THE FLY MUSHROOM OR FLY AMANITA. 



{Amanita muscaria.) 



During- the past few years there has 

 been a growing interest in the study of 

 Mycology. Among those interested in 

 this subject are many who have no time, 

 perhaps no inclination, to study it scien- 

 tifically. They would like to be able 

 to distinguish one mushroom from an- 

 other as they distinguish one flower from 

 another. They have no difficulty in de- 

 ciding between a rose and a lily, although 

 they may know nothing of the structure 

 and classification of either. To become 

 acquainted with many of our common 

 mushrooms in this way is by no means 

 difficult. There are fortunately only a 

 few dangerous ones, but with these, if 

 one wishes to gather mushrooms for 

 food, it is important to become thor- 

 oughly acquainted. 



The Flv Mushroom is one of the most 

 dangerous. It grows verv abundantly 

 in July, August and early September. It 

 is attractive in appearance and gorgeous 

 in coloring, but its fair exterior is a snare 

 and a delusion. To it and its blood rela- 

 tives may probably be attributed most if 

 not all of the deaths from mushroom poi- 

 soning". It is commonly conceded that 

 its family is the only one which is fa- 

 tally poisonous, although there are oth- 

 ers which produce unpleasant illness. 

 This particular member of the family is 

 mentioned because it is very common. 



In examining this Mushroom one 

 should not pull it; dig it up carefully 

 and be sure to lift all of it. When ma- 

 tured it will weigh perhaps half a pound. 

 It is usually of an orange yellow, fading 

 to a pale color at the edge. Sometimes 

 it may be pale yellow, again almost 

 white. You will notice a number of 



raised, irregular whitish or yellowish 

 spots or patches on the surface at the 

 top. These are characteristic. The top 

 is nearly flat in mature specimens, and 

 sometimes measures eight or ten inches 

 in diameter. If the baby growth is ex- 

 amined it will be noticed that it is almost 

 globular. The gills are white and very 

 regular, and are sometimes slightly tinged 

 with yellow. On the stem there is a. sort 

 of ring or collar which is whitish or yel- 

 lowish in color and of a thin texture. 

 The lower part of the hollow or stuffed 

 stem swells out and is distinctly bulbous 

 at the bottom and about the base there is 

 a sort of cup or socket from which the 

 stem rises. Above it, the stem is clothed 

 with whitish or yellowish fragments of 

 like texture to the ring. Sometimes these 

 fragments are almost wooly and extend 

 upwards for some distance. 



The flesh of this Mushroom is white, 

 firm and very inviting. The gills are 

 rounded at the edge and at the stem. The 

 odor is pleasant and the spores are 

 snowy white. Altogether there is noth- 

 ing to warn the rash experimenter that 

 it is not as good as it looks. You will 

 find these decorative Mushrooms in fields 

 as well as in woods ; long ranks of them 

 file away through the thin grass. Also 

 one may see them standing in all their 

 glowing color in evergreen woods, the 

 fatal poison cup hidden by the deep green 

 moss. 



Do not understand that no species re- 

 sembling the Fly Mushroom is edible. 

 This wicked familv is not wholly de- 

 praved, but it is best for a novice to con- 

 fine himself to a bowing acquaintance. 

 Elizabeth Willis Wood worth. 



95 



