[illustration: plate i. figure .--hydnum erinaceum. original specimen × . found on mt. logan near chillicothe, ohio.] the mushroom edible and otherwise its habitat and its time of growth with photographic illustrations of nearly all the common species a guide to the study of mushrooms, with special reference to the edible and poisonous varieties, with a view of opening up to the student of nature a wide field of useful and interesting knowledge by m. e. hard, m. a. superintendent of public instruction kirkwood, mo. the ohio library co. distributors columbus, ohio press of the new franklin printing co. columbus, ohio. halftones by bucher engraving co. copyright by the mushroom publishing company columbus, ohio (all rights reserved) _author's edition_ _no._ ____ [illustration: author.] _to my wife_ _whose thorough knowledge of plant life, and whose patience in preserving fungal specimens--sometimes beautiful but often odorous--scattered from the back porch to the author's library, whose eyes, quick to detect structural differences, and whose kindly and patient help have been a constant benediction, this work's inscribed._ introduction i would agree with those who might maintain that no introduction is needed for this book on mushrooms. nevertheless a word may not be out of place for the inception of the work is out of the ordinary. mr. hard did not decide that a book on this subject was needed and then set about studying these interesting plants. he has observed them, collected them, induced many friends to join in eating those which proved to be palatable and delicious--really meddled for years with the various kinds which are edible and otherwise, and then recently he has decided to publish a book on his favorite subject. the interesting occupation of photographing the mushrooms and the toadstools doubtless has contributed largely to the determination culminating in the materialization of the treatise. if i have correctly apprehended the origin and the contributing causes, we would expect this book to be different from the other books on mushrooms--not of course in scope and purpose; but the instruction and suggestions given, the descriptions and general remarks offered, the wide range of forms depicted in word and picture, the whole make up of the book in fact, will appeal to the people at large rather than the college student in particular. the author does not write for the specially educated few, but for the mass of intelligent people--those who read and study, but who observe more; those who are inclined to commune with nature as she displays herself in the glens and glades, in the fields and forests, and who spend little, if any, time chasing the forms or sketching the tissues that may be seen on the narrow stage of a compound microscope. the book then is for the beginner, and for all beginners; the college student will find that this is the guide to use when he is ready to begin studying the mushrooms; the teachers in the schools should all begin to study mushrooms now, and for the purpose they will find this book advantageous; the people who see mushrooms often but do not know them may find here a book that really is a help. we might wish for color photography when the subject is a delicately tinted mushroom; but if with it we should lose detail in structure then the wish would be renounced. the colors can be, approximately, described, often not so the characteristic markings, shapes and forms. the halftones from the photographs will, we anticipate, prove a valuable feature of the book, especially if the plants be most carefully examined before turning to the pictures. for half an hour the pages may be turned and the illustrations enjoyed. that, however, would give one no real knowledge of mushrooms. if such use only is made of the pictures, better had they never been prepared by mr. hard and his friends. but if a charming little toadstool, a delicately colored mushroom, a stately agaric, be carefully removed from the bed of loam, the decaying stump, or the old tree-trunk, then turned over and over again, and upside down, every part scrutinized, the structure in every detail attentively regarded--not with repugnant feeling, rather with a sympathetic interest that should naturally find all organisms inhabiting our globe--then in due time coming to the picture, a real picture, in the book, it must surely bring both pleasure and profit. ponder the suggestion. then, to conclude in a word, if mr. hard's book will induce people to _learn_ and _enjoy_ the mushrooms that we have, it will be a success, and great will be his reward. w. a. kellerman, ph. d. _botanical department, ohio state university, columbus, o._ author's note in memoriam it is with feelings of profound sadness that i am impelled to supplement the above introduction by a brief tribute to the memory of that genial gentleman and lovable companion, as well as enthusiastic scientist, the late dr. w. a. kellerman. spending his life in the pursuit of science, the angel of death overtook him while still in search for wider knowledge of nature and her works, and with icy fingers sealed the lids over eyes ever on the alert for the discovery of hidden truths. quiet, reticent, and unassuming, it was given to but few to know the great-hearted, unselfish sweetness of nature underlying his whole life. yet the scientific world in general and nature students especially, recognize in dr. kellerman's death a loss long to be regretted and not soon to be repaired. the foregoing "introduction" from his pen was one of the latest, if not the last of his public writings, done but a few weeks before being stricken with the fatal fever which fell upon him in the forests of guatemala, and so quickly ended his earthly hopes and aspirations. it seems doubly sad that one so well and widely known in his life should be called upon to lay its burdens and its pleasures down while so far away from all who knew and loved him well; and to rest at last among strangers in a strange land. to this beloved friend and companion of so many pleasant days in woods and fields the author of this book desires to pay the tribute of a loving remembrance and heartfelt appreciation. the author. preface "various as beauteous, nature, is thy face; * * * all that grows, has grace. all are appropriate. bog and moss and fen are only poor to undiscerning men. here may the nice and curious eye explore how nature's hand adorns the ruby moor; beauties are these that from the view retire, but will repay th' attention they require." botany and geology have been favorite studies of the author since leaving college, thanks to dr. nelson, who lives in the hearts of all his students. he, by his teachings, made these subjects so attractive and interesting that by one, at least, every spare moment has been given to following up the studies of botany and paleontology. but the mycological part of botany was brought practically to the author's attention by the bohemian children at salem, ohio, at the same time arousing a desire to know the scientific side of the subject and thus to be able to help the many who were seeking a personal knowledge of these interesting plants. every teacher should be able to open the doors of nature to his pupils that they may see her varied handiwork, and, as far as possible, assist in removing the mist from their eyes that they may see clearly the beauties of meadow, wood or hillside. in beginning the fuller study of the subject the writer labored at great disadvantage because, for a number of years, there was but little available literature. every book written upon this subject, in this country, was purchased as soon as it came out and all have been very helpful. the study has been a very great pleasure, and some very delightful friendships have been made while in search for as great a variety of species as possible. for a number of years the object was simply to become familiar with the different genera and species, and no photographs of specimens were made. this was a great mistake; for, after it was determined to bring out this work, it seemed impossible to find many of the plants which the author had previously found in other parts of the state. however, this failure has been very largely overcome through the generous courtesy of his esteemed friends,--mr. c. g. lloyd, of cincinnati; dr. fisher, of detroit; prof. beardslee, of ashville, n. c.; prof. b. o. longyear, of ft. collins, col., and dr. kellerman, of ohio state university,--who have most kindly furnished photographs representing those species found earlier in other parts of the state. the species represented here have all been found in this state within the past few years. the writer is under great obligation to prof. atkinson, of cornell university, for his very great assistance and encouragement in the study of mycology. his patience in examining and determining plants sent him is more fully appreciated than can be expressed here. dr. william herbst, trexlertown, pa., has helped to solve many difficult problems; so also have mr. lloyd, prof. morgan, capt. mcilvaine and dr. charles h. peck, state botanist of new york. the aim of the book has been to describe the species, as far as possible, in terms that will be readily understood by the general reader; and it is hoped that the larger number of illustrations will make the book helpful to those who are anxious to become acquainted with a part of botany so little studied in our schools and colleges. no pains have been spared to get as representative specimens as it was possible to find. a careful study of the illustrations of the plants will, in most cases, very greatly assist the student in determining the classification of the plant when found; but the illustration should not be wholly relied upon, especially in the study of boleti. the description should be carefully studied to see if it tallies with the characteristics of the plant in hand. in many plants where notes had not been taken or had been lost, the descriptions given by the parties naming the plants were used. this is notably so of many of the boleti. the author felt that dr. peck's descriptions would be more accurate and complete, hence they were used, giving him credit. care has been taken to give the translation of names and to show why the plant was so called. it is always a wonder to the uninitiated how the latin name is remembered, but when students see that the name includes some prominent characteristic of the plant and thus discover its applicability, its recollection becomes comparatively easy. the habitat and time of growth of each plant is given, also its edibility. the author was urged by his many friends throughout the state, while in institute work and frequently talking upon this subject, to give them a book that would assist them in becoming familiar with the common mushrooms of their vicinity. the request has been complied with. it is hoped that the work will be as helpful as it has been pleasant to perform. m. e. h. chillicothe, ohio, january , . contents introduction by dr. w. a. kellerman vii preface ix chapter i. why study mushrooms? mushrooms and toadstools what any one may eat how to preserve mushrooms terms used what is a fungus or a mushroom? six groups of mushrooms group i--hymenomycetes family i--agaricaceæ spore prints analytical key chapter ii. the white-spored agarics chapter iii. the rosy-spored agarics chapter iv. the rusty-spored agarics chapter v. the purple-brown-spored agarics chapter vi. the black-spored agarics chapter vii. polyporaceæ. tube-bearing fungi chapter viii. fungi with teeth chapter ix. thelephoraceæ chapter x. clavariaceæ--coral fungi chapter xi. tremellini chapter xii. ascomycetes--spore-sac fungi chapter xiii. nidulariaceæ--bird's nest fungi chapter xiv. group gastromycetes chapter xv. lycoperdaceæ--puff-balls chapter xvi. sphæriaceæ chapter xvii. myxomycetes chapter xviii. recipes for cooking mushrooms chapter xix. how to grow mushrooms glossary a brief history of mycologists chapter i. =why study mushrooms.= some years ago, while in charge of the schools of salem, ohio, we had worked up quite a general interest in the study of botany. it was my practice to go out every day after flowers, especially the rarer ones, of which there were many in this county, and bring in specimens for the classes. there was in the city a wire nail mill, running day and night, whose proprietors brought over, from time to time, large numbers of bohemians as workers in the mill. very frequently, when driving to the country early in the morning, i found the boys and girls of these bohemian families searching the woods, fields and pastures at some distance from town, although they had not been in this country more than a week or two and could not speak a word of english. i soon found that they were gathering mushrooms of various kinds and taking them home for food material. they could not tell me how they knew them, but i quickly learned that they knew them from their general characteristics,--in fact, they knew them as we know people and flowers. i resolved to know something of the subject myself. i had no literature on mycology, and, at that time, there seemed to be little obtainable. about that time there appeared in harper's monthly an article by w. hamilton gibson upon edible toadstools and mushrooms--an article which i thoroughly devoured, soon after purchasing his book upon the subject. salem, ohio, was a very fertile locality for mushrooms and it was not long till i was surprised at the number that i really knew. i remembered that where there is a will there is a way. in i moved to bowling green, ohio; there i found many species which i had found about salem, ohio, but the extremely rich soil, heavy timber and numerous old lake beaches seemed to furnish a larger variety, so that i added many more to my list. after remaining three years in bowling green, making delightful acquaintance with the good people of that city as well as with the flowers and mushrooms of wood county, providence placed me in sidney, ohio, where i found many new species of fungi and renewed my acquaintance with many of those formerly met. since coming to chillicothe i have tried to have the plants photographed as i have found them, but having to depend upon a photographer i could not always do this. i have not found in this vicinity many that i have found elsewhere in the state, although i have found many new things here, a fact which i attribute to the hilly nature of the county. for prints of many varieties of fungi obtained before coming here, i am indebted to my friends. i should advise any one intending to make a study of this subject to have all specimens photographed as soon as they are identified, thus fixing the species for future reference. it seems to me that every school teacher should know something of mycology. some of my teachers have during the past year made quite a study of this interesting subject, and i have found that their pupils kept them busy in identifying their finds. their lists of genera and species, as exhibited on the blackboards at the close of the season were quite long. i found from my bohemian boys and girls that their teachers in their native country had opened for them the door to this very useful knowledge. observation has proven to me conclusively that there is a large and increasing interest in this subject throughout the greater part of ohio. every professional man needs a hobby which he may mount in his hours of relaxation, and i am quite sure there is no field that offers better inducement for a canter than the subject of botany, and especially this particular department of botanical work. i have a friend, a professional man who has an eye and a heart for all the beauties of nature. after hours of confinement in his office at close and critical work he is always anxious for a ramble over the hillsides and through the woods, and when we find anything new he seems to enjoy it beyond measure. many ministers of the gospel have become famous in the mycological world. the names of rev. lewis schweiwitz, of bethlehem, pa.; rev. m. j. berkeley and rev. john stevenson, of england, will live as long as botany is known to mankind. their influence for good and helpfulness to their fellowmen will be everlasting. with such an inspiration, how quickly one is lost to all business cares, and how free and life-giving are the fields, the meadows and the woods, so that one must exclaim with prof. henry willey in his "introduction to the study of the lichen": "if i could put my woods in song, and tell what's there enjoyed, all men would to my garden throng, and leave the cities void. in my lot no tulips blow; snow-loving pines and oaks instead; and rank the savage maples grow, from spring's first flush to autumn red; my garden is a forest ledge, which older forests bound." mushrooms and toadstools =how to tell mushrooms from toadstools.= in all probability no student of mycology has any one query more frequently or persistently pressed upon his attention than the question, "how do you tell a toadstool from a mushroom?"--or if in the woods or fields, in search for new species, with an uninitiated comrade, he has frequently to decide whether a certain specimen "is a mushroom or a toadstool," so firmly fixed is the idea that one class of fungi--the toadstools--are poisonous, and the other--the mushrooms--are edible and altogether desirable; and these inquiring minds frequently seem really disappointed at being told that they are one and the same thing; that there are edible toadstools and mushrooms, and poisonous mushrooms and toadstools; that in short a toadstool is really a mushroom and a mushroom is only a toadstool after all. hence the questions with the beginner is, how he may tell a poisonous fungus from an edible one. there is but one answer to this question, and that is that he must thoroughly learn both genera and species, studying each till he knows its special features as he does those of his most familiar friends. certain species have been tested by a number of people and found to be perfectly safe and savory; on the other hand, there are species under various genera which, if not actually poisonous, are at least deleterious. it is the province of all books on fungi to assist the student in separating the plants into genera and species; in this work special attention has been given to distinguishing between the edible and the poisonous species. there are a few species such as gyromitra esculenta, lepiota morgani, clitocybe illudens, etc., which when eaten by certain persons will cause sickness soon after eating, while others will escape any disagreeable effects. chemically speaking, they are not poisonous, but simply refuse to be assimilated in some stomachs. it is best to avoid all such. =how mushrooms grow.= there is a strong notion that mushrooms grow very quickly, springing up in a single night. this is erroneous. it is true that after they have reached the button stage they develop very quickly; or in the case of those that spring from a mature egg, develop so rapidly that you can plainly see the motion of the upward growth, but the development of the button from the mycelium or spawn takes time--weeks, months, and even years. it would be very difficult to tell the age of many of our tree fungi. =how to learn mushrooms.= if the beginner will avoid all amanitas and perhaps some of the boleti he need not be much worried in regard to the safety of other species. there are three ways by which he can become familiar with the edible kinds. the first is the physiological test suggested by mr. gibson in his book. it consists in chewing a small morsel and then spitting it out without swallowing the juice; if no important symptoms arise within twenty-four hours, another bit may be chewed, this time swallowing a small portion of the juice. should no irritation be experienced after another period of waiting, a still larger piece may be tried. i always sample a new plant carefully, and thus am often able to establish the fact of its edibility before being able to locate it in its proper species. this fall i found for the first time tricholoma columbetta; it was some time after i had proven it an edible mushroom before i had settled upon its name. a better way, perhaps, is to cook them and feed them to your cat and watch the result. another way is to have a friend who knows the plants go with you, and thus you learn under a teacher as a pupil learns in school. this is the quickest way to gain a knowledge of plants of any kind, but it is difficult to find a competent teacher. still another way, and one that is open to all, is to gain a knowledge of a few species and through their description become familiar with the terms used in describing a mushroom; this done, the way is open, if you have a book containing illustrations and descriptions of the most common plants. do not be in a hurry to get the names of all the plants, and do not make use of any about which you are not absolutely sure. in gathering mushrooms to eat, do not put into your basket with those you intend to eat a single mushroom of whose edible qualities you have any doubt. if you have the least doubt about it, discard it, or put it in another basket. there are no fixed rules by which you can tell a poisonous from an edible mushroom. i found a friend of mine eating lepiota naucina, not even knowing to what genus it belonged, simply because she could peel it. i told her that the most deadly mushroom can be peeled just as readily. nor is there anything more valuable in the silver spoon test in which mr. gibson's old lady put so much confidence. some say, do not eat any that have an acrid taste; many are edible whose taste is quite acrid. others say, do not eat any whose juice or milk is white, but this would discard a number of lactarii that are quite good. there is nothing in the white gills and hollow stem theory. it is true that the amanita has both, but it must be known by other characteristics. again we are told to avoid such as have a viscid cap, or those that change color quickly; this is too sweeping a condemnation for it would cut out several very good species. i think i may safely say there is no known rule by which the good can be distinguished from the bad. the only safe way is to know each species by its own individual peculiarities--to know them as we know our friends. the student of mycology has before him a description of each species, which must tally with the plant in hand and which will soon render him familiar with the different features of the various genera and species, so he can recognize them as readily as the features of his best friends. =what anyone may eat.= in the spring of the year there comes with the earliest flowers a mushroom so strongly characteristic in all its forms that no one will fail to recognize it. it is the common morel or sponge mushroom. none of them are known to be harmful, hence here the beginner can safely trust his judgment. while he is gathering morels to eat he will soon begin to distinguish the different species of the genera. from may till frost the different kinds of puff-balls will appear. all puff-balls are good while their interior remains white. they are never poisonous, but when the flesh has begun to turn yellow it is very bitter. the oyster mushroom is found from march to december and is always a very acceptable mushroom. the fairy rings are easily recognized and can be found in any old pasture during wet weather from june to october. in seasonable weather they are usually very plentiful. the common meadow mushroom is found from september to frost. it is known by its pink gills and meaty cap. there is a mushroom with pink gills found in streets, along the pavements and among the cobble stones. the stems are short and the caps are very meaty. it is a. rodmani. these are found in may and june. the horse mushroom has pink gills and may be found from june to september. the russulas, found from july to october, are generally good. a few should be avoided because of their acrid taste or their strong odor. there is no time from early spring till freezing weather when you can not find mushrooms, if the weather is at all favorable. i have given the habitat and the time when each species can be found. i should recommend a careful study of these two points. read the descriptions of plants which grow in certain places and at certain times, and you will generally be rewarded, if you follow out the description and the season is favorable. =how to preserve mushrooms.= many can be dried for winter use, such as the morels, marasmius oreades, boletus edulis, boletus edulis, va. clavipes, and a number of others. my wife has very successfully canned a number of species, notably lycoperdon pyriforme, pleurotus ostreatus and tricholoma personatum. the mushrooms were carefully picked over and washed, let stand in salt water for about five minutes, in order to free them of any insect-life which may be in the gills, then drained, cut into pieces small enough to go into the jars easily. each jar was packed as full as possible with mushrooms and filled up with water salt enough to flavor the mushroom properly. then put into a kettle of cold water on the stove, the lids being loosely placed on the top, and allowed to cook for an hour or more after the water in the kettle begins to boil. the tops were then fastened on securely and after trying the jars to see if there was any leak, they were set away in a cool, dark place. in canning puff-balls they should be carefully washed and sliced, being sure that they are perfectly white all through. they do not need to stand in salt water before packing in the jar as do those mushrooms which have gills. otherwise they were canned as the tricholoma and oyster mushroom. any edible mushroom can easily be kept for winter use by canning. use glass jars with glass tops. terms used =some of the most common terms used.= in describing mushrooms it is necessary to use certain terms, and it will be incumbent upon anyone who wishes to become familiar with this part of botanical work to understand thoroughly the terms used in describing the plants. the substance of all mushrooms is either fleshy, membranaceous, or corky. the _pileus_ or _cap_ is the expanded part, which may be either sessile or supported by a stem. the pileus is not made up of cellular tissue as in flowering plants, but of myriads of interwoven threads or hyphae. this structure of the pileus will become evident at once if a thin portion of the cap is placed under the microscope. the _gills_ or _lamellæ_ are thin plates or membranes radiating from the stem to the margin of the cap. when they are attached squarely and firmly to the stem they are said to be _adnate_. if they are attached only by a part of the width of the gills, they are _adnexed_. should they extend down on the stem, they are _decurrent_. they are _free_ when they are not attached to the stem. frequently the lower edge is notched at, or near, the stem and in this case they are said to be _emarginate_ or _sinuate_. [illustration: figure .--small portion of a section through the spore-bearing layer of a mushroom which produces its spores on the ends of cells called basidium. (a) spores, (b) basidium, (c) sterile cells.] in some genera the lower surface of the cap is full of pores instead of gills; in other genera the lower surface is crowded with teeth; in still others the surface is smooth, as in the stereums. the gills, pores and teeth afford a foundation for the hymenium or fruit-bearing surface. it will be readily seen that the gills, pores and teeth simply expose in a very economical way the greatest possible spore-bearing surface. if a section of the gills be examined by a microscope, it will be observed that upon both sides of the surface are extended hymenial layers. the _hymenium_ consists of elongated cells or basidia (singular, basidium) more or less club-shaped. figure will show how these basidia appear on the hymenial layer when strongly magnified. it will be seen that they are placed side by side and are perpendicular to the surface of the gills. upon each of these basidia are in some species two, usually four, slender projections upon which the spores are produced. in figure a number of sterile cells will be seen which resemble the basidia except that the latter bear four sterigmata upon which the spores rest. among these basidia and sterile cells will frequently be seen an overgrown bladder-like sterile basidium which projects beyond the rest of the hymenium, and whose use is not as yet fully known. they are called cystidia (singular, cystidium). they are never numerous, but they are scattered over the entire surface, becoming more numerous along the edge of the gills. when they are colored, they change the appearance of the gills. [illustration: figure .--rootlike strands of mycelium of the pear-shaped puff-ball growing in rotten wood. young puff-balls in the form of small white knots are forming on the strands. natural size.--_longyear._] the spores are the seeds of the mushroom. they are of various sizes and shapes, with a variety of surface markings. they are very small, as fine as dust, and invisible to the naked eye, except as they are seen in masses on the grass, on the ground, or on logs, or in a spore print. it is the object of every fungus to produce spores. some fall on the parent host or upon the ground. others are wafted away by every rise of the wind and carried for days and finally settle down, it may be, in other states and continents from those in which they started. millions perish because of not finding a suitable resting place. those spores that do find a favorable resting-place, under right conditions, will begin to germinate by sending out a slender thread-like filament, or hyphæ, which at once branches out in search of food material, and which always forms a more or less felted mass, called mycelium. when first formed the hyphæ are continuous and ramify through the nourishing substratum from which there arises afterward a spore-bearing growth known as the sporocarp or young mushroom. this vegetative part of the fungus is usually hidden in the soil, or in decayed wood, or vegetable matter. in figure is a representation of the mycelium of the small pear-shaped puff-ball with a number of small white knobs marking the beginning of the puff-ball. the mycelium exposed here is very similar to the mycelium of all mushrooms. in the pore-bearing genera the hymenium lines the vertical pores; in teeth-bearing fungi it lines the surface of each tooth, or is spread out over the smooth surface of the stereum. the development of the spores is quite interesting. the young basidia as seen in figure are filled with a granular protoplasm. soon small projections, called sterigma (plural, sterigmata), make their appearance on the ends of the basidia and the protoplasm passes into them. each projection or sterigma soon swells at its extremity into a bladder-like body, the young spore, and, as they enlarge, the protoplasm of the basidium is passed into them. when the four spores are full grown they have consumed all the protoplasm in the basidium. the spores soon separate by a transverse partition and fall off. all spores of the hymenomycetous fungi are arranged and produced in a similar manner, with their spore-bearing surface exposed early in life by the rupture of the universal veil. in the puff-balls the spores are arranged in the same way, but the hymenium is inclosed within an outer sack. when the spores are ripe the case is ruptured and the spores escape into the air as a dusty powder. the puff-balls, therefore, belong to the gastromycetous fungi because its spores are inclosed in a pouch until they are matured. another very large group of fungi is the ascomycetes, or sac fungi. it is very easily determined because all of its members develop their spores inside of small membranous sacs or asci. these asci are generally intermixed with slender, empty asci, or sterile cells, called paraphyses. these asci are variously shaped bodies and are known in different orders by different names, such as ascoma, apothecium, perithecium, and receptacle. the ascomycetes often include among their numbers fungi ranging in size from microscopic one-celled plants to quite large and very beautiful specimens. to this group belong the great number of small fungi producing the various plant diseases. in a work of this kind especial attention is naturally given to the order of discomycetes or cup fungi. this order is very large and is so called because so many of the plants are cup shaped. these cups vary greatly in size and form; some are so small that it requires a lens to examine them; some are saucer-shaped; some are like goblets, and some resemble beakers of various shapes. the saddle fungi and morels belong to this order. here the sac surface is often convoluted, lobed, and ridged, in order to afford a greater sac-bearing surface. [illustration: figure .--small portion of a section through the spore-bearing part of a morel in which the spores are produced in little sacs or asci. (a) an ascus, (b) an ascus discharging its spores, (c) the spores, (d) sterile cells. highly magnified.--_longyear._] in the mushrooms, puff-balls, etc., we find the spores were borne on the ends of basidia, usually four spores on each. in this group the spores are formed in minute club-shaped sacs, known as asci (singular, ascus). these asci are long, cylindrical sacs, standing side by side, perpendicular to the fruiting surface. figure will illustrate their position together with the sterile cells on the fruiting surface of one of the morels. they usually have eight spores in each sac or ascus. the stem of the mushroom is usually in the center of the cap, yet it may be eccentric or lateral; when it is wanting, the pileus is said to be sessile. the stem is solid when it is fleshy throughout, or hollow when it has a central cavity, or stuffed when the interior is filled with pithy substance. the stems are either fleshy or cartilaginous. when the former, it is of the same consistency as the pileus. if the latter, its consistency is always different from the pileus, resembling cartilage. the stem of the tricholoma affords a good example of the fleshy stemmed mushroom, and that of the marasmius illustrates the cartilaginous. [illustration: figure .--small portion of a stem of a morel showing cell filaments. highly magnified.--_longyear._] if the cap or stem of a mushroom is examined with a microscope of high magnifying power it will be found to be made up of a continuation of the mycelial filaments, interlaced and interwoven, branching, and the tubular filaments often delicately divided, giving the appearance of cells. figure represents a small portion of a morel stem highly magnified showing the cell filaments. in soft fungi the mycelial threads are more loosely woven and have thin walls with fewer partitions. the _veil_ is a thin sheet of mycelial threads covering the gills, sometimes remaining on the stem, forming a _ring_ or _annulus_. this sometimes remains for a time on the margin of the cap when it is said to be _appendiculate_. sometimes it resembles a spider's web when it is called _arachnoid_. the _volva_ is a universal wrapper, surrounding the entire plant when young, but which is soon ruptured, leaving a trace in the form of scales on the cap and a sheath around the base of the stem, or breaking up into scales or a scaly ring at the base of the stem. all plants having this universal volva should be avoided, further than for the purpose of study. care should be taken that, in their young state, they are not mistaken for puff-balls. frequently when found in the egg state they resemble a small puff-ball. figure represents a section of an amanita in the egg-state and also the gemmed puff-ball. as soon as a section is made and carefully examined the structure of the inside will reveal the plant at once. there is but little danger of confusing the egg stage of an amanita with the puff-ball, for they resemble each other only in their oval shape, and not in the least in their marking on the surface. [illustration: figure .--the lefthand figure represents a vertical section through a young plant of the gemmed puff-ball showing the cellular structure of the stem-like lower half, called the subgleba. the righthand figure shows a vertical section of the egg stage of an amanita, a very poisonous fungus which grows in woods and which might be mistaken for a young puff-ball if not cut open. the fungus forms just below the surface of the soil, finally bursting the volva, sending up a parasol mushroom. natural size.--_longyear._] =what is a fungus or a mushroom?= it is a cellular, flowerless plant, nourished by the mycelium which permeates the soil or other substances on which the fungus or mushroom grows. all fungi are either parasites or saprophytes which have lost their chlorophyll, and are incapable of supporting an independent existence. there is a vast number of genera and species, and many have the parasitic habit which causes them to enter the bodies of other plants and of animals. for this reason all fungi are of economic importance, especially the microscopic forms classed under the head of bacteria. some recent writers are inclined to separate the bacteria and slime-molds from the fungus group, and call them fungus animals. however this may be, they are true plants and have many of the characteristics of the fungi. they may differ from the fungi in their vegetative functions, yet they have so many things in common that i am inclined to place them under this group. many, such as the yeast fungus, the various fermentative fungi, and the bacteria concerned in the process of decomposition, are indeed very useful. the enrichment and preparation of soils for the uses of higher plants, effected by bacteria, are very important services. parasites derive their nourishment from living plants and animals. they are so constituted that when their nourishing threads come within range of the living plant they answer a certain impulse by sending out special threads, enveloping the host and absorbing nutrition. saprophitic plants do not experience this reaction from the living plants. they are compelled to get their nourishment from decaying products of plants or animals, consequently they live in rich ground or leaf mold, on decayed wood, or on dung. parasites are usually small, being limited by their host. saprophytes are not thus limited for food supply and it is possible to build up large plants such as the common mushroom group, puff-balls, etc. the spores are the seeds or reproductive bodies of the mushroom. they are very fine, and invisible to the naked eye except when collected together in great masses. underneath mushrooms, frequently, the grass or wood will be white or plainly discolored from the spores. the hymenium is the surface or part of the plant which bears the spores. the hymenophore is the part which supports the hymenium. in the common mushroom, and in fact many others, the spores develop on a certain club-like cell, called basidium (plural, basidia), on each of which four spores usually develop. in morels these cells are elongated into cylindrical membranous sacs called asci, in each of which eight spores are usually developed. the spores will be found of various colors, shapes, and sizes, a fact which will be of great assistance to the student in locating strange species and genera. in germination the spores send out slender threads which botanists call mycelium, but which common readers know as spawn. the method and place of spore development furnish a basis for the classification of fungi. the best way to acquire a thorough knowledge of both our edible and poisonous mushrooms is to study them in the light of the primary characters employed in their classification and their natural relation to each other. there is a wide difference of opinion as to the classification of mushrooms. perhaps the most simple and satisfactory is that of underwood and cook. they arrange them under six groups: . basidiomycetes--those in which the spores or reproductive bodies are naked or external as shown in illustration on page . . ascomycetes--those in which the spores are inclosed in sacs or asci. these sacs are very clearly represented in illustration figure on page . this will include the morels, pezizæ, pyrenomycetes, tuberaceæ, sphairiacei, etc. . physcomycetes--including the mucorini, saprolegniaceæ, and peronosporeæ. potato rot and downy mildew on grape vines belong to this family. . myxomycetes--slime moulds. . saccharomycetes--yeast fungi. . schizomycetes--are minute, unicellular protophytes which reproduce mainly by transverse fission. class, fungi--sub-class, basidiomycetes. this class will include all gill-bearing fungi, polyporus, boletus, hydnum, etc. fungi of this class are divided into four natural groups: . hymenomycetes. . gasteromycetes. . uredinæ. . ustilagineæ. group --hymenomycetes. under this group will be placed all fungi composed of membranes, fleshy, woody, or gelatinous, whether growing on the ground or on wood. the hymenium, or spore-bearing surface, is external at an early stage in the life of the plant. the spores are borne on basidia as explained in figure , page . when the spores ripen they fall to the ground or are carried by the wind to a host that presents all the conditions necessary for germination; there they produce the mycelia or white thread-like vines that one may have noticed in plowing sod, in old chip piles, or decayed wood. if one will examine these threads there will be found small knots which will in time develop into the full grown mushroom. hymenomycetes are divided into six families: . agaricaceæ. hymenium with gills. . polyporaceæ. hymenium with pores. . hydnaceæ. hymenium with spines. . thelephoraceæ. hymenium horizontal and mostly on the under surface. . clavariaceæ. hymenium on a smooth club-shaped surface. . tremellaceæ. hymenium even and superior. gelatinous fungi. family --agaricaceae. [illustration: figure .--spore-print of agaricus arvensis.] in the agaricaceæ or common mushrooms, and in all other of similar structure, the spore-producing membranes are found on the under surface of the cap. they consist of thin lamellæ, or gills, attached by the upper edge to the cap and extending from the stem to the margin of the cap. very frequently that space may be entirely utilized by shorter lamellæ, or gills, intervening between the longer, especially toward the margin of the cap. in a few species where the stem seems to be wanting, or where it is attached to the side of the cap, the lamellæ, or gills, radiate from the point of attachment or from the lateral stem to other parts of the circumference of the cap. berkeley gives the following characteristics: hymenium, inferior, spread over easily divisible gills or plates, radiating from a center or stem, which may be either simple or branched. this family includes the following genera: . agaricus--gills, not melting, edge acute; including all the sub-genera which have been elevated to the rank of genera. . coprinus--gills deliquescent, spores black. . cortinarius--gills persistent, veil spider-web-like, terrestrial. . paxillus--gills separating from the hymenophorum and decurrent. . gomphidius--gills branched and decurrent, pileus top-shaped. . bolbitius--gills becoming moist, spores colored. . lactarius--gills milky, terrestrial. . russula--gills equal, rigid, and brittle, terrestrial. . marasmius--gills thick, tough, hymenium dry. . hygrophorus--stem confluent with the hymenophorum; gills sharp edged. . cantharellus--gills thick, branched, rounded edge. . lentinus--pileus hairy, hard, tough; gills, tough, unequal, toothed; on logs and stumps. . lenzites--whole plant corky; gills simple or branched. . trogia--gills venose, fold-like, channelled. . panus--gills corky, with acute edge. . nyctalis--veil universal; gills broad, often parasitic. . schizophyllum--gills corky, split longitudinally. . xerotus--gills tough, fold-like. therefore the gill-bearing fungi are known under the family name, agaricaceæ, or more generally known as agarics. [illustration: figure .--spore-print of hypholoma sublatertium.] this family is divided into five series, according to the color of their spores. the spores when seen in masses possess certain colors, white, rosy, rusty, purple-brown and black. therefore the first and most important part to be determined in locating a mushroom is to ascertain the color of the spores. to do this, take a fresh, perfect, and fully developed specimen, remove the stem from the cap. place the cap with the gills downward on the surface of dark velvety paper, if you suspect the spores to be white. invert a finger bowl or a bell glass over the cap to keep the air from blowing the spores away. if the spores should be colored, white paper should be used. if the specimen is left too long the spore deposit will continue upward between the gills and it may reach an eighth of an inch in height, in which case if great care is taken in removing the cap there will be a perfect likeness of the gills and also the color of the spores. [illustration: figure .--spore-print of a flammula.] there are two ways of making these spore prints quite permanent. first take a piece of thin rice paper, muscilage it and allow it to dry, then proceed as above. in this way the print will stand handling quite a little. another way, and that used to prepare the spore-prints in these photographs, is to obtain the spore-print upon japanese paper as in the preceding method, then by an atomizer spray the print gently and carefully with a fixative such as is used in fixing charcoal drawings. success in making spore-prints requires both time and care, but the satisfaction they give is ample recompense for the trouble. it is more difficult to obtain good prints from the white-spored mushrooms than from those bearing colored spores, because it is hard to obtain a black paper having a dull velvety surface, and the spores will not adhere well to a smooth-finished, glossy paper. for the prints illustrated i am indebted to mrs. blackford. [illustration: figure .--spore-print of a boletus.] if the plant is dry it is well to moisten the fingerbowl or bell-glass on the inside before placing it over the mushroom. the spores of boleti, and, indeed, all fungi can be caught and fixed in the same way. from the study of these spore-prints we shall find five different colors of spores. this family is, therefore, divided into five series, determined by the color of the spores, which are always constant in color, size and shape. the five series will be treated in the following order: . the white-spored agarics. . the rosy-spored agarics. . the rusty-spored agarics. . the purple-brown-spored agarics. . the black-spored agarics. =analytical key.= this key is largely based upon cooke's analytical key. its use will help to locate the plant in hand in the genus to which it belongs. the first thing the student should do is to determine the color of the spore if it is not evident. this is best done according to the plan described on page . the plant should be fresh and mature. careful attention should be given to different stages of development. the habit of the plant should be considered; then, as soon as the color of the spores is determined, it will be an easy matter to locate the genus by means of the key. group i--hymenomycetes. mycelium floccose, giving rise to a distinct hymenium, fungus fleshy, membranaceous, woody or gelatinous. spores naked. hymenium, normally inferior-- hymenium with gills agaricaceæ. hymenium with pores polyporaceæ. hymenium with teeth hydnaceæ. hymenium even thelophoraceæ. hymenium, superior-- hymenium on smooth surface, club-shaped, clavariaceæ. hymenium lobed, convolute, gelatinous, tremellaceæ. family --agaricaceae. hymenium inferior, pileus more or less expanded, convex, bell-shaped. gills radiating from the point of attachment of the pileus with the stem, or from a lateral stem to other parts of the cap, simple or branched. i. spores white or slightly tinted. _a._ plants fleshy, more or less firm, decaying soon. _a._ stem fleshy, pileus easily separating from the stem. volva present and ring on the stem. pileus bearing warts or patches free from the cuticle amanita. volva present, ring wanting amanitopsis. pileus scaly, scales concrete with cuticle, volva wanting, ring present lepiota. hymenophore confluent, without cartilaginous bark, _b._ stem central, ring present (sometimes vague), volva wanting, gills attached armillaria. without a ring, gills sinuate tricholoma. gills decurrent, edges acute clitocybe. edges swollen cantharellus. gills adnate, parasitic on other mushrooms nyctalis. not parasitic, milky lactarius. not exuding juice when bruised, rigid and brittle russula. quite viscid, waxy consistency hygrophorus. _c._ stem lateral or none, rarely central pleurotus. _d._ stem with cartilaginous bark, gills adnate collybia. gills sinuate mycena. gills decurrent omphalia. plants tough, fleshy, membranaceous, leathery, stem central, gills simple marasmius. gills branched xerotus. _b._ plants gelatinous and leathery heliomyces. stem lateral or wanting, edge of gills serrate lentinus. edge of gills entire panus. gills fold-like, irregular trogia. edge of gills split longitudinally schizophyllum. _c._ plants corky or woody, gills anastomosing. lenzites. ii. spores rosy or salmon color. _a._ stem central. gills free, stem easily separating from pileus. without cartilaginous stem, volva present and distinct, no ring volvaria. without a volva, with a ring annularia. without a volva and without a ring pluteus. _b._ stem fleshy to fibrous, margin of pileus at first incurved, gills sinuate or adnate entoloma. gills decurrent clitopilus. _c._ stem eccentric or none, pileus lateral claudopus. gills decurrent, pileus umbilicate eccilia. gills not decurrent, pileus torn into scales, and slightly convex, margin at first involute leptonia. pileus bell-shaped, margin at first straight nolanea. iii. spores rusty-brown or yellow-brown. _a._ stem not cartilaginous, _a._ stem central, with a ring, ring continuous pholiota. veil arachnoid, gills adnate, powdery from spores cortinarius. gills decurrent or adnate, mostly epiphytal flammula. gills somewhat sinuate, cuticle of the pileus silky, or bearing fibrils inocybe. cuticle smooth, viscid hebeloma. gills separating from the hymenophore and decurrent paxillus. _b._ stem lateral or absent crepidotus. _b._ stem cartilaginous, gills decurrent tubaria. gills not decurrent, margin of the pileus at first incurved naucoria. margin of pileus always straight, hymenophore free pluteolus. hymenophore confluent galera. gills dissolving into a gelatinous condition bolbitius. iv. spores purple-brown. _a._ stem not cartilaginous, pileus easily separating from the stem, volva present, ring wanting chitonia. volva and ring wanting pilosace. volva wanting, ring present agaricus. gills confluent, ring present on stem stropharia. ring wanting, veil remaining attached to margin of pileus hypholoma. _b._ stem cartilaginous, gills decurrent deconia. gills not decurrent, margin of pileus at first incurved psilocybe. margin of pileus at first straight psathyra. v. black spored mushrooms. gills deliquescent coprinus. gills not deliquescent, gills decurrent gomphidius. gills not decurrent, pileus striate psathyrella. pileus not striate, ring wanting, veil often present on margin panæolus. ring wanting, veil appendiculate chalymotta. ring present anellaria. chapter ii. the white-spored agarics. the species bearing the white spores seem to be higher in type than those producing colored spores. most of the former are firmer, while the black spored specimens soon deliquesce. the white spores are usually oval, sometimes round, and in many cases quite spiny. all white-spored specimens will be found in clean places. _amanita. pers._ _amanita_ is supposed to be derived from mount amanus, an ancient name of a range separating cilicia from syria. it is supposed that galen first brought specimens of this fungus from that region. the genus _amanita_ has both a volva and veil. the spores are white and the stem is readily separable from the cap. the volva is universal at first, enveloping the young plant, yet distinct and free from the cuticle of the pileus. this genus contains some of the most deadly poisonous mushrooms, although a few are known to be very good. there is a large number of species--about being known, of which have been found in this country--a few being quite common in this state. all the amanita are terrestrial plants, mostly solitary in their habits, and chiefly found in the woods, or in well wooded grounds. in the button stage it resembles a small egg or puff-ball, as will be seen in figure , page , and great care should be taken to distinguish it from the latter, if one is hunting puff-balls to eat; yet the danger is not great, since the volva usually breaks before the plant comes through the ground. _amanita phalloides. fr._ the deadly amanita. [illustration: figure .--amanita phalloides. fr. showing volva at the base, cap dark.] [illustration: figure .--amanita phalloides. fr. white form showing volva, scaly stem, ring.] _phalloides_ means phallus-like. this plant and its related species are deadly poisonous. for this reason the plant should be carefully studied and thoroughly known by every mushroom hunter. in different localities, and sometimes in the same locality, the plant will appear in very different shades of color. there are also variations in the way in which the volva is ruptured, as well as in the character of the stem. the beginner will imagine he has a new species often, till he becomes thoroughly acquainted with all the idiosyncrasies of this plant. the pileus is smooth, even, viscid when young and moist, frequently adorned with a few fragments of the volva, white, grayish white, sometimes smoky-brown; whether the pileus be white, oyster-color or smoky-brown, the center of the cap will be several shades darker than the margin. the plant changes from a knob or egg-shape when young, to almost flat when fully expanded. many plants have a marked umbo on the top of the cap and the rim of the cap may be slightly turned up. the gills are always white, wide, ventricose, rounded next to the stem, and free from it. the stem is smooth, white unless in cases where the cap is dark, then the stem of those plants are apt to be of the same color, tapering upward as in the specimen (fig. ); stuffed, then hollow, inclined to discolor when handled. the volva of this species is quite variable and more or less buried in the ground, where careful observation will reveal it. one need never confound this species with the meadow mushroom, for the spores of that are always purple-brown, while a spore-print of this will always reveal white spores. i have seen a slight tint of pink in the gills of the a. phalloides but the spores were always white. until one knows thoroughly both lepiota naucina and a. phalloides before eating the former he should always hunt carefully for the remains of a volva and a bulbous base in the soil. this plant is quite conspicuous and inviting in all of its various shades of color. it is found in woods, and along the margin of woods, and sometimes on lawns. it is from four to eight inches high and the pileus from three to five inches broad. there is a personality about the plant that renders it readily recognizable after it has once been learned. found from august to october. _amanita recutita. fr._ the fresh-skinned amanita. poisonous. recutita, having a fresh or new skin. pileus convex, then expanded, dry, smooth, often covered with small scales, fragments of the volva; margin almost even, gray or brownish. the gills forming lines down the stem. the stem stuffed, then hollow, attenuated upward, silky, white, ring distant, edge of volva not free, frequently obliterated. rather common where there is much pine woods. august to october. this species differs from a. porphyria in ring not being brown or brownish. _amanita virosa. fr._ the poisonous amanita. virosa, full of poison. the pileus is from four to five inches broad; the entire plant white, conical, then expanded; viscid when moist; margin often somewhat lobed, even. the gills are free, crowded. the stem is frequently six inches long, stuffed, round, with a bulbous base, attenuated upward, squamulose, ring near apex, volva large, lax. the spores are subglobose, - µ. this is probably simply a form of a. phalloides. it is found in damp woods. august to october. _amanita muscaria. linn._ the fly amanita. poisonous. [illustration: figure .--amanita muscaria.--_linn._ cap reddish or orange, showing scales on the cap and at base of stem.] muscaria, from musca, a fly. the fly amanita is a very conspicuous and handsome plant. it is so called because infusions of it are used to kill flies. i have frequently seen dead flies on the fully developed caps, where they had sipped of the dew upon the cap, and, like the lotos-eaters of old, had forgotten to move away. it is a very abundant plant in the woods of columbiana county, this state. it is also found frequently in many localities about chillicothe. it is often a very handsome and attractive plant, because of the bright colors of the cap in contrast with the white stem and gills, as well as the white scales on the surface of the cap. these scales seem to behave somewhat differently from those of other species of amanita. instead of shrivelling, curling, and falling off they are inclined to adhere firmly to the smooth skin of the pileus, turning brownish, and in the maturely expanded plant appear like scattered drops of mud which have dried upon the pileus, as you will observe in figure . the pileus is three to five inches broad, globose at first, then dumb-bell in shape, convex, then expanded, nearly flat in age; margin in matured plants slightly striate; the surface of the cap is covered with white floccose scales, fragments of the volva, these scales being easily removed so that old plants are frequently comparatively smooth. the color of the young plant is normally red, then orange to pale yellow; late in the season, or in old plants, it fades to almost white. the flesh is white, sometimes stained yellow close to the cuticle. the gills are pure white, very symmetrical, various in length, the shorter ones terminating under the cap very abruptly, crowded, free, but reaching the stem, decurrent in the form of lines somewhat broader in front, sometimes a slight tinge of yellow will be observed in the gills. the stem is white, often yellowish with age, pithy and often hollow, becoming rough and shaggy, finally scaly, the scales below appearing to merge into the form of an obscure cup, the stem four to six inches long. the veil covers the gills of the young plant and later is seen as a collar-like ring on the stem, soft, lax, deflexed, in old specimens it is often destroyed. the spores are white and broadly elliptical. the history of this plant is as interesting as a novel. its deadly properties were known to the greeks and romans. the pages of history record its undoing and its accessory to crime. pliny says, alluding to this species, "very conveniently adapted for poisoning." this was undoubtedly the species that agrippina, the mother of nero, used to poison her husband, the emperor claudius; and the same that nero used in that famous banquet when all his guests, his tribunes and centurions, and agrippina herself, fell victims to its poisonous properties. however, it is said this mushroom is habitually eaten by certain people as an intoxicant; indeed, it is used in kamchatka and asiatic russia, generally, where the amanita drunkard takes the place of the opium fiend and the alcohol bibber in other countries. by reading colonel george kennan in his "tent-life in siberia," and cooke's "seven sisters of sleep," you will find a full description of the toxic employment of this fungus which will far surpass any possible imagination. it caused the death of the czar alexis of russia; also count de vecchi, with a number of his friends, in washington in . he was in search of the orange amanita and found this, and the consequences were serious. in size, shape, and color of the cap there is similarity, but in other respects the two are very different. they may be contrasted as follows: orange amanita, edible.--cap _smooth_, gills _yellow_, stem _yellow_, wrapper _persistent_, _membranaceous_, _white_. fly amanita, poisonous.--cap _warty_, gills _white_, stem _white_, or slightly _yellowish_, wrapper _soon breaking_ into _fragments or scales_, white or sometimes yellowish brown. found along roadsides, wood margins, and in thin woods. it prefers poor soil, and is more abundant where poplar and hemlock grow. from june to frost. [illustration: figure .--amanita muscaria.--_linn._ one-half natural size, showing development of the plant.] _amanita frostiana. pk._ frost's amanita. poisonous. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--amanita frostiana.] frostiana, named in honor of charles c. frost. the pileus is convex, expanded, bright orange or yellow, warty, sometimes smooth, striate on the margin, pileus one to three inches broad. the gills are free, white, or slightly tinged with yellow. the stem is white or yellow, stuffed, bearing a slight, sometimes evanescent, ring, bulbous, at the base, the bulb slightly margined by the volva. the spores globose, - µ in diameter. _peck._ great care should be taken to distinguish this species from a. cæsarea because of its often yellow stem and gills. i found some beautiful specimens on cemetery hill and on ralston's run. it is very poisonous and should be carefully avoided, or rather, it should be thoroughly known that it may be avoided. the striations on the margin of its yellow tinge might lead one to mistake it for the orange amanita. it is found in shady woods and sometimes in open places where there is underbrush. june to october. _amanita verna. bull._ the spring amanita. poisonous. [illustration: figure .--amanita verna. two-thirds natural size, showing the volva cup and the ring.] verna, pertaining to spring. this species is considered by some only a white variety of amanita phalloides. the plant is always a pure white. it can only be distinguished from the white form of the a. phalloides by its closer sheathing volva and perhaps a more ovate pileus when young. the pileus is at first ovate, then expanded, somewhat depressed, viscid when moist, even, margin naked, smooth. the gills are free. the stem is stuffed, with advancing age hollow, equal, floccose, white, ringed, base bulbous, volva closely embracing the stem with its free margin, ring forming a broad collar, reflexed. the spores are globose, µ broad. this species is very abundant on the wooded hills in this section of the state. its pure white color makes it an attractive plant, and it should be carefully learned. i have found it before the middle of june. _amanita magnivelaris. pk._ the large veiled amanita. poisonous. magnivelaris is from _magnus_, large; _velum_, a veil. the pileus is convex, often nearly plane, with even margin, smooth, slightly viscid when moist, white or yellowish-white. the gills are free, close, white. the stem is long, nearly equal, white, smooth, furnished with a large mebranaceous volva, the bulbous base tapering downward and rooting. the spores are broadly elliptical. this species very closely resembles amanita verna, from which it can be distinguished by its large, persistent annulus, the elongated downward-tapering bulb of its stem, and, especially, by its elliptical spores. it is found solitary and in the woods. i found several on ralston's run under beech trees. found from july to october. _amanita pellucidula. ban._ pileus at first campanulate, then expanded, slightly viscid, fleshy in center, attenuated at the margin; color a smooth bright red, deeper at the top, shaded into clear transparent yellow at the margin; glossy, flesh white, unchanging. the gills are ventricose, free, numerous, yellow. the stem is stuffed, ring descending, fugacious. peck's th report. this species differs from amanita cæsarea in having an even margin and a white stem. it is only a form of the cæsarea. the white stem will attract the attention of the collector. _amanita solitaria. bull._ the solitary amanita. [illustration: figure .--amanita solitaria. two-thirds natural size, showing the peculiar veil.] [illustration: figure .--amanita solitaria. two-thirds natural size, showing scaly cap and stem.] [illustration: plate ii. figure .--amanita solitaria. natural size, showing scaly cap and stem, plant white.] solitary, growing alone. i have found this plant in various parts of the state and have always found them growing alone. in poke hollow, where i found the specimens in the illustrations, i found several on the hillside on different occasions, but i have never found them growing in groups. it is quite large in size, white or whitish, very woolly or floccose. usually the cap, stem, and the gills are covered with a floccose substance which will serve to identify the species. this fluffy exterior adheres readily to your hands or clothing. the cap is sometimes tinged with brown, but the flesh is white and smells quite strong, not unlike chloride of lime. the annulus is frequently torn from the stem and is found adhering to the margin of the cap. the pileus is from three to five inches broad, or more, when fully expanded, at first globose to hemispherical, as will be seen in figures and , convex, or plane, warty, white or whitish, the pointed scales being easily rubbed off, or washed off by heavy rains, these scales varying in size from small granules to quite large conical flakes, and differing in condition and color in different plants. the gills are free, or are not attached by the upper part, the edges are frequently floccose where they are torn from the slight connection with the upper surface of the veil; white, or slightly tinged with cream-color, broad. the stem is four to eight inches high, solid, becoming stuffed when old, bulbous, rooting deep in the soil, very scaly, ventricose sometimes in young plants, white, very mealy. volva friable. ring, large, lacerated, usually hanging to the margin of the cap, but in figure it adheres to the stem. this is a large and beautiful plant in the woods, and easily identified because of its floccose nature and the large bulb at the base of the stem. it is not so warty and the odor is not nearly so strong as the amanita strobiliformis. it is edible but very great caution should be used to be sure of your species. found from july to october in woods and roadsides. _amanita radicata. pk._ [illustration: figure .--amanita radicata. two-thirds natural size, showing scaly cap, bulbous stem and root broken off and peculiar veil.] radicata means furnished with a root. the root of the specimen in figure was broken off in getting it out of the ground. the pileus is subglobose, becoming convex, dry, verrucose, white, margin even, flesh firm, white, odor resembling that of chloride of lime. the gills are close, free, white. the stem is solid, deeply radicating, swollen at the base or bulbous, floccose or mealy at the top, white; veil thin, floccose, or mealy, white, soon lacerated and attached in fragments to the margin of the pileus or evanescent. the spores are broadly elliptic, . - µ long, - µ broad. _peck._ this is quite a large and beautiful plant, very closely related to amanita strobiliformis, but readily distinguished from it because of its white color, its clearly radiating stem, and small spores. the stem shows to be bulbous and the cap covered with warts. i found the plant frequently in poke hollow and on ralston's run. july and august. [illustration: figure .--amanita radicata.] _amanita strobiliformis. fr._ the fir-cone amanita. [illustration: plate iii. figure .--amanita strobiliformis. young plant showing veil covering the entire gill-surface of the plant. cap covered with persistent warts, stem rough and rooting, odor strong of chloride of lime.] [illustration: plate iv. figure .--amanita strobiliformis. showing long root.] strobiliformis means fir-cone form; so called from the similarity of its undeveloped form to that of the strobile of the pine. the pileus is six to eight inches broad, when young, subglobose, then convex, expanded, nearly plane, with persistent warts, white, ash-color, sometimes yellow on the cap, the margin even and extending beyond the gills; warts hard, angular, pointed, white; flesh white, compact. the gills are free, crowded, rounded, white, becoming yellow. the stem is five to eight inches long, frequently longer, tapering upward, floccosely scaly, bulbous, rooting beyond the bulb; ring large, torn; volva forming concentric rings. the spores are - × - µ. this is one of the most stately plants in the woods. it is said to be edible, but the strong pungent odor, like chloride of lime, has deterred me from eating it. this, however, is said to disappear in cooking. it grows to be very large. dr. kellerman and i found a specimen in haynes's hollow whose stem measured over eleven inches, and cap nine inches. it is found in open woods and wood margins. great caution should be used before the plant is eaten to know it beyond doubt. found july to october. _amanita mappa. fr._ the delicate amanita. poisonous. [illustration: figure .--amanita mappa. natural size, showing long smooth stem, cap yellowish-white and ring.] mappa means a napkin, so called from the volva. the pileus is two to three inches broad, convex, then expanded, plane, obtuse or depressed, without separable cuticle; margin nearly even; white or yellowish, usually with patches of the volva dry. the gills are adnexed, close, narrow, shining, white. the stem is two to three inches long, stuffed, then hollow, cylindrical, nearly smooth, bulbous, nearly globose at the base, white, almost equal above the bulb. the volva with its free margin is acute and narrow. the ring is membranaceous, superior, soft, lax, ragged. its color is quite as variable and its habits are much like a. phalloides, from which it can only be distinguished by its less developed volva, which, instead of being cup-shaped, is little more than a mere rim fringing the bulb. the odor at times is very strong. it is found in open woods and under brush. label it poisonous. _amanita crenulata. pk._ [illustration: figure .--amanita crenulata.] crenulata means bearing notches, referring to the crenulate form of the gills, which are very distinct. the pileus is thin, two to two and a half inches broad, broadly ovate, becoming convex, or nearly plane, somewhat striate on the margin, adorned with a few thin whitish floccose warts or with whitish flocculent patches, whitish or grayish, sometimes tinged with yellow. the gills are close, reaching the stem, and sometimes forming decurrent lines upon it, floccose crenulate on the edge, the short ones truncate at the inner extremity, white. the stem is equal, bulbous, floccose mealy above, stuffed or hollow, white, the annulus slight, evanescent. spores broadly elliptic or subglobose, . - long, nearly as broad, usually containing a single large nucleus. _peck_, bull. tor. bot. club. the stem is bulbous at the base but the volva is rarely seen upon it although slight patches are frequently seen on the pileus. the ring is very evanescent and soon disappears. the specimens i have received from mrs. blackford look good enough to eat and she speaks highly of the edible qualities of this species. so far as i know this plant is confined to the new england states. found from september to november. it grows in low damp ground under trees. _amanita cothurnata. atkinson._ the booted amanita. [illustration: figure .--amanita cothurnata. slightly reduced from natural size, showing different stages of development.] cothurnata means buskined; from corthunus, a high shoe or buskin worn by actors. this species is easily separated from the other amanitas. i shall give prof. atkinson's description of it in full: "the pileus is fleshy and passes from nearly globose to hemispherical, convex, expanded, and when specimens are very old sometimes the margin is elevated. it is usually white, though specimens are found with a tinge of citron yellow in the center or of tawny yellow in the center of other specimens. the pileus is viscid, strongly so when moist. it is finely striate on the margin, and covered with numerous, white, floccose scales from the upper half of the volva, forming more or less dense patches, which may wash off in heavy rains. the gills are rounded next the stem, and quite remote from it. the edge of the gills is often eroded or frazzly from the torn-out threads with which they were loosely connected to the upper side of the veil in the young or button stage. the spores are globose or nearly so, with a large "nucleus" nearly filling the spore. the stem is cylindrical, even, and expanded below into quite a large oval bulb, the stem just above the bulb being margined by a close-fitting roll of the volva, and the upper edge of this presenting the appearance of having been sewed at the top like the rolled edge of a garment or buskin. the surface of the stem is minutely floccose, scaly or strongly so, and decidedly hollow even from a very young stage or sometimes when young with loose threads in the cavity. a. cothurnata resembles in many points a. frostiana and it will afford the collector a very interesting study to note the points of difference. i found the two species growing on cemetery hill. figure is from plants collected in michigan and photographed by dr. fisher. found in september and october. _amanita rubescens. fr._ the reddish amanita. edible. [illustration: figure .--amanita rubescens. one-third natural size, caps a dingy reddish-brown, stains reddish when bruised.] rubescens is from _rubesco_, to become red. it is so called because of the dingy reddish color of the entire plant, and also because when the plant is handled or bruised it quickly changes to a reddish color. it is often a large bulky plant and rather uninviting. the pileus is four to six inches broad, dingy reddish, often becoming pale flesh color, fleshy, oval to convex, then expanded; sprinkled with small pale warts, unequal, mealy, scattered, white, easily separating; margin even, faintly striate, especially in wet weather; flesh soft, white, becoming red when broken. the gills are white or whitish, free from the stem but reaching it and forming at times decurrent lines upon it, thin, crowded. the stem is four or five inches long, nearly cylindrical, solid, though inclined to be soft within, tapering from the base up, with a bulbous base which often tapers abruptly below, containing reddish scales, color dull red. it has seldom any distinct evidence of a volva at the base but abundant evidence on the cap. ring large, superior, white, and fragile. the plant is quite variable in color, sometimes becoming almost white with a slight reddish or brownish tint. the strong distinguishing character of the species is the almost entire absence of any remains of the volva at the base of the stem. by this, and by the dull red hues and the bruised portions quickly changing to a reddish color, it is easily distinguished from any of the poisonous amanitas. according to cordier it is largely used as an article of food in france. stevenson and cooke speak well of it. i noticed the small bohemian boys gathered it about salem, ohio, not having been in this country more than a week and not being able to speak a word of english. it convinced me that it was an article of diet in bohemia and that our species is similar to theirs. i have found the plants in woods about bowling green and sidney, ohio. the plants in figure were collected on johnson's island, sandusky, ohio, and photographed by dr. kellerman. it is found from june to september. _amanita aspera. fr._ rough amanita. aspera means rough. the pileus is convex, then plane; warts minute, somewhat crowded, nearly persistent; margin even, rather thin, increasing in thickness toward the stem; scarcely umbonate, reddish with various tints of livid and gray; flesh rather solid, white, with tints of reddish-brown immediately next to the epidermis. the gills are free, with sometimes a little tooth behind, running down the stem, white, broad in front. the stem is white, squamulose, bulb rugulose, ring superior and entire. the spores are × µ. when the flesh is bruised or eaten by insects it assumes a reddish-brown color, and in this respect it resembles a. rubescens. the odor is strong but the taste is not unpleasant. in woods from june till october. the collector should be sure he knows the plant before he eats it. _amanita cæsarea. scop._ the orange amanita. edible. [illustration: figure .--amanita cæsarea. from a drawing showing the different stages of the plant. caps, gills, stem and collar yellow, volva white.] [illustration: _photo by h. c. beardslee._ figure .--amanita cæsarea.] the orange amanita is a large, attractive, and beautiful plant. i have marked it edible, but no one should eat it unless he is thoroughly acquainted with all the species of the genus amanita, and then with great caution. it is said to have been cæsar's favorite mushroom. the pileus is smooth, hemispherical, bell-shaped, convex, and when fully expanded nearly flat, the center somewhat elevated and the margin slightly curved downward; red or orange, fading to yellow on the margin; usually the larger and well-developed specimens have the deeper and richer color, the color being always more marked in the center of the pileus; margin distinctly striate; gills rounded at the stem end and not attached to the stem, yellow, free and straight. the color of the gills of matured plants usually is an index to the color of the spores but it is an exception in this case as the spores are white. the stem and the flabby membranaceous collar that surrounds it toward the top are yellow like the gills, the depth of the color varying more with the size of the plant than is the case with color of the cap. sometimes in small and inferior plants the color of both stem and gills is nearly white, and if the volva is not distinct it is difficult to distinguish it from the fly mushroom, which is very poisonous. the stem is hollow, with a soft cottony pith in the young plants. in very young plants the edge of the collar is attached to the margin of the cap and conceals the gills, but with the upward growth of the stem and the expansion of the cap the collar separates from the margin and remains attached to the stem, where it hangs down upon it like a ruffle. the expanded cap is usually from three to six inches broad, the stem from four to six inches long and tapering upward. when in the button stage, the plant is ovate; and the white color of the volva, which now entirely surrounds the plant, presents an appearance much like a hen's egg in size, color, and shape. as the parts within develop, the volva ruptures in its upper part, the stem elongates and carries upward the cap, while the remains of the volva surrounds the base of the stem in the form of a cup. when the volva first breaks at the apex, it reveals the point of the cap with its beautiful red color and in contrast with the white volva makes quite a pretty plant, but with advancing age the red or orange red fades to a yellow. in drying the specimens the red often entirely disappears. in young, as well as in old plants, the margin is often prominently marked with striations, as will be seen in figures and . the flesh of the plant is white but more or less stained with yellow next to the epidermis and the gills, which are of that color. the plant grows in wet weather from july to october. it grows in thin woods and seems to prefer pine woods and sandy soil. i have found it from the south tier of counties to the north of our state. it is not, however, a common plant in ohio. from its several names--cæsar's agaric, imperial mushroom, cibus deorum, kaiserling--one would infer that for ages it had been held in high esteem as an esculent. too great caution cannot be used in distinguishing it from the very poisonous fly mushroom. _amanita spreta. pk._ hated amanita. poisonous. spreta, hated. the pileus at first is nearly ovate, slightly umbonate, then convex, smooth, sometimes fragments of the volva adhering, the margin striate, whitish or pale-brown toward and on the umbo, soft, dry, more or less furrowed on the margin. the flesh is white, thin on the edges, and increasing in thickness toward the center. gills close, white, reaching the stem. the stem is equal, smooth, annulate, stuffed or hollow, whitish, finely striate at the top from the decurrent lines of the gills, not bulbous at the base, the volva rather large and inclined to yellowish color. the spores are elliptical. the plant resembles the dark forms of the amanitopsis in having the marked striations and the entire and closely fitting volva at the base, but can be easily distinguished by its ring. i found it on cemetery hill in company with the amanitopsis. it does not seem to root as deep in the ground as the amanitopsis. it is very poisonous and should be carefully studied so that it may be readily recognized and avoided. it is found in open woods from july to september. _amanitopsis. roze._ amanitopsis is from _aminita_ and _opsis_, resembling; so called because it resembles the amanita. the principal feature wherein the genus differs from the amanita is the absence of a collar on the stem. its species are included among the amanita by many authors. the spores are white. the gills are free from the stem, and it has a universal veil at first completely enveloping the young plant, which soon breaks it, carrying remnants of it on the pileus, where they appear as scattered warts. it differs from the lepiota in having a volva. _amanitopsis vaginata. bull._ the sheathed amanitopsis. edible. [illustration: figure .--amanita vaginata. one-third natural size. notice a portion of the volva adhering to the cap.] vaginata--from _vagina_, a sheath. the plant is edible but should be used with very great caution. it is quite variable in color, ranging from white to mouse color, brownish or yellowish. the pileus is ovate at first, bell-shaped, then convex and expanded, thin, quite fragile, smooth, when young with a few fragments of the volva adhering to its surface, deeply and distinctly striate. the gills are free, white, then pallid, ventricose, broadest in front, irregular. the flesh is white, but in the darker forms stained under the easily separating skin. the spores are white and nearly round, - µ. the stem is cylindrical, even or slightly tapering upward, hollow or stuffed, smooth or sprinkled with downy scales, not bulbous at the base. the volva is long, thin, fragile, forming a permanent sheath which is quite soft and readily adheres to the base of the stem. the striations on the margin are deep and distinct, as in the orange amanita. the cup is quite regular but it is fragile, easily broken and usually deep in the ground. in some plants a slight umbo is developed at the center. the mushroom-eater wants to distinguish very carefully between this species and amanita spreta, which is very poisonous. it is found in woods, in open places where there is much vegetable mould, sometimes found in stubble and pastures, especially in meadows under trees. found from june to november. the plant varies considerably in color, and there are several varieties, separable by means of their color: a. vaginata, var. alba. the whole plant is white. a. vaginata var. fulva. the cap tawny yellow or pale ochraceous. a. vaginata var. livida. the cap leaden brown; gills and stem tinged with smoky brown. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ plate v. figure .--amanita vaginata] _amanitopsis strangulata. fr._ the gray amanitopsis. edible. strangulata means choked, from the stuffed stem. the pileus is two to four inches broad, soon plane, livid-bay or gray, with patches of the volva, margin striate or grooved. the gills are free, white, close. the stem is stuffed, silky above, scaly below, slightly tapering upwards. the volva soon breaking up, forming several ring-like ridges on the stem. the spores are globose, - µ. this is a synonym for a. ceciliae. b. and br. and perhaps nothing more than a vigorous growth of amanitopsis vaginata. it has almost no odor and a sweet taste and cooks deliciously. found in the woods and in open places from august to october. _lepiota. fr._ lepiota means a scale. in the lepiota the gills are typically free from the stem, as in amanita and amanitopsis, but they differ in having no superficial or removable warts on the cap, and no sheathing or scaly remains of a volva at the base of the stem. in some species the epidermis of the cap breaks into scales which persistently adhere to the cap, and this feature, indeed, suggests the name of the genus, which is derived from the latin word _lepis_, a scale. the stem is hollow or stuffed, its flesh being distinct from the pileus and easily separable from it. there are a number of edible species. _lepiota procera. scop._ the parasol mushroom. edible. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ plate vi. figure .--lepiota procera.] procera means tall. the pileus is thin, strongly umbonate, adorned with brown spot-like scales. the gills are white, sometimes yellowish-white, free, remote from the stem, broad and crowded, ventricose, edge sometimes brownish. the stem is very long, cylindrical, hollow or stuffed, even, very long in proportion to its thickness and is, therefore, suggestive of the specific name, procera. the ring is rather thick and firm, though in mature plants it becomes loosened and movable on the stem. this and the form of the plant suggest the name, parasol. the cap is from three to five inches broad and the stem from five to nine inches high. i found one specimen among fallen timber that was eleven inches tall and whose cap was six inches broad. it has a wide distribution. it is found in all parts of ohio but is not abundant anywhere. it is a favorite with those who have eaten it, and, indeed, it is a delicious morsel when quickly broiled over coals, seasoned to taste with salt and pepper, butter melted in the gills and served on toast. this mushroom is especially free from grubs and it can be dried for winter use. there is no poisonous species with which one is likely to confound it. the very tall, slender stem with a bulbous base, the very peculiar spotted cap with the prominent dark colored umbo and the movable ring on the stem, are ear-marks sufficient to identify this species. spores white and elliptical, × µ. lloyd. it is found in pastures, stubble, and among fallen timber. july to october. i am indebted to c. g. lloyd for the photograph given here. _lepiota naucina. fr._ smooth lepiota. edible. [illustration: figure .--lepiota naucina. the entire plant white.] pileus soft, smooth, white or smoky-white; gills free, white, slowly changing with age to a dirty pinkish-brown color; stem annulate, slightly thickened at the base, attenuated upward, clothed with fibres pure white. the smooth lepiota is generally very regular in shape and of a pure white color. the central part of the cap is sometimes tinged with yellow or a smoky white hue. its surface is nearly always very smooth and even. the gills are somewhat narrower toward the stem than they are in the middle. they are rounded and not attached to the stem. cap two to four inches broad; stem two to three inches long. it grows in clean grassy places in lawn, pastures, and along roadsides. i have seen the roadside white with this species around sidney, ohio. the specimens represented in figure were found in chillicothe, august to november. this is one of the best mushrooms, not inferior to the meadow mushroom. it has this advantage over the former that the gills retain their white color and do not pass from a pink to a repulsive black. the halftone and the description ought to make the plant known to the most casual reader. _lepiota americana. pk._ the american lepiota. edible. [illustration: figure .--lepiota americana. center of disk red or reddish-brown, stem frequently swollen. plant turning red when drying.] this plant is quite common about chillicothe, especially upon sawdust piles. it grows both singly and in clusters. the umbonate cap is adorned with reddish or reddish-brown scales except on the center where the color is uniformly reddish or reddish-brown because the surface is not broken up into scales; gills close, free, white, ventricose; stem smooth, enlarged at the base. in some plants the base of the stem is abnormally large; ring white, inclined to be delicate. wounds and bruises are apt to assume brownish-red hues. dr. herbst says: "this is truly an american plant, not being found in any other country. this is the pride of the family. there is nothing more beautiful than a cluster of this fungi. to look over the beautiful scaly pileus is a sight equally as fascinating as a covey of quail." found in grassy lawns and on old sawdust piles, in common with pluteus cervinus. it is found almost all over the state. it is quite equal to the parasol mushroom in flavor. it has a tendency to turn the milk or cream in which it is cooked to a reddish color. it is found from june to october. mr. lloyd suggests the name lepiota bodhami. it is the same as the european plant l. hæmatosperma. bull. _lepiota morgani. pk._ in honor of prof. morgan. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ plate vii. figure .