Studies of American Fungi. Mushrooms, Edible, Poisonous, etc. Part 6

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIGURE 61.--Amanita verna, small form, white (natural size). Copyright.]

In such cases there are two veils, or a double veil, each attached to the margin of the pileus, the upper one ascending over the edges of the gills and attached above on the stem, while the lower one descends and is attached below as it is being ripped up from a second layer of the stem. Figures 59--61 are from plants collected at Blowing Rock, N. C., in September, 1899.

=Amanita virosa= Fr. =Deadly Poisonous.=--This plant also by some is regarded as only a form of _Amanita phalloides_. It is a pure white plant and the pileus is viscid as in the _A. verna_ and _A. phalloides_.

The volva splits at the apex as in _A. verna_, but the veil is very fragile and torn into shreds as the pileus expands, portions of it clinging to the margin of the cap as well as to the stem, as shown in Fig. 62. The stem is also adorned with soft floccose scales. Gillet further states that the pileus is conic to campanulate, not becoming convex as in _A. verna_ and _A. phalloides_.

The variability presented in the character of the veil and in the shape of the pileus suggests, as some believe, that all these are but forms of a single variable species. On the other hand, we need a more careful and extended field study of these variations. Doubtless different interpretations of the specific limits by different students will lead some to recognize several species where others would recognize but one.

Since species are not distinct creations there may be tolerably good grounds for both of these views.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIGURE 62.--Amanita virosa, white (natural size).

Copyright.]

=Amanita floccocephala= Atkinson. =Probably Poisonous.=--This species occurs in woods and groves at Ithaca during the autumn. The plants are medium sized, 6--8 cm. high, the cap 3--6 cm. broad, and the stems 4--6 mm. in thickness.

The =pileus= is hemispherical to convex, and expanded, smooth, whitish, with a tinge of straw color, and covered with torn, thin floccose patches of the upper half of the circ.u.mscissile volva. The =gills= are white and adnexed. The =spores= are globose, 7--10 . The =stem= is cylindrical or slightly tapering above, hollow or stuffed, floccose scaly and abruptly bulbous below. The =annulus= is superior, that is, near the upper end of the stem, membranaceous, thin, sometimes tearing, as in _A. virosa_. The =volva= is circ.u.mscissile, the margin of the bulb not being clear cut and prominent, because there is much refuse matter and soil interwoven with the lower portion of the volva. The bulb closely resembles those in Cooke's figure (Ill.u.s.trations, 4) of _A.

mappa_. Figure 63 shows these characters well.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIGURE 63.--Amanita floccocephala (natural size).

Copyright.]

=Amanita velatipes= Atkinson. =Properties Unknown.=--This plant is very interesting since it shows in a striking manner the peculiar way in which the veil is formed in some of the species of _Amanita_. Though not possessing brilliant colors, it is handsome in its form and in the peculiar setting of the volva fragments on the rich brown or faint yellow of the pileus. It has been found on several occasions during the month of July in a beech woods on one of the old flood plains of Six-mile creek, one of the gorges in the vicinity of Ithaca, N. Y. The mature plant is from 15--20 cm. high, the cap from 8--10 cm. broad, and the stem 1--1.5 cm. in thickness.

The =pileus= is viscid when moist, rounded, then broadly oval and convex to expanded, striate on the margin, sometimes in old plants the margin is elevated. It is smooth throughout, and of a soft, rich hair brown, or umber brown color, darker in the center. Sometimes there is a decided but dull maize yellow tinge over the larger part of the pileus, but even then the center is often brown in color, shading into the yellow color toward the margin; the light yellow forms in age, often thinning out to a cream color. The flesh of the pileus is rather thin, even in the center, and becomes very thin toward the margin, as shown in Fig. 67.

The scales on the pileus are more or less flattened, rather thin, clearly separated from the pileus, and easily removed. They are more or less angular, and while elongated transversely at first, become nearly isodiametric as the pileus becomes fully expanded, pa.s.sing from an elongated form to rectangular, or sinuous in outline, the margin more or less upturned, especially in age, when they begin to loosen and "peel"

from the surface of the cap. They are lighter in color than the pileus and I have never observed the yellow tint in them. The =gills= are white, broad at the middle, about 1 cm., and taper gradually toward each end. The =spores= are usually inequilaterally oval, 8--10 6--7 , granular when young, when mature with a large oil drop.

[Ill.u.s.tration: PLATE 15, FIGURE 64.--Amanita velatipes (3/4 natural size). Cap hair-brown, or umber-brown, sometimes with tinge of lemon yellow, or entirely maize-yellow. Scales, gills, and stem white.

