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diff --git a/old/18452-8.txt b/old/18452-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..551717e --- /dev/null +++ b/old/18452-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4431 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Among the Mushrooms, by +Ellen M. Dallas and Caroline A. Burgin + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Among the Mushrooms + A Guide For Beginners + +Author: Ellen M. Dallas and Caroline A. Burgin + +Release Date: May 26, 2006 [EBook #18452] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AMONG THE MUSHROOMS *** + + + + +Produced by Louise Hope, Peter Vachuska, Suzanne Lybarger +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + [Illustration (Frontispiece): + + 1. Craterellus cornucopioides. + 2. Cortinarius armillatus. + 3. Clitocybe laccata. + 4. Tremellodon gelatinosum.] + + + + + AMONG THE MUSHROOMS + A Guide for Beginners + + by + + ELLEN M. DALLAS + and + CAROLINE A. BURGIN + + + [Illustration] + + +Toronto / London +Drexel Biddle, Publisher + +NEW YORK 67 Fifth Avenue +PHILADELPHIA 228 South Fourth St. +SAN FRANCISCO 319-325 Sansome St. + +1900 + + + Copyright, 1900 + By A. J. DREXEL BIDDLE + + + Press of + DREXEL BIDDLE, PHILADELPHIA + + + + + "_Have you not seen in the woods on a late autumn morning + a poor fungus or mushroom--a plant without any solidity, nay, + that seemed nothing but a soft mush or jelly--by its constant + total and inconceivably gentle pushing, manage to break its way + up through the frosty ground, and actually to lift a hard crust + on its head? It is the symbol of the power of kindness._" + + Emerson. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +The books which have been consulted in the preparation of this work are, +"British Fungi," by Rev. John Stevenson; "British Fungus-Flora," by +George Massee; "Mushrooms and their Uses," and "Boleti of the United +States," by Professor Charles H. Peck, State Botanist of New York; +"Moulds, Mildew and Mushrooms," by Professor L. M. Underwood; and a +pamphlet by Mr. C. G. Lloyd, entitled "The Volvæ of the United States." + +No attempt has been made to do more than to put in popular language the +statements of experienced botanists, and so to arrange the matter as to +aid beginners in their work. + +Thanks are due to Mr. Harold Wingate for his suggestions and corrections +of the manuscript; to Mr. C. G. Lloyd for permission to print from his +photographs; to Miss Laura C. Detwiller for her paintings from nature, +which have been here reproduced; and also to Mrs. Harrison Streeter and +Miss Mary W. Nichols for their encouragement of the undertaking and +suggestions in furtherance of its success. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + [Transcriber's Note: + The structure of the Table of Contents does not correspond perfectly + to the book itself, but all page numbers are correct.] + + Page + +Introduction, 13 + Mushrooms, 23 + Antiquity of Fungi, 23 + Manner of Growth, 24 + Odor, 26 + Duration, 27 + Uses, 27 + Habitat, 28 + Structure and growth, 29 + Mycelium, 31 + The Stem, 34 + The Gills, 34 + The Spores, 36 + The Volva and Veil, 37 + The Tubes or Pores, 38 + +Classification of Fungi, + Distinctive Characteristics of Genera. 39 + Hymenomycetes, 41 + Gasteromycetes, 59 + Ascomycetes, 64 + By Color of the Spores, 72 + +General Helps to the Memory, 68 + +Descriptions of Fungi arranged + According to Color of Cap only, 77 + Red or Pink, 77 + Yellow or Orange, 88 + Gray, 100 + Green, 106 + White, 107 + Brown, 115 + Purple or Violet, 129 + +Description of Some Familiar Mushrooms, + without regard to color, 131 + +Direction for Using Keys, 147 + Key to Hymenomycetes, 149 + Key to Polyporei, 152 + Key to Hydnei, 152 + Key to Thelephorei, 152 + Key to Clavariei, 153 + Key to Gasteromycetes and Ascomycetes, 153 + +Glossary, 155 + +Index to Descriptions of Fungi, 161 + +Guide for Determining Genera of Agarics + in four Tables, 165 + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. + FACING PAGE + +Craterellus cornucopioides-- + Cortinarius armillatus-- + Clitocybe laccata-- + Tremellodon gelatinosum. _Frontispiece._ +Coprinus atramentarius, 26 +Amanita vaginata, 37 +Omphalia alboflava, 47 +Russula pectinata, 76 +Lactarius insulsus, 92 +Amanita vaginata, 101 +Psathyrella disseminata, 116 +Lepiota procera, 120 +Boletus edulis-- + Hypholoma perplexum-- + Marasmius rotula-- + Calostoma cinnebarinus, 129 +Cortinarius distans, 147 + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +This book is intended for those who, though ignorant on the subject, +desire to know something about mushrooms. The first question which such +an one asks upon finding a mushroom is, "What is its name?" If there is +no one near to tell him, then follows the second inquiry, "How can I +find it out for myself?" If wild flowers were concerned, Gray's little +book, "How the Plants Grow," could be used; and there is also Mrs. +Dana's book on "The Wild Flowers," that has given so much pleasure. In +the case of mushrooms, however, but one answer can be returned to all +questions: "There is no American text-book on mushrooms, there is no +manual for beginners." + +There are many books on British fungi for students, but we want some +popular work easy to understand, with no technical expressions. + +This necessity for a simple guide-book has been felt by many. Let us +give our own experience. We procured a list of works on fungi, and +looked for some volume not too deep for our comprehension nor too costly +for our purse. Among those we found were "Handbook for Students" +(Taylor); "Edible and Poisonous Fungi" (Cooke), and a pamphlet by +Professor Peck, "Mushrooms and Their Uses." This seemed to be the one +that we could comprehend most easily, and so, armed with it, and another +pamphlet by Professor Underwood, called "Suggestions to Collectors of +Fleshy Fungi," which contained a simple key, we started out to make +discoveries. We afterward procured some publications of Mr. C. G. Lloyd, +which were of great assistance, and lastly a glossary published by the +Boston Mycological Society, a necessary addition to our library. + +We found Professor Peck's book was confined to edible mushrooms, and it +soon became too limited to satisfy our craving for further knowledge--it +incited a longing to know something of inedible fungi. + +The rest is soon told. We were advised to get either a copy of +Stevenson's "British Fungi" or of Massee's works. We did so, but found +them too advanced to be readily used by the unlearned. Then the idea +arose, How can we help others in their difficulties? This little book is +the answer. It will not be of use to advanced students, they will only +criticise and discover how much has been left unsaid; but the beginner +is more easily satisfied with the extent of information gained, and if a +taste for knowledge is encouraged the object of this book is attained. + +This explanation will also account for the use of simple terms. We find +a tiny fungus which looks like a brownish bird's nest, with some +miniature eggs in it, or a shining white mushroom, and we are told its +name in Latin; it is described in terms meaningless to the ignorant, +we lose interest, and our attention flags. We began for pleasure and +recreation, but it became irksome and fatiguing, and the subject which +might have amused us and helped to pass many an idle hour is put aside +and abandoned. Yet this study is a most fascinating one. We all long for +pleasant subjects of thought in our leisure hours, and there can be +nothing more diverting and absorbing than the investigation of the +beautiful and familiar plants around us. + +When we leave the bustling, noisy streets of a city and go into the +quiet fields and woods the contrast is very great. A walk for exercise +alone is often dull and tiresome. We cannot be assured of pleasant +companions, nor is there always a fine view or picturesque scenery to +reward us during our strolls, but there are plants to be found and +gathered, and when these fail us, then the bright-hued mushrooms may +arrest our attention. The discovery of new specimens, the learning their +names, the knowledge of their curious organizations, will all add an +interest to our lives. It will inspire us with a love of nature, and +open our eyes to many objects of which we have before been unobservant. +Besides this it obliges us to be accurate. Our descriptions must be +exact or they are of no use. + +Let us imagine ourselves taking a stroll in the woods or down some shady +lane, and see what we can find there. + +The golden-rod and asters adorn the roadsides, the odors of the sweet +gale and scented fern are wafted gratefully to our senses as we pass +along the lanes, and there, among the fallen leaves, at the very edge of +the woods, peers out a bright yellow mushroom, brighter from the +contrast to the dead leaves around, and then another, close by, and then +a shining white cap; further on a mouse-colored one, gray, and silky in +texture. What a contrast of colors. What are they? By what names shall +we call them? + +Let us first carefully dig up the yellow one. We have brought a basket +and trowel, and can examine them thoroughly. We must dig down deep so as +not to break off the stem. There is a ring or collar around it near the +top. There is a bulb at the base, with some slight membrane attached. +The cap is orange color, almost smooth, covered with a few spots like +warts, and there are some lines on the margin. The gills are not +attached to the stem, and are white with a creamy hue. The stem is also +white, tinged faintly with yellow. We will take a penknife and divide it +into halves, cutting straight through the stem and cap. We find the stem +is filled with a spongy substance, and we can now see more clearly the +position of the gills. Our specimen measures 2 inches across the cap, +and the stem is 2 or 3 inches long. It is an Amanita, resembling the Fly +Amanita, which we will probably soon discover. Our fungus is Frost's +Amanita, named after the botanist who first placed it on the list, +Frost. It is not among the British fungi. It is American. + +Now let us dig up the shining white one. It is much larger than the +yellow fungus, handsome, pure-looking, with a rather slender stem. The +cap is nearly 4 inches across, the flesh is white. The stem is long, +solid, with a bulbous base. There is a wide, loose ring high up on the +stem. The membrane around the base is large and thick. The stem is scaly +and shining white like the cap. This pure-looking, handsome mushroom is +one of the most poisonous of its kind. It is called Amanita virosa--the +poisonous Amanita, from a Latin word meaning poison. We have never found +any specimen with insects on it. They seem to know its deadly qualities +and shun its acquaintance. + +Let us look at the gray mushroom and see how it differs from the others. +It has no ring, its color is a soft gray or mouse color, the margin is +deeply grooved. The cap is almost flat, the flesh does not reach to the +margin, and is white. It is very smooth, but another time we might find +the same mushroom with scales upon it. The cap measures 3 inches across. +The stem tapers upward, is slender, and is 4 inches long. The gills are +free, not attached to the stem, and are swollen in the middle. They are +not very close together and are shining white. The base extends deep +into the ground, and is sheathed with a membrane that is loose and +easily broken off. It is a very common mushroom, and we shall often find +it, but it varies in color; it is sometimes umber, often white, and even +has a faint yellowish or greenish hue in the centre. + +So far we have only looked at Amanitas. They are conspicuous, and the +large rings and colors are striking and interesting to the novice; but +look at that clay bank that borders on our road, and perhaps we may +discover some Boleti. Even a beginner in the study of mushrooms can tell +the difference between a boletus and those we have been examining. Here +are two or three mushrooms growing together. What is there different +about them? We see no ring, no membrane around the base of stem, and +what are these tubes beneath the cap so unlike the gills of the others? +They have the appearance somewhat of a sponge. These are the pores or +tubes that contain the spores. Let us divide the fungus. At the first +touch of the knife, through the stem, the color begins to change, and in +a moment stem, tubes, and cap turn to a bright blue. We can see the +color steal along, at first faintly, and then deepen into a darker blue. +The cap is a light brownish yellow color, 2 inches broad, covered with +woolly scales. The tubes are free from the stem. They have been white, +but are changing to yellow. The mouths or openings of the tubes are +becoming bluish-green. The stem is swollen in the middle. It is covered +with a bloom. It is stuffed with a pith, and tapers toward the apex. It +is like the cap in color, and measures 1½ inch in length. The mouths +of the tubes are round. This is Boletus cyanescens, or the bluing +Boletus, as named by Professor Peck in his work on Boleti. He says it +grows more in the North, and sometimes is much larger than the one we +found. + +We turn to the bank in hopes of discovering another, and see, instead, +what appears to be a mass of jelly half-hidden in the clay, and in the +midst some bright scarlet cherries, or at least something that resembles +them. We take the trowel and loosen them from the earth, and there, +among the gelatinous matter, we find small round balls as large as a +common marble, covered by a bright red skin. When cut in half we see +they are filled with a pure white substance, like the inside of a young +puff-ball. This is quite a discovery. We must look in our books for its +name. It is not in our British manual, but we learn from Professor Peck +that it is called Calostoma cinnabarinus. Calostoma is a Greek word +meaning beautiful mouth, and cinnabarinus is taken from cinnabaris, +which means dragon's-blood. We are not responsible for the names given +to plants, but cannot help wishing that some might be changed or +shortened. + +We could go on prolonging our search, and describe many wonderful fungi, +so easily found on a summer day, but as our object is to excite +curiosity and interest and not fatigue the reader, we will here pause, +and afterward arrange the descriptions of mushrooms in a separate +section. The ones we have described may be found in the Middle States +and in New England. + + + + +MUSHROOMS. + + +ANTIQUITY OF FUNGI. + +Fungi have existed from early geological ages. They flourished in the +Carboniferous period, when the enormous beds of coal were formed, a +space of time that occupied many millions of years. Bessey says that the +oldest known member of the order of membrane fungi, Hymenomycetes, was +called by the name of "Polyporites Bowmanii." During the Tertiary period +members of the genera now known under the names of Lenzites, Polyporus, +and Hydnum were all in existence. It is interesting to know that even +before the Tertiary period the undergrowth consisted of ferns and fleshy +fungi. What a time of delight for the botanist! But there were no human +beings in those days to roam amongst that luxuriant undergrowth, and +only the fossil remains in the deposits of coal and peat are left to +tell of their former existence. + + +MANNER OF GROWTH. + +Fungi are either solitary, grow in clusters, in groups, or in rings and +arcs of circles. + +The species called the Fairy mushroom, Marasmius oreades, is the most +familiar of all those that grow in rings. Besides this there is the +Horse mushroom, Agaricus arvensis; the Chantarelle, Cantharellus +cibarius; the Giant mushroom, Clitocybe maximus, and St. George's +mushroom, Tricholoma gambosa. The latter species is reproduced in rings +every year. It is a popular saying that when the ring is unbroken there +will be a plentiful harvest the following season. It is an early +mushroom, appearing in April. It derives its name from the fact of its +appearing about April 23d, which is St. George's day in the English +calendar. Besides these mushrooms there is another Tricholoma, +T. tigrinus, the Tiger mushroom, which sometimes appears in circles. +The word tigrinus means a tiger. The cap is variegated with dark brown +spots, hence the name. Then there is the Limp Clitocybe, C. flaccida, so +called because flaccida means limp. It also appears in rings (according +to Stevenson), while the stems are united under the soil. + +The waxy Clitocybe, C. laccata, is not spoken of as having that mode of +growth in circles, but we have seen many of these mushrooms appearing in +arcs of circles, and forming almost perfect rings, particularly after +showers of rain, and always on the sides of roads. + +Many fairy rings have lasted for years and are very old. We have read of +one, in the county of Essex, England, that measured 120 feet across. The +grass that covered it was coarse and of a dark green color. What causes +these fairy rings? An explanation is given in a newspaper extract from +"Knowledge," in which it is said: "A patch of spawn arising from a +single spore or a number of spores spreads centrifugally in every +direction, and forms a common circular felt, from which the fruit arises +at its extreme edge; the soil in the inner part of the disc is +exhausted, and the spawn dies or becomes effete there, while it spreads +all around in an outward direction and produces another crop whose spawn +spreads again. The circle is thus continually enlarged, and extends +indefinitely until some cause intervenes to destroy it. The peculiarity +of growth first arises from a tendency of certain fungi to assume a +circular form." + +The perplexing mushroom, Hypholoma perplexum, often grows in clusters, +and so does the inky Coprinus, C. atramentarius, also the glistening +Coprinus, C. micaceus. The honey-colored mushroom, Armillaria melloea, +is often found in crowded clusters, and this growth is common to many +fungi. + + +ODOR. + +Many mushrooms have distinct odors and are distinguished by this +feature. The genus Marasmius may be known by the garlic-like smell +peculiar to it, but it never has a mealy perfume. There is one species, +the disgusting mushroom, M. impudicus, that Stevenson says has a strong, +unpleasant odor; this is also the case in two other species, the +ill-odored mushroom, M. foetidus, and the penetrating mushroom, +M. perfurans. + +The Chantarelle, Cantharellus cibarius, has the smell of a ripe apricot, +a delicious odor and easily detected. One of the Lepiotas, the tufted +Lepiota, L. cristata, has a powerful smell of radishes. Some Tricholomas +have a strong odor of new meal. The fragrant Clitocybe, C. odora, has +the smell of anise. + + [Illustration: Coprinus atramentarius. + Photographed by C. G. Lloyd.] + +There is a very small white, scaly mushroom, never more than an inch +across the cap, and with a stem hardly two inches high, that has the +distinction of possessing the strongest smell of all the membrane fungi +(Hymenomycetes). It is called the narcotic Coprinus, C. narcoticus, and +it derives its name from its odor. It is very fragile and grows on heaps +of manure. + + +DURATION. + +There is another Coprinus, the radiating Coprinus, C. radiatus, so +called from the radiating folds on the cap, that may carry off the honor +of being the shortest-lived of all the membrane fungi. Stevenson says +"it withers up with a breath." It is often overlooked, as it perishes +after sunrise. It grows in troops, and is perhaps the most tender of all +mushrooms. + +The genus Marasmius, belonging to the white spored Agarics, has the +power of reviving under moisture after withering, so it may represent a +genus that endures longest. None of the fleshy fungi have long lives. + + +USES. + +Besides the uses of fungi as scavengers of creation, there are some +which have a commercial value and yield an article called "amadou." +This is a French word, used for a sort of tinder or touch-wood, an +inflammable substance which is prepared from a fungus,[1] Boletus +igniarius, and grows upon the cherry, ash and other trees. It is made by +steeping it in a strong solution of saltpetre and cutting it in small +pieces. It is also called German tinder. Thomé says that Boletus laricis +and Polyporus fomentarius yield the "amadou" of commerce. Then, again, +the birch Polyporus, P. betulinus, is used for razor strops. We need not +say anything on the uses of fungi as articles of food. This subject has +been exhausted by many able mycologists, and, excepting the mere mention +of some mushrooms that are edible, the authors have abstained from this +part of the subject. + + [Footnote 1: Worcester's Dictionary, citing Brande.] + + +HABITAT. + +It is interesting to observe where different mushrooms love to dwell. +Some are always found on roadsides, as if seeking the notice of +passers-by. These are the Clitocybes and Stropharia, and many of the +cup-fungi, while the Boleti take shelter in clay banks and hide in every +cranny and nook that they can find. Russulas are seen in open woods, +rising out of the earth, also the Lactarius, which seems to like the +shade of trees. The Cortinarius also prefers their shelter. The Coprinus +loves the pastures and fields, near houses and barns, and dwells in +groups upon the lawns. The Hypholoma grows in clusters on the stumps of +trees. Marasmius is found among dead twigs and leaves. The white +Amanitas flourish in woods and open ground. There are some, like +Pleurotus, that grow in trunks of trees, and make their way through +openings in the bark. Every dead tree or branch in the forest is crowded +with all species of Polyporus, while carpets, damp cellars, plaster +walls and sawdust are favorite abodes of many fungi. + + +STRUCTURE AND GROWTH. + +Mushrooms consist wholly of cells. These cells do not contain either +starch or the green coloring-matter, called chlorophyll, which exists in +other plants. They are either parasites or scavengers, and sometimes +both. The food of fungi must form a part of some animal or plant. When +they commence to grow it is by the division of cells, not laterally, but +in one direction, upward. As the mushroom grows the stem lengthens, the +cap expands and bursts the veil that surrounds it, and gradually gains +its perfect shape. + +Every mushroom has a spore-bearing layer of cells, which is called the +hymenium. This hymenium is composed of a number of swollen, club-shaped +cells, called basidia, and close to them, side by side, are sterile, +elongated cells, named paraphyses. In the family called Hymenomycetes +there are mixed with these, and closely packed together, one-celled +sterile structures named cystidia. + +The basidia are called mother-cells because they produce the spores. + +There is one great group of fungi called Basidiomycetes, so named from +having their stalked spores produced on basidia. + +The basidia are formed on the end of threadlike branched bodies which +grow at the apex, and are called hyphæ. On top of the basidia are minute +stalk-like branches, called sterigmata (singular sterigma), and each +branch carries a naked spore. They are usually four in number. This +group of Basidiomycetes is divided into (1) Stomach fungi +(Gasteromycetes), (2) Spore sac fungi (Ascomycetes), and (3) Membrane +fungi (Hymenomycetes). + + +MYCELIUM. + +The Mycelium is commonly called the spawn of mushrooms. + +It is the vegetative part of the fungus, and is composed of minute, +cylindrical, thread-like branching bodies called hyphæ. When we wish to +cultivate mushrooms we plant the spawn not the spores. The thread-like +branches permeate the earth or whatever the mushroom grows upon. The +color of the mycelium is generally white, but it may also be yellow or +red. Its structural details are only visible through a microscope. + +Every fungus does not bear the spores exposed upon the cap nor +underneath it. The first group of Gasteromycetes, or "Stomach fungi," as +Professor Peck has called them in his work on "Mushrooms and Their +Uses," have the spore-bearing surface enclosed in a sac-like envelope in +the interior of the plant. The genus Lycoperdon belongs to this group, +and it contains the puff-balls so common in this country. + +In the second group, Ascomycetes, or "Spore sac fungi," the spores are +produced in delicate sacs called asci. The fruit-bearing part is often +cup-shaped, disc-like, or club-shaped, thicker at the top or covered +with irregular swellings and depressions like the human brain. + +The Morels and Helvellas belong to this group. One often meets with +mushrooms of the former genus in the spring, and they are striking and +interesting looking fungi. There are many of both genera that are +edible. They will be described in detail later. + +Botanists have classified Agarics by means of the color of the spores, +and it is the only sure way of determining to what class they belong. We +propose in this work also to enumerate the mushrooms according to the +color of the pileus or cap, and give a list, with a description of each, +after this arrangement. This, of course, is merely superficial, but may +interest and attract a beginner in the study of fungi. This list will be +placed at the end of the book. + +The descriptions will be preceded by a classification according to color +of spores, some hints to students, and aids to learning which have been +found useful to others. + +It is appalling to a beginner when he first reads the long list of names +of classes, genera, and species, as the latter are so closely allied in +resemblance. One has not always the time nor inclination to condense +facts for himself, nor to collect necessary information so as to +remember it most easily, all which has to be done in the absence of an +American manual or textbook. A great deal has been written for us, it is +true, by experienced botanists, but a general and comprehensive work has +yet to be compiled. + +Before we begin our list of fungi, let us learn what a mushroom is, and +know something of its component parts. A mushroom consists of a stem and +a cap, or pileus. The cap is the most conspicuous part. The color varies +from white and the lightest hues of brown up to the brightest yellow and +scarlet. Its size is from an eighth of an inch to sixteen inches and +more in diameter. The surface is smooth or covered with little grains +(granular) or with minute scales (squamulose) shining like satin, or +kid-like in its texture. It may be rounded and depressed (concave), +elevated (convex), level (plane), or with a little mound in the centre +(umbonate). It may be covered with warts, marked with lines (striate), +or zoned with circles. The margin may be acute or obtuse, rolled +backward or upward (revolute), or rolled inward (involute); it may be +thick or thin. + + +THE STEM. + +The stem is the stalk that supports the cap. It is sometimes attached to +one side, and then it is said to be lateral or between the centre and +side, and it is called eccentric; when it is in the middle, or nearly +so, it is central. + +It is either solid, fleshy, stuffed with pith, or hollow, fibrous, firm +and tough (cartilaginous). It is often brittle and breaks easily, or it +will not divide evenly in breaking. Its color and size both vary, like +the cap. It may taper toward the base, or toward the apex, be even or +cylindrical. Its surface may be smooth (glabrous), covered with scales +(squamulose), rough (scabrous), dotted, lacerated, or be marked with a +network of veins (reticulated). The base may be bulbous, or only swollen +(incrassated), and it may root in the ground. + + [Illustration: Sections of gill bearing mushrooms. + + Gills adnexed + Gills free + Gills adnate + Gills decurrent + Gills sinuous + Gills serrated + + Pileus umbonate + Pileus umbilicate + + Margin involute + Margin revolute] + + +THE GILLS. + +The gills or lamellæ are the radiating parts, like knife blades, that +extend from the centre to the margin underneath the cap. They contain +the spores. The group of mushrooms that have gills are called Agaracini +or Agarics. The gills vary in color; sometimes they change color when +mature. When they are close together they are called crowded, and when +far apart distant. There are often smaller gills between the others, and +sometimes they are two-forked (bifurcate), and are connected by veins. + +They are narrow or wide, swell out in the middle (ventricose), are +curved like a bow (arcuate), and have a sudden wave or sinus in the edge +near the stem (sinuate). + +There are various modes of attachment to the stem. Where the gills are +not attached to it they are called free; slightly so, adnexed; and when +wholly fastened they are adnate. They may run down on the stem, and are +then called decurrent. + + +THE SPORES. + +The color of the spores can be seen by cutting off the cap, and laying +it gills downward, on a sheet of paper, two or three hours or more. The +impression will remain on the paper. It is better to use blue paper, so +that the white spores can be seen more clearly. The Agarics are divided +into classes according to the color of the spores, so it is of great +importance to examine them. The shape and size of the spores can only be +learned by the use of a microscope. We have not attempted in this +elementary work to do more than mention them. + + [Illustration: Amanita vaginata + (breaking from volva). + Photographed by C. G. Lloyd.] + + +THE VOLVA AND VEIL. + +The universal veil or volva is a thin covering which encloses the entire +young plant. The cap grows and expands and bursts this veil into +fragments. That part of the veil which breaks away from the cap, called +the secondary veil, forms the annulus or ring. It resembles a collar, +and is generally fastened to the stem. It is not always permanent or +fixed in one place. It may disappear when the plant is mature. It is +often fragile, loose and torn, and sometimes is movable on the stem. + +The name volva is particularly given to that part of the universal veil +which remains around the base of the stem, either sheathing it or +appressed closely to it, or in torn fragments. The volva and ring, or +annulus, are not always present in mushrooms. The rupture of the veil +often causes a part of it to remain on the cap in the shape of warts or +scales. These may disappear as the plant grows older, and are sometimes +washed off by a heavy rain. + + +THE TUBES OR PORES. + +There is a group of fungi called Polyporei, which have tubes or pores +instead of gills. They are placed under the pileus just as the gills are +situated, and contain the spores. The length of the tubes varies. The +mouths or openings are also of different shapes and sizes. They are +sometimes round, and at other times irregular. The color of the mouths +is often different from the tubes, and changes when mature. The mouths, +too, are sometimes stuffed when young. The attachment to the pileus is +to be noted. They may be free or easily detached, depressed around the +stem or fastened to it (adnate.) + + + + +CLASSIFICATION OF FUNGI. + + +The color of both gills and tubes is an important feature in the +classification of fungi. + +We have now arrived at a point where the amateur may become wearied at +the reading of long names and the enumeration of classes and genera. +Stevenson has said in his preface to his work on British Fungi that +"there is no royal road to the knowledge of fungi," and if we become +enough interested to pursue the subject we will probably discover it at +this point. We will try and make this part as simple as possible, and +only mention those genera which are most common. + +Mushrooms may be divided into three great classes: + +I. Gasteromycetes, or "Stomach fungi," where the spores are produced +within the plant. + +II. Ascomycetes, or "Spore sac fungi," where the spores are produced in +delicate sacs called asci. + +III. Hymenomycetes, or "Membrane fungi," where the spores are produced +on the lower surface of the cap. + + +CLASS III. HYMENOMYCETES, OR MEMBRANE FUNGI. + +This class is divided into six orders: + +1. Gill-bearing mushrooms, Agarics, or Agaricini. + +2. Fungi with pores or tubes, Polyporei. + +3. Fungi with awl-shaped teeth or spines, Hydnei. + +4. Fungi with an even spore-bearing or slightly wrinkled surface, +Thelephorei. + +5. Plants, club-shaped and simple, or bush-like and branched, Clavariei. + +6. Gelatinous plants, irregularly expanded, Tremellinei. + +The first order, the Agarics, contains most of the well-known mushrooms, +as well as most of the edible ones. They have been divided into +different classes according to the color of the spores. In a great many +cases the color is the same as that of the gills; but this is not always +the case, especially in the young plants. The Agarics are divided into +four sections: + +1. White spores, Leucosporæ. + +2. Rosy, salmon or pinkish spores, Rhodosporæ. + +3. Brown or ochraceous spores, Ochrosporæ. + +4. Dark purplish or black spores, Melanosporæ. + +There are an infinite number of mushrooms we shall not mention. The +study of fungi has only begun in this country, and there is an immense +vista for future students. The amateur or beginner may be well satisfied +if after one summer spent in studying mushrooms he can remember the +distinguishing types of the various genera, and can say with certainty, +"This is a Russula, or this a Cortinarius, or this a Tricholoma." He +will then feel he has taken one important step in this "royal road." + + +DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF GENERA OF HYMENOMYCETES. + +ORDER 1. AGARICS. + +The names of the genera are all derived from Greek and Latin words. +Stevenson, in his book on British Fungi, has given the original words +and also their meanings. We take the liberty of copying the English term +only, and will place it beside the name of each genus. + +SECTION 1. WHITE SPORES, OR LEUCOSPORÆ. + +The first genus we will mention is: + ++HYGROPHORUS, from a word meaning moist.+ + +This genus contains plants growing on the ground. They soon decay. The +cap is sticky or watery, the gills often branched. It has a peculiarity +in the fact that the hymenial cells, or the layer of mother cells, +contained in the gills, change into a waxy mass, at length removable +from the trama. The trama is that substance which extends with and is +like in structure to the layer of mother cells.[1] It lies between the +two layers of gills in Agarics. The gills seem full of watery juice, and +they are more or less decurrent, _i. e._, extend down the stem. This +genus contains many bright-colored and shining species. + + [Footnote 1: In the young plant it forms the framework of the gills.] + +We are obliged to refer to the hymenial layer in this place, though the +beginner will scarcely understand the meaning of the term. The +distinguishing peculiarity of this genus consists in the cells changing +to a waxy mass. In the chapter on the structure of mushrooms we have +tried to explain something about the cells and the Hymenium. + ++LACTARIUS = milk.+ + +This genus is fleshy, growing on the ground; the cap is often depressed +in the centre. The gills are adnato-decurrent, that is, partly attached +and prolonged down the stem. They are waxy, rather rigid and acute at +the edge. The distinctive feature is the milk that flows when the gills +are cut. Sometimes the milk changes color. + ++RUSSULA = red.+ + +This genus grows on the ground, is fleshy, and soon decays. The cap is +depressed, or becomes so at a later stage of growth. The stem is +polished, generally white, and is very brittle. The gills are rigid, +fragile, with an acute edge, and mostly equal in length. Some species +exude watery drops. It contains many species of beautiful colors. + ++CANTHARELLUS = vase or cup.+ + +The principal characteristic of this genus consists in the fold-like +nature of its gills. The gills are thick, with an obtuse edge, and are +branched and decurrent. The genus is fleshy, soft, and putrescent, and +has no veil. Some plants grow on the ground and others on mosses. + ++MARASMIUS = to wither.+ + +The genus is tough and dry, not decaying, but shrivelling, and reviving +when wet. The stem is tough (cartilaginous.) The gills are rather +distant, the edge acute and entire. The plants often have a peculiar +smell and taste, like garlic. They are small and thin, commonly growing +on the outside of another plant (epiphytal) on the ground, on putrid +leaves, or on roots of grasses. + ++AMANITA.+ + +The origin of this name is doubtful. Galen, an ancient Greek physician, +is said to have given the name to some edible fungi (Stevenson). It is +distinguished as the only genus that has _both volva and ring_. The +young plant is enveloped by a universal veil which bursts at maturity. +The volva around the base of the stem is formed by the splitting or +bursting of the veil, and its different modes of rupture mark the +several species. It is sometimes shaped very prettily, and has the +appearance of a cup around the stem. It contains many poisonous as well +as edible mushrooms. + ++LEPIOTA = a scale.+ + +This genus has a universal veil. The gills are free. Sometimes the ring, +or annulus, is movable on the stem. The cap is often covered with warts, +or the skin torn into scales, and the stem sometimes inserted in a cup +or socket. + ++ARMILLARIA = ring or bracelet.+ + +There is no universal veil in this genus, only a partial one that forms +a ring, or sometimes only indicating the ring by scales. The species +usually grow on the ground. + ++TRICHOLOMA = from two Greek words, hair and fringe.+ + +This genus is especially noted for its sinuate gills. They have a tooth +next to the stem. All grow on the ground and are fleshy. There are +sometimes fibrils which adhere to the margin of the cap, the remains of +the veil. There are no plants in this genus that are considered +poisonous. + ++CLITOCYBE = a declivity.+ + +The gills in this genus are attenuated behind and are attached to stem +(adnate) or run down it (decurrent.) The cap is generally plano +depressed or funnel-shaped (infundibuliform). Some are fragrant; the +odor resembles fresh apricots. + ++COLLYBIA = a small coin.+ + +The stem in this genus is tough or stuffed with a pith, and covered with +a cartilaginous rind. The margin of the cap is smooth and turned under +at first (involute). The gills are soft, free, or only adnexed behind. +The plants grow on the outside of wood and leaves, even on fungi, but +are often rooted on the ground, and do not dry up. The gills are +sometimes brightly colored. + ++MYCENA = a fungus.+ + +In this genus also the stem is cartilaginous, the cap is sometimes +bell-shaped (campanulate) and slender. The plants are generally small +and fragile. The cap is from 1/8 to 1½ inch broad. The stem is +sometimes filiform, and they grow on stumps and sticks, dead wood, +twigs and leaves. They may be found early in the season, but oftener +from August to November. + + [Illustration: Omphalia alboflava. + Photographed by C. G. Lloyd.] + ++OMPHALIA = depressed.+ + +The stem in this genus is cartilaginous. The gills run down the stem. +The cap is somewhat membranaceous. It is oftener depressed and +funnel-shaped. The gills are often branched. The species grow in moist +places. The plants are generally small. The largest only measure 2 +inches, the smallest only ½ inch across the cap. + ++PLEUROTUS = side and an ear.+ + +In this genus the stem is sometimes wanting, or it grows on the side, or +between the centre and margin (eccentric). The plants rarely grow on the +ground. They are irregular and fleshy or membranaceous. The time of +growth is generally in the autumn. There are a few edible species. + +SECTION 2. RHODOSPORÆ, RED OR PINK SPORES. + +In this section of Agarics the spores are red, pink, or salmon color. + ++PLUTEUS = a penthouse.+ + +This genus has neither volva nor ring. The gills are rounded behind and +free, entirely separate from stem, white, then flesh-colored, but often +tinged with yellow. The cuticle is sometimes covered with fibres, or +with a bloom upon it (pruinose). The apex of the stem is inserted in the +cap like a peg, and in this it resembles the Lepiotas. The species grow +on or near trunks, appear early, and last until late in the season. + ++ENTOLOMA = within and fringe.+ + +This genus resembles Tricholoma, which belongs to the white-spored +Agarics and Hebeloma, which is rosy-spored. The species grow on the +ground, and are found chiefly after rain. The stem is fleshy or fibrous, +soft, sometimes waxy. The cap has the margin incurved, the gills have a +tooth (sinuate), and are adnexed to the stem. Some species smell of +fresh meal. + +SECTION 3. OCHROSPORÆ, BROWN OR OCHRACEOUS SPORES. + ++CORTINARIUS = a veil.+ + +This genus has a veil resembling a cobweb. The gills generally become +cinnamon-colored. They grow on the ground in woods, during late summer +and autumn. Some of our most beautiful mushrooms belong to this group. +The veil is not persistent, and soon disappears. + ++PHOLIOTA = a scale.+ + +This genus mostly grows on trunks. The partial or secondary veil takes +the form of a ring. The cap is often covered with scales. + ++INOCYBE = fibre and head.+ + +This genus is distinguished by the silky fibrilose covering of the cap, +which never has a distinct pellicle, and by the veil which is lasting +and of like nature to the fibrils of the cap. All grow upon the ground. + ++HEBELOMA = youth and fringe.+ + +In this genus the margin of the cap is at first incurved. The gills are +attached with a tooth, with the edge more or less of a different color, +often whitish. The stem is fleshy, fibrous, somewhat mealy at the apex. +They grow on the ground and are strong-smelling, appear early in the +autumn, and continue until late in the season. + ++PAXILLUS = a small stake.+ + +This genus is fleshy, putrescent; at first the cap has the margin turned +under (involute), then it unfolds gradually and dilates. There are some +species of both Tricholoma and Clitocybe that resemble it. The gills +separate easily from the cap, and in this it is similar to the Boleti, +where the tubes separate also with ease. + +SECTION 4. MELANOSPORÆ, DARK PURPLE OR BLACK SPORES. + ++PSALLIOTA = a ring or collar.+ + +The common mushroom Agaricus campestris belongs to this group. The gills +are rounded behind and free, the stem has a collar. There are many +edible mushrooms in this genus. They grow in pastures, and the larger +ones are called Champignons. In former times when one spoke of eating +mushrooms the species A. campestris, or campester, was always the one +denoted. + ++STROPHARIA = a sword belt.+ + +This genus has a ring. The gills are generally attached to the stem; +some species grow on the ground, and some grow on other fungi. They are +sometimes bell-shaped and then flattened, often with a mound or umbo. + ++HYPHOLOMA = web and fringe.+ + +The veil in this genus is woven in a web which adheres to the margin of +the cap. The cap is more or less fleshy, and the margin at first +incurved. The gills are attached or have a tooth. There is no ring. The +plants grow in tufts on wood, or at the base of trees in the autumn. + ++PSILOCYBE = naked and head.+ + +The cap in this genus is fleshy, smooth, and the margin at first +incurved. Gills turn dusky purple. The stem is cartilaginous, hollow or +stuffed. No veil is visible. They grow on the ground. + ++PSATHYRA = friable.