10 



CIRCULAR 143, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



easily separable from the cap, in which it leaves a cuplike depression. 

 The gills are usually free and are white when young, but certain 

 species are pink or green when mature. The ring may be fixed or 

 free, and when the plant is young it is readily seen, but before 



Figure 7. — Amanitopsis vaginata. (From G. F. Atkinson) 



maturity it may have disappeared. This genus contains some of 

 the finest edible species as well as some extremely dangerous ones. 



LEPIOTA PEOCEPvA. PARASOL MUSHPvOOM. 



EDIBLE i 



(Fig. 8) 



In the parasol mushroom the cap is ovate, then expanded with a distinct, 

 smooth, brown umbo, the cuticle early breaking up into brown scales* showing 

 the white flesh ; the gills are broad, crowded, white, free, and distant from 

 the stem ; the stem is tubular, long, bulbous, generally scaly or spotted, its 

 substance distinct and free from the cap, in which a cavity is left by its 

 removal ; the ring is large and thick, readily movable when old. 



The cap is 3 to 6 inches broad; the stem is 5 to 12 inches long and about 

 6 lines thick. 



This very attractive and graceful species may be collected in pastures, lawns, 

 gardens, thin woods, or roadsides. It occurs singly or scattered, appearing 

 during summer and early fall, and is considered an excellent edible species. 



LEPIOTA MOPvGAXI. GEEEX GILL. (POISONOUS) 



(Fig. 9) 



In this species the cap is fleshy, globose when young, expanded to plane or 

 slightly depressed, not umbonate, white with a yellowish or brownish cuticle, 