--lepiota morgani. entire plant white or brownish-white. gills white at first then greenish.] pileus fleshy, soft, at first subglobose, then expanded or even depressed, white, the brownish or yellowish cuticule breaking up into scales on the disk; gills close, lanceolate, remote, white, then green; stem firm, equal or tapering upward, subbulbous, smooth, webby-stuffed, whitish tinged with brown; ring rather large, movable as you will observe in figure . flesh of both pileus and stem white, changing to a reddish, then to yellowish hue when cut or bruised. spores ovate or subelliptical, mostly uninucleate, sordid green. - × - . peck. this plant is very abundant about chillicothe and i found it equally so at sidney. i have known several families to eat of it, making about half of the children in each family sick. i regard it as a dangerous plant to eat. it grows very large and i have seen it growing in well marked rings a rod in diameter. if you are in doubt whether the plant you have is morgani or not, let it remain in the basket over night and you will plainly see that the gills are turning green. the gills are white until the spores begin to fall. the plant is found in pastures and sometimes in pasture woods. june to october. _lepiota granulosa. batsch._ grainy lepiota. edible. granulosa--from granosus, full of grains. pileus thin, convex or nearly plain, sometimes almost umbonate, rough, with numerous granular scales, often radiately wrinkled, rusty-yellow or reddish-yellow, often growing paler with age. flesh white or reddish tinged. gills close, rounded behind and usually slightly adnexed, white. stem equal or slightly thickened at the base, stuffed or hollow, white above the ring, colored and adorned like the pileus below it. ring slight and evanescent. spores elliptical, . to . inch long, . to . inch broad. plant one to two and one-fifth inches high; pileus one to two and one-fifth inches broad; stem one to three lines thick. common in woods, copses, and waste places. august to october. "this is a small species with a short stem and granular reddish-yellow pileus, and gills slightly attached to the stem. the annulus is very small and fugacious, being little more than the abrupt termination to the coating of the stem. the species was formerly made to include several varieties which are now regarded as distinct."--peck's report. found in the open woods about salem, ohio. the plant is small but quite meaty and of a pleasing quality. _lepiota cristatella. pk._ pileus thin, convex, subumbonate, minutely mealy, especially on the margin, white disk slightly tinged with pink. gills close, rounded behind, free, white; stem slender, whitish, hollow; spores subelliptical, . inch long. mossy places in woods. october.--_peck's report_. no one will fail to recognize the crested lepiota the moment he sees it. it has many of the ear marks of the lepiota family. _lepiota granosa. morg._ [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ plate viii. figure .--lepiota granosa.] granosa means covered with granules. the pileus is convex, obtuse or umbonate, even, radiately rugose-wrinkled, generally even and regular on the margin, reddish-yellow or light bay. the gills are attached to the stem, slightly decurrent, somewhat crowded, whitish, then reddish-yellow. the stem is thickened at the base, tapering toward the cap, flesh of the stem is yellow. the veil is membranous and forms a persistent ring on the stem. it grows on decayed wood. i found it in large quantities, and tried to make it l. granulosa, but i found it fit better l. amianthinus, which it resembles very closely, but it is much larger and its habit is not the same. i was not satisfied with this description and sent the specimens to prof. atkinson, who set me right. it is a beautiful plant found on decayed wood in september and october. _lepiota cepæstipes. sow._ the onion stemmed lepiota. edible. [illustration: figure .--lepiota cepæstipes. pileus thin, white or yellowish.] cepæstipes is from cepa, an onion and stipes, a stem, pileus is thin at first ovate, then bell-shaped or expanded, umbonate, soon adorned with numerous minute brownish scales, which are often granular or mealy, folded into lines on the margin, white or yellow, the umbo darker. the gills are thin, close, free, white, becoming dingy with age or drying. the stem is rather long, tapering toward the apex, generally enlarged in the middle or near the base, hollow. the ring is thin and subpersistent. the spores are subelliptical, with a single nucleus, - × - µ. the plants often cespitose, two to four inches high. pileus is one to two inches broad. it is found in rich ground and decomposing vegetable matter. it is also found in graperies and conservatories. _peck._ this plant derives its specific name from the resemblance of its stem to that of the seed-stalk of an onion. one form has a yellow or yellowish cap, while the other has a white or fair cap. it seems to delight to grow in well rotted sawdust piles and hot houses. the specimens represented in figure were collected in cleveland and photographed by prof. h. c. beardslee. _lepiota acutesquamosa. wein._ the squarrose lepiota. edible. [illustration: figure .--lepiota acutesquamosa. two-thirds natural size, showing small pointed scales.] acutesquamosa is from _acutus_, sharp, and _squama_, a scale; so called from the many bristling, erect scales on the pileus. the pileus is two to three inches broad, fleshy, convex, obtuse, or broadly umbonate; pale rusty with numerous small pointed scales, which are usually larger and more numerous at the disk. the gills are free, crowded, simple, white or yellowish. the stem is two to three inches or more long; stuffed or hollow, tapering upward slightly from a swollen base; below the ring rough or silky, pruinose above, ring large. the spores are - × µ. they are found in the woods, in gardens, and frequently in greenhouses. there is a slight difference between the specimens growing in the woods and those in the greenhouse. in the latter the pubescent covering is less dense and the erect scales are more numerous than in the former. in older specimens these scales fall off and leave small scars on the cap where they were attached. the specimens in figure were gathered in michigan and were photographed by dr. fisher of detroit. _armillaria. fr._ armillaria, from armilla, a bracelet--referring to the ring upon the stem. this genus differs from all the foregoing white-spored species in having the gills attached to the stem by their inner extremity. the spores are white and the stem has a collar, though a somewhat evanescent one, but no wrapper at the base of the stem as in the amanita and amanitopsis. by the collar the genus differs from the other genera which are to follow. the amanita and lepiota have the flesh of the stem and the pileus not continuous, and their stems are, therefore, easily separated from the cap, but in the armillaria the gills and the pileus are attached to the stem. _armillaria mellea. vahl._ the honey-colored armillaria. edible. [illustration: figure .--armillaria mellea. two-thirds natural size. honey colored. tufted with dark-brown fugitive hairs. flesh white.] mellea, from melleus, of the color of honey. cap fleshy, honey colored, or ochraceous, striate on the margin, shaded with darker brown toward the center, having a central boss-like elevation and sometimes a central depression in full grown specimens, tufted with dark-brown fugitive hairs. color of the cap varies, depending upon climatic conditions and the character of the habitat. gills distant, ending in a decurrent tooth, pallid or dirty white, very often showing brown or rust colored spots when old. spores white and abundant. frequently the ground under a clump of this species will be white from the fallen spores. stem elastic and scaly, four inches or more in length. ring downy. diameter of cap from two to five inches. manner of growth is frequently in tufts, and, as with most of the armillarias, generally parasitic on old stumps. the veil varies greatly. it may be membranaceous and thin, or quite thick, or may be wanting entirely, as will be seen in figure ; in figure only a slight trace of the ring can be seen. the two plants grew under very different environment; the last grew in the woods and figure on a lawn in the city. the species is very common and grows either in thin woods or in cleared lands, on the ground or on decaying wood. its favorite habit is about stumps. it is either solitary, gregarious, or in dense clusters. it is very abundant about chillicothe, where i have seen stumps literally surrounded with it. it has a slight acridity while raw, which it seems to lose in cooking. those who like it may eat it without fear, all varieties being edible. prof. peck gives the following varieties: a. mellea var. obscura--has the cap covered with numerous small black scales. a. mellea var. flava--has a cap yellow or reddish-yellow, otherwise normal. a. mellea var. glabra--has a smooth cap, otherwise normal. a. mellea var. radicata--has a tapering root penetrating the soil. a. mellea var. bulbosa--has a bulbous base. a. mellea var. exannulata--has the cap smooth and even on the margin, and the stem tapering at the base. [illustration: figure .--armillaria mellea. two-thirds natural size, showing double ring present.] _armillaria bulbigera. a. & s._ marginate-bulbed armillaria. [illustration: figure .--armillaria bulbigera. reddish-gray caps and short bulbous stems.] bulbigera is from _bulbus_, a bulb, and _gero_, to bear. the pileus is fleshy, three to four inches across, convex, then expanded, obtuse, even, brownish, gray, sometimes reddish, dry, fibrillose near the margin. the gills are notched at the stem, pallid, crowded at first, at length rather distant, becoming slightly colored. the stem is distinctly bulbous, two to three inches long, stuffed, pallid, fibrillose, ring oblique, fugacious. the spores are - × µ. i have found some very fine specimens in poke hollow, near chillicothe. the stems were short and very bulbous, having hardly any trace of the ring on the older specimens. the caps were obtusely convex and of a grayish rufescent color. this species can readily be distinguished by the distinctly marginate bulb at the base of the stem. the specimens in figure were found in poke hollow, near chillicothe, october d. i have no doubt of their edibility but i have not eaten them. _armillaria nardosmia. ellis._ spikenard-smelling armillaria. ellis. [illustration: figure .--armillaria nardosmia. one-half natural size, showing the veil and incurved margin.] nardosmia is from _nardosmius_, the odor of nardus or spikenard. the pileus is quite thick, firm and compact, thinner toward the margin, strongly involute when young, grayish white and beautifully variegated with brown spots, like the breast of a pheasant, rather tough, with a separable epidermis, flesh white. the gills are crowded, slightly notched or emarginate, somewhat ventricose, white. the stem is solid, short, fibrous, sheathed by a veil forming a ring more or less evanescent. the spores are nearly round, µ in diameter. this is the most beautiful species of the genus, and from its pheasant-like spotted cap, as well as its strong odor and taste of spikenard or almonds, it is easily determined. the almond taste and odor disappears in cooking. i found some very fine specimens around a pond in mr. shriver's woods, east of chillicothe. in older specimens the cuticule of the caps frequently breaks into scales. found in woods in september and october. _armillaria appendiculata. pk._ appendiculata, bearing small appendages. pileus is broadly convex, glabrous, whitish, often tinged with rust-color or brownish rust-color on the disk. flesh white or whitish. gills close, rounded behind, whitish. stem equal or slightly tapering upward, solid, bulbous, whitish, the veil either membraneous or webby, white, commonly adhering in fragments to the margin of the pileus. spores subelliptical, × . pileus two to four inches broad. stem . - . inches long; - lines thick. the general appearance of this species is suggestive of tricholoma album, but the appearance of a veil separates it from that fungus and places it in the genus armillaria. the veil, however, is often slightly lacerated, or webby, and adherent to the margin of the pileus. peck's report. i have found this at salem and chillicothe. _tricholoma. fr._ tricholoma is from two greek words meaning hair and fringe. this genus is known by its stout, fleshy stem, without any evidence of a ring, and by the gills being attached to the stem and having a notch in their edges near or at the extremity. the veil is absent, or, if present, it is downy and adherent to the margin of the cap. the cap is generally quite fleshy; the stem is homogeneous and confluent with the pileus, central and nearly fleshy, without either ring or volva, and with no distinct bark-like coat. the spores are white or grayish-white. the distinguishing features are the fleshy stem, continuous with the flesh of the pileus, and the sinuate or notched gills. this is quite a universal genus. all the species grow on the ground, so far as i know them. there are many edible species under this genus, there being only two, so far as i know, not edible; and no one is likely to touch those on account of their strong odor. they are t. sulphureum and t. saponaceum. _tricholoma transmutans. pk._ the changing tricholoma. edible. transmutans means changing, from changes of color in both stem and gills in different stages of the plant. this species has a cap two to four inches broad, viscid or sticky when moist. it is at first tawny-brown, especially with advancing age. the flesh is white and has a decided farinaceous odor and taste. the gills are crowded, rather narrow, sometimes branched, becoming reddish-spotted with age. the stem is equal or slightly tapering upward; bare, or slightly silky-fibrillose; stuffed or hollow; whitish, often marked with reddish stains or becoming reddish-brown toward the base, white within. spores subglobose, µ. the species grows in woods and open places, also in clover pastures, either singly or in tufts. i have seen large tufts of them, and in that case the caps are more or less irregular on account of their crowded condition. i found it frequently about salem, and this fall, , i found it quite plentiful in a clover pasture near chillicothe. found in wet weather from august to september. _tricholoma equestre. linn._ the knightly tricholoma. edible. [illustration: figure .--tricholoma equestre.] equestre means belonging to a horseman; so called from its distinguished appearance in the woods. the pileus is three to five inches broad, fleshy, compact, convex, expanded, obtuse, viscid, scaly, margin incurved at first, pale yellowish, with sometimes a slight tinge of green in both cap and gills. flesh white or tinged with yellow. the gills are free, crowded, rounded behind, yellow. the stem is stout, solid, pale yellow or white, white within. the spores are - × µ. it differs from t. coryphæum in having gills entirely yellow, while the edges only of the latter are yellow. it differs from t. sejunctum in the latter having pure white gills and a more slender stem. it is found but occasionally here, and then only a specimen or two. it is an attractive plant and no one would pass it in the woods without admiring it. found from august to october. _tricholoma sordidum. fr._ [illustration: figure .--tricholoma sordidum.] sordidum means dingy, dirty. the pileus is two to three inches broad, rather tough, fleshy, convex, bell-shaped, then depressed, subumbonate, smooth, hygrophanous, margin slightly striate, brownish lilac, then dusky. the gills are rounded, rather crowded, dingy violet then dusky, notched with a decurrent tooth. the stem is colored like the pileus, fibrillose striate, usually slightly curved, stuffed, short, often thickened at the base. the spores are - × - , minutely rugulose. this species differs from t. nudum in being smaller, tougher, and often hygrophanous. it is found in richly manured gardens, about manure piles, and in hot-houses. the specimens in figure were found in a hot-house near boston, mass., and sent to me by mrs. e. blackford. they are found in september and october. _tricholoma grammopodium. bull._ the grooved stem tricholoma. edible. [illustration: figure .--tricholoma grammopodium. natural size.] grammopodium is from two greek words meaning _line_ and _foot_. the pileus is three to six inches broad, flesh thick at the center, thin at the margin, solid yet tender; brownish, blackish-umber, almost a dingy-lavender when moist, whitish when dry; at first bell-shaped, then convex, sometimes slightly wavy, obtusely umbonate; margin at first inclined to be involute, and extending beyond the gills. the gills are attached to the stem, broadly notched as will be seen in the specimen, closely crowded, quite entire, shorter ones numerous, a few branched, white or whitish. the stem is three to four inches long, thickened at the base, smooth, firm, longitudinally grooved from which it gets its specific name, whitish. the spores are nearly round, - µ. it closely resembles t. fuligineum but can be distinguished by the grooved stem and crowded gills. the specimens in figure were found near boston, and were sent to me by mrs. blackford. the plants keep well and are easily dried. they were found the first of june. they have an excellent flavor. _tricholoma pædidum. fr._ paedidum means nasty, stinking. the pileus is small, about one and a half inches broad, rather fleshy, tough; convex, then flattened, soon depressed around the conical umbo; fibrillose, becoming smooth; smoky gray, somewhat streaked; moist; margin involute, naked. the gills are adnexed, crowded, narrow, white, then grayish, somewhat sinuate with a slight decurrent tooth. the stem is short, slightly striate, dingy gray, thickened at the base. the spores are elliptical or fusiform, - × - µ. the specific name, "nasty" or "stinking," has really no application to the plant. it is said to be very good when cooked. it is found in well manured gardens and fields, or about manure piles. it differs from t. sordidum in having no trace of violet color. t. lixivium differs in the free truncate gills. _tricholoma lixivium. fr._ lixivium means made into lye; hence, of the color of ashes and water. the pileus is two to three inches broad; flesh thin; convex then plane; umbonate, never depressed; even; smooth; grayish-brown when moist, then umber; margin membranaceous, at length slightly striate, sometimes wavy. the gills are rounded behind and adnexed, free, soft, distant, often crisped, gray. the stem is about two inches long, fibrous, hollow, or stuffed, equal, at first covered with a white down, fragile, gray. the spores are elliptical, × - µ. the umbonate pileus and the nearly free, broad, gray gills will distinguish it. they are a late grower and are found under pine trees in november. _tricholoma sulphureum. bull._ sulphury tricholoma. poisonous. [illustration: figure .--tricholoma sulphureum.] sulphureum, sulphur; so called from the general color of the plant. the pileus is one to three inches broad, fleshy, convex, then expanded, plane, slightly umbonate, sometimes depressed, or flexuous and irregular, margin at first involute, dingy or reddish-yellow, at first silky, becoming smooth and even. the gills are rather thick, narrowed behind, emarginate or acutely adnate, sulphur-colored. the stem is two to four inches long, somewhat bulbous, sometimes curved, frequently slightly striate; stuffed, often hollow; sulphur-yellow, yellow within; furnished at the base occasionally with many rather strong, yellow, fibrous roots. odor strong and disagreeable. flesh thick and yellow. spores are - × µ. it grows in mixed woods. i find it frequently where logs have decayed. the specimen in figure was found in haynes' hollow and photographed by dr. kellerman. found in october and november. _tricholoma quinquepartitum. fr._ quinquepartitum means divided into five parts. there is no apparent reason for the name. fries could not identify linnæus' agaricus quinquepartitus and he attached the name of this species. the pileus is three or four inches broad, slightly fleshy; convex, rather involute, then flattened, somewhat repand; viscid, smooth, even, pale yellowish. the gills are notched at the point of attachment to the stem, broad, white. the stem is three to four inches long, solid, striate or grooved, smooth. the spores are - × - . this species differs from t. portentosum in the pileus not being virgate, and from t. fucatum in the smooth, striate or grooved stem. this plant is found in thin woods where logs have decayed. i have not eaten this species but i have no doubt of its edibility. the taste is pleasant. found in october and november. _tricholoma laterarium. pk._ [illustration: figure .--tricholoma laterarium.] laterarium is from _later_, a brick; so called because there is nearly always a slight tinge of brick red on the disk. the pileus is two to four inches broad, convex, then expanded, sometimes slightly depressed in the center; pruinose, whitish, the disk often tinged with red or brown, the thin margin marked with slight subdistant, short, radiating ridges. the gills are narrow, crowded, white, prolonged in little decurrent lines on the stem. the stem is nearly equal, solid, white. the spores are globose, . inch in diameter. _peck's_ th rep. this plant is quite widely distributed in the united states. it is found quite frequently in ohio and is rather abundant on the hillsides about chillicothe, where it is frequently somewhat bulbous. the tinge of brownish-red on the disk, and the short radiating ridges on the margin of the pileus will serve to identify the plant. it is edible and fairly good. found on leaf-mold in rather damp woods from july to november. _tricholoma panæolum. fr._ [illustration: figure .--tricholoma panæolum.] panæolum, all variegated. the pileus is from three to four inches broad, deeply depressed, dusky with a gray bloom, hygrophanous; margin at first inrolled, sometimes wavy or irregular when fully expanded. the gills are quite crowded, adnate, arcuate, white at first, turning to a light gray tinged with an intimation of red, notched with a decurrent tooth. the stem is short, slightly bulbous, tapering upward, solid, smooth, about the same color as the cap. the spores are subglobose, - . i found the specimens in figure under pine trees, growing on a bed of pine needles, on cemetery hill. they were found on the th of november. var. calceolum, sterb., has the pileus spongy, deformed, thin, soft, expanded, edge incurved, sooty-gray; gills smoky; stem excentric, fusiform, very short. _tricholoma columbetta. fr._ the dove-colored tricholoma. edible. [illustration: figure .--tricholoma columbetta. one-third natural size. caps white. stems bulbous.] columbetta is the diminutive of _columba_, a dove; so called from the color of the plant. the pileus is from one to four inches broad, fleshy, convex, then expanded; at first smooth, then silky; white, center sometimes a dilute mouse color shading to a white, frequently a tinge of pink will be seen on the margin, which is at first inrolled, tomentose in young plants, sometimes cracked. the gills are notched at the junction of the stem, crowded, thin, white, brittle. the stem is two inches or more long, solid, white, cylindrical, unequal, often compressed, smooth, crooked, silky especially in young plants, bulbous. spores . by . inch. flesh white, taste mild. this is a beautiful plant, seeming to be quite free from insects, and will remain sound for several days on your study table. i had no end of trouble with it till dr. herbst suggested the species. it is quite plentiful here. dr. peck gives quite a number of varieties. curtis, mcilvaine, stevenson, and cooke all speak of its esculent qualities. found in the woods in september and october. _tricholoma melaleucum. pers._ the changeable tricholoma. [illustration: figure .--tricholoma melaleucum. two-thirds natural size.] melaleucum, black and white; from contrasted colors of the cap and gills. this tricholoma grows in abundance in northern ohio. i have found it in the woods near bowling green, ohio. the specimens in the halftone were found near sandusky, ohio, and were photographed by dr. kellerman. it is usually found in sandy soil, growing singly in shady woods. the pileus fleshy, thin, from one to three inches broad, convex, rather broadly umbonate, smooth, moist, with variable color, usually pale, nearly white at first, later much darker, sometimes slightly wavy. the gills are notched, adnexed, ventricose, crowded, white. the stem is stuffed, then hollow, elastic, from two to four inches long, somewhat smooth, whitish, sprinkled with a few fibrils, usually thickened at the base. the flesh is soft and white. there is no report, so far as i know, regarding its edibility, and i have no doubt as to this, but would advise caution. _tricholoma lascivum. fr._ the tarry tricholoma. lascivum, playful, wanton; so called because of its many affinities, none of which are very close. the pileus is fleshy, convex, then expanded, slightly obtuse, somewhat depressed, silky at first, then smooth, even. the gills are notched, adnexed, crowded, white; the stem is solid, equal, rigid, rooting, white, tomentose at the base. found in the woods, haynes' hollow near chillicothe. september and october. _tricholoma russula. schæff._ the reddish tricholoma. edible. [illustration: figure .--tricholoma russula. natural size. caps reddish or flesh color.] russula is so named because of its likeness in color to some species of the genus russula. the pileus is three to four inches broad, fleshy, convex, then depressed, viscid, even or dotted with granular scales, red or flesh color, the margin somewhat paler, involute and minutely downy in the young plant. the gills are rounded or slightly decurrent, rather distant, white, often becoming red-spotted with age. the stem is two to three inches long, solid, firm, whitish rosy-red, nearly equal, scaly at the apex. the spores are elliptical, × µ. this plant is quite variable in many of its peculiar characteristics, yet it usually has enough to readily distinguish it. the cap may be flesh-color and the stem rosy-red, the cap may be red and the stem white or whitish with stains of red. during wet weather the caps of all are viscid; when dry, all may be cracked more or less. the stems may not be scaly at the apex, often rosy when young. they are found in the woods solitary, in groups, or frequently in dense clusters. the specimens in figure were found in michigan and photographed by dr. fischer. i found this plant in poke hollow. the gills were quite decurrent. _tricholoma acerbum. bull._ the bitter tricholoma. acerbum means bitter to the taste. the pileus is three to four inches broad, convex to expanded, obtuse, smooth, more or less spotted, margin thin, at first involute, rugose, sulcate, viscid, whitish, often tinged rufous, or yellow, quite bitter to the taste. the gills are notched, crowded, pallid or rufescent, narrow. the stem is solid, rather short, blunt, yellowish, squamulose above or about the apex. the spores are subglobose, - µ. these plants were found growing in a thick bed of moss along with armillaria nardosmia. they were not perfect plants but i judged them to be t. acerbum from their taste and involute margin. i sent some to prof. atkinson, who confirmed my classification. they grow in open woods in october and november. _tricholoma cinerascens. bull._ cinerascens means becoming the color of ashes. the pileus is two to three inches broad, fleshy, convex to expanded, even, obtuse, smooth, white, then grayish, margin thin. the gills are emarginate, crowded, rather undulate, dingy, reddish often yellowish, easily separating from the pileus. the stem is stuffed, equal, smooth, elastic. they grow in clusters in mixed wood. they are mild to the taste. _tricholoma album. schæff._ the white tricholoma. edible. [illustration: figure .--tricholoma album. entirely white.] album means white. the pileus is two to four inches broad, fleshy, entirely white, convex, then depressed, obtuse, smooth, dry, disc frequently tinged with yellow, margin at first involute, at length repand. the gills are rounded behind, rather crowded, thin, white, broad. the stem is two to four inches long, solid, firm, narrowed upwards, smooth. this plant is quite plentiful in our woods, growing usually in groups. it grows upon the leaf mould and is frequently quite large. it is quite acrid to the taste when raw, but this is overcome in cooking. it is found from august to october. these plants are quite plentiful on the wooded hillsides about chillicothe. those in figure were found on ralston's run and photographed by dr. kellerman. _tricholoma imbricatum. fr._ the imbricated tricholoma. edible. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd_ figure .--tricholoma imbricatum.] imbricatum means covered with tiles, _imbreces_, referring to the lacerated condition of the cap. this species is very closely related to t. transmutans in size, color and taste. it is, however, easily separated by its dry cap and solid stem. its cap is reddish-brown or cinnamon-brown, and its surface often presents a somewhat scaly appearance because the epidermis becomes lacerated or torn into small irregular fragments which adhere and seem to overlap like shingles on a roof. the flesh is firm, white, and has a farinaceous taste as well as odor. the gills are white, becoming red or rusty spotted, rather close, and notched. the stem is solid, firm, nearly equal, except slightly swollen at the base, colored much like the cap but usually paler. when old it is sometimes hollow on account of the insects mining it. the spores are white and elliptical, . inch long. i found this mushroom near salem, ohio, bowling green, ohio, and on ralston's run near chillicothe. found in mixed woods from september to november. _tricholoma terriferum. pk._ the earth-bearing tricholoma. edible. terriferum, earth-bearing, alluding to the viscid cap's holding particles of loam and pine needles to it as it breaks through the soil. this is a meaty mushroom, and when properly cleaned makes an appetizing dish. the pileus is convex, irregular, wavy on the margin and rolled inward, smooth, viscid, pale yellow, sometimes whitish, generally covered with loam on account of the sticky surface of the cap, flesh white. the gills are white, thin, close, slightly adnexed. the stem is short, fleshy, solid, equal, mealy, very slightly bulbous at the base. found near salem, ohio, on hon. j. thwing brooks' farm september to october. _tricholoma fumidellum. pk._ the smoky tricholoma. edible. fumidellum--smoky, because of the clay-colored caps clouded with brown. the pileus is one to two inches broad, convex, then expanded, subumbonate, bare, moist, dingy-white or clay-color clouded with brown, the disk or umbo generally smoky brown. the gills are crowded, subventricose, whitish. the stem is one and a half to two and a half inches long, equal, bare, solid whitish. the spores minute, subglobose, - × µ. _peck_, rep. the specimens i found grew in a mixed woods in the leaf-mold. they are found only occasionally in our woods in september and october. _tricholoma leucocephalum. fr._ the white-capped tricholoma. edible. leucocephalum is from two greek words meaning white and head, referring to the white caps. the pileus is one and a half to two inches across, convex, then plane; even, moist, smooth when the silky veil is gone, water-soaked after a rain; flesh thin, tough, smell mealy, taste mild and pleasant. the gills are rounded behind and almost free, crowded, white. the stem is about two inches long, hollow, solid at the base, smooth, cartilaginous, tough, rooting. the spores are - × - µ. it differs from t. album in having the odor of new meal strongly marked. it is found in open woods during september and october. _tricholoma fumescens. pk._ smoky tricholoma. edible. [illustration: figure .--tricholoma fumescens.] fumescens means growing smoky. pileus convex or expanded, dry, clothed with a very minute appressed tomentum, whitish. the gills are narrow, crowded, rounded behind, whitish or pale cream color, changing to smoky blue or blackish where bruised. the stem is short, cylindrical, whitish. spores are oblong-elliptical, - × µ. pileus is one inch broad. stem one to one and a half inches high. _peck_, th rep. n. y. state bot. the caps are quite a bit larger in the specimens found in ohio than those described by dr. peck. so much so that i was in doubt as to the correct identification. i sent some specimens to dr. peck for his determination. the species will be readily identified by the fine crowded gills and the smoky blue or blackish hue they assume when bruised. the caps are frequently wavy, as will be seen in figure . i found the plants in poke hollow near chillicothe, september to november. _tricholoma terreum. schaeff._ the gray tricholoma. edible. [illustration: figure .--tricholoma terreum. cap grayish-brown or mouse color.] terreum is from _terra_, the earth; so called from the color. this is quite a variable species in color and size, as well as manner of growth. the pileus is one to three inches broad, dry, fleshy, thin, convex, expanded, nearly plane, often having a central umbo; floccose-scaly, ashy-brown, grayish-brown or mouse-color. the gills are adnexed, subdistant, white, becoming grayish, edges more or less eroded. spores, - µ. the stem is whitish, fibrillose, equal, paler than the cap, varying from solid to stuffed or hollow, one to three inches high. i find this plant on north hillsides, in beech woods. it is not plentiful. there are several varieties: var. orirubens. q. edge of gills reddish. var. atrosquamosum. chev. pileus gray with small black scales; g. whitish. var. argyraceum. bull. entirely pure white, or pileus grayish. var. chrysites. jungh. pileus tinged yellowish or greenish. the plants in figure were found in poke hollow near chillicothe. their time is september to november. _tricholoma saponaceum. fr._ [illustration: figure .--tricholoma saponaceum.] saponaceum is from _sapo_, soap, so called from its peculiar odor. the pileus is two to three inches broad, convex, then plane, involute at first as will be seen in figure , smooth, moist in wet weather but not viscid, often cracked into scales or punctate, grayish or livid-brown, often with a tinge of olive, flesh firm, becoming more or less red when cut or wounded. the gills are uncinately emarginate, thin, quite entire, not crowded, white, sometimes tinged with green. spores subglobose, × µ. the stem is solid, unequal, rooting, smooth, sometimes reticulated with black fibrils or scaly. this species is found quite frequently about chillicothe. it is quite variable in size and color, but can be readily recognized from its peculiar odor and the flesh's becoming reddish when wounded. it is not poisonous but its odor will prevent any one from eating it. found in mixed woods from august to november. _tricholoma cartilagineum. bull._ the cartilaginous tricholoma. edible. [illustration: figure .--tricholoma cartilagineum. two-thirds natural size.] cartilagineum means gristly or cartilaginous. the pileus is two to three inches broad, cartilaginous, elastic, fleshy, convex, soon expanded, wavy, as seen in figure , margin incurved, smooth, inclined to be blackish at first, then broken up into small black spots. the gills are slightly notched, adnexed, somewhat crowded, grayish. the stem is one to two inches long, rather firm, stuffed, equal, smooth, white, often striate and mealy. taste and odor pleasant. a number of my friends ate it because of its inviting taste and odor. it grew in quantities among the clover in our city park during the wet weather of the last of may and the first of june. _tricholoma squarrulosum. bres._ [illustration: figure .--tricholoma squarrulosum. caps showing black squamules.] squarrulosum means full of scales. the pileus is two to three inches broad, convex, then expanded, umbonate, dry; fuscous then lurid tan, center black, with black squamules; edge fibrillose, exceeding gills. the gills are broad, crowded, whitish-gray, reddish when bruised. the stem is of the same color as the pileus, punctato-squamulose. the spores are elliptical, - × - µ. this is a beautiful plant, growing in mixed woods among the leaves. the stem is short and apparently the same color as the pileus. the latter is covered with black squamules which give rise to the name of the species. i have succeeded in finding the plants only in october. the specimens in figure were found in poke hollow, near chillicothe. _tricholoma maculatescens. pk._ spotted tricholoma. [illustration: figure .--tricholoma maculatescens. one-third natural size.] maculatescens means growing spotted; so called because when the specimen is dried the cap becomes more or less spotted. the pileus is one and a half to three inches broad, compact, spongy, reddish-brown, convex, then expanded, obtuse, even, slightly viscid when wet, becoming rivulose and brown spotted in drying, flesh whitish, margin inflexed, exceeding the gills. the gills are slightly emarginate, rather narrow, cinereous. the stem is spongy-fleshy, equal, sometimes abruptly narrowed at the base, solid, stout, fibrillose, pallid or whitish. the spores are oblong or subfusiform, pointed at the ends, uninucleate, . inch long, . broad. _peck._ i found the plant on several occasions in the month of november, but was unable to fix it satisfactorily until prof. morgan helped me out. the specimens in figure were found on thanksgiving day in the morton woods, in gallia county, ohio. i had found several specimens about chillicothe, previous to this. this species seems to be very near t. flavobrunneum, t. graveolens, and t. schumacheri, but may be distinguished from them by the spotting of the pileus when drying and the peculiar shape of the spores. it is found among the leaves in mixed woods even during freezing weather. it is no doubt edible, but i should try it cautiously for the first time. _tricholoma flavobrunneum. fr._ the yellow-brown tricholoma. edible. flavobrunneum is from flavus, yellow; brunneus, brown; so called from the brown caps and yellow flesh. the pileus is three to four or more inches broad, fleshy, conical, then convex, expanded, subumbonate, viscid, brownish-bay, scaly-streaked, flesh yellow, then tinged with red. the gills are pale yellow, emarginate, slightly decurrent, somewhat crowded, and often tinged with red. the stem is three to four inches long, hollow, slightly ventricose, brownish, flesh yellow, at first viscid, sometimes reddish-brown. the spores are - × - . found in mixed woods among leaves. _tricholoma schumacheri. fr._ schumacheri in honor of c. f. schumacher, author of "plantarum sællandiæ." the pileus is from two to three inches broad, spongy, convex, then plane, obtuse, even, livid gray, moist, edge beyond gills incurved. the gills are narrow, close, pure white, slightly emarginate. the stem is three to four inches long, solid, fibrillosely-striate, white and fleshy. this seems to be a domestic plant, found in greenhouses. _tricholoma grande. pk._ the large tricholoma. edible. grande, large, showy. this was quite abundant in haines' hollow and on ralston's run during the wet weather of the fall of . it seems to be very like t. columbetta and is found in the same localities. the pileus is thick, firm, hemispherical, becoming convex, often irregular, dry, scaly, somewhat silky-fibrillose toward the margin, white, the margin at first involute. flesh grayish-white, taste farinaceous. the gills are close, rounded behind, adnexed, white. the stem is stout, solid, fibrillose, at first tapering upward, then equal or but slightly thickened at the base, pure white. the spores are elliptical, - × µ. the pileus is four to five inches broad, the stem two to four inches long, and an inch to an inch and a half thick. _peck_, th rep. this is a very large and showy plant, growing among leaves after heavy rains. both this and t. columbetta, as well as a white variety of t. personatum, were very plentiful in the same woods. they grow in groups so closely crowded that the caps are often quite irregular. the darker and scaly disk and larger sized spore will help you to distinguish it from t. columbetta. the very large specimens are too coarse to be good. found in damp woods, among leaves, from august to november. _tricholoma sejunctum. sow._ the separating tricholoma. edible. [illustration: figure .--tricholoma sejunctum. one-half natural size.] sejunctum means having separated. it refers to the separation of the gills from the stem. pileus fleshy, convex, then expanded, umbonate, slightly viscid, streaked with innate brown or blackish fibrils, whitish or yellow, sometimes greenish-yellow, flesh white and fragile. the gills are broad, subdistant, rounded behind or notched, white. the stem is solid, stout, often irregular, white. the spores are subglobose, . inch broad. the pileus is one to three inches broad; stem one to four inches long and from four to eight lines thick. _peck's_ report. this is quite common about salem, ohio; on the old lake shore line in wood county near bowling green, ohio; and i have found it frequently near chillicothe. when cooked it has a pleasant flavor. it is always an attractive specimen. i find it under beech trees in the woods, september to november. _tricholoma unifactum. pk._ united tricholoma. edible. unifactum means united or made into one, referring to the stems united in one base root or stem. the pileus is fleshy but thin, convex; often irregular, sometimes eccentric from its mode of growth; whitish, flesh whitish, taste mild. the gills are thin, narrow, close, rounded behind, slightly adnexed, sometimes forked near the base, white. the stems are equal or thicker at the base, solid, fibrous, white, united at the base in a large fleshy mass. spores are white, subglobose, . to . of an inch broad. _peck._ i found a beautiful specimen in poke hollow, in a beech woods with some oak and chestnut. there was but one cluster growing from a large whitish fleshy mass. there were fifteen caps growing from this fleshy mass. i could not identify species until too late to photograph. _tricholoma albellum. fr._ the whitish tricholoma. edible. the pileus is two to three inches broad, becoming pale-white, passing into gray when dry, fleshy, thick at the disk, thinner at the sides, conical then convex, gibbous when expanded, when in vigor moist on the surface, spotted as with scales, the thin margin naked, flesh soft, floccose, white, unchangeable. the gills are very much attenuated behind, not emarginate, becoming broad in front; very crowded, quite entire, white. the stem is one to two inches long, solid, fleshy-compact, ovate-bulbous (conical to the middle, cylindrical above), fibrillose-striate, white. spores elliptical, - × µ. _tricholoma personatum. fr._ the masked tricholoma. edible. [illustration: figure .--tricholoma personatum. one-third natural size. caps usually tinged with lilac or violet. stems bulbous.] [illustration: figure .--tricholoma personatum. two-thirds natural size. the entire plant white.] personatum means wearing a mask; so called because of the variety of colors it undergoes. this is a beautiful mushroom, and is excellently flavored; it has a wide range and is frequently found, in great abundance. i have often seen it growing in almost a straight line for over twenty feet, the caps so thoroughly crowded that they had lost their form. when young the cap is convex and quite firm, with the margin minutely downy or adorned with mealy particles, and incurved. in the mature plant it is softer, broadly convex, or nearly plane, with the thin margin spreading and more or less turned upward and wavy. when young it is pale lilac in color, but with advancing age it changes to a tawny or rusty hue, especially in the center. sometimes the cap is white, whitish or gray, or of a pale violaceous color. the gills are crowded, rounded next to the stem, and nearly free but approaching close to the stem, more narrow toward the margin, with a faint tinge of lilac or violet tint when young, but often white. the stem is short, solid, adorned with very minute fibers, downy or mealy particles when young and fresh, but becoming smooth with advancing age. the color of the stem is much like the cap but perhaps a shade lighter. the cap is from one to five inches broad, and the stem from one to three inches high. it grows singly or in groups. it is found in thin woods and thickets. it delights to grow where an old saw mill has stood. the finest specimens of this species that i ever saw grew on a pile of compost of what had been green cobs from the canning factory. they had lain in the pile for about three years and late in november the compost was literally covered with this species, many of whose caps exceeded five inches while the color and figuration of the plants were quite typical. in english books this plant is spoken of as blewits and in france as blue-stems, but the stems in this country are inclined to be lilac or violet, and then only in the younger plants. the spores are nearly elliptical and dingy white, but in masses on white paper they have a salmon tint. its smooth, almost shining, unbroken epidermis and its peculiar peach-blossom tint distinguish it from all other species of the tricholoma. there is a white variety, very plentiful in our woods, which is illustrated in figure . they are found only in leaf-mould in the woods. september to freezing weather. _tricholoma nudum. bull._ the naked tricholoma. edible. nudum, naked, bare; from the character of the margin. the pileus is two to three inches broad, fleshy, rather thin, convex, then expanded, slightly depressed; smooth, moist, the whole plant violet at first, changing color, margin involute, thin, naked, often wavy. the gills are narrow, rounded behind, slightly decurrent when the plant becomes depressed, crowded, violet at first, changing to a reddish-brown without any tinge of violet. the stem is two to three inches long, stuffed, elastic, equal, at first violaceous, then becoming pale, more or less mealy. spores × . µ i found some very fine specimens among the leaves in the woods in haynes' hollow, near chillicothe. october and november. _tricholoma gambosum. fr._ st. george's mushroom. edible. gambosum, with a swelling of the hoof, _gamba_. the pileus is three to six inches broad, sometimes even larger; very thick, convex, expanded, depressed, commonly cracked here and there; smooth, suggesting soft kid leather; margin involute at first, pale ochre or yellowish white. the gills are notched, with an adnexed tooth, densely crowded, ventricose, moist, various lengths, yellowish white. the stem is short, solid, flocculose at apex, substance creamy white; swollen slightly at the base. the spores are white. it is called st. george's mushroom in england because it appears about the time of st. george's day, april d. it frequently grows in rings or crescents. it has a very strong odor. its season is may and june. _tricholoma portentosum. fr._ the strange tricholoma. edible. [illustration: figure .--tricholoma portentosum.] portentosum means strange or monstrous. the pileus is three to five inches broad, fleshy, convex, then expanded, subumbonate, viscid, sooty, often with purple tinge, frequently unequal and turned up, streaked with dark lines, the thin margin naked, flesh not compact, white, fragile, and mild. the gills are white, very broad, rounded, almost free, distant, often becoming pale-gray or yellowish. the stem is three to six inches long, solid, quite fibrous, sometimes equal, often tapering toward the base, white, stout, striate, villous at base. the spores are subglobose, - × µ. the plants grow in pine woods and along the margins of mixed woods, frequently by roadsides. it is usually found in october and november. the plants in figure were found near waltham, mass., and were sent to me by mrs. e. b. blackford. this is said to even excel t. personatum in edible qualities. _clitocybe. fr._ clitocybe is from two greek words, a hillside, or declivity, and a head; so called from the central depression of the pileus. the genus clitocybe differs from tricholoma in the character of the gills. they are attached to the stem by the whole width and usually are prolonged down the stem or decurrent. this is the first genus with decurrent gills. the genus has neither a volva nor a ring and the spores are white. the stem is elastic, spongy within, frequently hollow and extremely fibrous, continuous with the pileus. the pileus is generally fleshy, growing thin toward the margin, plane or depressed or funnel-shaped, and with margin incurved. the universal veil, if present at all, is seen only on the margin of the pileus like frost or silky dew. these plants usually grow on the ground and frequently in groups, though a few may be found on decayed wood. the collybia, mycena, and omphalia have cartilaginous stems, while the stem of the clitocybe is extremely fibrous, and the tricholoma is distinguished by its notched gills. this genus, because of the variations in its species, will always be puzzling to the beginner, as it is to experts. we may easily decide it is a clitocybe because of the gills squarely meeting the stem, or decurrent upon it, and its external fibrous stem, but to locate the species is quite a different matter. _clitocybe media. pk._ the intermediate clitocybe. edible. [illustration: figure .--clitocybe media. one-half natural size.] media is from _medius_, middle; it is so called because it is intermediate between c. nebularis and c. clavipes. it is not as plentiful as either of the others in our woods. the pileus is grayish-brown or blackish-brown, always darker than c. nebularis. the flesh is white and farinaceous in taste. the gills are rather broad, not crowded, adnate and decurrent, white, with few transverse ridges or veins in the spaces between the gills. the stem is one to two inches long, usually tapering upward, paler than the pileus, rather elastic, smooth. the spores are plainly elliptical, × µ. this resembles very closely the two species mentioned above and is hard to separate. i found the specimens in figure along ralston's run where the ground is mossy and damp. found in september and october. _clitocybe infundibuliformis. schaeff._ the funnel-formed clitocybe. edible. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ plate ix. figure .--clitocybe infundibuliformis.] infundibuliformis means funnel-shaped. this is a beautiful plant and very abundant in woods after a heavy rain. it grows upon the leaves and especially among pine needles. the pileus is at first convex and umbonate and as the plant advances in age the margin becomes elevated until the plant becomes funnel-shaped. the margin is frequently incurved and finally wavy. the flesh is soft and white. the color of the cap is a pale tan. if the cap is examined carefully it will be seen to be covered with a slight down or silky substance, especially on the margin. the color of the cap is apt to fade so that specimens will be found almost white. the gills are thin, close, white or whitish, and very decurrent. the stem is quite smooth, and generally tapers upward from the base. it is sometimes white or whitish, but more frequently like the cap. mycelium will usually be found at the base on the leaves, forming a soft white down. i have found this species in several parts of the state. it is frequently found in clusters, when the caps will be irregular on account of the crowded condition. they are very tender and of excellent flavor. found from august to october. _clitocybe odora. bull._ sweet-smelling clitocybe. edible. [illustration: figure .--clitocybe odora. one-third natural size. cap pale green.] odora means fragrant. this is one of the easiest of the clitocybes to identify. the collector will very readily recognize it by its olive-green color and its odor. the color in the old plant is quite variable but in young plants is well marked. the pileus is one to two and a half inches broad, flesh quite thick; at first convex, then expanded, plane, often depressed, sometimes inclined to be wavy; even, smooth, olive-green. the gills are adnate, rather close, sometimes slightly decurrent, broad, pallid. the stem is one to one and a half inches long, often slightly bulbous at the base. these plants are found from august to october, in the woods, on leaves. they are quite common about chillicothe after a rain. when cooked by themselves the flavor is a bit strong, but when mixed with other plants not so strong in flavor, they are fine. _clitocybe illudens. schw._ the deceiving clitocybe. not edible. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ plate x. figure .--clitocybe illudens. caps reddish-yellow to deep yellow. gills yellow and decurrent.] illudens means deceiving. pileus of a beautiful yellow, very showy and inviting. many a basketful has been brought to me to be identified with the hope of their edibility. the cap is convex, umbonate, spreading, depressed, smooth, often irregular from its crowded condition of growth; in older and larger plants the margin of the pileus is wavy. the flesh is thick at the center but thinner toward the margin. in old plants the color is brownish. the gills are decurrent, some much further than others; yellow; not crowded; broad. the stem is solid, long, firm, smooth tapering towards the base, as will be seen by figure , sometimes the stems are very large. the pileus is from four to six inches broad. the stem is six to eight inches high. it occurs in large clusters and the rich saffron color of the entire plant compels our admiration and we are reminded that "not all is gold that glitters." it will be interesting to gather a large cluster to show its phosphorescence and the heat which the plant will generate. you can show the phosphorescence by putting it in a dark room and by placing a thermometer in the cluster you can show the heat. it is frequently called "jack-o'-lantern." i have known people to eat it without harm, but the chances are that it will make most persons sick. it ought to be good, since it is so abundant and looks so rich. found from july to october. _clitocybe multiceps. pk._ the many-headed clitocybe. edible. [illustration: figure .--clitocybe multiceps. one-half natural size. caps grayish-white.] multiceps means many heads; so called because many caps are found in one cluster. it is a very common plant around chillicothe. it has been found within the city limits. it is quite a typical species, too, having all the characteristics of the genus. i have often seen over fifty caps in one cluster. the pileus is white or gray, brownish-gray or buff; smooth, thin at the margin, convex, slightly moist in rainy weather. the gills are white, crowded, narrow at each end, decurrent. the stem is tough, elastic, fleshy, solid, tinged with the same color as the cap. the pileus is one to three inches broad; grows in dense tufts. spores are white, smooth and globose. when found in june the plants are a shade whiter than in the fall. the fall plants are very much the oyster color. the early plant is a more tender one and better for table use, however, i do not regard it as excellent. they are found in woods, in old pastures by logs and stumps, and in lawns. june to october. _clitocybe clavipes. pers._ [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--clitocybe clavipes.] clavipes is from _clava_, a club, and _pes_, a foot. the pileus is one to two and a half inches broad, fleshy, rather spongy, convex to expanded, obtuse, even, smooth, gray or brownish, sometimes whitish toward the margin. the gills are decurrent, descending, rather distant, nearly entire, rather broad, white. the stem is two inches long, swollen at the base, attenuated upward, stuffed, spongy, fibrillose, livid sooty. spores are elliptical, - × µ. i found specimens on cemetery hill underneath pine trees. i sent some to dr. herbst and prof. atkinson; both pronounced them c. clavipes. they resemble quite closely c. nebularis. i have also found this plant in mixed woods. edible and fairly good. _clitocybe tornata. fr._ tornata means turned in a lathe; so called because of its neat and regular form. the pileus is orbicular, plane, somewhat depressed, thin, smooth, shining, white, darker on the disk, very regular. the gills are decurrent adnate, rather crowded, white. the stem is stuffed, firm, slender, smooth, pubescent at the base. the spores are elliptical, - × - µ. these are small, very regular, and inodorous plants. they are found in open fields in the grass about elm stumps. july to september. they are edible and cook readily. _clitocybe metachroa. fr._ the obconic clitocybe. edible. [illustration: figure .--clitocybe metachroa. caps dark gray. gills pale gray.] metachroa means changing color. the pileus is one to two and a half inches broad, somewhat fleshy, convex, then plane, depressed, smooth, hygrophanous, brownish-gray, then livid, growing pale. the gills are attached to the stem, crowded, pale gray, slightly decurrent. the stem is one to two inches long, stuffed, then hollow, apex mealy, equal, gray. it differs from c. ditopa in being inodorous and having a thicker and depressed pileus. the caps are quite smooth and are frequently concentrically cracked or wrinkled, much as in clitopilus noveboracensis. it is found growing on leaves in mixed woods, after a rain, in august and september. when young the margin is incurved but wavy in age. it is quite a hardy plant. _clitocybe adirondackensis. pk._ [illustration: figure .--clitocybe adirondackensis. three-fourths natural size. caps white.] adirondackensis, so called because the plant was first found in the adirondack mountains of new york. the pileus is thin, submembranaceous, funnel-form, with the margin decurved, nearly smooth, hygrophanous, white, the disk often darker. the gills are white, very narrow, scarcely broader than the thickness of the flesh of the pileus, crowded, long, decurrent, subarcuate, some of them forked. the stem is slender, subequal, not hollow, whitish, mycelio-thickened at the base. _peck._ the pileus is one to two inches broad and the stem is one to two and a half long. this is quite a pretty mushroom and has the clitocybe appearance in a marked degree. the long, narrow, decurrent gills, sometimes tinged with yellow, some of them forked, margin of the pileus sometimes wavy, will assist in distinguishing it. i have no doubt of its edibility. found among leaves in woods after heavy rains. with us it is confined to the wooded hillsides. the specimens in figure were found in michigan and photographed by dr. fischer. found in july and august. _clitocybe ochropurpurea. berk._ the clay-purple clitocybe. edible. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ plate xi. figure .--clitocybe ochropurpurea.] ochropurpurea is from _ochra_, ocher or clay color; _purpureus_, purple; it is so called because the caps are clay-color and the gills are purple. the caps are convex, fleshy, quite compact, clay-colored, sometimes tinged with purple around the margin, cuticle easily separating, margin involute, often at first tomentose, old forms often repand or wavy. the gills are purple, sometimes whitish in old specimens from the white spores, broad behind, decurrent, distant. the stem is paler than the cap, often tinted with purple, solid, frequently long and swollen in the middle, fibrous. the spores white or pale yellow. the first time i found this species i never dreamed that it was a clitocybe. it was especially abundant on our wooded clay banks or hillsides, near chillicothe, during the wet weather in july and august of . it is a hardy plant and will keep for days. insects do not seem to work in it readily. when cooked carefully it is rather tender and fairly good. _clitocybe subditopoda. pk._ subditopoda is so called because it is nearly (sub) like fries' c. ditopus, which means living in two places, perhaps referring to the stem being sometimes central and sometimes eccentric. the pileus is thin, convex or nearly plane, umbilicate, hygrophanous, grayish-brown, striate on the margin when moist, paler when dry, flesh concolorous, odor and taste farinaceous. the gills are broad, close, adnate, whitish or pale cinereous. the stem is equal, smooth, hollow, colored like the pileus. the spores are elliptical, . to . inch long, . to . broad. _peck._ it is found on mossy ground in woods. i have found them under pine trees on cemetery hill. dr. peck says he separated this species from c. ditopoda because of the "striate margin of the pileus, paler gills, longer stem, and elliptical spores." the plant is edible. september and october. _clitocybe ditopoda. fr._ ditopoda is from two greek words, _di-totos_, living in two places, and _pus_ or _poda_, foot, having reference to the stem being central at times and again eccentric. the pileus is rather fleshy, convex, then plane, depressed, even, smooth, hygrophanous. the gills are adnate, crowded, thin, dark, cinereous. the stem is hollow, equal, almost naked. this species resembles in appearance c. metachroa but can be separated by the mild taste and farinaceous odor. its favorite habit is on pine needles. august and september. i found this species in various places about chillicothe and on thanksgiving day i found it in a mixed wood in gallia county, ohio, along with hygrophorus lauræ and tricholoma maculatescens. i sent some specimens to dr. herbst, who pronounced it c. ditopoda. _clitocybe pithyophila. fr._ the pine-loving clitocybe. [illustration: figure .--clitocybe pithyophila. two-thirds natural size. cap white and showing the pine needles upon which they grow.] pithyophila means pine-loving. this plant is very abundant under pine trees on cemetery hill. they grow on the bed of pine needles. the pileus is very variable in size, white, one to two inches broad; fleshy, thin, becoming plane, umbonate, smooth, growing pale, at length irregularly shaped, repand, wavy, sometimes slightly striate. the stem is hollow, terete, then compressed, smooth, equal, even, downy at the base. the gills are adnate, somewhat decurrent, crowded, plane, always white. the spores are - × µ. the plants in figure are small, having been found during the cold weather in november. they are said to be good, but i have not eaten them. _clitocybe candicans. fr._ candicans, whitish or shining white. pileus is one inch broad, entirely white, somewhat fleshy, convex, then plane, or depressed, even, shining, with regularly deflexed margin. the gills are adnate, crowded, thin, at length decurrent, narrow. the stem is nearly hollow, even, waxy, shining, nearly equal, cartilaginous, smooth, incurved at the base. the spores are broadly elliptical, or subglobose, - × µ. found in damp woods on leaves. _clitocybe obbata. fr._ the beaker-shaped clitocybe. edible. obbata means shaped like an obba or beaker. the pileus is somewhat membranaceous, umbilicate, then rather deeply depressed, smooth, inclined to be hygrophanous, sooty-brown, margin at length striate. the gills are decurrent, distant, grayish-white, pruinose. the stem is hollow, grayish-brown, smooth, equal, rather tough. i found plants growing on cemetery hill under pine trees. i had some trouble to identify the species until prof. atkinson helped me out. august to september. _clitocybe gilva. pers._ the yellow clitocybe. edible. gilva means pale yellow or reddish yellow. the pileus is two to four inches broad, fleshy, compact, soon depressed and wavy, smooth, moist, dingy ocher, flesh same color, sometimes spotted, margin involute. the gills are decurrent, closely crowded, thin, sometimes branched, narrow but broader in the middle, ochraceous yellow. the stem is two to three inches long, solid, smooth, nearly equal, somewhat paler than the cap, and inclined to be villous at the base. the spores are nearly globose, - µ. this plant is sometimes found in mixed woods, but it seems to prefer pine trees. it has a wide distribution, found in the east and south as well as the west. i have found it in several localities in ohio. found from july to september. _clitocybe flaccida. sow._ the limp clitocybe. edible. [illustration: figure .--clitocybe flaccida. one-half natural size.] flaccida means flabby, limp. the pileus is two to three inches broad, rather fleshy, thin, limp, umbilicate, then funnel-shaped, even, smooth, sometimes cracking into minute scales, tawny or rust-colored, margin broadly reflexed. the gills are strongly decurrent, yellowish, to whitish, close, arcuate. the stem is tufted, unequal, rusty, somewhat wavy, tough, naked, villous at the base. the spores are globose or nearly so, - × - µ. this resembles the c. infundibuliformis very closely, both in its appearance and its habit. it grows among leaves in mixed woods during wet weather. it is gregarious, often many stems growing from one mass of mycelium. the plants in figure were collected in ackerman's woods near columbus, ohio, and were photographed by dr. kellerman. they are found on all the hillsides about chillicothe. found from july to late in october. _clitocybe monadelpha. morg._ the one-brotherhood clitocybe. edible. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ plate xii. figure .--clitocybe monadelpha.] monadelpha is from _monos_, one and _adelphos_, brother. prof. morgan of preston, ohio, gives the following description of the one-brotherhood clitocybe in the mycological flora of the miama valley: "densely cespitose. pileus fleshy, convex, then depressed, at first glabrous, then scaly, honey-colored, varying to pallid-brown or reddish. the stem elongated, solid, crooked, twisted, fibrous, tapering at the base, pallid-brownish or flesh color. spores white, a little irregular, . mm." it might be easily taken for the ringless armillaria mellea, but the decidedly decurrent gills and the solid stem ought to set any one right. in very wet weather it soon becomes water-soaked, and is then not good. it is found in woods about stumps, and in newly cleared fields about roots or stumps. from spring to october. see plate xii, figure , for an illustration. bresadola of europe has determined this to be the same as that described by scoparius in as agaricus (clitocybe) tabescens. i have preferred to retain the name given by prof. morgan. _clitocybe dealbata. sow._ the white clytocybe. edible. dealbata means whitewashed; so called from its white color. the pileus is about one inch broad, rather fleshy, convex, then plane, upturned and wavy, smooth, shining, even. the gills are crowded, white, attached to the stem. the stem is fibrous, thin, equal, stuffed. spores are - × . µ. this is a beautiful plant and widely distributed. found among leaves and sometimes in the grass. it makes a delicious dish. _clitocybe phyllophila. fr._ the leaf-loving clitocybe. edible. phyllophila means leaf and fond of. it is so called because it is found on leaves in the woods during wet weather. the pileus is one and a half to three inches in diameter, whitish-tan, rather fleshy, convex, then plane, at length depressed, even, dry, noticeably white around the margin. the gills are attached to the stem, decurrent especially after the cap is depressed, somewhat distant, rather broad, white, becoming yellowish or ocher tinged, thin. the stem is two to three inches long, stuffed, becoming hollow, silky, rather tough, whitish. the spores are elliptical., × µ. the whitish-tan cap with its white, silvery zone near the margin will serve to identify the species. august to october. _clitocybe cyathiformis. bull._ the cup-shaped clitocybe. edible. cyathiformis is from _cyathus_, a drinking cup; _formis_, form or shape. the pileus is two to three inches broad, fleshy, rather thin; at first depressed, then funnel-shaped; even, smooth, moist, hygrophanous; the margin involute, sooty or dark brown when moist, becoming pale when dry, often dingy ochraceous or tan-color, inclined to be wavy. the gills are attached to the stem, decurrent from the depressed form of the pileus, united behind, somewhat dingy, sparingly branched. the stem is stuffed, elastic, tapering upward, fibrillose, base villous. the spores are elliptical, × µ. this plant has a wide distribution and is found in woods or wood margins. i found some very fine specimens on ralston's run, near chillicothe. september to october. _clitocybe laccata. scop._ waxy clitocybe. edible. [illustration: figure .--clitocybe laccata. two-thirds natural size. caps violet or reddish-brown. gills broad and distant.] laccata means made of shellac or sealing-wax. this is a very common, variable plant. sometimes of a bright amethyst but usually of a reddish brown. the pileus is from one to two inches broad, almost membranaceous, convex, then plane, depressed in the center, downy with short hairs, violet or reddish-brown. the gills are broad, distant, attached to the stem by the entire width; pale fleshy-red in hue which is more constant than the color of the cap and which forms an ear-mark to tell the species; adnate with a decurrent tooth, plane, the white spores being very abundant. the stem is tough, fibrous, stuffed, crooked, white-villous at the base, rather long and slender, dull reddish yellow or reddish-flesh-colored, sometimes pallid or dull ochraceous, slightly striate; when the season is wet it is often watery. this waxy clitocybe has a wide range and is frequently very abundant. it is found through almost the entire season. it will grow almost anywhere, in woods, pastures, and lawns, and sometimes on naked ground. the plants in figure were found in tall grass in a grove in august. those in figure were found the last of november on cemetery hill, under pine trees. [illustration: figure .--clitocybe laccata. two-thirds natural size. specimens growing late in the fall.] prof. peck gives the following varieties: var. amethystina--in which the cap is much darker in color. var. pallidifolia--gills much paler than usual. var. striatula--cap smooth, thin, so that shadowy lines are seen on cap, radiating from near the center to the margin. this grows in damp places. some authors make clitocybe laccata a type for a new genus and call it lacaria laccata. _collybia. fr._ collybia is from a greek word meaning a small coin or a small round cake. the ring and volva are both wanting in this genus. the pileus is fleshy, generally thin, and when the plant is young the margin of the pileus is incurved. the gills are adnate or nearly free, soft, membranaceous. many species of collybia will revive to some extent when moistened, but they are not coriaceous. the stem differs in substance from the pileus, cartilaginous or has a cartilaginous cuticle, while the inside is stuffed or hollow. this is quite a large genus, containing fifty-four american species. _collybia radicata. rehl._ the rooting collybia. edible. [illustration: plate xiii. figure .--collybia radicata.] this, in its season, is one of the most common mushrooms in the woods. it grows in the ground, frequently around old stumps, sometimes on lawns. those in figure were found in the woods on the ground. one plant, as will be seen by the square, is a foot high. it is easily recognized by its long root and flat cap. the root extends into the ground and will frequently break before pulling up. this root gives name to the species. the pileus is fleshy, rather thin, convex, then plane, often with margin upturned in old plants as in figure , and frequently wrinkled at and toward the umbo, smooth, viscid when moist. the color is quite variable, from almost white to gray, grayish-brown; flesh thin, very white, elastic. the gills are usually snow white, broad, rather distant, broad in the middle, joined to the stem by the upper angle, unequal. the stem is frequently long, of the same color as the cap, yet sometimes paler; smooth, firm, sometimes grooved, often twisted, tapering upward, ending in a long tapering root, deeply planted in the soil. the spores are elliptical, × µ. they grow singly, but generally have many neighbors. they are found in open woods and around old stumps. i seldom have any trouble in getting enough for a large family and some for my neighbor, who may not know what to get but does know how to appreciate them. found from june to october and from the new england states through the middle west. they differ from c. hariolarum in the densely tufted habit of the latter. _colybia ingrata. schum._ ingrata means unpleasant; from its somewhat unpleasant odor. the pileus is one to two inches broad, globose, bell-shaped, then convex, umbonate, even, brownish-tan. the gills are free, narrow, crowded, pallid. the stem is twisted, subcompressed, sprinkled with a mealy tomentum above, umber below, hollow, rather long, unequal. i found this plant quite abundant on cemetery hill, growing under pine trees, from the mass of pine needles. found in july and august. _collybia platyphylla. fr._ broad-gilled collybia. edible. [illustration: figure .--collybia platyphylla. one-third natural size.] platyphylla is from two greek words meaning broad and leaf, referring to the broad gills. it is a much larger and stouter plant than collybia radicata. it is found in new ground on open pastures about stumps, also in woods, on rotten logs and about stumps. the pileus is three to four inches broad, at first convex, then expanded, plane, margin often upturned, smoky brown to grayish, streaked with dark fibrils, watery when moist, flesh white. the gills are adnexed, very broad, obliquely notched behind, distant, soft, white, in age more or less broken or cracked. the stem is short, thick, often striated, whitish, soft, stuffed, sometimes slightly powdered at the apex, root blunt. the spores are white and elliptical. it is easily distinguished from c. radicata by the blunt base of the root and the very broad gills. like c. radicata they need to be cooked well or there is a slightly bitter taste to them. they are found from june to october. _collybia dryophila. bull._ oak-loving collybia. edible. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--collybia dryophila. natural size. caps bay-brown.] dryophila is from two greek words, oak and fond of. the pileus is bay-brown, bay red, or tan color, one or two inches broad, convex, plane, sometimes depressed and the margin elevated, flesh thin and white. the gills are free with a decurrent tooth, crowded, narrow, white, or whitish, rarely yellow. the stem is cartilaginous, smooth, hollow, yellow, or yellowish, equal, sometimes thickened at the base as will be seen in figure . the color of the stem is usually the same as the cap. this is a very common plant about chillicothe. they are found in woods, especially under oak trees, but are also found in open places. i found them on the high school lawn in chillicothe. some very fine specimens that were found growing in a well marked ring, in an old orchard, were brought to me about the first of may. their season is from the first of may to october. _collybia zonata. pk._ the zoned collybia. edible. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ plate xiv. figure .--collybia zonata.] zonata, zoned; referring to the concentric zones on the cap which show faintly in figure . the pileus is about one inch broad, sometimes more, sometimes less; rather fleshy, thin, convex, when expanded nearly plane, slightly umbilicate, covered with fibrous down; tawny or ochraceous tawny, sometimes marked with faintly darker zones; even in the very young specimens the umbilicate condition is usually present. the gills are narrow, close, free, white or nearly white, usually with a pulverulent edge. the stem is one to three inches long, rather firm, equal, hollow, covered like the cap with a fibrous down, tawny, or brownish tawny. the spores are broadly elliptical, . inch long, . broad. this species closely resembles c. stipitaria, but is easily distinguished from it because of its habits of growth, different gills, and shorter spores. it is found on or near decaying wood in mixed woods. i have found it frequently on ralston's run but always only a few specimens in one place. it does not grow in a cespitose manner with us. found in august. _collybia maculata. alb. & schw._ the spotted collybia. edible. [illustration: figure .--collybia maculata. two-thirds natural size. reddish-brown spots on caps and stems.] maculata, spotted; referring to the reddish spots or stains both on the cap and on the stem. the pileus is two to three inches broad, at first white, then spotted (as well as the stem) with reddish brown spots or stains, fleshy, very firm, convex, sometimes nearly plane, even, smooth, truly carnose, compact, at first hemispherical and with an involute margin, often repand. the gills are somewhat crowded, narrow, adnexed, often free, linear, white or whitish, often brownish cream, gills not reaching to the margin of the cap. the stem is three to four inches long, nearly solid, more or less grooved, stout, unequal, sometimes ventricose, frequently partially bulbous, lighter than the gills, usually spotted in age, white at first. the spores are subglobose, - µ. the plant is a hardy one. it will keep for several days. the plants in figure grew in the woods where a log had rotted down. var. immaculata, cooke, differs from the typical form in not changing color or being spotted, and in the broader and serrated gills. this variety delights in fir woods. september to november. _collybia atrata. fr._ charcoal collybia. [illustration: figure .--collybia atrata. one-half natural size. caps dull blackish-brown. gills grayish-white.] atrata, clothed in black; from the pileus being very black when young. the pileus is from one to two inches broad, at first regular and convex, when expanded becoming, as a rule, irregular in shape, sometimes partially lobed or wavy; in young plants the cap is a dull blackish brown, faded in older specimens to a lighter brown, umbilicate, smooth, shining. the gills are adnate, slightly crowded, with many short ones, rather broad, grayish-white. the stem is smooth, equal, even, hollow, or stuffed, tough, short, brown within and without, but lighter than the cap. the plant grows in pastures where stumps have been burned out, always, so far as i have noticed, on burned ground. spores . ×. . _collybia ambusta. fr._ the scorched collybia. ambusta, burned or scorched, from its being found on burned soil. the pileus is nearly membranaceous, convex, then expanded, nearly plane, papillate, striatulate, smooth, livid brown, hygrophanous, umbonate. the gills are adnate, crowded, lanceolate, white, then of a smoky tinge. the stem is somewhat stuffed, tough, short, livid. spores - × - . this species differs from c. atrata in having an umbonate pileus. _collybia confluens. pers._ the tufted collybia. edible. [illustration: figure .--collybia confluens. natural size, showing reddish stems.] confluens means growing together; so called from the stems often being confluent or adhering to each other. the pileus is from an inch to an inch and a quarter broad, reddish-brown, often densely cespitose, somewhat fleshy, convex, then plane, flaccid, smooth, often watery, margin thin, in old specimens slightly depressed and wavy. the gills are free and in old plants remote from the stem, rather crowded, narrow, flesh colored, then whitish. the stem is two to three inches long, hollow, pale red, sprinkled with a mealy pubescence. the spores are slightly ovate, inclined to be pointed at one end, - × - µ. these plants grow among leaves in the woods after warm rains, growing in tufts, sometimes in rows or lines. they are not as large as c. dryophylla, the stem is quite different and the plants seem to have the ability to revive like a marasmius. they can be dried for winter use. _collybia myriadophylla. pk._ many-leaved collybia. [illustration: figure .--collybia myriadophylla.] myriadophylla is from two greek words, meaning many leaves. it has reference to its numerous gills. the pileus is very thin, broadly convex, then plane or centrally depressed, sometimes umbillicate, hygrophanous, brown when moist, ochraceous or tan-color when dry. the gills are very numerous, narrow, linear, crowded, rounded behind or slightly adnexed, brownish-lilac. the stem is slender, but commonly short, equal, glabrous, stuffed or hollow, reddish-brown. the spores are minute, broadly elliptical, . to . -inch long, . -inch broad. _peck_, th rep. i found only a few specimens in haynes's hollow. the caps were about an inch broad and the stems were an inch and a half long. it will be easily identified if one has the description of it, because of its peculiarly colored gills. i found my plants on a decayed stump in august. in the dried specimens the gills assume a more brownish-red hue, as in the next following species. collybia colorea. pk. they sometimes appear to have a glaucous reflection, probably from the abundance of the spores. the stem is more or less radicated and often slightly floccose-pruinose toward the base. the basidia are very short, being only . to . -inch long. _collybia atratoides. pk._ the blackish collybia. [illustration: figure .--collybia atratoides. two-thirds natural size. caps blackish to grayish-brown.] atratoides means like the species _atrata_, which means black; so called because the caps when fresh are quite black. atratoides has a different habitat and is not so dark. the pileus is thin, convex, subumbilicate, glabrous, hygrophanous, blackish-brown when moist, grayish-brown and shining when dry. the gills are rather broad, subdistant, adnate, grayish-white, often transversely veiny above and venosely connected. the stem is equal, hollow, smooth, grayish-brown with a whitish mycelioid tomentum at the base. the spores are nearly globose, about . -inch broad. the pileus is six to ten lines broad and the stem is about one inch long. _peck._ the plant is gregarious, growing on decayed wood and on mossy sticks in mixed woods. the margin of the cap is often serrated, as you will see in figure , yet this does not seem to be a constant characteristic of the species. it is closely related to c. atrata, but its habitat and the color of its pileus and gills differ very greatly. i have not eaten it, but have no doubt of its good qualities. found in august and september. quite common in all our woods. _collybia acervata. fr._ the tufted collybia. edible. [illustration: figure .--collybia acervata. two-thirds natural size. caps pale, tan or dingy pink.] acervata, from acervus, a mass, a heap. pileus fleshy but thin, convex, or nearly plane, obtuse, glabrous, hygrophanous, pale, tan-color or dingy pinkish-red, and commonly striate on the margin when moist, paler or whitish when dry. gills narrow, close, adnexed or free, whitish or tinged with flesh-color. the stem slender, rigid, hollow, glabrous, reddish, reddish-brown or brown, often whitish at the top, especially when young, commonly with a matted down at the base. spores elliptical, × - µ. the plant is cespitose. pileus one-half inch broad. stem two to three inches long. _peck's_ th report. this is a beautiful plant when growing in large tufts. the entire plant is tender and has a delicate flavor. i found the plant figured here on the frankfort pike where an old saw mill had formerly stood. it grew abundantly there, along with lepiota americana and pluteus cervinus. found from august to october. _collybia velutipes. curtis._ the velvet-foot collybia. edible. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ plate xv. figure .--collybia velutipes. natural size, showing the velvet stems, which give name to the species.] velutipes, from _vellum_, velvet and _pes_, foot. pileus from one to four inches broad, tawny yellow, fleshy at the center, thick on the margin, quite sticky or viscid when moist, margin slightly striate, sometimes inclined to be excentric. gills rounded behind, broad, slightly adnexed, tan or pale-yellow, somewhat distant. the stem is cartilaginous, tough, hollow, umber, then becoming blackish, with a velvety coat. spores are elliptical, × - . µ. it grows on stumps, logs and roots, in the ground. it grows almost the year round. i have gathered it to eat in february. plate xv gives a very correct notion of the plant. it is most plentiful in september, october and november, yet found throughout the winter months. _mycena. fr._ mycena is from a greek word, meaning a fungus. the plants of this genus are small and rather fragile. pileus more or less membranaceous, generally striate, with the margin almost straight, and at first pressed to the stem, never involute, expanded, campanulate, and generally umbonate. the stem is externally cartilaginous, hollow, not stuffed when young, confluent with the cap. gills never decurrent, though some species have a broad sinus near the stem. most species are small and inodorous, but some which have a strong alkaline odor are probably not good. some are known to be edible. a few species exude a colored or watery juice when bruised. the mycena resembles the collybia, but never has the incurved margin of the latter. the plants are usually smaller, and the caps are more or less conical. this genus might be mistaken for omphalia, in which the gills are but slightly decurrent, but in omphalia the cap is umbilicate while in mycena it is umbonate. their being so small makes the determination of species somewhat difficult. some have characteristic odors which greatly assist in establishing their identity. _mycena galericulata. scop._ the small peaked-cap mycena. edible. [illustration: plate xvi. figure .--mycena galericulata. natural size.] galericulata, a small peaked-cap. the pileus is campanulate, whitish or grayish, center of the disk darker and lighter toward the margin, smooth, dry, margin striated nearly to the peak of the umbo, sometimes slightly depressed. the gills are adnate with a tooth, connected by veins, whitish, then gray, often flesh color, rather distant, ventricose, edge sometimes entire, sometimes serrate. the stem is rigid, cartilaginous, hollow, tough, straight, polished, smooth, hairy at the base. it grows on logs and stumps in the woods. it is very common and sometimes found in abundance. the plants are frequently densely clustered, the numerous stems matted together by a soft hairy down at the base. there are many forms of this plant. found from september to frost. the plants in figure were photographed by prof. g. d. smith, akron, o. _mycena rugosa. fr._ the wrinkled mycena. edible. rugosa means wrinkled. the pileus is somewhat fleshy, darker and smaller than the galericulata, quite tough, bell-shaped, then expanded, with unequal elevated wrinkles, always dry, striate on the margin. the gills are adnate, with a tooth, united behind, connected by veins, somewhat distant, whitish, then gray, edge sometimes entire, sometimes serrate. the stem is short, tough, rooted with a hairy base, strongly cartilaginous, hollow, rigid, smooth. it is found on stumps or decayed logs during september and october. _mycena prolifera. sow._ the proliferous mycena. edible. prolifera is from _proles_, offspring, and _fero_, to bear. the pileus is somewhat fleshy, campanulate, then expanded, dry, with a broad, dark umbo; margin at length sulcate or furrowed and sometimes split, pale-yellowish or becoming brownish-tan. the gills are adnexed, subdistant, white, then pallid. the stem is firm, rigid, smooth, shining, minutely striate, rooting. _fries._ this species, as well as m. galericulata, is closely related to m. cohærens. i have found it in dense tufts or clusters, sometimes on lawns, on the bare ground, and in the woods. it is one of the plants in which the stems may be cooked with the caps. _mycena capillaris. schum._ capillaris means hair-like. this is a very small but beautiful white plant. the pileus is bell-shaped, at length umbilicate, smooth. the gills are attached to the stem, ascending, rather distant. the stem is thread-like, smooth, short. the spores are - × . _fries._ these plants are very small and easily overlooked. they grow on leaves in the woods after a rain. july and august. quite common. _mycena setosa. sow._ setosa means full of setæ or hairs. the pileus is very delicate, hemispherical, obtuse, smooth. the gills are distant, white, almost free. the stem is short, slender, and covered with spreading hairs which gives rise to its specific name. commonly found on dead leaves in the woods after a rain. found in july and august. _mycena hæmatopa. pers._ the blood-foot mycena. edible. [illustration: figure .--mycena hæmatopa. brownish-red or flesh-color. a dull red juice exudes from the stem. margin dentate by sterile flap.] hæmatopa is from two greek words, meaning blood and foot. the pileus is fleshy, one inch broad, conic, or bell-shaped, somewhat umbonate, obtuse, whitish to flesh-color, with more or less dull red, even, or slightly striate at the margin, the margin extending beyond the gills and is toothed. the gills are attached to the stem, often with a decurrent tooth, whitish. spores, × - . the stem is two to four inches long, firm, hollow, sometimes smooth, sometimes powdered with whitish, soft hairy down, in color the same as the pileus, yielding a dark red juice which gives name to the species. the color varies quite a little in these plants, owing to some having more of the red juice than others. the genus is readily identified by the dull blood-red juice, hollow stem, the crenate margin of the cap, and its dense cespitose habits. it is found on decayed logs in damp places from august to october. the plants in figure were found in haynes' hollow, september . the plant is widely distributed over the united states. no one will have the slightest difficulty in recognizing this species after seeing the plants in the figure above. _mycena alkalina. fr._ the stump mycena. [illustration: figure .--mycena alkalina. two-thirds natural size, often larger. young specimens.] solitary or cespitose; pileus one-half to two inches broad, rather membranaceous, campanulate, obtuse, naked, deeply striate, moist, shining when dry, when old expanded or depressed, but little changed in color, though occasionally with a pink or yellow hue, whitish or grayish, the center of the disk darker. the gills are adnate, rather distant, slightly ventricose, at first pale, then glaucous, pinkish, or yellow, more or less connected by veins. the stem is smooth, slightly sticky, shining, villous at the base with a sometimes tawny-down, sometimes firm and tenacious, hollow, attenuated upward. the plant is rigid, but brittle, and strong-scented. found on decayed stumps and logs, you will meet it frequently. august to november. _mycena filopes. bull._ thready-stemmed mycena. pileus membranaceous, obtuse, campanulate, then expanded, striate, brown or umber, tinged with pink. the gills are free or minutely adnexed, slightly ventricose, white or paler than the pileus, crowded. the stem is hollow, juicy, smooth, filiform, rather brittle, whitish or brownish. found in woods on leaves, after a rain, from july to october. _mycena stannea. fr._ the tin-colored mycena. [illustration: figure .