-like ring 

 at the upper part of the bulb ; spores globose, .0003 in. to .0004 in. 

 in diameter. 



Plant 4 in. to 6 in. high, pileus 2 in. to 3 in. broad, stem 2 to 4 

 lines thick. July to October. 



This fungus has generally been considered a mere variety of the 

 preceding, from which, according to the " English Flora/' it differs 

 merely in the " greater distance of the lamellae and the greater 

 compactness of the stem." But in the American plant, which seems 

 to me to be the same specifically, I find two other notable points 

 of distinction, namely, the more frail fragmentary volva and the 

 distinctly bulbous base of the stem. This last character is also 

 noticed in Greville's description, and it has especially influenced 

 me to keep the species distinct. In its original locality its 

 habitat is said to be "highland pastures and summits of moun- 

 tains. " With us it occurs in open, grassy places and in thin 

 woods, but it is not common. I have seen it in the counties of Essex, 

 Rensselaer and Otsego. It approaches in some respects, A. Frostianus, 

 but its larger size, smooth pileus, lighter color and the absence of an 

 annulus will easily distinguish it from that species. A. fungites, 

 Batsch, is given as a synonym of this species. 



Agaricus strangulatus, Fr. Strangulated Agaric. Pileus at first 

 ovate or subelliptical, then campanulate, convex or plane, warty, 

 slightly viscid when moist, deeply and distinctly striate on the margin, 

 grayish-brown ; lamellae free, close, white ; stem equal or tapering up- 

 wards, stuffed or hollow, nearly smooth, white or whitish, the vlova 

 soon breaking up into scales or subannular fragments ; spores globose, 

 .0004 in. to .0005 in. in diameter. 



Plant 4 in. to 6 in. high, pileus 2 in. to 4 in. broad, stem 3 lines 

 to 6 lines thick. July. 



This plant was found in 1869 growing in the grassy borders of a grove 

 near Greenport, Long Island. I have not since found it, and conclude 

 that it is a very rare species with us, In color and general appearance it 

 resembles A. vaginatusjvom which it may be distinguished by the warty 

 pileus and the slight volva which does not sheath the base of the stem, 

 but soon breaks up into small fragments, or scales, which sometimes 



