New-York tribune., 1911-09-10

aIood and there is no antidote. II a sutti-
cieut quantity has been eaten death will
surely follow Atropine IS an antidote for
the poison OF the Amanita muscara, which
paralyzes the nerves controlling the action
of the heart
The deadly amanita' Is very conspio-
uaus and beautiful object, occurring
throughout the summer an autumn in
open groves and along the edges Of woods.
Neither its odor nor its taste Is disagree
able as is the case with most inedinle
mushrooms, and 1t must b. recognized by
ID careful study OF its form and parts,
which are, fortunately. very characteristic.
-he most important part Of the deadly
amanita is the sheath az the base OF the
stem known as the 'death-cup. This is
what remains Of the outer coat Of the
egg after the cap has burst from II and
has been carried upward by the growing
stem The ring on the stem is similar 10
that Of the common mushroom, Agaricus
caurestris which is the one most com
monty gathered. but the gills are white,
both when young and old, those OF the
common mushroom being at first pink. then
black. Nothing can be told from the color
varies so much being pure white. yellow
ish. brownlsh or blackish. Sometimes the
surface is perfectly smooth and at other
times il is adorned with pieces Of the
death-cup which were carried up on il
when The cap burst through the roof Of
the sse
When gathering mushrooms It is exceed
inrlv important 60 get all of The stem and
not leave a portion Of it in the ground,
since the death-cup' may thus be over
Looked Mushrooms should not be gath
eyed In the button stage unless mature
srecimens are growing in the same place,
Otherwise an egg Of one Of the poisonous
kinds NAV b. collected by mistake
"Amanita muscaria, or 1v amanita' as
81 IS called from the fact OF its being used
60 prepare poison for flies, has a bright
scarlet. veuovish or orange cap. some
times fading 10 nearly white and covered
with conspicuous warts. which are por-
tons of the death-cup carried up from be-
lrw Ire rest Of THE cup wiu usually he
found in fragments in the soil about the
swollen base of the stem The gills are
white and remain 20"
Not only are the edible members Of the
amauita family banned because Of their re-
Iatonship 20 the poisonous species. but be-
c.Bacrs are warned 10 avoid members OF
other families that resemble H. There is
the lep.Otc. or Uarasol mushroom. for in
stance This is an excellent variety Or
MC~rol says. but too much like the anna
Llt1 Tor general usc.'
THO lepiota often appears on lawns ana
ir gardens Wlere the amanita, according
to rhe books. has no business 10 be-. but the
amanita could with truth be called a fiend
ln fungus form. for. though lt ought 70
limit itE residence 20 the woods where Il
j. said 10 belong. II not only haunts the
home OF the meadow and pasture mush-
rooms but the garden and the lawn, where
the lepiota loves 10 grow Many persons
familiar with the leniota as ar edi be have
undoubtedly mistaken the two, with fatal
results.
ror the last three years a special study
OF mushrooms has been under way al the
Botanical Gardens and in a few months an
extensive collection OF coored drawings
or edible and poisonous mushrooms will Be
ready for exhibition.