+ + +The cap is conical and soft, the margin at first straight, and then +pressed to the stem. The plants are slender, fragile and moist. Gills +become purple. They grow on the ground, or on trunks of trees. + ++COPRINUS = dung.+ + +In this genus the spores are black. It has two distinctive features: +one, that the gills cohere at first, and are not separated when young; +and the other, that they dissolve into an inky fluid. The gills are also +scissile, that is, they can be split, and are linear and swollen in the +middle. The plants last but a short time. Some are edible. + + +ORDER 2. POLYPOREI, OR TUBE-BEARING FUNGI. + +We now pass to the next order, the Polyporei. We will mention four +genera: + ++BOLETUS.+ + +The name is that of a fungus much prized for its delicacy by the Romans, +and is derived from a Greek word meaning a clod, which denotes the round +figure of the plant. + +The Boleti grow on the ground, are fleshy and putrescent with central +stems. The tubes are packed closely together and are easily separated. + ++FISTULINA = a pipe.+ + +In this genus the tubes are free and distinct from one another. They are +somewhat fleshy and grow upon wood. + ++POLYPORUS = many pores.+ + +The pores or tubes in this genus are not separate from one another. They +are persistent fungi, most of them growing upon wood. + ++DAEDALEA = curiously wrought.+ + +The name of this genus is derived from Daedalus, who constructed the +labyrinth at Crete, in which the monster Minotaur was kept. It was one +of the seven wonders of the world. + +These fungi grow on wood, and become hard. The pores are firm when fully +grown; they are sinuous and labyrinthine. + + +ORDER 3. HYDNEI, OR SPINE-BEARING FUNGI. + +The name is derived from a word meaning a spine. This order contains +many genera, two of which we will mention, Hydnum and Tremellodon. + ++HYDNUM.+ + +Hydnum is derived from a Greek word, the name of an edible fungus. The +plants in this genus are furnished with spines or teeth, instead of +gills or tubes, and these contain the spores. The species are divided +according to the stem. In some it is central and grows on the ground, +in others it is lateral, and the cap is semicircular (dimidiate), and +others again have no stem. There are some species that have no cap, and +the spines are either straight or oblique. There are a few that are +edible, but generally they have a bitter taste. However, some writers +say that Hydnum repandum, or the spreading Hedgehog, is "delicious." +This mushroom and the one named "Medusa's head," H. caput Medusæ, are +perhaps the most conspicuous of the order. The latter is very large. +Its color is at first white, then becoming ashy gray. The spines on the +upper surface are twisted, while the lower ones are long and straight. +It grows on trunks of trees. In the spreading Hydnum the margin of the +cap is arched and irregular. It grows on the ground. + ++TREMELLODON = jelly and a tooth.+ + +The fungi in this genus are gelatinous. The cap is nearly semicircular +in shape, sometimes fan-shaped and rounded in front. The spines or teeth +are soft, white and delicate. We found one specimen in the month of +September in the mountains of the State of New York. + + +ORDER 4. THELEPHOREI, OR EVEN SURFACE FUNGI. + +In this order the lower surface of the cap is smooth and even, or +slightly wrinkled. It is divided into several genera, only two of which +we will enumerate, Craterellus and Stereum. + ++CRATERELLUS = a bowl.+ + +The species called the "horn of plenty," Craterellus cornucopioides, +belongs to this genus, and is often found. Stevenson says it is common. +It is trumpet-shaped (tubiform). The cap is of a dingy black color, and +the stem is hollow, smooth, and black. We found quite a small specimen, +the pileus not more than 1½ inch broad, but it may measure 3 inches. +The spore-bearing surface was of an ash color. The margin of the cap was +wavy, and it was hollow right through to the base. It was only 2 inches +high, and there was scarcely any stem. + ++STEREUM = hard.+ + +The genus Stereum is woody and leathery in nature, somewhat zoned, and +looks like some Polyporci. It grows on wood, on stumps, and on dead +wood. + + +ORDER 5. CLAVARIEI, OR CLUB FUNGI. + +This order contains several genera, but one only will be mentioned, that +of Clavaria. + ++CLAVARIA = club.+ + +The common name often given to this genus is "Fairy Clubs." We have +described several species in our list of fungi, and will only say that +these are fleshy fungi, either simple or branched. The expression +fleshy, so often met with in these pages, is used in speaking of plants +when they are succulent and composed of juicy, cellular tissue. They do +not become leathery. In the genus Clavaria the fungi have no caps, but +they have stems. There are a few edible species. One can scarcely walk +any distance without seeing some species of Clavaria. They are +conspicuous, sometimes attractive looking, and interesting in their +variety. + +The genus Cortinarius, one of the order of Agarics, has been already +described, but it contains so many species that it deserves especial +mention. + +They are difficult to define. The genus has been subdivided by botanists +into tribes which it may be well to enumerate. We have followed +Stevenson's arrangement. + +He divides Cortinarius into six tribes. + +1. Phlegacium = clammy moisture. In this tribe the cap is fleshy and +sticky (viscous), while the stem is firm and dry. In all Cortinarii the +gills become cinnamon-colored. There are many large-sized mushrooms in +this tribe, the cap sometimes measuring 6 inches across. + +2. Myxacium = mucous. This tribe has the stem sticky (viscous), and the +universal veil is glutinous. The cap is fleshy but thin. Gills attached +to stem and decurrent. + +3. Inoloma = fibre and fringe. It contains distinguished species. The +cap is at first silky, with innate scales or fibrils, is equally fleshy +and dry. The stem is fleshy and rather bulbous. + +4. Dermocybe = skin and head. The cap and stem are both thinner in this +tribe than in Inoloma. The pileus becomes thin when old, and is dry, not +moist. It is at first silky. The color of the gills is changeable, which +makes it hard to distinguish the species. + +5. Telamonia = lint. Pileus moist; at first smooth or sprinkled with +superficial whitish fibres of the veil. Flesh thin, or becoming so +abruptly at the margin; the veil is somewhat double, which is a +distinguishing characteristic of this tribe. + +6. Hygrocybe = moist and head. Cap in this tribe is smooth or only +covered with white superficial fibrils, not gluey, but moist when fresh, +and changing color when dry. Flesh thin. + + +CLASS I. GASTEROMYCETES, OR STOMACH FUNGI. + +The Basidia-bearing fungi, or Basidiomycetes, are divided into three +classes, as has been already stated. The third class, Hymenomycetes, or +Membrane fungi, has been described, but there remain two other groups of +which we will now speak more fully. They may be considered too difficult +for beginners, and we would not venture to enter further into the +subject were it not that some of the most familiar fungi belong to these +classes--such as Puff-balls, Morels, and Helvellas. + +The first class, called the Gasteromycetes, or Stomach fungi, matures +its spores on the inside of the plant. The distinction between this +class and that of the Membrane fungi, which ripens its spores on the +outside, may be more readily understood by one familiar with the +structure of the fig, whose flowers are situated on the interior of its +pear-shaped, hollow axis, which is the fruit. + +We will divide the Stomach fungi into four orders--1, the thick-skinned +fungi (Sclerodermæ); 2, the Bird's-nest fungi (Nidulariæ); 3, the +Puff-balls (Lycoperdons); 4, the Stink horns (Phalloidæ.) + + +ORDER 1. SCLERODERMÆ, THE THICK-SKINNED FUNGI. + +Our attention will be confined to only one genus, and, indeed, one +species of this family. We often see in our walks what at a first glance +look like potatoes lying along the road, and the suggestion arises that +some careless boy has been losing potatoes from his basket on his way +home from the country store. We stoop to pick them up, and find them +rooted to the ground and covered with warts and scales. We cut them open +and find them a purplish-black color inside. It is a mass of closely +packed unripe spores. In a few days the upper part of the outside +covering decays, bursts open, and the ripe spores escape. This is called +the common hard-rind fungus, or Scleroderma vulgare. + + +ORDER 2. NIDULARIÆ, THE BIRD'S-NEST FUNGI. + +This is again divided into three genera. The Crucible (crucibulum), the +Cup (Cyathus), the Bird's-nest proper (Nidularia.) + +We often find on a wood-pile or a fallen tree some of the members of the +Bird's-nest family. It is fascinating to examine them in their various +stages of development. First we see a tiny buff knot, cottony in texture +and closely covered; next, another rather larger, with its upper +covering thrown aside, displaying the tiny eggs, which prompts one to +look around for the miniature mother bird; then we find a nest empty +with the fledglings flown. The characteristic that distinguishes the +Bird's-nest fungi from others consists in the fact that the spores are +produced in small envelopes that do not split open, and which are +enclosed in a common covering, called the peridium. One species is known +by the fluted inside of the covering, which is quite beautiful. They are +all small and grow in groups. + + +ORDER 3. LYCOPERDONS, THE PUFF-BALLS. + +The Lycoperdons contain several genera, among which we select the +Puff-balls proper and the Earth stars. + +What child is there who lives in the country and does not know the +Puff-ball? With what gusto he presses it and watches what he calls the +smoke pouring from the chimney. Indeed, the outpouring of myriads of +spores in its ripe stage does suggest smoke from a chimney. The +puff-ball, when young, is of a firm texture, nearly round, grayish, or +brownish outside, but of a pure white within. There are several genera, +but we have selected two--1, Lycoperdon; and 2, Earth Star, or Geaster. + ++LYCOPERDON = the puff-ball.+ + +The puff-balls vary greatly in size, the smallest measure ½ inch up to +the largest, about 15 inches. Professor Peck describes them thus: +"Specimens of medium size are 8 to 12 inches in diameter. The largest in +the State Museum is about 15 inches in the dry state. When fresh it was +probably 20 inches or more. The color is whitish, afterward yellowish or +brownish. The largest size was called the Giant Puff-ball (Calvatia +bovista)." + ++GEASTER = the earth star.+ + +These vary greatly in size. The small ones grow on pine needles on the +ground or among leaves. Some are mounted on pedicels, some are sessile +or seated directly on the earth, but the family likeness is so +pronounced that even the novice need not be doubtful as to the name of +the fungus when found. There are two species that have slender, +elongated stems. The name is well chosen. In moist weather the points +expand and roll back or lie flat on the earth. Then the round puff-ball +in the centre is plainly seen. + +In dry weather the star-like divisions are rigidly turned in and cover +closely the round portion. "When dry it is sometimes rolled about by the +wind; when it is wet by the rain or abundant dew it absorbs the moisture +and spreads itself out, and rests from its journey, again to take up its +endless wandering as sun and rain appear to reduce it once more to a +ball and set it rolling." (Underwood.) + + +ORDER 4. PHALLOIDS, THE STINK HORN FUNGI. + +We come now to the fourth and last order of the Stomach fungi +(Gasteromycetes) that we shall mention. In spite of their appellation +these fungi are strikingly beautiful, but their odor is most offensive. +They grow in woods, and are also found in cellars. Their history has +been carefully investigated by mycologists, and the novice will find +many beautiful illustrations in various works. In their early stage they +are enclosed in an egg-shaped veil (volva), having a gelatinous inner +layer. Some are bright-colored, others are pure white, and the stems of +one species look as if covered with lace work. The most familiar one, +Phallus impudicus, "the fetid wood witch," we have placed in the list of +fungi at the end of this book, with its description. + + +CLASS II. ASCOMYCETES, OR SPORE SAC FUNGI. + +This is the second division of the Basidia-bearing fungi. It includes +all the fungi that have the spores enveloped in delicate sacs called +asci. It is divided into several orders, but we will only mention the +one which contains the most familiar plants. This order is named the +Disc-like fungi (Discomycetes). In this the spore-bearing surface is on +the upper or outside surface of the mushroom cap. It is divided into +many genera, of which we shall mention three--the Cup fungi, or Pezizas, +the Morels or Morchellas, and the Yellowish fungi or Helvellas. + ++PEZIZAS = the Cup fungi.+ + +These form a very large group, mostly growing on decaying plants. They +are typically disc-shaped or cup-shaped, and when young are closed or +nearly so, opening when mature. They vary in size from minute species to +large fleshy ones, 3 to 4 inches in diameter. They are generally small, +thin, and tough. They grow on twigs, leaves, dead wood, or on the +ground. Many are stemless. They are both solitary and densely clustered. +The color varies from pale brown to a dark gray, resembling, when moist, +india-rubber cloth, and then, again, there are many of brilliant +hues--red and orange. Some are erect, some are split down at the side +like the ear of a hare. The Cup fungi are found in August and September, +growing near ditches, and by the roadside where there is moisture. The +ear-shaped Pezizas somewhat resemble the Jew's ear, and the beginner +might easily confound them. This latter fungus belongs to the third +class of membrane fungi (Hymenomycetes), and it is included in the +descriptions of fungi. + ++THE MORELS or MORCHELLAS = the honey-combed fungi.+ + +The collector during the months of April and May will enjoy a new +experience when he first finds a fungus of a bright brown color, deeply +pitted, spongy looking, cone-shaped or nearly round; its head supported +on an erect, white stem. He will probably find it on a grassy hillside +or along a running brook under some forest trees. He has perhaps seen +its picture and at once exclaims, "my first Morel." He will notice its +peculiar honey-combed depression, and then cutting it open will find +both the head and the stem hollow. Where are the spores? There are no +gills as in the Agarics, nor are they concealed in a covering +(peridium), as in the Puff-balls, but they are contained in delicate +sacs on the cap. The exterior surface of the cap is the spore-bearing +portion, and the spores are developed in their sacs, but only seen under +a microscope. + ++HELVELLA = the yellowish mushroom.+ + +This genus may be readily recognized by the form of the cap, which is +lobed and irregularly waved and drooping, often attached to the stem. +They grow on the ground in the woods, and sometimes on rotten wood. The +genus comprises the largest of the Disc fungi known, some species +weighing over a pound. Cicero mentions the Helvellas as a favorite dish +of the Romans. + ++THE TRUFFLE = delicacy.+ + +It will be well to finish this section with the mention of the Truffle. +It may yet be found in the United States, but hitherto its place of +growth has been on the continent of Europe, and especially in France, +where it forms an article of commerce, and is highly prized as food. It +is subterranean, and requires for its discovery a higher sense of smell +than man possesses. It is generally found by the hog and the dog, who +are trained to help the truffle hunters. There are some species in our +country that resemble it, and grow underneath the ground. One, found in +the Southern States, called Rhizopogon, grows in sandy soil. This +species, however, does not belong to Class II., but to Class I., the +Gasteromycetes, or Stomach fungi. It is not likely that the beginner +will find this mushroom, so no description will be given. + + +GENERAL HELPS TO THE MEMORY. + +There are certain facts which if committed to memory will be of great +help to beginners in classifying mushrooms. There are distinctive +features belonging to different genera, which will be enumerated as +follows. These facts apply to the order of Agarics, containing the +largest number of familiar mushrooms. They have been placed in tables +for the convenience of the beginner, and are arranged without regard to +family relationship. + +_Mushrooms Containing both Volva and Ring (Annulus)._ + + There is only one genus that has both volva and ring. Amanita. + +_Mushrooms with Ring and no Volva._ + + 1. Pholiota. + 2. Annularia. + 3. Stropharia. + 4. Psalliota. + 5. Armillaria. + 6. Lepiota. + +_Mushrooms that have the stem attached on the side (lateral) or between +Margin and Centre (eccentric)._ + + 1. Crepidotus. + 2. Claudopus. + 3. Pleurotus. + +_Mushrooms with tough or cartilaginous Stems._ + + 1. Psathyra. + 2. Nolanea. + 3. Mycena. + 4. Marasmius. + 5. Naucoria. + 6. Leptonia. + 7. Omphalia. + 8. Collybia. + 9. Psilocybe. + 10. Galera. + +_Mushrooms, Stemless._ + + 1. Schizophyllum. + 2. Trogia. + 3. Lenzites. + +_Mushrooms that have the Cap bell-shaped (campanulate) and Marked with +Lines (striate)._ + + 1. Psathyra. + 2. Galera. + 3. Nolanea. + 4. Mycena. + +_Mushrooms with Gills attached to Stem and a Ring._ + + 1. Stropharia. + 2. Armillaria. + 3. Pholiota. + +_Mushrooms Having Gills with serrated edge._ + + 1. Lentinus. + +_Mushrooms with Free Gills not attached to Stem._ + + 1. Chitonia. + 2. Psalliota. + 3. Pluteolus. + 4. Pluteus. + 5. Volvaria. + 6. Lepiota. + 7. Amanita. + +_Mushrooms with emarginate sinuate Gills, or with notch near to Stem._ + + 1. Hypholoma. + 2. Tricholoma. + 3. Hebeloma. + 4. Entoloma. + +_Mushrooms that are corky and leathery._ + + 1. Lenzites. + 2. Lentinus. + 3. Schizophyllum. + 4. Panus. + +_Mushrooms with Gills running down Stem more or less (decurrent)._ + + 1. Gomphidius. + 2. Paxillus. + 3. Tubaria (some species). + 4. Flammula (some adnate). + 5. Eccilia (truly decurrent). + 6. Clitopilus (somewhat decurrent). + 7. Panus (some species decurrent). + 8. Lentinus (mostly decurrent). + 9. Cantharellus. + 10. Hygrophorus (mostly decurrent). + 11. Pleurotus (some decurrent). + 12. Omphalia (truly decurrent). + 13. Clitocybe (decurrent or adnate). + 14. Lactarius (decurrent or adnato-decurrent). + +_Mushrooms that are deliquescent or turn into inky fluid._ + + 1. Coprinus. + 2. Bolbitius. + +It will also be useful to the beginner to see a list of Agarics +classified according to botanists by the color of their spores. + + +CLASSIFICATION OF AGARICS BY COLOR OF SPORES. + + 1. Leucosporæ (white spores). + 2. Rhodosporæ (rosy or salmon spores). + 3. Ochrosporæ (ochraceous spores). + 4. Melanosporæ (dark purple or black spores). + +_Leucosporæ, or White Spores._ + + 1. Amanita. + 2. Lepiota. + 3. Armillaria. + 4. Tricholoma. + 5. Clitocybe. + 6. Collybia. + 7. Mycena. + 8. Omphalia. + 9. Pleurotus. + 10. Trogia. + 11. Hygrophorus. + 12. Lactarius. + 13. Russula. + 14. Cantharellus. + 15. Marasmius. + 16. Lentinus. + 17. Panus. + 18. Xerotus. + 19. Schizophyllum. + 20. Lenzites. + 21. Arrhenia (pallid spores). + +_Rhodosporæ, Rosy or Salmon Spores._ + + 1. Volvaria. + 2. Pluteus. + 3. Enteloma. + 4. Leptonia. + 5. Nolanea. + 6. Eccilia. + 7. Claudopus. + 8. Clitopilus. + +_Ochrosporæ, or Ochraceous Spores._ + + 1. Pholiota. + 2. Inocybe. + 3. Hebeloma. + 4. Flammula. + 5. Naucoria. + 6. Pluteolus. + 7. Galera. + 8. Tubaria. + 9. Crepidotus. + 10. Cortinarius. + 11. Acetabularia. + 12. Paxillus (spores are ferruginous or dingy white). + 13. Bolbitius (ferruginous spores). + +_Melanosporæ, Dark Purple or Black Spores._ + + 1. Chitonia. + 2. Psalliota. + 3. Stropharia. + 4. Hypholoma. + 5. Psilocybe. + 6. Psathyra. + 7. Panæolus. + 8. Psathyrella. + 9. Coprinus. + 10. Gomphidius. + 11. Anellaria. + +Having arranged these lists of mushrooms by their different +characteristics, and then by the color of the spores, we will give a +list of fungi familiar to most persons, classified according to the +colors of the cap. The far greater number have been analyzed by the +writers, and a full description is given to enable the beginner more +easily to identify them. + +The reader will notice that in the lists of fungi given above there are +certain genera not elsewhere mentioned in this book. He will understand +that it is inadvisable in a short primer to allude to all the genera +that exist. It was, however, impossible to give a complete table without +including them in it. + + [Illustration: Russula pectinata. + Photographed by C. G. Lloyd.] + + + + +DESCRIPTIONS OF FUNGI, ARRANGED ACCORDING TO COLOR OF CAP ONLY. + + +MUSHROOMS WITH RED OR PINK COLORED CAP. + +The genus Russula probably contains the largest number of mushrooms with +reddish caps, the word Russula meaning reddish. + + +RUSSULA EMETICA = a vomit.+ + +The Nauseating Russula.+ + ++Cap+ bright blood red, at first rosy, then blood color, tawny when old, +3 to 4 inches broad, first bell-shaped, then flattened or depressed, +polished, margin at length grooved (sulcate), flesh white, reddish under +the cuticle. +Stem+ 1½ to 3 inches long, ¾ of an inch thick, white +or with a reddish hue, spongy, stuffed, stout, elastic when young, +fragile when old, even, tapering slightly upward. +Gills+ free, broad, +rather distant, white. + +This is found on the ground among dead leaves, in the woods and open +places from July to December. It has a bitter taste, and is said to be +poisonous. Those eating it are often affected as if they had taken an +emetic. It is easily distinguished by the fact of the flesh turning red +immediately under the skin when it is peeled off. There are numerous +varieties of it, in one the stem has minute wrinkles running lengthwise. +We found it in different localities. The taste was acrid. It was one of +the first and the last mushrooms that we gathered. (Poisonous.) + + +RUSSULA SANGUINEA = blood.+ + +The Blood-colored Russula.+ + ++Cap+ blood red, becoming pale at margin, 2 to 3 inches broad, at first +convex, then depressed, and funnel-shaped (infundibuliform), irregularly +swollen in the centre, polished, even, margin acute, moist in damp +weather. Flesh firm, cheesy, white. +Stem+ stout, spongy, stuffed, at +first contracted at apex, then equal, slightly marked with lines white +or reddish. +Gills+ at first fastened to stem and then decurrent, +crowded, narrow, connected by veins, fragile, somewhat forked, shining +white, afterward turning ochraceous color. The taste is acrid and +peppery. It is found in woods from August to September, and is not +common. (Poisonous.) + + +RUSSULA ROSEIPES = rosy stem.+ + +The Rosy Stemmed Russula.+ + +This is a striking-looking mushroom. The colors are pretty, and the +tinge of red in the stem adds to its beauty. There are other species of +Russula that also have red tints in the stem. +Cap+ rosy red, with pink +and orange hues, 1 to 2 inches broad, convex, becoming nearly plane or +slightly depressed; at first viscid, soon dry, slightly marked with +lines on the thin margin, taste mild. +Gills+ moderately close, nearly +entire, rounded behind and slightly adnexed, swollen in the middle, +whitish, becoming yellow. +Stem+ 1 to 2 inches long, 3 to 4 lines thick, +slightly tapering upward, stuffed or hollow, white, tinged with red. +It is distinguished from other species by its mild taste, rosy cap, +commonly dry and but slightly striate on margin, its gills changing from +white to yellow or slightly ochraceous, and being partially attached to +the stem, and its stem being slightly stained with rosy red. It grows in +pine and hemlock woods, and is found in July and August. (Edible.) + + +RUSSULA LEPIDA = neat or elegant.+ + +The Elegant Russula.+ + ++Cap+ at first is a bright red, but becomes a dull reddish-pink, paler +at the disc, 3 inches broad, dry, fleshy, convex; then expanded, +scarcely depressed, obtuse and polished, afterward cracked (rimose), and +with minute scales (squamulose). The margin spreading and rounded, +obtuse, _not_ striate. +Stem+ about 3 inches long, from 1 to 1½ inch +thick, even, solid, white, or rose color. +Gills+ rounded behind, rather +thick, somewhat crowded, often forked, connected by veins, white, often +red at edge. Taste mild. We found our specimen in mixed woods. The stem +was only tinged with pink. (Edible.) + + +LACTARIUS VOLEMUS = a kind of large pear. (From its shape.)+ + +The Orange Brown Lactarius.+ + ++Cap+ 3 to 5 inches broad, reddish-orange color, becoming pale, compact, +rigid, obtuse, with the margin bent inward, depressed, at length marked +with lines like a river (rimose). Flesh white, turning brown. +Stem+ +2 to 3 inches long, ¾ to 1¼ inch thick, stout, stuffed, then hollow, +paler at apex, with a bloom, same color as cap, with lengthwise lines. ++Gills+ adnato-decurrent, yellowish turning ochraceous, broad, thin, +crowded, milk sweet and plentiful. Stevenson says that the taste of this +Lactarius is delicious, that it is savory even when raw. It should not +be kept too long before cooking, or it will emit a strong, unpleasant +odor. It is abundant in chestnut or oak woods from July to September. +Our specimen was much wrinkled on the margin. The milk was abundant. +(Edible.) + + +LACTARIUS ICHORATUS = lymph.+ + +The Colorless Lactarius.+ + +The name of this species is given on account of the color of the milk +(Stevenson). +Cap+ a tawny pinkish-red color, 3 to 4 inches broad, +zoned, plano-depressed, margin often wavy, dry, flesh creamy white or +pallid. +Stem+ 1½ to 3 inches long, thick, solid, afterward spongy, +equal, smooth, the same color as the cap, lighter at the apex. +Gills+ +adnate, slightly decurrent, not crowded, creamy white, turning +ochraceous. Milk white, sweet. It has a strong smell. In the specimen we +found the stem was slightly marked with lines and the milk plentiful. It +is not spoken of as edible. + + +LACTARIUS MITISSIMUS = mild.+ + +The name only applies to the taste of the milk. (Stevenson.) + ++Cap+ a light, bright reddish-orange, golden tawny color, 1 to 4 inches +broad, even, then depressed, smooth, sticky when moist, flesh whitish, +turning yellow. +Stem+ 1 to 4 inches long, thick, stuffed, then hollow, +even, smooth, same color as cap. +Gills+ slightly running down the stem, +rounded at one end, broad, yellowish. Milk mild, then bitterish and +plentiful. It is found in pine and mixed woods from August until +November. It has a beautiful color, and resembles in that particular L. +volemus. + + +CORTINARIUS ARMILLATUS = a ring or bracelet.+ + +The Zoned Cortinarius.+ + ++Cap+ a tawny reddish-yellow, brick red, 2 to 5 inches broad, fleshy, +bell-shaped or almost conical, then convex, dry, smooth, marked with +reddish specks, darker toward the centre, flesh white, turning red and +narrowing toward the margin. +Stem+ 3 to 6 inches long, ½ inch thick, +solid, firm, slightly tapering toward the apex, very bulbous at base, +same color as cap, stuffed with brown pith inside. There are two or +three reddish oblique zones encircling the stem. +Gills+ adnate, swollen +in the middle, distant, variable, at first pale cinnamon color, and then +dark brown. We found them at the end of August in great numbers, +sometimes united in tufts (cæspitose) in all stages of growth, the +younger ones covered with a cobwebby veil, which is paler in color than +the zones. They grow in mixed woods. + + +CLITOCYBE LACCATA = a resinous substance.+ + +The Waxy Clitocybe.+ + +This species is small in size. +Cap+ is about 1 inch broad, thin, convex +and almost plane. Sometimes with a depression (umbilicate). When moist +it has a water-soaked look, and becomes pale in drying. When wet it has +a peculiar flesh color, but when dry it is a pale yellowish-red hue. ++Stem+ is long and slender, tough and of same color as cap, 2 lines +thick, fibrous, stuffed, often twisted and white, with soft, weak hairs +at base (villous). +Gills+ are attached to stem with a decurrent tooth, +broad, distant, of a peculiar flesh color. We found several varieties. +One had gills of a beautiful violet color (Var. amethystina), in another +the gills were pale (Var. pallidifolia). (Peck.) A small form with +radiating lines extending from near the centre to the margin (Var. +striatula), Peck, is an interesting species and often seen. They grow +closely together on the sides of roads, in groups, all through the +season. Sometimes the cap is very small, ¼ inch across. It often grows +in arcs of circles. + + +CLITOCYBE INFUNDIBULIFORMIS = funnel-shaped.+ + +The Funnel-shaped Clitocybe.+ + ++Cap+ a pale red color, 2 to 3 inches broad, convex when young, then +slightly raised in the middle, umbonate, afterward the margin is +elevated and the cap becomes funnel-shaped and the margin wavy. +Flesh thin and white. +Stem+ 1½ to 3 inches long, 2 to 3 lines thick, +smooth, paler colored than the cap, tapering upward. +Gills+ rather +decurrent, arc-shaped, broad, distant, whitish, not yellow, netted with +veins. This is also a variable species and grows in woods. It is pretty, +and is easily known by its shape. + + +BOLETUS MURRAYI.+ + +Murray's Boletus.+ + ++Cap+ dark red, 1 to 3 inches broad, granulated, convex, with a slight +mound or umbo, margin turned upward, flesh yellow. +Stem+ ½ inch long, +yellow. Tubes lemon color, angular and round, irregular. The stem in our +specimen was granulated like the cap. + + +BOLETUS CHROMAPES = chrome yellow and foot.+ + +The Chrome-footed Boletus.+ + ++Cap+ tawny red, 2 to 4 inches broad, convex or nearly plane, flesh +white. Tubes almost attached (subadnate), depressed around the stem, +whitish, turning a pinkish-brown color. +Stem+ equal or tapering upward, +rough whitish color, with reddish specks upon it, but chrome yellow at +the base, both outside and inside, and spongy within. Stem 2 to 4 inches +long, about ½ inch thick. This is not a hard boletus to distinguish on +account of the yellow color at the base of the stem. The Boleti seem to +be most abundant from the beginning of July until early in September. +There are many varieties of beautiful colors, and they are a most +interesting group, especially to beginners. This may be partly owing to +the fact that Professor Peck's pamphlet on "Boleti" is clearly +expressed, and the descriptions so vivid and plain that one has less +trouble in naming them than any other class of fungi. + + +HYGROPHORUS MINEATUS = vermilion.+ + +The Vermilion Hygophorus.+ + ++Cap+ 1 inch broad, at first vermilion color and then paler, broad, +flattened and then even, depressed in centre by the margin becoming +elevated. It is thin and fragile at first, even, smooth, and then scaly. ++Stem+ from 1 to 2 inches long, slender, 1 line thick, a little paler +than the cap, equal, round, somewhat stuffed, smooth, shining. +Gills+ +attached, seldom decurrent, distant, distinct, yellow color, shaded with +red. This species is very fragile. It grows in woods or in open country, +on mosses or on dead leaves. It may be cæspitose, or grows singly from +July to October. + + +HYGROPHORUS COCCINEUS = scarlet color.+ + +The Scarlet Hygrophorus.+ + ++Cap+, first bright scarlet and then changing to a paler hue. One to 2 +inches broad and even more, convex, plane, often unequal, obtuse, +sticky, and even, smooth, flesh of the same color as cap. +Stem+ 2 +inches long, 3 to 4 lines thick, hollow, then compressed and rather +even, scarlet color like cap, but always yellow at the base. +Gills+ +wholly attached, decurrent, with a tooth, distant, connected by veins, +soft, watery, when full grown, purplish at the base, light yellow in the +middle, powdery at the edge, fragile. This species grows in pastures, +and is common. It is found from August to November. + + +HYGROPHORUS PUNICEUS = blood red.+ + +The Blood-red Hygrophorus.+ + ++Cap+ 2 to 4 inches broad, glittering blood scarlet, when older becomes +paler, at first bell-shaped, obtuse, commonly spread out or lobed, +irregular, even, smooth, sticky. Flesh of the same color as cap, +fragile. +Stem+ 3 inches long, 1 to 1½ inch thick. Solid when young, +at length hollow, very stout, swollen in middle, thinner at both ends, +marked with lines and generally scaly at apex; when dry either yellow or +same color as the cap, always white at first, and often incurved at the +base. +Gills+ ascending, swollen in middle, 2 to 4 lines broad, distant, +thick, white or light yellow, or yellow, and often reddish at base. This +is a very handsome species. It is found in pastures from July to +November. + + +MUSHROOMS WITH YELLOW OR ORANGE COLORED CAP. + + +CANTHARELLUS CIBARIUS = food.+ + +The Chantarelle.+ + ++Cap+ bright orange or egg color, first convex, and then depressed, +at length top-shaped and smooth. The margin lobed and turning under +(involute). Flesh thick and white. +Stem+ 1 to 1½ inch long, thickened +upward, solid, fleshy. +Gills+ running down the stem, thick, distant, +fold-like. Stevenson does not give the size of the cap, but our +specimen measured 2 inches in breadth. It had an odor like ripe +apricots, and a pleasant taste. It is often tufted in its growth. It is +found in woods from July to December. This is a very striking looking +mushroom and easily distinguished. It often grows in rings or arcs of +circles. (Edible.) + + +HYPHOLOMA FASCICULARE = a small bundle.+ + +The Tufted Hypholoma.+ + ++Cap+ a beautiful reddish color, like a peach; the disc darker, about 2 +inches broad, fleshy, thin, convex, then plane, with a slight mound or +umbo, even, smooth, dry; flesh a light yellow. +Stem+ variable in +length, 2 to 9 inches long, 2 lines thick, hollow, thin, incurved or +curved, covered with fibres of same color as cap. +Gills+ adnate, very +crowded, linear, somewhat liquid when mature (deliquescent), sulphur +yellow, and then becoming green, taste bitter. It grows in crowded +clusters. It is said to be poisonous. + + +AMANITA MUSCARIA = a fly.+ + +The Fly Amanita.+ + ++Cap+ at first red, then orange, then becoming pale, about 4 inches +broad, convex, and then flat, covered with thick fragments of volva; +margin when grown slightly marked with lines; flesh white, yellow under +the cuticle. +Stem+ white, sometimes yellowish, 2 inches long, torn into +scales, at first stuffed, then hollow; the attached base of the volva +forms an oval-shaped bulb, which is bordered with concentric scales, +that is, having a common centre, as a series of rings one within the +other. +Ring+ very soft, torn, even, inserted at the apex of the stem, +which is often dilated. +Gills+ free but reaching the stem, decurrent, +in the form of lines, crowded, broader in front, white, rarely becoming +yellow. It grows in woods from July to November. This mushroom is easily +identified by its orange-colored cap, covered with white warts and _pure +white stem and gills_. We found several specimens in the woods, all of a +most beautiful striking color. (Poisonous.) + + +AMANITA FROSTIANA.+ + +Frost's Amanita.+ + ++Cap+ a bright yellow, almost orange color, 1½ inch broad, convex or +expanded, covered with warts, but sometimes nearly smooth, the margin +marked with lines (striate.) +Gills+ white or tinged with yellow, free +from the stem. +Stem+ 2 to 3 inches long, white or yellowish, stuffed, +slender, bearing a slight evanescent ring; bulbous at the base, bulb +slightly margined by the volva. We found several specimens growing in +mixed woods. It is smaller than A. muscaria, more slender, with a +beautiful color. + + +TRICHOLOMA EQUESTRE = a knight.+ + +The Canary Mushroom, so called from its color.+ + ++Cap+ pale yellow, 3 to 5 inches broad, darker at disc, tinged with a +brick red hue, and yellow near margin, convex, then plane, wavy, +irregular; flesh white, thick. +Stem+ 1 to 2 inches long, and ½ to 2/3 +inch thick, generally white, sometimes yellow, stout and solid. +Gills+ +close, deeply notched near the stem, a beautiful pale yellow color, +scarcely adnexed, broad, somewhat swollen in middle. It grows in pine +woods and appears in the autumn. + + +TRICHOLOMA SULPHUREUM = sulphur.+ + +The Sulphury Tricholoma.+ + ++Cap+ dingy sulphur yellow color, ½ to 4 inches broad, at first round +with a slight umbo, at length depressed, rather silky, then smooth and +even. +Stem+ 2 to 4 inches long, 3 to 4 lines thick, stuffed, somewhat +equal but often curved, rather smooth, striate, sulphur yellow, of same +color as cap. +Gills+ adnexed, narrowed behind, rather thick, distant, +distinct, brighter than the cap. This is also found in autumn in the +woods, and is quite common. It has a strange disagreeable odor. + + +LACTARIUS DELICIOSUS = delicious.+ + +The Delicious Lactarius.+ + ++Cap+ orange brick color, 2 to 6 inches broad, becoming pale, fleshy, +when young depressed in centre, margin turned under (involute), then +flat and depressed, or funnel-shaped, with margin unfolded, smooth, +zoned, slightly sticky. The zones become faded in the old plants. The +flesh is whitish or tinged with yellow. +Stem+ a little paler than the +cap, with spots of deeper orange, 1 to 4 inches long, 1/3 to 2/3 of an +inch thick, stuffed, then hollow, fragile. +Gills+ running down the stem +(decurrent), orange color, crowded, narrow, becoming pale and green when +wounded. The milk is orange color. It grows in pine woods and in wet, +mossy swamps. It resembles the orange brown Lactarius in size and shape, +but the color is different, so we have placed it in the orange-colored +section and L. volemus in the red division of colors. + + [Illustration: Lactarius insulsus. + Photographed by C. G. Lloyd.] + + +STROPHARIA SICCAPES = dry and foot.+ + +The Dry Stropharia.+ + +Stropharia is taken from a Greek word meaning sword belt, referring to +its ring (Stevenson). Siccapes is from two words meaning dry and foot. +It grows on horse manure. Stevenson does not mention this species. It is +described by Mr. Peck in the State reports. +Cap+ is a light yellow, +darker in the centre, ¼ inch to 1 inch broad, bell-shaped, sticky, shiny +when dry, even. +Stem+ sometimes 4 inches long, slender, straight, dry, +base almost club-shaped. +Ring+ scarcely perceptible, but forming a +whitish zone, shining, persistent, apex of stem whitish, and slightly +striate. +Gills+ dark gray, almost blackish, the margin paler, adfixed, +thin. We found a great many in one place, of all sizes, from 1 line +across cap to 1 inch. In some specimens the ring was wanting, but in +others it was apparent. + + +CANTHARELLUS AURANTIACUS = orange yellow.+ + +The Orange Chanterelle.+ + +This species takes its name from its color. +Cap+ is orange yellow, 2 to +3 inches broad, fleshy, soft, depressed, often eccentric, with the stem +between centre and margin, and wavy, somewhat tomentose and involute at +the margin. +Stem+ 2 inches long, stuffed, and then hollow, somewhat +incurved and unequal, yellowish. +Gills+ decurrent, tense, and straight, +repeatedly dividing by pairs from below upward (dichotomous) and +crowded, often crisped at base, orange color. This species grows in +woods, and is often found there during the months of autumn. Some +consider it poisonous. + + +CANTHARELLUS INFUNDIBULIFORMIS = funnel-shaped.+ + +The Funnel-Shaped Chantarelle.+ + ++Cap+ yellow when moist, 1 to 2 inches broad, umbilicate, then +funnel-shaped, wrinkled on the surface, at length wavy at margin. +Stem+ +2 to 3 inches long, 2 lines thick, hollow (fistulose), a little +thickened at the base, even, smooth, always a light yellow. +Gills+ +decurrent, thick, distant, dichotomous, straight, light yellow; when +old, ash color (cinereous.) This is found in the woods from July to +October. + + +BOLETUS HEMICHRYSUS = half and golden.+ + +The Half Golden Boletus.+ + +The descriptions of the Boleti are all written after comparing the +specimens we found with those described in Professor Peck's work on +Boleti. We examined and analyzed all those placed on the list. The +descriptions written by Professor Peck are so clear and faithful to +nature that it makes the task of calling them by name much easier than +any other fungi we have studied. +Cap+ bright golden yellow, 1½ to +2½ inches broad, convex plane and depressed, with minute wooly scales +(floccose squamulose), and covered with a yellow powder (pulverulent), +sometimes with cracks (rimose). Flesh thick and yellow. Tubes decurrent, +yellow, becoming brown; mouths large, angular. +Stem+ short, about 1 +inch long, 3 to 6 lines thick, irregular, narrowing toward the base, +sprinkled with a yellowish dust, tinged with red. We found it growing on +an old stump, in pine woods, in the month of August. + + +BOLETUS GRANULATUS = granules.+ + +The Granulated Boletus.+ + +This Boletus varies much in color. In our specimen it was a +pinkish-yellow, and covered with yellow spots of a darker shade. We +found it in all sizes, from 2 to 4 inches broad. +Cap+ was convex, +nearly plane, viscid when moist. It became more of a yellow color when +it was dry. Flesh pale yellow. The tubes were adnate, short and +yellowish. +Stem+ 1 to 2 inches long, 4 to 6 lines thick. Some were +united in tufts (cæspitose), others were gregarious (in groups) or +solitary. They grew on the edge of pine woods, and near the roadside. +The stem was dotted in the upper part with glandules and was pale +yellow. + + +BOLETUS CYANESCENS = bright blue.+ + +The Bluing Boletus.+ + ++Cap+ a light pale brownish-yellow, or a light yellow color +(alutaceous), 2 to 5 inches broad, with minute wooly scales, convex or +nearly plane. Flesh white, changing quickly to blue when cut. Tubes +free, white, afterward yellow; mouths small, round. Tubes change also to +a bluish-green when bruised. +Stem+ 2 to 4 inches long, ¾ to ½ inch +thick, swollen in the middle (ventricose), covered with a bloom +(pruinose), stuffed and then hollow, tapering toward the apex, colored +like the cap. This is a very easy Boletus to distinguish from others, +and interesting to the beginner on account of the striking and beautiful +change of color. Found in hemlock and pine woods toward the end of +August. + + +PHOLIOTA ADIPOSA = fat.+ + +The Stout Pholiota.+ + ++Cap+ bright yellowish or orange color, 3 to 7 inches broad, convex, +then flattened, gibbous, that is, more convex on one side than on the +other; viscid, covered with woolly (floccose) scales, which often +separate. Flesh whitish. +Stem+ 3 to 6 inches long, ½ to 1 inch thick, +solid, large at base, first white and then light yellow, with darker +scales. +Ring+ yellow, and then ironrust color (ferruginous.) +Gills+ +adnate, slightly rounded, broad at first, yellow and then darker. We +were driving through a thick woods when we saw the bright yellow cap of +this mushroom peering among the bushes. There was no apparent ring and +few scales except on the margin. It was irregularly shaped, fleshy and +thick. It was not a typical specimen, and a beginner would have found it +difficult to name. The then recent hard rains had washed nearly all the +scales from the cap, and the ring was hardly to be seen. It grew on the +trunk of a tree in the month of September. Not edible. + + +PHOLIOTA SPECTABILIS = showy.+ + +The Showy Pholiota.