is either hollow or stuffed with a cottony pith. It is not bulbous, 
but its base is sheathed with a soft, flabby membrane, the re 
mains of the wrapper. This is such a marked feature that it has 
given name to the plant. But this sheath adheres very slightly 
to the base of the stem, and if the plant is carelessly pulled up, 
it is left in the ground. The cap is 2 to 4 inches broad, and 
sometimes has a small prominence or umbo in its centre. The 
stem is 3 to 5 inches long and 1-3 to 1-2 an inch thick. 
The plant grows singly or scattered either in woods or in open 
places. A favorite place of growth is in the deep vegetable 
mold or humus of dense damp evergreen woods of hilly and 
mountainous districts. It sometimes grows on much decayed 
wood. It occurs from June to October. 
In the white variety, var. alba, the whole plant is white. This 
is A. nivalis Grev., and A. fungites, Batsch. 
In the Livid variety, var. livida, the cap is of a livid or leaden- 
brown color, and the gills and stem have a slightly dingy or 
smoky tint. This is A. livida and A. spadicea Pers. 
In the Tawny variety, var. fulva, the cap is tawny-yellow or 
pale-ochraceous. This is A. fulva Schaeff. 
The Sheathed mushroom is at once distinguished from the 
known poisonous species of amanitas by the absence of a collar 
and of a bulbous base from its stem. 
Some of the older authors classed it among the doubtful or 
suspected species, but it is now regarded as not only harmless 
but edible. Stevenson says it is edible and of excellent flavor. 
Cordier says of it, “A delicate food;” Plancheon, “Truly deli- 
cate;”’ De Candolle, “Most delicious.” Cooke gives preference 
to the white forms, but says the mouse-colored forms are most 
common. In our country also the white forms are scarce. My 
own experience indicates that it is a fairly good mushroom, but 
there are many others that I like better. 
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