The genus is closely related to lepiota, from which it is separated by the volva being separate from the pileus.
"Studies of American Fungi. Mushrooms, Edible, Poisonous, etc."
George Francis Atkinson
The bulb of the deadly amanita is usually inserted quite deep in the soil or leaf mold, and specimens are often picked leaving the very important character of the volva in the ground, and then the plant might easily be taken for the common mushroom, or more likely for the smooth lepiota, lepiota naucina, which is entirely white, the gills only in age showing a faint pink tinge.
"Studies of American Fungi. Mushrooms, Edible, Poisonous, etc."
George Francis Atkinson
The genus lepiota lacks a volva, but the veil is present forming a ring on the stem.
"Studies of American Fungi. Mushrooms, Edible, Poisonous, etc."
George Francis Atkinson