--mycena stannea. natural size. caps white, sometimes smoky.] stannea pertaining to the color of tin. this is a delicate species that grows in the woods in tufts on rotten wood in damp places. the general character is shown in the illustration, being nearly white but many of the pilei are somewhat smoky. the pileus is firm, membranaceous, bell-shaped, then expanded, smooth, very slightly striate, hygrophanous, quite silky, tin-color. the gills are firmly attached to the stem, with a decurrent tooth, connected by veins, grayish-white. the stem is smooth, even, shining, becoming pale, at length compressed. this species differs from mycena vitrea in having a tooth to the gills. may, june, and july. _mycena vitrea. fr._ vitrea, glassy. this plant is quite fragile. the pileus is membranaceous, bell-shaped, livid-brown, finely striate, no trace of umbo. the gills are firmly attached to the stem, not connected by veins, distinct, linear, whitish. the stem is slender, slightly striate, polished, pale, base fibrillose. this species differs from m. ætites and m. stannea in gills not having a decurrent tooth and not being connected by veins. _mycena corticola. fr._ [illustration: figure .--mycena corticola.] corticola means dwelling on bark. it is one of the smallest of the mycenas, the pileus being about two to four lines across, thin, hemispherical, obtuse, becoming slightly umbilicate, deeply striate, glabrous or flocculosely pruinose, gray, tan, or brownish. the gills are attached to the stem, with slight decurrent tooth, broad, rather ovate, pallid. the stem, is short, slender, incurved, glabrous or minutely scurfy, somewhat paler than the pileus. the spores are elliptical, - × µ; cystidia obtusely fusiform, - × - µ. these plants are found on the bark of living trees. after rains i have seen the bark on the shade trees along the walks in chillicothe, literally covered with these beautiful little plants. the plants in figure were taken from a maple tree the th of december. they are very close allied to m. hiemalis but can be distinguished by the broad, ovate gills bearing cystidia, and smaller spores. _mycena hiemalis. osbeck._ the winter mycena. hiemalis, of, or belonging to, winter. the pileus quite thin, bell-shaped, very slightly umbonate, margin striate; pinkish, rufescent, white, sometimes pruinose. the gills are adnate, linear, white or whitish. the stem is slender, curved, base downy, whitish, pinkish-red. the spores are - × . this is a more delicate species than m. corticola and differs from it in its narrow gills, and striate, not sulcate, pileus, also in the color of the stem. found on stumps and logs. october and november. _mycena leaiana. berk._ [illustration: figure .--mycena leaiana. natural size. caps bright orange and very viscid.] leaiana named in honor of mr. thomas g. lea, who was the first man to study mycology in the miami valley. this is a very beautiful plant growing on decayed beech logs in rainy weather. the pileus is fleshy, very viscid, bright orange, the margin slightly striate as will be seen in the one whose cap shows. the gills are distant, not entire, broad, notched at the stem, attached, the edge a dusky orange, or vermilion, the short gills beginning at the margin. the stem is in most cases curved, attenuated toward the cap, smooth, hollow, rather firm, quite hirsute or strigose at the base. the spores are elliptical, apiculate, . ×. mm. they are cæspitose, growing in dense tufts on logs somewhat decayed. it is extremely viscid, so much so that your hands will be stained yellow if you handle it much. it grows from spring to fall but is usually more abundant in august and september. very common. _mycena iris. b._ pileus is small, convex, expanded, obtuse, slightly viscid, striate, quite [blue?] when young, growing brownish with blue fibrils. the gills are free, tinged with gray. the stem is short, bluish below, tinged with brown above, somewhat pruinose. found in damp woods after a rain, in august. _mycena pura. pers._ [illustration: _photo by prof. g. d. smith._ figure .--mycena pura.] pura means unstained, pure. the pileus is fleshy, thin, bell-shaped, expanded, obtusely umbonate, finely striate on the margin, sometimes having margin upturned, violet to rose. the gills are broad, adnate to sinuate, in older plants sometimes free by breaking away from the stem, connected by veins, sometimes wavy and crenate on the edge, the edge of the gills sometimes almost or quite white, violet, rose. the stem is even, nearly naked, somewhat villous at the base, sometimes almost white when young, later assuming the color of the cap, hollow, smooth. the spores are white and oblong, - × - . . m. pelianthina differs from this in having dark-edged gills. it differs from m. pseudopura and m. zephira in having a strong smell. m. ianthina differs in having a conical cap. this plant is quite widely distributed. our plants are light-violet in color, and the color seems constant. i have found it in mixed woods. it is found in september and october. _mycena vulgaris. pers._ vulgaris means common. the pileus is small, convex, then depressed, papillate, viscid, brownish-gray, finely striate on the margin. the gills are subdecurrent, thin, white; the depressed cap and decurrent gills make the plant resemble an omphalia. spores, × . µ. the stem is viscid, pale, tough, fibrillose at the base, rooting, becoming hollow. it differs from m. pelliculosa in not having a separable cuticule and the fold-like gills. this plant will be recognized by its smoky or grayish color, umbilicate pileus, and viscid stem. it is found in woods on leaves and decayed sticks. august and september. _mycena epipterygia. scop._ [illustration: figure .--mycena epipterygia.] epipterygia is _epi_, upon, and _pterygion_, a small wing. these are small, the pileus being one-half to one inch broad, membranaceous, bell-shaped, then expanded, rather obtuse, not depressed, striate, the cuticule separable in every condition and viscid in damp weather, gray, often pale yellowish-green near the margin often minutely notched when young. the gills are attached to the stem with a decurrent tooth, thin, whitish or tinged with gray. the stem is two to four inches long, hollow, tough, rooting, viscid, yellowish, sometimes gray or even whitish. the spores are elliptical, - × - µ. these plants have a wide distribution and [are?] found on branches, among moss and dead leaves. they are found in clusters and solitary. they resemble in many ways m. alcalina but do not have the peculiar smell. the plants in figure were photographed by prof. g. d. smith of akron. _omphalia. fr._ omphalia is from a greek word meaning the navel; referring here to the central depression in the cap. the pileus from the first is centrally depressed, then funnel-shaped, almost membranaceous, and watery when moist; margin incurved or straight. stem cartilaginous and hollow, often stuffed when young, continuous with the cap but different in character. gills decurrent and sometimes branched. they are generally found on wood, preferring a damp woody situation and a wet season. it is easily distinguished from collybia and mycena by its decurrent gills. in some of the species of the mycena where the gills are slightly decurrent, the pileus is not centrally depressed as it is in corresponding species of omphalia. there are a few species of omphalia whose pileus is not centrally depressed but whose gills are plainly decurrent. _omphalia campanella. batsch._ the bell omphalia. edible. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ plate xvii. figure .--omphalia campanella.] campanella means a little bell. the pileus is membranaceous, convex to extended, centrally depressed, striate, watery, rusty-yellow in color. the gills are moderately close, decurrent, bow-shaped, connected by veins, rigid, firm, yellowish. the spores elliptical, - × - µ. the stem is hollow, clothed with down, and paler above. this plant is very common and plentiful in our woods and is widely distributed in the states. it grows on wood or on ground very heavily charged with decaying wood. it is found through the summer and fall. it is delicious if you have the patience to gather them. _omphalia epichysia. pers._ the pileus is thin, convex to expanded, depressed in the center, sooty-gray with a watery appearance, pallid to nearly white when dry. the gills are slightly decurrent, whitish then gray, somewhat crowded. the stem is slender, hollow, gray. the spores are elliptical, - × - µ. it grows in decayed wood. its smoky color, funnel-shaped pileus, and gray short stem will distinguish it. i have some plants sent me from massachusetts which seem to be much smaller than our plants. _omphalia umbellifera. linn._ the umbel omphalia. edible. umbellifera--_umbella_, a small shade; _ferro_, to bear. pileus one-half inch broad, membranaceous, whitish, convex, then plane, broadly obconic, slightly umbilicate even in the smallest plants, hygrophanous in wet weather, rayed with darker striæ. the gills are decurrent, very distant, quite broad behind, triangular, with straight edges. the stem is short, not more than one inch long, dilated at the apex, of same color as the pileus, at first stuffed, then hollow, firm, white, villous at the base. it is a common plant in our woods, growing on decayed wood or ground largely made up of rotten wood. decayed beech bark is a favorite habitat. found from july till october. _omphalia cæspitosa. bol._ [illustration: figure .--omphalia cæspitosa. natural size.] cæspitosa means growing in tufts; _cæspes_, turf. the pileus is submembranaceous, very small, convex, nearly hemispherical, umbilicate, thin, sulcate, light-ochre, margin crenate, smooth. the gills are distant, rather broad, shortly decurrent, whitish. the stem is curved, hollow, colored like the pileus, slightly bulbous at the base. the spores are × . this species is very much like omphalia oniscus and they can only be distinguished by their habitats and color. it is found in august and september. it delights in well rotted wood. i have seen millions in one place. _omphalia oniscus. fr._ bolton's omphalia. edible. oniscus, a name given to a species of codfish by the greeks, so named because of their gray color. the pileus is flaccid, irregular, about one inch broad, convex, plane, or depressed, slightly fleshy, wavy, sometimes lobed, margin striate, dark cinereous, paler when dry. the gills are adnate, decurrent, livid or whitish, arranged in groups of four, somewhat distant. the stem is about one inch long, rather firm, straight or curved, sometimes unequal, nearly hollow. the spores are × - µ. this is found in damp places from august to november. _omphalia pyxidata. bull._ the box omphalia. pyxidata means made like a box, from _pyxis_, a box. the pileus is somewhat membranaceous, clearly umbilicate, then funnel-shaped, smooth when moist, margin often striate, brick-red. the gills are decurrent, rather distant, triangular, narrow, reddish gray, often yellowish. the stem is stuffed, then hollow, even, tough, pale-tawny. the spores are - × - µ. the plants are usually hygrophanous, but when dry, floccose or slightly silky. this is a small plant growing usually on lawns, nearly hidden in the grass. i found some very fine specimens on dr. sulzbacher's lawn on second street, chillicothe. the plant is, however, widely distributed. i found many specimens on the d of november. _omphalia fibula. bull._ [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--omphalia fibula.] fibula means a buckle or pin, from the pin-like stem. the pileus is membranaceous, at first top-shaped, expanded, slightly umbilicate, striate, margin inclined to be inflexed, yellow or tawny, with a dusky center, minutely pilose. the gills are deeply decurrent, paler, distinct. the stem is slender, nearly orange color with a violet-brown apex, the whole minutely pilose. the spores are elliptical, - × µ. they are found on mossy banks where it is more or less damp. i have only found it in october. _omphalia alboflava. moy._ the golden-gilled omphalia. [illustration: figure .--omphalia alboflava. cap yellowish-brown, sometimes a greenish tinge. gills golden yellow.] alboflava is from two greek words meaning whitish-yellow, from the yellow gills. the pileus is one to two inches broad, thin, somewhat membranaceous, umbilicate, flaccid, covered with fine woolly material, yellow-brown, lighter when dry, margin reflexed. the gills are distant, deep golden-yellow, occasionally forked. the stem is hollow, equal, smooth, shining, egg-yellow. the spores are elliptical, × µ. this plant, is found quite frequently on decayed branches and logs about chillicothe. i have never had the opportunity to test its edibility but i have no doubt of its being good. the plants in figure were found in haynes' hollow and were photographed by dr. kellerman. found from july to october. _marasmius. fr._ _marasmius is a greek participle meaning withered or shriveled_; it is so called because the plant will wither and dry up, but revive with the coming of rain. the spores are white and subelliptical. the pileus is tough and fleshy or membranaceous. the stem is cartilaginous and continuous with the pileus, but of a different texture. the gills are thick, rather tough and distant, sometimes unequal, variously attached or free, rarely decurrent, with a sharp entire edge. it is quite a large genus and many of its species will be of great interest to the student. _marasmius oreades. fr._ the fairy-ring mushroom. edible. [illustration: figure .--marasmius oreades. two-thirds natural size.] _oreades, mountain nymphs._ pileus is fleshy, tough and pliable when moist, brittle when dry, convex, becoming flat, somewhat umbonate, brownish-buff at first, becoming cream-color; when old it is usually quite wrinkled. the gills are broad and wide apart, creamy or yellowish, rounded at the stem end, unequal in length. the stem is solid, equal, tough, fibrous, naked and smooth at base, everywhere with a downy surface. the spores are white, × . to my mind there is no more appetizing mushroom than the "fairy ring" mushroom. figure will give an accurate notion of the plant and figure will show how they grow in the grass. it is found in all parts of ohio. every old pasture field or lawn will be full of these rings. the plant is small but its plentifulness will make up for its size. there are many conjectures why this and many other mushrooms grow in a circle. the explanation is quite obvious. the ring is started by a clump or an individual mushroom. the ground where the mushroom grew is rendered unfit for mushrooms again, the spores fall upon the ground and the mycelium spreads out from this point, consequently each year the ring is growing larger. sometimes they appear only in a crescent form. one can tell, by looking over a lawn or pasture, where the rings are, because, from the decay of the mushroom, the grass is greener and more vigorous there. long ago, in england and ireland, before the peasantry had begun to question the reality of the existence of the fairy folk and their beneficent interference in the affairs of life, these emerald-hued rings were firmly believed to be due to the fairy footsteps which nightly pressed their chosen haunts, and to mark the "little people's" favorite dancing ground. "they had always fine music among themselves, and danced in a moonshiny night around or in a ring, as one may see to this day upon every common in england where mushrooms grow," quaintly says one old writer. and the rev. gerard smith still further voices the belief of the people as to the nature of these grassy rings: "the nimble elves that do by moonshine green sour ringlets make, whereof the ewe bites not; whose pastime 'tis to make these midnight mushrooms." it is a very common plant, and it will pay any one to know it, as we cannot find anything in the markets that will equal it as a table delicacy. found in pastures and lawns during rainy weather from may till frost. [illustration: figure .--marasmius oreades. showing a fairy ring.] _marasmius urens. fr._ the stinging marasmius. urens means burning; so called from its acrid taste. the pileus is pale-buff, tough, fleshy, convex or flat, becoming depressed and finally wrinkled, smooth, even, one to two inches broad. the gills are unequal, cream-colored, becoming brownish, much closer than in the fairy ring, hardly reaching the stem proper, joined behind. the stem is solid above and hollow below, fibrous, pale, its surface more or less covered with flocculent down, and densely covered with white down at the base. it will be well for collectors to pass by this and m. peronatus, or to exercise the greatest caution in their use. they have been eaten without harm, but they also have so long been branded as poisonous that too great care cannot be taken. its taste is acrid, and it grows in lawns and pastures from june to september. _marasmius androsaceus. linn._ [illustration: figure .--marasmius androsaceus. natural size.] androsaceus is from a greek word which means an unidentified sea plant or zoophyte. the pileus is three to six lines broad, membranaceous, convex, with a slight depression, pale-reddish, darker in the center, striate, smooth. the gills are attached to the stem, frequently quite simple and few in number, about fifteen, with shorter ones between, sometimes forked, whitish. the stem is one to two inches long, horny, filiform, hollow, quite smooth, black, often twisted when dry. the spores are × - µ. this is a very attractive little plant found on the leaves in the woods after a rain. they are quite abundant. found from july to october. _marasmius foetidus. sow._ [illustration: figure .--marasmius foetidus.] foetidus means stinking or foetid. the pileus is submembranaceous, tough, convex, then expanded, umbilicate striato-plicate, turning pale when dry, subpruinose. the gills are annulato-adnexed, distant, rufescent with a yellow tinge. the stem is hollow, minutely velvety, bay, base flocculose. the caps are light brownish-red in color, fading when dry. when fresh it has a foetid odor quite perceptible for such small plants. it is found on decayed sticks and leaves in woods. during wet weather or after heavy rains it is quite common in the woods about chillicothe. found from july to october. this is also called heliomyces foetens (pat.) and is so classified by prof. morgan in his very excellent monogram on north american species of marasmius. _marasmius velutipes. b. & c._ [illustration: figure .--marasmius velutipes.] velutipes means velvet-footed, from the velvety stem. the pileus is thin, submembranaceous, smooth, convex, or expanded, grayish-rufous when moist, cinereous when dry, a half to one and a half inches broad. the gills are very narrow, crowded, whitish or grayish. the stem is slender, three to five inches long, equal, hollow, clothed with a dense grayish velvety tomentum. _peck._ they usually grow in a very crowded condition, many plants growing from one mat of mycelium. it is quite a common plant with us, found in damp woods or around a swampy place. the pileus with us is convex. some authorities speak of an umbilicate cap. the plant is quite hardy and easily identified because of its long and slender stem, with the grayish tomentum at the base. found from july to october. the specimens in figure were found at ashville, ohio. _marasmius cohærens. (fr.) bres._ the stemmed-massed marasmius. edible. [illustration: figure .--marasmius cohærens. two-thirds natural size, showing how the stems are massed together.] cohærens means holding together, referring to the stems being massed together. the pileus is fleshy, thin, convex, campanulate, then expanded, sometimes slightly umbonate, in old specimens the margin upturned or wavy, velvety, reddish tan-color, darker in the center, indistinctly striate. the gills are rather crowded, narrow, adnate, sometimes becoming free from the stem, connected by slight veins, pale cinnamon-color, becoming somewhat darker with age, the variation of color due to the number of cystidia scattered over the surface of the gills and on their edge. spores, oval, white, small, × µ. the stem is hollow, long, rigid, even, smooth, shining, reddish-brown, growing paler or whitish toward the cap, a number of the stems growing together at the base with a whitish myceloid tomentum present. the plant grows in dense clusters among leaves and in well rotted wood. i have found it quite often about chillicothe. it is called mycena cohærens, fr., collybia lachnophylla, berk., collybia spinulifera, pk. the plants in figure were found near ashville, ohio. september to frost. _marasmius candidus. bolt._ the white marasmius. [illustration: figure .--marasmius candidus. natural size.] candidus means shining white. this delicate species grows in moist and shady places in the woods. it grows on twigs, its habitat and structure are fully illustrated in the figure . the pileus is rather membranaceous, hemispherical, then plane or depressed, pellucid, wrinkled, naked, entirely white. the gills are adnexed, ventricose, distant, not entire. the stem is thin, stuffed, whitish, slightly pruinose, base tinged with brown. spores are elliptical, × µ. this plant has a wide distribution in this country. the specimens figured were collected by h. h. york near sandusky, ohio, and were photographed by dr. kellerman. i have found them at various points in ohio. _marasmius rotula. fr._ the collared marasmius. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--marasmius rotula. natural size. caps white or pale-buff.] rotula means a little wheel. the pileus is one to three lines broad, hemispherical, umbilicate, and minutely umbonate, plaited, smooth, membranaceous, margin crenate, white, or pale buff, with a dark umbilicus. the gills are broad, distant, few, equal, or occasionally with a few short ones, of the color of the pileus, attached to a free collar behind. the stem is setiform, slightly flexuous, white above, then tawny, deep shining brown at the base, striate, hollow, frequently branched and sarmentose, with or without abortive pilei.--m. j. b. this plant is very common in woods on fallen twigs. the plants in figure were collected near cincinnati. this plant has a wide distribution. it is in all our ohio woods. _marasmius scorodonius. fr._ strong-scented marasmius. edible. [illustration: figure .--marasmius scorodonius.] scorodonius is from a greek word meaning like garlic. the pileus is one-half inch or more broad, reddish when young, but becoming pale, whitish; somewhat fleshy, tough; even, soon plane, rugulose even when young, at length rugulose and crisped. the gills are attached to the stem, often separating, connected by veins, crisped in drying, whitish. the stem is at least one inch long, hollow, equal, quite smooth, shining, reddish. the spores are elliptical, × µ. it is found in woods growing on sticks and decayed wood. it is strong-smelling. it is frequently put with other plants to give a flavor of garlic to the dish. found from july to october. _marasmius calopus. fr._ calopus is from two greek words meaning beautiful and foot, so called because of its beautiful stem. the pileus is rather fleshy, tough, convex, plane then depressed, even, at length rugose, whitish. the gills are emarginate, adnexed, thin, white, in groups of - . the stem is hollow, equal, smooth, not rooting, shining, reddish-bay. it is found growing on twigs and fallen leaves, in the woods. smaller than m. scorodonius but with longer stem. _marasmius prasiosmus. fr._ the leek-scented marasmius. prasiosmus means smelling like a leek; from, _prason_, a leek. the pileus is one-half to one inch broad, somewhat membranaceous, tough, bell-shaped, pale yellow or whitish, disk often darker, wrinkled. the gills are adnexed, somewhat close, white. the stem is tough, hollow, pallid and smooth above, dilated at the base, tomentose and brown. it is found in woods adhering to oak leaves after heavy rains. it is very near m. porreus but differs from it in its gills being white and caps not being striated. it differs from m. terginus mainly in its habitat and leek-like scent. _marasmius anomalus. pk._ anomalus, not conforming to rule, irregular. the pileus is one to two inches broad, somewhat fleshy, tough, convex, even, reddish-gray. the stem is two to three inches long, hollow, equal, smooth, pallid above, reddish-brown below. the gills are rotundate-free, close, narrow, whitish or pallid. _morgan._ this is quite a pretty plant, growing on sticks among leaves in the woods. it is larger than most of the small marasmii found in similar habitats. _marasmius semihirtipes. pk._ semihirtipes means a slightly hairy foot or stem. the pileus is thin, tough, nearly plane or depressed, smooth, sometimes striate on the margin, hygrophanous, reddish-brown when moist, alutaceous when dry, the disk sometimes darker. the gills are subdistant, reaching the stem, slightly venose-connected, sub-crenulate on the edge, white. the stem is equal, even or finely striate, hollow, smooth above, velvety-tomentose toward the base, reddish-brown. _peck._ these plants are very small, often no doubt overlooked by the collector. they are gregarious in their mode of growth. _marasmius longipes. pk._ longipes means long stem or foot. the pileus is thin, convex, smooth, finely striate on the margin, tawny-red. the gills are not crowded, attached, white. the stem is tall, straight, hollow, equal, covered with a downy meal, rooting, brown or fawn-color, white at the top. these plants are quite small and slender, sometimes four to five inches high. they are rather common in our woods after a rain. _marasmius graminum. berk._ graminum is the gen. pl. of _gramen_, which means grass. the pileus small, membranaceous, convex, then nearly plane, umbonate, deeply and distinctly striate or sulcate, tinged with rufous, the furrows paler, disc brown. the gills are attached to a collar that is free around the stem, few in number, slightly ventricose, cream-color. the stem is short, slender, equal, smooth, shining, black, whitish above. the spores are globose, - µ. this species is very near m. rotula but it can be easily distinguished by the pale rufescent, distinctly sulcate pileus, and its growing on grass. i have frequently found it on the chillicothe high school lawn. _marasmius siccus. schw._ the bell-shaped marasmius. [illustration: plate xvii. figure .--marasmius siccus. natural size. the cap ochraceous red, the disks somewhat darker, the stems shining and blackish-brown.] [illustration: figure .--marasmius siccus. natural size. caps deeply furrowed and pinkish.] this is a very beautiful plant found in the woods after a rain, growing from the leaves. they are found singly, but usually in groups. the pileus is at first nearly conical, then campanulate, membranaceous, dry, smooth, furrows radiating from almost the center, growing larger as they approach the margin, ochraceous-red, the disk a little darker. the gills are free or slightly attached, few, distant, broad, narrowed toward the stem, whitish. the stem is hollow, tough, smooth, shining, blackish-brown, two to three inches long. the pileus is about a half inch broad. the plant is quite common in our woods. i have not found it elsewhere. the plants in the photograph represent the pink form, which is not so common as the ochraceous-red. in the pink form the center of the cap and the apex of the stem is a delicate pink, which gives the plant a beautiful appearance. found from june to october. i have not tested it but have no doubt of its esculent qualities. _marasmius fagineus. morgan._ fagineus means belonging to beech. pileus a little fleshy, convex then plane or depressed, at length somewhat repand, rugose-striate, reddish-pallid or alutaceous. the gills are short-adnate, somewhat crisped, close, pale reddish. the stem is short, hollow, pubescent, thickened upward, concolorous; the base somewhat tuberculose. _morgan_, myc. flora m. v. this plant is quite frequently found in our woods growing on the bark at the base of living beech trees. its habitat, its reddish or alutaceous cap, and its paler gills will clearly identify the species. _marasmius peronatus. fr._ the masked marasmius. [illustration: figure .--marasmius peronatus. natural size. cap reddish-buff. gills creamy or light reddish-brown.] peronatus is from _pero_, a boot. the pileus is reddish-buff, convex, slightly flattened at the top, quite wrinkled when old; diameter, at full expansion, between one and two inches, margin striate. the gills are thin and crowded, creamy, becoming light reddish-brown, continuing down the stem by a short curve. the stem is fibrous-stuffed, pale, densely clothed at the base with stiff yellowish hairs. it grows in the woods, among dead leaves, from may till frost. it is usually solitary yet is sometimes found in clusters. it has been eaten frequently without injury, but by most writers is branded poisonous. it is quite acrid, but that disappears in cooking. the dense yellow hairs at the base of the stem appear to constitute the distinguishing characteristic. found from july to october. _marasmius ramealis. fr._ [illustration: figure .--marasmius ramealis. natural size.] ramealis means a branch or stick; so called because the plant is found growing on sticks, in open woods. the pileus is very small, somewhat fleshy, plane or a trifle depressed, obtuse, not striate, slightly rugulose, opaque. the gills are attached to the stem, somewhat distant, narrow, white. the stem is about one inch long, stuffed, mealy, white, inclined to be rufescent at the base. the spores are elliptical, × µ. this is a very pretty plant, but easily overlooked. it is found on oak and beech branches, frequently in large groups. figure illustrates their mode of growth and will assist the collector in identifying the species. not poisonous, but too small to gather. found from july to october. the specimens in figure were found in haynes' hollow near chillicothe and photographed by dr. kellerman. _marasmius saccharinus. batsch._ granular marasmius. edible. saccharinus is from _saccharum_, sugar; it is so called because the white pileus looks very much like loaf sugar. the pileus is entirely white, membranaceous, convex, somewhat papillate, smooth, sulcate and plicate. the gills are broadly and firmly attached to the stem, narrow, thick, very distant, united by veins, whitish. the stem is quite thin, thread-form, attenuated upward, at first flocculose, at length becoming smooth, inserted obliquely, reddish, pale at the apex. spores, × µ. quite common in wet weather on dead oak limbs in woods. this plant differs from m. epiphyllus in its habitat, in the papillate form of its pileus and the stem's being flocculose, then smooth; also in that the gills are united in a reticulated manner. common. july to october. _marasmius epiphyllus. fr._ the leaf marasmius. edible. epiphyllus means growing on leaves. the pileus is white, membranaceous, nearly plane, at length umbilicate, smooth, wrinkled, plicate. the gills are firmly attached to the stem, white, connected by veins, entire, distant, few. the stem is rather horny, bay, minutely velvety, apex pale, inserted. the spores are × µ. this plant is abundant everywhere, on fallen leaves in woods during rainy weather. july to october. _marasmius delectans. morgan._ [illustration: figure .--marasmius delectans. natural size. caps white. gills broad and distant.] delectans means pleasing or delightful. the pileus is subcoriaceous, convex, then expanded and depressed, glabrous, rugulose, white, changing in drying to pale alutaceous. the gills are moderately broad, unequal, rather distant, trabeculate between, white, emarginate, adnexed; the spores are lance-oblong, hyaline, - × µ. the stem, arising from an abundant white-floccose mycelium, is long, slender, tapering slightly upward, smooth, brown and shining, white at the apex. it is found growing on old leaves in woods. the plants in the figure were collected in the woods at sugar grove, ohio, by r. a. young, july , , and photographed by dr. kellerman. found from july to october. _marasmius nigripes. schw._ [illustration: figure .--marasmius nigripes. natural size. caps and gills white, stems black.] nigripes means black foot, so called because the stems are black. tremmelloid. pileus very thin, pure white, pruinose, rugulose-sulcate, convex then expanded. the gills are pure white, unequal, some of them forked, adnate, the interstices venulose. the stem is thickest at the apex, tapering downward, black, white-pruinose, the base insititious. _morgan_. it is found on old leaves, sticks, and old acorns and hickory-nuts. when dry, the stem loses its black color and the gills become flesh-color. it is quite common in thin and open woods. the spores are hyaline and stellate, - -rayed. found from july to october. this is called heliomyces nigripes by some authors. _pleurotus. fr._ pleurotus is from two greek words meaning side and ear, alluding to its manner of growth on a log. this genus is very common everywhere in ohio, and is easily determined by its eccentric, lateral, or even absent stem, but it must have white spores, and the characteristics of the agaricini. pileus fleshy in the larger species and membranaceous in the smaller forms, but never becoming woody. stem mostly lateral or wanting; when present, continuous with cap. gills with sinus or broadly decurrent, toothed. grows in woods. _pleurotus ostreatus. jacq._ the oyster mushroom. edible. [illustration: figure .--pleurotus ostreatus. two-thirds natural size. often growing very large.] pileus two to six inches broad, soft, fleshy, convex, or slightly depressed behind, subordinate, often cespitosely imbricated, moist, smooth, margin involute; whitish, cinereous or brownish; flesh white, the whole surface shining and satiny when dry. [illustration: plate xviii. figure .--pleurotus ostreatus. two-thirds natural size.] gills broad, decurrent, subdistant, branching at the base, white or whitish. the stem when present is very short, firm, lateral, sometimes rough with stiff hair, hairy at the base. spores oblong, white, . to . inch long, . inch broad. this is one of our most abundant mushrooms, and the easiest for the beginner to identify. in figures and , you will see the plant growing in imbricated form apparently without any stem. in figure is a variety that has a pronounced stem, showing how the stems grow together at the base, the slight grooving on the stems, also the decurrent gills. in most of these plants the stems are plainly lateral, but a few will appear to be central. it will be difficult to distinguish it from the sapid mushroom and for table purposes there is little need to separate them. in ohio the oyster mushroom is very common everywhere. i have seen trees sixty to seventy feet high simply loaded with this mushroom. if one will locate a few logs or stumps upon which the oyster mushroom grows, he can find there an abundant supply (when conditions are right for fungus growth) during the entire season. it is almost universally a favorite among mushroom eaters, but it must be carefully and thoroughly cooked. it grows very large and frequently in great masses. i have often found specimens whose caps were eight to ten inches broad. it is found from may to december. [illustration: figure .--pleurotus ostreatus. one-half natural size, showing gills and stems.] _pleurotus salignus. fr._ the willow pleurotus. edible. [illustration: figure .--pleurotus ulmarius. one-third natural size.] salignus, from _salix_, a willow. pileus is compact, nearly halved, horizontal, at first cushion-shaped, even, then with the disk depressed, substrigose, white or fuliginous. the stem, eccentric or lateral, sometimes obsolete, short, white-tomentose. the gills are decurrent, somewhat branched, eroded, distinct at the base, nearly of the same color. spores . by . inch. fries. i found this species near bowling green on willow stumps. about every ten days the stumps offered me a very excellent dish, better than any meat market could afford. september to november. _pleurotus ulmarius. bull._ the elm pleurotus. edible. ulmarius, from _ulmus_, an elm. it takes its name from its habit of growing on elm trees and logs. it appears in the fall and may be found in company with the oyster mushroom, late in december, frozen solid. this species is frequently seen on elm trees, both dead and alive, on live trees where they have been trimmed or injured in some way. it is often seen on elms in the cities, where the elm is a common shade tree. its cap is large, thick and firm, smooth and broadly convex, sometimes pale yellow or buff. frequently the epidermis in the center of the cap cracks, giving the surface a tessellated appearance as in figure . the flesh is very white and quite compact. the gills are white or often becoming tawny at maturity, broad, rounded or notched, not closely placed, sometimes nearly decurrent. the stem is firm and solid, various in length, occasionally very short, inclined to be thick at the base and curved so that the plant will be upright, as will be seen in figure . the cap is from three to six inches broad. a specimen that measured over ten inches across the cap, was found some thirty feet high in a tree. while it was very large, it was quite tender and made several meals for two families. but this species is not limited entirely to the elm. i found it on hickory, about chillicothe. there are a few elm logs along my rambles that afford me fine specimens with great regularity. insects do not seem to infest it as they do the ostreatus and the sapidus. sometimes, when the plant grows from the top of a log or the cut surface of a stump, the stem will be longer, straight, and in the center of the cap. this form is called by some authors var. verticalis. for my own use i think the elm mushroom, when properly prepared, very delicious. like all tree mushrooms it should be eaten when young. it is easily dried and kept for winter use. found from september to november. _pleurotus petaloides. bull._ the petaloid pleurotus. edible. [illustration: figure .--pleurotus petaloides.] this species is so called from its likeness to the petals of a flower. pileus fleshy, spathulate, entire; margin at first involute, finally fully expanded; villous, depressed. the stem is compressed and villous, often channelled, nearly erect. the gills are strongly decurrent, crowded, narrow, and white or whitish. spores minutely globose, . by . . the plant varies very greatly in form and size. its chief characteristic is the presence of numerous short white cystidia in the hymenium, which dot the surface of the hymenium, and under an ordinary pocket lens give to the gills a sort of fuzzy appearance. frequently it will have the appearance of growing from the ground, but a careful examination will reveal a piece of wood of some kind, which serves as a host for the mycelium. i have found this plant but a few times, it seems to be quite rare in our state, especially in the southern part of the state. the plants in figure were photographed by prof. g. d. smith of akron, ohio. _pleurotus sapidus. kalchb._ the sapid pleurotus. edible. [illustration: figure .--pleurotus sapidus. one-third natural size, showing imbricated growth. spores lilac.] [illustration: figure .--pleurotus sapidus.] sapidus, savory. this plant grows in clusters whose stems are more or less united at the base as in figure . the caps when densely crowded are often irregular. they are smooth and vary much in color, being whitish, ash-gray, brownish, yellowish-gray. the flesh is thick and white. the gills are white or whitish, rather broad, running down on the stem, and slightly connected, at times, by oblique or transverse branches. the stem is generally short, solid, several usually springing from a thickened base, white or whitish and either laterally or eccentrically connected with the cap. this plant is classed with the white-spored species, yet its spores, after a short exposure to the air, really exhibit a pale lilac tint. this can only be seen when the spores are in sufficient quantity and resting on a suitable surface. the size of the plant varies, the cap being commonly from two to five inches long. it grows in woods and open places, on stumps and logs of various kinds. its edible quality is quite as good as the oyster mushroom. the only way by which it can be distinguished from the p. ostreatus is by its lilac-tinted spores. it is found from june to november. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ plate xx. figure .--pleurotus sapidus.] _pleurotus serotinoides. pk._ the yellowish pleurotus. edible. [illustration: figure .--pleurotus serotinoides. one-third natural size.] serotinoides, like serotinus, which means late-coming; from its appearing in the winter. the pileus is fleshy, one to three inches broad, compact, convex or nearly plane, viscid when young and moist, half-kidney-shaped, roundish, solitary or crowded and imbricated, variously colored, dingy-yellow, reddish-brown, greenish-brown or olivaceous, the margin at first involute. the gills are close, determinate, whitish or yellowish. the stem is very short, lateral, thick, yellowish beneath, and minutely downy or scaly with blackish points. the spores are minute, elliptical, . inch long, . inch broad. there is probably no difference between this and p. serotinus, the european species. it is a beautiful plant. the color and size are quite variable. i found it on ralston's run and in baird's woods on frankfort pike. it is found from september to january. _pleurotus applicatus. batsch._ little gray pleurotus. [illustration: figure .--pleurotus applicatus. natural size.] applicatus means lying upon or close to; so named from the sessile pileus. the pileus is one-third of an inch across, when young cup-shaped, dark cinereous, somewhat membranaceous, quite firm, resupinate, then reflexed, somewhat striate, slightly pruinose, villous at the base. the gills are thick, broad in proportion to the size of the cap, distant, radiating, gray, the margin lighter, sometimes the gills are as dark as the pileus. sometimes it is attached only by the center of the pileus; sometimes, growing on the side of a shelving log, it is attached laterally. it is not as abundant as some other forms of pleurotus. it differs from p. tremulus in absence of a distinct stem. _pleurotus cyphellæformis. berk._ cyphellæformis means shaped like the hollows of the ears. the pileus is cup-shaped, pendulous, downy or mealy, upper layer gelatinous, gray, very minutely hairy, especially at the base, margin paler. the gills are narrow, rather distant, pure white, alternate ones being shorter. these are very small plants, found only in damp places on dead herbaceous plants. they resemble a cyphella griseo-pallida in habit. _pleurotus abscondens. pk._ [illustration: figure .--pleurotus abscondens. entire plant white.] abscondens means keeping out of view. it is so called because it persists in growing in places where it is hidden from sight. the pileus is often two and a half inches broad, delicate-white, strong stringent odor, usually pruinose, margin slightly incurved. the gills are attached to the stem, rather crowded, very white, somewhat narrow. the stem is short, solid, pruinose, usually lateral, and curved. the plant usually grows in hollow stumps or logs, and in this case the stem is always lateral and the plant grows very much as does the p. ostreatus, except that they are not imbricated. occasionally the plant is found on the bottom of a hollow log and in that case the cap is central and considerably depressed in the center. i have never seen it growing except in a hollow stump or log. its manner of growth and its delicate shape of white will serve to identify it. it is found from august to november. _pleurotus circinatus. fr._ circinatus means to make round, referring to the shape of the pileus. the pileus is two to three inches broad, white, plane, orbicular, convex at first, even, covered over with silky-pruinose lustre. the gills are adnate-decurrent, rather crowded, quite broad, white. the stem is equal, smooth, one to two inches long, stuffed, central or slightly eccentric, rooted at the base. the form of these plants is quite constant and the round white caps will at first suggest a collybia. the white gills and its decurrent form will distinguish it from p. lignatilis. it makes quite a delicious dish when well cooked. i found some beautiful specimens on a decayed beech log in poke hollow. found in september and october. _lactarius. fr._ lactarius means pertaining to milk. there is one feature of this genus that should easily mark it, the presence of milky or colored juice which exudes from a wound or a broken place on a fresh plant. this feature alone is sufficient to distinguish the genus but there are other points that serve to make the determination more certain. the flesh, although it seems quite solid and firm, is very brittle. the fracture is always even, clean cut, and not ragged as in more fibrous substances. the plants are fleshy and stout, and in this particular resemble the clitocybes, but the brittleness of the flesh, milky juice, and the marking of the cap, will easily distinguish them. many species have a very acrid or peppery flavor. if a person tastes one when raw, he will not soon forget it. this acridity is usually lost in cooking. the pileus in all species is fleshy, becoming more or less depressed, margin at first involute, often marked with concentric zones. the stem is stout, often hollow when old, confluent with the cap. the gills are usually unequal, edge acute, decurrent or adnate, milky; in nearly all the species the milk is white, changing to a sulphur yellow, red, or violet, on exposure to the air. _lactarius torminosus. fr._ the woolly lactarius. poisonous. [illustration: figure .--lactarius torminosus. three-fourths natural size. caps yellowish-red or ochraceous tinged with red, margin incurved.] torminosus, full of grips, causing colic. the pileus is two to four inches broad, convex, then depressed, smooth, or nearly so, except the involute margin which is more or less shaggy, somewhat zoned, viscid when young and moist, yellowish-red or pale ochraceous, tinged with red. the gills are thin, close, rather narrow, nearly of the same color as the pileus, but yellower and paler, slightly forked, subdecurrent. the stem is one to two inches long, paler than the cap, equal or slightly tapering downward, stuffed or hollow, sometimes spotted, clothed with a very minute adpressed down. the milk is white and very acrid. the spores are echinulate, subglobose, - × - µ. this differs from l. cilicioides in its zoned pileus and white milk. most authorities speak of it as dangerous. captain mcilvaine speaks of the russians as preserving it in salt and eating it seasoned with oil and vinegar. they grow in the woods, open places, and in fields. the specimens in figure were found in michigan and photographed by dr. fischer. _lactarius piperatus. fr._ the peppery lactarius. edible. [illustration: figure .--lactarius piperatus. one-third natural size.] piperatus--having a peppery taste. the pileus is creamy-white, fleshy, firm, convex, then expanded, depressed in the center, dry, never viscid, and quite broad. the gills are creamy-white, narrow, close, unequal, forked, decurrent, adnate, exuding a milky juice when bruised, milky-white, very acrid. the stem is creamy white, short, thick, solid, smooth, rounded at the end, slightly tapering at the base. spores generally with an apiculus, . by . inch. the plant is found in all parts of ohio, but most people are afraid of it on account of its very peppery taste. although it can be eaten without harm, it will never prove a favorite. it is found in open woods from july to october. in its season is one of the very common plants in all of our woods. _lactarius pergamenus. fr._ pergamenus is from _pergamena_, parchment. the pileus is convex, then expanded, plane, depressed, wavy, wrinkled, without zones, often repand, smooth, white. the gills are adnate, very narrow, tinged with straw-color, often white, branched, much crowded, horizontal. the stem is smooth, stuffed, discolored, not long. the milk is white and acrid. spores, × . it differs from l. piperatus in its crowded, narrow gills and longer stem. found in woods from august to october. _lactarius deceptivus. pk._ deceiving lactarius. edible [illustration: figure .--lactarius deceptivus.] deceptivus means deceiving. the pileus is three to five inches broad, compact, at first convex, and umbilicate, then expanded and centrally depressed or subinfundibuliform, obsoletely tomentose or glabrous except on the margin, white or whitish, often varied with yellowish or sordid strains, the margin at first involute and clothed with a dense, soft cottony tomentum, then spreading or elevated and more or less fibrillose. the gills are rather broad, distant or subdistant, adnate or decurrent, some of them, forked, whitish, becoming cream-colored. the stem is one to three inches long, equal or narrowed downward, solid, pruinose-pubescent, white. spores are white, - . µ. milk white, taste acrid. this plant delights in woods and open groves, especially under coniferous trees. it is a large, meaty, acrid white species, with a thick, soft, cottony tomentum on the margin of the pileus of the young plant. the specimen photographed was sent me from massachusetts by mrs. blackford. it grows in july, august and september. its sharp acridity is lost in cooking, but like all acrid lactarius it is coarse and not very good. _lactarius indigo. (schw.) fr._ [illustration: figure .--lactarius indigo. one-third natural size. entire plant indigo blue.] [illustration: figure .--lactarius indigo. one-third natural size, showing gills.] this is one of our most striking plants. no one can fail to recognize it, because of the deep indigo blue that pervades the whole plant. i have found it in only one place, near what is known as the lone-tree hill near chillicothe. i have found it there on several different occasions. the pileus is from three to five inches broad, the very young plants seem to be umbilicate with the margin strongly incurved, then depressed or funnel-shaped; as the plant ages the margin is elevated and sometimes waved. the entire plant is indigo blue, and the surface of the cap has a silvery-gray appearance through which the indigo color is seen. the surface of the cap is marked with a series of concentric zones of darker shade, as will be seen in figure especially on the margin; sometimes spotted, becoming paler and less distinctly zonate with age or in drying. the gills are crowded, indigo blue, becoming yellowish and sometimes greenish, with age. the stem is one to two inches long, short, nearly equal, hollow, often spotted with blue, colored like the pileus. it is edible but rather coarse. found in open woods july and august. _lactarius regalis. pk._ [illustration: figure .--lactarius regalis. natural size. caps white, tinged with yellow.] regalis means regal; so named from its large size. the pileus is four to six inches broad, convex, deeply depressed in the center; viscid when moist; often corrugated on the margin; white, tinged with yellow. the gills are close, decurrent, whitish, some of them forked at the base. the stem is two to three inches long and one inch thick, short, equal, hollow. the taste is acrid and the milk sparse, white, quickly changing to sulphur-yellow. the spores are . of an inch in diameter. _peck._ this is frequently a very large plant, resembling in appearance l. piperatus but easily recognized because of its viscid cap and its spare milk changing to yellow, as in l. chrysorrhæus. it grows on the ground in the woods, in august and september. i find it here chiefly on the hillsides. the specimens in figure were found in michigan and photographed by dr. fischer. _lactarius scrobiculatus. fr._ the spotted-stemmed lactarius. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--lactarius scrobiculatus. natural size. caps reddish-yellow, zoned. margin very much incurved, stem pitted.] scrobiculatus is from _scrobis_, a trench, and _ferro_, to bear, referring to the pitted condition of the stem. the pileus is convex, centrally depressed, more or less zoned, reddish-yellow, viscid, the margin very much incurved, downy. the gills are adnate, or slightly decurrent, whitish, and often very much curled, because of the incurved condition of the cap at first. the stem is equal, stuffed, adorned often with pits of a darker color. the spores are white, juice white, then yellowish. the plant is very acrid to the taste, and solid. too hot to be eaten. i have found it only a few times on the hills of huntington township, near chillicothe. the yellowish hue and markedly incurved margin will identify the plant. found in august and september. _lactarius trivialis. fr._ [illustration: figure .--lactarius trivialis. one-half natural size. caps light tan with a pinkish hue. very acrid.] trivialis means common. the pileus is three to four inches broad, usually damp or watery, sometimes quite viscid, shining when dry, convex, then expanded, depressed in the center, margin at first incurved, even, smooth; warm, soft tan, rather light, and sometimes a very slight pinkish hue prevails. the flesh is solid and persistent. the gills are rather crowded, slightly decurrent, at first whitish, then a light yellow, many not reaching to the stem, none forked. the stem is from three to four inches long, of same color as the pileus, often a much lighter shade; tapering from the cap to the base, smooth, stuffed, and finally hollow. the plant is quite full of milk, white at first, then turning yellowish. the plant is very acrid and peppery. it is quite plentiful along the streams of ross county, ohio. it is not poisonous, but it seems too hot to eat. it is found after rains from july to october, in mixed woods where it is damp. _lactarius insulsus. fr._ [illustration: figure .--lactarius insulsus. one-third natural size. caps yellowish or straw color. very acrid.] insulsus, insipid or tasteless. this is a very attractive plant. quite solid and maintains its form for several days; the pileus is two to four inches broad, convex, depressed in the center, then funnel-shaped, smooth, viscid when moist, more or less zoned, the zones much narrower than l. scrobiculatus, yellowish or straw-color, margin slightly incurved and naked. the gills are thin, rather crowded, adnate and sometimes decurrent, some of them forked at the base, whitish or pallid. spores subglobose, rough, × µ. the stem is one to two inches long, equal or slightly tapering downward, stuffed, whitish, generally spotted. milk, white. most authorities class this as an edible plant, but it is so hot and the flesh so solid that i have never tried it. i found two plants which fully answered the description of the european plants. the zones were orange-yellow and brick-red. i have visited the place many times since, but have never been able to find another. it is not an abundant plant with us. found from july to october, in open woods. _lactarius lignyotus. fr._ the sooty lactarius. edible. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ plate xxi. figure, .--lactarius lignyotus. natural size. caps a sooty umber. flesh mild to the taste.] lignyotus is from _lignum_, wood. the pileus is one to four inches in diameter, fleshy, convex, then expanded, sometimes slightly umbonate, often in age slightly depressed, smooth or often wrinkled, pruinosely velvety, sooty umber, the margin in the old plants wavy and distinctly plaited; the flesh white and mild to the taste. the gills are attached to the stem; unequal; snow-white or yellowish-white, slowly changing to a pinkish-red or salmon color when bruised; distant in old plants. the stem is one to three inches long, equal, abruptly constricted at the apex, smooth, stuffed, of the same color as the pileus. milk white, taste mild or tardily acrid. the spores are globose, yellowish, - . µ. this is called the sooty lactarius and is very easily identified. it will be frequently found associated with the smoky lactarius which it greatly resembles. it seems to delight in wet swampy woods. it is said to be one of the best of the lactarii. the specimens in figure were collected at sandusky, ohio, and photographed by dr. kellerman. _lactarius cinereus. pk._ [illustration: figure .--lactarius cinereus.] cinereus is from _cineres_, ashes; so called from the color of the plant. the pileus is one to two and a half inches broad, zoneless, somewhat viscid, floccose-scaly, depressed in the center, margin thin, even, flesh thin and white, mild to the taste, ashy-gray. the gills are adnate, rather close, sometimes forked (usually near the stem), uneven, white or creamy-white, milk white, not plentiful. the stem is two to three inches long, tapering upward, loosely stuffed, finally hollow, often floccose at the base. this plant is quite common from september to november, growing in damp weather on leaves in mixed woods. it has a mild taste. while i have not eaten it i have no doubt of its edibility. the color of the pileus is sometimes quite dark. _lactarius griseus. pk._ gray lactarius. [illustration: figure .--lactarius griseus.] griseus means gray. the pileus is thin, nearly plane, broadly umbilicate or centrally depressed, sometimes infundibuliform, generally with a small umbo or papilla, minutely squamulose tomentose, gray or brownish-gray, becoming paler with age. the gills are thin, close, adnate, or slightly decurrent, whitish or yellowish. the stem is slender, equal or slightly tapering upward, rather fragile; stuffed or hollow; generally villose or tomentose at the base; paler than, or colored like, the pileus. the spores are . to . inch; milk white, taste subacrid. pileus is to lines broad, stem to inches long, to lines thick. _peck._ it resembles l. mammosus and l. cinereus. it differs from the former in not having ferruginous gills and pubescent stems, and from the latter by its smaller size, its densely pubescent pileus, and its habitat. it grows on mossy logs or in mossy swamps. the base of one of the plants in figure is covered with the moss in which they grew. these plants were found in purgatory swamp, near boston, by mrs. blackford. they grow from july to september. _lactarius distans. pk._ the distant-gilled lactarius. edible. distans means distant, so called because the gills are very wide apart. the pileus is firm, broadly convex or nearly plane, umbilicate or slightly depressed in the center; with a minute, velvety pruinosity; yellowish-tawny or brownish-orange. the gills are rather broad, distant, adnate or slightly decurrent, white or creamy yellow, interspaces veined; milk white, mild. the stem is short, equal or tapering downward, solid, pruinose, colored like the pileus. the spores are subglobose, - µ broad. _peck_, n. y. report, . i frequently mistake this plant for l. volemus when seen growing in the ground, but the widely separated gills distinguish the plant as soon as it is gathered. the stem is short and round, tapering downward, solid, colored like the pileus. the milk is both white and mild. i find it on nearly every wooded hillside about chillicothe. it is found from july to september. _lactarius atroviridus. pk._ the dark-green lactarius. [illustration: figure .--lactarius atroviridus. cap and stem dark green. cap depressed in center. gills white.] atroviridus is from _ater_, black; _viridus_, green; so called from the color of the cap and the stem of the plant. the pileus is convex, plane, then depressed in the center, with an adherent pellicle, greenish with darker scales, margin involute. the gills are slightly decurrent, whitish, broad, distant; milk white but not copious as in many of the lactarii. the stem is quite short, tapering downward, dark green, scaly. the stem is so short that the cap seems to be right on the ground, hence it is very easily overlooked. it is found only occasionally on mossy hillsides, where there are not too many leaves. the plant in figure was found in haynes' hollow, near chillicothe. i have found the plant on top of mt. logan. it is found from july to october. i do not know of its edibility. all specimens that i have found i have sent to my mycological friends. it should be tasted with caution. _lactarius subdulcis. fr._ the sweet lactarius. edible. [illustration: figure .--lactarius subdulcis.] subdulcis means almost sweet, or sweetish. the pileus is two to three inches broad, rather thin, papillate, convex, then depressed, smooth, even, zoneless, cinnamon-red or tawny-red, margin sometimes wavy. the gills are rather narrow, thin, close, whitish, often reddish or tinged with red. spores, - µ. the stem is stuffed, then hollow, equal, slightly tapering upward, slender, smooth, sometimes villous at the base. the milk is white, sometimes rather acrid and unpleasant to the taste when raw. it needs to be cooked a long time to make it good. it is likely to be found anywhere, but it does best in damp places. the plants found with us all seem to have red or cinnamon-red gills, especially before the spores begin to fall. they are found growing on the ground, among leaves, or on well-rotted wood and sometimes on the bare ground. found from july to november. _lactarius serifluus. fr._ serifluus means flowing with serum, the watery part of milk. the pileus is fleshy, depressed in the center, dry, smooth, not zoned, tawny-brown, margin thin, incurved. the gills are crowded, light-brown, or yellowish, milk scanty and watery. the stem is solid, equal, paler than the pileus. spores, - µ. it differs from l. subdulcis in having a solid stem and perhaps a shade darker color. found in woods, july to november. _lactarius corrugis. pk._ the wrinkled lactarius. edible. [illustration: figure .--lactarius corrugis. caps wrinkled, tawny-brown. gills orange-brown.] corrugis means wrinkled. the pileus is convex, plane, expanded, slightly depressed in the center; surface of the cap wrinkled, dry, bay-brown; margin at first involute. the gills are adnexed, broad, yellowish or brownish-yellow, growing paler with age. the stem is rather short, equal, solid, pruinose, of the same color as the pileus. the spores are subglobose, - µ. this species looks very much like l. volemus, and its only essential difference is in the wrinkled form, and color of the pileus. the milk when dry is very sticky and becomes rather black. it has just a touch of acridity. any one determining this species will not fail to note the number of brown cystidia or setæ, in the hymenium, which project above the surface of the gills. they are so numerous and so near the edge of the gills that they give these a downy appearance. the quality of this species is even better than l. volemus, though it is not as abundant here as the latter. found in thin woods from august to september. the photograph, figure , was made by prof. h. c. beardslee. _lactarius volemus. fr._ the orange-brown lactarius. edible. [illustration: _photo by prof. atkinson._ figure .--lactarius volemus. natural size. caps golden-tawny. milk copious, as will be seen where the plant has been pricked.] _volemus from volema pira, a kind of a pear_, so called from the shape of the stem. the pileus is broad, flesh thick, compact, rigid, plane, then expanded, obtuse, dry, golden-tawny, at length somewhat wrinkly. the gills are crowded, adnate or slightly decurrent, white, then yellowish; milk copious, sweet. the stem is solid, hard, blunt, generally curved like a pear-stem; its color is that of the pileus but a shade lighter. spores globose, white. the milk in this species is very abundant and rather pleasant to the taste. it becomes quite sticky as it dries on your hands. this plant has a good record among mushroom eaters, both in this country and europe. there is no danger of mistaking it. the plants grow in damp woods from july to september. they are found singly or in patches. they were found quite plentifully about salem, ohio, and also about chillicothe. _lactarius deliciosus. fr._ the delicious lactarius. edible. [illustration: figure .--lactarius deliciosus. one-third natural size. caps light reddish-yellow. milk orange color.] deliciosus, delicious. the pileus is three to five inches broad; color varying from yellow to dull orange or even brownish-yellow with mottled concentric zones of deeper color, especially in younger plants, sometimes a light reddish-yellow, without apparent zones (as is the case of those in figure ); convex, when expanded becoming very much depressed; funnel-shaped; smooth, moist, sometimes irregular, wavy; flesh brittle, creamy, more or less stained with orange. the gills are slightly decurrent in the depressed specimens, somewhat crowded, forked at the stem, short ones beginning at the margin; when bruised exuding a copious supply of milky juice of an orange color; a pale tan-color, turning green in age or in drying. spores are echinulate, - × - µ. the stem is two to three inches or more, equal, smooth, hollow, slightly pruinose, paler than the cap, occasionally spotted with orange, tinged with green in old plants. the taste of the raw plant is slightly peppery. it grows in damp woods and is sometimes quite common. its name suggests the estimation in which it is held by all who have eaten it. like all lactarii it must be well cooked. the specimens in figure were gathered on cemetery hill close to the pine trees and in company with boletus americanus. found from july to november. i found the plant in a more typical form about salem, ohio. _lactarius uvidus. fr._ [illustration: figure .--lactarius uvidus.] uvidus is from _uva_, grape, so called because when exposed to the air changes to the color of a grape. the pileus is two to four inches broad, flesh rather thin, convex, sometimes slightly umbonate, then depressed in the center, not zoned, viscid, dingy pale ochraceous-tan, margin at first involute, naked, milk mild at first then becoming acrid, white changing to lilac. the gills are thin, slightly decurrent, crowded, shorter ones very obtuse and truncate behind, connected by veins, white, when wounded becoming lilac. the stem is soon hollow, two to three inches long, viscid, pallid. the spores are round, µ. not only the milk changes to a lilac when cut, but the flesh itself. they are found in damp woods during august and september. the plants in figure were found near boston, by mrs. blackford. these plants grew in purgatory swamp. the sphagnum moss will be seen at the base of the upright plant. _lactarius chrysorrheus. fr._ yellow-juiced lactarius. chrysorrheus from two greek words; _chrysos_, yellow or golden; _reo_, i flow, because the juice soon turns to a golden yellow. the pileus is rather fleshy, depressed, then funnel-shaped, yellowish-flesh colored, marked with dark zones or spots. the stem is stuffed, then hollow, equal, or tapering below, paler than the pileus, sometimes pitted. the gills are decurrent, thin, crowded, yellowish, milk white, then golden-yellow, very acrid. the milk is white, quite acrid, has a peculiar taste, and changes at once on exposure to a beautiful yellow. this is a common species about salem, ohio, and is quite variable in size. found in woods and groves from july to october. i do not know whether its edible quality has ever been tested. when i found it some years ago i had less faith in mushrooms than i have now. _lactarius vellereus. fr._ the wooly-white lactarius. edible. vellereus from vellus, a fleece. the pileus is white, compact, fleshy, depressed or convex, tomentose, zoneless, margin at first involute, milk white and acrid. the gills are white or whitish, distant, forked, adnate or decurrent, connected by veins, bow-shaped, milk scanty. the stem is solid, blunt, pubescent, white, tapering downward. spores white and nearly smooth, . by . inch. this species is quite common; and though very acrid to the taste, this acridity is entirely lost in cooking. it will be readily known by the downy covering of the cap. found in thin woods and wood margins. july to october. _russula. pers._ russula, red or reddish. the beginner will have little difficulty in determining this genus. there is such a strong family likeness that, finding one, he will say at once it is a russula. the contour of the cap, the brittleness of its flesh and of its stem, the fragile gills, and the failure of any part of the plant to exude a milky or colored juice, the many gay colors--will all help in determining the genus. many species of russula strongly resemble those of the genus lactarius, in size, shape, and texture. the spores, too, are quite similar, but the absence of the milky juice will mark the difference at once. the cap may be red, purple, violet, pink, blue, yellow, or green. the colored zones often seen in the lactarii do not appear here. the beginner will possibly find trouble in identifying species, because of variation of size and color. the spores are white to very pale yellow, generally spiny. the pileus is fleshy, convex, then expanded, and at length depressed. the stem is brittle, stout, and smooth, generally spongy within, and confluent with the cap. the gills are milkless, with acute edge, and very tender. captain mcilvaine, in his very valuable book, one thousand american fungi, says: "to this genus authors have done special injustice; there is not a single species among them known to be poisonous, and where they are not too strong of cherry bark and other highly flavored substances, they are all edible; most of them favorites." i can testify to the fact that many of them are favorites, though a few are very peppery and it requires some courage to attack them. they are all found on the ground in open woods, from early summer to late fall. _russula delica. fr._ the weaned russula. edible. delica means weaned, so called because, though it resembles lactarius vellereus in appearance, it is void of milk. the pileus is quite large, fleshy, firm, depressed, even, shining, margin involute, smooth, not striated. the gills are decurrent, thin, distant, unequal, white. the stem is solid, compact, white, short. specimens will be found that resemble lactarius piperatus and l. vellereus, but they may be easily distinguished because they have no milk in their gills and the taste is mild. they are not equal to most of the russulas. found in woods from august to october. _russula adusta. pers._ the smoky russula. edible. [illustration: figure .--russula adusta.] adusta means burned. the pileus is fuliginous, cinereous, flesh compact, margin even and inflexed, depressed in the center. the gills are attached to the stem, decurrent, thin, crowded, unequal, white, not reddening when bruised. the stem is obese, solid, of the same color as the pileus, not turning red when bruised. the plant resembles r. nigricans, but can readily be distinguished from it because of the thin, crowded gills and failure to turn red when cut or bruised. the spores are subglobose, almost smooth, - µ; no cystidia. it is found in the woods during august and september. edible but not first class. it is a plant very widely distributed. _russula nigricans. fr._ [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--russula nigricans.] nigricans means blackish. the pileus is two to four inches broad, dark grayish-brown, black with advancing age, fleshy, compact, flesh turning red when bruised or convex, flattened, then depressed, at length funnel-shaped, margin entire, without striate, margin at first incurved, young specimens are slightly viscid when moist, even, without a separable pellicle; whitish at first, soon sooty olive, at length becoming broken up into scales and black; flesh firm and white, becoming reddish when broken. the gills are rounded behind, slightly adnexed, thick, distant, broad, unequal, the shorter ones sometimes very scanty, forked, reddening when touched. the stem is rather short, thick, solid, equal, pallid when young, then black. the spores are subglobose, rough, - µ. the plant is quite compact, inodorous, becoming entirely black with age. it is easily distinguished from r. adusta by the flesh becoming reddish when bruised, and by the much thicker, and more distant gills. it is very close to r. densifolia but differs from it in that its gills are more distant and because of its mild taste. i am pleased to present to my readers, in figure , a photograph of a plant which grew in sweden in the locality where prof. fries did his great work in fungal study and research. it is a typical specimen of this species. it was gathered and photographed by mr. c. g. lloyd. it is found from june to october. not poisonous, but not good. _russula foetens. fr._ the fetid russula. not edible. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--russula foetens.] foetens means stinking. the pileus is four to six inches broad, dirty white or yellowish; flesh thin; at first hemispherical, then expanded, almost plane, often depressed in the center; covered with a pellicle which is adnate; viscid in wet weather; widely striate-tuberculate on the margin, which is at first incurved. the gills are adnexed, connected by veins, crowded, irregular, many forked, rather broad, whitish, becoming dingy when bruised, exuding watery drops at first. the stem is stout, stuffed, then hollow, concolor, two to four inches long. the spores are small, echinulate, almost round. i have found the plants very generally diffused over the state. it is very coarse and uninviting. its smell and taste are bad. found from july to october. these plants are widely distributed and usually rather abundant. _russula alutacea. fr._ the tan-colored russula. edible. [illustration: figure .--russula alutacea. two-thirds natural size. caps flesh color. gills broad and yellowish.] alutacea, tanned leather. the pileus is flesh-color, sometimes red; flesh white; bell-shaped, then convex; expanded, with a viscid covering, growing pale; slightly depressed; even; margin inclined to be thin, striate. the gills are broad, ventricose, free, thick, somewhat distant, equal, yellow, then ochraceous. the stem is stout, solid, even; white, though parts of the stem are red, sometimes purple; wrinkled lengthwise; spongy. the spores are yellow. the taste is mild and pleasant when young, but quite acrid when old. alutacea will be known mostly by its mild taste, broad, and yellow gills. it is quite common, but does not grow in groups. it is sweet and nutty. from july to october. _russula ochrophylla. pk._ ochrey gilled russula. edible. ochrophylla is from two greek words meaning _ochre_ and _leaf_, because of its ochre-colored gills. the pileus is two to four inches broad, firm, convex, becoming nearly plane or slightly depressed in the center; even, or rarely very slightly striate on the margin when old; purple or dark purplish-red; flesh white, purplish under the adnate cuticle; taste mild. the gills are entire, a few of them forked at the base, subdistant, adnate at first yellowish, becoming bright, ochraceous-buff when mature and dusted by the spores, the interspaces somewhat venose. the stem is equal or nearly so, solid or spongy within, reddish or rosy tinted, paler than the pileus. the spores are bright, ochraceous-buff, globose, verruculose, . of an inch broad. _peck._ this is one of the easiest russulas to determine because of its purple or purplish-red cap, entire gills, at first yellowish, then a bright, ochraceous-buff when mature. the taste is mild and the flavor fairly good. there is also a plant which has a purplish cap and a white stem, called russula ochrophylla albipes. pk. it quite agrees in its edible qualities with the former. r. ochrophylla is found in the woods, especially under oak trees, in july and august. _russula lepida. fr._ the neat russula. edible. [illustration: figure .--russula lepida. two-thirds natural size. caps, purplish-red, with more or less brown.] lepida, from _lepidus_, neat. the pileus firm, solid; varying in color from bright red to dull, subdued purplish with a distinct brown; compact; convex, then depressed, dry unpolished; margin even, sometimes cracked and scaly, not striated. the gills are white, broad, principally even, occasionally forked, very brittle, rounded, somewhat crowded, connected by veins, sometimes red on the edge, especially near the margin. the stem is solid, white, usually stained and streaked with pink, compact, even. the surface is dull, as with a fine dust or plum-like bloom, and thus without polish. often times the surface will appear almost velvety. the tints of the flesh and the gills will be found uniform. the plant when raw is sweet and nut-like to the taste. this is a beautiful species, the color being averaged under the general hue of dark, subdued red, inclining to maroon. it is simply delicious when properly cooked. found in woods from july to september. _russula cyanoxantha. fr._ the blue and yellow russula. edible. cyanoxantha, from two greek words, blue and yellow, referring to color of the plant. the pileus is quite variable as to color, ranging from lilac or purplish to greenish; disk yellowish, margin bluish or livid-purple; convex, then plane, depressed in center; margin faintly striate, sometimes wrinkled. the gills are rounded behind, connected by veins, forked, white, slightly crowded. the stem is solid, spongy, stuffed, hollow when old, equal, smooth and white. the color of the cap is quite variable but the peculiar combination of color will assist the student in distinguishing it. it is a beautiful plant and one of the best of the russulas to eat. the mushroom-eater counts himself lucky indeed when he can find a basketful of this species after "the joiner squirrel" has satisfied his love of this special good thing. it is quite common in woods from august to october. _russula vesca. fr._ the edible russula. edible. vesca from vesco, to feed. the pileus is from two to three inches broad; red-flesh-color, disk darker; fleshy; firm; convex, with a slight depression in the center, then funnel-shaped; slightly wrinkled; margin even, or remotely striate. gills adnate, rather crowded, unequal, forked, and white. the stem is firm, solid, sometimes peculiarly reticulated, tapering at the base. the spores are globose, spiny, and white. i frequently found it near salem, o., in thin chestnut woods and in pastures under such trees. a mushroom lover will be amply paid for the long tramps if he finds a basket full of these dainties. it is mild and sweet when raw. it is found in thin woods and in wood margins, sometimes under trees in pastures, from august to october. _russula virescens. fr._ the green russula. edible. [illustration: figure .--russula virescens. two-thirds natural size. caps pale-green. gills white.] virescens, being green. the pileus is grayish-green; at first globose, then expanded, convex, at last depressed at the center; firm, adorned with flaky greenish or yellow patches, produced by the cracking of the skin; two to four inches broad, margin striate, often white. the gills are white, moderately close, free or nearly so, narrow as they approach the stem, some being forked, others not; very brittle, breaking to pieces at the slightest touch. the stem is shorter than the diameter of the cap, smooth, white, and solid or spongy. the spores are white, rough, and nearly globose. this plant is especially sweet and nutty to the taste when young and unwilted. all russulas should be eaten when fresh. i have found the plant over the state quite generally. it is a prime favorite with the squirrels. you will often find them half eaten by these little nibblers. found in open woods from july to september. it is one of the best mushrooms to eat and one that is very easily identified. it is quite common about chillicothe, ohio. its mouldy color is not as prepossessing as the brighter hues of many far less delicious fungi, but it stands the test of use. _russula variata. ban._ variable russula. edible. pileus is firm, convex becoming centrally depressed or somewhat funnel-form, viscid, even on the thin margin, reddish-purple, often variegated with green, pea-green sometimes varied with purple, flesh white, taste acrid or tardily acrid. the gills are thin, narrow, close, often forked, tapering toward each end, adnate or slightly decurrent, white. the stem is equal or nearly so, solid, sometimes cavernous, white. the spores are white, subglobose, . to . of an inch long, . broad. _peck_, rep. state bot., . this plant grows in open beech woods, rather damp, and appears in july and august. the caps are often dark purple, often tinged with red, and sometimes the caps contains shades of green. i found the plants plentifully in woodland park, near newtonville, ohio, in july, . we ate them on several occasions and found them very good. the greenish margin and purplish center will mark the plant. _russula integra. fr._ the entire russula. edible. integra, whole or entire. the pileus is three or four inches in diameter, fleshy; typically red, but changing color; expanded, depressed, with a viscid cuticle, growing pale. margin thin, furrowed and tuberculate. flesh white, sometimes yellowish above. the stem is at first short and conical, then club-shaped or ventricose, sometimes three inches long and up to one inch thick; spongy, stuffed, commonly striate; even, and shining white. the gills are somewhat free, very broad, sometimes three-fourths of an inch; equal or bifid at the stem, rather distant and connected by veins; pallid or white, at length light yellow, being powdered yellow with the spores. although the taste is mild it is often astringent. one of the most changeable of all species, especially in the color of the pileus, which, though typically red, is often found inclining to azure-blue, bay-brown, olivaceous, etc. it occasionally happens that the gills are sterile and remain white. _fries._ the spores are spheroid, spiny, pale ochraceous. r. integra so closely resembles r. alutacea that to distinguish them requires a knowledge of both plants, and even then one may not feel quite sure; however, it matters little as they are equally good. its powdery gills will help to distinguish r. integra from r. alutacea. found from july to october. _russula roseipes. (secr) bres._ the rosy-stemmed russula. edible. [illustration: figure .--russula roseipes. natural size.] roseipes is from _rosa_, a rose; _pes_, a foot; so called because of its rose-colored or pinkish stem. the pileus is two to three inches broad, convex, becoming nearly plane, or slightly depressed; at first viscid, soon dry, becoming slightly striate on the margin; rosy-red variously modified by pink, orange or ochraceous hues, sometimes becoming paler with age; taste mild. the gills are moderately close, nearly entire, rounded behind and slightly adnexed, ventricose, whitish becoming yellow. the stem is one to three inches long, slightly tapering upward, stuffed or somewhat cavernous, white tinged with red. the spores are yellow, round. _peck_, r. this plant is widely distributed from maine to the west. it grows best in pine and hemlock woods, but sometimes found in mixed woods. it is found in july and august. _russula fragilis. fr._ the tender russula. [illustration: figure .--russula fragilis.] fragilis means fragile. the pileus is rather small, flesh-color or red, or reddish; thin, fleshy only at the disk; at first convex and often umbonate, then plane, depressed; cuticle thin, becoming pale, viscid in wet weather, margin tuberculate-striate. the gills are thin, ventricose, white, slightly adnexed, equal, crowded, sometimes slightly eroded at the edge. the spores are minutely echinulate, - × µ. the stem is stuffed, hollow, shining white. quite as acrid as r. emetica, which it resembles in many ways, especially the smaller plants. it can be distinguished by its thinner caps, thinner and crowded gills, more ventricose and often slightly eroded at the edge. it is generally classed among poisonous mushrooms; but captain charles mcilvaine in his book says: "though one of the peppery kind, i have not, after fifteen years of eating it, had reason to question its edibility." i should advise caution. eat of it sparingly till sure of its effects. found in woods from july to october. _russula emetica. fr._ the emetic russula. [illustration: figure .--russula emetica. two-thirds natural size. caps rose-red to yellow-red. gills white.] emetica means making sick, inciting to vomit. the pileus is fleshy, quite viscid, expanded, polished, shining, oval, or bell-shaped when young; its color is very variable from rose-red to a yellow-red or even purple; margin furrowed, flesh white. the gills are free, equal, broad, distant, white. the spores are round, µ. the stem is stout, solid, though sometimes spongy stuffed, even, white or reddish. the spores are white, round, and spiny. this species is recognized by its very acrid taste and free gills. a distinct channel will be seen between the gills and the stem. this very pretty mushroom is quite common in most parts of ohio. i found it in abundance about salem, bowling green, sidney, and chillicothe--all in this state. captain mcilvaine states that he has repeatedly eaten it and cites a number of others who ate it without bad results, although weight of authority would band it a reprobate. i am glad to report something in its favor, for it is a beautiful plant, yet i should advise caution in its use. it is found in open woods or in pastures under trees, from july to october. its viscid cap will distinguish it. _russula furcata. fr._ the forked gilled russula. edible. [illustration: figure .--russula furcata. two-thirds natural size. caps greenish-umber to reddish.] furca, a fork, so called from the forking of the gills. this is not peculiar, however, to this species. the pileus is two to three inches broad; greenish, usually greenish-umber, sometimes reddish; fleshy; compact; nearly round, then expanded, depressed in the center; even; smooth; often sprinkled with a silky luster, pellicle separable, margin at first inflexed, then expanded, always even, sometimes turned upward. the flesh is firm, white, dry, somewhat cheesy. the gills are adnate or slightly decurrent, somewhat crowded, broad, narrowed at both ends, many forked, shining white. the spores, - × µ. the stem is two to three inches long, solid, white, rather firm, even, equal or tapering downward. the spores are round and spiny. i have found it frequently on the wooded hillsides of the state. the taste when raw is mild at first, but soon develops a slight bitterness which, however, is lost in cooking. fried in butter they are excellent. july to october. _russula rubra, fr._ the red russula. [illustration: figure .--russula rubra. two-thirds natural size. caps bright-vermilion. gills forked and tinged with red.] rubra means red, so called from the cap being concolorous, bright vermillion; showy, becoming pale with age, center of the cap usually darker; compact, hard, fragile, convex, expanded, somewhat depressed, dry, no pellicle, often cracked when old. the flesh is white, often reddish under the cuticle. the gills are adnate, rather crowded, white at first, then yellowish, many forked and with some short ones intermixed, frequently tinged with red at the edge. spores - µ, cystidia pointed. the stem is two to three inches long, solid, even, white, often with a faint reddish hue. the spores are nearly round and white. it is very acrid to the taste, and because of this acridity it is usually thought to be poisonous, but captain mcilvaine says he does not hesitate to cook it either by itself or with other russulæ. it is found very generally in the state and is quite plentiful in the woods about chillicothe, from july to october. _russula purpurina. quel & schulz._ the purple russula. edible. [illustration: figure .--russula purpurina. two-thirds natural size. caps rosy-pink to light-yellow. gills yellowish in age.] purpurina means purple. the pileus is fleshy, margin acute, subglobose, then plane, at length depressed in the center, slightly viscid in wet weather, not striate, often split, pellicle separable, rosy-pink, paling to light-yellow. gills are crowded in youth, afterward subdistant, white, in age yellowish, reaching the stem, not greatly narrowed behind, almost equal, not forked. the stem is stuffed, spongy, very variable, cylindrical, attenuated above, rosy-pink, becoming paler toward the base, color obscure in age. the flesh is fragile, white, reddish under the skin; odor slight and taste mild. the spores white, globose, sometimes subelliptical, - µ long, minutely warted. _peck_, rept., n. y. state bot. this is not a large plant, but it can be readily determined by its red or reddish stem, mild taste and white spores. found in open woods in july and august. _russula densifolia. gillet._ [illustration: figure .--russula densifolia. two-thirds natural size. caps whitish, becoming fuliginous gray. flesh turning red when exposed to the air.] densifolia has reference to the crowded condition of the gills. the pileus is from three to four inches broad, fleshy, quite compact, convex, expanded, then depressed, margin inflexed, smooth, not striate, white or whitish, becoming fuliginous, gray, or brownish, quite black in center, flesh red when broken. the gills are attached to the stem, somewhat decurrent, unequal, thin, crowded, white or whitish, with a rosy tint. spores, - µ. the stem is short, slightly mealy, white, then gray, at length blackish, smooth, round, turning red or brown on being handled. it differs from _r. nigricans_ in being much smaller, and in its crowded gills. it differs from _r. adusta_ in flesh turning red when broken. the flesh or substance is white at first, turning red when exposed to the air, then blackish. this plant is not abundant in this state. i found a number of plants on cemetery hill, where some shale had been dumped under a large beech tree. found in july and august. _cantharellus. adanson._ cantharellus means a diminutive drinking-cup or vase. this genus can be distinguished from all other genera by the character of its gills which are quite blunt on the edge, like folds, polished, and are mostly forked or branched. in some species the gills vary in thickness and number. they are decurrent, folded, more or less thick and swollen. the spores are white. they grow on the ground, on rotten wood, and among moss. they seem to delight in damp shady places. _cantharellus cibarius. fr._ the edible cantharellus. [illustration: plate xxii. figure .