+ + +This Pholiota was found much later in the season. +Cap+ is from 2 to 5 +inches broad, a golden yellow, then growing paler, fleshy, torn into +squamules, dry, flesh thick, hard, sulphur yellow. +Stem+ about 3 inches +long and 1 inch thick, solid, hard, swollen in the middle, and extending +into a spindle-shaped root. It is sometimes smooth and shining and +sometimes scaly, sulphur yellow color and mealy _above_ the ring. ++Gills+ adnate, crowded, narrow, at first pure yellow and afterward +ironrust color. Gills have sometimes a small decurrent tooth +(Stevenson), but our specimen had none. It grew together (cæspitose) on +a stump. Not edible. + + +MARASMIUS OREADES = a mountain nymph.+ + +The Fairy Ring Mushroom.+ + ++Cap+ when young and moist is of a pale yellowish-red, but fades when +dry to pale yellow. It is from 1 to 2 inches broad, fleshy, tough, +convex, then plane, somewhat umbonate, even, smooth, slightly striate at +margin when moist. +Stem+ 1 to 2 inches long and less than ¼ inch thick; +slender, solid, tough, equal, sometimes cartilaginous, straight, covered +with a close woven skin that can be rubbed off. +Gills+ free or slightly +attached, whitish or creamy yellow, broad, distant, the alternate ones +shorter, rounded, or deeply notched at inner end. These mushrooms grow +in circles and are called fairy rings. They are found chiefly on lawns +and pastures from May till October. We saw one specimen in October. It +grew in a waste lot at Kaighn's Point, Camden, N.J. It was solitary, of +a brownish-yellow color, the cap 1 inch broad, and the stem 1 inch long. +It was growing amidst some ballast plants, the only mushroom there. + + +COPRINUS MICACEUS = mica.+ + +The Glistening Coprinus.+ + ++Cap+ varies from buff to tawny yellow, 1 to 2 inches broad, bell-shaped +(campanulate) or conical (cone-shaped), thin, marked with lengthwise +lines, which extend half-way up from the margin. The disc is even and is +more highly colored. It is often sprinkled with shiny atoms when young. ++Gills+ at first whitish, then brown or black. +Stem+ 1 to 3 inches +long, slender, hollow and white. The spores are dark brown. We found it +in great numbers growing on the ground amidst the grass in September and +October. It may be seen as early as April. It is a pretty species. +(Edible.) + + +MUSHROOMS WITH GRAY COLORED CAP. + + +AMANITA STROBILIFORMIS = a pine cone.+ + +The Warted Amanita.+ + ++Cap+ light gray, or dingy white when young; 7 to 9 inches broad when +expanded fully. It is covered with large pyramidal, persistent warts. +The margin is even, and extends beyond the gills. Flesh firm and white. ++Stem+ 6 to 8 inches long, 1 to 3 inches thick, solid, scaly, tapering +upward, with a bulbous base and marked with a series of rings near the +root, which extends deep into the ground. +Ring+ large, torn. +Gills+ +white, free, rounded near the stem, 3/8 inch broad. This is said to be +rather rare. We found it twice in August growing solitary on the +roadside in the grass. It was large-sized, measuring 7 inches across +cap, of a grayish-white color, with prominent warts; the stem was mealy, +the volva was large. It was marked with distinct rings near the base. +When kept many hours the smell becomes disagreeable. The name is given +on account of the shape of the warts, which are conspicuous. + + [Illustration: Amanita vaginata. + Photographed by C. G. Lloyd.] + + +AMANITA VAGINATA = a sheath.+ + +The Sheathed Mushroom.+ + ++Cap+ gray, mouse color, sometimes slate-colored gray, and even +brownish, 2 to 4 inches broad. It is thin and fragile, convex, and then +nearly flat, with a slight mound or umbo, but sometimes none. It is +deeply striate or grooved (sulcate) on the margin. +Stem+ is white and +often covered with mealy particles. It is slender, either hollow or +stuffed, 3 to 5 inches long, 1/3 to ½ inch thick. It is not bulbous, +but is sheathed quite high in a loose, soft wrapper, the remains of the +volva. There is no ring. +Gills+ are whitish, free from the stem, and +rounded. It is easily broken. There are several varieties (Peck). In one +the plant is white, Var. alba. In Var. livida the cap is a leaden +brownish color, and in the Var. fulva the cap is tawny yellow and +ochraceous. The mouse-colored form is the most common. We found many +specimens in July and August. + + +CORTINARIUS CORRUGATUS = wrinkled.+ + +The Wrinkled Cortinarius.+ + ++Cap+ gray, with a pinkish-yellowish tint, 2 inches broad, campanulate, +sticky, broken up into squamules, pellicle scaling, margin thin. +Stem+ +slender, 5 inches long, shiny, mealy at apex, slightly bulbous. +Gills+ +gray color, adnexed, distant, ventricose. This is a pretty mushroom. The +shade of color of the pileus is delicate. We found it in August in the +woods. + + +BOLETUS FELLEUS = bitter.+ + +The Bitter Boletus.+ + +This Boletus varies much in color; our plant was a brownish-gray, +a dingy color. +Cap+ 3 to 8 inches broad, convex or nearly plane, +glabrous, even, flesh white, turning to flesh or pink color when +wounded. Taste bitter, tubes adnate, long, depressed around the stem, +crowded. +Stem+ variable, 2 to 4 inches long, about ½ to 1 inch thick, +equal or tapering, reticulated above, bulbous or enlarged at base, a +little paler than the pileus. The Boleti we found grew in great numbers, +in different localities, and were of all sizes. The color of the +reticulations was a brownish-gray. + + +BOLETUS GRISEUS = gray.+ + +The Gray Boletus.+ + ++Cap+ dark gray, 2 to 4 inches broad, broadly convex, smooth, soft, +silky, flesh whitish. Tubes adnate, slightly depressed, mouths small. ++Stem+ 2 to 4 inches long, 3 to 6 lines thick, yellowish, much +reticulated, sometimes reddish toward the base. Our plant was of a +brownish color at base, and grew in the month of September. + + +PSALLIOTA CAMPESTRIS = a field.+ + +The Common Mushroom.+ + +There are several edible species of the genus Psalliota, chiefly the +Field or Common Mushroom, which is constantly seen on our tables. +Cap+ +varies from white and gray to brown. It is 2 to 4 inches broad, fleshy, +convex, then flattened, dry, sometimes covered with silky fibrils, and +when old smooth. The margin of the cap generally extends beyond the +gills. Flesh white. +Stem+ rather short, 1 to 3 inches long, 1/3 to 2/3 +inch thick, white or whitish, slender, stuffed and then hollow, nearly +even. +Ring+ distant, simple. +Gills+ free, ventricose, narrowing at +both ends, thin, first a pink color, then afterward brown or +blackish-brown. It grows in rich pastures or in meadows, and is +found in autumn. It has a most delicious flavor. + + +AGARICUS PLACOMYCES.+ + +The Flat-capped Mushroom.+ + ++Cap+ a whitish-gray, about 3 inches broad, convex, and then expanded +and flat. It is covered with small, distinct, brown, persistent scales, +except on the disc, where they are so close together that they appear of +a brown color. +Stem+ is long and slender, 3 inches and more, stuffed +and then hollow, equal and bulbous at the base. It is whitish, but +sometimes has yellowish stains toward the base. +Gills+ are first white, +then pink, and lastly a blackish-brown. It grows under trees, and is +found in summer and autumn. + + +COPRINTUS ATRAMENTARIUS = ink.+ + +The Inky Coprinus.+ + ++Cap+ gray or grayish-brown, smooth, except a slight scaly appearance on +the disc. It is silky near the margin, and the margin is irregular. When +young it is often egg-shaped. +Gills+ crowded, whitish, soon becoming +brown and then deliquescent. +Stem+ smooth, hollow, white. It grows in +clusters until late in the autumn. We found our plants on a lawn in +great profusion in the month of October. + + +PLUTEUS CERVINUS = a deer.+ + +The Fawn-colored Pluteus.+ + ++Cap+ about 3 inches broad, whitish-gray color, at first bell-shaped, +then expanded, smooth, even, but afterward broken up into fibrils, +margin entire; flesh soft, white. +Stem+ 3 to 6 inches long, nearly +equal and solid, whitish, striate with black fibrils. +Gills+ rounded +behind, free, crowded, ventricose, white, then flesh color as the spores +mature. This is a common species, appearing early in the season--April +to November. It usually grows from stumps and old logs. It can be easily +known by its gills, being quite free from the stem, where it joins the +pileus. + + +MUSHROOMS WITH A GREEN COLORED CAP. + + +RUSSULA VIRESCENS = green.+ + +The Greenish Russula.+ + ++Cap+ of a grayish-green color. It is 2 to 4 inches broad, dry and +broken up into small warts, the margin straight, obtuse, even; flesh +white. +Stem+ 2 inches long and ½ inch thick, solid, spongy inside, +firm, white, sometimes marked with lines (rivulose.) +Gills+ free, +whitish, narrowed toward the stem, somewhat crowded, sometimes equal and +forked, with a few shorter ones between. It is easily distinguished by +the dull green pileus, being without a cuticle, and scaly in the form of +patches. It is found in woods in July and September. We have not seen a +specimen of R. virescens, so have used Stevenson's description. Edible, +taste mild. + + +RUSSULA FURCATA = a fork.+ + +The Forked Russula.+ + ++Cap+ from 3 to 5 inches broad, of an olive green color, sometimes +greenish umber, covered with a silky bloom, fleshy, gibbous, then +plano-depressed and funnel-shaped, cuticle here and there separable; +margin at first inflexed, then spreading. Flesh firm, thick, white. ++Stem+ 2 to 3 inches long, solid, firm, stout, white. +Gills+ +adnato-decurrent, thick, distant, broad, narrowed at both ends, often +forked, white. Our specimen was 5 inches broad, and the margin slightly +striate, and when the cuticle was removed it was purplish underneath. +It was found in August, in woods. Poisonous, taste bitter. + + +MUSHROOMS WITH WHITE COLORED CAP. + + +AMANITA VIROSA = poison.+ + +The Poisonous Amanita.+ + ++Cap+ shining white, from 2½ to 4 inches broad, fleshy, at first +conical and acute, afterward bell-shaped and expanded, viscous in wet +weather, shining when dry, margin even, sometimes unequal, spreading and +inflexed, flesh white. +Stem+ 4 to 6 inches long, wholly stuffed, almost +solid, split up into lengthwise fibrils, cylindrical from a bulbous +base, surface torn into scales, springing from a loose, thick, wide +volva which bursts open at apex. +Ring+ large, loose, silky, splitting +into pieces. +Gills+ free, thin, a little broader toward margin, +crowded, not decurrent, though the stem is sometimes striate. This is a +poisonous species, but striking in appearance from the shining white of +the whole fungus. Found in the woods in August. + + +AMANITA PHALLOIDES = appearance, phallus-like.+ + +The Death Cup.+ + +This species is considered the most deadly of all the poisonous +mushrooms, and yet it is one of the most beautiful. We place it in the +section of white-colored mushrooms, though the cap is sometimes tinged +with light yellow and delicate green. +Cap+ 2 to 4 inches broad, ovate, +campanulate, then spreading, obtuse, with a cuticle, sticky in moist +weather, rarely sprinkled with one or two fragments of the volva, the +margin regular, even. +Stem+ 3 to 5 inches long, ½ inch thick, solid, +bulbous and tapering upward, smooth, white. +Ring+ superior, reflexed, +slightly striate, swollen, white. Volva more or less buried in the +ground, bursting open in a torn manner at the apex, with a loose border. ++Gills+ free, ventricose, 4 lines broad, shining white. This species, as +well as A. virosa, has a fetid odor when kept. We found it oftener than +any other species of Amanita. + + +AMANITA NITIDA = to shine.+ + +The Shining Amanita.+ + ++Cap+ whitish, 3 to 4 inches broad, somewhat compact, at first +hemispherical, covered with angular, adhering warts, which become a dark +color (fuscous.) It is dry, shining, the margin even; flesh white. ++Stem+ 3 inches long, 1 inch thick, solid, firm, with a bulb-shaped +base, scaly, white. +Ring+ superior, thin, torn, slightly striate, +covered with soft weak hairs beneath, which at length disappear. +Gills+ +free, crowded, wide, nearly ½ inch broad, ventricose, shining white. +This was also found in August. There is nothing more beautiful than +these white poisonous Amanitas. + + +LEPIOTA NAUCINOIDES = a nut shell.+ + +The Smooth Lepiota.+ + ++Cap+ a clear white, with sometimes a brownish tint on the disc, 2 to 4 +inches broad, smooth. +Stem+ 1 to 3 inches long, ¼ to 1/3 inch thick, +growing thicker toward the base, as if it had a bulb, white, hollow, but +stuffed with a cottony pith. +Gills+ white, when old they assume a +pinkish-brownish hue. +Ring+ has a thick, external edge, but its inner +edge is so thin that it often breaks from the stem and becomes movable. +It is found in the fields, by roadsides, or in the woods, from August to +November. We have not seen a specimen of this mushroom, which is said to +be nearly equal to the common mushroom in edible qualities. It is +considered to resemble it also in appearance, but Professor Peck says +the different color of the gills when the plants are both young will +distinguish them, and the thin collar and stuffed stem of L. naucinoides +is also different from thick-edged ring and hollow stem of A. +campestris. (Psalliota.) + + +LACTARIUS PIPERATUS = peppery.+ + +The Peppery Lactarius.+ + ++Cap+ white, 4 to 9 inches broad, fleshy, rigid, depressed in centre +when young, reflexed margin, at first involute, when full grown the +surface becomes funnel-shaped and regular, even, smooth, without zones; +flesh white. +Stem+ 1 to 2 inches long, 1 to 2 inches thick, solid, +obese, equal or obconical, slightly covered with powder (pruinose), +white. +Gills+ decurrent, crowded, narrow, scarcely broader than one +line, obtuse at edge, regularly dividing by pairs from below upward +(dichotomous), curved like a bow (arcuate), then all extended upward in +a straight line, white, with occasional yellow spots. The milk white, +unchangeable, plentiful, and acrid. This is common in woods. The cap in +one of our specimens turned yellow when old, and was slightly striate at +the margin; it was dry and thick and had no odor. The flesh had a +whitish-brownish tinge where the cuticle was peeled off. Found it _only_ +in August. + + +LACTARIUS VELLEREUS = fleece.+ + +The Fleecy Lactarius.+ + ++Cap+ white, 5 to 7 inches broad, fleshy, compact, convex, +saucer-shaped, the margin for a long time sloping downward, with short, +downy hairs (pubescent), dry, zoneless. +Stem+ 2 to 3 inches long, +1 to 1½ inch thick, stout, solid, equal, covered with innate, thin +pubescence. +Gills+ arcuate, adnato-decurrent, rather thick, acute at +the edge, somewhat distant, rather broad, connected by branches, pallid, +watery, white. Milk scanty, white, very bitter. It is not said to be +edible. The cap tends to become a pallid, reddish tan. This description +is partially taken from Stevenson. The specimen we found had the margin +revolute, it was 2½ inches broad, and the stem 2 inches long. The +flesh was white and the cap was turning a brownish color. The stem +slightly tapered toward the base. The milk was scanty and peppery. Found +in the beginning of August in the woods. It resembles L. piperatus. + + +BOLETUS ALBUS = white.+ + +The White Boletus.+ + ++Cap+ white, from 1½ to 3 inches broad, convex, viscid when moist, +flesh white or yellowish, tubes small, nearly round (subrotund), adnate, +whitish, becoming ochraceous. +Stem+ 1½ to 3 inches long, 3 to 5 lines +thick, equal, white, sometimes tinged with pink near the base. We found +only one specimen of the white Boletus in August. It grew in the woods. +The flesh became yellow and the stem was 1¼ inch long, and it slightly +tapered toward the base. + + +PLEUROTUS ULMARIUS = elm.+ + +The Elm Pleurotus.+ + +The word pleurotus is taken from two Greek words, meaning a side and an +ear. It is given on account of the stem growing in a lateral or +eccentric manner. The Elm Pleurotus, so called from growing on elm +trees, is considered edible. Our specimen had the _cap_ whitish, but +stained in the centre with a rusty yellowish color, 3 to 5 inches broad, +thick, firm, smooth, convex, then plane. The skin was cracked in a +tessellated manner. Flesh was firm and white. +Stem+ white, 2 to 4 +inches long, 1½ to ¾ inch thick, firm, smooth, a little hairy at +the base, and attached eccentrically to the cap. +Gills+ white with +a yellow hue, broad, rounded near the stem, slightly adnexed and not +crowded. It was found in October, and is not common. + + +PLEUROTUS SAPIDUS = agreeable to taste.+ + +The Palatable Pleurotus.+ + +This species generally grows in clusters with the stem united at the +base. Our specimen grew on a maple tree. The plants protruded from a +large crack in the trunk of a tree, about four feet above the ground, +and grew one above the other. They had not attained their full growth. +During former seasons they had been seen of a large size. +Pileus+ is +from 2 to 5 inches broad, grayish-white, smooth. +Caps+ often overlap +one another. Flesh is white. Gills broad, whitish, decurrent, and often +slightly connected by oblique branches. +Stem+ is generally short and +lateral. It grew in October. Professor Peck says that in edible +qualities it resembles the oyster mushroom, P. ostreatus. + + +MUSHROOMS WITH THE CAP BROWN AND VARIOUS SHADES OF BROWN. + + +CORTINARIUS CINNAMOMEUS = cinnamon.+ + +The Cinnamon-colored Cortinarius.+ + ++Cap+ a golden brown or bright cinnamon color, 1½ to 4 inches broad, +umbonate, silky, shining, squamulose, with yellowish fibrils, and then +smooth. +Stem+ 2 inches long, stuffed and then hollow, thin, equal, +tapering toward the base, yellowish color, as also are the flesh and the +veil. +Gills+ adnate, broad, crowded, shining reddish-brown color. Our +specimen had beautiful reddish-colored gills, Var. semisanguineus +(Peck). It grows in woods from August to November. + + +COLLYBIA ACERVATA = a heap.+ + +The Tufted Collybia.+ + +The name of the species is derived from a Latin word meaning a heap, +so called from the habit of growth. (Stevenson.) +Cap+ tan brown color, +2 to 3 inches broad, flesh color when moist, whitish when dry, convex, +then flattened, obtuse or gibbous, margin at first involute, then +flattened and slightly striate. +Stem+++ 2 to 4 inches long, 1 to 2 +lines thick, very hollow (fistulose), rigid, fragile, slightly tapering +upward, rarely compressed, very smooth, except the base, even, color +brown or reddish-brown. +Gills+ are at first adnexed, soon free, +crowded, linear, narrow, plane, flesh color and then whitish. It grows +in tufts (cæspitose). The stems are sometimes white, tomentose at the +base. Stevenson says the cap is flesh color, but our specimen was of a +pale or tan brown color, less than 2 inches broad; when moist it was +much paler. Found in mixed woods in September. + + +PSATHYRELLA DISSEMINATA = scattered.+ + +The Widely-spread Psathyrella.+ + ++Cap+ a light-colored yellowish-brown, changing into an ash color; the +disc with a yellowish shade; of an oval shape, then bell-shaped, and +marked with lines, almost sulcate. The margin does not extend beyond the +gills. It is a small mushroom, measuring from 2 or 3 lines across the +cap to 1 inch. +Stem+ about 1 inch long or more, fragile, hollow, +sometimes curved and bending, smooth and light-colored. +Gills+ adnate, +rather broad, slightly narrowed at both ends, at first whitish and then +turning a brownish color. The plants vary greatly in height and size, +are sometimes cæspitose and at other times scattered. The disc in some +specimens was slightly raised in the middle, almost umbonate. It was +found about stumps and on the ground, at the end of May, in mixed woods. +It soon withers, but does not melt into fluid. + + [Illustration: Psathyrella disseminata. + Photographed by C. G. Lloyd.] + + +HYPHOLOMA CAPNOIDES = smoke.+ + +The Gray-gilled Mushroom.+ + ++Cap+ is reddish-brown, 1 to 3 inches broad, fleshy, convex, then +flattened, obtuse, dry, smooth. The margin in our specimen was slightly +revolute. Flesh white. +Stem+ 2 to 3 inches long, 2 to 4 lines thick, +growing together at the base (connate), hollow, equal, often curved, +becoming silky, even, whitish at apex, and here and there striate. ++Gills+ gray color, adnate, easily separating, rather broad, waxy. The +name is given on account of the smoke-colored gills. It is not common, +and is generally found on or about stumps in the autumn. + + +HYPHOLOMA PERPLEXUM = perplexing.+ + +The Perplexing Hypholoma.+ + ++Cap+ brownish and turning to yellow, 1 to 3 inches broad and slightly +umbonate, flesh whitish. +Stem+ nearly equal, 2 to 3 inches long, 2 to 4 +lines thick, firm, hollow, slightly fibrillose, whitish or yellowish +above, reddish-brown below. +Gills+ thin, close, slightly rounded at +inner end, at first pale yellow, then tinged with green, finally +purplish-brown. Taste mild. It grows in clusters. We found it both on +and around old stumps, in the woods. It is sometimes solitary. (Edible.) + + +COLLYBIA DRYOPHILA = oak-loving.+ + +The Oak-loving Collybia.+ + ++Cap+ tan color, often varying in color, ½ inch broad, thin, convex, +nearly plane, sometimes with margin elevated, irregular, smooth, flesh +white. +Stem+ equal or thickened at base, 1 to 2 inches long, 1 to 2 +lines broad, cartilaginous, smooth, hollow, yellowish, or reddish like +the cap. +Gills+ narrow, crowded, adnexed or nearly free, whitish. This +little mushroom we found in a thick woods late in September, growing +among dead leaves. There were oak trees all around and a great many +pines. The weather had been rainy, and it was pale-colored and looked +water-soaked. + + +TRICHOLOMA IMBRICATA = a tile.+ + +The Imbricated Tricholoma.+ + ++Cap+ reddish-brown, 3 inches broad, thick, fleshy, broadly convex, and +then flattened, obtuse, dry, continuous at disc, but torn into scales +and fibrillose toward the margin; flesh firm, white. +Stem+ solid, +stout, sometimes short, and conico-bulbous, 1½ to 2 inches long, and +as much as 1 inch thick, sometimes longer and almost equal; white at +apex. +Gills+ slightly emarginate, almost adnate, somewhat crowded, +about 3 inches broad, wholly white when young, at length reddish. It +grows either scattered or in groups. It is found in pine woods in +September and November. + + +BOLETUS ORNATIPES = ornate and foot.+ + +The Ornate-stemmed Boletus.+ + ++Cap+ 2 to 5 inches broad, yellowish-brown, convex, dry, firm, glabrous +or minutely tomentose, flesh yellow or pale yellow. +Tubes+ adnate, +plane or concave, the mouths small or middle size, a clear yellow. ++Stem+ 2 to 4 inches long, 4 to 6 lines broad, subequal, distinctly and +beautifully reticulated, yellow without and within. In woods and open +places. + + +BOLETUS BREVIPES = short and foot.+ + +The Short-stemmed Boletus.+ + ++Cap+ dark chestnut color, 1½ to 2½ inches broad, thick, convex, +covered with a tough gluten, margin inflexed, flesh white or yellowish. ++Tubes+ short, nearly plane, adnate, or slightly depressed around the +stem, small, white and afterward dingy ochraceous. +Stem+ ½ to 1 inch +long, 3 to 5 lines thick, whitish, very short, not dotted, or rarely +with a few inconspicuous dots at the edge. This plant was found in +October, and looked as if it rested upon the ground, the stem was so +short; the cap was covered with gluten. + + [Illustration: Lepiota procera. + Photographed by C. G. Lloyd.] + + +LEPIOTA PROCERA = tall.+ + +The Tall Lepiota.+ + ++Cap+ reddish-brown, 3 to 6 inches broad, fleshy; when young egg-shaped, +and then campanulate, and flattening out with a broad, obtuse umbo. The +cuticle breaks up into brownish scales, close near the centre, but +sometimes wanting at the margin. The centre or umbo is darker colored; +flesh dry, tough and white. +Stem+ ½ inch thick, and 5 to 10 inches +long; it is straight or a little bent, swollen or bulbous at base, +sometimes variegated with brownish scales; deeply sunk at apex into the +cup of the pileus; hollow or stuffed. +Ring+ distinct from the stem, +continuous with cuticle of pileus when young. It becomes free when the +cap is expanded, and is then movable and persistent. +Gills+ far remote +from the stem, with a broad plano-depressed cartilaginous collar, +crowded, ventricose, broader in front, soft, whitish, sometimes becoming +dusky at the edge. The gills vary in color. This mushroom is a handsome +species and is quite common in woods and pastures. (Edible.) + + +BOLETUS EDULIS = edible.+ + +The Edible Boletus.+ + ++Cap+ varies sometimes in color (our specimen was brown). It is often a +tawny light brown, paler at the margin, 4 to 6 inches broad, flesh white +or yellowish, tinged with red under the cuticle. +Tubes+ convex, nearly +free, long, +minute+, round, white, then yellow and greenish. +Stem+ 2 +to 6 inches long, 6 to 18 lines thick, straight or bending, subequal or +bulbous, short, more or less reticulated, especially above, whitish, +pale reddish or brown. Found in August. Our specimen was small, the stem +only 1½ inch long. (Edible.) + + +BOLETUS SCABER = rough.+ + +The Scabrous-stemmed Boletus.+ + ++Cap+ varies in color, 1 to 5 inches broad, yellowish tan color, smooth, +viscid when moist, at length rivulose. Tubes free, convex, white, then +dingy color, mouths of tubes very small and round. +Stem+ 3 to 5 inches +long, 3 to 8 lines thick, solid, tapering above, roughened with fibrous +scales. We found two or three varieties of this Boletus, which seems to +grow everywhere in great abundance, in summer and autumn, in woods and +in open places. One variety was of a yellowish tan color, Var. +alutaceus, in another the flesh changed slightly to pinkish when +wounded, Var. mutabilis (Peck). (Edible.) + + +BOLETUS CASTANEUS = chestnut.+ + +The Chestnut Boletus.+ + ++Cap+ a chestnut color, brown or reddish brown, 1½ to 3 inches broad, +convex, nearly plane or depressed, firm, even, dry, minutely velvety +(tomentose), flesh white. +Tubes+ free, short, small, white, becoming +yellow. +Stem+ 1 to 2½ inches long, 3 to 5 lines thick, equal or +tapering upward, even, stuffed or hollow, colored like the cap. This is +one of the prettiest of the Boleti. The bright chestnut color of the +pileus forms a contrast with the white tubes, and makes it striking in +appearance. We found it on several occasions, as it is common in woods. +There are differences of opinion in regard to its being edible. + + +BOLETUS CHRYSENTERON = golden.+ + +The Golden Flesh Boletus.+ + ++Cap+ dark brown or reddish-brown, 1 to 3 inches broad, convex or plane, +soft, covered with woolly scales, sometimes marked with lines, flesh +yellow, red beneath the cuticle, often slowly changing to blue when +wounded, mouths large, angular, unequal. +Stem+ 1 to 3 inches long, 3 to +6 lines thick, rigid, fibrous, striate, equal, reddish or pale yellow. +This species is variable. We found one where the flesh was white, +another where the tubes changed finally to green, and one that had an +olive tint in the pileus. + + +BOLETUS ILLUDENS = deceiving.+ + +The Deceiving Boletus.+ + ++Cap+ yellow or olive brown, 3 inches broad, plane, dry, marked with +areoles, that is, the surface is broken up into little areas or patches. +Flesh thick, white, red under cuticle. +Tubes+ greenish-yellow, turning +dark green, adnato-decurrent, that is, broadly attached to the stem and +running down it, 1/8 inch long. +Stem+ 2½ inches long, stuffed with +brownish fibres, reticulated near apex, paler color than cap, curved. + + +BOLETUS PACHYPUS = thick.+ + +The Thick-stemmed Boletus.+ + ++Cap+ tan color, 4 to 8 inches broad, convex, somewhat covered with +long, soft hairs pressed closely to surface, subtomentose; flesh thick, +whitish, changing slightly to blue. +Tubes+ rather long, depressed +around the stem, mouths round, pale yellow, at length tinged with green. ++Stem+ 2 to 4 inches long, thick, firm, reticulated, at first ovate, +bulbous, then lengthened, equal, tinted pale yellow and red. The stem in +the specimen was ¼ inch thick, swelling from apex downward, but it often +measures 2 inches in thickness. This Boletus is considered poisonous. + + +BOLETUS SUBTOMENTOSUS = almost velvety.+ + +The Yellow-cracked Boletus.+ + ++Cap+ dark brown, 1 to 4 inches broad, convex or nearly plane, soft, +dry, covered with soft, weak, appressed hairs, almost olivaceous, of the +same color beneath the cuticle, often marked with cracks and divided +into little patches; flesh white or pallid. +Tubes+ adnate, or depressed +around the +stem+, yellow, mouths large, angular. +Stem+ 1 to 2½ +inches long, 2 to 5 lines thick, stout, somewhat ribbed, or scurfy, +with minute dots. The cap varies in color, it may be yellowish-brown. +We found the dark brown species growing on decaying wood, in pine woods, +during the month of September. + + +BOLETUS PIPERATUS = peppery.+ + +The Peppery Boletus.+ + ++Cap+ reddish-brown or ochraceous, 1 to 3 inches broad, convex or nearly +plane, smooth, slightly viscid when moist, flesh white or yellowish, +taste acrid, peppery. +Tubes+ long, large, unequal, plane or convex, +adnate or nearly decurrent, reddish, ferruginous. +Stem+ 1½ to 3 +inches long, 2 to 4 lines thick, slender, almost equal, tawny yellow; +at the base a bright yellow. The cap in our specimen was marked with +cracks and patches, and the margin obtuse. The stem was rather curved, +and the same color as the cap. Flesh yellow. Tubes a dark-reddish, +decided color, which makes it a striking-looking mushroom. Taste +peppery. + + +BOLETUS SORDIDUS = dingy.+ + +The Dingy-colored Boletus.+ + ++Cap+ a dingy, dark brown, about 2 inches broad, flesh white, tinged +with red. +Tubes+ long, nearly free, 3/8 inch long, white, turning a dark +bluish-green. +Stem+ tapering toward apex, 2½ inches long, curved, +solid, ½ inch thick, brownish, marked with darker streaks. The mouths +of tubes were angular, and the stem striate in our specimen. Found in +the woods in August. + + +BOLETUS SUBLUTEUS = almost, and yellow.+ + +The Small Yellow Boletus.+ + ++Cap+ brownish yellow, 1½ to 3 inches broad, convex or nearly plane, +viscid or glutinous when moist, often obscurely streaked (virgate). +Flesh whitish or dull yellowish. +Tubes+ plane or convex, adnate, small, +nearly round, yellow, becoming ochraceous. +Stem+ 1½ to 2½ inches +long, 2 to 4 lines thick, equal, slender, pale or yellowish, dotted +above and below the ring with reddish, brownish, moist, or sticky dots +(glandules). +Ring+ almost soft, glutinous, at first concealing the +tubes, then collapsing and forming a narrow whitish or brownish band +around the stem. Our Boletus had a brownish ring. The cap was covered +with a sticky, skin-like layer, called the pellicle or cuticle, both +terms having the same meaning. + + +BOLETUS AFFINIS = related.+ + +The Related Boletus.+ + ++Cap+ reddish-brown, fading to yellow, 2 to 4 inches broad, convex above +and almost plane, nearly smooth, flesh white. +Tubes+ plane or convex, +adnate or slightly compressed around the stem, at first white and +stuffed, then yellowish, turning to rusty ochraceous when wounded. ++Stem+ 1½ to 3 inches long, 4 to 8 lines thick, nearly equal, even, +smooth, paler than the cap. Our specimen had a few yellowish spots on +the cap, and is called Var. maculosus. (Edible.) + + +PAXILLUS LEPTOPUS = thin and a foot.+ + +The Thin-stemmed Paxillus.+ + +This is the only specimen of the genus Paxillus that we have found. +There is another species, P. involutus, which Professor Peck says is +edible. Stevenson says that P. leptopus is a remarkable species, that it +is distinguished from P. involutus by having the gills simple at the +base, not united by interlacing or transverse veins (anastomosing). ++Cap+ was a light brownish-yellow; it varies from 1½ to 3 inches in +breadth, eccentric or lateral, depressed in the middle, dry, covered +with dense down, soon torn into scales, which are a dingy yellow. Flesh +yellow. +Stem+ short, scarcely 1 inch, tapering downward, yellow inside. ++Gills+ decurrent, tense and straight, crowded, narrow, yellowish, then +darker in color. It was growing on the ground in September. + + [Illustration: + + 1. Boletus edulis. + 2. Hypholoma perplexum. + 3. Marasmius rotula. + 4. Calostoma cinnebarinus.] + + +MUSHROOMS WITH PURPLE OR VIOLET-COLORED CAP. + + +CORTINARIUS ALBO-VIOLACEOUS = white and violet.+ + +The Violet-colored Cortinarius.+ + ++Cap+ whitish-violet, 2 to 3 inches broad, fleshy, convex, broadly +umbonate or gibbous, dry, beautifully silky and becoming even; flesh +juicy, a bluish-white color. +Stem+ 2 to 4 inches long, solid, firm, +bulbous, club-shaped, ½ to 1 inch thick. It is, both outside and inside, +of a whitish violet color, often fibrillose above, with the cortina, and +sometimes with the white veil, in the form of a zone at the middle. ++Gills+ adnate, 2 to 3 lines broad, somewhat distant, slightly +serrulated, of a peculiar ashy violaceous color, at length slightly +cinnamon from the spores. It has no odor and the taste is insipid. We +found this in the woods in the month of October, growing on dead leaves; +a pretty fungus from the violet tints. + + + + +DESCRIPTIONS OF SOME FAMILIAR MUSHROOMS WITHOUT REGARD TO COLOR. + + +Here follows a list of fungi that we constantly see, but which cannot be +classified by the color of the cap. + + +POLYPOREI, PORE-BEARING FUNGI. + + +FISTULINA HEPATICA = liver.+ + +The Beefsteak Fungus.+ + +This species grows on trees, oaks or chestnuts, in hot weather. +Cap+ is +of a dark-red color, which probably suggested the name. It is generally +2 to 6 inches broad, but often grows to an immense size. The surface is +rough, the flesh thick, viscid above, soft when young, when old tough, +covered with tenacious fibres. +Stem+ short and thick. +Pores+ at first +pallid or yellowish-pink when young; they become brownish ochraceous +when old. It is changeable in form, is sometimes sessile (without a +stem), or it has a short lateral stem. + +The genus Fistulina, to which this mushroom belongs, has the under +surface of the cap covered with minute hollow pores, which are separate +from one another and stand side by side. The shape varies. It is +sometimes long, shaped like a tongue, or roundish. It is +peculiar-looking. It is considered good for food and nourishing, but the +taste is said to be rather acid. The specimens we found varied from 2 to +5 inches in diameter. They were of a dark-red color, and were tough and +old. They grew upon a tree in a large forest, and were not found +anywhere else. + + +POLYPORUS BETULINUS = birch.+ + +The Birch Polyporus.+ + +We shall meet a great many fungi on our walks that belong to the genus +Polyporus. They are generally leathery (coriaceous) fungi, and many grow +on wood. A few are edible, but are not recommended as food. The species +P. betulinus is found on living and dead birch trees. The specimens we +found grew in great quantities, of all sizes, from 1½ to 6 inches +broad. They were at first pure white, and then assumed a brownish tinge. +The edges were obtuse, the caps fleshy, then corky, smooth, the upper +ends not regular, oblique in the form of an umbo or little knob, the +pellicles or outside layers thin and easily separated. Pores short, +small, unequal, at length separating. The shape of the fungus is +peculiar, a sort of semi-circular outline that may be called dimidiate. +The margins were involute. They protruded from a split in the bark of +a dead birch tree which lay prostrate on the ground, several feet in +length, and it was literally covered with the fungi, some an inch +wide and snow white, and the largest 5 or 6 inches in width, and of a +brownish-gray tinge. These specimens became as hard as wood after they +had been kept for some time. The thin skin peeled off easily and +disclosed the snowy flesh beneath. + + +POLYPORUS PERENNIS = perennial.+ + +The Perennial Polyporus.+ + ++Cap+ is cinnamon-colored, then of a date brown, leathery, tough, +funnel-shaped, becoming smooth, zoned. +Pores+ minute, angular, acute, +at first sprinkled with a white bloom, then naked and torn. +Stem+ +slightly firm, thickened downward, velvety. This is a common species, +and one meets with it everywhere on the ground, and on stumps, from July +to January. The cap is 1½ to 2 inches broad, and the stem 1 inch long. + + +POLYPORUS PICIPES = pitch and foot.+ + +The Black-stemmed Polyporus.+ + ++Cap+ pallid color, then turning chestnut, often a pale yellowish livid +color, with the disc chestnut, fleshy, leathery, rigid, tough, even, +smooth, depressed at disc or behind. Flesh white. +Stem+ eccentric and +lateral, equal, firm, at first velvety, then naked, and dotted black up +to the pores. +Pores+ decurrent, round, very small, rather slender, +white, then slightly pale and yellowish. This fungus grows on the trunks +of trees, and is found as late as the middle of winter. + + +POLYPORUS SULPHUREUS = brimstone.+ + +The Sulphury Polyporus.+ + +This mushroom gains its name from the color of its pores, which are of a +bright sulphur color. It grows in tufted layers (cæspitose), sometimes 1 +to 2 feet long, and it cannot be mistaken. +Cap+ may measure 8 inches in +breadth, and is of a reddish-yellow color, overlapping like the shingles +of a roof (imbricated). It is wavy and rather smooth. Flesh light +yellowish, then white, splitting open. +Pores+ are minute, even, sulphur +yellow. They retain their color much better than the pileus. The plants +are generally without a stem, but there may be a short stem, which is +lateral. They grow in clusters, all fastened together and one above the +other, and of all sizes. We saw this fungus first in a dense woods, +where its bright color at once attracted our notice. It was growing in a +large cluster, closely packed one over the other. It is said to be good +for food when young and tender. + + +POLYPORUS LUCIDUS = bright.+ + +The Shining Polyporus.+ + +One can never mistake this fungus. Its surface looks as if covered with +varnish, rather wrinkled, a bright dark-red color, and its shape is +varied and singular. We have seen it sometimes shaped like a fan, and +like a lady's high comb, or in some fantastic form. Stevenson says it is +a light yellow color and then becomes blood red chestnut. It is first +corky, then woody. +Stem+ lateral, equal, varnished, shining, of the +same color as cap. +Pores+ are long, very small, white and then cinnamon +color. It grows on and about stumps during the summer. +Cap+ is from 2 +to 6 inches broad, and the stem 6 to 10 inches long, and 1 or more +thick. + + +POLYPORUS VERSICOLOR = changeable.+ + +The Changeable Polyporus.+ + +This species is also common. It is found on dead wood, in all forms and +colors. +Cap+ variegated with different-colored zones; leathery, thin, +rigid, depressed behind, becoming velvety. +Pores+ minute, round, acute +and torn, white, turning pale or yellow. + + +POLYPORUS ELEGANS = elegant.+ + +The Elegant Polyporus.+ + ++Cap+ 2 to 4 inches broad, of one color, pallid, ochraceous or orange, +shining, equally fleshy, and then hardened, becoming woody, flattened, +even, smooth. Flesh white. +Stem+ eccentric or lateral, even, smooth, +pallid at first, abruptly black and rooting at the base. +Pores+ plane, +minute, somewhat round, yellowish-white, pallid. The cap differs in +shape from others that have been described; it is not funnel-shaped nor +streaked, and is scarcely depressed, and the flesh is thick to the +margin. It grows on trunks of trees from July to November. + + +CLAVARIEI, OR CLUB-SHAPED FUNGI. + +We now come to another order, Clavariei, of which the first genus is +Clavaria, from a word meaning a club. They are fleshy fungi, not +coriaceous. They have no distinct stem and generally grow on the ground. +We will mention a few of those we often see. They somewhat resemble +coral in growth but not in color. + + +CLAVARIA STRICTA = to draw tight.+ + +The Constricted Clavaria.+ + +This Clavaria grows on trunks of trees. It is of a pale yellowish color, +becoming a dusky brown (fuscous) when bruised. The base is about 3 lines +long, thick and much branched. The branches and branchlets are tense and +straight, crowded, adpressed and acute. Stevenson says that this species +is uncommon in Great Britain. + + +CLAVARIA FLAVA = yellow.+ + +The Pale Yellow Clavaria.+ + +Stevenson does not mention this species, so it may be peculiar to this +country. +Stem+ is short and stout, thick, and abruptly dissolves into a +dense mass of erect branches nearly parallel. The tips are yellow but +fade when old. It branches below and the stems are whitish. Flesh white. +It is recommended as well flavored and edible. + + +CLAVARIA PISTILLARIS = a pestle.+ + +The Large Club Clavaria.+ + +This species belongs to the largest of the unbranched kind. It is +generally 3 to 5 inches high, and ½ to 2/3 of an inch thick at top. +Light yellow color, then reddish, and dingy brown in decay. It is smooth +and the flesh soft and white. It is rounded at the top and club-shaped. +It tapers downward toward the base. Stevenson gives the height from 6 to +12 inches, but Professor Peck says he has not seen it as large in this +country. It is found in open grassy places. It was late in the autumn +when we discovered it. (Edible.) + + +CLAVARIA INEQUALIS = unequal.+ + +The Unequal Clavaria.+ + +This fungus is yellow and fragile. The clubs are alike in color, simple +or forked, and variable. It is common in woods and pastures. We found it +in September in the woods, rather wrinkled in appearance. It is not +classed among the edible species. + + +TYPHULA = reed mace.+ + +One may sometimes see among the dead leaves in the woods, minute slender +bodies with thread-like stems, springing up from the ground, 2 to 3 +inches high, of a white color and cylindrical in shape. They look like +slender stems from which the blossoms have been plucked. They are called +Typhula. They grow on dead leaves, on mosses, or on dead herbaceous +stems. The name is taken from the Cat Tail family, the Typhaceae, which +they somewhat resemble in miniature. + + +SCHIZOPHYLLUM COMMUNE = to split, a leaf and common.+ + +The Common Schizophyllum.+ + +There is but one species given by Stevenson of this genus, and, as the +name demonstrates, it is common, at least in this country. In Great +Britain it is rare. It grows on dead wood and logs. It has zones, either +of gray or white color, and it is turned up at the edge (revolute). +There is no flesh, and the pileus is dry. The gills are branched +fan-wise. It is not a typical Agaric, but is more like some Polyporei. +The gills are split longitudinally at the edge, and the two lips +commonly turn backward (revolute). + + +HIRNEOLA AURICULA JUDAE.+ + +The Jew's Ear.+ + +There is one species belonging to the order Tremellodon that is quite +common. It is called the Jew's ear. It is a very peculiar-looking +fungus, shaped somewhat like the human ear, of all sizes, and grows in +great quantities in the same place. It looks as if it were composed of a +thick jelly, and becomes soft and tremulous when damp. Its color is +dark, sometimes almost black. It is tough and cup-shaped, with ridges +across it like an ear. The generic name, Hirneola, means a jug, and the +specific name, Auricula Judae, a Jew's ear. + + +GASTEROMYCETES, OR STOMACH FUNGI. + + +SCLERODERMA VULGARE = hard, skin, common.+ + +The Common Hard-skinned Mushroom.+ + +This species closely resembles the common potato in shape and color. It +generally measures 2 to 3 inches across, and is of a pale brown color. +It grows close on the earth, is folded toward the base, and firm in +texture. The cuticle is covered with warts or scales. + + +CRUCIBULUM VULGARE = crucible, common.