But small and Depauperate specimens of the two species run so nearly together in form, color, and surface characters, that it becomes a matter of some difficulty for even an expert to distinguish them.
"Studies of American Fungi. Mushrooms, Edible, Poisonous, etc."
George Francis Atkinson
In small specimens the stem is often white, especially in Depauperate specimens are the stem and annulus white, and even the gills are white when the volva may be so reduced as to make it difficult to distinguish the specimens from similar specimens of the poisonous fly agaric.
"Studies of American Fungi. Mushrooms, Edible, Poisonous, etc."
George Francis Atkinson
Sometimes the floccose matter would cling together more or less, and portions of it remained as patches on the lower part of the stem, while Depauperate forms of A. vaginata would have a somewhat reduced volva, but in no case did I find intermediate stages between the two kinds of volva.
"Studies of American Fungi. Mushrooms, Edible, Poisonous, etc."
George Francis Atkinson