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EDIBLE AND POISONOUS MUSHROOMS OF CANADA
91, p. 48). The true puffballs are homogeneous within. As the pileus expands,
the volva becomes torn. This may occur in different ways. In some species it
tears across the top and the mushroom emerges leaving the volva as a loose
membranous sheath enclosing the base of the stipe (Figure 90, p. 48). In other
species it may tear around the margin of the pileus and part of it remains on the
surface of the pileus as warts or patches whereas the remainder more or less
tightly encloses the base of the stipe, sometimes forming a series of irregular
rings and patches or sometimes appearing as a more or less evident collar
(Figure 103, p. 50). In some species the volva is friable and powdery and tends
to disappear. The volva is often buried in the ground and in order to identify
them correctly it is necessary to collect Amanita species very carefully, making
certain to get the base of the stipe.
In spite of the interest of many students in this genus, the identity of a
number of the species is still in doubt. It is thus advisable to avoid all species
of the genus when collecting for the table.
Key
1. Pileus white or whitish 2
1. Pileus not predominantly white 4
2. Volva forming ragged scales and rings on the stipe;
spores nonamyloid white form of A. muscaria
2. Volva not as above; spores amyloid 3
3. Fruiting body entirely pure white; volva forming a loose sac-like
sheath enclosing the bulb A. virosa
3. Pileus tinged greenish yellow; volva usually adnate to the bulb
but separable at the margin A. citrina
4. Pileus brown, reddish brown, or yellow-brown 5
4. Pileus not predominantly brown 10
5. Wounds in flesh and stipe staining brown or reddish 6
5. Wounds not conspicuously staining 8
6. Bulb abrupt, expanded cup-shaped, depressed-marginate, firm,
often splitting vertically; spores globose A. brunnescens
6. BulS clavate or ovoid, not as above, spores ellipsoid 7
7. Yellow tones present in pileus, warts, or annulus A. flavorubescens
7. No yellow tones present; entire fruit body reddening A. rubescens
8. Annulus gray; bulb not collared; spores amyloid A. porphyria
8. Annulus white; bulb with a collar; spores nonamyloid 9
9. Pileus with creamy margin, brownish disk, very large A. velatipes
9. Pileus yellowish to dark brown with white warts, usually rather small A. pantherina
10. Pileus orange or red, at least on the disk 11
10. Pileus yellow or paler, lacking orange or red tones 14
11. Lamellae clear yellow; volva loose, sac-like A. caesarea
11. Lamellae white or cream; volva not sac-like 12
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