+ + +The Common Crucible.+ + +This little fungus is about ¼ of an inch across. It resembles a tiny +bird's-nest with eggs in it. At first it looks like a cottony knot, +closely covered; its apex is closed by a membrane, then its covering is +thrown off, and the apparent tiny eggs are merely smaller envelopes, +called the peridiola. These are lentil-shaped and pale, and are fastened +to the inside of the covering by a long cord, which can be seen only +through a strong lens. + + +CYATHUS VERNICOSUS = varnished.+ + +The Varnished Cup.+ + +This differs from the crucible in color, form and habitat. It is about ½ +an inch high. It is bell-shaped, becoming broadly open like a trumpet, +and of a slate or ash color. The mouth and lining shine as if varnished, +and hence its name. The plants grow on the ground, on wood and on +leaves. + + +LYCOPERDON CYATHIFORME = cup-shape.+ The Cup-shaped Puff-ball.+ + +This species of puff-ball is round with a contracted base. It is 4 to 10 +inches across, a white or pinkish-brown color, afterward becoming a +darker brown and covered with small patches. When the spores mature the +upper part of the covering (peridium) becomes torn and only the lower +part remains. It looks like a dark-colored cup with a ragged margin, and +may be seen by the excursionist in the spring on the roadside. It has +survived the winter frosts and storms. It is split and shabby looking. +In August it is a whitish puff-ball, in the spring only a torn, brown +cup. + + +LYCOPERDON PYRIFORME = pear-shape.+ + +The Pear-shaped Puff-ball.+ + +This species is shaped like a pear. It is from 1 to 4 inches high and is +covered with persistent warts so small as to look like scales to the +naked eye. It is of a dingy white or brownish-yellow. Its shape +separates it from the puff-balls, especially from the warted puff-ball, +L. gemmatum, which is nearly round with a base like a stem, an ashy-gray +color, and the surface is also warty, but unequally so, and as the warts +fall off they leave the puff-ball dotted. The pear-shaped puff-ball has +little fibrous rootlets, and the plants grow in crowds on decaying +trees. + + +GEASTER HYGROMETRICUS = moisture, measure.+ + +The Wandering Earth Star.+ + +This earth star is from 2 to 3½ inches wide. It is sessile, of a +brownish color, and changes its form accordingly as the weather is moist +or dry, hence the name. It is contracted and round in dry weather, and +star-like in damp atmosphere, with its lobes stretched out on the earth. +The covering consists of three layers, the two outermost split from the +top into several acute divisions, which spread out like the points of a +star. The innermost layer is round and attached by the base. There are +one or more openings at the top for the escape of the spores. + + +PHALLUS IMPUDICUS = disgusting.+ + +The Fetid Wood Witch.+ + +In the first stages the plant is white, soft and heavy, in shape and +size like a hen's egg. It is covered by three layers, the outer one +firm, the middle one gelatinous, the third and inner one consists of a +thin membrane. This phallus develops under the ground until its spores +are mature. At length the apex is ruptured by the growth of the spore +receptacle, and the stem expands and elongates, escaping through the +top, and elevates the cap into the air. The stem at the early stage is +composed of cells filled with a gluten. The stem afterward becomes open +and spongy, owing to the drying of the gelatinous matter. The spores are +immersed in a strong-smelling, olive-green gluten. They are on the +outside of the cap and embedded in its ridges. A part of the volva +remains as a sheath at the base of the stem. This plant develops so +rapidly as to attain in a few hours the height of seven inches, the stem +is of lace-like structure, pure white, and its appearance suggests the +silicious sponge so ornamental in collections, commonly known as Venus' +basket. The drooping cap is also lacey with a network, and the spores +drip mucus and then dry up, in the meantime spreading around a +carrion-like, fetid smell. The Phallus, therefore, differs greatly in +appearance from the other genera of the order when it is seen above +ground, but if one is successful in finding it at an early stage, under +the surface of the earth, he will realize its relationship to the +general group, and find it an interesting subject of study. + + +ASCOMYCETES, OR SPORE-SAC FUNGI. + + +PEZIZA AUKANTIA = golden.+ + +The Golden Peziza.+ + +This species is 2 to 3 inches in diameter, its disc is bright orange +color, while its exterior is pale and downy, owing to the presence of +short, stout hairs. It is sessile or nearly so, and grows in tufts on +the ground near stumps of trees. At first the disc is thin and brittle, +with a raised margin, much waved, becoming incised, and finally spreads +flat on the ground. + + +MORCHELLA ESCULENTA = food.+ + +The Edible or Common Morel.+ + +This is 2 to 4 inches high, stem about ½ inch in diameter. The cap is of +a dull yellow color, olivaceous, darkening with age to a brownish tinge. +It is oval-shaped, with dark hollows. + + +HELVELLA INFULA = name of a woollen head-dress.+ + +The Cap-like Helvella.+ + +This species is named Infula, because it is supposed to resemble in +shape the sacred woollen head-dress worn by priests of Rome, by +supplicants and victims, tied around the head by a ribbon or bandage, +which hangs down on both sides. The stem is surmounted with a lobed cap, +with two to four irregularly drooping lobes of reddish or cinnamon-brown +color, and is about 3 inches in diameter. The stem is 2 or 3 inches +high, usually smooth, but sometimes pitted. We found our specimen in the +woods in August. + + [Illustration: Cortinarius distans. + Photographed by C. G. Lloyd.] + + + + +DIRECTIONS FOR USING KEYS. + + +Let us suppose that the beginner finds a mushroom and wishes to name it. +He has learned its component parts. He has remarked the names of the +classes into which mushrooms are divided. How then shall he make use of +the Keys? We will imagine that he has found a Cantharellus. The cap is +yellow color, so let him turn to the list of fungi described under the +section "Yellow and Orange," and see if it agrees in appearance with +anyone of these. (It is necessary before consulting a key to find the +color of the spores. This is done by cutting off the cap, and placing +it, gills downward, on paper, and leaving it there for two or three +hours. Having followed these directions in this case it will have been +seen that the spores are white.) + +After consulting the list of "Yellow and Orange" he will find that the +first one mentioned is Cantharellus cibarius, the Chantarelle. The +description resembles that of the mushroom found in every particular. + +Now let the beginner go further, and prove the correctness of the name +in another way. Turning to the section called "General Helps to the +Memory," on page 68, and reading the names of the different genera under +the headings until he comes to the name Cantharellus, he will find it in +the table called "Mushrooms with gills running down the stems +(decurrent)." This distinction is apparent in the specimen found. Again, +let him turn to the list of white-spored Agarics, page 73, and he will +find the name of the genus Cantharellus there. Now, as an additional +test, let him turn to the key at the end of this work, the key to +Hymenomycetes. He must have learned enough by this time to know that his +mushroom belongs to this class, namely, the one that has spores produced +upon the lower part of the cap, and, also, that it is an Agaric, from +its having gills on the under side. Let him begin with Section A, "with +cap." 1. Mushrooms with radiating gills beneath caps (Agarics). The key +then follows: 1. Plants fleshy, soon decaying. 2. Turn to number 2. +There are two descriptions, juice milky and juice watery; he will choose +the second one, which is followed by the number 3. Then follows, stem +central or nearly so; this agrees with the plant, and leads to 4. The +first line reads "white spores," which is correct; then comes 5. There +are four lines with descriptions, the last one, "no ring and no volva," +is right, which leads to 7. There are here two lines belonging to 7, the +second one, "gills in the form of folds, obtuse edge," is correct, and +points to 10. This reads, "Gills decurrent, plant terrestrial, +Cantharellus." The Key gives the name of the _genus_ only. In the list +of descriptions an attempt is made to mention some of the commonest +species. These directions apply to all the keys alike. + + +DIVISION I. + +Key to Hymenomycetes, Membrane Fungi. + +Hymenomycetes or membrane fungi are divided into two sections: + + Section A, with cap. + Section B, without cap. + +Section A is divided into four classes: + + I. Mushrooms with radiating gills beneath caps, gill-bearing + mushrooms (Agarics). + + II. With pores or tubes beneath caps (Polyporei). + +III. With spines or teeth beneath the cap or branches (Hydnei). + + IV. Where the spore-bearing surface beneath the cap is even, smooth, + or slightly wrinkled (Thelephorei). + +Section B is divided into two classes: + + I. Plants club-shaped and simple, or bush-like and branched + (Clavariei). + + II. Plants gelatinous and irregular (Tremellinei). + + +SECTION A. + +Class I. Key to Gill-bearing Mushrooms (_Agarics_). + + 1. Plants fleshy, soon decaying, 2. + Plants leathery, woody, persistent, 12. + + 2. Juice milky, white, or colored, Lactarius. + Juice watery, 3. + + 3. Stem central, or nearly so, 4. + Stem lateral, eccentric or wanting, 11. + + 4. Spores white, 5. + Spores rosy, pink or salmon color, 15. + Spores yellowish-brown, ochre color, 17. + Spores dark brown, 21. + Spores black, 24. + + 5. With volva and ring, Amanita. + Volva and no ring, Amanita + (sub-genus Amanitopsis). + Ring and no volva, 6. + No ring and no volva, 7. + + 6. Gills free, ring movable, pileus scaly, Lepiota. + Gills adnate, pileus generally smooth, Armillaria. + + 7. Gills thin, edge acute, 8. + Gills in the form of folds, obtuse edge, 10. + + 8. Gills decurrent or stem fleshy. Clitocybe. + Gills sinuate, notched behind, stem fleshy, Tricholoma. + Gills adnate, not decurrent, stem cartilaginous, Collybia. + Stem fleshy, cap often bright color, 9. + + 9. Plants rigid, gills even, cap bright, Russula. + Plants with waxy gills, Hygrophorus. + +10. Gills decurrent, plant terrestrial, Cantharellus. + +11. Spores white, Pleurotus. + Spores yellowish or brown, Crepidotus. + +12. Gills serrated on their edges, stem central or + lateral, Lentinus. + Gills entire, stem central, 13. + Stem lateral or wanting, 14. + +13. Gills simple, pileus dry, soon withering, then + reviving when moist, Marasmius. + +14. Gills deeply splitting, with weak hairs, Schizophyllum. + Gills united by veins, plant corky, Lenzites. + +15. Volva, no ring, Volvaria. + No volva, ring present, Annularia. + No volva, no ring, 16. + +16. Gills free, rounded behind, cohering at first, Pluteus. + Gills adnate or sinuate, stem fleshy, soft, waxy, + cap fleshy, margin incurved, Entoloma. + Gills decurrent, stem fleshy, Clitopilis. + +17. Ring continuous, pileus with scales, Pholiota. + Ring cobwebby or evanescent, not apparent in old + specimens, 18. + Ring wanting, 19. + Stem with cartilaginous rind, 21. + +18. Gills adnate, plants on the ground, Cortinarius. + +19. Gills decurrent, stem fleshy, gills easily + separating, Paxillus. + Gills not decurrent, stem fleshy, 20. + +20. Pileus fibrillose, or silky, Inocybe. + Pileus smooth and sticky, Hebeloma. + +21. Veil remaining attached to margin of pileus, + often not seen in old specimens, Hypholoma. + Veil on stem as a ring, 22. + Margin of cap incurved when young, Naucoria. + +22. Gills separate on the stem, Agaricus or Psalliota. + Gills united with stem, Stropharia. + Gills adnate or sinuate, 23. + +23. Margin of pileus incurved when young, Psilocybe. + Margin of pileus always straight, Psathyra. + +24. Pileus of normal form, 25. + +25. Pileus fleshy, membranaceous or deliquescent, 26. + +26. Gills deliquescent--inky fluid, Coprinus. + Gills not deliquescent--ring present, Annellaria. + Gills not decurrent--ring wanting, 27. + +27. Pileus striate--plants small, Psathyrella. + Pileus not striate, stem fleshy, margin + exceeding the gills, Panaeolus. + + +Class II. Key to Pore-bearing Fungi (_Polyporei_). + +1. Pores readily separating from cap, spores + whitish or brownish, Boletus. + +2. Stems strictly lateral, pores in the form + of tubes, mouths are separate from + each other (growing on wood), Fistulina. + +3. Tubes not separable from each other, + round, angular, or torn, fleshy, + leathery or woody, Polyporus. + +(Key to species of Boleti may be found in Professor Peck's work on +Boleti.) + + +Class III. Key to Spine-bearing Fungi (_Hydnei_). + +1. Spines awl-shaped, distinct at base, Hydnum. + Spines awl-shaped, equal; plant gelatinous, + tremulous, Tremellodon. + + +Class IV. Key to Smooth Surface Fungi (_Thelephorei_). + +1. Spores white, on ground, fleshy, tubiform, + cap blackish, scaly, stem hollow, Craterellus + Cornucopioides. + +2. Coriaceous or woody, somewhat zoned, + entire, definite in form, Stereum. + + +SECTION B. + +Class I. Key to Clavariei. + +1. Fleshy, branched or simple, without distinct stem, + growing on the ground, Clavaria. + +2. Growing on trunks, yellowish, becoming dark, much + branched, tense and straight, C. stricta. + +3. Yellow, stuffed, clubs simple or forked, of the + same color, C. inequalis. + +4. Color changeable, becoming dark, light yellow, + then reddish, simple, fleshy, stuffed, obovate, + clavate, obtuse, C. pistillaris. + + +DIVISION II. + +Key to Gasteromycetes and Ascomycetes. + +Section A. Fungi that have the spores inside the cap. (Stomach fungi or +Gasteromycetes.) + +Section B. Fungi that have the spores in delicate sacs. (Spore sac fungi +or Ascomycetes.) + + +SECTION A. + +1. Fungi covered with a hard rind, Scleroderma. + +2. In which the spores when ripe turn to dust, 4. + Where spores are at first closed in a cup-like sac + that resembles a bird's-nest, 3. + +3. Fungi with the outside covering bowl-shaped Crucibulum, + of one cottony layer, the Crucible. + Outside covering tubular, trumpet-shaped, Cyathus, + of 3 layers, the cup. + Outside covering opening with a torn mouth, Nidularia, + bird's-nest. + +4. Outer covering splitting into star-like points, Geaster, + earth star. + Outer covering opening by a single mouth Lycoperdon, + at the top, puff-ball. + Spores at first borne in an egg-like sac, Phallus, + when ripe elevated on a cap at the top of stink-horn + the stem, no veil, has an odious smell, fungus. + + +SECTION B. + +1. Where the sacs soon become free, no special Peziza, + covering, mostly fleshy, cup-like fungi, cup fungus. + Sacs opening from the first, caps pitted + or furrowed, 2. + +2. Cap lobed, irregular, saddle-shaped, Helvella, + yellowish fungus. + Cap oval or conical, upper surface with Morchella or Morel, + deep pits formed by long ridges, honey-combed fungus. + +(The genera described under Section B. all belong to the order of +Discomycetes, fungi that have the spore sacs collected in a flattened +disc.) + + + + +GLOSSARY. + + +Acute´. Gills when called acute have sharp edges or are pointed at + either end. +Adnate´. Spoken of gills when they are firmly attached to the stem. +Adnex´. A less degree of attachment of gills than adnate. +A´garic. A mushroom that bears gills. +Aluta´ceous. A light leather color. +Anas´tomosing. Interlacing of veins, spoken of gills that are united by + cross veins or partitions. +An´nulus. The ring on the stem of a mushroom, formed by the separation + of the veil from the margin of the cap. +A´pex. The top. The end of the stem nearest to the gills. +Ap´ical. Relating to the apex. +Appendic´ulate. Hanging in small fragments. +Arach´noid. Like a cobweb. +Ar´cuate. Shaped like a bow. +Are´olate. Any surface divided into little areas or patches. +Axis. Stipe or stalk. + +Band. A broad bar of color. +Basid´ium (plural basidia). Mother cells in the hymenium. +Behind. Posterior, the end of a gill next to the stem is said to be the + posterior end. +Bifur´cate. Two-forked. +Bulbous. Spoken of the stem when it has a bulb-like swelling at the + base. + +Cæs´pitose. Growing in tufts. +Campan´ulate. Bell-shaped. +Cap. The pileus. +Cartilag´inous. Gristly, tough. +Casta´neus. Chestnut color. +Cell. A mass of protoplasm, with or without an enclosing wall. +Chlorophyll. The green coloring-matter contained in plants. +Cla´vate. Club-shaped. +Close. Crowded together--term used in describing gills. +Cohe´rent. Sticking together. +Con´cave. Having a rounded inwardly curved surface. +Concen´tric. With a common centre, as a series of rings, one within the + other. +Con´nate. Growing together from the first. +Constric´ted. Contracted. +Contin´uous. Without interruption. +Convex. Elevated and regularly rounded. +Con´volute. Covered with irregularities on the surface, like the human + brain. +Coria´ceous. Leathery in texture. +Cor´rugated. Wrinkled. +Corti´na. A veil of cobwebby texture. It gives the name to the genus + Cortinarius. +Cre´nate. In wavy scallops. +Cu´ticle. Pellicle, a skin-like layer on the outside surface of the cap + and stem. +Cy´athiform. Cup-shaped. + +Decid´uous. Falling off when mature at the end of the season. +Decur´rent. Gills that run down the stem are called decurrent. +Dehis´cence. The opening of a peridium, when ripe, to discharge the + spores. +Deliques´cent. Turning to liquid when mature. +Dichot´omous. Two-forked, regularly dividing by pairs from below upward. +Dimid´iate. Divided into two equal parts, applied to gills that only + reach half-way to the stem, and to the cap when it is semi-circular or + nearly so. +Disc. The central part of the upper surface of the cap. +Distant. Gills when they are far apart. + +Emar´ginate. A gill which has a sudden curve in its margin close to the + stem. +Entire. An edge that is straight, has no notch. +Ep´iphytal. Growing on the outside of another plant. +Equal. A stem is equal when it is of uniform thickness, gills when they + are of equal length. +Eccen´tric. A stem which is not in the centre, but is attached to the + cap between the margin and centre. + +Fascic´ulate. Growing in clusters. +Ferru´ginous. Color of iron rust. +Fi´brous. Composed of fibres. +Fis´tulose. Tubular, hollow. +Fleshy. Composed of juicy cellular tissue. +Floccose. Woolly, downy. +Free. Gills when not attached to the stem. +Fungus (plural Fungi). A plant that has no chlorophyll, and obtains its + nourishment from dead or living organic matter. +Fus´cous. Dingy dark-brown, or gray color, + +Gelat´inous. Of the nature of jelly. +Genus. A number of species that have the same principal characteristics. +Gib´bous. Swollen unequally--applied to the cap. +Gill. Lamella, a radiating plate under the cap of an Agaric. +Gla´brous. Smooth. +Glo´bose. Nearly round. +Gran´ular. Consisting of or covered with grains. +Grega´rions. Growing in groups. + +Hab´itat. Place of growth. +Homoge´neous. Of like nature. +Hyme´nium. The fruit-bearing surface, a continuous layer of spore mother + cells. +Hy´phæ (singular Hypha). Elementary threads of a fungus, cylindrical, + thread-like bodies, developing by growth at the apex. + +Im´bricated. Overlapping like the tiles of a roof. +Incras´sated. Thickened. +Inferior. Applied to a ring that is far down on the stem. +Infundibuliform. Funnel-shaped. +Involute. Rolled inward. + +Labyrin´thine. Like a labyrinth. +Lac´erate. Torn. +Lamel´la. See gill. +Line. 1/12 of an inch. + +Mac´ulate. Spotted. +Me´dial or median. When the ring is situated in the middle of the stem. +Membrana´ceous. Thin, soft, like a membrane. +Mica´ceous. Covered with shining particles, like mica. +Mother cell. A cell from which another is derived. +Myce´lium. The vegetative part of fungi, commonly called the spawn. +Mycol´ogist. One who is versed in the study of fungi. + +Obo´vate. Having the broad end turned toward the top. +Ob´solete. Nearly imperceptible. +Obtuse. Blunt. +Ochra´ceous. Light brownish-yellow. +Ovate. Egg-shaped. + +Par´asite. A plant growing on another living body, from which it gains + its nourishment. +Pel´licle. See cuticle. +Peren´nial. Growing from year to year. +Perid´ium. The outer covering of the spores in some fungi, as in + puff-balls. +Peridi´olum. The inside peridium containing the spores. +Pi´leus. See cap. +Pir´iform or pyriform. Pear-shaped. +Plane. Level surface. +Pores. The tubes in Polyporei. +Poste´rior. Term applied to the end of the gill next to the stem. +Pru´inose. Covered with a bloom or powder. +Pulver´ulent. Covered with powder or dust. +Putres´cent. Decaying. + +Rad´icating. Taking root. +Retic´ulated. Marked with cross lines like a net. +Rev´olute. Rolled upward or backward. +Ri´mose. Cracked. +Rim´ulose. Covered with small cracks. +Ring. Annulus. +Riv´ulose. Marked with lines like rivers in maps. +Rotund´. Round. +Ru´gose. Wrinkled. + +Sap´id. Agreeable to the taste. +Sap´rophyte. A plant that lives on decaying matter. +Scab´rous. Rough. +Scis´sile. Easily split. +Sep´arating. Spoken of gills when they easily separate from the stem. +Ses´sile. Stemless. +Sin´uate. Wavy, A gill that has a sudden curve near the stem. +Sor´did. Dingy. +Spore. The same body that answers to the seed of flowering plants. +Spo´rophore. That part which bears the spores or spore mother cells. +Squa´mose. Scaly. +Stalk. A stipe or stem. +Stel´late. Star-shaped. +Stipe. See stalk. +Strobil´iform. Shaped like a pine-cone. +Stuffed. When a stem is filled with pith or a spongy substance. +Suc´culent. Juicy, fleshy. +Sul´cate. Grooved. +Supe´rior. Spoken of a ring that is high up on the stem. + +Tes´sellated. In small squares, or checkered. +To´mentose. Covered with matted wool. +Tra´ma. The substance proceeding from and of like nature with the part + that bears the hymenium--the framework of the gills. +Trem´elloid. Jelly-like. +Tu´bæform. Trumpet-shaped. + +Umbil´icate. Having a central depression. +Um´bo. Arising or mound in the centre of the cap. + +Veins. Swollen wrinkles on the sides and at the base between the gills. +Ven´tricose. Swelling in the middle. +Ver´nicose. Varnished. +Vil´lose. Covered with weak, soft hairs. +Vires´cent. Greenish. +Vir´gate. Streaked. +Vis´cid. Sticky. +Vis´cous. Gluey. + +Zones. Circular bands of color. + + + + +INDEX TO DESCRIPTIONS OF FUNGI. + + +GENUS. ENGLISH OR COMMON NAMES. GREEK OR PAGE. + LATIN NAMES. +Agaricus. The flat-capped mushroom, A. placomyces. 104 +Agaricus. The common or edible mushroom, A. campestris. 103 +Amanita. The death cup, A. phalloides. 108 +Amanita. The fly Amanita, A. muscaria. 89 +Amanita. Frost's Amanita, A. Frostiana. 90 +Amanita. The poisonous Amanita, A. virosa. 107 +Amanita. The shining Amanita, A. nitida. 109 +Amanita. The sheathed Amanita, A. vaginata. 101 +Amanita. The warted Amanita, A. strobiliformis. 100 + +Boletus. The bitter Boletus, B. felleus. 102 +Boletus. The bluing Boletus, B. cyanescens. 96 +Boletus. The chestnut Boletus, B. castaneus. 123 +Boletus. The chrome-footed Boletus, B. chromapes. 85 +Boletus. The dingy Boletus, B. sordidus. 126 +Boletus. The edible Boletus, B. edulis. 121 +Boletus. The golden Boletus, B. chrysenteron. 123 +Boletus. The granulated Boletus, B. granulatus. 96 +Boletus. The gray Boletus, B. griseus. 103 +Boletus. The half-golden Boletus, B. hemichrysus. 95 +Boletus. Murray's Boletus, B. Murrayi. 85 +Boletus. The ornate stemmed Boletus, B. ornatipes. 119 +Boletus. The peppery Boletus, B. piperatus. 126 +Boletus. The deceiving Boletus, B. illudens. 124 +Boletus. The yellow-cracked Boletus, B. subtomentosus. 125 +Boletus. The related Boletus, B. affinis. 128 +Boletus. The rough Boletus, B. scaber. 122 +Boletus. The short-stemmed Boletus, B. brevipes. 120 +Boletus. The small yellowish Boletus, B. subluteus. 127 +Boletus. The thick-stemmed Boletus, B. pachypus. 124 +Boletus. The white Boletus, B. albus. 113 + +Cantharellus. The Chantarelle, C. cibarius. 88 +Cantharellus. The funnel-shaped + Chantarelle, C. infundibuliformis. 94 +Cantharellus. The golden Chantarelle, C. aurantiacus. 94 +Clitocybe. The waxy Clitocybe, C. laccata. 83 +Clavaria. The club-shaped Clavaria, C. pistillaris. 138 +Clavaria. The constricted Clavaria, C. stricta. 137 +Clavaria. The pale yellow Clavaria, C. flava. 138 +Clavaria. The unequal Clavaria, C. inequalis. 139 +Collybia. The oak-loving Collybia, C. dryophila. 118 +Collybia. The tufted Collybia, C. acervata. 115 +Coprinus. The inky Coprinus, C. atramentarius. 105 +Coprinus. The glistening Coprinus, C. micaceous. 100 +Cortinarius. The cinnamon-colored + Cortinarius, C. cinnamomeus. 115 +Cortinarius. The violet-colored + Cortinarius, C. albo violaceous. 129 +Cortinarius. The wrinkled Cortinarius, C. corrugatus. 102 +Cortinarius. The zoned Cortinarius, C. armillatus. 82 +Crucibulum. The common crucible, C. vulgare. 141 +Cyathus. The varnished cup, C. vernicosus. 142 + +Fistulina. The beefsteak mushroom, F. hepatica. 131 + +Geaster. The wandering earth star, G. hygrometricus. 143 + +Helvella. The cap-shaped Helvella, H. infula. 146 +Hirneola. The Jew's ear, H. auricula Judae. 140 +Hygrophorus. The blood-red Hygrophorus, H. puniceus. 87 +Hygrophorus. The scarlet color Hygrophorus, H. coccineus. 87 +Hygrophorus. The vermilion Hygrophorus, H. mineatus. 86 +Hypholoma. The gray-gilled mushroom, H. capnoides. 117 +Hypholoma. The perplexing mushroom, H. perplexum. 118 +Hypholoma. The tufted mushroom, H. fasciculare. 89 + +Lactarius. The delicious Lactarius, L. deliciosus. 92 +Lactarius. The colorless Lactarius, L. ichoratus. 81 +Lactarius. The fleecy Lactarius, L. vellereus. 112 +Lactarius. The mild Lactarius, L. mitissimus. 82 +Lactarius. The orange brown Lactarius, L. volemus. 80 +Lactarius. The peppery Lactarius, L. piperatus. 111 +Lepiota. The smooth Lepiota, L. naucinoides. 110 +Lepiota. The tall Lepiota, L. procera. 120 +Lycoperdon. The cup-shaped puff-ball, L. cyathiforme. 142 +Lycoperdon. The pear-shaped puff-ball, L. pyriforme. 143 + +Marasmius. The fairy ring mushroom, M. oreades. 99 +Morchella. The edible Morel, M. esculenta. 146 + +Paxillus. The thin stemmed Paxillus, P. leptopus. 128 +Peziza. The golden cup-shaped mushroom, P. aurantia. 145 +Phallus. The fetid wood witch, P. impudicus. 144 +Pholiota. The fat Pholiota, P. adiposa. 97 +Pholiota. The showy Pholiota, P. spectabilis. 98 +Pleurotus. The elm Pleurotus, P. ulmarius. 113 +Pleurotus. The palatable Pleurotus, P. sapidus. 114 +Pluteus. The fawn-colored Pluteus, P. cervinus. 105 +Polyporus. The birch Polyporus, P. betulinus. 132 +Polyporus. The black-stemmed Polyporus, P. picipes. 134 +Polyporus. The changeable Polyporus, P. versicolor. 136 +Polyporus. The elegant Polyporus, P. elegans. 136 +Polyporus. The perennial Polyporus, P. perennis. 133 +Polyporus. The sulphury Polyporus, P. sulphureus. 134 +Polyporus. The shining Polyporus, P. lucidus. 135 +Psathyrella. The widely-spread Psathyrella, P. disseminata. 116 + +Russula. The blood-red Russula, R. sanguinea. 78 +Russula. The elegant Russula, R. lepida. 80 +Russula. The forked Russula, R. furcata. 107 +Russula. The green Russula, R. virescens. 106 +Russula. The nauseating Russula, R. emetica. 77 +Russula. The rosy-stemmed Russula, R. roseipes. 79 + +Schizophyllum. The common Schizophyllum, S. commune. 140 +Scleroderma. The hard-skinned mushroom, S. vulgare. 141 +Stropharia. The dry Stropharia, S. siccapes. 93 + +Tricholoma. The canary-colored Tricholoma, T. equestre. 91 +Tricholoma. The imbricated Tricholoma, T. imbricata. 119 +Tricholoma. The sulphury Tricholoma, T. sulphureum. 91 +Typhula. The reed mace mushroom, T. phacorrhiza. 139 + + + + +APPENDIX. + +A GUIDE FOR THE IDENTIFICATION AND DIFFERENTIATION OF AGARICS, +COMPRISED IN FOUR TABLES, ARRANGED WITH REFERENCE TO THE COLORS +OF THE SPORES, VIZ.: + + +Table I. White spores. +Table II. Red and pink spores. +Table III. Ochraceous spores. +Table IV. Dark purple and black spores. + +NOTE. + +In using this table the student should first ascertain the color of the +spores of the specimen under investigation. This will determine the +particular table to be applied to its further examination. If, for +instance, he finds its spores to be white, he will know that Table I. +is the one to be consulted. Turning to that table, he should recall the +place of its growth, its habitat. Now, suppose it to have been found +growing on a stump, he will, by looking at the first column, Habitat, +of Table I., be informed that it must be one of the four genera named +in the column with the heading "On Stumps." Let him then examine its +"gills." If he finds them to be "adnate," he will be assured that it +must be an "Armillaria," as no other genus is shown in the column as +growing "on stumps" and which has gills that are adnate. But to make +assurance doubly sure, he may proceed further to discover whether the +specimen has also the ring called for in column headed "Ring." If it +has, and was found growing in the summer, he may feel quite safe in +classifying it as Armillaria. Sometimes the same genus will be found in +more than one column. This ought not to mislead or confuse the beginner. +In Table I., column headed "Volva," Amanita is mentioned, and also in +the column headed "Ring," but this indicates that an Amanita has both +the Volva (the universal veil) and the Ring. So in the columns headed by +"Stem," Pleurotus is represented as having a lateral or eccentric stem, +and also as having no stem. The meaning is, that some species of the +genus have no stem, while there are others in which the stem is lateral +or eccentric. + + [Transcriber's Note: + In this e-text, empty categories have been omitted from each table. + Variations in spelling and phrasing are as in the original. The + complete structure, with all options included, would be: + + Size of plants, small. + Plants deliquescent. + Time of growth, + summer. + autumn. + Habitat + In woods, in uncultivated places, on ground. + In grass and fields, on ground. + On other plants--epiphytal. + On stumps. + On wood. + On manure. + Gills, + free. + adnate. + decurrent. + sinuous. + serrated. + distant. + in folds. + Volva. + Veil adhering to margin of cap. + Ring. + Stem, + cartilaginous. + lateral, or eccentric. + none. + brittle. + Pileus, + scaly or warted. + campanulate. + silky, cracked or fibrillose. + umbonate. + umbilicate. + striate. + Pileus and Gills milky.] + + +Table I.--White Spores. + + +---------------------------------------+-------------------+ + | Size of plants, small. | Collybia,[1] | + | | Mycena, | + | | Omphalia, | + | | Marasmius. | + +-----------------+---------------------+-------------------+ + | Time of growth, | summer. | Amanita, | + | | | Collybia, | + | | | Mycena, | + | | | Omphalia, | + | | | Lepiota, | + | | | Pleurotus, | + | | | Russula,[2] | + | | | Lactarius. | + | +---------------------+-------------------+ + | | autumn. | Amanita, | + | | | Clitocybe, | + | | | Collybia, | + | | | Mycena, | + | | | Omphalia, | + | | | Hygrophorus, | + | | | Lepiota, | + | | | Marasmius, | + | | | Armillaria, | + | | | Pleurotus, | + | | | Tricholoma, | + | | | Russula, | + | | | Cantharellus, | + | | | Lactarius.[3] | + +---------+-------+---------------------+-------------------+ + | Habitat | In woods, in uncultivated | Amanita, | + | | places, on ground. | Armillaria, | + | | | Tricholoma,[4] | + | | | Clitocybe, | + | | | Collybia,[5] | + | | | Hygrophorus, | + | | | Lactarius, | + | | | Russula, | + | | | Cantharellus.[6] | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | In grass and fields, | Lepiota, | + | | on ground. | Tricholoma.[7] | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | On other plants--epiphytal. | Mycena, | + | | | Omphalia, | + | | | Marasmius, | + | | | Collybia. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | On stumps. | Panus, | + | | | Armillaria, | + | | | Lenzites, | + | | | Lentinus. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | On wood. | Trogia, | + | | | Pleurotus, | + | | | Schizophyllum,[8] | + | | | Cantharellus.[9] | + +---------+-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | Gills, | free. | Amanita, | + | | | Lepiota. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | adnate. | Armillaria, | + | | | Clitocybe, | + | | | Collybia. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | decurrent. | Omphalia, | + | | | Clitocybe, | + | | | Cantharellus, | + | | | Hygrophorus, | + | | | Lactarius.[10] | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | serrated. | Lentinus. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | sinuous. | Tricholoma, | + | | | Pleurotus. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | distant. | Marasmius, | + | | | Clitocybe. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | in folds. | Cantharellus, | + | | | Trogia. | + +---------+-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | Volva. | Amanita. | + +---------------------------------------+-------------------+ + | Veil adhering to margin of cap. | Tricholoma. | + +---------------------------------------+-------------------+ + | Ring. | Amanita, | + | | Armillaria, | + | | Lepiota. | + +---------+-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | Stem, | cartilaginous. | Marasmius, | + | | | Mycena, | + | | | Omphalia, | + | | | Collybia. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | lateral, or eccentric. | Pleurotus, | + | | | Panus. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | none. | Lenzites, | + | | | Pleurotus, | + | | | Trogia, | + | | | Schizophyllum, | + | | | Panus. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | brittle. | Russula. | + +---------+-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | Pileus, | scaly or warted. | Amanita, | + | | | Lepiota. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | campanulate. | Mycena. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | silky, cracked or | Tricholoma, | + | | fibrillose. | Clitocybe, | + | | | Pleurotus. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | umbonate. | Mycena. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | umbilicate. | Omphalia, | + | | | Lactarius.[11] | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | striate. | Omphalia, | + | | | Mycena. | + +---------+-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | Pileus and Gills milky. | Lactarius. | + +---------------------------------------+-------------------+ + + [Footnote 1: Some small.] + [Footnote 2: In late summer.] + [Footnote 3: Generally in autumn.] + [Footnote 4: Large species.] + [Footnote 5: Few.] + [Footnote 6: Some.] + [Footnote 7: Small species.] + [Footnote 8: Sometimes on rotten wood.] + [Footnote 9: Some on rotten wood.] + [Footnote 10: Adnato decurrent.] + [Footnote 11: Becomes depressed in centre.] + + +Table II.--Red and Pink Spores. + + +---------------------------------------+-------------------+ + | Size of plants, small. | Leptonia. | + +-----------------+---------------------+-------------------+ + | Time of growth, | summer. | Volvaria, | + | | | Pluteus, | + | | | Enteloma, | + | | | Leptonia, | + | | | Nolanea, | + | | | Eccilia. | + | +---------------------+-------------------+ + | | autumn. | Volvaria, | + | | | Pluteus, | + | | | Nolanea, | + +---------+-------+---------------------+-------------------+ + | Habitat | In woods, in uncultivated | Volvaria,[1] | + | | places, on ground. | Enteloma, | + | | | Clitopilus, | + | | | Leptonia,[2] | + | | | Nolanea,[3] | + | | | Claudopus. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | In grass and fields, | Nolanea. | + | | on ground. | | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | On stumps. | Pluteus.[4] | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | On wood. | Volvaria,[5] | + | | | Claudopus. | + +---------+-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | Gills, | free. | Nolanea, | + | | | Pluteus, | + | | | Annularia, | + | | | Volvaria. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | adnate. | Nolanea, | + | | | Enteloma.[6] | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | decurrent. | Eccilia, | + | | | Clitopilus, | + | | | Claudopus. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | sinuous. | Enteloma, | + | | | Claudopus. | + +---------+-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | Volva. | Volvaria. | + +---------------------------------------+-------------------+ + | Veil adhering to margin of cap. | Enteloma. | + +---------------------------------------+-------------------+ + | Ring. | Annularia. | + +---------+-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | Stem, | cartilaginous. | Nolanea, | + | | | Leptonia. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | lateral, or eccentric. | Claudopus. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | none. | Claudopus. | + +---------+-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | Pileus, | scaly or warted. | Leptonia. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | campanulate. | Leptonia, | + | | | Nolanea. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | silky, cracked or | Entoloma, | + | | fibrillose. | Pluteus.[7] | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | umbonate. | Pluteus.[8] | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | umbilicate. | Leptonia, | + | | | Eccilia. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | striate. | Nolanea. | + +---------+-----------------------------+-------------------+ + + [Footnote 1: Damp ground.] + [Footnote 2: Dry hills.] + [Footnote 3: Wet places in woods.] + [Footnote 4. On or close to stumps.] + [Footnote 5: On rotten wood.] + [Footnote 6: Almost free.] + [Footnote 7: Often fibrillose or floccose.] + [Footnote 8: Somewhat.] + + +Table III.--Ochraceous Spores. + + +-----------------+---------------------+-------------------+ + | Time of growth, | summer. | Pholiota, | + | | | Inocybe, | + | | | Naucoria. | + | +---------------------+-------------------+ + | | autumn. | Inocybe, | + | | | Flammula, | + | | | Pholiota, | + | | | Galera, | + | | | Hebeloma, | + | | | Crepedotus, | + | | | Naucoria, | + | | | Cortinarius. | + +---------+-------+---------------------+-------------------+ + | Habitat | In woods, in uncultivated | Inocybe, | + | | places, on ground. | Pholiota,[1] | + | | | Hebeloma, | + | | | Flammula, | + | | | Paxillus, | + | | | Cortinarius, | + | | | Naucoria, | + | | | Galera. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | In grass and fields, | Cortinarius. | + | | on ground. | | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | On other plants--epiphytal. | Naucoria. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | On stumps. | Pholiota, | + | | | Paxillus. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | On wood. | Claudopus, | + | | | Flammula, | + | | | Crepidotus, | + | | | Naucoria. | + +---------+-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | Gills, | free. | Naucoria. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | adnate. | Naucoria, | + | | | Pholiota,[2] | + | | | Flammula, | + | | | Cortinarius, | + | | | Hebeloma. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | decurrent. | Flammula, | + | | | Paxillus. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | sinuous. | Hebeloma. | + +---------+-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | Veil adhering to margin of cap. | Hebeloma, | + | | Cortinarius, | + | | Inocybe. | + +---------------------------------------+-------------------+ + | Ring. | Pholiota, | + | | Cortinarius.[3] | + +---------+-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | Stem, | cartilaginous. | Tubaria, | + | | | Naucoria, | + | | | Galera. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | lateral, or excentric. | Crepidotus. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | none. | Crepidotus. | + +---------+-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | Pileus, | scaly or warted. | Flammula, | + | | | Inocybe. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | campanulate. | Galera, | + | | | Pluteolus. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | silky, cracked or | Inocybe. | + | | fibrillose. | | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | umbonate. | Inocybe. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | striate. | Pluteolus, | + | | | Galera. | + +---------+-----------------------------+-------------------+ + + [Footnote 1: Damp ground.] + [Footnote 2: Somewhat free.] + [Footnote 3: Some with rings.] + + +Table IV.--Dark Purple and Black Spores. + + +---------------------------------------+-------------------+ + | Size of plants, small. | Psathyrella. | + +---------------------------------------+-------------------+ + | Plants deliquescent. | Coprinus, | + | | Bolbitius. | + +-----------------+---------------------+-------------------+ + | Time of growth, | summer. | Coprinus, | + | | | Stropharia, | + | | | Panaeolus. | + | +---------------------+-------------------+ + | | autumn. | Coprinus, | + | | | Psaliota, | + | | | Panaeolus, | + | | | Hypholoma. | + +---------+-------+---------------------+-------------------+ + | Habitat | In woods, in uncultivated | Stropharia, | + | | places, on ground. | Psathyra. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | In grass and fields, | Psaliota. | + | | on ground. | | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | On other plants--epiphytal. | Stropharia. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | On stumps. | Hypholoma, | + | | | Psathyra. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | On wood. | Psathyra,[1] | + | | | Hypholoma. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | On manure. | Stropharia, | + | | | Panaeolus, | + | | | Psathyrella, | + | | | Coprinus, | + | | | Bolbitius. | + +---------+-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | Gills, | free. | Chetonia, | + | | | Psalliota, | + | | | Psathyrella, | + | | | Coprinus, | + | | | Bolbitius. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | adnate. | Stropharia, | + | | | Hypholoma, | + | | | Psathyrella. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | decurrent. | Gomphidius. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | sinuous. | Hypholoma. | + +---------+-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | Veil adhering to margin. | Hypholoma. | + +---------------------------------------+-------------------+ + | Ring. | Stropharia | + | | Psalliota, | + | | Gomphidius.[2] | + +---------+-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | Stem, | cartilaginous. | Psathyra, | + | | | Psilocybe. | + +---------+-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | Pileus, | campanulate. | Psathyra, | + | | | Psathyrella,[3] | + | | | Coprinus, | + | | | Gomphidius.[4] | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | striate. | Psathyra, | + | | | Psathyrella. | + +---------+-----------------------------+-------------------+ + + [Footnote 1: On rotten wood.] + [Footnote 2: A floccose ring.] + [Footnote 3: At first, adpressed to stem.] + [Footnote 4: Top shaped.] + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Among the Mushrooms, by +Ellen M. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/old/18452.txt b/old/18452.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3000a62 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/18452.