--cantharellus cibarius. natural size. entire plant egg-yellow.] cibarius means pertaining to food. this plant is frequently spoken of as the chanterelle. the entire plant is a rich egg-yellow. the pileus is fleshy, at first convex, later flat, three to five inches broad, depressed in the center, finally funnel-shaped; bright to deep yellow; firm, smooth, but often irregular, its margin often wavy; flesh white, the cap has the appearance of an inverted cone. the gills are decurrent, shallow and fluted, resembling swollen veins, branched, more or less interconnected and tapering downward on the stem, color the same as the pileus. the stem is solid, variable in length, often curved, tapering towards the base, paler than the pileus and gills. it grows in woods and rather open places. i found it in great abundance in stanley's woods, near damascus, ohio. i have found it very often about chillicothe. the plant has a strong prune-like odor; when tasted raw they are peppery and pungent but sweet and quite delicious when cooked. my friends and myself have eaten it and pronounced very good. the plants in figure were gathered near columbus, ohio, and photographed by dr. kellerman. the species is quite common in the state, and is found from june to september. _cantharellus aurantiacus. fr._ false chantarelle. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--cantharellus aurantiacus. one-third natural size. caps orange-yellow. gills yellow and forked.] aurantiacus means orange-yellow. the pileus is fleshy, soft, depressed, downy, the margin strongly incurved when young, in mature plants it is wavy or lobed; color dull yellowish, usually brownish. the gills are crowded, straight, dark-orange, branched, with a regular bifurcation. the stem is lighter in color than the pileus, solid at first, spongy, stuffed, hollow, unequal, tapering upward, and somewhat curved. it is generally labeled poisonous, but some good authorities say it is wholesome. i have never eaten it further than in its raw state. it is easily distinguished from the edible species by its dull orange cap and its orange gills, which are thinner and closer and more regularly forked than those of the edible chantarelle. it grows in woods and open places. found from july to september. _cantharellus floccosus. schw._ the woolly cantharellus. edible. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ plate xxiii. figure .--cantharellus floccosus.] floccosus means floccose or woolly. the pileus at the top is from one to two inches broad, fleshy, elongated funnel-form or trumpet-shape, floccose-squamose, ochraceous-yellow. the gills are vein-like, close, much anastomosing above, long decurrent and subparallel below, concolorous. the stem is very short, thick, rather deeply rooted. the spores are elliptical, . - × . µ. _peck_, rep., n. y. this plant is funnel-shaped nearly to the base of the stem. it is a small plant, never more than four inches high. i found it in haynes's hollow, in rather open woods, on mossy hillsides. july and august. _cantharellus brevipes. pk._ the short-stemmed cantharellus. edible. brevipes is from _brevis_, short; _pes_, foot; so called because of its short stem. the pileus is fleshy, obconic, glabrous, alutaceous, or dingy cream-color, the thin margin erect, often irregular and lobed, tinged with lilac in the young plant; folds numerous, nearly straight in the margin, abundantly anastomosing below; pale umber, tinged with lilac. the stem is short, tomentose-pubescent, ash-colored, solid, often tapering downward. spores yellowish, oblong-elliptical, uninucleate, - × µ. _peck_, d rep., n. y. the plant is small; with us, not more than three inches high and the pileus not more than two inches broad at the top. it differs somewhat in color, in the character of the folds, and materially in the shape of the margin of the pileus. found occasionally on the hillsides of huntington township, near chillicothe, july to august. _cantharellus cinnabarinus. schw._ the cinnabar cantharellus. edible. [illustration: figure .--cantharellus cinnabarinus. cap and stem cinnibar-red, flesh white. natural size.] cinnabarinus means cinnabar-red, from the color of the plant. the pileus is firm, convex, or slightly depressed in the center, often irregular with wavy or lobed margin; glabrous, cinnabar-red, flesh white. the gills are narrow, distant, branched, decurrent, of the same color as the cap, dull on the edge. the stem is equal or tapering downward, glabrous, solid, sometimes stuffed, cinnabar-red. the spores are elliptical, - µ long, - µ broad. no one will have any difficulty in identifying this plant, since its color suggests the name at once. it is quite common about chillicothe and throughout the state. it is found frequently with craterellus cantharellus. it is a very pretty plant, growing in open woods or along the roadside in woods. it will keep for some time after it is gathered. it is found from july to october. _cantharellus infundibuliformis. fr._ funnel-shaped cantharellus. infundibuliformis means shaped like a funnel. the pileus is one to two and a half inches broad, somewhat membranaceous, umbilicate, then infundibuliform, usually perforated at the base, and opening into the cavity of the stem, floccosely rugose on the surface, yellowish-gray or smoky when moist, pale when dry, becoming wavy. the gills are decurrent, thick, distant, regularly forked, straight, yellow or cenereous, at length pruinose. the stem is two to three inches long, hollow, even, smooth, always yellow, slightly thickened at the base. the spores are elliptical, smooth, - × µ. they grow on the ground, especially where wood has decayed and become a part of the ground. they also grow on decayed wood. they are found from july to october. _nyctalis. fr._ nyctalis is from a greek word meaning night. pileus symmetrical, in some species bearing large conidia upon its surface. the gills are adnate or decurrent, thick, soft, margin obtuse. the stem is central, its substance continuous with the flesh of the pileus. the spores are colorless, smooth, elliptical or globose. _fries._ _nyctalis asterophora. fr._ [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--nyctalis asterophora.] asterophora means star-bearing. the pileus is about one-half inch broad, fleshy; conical, then hemispherical; flocculose and rather mealy, owing to the large, stellate conidia; whitish, then tinged with fawn-color. the gills are adnate, distant, narrow, somewhat forked, straight, dingy. the stem is about one-half inch long, slender, twisted, stuffed, white then brownish, rather mealy. the spores are elliptical, smooth, × µ. _fries, hym._ i found, about the last of august, these plants growing on decaying specimens of russula nigricans, along ralston's run, near chillicothe. _hygrophorus. fr._ hygrophorus is from two greek words meaning bearing moisture. so called because the members of this genus may be known from their moist caps and the waxy nature of the gills, which distinguish them from all others. as in the pleurotus, the gills of some of the species are rounded or notched at the end next to the stem, but of others they are decurrent on it; hence, in some species they are like the gills of tricholoma in their attachment, in others they run down on the stem as in the clitocybe. in many of them both cap and stem are very viscid, a characteristic not found in the clitocybes; and the gills are generally thicker and much farther apart than in that genus. a number of the species are beautifully colored. _hygrophorus pratensis. fr._ the pasture hygrophorus. edible. [illustration: plate xxiv. figure .--hygrophorus pratensis.] pratensis, from pratum, a meadow. the pileus is one to two inches broad; when young almost hemispherical, then convex, turbinate or nearly flat, the center more or less convex, as if umbonate; margin often cracked, frequently contracted or lobed; white or various shades of yellow, buffish-reddish, or brownish. flesh white, thick in the center, thin at the margin. the stem is stuffed, attenuated downwards. the gills are thick, distant, white or yellowish, bow-shaped, decurrent, and connected by vein-like folds. spores are white, broadly elliptical, . to . inch long. the pasture hygrophorus is a small but rather stout-appearing mushroom. it grows on the ground in pastures, waste places, clearings, and thin woods, from july to september. sometimes all white or gray. var. cinereus, fr. pileus and gills gray. the stem whitish and slender. var. pallidus, b. & br. pileus depressed, edge wavy, entirely pale ochre. this species differs mainly from h. leporinus in that the latter is quite floccose on the pileus. _hygrophorus eburneus. bull._ shining white hygrophorus. edible. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--hygrophorus eburneus.] eburneus is from _ebur_, ivory. the pileus is two to four inches broad, sometimes thin, sometimes somewhat compact, white; very viscid or glutinous in wet weather, and slippery to the touch; margin uneven, sometimes wavy; smooth, and shining. when young, the margin is incurved. the gills are firm, distant, straight, strongly decurrent, with vein-like elevations near the stem. the spores are white, rather long. the stem is unequal, sometimes long and sometimes short; stuffed, then hollow, tapering downward, punctate above with granular scales. odor and taste are rather pleasant. it is found in woods and pastures in all parts of ohio, but it is not plentiful anywhere. i have found it only in damp woods about chillicothe. august to october. _hygrophorus cossus. sow._ cossus, because it smells like the caterpillar, cossus ligniperda. the pileus is small, quite viscid, shining when dry, white with a yellow tinge, edge naked, very strong-scented. the gills are somewhat decurrent, thin, distant, straight, firm. the stem is stuffed, nearly equal, scurvy-punctate upwards. spores × . found in the woods. the strong smell will serve to identify the species. _hygrophorus chlorophanus. fr._ the greenish-yellow hygrophorus. chlorophanus is from two greek words, meaning appearing greenish-yellow. the pileus is one inch broad, commonly bright sulphur-yellow, sometimes scarlet-tinted, not changing color; slightly membranaceous, very fragile, often irregular, with the margin split or lobed, at first convex, then expanded; smooth, viscid, margin striate. the gills are emarginate, adnexed, quite ventricose, with a thin decurrent tooth, thin, subdistant, distinct, pale-yellow. the stem is two to three inches long, hollow, equal, round, viscid when moist, shining when dry, wholly unicolorous, rich light-yellow. the spores are slightly elliptical, × µ. this species resembles in appearance h. ceraceus, but it can be identified by its emarginate gills and somewhat larger form. the plant has a wide distribution, having been found from the new england states through the middle west. it is found in damp, mossy places from august to october. i have no doubt of its edibility. it has a mild and agreeable taste when eaten in the raw state. _hygrophorus cantharellus. schw._ [illustration: figure .--hygrophorus cantharellus. natural size. caps bright red.] cantharellus means a small vase. the pileus is thin, convex, at length umbilicate, or centrally depressed, minutely squamulose, moist, bright red, becoming orange or yellow. the gills are distant, subarcuate, decurrent, yellow, sometimes tinged with vermilion. the stem is one to three inches long, smooth, equal, sub-solid, sometimes becoming hollow, concolorous, whitish within. _peck._ i have found about chillicothe a number of the varieties given by dr. peck. var. flava. pileus and stem pale yellow. gills arcuate, strongly decurrent. var. flavipes. pileus red or reddish. stem yellow. var. flaviceps. pileus yellow. stem reddish or red. var. rosea. has the pileus expanded and margin wavy scalloped. found from july to september. _hygrophorus coccineus. fr._ the scarlet hygrophorus. edible. coccineus, pertaining to scarlet. the pileus is thin, convex, obtuse, viscid, scarlet, growing pale, smooth, fragile. the gills are attached to the stem, with a decurrent tooth, connected by veins, variously shaded. the stem is hollow and compressed, rather even, not slippery, scarlet near the cap, yellow at the base. this plant when young is of a bright scarlet, but it soon shades into a light-yellow with advancing age. it is quite fragile and varies very greatly in size in different localities. found in woods and pastures from july to october. _hygrophorus conicus. fr._ the conical hygrophorus. edible. [illustration: figure .--hygrophorus conicus.] the pileus is one to two inches broad, acutely conical, submembranaceous, smooth, somewhat lobed, at length expanded, and rimose; turning black, as does the whole plant when broken or bruised; orange, yellow, scarlet, brown, dusky. the gills are free or adnexed, thick, attenuated, ventricose, yellowish with frequently a cinereous tinge, wavy, rather crowded. the stem is three to four inches long, hollow, cylindrical, fibrillose, striated, colored like the pileus, turning black when handled. this plant is quite fragile. it can be identified by its turning black when bruised. it sometimes appears early in the spring and continues till late in the fall. it is not abundant but is only occasionally found on the ground in woods and open places. _hygrophorus flavodiscus. frost._ yellow-disked hygrophorus. edible. [illustration: figure .--hygrophorus flavodiscus. natural size. the gluten is shown connecting the margin of the cap to their stem.] flavodiscus means yellow-disked. the pileus is one-half to three inches broad, fleshy, convex or nearly plane, glabrous, very viscid or glutinous, white, pale-yellow or reddish-yellow in the center, flesh white. the gills are adnate or decurrent, subdistant, white, sometimes with a slight flesh-colored tint, the interspaces sometimes venose. the stem is one to three inches long, solid, subequal, very viscid, or glutinous, white at the top, white or yellowish elsewhere. the spores are elliptical, white, . to . of an inch long, . to . broad. these mushrooms make a delicious dish. the specimens in the photograph were gathered at west gloucester, mass., by mrs. e. b. blackford, of boston. i have found them about chillicothe. they are very viscid, as the plants in figure will show. the caps are thick and the margin inrolled. they are found in october and november. _hygrophorus speciosus. pk._ showy hygrophorus. edible. [illustration: figure .--hygrophorus speciosus.] speciosus means beautiful, showy; so called from the scarlet color of the umbo. the pileus is one to two inches in diameter, broadly convex, often with small central umbo; glabrous, very viscid or glutinous when moist; yellow, usually bright red or scarlet in the center; flesh white, yellow under the thin, separable pellicle. the gills are distant, decurrent, white, or slightly tinged with yellow. the stem is two to four inches long, nearly equal, solid, viscid, slightly fibrillose, whitish or yellowish. the spores are elliptic, . of an inch long, . broad. _peck._ this is a very beautiful and showy plant. it grows in swampy places and under tamarack trees. the specimens in figure were found in massachusetts by mrs. blackford, and were photographed by dr. kellerman. it is found in september and august. _hygrophorus fuligineus. frost._ sooty hygrophorus. edible. [illustration: figure .--hygrophorus fuligineus. natural size. specimen on the right is h. caprinus.] fuligineus means sooty or smoky. the pileus is one to four inches broad, convex or nearly plane, glabrous, very viscid or glutinous, grayish-brown or fuliginous, the disk often darker or almost black. the gills are subdistant, adnate or decurrent, white. the stem is two to four inches long, solid, viscid or glutinous, white or whitish. the spores are elliptic, . to . of an inch long, . broad. _peck_, no. , vol. . this species is found frequently associated with h. flavodiscus, which it resembles very closely, save in color. when moist, the cap and stems are covered with a thick coating of gluten, and when the caps are dry this gives them a varnished appearance. i do not find them abundant here. the plants in figure were found by mrs. blackford near west gloucester, mass. they are found october and november. _hygrophorus caprinus. scop._ the goat hygrophorus. edible. caprinus means belonging to a goat; it is so called from the fibrils resembling goat's hair. the pileus is two to three inches broad, fleshy, fragile, conical, then flattened and umbonate, rather wavy, sooty, fibrillose. the gills are very broad, quite distant, deeply decurrent, white, then glaucous. the stem is two to four inches long, solid, fibrillose, sooty, often streaked or striate, as will be seen in figure , page . the spores are × - µ. these plants grow in pine woods in company with h. fuligineus and h. flavodiscus. the specimen on the right in figure was found near west gloucester, mass., by mrs. blackford. it is found from september till hard frost. _hygrophorus lauræ. morg._ [illustration: figure .--hygrophorus lauræ.] this is a beautiful plant, found among leaves, and so completely covered with particles of leaves and soil that it is hard to clean them off. they are very viscid, both stem and cap. they are only occasionally found in our state. the pileus is two to three inches broad; reddish-brown in the center, shading to a very light tan on the edges; very viscid; convex; margin at first slightly incurved, then expanded. the gills are adnate, slightly decurrent, not crowded, unequal, yellowish. the stem is stuffed, tapering downward, whitish, furfuraceous near the cap. i have found this plant in poke hollow, near chillicothe, on several occasions, also in gallia county, ohio. i have not found it elsewhere in this vicinity. while i have not found it in sufficient quantity to try it i have no doubt of its edible qualities. i have found it only about the last of september and the first of october. it grows in rather dense woods on the north sides of the hills, where it is constantly shaded and damp. named in honor of prof. morgan's wife. _hygrophorus micropus. pk._ short-stemmed hygrophorus. edible. micropus means short-stemmed. the pileus is thin, fragile, convex or centrally depressed, umbilicate; silky, gray, often with one or two narrow zones on the margin; taste and odor farinaceous. the gills are narrow, close, adnate or slightly decurrent, gray, becoming salmon color with age. the stem is short, solid or with a slight cavity, often slightly thickened at the top, pruinose, gray, with a white, mycelioid tomentum at the base. the spores are angular, uninucleate, salmon color, . --. of an inch long, . --. broad. _peck._ this is a very small plant and not frequently found, but widely distributed. i have always found it in open grassy places during damp weather. the caps are thin, often markedly depressed. its silky appearance and narrow zones on the margin of the cap, together with its rather close gills, broadly attached to the stem, gray at first, then salmon color, will identify the species. july to september. _hygrophorus miniatus. fr._ the vermilion hygrophorus. edible. [illustration: figure .--hygrophorus miniatus. cap and stems vermilion-red. gills yellowish and tinged with bright-red.] miniatus is from minium, red lead. this is a small but a very common species, highly colored and very attractive. the pileus and the stem are bright red and often vermilion. the pileus is at first convex, but, when fully expanded, it is nearly or quite flat, and in wet weather it is even concave by the elevation of the margin, smooth or minutely scaly, often umbilicate. its color varies from a bright red or vermilion or blood-red to pale orange hues. the gills are yellow and frequently strongly tinged with red, distant, attached to the stem, and sometimes notched. the stem is usually short and slender, colored like, or a little paler, than the cap; solid, when young, but becoming stuffed or hollow with age. the spores are elliptical, white, µ long. the vermilion mushroom grows in woods and in open fields. it is more plentiful in wet weather. it seems to grow best where chestnut logs have decayed. it can be found in such places in sufficient quantities to eat. few mushrooms are more tender or have a more delicate flavor. there are two other species having red caps, hygrophorus coccineus and h. puniceus, but both are edible and no harm could come from any mistake. they are found from june to october. those in figure were found in poke hollow september . _hygrophorus miniatus sphagnophilus. pk._ [illustration: plate xxv. figure .--hygrophorus miniatus sphagnophilus. natural size.] sphagnophilus means sphagnum-loving, so called because it is found growing on sphagnum. the pileus is broadly convex, subumbilicate, red. the gills are adnate, whitish, becoming yellowish or sometimes tinged with red, occasionally red on the edge. the stem is colored like the pileus, whitish at the base, both it and the pileus are very fragile. this is more fragile than the typical form and retains its color better in drying. _peck_, d rep. this is a beautiful plant growing, as figure shows, on the lower dead portion of the stems of bog moss or sphagnum. it grows very abundantly in buckeye lake. the photograph was made by dr. kellerman. it is found from july to october. these plants cook readily, have an excellent flavor and because of their color make an inviting dish. i have eaten heartily of them several times. _hygrophorus marginatus. pk._ margined hygrophorus. edible. [illustration: figure .--hygrophorus marginatus.] marginatus, so called from the frequent vermilion edged gills. the pileus is thin, fragile, convex, subcampanulate or nearly plane, often irregular, sometimes broadly umbonate, glabrous, shining, striatulate on the margin, bright golden-yellow. the gills are rather broad, subdistant, ventricose, emarginate, adnexed, yellow, sometimes becoming orange or vermilion on the edge, interspaces venose. the stem is fragile, glabrous, often flexous, compressed or irregular, hollow, pale-yellow; spores broadly elliptic, . --. of an inch long, . --. broad. _peck_, n. y., . this plant has the most beautiful yellow i have ever seen in a mushroom. this bright golden yellow and the orange or vermilion color on the margin or edge of the gills will always characterize the plant. the specimen in figure were sent to me by mrs. blackford, of boston, mass., the last of august. they were not in the best condition when photographed. _hygrophorus ceraceus. fr._ the wax-like hygrophorus. edible. [illustration: figure .--hygrophorus ceraceus. caps waxy yellow.] ceraceus is from _cera_, wax. the pileus is one inch and less broad, waxy-yellow, shining, fragile, thin, occasionally subumbonate, slightly fleshy, slightly striate. the gills are firmly attached to the stem, subdecurrent, distant, broad, ventricose often connected with veins, almost triangular, yellow. the stem is one to two inches long, hollow, often unequal, flexuous, sometimes compressed, yellow, occasionally orange at the base, waxy. the spores × µ. this is a very beautiful, fragile plant, usually found growing in the grass. it is easily distinguished by its waxy yellow color. the plants photographed were found on the cemetery hill. they are found from august to october. _hygrophorus virgineus. wulf._ the ivory-capped hygrophorus. edible. [illustration: figure .--hygrophorus virgineus. two-thirds natural size. entire plant white.] virgineus, virgin; so called from its whiteness. the pileus is fleshy, convex, then plane, obtuse, at length depressed; moist, sometimes cracked into patches, floccose when dry. the gills are decurrent, distant, rather thick, often forked. the stem is curt, stuffed, firm, attenuated at the base, externally becoming even and naked. spores × - µ. _fries._ the plant is wholly white and never large. it is easily confounded with h. niveus and sometimes difficult to distinguish from the white forms of h. pratensis. this plant is quite common in pastures, both in the spring and in the fall. i found the specimens in figure on cemetery hill under the pine trees on november . they were photographed by dr. kellerman. _hygrophorus niveus._ the snow-white hygrophorus. edible. niveus, snow-white. the plant is wholly white. the pileus is scarcely one inch broad, somewhat membranaceous, bell-shaped, convex, then umbilicate, smooth, striate, viscid when moist, not cracked when dry, flesh thin, everywhere equal. the gills are decurrent, thin, distant, acute, quite entire. the stem is hollow, thin, equal, smooth. spores × µ. found in pastures. _hygrophorus sordidus. pk._ the dingy hygrophorus. edible. [illustration: figure .--hygrophorus sordidus.] sordidus means a dirty white, or dingy, referring to the color of the caps, so made by adhering earth. the pileus is broadly convex or nearly plane, glabrous, slightly viscid, white, but usually defiled by adhering dirt; the margin at first strongly involute, then spreading or reflexed; flesh firm when young, tough when old. the gills are subdistant, adnate, or decurrent, white or creamy-white. the stem is five to ten cm. long, firm, solid, white. the spores are elliptical, . - . × - µ. _peck._ the specimens i found were clear white, growing among leaves and were especially free from soil. the stems were short and were inclined to be slightly ventricose. dr. peck says that this "species is distinguished from h. penarius by its clear white color, though this is commonly obscured by the adhering dirt that is carried up in the growth of the fungus." the young, growing plants were strongly involute but the older plants were reflexed, giving the plants a funnel-shaped appearance and giving the gills a much stronger decurrent appearance. found october th. _hygrophorus serotinus. pk._ late hygrophorus. [illustration: figure .--hygrophorus serotinus.] serotinus means late. so called because it is late in the season. pileus is fleshy but thin, convex or nearly plane, often with the thin margin curved upward, glabrous or with a few obscure innate fibrils, reddish in the center, whitish on the margin, flesh white, taste mild. the gills are thin, subdistant, adnate or decurrent, white, the interspaces slightly venose. the stem is equal, stuffed or hollow, glabrous, whitish. the spores are white, elliptic, . of an inch long, . broad. pileus is - lines broad; stem about inch long, . - . lines thick. _peck._ some specimens of this species were sent to me from boston by mrs. blackford, but after a careful study of them i was unable to place them. she then sent them to dr. peck, who gave them their very appropriate name. those in figure were sent me in december, . they grow a number in the same locality and frequently in close groups or tufts. they seem to delight in oak and pine woods. dr. peck observes that this species is similar to hygrophorus queletii, bres., both in size and color, but the general characteristics of the plants do not agree. he also says it is similar in size and color to h. subrufescens, pk., but differs materially in the specific description. _panus. fr._ panus means swelling. the species under this genus are leathery plants, having the stems lateral and sometimes wanting. they dry up but revive with moisture. the gills are simple and thinner than the lentinus, but with an entire, acute edge. there are a few species which give a phosphorescent light when growing on decayed logs. the genus closely resembles lentinus but can be readily recognized on account of the smooth edged gills. a number of good authorities do not separate them but give both under the name lentinus. this genus abounds wherever there are stumps and fallen timber. _panus stypticus. fr._ the styptic panus. poisonous. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--panus stypticus. two-thirds natural size. cinnamon color.] stypticus means astringent, styptic. the pileus is coriaceous, kidney-shaped, cinnamon-color, growing pale, cuticle breaking up into scales, margin entire or lobed, surface nearly even, sometimes zoned. the gills are thin, crowded, connected by veins, of same color as cap, determinate, quite narrow. the stem is lateral, quite short, swollen above, solid, compressed, pruinose, paler than the gills. it is found very plentifully on decayed logs and stumps, and at times it is quite phosphorescent in its manifestations. it has an extremely unpleasant astringent taste. one might as well eat an indian turnip as this species. just a taste will betray it. found from fall to winter. _panus strigosus. b. & c._ the hairy panus. edible. strigosus, covered with stiff hairs. the pileus is sometimes quite large, eccentric, covered with stiff hairs, margin thin, white. the gills are broad, distant, decurrent, straw-color. the stem is stout, two to four inches long, hairy like the pileus. the favorite host of this species is an apple tree. i found a beautiful cluster on an apple tree in chillicothe. its creamy whiteness and hairy cap and short hairy stem will distinguish it from all other tree fungi. it is edible when young, but soon becomes woody. _panus conchatus. fr._ the shell panus. conchatus means shell-shaped. the pileus is thin, unequal, tough, fleshy, eccentric, dimidiate; cinnamon, then pale; becoming scaly; flaccid; margin often lobed. the gills are narrow, forming decurrent lines on the stem, often branched, pinkish, then ochre. the stem is short, unequal, solid, rather pale, base downy. this species will frequently be found imbricated and very generally confluent. its shell-like form, its tough substance, and its thin pileus are its distinguishing marks. the taste is pleasant but its substance very tough. found from september to frost. _panus rudis. fr._ [illustration: figure .--panus rudis.] this is a very plentiful plant about chillicothe and is found throughout the united states, although it is a rare plant in europe. it is generally given in american mycology under the name lentinus lecomtei. it grows on logs and stumps. the form of the plant is quite different when growing on the top of a log or a stump, from those springing from the side. those in the extreme left of figure grew on the side of the log, while those in the center grew on the top, in which case the plant has usually a funnel-shaped appearance. the pileus is tough, reddish or reddish-brown, depressed, sinuate, bristling with tufts of hair, the margin quite strongly incurved, cæspitose. the gills are narrow and crowded, decurrent, considerably paler than the cap. the stem is short, hairy, tawny; sometimes the stem is almost obsolete. there is a slight tinge of bitterness in the plant when raw, but in cooking this disappears. when prepared for food it should be chopped fine and well cooked. it can be dried for winter use. it is found from spring to late fall. _panus torulosus. fr._ the twisted panus. edible. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--panus torulosus.] torulosus means a tuft of hair. the pileus is two to three inches broad, fleshy, then tough, coriaceous; plane, then funnel-shaped, or dimidiate; even; smooth; almost flesh color, varying to reddish-livid, sometimes violet tinted. the gills are decurrent, rather distant, distinct behind, separate, simple, ruddy, then tan-colored. the stem is short, stout, oblique, gray, covered with a violaceous down. the spores are × µ. the plant is variable both in form and color. sometimes shaded very slightly with pink. it is not very common here. i found some very fine specimens growing on a log near spider bridge, chillicothe. it is edible but quite tough. _panus levis. b. & c._ the light panus. edible. levis, light. pileus two to three inches broad, orbicular, somewhat depressed, white, covered with a dense mat of hair; margin inflexed and marked by triangular ridges. the gills are broad, entire, decurrent. the stem is two to three inches long, attenuated upward, eccentric, lateral, solid, hairy below like the pileus. the spores are white. this certainly is a very beautiful plant and will hold the attention of the collector. it is not common with us. i have found it only on hickory logs. it is said to be of good flavor and to cook readily. _lentinus. fr._ lentinus means tough. the pileus is fleshy, corky, tough, hard and dry, reviving when moist. the stem is central or lateral and often wanting, but when present is continuous with the cap. the gills are tough, unequal, thin, normally toothed, decurrent more or less, margin acute. the spores are smooth, white, orbicular. all the species, so far as i know, grow on wood. they assume a great variety of forms. this genus is very closely related to panus in the dry, coriaceous nature of the pileus and the gills, but it can be readily recognized by the toothed margin of the gills. _lentinus vulpinus. fr._ strong-scented vulpinus. [illustration: plate xxvi. figure .--lentinus vulpinus. one-third natural size.] vulpinus is from _vulpes_, a fox. this is quite a large, massive plant, growing in a sessile and imbricated manner. it has appeared in large quantities for the past four years on an elm, very slightly decayed, but in quite a damp and dark place. the reader will get some idea of the size of the whole plant in figure if he will consider each pileus to be five to six inches broad. they are built up one on top of another, overlapping each other like shingles on a roof. the pileus is fleshy but tough, shell-shaped, connate behind, longitudinally rough, costate, corrugate, tan-colored, and the margin is strongly incurved. the gills are broad, nearly white, flesh-colored near the base, coarsely toothed. the stem is usually obsolete, yet in some cases it is apparent. the spores are almost round and very small, . inch in diameter. in all plants which i have found the odor is somewhat strong and the taste is pungent. it grows in the woods in september and october. _lentinus lepideus. fr._ the scaly lentinus. edible. [illustration: figure .--lentinus lepideus.] lepideus is from _lepis_, a scale. the pileus is fleshy, compact, convex, then depressed, unequal, broken up in dark scales, flesh white, tough. the gills are sinuate, decurrent, broad, torn, transversely striate, whitish, or with white edges, irregularly toothed. the stem is stout, central or lateral, tomentose or scaly, often crooked, rooting, whitish, solid, equal or tapering at the base. this is a peculiar plant, growing sometimes to immense forms. it grows on wood, seemingly to be partial to railroad ties to which its mycelium is very injurious. i found the plant frequently about salem, ohio. the specimens in the halftone were found near akron, ohio, and photographed by prof. smith. as an esculent it almost rivals the pleuroti. it is found from spring to autumn. i found a beautiful cluster on an oak stump near chillicothe, while looking for morels, about the last of april. _lentinus cochleatus. fr._ the spiral-formed lentinus. edible. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--lentinus cochleatus.] cochleatus is from _cochlea_, a snail, from resembling its shell. the pileus is two to three inches broad, tough, flaccid, irregular, depressed, sometimes funnel-shaped, sometimes lobed or contorted, flesh-color, becoming pale. the gills are crowded, beautifully serrated, pinkish-white. the stem is solid, length variable, sometimes central, frequently eccentric, often lateral, smooth. the spores are nearly round, µ. this is a beautiful plant but sparingly found with us. i found a pretty cluster at the foot of a maple stump in poke hollow. the serrated form of the gills will attract attention at once. it is found in august and september. _lenzites. fr._ lenzites, named after lenz, a german botanist. the pileus is corky, dimidiate, sessile. the gills are corky, firm, unequal, branched, edge obtuse. it is very common in the woods, sometimes almost covering stumps and logs. _lenzites betulina. fr._ [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ plate xxvii. figure .--lenzites betulina.] [illustration: figure .--lenzites betulina.] betulina, from _betula_, a birch. this has a somewhat corky, leathery cap, firm and without zones, woolly, sessile, deeply grooved concentrically, margin of the same color. the gills are radial, somewhat branching, and coming together again, sordid white or tan-color. this species is wide-spread and is quite variable. it grows in the form of brackets. figure was photographed by dr. kellerman. _lenzites separia. fr._ the chocolate lenzites. the pileus is corky, leathery shells, with the upper surface marked with rough zones of various shades of brown; margin yellowish. the gills are rather thick, branched, one running into another; yellowish. stem obsolete. growing on limbs and branches, especially of the fir tree. _lenzites flaccida. fr._ flaccid lenzites. [illustration: figure .--lenzites flaccida. two-thirds natural size.] flaccida means limp, flaccid. pileus is coriaceous, thin, flaccid, unequal, hairy, zoned, pallid, more or less flabelliform, imbricated. the gills are broad, crowded, straight, unequal, branched, white, becoming pallid. spores are × . this is a very attractive plant and quite common. it runs almost imperceptibly into lenzites betulina. it is found on stumps and trunks. _lenzites vialis. pk._ pileus is corky, almost woody, firm, zoned. gills are thick, firm, serpentine. stem, none. _schizophyllum. fr._ schizophyllum is from two greek words, meaning to split, and a leaf. the pileus is fleshy and arid. the gills are corky, fan-like, branched, united above by the tomentose pellicle, bifid, split longitudinally at the edge. the spores somewhat round and white. the two lips of the split edge of the gills are commonly revolute. this genus is far removed from the type of agaricini. it grows on wood and is very common. _stevenson._ _schizophyllum commune. fr._ [illustration: figure .--schizophyllum commune.] this is a very common plant, growing in the woods on branches and decayed wood, where it can be found in both winter and summer. the pileus is thin, adnate behind, somewhat extended, more or less fan-shaped or kidney-shaped, simple, often much lobed, narrowed behind to the point of attachment; whitish, downy, then strigose. the gills are radiating, gray, then brownish-purple, and sometimes white, branched, split along the edges and rather deeply rolled backwards. the spores are nearly round, - µ. this is a very common species all over the world. i found it in the winter of on decayed shade-trees along the streets of chillicothe. it seems to be partial to maple timber. some call this s. alneum. it is very easily identified from its purple gills being split. _trogia. fr._ trogia is so called in honor of the swiss botanist, trog. the pileus is nearly membranaceous, soft, quite tough, flaccid, dry, flexible, fibrillose, reviving when moist. the gills are fold-like, venose, narrow, irregular, crisped. _trogia crispa. fr._ crispa means crisp or curled. the pileus tough, cup-shaped, reflexed, lobed, villous, whitish or reddish toward the attachment, often tan-colored. the gills are quite narrow, vein-like, irregular, more or less branched, blunt on the edge, white or bluish-gray, quite crisped, edge not channeled. the caps are usually very much crowded and imbricated. it revives during wet weather and is found throughout the year, generally on beech limbs in our woods. chapter iii. the rosy-spored agarics. the spores of this series are of great variety of color, including rosy, pink, salmon-color, flesh-color, or reddish. in pluteus, volvaria, and most of clitopilus, the spores are regular in shape, as in the white-spored series; in the other genera they are generally irregular and angular. there are not so many genera as in the other series and fewer edible species. _pluteus. fr._ pluteus means a shed, referring to the sheds used to make a cover for besiegers at their work, that they might be screened from the missiles of the enemy. they have no volva, no ring on the stem. gills are free from the stem, white at first then flesh-color. _pluteus cervinus. schæff._ fawn-colored pluteus. edible. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ plate xxviii. figure .--pluteus cervinus. natural size.] _cervinus is from cervus, a deer._ the pileus is fleshy, bell-shaped, expanded, viscid in wet weather, smooth, except a few radiating fibrils when young, margin entire, flesh soft and white; color of the cap light-brown or fawn-color, sometimes sooty, often more than three inches across the cap. the gills are free from the stem, broad, ventricose, unequal in length, almost white when young, flesh-colored when mature from the falling of the spores. the stem is solid, slightly tapering upward, firm, brittle, white, spread over with a few dark fibrils, generally crooked. the spores are broadly elliptical. the cystidia in the hymenium on the gills will be of interest to those who have a microscope. this is a very common mushroom about chillicothe. it is found on logs, stumps, and especially on old sawdust piles. note how easily the stem is removed from the cap. this will distinguish it from the genus entoloma. you cannot get anything in the market that will make a better fry than pluteus cervinus; fried in butter, it is simply delicious. found from may to october. [illustration: figure .--pluteus cervinus.] _pluteus granularis. pk._ [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--pluteus granularis.] pileus is convex, then expanded, slightly umbonate, wrinkled, sprinkled with minute blackish granules, varying in color from yellow to brown. the gills are rather broad, close, ventricose, free, whitish, then flesh-colored. the stem is equal, solid, pallid, or brown, usually paler at the top, velvety with a short, close pile. the spores are subglobose, about . inch in diameter. the plant is two to three inches high, pileus one to two inches broad, stem one to two lines thick. _peck_, th rep. n. y. state bot. this is a much smaller species than p. cervinus, but its esculent qualities are quite as good. found from july to october. _pluteus eximius. smith._ _eximius, choice, distinguished._ the pileus is fleshy, bell-shaped when young, expanded, beautifully fringed on the margin, larger than the cervinus. the gills are free, broad, ventricose, white at first, then rose-colored, flesh white, and firm. the stem is thick, solid, and clothed with fibers. dr. herbst, fungal flora of the lehigh valley. i found some beautiful specimens in george mosher's icehouse. i am very sorry i did not photograph them. _volvaria. fr._ the spores of this genus are regular, oval, rosy-spored. the veil is universal, forming a perfect volva, distinct from the cuticle of the pileus. the stem is easily separable from the pileus. the gills are free, rounded behind, at first white, then pink, soft. most of the species grow on wood. some on damp ground, rich mold, in gardens, and in hot-houses. one is a parasite on clitocybe nebularis and monadelphus. _volvaria bombycina. (pers.) fr._ the silky volvaria. edible. [illustration: plate xxix. figure .--volvaria bombycina. the egg form of the v. bombycina showing the universal veil or volva bursting at the apex. these are unusually large specimens.] [illustration: figure .--volvaria bombycina. two-thirds natural size. entire plant white and silky.] [illustration: figure .--volvaria bombycina. two-thirds natural size, showing the gills, which are pink, then dark-brown.] bombycina is from _bombyx_, _silk_. this plant is so called because of the beautiful silky lustre of the entire plant. the pileus is three to eight inches broad, globose, then bell-shaped, finally convex and somewhat umbonate, white, the entire surface silky, in older specimens more or less scaly, sometimes smooth at the apex. the flesh is white and not thick. the gills are free, very crowded, broad, ventricose, flesh-colored, not reaching the margin, toothed. the stem is three to six inches long, tapering upward, solid, smooth, the tough volva remaining like a cup at the base. the spores are rosy in mass, smooth, and elliptical. the volva is large, membranaceous, somewhat viscid. the plant in figure was found august th, on a maple tree where a limb had been broken, on north high street, chillicothe. many people had passed along and enjoyed the shade of the trees but its discovery remained for miss marian franklin, whose eyes are trained to see birds, flowers, and everything beautiful in nature. i have found the plant frequently about chillicothe, usually solitary; but on one occasion i found three specimens upon one trunk, apparently growing from the same mycelial mass. the caps of two of them were each five inches across. it usually grows on maple and beech. if you will observe a hollow beech, or sugar snag of which one side is broken away, leaving the sheltered yet open nestling place, you are very likely to find snugly enscounced in its decaying heart one or more specimens of these beautiful silky plants. the volva is quite thick and frequently the plant, when in the egg state, has the appearance of a phalloid. found from june to october. _volvaria umbonata. peck._ the umbonate volvaria. [illustration: figure .--volvaria umbonata. two-thirds natural size. entire plant white and silky.] umbonata, having an umbo or conical projection like the boss of a shield. this plant is quite common on the richly manured lawns of chillicothe. i have found it from june to october. the pileus is white or whitish, sometimes grayish, often smoky on the umbo; globose when young, bell-shaped, plane when fully expanded, umbonate, smooth; slightly viscid when moist, shining when dry, inch to an inch and a half broad. the flesh is white and very soft. the gills are free, white at first, then from flesh-color to a reddish hue from the rosy-colored spores; some of the gills are dimidiate, somewhat crowded, broader in the middle. the stem is two inches to two and a half long, tapering from the base up, smooth, cylindrical, hollow and firm. the volva is always present, free, variously torn, white and sometimes grayish. the entire plant is silky when dry. i have found it growing in my buggy shed. it is not abundant, though quite common. i have never eaten it, but i do not doubt its edibility. _volvaria pusilla. pers._ [illustration: figure .--volvaria pusilla.] the pileus is explanate, white, fibrillose, dry, striate, center slightly depressed when mature. the gills are white, becoming flesh-color, from the color of the spores, free, distant. the stem is white, smooth, volva split to the base into four nearly equal segments. the spores are broadly elliptical, - mc. this is the smallest species of the volvaria. it grows on the ground among the weeds and is apt to escape the attention of the collector unless he knows its habitat. it is quite likely that v. parvula is the same plant as this. also v. temperata, although it has a different habitat, seems to be very near this species. the plants in figure were collected in michigan and photographed by dr. fischer. the volva is brown-tipped as shown in the figure given. _volvaria volvacea. bull._ the stove volvaria. it is called "the stove volvaria" because it has been found in old unused stoves. pileus fleshy, soft, bell-shaped, then expanded, obtuse, virgate, with adpressed black fibrils. the gills are free, flesh-colored, and inclined to deliquesce. the stem is solid, subequal, white. the volva loose, whitish. the spores are smooth, elliptical. this is a much smaller plant than the v. bombycina and grows in the ground. it is often found in hot-houses and cellars. _entoloma. fr._ entoloma is from two greek words; _entos_, within; _loma_, a fringe, referring to the inner character of the veil, which is seldom even apparent. the members of this genus have rosy spores which are prominently angular. there is neither volva, nor annulus. the gills are attached to the stem or notched near the junction of the gills and the stem. the pileus is fleshy and the margin incurved, especially when young. the stem is fleshy, fibrous, sometimes waxy, continuous with the pileus. it corresponds with hypholoma, tricholoma, and hebeloma. it can always be separated from the rosy-spored genera by the notched gills. the flesh-colored spores and gills distinguish the entoloma from the hebeloma, which has ochre-spored ones, and tricholoma, which has white ones. all the species, so far as i know, have rather a pleasant odor, and for that reason it is highly necessary that the genus and species should be thoroughly known, as they are all dangerous. _entoloma rhodopolium. fr._ the rose-gray entoloma. [illustration: figure .--entoloma rhodopolium. three-fourths natural size.] rhodopolium is composed of two greek words, rose and gray. the pileus is two to five inches broad, hygrophanous; when moist dingy-brown or livid, becoming pale when dry, isabelline-livid, silky-shining; slightly fleshy, bell-shaped when young, then expanded and somewhat umbonate, or gibbous, at length rather plane and sometimes depressed; fibrillose when young, smooth when full grown; margin at first bent inwards and when large, undulated. flesh white. the gills adnate, then separating, somewhat sinuate, slightly distant, broad, white, then rose color. the stem is two to four inches long, hollow; equal when smaller, when larger, attenuated upward; white pruinate at the apex, otherwise smooth; slightly striate, white, often reddish from spores. spores - × - µ. _fries_. the plant is found in mixed woods and is rather common. captain mcilvaine reports it edible, but i have never eaten any of the entolomas. some of them have a bad reputation. found in september and october. _entoloma grayanum. pk._ [illustration: figure .--entoloma grayanum. one-half natural size.] the pileus is convex to expanded, sometimes broadly umbonate, drab in color, the surface wrinkled or rugose, and watery in appearance. the flesh is thin and the margin incurved. the gills are at first drab in color, but lighter than the pileus, becoming pinkish in age. the spores on paper are very light salmon-color. they are globose or rounded in outline, - angled, with an oil globule, - µ, in diameter. the stem is of the same color as the pileus, but lighter, striate, hollow, somewhat twisted, and enlarged below. the above accurate description was taken from atkinson's studies of american fungi. the plants were found near a slate cut on the b. & o. railroad near chillicothe. not edible. this species and e. grisea are very closely related. the latter is darker in color, with narrower gills, and has a different habitat. _entoloma subcostatum. atkinson n. sp._ [illustration: plate xxx. figure .--entoloma subcostatum. mature plants showing broad gills and very thin flesh, also fibrous striate stems.] subcostatum means somewhat ribbed, referring to the gills. plants gregarious or in troups or clusters, - cm. high; pileus - cm. broad; stems - . cm. thick. the pileus is dark-gray to hair-brown or olive-brown, often subvirgate with darker lines; gills light salmon-color, becoming dull; stem colored as the pileus, but paler; in drying the stems usually become as dark as the pileus. pileus subviscid when moist, convex to expanded, plane or subgibbous, not umbonate, irregular, repand, margin incurved; flesh white, rather thin, very thin toward the margin. gills are broad, - . cm. broad, narrowed toward the margin of the pileus, deeply sinuate, the angles usually rounded, adnexed, easily becoming free, edge usually pale, sometimes connected by veins, sometimes costate, especially toward the margin of the pileus. basidia four-spored. spores subglobose, about six angles, - µ in diameter, some slightly longer in the direction of the apiculus, pale-rose under the microscope. stem even, fibrous striate, outer bark subcartilaginous, flesh white, stuffed, becoming fistulose. odor somewhat of old meal and nutty, not pleasant; taste similar. related to e. prunuloides, fr., and e. clypeatum, linn. differs from the former in dark stem and uneven pileus, differs from the latter in being subviscid, with even stem, and pileus not umbonate and much more irregular, and differs from both in subcostate gills. _atkinson_. the specimens in plate xxx grew in grassy ground on the campus of the ohio state university, columbus, ohio. they were collected by r. a. young and photographed by dr. w. a. kellerman, and through his courtesy i publish it. the plants were found the last of october, . _entoloma salmonea. pk._ [illustration: figure .--entoloma salmonea.] pileus thin, conical or campanulate, subacute, rarely with a minute papilla at the apex, smooth, of a peculiar soft, ochraceous color, slightly tinged with salmon or flesh color. the gills and stem are colored like the pileus. _peck._ dr. peck says, "it is with some hesitation that this is proposed as a species, its resemblance to another species is so close. the only difference is found in its color and in the absence of the prominent cusp of that plant. in both species the pileus is so thin that in well dried specimens, slender, dark, radiating lines on it, mark the position of the lamellæ beneath, although in the living plant these are not visible." the plant in figure was found in purgatory swamp near boston, by mrs. blackford. they are found in august and september. _entoloma clypeatum. linn._ the buckler entoloma. _clypeatum, a shield or buckler._ the pileus is slightly fleshy, lurid when moist, when dry gray and rather shining, streaked, spotted, campanulate, then expanded, umbonate, smooth, watery. gills just reaching the stem, rounded, ventricose, somewhat distant, minutely toothed, dirty flesh-color. the stem is stuffed, then hollow, equal, round, clothed with small fibers, becoming pale, covered with a minute powdery substance. the flesh is white when dry. this plant will be distinguished usually by the amount of white mycelium at the base of the stem. dr. herbst remarks that it is a genuine entoloma. it is certainly a beautiful plant when fully developed. it is found in woods and in rich grounds from may till september. label it poisonous until its reputation is established. _clitopilus. fr._ clitopilus is from _clitos_, a declivity; pilos, a cap. this genus has neither volva nor ring. it is often more or less eccentric, margin at first involute; stem fleshy, diffused upward into the pileus; the gills are white at first, then pink or salmon-color as the plant matures and the spores begin to fall; decurrent, never notched. the pileus is more or less depressed, darker in the center. the spores are salmon-color, in some cases rather pale, smooth or warted. clitopilus is closely related to clitocybe, the latter having white gills, the former pink. it differs from entoloma just as clitocybe differs from tricholoma. it can always be distinguished from eccilia because the stem is never cartilaginous at the surface. it differs from the genus, flammula, mainly in the color of the spores. _clitopilus prunulus. scop._ the plum clitopilus. edible. [illustration: figure .--clitopilus prunulus.] prunulus means a small plum; so called from the white bloom covering the plant. the pileus is two to four inches broad, fleshy, firm; at first convex, then expanded, at length becoming slightly depressed, often eccentric, as will be seen in figure ; whitish, often covered with a frost-like bloom, margin often wavy, bending backward. the gills are strongly decurrent, comparatively few of full length, white, then flesh-color. the stem is solid, white, naked, striate, short. spores, - × . this is one of the most interesting plants because of the various forms it presents. i have found it in various parts of the state and frequently about chillicothe. it has a pleasant taste, and an odor reminding you of new meal. it is tender and its flavor is excellent. found in woods or open woods, especially where it is damp, and under beech trees, as well as oak. found from june to october. the plants in figure were collected near ashville, n. c., and photographed by prof. h. c. beardslee. _clitopilus orcellus. bull._ the sweet-bread clitopilus. edible. [illustration: figure .--clitopilus orcellus.] orcellus is a diminutive meaning a small cask; from _orca_, a cask. the pileus is fleshy, soft, plane, or slightly depressed, often irregular, even when young; slightly silky, somewhat viscid when moist; white or yellowish-white, flesh white, taste and odor farinaceous. the gills are deeply decurrent, close, whitish, then flesh-color. the stem is short, solid, flocculose, often eccentric, thickened above. the spores are elliptical, - × µ. _peck_, d rep. n. y. this plant resembles the plum mushroom, c. prunulus, very closely in appearance, taste and odor, but it is considerably smaller. it grows in wet weather, in open fields and lawns. it is quite widely distributed in our state, having found it in salem, bowling green, sidney, and chillicothe. i frequently find it associated with marasmius oreades. the specimens in figure were found near ashville, n. c., and were photographed by prof. h. c. beardslee. found from july to october. _clitopilus abortivus. b. and c._ the abortive clitopilus. edible. [illustration: figure .--clitopilus abortivus. two-thirds natural size, showing the grayish-brown cap and solid stem.] abortivus means abortive or imperfectly developed; so called from its many irregular and undeveloped forms. the pileus is fleshy, firm, convex, or nearly plane, regular or irregular, dry, clothed with a minute silky tomentum, becoming smoother with age, gray or grayish-brown, flesh white, taste and odor subfarinaceous. the gills are slightly or deeply decurrent, at first whitish or pale gray, then flesh-colored. spores irregular, . - × . µ. the stem is nearly equal, solid, minutely flocculose, sometimes fibrous, striate, paler than the pileus. _peck_, d report n. y. there are often three forms of this plant; a perfect form, an imperfect form, and an abortive form as will be seen in figure . the abortive forms seem to be more common, especially in this locality. they will be taken at first to be some form of puff-ball. they are found in open woods and in ravines. i found some very fine specimens under beech trees on cemetery hill. they are, however, widely distributed over the state and the united states. the specimens in figure were collected near ashville and photographed by prof. beardslee. [illustration: figure .--clitopilus abortivus. abortive forms. edible.] _clitopilus subvilis. pk._ the silky-capped clitopilus. edible. subvilis means very cheap, insignificant. the pileus is thin, centrally depressed or umbilicate, with the margin decurved, hygrophanus, dark-brown, striate on the margin when moist, taste farinaceous. the gills are subdistant, adnate, or slightly decurrent, whitish when young, then flesh-colored. the stem is slender, brittle, rather long, stuffed or hollow, glabrous, colored like the pileus or a little paler. the spores are angular, . - µ. _peck_, d rept. this plant is distinguished from clitopilus villis by its shining pileus, widely separated gills, and farinaceous taste. found on ralston's run and in haynes' hollow, near chillicothe, from july to october. _clitopilus noveboracensis. pk._ [illustration: figure .--clitopilus noveboracensis. two-thirds natural size.] noveboracensis, the new york clitopilus. pileus thin, convex, then expanded or slightly depressed; dingy-white, cracked in areas or concentrically rivulose, sometimes obscurely zonate; odor farinaceous, taste bitter. gills narrow, close, deeply decurrent, some of them forked, white, becoming dingy, tinged with yellow or flesh-color. stem equal, solid, colored like the pileus, the mycelium white, often forming white, branching, root-like fibers. spores globose. prof. beardslee thinks that this species is doubtless identical with _c. popinalis_ of europe. he has submitted specimens and photographs to european mycologists, who hold to this view. i found this plant quite abundant on the huntington hills after heavy rains in august. their season is from august to october. the specimens in figure were found growing among leaves after a heavy rain october th. the plants have a tendency to turn blackish if they are bruised in handling them. var. brevis. this is so called from its short stem. the margin of the pileus is pure white when moist. gills attached to the stem or slightly decurrent. _eccilia. fr._ eccilia is from a greek verb which means "i hollow out"; so called because the hollow cartilaginous stem expands upward into a membranaceous pileus, whose margin at first is incurved. gills decurrent, attenuated behind. this genus corresponds with omphalia and is separated from clitopilus by the cartilaginous, smooth stem. _eccilia carneo-grisea. b. & br._ the flesh-gray eccilia. edible. [illustration: figure .--eccilia carneo-grisea. caps dark-gray or slate color. gills rosy.] carneo-grisea means fleshy-gray. the pileus is one inch or more broad, umbilicate, dark-gray or grayish flesh color, finely striate, margin darkened with micaceous particles. the gills are distant, adnate, decurrent, rosy, slightly undulate, margin irregularly darkened. the stem is one to two inches long, slender, smooth, hollow, wavy, same color as the pileus, white tomentose at the base. spores irregularly oblong, rough, × µ. it is found from nova scotia through the middle west. it is commonly reported in fir and pine woods but i find it on the hillsides about chillicothe in mixed woods. it is frequently found here associated with boletinus porosus. found in july, august, and september. _eccilia polita. pers._ [illustration: figure .--eccilia polita. natural size. caps hair-brown to olive, umbilicate.] polita means having been furbished. the pileus is one inch or more broad, convex, umbilicate, somewhat membranaceous, watery, livid or hair-brown to olive, smooth, shining when dry, finely striate on the margin. the gills are slightly decurrent, crowded, irregular or uneven, flesh color. the stem is cartilaginous, stuffed or hollow, lighter in color than the pileus, equal or sometimes slightly enlarged at the base, polished from which the specific name is derived. this is a larger plant than e. carneo-grisea; and it differs materially in the character of its spores, which are strongly angled and some of them square, - µ in diameter, with a prominent mucro at one angle. it is found in the woods from september to frost. _leptonia. fr._ leptonia means slender, thin. the spores are salmon-color and irregular. the pileus is never truly fleshy, cuticle always torn into scales, disk umbilicate, and often darker than the margin which is at first incurved. the gills are attached to the stem and easily separated in old plants. the stem is rigid, with cartilaginous bark, hollow or stuffed, smooth, shining, often dark-blue, confluent with the cap. _leptonia incana. fr._ the hoary leptonia. incana means hoary or grayish-white. the pileus is about one inch broad, somewhat membranaceous, convex, then plane, depressed in the center, smooth, with a silky lustre, margin striate. the gills are attached to the stem, broad, somewhat distant, white, then greenish. the stem is hollow, shining, smooth, brownish-green. the spores are very irregular, dull-yellowish, pink, rough, - µ. it is frequently found in pastures after warm rains. they grow in clusters, and have the odor of mice to a marked degree. _leptonia serrulata. pers._ saw leptonia. [illustration: figure .--leptonia serrulata.] serrulata means saw-bearing, so named from the serrulate character of the gills. the pileus is dark-blue, flesh thin, umbilicate, depressed, without striate, squamulose. the gills are attached to the stem, with a dark serrulate edge. the stem is thin, cartilaginous, paler than the pileus. _nolanea. fr._ nolanea means a little bell, so called from the shape of the pileus. it is rosy-spored. the stem is cartilaginous and hollow. the pileus is submembranaceous, thin, bell-shaped, papillate, margin straight, pressed close to the stem. the gills are free and not decurrent. they are found growing on the ground in the woods and pastures. _nolanea pascua. p._ the pasture nolanea. pascua means pasture. the pileus is membranaceous, conical, then expanded, slightly umbonate, smooth, striate, watery; when dry, shining like silk. the gills are nearly free, ventricose, crowded, dirty-grayish. the stem is hollow, fragile, silky-fibrous, striate. the spores are irregular, - . they are found in pastures in summer and fall, after a rain. _nolanea conica. pk._ the cone nolanea. the pileus is thin, membranaceous, conical, with a minute umbo or papilla, cinnamon-color, striatulate when moist. the gills are light flesh-color, nearly free. the stem is slender, straight, hollow. found in moist woods. _claudopus. smith._ claudopus is from two greek words: _claudos_, lame; _pus_, foot. the pileus is eccentric or lateral like the pleuroti. the species were formerly placed in the pleuroti and crepidoti, which they very closely resemble, save in the color of the spores. this genus formerly included those plants which have lilac spores, but prof. fries limited it to those which have pink spores. the spores in some species are even and in others, rough and angular. the stem is either wanting or very short, hence its name. all are found on decayed wood. _claudopus nidulans. pers._ [illustration: figure .--claudopus nidulans. one-half natural size. cap yellow or buff. gills orange-yellow.] nidulans is from _nidus_, a nest. the pileus is sessile, sometimes narrowed behind into a short stem-like base, caps often overlapping one another, kidney-shaped, quite downy, the margin involute, hairy toward the margin, a rich yellow or buff color. the gills are broad, moderately close, orange-yellow. the spores are even, - × µ, elongated, somewhat curved, delicate pink in mass. it is quite common in the woods about chillicothe. a maple log from which i secured the specimen photographed in figure was completely covered and presented a beautiful sight. it has a rather strong and disagreeable odor. it is edible, but generally tough, and must be chopped very fine and cooked well. it is found in woods, on logs and stumps, from august to november. _claudopus variabilis. pers._ _variabilis, variable or changeable._ the pileus is white, thin, resupinate--that is the plant seems to be on its back, the gills being turned upward toward the light, quite downy, even, being fastened in the center to a short downy stem. the gills are at first white, then of the color of the spores. it is found on decaying limbs and branches in the woods. it is quite common everywhere. chapter iv. the rusty-spored agarics. the spores are of various shades of ochre yellow, rusty, rusty-brown, brown, yellowish-brown. the hymenophore is never free from the stem in the rusty-spored series, nor is there a volva. _pholiota. fr._ pholiota, a scale. the members of this genus have rusty spores. these may be sepia-brown, bright yellowish-brown or light red. there is no volva, but there is a ring which is sometimes persistent, friable, and fugacious. in this respect it corresponds with the armillaria among the white spored agarics. the pileus is fleshy. the gills are attached to the stem and sometimes notched with a decurrent tooth, tawny or rusty in color on account of the falling of the spores. many species grow on wood, logs, stumps, and branches of trees, although others grow on the ground. _pholiota precox. pers._ the early pholiota. edible. [illustration: figure .--pholiota precox. two-thirds natural size. caps whitish, often tinged with yellow.] _precox, early._ pileus is fleshy, soft, convex, then expanded, at length smooth, even, margin at first incurved; moist but not sticky, whitish, often with slight tinge of yellow or tan-color; when the plant is fully matured it is often upturned and fluted. the gills are attached to the stem and slightly decurrent by a tooth, moderately broad, crowded, unequal, creamy white, then rusty-brown. spores brownish, - × - µ. the stem is stuffed, then hollow, often striate above the ring, rather slender, sometimes mealy, skin peeling readily, whitish. the spores are rusty-brown and elliptical. the caps are from one to two inches broad, and the stem is from two to three inches long. the veil is stretched like a drumhead from the stem to the margin of the cap. it varies in manner of breaking; sometimes it separates from the margin of the cap and forms a ring around the stem; again, but little remains on the stem and much on the rim of the cap. it appears every year on the chillicothe high school lawn. the gills are creamy-white when the cap first opens, but they soon turn to a rusty-brown. it comes in may. i have never found it after june. i am always delighted to find it for it is always appetizing at that season. look for them on lawns and pastures and in grain fields. _pholiota dura. bolt._ the hard pholiota. edible. [illustration: figure .--pholiota dura. one-half natural size. caps tawny tan-color.] dura, hard; so called because the surface of the cap becomes quite hard and cracked. the pileus is from three to four inches or more broad, very compact, convex, then plane, cuticle often very much cracked, margin even, tawny, tan-color, sometimes quite brown. the gills are firmly attached to the stem, somewhat decurrent with a tooth, ventricose, livid, then a brown rusty color. spores elliptical, - × - µ. the stem is stuffed, hard, externally fibrous, thickened toward the apex, sometimes ventricose, often irregularly shaped. on june th, , i found mr. dillman's garden on hickory street, chillicothe, white with this plant. some were very large and beautiful and i had an excellent opportunity to observe the irregularity in the form of the stem. some years previous i found a garden in sidney, ohio, equally filled. in the fall of i was asked to drive out about seven miles from chillicothe to see a wheat-field, the last of october, that was white with mushrooms. i found them to be of this species. only the young plants should be used, as the older ones are a bit tough. _pholiota adiposa. fr._ the fat or pineapple pholiota. edible. [illustration: figure .--pholiota adiposa. two-thirds natural size. caps saffron-yellow.] adiposa is from _adeps_, fat. the pileus is showy, deep-yellow, compact, convex, obtuse, slightly umbonate, quite viscid when moist, shining when dry; cuticle plain or broken into scales which are dark-brown, the margin incurved; the flesh is saffron-yellow, thick at the center and thinning out toward the margin. the gills are firmly attached to the stem, sometimes slightly notched, close, yellow, then rust-color with age. spores elliptical, × µ. the stem is equal, stuffed, tough, thickening at the base, brown below and yellow above, quite scaly. the beautiful appearance of the tufts or clusters in which the pineapple pholiotas grow will attract the attention of an ordinarily unobservant beholder. the scales on the cap seem to contract and rise from the surface and sometimes disappear with age. the caps of mushrooms should not ordinarily be peeled before cooking, but it is better to peel this one. the ring is slight and the specimens represented here were found on a stump in miss effie mace's yard, on paint street, chillicothe. _pholiota caperata. pers._ the wrinkled pholiota. edible. caperata means wrinkled. [illustration: plate xxxi. figure .--pholiota caperata.] the pileus is three to four inches broad, fleshy, varying from a clay to a yellowish color, at first somewhat egg-shaped, then expanded, obtuse, wrinkled at the sides, the entire cap and especially at the center is covered with a white superficial flocci. the gills are adnate or attached to the stem, rather crowded, this, somewhat toothed on their edges, clay-cinnamon color. spores elliptical, × . µ. the stem is four to five inches long, solid, stout, round, somewhat bulbous at the base, white, scaly above the ring, which is often very slight, often only a trace, as will be seen on the left hand plant in figure . the spores are dark ferruginous when caught on white paper, but paler on dark paper. the white superficial flocci will mark the plant. it has a wide distribution throughout the states. i found it in a number of places in ohio and it is quite plentiful about chillicothe. it is a favorite in germany and it is called by the common people "zigeuner," a gypsy. it is found in september and october. _pholiota unicolor. fl. dan._ [illustration: figure .--pholiota unicolor. natural size.] unicolor means of one color. the pileus is campanulate to convex, subumbonate, hygrophanous, bay, then ochre, nearly even, never fully expanded. the gills are subtriangular, adnate, seceding, broad, ochraceous-cinnamon. spores - × µ. the stem is stuffed, then hollow, colored as the pileus, nearly smooth, ring thin but entire. they are a late grower and found on well-decayed logs. they are quite common in our woods. found in november. the plants in figure were found on the th of november, in haynes' hollow. _pholiota mutablis. schaff._ the changeable pholiota. edible. mutablis means changeable, variable. the pileus two to three inches broad, fleshy; deep cinnamon when moist, paler when dry; margin rather thin, transparent; convex, then expanded, sometimes obtusely umbonate, and sometimes slightly depressed; even, quite smooth, flesh whitish and taste mild. the gills are broad, adnate, slightly decurrent, close, pale umber, then cinnamon-color. the stem is two to three inches long, slender, stuffed, becoming hollow, smooth above or minutely pulverulent, and pale, below slightly scaly up to the ring, and darker at the base, ring membranaceous, externally scaly. the spores are ellipsoid, - × - µ. i find this specimen growing in a cæspitose manner on decayed wood. it is quite common here late in the season. i found some very large specimens on thanksgiving day, , in gallia county, ohio. it is one of the latest edible plants. _pholiota heteroclita. fr._ bulbous-stemmed pholiota. [illustration: figure .--pholiota heteroclita. natural size. caps whitish or yellowish.] heteroclitus means leaning to one side, out of the center. the pileus is three to six inches broad, compact, convex, expanded, very obtuse, rather eccentric, marked with scattered, innate, adpressed scales, whitish or yellowish, sometimes smooth when dry, viscid if moist. the gills are very broad, at first pallid, then ferruginous, rounded, adnexed. the stem is three to four inches long, solid, hard, bulbous at the base, fibrillose, white or whitish; veil apical, ring fugacious, appendiculate. the spores are subelliptical, - × - µ. this species has a strong and pungent odor very much like horse-radish. it grows on wood and its favorite hosts are the poplar and the birch. it is found at almost any time in the fall. the specimens in the figure were found in michigan and photographed by dr. fischer, of detroit. _pholiota aurevella. batsch._ golden pholiota. aurevella is from _auri-vellus_, a golden fleece. the pileus is two to three inches in diameter, bell-shaped, convex, gibbous, tawny-yellow, with darker scales, rather viscid. the gills are crowded, notched behind, fixed, very broad, plane, pallid olive, at length ferruginous. the stem is stuffed, nearly equal, hard, various in length, curved, with rusty adpressed squamules, ring rather distant. on trunks of trees in the fall, generally solitary. not very common. _pholiota curvipes. fr._ curvipes, with a curved foot or stem. pileus is rather fleshy, convex, then expanded, torn into adpressed floccose scales. the gills are adnate, broad, white, then yellowish, at length tawny. the stem is somewhat hollow, thin, incurved (from which it derives its name), fibrillose, yellow, as well as is the floccose ring. spores - × - . _cooke._ i found several specimens of this species at different times on one well rotted beech log on ralston's run, but was unable to find it on any other log in any woods near chillicothe. i had trouble to place it till prof. atkinson helped me out. i found it from august to november. _pholiota spectabilis. fr._ the showy pholiota. spectabilis, of notable appearance, worth seeing. the pileus is compact, convex, then plane, dry, torn into silky scales disappearing toward the margin, golden orange color, flesh yellow. the gills are adnexed, rounded near the stem, slightly decurrent, crowded, narrow, yellow, then ferruginous. the stem is solid, three to four inches high, quite thick, tough, spongy, thickened toward the base, even, bulbous, somewhat rooting. ring inferior. i found the specimens in october and november. it may grow earlier. found on decayed oak stumps. _pholiota marginata. batsch._ the marginate pholiota. edible. [illustration: figure .--pholiota marginata. two-thirds natural size. caps honey-colored and tan-colored.] marginata means edged, margined; so called from the peripheral striæ of the pileus. the pileus is rather fleshy, convex, then plane, smooth, moist, watery, striate on the margin, honey-colored when moist, tan-colored when dry. the gills are firmly attached to the stem, crowded, unequal; when mature, of a dark reddish-brown from the shedding of the spores. spores - × µ. the stem is cylindrical, smooth, hollow, of the same color as the pileus, covered with a frost-like bloom above the ring, which is distant from the apex of the stem and frequently disappears entirely. it is quite common, being found on nearly every rotten log in our woods. it comes early and lasts till late in the fall. the caps are excellent when well prepared. _pholiota ægerita. fr._ Ægerita is the greek name for the black poplar; so called because it grows on decayed poplar logs. the pileus is fleshy, convex, then plane, more or less checked or rivulose, wrinkled, tawny, edge of the cap rather pale. the gills are adnate, with a decurrent tooth, rather close, pallid, then growing darker. the stem is stuffed, equal, silky-white, ring superior, fibrillose, tumid. spores × µ. found in october and november, in the woods wherever there are decayed poplar logs. _pholiota squarrosoides. pk._ like the scaly pholiota. edible. [illustration: figure .--pholiota squarrosoides. two-thirds natural size. caps yellow or yellowish.] squarrosoides means like squarrosa. the pileus is quite firm, convex, viscid, especially when moist; at first densely covered with erect papillose or subspinose tawny scales, which soon separate from each other, revealing the whitish or yellowish color of the cap and its viscid character. the gills are close, emarginate, at first whitish, then pallid or dull cinnamon color. the stem is equal, firm, stuffed, rough, with thick squarrose scales, white above the thick floccose annulus, pallid or tawny below. the spores are minute, elliptical, . inch long, . inch broad. they grow in tufts on dead trunks and old stumps, especially of the sugar maple. they closely resemble p. squarrosa. found late in the fall. its favorite haunt is the inside of a stump or within the protection of a log. _pholiota squarrosa. mull._ the scaly pholiota. edible. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ plate xxxii. figure .--pholiota squarrosa.] squarrosa means scaly. the pileus is three to four inches broad, fleshy, bell-shaped, convex, then expanded; obtusely umbonate, tawny-yellow, clothed with rich brown scales; flesh yellow near the surface. the gills are attached to the stem, with a decurrent tooth, at first yellowish, then of a pale olive, changing to rusty-brown in color, crowded, and narrow. the spores are elliptical, × µ. the stem is three to six inches high, saffron yellow, stuffed, clothed with small fibers, scaly like the pileus, attenuated at the base from the manner of its growth. the ring is close to the apex, downy, rich brown, inclining to orange in color. this is quite a common and showy mushroom. it is found on rotten wood, on or near stumps, growing out from a root underground, and is often found at the foot of trees. only the caps of the young specimens should be eaten. it is found from august to late frost. _inocybe. fr._ inocybe is from two greek words meaning fiber and head; so called from the fibrillose veil, concrete with the cuticle of the pileus, often free at the margin, in the form of a cortina. the gills are somewhat sinuate, though they are sometimes adnate, and in two species are decurrent; changing color but not powdered with cinnamon. spores are often rough but in other specimens are even, more or less brownish rust-color. _stevenson._ _inocybe scaber. mull._ rough inocybe. not edible. scaber means rough. the pileus is fleshy, conical, convex, obtusely gibbous, sprinkled with fibrous adpressed scales; margin entire, grayish-brown. the gills are rounded near the stem, quite crowded, pale dingy-brown. the stem is solid, whitish or paler than the pileus, clothed with small fibers, equal, veiled. the spores are elliptical, smooth, × µ. it is found on the ground in damp woods. not good. _inocybe lacera. fr._ the torn inocybe. lacera means torn. the pileus is somewhat fleshy, convex, then expanded, obtuse, umbonate, clothed with fibrous scales. the gills are free, broad, ventricose, white, tinged with red, light-gray. spores are obliquely elliptical, smooth, × µ. the stem is slender, short, stuffed, clothed with small fibers, naked above, reddish within. found on the ground where the soil is clayish or poor. not good. _inocybe subochracea burtii. peck._ [illustration: figure .--inocybe subochracea burtii. natural size.] this is a very interesting species. it is thus described by dr. peck: "veil conspicuous, webby fibrillose, margin of the pileus more fibrillose; stem longer and more conspicuously fibrillose. the well developed veil, and the longer stem, are the distinguishing characters of this variety." the plants are found in mossy patches on the north hillsides about chillicothe. the pale ochraceous yellow and the very fibrillose caps and stem will attract the attention of the collector at once. the caps are one to two and a half inches broad and the stem is two to three inches long. _inocybe subochracea. peck._ pileus thin, conical or convex, sometimes expanded, generally umbonate, fibrillose squamulose, pale ochraceous-yellow. the gills are rather broad, attached, emarginate, whitish, becoming brownish-yellow. the stem is equal, whitish, slightly fibrillose, solid. _peck._ this is a small plant from one to two inches high whose cap is scarcely over an inch broad. it grows in open groves where the soil is sandy. it is found on cemetery hill from june to october. _inocybe geophylla, var. violacea. pat._ [illustration: figure .--inocybe geophylla, var. violacea.] this is a small plant and has all the characteristics of inocybe geophylla excepting color of cap and gills. the pileus is an inch to an inch and a half broad, hemispherical at first, then expanded, umbonate, even, silky-fibrillose, lilac, growing paler in age. the gills are adnexed, lilac at first, then colored by the spores. spores × . the stem equal, firm, hollow, slightly violaceous. this plant grows in september in mixed woods among the dead leaves. its bright violet color will arrest the attention at once. _inocybe dulcamara. a. & s._ [illustration: figure .--inocybe dulcamara.] dulcamara means bitter-sweet. the pileus is an inch to an inch and a half in diameter, rather fleshy, convex, umbonate, pilosely-scaly. the gills are arcuate, ventricose, pallid olivaceous. the stem is somewhat hollow, fibrillose and squamulose from the veil, farinaceous at the apex. spores - × µ. found from july to september, in grassy places. _inocybe cincinnata. fr._ [illustration: figure .--inocybe cincinnata. two-thirds natural size. caps scaly, dark or grayish-brown.] cincinnata means with curled hair. this is quite an interesting little plant. it is found on cemetery hill, in chillicothe, under the pine trees and along the walks where there is but little grass. it is gregarious and quite a hardy plant. the pileus is fleshy, convex, then plane, quite squarrosely scaly, somewhat dark or grayish-brown. the gills are grayish-brown with a tinge of violet at times; adnexed, rather close, ventricose. the stem is solid, slender, scaly, somewhat lighter than the pileus. the spores are - × µ. this plant seems to be a late grower. i did not find it till about the th of october and it continued till the last of november. i had found two other species on the same hill earlier in the season. no inocybes are good to eat. _inocybe pyriodora. pers._ pyriodora, smelling like a pear. the pileus is one to two inches broad, quite strongly umbonate, at first conical, expanded, covered with fibrous adpressed scales, in old plants the margin turned up, smoky or brown-ochre becoming pale. the gills are notched at the stem, not crowded, dingy-white, becoming nearly cinnamon-brown, somewhat ventricose. the stem is two to three inches long, stuffed, firm, equal, pale, apex pruinose, veil very fugacious. flesh tinged with red. common in the woods in september and october. the plant is not edible. _inocybe rimosa. bull._ the cracked inocybe. rimosa, cracked. the pileus is one to two inches broad, shining, satiny, adpressed fibrillose, brown-yellow, campanulate, then expanded, longitudinally cracked. the gills are free, somewhat ventricose, at first white, brownish-clay color. the stem is one to two inches high, distant from the pileus, solid, firm, nearly smooth, bulbous, mealy white above. spores smooth, - × µ. i. eutheles differs from this species in being umbonate; i. pyriodora in its strong smell. many plants will often be found in one place in open woods or in cleared places. their radiately cracked pilei, with the inner substance showing yellow through the cracks, will help to distinguish the species. found from june to september. _hebeloma. fr._ hebeloma is from two greek words meaning youth and fringed. partial veil fibrillose or absent. pileus is smooth, continuous, somewhat viscid, margin incurved. the gills are notched adnate, edge of different color, whitish. the spores clay-color. all found on the ground. _hebeloma glutinosum. linn._ glutinosum, abounding in glue. the pileus is one to three inches broad, light-yellow, the disk darker, fleshy, convex, then plane, covered with a viscid gluten in wet weather; flesh is white, becoming yellow. the gills are attached to the stem, notched, slightly decurrent, crowded, pallid, light yellow, then clay-color. spores elliptical, - × µ. the stem is stuffed, firm, somewhat bulbous, covered with white scales, and mealy at the top. there is a partial veil in the form of a cortina. found among leaves in the woods. in wet weather the gluten is abundant. while it is not poisonous it is not good. _hebeloma fastibile. fr._ ochrey hebeloma. poisonous. fastibilis means nauseous, disagreeable; so called from its pungent taste and smell. the pileus is one to three inches across, convex, plane, wavy, viscid, smooth, pale yellowish-tan, margin involute and downy. the gills are notched, rather distant, pallid, then cinnamon; lachrymose. the stem is two to four inches long, solid, subbulbous, white, fibrous scaly, sometimes twisted, often becoming hollow, veil evident. the spores are pip-shaped, × µ. the odor is much the same as in h. crustuliniforme but it differs in having a manifest veil and more distant gills. found in woods from july to october. _hebeloma crustuliniforme. bull._ the ring hebeloma. not edible. crustuliniforme means the form of a cake or bun. the pileus is convex, then expanded, smooth, somewhat viscid, often wavy, yellowish-red, quite variable in size. the gills are notched, thin, narrow, whitish then brown, crowded, edge crenulate, and with beads of moisture. the stem is solid, or stuffed, firm, subbulbous, whitish, with minute white recurved flecks. it is found in woods or about old sawdust piles. the plants sometimes grow in rings. september to november. _hebeloma pascuense. pk._ [illustration: figure .--hebeloma pascuense. natural size. caps chestnut-color.] pascuense, pertaining to pastures; referring to its habitat. the pileus is convex, becoming nearly plane, viscid when moist, obscurely innately fibrillose; brownish-clay, often darker or rufescent in the center, the margin in the young plant slightly whitened by the thin webby veil; the margin of the cap more or less irregular, flesh white, the taste mild, odor weak. the gills are close, rounded behind, adnexed, whitish, becoming pale ochraceous. the stem is short, firm, equal, solid, fibrillose, slightly mealy at the top, whitish or pallid. the spores are pale ochraceous, subelliptical. i found the plants in figure on cemetery hill late in november. it is a very low plant, growing under the pine trees and keeping close to the walks. the whitened margin of the young plant is a very good ear-mark by which to know this species. _pluteolus. fr._ pluteolus means a small shed. it is the diminutive of _pluteus_, a shed or penthouse, from its conical cap. the pileus is rather fleshy, viscid, conical or campanulate, then expanded; margin at first straight, adpressed to the stem. stem somewhat cartilaginous, distinct from the hymenophore. gills free, rounded behind. _pluteolus reticulatus. pers._ reticulatus means made like a net; from _rete_, a net, so called from the net-like appearance of veins on the cap. the pileus is slightly fleshy, campanulate, then expanded, rugoso-reticulate, viscid, margin striate, pale violaceous. the gills are free, ventricose, crowded, saffron-yellow, to ferruginous. the stem is one to two inches long, hollow, fragile, fibrillose, inclined to be mealy at the top, white. i have found only a few plants of this species in our state. it seems to be rare. the anastomosing veins on the cap and its pale violaceous color will mark the species. i have always found it on decayed wood. captain mcilvaine speaks of finding it in quantities on the stems of fallen weeds and says it was tender and of fine flavor. september. _galera. fr._ galera means a small cap. the pileus is more or less bell-shaped, margin straight, at first depressed to the stem, hygrophanous, almost even, atomate when dry, more or less membranaceous. the gills are attached to the stem or with a decurrent tooth, as in mycena. the stem is cartilaginous, hollow, confluent with, but different in texture from the cap. the veil is often wanting, but when present is fibrous and fugacious. the spores are ochraceous ferruginous. _galera hypnorum. batsch._ the moss-loving galera. hypnorum means of mosses; from _hypna_, moss. the pileus is membranaceous, conic, campanulate, smooth, striate, watery when moist, pale when dry, cinnamon. the gills are attached to the stem, broad, rather distant, cinnamon-colored, whitish on the edge. the stem is slender, wavy, same color as the pileus, pruinose at the apex. this plant is very like g. tenera, only much smaller, and of a very different habitat. found in mosses from june to october. _galera tenera. schaeff._ the slender galera. edible. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--galera tenera.] tenera is the feminine form of _tener_, slender, delicate. the pileus is somewhat membranaceous, at first cone-shaped, partially expanded, bell-shaped, hygrophanous, ochraceous when dry. the gills are attached to the stem, crowded, rather broad, ascending, cinnamon-brown, the edges whitish, sometimes slightly serrate. the stem is straight, hollow, fragile, rather shining; three to four inches long, equal or sometimes inclined to thicken downward, of nearly the same color as the pileus. the spores are elliptical and a dark rust-color, - × µ. you will frequently meet a variety whose cap and stem are quite pubescent but whose other characteristics agree with g. tenera. prof. peck calls it g. tenera var. pilosella. found in richly manured lawns and pastures. it is quite common. the caps, only, are good. _galera lateritia. fr._ the brick-red galera. edible. lateritia means made of brick, from _later_, a brick; so called because the caps are brick-colored. the pileus is somewhat membranaceous, cone-shaped, then bell-shaped, obtuse, even, hygrophanous, rather pale yellow when wet, ochraceous when dry. the gills are almost free, adnexed to the top of the cone, linear, very narrow, tawny or ferruginous. the stem is three to four inches long, hollow, slightly tapering upward, straight, fragile, white pruinose, whitish. spores are elliptical, - × - µ. this plant resembles g. ovalis, from which it can be distinguished by its linear ascending gills and the absence of a veil. found on dung and in richly manured pastures, from july to frost. _galera kellermani. pk. sp. nov._ [illustration: figure .--galera kellermani. showing young plants.] [illustration: figure .--galera kellermani. showing older plants.] kellermani is named in honor of dr. w. a. kellerman, ohio state university. the pileus is very thin, subovate or subconic, soon becoming plane or nearly so; striatulate nearly to the center when moist, more or less wavy and persistently striate on the margin when dry, minutely granulose or mealy when young, unpolished when mature, often with a few scattered floccose squamules when young, and sometimes with a few slight fragments of a veil adhering to the margin which appears as if finely notched by the projecting ends of the gills; watery-brown when moist, grayish-brown when dry, a little darker in the center; taste slight, odor faint, like that of decaying wood. the gills are thin, close, adnate, a delicate cinnamon-brown becoming darker with age. the stem is two and a half to four cm. long, slender, equal, or slightly tapering upward; finely striate, minutely scurvy or mealy, at least when young; hollow, white. the spores are brownish ferruginous with a faint pinkish tint in mass, elliptic, - × - µ. _peck._ dr. peck says the distinguishing features of this species are its broadly expanded or plane grayish-brown pileus, with its granulose or mealy surface, its persistently striate margin, and its very narrow gills becoming brownish with age. i have seen the plant growing in the culture beds in the greenhouse of the ohio state university. it is a beautiful plant. plants of all ages are shown in figures and . _galera crispa. longyear._ [illustration: figure .--galera crispa. natural size. cap ochraceous-brown.] crispa means crisped; the specific name is based on the peculiar character of the gills which are always crisped as soon as the pileus is expanded. the pileus is . to . cm. broad, membranaceous, persistently conico-campanulate, subacute, uneven and somewhat rivulose, ochraceous-brown on disk, lighter toward the margin which becomes crenulate and upturned in older specimens; slightly pruinose at first, rugulose and a little paler when dry. the gills are adnexed, not crowded, rather narrow, interspersed with anastomosing veins; much crisped; at first nearly white, then becoming ferruginous from the spores. the stem is to cm. long, tapering from a somewhat bulbous base, yellowish-white, pruinose at base, hollow, fragile. the spores are - µ broad, - µ long. _longyear._ they are found in grass on lawns and in pastures, june and july. dr. peck, to whom specimens were referred, suggested that they may be a variety of g. lateritia, unless the peculiar character of the gills proved to be constant. prof. longyear has found the plant frequently in michigan and it was found by him in the city park, denver, col., in july, . its distinguishing characteristic is sufficiently constant to make the recognition of the species a matter of ease. the plants in figure were photographed by prof. b. o. longyear. _galera ovalis. fr._ the oval galera. the pileus is somewhat membranaceous, oval or bell-shaped, even, watery, dusky-rust color, somewhat larger than g. tenera. the gills are almost free, ventricose, very broad, rust-colored. the stem is straight, equal, slightly striate, nearly of the same color as the cap, about three inches long. found in pastures where stock has been. i have found it in the dunn pasture, on the columbus pike, ross county, o. _crepidotus. fr._ _crepidotus_ is from a greek word meaning a slipper. the spores are dark or yellowish-brown. there is no veil. the pileus is excentric, dimidiate or resupinate. the flesh is soft. the stem is lateral or wanting, when present it is continuous with the cap. they generally grow on wood. _crepidotus versutus. pk._ [illustration: figure .--crepidotus versutus. natural size. caps pure white.] this is a very modest little plant growing on the underside of rotten logs or bark, thus, no doubt, escaping the attention of many. sometimes it may be found growing from the side of a log, in which case it grows in a shelving form. when growing under the log the upper side of the cap is against the wood and it is said to be resupinate. the pileus is kidney-form, quite small, thin, pure white, covered with a soft whitish down. the gills are radiate from the point of attachment of the cap, not crowded, whitish, then ferruginous from the spores. _crepidotus mollis. schaeff._ soft crepidotus. the pileus is between subgelatinous and fleshy; one to two inches broad; sometimes solitary, sometimes imbricated; flaccid, even, smooth, reniform, subsessile, pallid, then grayish. the gills are decurrent from base, crowded, linear, whitish then watery cinnamon. the spores are elliptical, ferruginous, - × - µ. this species is widely distributed and quite common on decayed logs and stumps, from july to october. _naucoria. fr._ naucoria, a nut shell. the pileus is some shade of yellow, convex, inflexed, smooth, flocculent or scaly. the gills are attached to the stem, sometimes nearly free, never decurrent. the stem is cartilaginous, confluent with the cap but of a different texture, hollow or stuffed. the veil is absent or sometimes small traces may be seen attached to the rim of the pileus, in young plants in the form of flakes. the spores are of various shades of brown, dull or bright. they grow on the ground on lawns and rich pastures. some on wood. _naucoria hamadryas. fr._ the nymph naucoria. edible. hamadryas, one of the nymphs whose life depended upon the tree to which she was attached. the pileus is one to two inches broad, rather fleshy, convex, expanded, gibbous, even, bay-ferruginous when young and moist, pale yellowish when old. the gills are attenuated, adnexed, almost free, rusty, slightly ventricose, somewhat crowded. the stem is hollow, equal, fragile, smooth, pallid, two to three inches long. the spores are elliptical, rust-color, - × µ. this is quite a common species, often growing alone along pavements, under shade trees, and in the woods. the caps only are good. found from june to november. _naucoria pediades. fr._ the tan-colored naucoria. edible. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--naucoria pediades. natural size.] pediades is from a greek word meaning a plain or a field, referring to its being found on lawns and pastures. the pileus is somewhat fleshy, convex, then plane, obtuse or depressed, dry, finally opaque, frequently inclined to be minutely rivulose. the gills are attached to the stem but not adnate to it, broad, subdistant, only a few entire brownish, then a dingy cinnamon. the stem is pithy or stuffed, rather wavy and silky, yellowish, base slightly bulbous. the spores are of a brownish-rust color, - × - µ. if the small bulb at the base of the stem is examined, it will be found to be formed chiefly of mycelium rolled together around the base. it is found on lawns and richly manured pastures from may to november. use only the caps. this plant is usually known as semiorbicularis. _naucoria paludosella. atkinson n. sp._ [illustration: plate xxxiii. figure .--naucoria paludosella. showing mode of growth, clay-brown scales on the caps.] paludosella is a diminutive of _palus_, gen. paludis, a swamp or marsh. plants six to eight cm. high; pileus two and a half to three cm. broad; stem three to four mm. thick. pileus viscid when moist, convex to expanded, in age somewhat depressed; clay color, darker over center, often with appressed clay brown scales with a darker color. gills raw umber to mars brown (r), emarginate, adnate sometimes with a decurrent tooth, easily becoming free. cystidia on sides of gills none, edge of gills with large, hyaline, thin-walled cells, subventricose, sometimes nearly cylindrical, abruptly narrowed at each end with a slight sinus around the middle. spores subovate to subelliptical, subinequilateral, smooth, - × - µ, fuscous ferruginous, dull ochraceous under microscope. stem same color as pileus but paler, cartilaginous; floccose from loose threads or, in some cases, abundant threads over the surface; becoming hollow, base bulbous, the extreme base covered with whitish mycelium. veil rather thick, floccose, disappearing, leaving remnant on stem and margin of pileus when fresh. _atkinson._ dr. kellerman and i found this plant growing on living sphagnum, other mosses and on rotten wood on cranberry island, in buckeye lake, ohio. figure will illustrate its mode of growth, and the older plant with upturned cap will show the conspicuous clay-brown scales of the pileus. the plants are found in september and october. _flammula. fr._ flammula means a small flame; so called because many of the species have bright colors. the spores are ferruginous, sometimes light yellow. the cap is fleshy and at first usually inrolled, bright colored; veil filamentous, often wanting. the gills are decurrent or attached with a tooth. the stem is fleshy, fibrous, and of the same character as the cap. the species of the flammula are mostly found on wood. a few are found on the ground. _flammula flavida. schaeff._ the yellow flammula. flavida means yellow. the pileus is fleshy, convex, expanded, plane, equal smooth, moist, margin at first inrolled. the gills are firmly attached to the stem, yellow, turning slightly ferruginous. the stem is stuffed, somewhat hollow, fibrillose, yellow, ferruginous at the base. these plants are of a showy yellow, and are frequently found in our woods on decayed logs. they are found in july and august. _flammula carbonaria. fr._ the viscid flammula. [illustration: figure .--flammula carbonaria.] carbonaria is so called because it is found on charcoal or burned earth. the pileus is quite fleshy, tawny-yellow, at first convex, then becoming plane, even, thin, viscid, margin of the cap at first inrolled, flesh yellow. the gills are firmly attached to the stem, clay-colored or brown, moderately close. the stem is stuffed or nearly hollow, slender, rigid, squamulose, pallid, quite short. the spores are ferruginous-brown, elliptical, × . µ. i have found this species quite frequently where an old stump had been burned out. it is gregarious. i have only found it from september to november but the specimens in figure were sent to me in may, from boston. they were found in great abundance in purgatory swamp, where the grass and vegetation had been burned away. _flammula fusus. batsch._ fusus means a spindle; so called from the spindle-shaped stem. the pileus is compact, convex, then expanded, even, rather viscid, reddish-tan, flesh yellowish. the gills are somewhat decurrent, pallid yellow, becoming ferruginous. the stem is stuffed, firm, colored like the pileus, fibrillose, striate, attenuated and somewhat fusiform, rooting. the spores are broadly elliptical, × µ. found on well-decayed logs or on ground made up largely of decayed wood. found from july to october. _flammula fillius. fr._ the pileus is two to three inches broad, even, smooth, with rather viscid cuticle, pale orange-red with the disc reddish. the gills are attached to the stem, arcuate, rather crowded, white, then pallid or tawny-yellow. the stem is three to five inches long, hollow, smooth, pallid, reddish within. the spores are elliptical, × µ. found on the ground in the woods from july to october. _flammula squalida. pk._ [illustration: figure .--flammula squalida.] the pileus is one to one and a half inches broad, fleshy, convex, or plane, firm, viscose, glabrous, dingy-yellowish or rufescent, flesh whitish but in color similar to the pileus under the separate cuticle. the gills are rather broad, adnate, pallid, becoming dark ferruginous. the stem is one and a half to three inches long, one to two lines thick, slender, generally flexuose, hollow fibrillose, pallid or brownish, pale-yellow at the top when young; spores are brownish-ferruginous, . inch long, . broad. _peck._ it is found in bushy and swampy places. dr. peck says it is closely related to f. spumosa. its dingy appearance, slender habit, more uniform and darker color of the pileus, and darker color of the lamellæ. it grows in groups. the plant in figure was found in purgatory swamp, by mrs. blackford. found in august and september. _paxillus. fr._ paxillus means a small stake or peg. the spores as well as the entire plant are ferruginous. the pileus, with an involute margin, gradually unfolds. it may be symmetrical or eccentric. the stem is continuous with the hymenophore. the gills are tough, soft, persistent, decurrent, branching, membranaceous, usually easily separating from the hymenophore. the distinctive features of this genus are the involute margin and the soft, tough, and decurrent gills which are easily separable from the hymenophore. some grow on the ground, others grow on stumps and sawdust. _paxillus involutus. fr._ [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--paxillus involutus.] involutus means rolled inward. the pileus is two to four inches broad, fleshy, compact, convex, plane, then depressed; viscid when moist, the cap being covered with a fine downy substance, so that when the margin of the cap unrolls the marks of the gills are quite prominent; yellowish or tawny-ochraceous, spotting when bruised. the gills are decurrent, branched; anastomosing behind, near the stem; easily separating from the hymenophore. the stem is paler than the pileus, fleshy, solid, firm, thickened upward, brown spotted. the flesh is yellowish, changing to reddish or brownish when bruised. the spores are rust-colored and elliptical, - µ. it is found on the ground and decayed stumps. when found on the side of a decayed stump or a moss-covered log the stem is usually eccentric, but in other cases it is generally central. it will be found around swampy places in an open woods. i found quite large specimens around a swamp in mr. shriver's woods near chillicothe, but they were too far gone to photograph. it is edible but coarse. it appears from august to november. some authors call it the brown chantarelle. _paxillus atrotomentosus. fr._ [illustration: figure .--paxillus atrotomentosus.] atrotomentosus is from _ater_, black, and _tomentum_, woolly or downy. the pileus is three to six inches broad, rust-color or reddish-brown, compactly fleshy, eccentric, convex then plane or depressed, margin thin, frequently minutely rivulose, sometimes tomentose in the center, flesh white, tinged with brown under the cuticle. the gills are attached to the stem, slightly decurrent, crowded, branched at the base, yellowish-tawny, interspaces venose. the stem is two to three inches long, stout, solid, elastic, eccentric or lateral, rooting, covered except at the apex with a dark-brown velvety down. the spores are elliptical, - × - µ. i found the specimen in figure at the foot of an old pine tree on hillside at sugar grove, ohio. i found the plant frequently at salem, ohio. it grows where the pine tree is a native. it is not poisonous. i do not regard it as very good. found during august and september. _paxillus rhodoxanthus. schw._ the yellow paxillus. edible. [illustration: figure .--paxillus rhodoxanthus. two-thirds natural size. cap reddish-yellow or chestnut-brown. gills yellow.] rhodoxanthus means a yellow rose. the pileus is one to two inches broad, convex, then expanded, cushion-shaped, the epidermis of the cap often cracked showing the yellow flesh, resembling very much boletus subtomentosus; reddish-yellow or chestnut-brown. the flesh is yellow and the cap dry. the gills are decurrent, somewhat distant, stout, chrome yellow, occasionally forked at the base; anastomosing veins quite prominent, the cystidia being very noticeable. the stem is firm, stout, of the same color as the cap, perhaps paler and more yellow at the base. the spores are oblong, yellow, - × - µ. this is one of the most troublesome plants whose genus we have to settle. one of my mycological friends advised me to omit it from the genus altogether. it has been placed in various genera, but i have followed prof. atkinson and classed it under paxillus. the plant is widely distributed. i find it frequently about chillicothe. it is edible. found in august, september and october. a full discussion of the plant will be found in prof. atkinson's book. _cortinarius. fr._ cortinarius is from _cortina_, a curtain, alluding to a cobwebby veil seen only in the comparatively young plants. sometimes, parts of it will seem more substantial, remaining for a time on the margin of the cap or on the stem. the color of the pileus varies and its flesh and that of the stem are continuous. the hymenophore and the gills are continuous. the gills are attached to the stem, frequently notched, membranaceous, persistent, changing color, dry, powdery, with rusty-yellow spores which drop slowly. the veil and gills are the chief marks of distinction. the former is gossamer-like and separate from the cuticle, and the latter are always powdered. it is always essential to note the color of the gills in the young plant, since color is variable and sometimes shows only the slightest trace on the stem, colored from the falling spores. most authorities divide the genus into six tribes, from the appearance of the pileus. they are as follows: i. phlegmacium, meaning a shiny or clammy moisture. the pileus has a continuous pellicle, viscid when moist, stem dry, veil spider-webby. ii. myxacium, meaning mucus, slime; so called from the glutinous veil. the pileus is fleshy, glutinous, rather thin; the gills are attached to the stem, slightly decurrent; the stem is viscid, polished when dry, slightly bulbous. iii. inoloma, meaning a fibrous fringe; from _is_, genitive _inos_, a fibre; and _loma_, a fringe. the pileus is fleshy, dry, not hygrophanous or viscid, silky with innate scales; the gills may be violaceous, pinkish-brown, yellow at first, then in all cases cinnamon-color from the spores; the stem is fleshy and somewhat bulbous; veil simple. iv. dermocybe, meaning a skinhead; from _derma_, skin, and _cybe_, a head. the pileus thin and fleshy, entirely dry, at first clothed with silky down, becoming smooth in mature plants. the gills are changeable in color. the stem is equal or tapering downward, stuffed, sometimes hollow, smooth. v. telamonia, meaning a bandage or lint. the pileus is moist, watery, smooth or sprinkled with whitish superficial fibres, the remnants of the web-like veil. the flesh is thin, somewhat thicker at the center. the stem is ringed and frequently scaly from the universal veil, slightly veiled at the apex, hence almost with a double veil. the plants are usually quite large. vi. hydrocybe, meaning water-head or moist head. the pileus is moist, not viscid, smooth or sprinkled with a whitish superficial fibril, flesh changing color when dry, and rather thin. the stem is somewhat rigid and bare. veil thin, fibrillose, rarely forming a ring. gills also thin. tribe i. phlegmacium. _cortinarius purpurascens. fr._ the purplish cortinarius. edible. purpurascens means becoming purple or purplish; so named because the blue gills become purple when bruised. the pileus is four to five inches broad, bay-brown, viscid, compact, wavy, spotted when old; often depressed at the margin, sometimes bending back; the flesh blue. the gills are broadly notched, crowded, bluish-tan, then cinnamon-color, becoming purplish when bruised. the stem is solid, bulbous, clothed with small fibres, blue, very compact, juicy; becoming purplish when rubbed. the spores are elliptical, - × - µ. this is one of the delicious mushrooms to eat, the stem cooking tender as readily as the caps. i found it in tolerton's woods, salem, ohio, and in poke hollow near chillicothe. september to november. _cortinarius turmalis. fr._ the yellow-tan cortinarius. edible. turmalis means of or belonging to a troop or a squadron, turma; so called because occurring in groups, and not solitary. the pileus is two to four inches broad, viscid when wet, ochraceous-yellow, smooth, discoid, flesh soft; veil extending from the margin of the cap to the stem in delicate arachnoid threads, best seen in young plants. the gills are emarginate, decurrent, depending upon the age of the plant; crowded, somewhat serrated, whitish at first, then brownish-ochraceous-yellow. the remnants of the veil will usually show above the middle of the stem as a zone of minute striæ, darker than the stem. i found specimens on cemetery hill under pine trees. september to november. _cortinarius olivaceo-stramineus. kauff. n. sp._ olivaceo-stramineus means an olive straw-color. pileus - cm. broad, viscid from a glutinous cuticle, broadly convex, slightly depressed in the center when expanded; margin incurved for some time; pale-yellow with an olivaceous tinge, slightly rufous-tinged when old; smooth or silky-fibrillose, disk sometimes covered with minute squamules, shreds of the partial veil attached to the margin when expanded. flesh very thick, becoming abruptly thin toward the margin, white, dingy-yellowish in age, soon soft and spongy. gills rather narrow, mm. broad, sinuate-adnexed, whitish at first, then pale cinnamon, crowded, edge serratulate and paler. stem - cm. long, with a slight bulb when young, from whose margin arises the dense partial veil; white and very pruinate above the veil, which remains as dingy fibrils stained by the spores; spongy and soft within, becoming somewhat hollow. veil white with an olive tinge. spores, - × . - . µ, granular within, almost smooth. odor agreeable. kauffman says this resembles c. herpeticus, except that the gills when young are never violet-tinged. i found this plant in poke hollow, near chillicothe. it was unknown to me and i sent it to dr. kauffman of michigan university to determine. i found it under beech trees, during october and november. _cortinarius varius. fr._ the variable cortinarius. edible. _varius--variable_, so called because it varies in stature, its color and habit are unchangeable. the pileus is about two inches broad; compact, hemispherical, then expanded; regular, slightly viscid, thin margin at first incurved, sometimes with fragments of the web-like veil adhering. the gills are notched, thin, crowded, quite entire, purplish, at length clay-colored or cinnamon. the stem is solid, short, covered with threads, whitish, bulbous, from one and a half to two and a half inches long. the plant is quite variable in size but constant in color. it is found in woods. i found specimens at salem, ohio, and at bowling green, ohio. september to november. _cortinarius cærulescens. fr._ the azure-blue cortinarius. edible. cærulescens, azure-blue. pileus fleshy, convex, expanded, even, viscid, azure-blue, flesh soft, not changing color when bruised. the gills are attached to the stem, slightly rounded behind, crowded, quite entire, at first of a pure dark blue, then rusty from the spores. the stem is solid, attenuated upward, firm, bright violet, becoming pale, whitish, bulb growing less with age, fibrillose from vein. spores elliptical. neither the flesh nor the gills change color when bruised. this fact distinguishes it from c. purpurascens. when young the entire plant is more or less blue, or bluish-purple, and the color never entirely leaves the plant. in age it becomes somewhat spotted with yellow. the flesh is a little tough and needs to be stewed for some time. found in whinnery's woods, salem, ohio. september to october. tribe ii. myxacium. _cortinarius collinitus. fr._ the smeared cortinarius. edible. [illustration: figure .--cortinarius collinitus. one-half natural size. caps purplish-brown, also showing veil.] collinitus means smeared. the pileus is at first hemispherical, convex, then expanded, obtuse; smooth, even, glutinous, shining when dry; purplish when young, later brownish; at first incurved. the gills are attached to the stem, rather broad, dingy-white or grayish-tan when young, then cinnamon. the stem is solid, cylindrical, viscid or glutinous when moist, transversely cracking when dry, whitish or paler than the cap. the spores are elliptical, × µ. i found this species in tolerton's woods, salem, ohio, st. john's woods, bowling green, ohio, also on ralston's run near chillicothe, where the specimens in figure were found. both cap and stem are covered with a thick gluten. they grow, with us, in woods among leaves. the young plant has a development peculiar to itself. the cap varies greatly in color. the flesh is white or whitish. the peculiar bluish-white gills of the young plant will attract attention at once. it is found from september to november. tribe iii. inoloma. _cortinarius autumnalis. pk._ the fall cortinarius. edible. [illustration: figure .--cortinarius autumnalis. two-thirds natural size. cap a dull rusty-yellow, also showing bulbous stem.] autumnalis pertaining to fall. the pileus is fleshy, convex or expanded, dull rusty-yellow, variegated, or streaked with innate rust-colored fibrils. the gills are rather broad, with a wide, shallow emargination. the stem is equal, solid, firm, bulbous, a little paler than the pileus. the height is three to four inches, breadth of pileus two to four inches. _peck._ the plant was named by dr. peck because it was found late in the fall. i found the plant on several occasions in september, . it grew very sparingly in a mixed woods on a north hillside. _cortinarius alboviolaceus. pers._ the light violet cortinarius. edible. [illustration: figure .--cortinarius alboviolaceus. the caps are violet.] alboviolaceus means whitish-violet. the pileus is two to three inches broad, fleshy, rather thin, convex, then expanded, sometimes broadly subumbonate; smooth, silky, whitish, tinged with lilac or pale violet. the gills are generally serrulate, whitish-violet, then cinnamon-color. the stem is three to four inches long, equal or tapering upward, solid, silky, white, stained with violet, especially at the top, slightly bulbous, the bulb gradually tapering into the stem. spores, × - µ. _peck's_ report. sometimes the stem has a median ring-like zone, being violet above the zone and white below. the spider-like veil shows very plainly in the specimen on the left in figure . in the plant on the right is shown the tapering stem from the base to the apex. these plants were found in poke hollow, september st. they are quite abundant there and elsewhere about chillicothe. they are very good but not equal in flavor to c. violaceus. they are found in mixed woods. september to frost. _cortinarius lilacinus. pk._ the lilac-colored cortinarius. edible. the pileus is two to three inches broad, firm, hemispherical, then convex, minutely silky, lilac-color. the gills are close, lilac, then cinnamon. the stem is four to five inches long, stout, bulbous, silky-fibrillose, solid, whitish, tinged with lilac. spores nucleate, × µ. _peck._ i have found this plant in but one place near chillicothe. in poke hollow on a north hillside i have found a number of rare specimens. all were identified by dr. kauffman of michigan university. all were found under beech trees within a very small radius. september and october. _cortinarius bolaris. fr._ the collared cortinarius. the pileus is fleshy, obsoletely umbonate, growing pale, variegated with saffron-red, adpressed, innate, pilose scales. the gills are subdecurrent, crowded, watery cinnamon. the stem is two to three inches long, at first stuffed, then hollow, nearly equal, squamose. found under beech trees. only occasionally found here. _cortinarius violaceus. fr._ the violet cortinarius. edible. [illustration: figure .--cortinarius violaceus. two-thirds natural size. caps dark violet. stems bulbous. gills violet.] violaceus, violet color. the pileus is convex, becoming nearly plane, dry, adorned with numerous persistent hairy tufts or scales; dark violet. the gills are rather thick, distant, rounded, or deeply notched at the inner extremity; colored like the pileus in the young plant, brownish-cinnamon in the mature plant. the stem is solid, clothed with small fibres; bulbous, colored like the pileus. the spores are slightly elliptical. the violet cortinarius is a very beautiful mushroom and one easy of recognition. at first the whole plant is uniformly colored, but with age the gills assume a dingy ochraceous or brownish-cinnamon hue. the cap is generally well formed and regular, and is beautifully adorned with little hairy scales or tufts. these are rarely shown in figures of the european plant, but they are quite noticeable in the american plant, and should not be overlooked. the flesh is more or less tinged with violet. _peck._ th rep. n. y. state bot. no one can fail to recognize this plant. the web-like veil in the young plant, the bulbous stem, and the violet tinge throughout will readily distinguish it. it grows in rich hilly country. it grows solitary, and in open woods. tribe iv. dermocybe. _cortinarius cinnamoneus. fr._ the cinnamon cortinarius. edible. [illustration: figure .--cortinarius cinnamoneus. two-thirds natural size. caps cinnamon-brown. stems yellow.] the pileus is thin, convex, nearly expanded, sometimes nearly plane, sometimes slightly umbonate, sometimes the pileus is abruptly bent downward; dry, fibrillose at least when young, often with concentric rows of scales on the margin, cinnamon-brown, flesh yellowish. the gills are thin, close, firmly attached to the stem, slightly notched, decurrent with a tooth, becoming easily separated from the stem, shining, yellowish, then tawny-yellow. the stem is slender, equal, stuffed or hollow, thin, clothed with small fibres, yellow, as is also the flesh. the spores are elliptical. this plant is so called because of its color, the entire plant being of a cinnamon-color. sometimes there are cinnabar stains on the pileus. it seems to grow best under pine trees, but i have found it in mixed woods. my attention was called to it by the little bohemian boys picking it when they had been in this country but a few days and could not speak a word of english. it is evidently like the european species. there is also a cortinarius that has blood-red gills. it is var. semi-sanguineus, fr. july to october. the plants in figure were found on cemetery hill, chillicothe, o. _cortinarius ochroleucus. fr._ the pallid cortinaria. [illustration: figure .--cortinarius ochroleucus. two-thirds natural size, showing veil and bulbous form of stem.] ochroleucus, meaning yellowish and white, because of the color of the cap. the pileus is an inch to two and a half inches broad, fleshy; convex, sometimes somewhat depressed in the center, often remaining convex; dry; on the center finely tomentose to minutely scaly, sometimes the scales are arranged in concentric rows around the cap; quite fleshy at the center, thinning out toward the margin; the color is a creamy to a deep-buff, considerably darker at the center. the gills are attached to the stem, clearly notched, somewhat ventricose; in mature plants, somewhat crowded, not entire, many short ones, pale first, then clay-colored ochre. the stem is three inches long, solid, firm, often bulbous, tapering upward, often becoming hollow, a creamy-buff. the veil, quite beautiful and strongly persistent, forms a cortina of the same color as the cap but becoming discolored by the falling of the spores. in figure the cortina and the bulbous form of the stem will be seen. found along ralston's run. in beech woods from september to november. [illustration: figure .--cortinarius ochroleucus. two-thirds natural size, showing the developed plant.] tribe v. telamonia. _cortinarius morrisii. pk._ [illustration: figure .--cortinarius morrisii.] morrisii is named in honor of george e. morris, ellis, mass. pileus fleshy, except the thin and at length reflexed margin; convex, irregular, hygrophanous, ochraceous or tawny-ochraceous; flesh thin, colored like the pileus; odor weak, like that of radishes. the gills are broad, subdistant, eroded or uneven on the edge; rounded behind, adnexed, pale-yellow when young, becoming darker with age. the stem is nearly equal, fibrillose, solid, whitish or pale-yellow and silky at the top, colored like the pileus below and fibrillose; irregularly striate and subreticulate, the double veil whitish or yellowish-white and sometimes forming an imperfect annulus. the spores are tawny-ochraceous, subglobose or broadly elliptic, nucleate, - µ long, - µ broad. _peck._ pileus - cm. broad; stem - cm. long, - cm. thick. they require moist and shady places and the presence of hemlock trees. they are found from august to october. the plants in figure were found near boston by mrs. e. b. blackford. _cortinarius armillatus. fr._ the red-zoned cortinarius. edible. [illustration: figure .--cortinarius armillatus. two-thirds natural size, showing the rings on the stem.] armillatus means ringed; so called because the stem is banded with one or more rings, or red bands. the pileus is two to four inches broad, fleshy, not compact, bell-shaped, then expanded, soon innately fibrillose and torn into scales, smooth when young, reddish-brick-color, margin thin, flesh dingy-pallid. the gills are very broad, distant, adnate, slightly rounded, pallid, then dark-cinnamon. the stem is fairly long, solid, bulbous, whitish, with two or three red zones, somewhat fibrillose. the spores × µ. this is a very large and beautiful cortinarius and it has such a number of striking ear marks that it can be easily recognized. the thin and generally uneven margin of the pileus and the one to four red bands around the stem, the upper one being the brightest, will distinguish this species from all others. it is found in the woods in september and october. in quite young specimens the collector will notice two well defined arachnoid veils, the lower one being much more dense. prof. fries speaks of them as follows: "exterior veil woven, red, arranged in - distant cinnabar zones encircling the stem; partial veil continuous with the upper zone, arachnoid, reddish-white." the specimens in figure were collected in michigan and photographed by dr. fischer of detroit. a number of this species form a prize for the table. _cortinarius atkinsonianus. kauff._ [illustration: figure .--cortinarius atkinsonianus. caps waxy-yellow, bulbous stem, spider-like veil.] atkinsonianus is named in honor of prof. geo. f. atkinson. the pileus is cm. broad, expanded, _wax-yellow_ or _gallstone-yellow_ to _clay-colored and tawny_ (ridg.), colors very striking and sometimes several present at once; viscid, smooth, even, somewhat shining when dry. flesh thick, except at margin, bluish-white like the stem, or paler, scarcely or not at all changing when bruised. the gills are comparatively narrow, - mm., width uniform except near outer end, adnate, becoming slightly sinuate, _purplish_ to yellow, then cinnamon. the stem is _violaceus-blue_, cm. long, - mm. thick, equal or slightly tapering upward, bulbous by a rather thick, marginate bulb cm. thick, hung with fibrillose threads of the universal veil, which is a beautiful pale-yellow and clothes the bulb even at maturity; violaceous-blue within, solid. spores - µ× - . µ, _very tubercular_. _kauff._ the specimens in figure were found in poke hollow near chillicothe. i have found them on several occasions. they are edible and of very good flavor. found from september to frost. the specimens illustrate the spider-like veil that gives rise to the genus. _cortinarius umidicola. kauff._ [illustration: figure .--cortinarius umidicola. one-half natural size. caps pinkish-buff.] umidicola means dwelling in moist places. pileus as much as cm. broad (generally - cm. when expanded), hemispherical, then convex and expanded, with the margin for a long time markedly incurved; young cap heliotrope-purplish with umber on disk, or somewhat fawn-colored, fading very quickly to pinkish-buff, in which condition it is usually found; margin when young with narrow strips of silky fibrils from the universal veil; pileus when old covered with innate, whitish, silky fibrils, hygrophanous; surface punctuate, even when young. flesh of stem and pileus lavender when young but soon fading to a sordid white, thick on disk, abruptly thin towards margin, soon cavernous from grubs. the gills are very broad, as much as cm.; at first lavender, soon very pale-tan to cinnamon; rather distant, thick, emarginate with a tooth; at first plane, then ventricose; edge slightly serratulate, concolorous. stem as much as cm. long (usually to cm.), - cm. thick, usually thickened below and tapering slightly upwards, mostly thicker also at apex, rarely attenuate at the base, sometimes curved, always stout, solid, lavender above the woven, sordid white, universal veil, which at first covers the lower part as a sheath, but soon breaks up so as to leave a band-like annulus half way or lower down on the stem. the annulus is soon rubbed off, leaving a bare stem. cortina violaceous-white. spores - × - , almost smooth. _kauffman._ the specimens in figure were gathered at detroit, michigan, and photographed by dr. fischer. they grow in groups in damp places, preferring hemlock trees. _cortinarius croceocolor. kauff. sp. nov._ saffron-colored cortinarius. (telamonia.) croceocolor means saffron-colored. pileus - cm. broad, convex then expanded, saffron-yellow, with dense, dark-brown, erect squamules on disk; whole surface has a velvety appearance and feel, scarcely hygrophanous, even; flesh of pileus yellowish-white, rather thin except on disk, slightly hygrophanous, scissile. gills cadmium-yellow (ridg.), moderately distant, rather thick, emarginate, rather broad, - mm., width uniform except in front where they taper quickly to a point. stem - cm. long, tapering upwards from a thickened base, _i.e._, clavate-bulbous, - mm. thick below, peronate three-fourths of its length by the crome-yellow to saffron veil, paler above the veil, solid, saffron-colored within, hygrophanous, soon dingy; attached to strands of yellowish mycelium. spores subspheroid to short elliptical, . - × . - . µ, echinulate when mature. found under beech trees in poke hollow near chillicothe. found in october. _cortinarius evernius. fr._ [illustration: figure .--cortinarius evernius.] evernius comes from a greek word meaning sprouting well, flourishing. the pileus is one to three inches broad, rather thin, between membranaceous and fleshy, at first conical, becoming bell-shaped, and finally expanded, very slightly umbonate, everywhere covered with silky, adpressed veil, usually purplish-bay when smooth, brick-red when dry, then pale ochraceous when old, at length cracked and torn into fibrils, very fragile, flesh thin and colored like the pileus. the gills are attached to the stem, quite broad, ventricose, somewhat distant, purplish-violet, becoming pale, finally cinnamon. the stem is three to five inches long, equal or attenuated downwards, often slightly striate, soft, violaceous, scaly from the remains of the white veil. the spores are elliptical, granular, × µ. they grow in damp pine woods. the specimens in the photograph were gathered in purgatory swamp near boston, and sent to me by mrs. blackford. they are found in august and september. tribe vi. hydrocybe. _cortinarius castaneus. bull._ the chestnut-colored cortinarius. edible. [illustration: figure .--cortinarius castaneus. two-thirds natural size.] castaneus, a chestnut. the pileus one inch or more broad, at first quite small and globose, with a delicate fibrillose veil, which makes the margin appear silvery; dark-bay or dirty-violet, often with a tawny tint; soon expanded, broadly umbonate, pileus often cracked on the margin and slightly upturned. the gills are fixed, rather broad, somewhat crowded, violet-tinged, then cinnamon-brown, ventricose. spores, × µ. the stem is one to three inches high, inclined to be cartilaginous, stuffed, then hollow, even, lilac-tinged at the top, white or whitish below the veil, the whole stem beautifully fibrillose, veil white. this plant is very abundant on cemetery hill, growing under pine trees. the caps are small, but they grow in such profusion that it would not be difficult to secure enough for a meal. they compare very favorably with the fairy ring mushroom in flavor. they have little or no odor. found in october and november. chapter v. purple-brown spored agarics. _agaricus. linn._ (_psalliota. fr._) the pileus is fleshy, but the flesh of the stem is of different texture from that of the pileus, veil universal, concrete with the cuticle of the pileus, and fixed to the stem, forming a ring which soon disappears in some species; the stem is readily separated from the cap and the gills are free from the stem or slightly adnexed, white at first, then pink, afterwards purple-brown. all the species grow in rich ground, and it includes many of our valuable food mushrooms. _agaricus campestris. linn._ the meadow mushroom. edible. [illustration: figure .--agaricus campestris. two-thirds natural size.] _campestris, from campus, a field._ this is perhaps the widest known of all mushrooms, familiarly known as the "pink-gilled mushroom." it is the species found in the markets. it is the only species which is sure to respond to the methods of cultivation. it is the same species which is bought in cans at the store. in very young plants the pileus is somewhat globular, as will be seen in the small plants in the front row in figure . the edge is connected with the stem by the veil; then round convex, then expanding, becoming almost flat; surface dry, downy, even, quite scaly, varying in color from creamy-white to a light-brown; margin extending beyond the gills, as will be seen in figure in the one on the extreme right. the gills, when first revealed by the separation of the veil, are of a delicate pink hue, but with advancing age this generally deepens to a dark-brown or blackish-brown color. the stem is rather short, nearly equal, white or whitish; the substance in the center is more spongy than the exterior, hence it is said to be stuffed. sometimes the collar shrivels so much that it is scarcely perceptible, and may disappear altogether in old plants. the spores are brown in mass. the cap of this mushroom is from three to four inches in diameter and the stem from one to three inches long. this is the first mushroom that yielded to cultivation. it is raised in large quantities, not only in this country, but especially in france, japan, and china. no doubt other species and genera will be produced in time. this species grows in grassy places, in pastures, and richly manured grounds, never in the woods. i found it in great abundance in wood county, in fields which had never been plowed and where the ground was unusually rich. there it seemed to grow in groups or large clusters. usually it is found singly. found from august to october. the plants figured here were found near chillicothe. [illustration: figure .--agaricus campestris. two-thirds natural size.] _agaricus rodmani. pk._ rodman's mushroom. edible. [illustration: figure .--agaricus rodmani. two-thirds natural size.] the pileus is creamy, with brownish spots, firm, surface dry. the mature specimens frequently have the surface of the cap broken into large, brownish scales. the gills are whitish, then pink, becoming dark-brown; narrow, close and unequal. the stem is fleshy, solid, short, thick, about two inches long. the collar when well developed exhibits a striking characteristic. it appears as if there were two collars with a space between them. its spores are broadly elliptical, . to . inch long. it may be easily distinguished from the common agaric by the time when found, its thick firm flesh, its narrow gills, which are almost white at first, and its double collar. i have found people eating it, supposing they were eating the common mushroom. it is found in grassy places and especially between the cobble stones along the gutters in the cities. the specimens in figure were found in chillicothe in the gutters. it is a meaty plant and one can soon tell it from its weight alone. it is found through may and june. it is fully as good to eat as the common mushroom. macadam speaks of finding it in the fall, but i have never succeeded in finding it later than june. _agaricus silvicola. vitt._ the silvan agaric. edible. [illustration: figure .--agaricus silvicola. one-half natural size.] silvicola, from silva, woods and colo, to inhabit. the pileus is convex, sometimes expanded or nearly plane, smooth, shining, white or yellowish. the gills are crowded, thin, free, rounded behind, generally narrowed toward each end, at first white, then pinkish, finally blackish-brown. the stem is long, cylindrical, stuffed or hollow, white, bulbous; ring either thick or thin, entire or lacerated. spores elliptical, - × - . the plant is four to six inches high. pileus three to six inches broad. _peck._ th n. y. state bot. a. silvicola is very closely related to the common mushroom. its chief differences are in its place of growth, its being slender, and its hollow stem somewhat bulbous at the base. i have found it many times in the woods about chillicothe, although i have never succeeded in finding more than one or two at a time. i have always put them with edible species and have eaten them when thus cooked with others. because of the resemblance which it bears, in its earlier stages, to the deadly amanita, one can not exercise too great care in identifying it. it grows in the woods and is found from july to october. _agaricus arvensis. schaeff._ the field or horse mushroom. edible. [illustration: figure .--agaricus arvensis. two-thirds natural size, showing veil.] _arvensis, pertaining to a field._ pileus is smooth, white or yellowish, convex or conical, bell-shaped, then expanded, more or less mealy. the gills are crowded, free, generally broader toward the stem; at first whitish, then pinkish, finally black-brown. the stem is stout, equal, slightly thickened at the base, smooth, hollow or stuffed, ring rather large and thick, the upper part membranaceous and white, while the lower or exterior surface is thicker, downy, radically split and yellowish. the spores are elliptical, . to . inch long. this plant grows much larger than the common mushroom, and may be distinguished by the collar being composed of two parts closely allied to each other making a double membrane, the lower part being much thicker, softer in texture and split in a stellate manner into broad and yellow rays, as will be seen in figure . i found it very plentiful in wood county, ohio, and in quantities in dr. manville's yard in bowling green, ohio. i ate them frequently and gave them to my friends, who all voted them delicious. when the stem is first cut there exudes from the wound a yellowish liquid which is quite a sure ear mark of this species. there is a tradition that the spores will not germinate unless they pass through the alimentary canal of the horse or some animal. however this may be, it is found frequently where no trace of the horse can be found. it appears from july to september. i have found it in fayette county, ohio, in large rings, resembling the fairy-ring mushroom, only the ring is very large, as well as the mushrooms. [illustration: plate xxxiv. figure .--agaricus arvensis.] _agaricus abruptus. pk._ edible. [illustration: figure .--agaricus abruptus.] abruptus means to break away, referring to the breaking of the veil from the margin of the cap. the pileus is creamy-white, dry and silky, quite irregular in shape when young, turning yellow when bruised or when the stem is cut. the gills are slightly pinkish when the veil first breaks, gradually growing a deeper pink, in mature specimens becoming brownish, soft, free from the stem, quite close, unequal. the stem is creamy-white, much darker toward the base, hollow, rather stiff, quite brittle, frequently found to be split lengthwise, ventricose, tapering toward the cap. the veil is rather frail, one portion of it often adhering to the cap and another portion forming a ring on the stem. through the courtesy of captain mcilvaine i am able to present an excellent picture of this species. the beginner will have some trouble to distinguish it from a. silvicola. this species, like the a. silvicola, is closely related to the meadow mushroom, but can be readily separated from it. this, too, like the a. silvicola, when seen in the woods at a distance, resembles the amanita, but a careful glance at the gills will detect the difference. the gills of the very young plant may appear white, but they will soon develop a pinkish tinge which will distinguish it from the amanita. it is found in thin woods from july to october. _agaricus comptulus. fr._ comptulus means beautified or luxuriously decked; so called from the silky lustre of its cap. the pileus is at first convex, then expanded, rather fleshy, thinner at the margin and incurved, usually with an adpressed silky finish to the surface of the cap which gives rise to its specific name. the gills are free, much rounded toward the margin and the stem, white at first, then grayish, pinkish, purple-brown in old plants. the stem is hollow, tapering from the base to the cap, slight bulbous, white, then yellowish, fleshy, fibrous. the veil is more delicate than in a. silvaticus, parts of it often found in young plants on the margin of the cap, forming a ring on the stem which soon almost disappears. spores small, - × - µ. the surface of the cap, the rounding of the gills both in front and behind, also the tendency to turn white paper blue or bluish when the flesh of the cap comes in contact with it, will assist in determining this species. it is found in grassy places in open woods, especially in the vicinity of pine trees, october and november. _agaricus placomyces. pk._ the flat-cap mushroom. edible. [illustration: plate xxxv. figure .--agaricus placomyces.] [illustration: figure .--agaricus placomyces. two-thirds natural size.] [illustration: figure .--agaricus placomyces. two-thirds natural size.] placomyces means a flat mushroom. this is one of our prettiest plants. the pileus is broadly ovate, rather thin, at first convex, but when it is fully expanded it is quite flat, whitish, brown in the center, as will be seen in figure , but it is covered with a persistent brown scale. the gills are white at first, then pink, turning blackish brown, quite crowded. the stem is rather long, and slender, cylindrical stuffed, somewhat bulbous at the base, commonly whitish but at times bears yellow stains toward the base, tapering toward the cap. the veil is quite interesting. it is broad and double, loosely joined together by threads, the lower or outer veil breaking first into regular radiating portions. the spores are elliptical, - . µ long. the caps are two to four inches broad and the stem is three to five inches long. they are found in lawns or in thin woods. they are much more abundant in hemlock woods though they are frequently found in mixed woods in which there are hemlock trees. the behavior of the veil is very similar to a. arvensis and a. silvicola and indeed this plant seems to be very closely related to these species. it is found from july to september. _agaricus cretaceus. fr._ the chalk agaric. edible. cretaceus, relating to chalk. the pileus is entirely white, fleshy, obtuse, dry; sometimes even, sometimes marked with fine lines around the margin. the gills are free, remote, quite ventricose, narrowed toward the stem, crowded, white, and only in mature plants do they become brownish. spores, - × . µ. the stem is two to three inches long, even, smooth, firm, tapering toward the cap, hollow, or stuffed with a fine pith, white. it is found on lawns and in rich places. i find it more frequently in rich stubble fields. it makes a rare dish. found in august and september. _agaricus subrufescens. pk._ the slightly red mushroom. edible. subrufescens, sub, under; rufescens, becoming red. the pileus is at first inclined to be hemispherical, becoming convex or broadly expanded; silky fibrillose and minutely or obscurely scaly, whitish, grayish, or dull reddish-brown, usually smooth and darker on the disk. flesh white and unchangeable. the gills are at first white or whitish, then pink, finally blackish-brown. the stem is rather long, often somewhat thickened or bulbous at the base, at first stuffed, then hollow, white, the ring is scaly on the under side, mycelium whitish, forming slender branching root-like strings. the spores are elliptical. _peck_, th rep. n. y. state bot. the reddish-brown color is due to the coating of fibrils that covers the cap. in the center it does not separate into scales, hence it is smoother and more distinctly reddish-brown than the rest. its veil resembles that of the a. placomyces, but instead of the lower surface breaking into radial portions it breaks into small floccose flakes or scales. this species is found about greenhouses, and is frequently found in large clusters. dr. mcilvaine says: "this species is now cultivated and has manifest advantages over the market species--it is easier to cultivate, very productive, produces in less time after planting the spawn, is free from attacks of insects, carries better and keeps longer." mushroom beds in cellars are becoming quite popular and many are having very good results. _agaricus halophilus. pk._ sea-loving agaricus edible. [illustration: plate xxxvi. figure .--agaricus halophilus. showing the globose caps, narrow gills, solid stem, and the peculiar incurved margin. natural size.] halophilus is from two greek words meaning sea and loving, or fond of. this is a large fleshy plant and does not readily decay. at first it is quite round, then becomes broadly convex. all specimens that i have examined were covered with adpressed scales of a reddish-brown color, becoming grayish-brown when old. the flesh is white, becoming pink or reddish when cut. the margin has a peculiar angular turn, often retaining portions of the rather fragile veil. the taste is pleasant, and the odor is distinctly that of the seashore. the gills are quite narrow, as will be seen in figure , much crowded, free, pinkish at first, becoming purplish-brown as the plant matures. the edge of the gills is whitish. the stem is short, stout, solid, firm, equal, or occasionally slightly bulbous. the ring is rather delicate and in older specimens it is frequently wanting. the spores are broadly elliptical and purplish-brown, - × - µ. the specimens in figure were sent to me from boston, mass., by mrs. blackford, and on opening the box the odor of the seashore was plainly noticed. the flesh when cut quickly turned to a pinkish or reddish hue and the water in which the plants were prepared for cooking was changed to a faintly pink tinge. these plants were sent me the first of june, but the stems were free from worms and were as easily cooked as the caps. i regard it as one of the very best mushrooms for table use, while also easy to distinguish. it seems to delight in sandy soil near salt water. this was formerly called agaricus maritimus. _pilosace. fr._ pilosace is from two greek words, _pilos_, felt; _sakos_, garment. hymenophore is distinct from the stem. gills are free, and at first remote, from the stem. the general and partial veil are both absent, hence it is without ring or volva. this genus seems to have the habit of agaricus but no ring. _pilosace eximia. pk._ [illustration: figure .--pilosace eximia.] eximia means choice, distinguished. the pileus is fleshy, thin, convex or broadly campanulate, at length expanded and subumbonate, smooth, dark sooty-brown. the gills are close, broad, ventricose, rounded behind, free, dull-red, or brownish-pink, then brown. the stem is slender, hollow, a little thicker at the base, dull-red. the spores are elliptical, . inch long. these plants are small and quite rare, yet i have found the plants in haynes' hollow on three different occasions. dr. peck writes that it is a very rare plant. it grows on old stumps and decayed logs. the plants in figure [ ?] were found in haynes' hollow and photographed by dr. kellerman. _stropharia. fr._ stropharia is from the greek, strophos, a sword belt. the spores are bright purple-brown, brown or slate color. the flesh of the stem and the pileus is continuous. the veil, when ruptured, forms a ring on the stem. the gills are rounded and are not free. the genus can be distinguished from all the genera of the purple-spored plants except the agarics by the presence of a ring and by the united flesh of the stem and the cap and by the attachment of the gills. they grow on the ground or are elliptical. _stropharia semiglobata. batsch._ the semiglobose stropharia. edible. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--stropharia semiglobata.] semiglobata--semi, half; globus, a ball. the pileus is somewhat fleshy at the center, thin at the margin, hemispherical, not expanded, even, viscid when moist. the stem is hollow, slender, straight, smooth, glutinous, yellowish, veil abrupt. the gills are firmly attached to the stem, broad, plane, sometimes inclined to be ventricose, clouded with black. this plant is very common on the dunn farm on the columbus pike, north of chillicothe, but is found everywhere in grassy places recently manured, or on dung. this plant has been under the ban for a number of years, but like many others its bad reputation has been outlived. found from may to november. _stropharia hardii. atkinson n. sp._ [illustration: figure .--stropharia hardii.] hardii is named for the collector and author of this book. plant cm. high; pileus cm. broad; stem ½ cm. thick. pileus pale bright ochraceous; gills brownish, near prout's brown (r); stem pale-yellow tinge. pileus convex to expanded, thick at the center, thin toward the margin, smooth; flesh tinged yellow. gills subelliptical to subventricose behind, broadly emarginate, adnexed. basidia -spored. spores suboblong, smooth, - × - µ, purple-brown under the microscope. cystidia not very numerous on side of gills, varying from clavate to subventricose and sublanceolate, the free end more or less irregular when narrow, rarely branching below the apex, and usually with a prominent broad apiculus or with two or several short processes. similar cells on edge of gills, but somewhat smaller and more regular. stem even at the base, tapering to a short root, transversely floccose, scaly both above and below the ring. the ring membranaceous, not prominent but still evident, about cm. from the apex. _atkinson._ the specimens in figure are very old plants. while the plant was in season i did not photograph it, but when prof. atkinson named it i hastened to find some good specimens but only two had survived sufficiently to photograph. they were found october , , on mr. miller's farm in poke hollow near chillicothe. _stropharia stercoraria. fr._ the dung stropharia. edible. stercoraria is from stercus, dung. the pileus is slightly fleshy at the center but thin at the margin; hemispherical, then expanded, even, smooth, discoid, slightly striate on the margin. the gills are firmly attached to the stem, slightly crowded, broad, white, umber, then olive-black. the stem is three inches or more long, stuffed with a fibrous pith, equal, ring close to cap, flocculose below the ring, viscid when moist, yellowish. this species is distinguished from the s. semiglobata by the distinct pithy substance with which the stem is stuffed, also by the fact that the cap is never fully expanded. it is found on dung and manure piles, in richly manured fields, and sometimes in woods. _stropharia æruginosa. curt._ the green stropharia. Æruginosa is from ærugo, verdigris. the pileus is fleshy, plano-convex, subumbonate, clothed with a green evanescent slime, becoming paler as the slime disappears. the gills are firmly attached to the stem, soft, brown, tinged with purple, slightly ventricose, not crowded. the stem is hollow, equal, fibrillose or squamose below the ring, tinged with blue. this species is quite variable in form and color. the most typical forms are found in the fall, in very wet weather and in shady woods. this is one of the species from which the ban has not been removed but its appearance will lead no one to care to cultivate its acquaintance further than name it. it is claimed by most writers that it is poisonous. found in meadows and woods, from july to november. _hypholoma. fr._ hypholoma is from two greek words, meaning a web and a fringe, referring to the web-like veil which frequently adheres to the margin of the cap, not forming a ring on the stem and not always apparent on old specimens. the pileus is fleshy, margin at first incurved. the gills are attached to the stem, sometimes notched at the stem. the stem is fleshy, similar in substance to the cap. they grow mostly in thick clusters on wood either above or under the ground. the spores are brown-purple, almost black. this genus differs from the genus agaricus from the fact that its gills are attached to the stem and its stem is destitute of a ring. _hypholoma incertum. pk._ the uncertain hypholoma. edible. [illustration: _by the courtesy of captain mcilvaine._ plate xxxvii. figure .--hypholoma incertum.] incertum, uncertain. prof. peck, who named this species, was uncertain whether it was not a form of h. candolleanum, to which it seemed to be very closely related; but as the gills of that plant are at first violaceous and of this one white at first, he concluded to risk the uncertainty on a new species. the pileus is thin, ovate, broadly spreading, fragile, whitish, margin often wavy and often adorned with fragments of the woolly white veil, opaque when dry, transparent when moist. the gills are thin, narrow, close, fastened to the stem at their inner extremity, white at first, then purplish-brown, edges often uneven. the stem is equal, straight, hollow, white, slender, at least one to three inches long. the spores are purplish-brown and elliptical. it is found in lawns, gardens, pastures, and thin woods. it is small but grows in such profusion that one can obtain quantities of it. the caps are very tender and delicious. it appears as early as may. _hypholoma appendiculatum. bull._ the appendiculate hypholoma. edible. appendiculatum, a small appendage. this is so called from the fragments of the veil adhering to the margin of the cap. the pileus is thin, ovate, expanded, watery, when dry, covered with dry atoms; margin thin and often split, with a white veil; the color when moist dark-brown, when dry nearly white, often with floccose scales on the cap. the gills are firmly attached to the stem, crowded, white, then rosy-brown, and at length dingy-brown. the stem is hollow, smooth, equal, white, fibrous, mealy at the apex. the veil is very delicate and only seen in quite young plants. the plant grows in the spring and the summer and is found on stumps and sometimes on lawns. it is a favorite mushroom with those who know it. the plant can be dried for winter use and retains its flavor to a remarkable degree. hypholoma candolleanum, fr., resembles the h. appendiculatum in many features, but the gills are violaceous, becoming cinnamon-brown and in old plants nearly free from the stem. it has more substance. the caps, however, are very tender and delicious. found in clusters. _hypholoma lachrymabundum. fr._ the weeping hypholoma. [illustration: figure .--hypholoma lachrymabundum. two-thirds natural size.] [illustration: figure .--hypholoma lachrymabundum.] lachrymabundum--full of tears. this plant is so called because in the morning or in damp weather the edge of the gills retain very minute drops of water. the plant in figure was photographed in the afternoon yet there can be seen a number of these minute drops. the pileus is fleshy, campanulate, then convex, sometimes broadly umbonate, spotted with hairy scales; flesh white. the gills are closely attached to the stem, notched, crowded, somewhat ventricose, unequal, whitish, then brown-purple, distilling minute drops of dew in wet weather or in the morning. the stem is hollow, somewhat thickened at the base, quite scaly with fibrils, often becoming brownish-red, two to three inches long. the spores are brownish-purple. i have never found the plant elsewhere than on the chillicothe high school lawn, and then not in sufficient numbers to test its edible qualities. when i do, i shall try it cautiously, but with full faith that i shall be permitted to try others. found on the ground and on decayed wood. it often grows in clusters. september to october. _hypholoma sublateritium. schaeff._ the brick-red hypholoma. edible. [illustration: figure .--hypholoma sublateritium. natural size.] _sublateritium is from sub, under, and later, a brick._ the pileus is brick-red, with pale yellowish border; the surface is covered with fine silky fibres; fleshy, moist, and firm; the cap is from two to four inches broad; remnants of the veil are often seen on the margin; flesh creamy, firm, and bitter. the gills are creamy when young, olive when old; attached to the stem at inner extremity, rather narrow, crowded, and unequal. the stem is creamy when young, lower part slightly tinged with red, hollow or stuffed, having silky fibres on the surface, two to four inches long, often incurved because of position. the spores are sooty-brown and elliptical. it grows in large clusters around old stumps. it is especially plentiful about chillicothe. it is not equal to many others of the hypholomas as an esculent. sometimes it is bitter even after it is cooked. captain mcilvaine gives a plausible reason when he says it may be due to the passage of larvæ through the flesh of the plant. it is found from september to early winter. _hypholoma perplexum. pk._ the perplexing hypholoma. edible. [illustration: figure .--hypholoma perplexum. one-half natural size. caps brown, with a pale yellow margin.] perplexum means perplexing; so called because it is quite difficult to distinguish it from h. sublateritium, also from h. fascicularis. from the latter it may be known by its redder cap, its whitish flesh, purple-brown tint of the mature gills and mild flavor. its smaller size, the greenish and purplish tint of the gills, and the slender hollow stem will aid in distinguishing it from h. perplexum. the pileus is complex, fleshy, expanded, smooth, sometimes broadly and slightly umbonate, brown with a pale-yellow margin, disk sometimes reddish. the gills are rounded, notched, easily separating from the stem, pale-yellow, greenish ash-color, finally purplish-brown, thin, quite close. the stem is nearly equal, firm, hollow, slightly fibrillose, yellowish or whitish above and reddish-brown below. the spores are elliptical and purplish brown. this plant is very abundant in ohio. it grows about old stumps, but a favorite habitat seems to be upon old sawdust piles. i have found it after we have had considerable freezing weather. the plants in the figure were frozen when i found them, the th of november. dr. mcilvaine says in his book, "if the collector gets puzzled, as he will, over one or all of these species, because no description fits, he can whet his patience and his appetite by calling it h. perplexum and graciously eating it." _psilocybe. pers._ _psilocybe is from two greek words, naked and head._ the spores are purple-brown or slate color. the pileus is smooth, at first incurved, brownish or purple. the stem is cartilaginous, ringless, tough, hollow, or stuffed, often rooting. generally growing on the ground. _psilocybe foenisecii. pers._ the brown psilocybe. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--psilocybe foenisecii. one-half natural size.] foenisecii means mown hay. the pileus is somewhat fleshy, smoky-brown or brownish, convex, campanulate at first, then expanded; obtuse, dry, smooth. the gills are firmly attached to the stem, ventricose, not crowded, brownish-umber. the stem is hollow, straight, even, smooth, not rooting, white, covered with dust, then brownish. quite common in grassy lawns and fields after summer rains. i have never eaten it, but i have no doubt of its esculent qualities. _psilocybe spadicea. schaeff._ the bay psilocybe. edible. spadicea means bay or date-brown. the pileus is fleshy, convex-plane, obtuse, even, moist, hygrophanous, bright bay-brown, paler when dry. the gills are rounded behind, attached to stem, easily separating from it, narrow, dry, crowded, white, then rosy-brown or flesh-color. the stem is hollow, tough, pallid, equal, smooth, one to two inches long. they grow in dense clusters where old stumps have been or where wood has decayed. the caps are small but very good. they are found from september to frost or freezing weather. _psilocybe ammophila. mont._ [illustration: figure .--psilocybe ammophila. two-thirds natural size, showing the sand on the base.] ammophila is from two greek words; ammos, sand, and philos, loving; so called because the plants seem to delight to grow in sandy soil. the pileus is small, convex, expanded, umbilicate, at first hemispherical, rather fleshy, yellow, tinged with red, fibrillose. the gills are smoky in color, with a decurrent tooth, powdered with the blackish spores. the stem is soft, rather short, hollow, lower half clavate and sunk into the sand, striate. the spores are × . they are found in august and september. they delight in sandy soil, as the specific name indicates. the plants in the photograph were found near columbus and photographed by dr. kellerman. it is quite common in sandy soil. i do not think it is edible. i should advise great caution in its use. chapter vi. the black-spored agarics. the genera belonging to this series have black spores. there is an entire absence of purple or brown shades. the genus gomphidius, placed in this series for other reasons, has dingy-olivaceous spores. _coprinus. pers._ coprinus is from a greek word meaning dung. this genus can be readily recognized from the black spores and from the deliquescence of the gills and cap into an inky substance. many of the species grow in dung, as the name implies, or on recently manured ground. some grow in flat rich ground, or where there has been a fill, or on dumping grounds; some grow on wood and around old stumps. the pileus separates easily from the stem. the gills are membranaceous, closely pressed together. the spores, with few exceptions, are black. most of the species are edible, but many are of such small size that they are easily overlooked. _coprinus comatus. fr._ the shaggy mane coprinus. edible. [illustration: _photo by prof shaftner._ figure .--coprinus comatus.] [illustration: figure .--coprinus comatus. one-half natural size.] comatus is from coma, having long hair, shaggy. it is so called from a fancied resemblance to a wig on a barber's block. a description is hardly necessary with a photograph before us. they always remind us of a congregation of goose eggs standing on end. this plant cannot be confounded with any other, and the finder is the happy possessor of a rich, savory morsel that cannot be duplicated in any market. the pileus is fleshy, moist, at first egg-shaped, cylindrical, becoming bell-shaped, seldom expanded, splitting at the margin along the line of the gills, adorned with scattered yellowish scales, tinged with purplish-black, yet sometimes entirely white; surface shaggy. the gills are free, crowded, equal, creamy white, becoming pink, brown, then black, and dripping an inky fluid. the stem is three to eight inches long, hollow, smooth, or slightly fibrillose, tapering upward, creamy-white, brittle, easily separating from the cap, slightly bulbous at the base. the ring is rarely adherent or movable in young plants, later lying on the ground at the base of the stem or disappearing altogether. the spores are black and elliptical, and are shed in liquid drops. found in damp rich ground, gardens, rich lawns, barnyards, and dumping grounds. they often grow in large clusters. they are found everywhere in great abundance, from may till late frost. a weak stomach can digest any of the coprini when almost any other food will give it trouble. i am always pleased to give a dish of any coprini to an invalid. _coprinus atramentarius. fr._ the inky coprinus. edible. [illustration: figure .--coprinus atramentarius. two-thirds natural size.] atramentarius means black ink. the pileus is at first egg-shaped, gray or grayish-brown, smooth, except that there is a slight scaly appearance; often covered with a marked bloom, margin ribbed, often notched, soft, tender, becoming expanded, when it melts away in inky fluid. the gills are broad, close, ventricose, creamy-white in young specimens, becoming pinkish-gray, then black, moist, melting away in inky drops. the stem is slender, two to four inches in length, hollow, smooth, tapering upward, easily separating from the cap, with slight vestige of a collar near the base when young but soon disappearing. the spores are elliptical, × µ., and black, falling away in drops. i have found it abundantly all over the state, from may till late frost. in figure the one in the center will show the spot-like scales; on the others the bloom referred to is quite apparent; the section to the right shows the broad, ventricose gills--cream-white though slightly tinged with pink--also the shape of the stem. the plant at the extreme right has expanded and begun to deliquesce. c. atramentarius is very abundant, growing in rich soil, lawns, filled places, and gardens. [illustration: plate xxxviii. figure .--coprinus atramentarius.] _coprinus micaceus. fr._ the glistening coprinus. edible. [illustration: figure .--coprinus micaceus. two-thirds natural size.] micaceus is from _micare_, to glisten, and refers to the small scales on the pileus which resemble mica scales. the pileus is tawny-yellow, tan or light buff, ovate, bell-shaped; having striations radiating from near the center of the disk to the margin; glistening mica-like scales covering undisturbed young specimens; the margin somewhat revolute or wavy. the gills are crowded, rather narrow, whitish, then tinged with pinkish or purplish-brown then black. the stem is slender, fragile, hollow, silky, even, whitish, often twisted, one to three inches long. the spores are blackish, sometimes brown, elliptical, × µ. the glistening coprinus is a small but common and beautiful species. one cannot fail to recognize a coprinus from a photograph. it is somewhat bell-shaped and marked with impressed lines or striations from the margin to or beyond the center of the disk and sprinkled with fugacious micaceous granules all of which show in figure . for eating, this is without doubt the best mushroom that grows. the specimens in figure grew around an old peach stump in dr. miesse's yard, in chillicothe. you will find them around any stump, especially just before a rain. if you secure a good supply and wish to keep them, partially cook them and warm them for use. _coprinus ebulbosus. pk._ [illustration: figure .--coprinus ebulbosus. one-half natural size.] _ebulbosus_, without being bulbous. this seems to be the difference between the american and the european plants, the latter being bulbous. the pileus is membranaceous, at first ovate, bell-shaped, striate, variegated with broad white scales, or white patches; one to two inches broad. the gills are free, broad, ventricose, grayish-black, soon deliquescing. the stem is hollow, equal, fragile, smooth, four to five inches long. usually found where old stumps have been cut off under the ground, leaving the roots in the ground. it is very abundant. the collector will have no trouble to recognize it from figure . they are found from june to october. edible, but not as good as c. atramentarius. _coprinus ephemerus. fr._ the ephemeral coprinus. edible. ephemerus, lasting for a day. this plant lasts only for a short time. it comes up in the early morning or at night and as soon as the sun's rays touch it it deliquesces into an inky fluid. the pileus is membranaceous, very thin, oval, slightly covered with bran-like scales, disk elevated, even. gills are adnexed, distant, whitish, brown, then black. the stem is slender, equal, pellucid, smooth, from one to two inches high. when this plant is fully developed it is quite a beautiful specimen, striated from margin to center. found on dung and dung heaps and in well manured grass plots from may to october. it must be cooked at once. its chief value is its excellent mushroom flavor. _coprinus ovatus. fr._ the ovate coprinus. edible. _ovatus is from ovum_, an egg. it is so called from the shape of the pileus, which is somewhat membranaceous, ovate, then expanded, striate; at first woven into densely imbricated, thick, concentric scales; is bulbous, rooting, flocculose, hollow above, the ring deciduous; gills free, remote, slightly ventricose, for sometime white, then umber-blackish. this plant is much smaller and less striking than the c. comatus, yet its edible qualities are the same. i have eaten it and found it delicious. it is found in about the same locality in which you would expect to find the c. comatus. _coprinus fimetarius. fr._ the shaggy dung coprinus. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ plate xxxix. figure .--coprinus fimetarius.] _fimetarius is from fimetum, a dunghill._ the pileus is somewhat membranaceous, clavate, then conical, at length torn and revolute; at first rough with floccose scales, then naked; longitudinally cracked and furrowed, even at the apex. the stem is inclined to be scaly, thickened at the base, solid. the gills are free, reaching the stem, at first ventricose, then linear, brownish-black. _fries._ this is quite a variable plant. there are a number of varieties classed under this species. it is said to be of excellent flavor. i have never eaten it. _panæolus. fr._ panæolus is from two greek words, all; variegated. this genus is so called from the mottled appearance of the gills. the pileus is somewhat fleshy, margin even, but never striate. the margin always extends beyond the gills and the gills are not uniform in color. the mottled appearance of the gills is due to the falling of the black spores. the gills do not deliquesce. the stem is smooth, sometimes scaly, at times quite long, hollow. the veil, when present, is interwoven. this plant is found on rich lawns recently manured, but principally on dung. there are only two edible species, p. retirugis and p. solidipes. the other species would not be likely to attract the attention of the ordinary collector. _panæolus retirugis. fr._ the ribbed panaeolus. edible. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ plate xl. figure .--panaeolus retirugis. natural size, showing portions of the veil on the margin.] retirugis is from rete, a net; ruga, a wrinkle. the pileus is about one inch in diameter, inclined to be globose, then hemispherical, slightly umbonate, center darker, with united raised ribs, sometimes sprinkled with opaque atoms; veil torn, appendiculate. the gills are fixed, ascending, broad in middle; and in the expanded forms the gills are separated more and more from the stem and finally appear more or less triangular; cinereous-black, frequently somewhat clouded. the stem is equal, covered with a frost-like bloom, cylindrical, sometimes tortuous, cartilaginous, becoming hollow, pinkish-purple, always darker below and paler above, bulbous. the veil in young and unexpanded plants is quite strong and prominent; as the stem elongates it loosens from the stem, and as the cap expands it breaks into segments, frequently hanging to the margin of the cap. by close observation one will sometimes detect a black band on the stem, caused by the falling of the black spores, when the plant is damp, before the pileus has separated from the stem. the spores are black and elliptical. i have found it a number of times on the chillicothe high school lawn, especially after it was fertilized in the winter. it is found mostly on dung from june to october. i do not recommend it as a delicacy. _panæolus epimyces. pk._ [illustration: figure .--panæolus epimyces. note black spores in central foreground. note also huge masses of abortive stuff upon which it grows.] epimyces is from _epi_, upon; _myces_, a mushroom; so called because it is parasitic on fungi. there are a number of species of mushrooms whose habitat is on other mushrooms or fungus growths; such as collybia cirrhata, c. racemosa, c. tuberosa, volvaria loveiana and the species of nyctalis. the pileus is fleshy, at first subglobose, then convex, white, silky, fibrillose, flesh white or whitish, soft. the gills are rather broad, somewhat close, rounded behind, adnexed, dingy-white, becoming brown or blackish, with a white edge. the stem is short, stout, tapering upwards, strongly striate and minutely mealy or pruinose; solid in the young plant, hollow in the mature, but with the cavity small; hairy, or substrigose at the base. the spores elliptical and black, . to . of an inch long, . to . broad. _peck._ the plants are small, about two thirds to an inch broad and from an inch to an inch and a half high. it is referred to this genus because of its black spores. it has other characteristics which would seem to place it better among hypholomas. it is not common. found in october and november. the specimens in figure were found in michigan and photographed by dr. fisher. _panæolus campanulatus. linn._ bell-shaped panaeolus. campanulatus is from _campanula_, a little bell. the pileus is an inch to an inch and a quarter broad, oval or bell-shaped, sometimes slightly umbonate, smooth, somewhat shining, grayish-brown, sometimes becoming reddish-tinted, the margin often fringed with fragments of the veil. the gills are attached, not broad, ascending, variegated with gray and black. the stem is three to five inches long, hollow, slender, firm, straight, often covered with frost-like bloom and often striate at the top, the veil remaining only a short time. the spores are subellipsoid, - × µ. the gills do not deliquesce. it is widely distributed and is found in almost any horse pasture. captain mcilvaine says in his book that he has eaten it in small quantities, because larger could not be obtained, and with no other than pleasant effect. i have found it about chillicothe quite frequently but have never eaten it. it is found from june to august. _panæolus fimicolus. fr._ the dung panaeolus. fimicolus is from fimus, dung; colo, to inhabit. the pileus somewhat fleshy, convex-bell-shaped, obtuse, smooth, opaque; marked near the margin with a narrow brown zone; the stem is fragile, elongated, equal, pallid, covered with frost-like bloom above; the gills are firmly attached to the stem, broad, variegated with gray and brown. _fries._ the plant is very small and unimportant. it is found on dung, as its name indicates, from june to september. the caps appear lighter in color when dry than when wet. _panæolus solidipes. pk._ the solid foot panaeolus. edible. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ plate xli. figure .--panaeolus solidipes.] solidipes is from solidus, solid; pes, foot; and is so called because the stem of the plant is solid. the pileus is two to three inches across; firm; at first hemispherical, then subcampanulate or convex; smooth; white; the cuticle at length breaking up into dingy-yellowish, rather large, angular scales. the gills are broad, slightly attached, whitish, becoming black. the stem is five to eight inches long and two to four lines thick, firm, smooth, white, solid, slightly striate at the top. the spores are very black with a bluish tint. _peck._ d rep. n. y. state bot. this is a large and beautiful plant and easily distinguished because of its solid stem, growing on dung. sometimes minute drops of moisture will be seen on the upper part of the stem. the plant is said to be one of the best of mushrooms to eat. _panæolus papilionaceus. fr._ the butterfly panaeolus. [illustration: figure .--panæolus papilionaceus. natural size.] papilionaceus is from _papilio_, a butterfly. the pileus is about an inch broad, somewhat fleshy, at first hemispherical, sometimes subumbonate, the cuticle breaking up into scales when dry, as will be seen in the photograph, pale-gray with a tinge of reddish-yellow especially on the disk, sometimes smooth. the gills are broadly attached to the stem, quite wide, at length plane, blackish or with varying tints of black. the stem is three to four inches long, slender, firm, equal, hollow, powdered above, whitish, sometimes tinged with red or yellow, slightly striate at the top, as will be seen in the photograph with a glass, generally stained with the spores. the specimens in figure were found in a garden that had been strongly manured. it is usually found on dung and on grassy lawns during may and june. captain mcilvaine in his book speaks of this mushroom producing hilarity or a mild form of intoxication. i should advise against its use. _anellaria. karst._ anellaria is from _anellus_, a little ring. this genus is so called because of the presence of a ring on the stem. the pileus is somewhat fleshy, smooth, and even. the gills are adnexed, dark slate-colored, variegated with black spores. the stem is central, smooth, firm, shining, ring persistent or forming a zone around the stem. _anellaria separata. karst._ separata means separate or distinct. the pileus is somewhat fleshy, bell-shaped, obtuse, even, viscid, at first ochraceous, then dingy-white, shining, smooth, wrinkled when old. the gills are firmly attached to the stem, broad, ventricose, thin, crowded, clouded, cinereous, margin nearly white, slightly deliquescent. the stem is long, straight, shining, white, thickened downward, ring distant, top somewhat striate, bulbous at the base. the spores are broadly elliptic-fusiform, black, opaque, × µ. it is found on dung from may to october. it is not poisonous. _bolbitius. fr._ bolbitius is from a greek word meaning cow-dung, referring to its place of growth. the pileus is membranaceous, yellow, becoming moist; gills moist but not deliquescing, finally losing their color and becoming powdery; stem hollow and confluent with the hymenophore. as the generic name implies the plant usually grows on dung, but sometimes it is found growing on leaves and where the ground had been manured the year before. the spores are of a rusty-red color. _bolbitius fragilis. (l.) fr._ fragilis means fragile. the pileus is membranaceous, yellow, then whitish, viscid, margin striate, disk somewhat umbonate. the gills are attenuated, adnexed, nearly free, ventricose, yellowish, then pale cinnamon. the stem is two to three inches long, naked, smooth, yellow. the spores are rust-colored, × . , massee. - × - µ. saccardo. this species is much more delicate and fragile than b. boltoni. i find it often in dairy pastures. it is well flavored and cooks readily. found from june to october. _bolbitius boltoni. fr._ bolton's bolbitius. edible. the pileus is somewhat fleshy, viscid, at first smooth, then the margin sulcate, disk darker and slightly depressed. the gills are nearly adnate, yellowish, then livid-brown. the stem is attenuated, yellowish, ring fugacious. this is rather common in dairy pastures and is found from may to september. _psathyrella. fr._ psathyrella is from a greek word meaning fragile. the members of this genus are mebranaceous, striated, margin straight, at first pressed to the stem, not extending beyond the gills. gills adnate or free, sooty-black, not variegated. the stem is confluent with, but different in character from, the spore-bearing surface. veil inconspicuous and generally absent. _psathyrella disseminata. pers._ the clustered psathyrella. edible. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--psathyrella disseminata. natural size.] disseminata is from _dissemino_, to scatter. pileus is about a half inch across, membranaceous, ovate, bell-shaped, at first scurvy, then naked; coarsely striated, margin entire; yellowish then gray. gills adnate, narrow, whitish, then gray, finally blackish. stem one to one and a half inches long, rather curved, mealy then smooth, fragile, hollow. _massee._ this is a very small plant, growing on grassy lawns, and very common on old trunks, and about decaying stumps. a cluster about two yards square shows itself at intervals all summer on the chillicothe high school lawn. the grass shows itself to be greener and thriftier there on account of fertilization by the mushroom. the entire plant is very fragile and soon melts away. i have eaten the caps raw many times and they have a rich flavor. they are found from may till frost. _psathyrella hirta. pk._ [illustration: figure .