310 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



The Crested clavaria grows in woods and in open places. It is 

 especially common in the hilly and mountainous districts of the 

 State. It loves cool, shaded and moist places, and grows on 

 naked soil or among mosses and sphagnum. It usually grows in 

 groups, sometimes in lines, and it is so plentiful that it is not 

 difficult in some localities to gather enough for the table in a 

 short time. 



Poisonous and Unwholesome Fungi. 



As has already been stated, the most dangerous fungi appear 

 to belong to the single genus Amanita, and probably most of the 

 fatal accidents from mushroom poisoning are due to two or three 

 species. The characters of the genus need not be repeated here. 

 The prominent distinctive features of the species here described 

 are indicated in the brief tabular statement annexed. 



Cap warty, striate on the margin A. muscaria. 



Cap not warty, even on the margin 1 



1 Remains of the membranous wrapper closely pressed 



to the base of the stem A. verna, 



1 Remains of the wrapper distant from the base of the 



stem A. phalloides. 



These plants are not ordinarily poisonous to handle, nor are 

 they repulsive in taste or odor. They are clean and attractive in 

 appearance, and the symptoms of poisoning that follow their use 

 as food are slow in appearing. 



On the other hand, those that are classed as unwholesome 

 usually possess some character that may be taken as an indication 

 of their unwholesomeness, though tuis is not always a sure guide 

 to follow. Their toughness of texture, their nauseous and acrid 

 taste, or their intolerable odor, will in most cases sound a note 

 of warning. 



A single species will here be illustrated and described as a 

 representative of this class of fungi. It is the Bitter boletus. 



Boletus felleus. 



Amanita muscaria L. 

 Fly Amanita. False Orange. 



Plate 42. 



Pileus warty, slightly striate on the margin ; lamellae white 

 stem annulate, bulbous- thickened at the base where it is more 



