8 



CIRCULAR 14 3, IT. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



AMANITA CAESAEEA. CAESAE S MUSHEOOil 



(Fig. 5) 



Iu this species the cap is hemispherical, sniocth, and with a conspicuous 

 striate margin. It is reddish or orange in color, later becoming yellow. The 

 gills are free and yellow : the stem is yellow, cylindrical, only slightly enlarged 



at the base, attenuated upward, scaly 

 below the annulus, and smooth aboye ; 

 the ring is yellow, large, membranaceous, 

 and hangs like a collar from the upper 

 part of the stem ; and the volva is saclike 

 and conspicuous, white as contrasted with 

 the yellow of the stem. 



This species is variously known as 

 Caesar's agaric, royal agaric, orange 

 Amanita, etc. It has been highly esteemed 

 as an article of diet since the time of the 

 early Greeks. It is particularly abundant 

 during rainy weather and may occur 

 solitary, several together, or in definite 

 rings. Although Amanita caesarea is 

 edible, great caution should always be 

 used in order not to confuse it with poison- 

 ous Amanitas. 



AMANITA STEOBILIFOEMIS. TIE - CONE 

 AMANITA 



(Fig. G) 



In this species the cap is convex or 

 nearly plane, white or sometimes slightly 

 cinereous on the disk, and covered with 

 large, angular, pyramidal warts ; the mar- 

 gin extends slightly beyond the gills and 

 sometimes bears fragments of the ring, 

 which is large and torn ; the gills are 

 broad and white ; the stem is thick and 

 white, floccose scaly, and the bulb very 

 large with concentric-marginate ridges 

 and furrows and abruptly pointed below. 



This species is to be found in woods 

 in midsummer and early fall and occurs 

 solitary or two or three together. It is 

 conspicuous because of its startling white 

 color, the size of the cap, which varies 

 from 4 to 10 inches, and the length of 

 the stem, which ranges from 3 to 8 inches 

 and terminates in a large bulb. This 

 plant is not to be recognized as an edible 

 species. 



Figure 5. — Amanita caesarea 



AMANITOPSIS 



The genus Amanitopsis has white spores and a volva like Aminita 

 but differs from it in the absence of a veil or a ring. The volva is 

 large and persistent and at first completely envelops the young plant. 

 As the latter matures it bursts through the volva. particles of which 

 are carried up on the pileus in the form of delicate scales or flakes, 

 which, however, are soon brushed off. leaving the pileus smooth. 