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4431 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Among the Mushrooms, by +Ellen M. Dallas and Caroline A. Burgin + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Among the Mushrooms + A Guide For Beginners + +Author: Ellen M. Dallas and Caroline A. Burgin + +Release Date: May 26, 2006 [EBook #18452] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AMONG THE MUSHROOMS *** + + + + +Produced by Louise Hope, Peter Vachuska, Suzanne Lybarger +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + [Illustration (Frontispiece): + + 1. Craterellus cornucopioides. + 2. Cortinarius armillatus. + 3. Clitocybe laccata. + 4. Tremellodon gelatinosum.] + + + + + AMONG THE MUSHROOMS + A Guide for Beginners + + by + + ELLEN M. DALLAS + and + CAROLINE A. BURGIN + + + [Illustration] + + +Toronto / London +Drexel Biddle, Publisher + +NEW YORK 67 Fifth Avenue +PHILADELPHIA 228 South Fourth St. +SAN FRANCISCO 319-325 Sansome St. + +1900 + + + Copyright, 1900 + By A. J. DREXEL BIDDLE + + + Press of + DREXEL BIDDLE, PHILADELPHIA + + + + + "_Have you not seen in the woods on a late autumn morning + a poor fungus or mushroom--a plant without any solidity, nay, + that seemed nothing but a soft mush or jelly--by its constant + total and inconceivably gentle pushing, manage to break its way + up through the frosty ground, and actually to lift a hard crust + on its head? It is the symbol of the power of kindness._" + + Emerson. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +The books which have been consulted in the preparation of this work are, +"British Fungi," by Rev. John Stevenson; "British Fungus-Flora," by +George Massee; "Mushrooms and their Uses," and "Boleti of the United +States," by Professor Charles H. Peck, State Botanist of New York; +"Moulds, Mildew and Mushrooms," by Professor L. M. Underwood; and a +pamphlet by Mr. C. G. Lloyd, entitled "The Volvae of the United States." + +No attempt has been made to do more than to put in popular language the +statements of experienced botanists, and so to arrange the matter as to +aid beginners in their work. + +Thanks are due to Mr. Harold Wingate for his suggestions and corrections +of the manuscript; to Mr. C. G. Lloyd for permission to print from his +photographs; to Miss Laura C. Detwiller for her paintings from nature, +which have been here reproduced; and also to Mrs. Harrison Streeter and +Miss Mary W. Nichols for their encouragement of the undertaking and +suggestions in furtherance of its success. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + [Transcriber's Note: + The structure of the Table of Contents does not correspond perfectly + to the book itself, but all page numbers are correct.] + + Page + +Introduction, 13 + Mushrooms, 23 + Antiquity of Fungi, 23 + Manner of Growth, 24 + Odor, 26 + Duration, 27 + Uses, 27 + Habitat, 28 + Structure and growth, 29 + Mycelium, 31 + The Stem, 34 + The Gills, 34 + The Spores, 36 + The Volva and Veil, 37 + The Tubes or Pores, 38 + +Classification of Fungi, + Distinctive Characteristics of Genera. 39 + Hymenomycetes, 41 + Gasteromycetes, 59 + Ascomycetes, 64 + By Color of the Spores, 72 + +General Helps to the Memory, 68 + +Descriptions of Fungi arranged + According to Color of Cap only, 77 + Red or Pink, 77 + Yellow or Orange, 88 + Gray, 100 + Green, 106 + White, 107 + Brown, 115 + Purple or Violet, 129 + +Description of Some Familiar Mushrooms, + without regard to color, 131 + +Direction for Using Keys, 147 + Key to Hymenomycetes, 149 + Key to Polyporei, 152 + Key to Hydnei, 152 + Key to Thelephorei, 152 + Key to Clavariei, 153 + Key to Gasteromycetes and Ascomycetes, 153 + +Glossary, 155 + +Index to Descriptions of Fungi, 161 + +Guide for Determining Genera of Agarics + in four Tables, 165 + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. + FACING PAGE + +Craterellus cornucopioides-- + Cortinarius armillatus-- + Clitocybe laccata-- + Tremellodon gelatinosum. _Frontispiece._ +Coprinus atramentarius, 26 +Amanita vaginata, 37 +Omphalia alboflava, 47 +Russula pectinata, 76 +Lactarius insulsus, 92 +Amanita vaginata, 101 +Psathyrella disseminata, 116 +Lepiota procera, 120 +Boletus edulis-- + Hypholoma perplexum-- + Marasmius rotula-- + Calostoma cinnebarinus, 129 +Cortinarius distans, 147 + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +This book is intended for those who, though ignorant on the subject, +desire to know something about mushrooms. The first question which such +an one asks upon finding a mushroom is, "What is its name?" If there is +no one near to tell him, then follows the second inquiry, "How can I +find it out for myself?" If wild flowers were concerned, Gray's little +book, "How the Plants Grow," could be used; and there is also Mrs. +Dana's book on "The Wild Flowers," that has given so much pleasure. In +the case of mushrooms, however, but one answer can be returned to all +questions: "There is no American text-book on mushrooms, there is no +manual for beginners." + +There are many books on British fungi for students, but we want some +popular work easy to understand, with no technical expressions. + +This necessity for a simple guide-book has been felt by many. Let us +give our own experience. We procured a list of works on fungi, and +looked for some volume not too deep for our comprehension nor too costly +for our purse. Among those we found were "Handbook for Students" +(Taylor); "Edible and Poisonous Fungi" (Cooke), and a pamphlet by +Professor Peck, "Mushrooms and Their Uses." This seemed to be the one +that we could comprehend most easily, and so, armed with it, and another +pamphlet by Professor Underwood, called "Suggestions to Collectors of +Fleshy Fungi," which contained a simple key, we started out to make +discoveries. We afterward procured some publications of Mr. C. G. Lloyd, +which were of great assistance, and lastly a glossary published by the +Boston Mycological Society, a necessary addition to our library. + +We found Professor Peck's book was confined to edible mushrooms, and it +soon became too limited to satisfy our craving for further knowledge--it +incited a longing to know something of inedible fungi. + +The rest is soon told. We were advised to get either a copy of +Stevenson's "British Fungi" or of Massee's works. We did so, but found +them too advanced to be readily used by the unlearned. Then the idea +arose, How can we help others in their difficulties? This little book is +the answer. It will not be of use to advanced students, they will only +criticise and discover how much has been left unsaid; but the beginner +is more easily satisfied with the extent of information gained, and if a +taste for knowledge is encouraged the object of this book is attained. + +This explanation will also account for the use of simple terms. We find +a tiny fungus which looks like a brownish bird's nest, with some +miniature eggs in it, or a shining white mushroom, and we are told its +name in Latin; it is described in terms meaningless to the ignorant, +we lose interest, and our attention flags. We began for pleasure and +recreation, but it became irksome and fatiguing, and the subject which +might have amused us and helped to pass many an idle hour is put aside +and abandoned. Yet this study is a most fascinating one. We all long for +pleasant subjects of thought in our leisure hours, and there can be +nothing more diverting and absorbing than the investigation of the +beautiful and familiar plants around us. + +When we leave the bustling, noisy streets of a city and go into the +quiet fields and woods the contrast is very great. A walk for exercise +alone is often dull and tiresome. We cannot be assured of pleasant +companions, nor is there always a fine view or picturesque scenery to +reward us during our strolls, but there are plants to be found and +gathered, and when these fail us, then the bright-hued mushrooms may +arrest our attention. The discovery of new specimens, the learning their +names, the knowledge of their curious organizations, will all add an +interest to our lives. It will inspire us with a love of nature, and +open our eyes to many objects of which we have before been unobservant. +Besides this it obliges us to be accurate. Our descriptions must be +exact or they are of no use. + +Let us imagine ourselves taking a stroll in the woods or down some shady +lane, and see what we can find there. + +The golden-rod and asters adorn the roadsides, the odors of the sweet +gale and scented fern are wafted gratefully to our senses as we pass +along the lanes, and there, among the fallen leaves, at the very edge of +the woods, peers out a bright yellow mushroom, brighter from the +contrast to the dead leaves around, and then another, close by, and then +a shining white cap; further on a mouse-colored one, gray, and silky in +texture. What a contrast of colors. What are they? By what names shall +we call them? + +Let us first carefully dig up the yellow one. We have brought a basket +and trowel, and can examine them thoroughly. We must dig down deep so as +not to break off the stem. There is a ring or collar around it near the +top. There is a bulb at the base, with some slight membrane attached. +The cap is orange color, almost smooth, covered with a few spots like +warts, and there are some lines on the margin. The gills are not +attached to the stem, and are white with a creamy hue. The stem is also +white, tinged faintly with yellow. We will take a penknife and divide it +into halves, cutting straight through the stem and cap. We find the stem +is filled with a spongy substance, and we can now see more clearly the +position of the gills. Our specimen measures 2 inches across the cap, +and the stem is 2 or 3 inches long. It is an Amanita, resembling the Fly +Amanita, which we will probably soon discover. Our fungus is Frost's +Amanita, named after the botanist who first placed it on the list, +Frost. It is not among the British fungi. It is American. + +Now let us dig up the shining white one. It is much larger than the +yellow fungus, handsome, pure-looking, with a rather slender stem. The +cap is nearly 4 inches across, the flesh is white. The stem is long, +solid, with a bulbous base. There is a wide, loose ring high up on the +stem. The membrane around the base is large and thick. The stem is scaly +and shining white like the cap. This pure-looking, handsome mushroom is +one of the most poisonous of its kind. It is called Amanita virosa--the +poisonous Amanita, from a Latin word meaning poison. We have never found +any specimen with insects on it. They seem to know its deadly qualities +and shun its acquaintance. + +Let us look at the gray mushroom and see how it differs from the others. +It has no ring, its color is a soft gray or mouse color, the margin is +deeply grooved. The cap is almost flat, the flesh does not reach to the +margin, and is white. It is very smooth, but another time we might find +the same mushroom with scales upon it. The cap measures 3 inches across. +The stem tapers upward, is slender, and is 4 inches long. The gills are +free, not attached to the stem, and are swollen in the middle. They are +not very close together and are shining white. The base extends deep +into the ground, and is sheathed with a membrane that is loose and +easily broken off. It is a very common mushroom, and we shall often find +it, but it varies in color; it is sometimes umber, often white, and even +has a faint yellowish or greenish hue in the centre. + +So far we have only looked at Amanitas. They are conspicuous, and the +large rings and colors are striking and interesting to the novice; but +look at that clay bank that borders on our road, and perhaps we may +discover some Boleti. Even a beginner in the study of mushrooms can tell +the difference between a boletus and those we have been examining. Here +are two or three mushrooms growing together. What is there different +about them? We see no ring, no membrane around the base of stem, and +what are these tubes beneath the cap so unlike the gills of the others? +They have the appearance somewhat of a sponge. These are the pores or +tubes that contain the spores. Let us divide the fungus. At the first +touch of the knife, through the stem, the color begins to change, and in +a moment stem, tubes, and cap turn to a bright blue. We can see the +color steal along, at first faintly, and then deepen into a darker blue. +The cap is a light brownish yellow color, 2 inches broad, covered with +woolly scales. The tubes are free from the stem. They have been white, +but are changing to yellow. The mouths or openings of the tubes are +becoming bluish-green. The stem is swollen in the middle. It is covered +with a bloom. It is stuffed with a pith, and tapers toward the apex. It +is like the cap in color, and measures 1 1/2 inch in length. The mouths +of the tubes are round. This is Boletus cyanescens, or the bluing +Boletus, as named by Professor Peck in his work on Boleti. He says it +grows more in the North, and sometimes is much larger than the one we +found. + +We turn to the bank in hopes of discovering another, and see, instead, +what appears to be a mass of jelly half-hidden in the clay, and in the +midst some bright scarlet cherries, or at least something that resembles +them. We take the trowel and loosen them from the earth, and there, +among the gelatinous matter, we find small round balls as large as a +common marble, covered by a bright red skin. When cut in half we see +they are filled with a pure white substance, like the inside of a young +puff-ball. This is quite a discovery. We must look in our books for its +name. It is not in our British manual, but we learn from Professor Peck +that it is called Calostoma cinnabarinus. Calostoma is a Greek word +meaning beautiful mouth, and cinnabarinus is taken from cinnabaris, +which means dragon's-blood. We are not responsible for the names given +to plants, but cannot help wishing that some might be changed or +shortened. + +We could go on prolonging our search, and describe many wonderful fungi, +so easily found on a summer day, but as our object is to excite +curiosity and interest and not fatigue the reader, we will here pause, +and afterward arrange the descriptions of mushrooms in a separate +section. The ones we have described may be found in the Middle States +and in New England. + + + + +MUSHROOMS. + + +ANTIQUITY OF FUNGI. + +Fungi have existed from early geological ages. They flourished in the +Carboniferous period, when the enormous beds of coal were formed, a +space of time that occupied many millions of years. Bessey says that the +oldest known member of the order of membrane fungi, Hymenomycetes, was +called by the name of "Polyporites Bowmanii." During the Tertiary period +members of the genera now known under the names of Lenzites, Polyporus, +and Hydnum were all in existence. It is interesting to know that even +before the Tertiary period the undergrowth consisted of ferns and fleshy +fungi. What a time of delight for the botanist! But there were no human +beings in those days to roam amongst that luxuriant undergrowth, and +only the fossil remains in the deposits of coal and peat are left to +tell of their former existence. + + +MANNER OF GROWTH. + +Fungi are either solitary, grow in clusters, in groups, or in rings and +arcs of circles. + +The species called the Fairy mushroom, Marasmius oreades, is the most +familiar of all those that grow in rings. Besides this there is the +Horse mushroom, Agaricus arvensis; the Chantarelle, Cantharellus +cibarius; the Giant mushroom, Clitocybe maximus, and St. George's +mushroom, Tricholoma gambosa. The latter species is reproduced in rings +every year. It is a popular saying that when the ring is unbroken there +will be a plentiful harvest the following season. It is an early +mushroom, appearing in April. It derives its name from the fact of its +appearing about April 23d, which is St. George's day in the English +calendar. Besides these mushrooms there is another Tricholoma, +T. tigrinus, the Tiger mushroom, which sometimes appears in circles. +The word tigrinus means a tiger. The cap is variegated with dark brown +spots, hence the name. Then there is the Limp Clitocybe, C. flaccida, so +called because flaccida means limp. It also appears in rings (according +to Stevenson), while the stems are united under the soil. + +The waxy Clitocybe, C. laccata, is not spoken of as having that mode of +growth in circles, but we have seen many of these mushrooms appearing in +arcs of circles, and forming almost perfect rings, particularly after +showers of rain, and always on the sides of roads. + +Many fairy rings have lasted for years and are very old. We have read of +one, in the county of Essex, England, that measured 120 feet across. The +grass that covered it was coarse and of a dark green color. What causes +these fairy rings? An explanation is given in a newspaper extract from +"Knowledge," in which it is said: "A patch of spawn arising from a +single spore or a number of spores spreads centrifugally in every +direction, and forms a common circular felt, from which the fruit arises +at its extreme edge; the soil in the inner part of the disc is +exhausted, and the spawn dies or becomes effete there, while it spreads +all around in an outward direction and produces another crop whose spawn +spreads again. The circle is thus continually enlarged, and extends +indefinitely until some cause intervenes to destroy it. The peculiarity +of growth first arises from a tendency of certain fungi to assume a +circular form." + +The perplexing mushroom, Hypholoma perplexum, often grows in clusters, +and so does the inky Coprinus, C. atramentarius, also the glistening +Coprinus, C. micaceus. The honey-colored mushroom, Armillaria melloea, +is often found in crowded clusters, and this growth is common to many +fungi. + + +ODOR. + +Many mushrooms have distinct odors and are distinguished by this +feature. The genus Marasmius may be known by the garlic-like smell +peculiar to it, but it never has a mealy perfume. There is one species, +the disgusting mushroom, M. impudicus, that Stevenson says has a strong, +unpleasant odor; this is also the case in two other species, the +ill-odored mushroom, M. foetidus, and the penetrating mushroom, +M. perfurans. + +The Chantarelle, Cantharellus cibarius, has the smell of a ripe apricot, +a delicious odor and easily detected. One of the Lepiotas, the tufted +Lepiota, L. cristata, has a powerful smell of radishes. Some Tricholomas +have a strong odor of new meal. The fragrant Clitocybe, C. odora, has +the smell of anise. + + [Illustration: Coprinus atramentarius. + Photographed by C. G. Lloyd.] + +There is a very small white, scaly mushroom, never more than an inch +across the cap, and with a stem hardly two inches high, that has the +distinction of possessing the strongest smell of all the membrane fungi +(Hymenomycetes). It is called the narcotic Coprinus, C. narcoticus, and +it derives its name from its odor. It is very fragile and grows on heaps +of manure. + + +DURATION. + +There is another Coprinus, the radiating Coprinus, C. radiatus, so +called from the radiating folds on the cap, that may carry off the honor +of being the shortest-lived of all the membrane fungi. Stevenson says +"it withers up with a breath." It is often overlooked, as it perishes +after sunrise. It grows in troops, and is perhaps the most tender of all +mushrooms. + +The genus Marasmius, belonging to the white spored Agarics, has the +power of reviving under moisture after withering, so it may represent a +genus that endures longest. None of the fleshy fungi have long lives. + + +USES. + +Besides the uses of fungi as scavengers of creation, there are some +which have a commercial value and yield an article called "amadou." +This is a French word, used for a sort of tinder or touch-wood, an +inflammable substance which is prepared from a fungus,[1] Boletus +igniarius, and grows upon the cherry, ash and other trees. It is made by +steeping it in a strong solution of saltpetre and cutting it in small +pieces. It is also called German tinder. Thome says that Boletus laricis +and Polyporus fomentarius yield the "amadou" of commerce. Then, again, +the birch Polyporus, P. betulinus, is used for razor strops. We need not +say anything on the uses of fungi as articles of food. This subject has +been exhausted by many able mycologists, and, excepting the mere mention +of some mushrooms that are edible, the authors have abstained from this +part of the subject. + + [Footnote 1: Worcester's Dictionary, citing Brande.] + + +HABITAT. + +It is interesting to observe where different mushrooms love to dwell. +Some are always found on roadsides, as if seeking the notice of +passers-by. These are the Clitocybes and Stropharia, and many of the +cup-fungi, while the Boleti take shelter in clay banks and hide in every +cranny and nook that they can find. Russulas are seen in open woods, +rising out of the earth, also the Lactarius, which seems to like the +shade of trees. The Cortinarius also prefers their shelter. The Coprinus +loves the pastures and fields, near houses and barns, and dwells in +groups upon the lawns. The Hypholoma grows in clusters on the stumps of +trees. Marasmius is found among dead twigs and leaves. The white +Amanitas flourish in woods and open ground. There are some, like +Pleurotus, that grow in trunks of trees, and make their way through +openings in the bark. Every dead tree or branch in the forest is crowded +with all species of Polyporus, while carpets, damp cellars, plaster +walls and sawdust are favorite abodes of many fungi. + + +STRUCTURE AND GROWTH. + +Mushrooms consist wholly of cells. These cells do not contain either +starch or the green coloring-matter, called chlorophyll, which exists in +other plants. They are either parasites or scavengers, and sometimes +both. The food of fungi must form a part of some animal or plant. When +they commence to grow it is by the division of cells, not laterally, but +in one direction, upward. As the mushroom grows the stem lengthens, the +cap expands and bursts the veil that surrounds it, and gradually gains +its perfect shape. + +Every mushroom has a spore-bearing layer of cells, which is called the +hymenium. This hymenium is composed of a number of swollen, club-shaped +cells, called basidia, and close to them, side by side, are sterile, +elongated cells, named paraphyses. In the family called Hymenomycetes +there are mixed with these, and closely packed together, one-celled +sterile structures named cystidia. + +The basidia are called mother-cells because they produce the spores. + +There is one great group of fungi called Basidiomycetes, so named from +having their stalked spores produced on basidia. + +The basidia are formed on the end of threadlike branched bodies which +grow at the apex, and are called hyphae. On top of the basidia are minute +stalk-like branches, called sterigmata (singular sterigma), and each +branch carries a naked spore. They are usually four in number. This +group of Basidiomycetes is divided into (1) Stomach fungi +(Gasteromycetes), (2) Spore sac fungi (Ascomycetes), and (3) Membrane +fungi (Hymenomycetes). + + +MYCELIUM. + +The Mycelium is commonly called the spawn of mushrooms. + +It is the vegetative part of the fungus, and is composed of minute, +cylindrical, thread-like branching bodies called hyphae. When we wish to +cultivate mushrooms we plant the spawn not the spores. The thread-like +branches permeate the earth or whatever the mushroom grows upon. The +color of the mycelium is generally white, but it may also be yellow or +red. Its structural details are only visible through a microscope. + +Every fungus does not bear the spores exposed upon the cap nor +underneath it. The first group of Gasteromycetes, or "Stomach fungi," as +Professor Peck has called them in his work on "Mushrooms and Their +Uses," have the spore-bearing surface enclosed in a sac-like envelope in +the interior of the plant. The genus Lycoperdon belongs to this group, +and it contains the puff-balls so common in this country. + +In the second group, Ascomycetes, or "Spore sac fungi," the spores are +produced in delicate sacs called asci. The fruit-bearing part is often +cup-shaped, disc-like, or club-shaped, thicker at the top or covered +with irregular swellings and depressions like the human brain. + +The Morels and Helvellas belong to this group. One often meets with +mushrooms of the former genus in the spring, and they are striking and +interesting looking fungi. There are many of both genera that are +edible. They will be described in detail later. + +Botanists have classified Agarics by means of the color of the spores, +and it is the only sure way of determining to what class they belong. We +propose in this work also to enumerate the mushrooms according to the +color of the pileus or cap, and give a list, with a description of each, +after this arrangement. This, of course, is merely superficial, but may +interest and attract a beginner in the study of fungi. This list will be +placed at the end of the book. + +The descriptions will be preceded by a classification according to color +of spores, some hints to students, and aids to learning which have been +found useful to others. + +It is appalling to a beginner when he first reads the long list of names +of classes, genera, and species, as the latter are so closely allied in +resemblance. One has not always the time nor inclination to condense +facts for himself, nor to collect necessary information so as to +remember it most easily, all which has to be done in the absence of an +American manual or textbook. A great deal has been written for us, it is +true, by experienced botanists, but a general and comprehensive work has +yet to be compiled. + +Before we begin our list of fungi, let us learn what a mushroom is, and +know something of its component parts. A mushroom consists of a stem and +a cap, or pileus. The cap is the most conspicuous part. The color varies +from white and the lightest hues of brown up to the brightest yellow and +scarlet. Its size is from an eighth of an inch to sixteen inches and +more in diameter. The surface is smooth or covered with little grains +(granular) or with minute scales (squamulose) shining like satin, or +kid-like in its texture. It may be rounded and depressed (concave), +elevated (convex), level (plane), or with a little mound in the centre +(umbonate). It may be covered with warts, marked with lines (striate), +or zoned with circles. The margin may be acute or obtuse, rolled +backward or upward (revolute), or rolled inward (involute); it may be +thick or thin. + + +THE STEM. + +The stem is the stalk that supports the cap. It is sometimes attached to +one side, and then it is said to be lateral or between the centre and +side, and it is called eccentric; when it is in the middle, or nearly +so, it is central. + +It is either solid, fleshy, stuffed with pith, or hollow, fibrous, firm +and tough (cartilaginous). It is often brittle and breaks easily, or it +will not divide evenly in breaking. Its color and size both vary, like +the cap. It may taper toward the base, or toward the apex, be even or +cylindrical. Its surface may be smooth (glabrous), covered with scales +(squamulose), rough (scabrous), dotted, lacerated, or be marked with a +network of veins (reticulated). The base may be bulbous, or only swollen +(incrassated), and it may root in the ground. + + [Illustration: Sections of gill bearing mushrooms. + + Gills adnexed + Gills free + Gills adnate + Gills decurrent + Gills sinuous + Gills serrated + + Pileus umbonate + Pileus umbilicate + + Margin involute + Margin revolute] + + +THE GILLS. + +The gills or lamellae are the radiating parts, like knife blades, that +extend from the centre to the margin underneath the cap. They contain +the spores. The group of mushrooms that have gills are called Agaracini +or Agarics. The gills vary in color; sometimes they change color when +mature. When they are close together they are called crowded, and when +far apart distant. There are often smaller gills between the others, and +sometimes they are two-forked (bifurcate), and are connected by veins. + +They are narrow or wide, swell out in the middle (ventricose), are +curved like a bow (arcuate), and have a sudden wave or sinus in the edge +near the stem (sinuate). + +There are various modes of attachment to the stem. Where the gills are +not attached to it they are called free; slightly so, adnexed; and when +wholly fastened they are adnate. They may run down on the stem, and are +then called decurrent. + + +THE SPORES. + +The color of the spores can be seen by cutting off the cap, and laying +it gills downward, on a sheet of paper, two or three hours or more. The +impression will remain on the paper. It is better to use blue paper, so +that the white spores can be seen more clearly. The Agarics are divided +into classes according to the color of the spores, so it is of great +importance to examine them. The shape and size of the spores can only be +learned by the use of a microscope. We have not attempted in this +elementary work to do more than mention them. + + [Illustration: Amanita vaginata + (breaking from volva). + Photographed by C. G. Lloyd.] + + +THE VOLVA AND VEIL. + +The universal veil or volva is a thin covering which encloses the entire +young plant. The cap grows and expands and bursts this veil into +fragments. That part of the veil which breaks away from the cap, called +the secondary veil, forms the annulus or ring. It resembles a collar, +and is generally fastened to the stem. It is not always permanent or +fixed in one place. It may disappear when the plant is mature. It is +often fragile, loose and torn, and sometimes is movable on the stem. + +The name volva is particularly given to that part of the universal veil +which remains around the base of the stem, either sheathing it or +appressed closely to it, or in torn fragments. The volva and ring, or +annulus, are not always present in mushrooms. The rupture of the veil +often causes a part of it to remain on the cap in the shape of warts or +scales. These may disappear as the plant grows older, and are sometimes +washed off by a heavy rain. + + +THE TUBES OR PORES. + +There is a group of fungi called Polyporei, which have tubes or pores +instead of gills. They are placed under the pileus just as the gills are +situated, and contain the spores. The length of the tubes varies. The +mouths or openings are also of different shapes and sizes. They are +sometimes round, and at other times irregular. The color of the mouths +is often different from the tubes, and changes when mature. The mouths, +too, are sometimes stuffed when young. The attachment to the pileus is +to be noted. They may be free or easily detached, depressed around the +stem or fastened to it (adnate.) + + + + +CLASSIFICATION OF FUNGI. + + +The color of both gills and tubes is an important feature in the +classification of fungi. + +We have now arrived at a point where the amateur may become wearied at +the reading of long names and the enumeration of classes and genera. +Stevenson has said in his preface to his work on British Fungi that +"there is no royal road to the knowledge of fungi," and if we become +enough interested to pursue the subject we will probably discover it at +this point. We will try and make this part as simple as possible, and +only mention those genera which are most common. + +Mushrooms may be divided into three great classes: + +I. Gasteromycetes, or "Stomach fungi," where the spores are produced +within the plant. + +II. Ascomycetes, or "Spore sac fungi," where the spores are produced in +delicate sacs called asci. + +III. Hymenomycetes, or "Membrane fungi," where the spores are produced +on the lower surface of the cap. + + +CLASS III. HYMENOMYCETES, OR MEMBRANE FUNGI. + +This class is divided into six orders: + +1. Gill-bearing mushrooms, Agarics, or Agaricini. + +2. Fungi with pores or tubes, Polyporei. + +3. Fungi with awl-shaped teeth or spines, Hydnei. + +4. Fungi with an even spore-bearing or slightly wrinkled surface, +Thelephorei. + +5. Plants, club-shaped and simple, or bush-like and branched, Clavariei. + +6. Gelatinous plants, irregularly expanded, Tremellinei. + +The first order, the Agarics, contains most of the well-known mushrooms, +as well as most of the edible ones. They have been divided into +different classes according to the color of the spores. In a great many +cases the color is the same as that of the gills; but this is not always +the case, especially in the young plants. The Agarics are divided into +four sections: + +1. White spores, Leucosporae. + +2. Rosy, salmon or pinkish spores, Rhodosporae. + +3. Brown or ochraceous spores, Ochrosporae. + +4. Dark purplish or black spores, Melanosporae. + +There are an infinite number of mushrooms we shall not mention. The +study of fungi has only begun in this country, and there is an immense +vista for future students. The amateur or beginner may be well satisfied +if after one summer spent in studying mushrooms he can remember the +distinguishing types of the various genera, and can say with certainty, +"This is a Russula, or this a Cortinarius, or this a Tricholoma." He +will then feel he has taken one important step in this "royal road." + + +DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF GENERA OF HYMENOMYCETES. + +ORDER 1. AGARICS. + +The names of the genera are all derived from Greek and Latin words. +Stevenson, in his book on British Fungi, has given the original words +and also their meanings. We take the liberty of copying the English term +only, and will place it beside the name of each genus. + +SECTION 1. WHITE SPORES, OR LEUCOSPORAE. + +The first genus we will mention is: + ++HYGROPHORUS, from a word meaning moist.+ + +This genus contains plants growing on the ground. They soon decay. The +cap is sticky or watery, the gills often branched. It has a peculiarity +in the fact that the hymenial cells, or the layer of mother cells, +contained in the gills, change into a waxy mass, at length removable +from the trama. The trama is that substance which extends with and is +like in structure to the layer of mother cells.[1] It lies between the +two layers of gills in Agarics. The gills seem full of watery juice, and +they are more or less decurrent, _i. e._, extend down the stem. This +genus contains many bright-colored and shining species. + + [Footnote 1: In the young plant it forms the framework of the gills.] + +We are obliged to refer to the hymenial layer in this place, though the +beginner will scarcely understand the meaning of the term. The +distinguishing peculiarity of this genus consists in the cells changing +to a waxy mass. In the chapter on the structure of mushrooms we have +tried to explain something about the cells and the Hymenium. + ++LACTARIUS = milk.+ + +This genus is fleshy, growing on the ground; the cap is often depressed +in the centre. The gills are adnato-decurrent, that is, partly attached +and prolonged down the stem. They are waxy, rather rigid and acute at +the edge. The distinctive feature is the milk that flows when the gills +are cut. Sometimes the milk changes color. + ++RUSSULA = red.+ + +This genus grows on the ground, is fleshy, and soon decays. The cap is +depressed, or becomes so at a later stage of growth. The stem is +polished, generally white, and is very brittle. The gills are rigid, +fragile, with an acute edge, and mostly equal in length. Some species +exude watery drops. It contains many species of beautiful colors. + ++CANTHARELLUS = vase or cup.+ + +The principal characteristic of this genus consists in the fold-like +nature of its gills. The gills are thick, with an obtuse edge, and are +branched and decurrent. The genus is fleshy, soft, and putrescent, and +has no veil. Some plants grow on the ground and others on mosses. + ++MARASMIUS = to wither.+ + +The genus is tough and dry, not decaying, but shrivelling, and reviving +when wet. The stem is tough (cartilaginous.) The gills are rather +distant, the edge acute and entire. The plants often have a peculiar +smell and taste, like garlic. They are small and thin, commonly growing +on the outside of another plant (epiphytal) on the ground, on putrid +leaves, or on roots of grasses. + ++AMANITA.+ + +The origin of this name is doubtful. Galen, an ancient Greek physician, +is said to have given the name to some edible fungi (Stevenson). It is +distinguished as the only genus that has _both volva and ring_. The +young plant is enveloped by a universal veil which bursts at maturity. +The volva around the base of the stem is formed by the splitting or +bursting of the veil, and its different modes of rupture mark the +several species. It is sometimes shaped very prettily, and has the +appearance of a cup around the stem. It contains many poisonous as well +as edible mushrooms. + ++LEPIOTA = a scale.+ + +This genus has a universal veil. The gills are free. Sometimes the ring, +or annulus, is movable on the stem. The cap is often covered with warts, +or the skin torn into scales, and the stem sometimes inserted in a cup +or socket. + ++ARMILLARIA = ring or bracelet.+ + +There is no universal veil in this genus, only a partial one that forms +a ring, or sometimes only indicating the ring by scales. The species +usually grow on the ground. + ++TRICHOLOMA = from two Greek words, hair and fringe.+ + +This genus is especially noted for its sinuate gills. They have a tooth +next to the stem. All grow on the ground and are fleshy. There are +sometimes fibrils which adhere to the margin of the cap, the remains of +the veil. There are no plants in this genus that are considered +poisonous. + ++CLITOCYBE = a declivity.+ + +The gills in this genus are attenuated behind and are attached to stem +(adnate) or run down it (decurrent.) The cap is generally plano +depressed or funnel-shaped (infundibuliform). Some are fragrant; the +odor resembles fresh apricots. + ++COLLYBIA = a small coin.+ + +The stem in this genus is tough or stuffed with a pith, and covered with +a cartilaginous rind. The margin of the cap is smooth and turned under +at first (involute). The gills are soft, free, or only adnexed behind. +The plants grow on the outside of wood and leaves, even on fungi, but +are often rooted on the ground, and do not dry up. The gills are +sometimes brightly colored. + ++MYCENA = a fungus.+ + +In this genus also the stem is cartilaginous, the cap is sometimes +bell-shaped (campanulate) and slender. The plants are generally small +and fragile. The cap is from 1/8 to 1 1/2 inch broad. The stem is +sometimes filiform, and they grow on stumps and sticks, dead wood, +twigs and leaves. They may be found early in the season, but oftener +from August to November. + + [Illustration: Omphalia alboflava. + Photographed by C. G. Lloyd.] + ++OMPHALIA = depressed.+ + +The stem in this genus is cartilaginous. The gills run down the stem. +The cap is somewhat membranaceous. It is oftener depressed and +funnel-shaped. The gills are often branched. The species grow in moist +places. The plants are generally small. The largest only measure 2 +inches, the smallest only 1/2 inch across the cap. + ++PLEUROTUS = side and an ear.+ + +In this genus the stem is sometimes wanting, or it grows on the side, or +between the centre and margin (eccentric). The plants rarely grow on the +ground. They are irregular and fleshy or membranaceous. The time of +growth is generally in the autumn. There are a few edible species. + +SECTION 2. RHODOSPORAE, RED OR PINK SPORES. + +In this section of Agarics the spores are red, pink, or salmon color. + ++PLUTEUS = a penthouse.+ + +This genus has neither volva nor ring. The gills are rounded behind and +free, entirely separate from stem, white, then flesh-colored, but often +tinged with yellow. The cuticle is sometimes covered with fibres, or +with a bloom upon it (pruinose). The apex of the stem is inserted in the +cap like a peg, and in this it resembles the Lepiotas. The species grow +on or near trunks, appear early, and last until late in the season. + ++ENTOLOMA = within and fringe.+ + +This genus resembles Tricholoma, which belongs to the white-spored +Agarics and Hebeloma, which is rosy-spored. The species grow on the +ground, and are found chiefly after rain. The stem is fleshy or fibrous, +soft, sometimes waxy. The cap has the margin incurved, the gills have a +tooth (sinuate), and are adnexed to the stem. Some species smell of +fresh meal. + +SECTION 3. OCHROSPORAE, BROWN OR OCHRACEOUS SPORES. + ++CORTINARIUS = a veil.+ + +This genus has a veil resembling a cobweb. The gills generally become +cinnamon-colored. They grow on the ground in woods, during late summer +and autumn. Some of our most beautiful mushrooms belong to this group. +The veil is not persistent, and soon disappears. + ++PHOLIOTA = a scale.+ + +This genus mostly grows on trunks. The partial or secondary veil takes +the form of a ring. The cap is often covered with scales. + ++INOCYBE = fibre and head.+ + +This genus is distinguished by the silky fibrilose covering of the cap, +which never has a distinct pellicle, and by the veil which is lasting +and of like nature to the fibrils of the cap. All grow upon the ground. + ++HEBELOMA = youth and fringe.+ + +In this genus the margin of the cap is at first incurved. The gills are +attached with a tooth, with the edge more or less of a different color, +often whitish. The stem is fleshy, fibrous, somewhat mealy at the apex. +They grow on the ground and are strong-smelling, appear early in the +autumn, and continue until late in the season. + ++PAXILLUS = a small stake.+ + +This genus is fleshy, putrescent; at first the cap has the margin turned +under (involute), then it unfolds gradually and dilates. There are some +species of both Tricholoma and Clitocybe that resemble it. The gills +separate easily from the cap, and in this it is similar to the Boleti, +where the tubes separate also with ease. + +SECTION 4. MELANOSPORAE, DARK PURPLE OR BLACK SPORES. + ++PSALLIOTA = a ring or collar.+ + +The common mushroom Agaricus campestris belongs to this group. The gills +are rounded behind and free, the stem has a collar. There are many +edible mushrooms in this genus. They grow in pastures, and the larger +ones are called Champignons. In former times when one spoke of eating +mushrooms the species A. campestris, or campester, was always the one +denoted. + ++STROPHARIA = a sword belt.+ + +This genus has a ring. The gills are generally attached to the stem; +some species grow on the ground, and some grow on other fungi. They are +sometimes bell-shaped and then flattened, often with a mound or umbo. + ++HYPHOLOMA = web and fringe.+ + +The veil in this genus is woven in a web which adheres to the margin of +the cap. The cap is more or less fleshy, and the margin at first +incurved. The gills are attached or have a tooth. There is no ring. The +plants grow in tufts on wood, or at the base of trees in the autumn. + ++PSILOCYBE = naked and head.+ + +The cap in this genus is fleshy, smooth, and the margin at first +incurved. Gills turn dusky purple. The stem is cartilaginous, hollow or +stuffed. No veil is visible. They grow on the ground. + ++PSATHYRA = friable.