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PHARMACEUTICAL BOTANY 
basidial layer). Each basidium bears one or two little points known 
as sterigmata. Each sterigma bears a purplish-brown basidiospore. 
The basidiospores falling to the ground germinate into hyphae and 
these become interlaced to form a mycelium. 
In the wild mushroom the gills are at first pink, in cultivated, 
fawn-colored. Ultimately in the wild form the gills turn brownish. 
The spores are purplish-brown. The color of the stipe and upper 
surface of the pileus varies from whitish to a drab color. 
Pig. 145. —Deadly 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.) 
The Amanitas (Poisonous Fungi ).—Amanita muscaria and Aman¬ 
ita phalloides, commonly known as the “fly agaric” and the “deadly 
agaric” respectively, are very poisonous forms. Amanita muscaria 
is common in coniferous forests, although may occasionally be found 
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 