--psathyrella hirta.] hirta means hairy, rough or shaggy. pileus thin, hemispherical or convex, adorned when young with erect or spreading tufts of white, easily determined and quickly evanescent hairs; hygrophanous, brown or reddish-brown and slightly striatulate when moist, pale grayish-brown or dingy-whitish when dry, flesh subconcolorous; lamellæ broad, moderately close, adnate and often furnished with a decurrent tooth, at first pallid, becoming blackish-brown or black; stem flexuose, squamose, hollow, shining, white; spores elliptical, black, . to . inch long, . to . broad. subcæspitose; pileus to lines broad; stem to inches long to - lines thick. the specimens in figure were found in the greenhouse at the state university. when quite young tufts of white hair were very conspicuous. they are scarcely observed in mature specimens. the plants were photographed by dr. kellerman. _gomphidius. fr._ gomphidius is from a greek word meaning a wooden bolt or peg. the hymenophore is decurrent on the stem. the gills are decurrent, distant, soft, somewhat mucilaginous; edge acute, pruinate with the blackish fusiform spores; veil viscoso-floccose, forming an imperfect ring around the stem. a small, but distinct, genus, with great difference among species; intermediate by its habits between cortinarius and hygrophorus. _gomphidius viscidus. fr._ viscid gomphidius. the pileus is two to three inches broad, viscid, convex, then depressed round the disk, obtusely umbonate, margin acute, reddish-brown to yellowish-brown in the center, the margin liver-color, flesh yellowish-brown. the gills are decurrent, distant, somewhat branched, firm, elastic, rather thick, purple-brown with an olive tinge. the stem is two to three inches high, subequal or slightly ventricose; pale yellowish-brown, fibrillose, firm, solid, slimy from the remains of the veil, which form an obsolete filamentose ring. the spores are elongato-fusiform, - × µ. its favorite habitat is under pine and fir trees. its taste is sweet and it has the mushroom smell. it is edible, but not first-class. found in september and october. chapter vii. polyporaceae. tube-bearing fungi. in this family the cap has no gills on the upper surface, but, instead, there are small tubes or pores. this class of plants may be naturally divided into two groups: the perishable fungi with the pores easily separating from the cap and from each other, which may be called boletaceæ; and the leathery, corky, and woody fungi, with pores permanently united to the cap and with each other, making the family polyporaceæ. in each group the spores are borne on the lining of the pore. a spore print may be made in the same manner as from mushrooms having gills. the color of the spores does not enter into the classification as in the case of the agaricini. the distinctive characteristics of these genera may be stated as follows: pores compacted together and forming a continuous stratum pores each a distinct tube, standing closely side by side fistulina . stem central, and stratum of spores easily separable from the cap boletus . stratum of tubes not separating easily, cap covered with coarse scales strobilomyces stratum of tubes separating, but not easily; tubes arranged in distinct, radiating lines. in boletinus porosus the tubes do not separate from the cap boletinus stratum of pores not separable from cap; plant soft when young, but becoming hard, corky, stipitate, shelving polyporus _boletus. dill._ _boletus, a clod_. there are very many species under this genus and the beginner will experience much trouble in separating the species with any degree of assurance. the boletus is distinguished from the other pore-bearing fungi by the fact that the stratum of tubes is easily separable from the cap. in the polyporus the stratum of tubes cannot be separated. nearly all boleti are terrestrial and have central stems. they grow in warm and rainy weather. many are very large and ponderous; fleshy and putrescent, decaying soon after maturity. it is important to note whether the flesh changes color when bruised and whether the taste is pleasant or otherwise. when i first began to study the boleti there were but few species that were thought to be edible, but the ban has been removed from very many, even from the most wicked, boletus satanus. _boletus scaber. fr._ the rough-stemmed boletus. edible. [illustration: figure .--boletus scaber. two-thirds natural size.] the pileus is from two to five inches in diameter, rounded convex, smooth, viscid when moist, minutely woolly, velvety or scaly, color from nearly white to almost black, the flesh white. the tubes are free from the stem, white, long, mouths minute and round. the stem is solid, tapering slightly upward, long, dingy-white; roughened with blackish-brown or reddish dots or scales, this being the most pronounced characteristic by which to distinguish the species; three to five inches long. the spores are oblong fusiform and brown. prof. peck has described a number of varieties under this species, most of which depend on the color of the cap. all are edible and good. this is a common plant, usually found in woods and shady waste places, from june to october. photographed by prof. h. c. beardslee. _boletus granulatus. l._ the granulated boletus. edible. [illustration: figure .--boletus granulatus. one-half natural size.] the pileus is two to three inches broad, hemispherical, then convex; at first covered with a brownish gluten, then turning yellowish; flesh thick, yellowish, does not turn blue; margin involute at first. the tubes are adnate; at first white, then light yellow; the margin distilling a pale watery fluid which when dry gives the granulated appearance. the stem is short, one to two inches high, thick, solid, pale yellow above, white below, granulated. the spores are spindle-shaped, rusty-yellow. this plant grows abundantly in pine regions, but i have found it where only a part of the trees were pine. the brownish gluten, always constant on the pileus, and the gummy juice drying upon the stem, like granules of sugar, will be strong features by which to identify the species. they are found from july to october. _boletus bicolor. pk._ the two-colored boletus. edible. the pileus is convex, smooth or merely downy, dark red, fading when old, often marked with yellow; flesh yellow, slowly changing to blue when bruised. the tubes are bright yellow, attached to the stem, the color changing to blue when bruised. the stem is solid, red, generally red at the top, one to three inches long. the spores are pale, rusty-brown color. found in woods and open places, from july to october. _boletus subtomentosus. l._ the yellow-cracked boletus. edible. [illustration: figure .--boletus subtomentosus. one-half natural size.] subtomentosus, slightly downy. the pileus is from three to six inches broad, convex, plane; yellowish-brown, olive or subdued tan color; cuticle soft and dry, with a fine pubescence; the cracks in the surface become yellow. the flesh is creamy white in mature specimens, changing to blue, and at length leaden, on being bruised. the tube surface is yellow or yellowish green, becoming bluish when bruised; opening of tubes large and angular. the stem is stout, yellowish, minutely roughened with scurvy dots or faintly striped with brown. the spores are a rusty-brown. the cracks in the cap become yellow, on which account this species is called the yellow-cracked boletus. the taste of the flesh is sweet and agreeable. palmer compares it with the taste of a walnut. the plant should not be feared because the flesh turns blue when bruised. i first found this species in whinnery's woods, salem, ohio. the specimens in figure grew near chillicothe and was photographed by dr. kellerman. july to august. _boletus chrysenteron. fr._ the red-cracked boletus. edible. [illustration: figure .--boletus chrysenteron. one-half natural size. caps yellowish to red. flesh yellow.] chrysenteron means gold or golden within. the pileus is two to four inches broad, convex, becoming more flattened, soft to the touch, varying from light to yellowish-brown or bright brick-red, more or less fissured with red cracks; the flesh yellow, changing to blue when bruised or cut, red immediately beneath the cuticle. the tube surface is olive-yellow, becoming bluish when bruised, tube-openings rather large, angled and unequal in size. the stem is generally stout, straight, yellowish, and more or less streaked or spotted with the color of the cap. the spores are light brown and spindle-shaped. this species will be easily distinguished from b. subtomentosus because of its bright color and the cracks in the cap turning red, whence the name of the "red-cracked boletus." the cap of this species strongly resembles boletus alveolatus, but the latter has rose-colored spores and a red pore surface, while the former has light brown spores and an olive-yellow pore surface. tolerton's and bower's woods, salem, ohio, july to october. _boletus edulis. bull._ the edible boletus. [illustration: plate xlii. figure .--boletus edulis. pileus light brown, tubes yellowish or greenish-yellow. stem bulbous and faintly reticulate. natural size.] this is quite a large and handsome plant and one rather easily recognized. the firm caps of the young plant and the white tubes with their very indistinct mouths, and the mature plants with the tubes changing to a greenish yellow with their mouths quite distinct, are enough to identify the plant at once. the pileus is convex or nearly plane; variable in color, light brown to dark brownish-red, surface smooth but dull, cap from three to eight inches broad. the flesh is white or yellowish, not changing color on being bruised or broken. the tube-surface is whitish in very young plants, at length becoming yellow and yellowish-green. pore openings angled. the tubes depressed around the stem, which is stout, bulbous, often disproportionately elongated; pale-brown; straight or flexuous, generally with a fine raised net-work of pink lines near junction of cap, sometimes extending to the base. the taste is agreeable and nutty, especially when young. woods and open places. july and august. common about salem and chillicothe, ohio. it is one of our best mushrooms. captain mcilvaine says: "carefully sliced, dried, and kept where safe from mold, it may be prepared for the table at any season." _boletus speciosus. frost._ the handsome boletus. edible. [illustration: figure .--boletus speciosus. natural size. cap red or deep scarlet. tubes bright lemon-yellow.] speciosus means handsome. the pileus is three to six inches broad, at first very thick, subglobose, compact, then softer, convex, glabrous or nearly so, red or deep scarlet. the flesh is pale yellow or bright lemon-yellow, changing to blue where wounded. the tubes are adnate, small, subrotund, plane, or slightly depressed around the stem; bright lemon-yellow, becoming dingy-yellow with age, changing to blue where bruised. the stem is two to four inches long, stout, subequal or bulbous, reticulated, bright lemon-yellow without and within, sometimes reddish at the base. the spores are oblong-fusiform, pale, ochraceous-brown, - . × - µ. the young specimen can be recognized by the whole plant's being of a vivid lemon-yellow except the surface of the cap. the plant quickly turns to green, then blue, wherever touched. it has a wide distribution in the eastern and middle states. the plant in figure was found in haynes' hollow by dr. chas. miesse and photographed by dr. kellerman. as an edible it is among the best. found from august to october. _boletus cyanescens. bull._ [illustration: figure .--boletus cyanescens.] cyanescens is from _cyaneus_, deep blue, so called the moment you touch it, it turns a deep blue. pileus is two to four inches across, convex, then expanded, sometimes nearly plane, frequently wavy, covered with an appressed tomentum; opaque, pale-buff, grayish-yellow, or yellowish, flesh thick, white, quickly changing to a beautiful azure-blue where cut or wounded. the tubes are quite free, openings small, white, then pale-yellow, round, changing color the same as the flesh. the stem is two to three inches long, ventricose, hoary with fine hair, stuffed at first, then becoming hollow, colored like the pileus. the spores are subelliptical, - . × - . µ. the specimens in figure were found on rather steep wooded hillsides, sugar grove, ohio. they were all solitary. i have found a few specimens about chillicothe. they are widely distributed in the eastern states. captain mcilvaine says in his book the caps make an excellent dish cooked in any way. i have never tried them. found on hilly ground in august and september. _boletus indecisus. pk._ the undecided boletus. edible. [illustration: figure .--boletus indecisus. one-half natural size.] indecisus means undecided; so called because it favors very closely boletus felleus. there is a difference in the style of the two plants by which, after continued tasting, the student can readily separate them. the pileus is three to four inches broad, dry, slightly downy, convex, ochraceous-brown, plane, often irregular on the margin, sometimes wavy, flesh white, and unchangeable, taste mild or sweet. the tube surface is nearly plane and firmly set against the stem, grayish, becoming tinged with flesh color in age, changing to a brown when bruised; the mouths small and nearly round. the stem is covered with a fine mealy substance, straight or flexuous, sometimes reticulated above. the spores are oblong, brownish flesh color, . - × µ. the b. indecisus can be readily told from b. felleus by its sweet taste and brownish spores. it is my favorite of all the boleti, indeed i think it equals the best of mushrooms. its favorite habitat is under beech trees in the open. it is widely distributed from massachusetts to the west. found in july and august. _boletus edulis. bull.--var. clavipes. pk._ club-footed boletus. edible. [illustration: figure .--boletus edulis, var. clavipes. two-thirds natural size. note confluent caps on right.] clavipes means club-footed. pileus fleshy, convex, glabrous, grayish-red or chestnut-color. flesh white, unchangeable. the tubes at first concave or nearly plane, white and stuffed, then convex, slightly depressed around the stem, ochraceous-yellow. stem mostly obclavate, inversely club-shaped, and reticulate to the base. the spores oblong-fusiform, - × - µ. _peck._ st rep. the club-footed boletus is very closely related to b. edulis. it differs, perhaps, in a more uniform color of the cap, and in having tubes less depressed around the stem, and less tinted with green when mature. the stem is more club-shaped and more completely reticulated. the pileus in the young plant is much more highly colored and fades out in age, but the margin does not become paler than the disk as is often the case with b. edulis. the specimens in figure were found in michigan and photographed by dr. fischer. they are quite as good as b. edulis. _boletus sullivantii. b. & m._ [illustration: figure .--boletus sullivantii.] sullivantii is named in honor of professor sullivant, an early ohio botanist. the pileus is three to four inches broad, hemispherical at first, glabrous, reddish-tawny or brown, brownish when dry, cracked in squares. the tubes are free, convex, medium size, angular, longer toward the margin, their mouths reddish. the stem is solid, violaceous at the thickened base, red-reticulated at the apex, expanded into the pileus. the spores are pallid to ochraceous, oblong-fusiform, - µ long. _peck's_ boleti in u. s. this species is very close to boletus scaber and boletus edulis. it differs from b. scaber in its reticulated stem and from b. edulis in its larger tubes. the specimens in figure were found by hambleton young near columbus, and were photographed by dr. kellerman. _boletus parvus. pk._ parvus means small; so named from the smallness of the plant. the pileus is one to two inches broad, convex, becoming plane, often slightly umbonate, subtomentose, reddish. flesh yellowish-white, slowly changing to pinkish when bruised. the tubes are nearly plane, adnate, their mouths rather large, angular, at first bright-red, becoming reddish-brown. the stem is equal or slightly thickened below, red, from one to two inches long. the spores are oblong, . × µ. they are found in thin woods, july and august. _boletus eximius. pk._ the select boletus. edible. [illustration: figure .--boletus eximius. two-thirds natural size.] eximius means select. the pileus at first is very compact, nearly round, somewhat covered with a mealy substance, purplish-brown, or chocolate color, sometimes with a faint tinge of lilac, becoming convex, soft, smoky red, or pale-chestnut, flesh grayish or reddish-white. the tube surface is at first concave or nearly plane, stuffed, colored nearly like the pileus, becoming paler with age and depressed around the stem, the mouths minute, round. the stem is stout, generally short, equal or tapering upward, abruptly narrowed at the base, minutely branny, colored like or a little paler than the cap, purplish-gray within. the spores are subferruginous, . - × - µ. this plant is found in open woods where there are beech trees. i found it frequently on cemetery hill, chillicothe. it is widely distributed, being found from the east to the west. july and august. _boletus pallidus. frost._ the pallid boletus. edible. pallidus, pale. the pileus is convex, becoming plane or centrally depressed, soft, smooth, pallid or brownish-white, sometimes tinged with red. flesh is white. tubes plane or slightly depressed around the stem, nearly adnate, very pale or whitish-yellow, becoming darker with age, changing to blue where wounded, the mouths small. the stem is equal or slightly thickened toward the base, rather long, smooth, often flexuous; whitish, sometimes streaked with brown, often tinged with red within. spores pale ochraceous-brown. pileus two to four inches broad. stem three to five inches long. _peck_, boleti of the u. s. this species is very good, tender, and appetizing. i found it quite abundant in the woods of gallia county and near chillicothe, ohio. _boletus alveolatus. b. and c._ the alveolate boletus. [illustration: figure .--boletus alveolatus.] alveolatus is from _alveolus_, a small hollow, referring to the pitted form of the pore-surface, which is one of the characters of this species. the pileus is convex, smooth, polished, usually rich crimson or maroon, sometimes varied with paler yellowish tints; substance solid, changing to blue on being fractured or bruised, three to six inches broad. the tube-surface reaches the stem proper, undulate with uneven hollows, maroon, the tubes in section being yellow beyond their dark red mouths. the stem is usually quite long, covered with depressions or pitted dentations, with intermediate coarse net-work of raised ridges, red and yellow. the spores are yellowish-brown. i found this species in the woods near gallipolis, ohio, also near salem, ohio. the bright color of its cap will command the attention of any one passing near it. it has been branded as a reprobate, but captain mcilvaine gives it a good reputation. found in the woods, especially along streams, august and september. photographed by prof. h. c. beardslee. _boletus felleus. bull._ the bitter boletus. [illustration: _photo by prof. atkinson._ figure .--boletus felleus. natural size.] felleus is from _fel_, gall, bitter. the pileus is convex, nearly plane, at first rather firm in substance, then becoming soft and cushion-like, smooth, without polish, varying in color from pale ochre to yellowish or reddish-brown or chestnut, flesh white, changing to flesh-color when bruised, taste exceedingly bitter, cap three to eight inches in diameter. the tube-surface is white at first, becoming dull pinkish with age or upon being cut or broken; rounded upward as it reaches the stem, attached to the stem, mouths angular. the stem is variable, tapering upward, rather stout, quite as smooth as the cap and a shade paler in color, toward the apex covered with a net-work which extends to the base, often bulbous. the flesh is not poisonous but intensely bitter. no amount of cooking will destroy its bitterness. i gave it a thorough trial, but it was as bitter after cooking as before. it is a common boletus about salem, ohio. i have seen plants there eight to ten inches in diameter and very heavy. they grow in woods and wood margins, usually about decaying stumps and logs, sometimes in the open fields. july to september. _boletus versipellis. fr._ the orange-cap boletus. edible. [illustration: figure .--boletus versipellis. natural size.] versipellis is from _verto_, to change, and _pellis_, a skin. the pileus is two to six inches in diameter, convex, orange-red, dry, minutely woolly or downy, then scaly or smooth, margin containing fragments of the veil, flesh white or grayish. the tube-surface is grayish-white, tubes long, free, mouths minute and gray. the stem is equal or tapering upward; solid, white with scaly wrinkles; three to five inches long; and is frequently covered with small reddish or blackish dots or scales. the spores are oblong spindle-shaped. this plant can be easily distinguished by the remnant of the veil which adheres to the margin of the cap and is of the same color. it is frequently turned under the margin adhering to the tubes. it is a large and imposing plant found in sandy soil and especially among the pines. i found it in j. thwing brooke's woods, salem, ohio. august to october. _boletus gracilis. pk._ the slender-stemmed boletus. edible. [illustration: figure .--boletus gracilis. two-thirds natural size.] gracilis means slender, referring to the stem. the pileus is one to two inches broad, convex, smooth or minutely tomentose, the epidermis frequently cracked as in the illustration; ochraceous-brown, tawny, or reddish brown; flesh white. the tube surface is convex to plane, depressed around the stem, nearly free, whitish, becoming flesh-colored. the stem is long and slender, equal or slightly tapering upward, usually curved; pruinose or mealy. the spores are subferruginous, . to . inch long, . to . inch broad. this is quite a pretty plant, but at first sight it will not be taken for a boletus. they are not plentiful in our woods. i find them only occasionally and then sparsely. they are found in july and august, the months for the boleti. they grow in leaf mold in mixed woods, especially among beech timber. _boletus striæpes. secr._ striæpes means striate stem. the pileus is convex or plane, soft, silky, olivaceous, the cuticle rust-color within, flesh white, yellow next the tubes, sparingly changing to blue. the tubes are adnate, greenish, their mouths minute, angular, yellow. the stem is firm, curved, marked with brownish-black striations, yellow, and brownish-rufescent at the base. the spores are - × µ. _peck_, boleti of the u. s. i found some beautiful specimens in a mixed woods on the edinger hillside, near chillicothe. i located them here, but observing that this species was not common i sent some to prof. atkinson, who placed them under this species. august. _boletus radicans. pers._ the pileus is convex, dry, subtomentose, olivaceous-cinereus, becoming pale-yellowish, the margin thin, involute. flesh pale-yellow, taste bitterish. the tubes are adnate, their mouths large, unequal; lemon-yellow. the stem is two to three inches long, even, tapering downward and radiating, flocculose with a reddish bloom, pale-yellow, becoming naked and dark with a touch. the spores are fusiform, olive, - . × µ. _peck_, boleti of the u. s. i found these specimens in the same locality with the b. striæpes. the olivaceous cap with its peculiar involute margin and its radiating stem will greatly assist in its determination. august. _boletus subluteus. pk._ the yellow boletus. edible. [illustration: figure .--boletus subluteus. natural size.] subluteus is from _sub_, under, nearly; _luteus_, yellow. pileus is two to three inches broad, convex, becoming plane, quite viscid when moist, dull yellowish to reddish brown, frequently more or less streaked. the flesh is whitish or dull yellow. the tube surface is plane or convex, the tubes set squarely against the stem, being small, nearly round, yellowish or ochraceous, becoming darker in age. the stem is rather long, nearly equal, about the color of the cap, dotted both above the ring and below it; the ring is membranaceous, quite variable and persistent, usually collapsing as a narrow ring on the stem. the spores are ochraceous-brown, oblong or elliptical, - × - . prof. atkinson has made a careful study of both the american and the european plants called in this country b. luteus and b. subluteus, and has come to the conclusion that they should all be called b. luteus. in distinguishing the two we usually say those having much gluten and dotted above the ring are b. luteus, and those dotted both above and below the ring are b. subluteus. the specimens in figure were collected at the state farm at lancaster, ohio, and photographed by dr. kellerman. they are found in july and august. _boletus parasiticus. bull._ [illustration: figure .--boletus parasiticus.] parasiticus means a parasite; so called because it grows on a scleroderma. it is a small plant and quite rare. the pileus is one to two inches broad, convex, or nearly plane, dry, silky, becoming glabrous, soon tessellately cracked, grayish or dingy yellow. tubes decurrent, medium size, golden yellow. the stem is equal, rigid, incurved, yellow within and without. the spores are oblong-fusiform, pale-brown, . - × µ. _peck._ the tubes are rather large and unequal, and inclined to run down upon the stem. this plant was found near boston, mass., by mrs. e. b. blackford and photographed by dr. kellerman. captain mcilvaine says it is edible but not of good flavor. it is found in july and august. _boletus separans. pk._ the separating boletus. edible. [illustration: figure .--boletus separans. one-half natural size.] separans, separating, alluding to the tubes sometimes separating from the stem by the expansion of the pileus. the pileus is convex, thick, smooth, subshining, often pitted or corrugated; brownish-red or dull-lilac, sometimes fading to yellowish on the margin; flesh white and unchangeable. tubes at first are nearly plane, adnate, white and stuffed, then convex, depressed around the stem, ochraceous-yellow or brownish-yellow and sometimes separating from the stem by the expansion of the pileus. the stem is equal or slightly tapering upward; reticulated, either wholly or in upper part only; colored like the pileus or a little paler, sometimes slightly furfuraceous. spores subfusiform, brownish-ochraceous. _peck_, boleti of u. s. the specimens in figure were found at londonderry, about fifteen miles east of chillicothe, in a grassy woods near a stream. the taste is agreeable when raw and quite good when cooked. this might appropriately have been called the lilac boletus, for that shade of color is usually present in it, somewhere. august to october. _boletus auripes. pk._ yellow-stemmed boletus. edible. [illustration: figure .--boletus auripes. one-half natural size. caps yellowish-brown. tube surface and stem yellow.] auripes is from _aureus_, yellow or golden; _pes_, foot; so called from its yellow stem. the pileus is three to four inches broad, convex, nearly smooth, yellowish-brown, the flesh often cracking in areas in old plants; flesh yellow at first, fading to a lighter color, in age. the tubes are nearly plane, their mouths small, nearly round, at first stuffed, yellow. the stem is two to four inches long, nearly equal, often reticulated, solid, a bright yellow on the surface and a light yellow within. the spores are ochraceous-brown, tinged with green, × µ. the whole plant, except the upper surface of the cap, is a golden yellow, and even the surface of the cap is more or less yellow. it favors one form of the b. edulis. it is sometimes found in mixed woods, especially if there are mountain laurels in the woods (_kalmia latifolia_). it is found in july and august. _boletus retipes. b. and c._ the beautiful-stemmed boletus. edible. [illustration: figure .--boletus retipes. natural size.] retipes is from _rete_, a net; _pes_, a foot; so called from the delicate net-work seen on the stem. the pileus is convex, dry, powdered with yellow, sometimes rivulose or cracked in areas. the tubes are adnate, yellow. the stem is subequal, cespitose, reticulate to the base, pulverulent below. the spores are greenish-ochraceous, - × - µ. _peck_, boleti. b. retipes is very close to b. ornatipes, but its manner of growth, its pulverulent cap, and its greenish-ochraceous spores will at once distinguish it. i have found them on ralston's run, a number from the same mycelial cluster, as in figure . the caps only are good. the specimens in the figure were found near ashville, n. c., and photographed by prof. h. c. beardslee. _boletus griseus. frost._ the gray boletus. [illustration: figure .--boletus griseus. two-thirds natural size.] griseus means gray. the pileus is broadly convex, firm, dry, almost smooth, gray or grayish black. the flesh is whitish or gray. the tubes are attached to the stem and slightly depressed around the stem, nearly plane, their mouths being small, nearly round, white or whitish. the stem is slightly unequal, tapering downward, distinctly reticulated, whitish or yellowish, sometimes reddish toward the base. the spores are ochraceous-brown, - × - µ. _peck._ this plant, with us, grows singly and it is infrequently found. i have found it always in beech woods along ralston's run. it is found in august and september. _boletus nigrellus. pk._ the blackish boletus. edible. [illustration: figure .--boletus nigrellus. two-thirds natural size.] nigrellus is a diminutive of _niger_, black. the entire plant is blackish except the pore surface. the pileus is three to six inches broad, rather broadly convex or nearly plane, dry, blackish. the flesh is soft and unchangeable. the tube-surface is rather plane, adhering to the stem, sometimes slightly depressed around the stem, the mouths being small, nearly round; whitish, becoming flesh-colored, changing to black or brown when wounded. the stem is equal, short, even, black or blackish. the spores are dull flesh-color, - × - µ. when i first found this specimen i was inclined to call it b. alboater, but its flesh-colored tubes served to distinguish it. i found the specimens in figure on edinger's hill, near chillicothe. the taste is mild and fairly good. august and september. _boletus americanus. pk._ [illustration: figure .--boletus americanus. one-half natural size.] this species will attract the attention of the collector because of its very viscid cap. i found the specimens in figure growing on cemetery hill, near chillicothe, in company with lactarius deliciosus. they were growing near and under pine trees, both in dense groups and separately. the caps were very viscid, yellow with a slight tinge of red. the stem is covered with numerous reddish-brown dots. the pileus is one to three inches broad, thin; at first rather globose, convex, then expanded, sometimes broadly umbonate; very viscid when moist, especially on the margin; yellow or becoming dingy or streaked with red in age. the tube-surface is nearly plane and the tubes join squarely against the stem; quite large, angular, pale yellow, becoming a dull ochraceous. the stem is slender, equal or tapering upward, firm, with no trace of a ring; yellow, often brownish toward the base, covered with numerous brown or reddish-brown quite persistent granular dots; yellow within. the spores are oblong, ochraceous-ferruginous, - × - µ. the veil is only observed in the very young specimens. only caps are good to eat. the specimens were photographed for me by dr. kellerman. _boletus morgani. pk._ morgan's boletus. edible. [illustration: figure .--boletus morgani. one-half natural size.] morgani is named in honor of prof. morgan. the pileus is one and a half to two inches broad, convex, soft, glabrous, viscid; red, yellow, or red fading to yellow on the margin; flesh white, tinged with red and yellow, unchangeable. the tube-surface convex, depressed around the stem, tubes rather long and large, bright yellow, becoming greenish-yellow. the stem is elongated, tapering upward, pitted with long and narrow depressions, yellow, red in the depressions, colored within like the flesh of the pileus. the spores are olive-brown, - µ, about half as broad. _peck._ this plant is found in company with b. russelli, which it resembles very closely. its smooth, viscid cap and white flesh will distinguish it. its stem is much more rough in wet weather than in dry. the peculiar color of the stem will help to identify the species. i found it frequently on ralston's run, near chillicothe. it is found in many of the states of the union. july and august. _boletus russelli. frost._ russell's boletus. edible. [illustration: figure .--boletus russelli. one-half natural size.] the cap is thick, hemispherical or convex, dry, covered with downy scales or bundles of red hairs, yellowish beneath the tomentum, often cracked in areas. the flesh is yellow and unchangeable. the tubes are subadnate, often depressed around the stem, rather large, dingy-yellow, or yellowish-green. the stem is very long, equal or tapering upward, roughened by the lacerated margins of the reticular depressions, red or brownish red. the spores are olive-brown, - × - µ. the pileus is one and a half to four inches broad, the stem is three to seven inches long, and three to six lines thick. this is distinguished from the other species by the dry squamulose pileus and the color of the stem. the latter is sometimes curved at the base. _peck._ i have found this species frequently in the woods and open places about chillicothe. it is one of the easiest of the boleti to determine. the plants here have a bright brownish-red pileus, with a shade lighter color on the stem; the latter quite rough and tapering toward the cap. they are usually solitary. the plants in figure were collected in michigan and photographed by dr. fischer. _boletus vermiculosus. pk._ [illustration: figure .--boletus vermiculosus. one-half natural size.] vermiculosus means full of small worms. the pileus is broadly convex, thick, firm, dry; smooth, or very minutely tomentose; brown, yellowish-brown or grayish-brown, sometimes tinged with red. the flesh is white or whitish, quickly changing to blue where wounded. the tubes are plane or slightly convex, nearly free, yellow; their mouths small, round, brownish-orange, becoming darker or blackish with age, changing promptly to blue where wounded. the stem is nearly equal, firm, even, paler than the pileus. the spores are ochraceous-brown, - × - µ. _peck._ the plant represented in figure grew under the beech trees on cemetery hill. i found it frequently in the woods, from july to september. _boletus frostii. russell._ [illustration: figure .--boletus frostii. caps blood-red and shining. natural size.] frostii is named in honor of mr. frost, a noted mycologist. the pileus is three to four inches broad; convex, polished, shining, blood-red; the margin is thin, the flesh scarcely changing to blue. the tubes are nearly free, greenish-yellow, becoming yellowish-brown with age, their mouths blood-red or cinnabar-red. the stem is two to four inches long, three to six lines thick, equal or tapering upward, distinctly reticulated, firm, blood-red. the spores are . - × µ. _peck_, boleti of u. s. this is a beautiful plant. it is not plentiful, yet it is found frequently on some of our hillsides. the plants in figure were found in hayne's hollow near chillicothe, and photographed by dr. kellerman. the plant is found in new england and through the middle west. i have had beautiful plants sent me from vermont. it is not edible, so far as i know. found in august and september. _boletus luridus. schaeff._ the lurid boletus. [illustration: figure .--boletus luridus. one-half natural size.] luridus means pale-yellow, sallow. the pileus is convex, tomentose, brown-olivaceous, then somewhat viscous, sooty. the flesh is yellow, changing to blue when wounded. tubes free, yellow, becoming greenish, their mouths round, vermilion, becoming orange. the stem is stout, vermilion, somewhat orange at the top, reticulate or punctuate. the spores are greenish-gray, × µ. the lurid boletus, though pleasant to the taste, is reputed very poisonous. boletus rubeolarius, pers., having a short, bulbous, scarcely reticulated stem, is regarded as a variety of this species. the red-stemmed boletus, b. erythropus, pers., is also indicated by fries as a variety of luridus. it will be seen on the right in figure . it is smaller than b. luridus, has a brown or reddish-brown pileus and a slender cylindrical stem, not reticulated but dotted with squamules. _peck_, boleti of the u. s. the plant is quite abundant in our woods. found in july and august. _boletus castaneus. bull._ the chestnut boletus. edible. [illustration: figure .--boletus castaneus. one-half natural size.] [illustration: figure .--boletus castaneus.] castaneus, pertaining to a chestnut. the pileus is dry, convex, then expanded, minutely velvety; cinnamon or reddish-brown, from one to three inches in diameter; the flesh white, not changing when bruised, cap frequently turned upward. the tube-surface is white, becoming yellow, tubes small and short, free from the stem. the stem is equal or tapering upward, colored and clothed like the cap, short and not always straight; when young it is spongy in the center but becomes hollow with age. the spores are pale-yellow, oval or broadly elliptical, which is a feature to distinguish the species. i found a number of specimens in james dunlap's woods, near chillicothe, ohio. a great majority seemed to be attacked by the parasitic fungi, sepedonium chrysospermum. the caps are very fine eating. care should be taken to use only young specimens. found in open woods from june to september. _boletus satanus. lenz._ satanic boletus. pileus convex, smooth, somewhat gluey, brownish-yellow or whitish; flesh whitish, becoming reddish or violaceous where wounded. tubes free, yellow, their mouths bright red, becoming orange-colored with age. the stem thick, ovate-ventricose, marked above with red reticulations. _peck_, boleti of u. s. hamilton gibson and captain mcilvaine seem to give his satanic majesty a good reputation, but i would say "be cautious." his looks always deterred me. found in woods from june to september. _strobilomyces. berk._ strobilomyces is from two greek words meaning a pine-cone and a fungus. the hymenophore is even, tubes not easily separable from it, large and equal. it is of a brownish-gray color, its shaggy surface more or less studded with deep-brown or black woolly points, each at the center of a scale-like segment. the tubes beneath are covered at first with a veil which breaks and is often found on the rim of the cap. it is a plant that will quickly attract attention. _strobilomyces strobilaceus. berk._ the cone-like boletus. edible. [illustration: figure .--strobilomyces strobilaceus. two-thirds natural size.] strobilaceus, cone-like. this is especially emphasized from the fact that both the genus and the species are named from the fancied resemblance of the cap to a pine cone. it is ever readily recognized because of this character of the cap. the pileus is convex, rough with dark umber scales drawn into regular cone-like points tipped with dark-brown; margin veiled, flesh grayish-white, turning red when bruised, and finally black. pore-surface grayish-white in young specimens, and usually covered with the veil; tubes attached to the stem, angular, turning red when bruised. the stem is equal or tapering upward, furrowed at the top, covered with a woolly down. spores dark-brown, - × µ. found at londonderry. common in woods. august to september. _boletinus. kalchb._ boletinus is a diminutive of boletus. hymenium composed of broad radiating lamellæ, connected by very numerous and narrow anastomosing branches or partitions, forming large angular pores. tubes somewhat tenacious, not easily separable from the hymenophore and from each other, adnate or subdecurrent, yellowish. _peck._ _boletinus pictus. pk._ the painted boletinus. edible. [illustration: figure .--boletinus pictus.] pictus, painted. this plant seems to delight in damp pine woods, but i have found it only occasionally about chillicothe, under beech trees. it is readily recognized by the red fibrillose tomentum which covers the entire plant when young. as the plant expands the reddish tomentum is broken into scales of the same color, revealing the yellowish color of the pileus beneath. the flesh is compact, yellow, often changing to a dull pinkish or reddish tint where wounded. the tube-surface is at first pale yellow, but becomes darker with age, often changing to pinkish, with a brown tinge where bruised. the stem is solid, equal, and covered with a cottony layer of mycelium-threads like the pileus, though often paler. the spores are ochraceous, - × - µ. the plants are two to four inches broad, and one and a half to three inches high. found from july to october. _boletinus cavipes. kalchb._ hollow-stemmed boletinus. edible. [illustration: figure .--boletinus cavipes.] cavipes is from two latin words meaning a hollow stem. the pileus is broadly convex, rather tough, flexible, soft, subumbonate, fibrillose-scaly, tawny-brown, sometimes tinged with reddish or purplish, flesh yellowish. the tubes are slightly decurrent, at first pale-yellow, then darker and tinged with green, becoming dingy-ochraceous with age. the stem is equal or slightly tapering upward, somewhat fibrillose or floccose, slightly ringed, hollow, tawny-brown or yellowish-brown, yellowish at the top and marked by the decurrent dissepiments of the tubes, white within. veil whitish, partly adhering to the margin of the pileus, soon disappearing. the spores are - × µ. _peck_, in boleti of the u. s. this plant grows in new york and the new england states, under pine and tamarack trees. the caps are convex, covered with a tawny-brown fibrillose tomentum. the stems of those i have seen are hollow from the first. the plants in figure were sent me from massachusetts by mrs. blackford. _boletinus porosus._ (_berk._) _pk._ [illustration: figure .--boletinus porosus. two-thirds natural size. caps nut-brown, yellowish-brown or olivaceous.] these form a small but interesting species, not usually exceeding three and a half inches in diameter nor more than two inches in height. the cap is somewhat fleshy, nut-brown, or yellowish-brown, shading to olivaceous in color in most of the specimens which i have found; when fresh and moist, somewhat sticky and shining. the margins are thin, rather even, and inclined to be involute; the shape of the cap is more or less irregular, in many cases almost kidney-shaped. the stem is laterally attached, tough, and gradually expands into the pileus which it resembles in color; it is markedly reticulated at the top by the decurrent walls of the spore-tubes. the spore-surface is yellow, the tubes arranged in radiating rows, some being more prominent than others, the partitions often assuming the form of gills which branch and are connected by cross partitions of less prominence. the stratum of tubes, while soft, is very tenacious, not separating from the flesh of the pileus. the odor and taste of all the specimens found were pleasant. found in damp woods in july and august. when a sufficient number can be found they make an excellent dish. it is found in abundance about chillicothe. _fistulina. bull._ fistulina means a small pipe; so called because the tubes stand close together and separate easily one from another. the hymenophore is fleshy and hymenium inferior. when first seen springing from a stump or root it looks like a large strawberry. it soon develops into the appearance of a big red tongue. when young the upper side is quite velvety and peach-colored, later it becomes a livid red and loses its velvety appearance. the under surface is flesh-colored and is rough like the surface of a tongue, owing to the fact that the tubes are free from one another. when it is moist it is very viscid, making your hands quite blood-stained in appearance. _fistulina hepatica. fr._ the liver fungus. edible. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ plate xliii. figure .--fistulina hepatica. beefsteak mushroom.] this is a beautiful plant, quite common where there are chestnut stumps and trees. i have found it on chestnut oak, quite large specimens, too. it is one of my favorite mushrooms; one cannot afford to pass it by. its beautiful color will attract attention at once, and having once eaten it well prepared, one will never pass a chestnut stump without examining it. [illustration: figure .--fistulina hepatica. one-half natural size.] the pileus is fan-shaped or semicircular, red-juicy, flesh when cut somewhat mottled like beet-root and giving forth a very appetizing odor; the cap is moist and somewhat viscid, the color varying from a red (somewhat beefy) to a reddish-brown in older plants; while the spore surface varies from strawberry-pink through a light-and dark-tan to an almost chestnut-brown. in young plants the color is much richer and more vivid than in those of greater maturity. the spore surface resembles nothing so much as a very fine sponge, the spore-tubes being short, crowded, yet distinct. the marked peculiarity of its mode of growth is in the attachment of the stem; somewhat thick, fleshy, and juicy, coming from the side of the pileus like the handle of a fan, it looks as if some one had taken hold of the cap and given it a partial twist to the right or to the left, as may be seen in figure . another peculiarity i have noticed in this species consists of the nerve-like lines, or veinlets, radiating from the stem and streaking the upper surface of the cap. the taste, when raw, is slightly but pleasantly acid. its favorite habitat seems to be injured places on chestnut trees, and about chestnut stumps. it is known as liver fungus, beefsteak fungus, oak-tongue, chestnut-tongue, etc. it is found from july to october. i have found it plentiful about chillicothe on chestnut stumps, and quite generally over the state. i found some very fine specimens on the chestnut oaks, about bowling green, ohio. when properly prepared it is equal to any kind of meat. it is one of our best mushrooms. _fistulina pallida. b. and rav._ [illustration: figure .--fistulina pallida. natural size.] pallida means pale. pileus kidney-shaped, pallid-red, fawn or clay-color, thick at the base and thinning toward the margin, which is often crenate and inflexed; pulverulent, firm, flexible, tough; flesh white. the tubes are long and slender, mouths somewhat enlarged, whitish, the tube surface a pale cream-color and minutely mealy, pores not decurrent but ending with the beginning of the stem. the stem is uniformly attached to the concave margin of the cap; attenuated downward; whitish below, but near the cap it changes to the same tint. the peculiar manner of attachment of the stem will serve to identify the species, which i have found several times near chillicothe. the specimen in the illustration was found on the state farm, and photographed by dr. kellerman. _polyporus. fr._ polyporus is from two greek words meaning many and pores. in this genus the stratum of the pores is not easily separated from the cap. most of the species under this genus are tough and corky. many grow on decayed wood, a few on the ground, but even these are inclined to be tough. very few of those growing on wood have a central stem and many have apparently no stem at all. _polyporus picipes. fr._ the black-footed polyporus. [illustration: figure .--polyporus picipes. two-thirds natural size. note the black stem, which gives name to the species.] picipes is from _pix_, pitch or black, and _pes_, foot. the pileus is fleshy, rigid, coriaceous, tough, even, smooth, depressed either behind or in the center; livid with a chestnut-colored disk. the pores are decurrent, rounded, small, tender, white, finally reddish-gray. the stem is eccentric and lateral, equal, firm; at first velvety, then naked; punctate with black dots, becoming black. the stem at the base is pitch-black, as will be seen in figure . the margin of the cap is very thin and the caps are irregularly funnel-form. this plant is widely distributed over the united states and is quite common about chillicothe. found in damp woods on decayed logs from july to november. when very young and tender it can be eaten. _polyporus umbellatus. fr._ the sun-shade polyporus. edible. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ plate xliv. figure .--polyporus umbellatus.] umbellatus is from _umbella_, a sun-shade. very much branched, fibrous-fleshy, toughish. the pileoli are very numerous, one-half to one and a half inches broad, sooty, dull-red, united at the base. pores are minute and white. white pileoli have sometimes occurred. _fries._ the tufts, as will be observed from figure , are very dense, and there seems to be no limit to their branching. notice that every cap is depressed or umbilicate. the specimen in figure was collected near mammoth cave, kentucky, by mr. c. g. lloyd, cincinnati, and through his courtesy i have used his print. i have found the plant about chillicothe and sidney, ohio. it is found on decayed roots on the ground, or on stumps. when the caps are fresh they are quite good. may to november. _polyporus frondosus. fr._ the branched polyporus. edible. [illustration: figure .--polyporus frondosus. one-fifth natural size.] frondosus, full of leafy branches. the tufts are from six inches to over a foot broad, very much branched, fibrous-fleshy, toughish. the pileoli are very numerous, one-half to two inches broad, sooty-gray, dimidiate, wrinkled, lobed, intricately recurved. flesh white. stems, growing into each other, white. the pores are rather tender, very small, acute, white, commonly round, but in oblique position, gaping open and torn. _fries._ the specimen in figure was found near chillicothe. when tender it is very good. found on stumps and roots from september till the coming of frost. we are told that in the roman markets this mushroom is frequently sold as an article of food. _polyporus leucomelas. fr._ [illustration: figure .--polyporus leucomelas.] leucomelas is from two greek words, _leucos_, white, and _melas_, black. the pileus is two to four inches broad, fleshy, somewhat fragile, irregularly shaped, silky, sooty-black; flesh soft, reddish when broken. the pores are rather large, unequal, ashy or whitish, becoming black when drying. the stem is one to three inches long, stout, unequal, somewhat tomentose, sooty-black, becoming black internally. the pileus and stem become black in places. the spores are cylindric-fusoid, pale-brown, - × - µ. they are usually found in pine woods. the caps are often deformed and are easily broken. the pores resemble those of a boletus. the plant is quite widely distributed. the one in figure was found in massachusetts by mrs. blackford, and i photographed it after it was partially dry. it is probably the same as p. griseus, p. _polyporus berkeleyi. fr._ berkeley's polyporus. edible. the pileoli are fleshy, tough, becoming hard and corky, many times imbricated, sometimes growing very large, with many in a head; subzonate, finally tomentose; the plant very much branched, alutaceous. the stem is short or entirely wanting, arising from a long and thick caudex. the pore surface is very large, the pores are large and irregular, angular, pale-yellowish. i have seen some very large specimens of this species. the natural size of the specimen in figure is two and one-fourth feet across. when young it is edible, but not equal to p. sulphureus. it is found growing on the ground near trees and stumps, and is a widely distributed plant. [illustration: figure .--polyporus berkeleyi. one-fifth natural size.] [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ plate xlv. figure .--polyporus berkeleyi. reduced. natural size being ½ feet across.] _polyporus giganteus. fr._ the giant polyporus. edible. giganteus is from _gigas_, a giant. the pileoli are very numerous, imbricated, fleshy, tough, somewhat coriaceous, flaccid, somewhat zoned; color a grayish-brown in young specimens, the deep cream pore surfaces tipping the pileoli, rendering it a very attractive plant; this cream-color is quickly changed to black or deep-brown by touching it. the pores are minute, shallow, round, pallid, at length torn. the stem is branched, connate from a common tuber. this is a large and certainly a very attractive plant, being very often two to three feet across. when young and tender it is edible. found growing on decayed stumps and roots, it is somewhat common in our state. i have found some quite large specimens about chillicothe. it is easily distinguished by its pore surface turning black or dark-brown to the touch. when young and tender it makes a good stew, but it must be well cooked. _polyporus squamosus. fr._ the scaly polyporus. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--polyporus squamosus. natural size.] squamosus means abounding in scales. the pileus is from three to eighteen inches broad, fleshy, fan-shaped, expanded, flattened, somewhat ochraceous, variegated, with scattered, brown, adpressed scales. the stem is eccentric and lateral, blunt, reticulated at apex, blackish at the base. the pores are thin, variable; at first minute, then broad, angular and torn; pallid. spores are white and elliptical, × µ. it is found from massachusetts to iowa, and grows very large. specimens have been reported seven feet in circumference and attaining a weight of pounds. the specimen in figure was found by mr. c. g. lloyd in the woods at red bank, near cincinnati. it is quite a common plant in europe. it is tough, but it is prepared for eating by being cut fine and stewed for a half hour or more. in figure the angular and torn pores are obvious, as well as the scales which give rise to its name. found on trunks and stumps from may to november. _polyporus sulphureus. fr._ the sulphur-colored polyporus. edible. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ plate xlvi. figure .--polyporus sulphureus.] sulphureus, pertaining to sulphur, so called from the color of the tube-bearing surface. in mature specimens the growth is horizontal, spreading fan-like from the stem, undulating with radiating flutings. the upper surface is salmon, orange, or orange-red; flesh cheesy, light-yellow, the edge being smooth and unevenly thickened with nodule-like prominences. in young specimens the ascending, under yellow surface outwardly exposed. the pore surface is a bright sulphur-yellow, which is more persistent than the color of the cap; pores very minute, short, often formed of inflexed masses. the stem is short, a mere close attachment for the spreading growth. the taste is slightly acid and mucilaginous when raw. the spores are elliptical and white, - × - µ. it grows on decayed logs, on stumps, and on decayed places in living trees. the mycelium of this species will frequently be found in the hearts of trees and remain there for years before the tree is injured sufficiently for the mycelium to come to the surface. it may take months, or a century, to accomplish this. when this plant is young and tender it is a prime favorite with all who know it. it is found from august to november. its favorite host is an oak stump or log. _polyporus flavovirens. b. & rav._ [illustration: figure .--polyporus flavovirens. two-thirds natural size.] flavovirens means yellowish-green or olivaceous. the pileus is quite large, three to six inches broad, convex, expanded funnel-form or repand, fleshy, tomentose, yellowish-green or olivaceous; frequently the pileus is cracked when old; flesh white. the pores are not large, toothed, white or whitish, decurrent upon the stem which is tapering. this plant is very common on the oak hillsides about chillicothe. the plants in figure were found by miss margaret mace on the governor tiffin farm, about twelve miles north of chillicothe, growing in large groups under oak trees. it is edible though often tough. it is found in august and september. it is very abundant in this region. _polyporus heteroclitus. fr._ the bouquet polyporus. edible. [illustration: figure .--polyporus heteroclitus. one-fourth natural size. the pileoli bright orange.] heteroclitus is from two greek words; one of two and to lean, referring to its habit of growth, leaning apparently upon the ground or the base of a tree or stump. it is cæspitose and coriaceous. the pileoli are two and a half inches broad, orange and sessile, expanded on all sides from the radical tubercle, lobed, villous, zoneless. the pores are irregularly shaped and elongated, golden yellow. _fries._ the specimen in figure was found by mr. beyerly at richmond dale, ohio. it was over a foot in diameter and eight inches high, growing in many cæspitose layers, on the ground under an oak tree, from a radical tubercle. the flesh was juicy and tender, breaking easily. the radical tubercle from which it grew was filled with a milky juice. the flesh was somewhat lighter in color than the outside pilei, which extended horizontally from the tubercle. it is a very showy and attractive plant, and as captain mcilvaine remarks, it looks like a "mammoth dahlia" in bloom. when young and tender it is good, but in age it becomes rank. this plant was found july st. it grows in the months of june and july. _polyporus radicatus. schw._ [illustration: figure .--polyporus radicatus. one-third natural size.] radicatus, from the long root the plant has. the pileus is fleshy, quite tough, cushion-shaped, slightly depressed, pale sooty, somewhat downy. the pores are decurrent, quite large, obtuse, equal, white. the stem is very long, often eccentric, tapering downward, sometimes ventricose as in figure , rooting quite deep, black below. it is found on the ground in the woods and in old clearings beside old trees and stumps. the blackish or brown pileus, which is more or less tomentose, with a black stem more or less deformed, will serve to distinguish the species. found from september to november. _polyporus perplexus. pk._ [illustration: figure .--polyporus perplexus. two-thirds natural size.] the pileus is spongy-fleshy, fibrous, sessile, commonly imbricated, and somewhat confluent, irregular, hairy-tomentose to setose-hispid, grayish-tawny, or ferruginous, the margin subacute, sterile, the substance within tawny-ferruginous, somewhat zonate. the pores are two to three lines long, unequal, angular, the dissepiments becoming brownish-ferruginous with age or where bruised. the spores are ferruginous, broadly elliptical, . to . inch long and about . broad. _peck._ this is very abundant on beech logs, growing quite large, massive, imbricated, and confluent, the pileoli being often two to four inches broad. it is very closely related to p. cuticularis and p. hispidus. it can be easily distinguished from p. cuticularis by means of its straight margin, and from p. hispidus by its small size and smaller pores. found from september to november. _polyporus hispidus. fr._ pileus is very large, eight to ten inches broad and three to four inches thick, compact, spongy, fleshy but fibrous, dimidiate, with occasionally a very short stem; generally very hairy, but sometimes smooth; the pileus is often marked with concentric lines which seem to indicate arrested vegetation; brown, blackish, yellowish or reddish brown, below pale-yellow or rich sienna-brown, margin paler. the pores are minute, round, inclined to separate, fringed, paler. the spores are yellowish, apiculate, × µ. often found on living trees, the plant gains entrance to the living stem through the bark, by means of a wound made by some agency, as a bird or a boring insect; soon a mass of mycelium is formed, and from this the fruiting body is produced. _polyporus cuticularis. fr._ pileus is quite thin, spongy, fleshy, then dry; plane, hairy-tomentose, ferruginous, then blackish-brown; margin fibrous, fimbriate, internally loose and parallel, fibrous. the pores are long, quite small, pale, then ochraceous; pores longer than the thickness of the flesh. the spores are yellow or ochraceous, very abundant, × - µ. the hairs on the pileus are three-cleft. this is very frequent in beech woods about chillicothe. found in september and october. _polyporus circinatus. fr._ the round polyporus. edible. circinatus is from _circinus_, a pair of compasses, hence means rounded like a circle. the pileus is three to four inches across, with a double cap, one cap within another, both being compact, thick, round, plane, zoneless, velvety, rusty-yellow to reddish-brown, the flesh being of the same color. the upper cap is pliable, compact, soft, and covered with a soft tomentum, the lower cap, contiguous with the stem, is woody and corky. the pores are decurrent, extending down the stem, entire, rather small, dusky-gray. the stem is short and rather thick, often swollen, covered with a reddish-brown tomentum. this is an odd but handsome species and easily determined because of its double cap. it is said to prefer fir woods, but i have frequently found it in oak woods. it grows on the ground, and when young and fresh the pilei are said to be good. i have never found more than one specimen at a time and never in a condition to eat, though good authorities say it is edible when young and tender. found in september and october. _polyporus adustus. fr._ adustus means scorched, so called from the blackish color of margin. the pileus is often imbricated; fleshy, tough, firm, thin, villous, ash-color; margin straight, blackish. the pores are minute, round, obtuse, whitish, soon ashy-brown. it is abundant everywhere on fallen beech or on beech stumps. it is very close to p. fumosus if it is not identical with it. it is found from august to late fall. _polyporus resinosus._ [illustration: figure .--polyporus resinosus. one-fourth natural size.] pileus from three to six, and frequently eight, inches long; rich-brown, varying from bright cinnamon to red, handsomely marked with delicate pencilings radiating from the axis of growth; the color of the pileus seems to form a binding about the edge of the light-gray pore surface, which is closely punctured with minute elliptical pores. the color of the pore surface readily changes to brown upon slight pressure. the whole plant is full of a brownish juice which exudes freely upon pressure. the plant is shelving and imbricated upon the side of a log, without any apparent stem. taken altogether the polyporus resinosus presents one of the handsomest specimens of fungus growth that one will be likely to find in a long day's tramp. when fresh and growing it has rather a pleasant taste. it is found during october and november, growing on decayed logs, being partial to the beech. its abundance is equal to its beauty. _polyporus lucidus. fr._ [illustration: figure .--polyporus lucidus. one-third natural size.] the pileus is two to three or more inches broad, usually very irregular, brownish-maroon, with a distinct double zone of duller dark-brown and tan. cap glazed especially in the center, wrinkled. the spore surface is a very light grayish-brown in the young plant, changing to almost a tan in older ones, pores labyrinthiform. the stem is irregular, knotted and swollen with protuberances somewhat resembling buds, from which develop the caps which in some cases appear as if stuck on the stem like barnacles on a stick. contrary to most mushrooms the upper surface of the cap and the stem are of nearly the same color, the stem being usually of a more brilliant red. the stem has a distinct root extending into the ground several inches. the whole plant is almost indescribably irregular. it is quite an attractive plant when seen growing among the weeds and beside stumps. the plants in figure i found growing among datura stramonium beside old stumps in a pasture. i have found the same species growing on oak stumps. it is known as ganoderma curtisii, berk., g. pseudo-boletus, merrill. it is found from august till late fall. _polyporus obliquus. pers._ [illustration: figure .--polyporus obliquus. two-thirds natural size.] obliquus means slanting, oblique. this species is widely circumfused, usually hard, quite thick, uneven, pallid, elegant chocolate-brown, then blackish; conversely encircled crested border. the pores are long, very minute, obtuse, slightly angular. it grows on dead branches of iron-wood and wild cherry. the deep chocolate-brown and the oblique form of its pores will serve to identify the species. it grows, with us, in the spring. i gathered this specimen in june. in the fall i visited the same trunk, but found they had begun to decay. it is sometimes called poria obliqua. _polyporus graveolens. fr._ [illustration: figure .--polyporus graveolens.] graveolens means strong scented. corky or woody and extremely hard, very closely imbricated and connate, forming a subglobose polycephalous mass, figure . pileoli innumerable, inflexed and appressed, plicate, brown. pores concealed, very minute, round, pale-brown, the dissepiments thick and obtuse. _morgan._ this is a very interesting plant because of its peculiar mode of growth. it is found in woods or clearings on dead logs or on standing dead trees. in some parts of the state it is quite common. from the illustration, figure , it will be seen that the plant consists of an innumerable number of pileoli forming a subglobose or elongated mass. they are frequently three to six inches in diameter and several inches long. i have seen them very much elongated on standing trees. when it is young and growing it is shiny in appearance and has a reddish and sometimes a purplish tint. the inner substance is ferruginous but covered with a hard brown crust. the pores are brown, and when examined with the glass are seen to be lined with a very fine pubescence. the imbricated form of the pileoli show very plainly in the illustration. _polyporus brumalis. fr._ the winter polyporus. [illustration: figure .--polyporus brumalis.] brumalis is from _bruma_, which means winter; so called because it appears late, in cold weather. the specimens in figure were found in december. the pileus is from one to three inches broad, nearly plane, slightly depressed in the center; somewhat fleshy and tough; dingy-brown, clothed with minute scales, becoming smooth, pallid. the pores are oval, slightly angular, slender, acute, denticulate, white, - × µ. the stem is short, thin, slightly bulbous at the base, hirsute or squamulose, pale, central. it usually occurs singly but frequently you will find several in a group. found on sticks and logs, they are quite hard to detach from their hosts. too tough to eat. it equals polyporus polyporus. (retz) merrill. _polyporus rufescens. fr._ the rufescent polyporus. rufescens, becoming red. the pileus is flesh-colored, spongy, soft, unequal, hairy or woolly. the pores are large, sinuose and torn, white or flesh-colored. the stem is short, irregular, tuberous at the base. spores elliptical, × - µ. rather common about chillicothe on the ground about old stumps. _polyporus arcularius. batsch._ [illustration: figure .--polyporus arcularius. two-thirds natural size, showing dark brown and depressed center; also dark brown stems.] the pileus is dark-brown, minutely scaly, depressed in the center, margin covered with stiff hairs. the tube surface is of a dingy cream color, openings oblong, almost diamond-shaped, resembling the meshes of a net, the meshes being smaller on the margin, shallow, simply marked out at the top of the stem. the stem is dark-brown, minutely scaly, mottled, with a ground work of cream-color; hollow. common in the spring of the year on sticks and decayed wood in fields or in old clearings. it is quite generally distributed. edible but tough. _polyporus elegans. fr._ the pileus is fleshy, soon becoming woody; expanded, even, smooth, pallid. pores are plane, minute, nearly round, pallid, yellowish-white. the stem is eccentric, even, smooth, pallid; base from the first abruptly black. this is quite common on rotten wood in the forests. it resembles p. picipes both in appearance and habitat. _polyporus medulla-panis. fr._ effused, determinate, subundulate, firm, smooth, white, circumference naked, submarginate, wholly composed of middle sized, rather long, entire pores, the whole becoming yellowish in age. i found this species on an elm log along ralston's run. _polyporus albellus. pk._ the pileus is thick, sessile, convex or subungulate, subsolitary, two to four inches broad, one to one and a half thick, fleshy, rather soft; the adnate cuticle rather thin, smooth or sometimes slightly roughened by a slight strigose tomentum, especially toward the margin; whitish, tinged more or less with fuscus; flesh pure white, odor acidulous. the pores are nearly plane, minute, subrotund, about two lines long; white, inclining to yellowish, the dissepiments thin, acute. the spores are minute, cylindrical, curved, white, . to . inch long. _peck._ this species is quite common here and is very widely distributed in the united states. _polyporus epileucus. fr._ this is quite a large and beautiful plant. it apparently grows without a stem, its color being an unequal gray. the pileus is somewhat coriaceous, firm, pulvinate, villous. the pores are round, elongated, obtuse, entire, white. this is not common with us, but i have met it a few times and always on elm logs or stumps. _polyporus betulinus. fr._ the birch polyporus. edible. [illustration: figure .--polyporus betulinus.] betulinus is from _betulina_, birch. the pileus is from four to ten inches across, fleshy, soon corky, ungulate, obtuse, smooth, pale reddish-brown when mature, often mottled, roundish, or somewhat reniform, zoneless, the oblique vertex in the form of an umbo; pellicle thin, separating; flesh white, very thick. the pores are short, round, minute, unequal, separable from the pileus when fresh, but really concrete with it; white or tinged with brown, developing slowly; when mature there are peculiar hair-like scales attached to the pore-surface, making the plant look like a hydnum when viewed from the side. it is found wherever the birch tree grows. when young and fresh it is edible, but with a strong flavor unpleasant to many. in this state the deer eat it. the specimen in figure was found in wisconsin, and photographed by dr. kellerman. this species is the piptoporus suberosus (l.) of merrill. _polyporus cinnabarinus. schw._ cinnabar polyporus. [illustration: figure .--polyporus cinnabarinus. one-third natural size.] cinnabarinus like cinnabar (vermilion). the pileus is dry, more or less spongy, pliant, rather thick, fibrous on top; flesh light or yellowish-red, shelving. the pores are carmine, quite small, round, entire. this species is quite common in the woods about chillicothe. it is easily identified by the beautiful carmine color of the pileus and the pore surface, the latter being a shade darker than the former, as will be seen in figure . the specimens photographed were found in december. they grow on dead logs and branches, commonly on the oak and wild cherry, sometimes on maple. it is called by some authors trametes cinnabarina. _polyporus vulgaris. fr._ common effused polyporus. vulgaris, common. quite broadly effused, very thin, adheres closely to its host; even, white, dry. circumference soon smooth and the whole surface composed of firm, crowded, small, round, nearly equal pores. effused on dead wood, fallen branches, and frequently on moist boards. _polyporus lacteus. fr._ the pileus is white, or whitish, fleshy, somewhat fibrous, fragile, triangular in form, pubescent, azonate, margin somewhat inflexed, acute. the pores are thin, acute, dentate, finally lacerate and labyrinthiform. this species is found in the woods, on beech logs. it is small and thin, not much more than an inch in width but sometimes elongated. steep and gibbous behind, becoming at length smooth and equal. it is not abundant in our woods, but i have found it often. august and september. _polyporus cæsius. schrad._ the pileus is white, with a bluish tinge occasionally upon its surface, soft, tenacious, unequal, silky. the pores are small, unequal, long, flexuous, dentate, lacerate. it is found in woods on partially decayed sticks. i have only occasionally found a specimen in our woods. _polyporus pubescens. schw._ [illustration: figure .--polyporus pubescens. white without and within, pubescent and shiny.] pubescens means downy; so called from the satiny finish of its pileus, which is fleshy, quite tough and corky, soft, convex, subzonate, pubescent and shiny; white without and within; the margin acute, becoming at length yellowish and hard, with a shiny lustre. the pores are short, minute, nearly round and plane. the pileus is from one to two inches in width, laterally confluent and usually very much imbricated. quite plentiful in woods on beech logs. july to november. _polyporus volvatus. pk._ [illustration: figure .--polyporus volvatus. natural size.] volvatus, bearing a volva. this is a most interesting species. the pileus seems to be prolonged, making a volva-like protection of the spore surface. when this volva is ruptured small heaps of spores will often be seen on the volva, having been protected from the wind. the plant is small, somewhat round, and before the volva is ruptured it is very like a puffball; fleshy, smooth, attached by a small point, whitish, slightly tinged with yellow, red or reddish-brown; the cuticle of the pileus enveloping the entire pore-surface, thick and firm. the pores are rather long, small, the mouths yellowish, with a tinge of brown. the spores are elliptical and flesh-colored, . to . inch long and about . broad. this plant has a wide distribution, being found in the new england and eastern states, and the states of the pacific slope. i presume it will be found wherever the spruce tree is a native. the specimens in figure were found near boston and were sent me about the first of may by mrs. blackford. the first package i took, before examining them, to be a new puffball, which they seemed to resemble in their undeveloped state. _polystictus biformis. fr._ [illustration: figure .--polystictus biformis. natural size. frequently covered with green lichen.] biformis means two shapes or appearances; referring to the condition of the pores in the young and the old plant. the pileus is two to three inches wide, projecting from one to three inches, often imbricated so as to cover a large surface; laterally confluent, coriaceous, flexible, tough, subzonate, with innate radiating fibres, the cortex fibrillose, concolorous. the pores at first very large, simple, compound, or confluent, round, elongated, flexuous; the dissepiments dentate, then lacerate, the hymenium finally resolved into teeth. when i first found this plant the hymenium had resolved into teeth, and i supposed that i had found an irpex. it is found in woods on logs and stumps. very common with us. frequently covered with a green lichen. july to november. _polystictus hirsutus. fr._ the bristly polystictus. [illustration: figure .--polystictus hirsutus. natural size.] hirsutus means hairy or bristly. the pileus is corky, coriaceous, convex, then plane, hairy with rigid bristles, zoned with concentric furrows; of one color, whitish, sometimes these zones are quite marked as in figure . the pore surface is at first white, or whitish, becoming dark or brownish in age. the pores are round, the walls rather thick. it is found on logs and stumps in the woods. it is a very common plant and widely distributed. _polystictus versicolor. fr._ the common zoned polystictus. [illustration: figure .--polystictus versicolor. one-half natural size.] versicolor means varying colors. the pileus is coriaceous, thin, rigid, plane, depressed behind; quite velvety, nearly even and shining, variegated with colored zones, sometimes entirely white or grayish-white, not unfrequently the whole surface is villous or woolly, and the zones mere depressions. the pores are minute, round, acute, lacerated, white or cream-color. it is very common, as well as very variable in form and color. it is frequently found on logs and is then densely imbricated. on our hillsides it frequently grows on a small bush as in figure . it is one of the most beautiful plants in the woods. _polyporus gilvus. schw._ gilvus means pale-yellow or deep-reddish flesh-color. the pileus is corky, woody, hard, effuso-reflexed, imbricate, concrescent, subtomentose, then scabrous, uneven, reddish-yellow, then subferruginous, the margin acute. the pores are minute, round, entire, brownish-ferruginous. _morgan._ it is very abundant throughout the state, being found on all kinds of logs and stumps. _polystictus cinnamoneus. jacq._ [illustration: figure .--polystictus cinnamoneus.] the pileus is an inch and a half, or less, broad, coriaceous, slightly depressed in the center; rather rough on the surface, but with a beautiful satiny lustre, and more or less zoned; caps often growing together, but with separate stems; shining, a light cinnamon-brown. the spores are rather large, angular, torn with age; cinnamon-brown, growing darker in older plants. the stem is one to two inches long, equal, or slightly tapering upward, cinnamon-brown, hollow or stuffed, tough, frequently sending forth branches from the side and base of the stem. this is quite a beautiful plant, growing usually in patches of moss. the caps have quite a glossy cinnamon-brown surface, which will attract the attention of any one. they are very small and easily overlooked. found in august and september. this plant is called p. subsericeus by dr. peck. _polystictus perennis. fr._ [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ plate xlvii. figure .--polystictus perennis.] the pileus is thin, pliant when fresh but somewhat brittle when dry. it is minutely velvety on the upper surface, reddish-brown or cinnamon in color; expanded or umbilicate to nearly funnel-shaped. the surface is beautifully marked by radiations and fine concentric zones. the stem is also velvety. the spore-tubes are minute, the walls thin and acute, and the mouths angular, and at last more or less torn. the margin of the cap is finely fimbriate, but in old specimens those hairs are apt to become rubbed off. _atkinson._ i found specimens by the roadside near lone tree hill, near chillicothe. it is the only place in which i have found this plant. i have found polystictus subsericeus, or, as prof. atkinson calls it, p. cinnamomeus, in a number of localities. _polystictus pergamenus. fr._ [illustration: figure .--polystictus pergamenus.] pergamenus means parchment. the pileus is coriaceous, thin, effused, reflexed, villous, zoned, cinereous-white, with colored zone; pliant when fresh. the pores are unequal, torn, violaceous, then pallid. it is very common here on beech, maple, and wild cherry. the pores become torn so that they resemble the teeth of the hydnum. this is one of the most common fungi in our woods. the photograph is by prof. j. d. smith, of akron, o. _fomes leucophæus. mont._ this has been called by many authors in america fomes applanatus or polyporus applanatus. it is very common in this country but very rare in europe, while fomes applanatus, which is common in europe, is very scarce in the united states. in general appearance they are much alike, the applanatus having a softer tissue and echinulate spores, but our common species, leucophæus, has smooth spores. the pileus is expanded, tuberculose, obsoletely zoned, pulverulent, or smooth; cinnamon, becoming whitish; cuticle crustaceous, rigid, at length fragile, very soft within; loosely floccose, margin tumid; white, then cinnamon. the pores are very small, slightly ferruginous, orifice whitish, brownish when bruised. the spore surface when fresh is soft and white. this attractive plant is very common in our woods and furnishes an excellent stencil surface for drawing. found all the year round. _fomes fomentarius. fr._ the bracket fomes. this species is very common in our woods. the brackets resemble a horse's hoof in shape. they are smoky, gray, and of various shades of brown. the upper surface of the bracket is quite strongly zoned and furrowed, so as to show each year's growth. the margin is thick and blunt, and the tube surface is concave; the openings of the tubes quite large, so that they can be readily seen by the naked eye. the tube surface is reddish-brown when mature. the inside was formerly used in making tinder-sticks, which were made by rolling the fungus wood until it was perfectly flexible and then dipping it into saltpetre. _fomes rimosus. berkeley._ cracked fomes. [illustration: figure .--fomes rimosus.] rimosus means cracked. the fine checks in the pileus are clearly seen in the halftone. the pileus is pulvinate-ungulate, much dilated, deeply sulcate; cinnamon, then brown or blackish; very much cracked or rimose. it is very hard, fibrous, tawny-ferruginous; the margin broad, pruinate-velvety, rather acute. the pores are minute, indistinctly stratified, tawny-ferruginous, the mouths rhubarb-color. _morgan._ this plant is very common on the locust trees about chillicothe. i have never found it on other wood. _fomes pinicola. (swartz.) fr._ [illustration: figure .--fomes pinicola.] pinicola means dwelling on pine. it is found on dead pine, spruce, balsam, and other conifers. it resembles fomes leucophæus but is somewhat stouter and does not have as hard and firm a crust. the young growth is at the margin, and is whitish or tinged with yellow, while the old zones are reddish. the tube surface is whitish-yellow or yellowish. this is frequently called polyporus pinicolus. (swartz.) fr. _fomes igniarius. fr._ [illustration: figure .--fomes igniarius.] this is rather a common species in our state; black or brownish-black in color, somewhat triangular in shape, and frequently hoof-shaped. the zones indicating the yearly growth are plainly marked, and the tubes are quite long and of a dark brown color. their growth is rather slow, and it requires years to produce some of the moderate sized specimens. prof. atkinson of cornell university found a specimen which he believed to be over years old. this is called by many authors polyporus igniarius (l.), fr. murrill calls it pyropolyporus igniarius. this plant is widely distributed over the united states, and is met frequently in every wood in ohio. _fomes fraxinophilus. fr._ [illustration: figure .--fomes fraxinophilus.] fraxinophilus means ash-loving; rather common in this country, but does not grow in europe. the pileus is between corky and woody, smooth, somewhat flattened, at first zoneless; white when young, then reddish-brown, white around the margin; at first even, then concentrically sulcate, pale within. the tubes are short, pores minute, rusty-red but covered from the first with a white pubescence and continuous with the margin; the spores nearly round, - µ. the specimens in figure were found in haynes' hollow on a living ash, growing at intervals of five or six feet, one above another, to a height of thirty feet. _trametes. fr._ in case of the genus trametes the hymenophorum descends into the trama of the pores without any change, and is permanently concrete with the pileus. the pores are entire. there are, however, a few of the polypori which are quite thin that have the trama of the same structure with the hymenophorum. these have been separated by fries and have been called _polystictus_. they are distinguished by the fact that the pores develop from the center out and are perpendicular to the fibrillose stratum above the hymenophorum while in the genus _trametes_ the hymenophorum is not distant from the rest of the pileus. _trametes rubescens. fr._ [illustration: figure .--trametes rubescens.] [illustration: figure .--trametes rubescens.] this is one of the neatest plants of this structure in our woods. it grows on the small branches and many times covers them quite well. it is resupinate, the cap being beautifully zoned as you see in figure . frequently they grow from the side of a small tree that has fallen to the ground and in this case they are shelving. the pore surface is usually reddish or flesh-color, the pores being long and irregular and inclined to be labyrinthiform in older specimens as will be seen in figure . the whole plant is reddish or pale flesh-color. no one will fail to recognize it from these cuts. _trametes scutellata. schw._ scutellata means shield-bearing. it is frequently quite small, an inch or less; coriaceous, dimidiate, orbiculate or ungulate, fixed by the apex; the pilei quite hard: white, then brownish and blackish, becoming rugged and uneven, with white margin; hymenium disk-shaped, concave, white-pulverulent becoming dark; pores minute, long, with thick obtuse dissepiments. this is found on fence posts. _trametes ohiensis. berk._ the pilei are pulvinate, narrow, zoned, often laterally confluent; ochraceous-white, tomentose, then smooth, laccate. this plant resembles t. scutellata in many points, both in habit and in form. _trametes suaveolens. (l.) fr._ soft at first, pulvinate, white, villous, zoneless; pores rotund, rather large, obtuse, white, then darker; anise-scented. found on willows. _merulius. fr._ merulius means a blackbird; from the color of the fungus. hymenophore covered with the soft waxy hymenium, which is incompletely porus, or arranged in reticulate, sinuous, dentate folds. this genus grows on wood, at first resupinate, expanded; the hymenophore springing from a mucous mycelium. _merulius rubellus. pk._ [illustration: figure .--merulius rubellus. natural size.] rubellus is the diminutive of _ruber_, reddish. the pileus grows in tufts, sessile, confluent and imbricated, repand, thin, convex, soft, dimidiate, quite tenacious; tomentose, evenly red, margin mostly undulately inflexed, growing pale in age. hymenium whitish or reddish, folds much branched, forming anastomosing pores. the spores are elliptical, hyaline, minute, - × . - µ. the pileus is two to three inches long and an inch and a half broad. it is found very frequently on decayed beech and sugar trees and i have found it growing on a live oak. the specimens in figure were collected near columbus and photographed by dr. kellerman. it is probably the same as m. incarnati, schw. _merulius tremellosus. schrad._ [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--merulius tremellosus] tremellosus, trembling. resupinate; margin becoming free and more or less reflexed, usually radiately-toothed, fleshy, tremelloid, tomentose, white; hymenium variously wrinkled and porus, whitish and subtranslucent-looking, becoming tinged with brown in the center. the spores are cylindrical, curved, about × µ. from one to three inches across, remaining pale when growing in dark places. the margin is sometimes tinged with a rose-color, radiating when it is well developed. _massee._ this plant grows in woods on wood and is quite common in our woods--both the rose-colored and the translucent-brown. captain mcilvaine calls merulius tremellosus and m. rubellus emergency species. he says they are rather tasteless, tough, slightly woody in flavor. they are found in october and november. _merulius corium. fr._ resupinate, effused, soft, papery, circumference at length free, reflexed, white, villous below. hymenium netted, porus, pallid, tan-color. found on decaying-branches. quite common. _merulius lacrymans. fr._ resupinate, fleshy, spongy, moist, tender, at first very light, cottony and white; when the veins appear they are of a fine yellow, orange or reddish-brown, forming irregular folds, so arranged to have the appearance of pores (but never anything like tubes), distilling when perfect drops of water which give rise to the specific name "weeping." dr. charles w. hoyt of chillicothe, brought to my office two or three plants of this species that had grown on the under side of the floor in his wash-house. when he took up the floor the workmen discovered a number of pendant processes, some oval, some cone-shaped. some were eight inches long, very white and beautiful but clearly illustrating the weeping process. the doctor called them white rats suspended by their tails. _dædalea. pers._ dædalea is used with reference to the labyrinthiform pores; so named after dædalos, the builder of the labyrinth of crete. the hymenophore descends into the trama without any change, pores firm, when fully grown sinuous and labyrinthiform, lacerated, and toothed. the habits of dædalea are very much the same as trametes, but they are inodorous. care should be taken not to confound them with the species of polyporus that have elongated curved pores. _dædalea ambigua. berk._ [illustration: figure .--dædalea ambigua. one-third natural size, showing upper surface.] [illustration: figure .--dædalea ambigua. one-third natural size, showing the pore surface.] the pileus is white, corky, horizontal, explanate, reniform, subsessile, azonate, finely pubescent, becoming smooth. pores from round to linear and labyrinthiform, the dissepiments always obtuse and never lamellate. it is a very common growth in ohio, found on old logs of the sugar maple. you will see the beginning of the growth in the spring as a round white nodule which develops slowly. if the same plant is observed in the summer it will be found to be gibbous or convex in form. it finishes its growth in the fall when it has become explanate and horizontal, depressed above and with a thin margin. when fresh and growing it is of a rich cream-color and has a soft and velvety touch and a pleasant fragrance. in figure , showing the surface of the cap, the growth of the plant shows in the form of the zones. figure shows the form of the dissepiments. in younger specimens these are frequently round, much like a polyporus. there is one locality in poke hollow where the maple logs are white with this species, appearing, in the distance, to be oyster mushrooms. _dædalea quercina. pk._ the oak dÆdalea. [illustration: figure .--dædalea quercina.] the pileus is a pallid wood color, corky, rugulose, uneven, without zones, becoming smooth; of the same color within as without; the margin in full-grown specimens thin, but in imperfectly developed specimens swollen and blunt. the pores are at first round, then broken into contorted or gill-like labyrinthiform sinuses, with obtuse edges of the same color as the pileus, sometimes with a slight shade of pink. they grow to be very large, from six to eight inches broad, being found on oak stumps and logs, though not as common in ohio as d. ambigua. the specimen in figure were found in massachusetts by mrs. blackford and photographed here. _dædalea unicolor. fr._ villose-strigose, cinereous with concolorous zones; hymenium with flexuous, winding, intricate, acute dissepiments, at length torn and toothed. the pores are whitish cinereous, sometimes fuscous; variable in thickness, color, and character of hymenium; sometimes with white margin; often imbricated and fuliginous when moist. widely distributed over the states and found on nearly all deciduous trees. _dædalea confragosa. boton._ the willow dÆdalea. [illustration: figure .