OBSERVATION OF COMMON FUNGI. 
245 
OUTLINES FOR THE OBSERVATION OF SOME OF 
THE MORE COMMON FUNGI. 
By Professor George F. Atkinson, 
Cornell University. 
( Conclusion .) 
Poisonous Amanitas. 
The genus Amanita contains some of the most deadly mush¬ 
rooms (or toadstools as some call them, though in reality there is 
no difference between a toadstool and a mushroom). The ama¬ 
nitas have white spores (as can be seen from a spore print on 
paper); the gills are usually free from the stem, or the stem 
separates easily from the cap; there is a veil and ring as in the 
common mushroom, and there is, in addition, a distinct outer veil 
or envelope which surrounds the entire plant. In some this en¬ 
velope is in the form of a bag which splits at the top and allows 
the pileus and stem to emerge, leaving the bag on the base of the 
stem. In others, the upper half of the envelope remains clinging 
to the pileus and is torn into large warts or patches which are 
scattered on the expanded pileus, while the lower half of the 
envelope remains at the lower end of the stem in the form of 
scales or scaly rings, or a plain ring, according to the species. 
The “destroying angel” (Amanita verna ).—This is a pure 
white plant of a beautiful white color, and because of the very 
deadly poison which it contains is sometimes called the “ destroy¬ 
ing angel.” It occurs from June to September, usually in woods, 
but sometimes in lawns. In the young stage it is sometimes mis¬ 
taken for the common edible mushroom, and with fatal results. 
Great care should be exercised by the beginner in noting char¬ 
acters of stem, ring, enveloping bag, and color of gills, so that 
suspicious plants may be avoided. It is best at first to dig up 
all plants to be certain to get all the parts of the plant which 
may be in the ground. In this amanita the stem is usually deeply 
inserted in the ground. If possible, find this plant in different 
stages and note and describe the form at different stages, the 