Copyright.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIGURE 65.--Amanita velatipes. Different stages of "b.u.t.tons," in the right-hand plant the upper part of the volva separating to form the scales (natural size). Copyright.]

The =stem= is cylindrical, somewhat bulbous, the bulb often tapering abruptly, as shown in Figs. 64, 66. The stem is white, smooth, or floccose scaly where the veil has been ripped off from it. It is hollow and stuffed with loose cottony threads, as shown in Fig. 67. The =veil= is formed by the ripping up of the outer layer of the stem as the latter elongates and as the pileus expands. When it is freed from the margin of the cap it collapses and hangs downward as a broad collar (Fig. 64). The =annulus= is inferior, its position on the stem being due to the peculiar way in which it is formed.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIGURE 66.--Amanita velatipes. Three plants natural size, the left-hand one sectioned, showing stuffed center of stem. Others show how veil is ripped up from the stem. For other details see text.

Copyright.]

Some of the stages of development are ill.u.s.trated in Figs. 64--67. The b.u.t.tons are queer looking objects, the bulb being the most prominent part. It tapers abruptly below, and on the upper side is the small rounded young cap seated in the center. The volva is present as a rough floccose layer, covering the upper part of the bulb and the young cap.

As the stem elongates and the pileus enlarges and expands, the volva is torn into areolate patches. The lower patches, those adjoining the margin of the cap and the upper part of the bulb, are separated in a more or less concentric manner. One or more of them lie on the upper part of the bulb, forming the "limb" of the "ocreate" volva. Others lie around the margin of the pileus. Sometimes an annular one bordering the pileus and bulb is left clinging part way up on the stem, as shown in Fig. 66. The concentric arrangement on the pileus is sometimes shown for a considerable time, as in Fig. 67, the elongated areas being present in greater number at this age of the pileus. However, as the pileus expands more, these are separated into smaller areas and their connection with the surface of the pileus becomes less firm.

The formation of the veil and annulus can be easily followed in these figures. The margin of the cap in the b.u.t.ton stage is firmly connected with the outer layer of the stem at its lower end. This probably occurs by the intermingling growth of the threads from the lower end of the stem and the margin of the cap, while the edges of the gills are quite free from the stem. Now as the stem elongates and the cap expands the veil is "ripped" up from the outer part of the stem. This is very clearly shown in Fig. 66, especially where two strips on the stem have become disconnected from the margin of the cap and are therefore left in position on the outside of the stem.

This species is related to _A. excelsa_ Fr., which is said to have a superior ring.

[Ill.u.s.tration: PLATE 16, FIGURE 67.--Amanita velatipes. The right-hand plant shows how the veil is ripped up from the stem and also shows the transversely elongate scales on the cap. For details see text (natural size). Copyright.]

=Amanita cothurnata= Atkinson. =Probably Poisonous.=--The booted amanita, _Amanita cothurnata_, I have found in two different years in the Blue Ridge mountains at Blowing Rock, N. C., once in 1888, during the first week of September, and again during the three first weeks in September, 1899. It occurs sparingly during the first week or so of September, and during the middle of the month is very abundant. The species seems to be clearly distinct from other species of _Amanita_, and there are certain characters so persistent as to make it easily recognizable. It ranges in height from 7--12 cm. and the caps are 3--7 cm. or more broad, while the stems are 4--10 mm. in thickness. The entire plant is usually white, but in some specimens the cap has a tinge of citron yellow, or in others tawny olive, in the center.

[Ill.u.s.tration: PLATE 17, FIGURE 68.--Amanita cothurnata. Different stages of development; for details see text. Entire plant white, sometimes tinge of umber at center of cap, and rarely slight tinge of lemon-yellow at center (natural size). Copyright.]

The =pileus= is fleshy, and pa.s.ses, in its development, from nearly globose to hemispherical, convex, expanded, and when specimens are very old sometimes the margin is elevated. It is usually white, though specimens are found with a tinge of citron yellow in the center, or of tawny olive in the center of other specimens. The pileus is viscid, strongly so when moist. It is finely striate on the margin, and covered with numerous, white, floccose scales from the upper half of the volva, forming more or less dense patches, which may wash off in heavy rains.

