12 



CIRCULAR 14 3, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



This fungus appears mostly on grassy places, such as lawns and parks, during 

 the summer months, frequently forming large " fairy rings." 



LEPIOTA NAUCINA. SMOOTH LEPIOTA 

 (Fig. 10) 



In this species the cap is smooth, white or smoky, 

 then convex, expanding, and becoming somewhat j 



almost globose when young, 

 :ibbous; the flesh is white; 



Figure 9. — Lepiota morgdni. (Poisonous) 



the gills are free from the stem, crowded, white, becoming smoky pink when 

 old; the stem is rather stout, enlarged below, nearly hollow or loosely stuffed; 

 the ring adheres to the stem. 



The cap is iy 2 to 3 inches broad; the stem is 2 to 3 inches long and 4 to 8 

 lines thick. 



Peck 4 describes and discusses a form closely allied to Lepiota naucina which 

 he calls L. naucinoides, the differences consisting in the smoother cap and in 

 the shape of the spores. This latter character, being a microscopic feature, is 

 of no practical assistance to the amateur. 



These two forms are both considered edible, but extreme caution must be used 

 in order not to collect poisonous or deadly white Amanitas for specimens of 

 Lepiota before the pink tinge of the gills is apparent. 



* Peck, Chakles H. 35th Ann. Report of the New York State Museum of Nat. Hist, 

 pp. 160-161. 1884. 