+ + +The cap is conical and soft, the margin at first straight, and then +pressed to the stem. The plants are slender, fragile and moist. Gills +become purple. They grow on the ground, or on trunks of trees. + ++COPRINUS = dung.+ + +In this genus the spores are black. It has two distinctive features: +one, that the gills cohere at first, and are not separated when young; +and the other, that they dissolve into an inky fluid. The gills are also +scissile, that is, they can be split, and are linear and swollen in the +middle. The plants last but a short time. Some are edible. + + +ORDER 2. POLYPOREI, OR TUBE-BEARING FUNGI. + +We now pass to the next order, the Polyporei. We will mention four +genera: + ++BOLETUS.+ + +The name is that of a fungus much prized for its delicacy by the Romans, +and is derived from a Greek word meaning a clod, which denotes the round +figure of the plant. + +The Boleti grow on the ground, are fleshy and putrescent with central +stems. The tubes are packed closely together and are easily separated. + ++FISTULINA = a pipe.+ + +In this genus the tubes are free and distinct from one another. They are +somewhat fleshy and grow upon wood. + ++POLYPORUS = many pores.+ + +The pores or tubes in this genus are not separate from one another. They +are persistent fungi, most of them growing upon wood. + ++DAEDALEA = curiously wrought.+ + +The name of this genus is derived from Daedalus, who constructed the +labyrinth at Crete, in which the monster Minotaur was kept. It was one +of the seven wonders of the world. + +These fungi grow on wood, and become hard. The pores are firm when fully +grown; they are sinuous and labyrinthine. + + +ORDER 3. HYDNEI, OR SPINE-BEARING FUNGI. + +The name is derived from a word meaning a spine. This order contains +many genera, two of which we will mention, Hydnum and Tremellodon. + ++HYDNUM.+ + +Hydnum is derived from a Greek word, the name of an edible fungus. The +plants in this genus are furnished with spines or teeth, instead of +gills or tubes, and these contain the spores. The species are divided +according to the stem. In some it is central and grows on the ground, +in others it is lateral, and the cap is semicircular (dimidiate), and +others again have no stem. There are some species that have no cap, and +the spines are either straight or oblique. There are a few that are +edible, but generally they have a bitter taste. However, some writers +say that Hydnum repandum, or the spreading Hedgehog, is "delicious." +This mushroom and the one named "Medusa's head," H. caput Medusae, are +perhaps the most conspicuous of the order. The latter is very large. +Its color is at first white, then becoming ashy gray. The spines on the +upper surface are twisted, while the lower ones are long and straight. +It grows on trunks of trees. In the spreading Hydnum the margin of the +cap is arched and irregular. It grows on the ground. + ++TREMELLODON = jelly and a tooth.+ + +The fungi in this genus are gelatinous. The cap is nearly semicircular +in shape, sometimes fan-shaped and rounded in front. The spines or teeth +are soft, white and delicate. We found one specimen in the month of +September in the mountains of the State of New York. + + +ORDER 4. THELEPHOREI, OR EVEN SURFACE FUNGI. + +In this order the lower surface of the cap is smooth and even, or +slightly wrinkled. It is divided into several genera, only two of which +we will enumerate, Craterellus and Stereum. + ++CRATERELLUS = a bowl.+ + +The species called the "horn of plenty," Craterellus cornucopioides, +belongs to this genus, and is often found. Stevenson says it is common. +It is trumpet-shaped (tubiform). The cap is of a dingy black color, and +the stem is hollow, smooth, and black. We found quite a small specimen, +the pileus not more than 1 1/2 inch broad, but it may measure 3 inches. +The spore-bearing surface was of an ash color. The margin of the cap was +wavy, and it was hollow right through to the base. It was only 2 inches +high, and there was scarcely any stem. + ++STEREUM = hard.+ + +The genus Stereum is woody and leathery in nature, somewhat zoned, and +looks like some Polyporci. It grows on wood, on stumps, and on dead +wood. + + +ORDER 5. CLAVARIEI, OR CLUB FUNGI. + +This order contains several genera, but one only will be mentioned, that +of Clavaria. + ++CLAVARIA = club.+ + +The common name often given to this genus is "Fairy Clubs." We have +described several species in our list of fungi, and will only say that +these are fleshy fungi, either simple or branched. The expression +fleshy, so often met with in these pages, is used in speaking of plants +when they are succulent and composed of juicy, cellular tissue. They do +not become leathery. In the genus Clavaria the fungi have no caps, but +they have stems. There are a few edible species. One can scarcely walk +any distance without seeing some species of Clavaria. They are +conspicuous, sometimes attractive looking, and interesting in their +variety. + +The genus Cortinarius, one of the order of Agarics, has been already +described, but it contains so many species that it deserves especial +mention. + +They are difficult to define. The genus has been subdivided by botanists +into tribes which it may be well to enumerate. We have followed +Stevenson's arrangement. + +He divides Cortinarius into six tribes. + +1. Phlegacium = clammy moisture. In this tribe the cap is fleshy and +sticky (viscous), while the stem is firm and dry. In all Cortinarii the +gills become cinnamon-colored. There are many large-sized mushrooms in +this tribe, the cap sometimes measuring 6 inches across. + +2. Myxacium = mucous. This tribe has the stem sticky (viscous), and the +universal veil is glutinous. The cap is fleshy but thin. Gills attached +to stem and decurrent. + +3. Inoloma = fibre and fringe. It contains distinguished species. The +cap is at first silky, with innate scales or fibrils, is equally fleshy +and dry. The stem is fleshy and rather bulbous. + +4. Dermocybe = skin and head. The cap and stem are both thinner in this +tribe than in Inoloma. The pileus becomes thin when old, and is dry, not +moist. It is at first silky. The color of the gills is changeable, which +makes it hard to distinguish the species. + +5. Telamonia = lint. Pileus moist; at first smooth or sprinkled with +superficial whitish fibres of the veil. Flesh thin, or becoming so +abruptly at the margin; the veil is somewhat double, which is a +distinguishing characteristic of this tribe. + +6. Hygrocybe = moist and head. Cap in this tribe is smooth or only +covered with white superficial fibrils, not gluey, but moist when fresh, +and changing color when dry. Flesh thin. + + +CLASS I. GASTEROMYCETES, OR STOMACH FUNGI. + +The Basidia-bearing fungi, or Basidiomycetes, are divided into three +classes, as has been already stated. The third class, Hymenomycetes, or +Membrane fungi, has been described, but there remain two other groups of +which we will now speak more fully. They may be considered too difficult +for beginners, and we would not venture to enter further into the +subject were it not that some of the most familiar fungi belong to these +classes--such as Puff-balls, Morels, and Helvellas. + +The first class, called the Gasteromycetes, or Stomach fungi, matures +its spores on the inside of the plant. The distinction between this +class and that of the Membrane fungi, which ripens its spores on the +outside, may be more readily understood by one familiar with the +structure of the fig, whose flowers are situated on the interior of its +pear-shaped, hollow axis, which is the fruit. + +We will divide the Stomach fungi into four orders--1, the thick-skinned +fungi (Sclerodermae); 2, the Bird's-nest fungi (Nidulariae); 3, the +Puff-balls (Lycoperdons); 4, the Stink horns (Phalloidae.) + + +ORDER 1. SCLERODERMAE, THE THICK-SKINNED FUNGI. + +Our attention will be confined to only one genus, and, indeed, one +species of this family. We often see in our walks what at a first glance +look like potatoes lying along the road, and the suggestion arises that +some careless boy has been losing potatoes from his basket on his way +home from the country store. We stoop to pick them up, and find them +rooted to the ground and covered with warts and scales. We cut them open +and find them a purplish-black color inside. It is a mass of closely +packed unripe spores. In a few days the upper part of the outside +covering decays, bursts open, and the ripe spores escape. This is called +the common hard-rind fungus, or Scleroderma vulgare. + + +ORDER 2. NIDULARIAE, THE BIRD'S-NEST FUNGI. + +This is again divided into three genera. The Crucible (crucibulum), the +Cup (Cyathus), the Bird's-nest proper (Nidularia.) + +We often find on a wood-pile or a fallen tree some of the members of the +Bird's-nest family. It is fascinating to examine them in their various +stages of development. First we see a tiny buff knot, cottony in texture +and closely covered; next, another rather larger, with its upper +covering thrown aside, displaying the tiny eggs, which prompts one to +look around for the miniature mother bird; then we find a nest empty +with the fledglings flown. The characteristic that distinguishes the +Bird's-nest fungi from others consists in the fact that the spores are +produced in small envelopes that do not split open, and which are +enclosed in a common covering, called the peridium. One species is known +by the fluted inside of the covering, which is quite beautiful. They are +all small and grow in groups. + + +ORDER 3. LYCOPERDONS, THE PUFF-BALLS. + +The Lycoperdons contain several genera, among which we select the +Puff-balls proper and the Earth stars. + +What child is there who lives in the country and does not know the +Puff-ball? With what gusto he presses it and watches what he calls the +smoke pouring from the chimney. Indeed, the outpouring of myriads of +spores in its ripe stage does suggest smoke from a chimney. The +puff-ball, when young, is of a firm texture, nearly round, grayish, or +brownish outside, but of a pure white within. There are several genera, +but we have selected two--1, Lycoperdon; and 2, Earth Star, or Geaster. + ++LYCOPERDON = the puff-ball.+ + +The puff-balls vary greatly in size, the smallest measure 1/2 inch up to +the largest, about 15 inches. Professor Peck describes them thus: +"Specimens of medium size are 8 to 12 inches in diameter. The largest in +the State Museum is about 15 inches in the dry state. When fresh it was +probably 20 inches or more. The color is whitish, afterward yellowish or +brownish. The largest size was called the Giant Puff-ball (Calvatia +bovista)." + ++GEASTER = the earth star.+ + +These vary greatly in size. The small ones grow on pine needles on the +ground or among leaves. Some are mounted on pedicels, some are sessile +or seated directly on the earth, but the family likeness is so +pronounced that even the novice need not be doubtful as to the name of +the fungus when found. There are two species that have slender, +elongated stems. The name is well chosen. In moist weather the points +expand and roll back or lie flat on the earth. Then the round puff-ball +in the centre is plainly seen. + +In dry weather the star-like divisions are rigidly turned in and cover +closely the round portion. "When dry it is sometimes rolled about by the +wind; when it is wet by the rain or abundant dew it absorbs the moisture +and spreads itself out, and rests from its journey, again to take up its +endless wandering as sun and rain appear to reduce it once more to a +ball and set it rolling." (Underwood.) + + +ORDER 4. PHALLOIDS, THE STINK HORN FUNGI. + +We come now to the fourth and last order of the Stomach fungi +(Gasteromycetes) that we shall mention. In spite of their appellation +these fungi are strikingly beautiful, but their odor is most offensive. +They grow in woods, and are also found in cellars. Their history has +been carefully investigated by mycologists, and the novice will find +many beautiful illustrations in various works. In their early stage they +are enclosed in an egg-shaped veil (volva), having a gelatinous inner +layer. Some are bright-colored, others are pure white, and the stems of +one species look as if covered with lace work. The most familiar one, +Phallus impudicus, "the fetid wood witch," we have placed in the list of +fungi at the end of this book, with its description. + + +CLASS II. ASCOMYCETES, OR SPORE SAC FUNGI. + +This is the second division of the Basidia-bearing fungi. It includes +all the fungi that have the spores enveloped in delicate sacs called +asci. It is divided into several orders, but we will only mention the +one which contains the most familiar plants. This order is named the +Disc-like fungi (Discomycetes). In this the spore-bearing surface is on +the upper or outside surface of the mushroom cap. It is divided into +many genera, of which we shall mention three--the Cup fungi, or Pezizas, +the Morels or Morchellas, and the Yellowish fungi or Helvellas. + ++PEZIZAS = the Cup fungi.+ + +These form a very large group, mostly growing on decaying plants. They +are typically disc-shaped or cup-shaped, and when young are closed or +nearly so, opening when mature. They vary in size from minute species to +large fleshy ones, 3 to 4 inches in diameter. They are generally small, +thin, and tough. They grow on twigs, leaves, dead wood, or on the +ground. Many are stemless. They are both solitary and densely clustered. +The color varies from pale brown to a dark gray, resembling, when moist, +india-rubber cloth, and then, again, there are many of brilliant +hues--red and orange. Some are erect, some are split down at the side +like the ear of a hare. The Cup fungi are found in August and September, +growing near ditches, and by the roadside where there is moisture. The +ear-shaped Pezizas somewhat resemble the Jew's ear, and the beginner +might easily confound them. This latter fungus belongs to the third +class of membrane fungi (Hymenomycetes), and it is included in the +descriptions of fungi. + ++THE MORELS or MORCHELLAS = the honey-combed fungi.+ + +The collector during the months of April and May will enjoy a new +experience when he first finds a fungus of a bright brown color, deeply +pitted, spongy looking, cone-shaped or nearly round; its head supported +on an erect, white stem. He will probably find it on a grassy hillside +or along a running brook under some forest trees. He has perhaps seen +its picture and at once exclaims, "my first Morel." He will notice its +peculiar honey-combed depression, and then cutting it open will find +both the head and the stem hollow. Where are the spores? There are no +gills as in the Agarics, nor are they concealed in a covering +(peridium), as in the Puff-balls, but they are contained in delicate +sacs on the cap. The exterior surface of the cap is the spore-bearing +portion, and the spores are developed in their sacs, but only seen under +a microscope. + ++HELVELLA = the yellowish mushroom.+ + +This genus may be readily recognized by the form of the cap, which is +lobed and irregularly waved and drooping, often attached to the stem. +They grow on the ground in the woods, and sometimes on rotten wood. The +genus comprises the largest of the Disc fungi known, some species +weighing over a pound. Cicero mentions the Helvellas as a favorite dish +of the Romans. + ++THE TRUFFLE = delicacy.+ + +It will be well to finish this section with the mention of the Truffle. +It may yet be found in the United States, but hitherto its place of +growth has been on the continent of Europe, and especially in France, +where it forms an article of commerce, and is highly prized as food. It +is subterranean, and requires for its discovery a higher sense of smell +than man possesses. It is generally found by the hog and the dog, who +are trained to help the truffle hunters. There are some species in our +country that resemble it, and grow underneath the ground. One, found in +the Southern States, called Rhizopogon, grows in sandy soil. This +species, however, does not belong to Class II., but to Class I., the +Gasteromycetes, or Stomach fungi. It is not likely that the beginner +will find this mushroom, so no description will be given. + + +GENERAL HELPS TO THE MEMORY. + +There are certain facts which if committed to memory will be of great +help to beginners in classifying mushrooms. There are distinctive +features belonging to different genera, which will be enumerated as +follows. These facts apply to the order of Agarics, containing the +largest number of familiar mushrooms. They have been placed in tables +for the convenience of the beginner, and are arranged without regard to +family relationship. + +_Mushrooms Containing both Volva and Ring (Annulus)._ + + There is only one genus that has both volva and ring. Amanita. + +_Mushrooms with Ring and no Volva._ + + 1. Pholiota. + 2. Annularia. + 3. Stropharia. + 4. Psalliota. + 5. Armillaria. + 6. Lepiota. + +_Mushrooms that have the stem attached on the side (lateral) or between +Margin and Centre (eccentric)._ + + 1. Crepidotus. + 2. Claudopus. + 3. Pleurotus. + +_Mushrooms with tough or cartilaginous Stems._ + + 1. Psathyra. + 2. Nolanea. + 3. Mycena. + 4. Marasmius. + 5. Naucoria. + 6. Leptonia. + 7. Omphalia. + 8. Collybia. + 9. Psilocybe. + 10. Galera. + +_Mushrooms, Stemless._ + + 1. Schizophyllum. + 2. Trogia. + 3. Lenzites. + +_Mushrooms that have the Cap bell-shaped (campanulate) and Marked with +Lines (striate)._ + + 1. Psathyra. + 2. Galera. + 3. Nolanea. + 4. Mycena. + +_Mushrooms with Gills attached to Stem and a Ring._ + + 1. Stropharia. + 2. Armillaria. + 3. Pholiota. + +_Mushrooms Having Gills with serrated edge._ + + 1. Lentinus. + +_Mushrooms with Free Gills not attached to Stem._ + + 1. Chitonia. + 2. Psalliota. + 3. Pluteolus. + 4. Pluteus. + 5. Volvaria. + 6. Lepiota. + 7. Amanita. + +_Mushrooms with emarginate sinuate Gills, or with notch near to Stem._ + + 1. Hypholoma. + 2. Tricholoma. + 3. Hebeloma. + 4. Entoloma. + +_Mushrooms that are corky and leathery._ + + 1. Lenzites. + 2. Lentinus. + 3. Schizophyllum. + 4. Panus. + +_Mushrooms with Gills running down Stem more or less (decurrent)._ + + 1. Gomphidius. + 2. Paxillus. + 3. Tubaria (some species). + 4. Flammula (some adnate). + 5. Eccilia (truly decurrent). + 6. Clitopilus (somewhat decurrent). + 7. Panus (some species decurrent). + 8. Lentinus (mostly decurrent). + 9. Cantharellus. + 10. Hygrophorus (mostly decurrent). + 11. Pleurotus (some decurrent). + 12. Omphalia (truly decurrent). + 13. Clitocybe (decurrent or adnate). + 14. Lactarius (decurrent or adnato-decurrent). + +_Mushrooms that are deliquescent or turn into inky fluid._ + + 1. Coprinus. + 2. Bolbitius. + +It will also be useful to the beginner to see a list of Agarics +classified according to botanists by the color of their spores. + + +CLASSIFICATION OF AGARICS BY COLOR OF SPORES. + + 1. Leucosporae (white spores). + 2. Rhodosporae (rosy or salmon spores). + 3. Ochrosporae (ochraceous spores). + 4. Melanosporae (dark purple or black spores). + +_Leucosporae, or White Spores._ + + 1. Amanita. + 2. Lepiota. + 3. Armillaria. + 4. Tricholoma. + 5. Clitocybe. + 6. Collybia. + 7. Mycena. + 8. Omphalia. + 9. Pleurotus. + 10. Trogia. + 11. Hygrophorus. + 12. Lactarius. + 13. Russula. + 14. Cantharellus. + 15. Marasmius. + 16. Lentinus. + 17. Panus. + 18. Xerotus. + 19. Schizophyllum. + 20. Lenzites. + 21. Arrhenia (pallid spores). + +_Rhodosporae, Rosy or Salmon Spores._ + + 1. Volvaria. + 2. Pluteus. + 3. Enteloma. + 4. Leptonia. + 5. Nolanea. + 6. Eccilia. + 7. Claudopus. + 8. Clitopilus. + +_Ochrosporae, or Ochraceous Spores._ + + 1. Pholiota. + 2. Inocybe. + 3. Hebeloma. + 4. Flammula. + 5. Naucoria. + 6. Pluteolus. + 7. Galera. + 8. Tubaria. + 9. Crepidotus. + 10. Cortinarius. + 11. Acetabularia. + 12. Paxillus (spores are ferruginous or dingy white). + 13. Bolbitius (ferruginous spores). + +_Melanosporae, Dark Purple or Black Spores._ + + 1. Chitonia. + 2. Psalliota. + 3. Stropharia. + 4. Hypholoma. + 5. Psilocybe. + 6. Psathyra. + 7. Panaeolus. + 8. Psathyrella. + 9. Coprinus. + 10. Gomphidius. + 11. Anellaria. + +Having arranged these lists of mushrooms by their different +characteristics, and then by the color of the spores, we will give a +list of fungi familiar to most persons, classified according to the +colors of the cap. The far greater number have been analyzed by the +writers, and a full description is given to enable the beginner more +easily to identify them. + +The reader will notice that in the lists of fungi given above there are +certain genera not elsewhere mentioned in this book. He will understand +that it is inadvisable in a short primer to allude to all the genera +that exist. It was, however, impossible to give a complete table without +including them in it. + + [Illustration: Russula pectinata. + Photographed by C. G. Lloyd.] + + + + +DESCRIPTIONS OF FUNGI, ARRANGED ACCORDING TO COLOR OF CAP ONLY. + + +MUSHROOMS WITH RED OR PINK COLORED CAP. + +The genus Russula probably contains the largest number of mushrooms with +reddish caps, the word Russula meaning reddish. + + +RUSSULA EMETICA = a vomit.+ + +The Nauseating Russula.+ + ++Cap+ bright blood red, at first rosy, then blood color, tawny when old, +3 to 4 inches broad, first bell-shaped, then flattened or depressed, +polished, margin at length grooved (sulcate), flesh white, reddish under +the cuticle. +Stem+ 1 1/2 to 3 inches long, 3/4 of an inch thick, white +or with a reddish hue, spongy, stuffed, stout, elastic when young, +fragile when old, even, tapering slightly upward. +Gills+ free, broad, +rather distant, white. + +This is found on the ground among dead leaves, in the woods and open +places from July to December. It has a bitter taste, and is said to be +poisonous. Those eating it are often affected as if they had taken an +emetic. It is easily distinguished by the fact of the flesh turning red +immediately under the skin when it is peeled off. There are numerous +varieties of it, in one the stem has minute wrinkles running lengthwise. +We found it in different localities. The taste was acrid. It was one of +the first and the last mushrooms that we gathered. (Poisonous.) + + +RUSSULA SANGUINEA = blood.+ + +The Blood-colored Russula.+ + ++Cap+ blood red, becoming pale at margin, 2 to 3 inches broad, at first +convex, then depressed, and funnel-shaped (infundibuliform), irregularly +swollen in the centre, polished, even, margin acute, moist in damp +weather. Flesh firm, cheesy, white. +Stem+ stout, spongy, stuffed, at +first contracted at apex, then equal, slightly marked with lines white +or reddish. +Gills+ at first fastened to stem and then decurrent, +crowded, narrow, connected by veins, fragile, somewhat forked, shining +white, afterward turning ochraceous color. The taste is acrid and +peppery. It is found in woods from August to September, and is not +common. (Poisonous.) + + +RUSSULA ROSEIPES = rosy stem.+ + +The Rosy Stemmed Russula.+ + +This is a striking-looking mushroom. The colors are pretty, and the +tinge of red in the stem adds to its beauty. There are other species of +Russula that also have red tints in the stem. +Cap+ rosy red, with pink +and orange hues, 1 to 2 inches broad, convex, becoming nearly plane or +slightly depressed; at first viscid, soon dry, slightly marked with +lines on the thin margin, taste mild. +Gills+ moderately close, nearly +entire, rounded behind and slightly adnexed, swollen in the middle, +whitish, becoming yellow. +Stem+ 1 to 2 inches long, 3 to 4 lines thick, +slightly tapering upward, stuffed or hollow, white, tinged with red. +It is distinguished from other species by its mild taste, rosy cap, +commonly dry and but slightly striate on margin, its gills changing from +white to yellow or slightly ochraceous, and being partially attached to +the stem, and its stem being slightly stained with rosy red. It grows in +pine and hemlock woods, and is found in July and August. (Edible.) + + +RUSSULA LEPIDA = neat or elegant.+ + +The Elegant Russula.+ + ++Cap+ at first is a bright red, but becomes a dull reddish-pink, paler +at the disc, 3 inches broad, dry, fleshy, convex; then expanded, +scarcely depressed, obtuse and polished, afterward cracked (rimose), and +with minute scales (squamulose). The margin spreading and rounded, +obtuse, _not_ striate. +Stem+ about 3 inches long, from 1 to 1 1/2 inch +thick, even, solid, white, or rose color. +Gills+ rounded behind, rather +thick, somewhat crowded, often forked, connected by veins, white, often +red at edge. Taste mild. We found our specimen in mixed woods. The stem +was only tinged with pink. (Edible.) + + +LACTARIUS VOLEMUS = a kind of large pear. (From its shape.)+ + +The Orange Brown Lactarius.+ + ++Cap+ 3 to 5 inches broad, reddish-orange color, becoming pale, compact, +rigid, obtuse, with the margin bent inward, depressed, at length marked +with lines like a river (rimose). Flesh white, turning brown. +Stem+ +2 to 3 inches long, 3/4 to 1 1/4 inch thick, stout, stuffed, then hollow, +paler at apex, with a bloom, same color as cap, with lengthwise lines. ++Gills+ adnato-decurrent, yellowish turning ochraceous, broad, thin, +crowded, milk sweet and plentiful. Stevenson says that the taste of this +Lactarius is delicious, that it is savory even when raw. It should not +be kept too long before cooking, or it will emit a strong, unpleasant +odor. It is abundant in chestnut or oak woods from July to September. +Our specimen was much wrinkled on the margin. The milk was abundant. +(Edible.) + + +LACTARIUS ICHORATUS = lymph.+ + +The Colorless Lactarius.+ + +The name of this species is given on account of the color of the milk +(Stevenson). +Cap+ a tawny pinkish-red color, 3 to 4 inches broad, +zoned, plano-depressed, margin often wavy, dry, flesh creamy white or +pallid. +Stem+ 1 1/2 to 3 inches long, thick, solid, afterward spongy, +equal, smooth, the same color as the cap, lighter at the apex. +Gills+ +adnate, slightly decurrent, not crowded, creamy white, turning +ochraceous. Milk white, sweet. It has a strong smell. In the specimen we +found the stem was slightly marked with lines and the milk plentiful. It +is not spoken of as edible. + + +LACTARIUS MITISSIMUS = mild.+ + +The name only applies to the taste of the milk. (Stevenson.) + ++Cap+ a light, bright reddish-orange, golden tawny color, 1 to 4 inches +broad, even, then depressed, smooth, sticky when moist, flesh whitish, +turning yellow. +Stem+ 1 to 4 inches long, thick, stuffed, then hollow, +even, smooth, same color as cap. +Gills+ slightly running down the stem, +rounded at one end, broad, yellowish. Milk mild, then bitterish and +plentiful. It is found in pine and mixed woods from August until +November. It has a beautiful color, and resembles in that particular L. +volemus. + + +CORTINARIUS ARMILLATUS = a ring or bracelet.+ + +The Zoned Cortinarius.+ + ++Cap+ a tawny reddish-yellow, brick red, 2 to 5 inches broad, fleshy, +bell-shaped or almost conical, then convex, dry, smooth, marked with +reddish specks, darker toward the centre, flesh white, turning red and +narrowing toward the margin. +Stem+ 3 to 6 inches long, 1/2 inch thick, +solid, firm, slightly tapering toward the apex, very bulbous at base, +same color as cap, stuffed with brown pith inside. There are two or +three reddish oblique zones encircling the stem. +Gills+ adnate, swollen +in the middle, distant, variable, at first pale cinnamon color, and then +dark brown. We found them at the end of August in great numbers, +sometimes united in tufts (caespitose) in all stages of growth, the +younger ones covered with a cobwebby veil, which is paler in color than +the zones. They grow in mixed woods. + + +CLITOCYBE LACCATA = a resinous substance.+ + +The Waxy Clitocybe.+ + +This species is small in size. +Cap+ is about 1 inch broad, thin, convex +and almost plane. Sometimes with a depression (umbilicate). When moist +it has a water-soaked look, and becomes pale in drying. When wet it has +a peculiar flesh color, but when dry it is a pale yellowish-red hue. ++Stem+ is long and slender, tough and of same color as cap, 2 lines +thick, fibrous, stuffed, often twisted and white, with soft, weak hairs +at base (villous). +Gills+ are attached to stem with a decurrent tooth, +broad, distant, of a peculiar flesh color. We found several varieties. +One had gills of a beautiful violet color (Var. amethystina), in another +the gills were pale (Var. pallidifolia). (Peck.) A small form with +radiating lines extending from near the centre to the margin (Var. +striatula), Peck, is an interesting species and often seen. They grow +closely together on the sides of roads, in groups, all through the +season. Sometimes the cap is very small, 1/4 inch across. It often grows +in arcs of circles. + + +CLITOCYBE INFUNDIBULIFORMIS = funnel-shaped.+ + +The Funnel-shaped Clitocybe.+ + ++Cap+ a pale red color, 2 to 3 inches broad, convex when young, then +slightly raised in the middle, umbonate, afterward the margin is +elevated and the cap becomes funnel-shaped and the margin wavy. +Flesh thin and white. +Stem+ 1 1/2 to 3 inches long, 2 to 3 lines thick, +smooth, paler colored than the cap, tapering upward. +Gills+ rather +decurrent, arc-shaped, broad, distant, whitish, not yellow, netted with +veins. This is also a variable species and grows in woods. It is pretty, +and is easily known by its shape. + + +BOLETUS MURRAYI.+ + +Murray's Boletus.+ + ++Cap+ dark red, 1 to 3 inches broad, granulated, convex, with a slight +mound or umbo, margin turned upward, flesh yellow. +Stem+ 1/2 inch long, +yellow. Tubes lemon color, angular and round, irregular. The stem in our +specimen was granulated like the cap. + + +BOLETUS CHROMAPES = chrome yellow and foot.+ + +The Chrome-footed Boletus.+ + ++Cap+ tawny red, 2 to 4 inches broad, convex or nearly plane, flesh +white. Tubes almost attached (subadnate), depressed around the stem, +whitish, turning a pinkish-brown color. +Stem+ equal or tapering upward, +rough whitish color, with reddish specks upon it, but chrome yellow at +the base, both outside and inside, and spongy within. Stem 2 to 4 inches +long, about 1/2 inch thick. This is not a hard boletus to distinguish on +account of the yellow color at the base of the stem. The Boleti seem to +be most abundant from the beginning of July until early in September. +There are many varieties of beautiful colors, and they are a most +interesting group, especially to beginners. This may be partly owing to +the fact that Professor Peck's pamphlet on "Boleti" is clearly +expressed, and the descriptions so vivid and plain that one has less +trouble in naming them than any other class of fungi. + + +HYGROPHORUS MINEATUS = vermilion.+ + +The Vermilion Hygophorus.+ + ++Cap+ 1 inch broad, at first vermilion color and then paler, broad, +flattened and then even, depressed in centre by the margin becoming +elevated. It is thin and fragile at first, even, smooth, and then scaly. ++Stem+ from 1 to 2 inches long, slender, 1 line thick, a little paler +than the cap, equal, round, somewhat stuffed, smooth, shining. +Gills+ +attached, seldom decurrent, distant, distinct, yellow color, shaded with +red. This species is very fragile. It grows in woods or in open country, +on mosses or on dead leaves. It may be caespitose, or grows singly from +July to October. + + +HYGROPHORUS COCCINEUS = scarlet color.+ + +The Scarlet Hygrophorus.+ + ++Cap+, first bright scarlet and then changing to a paler hue. One to 2 +inches broad and even more, convex, plane, often unequal, obtuse, +sticky, and even, smooth, flesh of the same color as cap. +Stem+ 2 +inches long, 3 to 4 lines thick, hollow, then compressed and rather +even, scarlet color like cap, but always yellow at the base. +Gills+ +wholly attached, decurrent, with a tooth, distant, connected by veins, +soft, watery, when full grown, purplish at the base, light yellow in the +middle, powdery at the edge, fragile. This species grows in pastures, +and is common. It is found from August to November. + + +HYGROPHORUS PUNICEUS = blood red.+ + +The Blood-red Hygrophorus.+ + ++Cap+ 2 to 4 inches broad, glittering blood scarlet, when older becomes +paler, at first bell-shaped, obtuse, commonly spread out or lobed, +irregular, even, smooth, sticky. Flesh of the same color as cap, +fragile. +Stem+ 3 inches long, 1 to 1 1/2 inch thick. Solid when young, +at length hollow, very stout, swollen in middle, thinner at both ends, +marked with lines and generally scaly at apex; when dry either yellow or +same color as the cap, always white at first, and often incurved at the +base. +Gills+ ascending, swollen in middle, 2 to 4 lines broad, distant, +thick, white or light yellow, or yellow, and often reddish at base. This +is a very handsome species. It is found in pastures from July to +November. + + +MUSHROOMS WITH YELLOW OR ORANGE COLORED CAP. + + +CANTHARELLUS CIBARIUS = food.+ + +The Chantarelle.+ + ++Cap+ bright orange or egg color, first convex, and then depressed, +at length top-shaped and smooth. The margin lobed and turning under +(involute). Flesh thick and white. +Stem+ 1 to 1 1/2 inch long, thickened +upward, solid, fleshy. +Gills+ running down the stem, thick, distant, +fold-like. Stevenson does not give the size of the cap, but our +specimen measured 2 inches in breadth. It had an odor like ripe +apricots, and a pleasant taste. It is often tufted in its growth. It is +found in woods from July to December. This is a very striking looking +mushroom and easily distinguished. It often grows in rings or arcs of +circles. (Edible.) + + +HYPHOLOMA FASCICULARE = a small bundle.+ + +The Tufted Hypholoma.+ + ++Cap+ a beautiful reddish color, like a peach; the disc darker, about 2 +inches broad, fleshy, thin, convex, then plane, with a slight mound or +umbo, even, smooth, dry; flesh a light yellow. +Stem+ variable in +length, 2 to 9 inches long, 2 lines thick, hollow, thin, incurved or +curved, covered with fibres of same color as cap. +Gills+ adnate, very +crowded, linear, somewhat liquid when mature (deliquescent), sulphur +yellow, and then becoming green, taste bitter. It grows in crowded +clusters. It is said to be poisonous. + + +AMANITA MUSCARIA = a fly.+ + +The Fly Amanita.+ + ++Cap+ at first red, then orange, then becoming pale, about 4 inches +broad, convex, and then flat, covered with thick fragments of volva; +margin when grown slightly marked with lines; flesh white, yellow under +the cuticle. +Stem+ white, sometimes yellowish, 2 inches long, torn into +scales, at first stuffed, then hollow; the attached base of the volva +forms an oval-shaped bulb, which is bordered with concentric scales, +that is, having a common centre, as a series of rings one within the +other. +Ring+ very soft, torn, even, inserted at the apex of the stem, +which is often dilated. +Gills+ free but reaching the stem, decurrent, +in the form of lines, crowded, broader in front, white, rarely becoming +yellow. It grows in woods from July to November. This mushroom is easily +identified by its orange-colored cap, covered with white warts and _pure +white stem and gills_. We found several specimens in the woods, all of a +most beautiful striking color. (Poisonous.) + + +AMANITA FROSTIANA.+ + +Frost's Amanita.+ + ++Cap+ a bright yellow, almost orange color, 1 1/2 inch broad, convex or +expanded, covered with warts, but sometimes nearly smooth, the margin +marked with lines (striate.) +Gills+ white or tinged with yellow, free +from the stem. +Stem+ 2 to 3 inches long, white or yellowish, stuffed, +slender, bearing a slight evanescent ring; bulbous at the base, bulb +slightly margined by the volva. We found several specimens growing in +mixed woods. It is smaller than A. muscaria, more slender, with a +beautiful color. + + +TRICHOLOMA EQUESTRE = a knight.+ + +The Canary Mushroom, so called from its color.+ + ++Cap+ pale yellow, 3 to 5 inches broad, darker at disc, tinged with a +brick red hue, and yellow near margin, convex, then plane, wavy, +irregular; flesh white, thick. +Stem+ 1 to 2 inches long, and 1/2 to 2/3 +inch thick, generally white, sometimes yellow, stout and solid. +Gills+ +close, deeply notched near the stem, a beautiful pale yellow color, +scarcely adnexed, broad, somewhat swollen in middle. It grows in pine +woods and appears in the autumn. + + +TRICHOLOMA SULPHUREUM = sulphur.+ + +The Sulphury Tricholoma.+ + ++Cap+ dingy sulphur yellow color, 1/2 to 4 inches broad, at first round +with a slight umbo, at length depressed, rather silky, then smooth and +even. +Stem+ 2 to 4 inches long, 3 to 4 lines thick, stuffed, somewhat +equal but often curved, rather smooth, striate, sulphur yellow, of same +color as cap. +Gills+ adnexed, narrowed behind, rather thick, distant, +distinct, brighter than the cap. This is also found in autumn in the +woods, and is quite common. It has a strange disagreeable odor. + + +LACTARIUS DELICIOSUS = delicious.+ + +The Delicious Lactarius.+ + ++Cap+ orange brick color, 2 to 6 inches broad, becoming pale, fleshy, +when young depressed in centre, margin turned under (involute), then +flat and depressed, or funnel-shaped, with margin unfolded, smooth, +zoned, slightly sticky. The zones become faded in the old plants. The +flesh is whitish or tinged with yellow. +Stem+ a little paler than the +cap, with spots of deeper orange, 1 to 4 inches long, 1/3 to 2/3 of an +inch thick, stuffed, then hollow, fragile. +Gills+ running down the stem +(decurrent), orange color, crowded, narrow, becoming pale and green when +wounded. The milk is orange color. It grows in pine woods and in wet, +mossy swamps. It resembles the orange brown Lactarius in size and shape, +but the color is different, so we have placed it in the orange-colored +section and L. volemus in the red division of colors. + + [Illustration: Lactarius insulsus. + Photographed by C. G. Lloyd.] + + +STROPHARIA SICCAPES = dry and foot.+ + +The Dry Stropharia.+ + +Stropharia is taken from a Greek word meaning sword belt, referring to +its ring (Stevenson). Siccapes is from two words meaning dry and foot. +It grows on horse manure. Stevenson does not mention this species. It is +described by Mr. Peck in the State reports. +Cap+ is a light yellow, +darker in the centre, 1/4 inch to 1 inch broad, bell-shaped, sticky, shiny +when dry, even. +Stem+ sometimes 4 inches long, slender, straight, dry, +base almost club-shaped. +Ring+ scarcely perceptible, but forming a +whitish zone, shining, persistent, apex of stem whitish, and slightly +striate. +Gills+ dark gray, almost blackish, the margin paler, adfixed, +thin. We found a great many in one place, of all sizes, from 1 line +across cap to 1 inch. In some specimens the ring was wanting, but in +others it was apparent. + + +CANTHARELLUS AURANTIACUS = orange yellow.+ + +The Orange Chanterelle.+ + +This species takes its name from its color. +Cap+ is orange yellow, 2 to +3 inches broad, fleshy, soft, depressed, often eccentric, with the stem +between centre and margin, and wavy, somewhat tomentose and involute at +the margin. +Stem+ 2 inches long, stuffed, and then hollow, somewhat +incurved and unequal, yellowish. +Gills+ decurrent, tense, and straight, +repeatedly dividing by pairs from below upward (dichotomous) and +crowded, often crisped at base, orange color. This species grows in +woods, and is often found there during the months of autumn. Some +consider it poisonous. + + +CANTHARELLUS INFUNDIBULIFORMIS = funnel-shaped.+ + +The Funnel-Shaped Chantarelle.+ + ++Cap+ yellow when moist, 1 to 2 inches broad, umbilicate, then +funnel-shaped, wrinkled on the surface, at length wavy at margin. +Stem+ +2 to 3 inches long, 2 lines thick, hollow (fistulose), a little +thickened at the base, even, smooth, always a light yellow. +Gills+ +decurrent, thick, distant, dichotomous, straight, light yellow; when +old, ash color (cinereous.) This is found in the woods from July to +October. + + +BOLETUS HEMICHRYSUS = half and golden.+ + +The Half Golden Boletus.+ + +The descriptions of the Boleti are all written after comparing the +specimens we found with those described in Professor Peck's work on +Boleti. We examined and analyzed all those placed on the list. The +descriptions written by Professor Peck are so clear and faithful to +nature that it makes the task of calling them by name much easier than +any other fungi we have studied. +Cap+ bright golden yellow, 1 1/2 to +2 1/2 inches broad, convex plane and depressed, with minute wooly scales +(floccose squamulose), and covered with a yellow powder (pulverulent), +sometimes with cracks (rimose). Flesh thick and yellow. Tubes decurrent, +yellow, becoming brown; mouths large, angular. +Stem+ short, about 1 +inch long, 3 to 6 lines thick, irregular, narrowing toward the base, +sprinkled with a yellowish dust, tinged with red. We found it growing on +an old stump, in pine woods, in the month of August. + + +BOLETUS GRANULATUS = granules.+ + +The Granulated Boletus.+ + +This Boletus varies much in color. In our specimen it was a +pinkish-yellow, and covered with yellow spots of a darker shade. We +found it in all sizes, from 2 to 4 inches broad. +Cap+ was convex, +nearly plane, viscid when moist. It became more of a yellow color when +it was dry. Flesh pale yellow. The tubes were adnate, short and +yellowish. +Stem+ 1 to 2 inches long, 4 to 6 lines thick. Some were +united in tufts (caespitose), others were gregarious (in groups) or +solitary. They grew on the edge of pine woods, and near the roadside. +The stem was dotted in the upper part with glandules and was pale +yellow. + + +BOLETUS CYANESCENS = bright blue.+ + +The Bluing Boletus.+ + ++Cap+ a light pale brownish-yellow, or a light yellow color +(alutaceous), 2 to 5 inches broad, with minute wooly scales, convex or +nearly plane. Flesh white, changing quickly to blue when cut. Tubes +free, white, afterward yellow; mouths small, round. Tubes change also to +a bluish-green when bruised. +Stem+ 2 to 4 inches long, 3/4 to 1/2 inch +thick, swollen in the middle (ventricose), covered with a bloom +(pruinose), stuffed and then hollow, tapering toward the apex, colored +like the cap. This is a very easy Boletus to distinguish from others, +and interesting to the beginner on account of the striking and beautiful +change of color. Found in hemlock and pine woods toward the end of +August. + + +PHOLIOTA ADIPOSA = fat.+ + +The Stout Pholiota.+ + ++Cap+ bright yellowish or orange color, 3 to 7 inches broad, convex, +then flattened, gibbous, that is, more convex on one side than on the +other; viscid, covered with woolly (floccose) scales, which often +separate. Flesh whitish. +Stem+ 3 to 6 inches long, 1/2 to 1 inch thick, +solid, large at base, first white and then light yellow, with darker +scales. +Ring+ yellow, and then ironrust color (ferruginous.) +Gills+ +adnate, slightly rounded, broad at first, yellow and then darker. We +were driving through a thick woods when we saw the bright yellow cap of +this mushroom peering among the bushes. There was no apparent ring and +few scales except on the margin. It was irregularly shaped, fleshy and +thick. It was not a typical specimen, and a beginner would have found it +difficult to name. The then recent hard rains had washed nearly all the +scales from the cap, and the ring was hardly to be seen. It grew on the +trunk of a tree in the month of September. Not edible. + + +PHOLIOTA SPECTABILIS = showy.+ + +The Showy Pholiota.