The caps of A. phalloides vary in color—white, oyster-color, smoky brown. The color of the commonest form is from white to a light hue of greenish yellow. The center of the cap, whatever may be the prevailing color, is usually several shades darker. In shape, the cap changes from a knob in youth, through the shapes of expansion, until it becomes fully spread, when it is umbrella-shaped, or almost flat. Some forms have a slightly raised portion or umbo in the center of the cap. The gills are white, of good width, rounded next to the stem and free from it. The stem conforms in color to the cap, but in lighter shades. White-capped varieties have white stems. The stem has a sudden broad, distinct bulb at the base. On the upper side of the bulb there is usually a margin or rim. The stem tapers more or less toward the cap, from which it is easily separable. The cup, wrapper or volva is torn or split or irregular at the upper part, and is not pressed to the stem as in some forms. Professor Peck, in his 48th Report, gives the following excellent synopsis of differences between the poisonous Amanita and edible fungi, for which it could only by great stupidity be mistaken: _Poison amanita._ =Gills= persistently white. =Stem= equal to or longer than the diameter of the cap, with a broad, distinct bulb at the base. _Common mushroom._ =Gills= pink, becoming blackish-brown. =Stem= shorter than the diameter of the cap, with no bulb at the base. From all forms of the edible Sheathed amanitopsis the Poison amanita differs in its distinctly bulbous stem, in having a collar on the stem and in the absence of striations on the margin of the cap. From the edible Reddish amanita, it is easily separated by the entire absence of any reddish hues or stains and of warts upon its cap. From the Smooth lepiota its distinct, abrupt and marginal bulb at once distinguishes it. =A. ver´na= Bull.—_vernus_, of spring. A variety of A. phalloides. POISONOUS. White. =Pileus= ovate then expanded, somewhat depressed, viscid, margin orbicular, even. =Stem= stuffed then hollow, equal, floccose, closely sheathed with the free border of the volva. =Ring= reflexed, swollen. =Gills= free. =Pileus= glabrous, even on the margin, white, viscid when moist. =Gills= white. =Stem= ringed, white, floccose, stuffed or hollow, closely sheathed at the base by the remains of the membranous volva, bulbous. =Spores= globose, 8µ broad. In woods. Spring and summer. The Vernal Amanita scarcely differs from white forms of the A. phalloides except in the more persistent and more closely sheathing remains of the wrapper at the base of the stem. It is probably only a variety of that species, as most mycologists now regard it, and it should be considered quite as dangerous. I have not found it earlier than in July, although in Europe it is said to appear in spring, as its name implies. _Peck_, 48th Rep. N.Y. State Bot.