--dædalea confragosa.] confragosa means broken, rough. the pileus is rather convex, corky, rough, slightly zonate, reddish-brown, unicolorous, somewhat of a rust-red within. the pores are frequently round, like those of the polyporus, but sometimes they are elongated into gills like the lenzites; reddish-brown. i have seen quite old specimens that were very difficult to distinguish from some of the forms of lenzites. the young plants resemble very closely trametes rubescens. it grows on cratægus, willow and sometimes on other trees, and is widely distributed. the specimen in figure was found in massachusetts by mrs. blackford, and photographed in my study. _favolus. fr._ favolus is a diminutive of _favus_, honey-comb. the hymenium is alveolate, radiating, formed of the densely irregularly uniting gills; elongated, diamond-shaped. spores white. semicircular in outline, somewhat stipitate. _favolus canadensis. klotsch._ [illustration: figure .--favolus canadensis.] the pileus is fleshy, tough, thin, kidney-form, fibrillose, scaly, tawny, becoming pale and smooth. the pores or alveoli are angular elongated, white at first, then straw-color. the stem is eccentric, lateral, very short or lacking altogether. this plant is very common around chillicothe on fallen branches in the woods, especially on hickory. found from september to frost. not poisonous but too tough to eat. i do not believe there is any difference between f. canadensis and favolus europeus. i notice that our plant assumes different colors in different stages of its growth, and the form of the pores also changes. _cyclomyces. kunz & fr._ cyclomyces is from two greek words, meaning a circle and fungus. this genus is very distinct from other tube-bearing genera. the pileus is fleshy, leathery or membranaceous, and usually cushion-formed. upon the lower surface are the plate-like bodies resembling the gills of agarics but which are composed of minute pores. these pore bodies are arranged in concentric circles around the stem. _cyclomyces greenii. berk._ [illustration: figure .--cyclomyces greenii] [illustration: figure .--cyclomyces greenii. old specimens.] the pileus is two to three inches broad, globose at first, convex, sometimes undulate, somewhat zoned, tomentose, dry, cushion-formed, cinnamon-brown, rather showy. the gills are in concentric circles around the stem, growing larger and larger as they reach the margin of the cap. in the young plant the gills are divided into long divisions but in the older plant these division lines disappear as will be seen in figure . the edges of the gills are white at first, as will be seen in figure , but finally becoming cinnamon-brown. the stem is central, tapering upward, quite large and swollen at times very much like hydnum spongiosipes; the color is the same as the pileus. this is a very interesting plant and quite rare in ohio, however, i found several plants in the fall of , on ralston's run. in the same locality i found boletus badius, and when i first saw c. greenii i came near mistaking it for the same plant and so neglecting it, the caps being at first glance so much alike. _gloeoporus. mont._ gloeoporus is from two greek words, meaning gluten and pore. the plants of this genus resemble the polyporus and are frequently placed under that genus. _gloeoporus conchoides. mont._ conchoides means like a shell. the pileus is leathery or woody, at first fleshy, soft, effused, with upper margin reflexed; thin, silky, whitish, with edge of the margin often reddish. it has a trembling, gelatinous, spore-bearing surface, often somewhat elastic. the pores are short, very small, round, cinnamon-brown. there are several synonyms. polyporus dichrous, fr., and p. nigropurpurascens, schw. montgomery places it in the above genus because of its gelatinous hymenium. chapter viii. hydnaceae--fungi with teeth. there is, perhaps, no family in mycology that has a greater variety in form, size, and consistency than this. some species are very large, some are small, some fleshy, and some are corky or woody. the fruiting surface is the special characteristic marking the family. this surface is covered with spines or teeth which nearly always point to the earth. many of the hydnaceæ are shelving, growing on trees or logs; some grow on the ground on central, but usually eccentric, stems. the genera of hydnaceæ are distinguished by the size, shape, and attachment of the teeth. the following genera are included: hydnum--spines discrete at the base. irpex--resupinate; with gill-like teeth concrete with the pileus. mucronella--plants with teeth only and no basal membrane. radulum--hymenium with thick, blunt, irregular spines. sistotrema--fleshy plants with caps and flattened teeth, on ground. phlebia--plants spread over the host with crowded folds or wrinkles. grandinia--covered with granules, more or less smooth, and excavated. odontium--covered with crested granules. _hydnum. linn._ hydnum is from a greek word meaning an eatable fungus. the genus is characterized by awl-shaped spines which are distant at the base. these spines are at first papilliform, then elongated and round. they form the fruiting surface and take the place of the gills in the family agaricaceæ and of the pores in the family of polyporaceæ. the spines are simple or in some cases the tips are more or less branched. this is the greatest genus in the family and it includes many important edible species. it may be divided into two groups: one, those species having a cap and a central or lateral stem; the other, the species growing with or without a distinct cap, in large imbricated masses. some imitate coral in structure and some seem to be a mass of spines. many of these plants grow to be very large and massive, frequently weighing over ten pounds. _hydnum repandum. linn._ the spreading hydnum. edible. [illustration: figure .--hydnum repandum. two-thirds natural size.] repandum, bent backward, referring to the position of the stem and the cap. the pileus is two to four inches broad, generally irregular, with the stem eccentric; fleshy, brittle, convex or nearly plane, compact, more or less repand, nearly smooth; color varying from a pale buff--the typical hue--to a distinct brick-red; flesh creamy-white, inclining to turn brown when bruised; taste slightly aromatic, margin often wavy. the spines are beneath the cap, one-quarter to one-third of an inch long, irregular, entire, pointed, rather easily detached, leaving small cavities in the fleshy cap, soft, creamy, becoming darker in older specimens. the stem is short, thick, solid in young specimens, hollow in older specimens; paler than the pileus, rather rough, often set eccentrically into the cap; one to three inches long, sometimes thickened at the base, sometimes at the top. the spores are globose or a broad oval, with a small papilla at one end. the usual color of the cap is buff, sometimes very pale, almost white. the color and smoothness of the cap have given rise to the name of "doe-skin mushroom." i found this plant occasionally in the woods about salem, ohio. it is very variable in size and color, and is quite fragile, growing alone or in clusters. it is one of our best mushrooms if properly cooked, and may be dried and kept for winter use. found in woods and open places from july to october, sometimes earlier. specimens in figure were found in poke hollow. _hydnum imbricatum. linn._ the imbricated hydnum. edible. imbricatum is from _imbrex_, a tile, referring to the surface of the cap being torn into triangular scales, seeming to overlap one another like shingles on a roof. the pileus is fleshy, plane, slightly depressed, tessellated scaly, downy, not zoned, umber in color or brownish as if scorched, flesh dingy-white, taste slightly bitter when raw, margin round. the spines are decurrent, entire, numerous, short, ashy-white, generally equal in length. the stem is firm, short, thick, even, whitish. the spores are pale yellow-brown, rough. the bitter taste entirely leaves the plant when well cooked. it seems to delight in pine or chestnut woods. i found it in emmanuel thomas' woods, east of salem, ohio. it is found from september to november. _hydnum erinaceum. bull._ the hedgehog hydnum. edible. [illustration: plate xlviii. figure .--hydnum erinaceum. two-thirds natural size. the plant is entirely white when fresh.] erinaceum, a hedgehog. two to eight inches or more across. tufts pendulous. white and yellowish-white becoming yellowish-brown; fleshy, elastic, tough, sometimes emarginate (broadly attached as if tuft were cut in two or sliced off where attached), a mass of latticed branches and fibrils. spines one and a half inches to four inches long, crowded, straight, equal, pendulous. the stem is sometimes rudimentary. the spores are subglobose, white, plain, - µ. _peck_, n. y. report. the spines when just starting are like small papillæ, as will be seen in figure . figure represents a very fine specimen found on the end of a beech log, on the huntington hills, near chillicothe. it made a meal for three families. i have found several basketfuls of this species on this same log, within the past few years. i have also found on the same log large specimens of hydnum corralloides. the photograph at the beginning of the book represents the largest specimen i ever saw of this species. it measured eighteen inches one way and thirteen the other, and was found on a maple tree on top of mount logan. it grew from a central stem, while the one in figure grew from a crack in a log, apparently without a stem. plate i, figure was photographed after it was dried. the specimen can be seen in the lloyd library in cincinnati. found from july to october. [illustration: figure .--hydnum erinaceum. young state.] _hydnum caput-ursi. fr._ the bear's head hydnum. edible. [illustration: figure .--hydnum caput-ursi.] caput-ursi means the head of a bear. this is a very beautiful plant but not as common as some other species of hydnum. it grows in very large pendulous tufts, as figure will indicate. it is found frequently on standing oak and maple trees, sometimes quite high up in the trees. it is more frequently found on logs and stumps, as are its kindred species. the plant arises out of the wood by a single stout stem which branches into many divisions, all of which are covered by long pendant spines. when it grows on top of a log or stump the spines are frequently erect. it is white, becoming in age yellow and brownish. it has a wide distribution through the states. as an esculent it is fine. the specimen in figure was found near akron, ohio, and was photographed by mr. g. d. smith. it is found from july to october. _hydnum caput-medusæ. bull._ the medusa's head hydnum. edible. [illustration: figure .--hydnum caput-medusæ. one-third natural size.] caput-medusæ, head of medusa. this is a very striking plant when seen in the woods. the tufts are pendulous. the long wavy spines resemble the wavy locks of medusa, hence the name. the long soft spines cover the entire surface of the fungus, which is divided into fleshy branches or divisions, each terminating in a crown of shorter drooping teeth. the color at first is white, changing in age to a buff or a dark cream, which distinguishes it from h. caput-ursi. the taste is sweet and aromatic, sometimes slightly pungent. the stem is short and concealed beneath the growth. i found this plant growing on a hickory log, on lee's hill, near chillicothe, from which came the specimen in figure . i have also found it on elm and beech. found from july to october. it is both attractive and palatable. _hydnum coralloides. scop._ the coral-like hydnum. edible. [illustration: figure .--hydnum coralloides. one-fourth natural size. entire plant white.] this species grows in large, beautiful tufts on decaying logs, in damp woods. it grows from a common stem, dividing into many branches and then sub-dividing into many long and coral-like shoots, composed wholly of attenuated interlacing branches tapering to a point. the spines grow from one side of the flattened branches. it only needs to be seen once to be recognized as a coral-like mushroom. it is pure white at first, becoming creamy or dingy-white with age. it seems to delight in damp, hilly places, yet i found it to be abundant at sidney, and to some extent about bowling green, ohio, where it was very level. it is plentiful around chillicothe. one hickory log, from which the specimen in the figure was taken, furnished me several basketfuls of this plant during three seasons, but at the end of the third season the log crumbled away, mycelium having literally consumed it. it is one of the most beautiful fungi that dame nature has been able to fashion. it is said that elias fries, when a mere boy, was so impressed with the sight of this beautiful fungus, which grew abundantly in his native woods in sweden, that he resolved when he grew up to pursue the study of mycology, which he did; and became one of the greatest authorities of the world in that part of botany. in fact, he laid the foundation for the study of basidiomycetes, and this beautiful little coral-like fungus was his inspiration. it is found principally on beech, maple and hickory in damp woods, from july to frost. i have eaten it for years and esteem it among the best. _hydnum septentrionale. fr._ the northern hydnum. [illustration: plate xlix. figure .--hydnum septentrionale. grew from a small opening in a living beech tree.] septentrionale, northern. this is a very large, fleshy, fibrous plant, growing usually upon logs and stumps. there are many pilei growing one above the other, plane, margin straight, whole. the spines are crowded, slender and equal. i have found a number of specimens about chillicothe that would weigh from eight to ten pounds each. the plant is too woody to eat. besides, it seems to have but little flavor. i have always found it on beech logs, from september to october. a very large plant grows every year on a living beech tree on cemetery hill. _hydnum spongiosipes. pk._ [illustration: figure .--hydnum spongiosipes. one-third natural size.] spongiosipes means a sponge-like foot. pileus convex, soft, spongy-tomentose, but tough in texture, rusty-brown, the lower stratum firmer and more fibrous, but concolorous. the spines are slender, one to two lines long, rusty-brown, becoming darker with age. the stem is hard and corky within, externally spongy-tomentose; colored like the pileus, the central substance often transversely zoned, especially near the top. spores globose, nodulose, purplish-brown, - broad. pileus one and a half to four inches broad. stem one and a half to three inches long, and four to eight lines thick. _peck_, th rep. it is found in the woods, quite plentifully, about chillicothe. i referred it to h. ferrugineum for a long time, but not being satisfied, sent some specimens to dr. peck, who classified it as h. spongiosipes. it is edible but very tough. found from july to october. _hydnum zonatum. batsch._ the zoned hydnum. [illustration: figure .--hydnum zonatum.] zonatum, zoned. ferruginous; pileus equally coriaceous, thin, expanded, subinfundibuliform, zoned, becoming smooth; tough, almost leathery in texture, having a surface of beautiful brown, silky lustre, and with radiating striæ; margin paler; sterile. the stem is slender, nearly equal, floccose, bulbous at the base. the spines are slender, pallid, then of the same color as the pileus, equal. the spores are rough, globose, pale, µ. the spore-bearing spines are shown in the upper plants in figure . two of them show coalesced caps, though the stems are separate. this is the case with h. scrobiculatum and h. spongiosipes. the plants in figure were collected by the roadside in woods on the state farm, near lancaster, and photographed by dr. kellerman. _hydnum scrobiculatum. fr._ [illustration: figure .--hydnum scrobiculatum. two-thirds natural-size.] scrobiculatum means marked with a ditch or trench; so called from the rough condition of the cap. the pileus is from one to three inches broad, corky, convex, then plane, sometimes slightly depressed; tough in texture, rusty-brown; the surface of the cap usually quite rough, marked with ridges or trenches, flesh ferruginous. the spines are short, rusty-brown, becoming dark with age. the stem is firm, one to two inches long, unequal, rusty-brown, often covered with a dense tomentum. this species is very plentiful in our woods, among the leaves under beech trees. they grow in lines for some distance, the caps so close together that they are very frequently confluent. i found the plant at salem, and in several other localities in the state, although i have never seen a description of it. any one will be able to recognize it from figure . it grows in the woods in august and september. _hydnum blackfordæ. pk._ the pileus is fleshy, convex, glabrous, grayish or greenish-gray, flesh whitish with reddish stains, slowly becoming darker on exposure; aculei subulate, - mm. long, yellowish-gray, becoming brown with age or drying; stem equal or stuffed, becoming hollow in drying; glabrous, colored like the pileus; spores brown, globose, verrucose, - µ broad. the pileus is . - cm. broad; stem . - cm. long, - mm. thick. mossy ground in low springy places in damp mixed woods. august. _peck._ this species was found at ellis, mass., and was sent to me through courtesy of the collector, mrs. e. b. blackford, boston, for whom it was named. _hydnum fennicum. karst._ [illustration: figure .--hydnum fennicum. natural size, showing the teeth.] [illustration: figure .--hydnum fennicum. natural size, showing the scaly cap.] pileus fleshy, fragile, unequal; at first scaly, at length breaking up; reddish-brick color becoming darker; margin undulately lobed, two to four inches broad. flesh white. the teeth decurrent, equal, pointed, from white to dusky, about mm. long. the stem is sufficiently stout, unequal below, attenuated, flexuous or curved, smooth, of the same color as the cap, base acute, white tomentum outside, inside light pale-blue, or dark-gray. the spores are ellipso-spheroidical or subspheroidical, rough, dusky, - µ long, - µ broad. the plants in figures and were found in haynes' hollow. the plant is quite bitter and no amount of cooking will make it edible. found in woods from august to september. _hydnum adustum. fr._ [illustration: figure .--hydnum adustum. natural size.] adustum means scorched, burned. the pileus is two to three inches broad, yellowish-white, blackish around the margin, coriaceous, slightly zoned; plane at first, then slightly depressed; tomentose, thin; frequently a plant will be found growing on the top of another plant. the spines are at first white, adnate, short, turning flesh-color and when dried almost black. the stem is short, solid, tapering upward. the plant is found growing in the woods on trunks and sticks after a rain in july, august, and september. it is not as plentiful as hydnum spongiosipes and h. scrobiculatum. it is an attractive plant when seen in the woods. _hydnum ochraceum. p._ ochrey hydnum. small, at first entirely resupinate, gradually reflexed, and somewhat repand, at first sparingly clothed with dirty-white down, at length rugose; one to three inches broad. the spines are short, entire, becoming pale. _fries._ it is occasionally found on decayed sticks in the woods. _hydnum pulcherrimum. b. & c._ most beautiful hydnum. [illustration: figure .--hydnum pulcherrimum. showing the under side of one of the pileoli.] pulcherrimum is the superlative of _pulcher_, beautiful. the pileus is fleshy, somewhat fibrous, alutaceus, hirsute; the margin thin, entire, incurved. the aculei short, crowded, equal. it is found on beech wood, frequently imbricated and laterally confluent; a single pileus two to five inches in breadth and projecting two to four inches. the spines are rather short, not exceeding a quarter of an inch. the entire plant is quite fibrous and has a hirsute surface. the color varies from whitish to alutaceous and yellowish. it is not common with us. figure represents one of the pilei showing the spines. _hydnum graveolens. del._ fragrant hydnum. graveolens means sweet-scented. the pileus is coriaceous, thin, soft, not zoned, rugose, dark-brown, brown within, margin becoming whitish. the stem is slender and the spines are decurrent. the spines are short, gray. the whole plant smells of melilot; even after it has been dried and kept for years it does not lose this scent. i found two specimens in haynes's hollow. _irpex. fr._ irpex, a harrow, so called from a fancied resemblance of its teeth to the teeth of a harrow. it grows on wood; toothed from the first, the teeth are connected at the base, firm, somewhat coriaceous, concrete with the pileus, arranged in rows or like net-work. irpex differs from hydnum in having the spines connected at the base and more blunt. _irpex carneus. fr._ this plant, as its specific name indicates, resembles the color of flesh. reddish, effused, one to three inches long, cartilaginous-gelatinous, membranaceous, adnate. teeth obtuse and awl-shaped, entire, united at the base. _fries._ found on the tulip-tree, hickory, and elm. september and october. _irpex lacteus. fr._ growing on wood, membranaceous, clothed with stiff hair, more or less furrowed, milk-white, as its specific name indicates. the spines are compressed, radiate, margin porus. found on hickory and beech logs and stumps. _irpex tulipifera. schw._ [illustration: figure .--irpex tulipifera.] coriaceous-membranaceous, effused; hymenium inferior, at first toothed, teeth springing from a porus base, somewhat coriaceous, entirely concrete with the pileus, netted and connected at the base, white or whitish, turning yellowish with age. this plant is very abundant here on fallen tulip trees. i have seen entire tree tops and trunks covered with this plant. the branches after they have been penetrated with the mycelial threads become very light and brittle. _phlebia. fr._ lignatile, resupinate, hymenium soft and waxy, covered with folds or wrinkles, edges entire or corrugated. _phlebia radiata. fr._ [illustration: figure .--phlebia radiata.] somewhat round, then dilated, confluent, fleshy and membranaceous, reddish or flesh-red, the circumference peculiarly radiately marked. the folds in rows radiating from the center. the spores are cylindric-oblong, curved, - × - . µ. this is quite common on beech bark in the woods. its bright color and mode of growth will attract attention. _grandinia. fr._ lignatile, effused, waxy, granulated, granules globular, entire, permanent. _grandinia granulosa. fr._ effused, rather thin, waxy, somewhat ochraceous, circumference determinate, granules globular, equal, crowded. found on decayed wood. quite common in our woods. chapter ix. thelephoraceae. thelephoraceæ is from two greek words, a teat and to bear. the hymenium is even, coriaceous, or waxy, costate, or papillose. there are a number of genera under this family but i am acquainted with only the genus craterellus. _craterellus. fr._ craterellus means a small bowl. hymenium waxy-membranaceous, distinct but adnate to the hymenophore, inferior, continuous, smooth, even or wrinkled. spores white. _fries._ _craterellus cantharellus._ (_schw._) _fr._ yellow craterellus. edible. [illustration: figure .--craterellus cantharellus. caps and stems yellow.] cantharellus is a diminutive from a greek word meaning a sort of drinking-cup. the pileus is one to three inches broad, convex, often becoming depressed and funnel-shaped, glabrous, yellowish, or pinkish. flesh white, tough, elastic. hymenium slightly wrinkled, yellow or faint salmon color. the stem is one to three inches high, tapering downward, smooth, solid, yellow. the spores are yellowish or salmon color when caught on white paper, . - × - µ. _peck._ this plant resembles cantharellus cibarius very closely. the color, form of growth, and the odor are very similar to the latter. it may be readily distinguished from c. cibarius by the absence of folds on the under or fruiting surface. the caps are often large and wavy, resembling yellow cauliflower. it is quite abundant about chillicothe during the months of july and august. i have frequently gathered bushels of it for my mushroom-friends. it will be easily recognized from figure , bearing in mind that the caps and stems are yellow. _craterellus cornucopioides fr._ the horn of plenty craterellus. edible. [illustration: figure .--craterellus cornucopioides. one-third natural size.] cornucopioides is from _cornu_, a horn, and _copia_, plenty. the pileus is thin, flexible, tubiform, hollow to the base, blackish-brown, sometimes a little scaly, the hymenium even or somewhat wrinkled, cinereous. the stem is hollow, smooth, black, short, almost wanting. the spores are elliptical, whitish, - × - µ. no one will have any trouble in recognizing this species, having once seen its picture and read its description. its elongated or trumpet-shaped cap, and its dingy-gray or sooty-brown hue, will at once distinguish it. the spore-bearing surface is often a little paler than the upper surface. the cup is often three to four inches long. i have found it in quite large clusters in the woods near bowling green, and londonderry, though it is found rather sparingly on the hillsides about chillicothe. it has a wide distribution in other states. it does not look inviting, on account of its color, but it proves a favorite whenever tested, and may be dried and kept for future use. it is found from july to september. _craterellus dubius. pk._ [illustration: figure .--craterellus dubius. natural size.] dubius means uncertain, from its close resemblance to c. cornucopoides. the pileus is one to two inches broad, infundibuliform, subfibrillose, lurid-brown, pervious to the base, the margin generally wavy, lobed. hymenium dark cinereous, rugose when moist, the minute crowded irregular folds abundantly anastomosing; nearly even when dry. the stem is short. the spores are broadly elliptical or subglobose, - . µ long. _peck._ it differs from c. cornucopioides in manner of growth, paler color, and smaller spores. it is distinguished from craterellus sinuosus by its pervious stem, while very similar in color to cantharellus cinereus. this plant, like c. cornucopoides, dries readily, and when moistened expands and becomes quite as good as when fresh. it needs to be stewed slowly till tender, when it makes a delightful dish. the plants in figure were collected near columbus by r. h. young and photographed by dr. kellerman. they are found from july to october. _corticium. fr._ entirely resupinate, hymenium soft and fleshy when moist, collapsing when dry, often cracked. _corticium lacteum. fr._ this is a very small plant, resupinate, membranaceous, and it is so named because of the milk-white color underneath. the hymenium is waxy when moist, cracked when dry. _corticium oakesii. b. & c._ the plant is small, waxy-pliant, somewhat coriaceous, cup-shaped, then explanate, confluent, marginate, externally white-tomentose. the hymenium is even, contiguous, becoming pallid. spores elliptical, appendiculate. i found very fine specimens of this plant on the iron-wood, ostrya virginica, which grows on the high school lawn in chillicothe. in rainy weather in october and november the bark would be white with the plant. it resembles a small peziza at first. _corticium incarnatum. fr._ waxy when moist, becoming rigid when dry, confluent, agglutinate, radiating. hymenium red or flesh-color, covered with a delicate flesh-colored bloom. some fine specimens were found on dead chestnut trees in poke hollow. _corticium sambucum. pk._ effused on elder bark, white, continuous when growing, when dry cracked or flocculose and collapsing. it grows on the bark or the wood of the elder. _corticium cinereum. fr._ waxy when moist, rigid when dry, agglutinate, lurid. the hymenium is cinereous, with a very delicate bloom. common on sticks in the woods. _thelephora. fr._ the pileus is without a cuticle, consisting of interwoven fibres. hymenium ribbed, of a tough, fleshy substance, rather rigid, then collapsing and flocculent. _thelephora schweinitzii._ [illustration: figure .--thelephora schweinitzii.] schweinitzii is named in honor of the rev. david lewis de schweinitz. cæspitose, white or pallid. pilei soft-corinaceous, much branched; the branches flattened, furrowed and somewhat dilated at the apex. the stems are variable in length, often connate or fused together into a solid base. the hymenium is even, becoming darker colored when older. _morgan._ this plant is known as t. pallida. it is very abundant on our hillsides in ross county, and in fact throughout the state. _thelephora laciniata. p._ the pileus is soft, somewhat coriaceous, incrusting, ferruginous-brown. the pilei are imbricated, fibrous, scaly, margin fimbriated, at first dirty white. the hymenium is inferior and papillose. _thelephora palmata. fr._ the pileus is coriaceous, soft, erect, palmately branched from a common stalk; pubescent, purplish-brown; branches flat, even, tips fimbriated, whitish. the scent is very noticeable soon after it is picked. they grow on the ground in july and august. _thelephora cristata. fr._ the pileus is incrusting, rather tough, pallid, passing into branches, the apices compressed, expanded, and beautifully fringed. the plant is whitish, grayish, or purplish-brown. it is found on moss or stems of weeds. i found beautiful specimens at bainbridge caves. _thelephora sebacea. fr._ the pileus is effused, fleshy, waxy, becoming hard, incrusting, variable, tuberculose or stalactitic, whitish, circumference similar; hymenium flocculose, pruinose, or evanescent. it is found effused over grass. one meets with it often. _stereum. fr._ the hymenium is coriaceous, even, rather thick, concrete with the intermediate stratum of the pileus, which has a cuticle even and veinless, remaining unchanged and smooth. _stereum versicolor._ [illustration: figure .--stereum versicolor.] versicolor means changing color, referring to the different bands of color. the pileus is effused, reflexed, having a number of different zones; in some plants the zones are more marked than in others, the zones appearing very much like those in polyporus versicolor. the hymenium is even, smooth and brown. this is a very common plant, found everywhere on old logs and stumps. it is widely diffused and can be found at any time of the year. _stereum spadiceum. fr._ pilei coriaceous and spreading, reflexed, villous, somewhat ferruginous; margin rather obtuse, whitish, even beneath; smooth, brownish, and bleeding when scratched or bruised. _stereum hirsutum. fr._ hirsutum means shaggy, hairy. the pilei are coriaceous and spreading, quite hairy, imbricated, more or less zoned, quite tough, often having a greenish tinge from the presence of a minute algæ; naked, juiceless, yellowish, unchanged when bruised or scratched. the hymenium is pale-yellow, smooth, margin entire, often lobed. i find it usually on hickory logs. _stereum fasciatum. schw._ fasciatum means bands or fillets. pileus is coriaceous, plane, villous, zonate, grayish; hymenium, smooth, pale-red. growing on decayed trunks. common in all of our woods. _stereum sericeum. schw._ [illustration: figure .--stereum sericeum.] sericeum means silky or satiny; so called from its satin lustre. the plant is very small and easily overlooked, usually growing in a resupinate form; sessile, orbiculate, free, papyraceous, with a bright satin lustre, shining, smooth, pale-grayish color. the plant grows on both sides of small twigs as is shown in the photograph. i do not find it on large trunks but it is quite common on branches. no one will fail to recognize it from its specific name. when i first observed it i named it s. sericeum, not knowing that there was a species by that name. i afterwards sent it to prof. atkinson and was surprised to find that i had correctly named it. _stereum rugosum. fr._ rugosum means full of wrinkles. broadly effused, sometimes shortly reflexed; coriaceous, at length thick and rigid; pileus at length smooth, brownish. the hymenium is a pale grayish-yellow, changing slightly to a red when bruised, pruinose. the spores are cylindrico-elliptical, straight, - × - µ. _massee._ this is quite variable in form, and agrees with s. sanguinolentum in becoming red when bruised; but it is thicker and more rigid in substance, its pores are straighter and larger. _stereum purpureum. pers._ purpureum means purple, from the color of the plant. coriaceous but pliant, effuso-reflexed, more or less imbricated, tomentose, zoned, whitish or pallid. the hymenium is naked, smooth, even; in color a pale clear purple, becoming dingy ochraceous, with only a tinge of purple, when dry. the spores are elliptical, - × µ. i found the plant to be very abundant in december and january, in - , on soft wood corded up at the paper mill in chillicothe, the weather being mild and damp. _stereum compactum._ broadly effused, coriaceous, often imbricated and often laterally joined, pileus thin, zoned, finely strigose, the zones grayish-white and cinnamon-brown. the hymenium is smooth, cream-white. this species is found on decayed limbs and trunks of trees. _hymenochæte. lev._ hymenochæte is from two greek words, _hymen_, a membrane; _chæte_, a bristle. in this genus the cap or pileus may be attached to the host by a central stem, or at one side, but most frequently upon its back. the genus is known by the velvety or bristly appearance of the fruiting surface, due to smooth, projecting, thick-walled cells. i have found several species but have only been sure of three. _hymenochæte rubiginosa. (schr.) lev._ rubiginosa means full of rust, so called from the color of the plant. the pileus is rigid, coriaceous, resupinate, effused, reflexed, the lower margin generally adhering firmly, somewhat fasciated; velvety, rubiginous or rusty in color, then becoming smooth and bright brown, the intermediate stratum tawny-ferruginous. the hymenium ferruginous and velvety. it is found here upon soft woods such as chestnut stumps and willow. _hymenochæte curtisii. berk._ curtisii is named in honor of mr. curtis. the pileus is coriaceous, firm, resupinate, effused, reflexed, brown, slightly sulcate; the hymenium velvety with brown bristles. this is common on partially decayed oak branches in the woods. _hymenochæte corrugata. berk._ corrugata means bearing wrinkles or folds. the pileus is coriaceous, effused, closely adnate, indeterminate, cinnamon colored, cracked and corrugated when dry, which gives rise to its name. the bristles are seen, under the microscope, to be joined. found in the woods on partially decayed branches. chapter x. clavariaceae--coral fungi. hymenium not distinct from the hymenophore, covering entire outer surface, somewhat fleshy, not coriaceous; vertical, simple or branched. _fries._ most of the species grow on the ground or on well rotted logs. the following genera are included here: sparassis--fleshy, much branched, branches compressed, plate-like. clavaria--fleshy, simple or branched, typically round. calocera--gelatinous, then horn-like. typhula--simple or club-shaped, rigid when dry, usually small. _sparassis. fr._ sparassis, to tear in pieces. the species are fleshy, branched with plate-like branches, composed of two plates, fertile on both sides. _sparassis herbstii. pk._ [illustration: figure .--sparassis herbstii.] this is a plant very much branched, forming tufts four to five inches high, and five to six inches broad; whitish, inclining to creamy-yellow; tough, moist; the branches numerous, thin, flattened, concrescent, dilated above, spathulate or fan-shaped, often somewhat longitudinally curved or wavy; mostly uniformly colored, rarely with a few indistinct, nearly concolorous, transverse zones near the broad, entire apices. the spores are globose, or broadly elliptical, . to . inch long, . to . broad. this species was first found by the late dr. william herbst of trexlertown, pa., and was named by dr. peck in his honor. the specimen in figure was found at trexlertown, pa., and photographed by mr. c. g. lloyd. the plant delights in open oak woods, and is found through august and september. it is edible and quite good. _sparassis crispa. fr._ _crispus_, curly. this is a beautiful rosette-like plant, growing quite large at times, very much branched, whitish, oyster-colored, or pale yellow; branches intricate, flat and leaf-like, having a spore surface on both sides. the entire plant forms a large round mass with its leaf-like surface variously curled, folded, and lobed, with a crest-like margin, and springing from a well-marked root, most of which is buried in the ground. no one will have any trouble to recognize it, having once seen its photograph. i found the plant quite frequently, in the woods about bowling green. it is not simply good, but very good. _clavaria. linn._ clavaria is from _clavus_, a club. this is by far the largest genus in this family, and contains very many edible species, some of which are excellent. the entire genus is fleshy, either branched or simple; gradually thickening toward the top, resembling a club. in collecting clavaria special attention should be given to the character of the apices of the branches, color of the branches, color of spores, the taste of the plant, and the character of the place of its growth. this genus is readily recognized, and no one need to hesitate to eat any of the branching forms. _clavaria flava. schaeff._ pale-yellow clavaria. edible. [illustration: figure .--clavaria flava. natural size.] flava is from _flavus_, yellow. the plant is rather fragile, white and yellow, two to five inches high, the mass of branches from two to five inches wide, the trunk thick, much branched. the branches are round, even, smooth, crowded, nearly parallel, pointing upward, whitish or yellowish, with pale yellow tips of tooth-like points. when the plant is old, the yellow tips are likely to be faded, and the whole plant whitish in color. the flesh and the spores are white, and the taste is agreeable. i have eaten this species since , and i regard it as very good. it is found in woods and grassy open places. i have found it as early as june and as late as october. _clavaria aurea. pers._ the golden clavaria. edible. this plant grows from three to four inches high. its trunk is thick, elastic, and its branches are uniformly a deep golden yellow, often longitudinally wrinkled. the branches straight, regularly forked and round. the stem is stout but thinner than in c. flava. the spores are yellowish and elliptical. it is found in woods during august and september. _clavaria botrytes. pers._ the red-tipped clavaria. edible. [illustration: figure .--clavaria botrytes. one-half natural size.] botrytes is from a greek word meaning a cluster of grapes. this plant differs little from c. flava in size and structure, but it is easily recognized from the red tips of its branches. it is whitish, or yellowish, or pinkish, with its branches red-tipped. the stem is short, thick, fleshy, whitish, unequal. the branches are often somewhat wrinkled, crowded, repeatedly branched. in older specimens the red tips will be somewhat faded. the spores are white and oblong-elliptical. it is found in woods and open places, during wet weather. i found this plant occasionally near salem, from july to october, but it is not a common plant in ohio. _clavaria muscoides. linn._ forked yellow clavaria. edible. muscoides means moss-like. this plant is inclined to be tough, though graceful in growth; slender-stemmed, two or three time forked; smooth; base downy, bright yellow. the branchlets are thin, crescent-shape, acute. the spores are white and nearly round. the plant is usually solitary, not branching as much as some other species; quite dry, very smooth, except at the base, which is downy, in color resembling the yolk of an egg. it is frequently found in damp pastures, especially those skirting a wood. _clavaria amethystina. bull._ the amethystine clavaria. edible. [illustration: figure .--clavaria amethystina.] amethystina means amethyst in color. this is a remarkably attractive plant and easily recognized by its color. it is sometimes quite small yet often grows from three to five inches high. the color of the entire plant is violet; it is very much branched or almost simple; branches round, even, fragile, smooth, obtuse. the spores are elliptical, pale-ochraceous, sub-transparent, - × - µ. this plant is quite common around chillicothe, and it has a wide distribution over the united states. the specimens in figure were found in poke hollow. _clavaria stricta. pers._ the straight clavaria. edible. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--clavaria stricta.] stricta is a participle from _stringo_, to draw together. the plant is very much branched, pale, dull-yellow, becoming brownish when bruised; the stem somewhat thickened; branches very numerous and forked, straight, even, densely pressed, tips pointed. the spores are dark cinnamon. it is found on the huntington hills near chillicothe. look for it in august and september. _clavaria pyxidata. pers._ the cup clavaria. edible. [illustration: figure .--clavaria pyxidata. natural size.] pyxidata is from _pyxis_, a small box. this plant is quite fragile, waxy, light-tan in color, with a thin main stem, whitish, smooth, variable in length, branching and rebranching, the branches ending in a cup. the spores are white. it is found on rotten wood and is readily recognized by the cup-like tips. the specimen in figure was found near columbus and photographed by dr. kellerman. found from june to october. _clavaria abietina. schum._ the fir-wood clavaria. [illustration: figure .--clavaria abietina.] abietina means fir-wood. this plant grows in dense tufts, very much branched, ochraceous, trunk somewhat thickened, short, clothed with a white down; branches straight, crowded, longitudinally wrinkled when dry, branchlets straight. the spores are oval and ochraceous. it can be readily identified by its changing to green when bruised. it is very common on our wooded hillsides. it is found from august to october. _clavaria spinulosa. pers._ [illustration: figure .--clavaria spinulosa.] spinulosa means spiny or full of spines. the trunk of this plant is rather short and thick, at least one-half to one inch thick, whitish. the branches are elongated, crowded, tense and straight; attenuated, tapering upward; color somewhat cinnamon-brown throughout. the spores are elliptical, yellowish-brown, - × µ. it is usually given as found under pine trees, but i find it about chillicothe in mixed woods, in which there are no pine trees at all. it is found after frequent rains, from august to october. as an edible, it is fairly good. _clavaria formosa. pers._ beautiful clavaria. edible. [illustration: figure .--clavaria formosa. three-fourths its natural size.] formosa is from _formosus_, meaning finely formed. this plant is two to six inches high, trunk rather thick, often over an inch in thickness; whitish, or yellowish, elastic, the branches numerous, crowded, elongated, divided at the ends into yellow branchlets, which are thin, straight, obtuse or toothed. the spores are elongated-oval, rough, buff-colored, × µ. this is an extremely beautiful plant, very tender or brittle. when the plant is quite young, just coming through the ground, the tips of the branches are often of a bright red or pink. this bright color soon fades, leaving the entire plant a light yellow in color. the plant has a wide distribution, and is found on the ground in the woods, frequently growing in rows. while the handsomest of the clavarias, it is not the best, and only the tender parts of the plant should be used. it is found from july to october. the specimen in figure was found in poke hollow. _clavaria cristata. pers._ the crested clavaria. edible. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--clavaria cristata.] cristata is from _cristatus_, crested. this is a smaller plant than the c. flava or c. botrytes. it is usually two to three inches high, white or whitish, the tufts of broad flattened branches, sometimes tinged with a dull pink or creamy-yellow. the branches are numerous, widened and flattened above, deeply cut into several finger-like points, sometimes so numerous as to give it a crested appearance. this peculiar characteristic distinguishes it from c. coralloides. when the plant is old the tips usually turn brown. sometimes a form will be found in which the crested appearance is wanting, and in that case the branches terminate in blunt points. the stem is short and inclined to be spongy. it is found in the woods, in cool, moist, shady places. while it is tougher than some of the other species, if cut fine and well cooked it is very good. i have eaten it for years. it is found from june to october. _clavaria coronata. schw._ the crowned clavaria. edible. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--clavaria coronata.] pale yellow, then fawn color; divided immediately from the base and very much branched; the branches divergent and compressed or angulate, the final branchlets truncate-obtuse at apex and there encircled with a crown of minute processes. _morgan_. this plant is found on decayed wood. it is repeatedly branched in twos and forms clusters sometimes several inches in height. it resembles in form c. pyxidata, but it is quite a distinct species. in some localities it is found quite frequently. it is plentiful about chillicothe. found from july to october. _clavaria vermicularis. scop._ white-tufted clavaria. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--clavaria vermicularis.] small, two to three inches high; cæspitose, fragile, white, club-shaped; clubs stuffed, simple, cylindrical, subulate. found on lawns, short pastures or in paths in woods. someone has said they "look like a little bundle of candles." edible, but too small to gather. june and july. _clavaria crispula. fr._ flexuous clavaria. edible. very much branched, tan-colored, then ochraceous; trunk slender, villous, rooting; branches flexuous, having many divisions, branches of the same color, divaricating, fragile. the spores are creamy-yellow, slightly elliptical. this plant is slightly acrid to the taste and retains a faint trace of acridity even after it is cooked. it is very plentiful in our woods. found from july to october. _clavaria kunzei. fr._ kunze's clavaria. rather fragile, very much branched from the slender cæspitose base; white; branches elongated, crowded, repeatedly forked, subfastigiate, even, equal; axils compressed. specimens were found on cemetery hill under beech trees, and identified by dr. herbst. the spores are yellowish. _clavaria cinerea. bull._ ash-colored clavaria. edible. cinerea, pertaining to ashes. this is a small plant, growing in groups, frequently in rows, under beech trees. the color is gray or ashy; it is quite fragile; stem thick, short, very much branched, with the branches thickened, somewhat wrinkled, rather obtuse. its gray color will distinguish it from the other clavaria. _clavaria pistillaris. l._ indian-club clavaria. edible. [illustration: figure .--clavaria pistillaris. one-half natural size.] pistillaris is from _pistillum_, a pestle. they are simple, large, stuffed, fleshy, everywhere smooth, three to ten inches high, attaining to one inch in thickness; light yellow, ochraceous, brownish, chocolate, club-shaped, ovate-rounded, puckered at the top; flesh white, spongy. the spores are white, × µ. they are found in the leaf-mold of mixed woods, and you will sometimes find several growing together. they are found from july to frost. the dark variety, which is frequently vertically wrinkled, is slightly acrid when raw, but this disappears upon cooking. the plant is widely distributed but abundant nowhere in our state. i found it occasionally in the woods near chillicothe. the plants in figure were found near columbus, and were photographed by dr. kellerman of ohio state university. _clavaria fusiformis. sow._ spindle-shaped clavaria. edible. [illustration: figure .--clavaria fusiformis. natural size.] fusiformis is from _fusus_, a spindle, and _forma_, a form. the plant is yellow, smooth, rather firm, soon hollow, cæspitose; nearly erect, rather brittle, attenuated at each end; clubs somewhat spindle-shaped, simple, toothed, the apex somewhat darker; even, slightly firm, usually with several united at the base. the spores are pale yellow, globose, - µ. they are found in woods and pastures. the plants in the figure were in the woods beside an untraveled road, on ralston's run. they strongly resemble c. inæqualis. when found in sufficient quantities they are very tender and have an excellent flavor. _clavaria inæqualis. mull._ the unequal clavaria. edible. inæqualis means unequal. somewhat tufted, quite fragile, from one to three inches high, often compressed, angular, often forked, ventricose; yellow, occasionally whitish, sometimes variously cut at the tip. the spores are colorless, elliptical, - × µ. one can readily distinguish it from c. fusiformis by the tips, these not being sharp pointed. it is found in clusters in woods and pastures from august to october. as delicious as c. fusiformis. _clavaria mucida. pers._ [illustration: figure .--clavaria mucida.] mucida means slimy, so named from the soft and watery condition of the plants. the plants are quite small, usually simple yet sometimes branched, club-shaped, one-eighth to an inch high, white, sometimes yellowish, frequently pinkish or rose-tinted. these plants are very small and easily overlooked. it is found on decayed wood. i have found it late in the fall and early in the spring. you can look for it at any time of the year after warm rains or in damp places, on well decayed wood. the specimens in figure were photographed by prof. g. d. smith, akron, ohio. _calocera. fr._ this plant is gelatinous, somewhat cartilaginous when moist, horny when dry, vertical, simple or branched, cæspitose or solitary. the hymenium is universal; the basidia round and two-lobed, each lobe bearing a single one-spored sterigma. the spores are inclined to be oblong and curved. this genus resembles clavaria, but is identified by being somewhat gelatinous and viscid when moist and rather horn-like when dry, but especially by its two-lobed basidia. _calocera cornea. fr._ [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--calocera cornea.] this is unbranched, cæspitose, rooting, even, viscid, orange-yellow or pale yellow; clubs short, subulate, connate at the base. the spores are round and oblong, - × µ. found upon stumps and logs, especially upon oak where the timber is cracked, the plants springing from the cracks. when dry they are quite stiff and rigid. _calocera stricta. fr._ these plants are unbranched, solitary, about one inch high, elongated, base somewhat blunt, even when dry, yellow. its habitat is very similar to c. cornea but more scattered. c. striata, fr., is very similar to c. cornea, but is distinguished by its being solitary, and striate or rugose when dry. _typhula. fr._ epiphytal. stem filiform, flaccid; clubs cylindrical, perfectly distinct from hymenium, sometimes springing from a sclerotium; hymenium thin and waxy. this is distinguished from clavaria and pistillaria by having its stem distinct from the hymenium. it is a small plant resembling, in miniature, typha, hence its generic name. _typhula erythropus. fr._ simple; club cylindrical, slender, smooth, white; stem nearly straight, dark red, inclining to be black, springing usually from a blackish and somewhat wrinkled sclerotium. the spores are oblong, - × - . µ. this plant has a wide distribution, and is found in damp places upon the stems of herbaceous plants. _typhula incarnata. fr._ simple; club cylindrical, elongated, smooth; whitish, more or less tinged with pink above; one to two-inches high, base minutely strigose, springing from a compressed brownish sclerotium. the spores are nearly round, × µ. this is a common and beautiful little plant and easily distinguished both by its color and the size and form of its spores. if the collector will watch the dead herbaceous stems in damp places, he will not only find the two just described, but another, differing in color, size, and form of spores, called t. phacorrhiza, fr. it has a brownish color and its spores are quite oblong, - × - µ. _lachnocladium. lev._ lachnocladium is from two greek words meaning a fleece and a branch. pileus coriaceous, tough, repeatedly branched; the branches slender or filiform, tomentose. hymenium amphigenous. fungi slender and much branched, terrestrial, but sometimes growing on wood. _lachnocladium semivestitum. b. & c._ [illustration: figure .--lachnocladium semivestitum.] pileus, much branched from a slender stem of variable length, expanded at the angles; the branches filiform, straight, somewhat fasciculate, smooth at the tips and paler in color. this is quite a common specimen on our north hillsides. it is white and quite fragile. found in damp places in august and september. _lachnocladium micheneri. b. & c._ [illustration: figure .--lachnocladium micheneri.] coriaceous, tough, pale or whitish; stem well marked, branching from a point, branches numerous, tips pointed; white tomentum at the base of the stem. this plant is very abundant here and is found very generally over the united states. it grows on fallen leaves in woods, after a rain, being found from july to october. chapter xi. tremellini fr. tremellini is from _tremo_, to tremble. the whole plant is gelatinous, with the exception, occasionally, of the nucleus. the sporophores are large, simple or divided. spicules elongated into threads. _berk._ the following genera are included: tremella--immarginate. hymenium universal. exidia--margined. hymenium superior. hirneola--cartilaginous, ear-shaped, attached by a point. _tremella. fr._ this plant is so called because the entire plant is gelatinous, tremulous, and without a definite margin, and also without nipple-like elevations. _tremella lutescens. fr._ yellowish tremella. edible. this is a small gelatinous cluster, tremulous, convoluted, in wavy folds, pallid, then yellowish, with its lobes crowded and entire. quite common over the state. it is found on decaying limbs and stumps from july to winter. it dries during absence of rain but revives and becomes tremulous during wet weather. it is called lutescens because of its yellowish color. _tremella mesenterica. retz._ mesenterica is from two greek words meaning the mesentery. the plant varies in size and form, sometimes quite flat and thin but generally ascending and strongly lobed; plicated, and convoluted; gelatinous but firm; lobes short, smooth, covered with a frost-like bloom by the white spores at maturity. the spores are broadly elliptical. common in the woods on decaying sticks and branches. _tremella albida. hud._ the whitish tremella. edible. [illustration: figure .--tremella albida. natural size.] albida, whitish. this plant is very common in the woods about chillicothe, and everywhere in the state where beech, sugar-maple, and hickory prevail. it is whitish, becoming dingy-brown when dry; expanded, tough, undulated, even, more or less gyrose, pruinose. it breaks the bark and spreads in irregular and scalloped masses; when moist it has a gelatinous consistency, a soft and clammy touch, yielding like a mass of gelatine. its spores are oblong, obtuse, curved, marked with tear-like spots, almost transparent, - × - µ. the specimen represented in figure was found near sandusky and photographed by dr. kellerman. _tremella mycetophila. pk._ [illustration: figure .--tremella mycetophila.] mycetophila is from two greek words, _mycetes_, fungi; _phila_, fond of. the plant is so called because it is found growing upon other fungi. often nearly round, somewhat depressed, circling in folds, sometimes in quite large masses about the stems of the plant, as will be seen in figure , tremelloid-fleshy, slightly pruinose, a dirty white or yellowish. i have found it frequently growing on collybia drophila, as is the case in figure . captain mcilvaine speaks in his book of finding this plant parasitic on marasmius oreades in quite a large mass for this plant. i can verify the statement for i have found it on m. oreades during damp weather in august and september. it has a pleasant taste. _tremella fimbriata. pers._ fimbriata is from _frimbriæ_, a fringe. it is very soft and gelatinous, olivaceous inclining to black, tufted, two to three inches high, and quite as broad, erect, lobes flaccid, corrugated, cut at the margin, which gives rise to the name of species; spores are nearly pear shaped. found on dead branches, stumps, and on fence-rails in damp weather. easily known by its dark color. _tremellodon. pers._ tremellodon means trembling tooth. these plants are gelatinous, with a cap or pileus; the hymenium covered with acute gelatinous spines, awl-shaped and equal. the basidia are nearly round with four rather stout, elongated sterigmata, spores very nearly round. _tremellodon gelatinosum. pers._ [illustration: figure .--tremellodon gelatinosum.] gelatinosum means full of jelly or jelly-like, from _gelatina_, jelly. the pileus is dimidiate, gelatinous, tremelloid, one to three inches broad, rather thick, extended behind into a lateral thick, stem-like base, pileus covered with a greenish-brown bloom, very minutely granular. the hymenium is watery-gray, covered with hydnum-like teeth, stout, acute, equal, one to two inches long, whitish, soft, inclined to be glaucous. the spores are nearly round, - µ. these plants are found on pine and fir trunks and on sawdust heaps. they grow in groups and are very variable in form and size but easily determined, being the only tremelloid fungus with true spines. the plants in figure were photographed by prof. g. d. smith of akron, ohio. they are edible. found from september to cold weather. _exidia. fr._ gelatinous, marginal, fertile above, barren below. exidia may be known by its minute nipple-like elevations. _exidia grandulosa. fr._ [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ plate l. figure .--excidia glandulosa.] this plant is called "witches' butter." it varies in color, from whitish to brown and deep cinereous, at length blackish; flattened, undulated, much wrinkled above, slightly plicated below; soft at first and when moist, becoming film-like when dry. found on dead branches of oak. _hirneola. fr._ hirneola is the diminutive of _hirnea_, a jug. gelatinous, cup-shaped, horny when dry. hymenium wrinkled, becoming cartilaginous when moistened. the hymenium is in the form of a hard skin which covers the cup-shaped cavities, and which can be peeled off after soaking in water, the interstices are without papillæ and the outer surface is velvety. _hirneola auricula-judæ. berk._ the jew's ear hirneola. edible. [illustration: figure .--hirneola auricula-judæ.] [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ plate li. figure .--hirneola auricula-judae.] auricula-judæ, the ear of the jew. the plant is gelatinous; one to four inches across; thin, concave, wavy, flexible when moist, hard when dry; blackish, fuzzy, hairy beneath; when covered with white spores it is cinereous. the hymenium by its corrugations forms depressions such as are found in the human ear. one will not fail to recognize it after seeing it once. it is not common in our woods, yet i have found it on several occasions. it is found on almost any timber but most frequently on the elm and elder. the plant in figure was found near chillicothe. its distribution is general. _guepinia. fr._ gelatinous, inclining to cartilaginous, free, different on the two sides, variable in form, substipitate. hymenium confined to one side. _guepinia spathularia._ [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--guepinia spathularia. entire plant a light yellow.] yellow, cartilaginous, especially when dry, spathulate, expanded above, hymenium slightly ribbed, contracted where it issues from a log. it is quite common on beech and maple logs. i have seen beech logs, somewhat decayed, quite yellow with this interesting plant. _hymenula. fr._ effused, very thin, maculæform, agglutinate, between wavy or gelatinous. _berk._ _hymenula punctiformis. b. & br._ point-like hymenula. dirty white, quite pallid, gelatinous, punctiform, slightly undulated; consisting of erect simple threads; frequently there is a slight tinge of yellow. the spores are very minute. it looked very much like an undeveloped peziza when i found it, in fact i thought it p. vulgaris until i had submitted a specimen to prof. atkinson. chapter xii. ascomycetes--spore-sac fungi. ascomycetes is from two greek words: _ascos_, a sack; _mycetes_, a fungus or mushroom. all the fungi which belong to this class develop their spores in small membranous sacs. these asci are crowded together side by side, and with them are slender empty asci called paraphyses. the spores are inclosed in these sacs, usually eight in a sac. they are called sporidia to separate them from the basidiomycetes. these sacs arise from a naked or inclosed stratum of fructifying cells, forming a hymenium or nucleus. family--helvellaceae. hymenium at length more or less exposed, the substance soft. the genera are distinguished from the earth-tongues by the cup-like forms of the spore body, but especially by the character of the spore sacs which open by a small lid, instead of spores. the following are some of the genera: morchella pileus deeply folded and pitted. gyromitra pileus covered with rounded and variously contorted folds. helvella pileus drooping, irregularly waved and lobed. _morchella. dill._ morchella is from a greek word meaning a mushroom. this genus is easily recognized. it may be known by the deeply pitted, and often elongated, naked head, the depressions being usually regular but sometimes resembling mere furrows with wrinkled interspaces. the cap or head varies in form from rounded to ovate or cone shape. they are all marked by deep pits, covering the entire surface, separated by ridges forming a net-work. the spore-sacs are developed in both ridges and depressions. all the species when young are of a buff-yellow tinged with brown. the stems are stout and hollow, white, or whitish in color. the common name is morel, and they appear during wet weather early in the spring. _morchella esculenta. pers._ the common morel. edible. [illustration: figure .--morchella esculenta. two-thirds natural size.] the common morel has a cap a little longer than broad, so that it is almost oval in outline. sometimes it is nearly round but again it is often slightly narrowed in its upper half, though not pointed or cone-like. the pits in its surface are more nearly round than in the other species. in this species the pits are irregularly arranged so that they do not form rows, as will be observed in figure . it grows from two to four inches high and is known by most people as the sponge mushroom. it grows in woods and wood borders, especially beside wood streams. old apple and peach orchards are favorite places for morels. it makes no difference if the beginner cannot identify the species, as they are all equally good. i have seen collectors have for sale a bushel basketful, in which half a dozen species were represented. they dry very easily and can be kept for winter use. it is said to grow in great profusion over burnt districts. the german peasants were reputed to have burned forest tracts to insure an abundant crop. i find that more people know the morels than any other mushroom. they are found through april and may, after warm rains. _morchella deliciosa. fr._ the delicious morel. edible. [illustration: figure .--morchella deliciosa. two-thirds natural size.] this and the preceding species would indicate by their names that they have been held in high esteem for a long time, as profs. persoon and fries, who named them, lived more than a hundred years ago. the delicious morel is recognized by the shape of its cap, which is generally cylindrical, sometimes pointed, and slightly curved. the stem is rather short and, like the stem of all morels, is hollow from the top to the bottom. it is found associated with other species of morels, in woods and wood borders, also in old apple and peach orchards. they need to be cooked slowly and long. coming early in the spring, they are not likely to be infested with worms. the flesh is rather fragile and not very watery. they are easily dried. found through april and may. _morchella esculenta var. conica. pers._ the conical morel. edible. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ plate lii. figure .--morchella esculenta var. conica.] the conical morel is very closely related to m. esculenta and m. deliciosa, from which it differs in having the cap longer than it is wide, and more pointed, so that it is conical or oblong-conical. the plant, as a general thing, grows to be larger than the other species. it is, however, pretty hard to distinguish these three species. the conical morel is quite abundant about chillicothe. i have found morels especially plentiful about the reservoirs in mercer county, and in auglaize, allen, harden, hancock, wood and henry counties. i have known lovers of morels to go on camping tours in the woods about the reservoirs for the purpose of hunting them, and to bring home large quantities of them. [illustration: figure .--morchella esculenta var. conica. two-thirds natural size.] _morchella angusticeps. pk._ the narrow-cap morel. edible. [illustration: figure .--morchella angusticeps.] angusticeps is from two latin words: _angustus_, narrow; _caput_, head. this species and m. conica are so nearly alike that it is very difficult to identify them with any degree of satisfaction. in both species the cap is considerably longer than broad, but in angusticeps the cap is slimmer and more pointed. the pits, as a general thing are longer than in the other species. they are often found in orchards but are also frequently found in low woods under black ash trees. i have found some typical specimens about the reservoirs. the specimens in figure were collected in michigan, and photographed by prof. b. o. longyear. they appear very early in the spring, even while we are still having frosts. _morchella semilibera. d. c._ the hybrid morel. edible. [illustration: figure .--morchella semilibera. one-half natural size.] semilibera means half free, and it is so called because the cap is bell-shaped and the lower half is free from the stem. the cap is rarely more than one inch long, and is usually much shorter than the stem, as is indicated in figure . the pits on the cap are longer than broad. the stem is white or whitish and somewhat mealy or scurvy, hollow, and often swollen at the base. i found the specimens in figure about the last of may under elm trees, in james dunlap's woods. they are quite plentiful there. i do not detect any difference in the flavor of these and other species. _morchella bispora. sor._ the two-spored morel. edible. [illustration: figure .--morchella bispora. one-half natural size.] [illustration: plate liii. figure .--morchella bispora. the two-spored morel. edible. showing the cap free from the stem quite to the top.] bispora, two-spored, differs from the other species in the fact that the cap is free from the stem quite to the top. the distinguishing characteristic, which gives name to the species, can be seen only by the aid of a strong microscope. in this species there are only two spores in each ascus or sac, and these are much larger than in the other species, which have eight spores in a sac or ascus. the ridges, as will be seen in figure , run from the top to the bottom. the stem is much longer than the cap, hollow, and sometimes swollen at the base. the whole plant is fragile and very tender. the plants in figure were collected in michigan by prof. longyear. those in the full page display were found near columbus and were photographed by dr. kellerman. it seems to have a wide range, but is nowhere very plentiful. the spores can be readily obtained from morels by taking a mature specimen and placing it on white paper under a glass for a few hours. the beginner will find much difficulty in identifying the species of morels; but if he is collecting them for food he need not give the matter any thought, since none need be avoided, and they are so characteristic that no one need be afraid to gather them. _morchella crassipes. pers._ the gigantic morel. edible. crassipes is from _crassus_, thick; _pes_, foot. the cap resembles the cap of m. esculenta in its form and irregular pitting, but it is quite a little larger. the stem is very stout, much longer than the pileus, often very much wrinkled and folded. i have found only a few specimens of this species. found in april and may. _verpa. swartz._ verpa means a rod. ascospore smooth or slightly wrinkled, free from the sides of the stem, attached at the tip of the stem, bell-shaped, thin; hymenium covering the entire surface of the ascospore; asci cylindrical, -spored. the spores are elliptical, hyaline; paraphyses septate. the stem is inflated, stuffed, rather long, tapering downward. _verpa digitaliformis. pers._ [illustration: figure .--verpa digitaliformis.] digitaliformis is from _digitus_, a finger, and _forma_, a form. the pileus is bell-shaped, attached to the tip of the stem, but otherwise free from it; olive-umber in color; smooth, thin, closely pressed to the stem, but always free; the edge sometimes inflexed. the stem is three inches high, tapering downward, furnished at the base with reddish radicels; white, with a reddish tinge; apparently smooth, but under the glass quite scaly; loosely stuffed. the asci are large, -spored, the spores being elliptical. the paraphyses are slender and septate. figure represents several plants, natural size. the one in the righthand corner is old, with a ragged pileus; the vertical section shows the pithy contents of the stem. the plants are found in cool, moist, and shady ravines from may to august. edible, but not very good. _gyromitra. fr._ gyromitra is from _gyro_, to turn; _mitra_, a hat or bonnet. this genus is so called because the plants look like a hood that is much wrinkled or plaited. ascophore stipitate; hymenophore subglobose, inflated and more or less hollow or cavernous, variously gyrose and convolute at the surface, which is everywhere covered with the hymenium; substance fleshy; asci cylindrical, -spored; spores uniseriate, elongated, hyaline or nearly so, continuous; paraphyses present. _massee._ _gyromitra esculenta. fr._ [illustration: plate liv. figure .--gyromitra esculenta.] esculenta means edible. this is the largest spore-sac fungus. the original name was helvella esculenta. it is bay-red, round, wrinkled or convoluted, attached to the stem, irregular, with brain-like convolutions. the stem is hollow when mature, often very much deformed, whitish, scurvy, frequently enlarged or swollen at the base, sometimes lacunose, frequently attenuated upward, at first stuffed; asci cylindrical, apex obtuse, base attenuated, -spored; spores obliquely uniseriate, hyaline, smooth, continuous, elliptical, - × - µ; paraphases numerous. this plant will be readily recognized from figure , and its bay-red or chestnut-red cap with its brain-like convolutions. the books speak of its being found in pine regions, but i have found it frequently in the woods near bowling green, sidney, and chillicothe. many authors give this plant a bad reputation, yet i have eaten it often and when it is well prepared it is good. i should advise caution in its use. it is found in damp sandy woods during may and june. the plant in figure was found near chillicothe. _gyromitra brunnea. underwood._ the brown gyromitra. edible. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--gyromitra brunnea.] brunnea is from _brunneus_, brown. a stout, fleshy plant, stipitate, three to five inches high, bearing a broad, much contorted, brown ascoma. stem is ¾ to . inch thick, more or less enlarged and spongy, solid at the base, hollow below, rarely slightly fluted, clear white; receptacle two to four inches across in the widest direction, the two diameters usually more or less unequal, irregularly lobed and plicate; in places faintly marked into areas by indistinct anastomosing ridges; closely cohering with the stem in the various parts; color a rich chocolate-brown or somewhat lighter if much covered with the leaves among which it grows; whitish underneath; asci -spored. spores oval. this plant is found quite frequently about bowling green. the land is very rich there and produced both g. esculenta and g. brunnea in greater abundance than i have found elsewhere in the state. it is quite tender and fragile. the specimen in figure was found near cincinnati and photographed by mr. c. g. lloyd. _helvella elastica. bull._ the peziza-like helvella. edible. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--helvella elastica.] elastica means elastic, referring to its stem. the pileus is free from the stem, drooping, two to three lobed, center depressed, even, whitish, brownish, or sooty, almost smooth underneath, about cm. broad. the stem is two to three and a half inches high, and three to five lines thick at the inflated base; tapering upward, elastic, smooth, or often more or less pitted; colored like the pileus, minutely velvety or furfuraceous; at first solid, then hollow. spores hyaline, continuous, elliptical, ends obtuse, often -guttulate, - × - ; -serrate; paraphyses septate, clavate. _massee._ the plants in the figure were found near columbus and photographed by dr. kellerman. i have not found the plant as far south as chillicothe, though i found it frequently in the northern part of the state. it grows in the woods on leaf-mould. _helvella lacunosa. afz._ the cinereous helvella. edible. [illustration: figure .--helvella lacunosa.] lacunosa, full of pits or pitted. this is a beautiful plant, very closely related to the morchellas. the pileus is inflated, lobed, cinereous black, lobes deflected, adnate. the stem is hollow, white or dusky, exterior ribbed, forming intervening cavities. the asci are cylindrical, and stemmed. the sporidia are ovate and hyaline. the deep longitudinal grooves in the stem are characteristic of this species. the plants from which the halftone was made were collected near sandusky and photographed by dr. kellerman. they grow in moist woods. i found the plants frequently in the woods near bowling green and occasionally about chillicothe, growing about well-decayed stumps. _hypomyces. tul._ hypomyces means upon a mushroom. it is parasitic on fungi. mycelium byssoid; perithecia small; asci -spored. _hypomyces lactifluorum. schw._ [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--hypomyces lactifluorum. the entire plant is a bright yellow. natural size.] lactifluorum means milk-flowing. it is parasitic on lactarius, probably piperatus, as this species surrounded it. it seems to have the power to change the color into an orange-red mass, in many cases entirely obliterating the gills of the host-species, as will be seen in figure . the asci are long and slender. the sporidia are in one row, spindle-shaped, straight or slightly curved, rough, hyaline, uniseptic, cuspidate, pointed at the ends, - × - µ. this very closely resembles hypomyces aurantius, but the sporidia are larger, rough and warted and the felt-like mycelium at the base is wanting. it occurs in various colors, orange, red, white, and purple. it is not plentiful, occurring only occasionally. capt. mcilvaine says, "when it is well cooked in small pieces it is among the best." it is found from july to october. _leptoglossum luteum. (pk.) sac._ [illustration: figure .--leptoglossum luteum.] leptoglossum is from two greek words, meaning thin, delicate, and tongue; luteum means yellowish. the club is distinct from the stem, smooth, compressed, generally with a groove on one side; luteous, often becoming brown at the tip or apex. the stem is equal or slightly enlarged above, stuffed, luteous, minutely scaly. the spores are oblong, slightly curved, in a double row, - to - inch long. _peck._ these are found quite frequently among moss, or where an old log has rotted down, on the north hillsides about chillicothe. the plants were first described by dr. peck as "geoglossum luteum," but afterwards called by saccardo "leptoglossum luteum." the plants in figure were found in august or september, on ralston's run, near chillicothe, and were photographed by dr. kellerman. _spathularia. pers._ this is a very interesting genus, and one that will attract the attention of any one at first sight. it grows in the form of a spathula, from which it receives its generic name. the spore-body is flattened and grows down on both sides of the stem, tapering downward. _spathularia flavida. pers._ the yellow spathularia. edible. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--spathularia flavida.] the spore body is a clear yellow, sometimes tinged with red, shaped like a spathula, the apex blunt, sometimes slightly cleft, the surface wavy, somewhat crisp, growing down the stem on opposite sides further than v. velutipes. the stem is thick, hollow, white, then tinged with yellow, slightly compressed; asci clavate, apex somewhat pointed, -spored; spores arranged in parallel fascicles, hyaline, linear-clavate, usually very slightly bent, - × . - µ; paraphyses filiform, septate, often branched, tips not thickened, wavy. while this is a beautiful plant it is not common. found in august and september. _spathularia velutipes. c. & f._ velvet-foot spathularia. edible. velutipes is from _velutum_, velvet; _pes_, foot. the spore body is flattened, shaped like a spathula, spore surface wavy, growing on the opposite sides of the upper part of the stem, tawny-yellow. the stem is hollow, minutely downy or velvety, dark brown tinged with yellow. it will dry quite as well as morchella. it is found in damp woods on mossy logs. it is not a common plant. found in august and september. _leotia. hill._ receptacle pileate. pileus orbicular, margin involute, free from the stem, smooth, hymenium covering upper surface. the stem is hollow, central, rather long, continuous with pileus; the whole plant greenish-yellow. asci club-shaped, pointed, -spored. the spores are elliptical and hyaline. the paraphyses are present, usually slender and round. _leotia lubrica. pers._ [illustration: figure .--leotia lubrica.] lubrica means slippery; so called because the plants are usually slimy. the pileus is irregularly hemispherical, somewhat wrinkled, inflated, wavy, margin obtuse, free from the stem, yellowish olive-green, tremelloid. the stem is one to three inches long, nearly equal, hollow, and continuous with the cap; greenish-yellow, covered with small white granules. the asci are cylindrical, slightly pointed at the apex, -spored. the spores are oblong, hyaline, smooth, sometimes slightly curved, - × µ. the paraphyses are slender, round, hyaline. the plants are gregarious and grow among moss or among leaves in the woods. this species is quite plentiful about chillicothe. it is distinguished from leotia chlorocephala by the color of its stem and cap. the color of the latter is green or dark green. they are found from july to frost. they are edible but not choice. _leotia chlorocephala. schw._ [illustration: figure .--leotia chlorocephala.] chlorocephala means green head. however, the entire plant is green. they grow in clusters, pileus round, depressed, somewhat translucent, more or less waxy, margin incurved, dark-verdigris-green, sometimes rather dark-green. the stem is rather short, almost equal; green, but often paler than the cap, covered with fine powdery dust, often twisted. asci cylindric-clavate, apex rather narrowed, -spored, spores smooth, hyaline, ends acute, often slightly curved, - × µ. the specimens in figure were found in purgatory swamp, near boston, by mrs. blackford. both cap and stem were a deep verdigris-green. they were sent to me during the warm weather of august. _peziza. linn._ peziza means stalkless mushroom. this is a large genus of discomycetous fungi in which the hymenium lines the cavity of a fleshy membranous or waxy cup. they are attached to the ground, decaying wood, or other substances, by the center, though sometimes they are distinctly stalked. they are often beautifully colored and are called fairy cups, blood cups, and cup fungi. they are all cup-or saucer-shaped; externally warted, scurvy or smooth; asci cylindrical, -spored. the genus is large. prof. peck reports species. found early in spring till early winter. _peziza acetabulum. linn._ reticulated peziza. edible. acetabulum, a small cup or vinegar cup. the spore-bearing body stipitate, cup-shaped, dingy, ribbed externally with branching veins, which run up from the short, pitted and hollow stem; mouth somewhat contracted; light umber without and darker within. found on the ground in the spring. _peziza badia. pers._ large brown peziza. edible. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--peziza badia.] gregarious in its habits; sessile, or narrowed into a very short stout stem, more or less pitted; nearly round and closed at first, then expanded until cup-shaped; margin at first involute; externally covered with a frost-like bloom; disk darker than the external surface, very changeable in color; lobes more or less split and wavy, somewhat thick; spore-sacs cylindrical, apex truncante, sporidia oblong-ovate, epispore rough, -spored. found on the ground in the grass or by the roadside in open woods. i found my first specimens in a clearing at salem, but i have since found it at several points in the state. it should be fresh when eaten. _peziza coccinea. jacq._ the carmine peziza. [illustration: figure .--peziza coccinea. one-third natural size.] coccinea means scarlet or crimson. usually growing two or three on the same stick, the color is a very pure and beautiful scarlet, attractive to children; school children frequently bring me specimens, curious to know what they are. specimens not large, disk clear and pure carmine within, externally white, as is the stem; tomentose, with short, adpressed down; sporidia oblong, -spored. it is readily recognized by the pure carmine disk and whitish tomentose exterior. it is found in damp woods on decayed sticks, being very common all over the state. _peziza odorata. pk._ the odorous peziza. edible. gregarious in its habits. cup yellowish, sessile, translucent, becoming dull brown when old, brittle when fresh, flesh moist and watery; the frame of the cup is separable into two layers; the outer one is rough, while the inner one is smooth. the disk is yellowish-brown. the asci are cylindrical, opening by a lid. on ground in cellars, about barns and outbuildings. a very beautiful cluster grew upon a water-bucket in my stable. the cups were quite large, two and a half to three inches across. its odor is distinctive. it is very similar to peziza petersii from which it is distinguished by its larger spores and peculiar odor. found in may and june. _peziza stevensoni._ [illustration: figure .--peziza stevensoni.] this plant is sessile or nearly so, growing on the ground in dense clusters. the specimens in figure grew in dr. chas. miesse's cellar, in chillicothe. they grow quite large at times; are ovate, externally grayish-white, covered with a minute down or tomentum, internally reddish-brown, the rim of the cup finely serrated, as will be seen in the figure below. they are found from may to july. _peziza semitosta._ [illustration: figure .--peziza semitosta.] semitosta, from its scorched appearance, or umber-like color. the cup is one to one and a half inches across, hemispherical, hirsute-velvety without, date-brown within; margin indexed. the stem is ribbed or wrinkled. sporidia are subfusiform, . inch long. these plants are found on the ground in damp places. it was formerly called peziza semitosta or sarcoscypha semitosta. the plants in figure were found in august or september on the north side of the edinger hill, near chillicothe, and were photographed by dr. kellerman. no doubt edible, but the writer has not tried them. this is called macropodia semitosta. _peziza aurantia. fr._ orange-ground peziza. edible. aurantia means orange color. subsessile, irregular, oblique, externally somewhat pruinose, whitish. the sporidia are elliptic, rough. found on the ground in damp woods. the cups are often quite large and very irregular. found in august and september. _peziza repanda. wahl._ [illustration: figure .--peziza repanda.] repanda means bent backward. these plants are found in dark moist woods, growing on old, wet logs, or in well wooded earth. the cups are clustered or scattered, subsessile, contracted into a short, stout, stem-like base. when very small they appear like a tiny white knot on the surface of the log. this grows, so that soon a hollow sphere with an opening at the top is produced. the plant now begins to expand and flatten, producing an irregular, flattened disk with small upturned edges. the margin often becomes split and wavy, sometimes drooping and revolute; disk pale or dark brown, more or less wrinkled toward the center; externally the cup is a scurvy-white. the asci are -spored, quite large. the paraphyses are few, short, separate, clavate, and brownish at the tips. the spores are elliptical, thin-walled, hyaline, non-nucleate, × µ. found from may to october. edible. _peziza vesiculosa. bull._ the bladdery peziza. edible. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--peziza vesiculosa.] often in thick clusters. those in the center are frequently distorted by mutual pressure; large, entire, sessile, at first globose; closed at first, then expanding; the margin of the cup more or less incurved, sometimes slightly notched; disk pallid-brown, externally; surface is covered with a coarsely granular or warty substance which plainly shows in the photograph. the hymenium is generally separable from the substance of the cap. the spores are smooth, transparent, continuous, elliptical, ends obtuse. they are found on dung-hills, hot-beds or wherever the ground has been strongly fertilized and contains the necessary moisture. this is an interesting plant and often found in large numbers. vesicolosa means full of bladders, as the picture will suggest. i found a very nice cluster on the th of april, , in my stable. _peziza scutellata. linn._ the shield-like peziza. [illustration: figure .--peziza scutellata. very small but will show form under the glass.] becoming plane, vermillion-red, externally paler, hispid towards the margin with straight black hairs. spores ellipsoid. found on damp rotten logs from july to october. very plentiful and very pretty under the magnifying glass. _peziza tuberosa. bull._ the tuberous peziza. [illustration: figure .--peziza tuberosa. natural size.] tuberosa, furnished with a tuber or sclerotium. the cup is thin, infundibuliform, bright brown, turning pale. the stem is elongated, springing from an irregular black tuber, called sclerotium. the stems run deep into the earth and are attached to a sclerotium, which will be seen in the halftone. many fungus plants have learned to store up fungus starch for the new plant. the sporidia are oblong-ellipsoid, simple. it is called by some authors sclerotinia tuberosa. it grows on the ground in the spring and may be known by its bright brown color and its stem running deep into the earth and attached to a tuber. _peziza hemispherica. wigg._ sessile, hemispherical, waxy, externally brownish, clothed with dense, fasciculate hairs; disk glaucous-white. this is called by gillet lachnea hemispherica. the cups are small, varying much in color and the sporidia are ellipsoidal. they are found on the ground in september and october. found in poke hollow. _peziza leporina. batsch._ substipitate, elongated on one side, ear-shaped, subferruginous externally, farinose internally; base even. it is sometimes cinereous or yellowish. sporidia ellipsoidal. this is called frequently otidea leporina, (batsch.) fckl. it is found on the ground in the woods during september and october. found in poke hollow. _peziza venosa. p._ this plant is saucer-shaped, sometimes many inches broad; sessile, somewhat twisted, dark umber, white beneath, wrinkled with rib-like veins. odor often strong. found growing on the ground in leaf mold. found in the spring, about the last of april, in james dunlap's woods, near chillicothe. this is also called discina venosa, suec. _peziza floccosa. schw._ [illustration: figure .--peziza floccosa. natural size.] this is a beautiful plant growing upon partially decayed logs. i have always found it upon hickory logs. the cap is cup-shaped, very much like a beaker. the stem is long and slender, rather woolly; the rim of the cap is fringed with long, strigose hairs. the inner surface of the cup represents the spore-bearing portion. the inside and the rim of the cup are very beautiful, being variegated with deep scarlet and white. also called sarcoscypha floccosa. the plant is found from june to september. _peziza occidentalis._ [illustration: figure .--peziza occidentalis. natural size.] this is another very showy plant, quite equal in attractiveness to p. floccosa and p. coccinea. the cup is infundibuliform, the outside as well as the stem whitish, and downy, the bowl or disk is reddish-orange. this is known by some authors as sarcoscypha occidentalis. it grows on rotten sticks upon the ground. may and june. _peziza nebulosa. cooke._ [illustration: figure .--peziza nebulosa.] nebulosa means cloudy or dark, from _nebula_, a cloud; from its color. ascophore stipitate, rather fleshy, closed at first, then cup-shaped, becoming somewhat plane, the margin slightly incurved, externally pilose or downy, pale gray or sometimes quite dark. asci are cylindrical; spores spindle-shaped, straight or bow-shaped, rough, - ; paraphyses thread-shaped. these plants are found on decayed stumps or logs in the wood. the woods where i have found them have been rather dense and damp. the plants in figure were found in haynes' hollow and photographed by dr. kellerman. _urnula craterium. (schw.) fr._ [illustration: figure .