ipoS ] The Amanitas of Nokth Carolina 121 
mealy or clothed, especially below, with pointed scales, enlarged 
at the base into a bulb from which a long root like projection is 
given off. Strong odor of chlorine in old plants. Spores ellip- 
tical, 10-12 me. long. 
Amanita solitaria Aull. 
Pileus white or slightly gray, convex, even on the margin, 
covered wieh thin adnate polygonal warts: gills white, free: stipe 
solid white, flocculose, somewhat bulbous at the base, bulbs point- 
ed. Spores 10-12 by 7-9 me. Odor as in the preceding. In 
woods, less abundant than the preceding species. 
Amanita stobiliformis Paul. 
Pileus large and firm 3 to 8 inches broad, white or light gray, 
covered with thick brown polygonal warts, even on the margin; 
gills white; stipe thick, solid, farinose or scaley, enlarged below 
into a bulb which is often marginate. Spores 10 to 12 me ellip- 
tical. 
I have given here the description of these three species in order 
to facilitate the study of the group to which they belong. 
It is necessary to add that the status of this group is more than 
doubtful, and that there is no agreement among the best authori- 
ties in regard to it. The truth in regard to the group 
seems to be this. It is rather rare in the north. Peck 
says for example that it is of little consequence to determine 
whether it is or is not edible on account of its rarity. In the 
south it is abundant and can be gathered by the bushel. It seems 
certain that only one who has observed it in comparative rarity 
should feel sure of the distinctions which are drawn . My obser- 
vations which are recorded in a large series of photographs are 
that none of the “characters” are constant enough to be of much 
value. The shape of the warts and their nature seems to depend 
largely upon the conditions of development and, in what is clearly 
the same species, may vary from a thin mealey covering to hard 
polygonal warts. The shape of the bulb is just as uncertain. In 
the same species it may be entirely lacking or highly developed, 
marginate or immarginate, and smooth or scaley. While the 
dimensions of the spores vary I have been unable to base any sep- 
