White-spored Series 
room (Agaricus campestris), which has darker gills, a persistent 
collar, and a stem tapering at the base. No harm can come from 
confusing these for edible purposes. Great care should be taken 
to be sure that a specimen thought to be a smooth lepiota has no 
volva or wrapper at the base, for the absence of a volva is the 
most marked difference between it and the poisonous vernal 
amanita (Amanita verna). The gills of the smooth lepiota turn 
a dingy brown or pink, and those of the vernal amanita remain 
white ; and the cap of the smooth lepiota has not the moist 
smoothness and the brilliant whiteness of the vernal amanita, 
Lepiota Friesii 
Cap or Pileus—Rather thin, convex, or nearly plain, with soft, 
tawny fibres forming small patches over the surface. 1-4 
inches wide. 
Stem or Stipe—Tapering toward the cap, slightly bulbous at the 
base. The lower part of the stem coloured like the cap, and 
with similar fibrils. Hollow. Powdery white above the 
ring. 2-5 inches long. 
Ring or Annulus—Present and pendulous, 
Gills or Lamelle—Narrow, crowded, free from stem ; white ; some 
Sorked, 
Spores—W hite. 
Flesh—Soft, white, with a slight odour when bruised. 
Ring or Annulus—Well developed, drooping. White above, and 
tawny or scaly below. 
Habitat—Soft, loose soil in bushy places. 
Zime—July to September. 
GENUS MARASMIUS 
The genus Marasmius belongs to the white-spored series. 
The plants are small, and wither and shrivel in dry weather, to 
revive again when wet. The gills are thin, and have acute 
edges. 
The generic name comes from the same Greek word as the 
word marasmus, the name applied to a disease from which the 
patient wastes away without any apparent cause. The signifi- 
cance of the name will be apparent to one who watches the 
fleshy little plant shrink away when the sun shines. 
Fré’-s!-i M4-ris'-mi-uis 
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