The stem is creamy-white, much darker toward the base, hollow, rather stiff, quite brittle, frequently found to be split lengthwise, ventricose, tapering toward the cap.
The veil is rather frail, one portion of it often adhering to the cap and another portion forming a ring on the stem.
Through the courtesy of Captain McIlvaine I am able to present an excellent picture of this species. The beginner will have some trouble to distinguish it from A. silvicola. This species, like the A. silvicola, is closely related to the meadow mushroom, but can be readily separated from it. This, too, like the A. silvicola, when seen in the woods at a distance, resembles the Amanita, but a careful glance at the gills will detect the difference.
The gills of the very young plant may appear white, but they will soon develop a pinkish tinge which will distinguish it from the Amanita. It is found in thin woods from July to October.
Agaricus comptulus. Fr.
Comptulus means beautified or luxuriously decked; so called from the silky lustre of its cap.
The pileus is at first convex, then expanded, rather fleshy, thinner at the margin and incurved, usually with an adpressed silky finish to the surface of the cap which gives rise to its specific name.
The gills are free, much rounded toward the margin and the stem, white at first, then grayish, pinkish, purple-brown in old plants.
The stem is hollow, tapering from the base to the cap, slight bulbous, white, then yellowish, fleshy, fibrous. The veil is more delicate than in A. silvaticus, parts of it often found in young plants on the margin of the cap, forming a ring on the stem which soon almost disappears. Spores small, 4–5×2–3µ.
The surface of the cap, the rounding of the gills both in front and behind, also the tendency to turn white paper blue or bluish when the flesh of the cap comes in contact with it, will assist in determining this species.