TAXONOMY 
225 
in grassy places. It occurs singly and not in groups. Amanita 
phalloides is found in woods and borders of fields and, like the fly 
agaric, occurs singly and not in groups. 
Each of these have fruiting bodies (sporophores), which begin at 
the surface of the ground as a button similar to that of the edible 
mushroom. This enlarges and assumes a dumbbell shape. The 
whole button is covered by an outer veil, known as the velum univer- 
Fig. ioi. — D eadly amanita ( Amanita muscaria) showing volva at base of stem 
and frill, like stem ring. (After Chestnut, V. K., Bull. 175, U. S. Dept. Agric., pi. 
i, Apr. 29, 1915.) 
sale, which encloses the pileus, gills and stipe. As the stipe lengthens 
more rapidly than the pileus, the upper part of the veil is stretched 
and finally breaks in its middle portion. The lower part remains as 
a cup, out of which the stipe grows. The upper part is carried up as 
shreds adhering to the margin of the pileus. The lower part is 
called the volva or death cup. The annulus present is a false annulus, 
for it represents a peeling down of the upper part of the stipe. Both 
have chalk-white gills, a white stipe, and white spores. 
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