Fig. 240.
Agaricus campestris; plant in natural position just after
rupture of veil, showing tendency to double annulus on the
stem. Portions of the veil also dripping from margin of pileus.
Fig. 241.
Agaricus campestris; spore print.
Fig. 242.
“Fairy ring” formed by Agaricus arvensis (photograph by B. M. Duggar).
The mycelium spreads centrifugally each year, consuming the available
food, and thus the plants appear in a ring.
Fig. 243.
Amanita phalloides; white form,
showing pileus, stipe, annulus,
and volva.
424. Beware of the poisonous mushroom.—The number of species of mushrooms, or toadstools as they are often called, is very great. Besides the common mushroom (Agaricus campestris) there are a large number of other edible species. But one should be very familiar with any species which is gathered for food, unless collected by one who certainly knows what the plant is, since carelessness in this respect sometimes results fatally from eating poisonous ones.