Murrill: Poisonous Mushrooms 



261 



Amanita pantherina DC. 

 Considered poisonous by all authors, causing intoxication simi- 

 lar to that caused by A. nmscaria, though in milder form, and 

 containing both muscarine and choline. It is said to be the chief 

 poisonous mushroom of Japan, but has rarely been known to 

 be fatal. 



Amanita phalloides Fries 

 This most deadly species, for which no antidote is known, 

 occurs in many forms and colors, but is always characterized by 

 the presence of a prominent death-cup at the base of the stipe. 

 The principal poison is not accurately known chemically, neither 

 have its exact effects on the animal system been determined, 

 although it has been much investigated both by physiologists and 

 chemists. For the rather extensive literature of the subject, the 

 reader is referred to the authors cited under Amanita muscaria. 

 It is reasonable to expect that at no very distant date an antidote 

 will be discovered for the deadly amanita, as has been the case 

 with rattlesnake poison and the toxin accompanying diphtheria. 



Amanita strobiliformis Villad. 

 This species, according to Ford, contains a small quantity of 

 the deadly poison found in A. phalloides and should never be 

 eaten, although claimed by some authors to be harmless. Owing 

 to the present confusion regarding the limitation of species closely 

 related to A. strobiliformis, it is wise to suspect the whole group 

 until better known. 



Chanterel alectorolophoides (Schaeff.) Murrill 

 This species, usually known as Cantharellus aurantiacus Fries, 

 has been recently investigated, along with C. tiihaeformis, by 

 Sartory, who pronounces both of them harmless. 



Clitocybe illudens Schw. 

 Pronounced poisonous, though not fatal, by all mycologists 

 who have tested it. Dr. Farlow reported a severe case of poi- 

 soning from it in Rhodora in 1899. It causes nausea and is soon 

 rejected by all but the strongest stomachs. 