+ + +This Pholiota was found much later in the season. +Cap+ is from 2 to 5 +inches broad, a golden yellow, then growing paler, fleshy, torn into +squamules, dry, flesh thick, hard, sulphur yellow. +Stem+ about 3 inches +long and 1 inch thick, solid, hard, swollen in the middle, and extending +into a spindle-shaped root. It is sometimes smooth and shining and +sometimes scaly, sulphur yellow color and mealy _above_ the ring. ++Gills+ adnate, crowded, narrow, at first pure yellow and afterward +ironrust color. Gills have sometimes a small decurrent tooth +(Stevenson), but our specimen had none. It grew together (caespitose) on +a stump. Not edible. + + +MARASMIUS OREADES = a mountain nymph.+ + +The Fairy Ring Mushroom.+ + ++Cap+ when young and moist is of a pale yellowish-red, but fades when +dry to pale yellow. It is from 1 to 2 inches broad, fleshy, tough, +convex, then plane, somewhat umbonate, even, smooth, slightly striate at +margin when moist. +Stem+ 1 to 2 inches long and less than 1/4 inch thick; +slender, solid, tough, equal, sometimes cartilaginous, straight, covered +with a close woven skin that can be rubbed off. +Gills+ free or slightly +attached, whitish or creamy yellow, broad, distant, the alternate ones +shorter, rounded, or deeply notched at inner end. These mushrooms grow +in circles and are called fairy rings. They are found chiefly on lawns +and pastures from May till October. We saw one specimen in October. It +grew in a waste lot at Kaighn's Point, Camden, N.J. It was solitary, of +a brownish-yellow color, the cap 1 inch broad, and the stem 1 inch long. +It was growing amidst some ballast plants, the only mushroom there. + + +COPRINUS MICACEUS = mica.+ + +The Glistening Coprinus.+ + ++Cap+ varies from buff to tawny yellow, 1 to 2 inches broad, bell-shaped +(campanulate) or conical (cone-shaped), thin, marked with lengthwise +lines, which extend half-way up from the margin. The disc is even and is +more highly colored. It is often sprinkled with shiny atoms when young. ++Gills+ at first whitish, then brown or black. +Stem+ 1 to 3 inches +long, slender, hollow and white. The spores are dark brown. We found it +in great numbers growing on the ground amidst the grass in September and +October. It may be seen as early as April. It is a pretty species. +(Edible.) + + +MUSHROOMS WITH GRAY COLORED CAP. + + +AMANITA STROBILIFORMIS = a pine cone.+ + +The Warted Amanita.+ + ++Cap+ light gray, or dingy white when young; 7 to 9 inches broad when +expanded fully. It is covered with large pyramidal, persistent warts. +The margin is even, and extends beyond the gills. Flesh firm and white. ++Stem+ 6 to 8 inches long, 1 to 3 inches thick, solid, scaly, tapering +upward, with a bulbous base and marked with a series of rings near the +root, which extends deep into the ground. +Ring+ large, torn. +Gills+ +white, free, rounded near the stem, 3/8 inch broad. This is said to be +rather rare. We found it twice in August growing solitary on the +roadside in the grass. It was large-sized, measuring 7 inches across +cap, of a grayish-white color, with prominent warts; the stem was mealy, +the volva was large. It was marked with distinct rings near the base. +When kept many hours the smell becomes disagreeable. The name is given +on account of the shape of the warts, which are conspicuous. + + [Illustration: Amanita vaginata. + Photographed by C. G. Lloyd.] + + +AMANITA VAGINATA = a sheath.+ + +The Sheathed Mushroom.+ + ++Cap+ gray, mouse color, sometimes slate-colored gray, and even +brownish, 2 to 4 inches broad. It is thin and fragile, convex, and then +nearly flat, with a slight mound or umbo, but sometimes none. It is +deeply striate or grooved (sulcate) on the margin. +Stem+ is white and +often covered with mealy particles. It is slender, either hollow or +stuffed, 3 to 5 inches long, 1/3 to 1/2 inch thick. It is not bulbous, +but is sheathed quite high in a loose, soft wrapper, the remains of the +volva. There is no ring. +Gills+ are whitish, free from the stem, and +rounded. It is easily broken. There are several varieties (Peck). In one +the plant is white, Var. alba. In Var. livida the cap is a leaden +brownish color, and in the Var. fulva the cap is tawny yellow and +ochraceous. The mouse-colored form is the most common. We found many +specimens in July and August. + + +CORTINARIUS CORRUGATUS = wrinkled.+ + +The Wrinkled Cortinarius.+ + ++Cap+ gray, with a pinkish-yellowish tint, 2 inches broad, campanulate, +sticky, broken up into squamules, pellicle scaling, margin thin. +Stem+ +slender, 5 inches long, shiny, mealy at apex, slightly bulbous. +Gills+ +gray color, adnexed, distant, ventricose. This is a pretty mushroom. The +shade of color of the pileus is delicate. We found it in August in the +woods. + + +BOLETUS FELLEUS = bitter.+ + +The Bitter Boletus.+ + +This Boletus varies much in color; our plant was a brownish-gray, +a dingy color. +Cap+ 3 to 8 inches broad, convex or nearly plane, +glabrous, even, flesh white, turning to flesh or pink color when +wounded. Taste bitter, tubes adnate, long, depressed around the stem, +crowded. +Stem+ variable, 2 to 4 inches long, about 1/2 to 1 inch thick, +equal or tapering, reticulated above, bulbous or enlarged at base, a +little paler than the pileus. The Boleti we found grew in great numbers, +in different localities, and were of all sizes. The color of the +reticulations was a brownish-gray. + + +BOLETUS GRISEUS = gray.+ + +The Gray Boletus.+ + ++Cap+ dark gray, 2 to 4 inches broad, broadly convex, smooth, soft, +silky, flesh whitish. Tubes adnate, slightly depressed, mouths small. ++Stem+ 2 to 4 inches long, 3 to 6 lines thick, yellowish, much +reticulated, sometimes reddish toward the base. Our plant was of a +brownish color at base, and grew in the month of September. + + +PSALLIOTA CAMPESTRIS = a field.+ + +The Common Mushroom.+ + +There are several edible species of the genus Psalliota, chiefly the +Field or Common Mushroom, which is constantly seen on our tables. +Cap+ +varies from white and gray to brown. It is 2 to 4 inches broad, fleshy, +convex, then flattened, dry, sometimes covered with silky fibrils, and +when old smooth. The margin of the cap generally extends beyond the +gills. Flesh white. +Stem+ rather short, 1 to 3 inches long, 1/3 to 2/3 +inch thick, white or whitish, slender, stuffed and then hollow, nearly +even. +Ring+ distant, simple. +Gills+ free, ventricose, narrowing at +both ends, thin, first a pink color, then afterward brown or +blackish-brown. It grows in rich pastures or in meadows, and is +found in autumn. It has a most delicious flavor. + + +AGARICUS PLACOMYCES.+ + +The Flat-capped Mushroom.+ + ++Cap+ a whitish-gray, about 3 inches broad, convex, and then expanded +and flat. It is covered with small, distinct, brown, persistent scales, +except on the disc, where they are so close together that they appear of +a brown color. +Stem+ is long and slender, 3 inches and more, stuffed +and then hollow, equal and bulbous at the base. It is whitish, but +sometimes has yellowish stains toward the base. +Gills+ are first white, +then pink, and lastly a blackish-brown. It grows under trees, and is +found in summer and autumn. + + +COPRINTUS ATRAMENTARIUS = ink.+ + +The Inky Coprinus.+ + ++Cap+ gray or grayish-brown, smooth, except a slight scaly appearance on +the disc. It is silky near the margin, and the margin is irregular. When +young it is often egg-shaped. +Gills+ crowded, whitish, soon becoming +brown and then deliquescent. +Stem+ smooth, hollow, white. It grows in +clusters until late in the autumn. We found our plants on a lawn in +great profusion in the month of October. + + +PLUTEUS CERVINUS = a deer.+ + +The Fawn-colored Pluteus.+ + ++Cap+ about 3 inches broad, whitish-gray color, at first bell-shaped, +then expanded, smooth, even, but afterward broken up into fibrils, +margin entire; flesh soft, white. +Stem+ 3 to 6 inches long, nearly +equal and solid, whitish, striate with black fibrils. +Gills+ rounded +behind, free, crowded, ventricose, white, then flesh color as the spores +mature. This is a common species, appearing early in the season--April +to November. It usually grows from stumps and old logs. It can be easily +known by its gills, being quite free from the stem, where it joins the +pileus. + + +MUSHROOMS WITH A GREEN COLORED CAP. + + +RUSSULA VIRESCENS = green.+ + +The Greenish Russula.+ + ++Cap+ of a grayish-green color. It is 2 to 4 inches broad, dry and +broken up into small warts, the margin straight, obtuse, even; flesh +white. +Stem+ 2 inches long and 1/2 inch thick, solid, spongy inside, +firm, white, sometimes marked with lines (rivulose.) +Gills+ free, +whitish, narrowed toward the stem, somewhat crowded, sometimes equal and +forked, with a few shorter ones between. It is easily distinguished by +the dull green pileus, being without a cuticle, and scaly in the form of +patches. It is found in woods in July and September. We have not seen a +specimen of R. virescens, so have used Stevenson's description. Edible, +taste mild. + + +RUSSULA FURCATA = a fork.+ + +The Forked Russula.+ + ++Cap+ from 3 to 5 inches broad, of an olive green color, sometimes +greenish umber, covered with a silky bloom, fleshy, gibbous, then +plano-depressed and funnel-shaped, cuticle here and there separable; +margin at first inflexed, then spreading. Flesh firm, thick, white. ++Stem+ 2 to 3 inches long, solid, firm, stout, white. +Gills+ +adnato-decurrent, thick, distant, broad, narrowed at both ends, often +forked, white. Our specimen was 5 inches broad, and the margin slightly +striate, and when the cuticle was removed it was purplish underneath. +It was found in August, in woods. Poisonous, taste bitter. + + +MUSHROOMS WITH WHITE COLORED CAP. + + +AMANITA VIROSA = poison.+ + +The Poisonous Amanita.+ + ++Cap+ shining white, from 2 1/2 to 4 inches broad, fleshy, at first +conical and acute, afterward bell-shaped and expanded, viscous in wet +weather, shining when dry, margin even, sometimes unequal, spreading and +inflexed, flesh white. +Stem+ 4 to 6 inches long, wholly stuffed, almost +solid, split up into lengthwise fibrils, cylindrical from a bulbous +base, surface torn into scales, springing from a loose, thick, wide +volva which bursts open at apex. +Ring+ large, loose, silky, splitting +into pieces. +Gills+ free, thin, a little broader toward margin, +crowded, not decurrent, though the stem is sometimes striate. This is a +poisonous species, but striking in appearance from the shining white of +the whole fungus. Found in the woods in August. + + +AMANITA PHALLOIDES = appearance, phallus-like.+ + +The Death Cup.+ + +This species is considered the most deadly of all the poisonous +mushrooms, and yet it is one of the most beautiful. We place it in the +section of white-colored mushrooms, though the cap is sometimes tinged +with light yellow and delicate green. +Cap+ 2 to 4 inches broad, ovate, +campanulate, then spreading, obtuse, with a cuticle, sticky in moist +weather, rarely sprinkled with one or two fragments of the volva, the +margin regular, even. +Stem+ 3 to 5 inches long, 1/2 inch thick, solid, +bulbous and tapering upward, smooth, white. +Ring+ superior, reflexed, +slightly striate, swollen, white. Volva more or less buried in the +ground, bursting open in a torn manner at the apex, with a loose border. ++Gills+ free, ventricose, 4 lines broad, shining white. This species, as +well as A. virosa, has a fetid odor when kept. We found it oftener than +any other species of Amanita. + + +AMANITA NITIDA = to shine.+ + +The Shining Amanita.+ + ++Cap+ whitish, 3 to 4 inches broad, somewhat compact, at first +hemispherical, covered with angular, adhering warts, which become a dark +color (fuscous.) It is dry, shining, the margin even; flesh white. ++Stem+ 3 inches long, 1 inch thick, solid, firm, with a bulb-shaped +base, scaly, white. +Ring+ superior, thin, torn, slightly striate, +covered with soft weak hairs beneath, which at length disappear. +Gills+ +free, crowded, wide, nearly 1/2 inch broad, ventricose, shining white. +This was also found in August. There is nothing more beautiful than +these white poisonous Amanitas. + + +LEPIOTA NAUCINOIDES = a nut shell.+ + +The Smooth Lepiota.+ + ++Cap+ a clear white, with sometimes a brownish tint on the disc, 2 to 4 +inches broad, smooth. +Stem+ 1 to 3 inches long, 1/4 to 1/3 inch thick, +growing thicker toward the base, as if it had a bulb, white, hollow, but +stuffed with a cottony pith. +Gills+ white, when old they assume a +pinkish-brownish hue. +Ring+ has a thick, external edge, but its inner +edge is so thin that it often breaks from the stem and becomes movable. +It is found in the fields, by roadsides, or in the woods, from August to +November. We have not seen a specimen of this mushroom, which is said to +be nearly equal to the common mushroom in edible qualities. It is +considered to resemble it also in appearance, but Professor Peck says +the different color of the gills when the plants are both young will +distinguish them, and the thin collar and stuffed stem of L. naucinoides +is also different from thick-edged ring and hollow stem of A. +campestris. (Psalliota.) + + +LACTARIUS PIPERATUS = peppery.+ + +The Peppery Lactarius.+ + ++Cap+ white, 4 to 9 inches broad, fleshy, rigid, depressed in centre +when young, reflexed margin, at first involute, when full grown the +surface becomes funnel-shaped and regular, even, smooth, without zones; +flesh white. +Stem+ 1 to 2 inches long, 1 to 2 inches thick, solid, +obese, equal or obconical, slightly covered with powder (pruinose), +white. +Gills+ decurrent, crowded, narrow, scarcely broader than one +line, obtuse at edge, regularly dividing by pairs from below upward +(dichotomous), curved like a bow (arcuate), then all extended upward in +a straight line, white, with occasional yellow spots. The milk white, +unchangeable, plentiful, and acrid. This is common in woods. The cap in +one of our specimens turned yellow when old, and was slightly striate at +the margin; it was dry and thick and had no odor. The flesh had a +whitish-brownish tinge where the cuticle was peeled off. Found it _only_ +in August. + + +LACTARIUS VELLEREUS = fleece.+ + +The Fleecy Lactarius.+ + ++Cap+ white, 5 to 7 inches broad, fleshy, compact, convex, +saucer-shaped, the margin for a long time sloping downward, with short, +downy hairs (pubescent), dry, zoneless. +Stem+ 2 to 3 inches long, +1 to 1 1/2 inch thick, stout, solid, equal, covered with innate, thin +pubescence. +Gills+ arcuate, adnato-decurrent, rather thick, acute at +the edge, somewhat distant, rather broad, connected by branches, pallid, +watery, white. Milk scanty, white, very bitter. It is not said to be +edible. The cap tends to become a pallid, reddish tan. This description +is partially taken from Stevenson. The specimen we found had the margin +revolute, it was 2 1/2 inches broad, and the stem 2 inches long. The +flesh was white and the cap was turning a brownish color. The stem +slightly tapered toward the base. The milk was scanty and peppery. Found +in the beginning of August in the woods. It resembles L. piperatus. + + +BOLETUS ALBUS = white.+ + +The White Boletus.+ + ++Cap+ white, from 1 1/2 to 3 inches broad, convex, viscid when moist, +flesh white or yellowish, tubes small, nearly round (subrotund), adnate, +whitish, becoming ochraceous. +Stem+ 1 1/2 to 3 inches long, 3 to 5 lines +thick, equal, white, sometimes tinged with pink near the base. We found +only one specimen of the white Boletus in August. It grew in the woods. +The flesh became yellow and the stem was 1 1/4 inch long, and it slightly +tapered toward the base. + + +PLEUROTUS ULMARIUS = elm.+ + +The Elm Pleurotus.+ + +The word pleurotus is taken from two Greek words, meaning a side and an +ear. It is given on account of the stem growing in a lateral or +eccentric manner. The Elm Pleurotus, so called from growing on elm +trees, is considered edible. Our specimen had the _cap_ whitish, but +stained in the centre with a rusty yellowish color, 3 to 5 inches broad, +thick, firm, smooth, convex, then plane. The skin was cracked in a +tessellated manner. Flesh was firm and white. +Stem+ white, 2 to 4 +inches long, 1 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick, firm, smooth, a little hairy at +the base, and attached eccentrically to the cap. +Gills+ white with +a yellow hue, broad, rounded near the stem, slightly adnexed and not +crowded. It was found in October, and is not common. + + +PLEUROTUS SAPIDUS = agreeable to taste.+ + +The Palatable Pleurotus.+ + +This species generally grows in clusters with the stem united at the +base. Our specimen grew on a maple tree. The plants protruded from a +large crack in the trunk of a tree, about four feet above the ground, +and grew one above the other. They had not attained their full growth. +During former seasons they had been seen of a large size. +Pileus+ is +from 2 to 5 inches broad, grayish-white, smooth. +Caps+ often overlap +one another. Flesh is white. Gills broad, whitish, decurrent, and often +slightly connected by oblique branches. +Stem+ is generally short and +lateral. It grew in October. Professor Peck says that in edible +qualities it resembles the oyster mushroom, P. ostreatus. + + +MUSHROOMS WITH THE CAP BROWN AND VARIOUS SHADES OF BROWN. + + +CORTINARIUS CINNAMOMEUS = cinnamon.+ + +The Cinnamon-colored Cortinarius.+ + ++Cap+ a golden brown or bright cinnamon color, 1 1/2 to 4 inches broad, +umbonate, silky, shining, squamulose, with yellowish fibrils, and then +smooth. +Stem+ 2 inches long, stuffed and then hollow, thin, equal, +tapering toward the base, yellowish color, as also are the flesh and the +veil. +Gills+ adnate, broad, crowded, shining reddish-brown color. Our +specimen had beautiful reddish-colored gills, Var. semisanguineus +(Peck). It grows in woods from August to November. + + +COLLYBIA ACERVATA = a heap.+ + +The Tufted Collybia.+ + +The name of the species is derived from a Latin word meaning a heap, +so called from the habit of growth. (Stevenson.) +Cap+ tan brown color, +2 to 3 inches broad, flesh color when moist, whitish when dry, convex, +then flattened, obtuse or gibbous, margin at first involute, then +flattened and slightly striate. +Stem+++ 2 to 4 inches long, 1 to 2 +lines thick, very hollow (fistulose), rigid, fragile, slightly tapering +upward, rarely compressed, very smooth, except the base, even, color +brown or reddish-brown. +Gills+ are at first adnexed, soon free, +crowded, linear, narrow, plane, flesh color and then whitish. It grows +in tufts (caespitose). The stems are sometimes white, tomentose at the +base. Stevenson says the cap is flesh color, but our specimen was of a +pale or tan brown color, less than 2 inches broad; when moist it was +much paler. Found in mixed woods in September. + + +PSATHYRELLA DISSEMINATA = scattered.+ + +The Widely-spread Psathyrella.+ + ++Cap+ a light-colored yellowish-brown, changing into an ash color; the +disc with a yellowish shade; of an oval shape, then bell-shaped, and +marked with lines, almost sulcate. The margin does not extend beyond the +gills. It is a small mushroom, measuring from 2 or 3 lines across the +cap to 1 inch. +Stem+ about 1 inch long or more, fragile, hollow, +sometimes curved and bending, smooth and light-colored. +Gills+ adnate, +rather broad, slightly narrowed at both ends, at first whitish and then +turning a brownish color. The plants vary greatly in height and size, +are sometimes caespitose and at other times scattered. The disc in some +specimens was slightly raised in the middle, almost umbonate. It was +found about stumps and on the ground, at the end of May, in mixed woods. +It soon withers, but does not melt into fluid. + + [Illustration: Psathyrella disseminata. + Photographed by C. G. Lloyd.] + + +HYPHOLOMA CAPNOIDES = smoke.+ + +The Gray-gilled Mushroom.+ + ++Cap+ is reddish-brown, 1 to 3 inches broad, fleshy, convex, then +flattened, obtuse, dry, smooth. The margin in our specimen was slightly +revolute. Flesh white. +Stem+ 2 to 3 inches long, 2 to 4 lines thick, +growing together at the base (connate), hollow, equal, often curved, +becoming silky, even, whitish at apex, and here and there striate. ++Gills+ gray color, adnate, easily separating, rather broad, waxy. The +name is given on account of the smoke-colored gills. It is not common, +and is generally found on or about stumps in the autumn. + + +HYPHOLOMA PERPLEXUM = perplexing.+ + +The Perplexing Hypholoma.+ + ++Cap+ brownish and turning to yellow, 1 to 3 inches broad and slightly +umbonate, flesh whitish. +Stem+ nearly equal, 2 to 3 inches long, 2 to 4 +lines thick, firm, hollow, slightly fibrillose, whitish or yellowish +above, reddish-brown below. +Gills+ thin, close, slightly rounded at +inner end, at first pale yellow, then tinged with green, finally +purplish-brown. Taste mild. It grows in clusters. We found it both on +and around old stumps, in the woods. It is sometimes solitary. (Edible.) + + +COLLYBIA DRYOPHILA = oak-loving.+ + +The Oak-loving Collybia.+ + ++Cap+ tan color, often varying in color, 1/2 inch broad, thin, convex, +nearly plane, sometimes with margin elevated, irregular, smooth, flesh +white. +Stem+ equal or thickened at base, 1 to 2 inches long, 1 to 2 +lines broad, cartilaginous, smooth, hollow, yellowish, or reddish like +the cap. +Gills+ narrow, crowded, adnexed or nearly free, whitish. This +little mushroom we found in a thick woods late in September, growing +among dead leaves. There were oak trees all around and a great many +pines. The weather had been rainy, and it was pale-colored and looked +water-soaked. + + +TRICHOLOMA IMBRICATA = a tile.+ + +The Imbricated Tricholoma.+ + ++Cap+ reddish-brown, 3 inches broad, thick, fleshy, broadly convex, and +then flattened, obtuse, dry, continuous at disc, but torn into scales +and fibrillose toward the margin; flesh firm, white. +Stem+ solid, +stout, sometimes short, and conico-bulbous, 1 1/2 to 2 inches long, and +as much as 1 inch thick, sometimes longer and almost equal; white at +apex. +Gills+ slightly emarginate, almost adnate, somewhat crowded, +about 3 inches broad, wholly white when young, at length reddish. It +grows either scattered or in groups. It is found in pine woods in +September and November. + + +BOLETUS ORNATIPES = ornate and foot.+ + +The Ornate-stemmed Boletus.+ + ++Cap+ 2 to 5 inches broad, yellowish-brown, convex, dry, firm, glabrous +or minutely tomentose, flesh yellow or pale yellow. +Tubes+ adnate, +plane or concave, the mouths small or middle size, a clear yellow. ++Stem+ 2 to 4 inches long, 4 to 6 lines broad, subequal, distinctly and +beautifully reticulated, yellow without and within. In woods and open +places. + + +BOLETUS BREVIPES = short and foot.+ + +The Short-stemmed Boletus.+ + ++Cap+ dark chestnut color, 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches broad, thick, convex, +covered with a tough gluten, margin inflexed, flesh white or yellowish. ++Tubes+ short, nearly plane, adnate, or slightly depressed around the +stem, small, white and afterward dingy ochraceous. +Stem+ 1/2 to 1 inch +long, 3 to 5 lines thick, whitish, very short, not dotted, or rarely +with a few inconspicuous dots at the edge. This plant was found in +October, and looked as if it rested upon the ground, the stem was so +short; the cap was covered with gluten. + + [Illustration: Lepiota procera. + Photographed by C. G. Lloyd.] + + +LEPIOTA PROCERA = tall.+ + +The Tall Lepiota.+ + ++Cap+ reddish-brown, 3 to 6 inches broad, fleshy; when young egg-shaped, +and then campanulate, and flattening out with a broad, obtuse umbo. The +cuticle breaks up into brownish scales, close near the centre, but +sometimes wanting at the margin. The centre or umbo is darker colored; +flesh dry, tough and white. +Stem+ 1/2 inch thick, and 5 to 10 inches +long; it is straight or a little bent, swollen or bulbous at base, +sometimes variegated with brownish scales; deeply sunk at apex into the +cup of the pileus; hollow or stuffed. +Ring+ distinct from the stem, +continuous with cuticle of pileus when young. It becomes free when the +cap is expanded, and is then movable and persistent. +Gills+ far remote +from the stem, with a broad plano-depressed cartilaginous collar, +crowded, ventricose, broader in front, soft, whitish, sometimes becoming +dusky at the edge. The gills vary in color. This mushroom is a handsome +species and is quite common in woods and pastures. (Edible.) + + +BOLETUS EDULIS = edible.+ + +The Edible Boletus.+ + ++Cap+ varies sometimes in color (our specimen was brown). It is often a +tawny light brown, paler at the margin, 4 to 6 inches broad, flesh white +or yellowish, tinged with red under the cuticle. +Tubes+ convex, nearly +free, long, +minute+, round, white, then yellow and greenish. +Stem+ 2 +to 6 inches long, 6 to 18 lines thick, straight or bending, subequal or +bulbous, short, more or less reticulated, especially above, whitish, +pale reddish or brown. Found in August. Our specimen was small, the stem +only 1 1/2 inch long. (Edible.) + + +BOLETUS SCABER = rough.+ + +The Scabrous-stemmed Boletus.+ + ++Cap+ varies in color, 1 to 5 inches broad, yellowish tan color, smooth, +viscid when moist, at length rivulose. Tubes free, convex, white, then +dingy color, mouths of tubes very small and round. +Stem+ 3 to 5 inches +long, 3 to 8 lines thick, solid, tapering above, roughened with fibrous +scales. We found two or three varieties of this Boletus, which seems to +grow everywhere in great abundance, in summer and autumn, in woods and +in open places. One variety was of a yellowish tan color, Var. +alutaceus, in another the flesh changed slightly to pinkish when +wounded, Var. mutabilis (Peck). (Edible.) + + +BOLETUS CASTANEUS = chestnut.+ + +The Chestnut Boletus.+ + ++Cap+ a chestnut color, brown or reddish brown, 1 1/2 to 3 inches broad, +convex, nearly plane or depressed, firm, even, dry, minutely velvety +(tomentose), flesh white. +Tubes+ free, short, small, white, becoming +yellow. +Stem+ 1 to 2 1/2 inches long, 3 to 5 lines thick, equal or +tapering upward, even, stuffed or hollow, colored like the cap. This is +one of the prettiest of the Boleti. The bright chestnut color of the +pileus forms a contrast with the white tubes, and makes it striking in +appearance. We found it on several occasions, as it is common in woods. +There are differences of opinion in regard to its being edible. + + +BOLETUS CHRYSENTERON = golden.+ + +The Golden Flesh Boletus.+ + ++Cap+ dark brown or reddish-brown, 1 to 3 inches broad, convex or plane, +soft, covered with woolly scales, sometimes marked with lines, flesh +yellow, red beneath the cuticle, often slowly changing to blue when +wounded, mouths large, angular, unequal. +Stem+ 1 to 3 inches long, 3 to +6 lines thick, rigid, fibrous, striate, equal, reddish or pale yellow. +This species is variable. We found one where the flesh was white, +another where the tubes changed finally to green, and one that had an +olive tint in the pileus. + + +BOLETUS ILLUDENS = deceiving.+ + +The Deceiving Boletus.+ + ++Cap+ yellow or olive brown, 3 inches broad, plane, dry, marked with +areoles, that is, the surface is broken up into little areas or patches. +Flesh thick, white, red under cuticle. +Tubes+ greenish-yellow, turning +dark green, adnato-decurrent, that is, broadly attached to the stem and +running down it, 1/8 inch long. +Stem+ 2 1/2 inches long, stuffed with +brownish fibres, reticulated near apex, paler color than cap, curved. + + +BOLETUS PACHYPUS = thick.+ + +The Thick-stemmed Boletus.+ + ++Cap+ tan color, 4 to 8 inches broad, convex, somewhat covered with +long, soft hairs pressed closely to surface, subtomentose; flesh thick, +whitish, changing slightly to blue. +Tubes+ rather long, depressed +around the stem, mouths round, pale yellow, at length tinged with green. ++Stem+ 2 to 4 inches long, thick, firm, reticulated, at first ovate, +bulbous, then lengthened, equal, tinted pale yellow and red. The stem in +the specimen was 1/4 inch thick, swelling from apex downward, but it often +measures 2 inches in thickness. This Boletus is considered poisonous. + + +BOLETUS SUBTOMENTOSUS = almost velvety.+ + +The Yellow-cracked Boletus.+ + ++Cap+ dark brown, 1 to 4 inches broad, convex or nearly plane, soft, +dry, covered with soft, weak, appressed hairs, almost olivaceous, of the +same color beneath the cuticle, often marked with cracks and divided +into little patches; flesh white or pallid. +Tubes+ adnate, or depressed +around the +stem+, yellow, mouths large, angular. +Stem+ 1 to 2 1/2 +inches long, 2 to 5 lines thick, stout, somewhat ribbed, or scurfy, +with minute dots. The cap varies in color, it may be yellowish-brown. +We found the dark brown species growing on decaying wood, in pine woods, +during the month of September. + + +BOLETUS PIPERATUS = peppery.+ + +The Peppery Boletus.+ + ++Cap+ reddish-brown or ochraceous, 1 to 3 inches broad, convex or nearly +plane, smooth, slightly viscid when moist, flesh white or yellowish, +taste acrid, peppery. +Tubes+ long, large, unequal, plane or convex, +adnate or nearly decurrent, reddish, ferruginous. +Stem+ 1 1/2 to 3 +inches long, 2 to 4 lines thick, slender, almost equal, tawny yellow; +at the base a bright yellow. The cap in our specimen was marked with +cracks and patches, and the margin obtuse. The stem was rather curved, +and the same color as the cap. Flesh yellow. Tubes a dark-reddish, +decided color, which makes it a striking-looking mushroom. Taste +peppery. + + +BOLETUS SORDIDUS = dingy.+ + +The Dingy-colored Boletus.+ + ++Cap+ a dingy, dark brown, about 2 inches broad, flesh white, tinged +with red. +Tubes+ long, nearly free, 3/8 inch long, white, turning a dark +bluish-green. +Stem+ tapering toward apex, 2 1/2 inches long, curved, +solid, 1/2 inch thick, brownish, marked with darker streaks. The mouths +of tubes were angular, and the stem striate in our specimen. Found in +the woods in August. + + +BOLETUS SUBLUTEUS = almost, and yellow.+ + +The Small Yellow Boletus.+ + ++Cap+ brownish yellow, 1 1/2 to 3 inches broad, convex or nearly plane, +viscid or glutinous when moist, often obscurely streaked (virgate). +Flesh whitish or dull yellowish. +Tubes+ plane or convex, adnate, small, +nearly round, yellow, becoming ochraceous. +Stem+ 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches +long, 2 to 4 lines thick, equal, slender, pale or yellowish, dotted +above and below the ring with reddish, brownish, moist, or sticky dots +(glandules). +Ring+ almost soft, glutinous, at first concealing the +tubes, then collapsing and forming a narrow whitish or brownish band +around the stem. Our Boletus had a brownish ring. The cap was covered +with a sticky, skin-like layer, called the pellicle or cuticle, both +terms having the same meaning. + + +BOLETUS AFFINIS = related.+ + +The Related Boletus.+ + ++Cap+ reddish-brown, fading to yellow, 2 to 4 inches broad, convex above +and almost plane, nearly smooth, flesh white. +Tubes+ plane or convex, +adnate or slightly compressed around the stem, at first white and +stuffed, then yellowish, turning to rusty ochraceous when wounded. ++Stem+ 1 1/2 to 3 inches long, 4 to 8 lines thick, nearly equal, even, +smooth, paler than the cap. Our specimen had a few yellowish spots on +the cap, and is called Var. maculosus. (Edible.) + + +PAXILLUS LEPTOPUS = thin and a foot.+ + +The Thin-stemmed Paxillus.+ + +This is the only specimen of the genus Paxillus that we have found. +There is another species, P. involutus, which Professor Peck says is +edible. Stevenson says that P. leptopus is a remarkable species, that it +is distinguished from P. involutus by having the gills simple at the +base, not united by interlacing or transverse veins (anastomosing). ++Cap+ was a light brownish-yellow; it varies from 1 1/2 to 3 inches in +breadth, eccentric or lateral, depressed in the middle, dry, covered +with dense down, soon torn into scales, which are a dingy yellow. Flesh +yellow. +Stem+ short, scarcely 1 inch, tapering downward, yellow inside. ++Gills+ decurrent, tense and straight, crowded, narrow, yellowish, then +darker in color. It was growing on the ground in September. + + [Illustration: + + 1. Boletus edulis. + 2. Hypholoma perplexum. + 3. Marasmius rotula. + 4. Calostoma cinnebarinus.] + + +MUSHROOMS WITH PURPLE OR VIOLET-COLORED CAP. + + +CORTINARIUS ALBO-VIOLACEOUS = white and violet.+ + +The Violet-colored Cortinarius.+ + ++Cap+ whitish-violet, 2 to 3 inches broad, fleshy, convex, broadly +umbonate or gibbous, dry, beautifully silky and becoming even; flesh +juicy, a bluish-white color. +Stem+ 2 to 4 inches long, solid, firm, +bulbous, club-shaped, 1/2 to 1 inch thick. It is, both outside and inside, +of a whitish violet color, often fibrillose above, with the cortina, and +sometimes with the white veil, in the form of a zone at the middle. ++Gills+ adnate, 2 to 3 lines broad, somewhat distant, slightly +serrulated, of a peculiar ashy violaceous color, at length slightly +cinnamon from the spores. It has no odor and the taste is insipid. We +found this in the woods in the month of October, growing on dead leaves; +a pretty fungus from the violet tints. + + + + +DESCRIPTIONS OF SOME FAMILIAR MUSHROOMS WITHOUT REGARD TO COLOR. + + +Here follows a list of fungi that we constantly see, but which cannot be +classified by the color of the cap. + + +POLYPOREI, PORE-BEARING FUNGI. + + +FISTULINA HEPATICA = liver.+ + +The Beefsteak Fungus.+ + +This species grows on trees, oaks or chestnuts, in hot weather. +Cap+ is +of a dark-red color, which probably suggested the name. It is generally +2 to 6 inches broad, but often grows to an immense size. The surface is +rough, the flesh thick, viscid above, soft when young, when old tough, +covered with tenacious fibres. +Stem+ short and thick. +Pores+ at first +pallid or yellowish-pink when young; they become brownish ochraceous +when old. It is changeable in form, is sometimes sessile (without a +stem), or it has a short lateral stem. + +The genus Fistulina, to which this mushroom belongs, has the under +surface of the cap covered with minute hollow pores, which are separate +from one another and stand side by side. The shape varies. It is +sometimes long, shaped like a tongue, or roundish. It is +peculiar-looking. It is considered good for food and nourishing, but the +taste is said to be rather acid. The specimens we found varied from 2 to +5 inches in diameter. They were of a dark-red color, and were tough and +old. They grew upon a tree in a large forest, and were not found +anywhere else. + + +POLYPORUS BETULINUS = birch.+ + +The Birch Polyporus.+ + +We shall meet a great many fungi on our walks that belong to the genus +Polyporus. They are generally leathery (coriaceous) fungi, and many grow +on wood. A few are edible, but are not recommended as food. The species +P. betulinus is found on living and dead birch trees. The specimens we +found grew in great quantities, of all sizes, from 1 1/2 to 6 inches +broad. They were at first pure white, and then assumed a brownish tinge. +The edges were obtuse, the caps fleshy, then corky, smooth, the upper +ends not regular, oblique in the form of an umbo or little knob, the +pellicles or outside layers thin and easily separated. Pores short, +small, unequal, at length separating. The shape of the fungus is +peculiar, a sort of semi-circular outline that may be called dimidiate. +The margins were involute. They protruded from a split in the bark of +a dead birch tree which lay prostrate on the ground, several feet in +length, and it was literally covered with the fungi, some an inch +wide and snow white, and the largest 5 or 6 inches in width, and of a +brownish-gray tinge. These specimens became as hard as wood after they +had been kept for some time. The thin skin peeled off easily and +disclosed the snowy flesh beneath. + + +POLYPORUS PERENNIS = perennial.+ + +The Perennial Polyporus.+ + ++Cap+ is cinnamon-colored, then of a date brown, leathery, tough, +funnel-shaped, becoming smooth, zoned. +Pores+ minute, angular, acute, +at first sprinkled with a white bloom, then naked and torn. +Stem+ +slightly firm, thickened downward, velvety. This is a common species, +and one meets with it everywhere on the ground, and on stumps, from July +to January. The cap is 1 1/2 to 2 inches broad, and the stem 1 inch long. + + +POLYPORUS PICIPES = pitch and foot.+ + +The Black-stemmed Polyporus.+ + ++Cap+ pallid color, then turning chestnut, often a pale yellowish livid +color, with the disc chestnut, fleshy, leathery, rigid, tough, even, +smooth, depressed at disc or behind. Flesh white. +Stem+ eccentric and +lateral, equal, firm, at first velvety, then naked, and dotted black up +to the pores. +Pores+ decurrent, round, very small, rather slender, +white, then slightly pale and yellowish. This fungus grows on the trunks +of trees, and is found as late as the middle of winter. + + +POLYPORUS SULPHUREUS = brimstone.+ + +The Sulphury Polyporus.+ + +This mushroom gains its name from the color of its pores, which are of a +bright sulphur color. It grows in tufted layers (caespitose), sometimes 1 +to 2 feet long, and it cannot be mistaken. +Cap+ may measure 8 inches in +breadth, and is of a reddish-yellow color, overlapping like the shingles +of a roof (imbricated). It is wavy and rather smooth. Flesh light +yellowish, then white, splitting open. +Pores+ are minute, even, sulphur +yellow. They retain their color much better than the pileus. The plants +are generally without a stem, but there may be a short stem, which is +lateral. They grow in clusters, all fastened together and one above the +other, and of all sizes. We saw this fungus first in a dense woods, +where its bright color at once attracted our notice. It was growing in a +large cluster, closely packed one over the other. It is said to be good +for food when young and tender. + + +POLYPORUS LUCIDUS = bright.+ + +The Shining Polyporus.+ + +One can never mistake this fungus. Its surface looks as if covered with +varnish, rather wrinkled, a bright dark-red color, and its shape is +varied and singular. We have seen it sometimes shaped like a fan, and +like a lady's high comb, or in some fantastic form. Stevenson says it is +a light yellow color and then becomes blood red chestnut. It is first +corky, then woody. +Stem+ lateral, equal, varnished, shining, of the +same color as cap. +Pores+ are long, very small, white and then cinnamon +color. It grows on and about stumps during the summer. +Cap+ is from 2 +to 6 inches broad, and the stem 6 to 10 inches long, and 1 or more +thick. + + +POLYPORUS VERSICOLOR = changeable.+ + +The Changeable Polyporus.+ + +This species is also common. It is found on dead wood, in all forms and +colors. +Cap+ variegated with different-colored zones; leathery, thin, +rigid, depressed behind, becoming velvety. +Pores+ minute, round, acute +and torn, white, turning pale or yellow. + + +POLYPORUS ELEGANS = elegant.+ + +The Elegant Polyporus.+ + ++Cap+ 2 to 4 inches broad, of one color, pallid, ochraceous or orange, +shining, equally fleshy, and then hardened, becoming woody, flattened, +even, smooth. Flesh white. +Stem+ eccentric or lateral, even, smooth, +pallid at first, abruptly black and rooting at the base. +Pores+ plane, +minute, somewhat round, yellowish-white, pallid. The cap differs in +shape from others that have been described; it is not funnel-shaped nor +streaked, and is scarcely depressed, and the flesh is thick to the +margin. It grows on trunks of trees from July to November. + + +CLAVARIEI, OR CLUB-SHAPED FUNGI. + +We now come to another order, Clavariei, of which the first genus is +Clavaria, from a word meaning a club. They are fleshy fungi, not +coriaceous. They have no distinct stem and generally grow on the ground. +We will mention a few of those we often see. They somewhat resemble +coral in growth but not in color. + + +CLAVARIA STRICTA = to draw tight.+ + +The Constricted Clavaria.+ + +This Clavaria grows on trunks of trees. It is of a pale yellowish color, +becoming a dusky brown (fuscous) when bruised. The base is about 3 lines +long, thick and much branched. The branches and branchlets are tense and +straight, crowded, adpressed and acute. Stevenson says that this species +is uncommon in Great Britain. + + +CLAVARIA FLAVA = yellow.+ + +The Pale Yellow Clavaria.+ + +Stevenson does not mention this species, so it may be peculiar to this +country. +Stem+ is short and stout, thick, and abruptly dissolves into a +dense mass of erect branches nearly parallel. The tips are yellow but +fade when old. It branches below and the stems are whitish. Flesh white. +It is recommended as well flavored and edible. + + +CLAVARIA PISTILLARIS = a pestle.+ + +The Large Club Clavaria.+ + +This species belongs to the largest of the unbranched kind. It is +generally 3 to 5 inches high, and 1/2 to 2/3 of an inch thick at top. +Light yellow color, then reddish, and dingy brown in decay. It is smooth +and the flesh soft and white. It is rounded at the top and club-shaped. +It tapers downward toward the base. Stevenson gives the height from 6 to +12 inches, but Professor Peck says he has not seen it as large in this +country. It is found in open grassy places. It was late in the autumn +when we discovered it. (Edible.) + + +CLAVARIA INEQUALIS = unequal.+ + +The Unequal Clavaria.+ + +This fungus is yellow and fragile. The clubs are alike in color, simple +or forked, and variable. It is common in woods and pastures. We found it +in September in the woods, rather wrinkled in appearance. It is not +classed among the edible species. + + +TYPHULA = reed mace.+ + +One may sometimes see among the dead leaves in the woods, minute slender +bodies with thread-like stems, springing up from the ground, 2 to 3 +inches high, of a white color and cylindrical in shape. They look like +slender stems from which the blossoms have been plucked. They are called +Typhula. They grow on dead leaves, on mosses, or on dead herbaceous +stems. The name is taken from the Cat Tail family, the Typhaceae, which +they somewhat resemble in miniature. + + +SCHIZOPHYLLUM COMMUNE = to split, a leaf and common.+ + +The Common Schizophyllum.+ + +There is but one species given by Stevenson of this genus, and, as the +name demonstrates, it is common, at least in this country. In Great +Britain it is rare. It grows on dead wood and logs. It has zones, either +of gray or white color, and it is turned up at the edge (revolute). +There is no flesh, and the pileus is dry. The gills are branched +fan-wise. It is not a typical Agaric, but is more like some Polyporei. +The gills are split longitudinally at the edge, and the two lips +commonly turn backward (revolute). + + +HIRNEOLA AURICULA JUDAE.+ + +The Jew's Ear.+ + +There is one species belonging to the order Tremellodon that is quite +common. It is called the Jew's ear. It is a very peculiar-looking +fungus, shaped somewhat like the human ear, of all sizes, and grows in +great quantities in the same place. It looks as if it were composed of a +thick jelly, and becomes soft and tremulous when damp. Its color is +dark, sometimes almost black. It is tough and cup-shaped, with ridges +across it like an ear. The generic name, Hirneola, means a jug, and the +specific name, Auricula Judae, a Jew's ear. + + +GASTEROMYCETES, OR STOMACH FUNGI. + + +SCLERODERMA VULGARE = hard, skin, common.+ + +The Common Hard-skinned Mushroom.