The =gills= are rounded next the stem, and quite remote from it. The edge of the gills is often eroded or frazzly from the torn out threads with which they were loosely connected to the upper side of the veil in the young or b.u.t.ton stage. The =spores= are globose or nearly so, with a large "nucleus" nearly filling the spore.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIGURE 69.--Amanita cothurnata. Different stages opening up of plant, the two center ones showing veil being ripped from stem, but veil narrow. The right-hand ill.u.s.tration has been scratched transversely, these marks not being characteristic of the plant (natural size). Copyright.]

The =stem= is cylindrical, even, and expanded below into quite a large oval bulb, the stem just above the bulb being margined by a close fitting roll of the volva, and the upper edge of this presenting the appearance of having been sewed at the top like the rolled edge of a garment or buskin. The surface of the stem is minutely floccose scaly or strongly so, and decidedly hollow even from a very young stage, or sometimes when young with loose threads in the cavity.

Figures 68--70, from plants (No. 3715, C. U. herbarium) collected at Blowing Rock, N. C., during September, 1899, ill.u.s.trate certain of the features in the form and development of this plant.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIGURE 70.--Amanita cothurnata. Two plants in section showing clearly hollow stem, veil attachment, etc. (natural size).

Copyright.]

In _Amanita frostiana_ the remains of the volva sometimes form a similar collar, but not so stout, on the base of the stem. The variations in _A.

frostiana_ where the stem, annulus and gills are white might suggest that there is a close relations.h.i.+p between _A. frostiana_ and _A.

cothurnata_, and that the latter is only a form of the former. From a careful study of the two plants growing side by side the evidence is convincing that the two are distinct. _Amanita frostiana_ occurs also at Blowing Rock, appearing earlier in the season than _A. cothurnata_, and also being contemporary with it. _A. frostiana_ is more variable, not nearly so viscid, nor nearly so abundant, the stem is solid or stuffed, the annulus is more frail and evolved from the stem in a different manner. The volva does not leave such a constant and well defined roll where it separated on the stem transversely, and the pileus is yellow or orange. When _A. cothurnata_ is yellowish at all it is a different tint of yellow and then only a tinge of yellow at the center. Albino or faded forms of _A. frostiana_ might occur, but we would not expect them to appear at a definite season of the year in great abundance while the normal form, showing no intergrading specimens in the same locality, continued to appear in the same abundance and with the same characters as before. The dried plants of _A. cothurnata_ are apt to become tinged with yellow on the gills, the upper part of the stem and upper part of the annulus during the processes of drying, but the pileus does not change in like manner, nor do these plants show traces of yellow on these parts when fresh. The spores are also decidedly different, though the shape and size do not differ to any great extent. In _A. frostiana_ and the pale forms of the species the spores are nearly globose or oval, rarely with a tendency to become elliptical, but _the content is quite constantly finely granular_, while the spores of _A. cothurnata_ are perhaps more constantly globose or nearly so, but the spore is _nearly filled with a highly refractive oil globule or "nucleus."_ The pileus of _A. frostiana_ is also thinner than that of _A. cothurnata_. It is nearer, in some respects, to specimens of _Amanita pantherina_ received from Bresadola, of Austria-Hungary.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIGURE 71.--Amanita spreta. The two outside plants show the free limb of the volva lying close against the stem (natural size, often larger). Copyright.]

=Amanita spreta= Pk. =Said to be Poisonous.=--According to Peck this species grows in open or bushy places. The specimens ill.u.s.trated in Fig.

71 grew in sandy ground by the roadside near trees in the edge of an open field at Blowing Rock, N. C., and others were found in a grove. The plants are 10--15 cm. high, the caps 6--12 cm. broad, and the stems 8--12 mm. in thickness. The =pileus= is convex to expanded, gray or light drab, and darker on the center, or according to Dr. Peck it may be white. It is smooth, or with only a few remnants of the volva, striate on the margin, and 1--.5 cm. thick at the center. The =gills= are white, adnexed, that is they reach the stem by their upper angle. The =stem= is of the same color as the pileus, but somewhat lighter, white to light gray or light drab, cylindrical, not bulbous, hollow or stuffed. The =annulus= is thin and attached above the middle of the stem. The =volva= is sordid white, and sheathes the stem with a long free limb of 3--5 lobes. It splits at the apex, but portions sometimes cling to the surface of the pileus.

Figure 71 is from plants (No. 3707, C. U.) collected at Blowing Rock, N.

C., September, 1899.

