A. strangula´ta (Fr.) Roze—choked, from the stuffed stem. (Plate [X], fig. 4, p. 28.) Pileus at first ovate or subelliptical, then bell-shaped, convex or plane, warty, slightly viscid when moist, deeply and distinctly striate on the margin, grayish-brown. Gills free, close, white. Stem equal or tapering upward, stuffed or hollow, nearly smooth, white or whitish, the volva soon breaking up into scales or subannular fragments. Spores globose, 10–13µ.
Plant 4–6 in. high. Pileus 2–4 in. broad. Stem 3–6 lines thick. Peck, 33d Rep. N.Y. State Bot.
A. Ceciliæ B. and Br. is a synonym.
Not distinct in color and general appearance from A. vaginata, but distinctly separated by its warty pileus and evanescent mouse-colored volva which does not sheath the stem. Pileus striate when young, then sulcate. Stem mealy, especially on the upper part.
Woods, open grassy places, wheat stubble, etc. June to September. Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, McIlvaine.
In the latitude of Philadelphia the plant is found in great abundance. Its rather early appearance, staying quality, delicate consistency and flavor make it valuable as a food supply.
Pearl color, bluish-gray and gray are the prevailing cap-coloring.
A. adna´ta (W.G.S.) Roze—adnatus, adnate, of the gills. Pileus about 3 in. across. Flesh thick, whitish, firm, convex, then expanded, rather moist, pale yellowish-buff, often furnished with irregular, woolly patches of volva; margin even, extending beyond the gills. Stem 2–4 in. long, ½ in. thick, cylindrical, rough, fibrillose, pale buff, flesh distinct from that of the pileus, stuffed, then hollow; base slightly swollen. Volva adnate, white, downy, margin free and lax, sometimes almost obsolete. Gills truly adnate, crowded, with many intermediate shorter ones, white. Spores subglobose, with an oblique point, 7–8µ Massee.
Tender, good flavor, yielding more substance when cooked than any other Amanitopsis.
A. volva´ta Pk.—possessing a volva. Pileus convex, then nearly plane, slightly striate on the margin, hairy or floccose-scaly, white or whitish, the disk sometimes brownish. Gills close, free, white. Stem equal or slightly tapering upward, stuffed, minutely floccose-scaly, whitish, inserted at the base in a large, firm, cup-shaped, persistent volva. Spores elliptical, 10×8µ.