THE AMANITAS OF EASTERN NORTH 
AMERICA 
William A. Murrill 
(With Plates 85 and 86) 
So much has been written on this important group of gill-fungi, 
both in Europe and America, that it is difficult to review in a brief 
paper the various opinions that have been held and the numerous 
discussions that have arisen regarding the identity, variability, 
distribution, and properties of the species it comprises. My pres- 
ent object is rather to list the chief eastern North American 
species, with a few of the names under which they have been 
known, and to add brief notes that students may appreciate. No 
reference is made here to the poisonous or edible properties of 
the individual species, as it is the opinion of the writer that the 
entire group should be strictly avoided by the mycophagist. After 
reading the following paper it may perhaps be more easily under- 
stood why this statement is made. Aside from the great varia- 
tions in certain species, the accidental loss of a delicate structure 
like the veil may entirely remove a specimen from a dangerous 
genus and transfer it to one in which all the known species are 
harmless. 
\"enenarius Earle, Bull. N. Y. Bot. Card. 5 : 450. 1909 
The type oi Amanita is A garicus c am pestris, hence this familiar 
generic name must be discarded. 
Volva free, conspicuous, persistent; stipe not bulbous. 
Volva wide; lamellae yellow; pileus red, orange, or 
yellow. I. V. Caesareus. 
Volva narrow ; lamellae white ; pileus white or brown. 2. V. spretiis. 
Volva adnate to the base of the bulbous stipe, limb free, 
usually persistent ; pileus white or variously colored, 
smooth or with few patches. 3- phalloides. 
Volva ocreate, usually marginate; pileus covered with 
remnants of the volva. 
Pileus 3-7 cm. broad, white or tinged with yellow 
or olive. 
72 
4. V. cothurnatus. 