=Amanita caesarea= Scop. =Edible=, _but use great caution_.--This plant is known as the orange amanita, royal agaric, Caesar's agaric, etc. It is one of the most beautiful of all the agarics, and is well distributed over the earth. With us it is more common in the Southern States. It occurs in the summer and early autumn in the woods. It is easily recognized by its usually large size, yellow or orange color of the cap, gills, stem and ring, and the prominent, white, sac-like volva at the base of the stem. It is usually 12--20 cm. high, the cap 5--10 cm.

broad, and the stems 6--10 mm. in thickness, though it may exceed this size, and depauperate forms are met with which are much smaller.

The =pileus= is ovate to bell-shaped, convex, and finally more or less expanded, when the surface may be nearly flat or the center may be somewhat elevated or umbonate and the margin curved downward. The surface is smooth except at the margin, where it is prominently striate.

The color varies from orange to reddish or yellow, usually the well developed and larger specimens have the deeper and richer colors, while the smaller specimens have the lighter colors, and the color is usually deeper on the center of the pileus. The =gills= are yellow, and free from the stem. The =stem= is hollow, even in young plants, when it may be stuffed with loose threads. It is often very floccose scaly below the annulus. It is cylindrical, only slightly enlarged below, where it is covered by the large, fleshy, sac-like white volva. The =annulus= is membranaceous, large, and hangs like a broad collar from the upper part of the stem. The stem and ring are orange or yellow, the depth of the color varying more with the size of the plant than is the case with the color of the cap. In small specimens the stem is often white, especially in depauperate specimens are the stem and annulus white, and even the gills are white when the volva may be so reduced as to make it difficult to distinguish the specimens from similar specimens of the poisonous fly agaric.

[Ill.u.s.tration: PLATE 18, FIGURE 72.--Amanita caesarea. Different stages of development (2/3 natural size). Cap, stem, gills, veil orange or yellow. Volva white. Copyright.]

In the b.u.t.ton stage the plant is ovate and the white color of the volva, which at this time entirely surrounds the plants, presents an appearance not unlike that of an egg. The volva splits open at the apex as the stem elongates. The veil is often connected by loose threads with the outer portion of the stem and as the pileus expands this is torn away, leaving coa.r.s.e floccose scales on the stem. Some of the different stages in the opening of the plant are shown in Fig. 72. This ill.u.s.tration is taken from a photograph of plants (No. 3726, C. U. herbarium) collected at Blowing Rock, N. C., September, 1899. The plant is said to be one of the best esculents, and has been prized as an article of food from ancient times. Great caution should be used in distinguis.h.i.+ng it from the fly agaric and from other amanitas.

[Ill.u.s.tration: PLATE 19.

FIG. 1.--Amanita rubescens FIG. 2.--A. caesarea.

Copyright 1900.]

=Amanita rubescens= Fr. =Edible=, _but use great caution_.--The reddish amanita, _Amanita rubescens_, is so called because of the sordid reddish color diffused over the entire plant, and especially because bruised portions quickly change to a reddish color. The plant is often quite large, from 12--20 cm. high, the cap 8--12 cm. broad and the stem 8--12 mm. in thickness, but it is sometimes much smaller. It occurs during the latter part of the summer and in early autumn, in woods and open places.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIGURE 73.--Amanita rubescens. Plant partly expanded.

Dull reddish brown, stains reddish when bruised; for other details see text (natural size). Copyright.]

The =pileus= is oval to convex, and becoming expanded when old. It is smooth or faintly striate on the margin, and covered with numerous scattered, thin, floccose, grayish scales, forming remnants of the larger part of the volva or outer veil. The color of the cap varies correspondingly, but is always tinged more or less distinctly with pink, red, or brownish red hues. The =gills= are white or whitish and free from the stem. The =stem= is nearly cylindrical, tapering some above, and with a prominent bulb which often tapers abruptly below. In addition to the suffused dull reddish color the stem is often stained with red, especially where handled or touched by some object. There are very few evidences of the volva on the stem since the volva is so floccose and torn into loose fragments, most of which remain on the surface of the cap. Sometimes a few of these loose fragments are seen on the upper portion of the bulb, but they are easily removed by handling or by rains. The =annulus= is membranous, broad, and fragile.

Since the plant has become well known it is regarded as excellent and wholesome for food and pleasant to the taste. In case of the larger specimens there should be no difficulty in distinguis.h.i.+ng it from others by those who care to compare the descriptions closely with the fresh specimens. But as in all cases beginners should use extreme caution in eating plants they have not become thoroughly familiar with. Small specimens of this species sometimes show but little of the reddish color, and are therefore difficult to determine.

Figures 73 and 74 are from plants (No. 3727 C. U. herbarium) collected at Blowing Rock, N. C., during September, 1899.