Histoire des Champignons de la France, Vol 2

A large engraving depicts three stages of the mushroom Amanita phalloides. Figure A shows a young, bulbous mushroom emerging from its volva. Figure B shows a fully mature specimen with a wide, flat cap, a ring on the stalk, and a bulbous base. Figure C shows an intermediate stage where the cap is beginning to open.

Fungus phalloides, annulatus, sordide virefcens et patulus Mushroom resembling a phallus, ringed, dirtily greenish and spreading, VAI. PL. XIV. Fig. 5. Schœff. t. LXXXV. et LXXXVI.

HABIT; it reaches up to 6 inches in height. It is found in the woods, in the shade, during August and September. CAP round, horizontal when it has reached its full size. Its flesh is firm, white; its surface is shiny and moist; it is lined with gills, half-gills, and partial gills; those surrounding the stalk terminate in a point at a regular distance of half a line. STALK straight, solid, of a white, spongy substance that disappears with age.

N.B. stands for "nota bene", meaning "note well". N.B. Its collar is formed by the veil that covered the gills in the young state; the bulb also has its own veil. It is shreds of these that remain attached to the surface of many mushrooms of this species. Figures A, B, and C represent the same mushroom at different stages of development.

When this mushroom is young, it has neither a bad taste nor a bad odor, but in the state of old age, it droops, takes on a brown color, and exhales a cadaverous and unbearable smell. It is very dangerous: emetics, oil, milk, and theriac an ancient medicinal compound used as an antidote to poison are its antidotes.