+ + +This species closely resembles the common potato in shape and color. It +generally measures 2 to 3 inches across, and is of a pale brown color. +It grows close on the earth, is folded toward the base, and firm in +texture. The cuticle is covered with warts or scales. + + +CRUCIBULUM VULGARE = crucible, common.+ + +The Common Crucible.+ + +This little fungus is about 1/4 of an inch across. It resembles a tiny +bird's-nest with eggs in it. At first it looks like a cottony knot, +closely covered; its apex is closed by a membrane, then its covering is +thrown off, and the apparent tiny eggs are merely smaller envelopes, +called the peridiola. These are lentil-shaped and pale, and are fastened +to the inside of the covering by a long cord, which can be seen only +through a strong lens. + + +CYATHUS VERNICOSUS = varnished.+ + +The Varnished Cup.+ + +This differs from the crucible in color, form and habitat. It is about 1/2 +an inch high. It is bell-shaped, becoming broadly open like a trumpet, +and of a slate or ash color. The mouth and lining shine as if varnished, +and hence its name. The plants grow on the ground, on wood and on +leaves. + + +LYCOPERDON CYATHIFORME = cup-shape.+ The Cup-shaped Puff-ball.+ + +This species of puff-ball is round with a contracted base. It is 4 to 10 +inches across, a white or pinkish-brown color, afterward becoming a +darker brown and covered with small patches. When the spores mature the +upper part of the covering (peridium) becomes torn and only the lower +part remains. It looks like a dark-colored cup with a ragged margin, and +may be seen by the excursionist in the spring on the roadside. It has +survived the winter frosts and storms. It is split and shabby looking. +In August it is a whitish puff-ball, in the spring only a torn, brown +cup. + + +LYCOPERDON PYRIFORME = pear-shape.+ + +The Pear-shaped Puff-ball.+ + +This species is shaped like a pear. It is from 1 to 4 inches high and is +covered with persistent warts so small as to look like scales to the +naked eye. It is of a dingy white or brownish-yellow. Its shape +separates it from the puff-balls, especially from the warted puff-ball, +L. gemmatum, which is nearly round with a base like a stem, an ashy-gray +color, and the surface is also warty, but unequally so, and as the warts +fall off they leave the puff-ball dotted. The pear-shaped puff-ball has +little fibrous rootlets, and the plants grow in crowds on decaying +trees. + + +GEASTER HYGROMETRICUS = moisture, measure.+ + +The Wandering Earth Star.+ + +This earth star is from 2 to 3 1/2 inches wide. It is sessile, of a +brownish color, and changes its form accordingly as the weather is moist +or dry, hence the name. It is contracted and round in dry weather, and +star-like in damp atmosphere, with its lobes stretched out on the earth. +The covering consists of three layers, the two outermost split from the +top into several acute divisions, which spread out like the points of a +star. The innermost layer is round and attached by the base. There are +one or more openings at the top for the escape of the spores. + + +PHALLUS IMPUDICUS = disgusting.+ + +The Fetid Wood Witch.+ + +In the first stages the plant is white, soft and heavy, in shape and +size like a hen's egg. It is covered by three layers, the outer one +firm, the middle one gelatinous, the third and inner one consists of a +thin membrane. This phallus develops under the ground until its spores +are mature. At length the apex is ruptured by the growth of the spore +receptacle, and the stem expands and elongates, escaping through the +top, and elevates the cap into the air. The stem at the early stage is +composed of cells filled with a gluten. The stem afterward becomes open +and spongy, owing to the drying of the gelatinous matter. The spores are +immersed in a strong-smelling, olive-green gluten. They are on the +outside of the cap and embedded in its ridges. A part of the volva +remains as a sheath at the base of the stem. This plant develops so +rapidly as to attain in a few hours the height of seven inches, the stem +is of lace-like structure, pure white, and its appearance suggests the +silicious sponge so ornamental in collections, commonly known as Venus' +basket. The drooping cap is also lacey with a network, and the spores +drip mucus and then dry up, in the meantime spreading around a +carrion-like, fetid smell. The Phallus, therefore, differs greatly in +appearance from the other genera of the order when it is seen above +ground, but if one is successful in finding it at an early stage, under +the surface of the earth, he will realize its relationship to the +general group, and find it an interesting subject of study. + + +ASCOMYCETES, OR SPORE-SAC FUNGI. + + +PEZIZA AUKANTIA = golden.+ + +The Golden Peziza.+ + +This species is 2 to 3 inches in diameter, its disc is bright orange +color, while its exterior is pale and downy, owing to the presence of +short, stout hairs. It is sessile or nearly so, and grows in tufts on +the ground near stumps of trees. At first the disc is thin and brittle, +with a raised margin, much waved, becoming incised, and finally spreads +flat on the ground. + + +MORCHELLA ESCULENTA = food.+ + +The Edible or Common Morel.+ + +This is 2 to 4 inches high, stem about 1/2 inch in diameter. The cap is of +a dull yellow color, olivaceous, darkening with age to a brownish tinge. +It is oval-shaped, with dark hollows. + + +HELVELLA INFULA = name of a woollen head-dress.+ + +The Cap-like Helvella.+ + +This species is named Infula, because it is supposed to resemble in +shape the sacred woollen head-dress worn by priests of Rome, by +supplicants and victims, tied around the head by a ribbon or bandage, +which hangs down on both sides. The stem is surmounted with a lobed cap, +with two to four irregularly drooping lobes of reddish or cinnamon-brown +color, and is about 3 inches in diameter. The stem is 2 or 3 inches +high, usually smooth, but sometimes pitted. We found our specimen in the +woods in August. + + [Illustration: Cortinarius distans. + Photographed by C. G. Lloyd.] + + + + +DIRECTIONS FOR USING KEYS. + + +Let us suppose that the beginner finds a mushroom and wishes to name it. +He has learned its component parts. He has remarked the names of the +classes into which mushrooms are divided. How then shall he make use of +the Keys? We will imagine that he has found a Cantharellus. The cap is +yellow color, so let him turn to the list of fungi described under the +section "Yellow and Orange," and see if it agrees in appearance with +anyone of these. (It is necessary before consulting a key to find the +color of the spores. This is done by cutting off the cap, and placing +it, gills downward, on paper, and leaving it there for two or three +hours. Having followed these directions in this case it will have been +seen that the spores are white.) + +After consulting the list of "Yellow and Orange" he will find that the +first one mentioned is Cantharellus cibarius, the Chantarelle. The +description resembles that of the mushroom found in every particular. + +Now let the beginner go further, and prove the correctness of the name +in another way. Turning to the section called "General Helps to the +Memory," on page 68, and reading the names of the different genera under +the headings until he comes to the name Cantharellus, he will find it in +the table called "Mushrooms with gills running down the stems +(decurrent)." This distinction is apparent in the specimen found. Again, +let him turn to the list of white-spored Agarics, page 73, and he will +find the name of the genus Cantharellus there. Now, as an additional +test, let him turn to the key at the end of this work, the key to +Hymenomycetes. He must have learned enough by this time to know that his +mushroom belongs to this class, namely, the one that has spores produced +upon the lower part of the cap, and, also, that it is an Agaric, from +its having gills on the under side. Let him begin with Section A, "with +cap." 1. Mushrooms with radiating gills beneath caps (Agarics). The key +then follows: 1. Plants fleshy, soon decaying. 2. Turn to number 2. +There are two descriptions, juice milky and juice watery; he will choose +the second one, which is followed by the number 3. Then follows, stem +central or nearly so; this agrees with the plant, and leads to 4. The +first line reads "white spores," which is correct; then comes 5. There +are four lines with descriptions, the last one, "no ring and no volva," +is right, which leads to 7. There are here two lines belonging to 7, the +second one, "gills in the form of folds, obtuse edge," is correct, and +points to 10. This reads, "Gills decurrent, plant terrestrial, +Cantharellus." The Key gives the name of the _genus_ only. In the list +of descriptions an attempt is made to mention some of the commonest +species. These directions apply to all the keys alike. + + +DIVISION I. + +Key to Hymenomycetes, Membrane Fungi. + +Hymenomycetes or membrane fungi are divided into two sections: + + Section A, with cap. + Section B, without cap. + +Section A is divided into four classes: + + I. Mushrooms with radiating gills beneath caps, gill-bearing + mushrooms (Agarics). + + II. With pores or tubes beneath caps (Polyporei). + +III. With spines or teeth beneath the cap or branches (Hydnei). + + IV. Where the spore-bearing surface beneath the cap is even, smooth, + or slightly wrinkled (Thelephorei). + +Section B is divided into two classes: + + I. Plants club-shaped and simple, or bush-like and branched + (Clavariei). + + II. Plants gelatinous and irregular (Tremellinei). + + +SECTION A. + +Class I. Key to Gill-bearing Mushrooms (_Agarics_). + + 1. Plants fleshy, soon decaying, 2. + Plants leathery, woody, persistent, 12. + + 2. Juice milky, white, or colored, Lactarius. + Juice watery, 3. + + 3. Stem central, or nearly so, 4. + Stem lateral, eccentric or wanting, 11. + + 4. Spores white, 5. + Spores rosy, pink or salmon color, 15. + Spores yellowish-brown, ochre color, 17. + Spores dark brown, 21. + Spores black, 24. + + 5. With volva and ring, Amanita. + Volva and no ring, Amanita + (sub-genus Amanitopsis). + Ring and no volva, 6. + No ring and no volva, 7. + + 6. Gills free, ring movable, pileus scaly, Lepiota. + Gills adnate, pileus generally smooth, Armillaria. + + 7. Gills thin, edge acute, 8. + Gills in the form of folds, obtuse edge, 10. + + 8. Gills decurrent or stem fleshy. Clitocybe. + Gills sinuate, notched behind, stem fleshy, Tricholoma. + Gills adnate, not decurrent, stem cartilaginous, Collybia. + Stem fleshy, cap often bright color, 9. + + 9. Plants rigid, gills even, cap bright, Russula. + Plants with waxy gills, Hygrophorus. + +10. Gills decurrent, plant terrestrial, Cantharellus. + +11. Spores white, Pleurotus. + Spores yellowish or brown, Crepidotus. + +12. Gills serrated on their edges, stem central or + lateral, Lentinus. + Gills entire, stem central, 13. + Stem lateral or wanting, 14. + +13. Gills simple, pileus dry, soon withering, then + reviving when moist, Marasmius. + +14. Gills deeply splitting, with weak hairs, Schizophyllum. + Gills united by veins, plant corky, Lenzites. + +15. Volva, no ring, Volvaria. + No volva, ring present, Annularia. + No volva, no ring, 16. + +16. Gills free, rounded behind, cohering at first, Pluteus. + Gills adnate or sinuate, stem fleshy, soft, waxy, + cap fleshy, margin incurved, Entoloma. + Gills decurrent, stem fleshy, Clitopilis. + +17. Ring continuous, pileus with scales, Pholiota. + Ring cobwebby or evanescent, not apparent in old + specimens, 18. + Ring wanting, 19. + Stem with cartilaginous rind, 21. + +18. Gills adnate, plants on the ground, Cortinarius. + +19. Gills decurrent, stem fleshy, gills easily + separating, Paxillus. + Gills not decurrent, stem fleshy, 20. + +20. Pileus fibrillose, or silky, Inocybe. + Pileus smooth and sticky, Hebeloma. + +21. Veil remaining attached to margin of pileus, + often not seen in old specimens, Hypholoma. + Veil on stem as a ring, 22. + Margin of cap incurved when young, Naucoria. + +22. Gills separate on the stem, Agaricus or Psalliota. + Gills united with stem, Stropharia. + Gills adnate or sinuate, 23. + +23. Margin of pileus incurved when young, Psilocybe. + Margin of pileus always straight, Psathyra. + +24. Pileus of normal form, 25. + +25. Pileus fleshy, membranaceous or deliquescent, 26. + +26. Gills deliquescent--inky fluid, Coprinus. + Gills not deliquescent--ring present, Annellaria. + Gills not decurrent--ring wanting, 27. + +27. Pileus striate--plants small, Psathyrella. + Pileus not striate, stem fleshy, margin + exceeding the gills, Panaeolus. + + +Class II. Key to Pore-bearing Fungi (_Polyporei_). + +1. Pores readily separating from cap, spores + whitish or brownish, Boletus. + +2. Stems strictly lateral, pores in the form + of tubes, mouths are separate from + each other (growing on wood), Fistulina. + +3. Tubes not separable from each other, + round, angular, or torn, fleshy, + leathery or woody, Polyporus. + +(Key to species of Boleti may be found in Professor Peck's work on +Boleti.) + + +Class III. Key to Spine-bearing Fungi (_Hydnei_). + +1. Spines awl-shaped, distinct at base, Hydnum. + Spines awl-shaped, equal; plant gelatinous, + tremulous, Tremellodon. + + +Class IV. Key to Smooth Surface Fungi (_Thelephorei_). + +1. Spores white, on ground, fleshy, tubiform, + cap blackish, scaly, stem hollow, Craterellus + Cornucopioides. + +2. Coriaceous or woody, somewhat zoned, + entire, definite in form, Stereum. + + +SECTION B. + +Class I. Key to Clavariei. + +1. Fleshy, branched or simple, without distinct stem, + growing on the ground, Clavaria. + +2. Growing on trunks, yellowish, becoming dark, much + branched, tense and straight, C. stricta. + +3. Yellow, stuffed, clubs simple or forked, of the + same color, C. inequalis. + +4. Color changeable, becoming dark, light yellow, + then reddish, simple, fleshy, stuffed, obovate, + clavate, obtuse, C. pistillaris. + + +DIVISION II. + +Key to Gasteromycetes and Ascomycetes. + +Section A. Fungi that have the spores inside the cap. (Stomach fungi or +Gasteromycetes.) + +Section B. Fungi that have the spores in delicate sacs. (Spore sac fungi +or Ascomycetes.) + + +SECTION A. + +1. Fungi covered with a hard rind, Scleroderma. + +2. In which the spores when ripe turn to dust, 4. + Where spores are at first closed in a cup-like sac + that resembles a bird's-nest, 3. + +3. Fungi with the outside covering bowl-shaped Crucibulum, + of one cottony layer, the Crucible. + Outside covering tubular, trumpet-shaped, Cyathus, + of 3 layers, the cup. + Outside covering opening with a torn mouth, Nidularia, + bird's-nest. + +4. Outer covering splitting into star-like points, Geaster, + earth star. + Outer covering opening by a single mouth Lycoperdon, + at the top, puff-ball. + Spores at first borne in an egg-like sac, Phallus, + when ripe elevated on a cap at the top of stink-horn + the stem, no veil, has an odious smell, fungus. + + +SECTION B. + +1. Where the sacs soon become free, no special Peziza, + covering, mostly fleshy, cup-like fungi, cup fungus. + Sacs opening from the first, caps pitted + or furrowed, 2. + +2. Cap lobed, irregular, saddle-shaped, Helvella, + yellowish fungus. + Cap oval or conical, upper surface with Morchella or Morel, + deep pits formed by long ridges, honey-combed fungus. + +(The genera described under Section B. all belong to the order of +Discomycetes, fungi that have the spore sacs collected in a flattened +disc.) + + + + +GLOSSARY. + + +Acute'. Gills when called acute have sharp edges or are pointed at + either end. +Adnate'. Spoken of gills when they are firmly attached to the stem. +Adnex'. A less degree of attachment of gills than adnate. +A'garic. A mushroom that bears gills. +Aluta'ceous. A light leather color. +Anas'tomosing. Interlacing of veins, spoken of gills that are united by + cross veins or partitions. +An'nulus. The ring on the stem of a mushroom, formed by the separation + of the veil from the margin of the cap. +A'pex. The top. The end of the stem nearest to the gills. +Ap'ical. Relating to the apex. +Appendic'ulate. Hanging in small fragments. +Arach'noid. Like a cobweb. +Ar'cuate. Shaped like a bow. +Are'olate. Any surface divided into little areas or patches. +Axis. Stipe or stalk. + +Band. A broad bar of color. +Basid'ium (plural basidia). Mother cells in the hymenium. +Behind. Posterior, the end of a gill next to the stem is said to be the + posterior end. +Bifur'cate. Two-forked. +Bulbous. Spoken of the stem when it has a bulb-like swelling at the + base. + +Caes'pitose. Growing in tufts. +Campan'ulate. Bell-shaped. +Cap. The pileus. +Cartilag'inous. Gristly, tough. +Casta'neus. Chestnut color. +Cell. A mass of protoplasm, with or without an enclosing wall. +Chlorophyll. The green coloring-matter contained in plants. +Cla'vate. Club-shaped. +Close. Crowded together--term used in describing gills. +Cohe'rent. Sticking together. +Con'cave. Having a rounded inwardly curved surface. +Concen'tric. With a common centre, as a series of rings, one within the + other. +Con'nate. Growing together from the first. +Constric'ted. Contracted. +Contin'uous. Without interruption. +Convex. Elevated and regularly rounded. +Con'volute. Covered with irregularities on the surface, like the human + brain. +Coria'ceous. Leathery in texture. +Cor'rugated. Wrinkled. +Corti'na. A veil of cobwebby texture. It gives the name to the genus + Cortinarius. +Cre'nate. In wavy scallops. +Cu'ticle. Pellicle, a skin-like layer on the outside surface of the cap + and stem. +Cy'athiform. Cup-shaped. + +Decid'uous. Falling off when mature at the end of the season. +Decur'rent. Gills that run down the stem are called decurrent. +Dehis'cence. The opening of a peridium, when ripe, to discharge the + spores. +Deliques'cent. Turning to liquid when mature. +Dichot'omous. Two-forked, regularly dividing by pairs from below upward. +Dimid'iate. Divided into two equal parts, applied to gills that only + reach half-way to the stem, and to the cap when it is semi-circular or + nearly so. +Disc. The central part of the upper surface of the cap. +Distant. Gills when they are far apart. + +Emar'ginate. A gill which has a sudden curve in its margin close to the + stem. +Entire. An edge that is straight, has no notch. +Ep'iphytal. Growing on the outside of another plant. +Equal. A stem is equal when it is of uniform thickness, gills when they + are of equal length. +Eccen'tric. A stem which is not in the centre, but is attached to the + cap between the margin and centre. + +Fascic'ulate. Growing in clusters. +Ferru'ginous. Color of iron rust. +Fi'brous. Composed of fibres. +Fis'tulose. Tubular, hollow. +Fleshy. Composed of juicy cellular tissue. +Floccose. Woolly, downy. +Free. Gills when not attached to the stem. +Fungus (plural Fungi). A plant that has no chlorophyll, and obtains its + nourishment from dead or living organic matter. +Fus'cous. Dingy dark-brown, or gray color, + +Gelat'inous. Of the nature of jelly. +Genus. A number of species that have the same principal characteristics. +Gib'bous. Swollen unequally--applied to the cap. +Gill. Lamella, a radiating plate under the cap of an Agaric. +Gla'brous. Smooth. +Glo'bose. Nearly round. +Gran'ular. Consisting of or covered with grains. +Grega'rions. Growing in groups. + +Hab'itat. Place of growth. +Homoge'neous. Of like nature. +Hyme'nium. The fruit-bearing surface, a continuous layer of spore mother + cells. +Hy'phae (singular Hypha). Elementary threads of a fungus, cylindrical, + thread-like bodies, developing by growth at the apex. + +Im'bricated. Overlapping like the tiles of a roof. +Incras'sated. Thickened. +Inferior. Applied to a ring that is far down on the stem. +Infundibuliform. Funnel-shaped. +Involute. Rolled inward. + +Labyrin'thine. Like a labyrinth. +Lac'erate. Torn. +Lamel'la. See gill. +Line. 1/12 of an inch. + +Mac'ulate. Spotted. +Me'dial or median. When the ring is situated in the middle of the stem. +Membrana'ceous. Thin, soft, like a membrane. +Mica'ceous. Covered with shining particles, like mica. +Mother cell. A cell from which another is derived. +Myce'lium. The vegetative part of fungi, commonly called the spawn. +Mycol'ogist. One who is versed in the study of fungi. + +Obo'vate. Having the broad end turned toward the top. +Ob'solete. Nearly imperceptible. +Obtuse. Blunt. +Ochra'ceous. Light brownish-yellow. +Ovate. Egg-shaped. + +Par'asite. A plant growing on another living body, from which it gains + its nourishment. +Pel'licle. See cuticle. +Peren'nial. Growing from year to year. +Perid'ium. The outer covering of the spores in some fungi, as in + puff-balls. +Peridi'olum. The inside peridium containing the spores. +Pi'leus. See cap. +Pir'iform or pyriform. Pear-shaped. +Plane. Level surface. +Pores. The tubes in Polyporei. +Poste'rior. Term applied to the end of the gill next to the stem. +Pru'inose. Covered with a bloom or powder. +Pulver'ulent. Covered with powder or dust. +Putres'cent. Decaying. + +Rad'icating. Taking root. +Retic'ulated. Marked with cross lines like a net. +Rev'olute. Rolled upward or backward. +Ri'mose. Cracked. +Rim'ulose. Covered with small cracks. +Ring. Annulus. +Riv'ulose. Marked with lines like rivers in maps. +Rotund'. Round. +Ru'gose. Wrinkled. + +Sap'id. Agreeable to the taste. +Sap'rophyte. A plant that lives on decaying matter. +Scab'rous. Rough. +Scis'sile. Easily split. +Sep'arating. Spoken of gills when they easily separate from the stem. +Ses'sile. Stemless. +Sin'uate. Wavy, A gill that has a sudden curve near the stem. +Sor'did. Dingy. +Spore. The same body that answers to the seed of flowering plants. +Spo'rophore. That part which bears the spores or spore mother cells. +Squa'mose. Scaly. +Stalk. A stipe or stem. +Stel'late. Star-shaped. +Stipe. See stalk. +Strobil'iform. Shaped like a pine-cone. +Stuffed. When a stem is filled with pith or a spongy substance. +Suc'culent. Juicy, fleshy. +Sul'cate. Grooved. +Supe'rior. Spoken of a ring that is high up on the stem. + +Tes'sellated. In small squares, or checkered. +To'mentose. Covered with matted wool. +Tra'ma. The substance proceeding from and of like nature with the part + that bears the hymenium--the framework of the gills. +Trem'elloid. Jelly-like. +Tu'baeform. Trumpet-shaped. + +Umbil'icate. Having a central depression. +Um'bo. Arising or mound in the centre of the cap. + +Veins. Swollen wrinkles on the sides and at the base between the gills. +Ven'tricose. Swelling in the middle. +Ver'nicose. Varnished. +Vil'lose. Covered with weak, soft hairs. +Vires'cent. Greenish. +Vir'gate. Streaked. +Vis'cid. Sticky. +Vis'cous. Gluey. + +Zones. Circular bands of color. + + + + +INDEX TO DESCRIPTIONS OF FUNGI. + + +GENUS. ENGLISH OR COMMON NAMES. GREEK OR PAGE. + LATIN NAMES. +Agaricus. The flat-capped mushroom, A. placomyces. 104 +Agaricus. The common or edible mushroom, A. campestris. 103 +Amanita. The death cup, A. phalloides. 108 +Amanita. The fly Amanita, A. muscaria. 89 +Amanita. Frost's Amanita, A. Frostiana. 90 +Amanita. The poisonous Amanita, A. virosa. 107 +Amanita. The shining Amanita, A. nitida. 109 +Amanita. The sheathed Amanita, A. vaginata. 101 +Amanita. The warted Amanita, A. strobiliformis. 100 + +Boletus. The bitter Boletus, B. felleus. 102 +Boletus. The bluing Boletus, B. cyanescens. 96 +Boletus. The chestnut Boletus, B. castaneus. 123 +Boletus. The chrome-footed Boletus, B. chromapes. 85 +Boletus. The dingy Boletus, B. sordidus. 126 +Boletus. The edible Boletus, B. edulis. 121 +Boletus. The golden Boletus, B. chrysenteron. 123 +Boletus. The granulated Boletus, B. granulatus. 96 +Boletus. The gray Boletus, B. griseus. 103 +Boletus. The half-golden Boletus, B. hemichrysus. 95 +Boletus. Murray's Boletus, B. Murrayi. 85 +Boletus. The ornate stemmed Boletus, B. ornatipes. 119 +Boletus. The peppery Boletus, B. piperatus. 126 +Boletus. The deceiving Boletus, B. illudens. 124 +Boletus. The yellow-cracked Boletus, B. subtomentosus. 125 +Boletus. The related Boletus, B. affinis. 128 +Boletus. The rough Boletus, B. scaber. 122 +Boletus. The short-stemmed Boletus, B. brevipes. 120 +Boletus. The small yellowish Boletus, B. subluteus. 127 +Boletus. The thick-stemmed Boletus, B. pachypus. 124 +Boletus. The white Boletus, B. albus. 113 + +Cantharellus. The Chantarelle, C. cibarius. 88 +Cantharellus. The funnel-shaped + Chantarelle, C. infundibuliformis. 94 +Cantharellus. The golden Chantarelle, C. aurantiacus. 94 +Clitocybe. The waxy Clitocybe, C. laccata. 83 +Clavaria. The club-shaped Clavaria, C. pistillaris. 138 +Clavaria. The constricted Clavaria, C. stricta. 137 +Clavaria. The pale yellow Clavaria, C. flava. 138 +Clavaria. The unequal Clavaria, C. inequalis. 139 +Collybia. The oak-loving Collybia, C. dryophila. 118 +Collybia. The tufted Collybia, C. acervata. 115 +Coprinus. The inky Coprinus, C. atramentarius. 105 +Coprinus. The glistening Coprinus, C. micaceous. 100 +Cortinarius. The cinnamon-colored + Cortinarius, C. cinnamomeus. 115 +Cortinarius. The violet-colored + Cortinarius, C. albo violaceous. 129 +Cortinarius. The wrinkled Cortinarius, C. corrugatus. 102 +Cortinarius. The zoned Cortinarius, C. armillatus. 82 +Crucibulum. The common crucible, C. vulgare. 141 +Cyathus. The varnished cup, C. vernicosus. 142 + +Fistulina. The beefsteak mushroom, F. hepatica. 131 + +Geaster. The wandering earth star, G. hygrometricus. 143 + +Helvella. The cap-shaped Helvella, H. infula. 146 +Hirneola. The Jew's ear, H. auricula Judae. 140 +Hygrophorus. The blood-red Hygrophorus, H. puniceus. 87 +Hygrophorus. The scarlet color Hygrophorus, H. coccineus. 87 +Hygrophorus. The vermilion Hygrophorus, H. mineatus. 86 +Hypholoma. The gray-gilled mushroom, H. capnoides. 117 +Hypholoma. The perplexing mushroom, H. perplexum. 118 +Hypholoma. The tufted mushroom, H. fasciculare. 89 + +Lactarius. The delicious Lactarius, L. deliciosus. 92 +Lactarius. The colorless Lactarius, L. ichoratus. 81 +Lactarius. The fleecy Lactarius, L. vellereus. 112 +Lactarius. The mild Lactarius, L. mitissimus. 82 +Lactarius. The orange brown Lactarius, L. volemus. 80 +Lactarius. The peppery Lactarius, L. piperatus. 111 +Lepiota. The smooth Lepiota, L. naucinoides. 110 +Lepiota. The tall Lepiota, L. procera. 120 +Lycoperdon. The cup-shaped puff-ball, L. cyathiforme. 142 +Lycoperdon. The pear-shaped puff-ball, L. pyriforme. 143 + +Marasmius. The fairy ring mushroom, M. oreades. 99 +Morchella. The edible Morel, M. esculenta. 146 + +Paxillus. The thin stemmed Paxillus, P. leptopus. 128 +Peziza. The golden cup-shaped mushroom, P. aurantia. 145 +Phallus. The fetid wood witch, P. impudicus. 144 +Pholiota. The fat Pholiota, P. adiposa. 97 +Pholiota. The showy Pholiota, P. spectabilis. 98 +Pleurotus. The elm Pleurotus, P. ulmarius. 113 +Pleurotus. The palatable Pleurotus, P. sapidus. 114 +Pluteus. The fawn-colored Pluteus, P. cervinus. 105 +Polyporus. The birch Polyporus, P. betulinus. 132 +Polyporus. The black-stemmed Polyporus, P. picipes. 134 +Polyporus. The changeable Polyporus, P. versicolor. 136 +Polyporus. The elegant Polyporus, P. elegans. 136 +Polyporus. The perennial Polyporus, P. perennis. 133 +Polyporus. The sulphury Polyporus, P. sulphureus. 134 +Polyporus. The shining Polyporus, P. lucidus. 135 +Psathyrella. The widely-spread Psathyrella, P. disseminata. 116 + +Russula. The blood-red Russula, R. sanguinea. 78 +Russula. The elegant Russula, R. lepida. 80 +Russula. The forked Russula, R. furcata. 107 +Russula. The green Russula, R. virescens. 106 +Russula. The nauseating Russula, R. emetica. 77 +Russula. The rosy-stemmed Russula, R. roseipes. 79 + +Schizophyllum. The common Schizophyllum, S. commune. 140 +Scleroderma. The hard-skinned mushroom, S. vulgare. 141 +Stropharia. The dry Stropharia, S. siccapes. 93 + +Tricholoma. The canary-colored Tricholoma, T. equestre. 91 +Tricholoma. The imbricated Tricholoma, T. imbricata. 119 +Tricholoma. The sulphury Tricholoma, T. sulphureum. 91 +Typhula. The reed mace mushroom, T. phacorrhiza. 139 + + + + +APPENDIX. + +A GUIDE FOR THE IDENTIFICATION AND DIFFERENTIATION OF AGARICS, +COMPRISED IN FOUR TABLES, ARRANGED WITH REFERENCE TO THE COLORS +OF THE SPORES, VIZ.: + + +Table I. White spores. +Table II. Red and pink spores. +Table III. Ochraceous spores. +Table IV. Dark purple and black spores. + +NOTE. + +In using this table the student should first ascertain the color of the +spores of the specimen under investigation. This will determine the +particular table to be applied to its further examination. If, for +instance, he finds its spores to be white, he will know that Table I. +is the one to be consulted. Turning to that table, he should recall the +place of its growth, its habitat. Now, suppose it to have been found +growing on a stump, he will, by looking at the first column, Habitat, +of Table I., be informed that it must be one of the four genera named +in the column with the heading "On Stumps." Let him then examine its +"gills." If he finds them to be "adnate," he will be assured that it +must be an "Armillaria," as no other genus is shown in the column as +growing "on stumps" and which has gills that are adnate. But to make +assurance doubly sure, he may proceed further to discover whether the +specimen has also the ring called for in column headed "Ring." If it +has, and was found growing in the summer, he may feel quite safe in +classifying it as Armillaria. Sometimes the same genus will be found in +more than one column. This ought not to mislead or confuse the beginner. +In Table I., column headed "Volva," Amanita is mentioned, and also in +the column headed "Ring," but this indicates that an Amanita has both +the Volva (the universal veil) and the Ring. So in the columns headed by +"Stem," Pleurotus is represented as having a lateral or eccentric stem, +and also as having no stem. The meaning is, that some species of the +genus have no stem, while there are others in which the stem is lateral +or eccentric. + + [Transcriber's Note: + In this e-text, empty categories have been omitted from each table. + Variations in spelling and phrasing are as in the original. The + complete structure, with all options included, would be: + + Size of plants, small. + Plants deliquescent. + Time of growth, + summer. + autumn. + Habitat + In woods, in uncultivated places, on ground. + In grass and fields, on ground. + On other plants--epiphytal. + On stumps. + On wood. + On manure. + Gills, + free. + adnate. + decurrent. + sinuous. + serrated. + distant. + in folds. + Volva. + Veil adhering to margin of cap. + Ring. + Stem, + cartilaginous. + lateral, or eccentric. + none. + brittle. + Pileus, + scaly or warted. + campanulate. + silky, cracked or fibrillose. + umbonate. + umbilicate. + striate. + Pileus and Gills milky.] + + +Table I.--White Spores. + + +---------------------------------------+-------------------+ + | Size of plants, small. | Collybia,[1] | + | | Mycena, | + | | Omphalia, | + | | Marasmius. | + +-----------------+---------------------+-------------------+ + | Time of growth, | summer. | Amanita, | + | | | Collybia, | + | | | Mycena, | + | | | Omphalia, | + | | | Lepiota, | + | | | Pleurotus, | + | | | Russula,[2] | + | | | Lactarius. | + | +---------------------+-------------------+ + | | autumn. | Amanita, | + | | | Clitocybe, | + | | | Collybia, | + | | | Mycena, | + | | | Omphalia, | + | | | Hygrophorus, | + | | | Lepiota, | + | | | Marasmius, | + | | | Armillaria, | + | | | Pleurotus, | + | | | Tricholoma, | + | | | Russula, | + | | | Cantharellus, | + | | | Lactarius.[3] | + +---------+-------+---------------------+-------------------+ + | Habitat | In woods, in uncultivated | Amanita, | + | | places, on ground. | Armillaria, | + | | | Tricholoma,[4] | + | | | Clitocybe, | + | | | Collybia,[5] | + | | | Hygrophorus, | + | | | Lactarius, | + | | | Russula, | + | | | Cantharellus.[6] | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | In grass and fields, | Lepiota, | + | | on ground. | Tricholoma.[7] | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | On other plants--epiphytal. | Mycena, | + | | | Omphalia, | + | | | Marasmius, | + | | | Collybia. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | On stumps. | Panus, | + | | | Armillaria, | + | | | Lenzites, | + | | | Lentinus. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | On wood. | Trogia, | + | | | Pleurotus, | + | | | Schizophyllum,[8] | + | | | Cantharellus.[9] | + +---------+-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | Gills, | free. | Amanita, | + | | | Lepiota. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | adnate. | Armillaria, | + | | | Clitocybe, | + | | | Collybia. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | decurrent. | Omphalia, | + | | | Clitocybe, | + | | | Cantharellus, | + | | | Hygrophorus, | + | | | Lactarius.[10] | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | serrated. | Lentinus. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | sinuous. | Tricholoma, | + | | | Pleurotus. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | distant. | Marasmius, | + | | | Clitocybe. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | in folds. | Cantharellus, | + | | | Trogia. | + +---------+-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | Volva. | Amanita. | + +---------------------------------------+-------------------+ + | Veil adhering to margin of cap. | Tricholoma. | + +---------------------------------------+-------------------+ + | Ring. | Amanita, | + | | Armillaria, | + | | Lepiota. | + +---------+-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | Stem, | cartilaginous. | Marasmius, | + | | | Mycena, | + | | | Omphalia, | + | | | Collybia. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | lateral, or eccentric. | Pleurotus, | + | | | Panus. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | none. | Lenzites, | + | | | Pleurotus, | + | | | Trogia, | + | | | Schizophyllum, | + | | | Panus. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | brittle. | Russula. | + +---------+-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | Pileus, | scaly or warted. | Amanita, | + | | | Lepiota. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | campanulate. | Mycena. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | silky, cracked or | Tricholoma, | + | | fibrillose. | Clitocybe, | + | | | Pleurotus. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | umbonate. | Mycena. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | umbilicate. | Omphalia, | + | | | Lactarius.[11] | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | striate. | Omphalia, | + | | | Mycena. | + +---------+-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | Pileus and Gills milky. | Lactarius. | + +---------------------------------------+-------------------+ + + [Footnote 1: Some small.] + [Footnote 2: In late summer.] + [Footnote 3: Generally in autumn.] + [Footnote 4: Large species.] + [Footnote 5: Few.] + [Footnote 6: Some.] + [Footnote 7: Small species.] + [Footnote 8: Sometimes on rotten wood.] + [Footnote 9: Some on rotten wood.] + [Footnote 10: Adnato decurrent.] + [Footnote 11: Becomes depressed in centre.] + + +Table II.--Red and Pink Spores. + + +---------------------------------------+-------------------+ + | Size of plants, small. | Leptonia. | + +-----------------+---------------------+-------------------+ + | Time of growth, | summer. | Volvaria, | + | | | Pluteus, | + | | | Enteloma, | + | | | Leptonia, | + | | | Nolanea, | + | | | Eccilia. | + | +---------------------+-------------------+ + | | autumn. | Volvaria, | + | | | Pluteus, | + | | | Nolanea, | + +---------+-------+---------------------+-------------------+ + | Habitat | In woods, in uncultivated | Volvaria,[1] | + | | places, on ground. | Enteloma, | + | | | Clitopilus, | + | | | Leptonia,[2] | + | | | Nolanea,[3] | + | | | Claudopus. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | In grass and fields, | Nolanea. | + | | on ground. | | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | On stumps. | Pluteus.[4] | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | On wood. | Volvaria,[5] | + | | | Claudopus. | + +---------+-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | Gills, | free. | Nolanea, | + | | | Pluteus, | + | | | Annularia, | + | | | Volvaria. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | adnate. | Nolanea, | + | | | Enteloma.[6] | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | decurrent. | Eccilia, | + | | | Clitopilus, | + | | | Claudopus. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | sinuous. | Enteloma, | + | | | Claudopus. | + +---------+-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | Volva. | Volvaria. | + +---------------------------------------+-------------------+ + | Veil adhering to margin of cap. | Enteloma. | + +---------------------------------------+-------------------+ + | Ring. | Annularia. | + +---------+-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | Stem, | cartilaginous. | Nolanea, | + | | | Leptonia. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | lateral, or eccentric. | Claudopus. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | none. | Claudopus. | + +---------+-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | Pileus, | scaly or warted. | Leptonia. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | campanulate. | Leptonia, | + | | | Nolanea. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | silky, cracked or | Entoloma, | + | | fibrillose. | Pluteus.[7] | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | umbonate. | Pluteus.[8] | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | umbilicate. | Leptonia, | + | | | Eccilia. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | striate. | Nolanea. | + +---------+-----------------------------+-------------------+ + + [Footnote 1: Damp ground.] + [Footnote 2: Dry hills.] + [Footnote 3: Wet places in woods.] + [Footnote 4. On or close to stumps.] + [Footnote 5: On rotten wood.] + [Footnote 6: Almost free.] + [Footnote 7: Often fibrillose or floccose.] + [Footnote 8: Somewhat.] + + +Table III.--Ochraceous Spores. + + +-----------------+---------------------+-------------------+ + | Time of growth, | summer. | Pholiota, | + | | | Inocybe, | + | | | Naucoria. | + | +---------------------+-------------------+ + | | autumn. | Inocybe, | + | | | Flammula, | + | | | Pholiota, | + | | | Galera, | + | | | Hebeloma, | + | | | Crepedotus, | + | | | Naucoria, | + | | | Cortinarius. | + +---------+-------+---------------------+-------------------+ + | Habitat | In woods, in uncultivated | Inocybe, | + | | places, on ground. | Pholiota,[1] | + | | | Hebeloma, | + | | | Flammula, | + | | | Paxillus, | + | | | Cortinarius, | + | | | Naucoria, | + | | | Galera. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | In grass and fields, | Cortinarius. | + | | on ground. | | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | On other plants--epiphytal. | Naucoria. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | On stumps. | Pholiota, | + | | | Paxillus. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | On wood. | Claudopus, | + | | | Flammula, | + | | | Crepidotus, | + | | | Naucoria. | + +---------+-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | Gills, | free. | Naucoria. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | adnate. | Naucoria, | + | | | Pholiota,[2] | + | | | Flammula, | + | | | Cortinarius, | + | | | Hebeloma. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | decurrent. | Flammula, | + | | | Paxillus. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | sinuous. | Hebeloma. | + +---------+-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | Veil adhering to margin of cap. | Hebeloma, | + | | Cortinarius, | + | | Inocybe. | + +---------------------------------------+-------------------+ + | Ring. | Pholiota, | + | | Cortinarius.[3] | + +---------+-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | Stem, | cartilaginous. | Tubaria, | + | | | Naucoria, | + | | | Galera. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | lateral, or excentric. | Crepidotus. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | none. | Crepidotus. | + +---------+-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | Pileus, | scaly or warted. | Flammula, | + | | | Inocybe. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | campanulate. | Galera, | + | | | Pluteolus. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | silky, cracked or | Inocybe. | + | | fibrillose. | | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | umbonate. | Inocybe. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | striate. | Pluteolus, | + | | | Galera. | + +---------+-----------------------------+-------------------+ + + [Footnote 1: Damp ground.] + [Footnote 2: Somewhat free.] + [Footnote 3: Some with rings.] + + +Table IV.--Dark Purple and Black Spores. + + +---------------------------------------+-------------------+ + | Size of plants, small. | Psathyrella. | + +---------------------------------------+-------------------+ + | Plants deliquescent. | Coprinus, | + | | Bolbitius. | + +-----------------+---------------------+-------------------+ + | Time of growth, | summer. | Coprinus, | + | | | Stropharia, | + | | | Panaeolus. | + | +---------------------+-------------------+ + | | autumn. | Coprinus, | + | | | Psaliota, | + | | | Panaeolus, | + | | | Hypholoma. | + +---------+-------+---------------------+-------------------+ + | Habitat | In woods, in uncultivated | Stropharia, | + | | places, on ground. | Psathyra. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | In grass and fields, | Psaliota. | + | | on ground. | | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | On other plants--epiphytal. | Stropharia. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | On stumps. | Hypholoma, | + | | | Psathyra. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | On wood. | Psathyra,[1] | + | | | Hypholoma. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | On manure. | Stropharia, | + | | | Panaeolus, | + | | | Psathyrella, | + | | | Coprinus, | + | | | Bolbitius. | + +---------+-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | Gills, | free. | Chetonia, | + | | | Psalliota, | + | | | Psathyrella, | + | | | Coprinus, | + | | | Bolbitius. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | adnate. | Stropharia, | + | | | Hypholoma, | + | | | Psathyrella. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | decurrent. | Gomphidius. | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | sinuous. | Hypholoma. | + +---------+-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | Veil adhering to margin. | Hypholoma. | + +---------------------------------------+-------------------+ + | Ring. | Stropharia | + | | Psalliota, | + | | Gomphidius.[2] | + +---------+-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | Stem, | cartilaginous. | Psathyra, | + | | | Psilocybe. | + +---------+-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | Pileus, | campanulate. | Psathyra, | + | | | Psathyrella,[3] | + | | | Coprinus, | + | | | Gomphidius.[4] | + | +-----------------------------+-------------------+ + | | striate. | Psathyra, | + | | | Psathyrella. | + +---------+-----------------------------+-------------------+ + + [Footnote 1: On rotten wood.] + [Footnote 2: A floccose ring.] + [Footnote 3: At first, adpressed to stem.] + [Footnote 4: Top shaped.] + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Among the Mushrooms, by +Ellen M. 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