Fungi with Gills 



There is something about it particularly attractive to flies, 

 and yet for them to sip its juices means death, as may be seen 

 by the circle of dead flies lying on the ground under the shadow 

 of its cap. 



The chief poison of this fungus is an alkaloid called musca- 

 rine, which paralyzes the nerves controlling the action of the 

 heart. Injections of atropine in doses of from one one-hundredth 

 to one-fiftieth of a grain are employed as an antidote for this 

 poison. In addition, the most powerful emetics are used. 



Orange Amanita (Edible) 



Amanita Ccesarea 



Cap or Pileus — Smooth, glabrous, and free from warts or scales. 

 Red or orange, fading to yellow on the margin or all 

 over the cap. Margin distinctly striate. When fully ex- 

 panded, nearly flat. When moist, 

 slightly sticky and viscid. 

 Stem — Yellow. When young, fibrous 

 or cottony within, later hol- 

 low. 

 Wrapper or Volva — White and mem- 

 branous, loosely sheathing the 

 vv -" 13 base of the stem. 



-Covers the gills of the young plant. Remains are seen 



Iriate, and free from 



Veil- 



on the stem only, where it hangs down 



like a white ruffle. 

 Gills or Lamellce — Rounded at the stem end and 



not attached to the stem. Yellow, an 



exception to the 

 rule that the col- 

 our of the gills 

 in mature plants 

 resembles the 

 colour of the 

 spores. 

 Young Plant — When 

 young, the cap 



and stem are contained in a wrap- 

 per not unlike a hen's egg in 

 shape, size, and colour. As the 



cap and stem within develop, the wrapper ruptures in its 



upper part, the stem elongates, and the cap is carried up, 



C55'-sa-re'-a 

 50 



Section of A. Csesarea 



(a) Smooth cap (c) Hollow stem 

 (i) Free gills (r) Ruffle-like ring 



Young plant 