--urnula craterium. two-thirds natural size.] urnula means burned; craterium means a small crater; hence the translation is a burned-out crater, which will appear to the student as a very appropriate name. it is a very common and conspicuous ascomycetous, or cup fungus, growing in clusters on rotten sticks that lie in moist places. when the plants first appear they are small, black stems with scarcely any evidence of a cup. in a short time the end of the stem shows evidence of enlargement, showing lines of separation on the top. it soon opens and we have the cup as you see it in figure . the hymenium, or spore bearing surface, is the interior wall of the cup. the cup is lined inside with a palisade of long cylindrical sacs, each containing eight spores with a small amount of liquid. these sacs are at right angles to the inner surface, and are provided with lids similar to that of a coffee-pot; at maturity the lid is forced open and the spores are shot out of these sacs, and, by jarring the fungus when it is ready to make the discharge, they can be seen as a little cloud an inch or two above the cup. place a small slip of glass over the cup and you will see spores in groups of eight in very small drops of liquid on the glass. this species appears in april and may, and is certainly a very interesting plant. it is called by some peziza craterium, schw. _helotium. fr._ disc always open, at first punctiform, then dilated, convex or concave, naked. excipulum waxy, free, marginate, externally naked. _helotium citrinum. fr._ lemon-colored helotium. [illustration: figure .--helotium citrinum. disc-fungus, yellow growing on rotten logs. slightly magnified.] this is a beautiful little disc-fungus, yellow, growing upon rotten logs in damp woods. they often grow in dense clusters; a beautiful lemon-yellow, the head being plane or concave, with a short, thick, paler stem, forming an inverted cone. asci elongated, narrowly cylindrical, attenuated at the base into a long, slender, crooked pedicel, -spored. sporidia oblong, elliptical, with two or three minute nuclei. this is quite a common plant in our woods during wet weather or in damp places, growing upon old logs and stumps, in woods, in the fall. figure will give an idea of their appearance when in dense clusters. the plants photographed by dr. kellerman. _helotium lutescens. fr._ yellowish helotium. lutescens means yellowish. the plants are small, sessile, or attached by a very short stem; closed at first, then expanding until nearly plane; disk yellow, smooth; asci clavate, spored; spores hyaline, smooth. gregarious or scattered. found on half-decayed branches. _helotium æruginosum. fr._ the green helotium. Æruginosum means verdigris-green. gregarious or scattered, staining the wood on which they grow to a deep verdigris-green; ascophore at first turbinate and closed, then expanding, the margin usually wavy and more or less irregular; flexible, glabrous, even, somewhat contracted, and minutely wrinkled when dry; every part a deep verdigris-green, the disc often becoming paler with a tinge of tan color; - mm. across; stem - mm. long, expanding into the ascophore; hypothecium and excipulum formed of interlaced, hyaline hyphæ, - µ. thick, these becoming stouter and colored green in the cortex; asci narrowly cylindric-clavate, apex slightly narrowed, -spored; spores irregularly -seriate, hyaline or with a slight tinge of green, very narrowly cylindric-fusiform, straight or curved, - × . - . µ. -gutullate, or with several minute green oil globules; paraphyses slender, with a tinge of green at the tip. _massee._ massee calls this chlorosplenium æruginosum, de not. it is quite common on oak branches, staining to a deep green the wood upon which it grows. it is widely distributed, specimens having been sent me from as far east as massachusetts. the mycelium-stains in the wood are met more frequently than the fruit. _bulgaria. fr._ bulgaria--probably first found in that principality. receptacle orbicular, then truncate, glutinous within, at first closed; hymenium even, persistent, smooth. _bulgaria inquinans. fr._ the blackish bulgaria. [illustration: figure .--bulgaria inquinans. two-thirds natural size.] inquinans means befouling or polluting; so called because of the blackish, gelatinous coating of the cap. receptacle orbicular, closed at first, then opening, forming a cup, as shown on the right in figure ; disk or cup becoming plane; black, sometimes becoming lacunose; tough, elastic, gelatinous, dark-brown, or chocolate, almost black, wrinkled, and rough externally; stem very short, almost obsolete; cup light umber; sporidia large, elliptical, brown. this plant is quite plentiful in some localities near chillicothe. it is found in woods, on oak trunks or limbs partially decayed. chapter xiii. nidulariaceae--bird's nest fungi. spores produced on sporophores, compacted into one or more globose or disciform bodies, contained within a distinct peridium. _berkeley._ there are four genera included in this order. cyathus--peridium cup-shaped, composed of three different membranes. crucibulum--peridium of a uniform spongy membrane. nidularia--peridium globose, sporangia enveloped in mucus. sphærobolus--peridium double, sporangia ejected singly. _cyathus. pers._ cyathus is from a greek word meaning a cup. the peridium is composed of three membranes very closely related, closed at first by a white membrane, but finally bursting at the top. sporangia plane, umbilicate, attached to the wall by an elastic cord. _cyathus striatus. hoffm._ striate cyathus. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--cyathus striatus.] the plants are small, obconic, truncate, broadly open; externally ferruginous, with a hairy tomentum, internally lead-color, smooth, striated. the sporangia are somewhat trigonous, whitish, broadly umbilicate; covering of the cup thin, evanescent, somewhat thicker underneath, and cottony, often covered with down-like meal. the spores are thick and oblong. this is a very interesting little plant. it is quite widely distributed. i have had it from several states, including new england. it is easily identified by the striations, or lines, on the inside of the cup, being the only species thus marked by internal striæ. the peridioles of the species fill only the lower part of the cup, below the striations. _cyathus vernicosus. d. c._ varnished cyathus. [illustration: figure .--cyathus vernicosus.] vernicosus means varnished. it is bell-shaped, base narrowly subsessile, broadly open above, somewhat wavy; externally rusty-brown, silky tomentose, finally becoming smooth, internally lead-colored. the sporangia are blackish, frequently somewhat pale, even; covering rather thick, sprinkled with a grayish meal. spores elliptical, colorless, - × µ. i have frequently seen the ground in gardens and stubble-fields covered with these beautiful little plants. the quite firm, thick, and flaring cup will easily distinguish the species. the eggs or peridioles are black and quite large, appearing white because covered with a thin white membrane. found in late summer and fall. the plants in figure were photographed by prof. g. d. smith. _cyathus stercoreus._ [illustration: figure .--cyathus stercoreus.] stercoreus is from _stercus_, dung. this species, as the name suggests, is found on manure or manured grounds. mr. lloyd gives the following description: "the cups are even inside, and with shaggy hairs outside. when old they become smoother, and are sometimes mistaken for cyathus vernicosus. however when once learned, the plants can be readily distinguished by the cups. cyathus stercoreus varies considerably, however, as to shape and size of cups, according to habitat. if growing on a cake of manure, they are shorter and more cylindrical; if in loose manured ground, especially in grass, they are more slender and inclined to a stalk at the base." the peridioles or eggs are blacker than other species. they are found in late summer and fall. _crucibulum. tul._ the peridium consists of a uniform, spongy, fibrous felt, closed by a flat scale-like covering of the same color. the sporangia are plane, attached by a cord, springing from a small nipple-like tubercle. this genus is distinguished from cyathus, its nearest ally, by the peridial wall, consisting of two layers only. _crucibulum vulgare. tul._ [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--crucibulum vulgare.] the peridium is tan-colored, thick externally nearly even, internally quite even, smooth, shining; mouths of young plants are covered with a thin yellowish membrane called the epiphragm. when old the cups bleach out and lose their yellow color. the peridioles or eggs are white, that is they are covered with a white membrane. their yellowish color and white eggs will readily distinguish this species. they are found on decayed weeds, sticks, and pieces of wood. the specimens in the halftone grew on an old mat and were photographed by mr. c. g. lloyd. _nidularia. tul._ the peridium is uniform, consisting of a single membrane; globose, at first closed, finally ruptured or opening with a circular mouth. the sporangia are quite small and numerous, not attached by a funiculus to the peridium, enveloped in mucus. _nidularia pisiformis. tul._ pea-shaped nidularia. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--nidularia pisiformis.] pisiformis is from two latin words meaning _pea_ and _form_. the plant is gregarious, nearly round, sessile, rootless, hairy, brown or brownish, splitting irregularly. the sporangia are subrotund or discoidal in form, dark brown, smooth, shining. the spores are colorless, round or elliptical or pear-shaped, produced on sterigmata, - × - µ. sometimes found on the ground and on leaves, but their favorite home is an old log. found from july to september. chapter xiv. sub-class basidiomycetes. group gastromycetes. gastromycetes is from two greek words: _gaster_, stomach; _mycetes_, fungus. we have already seen that, in the group, hymenomycetes, the spore-bearing surface is exposed as in the common mushroom or in the pore-bearing varieties, but in the gastromycetes the hymenium is inclosed in the rind or peridium. the word peridium comes from _peridio_ (i wrap around); because the peridium entirely envelops the spore-bearing portion, which, in due time, sheds the inclosed spores that have been formed inside the basidia and spicules, as will be seen in figure . the cavity within the peridium consists of two parts: the threaded part, called the capillitium, which can be seen in any dried puffball, and a cellular part, called the gleba, which is the spore-bearing tissue, composed of minute chambers lined with the hymenium. the peridium breaks in various ways to permit the spores to escape. when children pinch a puffball to "see the smoke," as they say, issue from it, little do they know that they are doing just what the puffball would have them do, in order that its seeds may be scattered to the winds. in case of the phalloides, the hymenium deliquesces, instead of drying up. berkeley, in his "outlines," gives the following characterization of this family: "hymenium more or less permanently concealed, consisting in most cases of closely packed cells, of which the fertile ones bear naked spores in distinct spicules, exposed only by the rupture or decay of the investing coat or peridium." the following families will be treated here: i. phalloideæ--terrestrial. hymenium deliquescent. ii. lycoperdaceæ--cellular at first. hymenium drying up in a mass of threads and spores. iii. sclerodermaceæ--peridium inclosing sporangia. _phalloideæ. fr._ volva universal, the intermediate stratum gelatinous. hymenium deliquescent. _berkeley's outlines._ the following genera will be represented: i. phallus--pileus free around the stem. ii. mutinus--pileus attached to the stem. _phallus duplicatus. bosc._ laced stinkhorn. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ plate lv. figure .--phallus duplicatus. natural size, showing veil.] volva egg-shaped, thick, whitish, frequently having a pinkish tinge. the stem is cylindrical, cellulose, tapering upward. the veil is reticulate, frequently surrounding the whole of the stem from the pileus to the volva, often torn. the pileus is pitted, deliquescent, six to eight inches high, apex acute. spores elliptic-oblong. i am sure i never saw finer lace-work than i have seen on this plant. a few years ago one of these plants insisted upon growing near my house, where a fence post had formerly been, with the effect of almost driving the family from home. one can hardly imagine so beautiful a plant giving off such an odor. it is not a common plant in our state. _phallus ravenelii. b. & c._ [illustration: figure .--phallus ravenelii. natural size, showing volva at base, receptacle and cap.] this plant is extremely abundant about chillicothe. i have seen hundreds of fully developed plants on a few square yards of old sawdust; and one might easily think that all the bad smells in the world had been turned loose at that place. the eggs in the sawdust can be gathered by the bushel. in figure is represented a cluster, of these eggs. the section of an egg in the center of the cluster shows the outline of the volva, the pileus, and the embryo stem. inside of the volva, in the middle, is the short undeveloped stem; covering the upper part and sides of the stem is the pileus; the fruit-bearing part, which is divided into small chambers, lies on the outside of the pileus. the spores are borne on club-shaped basidia as shown in figure , within the chamber of the fruit-bearing part, and when the spores mature, the stem begins to elongate and force the gleba and pileus through the volva, leaving it at the base of the stem, as will be seen in figure . the large egg on the left in the background of figure is nearly ready to break the volva. i brought in a large egg one evening and placed it on the mantle. later in the evening, the room being warm, while we were reading my wife noticed this egg beginning to move and it developed in a few minutes to the shape you see in figure . the development was so rapid that the motion was very perceptible. the pileus is conical in shape, and after the disappearance of the gleba the surface of the pileus is merely granular. the plants are four to six inches high. the stem is hollow and tapers from the middle to each end. this plant is also known as dictyophora ravenelii, burt. [illustration: figure .--phallus ravenelii. two-thirds natural size.] [illustration: figure .--phallus ravenelii. two-thirds natural size, showing the egg stage.] _lysurus borealis. burt._ [illustration: figure .--lysurus borealis.] the receptacle is borne on a stalk, hollow, attenuated toward the base, divided above into arms, which do not join at their apices, and which bear the spore mass in their inner surfaces and sides, inclosing the spore mass when young, but later diverging. the stem of the phalloid is white, hollow, attenuated downward; the arms are narrow, lance-shaped, with pale flesh-colored backs, traversed their entire length by a shallow furrow. the egg in the center is about ready to break the volva and develop to a full grown plant. the plants in figure were found near akron, ohio, and photographed by g. d. smith. _mutinus. fr._ the gleba is borne directly on the upper portion of the stem, which is hollow and composed of a single layer of tissue; and the plant has no separate pileus, by which characteristic the genus differs from phallus. _mutinus caninus. fr._ [illustration: figure .--mutinus caninus.] the gleba-bearing portion is short, red or flesh-colored, subacute, wrinkled, the cap or gleba forming the spore-bearing mass which is usually conical, sometimes oblong or ovoid, covering one-fourth to one-sixth the total length of the stem. the stem is elongated, spindle-shaped, hollow, cylindrical, cellular, white, sometimes rosy. the spores are elliptical, involved in a green mucus, × µ. the plant comes from an egg, which is about the size of a quail's egg. you can find them in the ground if you will mark the place where you have seen them growing. they are found in gardens and in old woods and thickets. i have found this species in several localities about chillicothe, but always in damp thickets. mr. lloyd thought this more nearly resembled the european species than any he had seen in this country. found in july, august, and september. _mutinus elegans. montagne._ [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ plate lvi. figure .--mutinus elegans. natural size, showing an egg and a section of an egg.] [illustration: figure .--mutinus elegans. one-third natural size, showing volva, white receptacle and red cap.] the pileus is acuminate, perforated at apex. the stem is cylindrical, tapering gradually to the apex, whitish or pinkish below, pileus bright red. the volva is oblong-ovoid, pinkish, segments two or three. the spores are elliptical-oblong. _morgan._ the odor of this plant is not as strong as in some of the phalloids. the eggs of phallus and mutinus are said to be very good when fried properly, but my recollection of the odor of the plant has been too vivid for me to try them. it is usually found in mixed woods, but sometimes in richly cultivated fields. i have found them frequently about chillicothe six to seven inches high. in figure on the right is shown an egg and above it is a section of an egg containing the embryonic plant. this plant is called by prof. morgan mutinus bovinus. after seeing this picture the collector will not fail to recognize it. it is one of the curious growths in nature. found in july and august. chapter xv. lycoperdaceae--puff-balls. this family includes all fungi which have their spores in closed chambers until maturity. the chambers are called the gleba and this is surrounded by the peridium or rind, which in different puffballs exhibits various characteristic ways of opening to let the spores escape. the peridium is composed of two distinct layers, one called the cortex, the other the peridium proper. the plant is generally sessile, sometimes more or less stemmed, at maturity filled with a dusty mass of spores and thread. it affords many of our most delicious fungus food products. the following genera are considered here: i. calvatia--the large puffball. ii. lycoperdon--the small puffball. iii. bovista--the tumbling puffball. iv. geaster--earth star. v. scleroderma--the hard puffball. _calvatia. fr._ this genus represents the largest sized puffballs. they have a thick cord-like mycelium rooting from the base. the peridium is very large, breaking away in fragments when ripe and exposing the gleba. the cortex is thin, adherent, often soft and smooth like kid leather, sometimes covered with minute squamules; the inner peridium is thin and fragile, at maturity cracking into areas. the capillitium is a net-work of fine threads through the tissues of spore-bearing portion; tissue, snow white at first, turning greenish-yellow, then brown; the mass of spores and the dense net-work of threads (capillitium) attached to the peridium and to the subgleba or sterile base which is cellulose; limited and concave above. spores small, round, usually sessile. _calvatia gigantea. batsch._ the giant puffball. edible. [illustration: plate lvii. figure .--calvatia gigantea.] this species grows to an immense size (often twenty inches in diameter); round or obovoid, with a thick mycelial cord rooting it to the ground, sessile, cortex white and glossy, sometimes slightly roughened by minute floccose warts, becoming yellowish or brown. the inner peridium is thin and fragile, after maturity breaking up into fragments, apparently without any subgleba; capillitium and spores yellowish-green to dingy-olive. the spores are round, sometimes minutely warted. not common about chillicothe, but in the northwestern part of the state they are very plentiful in their season, and very large. standing in mr. joseph's wood-pasture, east of bowling green, i have counted fifteen giant puffballs whose diameters would average ten inches, and whose cortex was as white and glossy as a new kid glove. a friend of mine, living in bowling green, and driving home from deshler, saw in a wood-pasture twenty-five of these giant puffballs. being impressed with the sight and having some grain sacks in his wagon he filled them and brought them home. he at once telephoned for me to come to his house, as the mountain was too big to take to mohammed. he was surprised to learn that he had found that proverbial calf which is all sweet-breads. that evening we supplied twenty-five families with slices of these puffballs. they can be kept for two or three days on ice. the photograph, taken by prof. shaffner of ohio state university, will show how they look growing in the grass. they seem to delight to nestle in the tall bluegrass. this species has been classed heretofore as lycoperdon giganteum. found from august to october. [illustration: figure .--calvatia gigantia. one-fifth natural size, showing how they grow in the grass.] _calvatia lilacina. berk._ lilac puffball. edible. [illustration: plate lviii. figure .--calvatia lilacina. natural size in a growing state.] the peridium is three to six inches in diameter; globose or depressed globose; smooth or minutely floccose or scaly; whitish, cinereous-brown or pinkish-brown, often cracking into areas in the upper part; commonly with a short, thick, stemless base; capillitium and spores purple-brown, these and the upper part of the peridium falling away and disappearing when old, leaving a cup-shaped base with a ragged margin. spores globose, rough, purple-brown, - . broad. _peck_, th rep. n. y. state bot. it is very common all over the state. i have seen pastures in shelby and defiance counties dotted all over with this species. when the inside is white, they are very good and meaty. no puffball is poisonous, so far as is known, but if the inside has turned yellowish at all it is apt to be quite bitter. it will often be seen in pastures and open woods in the form of a cup, the upper portion having broken away and the wind having scooped out the purple spore-mass, leaving only the cup-shaped base. the specimens in figure are just beginning to crack open and to show purplish stains. they represent less than one-fourth of the natural size. they look very much like the smaller sized c. gigantea, but the purple spores and the subgleba at once distinguish the species. this species, found from july to october, is sometimes classed as lycoperdon cyathiforme. the photograph was taken by prof. longyear. [illustration: figure .--calvatia lilacina.] _calvatia cælata. bull._ the carved puffball. edible. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ plate lix. figure .--calvatia caelata.] [illustration: figure .--calvatia cælata.] cælata, carved. peridium large, obovoid or top-shaped, depressed above, with a stout thick base and a cord-like root. cortex a thickish floccose layer, with coarse warts or spines above, whitish then ochraceous or finally brown, at length breaking up into areola which are more or less persistent; inner peridium thick but fragile, thinner about the apex, where it finally ruptures, forming a large, irregular, torn opening. subgleba occupying nearly half the peridium, cup-shaped above and for a long time persistent; the mass of spores and capillitium compact, farinaceous greenish-yellow or olivaceous, becoming pale to dark-brown; the threads are very much branched, the primary branches two or three times as thick as the spores, very brittle, soon breaking up into fragments. spores globose, even, - . in diameter, sessile or sometimes with a short or minute pedicel. peridium is three to five inches in diameter. _morgan._ this species is much like the preceding but can be easily distinguished by the larger size and the yellowish-olive color of the mature spore-mass. the sterile base is often the larger part of the fungus and, as will be seen in figure , it is anchored by a heavy root-like growth. it is found growing on the ground in fields and thin woods. when white through and through, sliced, rolled in egg and cracker crumbs, and nicely fried, you are glad you know a puffball. found from august to october. _calvatia craniiformis. schw._ the brain-shaped calvatia. edible. [illustration: plate lx. figure .--calvatia craniiformis.] [illustration: figure .--the sterile part of c. craniiformis.] craniiformis is from _cranion_, a skull; _forma_, a form. the peridium is very large, obovoid or top-shaped, depressed above, the base thick and stout, with a cord-like root. the cortex is a smooth continuous layer, very thin and fragile, easily peeling off, pallid or grayish, sometimes with a reddish tinge, often becoming folded in areas; the inner peridium is thin, ochraceous to bright-brown, extremely fragile, the upper part, after maturity, breaking into fragments and falling away. the subgleba occupies about one-half of the peridium, is cup-shaped above and for a long time persistent; the mass of spores and capillitium is greenish-yellow, then ochraceous or dirty olivaceous; the threads are very long, about as thick as the spores, branched. the spores are globose, even, - . µ in diameter, with minute pedicels. _morgan._ it is difficult to distinguish this from c. lilacina when fresh, but when ripe the color will tell the species. figure shows the plant as it appears on the ground, and figure shows the subgleba or sterile base, which is frequently found on the ground after weathering the winter. this plant is very common on the hillsides under small oak shrubbery. i have gathered a basketful within a few feet. they grow very large, often five to six inches in diameter, seeming to delight in rather poor soil. when the spore-mass is white this is an excellent fungus, but exceedingly bitter after it has turned yellow. found during october and november. _calvatia elata. massee._ the stemmed calvatia. edible. [illustration: figure .--calvatia elata.] elata means tall; so called from its long stem. the peridium is round, often slightly depressed above, plicate below, where it is abruptly contracted into a long stem-like base. the base is slender, round, and frequently pitted; mycelium rather plentiful, fibrous and thread-like. when in good condition it is a rich cream color. the cortex consists of a coat of minute persistent granules or spinules. the inner peridium is white or cream-colored, becoming brown or olivaceous, quite thin and fragile, the upper part at maturity breaking up and falling away. the subgleba occupies the stem. the mass of spores and capillitium is usually brown or greenish-brown. the threads are very long, branched, branches slender. spores round, even, sometimes slightly warted, - µ, with a slight pedicel. the plant grows on low mossy grounds among bushes, especially where it is inclined to be swampy. the plant in figure was found in a sphagnum swamp near akron and was photographed by prof. g. d. smith. i am inclined to think it the same as calvatia saccata, fr. _lycoperdon. tourn._ mycelium fibrous, rooting from the base. peridium small, globose, obovoid or turbinate, with a more or less thickened base; cortex a subpersistent coat of soft spines, scales, warts or granules; inner peridium thin, membranaceous, becoming papyraceous, dehiscent by a regular apical mouth. _morgan._ this genus includes puffballs with apical openings and is divided into two series, a purple-spored and an olive-spored series. the microscope shows that the gleba is composed of a great number of spores mixed with simple or branched threads. there are two sets of threads; one set arises from the peridial wall and the other from the subgleba or columella. purple-spored series. _lycoperdon pulcherrimum. b. & c._ the most beautiful puffball. edible. [illustration: _specimen from a. p. morgan._ _photo by c. g. lloyd_ figure .--lycoperdon pulcherrimum.] [illustration: figure .--lycoperdon pulcherrimum.] pulcherrimum, most beautiful. the peridium is obovoid, with a short base, the mycelium forming a cord like a root. the cortex is covered with long white spines, converging at the apex, as will be seen in figure . the spines soon fall from the upper part of the peridium, leaving the inner peridium with a smooth purplish-brown surface, often slightly scarred by the base of the spine. the subgleba occupies at least a third of the peridium. the spores and the capillitium are at first olivaceous, then brownish-purple, the spores rough and minutely warted. the plant is one to two inches in diameter. it is found in low, rich ground, in fields and wood margins. only young and fresh plants are good. the lower plant in figure shows where the spines have begun to fall, also the strong mycelial cord referred to in the description. i am indebted to mr. lloyd for the photograph. found in september and october. _lycoperdon umbrinum. pers._ the smooth puffball. edible. umbrinum, dingy umber. peridium obovate, nearly sub-turbinate, with a soft, delicate, velvety bark; yellowish; inner peridium smooth and glossy, opening by a small aperture. the spores and capillitium, olivaceous, then purplish-brown. the capillitium with a central columella. a very attractive little plant, not frequently found. this plant is also called l. glabellum. in woods, september and october. olive-spored series. _lycoperdon gemmatum. batsch._ the gemmed puffball. edible. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ plate lxi. figure .--lycoperdon gemmatum. natural size. entirely white when young. from the young to the matured dehiscing plant.] the peridium is turbinate, depressed above; the base short and obconic, or more elongated and tapering, or subcylindric, arising from a fibrous mycelium. the cortex consists of long, thick, erect spines or warts of irregular shape, with intervening smaller ones, whitish or gray in color, sometimes with a tinge of red or brown; the larger spines first fall away, leaving pale spots on the surface, and giving it a reticulate appearance. the subgleba is variable in amount, usually more than half the peridium; mass of spores and capillitium greenish-yellow, then pale-brown; threads simple or scarcely branched, about as thick as the spores. spores globose, even, or very minutely warted. _morgan._ the species is readily recognized by the large erect spines which, because of their peculiar form and color, have given the notion of gems, whence the name of the species. these and the reticulations can be seen in figure by the aid of a glass. they are frequently found about chillicothe. _lycoperdon subincarnatum. pk._ the pinkish puffball. edible. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--lycoperdon subincarnatum.] subincarnatum means pale flesh-color. the peridium is globe-shaped, sessile, without a stem-like base. not large, rarely over one inch in diameter. the subgleba is present but small. the outer peridium is pinkish-brown, with minute short, stout spinules, which fall away at maturity, leaving the inner ash-colored peridium neatly pitted by the falling off of the spinules of the outer coat, the pits not being surrounded by dotted lines. the capillitium and spores are first greenish-yellow, then brownish-olive. the threads are long, simple, and transparent. the columella is present and the spores are round and minutely warted. they are often found in abundance on decayed logs, old stumps, and on the ground about stumps where the ground is especially full of decayed wood. they are found from august to october. _lycoperdon cruciatum. roth._ [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--lycoperdon cruciatum.] peridium broadly ovate, often much depressed, plicate underneath, with a cord-like root; cortex a dense white coat of convergent spines, which at maturity peel off in flakes, as can be seen in the photograph, revealing a thin furfuraceous layer of minute yellowish scales covering the inner peridium. the subgleba broad, occupying about one-third of the cavity. the spores and capillitium are dark-brown. this species is very hard to distinguish from wrightii. it was once called _separans_ because of the fact that the outer coat separates, or peels off, so readily from the inner peridium. found in open woods, or along paths in open woods or pastures. from july to october. _lycoperdon wrightii. b. & c._ edible. [illustration: figure .--lycoperdon wrightii. natural size.] the specific name is in honor of charles wright. the peridium is globe-like, sessile, white, minutely spinulose, often converging at the apex; when denuded, smooth or minutely velvety. the spores and capillitium greenish-yellow, then brown-olive; the columella present, but very small. spores small, smooth, - µ. the plants are very small, scarcely more than two cm. in diameter. they are generally cæspitose in short grass, along paths, and in sandy places. i have frequently seen the ground white with them on cemetery hill where the specimens in figure were found. they were photographed by dr. kellerman. found from july to the last of october. _lycoperdon pyriforme. schaeff._ the pear-shaped puffball. edible. [illustration: plate lxii. figure .--lycoperdon pyriforme. natural size when young as seen growing on decayed wood. the sections show they are in the edible state.] pyriforme means pear-shaped. the peridium is ovate or pear-shaped, with a profusion of mycelial threads, as will be seen in figure . the cortex is covered with a thin coat of minute brownish scales or granules, which are quite persistent. these can be seen in the photograph by the aid of a glass. they are sessile or have a short stem-like base; the subgleba is small and compact; the capillitium and spores are first white, then greenish-yellow, then dingy olivaceous; the inner coat is smooth, papery, whitish-gray or brownish, opening by an apical mouth; the spores are round, even, greenish-yellow to brownish-olive. they grow in dense clusters, as will be seen in figure . an entire log and stump, about four feet high, and the roots around it, were covered, as shown in plate lxii. i gathered about three pecks, at this one place, to divide with my friends. it is one of the most common puffballs, and you may usually be sure of getting some, if you go into the woods where there are decayed logs and stumps. a friend of mine, who goes hunting with me occasionally, eats them as one would eat cherries. found from july to november. [illustration: figure .--lycoperdon pyriforme. natural size.] _lycoperdon pusillum. pr._ the small lycoperdon. edible. pusillum means small. peridium is one-fourth to one inch broad, globose, scattered or cespitose, sessile, radicating, with but little cellular tissue at the base, white, or whitish, brownish when old, rimose-squamulose or slightly roughened with minute floccose or furfuraceous persistent warts; capillitium and spores greenish-yellow, then dingy olivaceous. spores smooth µ in diameter. _peck._ these are found from june to cool weather in the fall, in pastures where the grass is eaten short. when mature they dehisce by a small opening, and when broken open will disclose the olive or greenish-yellow capillitium. the spores are of the same color, smooth and round. _lycoperdon acuminatum. bosc._ the pointed lycoperdon. edible. acuminatum means pointed. the peridium is small, round, then egg-shaped; with a plentiful mass of mycelium in the moss in which the plants seem to delight. the plant is white and the outer rind is soft and delicate. there is no subgleba; the spores and capillitium are pale-greenish-yellow, then a dirty gray. the threads are simple, transparent, much thicker than the spores. the spores are round, smooth, µ in diameter. i have found the plants frequently about chillicothe on damp, moss-covered logs and sometimes at the base of beech trees, when covered with moss. they are very small, not exceeding one-half inch in diameter. the small ovoid form, with the white, soft, delicate cortex, will serve to distinguish the species. found from september to october. _bovista. dill._ the genus bovista differs from lycoperdon in several ways. when the bovista ripens it breaks from its moorings and is blown about by the wind. it opens by an apical mouth, as does the genus lycoperdon, but the species of bovista have no sterile base. they are puffballs of small size. the outer coat is thin and fragile and at maturity peels off, leaving an inner coat firm, papery, and elastic, just such a coat as is suitable for the dispersion of its spores. leaving its moorings at maturity, it is blown about the fields and woods, and with every tumble it makes it scatters some of its spores. it may take years to accomplish this perfectly. the species of the lycoperdon do not leave their moorings naturally; their spores are dispersed through an apical mouth by a collapse of the walls of the peridium, after the fashion of a bellows, by which spores are driven out to the pleasure of the wind. in bovista the threads are free or separate from the peridium, but in lycoperdon they arise from the peridium and also from the columella. _bovista pila. b. & c._ the ball-like bovista. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ plate lxiii. figure .--bovista pila. natural size of matured specimens.] pila means a round ball. the peridium is globe-like, sessile, with a stout mycelium, a cortex thin, white at first, then brown, forming a smooth continuous coat, breaking up at maturity and rapidly disappearing. the inner peridium is tough, parchment-like, elastic, smooth, persistent, purplish-brown, fading to gray. the dispersion of spores takes place through an apical mouth. the capillitium is firm, compact, persistent, at first clay-colored, then purple-brown; threads small-branched, the ends being rigid, straight, pointed. there is something so noticeable about this little tumbler that you will know it when you see it, and if you often ramble over the fields you will soon meet it. however, i have as yet seen only the matured specimens. _bovista plumbea. pers._ lead-colored bovista. edible. [illustration: figure .--bovista plumbea. natural size. white when young.] the plant is small, never growing to more than an inch and a fourth in diameter. the peridium is depressed globose, with a fibrous mycelium. the outer peridium is rather thick and when the plant is nearing maturity it breaks up readily unless handled very carefully; at maturity it scales off, except a small portion about the base. the outer peridium is white and comparatively smooth, the inner is thin, tough, smooth, lead-colored, dehiscent at the apex by a round or oblong mouth. mass of spores and capillitium not solid or hard; yellowish-brown, or olivaceous, then purplish-brown; the threads three to five times branched, the ends of the branches slender and tapering to a point. the spores are oval and smooth, with long transparent pedicels. this species grows on the ground in old pastures, being quite plentiful after warm rains, from the first of may till fall. it is one of the best of the puffballs, but should be eaten before the inner peridium begins to assume the tough form. _bovistella. morgan._ bovistella, a diminutive of bovista, though the plants are usually larger than the bovistas. the mycelium is cord-like; peridium nearly round, cortex a dense floccose coat; inner peridium thin, strong, elastic, opening by an apical mouth; subgleba present, cup-shaped; threads free and separate, branched; spores white. the genus bovistella has the internal character of bovista, and the habits of lycoperdon. _bovistella ohiensis. morgan._ [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--bovistella ohiensis. natural size.] peridium globe-like or broadly obovoid, sometimes much depressed, with small plications or wrinkles underneath, and a thick cord-like base or root, as will be seen in figure . the outer coat is dense, floccose, or with soft warts or spines, white or grayish, drying to a buff color, and in time falling away; the inner coat is smooth, shining, with a pale brown or yellowish surface. the subgleba is large, occupying half of the peridium, extending up on the walls of the peridium, making it cup-shaped, and quite persistent. the spores and capillitium are rather loose, friable, clay-color to pale-brown. the threads, originating within the spore mass, and having no connection with the inner coat, are free, short, three to five times branching; branches tapering to the end. the spores are round to oval, with long translucent pedicels. this can be readily distinguished from the species of bovista because it has a sterile base; and from lycoperdon because its threads are separate and free, while those of the lycoperdon are attached both to the tissues of the inner peridium and to the columella or sterile base. they are found growing on the ground in old pastures, or in open woods. _scleroderma. pers._ scleroderma is from two greek words: _scleros_, hard; _derma_, skin. the peridium is firm, single, generally thick, usually bursting irregularly, and exposing the gleba, which is of uniform texture and consistency. there is no capillitium, but yellow flocci are found interspersed with the spores. the spores are globose, rough, usually mixed with the hyphæ tissue. _scleroderma aurantium. pers._ the common scleroderma. edible. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ plate lxiv. figure .--scleroderma aurantium. natural size, showing a section of a young specimen.] [illustration: figure .--scleroderma aurantium.] aurantium means colored like an orange. this is usually called s. vulgare. the peridium is rough, warty, depressed, globose, corky and hard, yellowish, opening by irregular fissures to scatter the spores; inner mass bluish-black, spores dingy. the plant remains solid until it is quite old. it is sessile, with a rooting base which is never sterile. i have followed mr. lloyd's classification in separating the species, calling the rough-surfaced one s. aurantium, and the smooth-surfaced s. cepa. in labeling it edible i wish only to indicate that it is not poisonous, as it is generally thought to be; however, it cannot be claimed as a very good article of food. it has a wide distribution over the states. the plants in figure were found on cemetery hill, chillicothe, and photographed by dr. kellerman. found from august to november. _scleroderma tenerum. berk._ [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--scleroderma tenerum.] this species is often regarded as a small form of s. verrucosum, but it always seemed strange to me that this rather smooth plant should be called "verrucosum" when its frequently near neighbor, s. aurantium, is very verrucose. s. tenerum is a very widely distributed species in the united states, somewhat constant as to form and quite frequent in occurrence. mr. lloyd, in his mycological notes, gives a very clear photograph of a plant that is quite local in this country and which he thinks should be called s. verrucosum of europe. the plant differs very widely from the one we find so commonly which by many authors has been called s. verrucosum. some have even called it scleroderma bovista. the plant is nearly sessile, somewhat irregular, peridium thin, soft, yellowish, densely marked with small scales, dehiscence irregular, flocci yellow and spores dingy olive. the species may be known by the thin and comparatively smooth peridium and yellow flocci. it is quite common in the united states, while the typical plant, s. verrucosum, is confined to a few localities along the atlantic coast. _scleroderma cepa. pers._ cepa meaning an onion; having very much the appearance of an onion. the peridium is thick, smooth, reddish-yellow to reddish-brown, opening by an irregular mouth. the plant is sessile and quite strongly rooted with fine rootlets. its habitat, with us, is along the banks of small brooks in the woods. it has been classed heretofore as s. vulgare, smooth variety. i sent some to prof. peck, who quite agrees that they should be separated from s. vulgare. found from august to november. _scleroderma geaster. fr._ [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ plate lxv. figure .--scleroderma geaster.] geaster, so called because it has a star-like opening somewhat similar to the genus geaster. peridium subglobose, thick, with a very short stem, or almost--sometimes entirely--sessile; hard, rough, splitting into irregular stellate limbs; frequently well buried in the ground. inner mass dark-brown or blackish, sometimes with rather a purplish tinge. some grow quite large with the peridium very thick. my attention was first attracted by some of the peridium shells upon the ground on cemetery hill. the plant is quite abundant there from september to december. _catastoma. morgan._ this is a small puffball-like plant, growing just beneath the ground and attached to its bed by very small threads which issue from every part of the cortex, which is quite thick. breaking away at maturity in a circumscissile manner, the lower part is held fast to the ground, while the upper part remains attached to the inner peridium as a kind of cup. the inner peridium, with the top part of the outer peridium attached, becomes loose and tumbles over the ground, the mouth being in the base of the plant as it grew. _catastoma circumscissum. b. & c._ [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--catastoma circumscissum.] circumscissum means divided into halves. the peridium is usually round, more or less depressed, commonly rough because of the soil attached; the larger part of the plant remaining in the soil as a cup; the upper part with the inner peridium, depressed-globose, thin, pallid, becoming gray, with branny scales, with a small basal mouth. a thin spongy layer will frequently be seen between the outer and inner peridium. the mass of the spores is olivaceous, changing to pale-brown. the spores are round, minutely warted, - µ. in diameter, often with very short pedicels. the plants are usually found in pastures along paths. i have seen them in several parts of ohio. they are found from maine to the western mountains. this is called bovista circumscissa by berkeley. there is a species of a western range called c. subterraneum. this differs mainly in having larger spores. it seems to be confined to the middle west. however, it does not grow under the ground, as its name would suggest. there is also another species called c. pedicellatum. this species seems to be confined to the southern states and differs mainly in the spores having marked pedicels and closely warted. _podaxineæ._ this tribe is characterized by having a stalk continuous with the apex of the peridium, forming an axis. some of the plants are short stalked, some long stalked. the tribe forms a natural connecting link between the gastromycetes and the agarics. thus: podaxon is a true gastromycetes, with capillitia mixed with spores; caulogossum, with its permanent gleba chambers, is close to the hymenogasters; secotium is only a step from caulogossum, the tramal plates being more sinuate-lamellate; and montagnites, which is usually placed with the agarics, is only a gyrophragmium with the plates truly lamellate. key to the genera. gleba with irregular, persistent chambers-- peridium, elongated club-shaped cauloglossum. peridium, round or conical, and dehiscing by breaking away at the base secotium. gleba with sinuate-lamellate plates gyrophragmium. walls of gleba chambers not persistent podaxon. --_lloyd._ _secotium. kunz._ this is a very interesting genus. when i found my first specimen i was much in doubt whether it was an agaric or a puffball, as it seemed to be a sort of connecting link between the two classes. the genus is divided into smooth-spored and rough-spored species, both having a stalk continuing, as an axis, to the apex of the plant. the peridium is round or conical and it dehisces by breaking away at the base. secotium is from a greek word meaning chamber. _secotium acuminatum. montagne._ [illustration: figure .--secotium acuminatum. life size of small specimens.] this is an exceedingly variable species, as found about chillicothe, yet the variability extends only to the outward appearance of the plant; some are almost round, slightly depressed, some (and a large majority) are inclined to be irregularly cone-shaped. the peridium is light-colored, of a soft texture, not brittle; it slowly expels its spores by breaking away at the base; the stalk is usually short, but distinct and prolonged to the apex of the peridium, forming an axis for the gleba. the surface of the peridium is smooth, dingy-white or ash-colored, with minute white spots, due to scales. it is of various shapes; acute-ovate, sometimes obtuse, nearly spherical, sometimes slightly depressed and irregular cone-shaped. the gleba is composed of semi-persistent cells, plainly seen with a glass or even with the naked eye. it has no capillitium. the spores are globose and smooth, often apiculate. this plant is quite abundant about chillicothe, and i have found it from the first of may to the last of october. this species is widely distributed in america, and occurs in northern africa and eastern europe. _polysaccum. dec._ polysaccum is from _polus_, many, and _saccus_, a sack. peridium irregularly globose, thick, attenuated downward into a stem-like base, opening by disintegration of its upper portion; internal mass or gleba divided into distinct sac-like cells. allied to scleroderma and distinguished by the cavities of the gleba containing distinct peridioles. _massee._ _polysaccum pisocarpium. fr._ [illustration: figure .--polysaccum pisocarpium.] pisocarpium is from two greek words meaning pea and fruited. peridium irregularly globose, indistinctly nodulose, passing downward into a stout stem-like base, peridioles irregularly angular, - × µ, yellow. spores globose, warted, coffee-color, - µ. _massee._ i have found this plant only a few times about chillicothe. mr. lloyd identified it for me. it has very much the shape of a pear. the skin is quite hard, smooth, olivaceous-black with yellow mottling patches not unlike the skin of a rattlesnake. the peridioles, which are small ovate sacs bearing the spores within, are very distinct. the interior of the plant when mature is dark, and it breaks and disintegrates from the upper part very like c. cyathiformis. this is a very interesting plant whose ovate sac-like cells will easily distinguish it. found from august to october, it delights in sandy soil, in pine or mixed woods. _mitremyces. nees._ mitremyces is made up of two words: _mitre_, a cap; _myces_, a mushroom. it is a small genus, there being but three species found in this country. the spore-mass or gleba, in its young state, is surrounded by four layers. the outer layer is gelatinous and behaves itself somewhat differently in each species. this outer layer is known as the volva or volva-like peridium, which soon disappears. the next layer is called the exoperidium and is composed of two layers, the inner one quite thin and cartilaginous--in m. cinnabarinus it is a bright red; this is attached to a rather thick, gelatinous, outer layer which soon falls away, exposing the endoperidium, which is the layer seen in older specimens. within the endoperidium are the spores, which are pale ochraceous or sulphur color, globose or elliptical in shape. they are contained in a separate membrane or sac; when they mature the sac contracts and forces the spores out into the air. the mycelium of this plant is especially peculiar, being composed of a bundle of root-like strands, translucent and jelly-like when young and fresh, but becoming tough and hard. this genus is called by some authors calostoma, meaning a beautiful mouth, a very appropriate name, as the mouths of all american species are red and quite beautiful. _mitremyces cinnabarinus. desv._ [illustration: figure .--mitremyces cinnabarinus. natural size.] the rooting strands are long, compact, dark when dry. exporidium bright red, smooth internally; the outer layer thick, gelatinous when fresh, finally breaking into areas and curling inward. the separation is caused by the fact that the cells of the thick gelatinous portion expand by the absorption of water, while those of the inner layer do not, hence the rupture occurs. the endoperidium and rayed mouth are bright red when fresh, partially fading in old specimens. the spores are elliptical-oblong, punctate-sculptured, varying much as to size in specimens from different localities; - × - in west virginia specimens. massachusetts specimens, - × - . _lloyd._ i have seen these specimens growing in the mountains in west virginia. they quickly arrest the attention because of their bright red caps. they seem not, as yet, to have crossed the alleghenies--at least i have not found it in ohio. it has a number of synonyms: scleroderma calostoma, calostoma cinnabarinum, lycoperdon heterogeneum, l. calostoma. the plants in figure were photographed by dr. kellerman. mr. geo. e. morris of waltham, mass., sent me some specimens early in august, . _geaster. mich._ geaster, an earth-star; so called because at maturity the outer coat breaks its connection with the mycelium in the ground and bursts open like the petals of a flower; then, becoming reflexed, those petals lift the inner ball from the ground and it remains in the center of the expanded, star-like coat. the coat of the inner ball is thin and papery, and opens by an apical mouth. the threads, or capillitium, which bear the spores proceed from the walls of the peridium and form the central columella. the threads are simple, long, slender, thickest in the middle and tapering towards the ends, fixed at one end and free at the other. the geaster is a picturesque little plant which will arrest the attention of the most careless observer. it is abundant and is frequently found in the late summer and fall in woods and pastures. _geaster minimus. schw._ [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--geaster minimus. natural size.] the outer coat or exoperidium recurved, segments acute at the apex, eight to twelve segments divided to about the middle. mycelial layer usually attached, generally shaggy with fragments of leaves or grass, sometimes partly or entirely separating. fleshy layer closely attached, very light in color, usually smooth on the limb of the exoperidium but cracked on the segments. pedicel short but distinct. the inner peridium ovoid, one-fourth to one-half inch in diameter; white to pale-brown, sometimes almost black. mouth lifted on a slight cone, lip bordered with a hair-like fringe; columella slender, as are also the threads. spores brown, globe-shaped, and minutely warted. found in the summer and early fall. nature seems to give it the power to lift up the spore-bearing body, the better to eject its spores to the wind. it is very frequently found in pastures all over the state. i have found it in many localities about chillicothe. it is called "minimus" because it is the smallest earth-star. _geaster hygrometricus. pers._ water-measuring earth-star. [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--geaster hygrometricus. natural size.] the unexpanded plant is nearly spherical. the mycelial layer is thin, tearing away as the plant expands, the bark or skin falling with the mycelium. the outer coat is deeply parted, the segments, acute at the apex, four to twenty; strongly hygrometric, becoming reflexed when the plant is moist, strongly incurved when the plant is dry. the inner coating is nearly spherical, thin, sessile, opening by simply a torn aperture. there is no columella. the threads are transparent, much branched, and interwoven. the spores are large, globose, and rough. the plant ripens in the fall and the thick outer peridium divides into segments, the number varying from four to twenty. when the weather is wet the lining of the points of the segments become gelatinous and recurve, and the points rest upon the ground, holding the inner ball from the ground. in dry weather the soft gelatinous lining becomes hard and the segments curve in and clasp the inner ball. hence its name, "hygrometricus," a measurer of moisture. the plant is quite general. _geaster archeri. berk._ [illustration: figure .--geaster archeri.] young plant acute. exoperidium cut beyond the middle into seven to nine acute segments. in herbarium specimens usually saccate but sometimes revolute. mycelial layer closely adherent, compared to previous species relatively smooth. as in the previous species the mycelium covers the young plant but is not so strongly developed, so that the adhering dirt is not so evident on the mature plant. fleshy layer when dry, thin and closely adherent. endoperidium globose, sessile. mouth sulcate, indefinite. columella globose-clavate. capillitium thicker than the spores. spores small, mc. almost smooth. _lloyd._ i first found the plant in the young state. the acute point, which will be seen in the photograph, puzzled me. i marked the place where it grew and in a few days found the developed geaster. the plant is reddish-brown and it differs from other species "with sulcate mouths, in its closely sessile endoperidium." i have found the plant several times in hayne's hollow, near chillicothe. i found it in the tracks of decayed logs. the plant has been called geaster morganii in this country but had previously been named from australia. _geaster asper. michelius._ [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--geaster asper. natural size.] exoperidium revolute, cut to about the middle in eight to ten segments. both mycelial and fleshy layers are more closely adherent than in most species. pedicel _short_ and _thick_. inner peridium subglobose, _verrucose_. mouth conical, beaked, strongly sulcate, seated on a depressed zone. columella prominent, persistent. capillitium threads simple, long tapering. spores globose, rough. the characteristic of this plant is the verrucose inner peridium. under a glass of low power it appears as though the peridium were densely covered with grains of sharp sand. this plant alone has this characteristic, to our knowledge; and although it is indicated in the figures of g. cornatus of both schaeffer and schmidel, we think that there it is only an exaggeration of the very _minute_ granular appearance cornatus has. the word "asper" is the first descriptive adjective applied by michelius. fries included it in his complex striatus. _lloyd._ i have found the plant frequently about chillicothe. the plants represented were photographed by mr. lloyd. _geaster triplex. jung._ [illustration: plate lxvi. figure .--geaster triplex.] the unexpanded plant acute. exoperidium recurved (or, when not fully expanded, somewhat saccate at base), cut to the middle (or usually two-thirds) in five to eight segments. mycelial layer adnate. fleshy layer generally peeling off from the segments of the fibrillose layer but usually remaining partially free, as a cup at base of inner peridium. inner peridium subglobose, closely sessile. mouth definite, fibrillose, broadly conical. columella prominent, elongated. threads thicker than spores. spores globose, roughened, - mc. _lloyd_, in mycological notes. the color of geaster triplex is reddish-brown. notice the remains of a fleshy layer forming a cup at base of inner peridium, a point which distinguishes this species and which gives name to the species--triplex, three folds or apparently three layers. the photograph was made by dr. kellerman. _geaster saccatus. fr._ [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--geaster saccatus. natural size.] the unexpanded plant is globose. mycelium is universal. exoperidium cut in six to ten segments about half way, the limb deeply saccate. mycelial layer adnate to fibrillose. fleshy layer, when dry, thin, adnate. inner peridium sessile, globose, with a determinate fibrillose mouth. the spores are globose, almost smooth. _lloyd._ mr. lloyd thinks this plant is practically the same as the g. fimbriatus of europe, differing from it in being more deeply saccate and having a determinate mouth. this plant is very common on all the wooded hillsides about chillicothe. i have seen the ground on the top of mt. logan almost completely covered with them. they are identified by mr. lloyd, prof. atkinson, and dr. peck. the plants in figure were photographed by mr. lloyd from typical specimens. _geaster mammosus. chev._ [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--geaster mammosus.] exporidium thin, rigid, hygroscopic, smooth, divided almost to the base into about ten linear segments, often umbilicate at the base; inner peridium globose, smooth, sessile, furnished with a conical, even, protruding mouth, seated on a definite area. columella short, globose, evident (though distinct in mature plants). capillitium simple, tapering, hyaline, often flattened, slightly thinner than the spores. spores globose, roughened, - mc. _lloyd._ this plant is found in the woods from july till late in the fall. it differs from g. hygrometricus by its even, conical mouth. i found specimens several times in haynes's hollow. _geaster velutinus. morg._ [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--geaster velutinus.] unexpanded plants globose, sometimes slightly pointed at apex. mycelium basal. outer layer rigid, membranaceous, firm, light colored in the american plant. the surface is covered with short, dense, appressed velumen, so that to the eye the surface appears simply dull and rough, but its true nature is readily seen under a glass of low power. the outer surface separates from the inner as the plant expands, and in mature specimens is usually partly free. the thickness and texture of the two layers are about the same. the fleshy layer is dark reddish-brown when dry, a thin adnate layer. inner peridium sessile, dark colored, globose, with a broad base and pointed mouth. mouth even, marked with a definite circular light-colored basal zone. columella elongated, clavate. spores globose, almost smooth, small, ½- ½ mc. _lloyd._ _myriostoma coliformis. dick._ [illustration: figure .--myriostoma coliformis. natural size.] exporidium usually recurved, cut to about the middle into six to ten lobes; if collected and dried when first open, rather firm and rigid; when exposed to weather becoming like parchment paper by the peeling off of the inner and outer layers. inner peridium, subglobose, supported on several more or less confluent pedicels. surface minutely roughened; mouths several, appressed fibrillose, round, plain or slightly elevated; columellæ several, filiform, probably the same in number as the pedicels; spores globose, roughened, - mc.; capillitium simple, unbranched, long, tapering, about half diameter of spores. the inner peridium with its several mouths can be, not inaptly, compared to a "pepper-box." the specific name is derived from the latin _colum_, a strainer, and the old english name we find in berkeley "cullender puffball" refers to a cullender (or colander more modern form) now almost obsolete in english, but meaning a kind of strainer. _lloyd._ found in sandy soil. it is quite rare. both the generic and specific names refer to its many mouths. the specimens in figure were found on green island, lake erie, one of the points where this rare species is found. it is found at cedar point, ohio, also. the plant was photographed by prof. schaffner of the ohio state university. chapter xvi. family--sphaeriaceae. perithecia carbonaceous or membranaceous, sometimes confluent with the stroma, pierced at the apex, and mostly papillate; hymenium diffluent.--_berkeley outlines._ there are four tribes in this family, viz: nectriæi. xylariæi. valsei. sphæriei. under nectriæi we have the following genera: stipitate-- clavate or capitate cordyceps. head globose, base sclerotioid claviceps. parasitic on grass-- stroma myceloid epichloe. variable-- sporidia double, finally separating hypocrea. sporidia double, ejected in tendrils, parasitic on fungi hypomyces. stroma definite, perithecia free, clustered or scattered nectria. perithecia erect, in a polished and colored sac oomyces. under xylariæi we have: stipitate-- stroma corky, subelavate xylaria. stroma somewhat corky, discoid poronia. _cordyceps. fr._ cordyceps is from a greek word meaning a club and a latin word meaning a head. it is a genus of pyrenomycetous fungi of which a few grow upon other fungi, but by far the greater number are parasitic upon insects or their larva, as will be seen in figure . the spores enter the breathing openings along the sides of the larva and the mycelium grows until it fills the interior of the larva and kills it. in fructification a stalk rises from the body of the insect or larva and in the enlarged extremity of this the perithecia are grouped. the stroma is vertical and fleshy, head distinct, hyaline or colored; sporidia repeatedly divided and sub-moniliform. _cordyceps herculea._ (_schw._) _sacc._ [illustration: figure .--cordyceps herculea. showing the grub upon which this species grows.] herculea is so called from its large size. the halftone will readily identify this species. the plant is quite large, clavate in form, the head oblong, round, slightly tapering upward with a decided protuberance at the apex, as will be seen in figure . the head is a light yellow in all specimens i found, not alutaceous as schw. states, nor is the head obtuse. i found several specimens on a sidehill in haynes's hollow in august and september, all growing from bodies of the large white grubs which are found about rotten wood. they were found during wet weather. they were identified by both dr. peck and dr. herbst. _cordyceps militaris. fr._ [illustration: figure .--cordyceps militaris.] this is much smaller and more common than c. herculea. conidia--subcæspitose, white; stem distinct, simple, becoming smooth; clubs incrassated, mealy; conidia globose. ascophore--fleshy, orange-red; head clavate, tuberculose; stem equal; sporidia long, breaking up into joints. this is frequently called torrubia militaris. it is known as the caterpillar fungus. its spores are cylindrical and are produced upon orange-red fruiting bodies in the fall. as soon as the spore falls on the caterpillar it sends out germ-threads which penetrate the caterpillar. here the threads form long narrow spores which break off and form other spores until the body-cavity is entirely filled. the caterpillar soon becomes sluggish and dies. the fungus continues to grow until it has completely appropriated all of the insect's soft parts, externally a perfect caterpillar but internally completely filled with mycelial threads. under favorable conditions this mycelial caterpillar, which has become a storage organ, will send up an orange-red club-shaped body, as will be seen in figure , and will produce the kind of spores described above. under some conditions this mycelial caterpillar may be made to produce a dense growth of threads from its entire surface, looking like a small white ball, and from these threads another kind of spore is formed. these spores are pinched off in great numbers and will germinate in the larva the same as the sac spore. the specimens were found by mrs. e. b. blackford near boston, and photographed by dr. kellerman. _cordyceps capitata. fr._ [illustration: _photo by c. g. lloyd._ figure .--cordyceps capitata. natural size.] this plant is fleshy, capitate, head ovate, bay-brown, stem yellow, then blackish. this plant is parasitic on elaphomyces granulatus. it is shown at the base of the stem of the plant. it grows two or three inches under the surface and somewhat resembles a truffle in appearance. both are very interesting plants. the plant in figure was found near boston, mass. they are usually found in pine woods, often in tufts. the stems are from one to four inches long, nearly equal, smooth, lemon-colored, at length fibroso-strigose and blackish. it is sometimes called torrubia capitata. chapter xvii. myxomycetes. the plants under this head belong to the slime-moulds and at first are wholly gelatinous. all the species and genera are small and easily overlooked, yet they are intensely interesting when carefully observed. in the morning you may see a mass of gelatinous matter and in the evening a beautiful net work of threads and spores, the transformation being so rapid. this gelatinous mass is known as protoplasm or plasmodium, and the motive power of the plasmodium has suggested to many that they should be placed in the animal kingdom, or called fungus animals. the same is true of schizomycetes, to which all the bacteria, bacillus, spirillum, and vibrio, and a number of other groups belong. i have only a few myxomycetes to present. i have watched the development of a number of plants of this group, but because of the scarcity of literature upon the subject i have been unable to identify them satisfactorily. _lycogala epidendrum. fr._ [illustration: figure .--lycogala epidendrum.] this is called the stump lycogala. it is quite common, seeming in a certain stage to be a small puffball. the peridium has a double membrane, papery, persistent, bursting irregularly at the apex; externally minutely warty, nearly round, blood-red or pinkish, then brownish; mouth irregular; spores becoming pale, or violet. _reticularia maxima. fr._ this is quite common on partially decayed logs. the peridium is very thin, tuberculose, effused, delicate, olivaceous-brown; spores olive, echinulate or spiny. _didymius xanthopus. fr._ these are very small yellow-stemmed plants, found on oak leaves in wet weather. the sporangium has an inner membranaceous peridium; the whole is round, brown, whitish. the stem is elongated, even, yellow. the columella is stipitate into the sporangia. _d. cinereum. fr._ sporangia sessile, round, whitish, covered with an ashy-gray scurf. spores black. very small. on fallen oak leaves. easily overlooked. _xylaria. schrank._ xylaria means pertaining to wood. it is usually vertical, more or less stipitate. the stroma is between fleshy and corky, covered with a black or rufous bark. _xylaria polymorpha. grev._ [illustration: figure .--xylaria polymorpha. natural size.] polymorpha means many forms. it is nearly fleshy, a number usually growing together, or gregarious; thickened as if swollen, irregular; dirty-white, then black; the receptacle bearing perithecia in every part. this plant is quite common in our woods, growing about old stumps or on decayed sticks or pieces of wood. the spore-openings can be seen with an ordinary hand-glass. _xylaria polymorpha, var. spathularia._ [illustration: figure .--xylaria polymorpha var. spathularia. natural size.] spathularia means in the form of a spathula or spatula. it is vertical and stipitate, the stem being more definite than in the x. polymorpha, the stroma being between fleshy and corky, frequently growing in numbers or gregarious, turgid, fairly regular, dirty-white, then brownish-red, finally black. an ordinary hand glass will show how it bears perithecia in all its parts. this will be clearly seen in the section on the right. these plants are not as common as the x. polymorpha, but are found in habitats similar to those of the other plant, particularly around maple stumps or upon decayed maple branches. _stemonitis. gled._ stemonitis is from a greek word which means stamen, one of the essential organs of a flower. this is a genus of myxomycetous fungi, giving name to the family stemonitaceæ, which has a single sporangium or æthalium; without the peculiar deposits of lime carbonate which characterize the fructification of other orders, and the spores, capillitium, and columella are usually uniformly black, or brownish. _stemonitis fusca. roth._ [illustration: figure .--stemonitis fusca. natural size.] fusca means dark-brown, smoky. the sporangia are cylindrical and pointed at the apex, peridia fugacious, exposing the beautiful net-work of the capillitium. the reticulate capillitium springs from the dark, penetrating stem. this is a very beautiful plant when studied with an ordinary hand-glass. i have frequently seen an entire log covered with this plant. _stemonitis ferruginea. ehrb._ ferruginea means rust color. the sporangia is very similar to that of s. fusca, cylindrical, peridium fugacious, exposing the reticulate capillitium, but instead of being dark-brown it is a yellowish or rusty-brown color. chapter xviii. recipes for cooking mushrooms. stewed mushrooms. no. . choose them as nearly as possible of uniform size and free from insects. drop them in salt water for five minutes to free them from any insects that may be hidden in the gills; drain them and wipe dry and clean with a rather rough cloth; cut off the stems close to the cap. put them into a granite or porcelain saucepan, cover closely and stew gently fifteen minutes. salt to taste. rub a tablespoonful of butter into about a tablespoonful of flour, and stir this into the mushrooms, letting boil three or four minutes; stir in three tablespoonfuls of cream, mixed with a well-beaten egg, and stir the whole for two minutes without letting it boil, and serve either on toast or as a vegetable. stewed mushrooms. no. . clean mushrooms as directed above and stew in water ten minutes; then drain off part of the water and put in as much warm milk as you have poured off water; let this stew for five to ten minutes; then add some drawn butter, or veal or chicken gravy, and salt and pepper to taste. thicken with a little corn starch wet in cold milk. serve hot. in cooking mushrooms they should always be kept as closely covered as possible in order the better to retain the flavor, and they should never be subjected to too great heat. baked mushrooms. be sure your mushrooms are fresh and free from insects; cut off the stems close to the caps and wipe the tops with a wet cloth. arrange them in a pie dish with the gills uppermost, laying a little bit of butter on each; sprinkle pepper, salt, and a very little mace upon them. put them into a hot oven and bake from fifteen minutes to half an hour, according to the tenderness of the mushrooms; if they are in danger of getting too dry baste them occasionally with butter and water. pour over them some _maitre d'hotel_ sauce and send to the table in the dish in which they were baked. broiled mushrooms. select the finest and freshest you can get and prepare as for baking; put into a deep dish and pour over them some melted butter, turning them over and over in it. salt and pepper and let them lie for an hour and a half in the butter. put them, gills uppermost, on an oyster gridiron over a clear hot fire, turning them over as one side browns. put them on a hot dish, having them well seasoned with butter, pepper, and salt and with a few drops of lemon juice squeezed upon each, if liked. mushroom and veal ragout. take equal quantities of cold veal steak or roast veal and small puffballs or other mushrooms, and mince all fine; mince a small onion and put with the mushrooms and meat into a pan with some cold veal gravy, if you have it, and water enough to cover the mixture. add a tablespoonful of butter, pepper and salt well, and let the mixture cook until it is almost dry, stirring it frequently to keep it from scorching; it should cook fully half an hour. when almost done, add a large tablespoonful of good catsup, or worcestershire sauce if preferred. serve hot. mushroom patÉs. wash mushrooms well, cut them into small pieces and drop them in salt water for five minutes. have ready in a pan upon the stove about two ounces of butter to each pint of mushrooms, having pan and butter very hot but not scorching; dip the mushrooms from the salt water with a skimmer and drop them into the hot butter; cover them closely to retain the flavor, shaking the pan or stirring them over to keep them from scorching or sticking. let them cook with moderate heat from fifteen to thirty minutes, according to the tenderness of the mushrooms. remove the cover from the pan, draw the mushrooms to one side and lift the pan on one side so that the gravy will run down to the opposite side; stir into the gravy a level tablespoonful of sifted flour, and rub this smooth with the gravy; then add a half a pint of rich milk or cream; stir the mushrooms into this and allow it to boil for a minute. have ready in the oven some paté shells, fill them with the mushrooms, seasoned to taste with salt and pepper, and set back in the oven for a few minutes to heat before serving. these are especially fine when made of tricholoma personatum or pleurotus ostreatus, but many other varieties will answer well. baked beefsteak with mushroom sauce. have your sirloin steak cut an inch or more thick, put into an exceedingly hot baking pan on top of the stove, in one minute turn steak over so that both sides will be seared. put the pan into an exceedingly hot oven and allow it to remain for twenty minutes. have ready in a saucepan two tablespoonfuls of melted butter, heat well and add two cupfuls of fresh, clean mushrooms which have been allowed to stand in salt water for a period of five minutes; cover closely and cook briskly without burning for ten minutes; set on the back of the stove (after having seasoned them properly with salt and pepper) to keep hot until ready to use. place the steak upon a hot dish, pour the mushrooms over it and send to the table at once. it is a dish fit for a king. stuffed morels. choose the freshest and best morels; cleanse them thoroughly by allowing the water from the faucet to run on them; open the stalk at the bottom; fill with veal stuffing, anchovy or any rich forcemeat you choose, securing the ends and dressing between slices of bacon; bake for a half an hour, basting with butter and water, and serve with the gravy which comes from them. fried morels. wash a dozen morels carefully and cut off the ends of the stems. split the mushrooms and put them into a pan in which two tablespoonfuls of butter have been melted. cover closely and cook with a moderate heat for fifteen minutes. mix two teaspoonfuls of corn starch in a half a pint of fresh milk and pour into the pan with the mushrooms, allowing it to boil for a minute or two; salt and pepper to taste and serve hot, upon toast if liked. to cook boleti. cut off the stems, and remove the spore-tubes, after having wiped the caps clean with a damp cloth. they may be broiled in a hot buttered pan, turning them frequently until done, which will be about fifteen minutes. dust with salt and pepper and put bits of butter over them as you would on broiled beefsteak. they may be stewed in a little water in a covered saucepan, after being cut into pieces of equal size. stew for twenty minutes and when done add pepper, salt, butter or cream. or they may be fried, after being sliced as you would egg plant, and dipped in batter or rolled in egg and cracker crumbs. in preparing boleti the spore tube should be removed unless very young, as they will make the dish slimy. mushroom catsup. to two quarts of mushrooms allow a quarter of a pound of salt. the full grown mushrooms are better in making this as they afford more juice. put a layer of mushrooms in the bottom of a stone jar, sprinkle with salt; then another layer of mushrooms till you have used all; let them lie thus for six hours, then break them into bits. set in a cool place for three days, stirring thoroughly every morning. strain the juice from them, and to every quart allow half an ounce of allspice, the same quantity of ginger, half a teaspoonful of powdered mace and half a teaspoonful of cayenne. put it into a stone jar, cover it closely, set it in a saucepan of water over the fire, and boil hard for five hours. take it off, empty it into a porcelain kettle and let it boil slowly for half an hour longer. set it in a cool place and let it stand all night until settled and clear, then pour off carefully from the sediment, into small bottles, filling them to the mouth. cork tightly and seal carefully. keep in a dry, cool, dark closet. mushrooms with bacon. take some full-grown mushrooms, and, having cleaned them, procure a few rashers of nice streaky bacon and fry it in the usual manner. when nearly done add a dozen or so of mushrooms and fry them slowly until they are cooked. in the cooking they will absorb all the fat of the bacon, and with the addition of a little salt and pepper will form a most appetizing breakfast relish. hydnum. the hydnums are sometimes slightly bitter and it is well to boil them for a few minutes and then throw away the water. drain the mushrooms carefully; add pepper and salt, butter, and milk; cook in a covered saucepan slowly for twenty or twenty-five minutes; have ready some slices of toast, pour the mushrooms over these and serve at once. oyster mushrooms. one of the best ways to cook an oyster mushroom is to fry it as you fry an oyster. use the tender part of the oyster mushroom; clean thoroughly; add pepper and salt; dip in beaten egg and then bread crumbs and fry in fat or butter. or parboil them for forty-five minutes, drain, roll in flour and fry. the oyster mushroom is also excellent when stewed. lepiota procera. clean the caps with a damp cloth and cut off the stem close to the caps; broil lightly on both sides over a clear fire or in a very hot pan, turning the mushrooms carefully three or four times; have ready some freshly-made, well-buttered toast; arrange the mushrooms on the toast and put a small piece of butter on each and sprinkle with pepper and salt; set in the oven or before a brisk fire to melt the butter, then serve quickly. some persons think that slices of bacon toasted over the mushrooms improve the flavor. beefsteak smothered in mushrooms. have ready a sufficient quantity of full-grown mushrooms, carefully cleaned; cut them in pieces and put into a baking pan with a tablespoonful of butter to two cupfuls of mushrooms, sprinkle with pepper and salt, and bake in a moderate oven forty-five minutes. broil your steak until it is almost done; then put it into the pan with a part of the mushrooms under and the remainder over the steak; put it into the oven again and allow it to remain for ten minutes; turn out upon a hot dish and serve quickly. agaricus, lepiota, coprinus, lactarius, tricholoma, and russula are especially fine for this method of preparation. chapter xix. cultivation of the mushroom. by prof. lambert, the american spawn co., st. paul, minn. =general considerations.=--commercially, and in a restricted sense, the term "mushroom" is generally used indiscriminately to designate the species of fungi which are edible and susceptible of cultivation. the varieties which have been successfully cultivated for the market are nearly all derived from _agaricus campestris_, _agaricus villaticus_, _and agaricus arvensis_. they may be white, cream or creamy-white, or brown; but the color is not always a permanent characteristic, it is often influenced by surrounding conditions. mushrooms are grown for the market on a large scale in france and in england. it is estimated that nearly twelve million pounds of fresh mushrooms are sold every year at the central market of paris. a large quantity of mushrooms are canned and exported from france to every civilized country. this industry has recently made remarkable progress in the united states, and fresh mushrooms are now regularly quoted on the markets of our large cities. they are sold at prices ranging from twenty-five cents to one dollar and fifty cents per pound, according to season, demand and supply. [illustration: figure .--mushroom beds in a cellar.] =essential conditions.=--mushrooms can be grown in any climate and in any season where the essential conditions may be found, obtained or controlled. these conditions are, _first_, a temperature ranging from ° to ° f., with extremes of ° to °; _second_, an atmosphere saturated (but not dripping) with moisture; _third_, proper ventilation; _fourth_, a suitable medium or bed; _fifth_, good spawn. it may be seen that in the open air, these conditions are rarely found together for any length of time. it is therefore necessary, in order to grow mushrooms on a commercial basis, that one or more of these elements be artificially supplied or controlled. this is usually done in cellars, caves, mines, greenhouses, or specially constructed mushroom houses. a convenient disposition of the shelves in a cellar is shown in figure . a large installation for commercial purposes is shown in figure , and a specially constructed cellar is shown in figure . where abandoned mines, natural or artificial caves are available, the required atmospheric conditions are often found combined and may be uniformly maintained throughout the year. [illustration: figure .--specially constructed mushroom houses.] [illustration: figure .--mushroom houses, flat beds.] =temperature.=--within the limits prescribed, the temperature should be uniform throughout the growth of the crop. when too cold, the development of the spawn will be retarded or arrested. a high temperature will favor the development of molds and bacteria which will soon destroy the spawn or the growing crop. the cultivation of the mushroom, as a summer crop, is therefore greatly restricted. as a fall, winter or spring crop it may be grown wherever means are at hand to raise the temperature to about ° f. many florists are utilizing the waste space under the benches for that purpose; they have the advantage of being able to use the expended material of mushroom beds in growing flowers. =moisture.=--moisture is an important factor in the cultivation of the mushroom, and demands intelligent application. the mushroom requires an atmosphere nearly saturated with moisture, and yet the direct application of water on the beds is more or less injurious to the growing crop. it is therefore essential that the beds, when made, contain the requisite amount of moisture, and that this moisture be not lost by excessive evaporation. they should be protected from a dry atmosphere or strong draughts. where watering becomes necessary, it should be applied in a fine spray around the beds with a view of restoring the moisture to the atmosphere, and on the beds after the mushrooms have been gathered. =ventilation.=--pure air is essential to a healthy crop. provision should therefore be made for a gradual renewal of the air in the mushroom house. however, draughts must be avoided as tending to a too rapid evaporation and cooling of the beds, an unfortunate condition which cannot thereafter be entirely remedied. =the beds.=--the most common type of beds is known as the "flat bed." it is made on the floor or on shelves as shown in the illustrations. it is usually about inches deep. another type, principally used in france, is known as the "ridge bed," and requires more labor than the flat bed. the mushroom house and shelves, if used, should be frequently disinfected and whitewashed in order to avoid danger from insects and bacteria. the preparation of the beds and subsequent operations will be shown in connection with the other subjects. =preparation of the manure.=--the best manure is obtained from horses fed with an abundance of dry and nitrogenous food. the manure of animals fed on greens is undesirable. growers do not all follow the same method of fermenting or composting the manure. when first unloaded, the manure is left in its original state for a few days. it is then piled in heaps about three feet deep and well pressed down. in this operation the material should be carefully forked and well mixed, and wherever found too dry, it should be lightly sprinkled. it is allowed to remain in that condition for about six days when it is again well forked and turned. in the latter operation it receives an additional light sprinkling; the dry portions are turned inside in order that the whole mass may be homogenous and uniformly moist, and the heap is again raised to about three feet. about six days later the operation is repeated, and in about three days the manure should be ready for the beds. it is then of a dark brown color mixed with white, free from objectionable odor. it is unctuous, elastic and moist, though not wet, and should not leave any moisture in the hand. of course, the above rules are subject to modification according to the condition of the manure, its age and previous handling. =spawning.=--the manure, having been properly composted, is spread evenly on the floor or shelves and firmly compressed in beds about ten inches in depth. the temperature of the bed is then too high for spawning and will usually rise still higher. it should be carefully watched with the aid of a special or mushroom thermometer. when the temperature of the beds has fallen to about ° or °, they may be spawned. the beds must be spawned when the temperature falls, never when it rises. the bricks of spawn are broken into eight or ten pieces, and these pieces are inserted from one to two inches below the surface, about nine to twelve inches apart. the bed is then firmly compressed. an advantage is found in breaking and distributing the spawn over the surface of the bed a few days before spawning; this allows the mycelium to absorb some moisture and swell to some extent. if the bed is in proper condition it should not require watering for several weeks. [illustration: figure .--brick spawn, pure culture.] =casing the beds.=--as soon as the spawn is observed to "run," or from eight days to two weeks, the beds are "cased" or covered with a layer of about one inch of light garden loam, well screened. the loam should be slightly moist, and free from organic matter. the beds should now be watched and should not be allowed to evaporate or dry out. =picking.=--mushrooms should appear in from five to ten weeks after spawning, and the period of production of a good bed ranges from two to four months. in picking the mushrooms an intelligent hand will carefully twist it from the soil and fill the hole left in the bed with fresh soil. pieces of roots or stems should never be allowed to remain in the beds, otherwise decay might set in and infect the surrounding plants. a good mushroom bed will yield a crop of from one-half to two pounds per square foot. mushrooms should be picked every day or every other day; they should not be left after the veils begin to break. for the market the mushrooms are sorted as to size and color, and packed in one, two or five-pound boxes or baskets. since they are very perishable, they must reach the market in the shortest time. =old beds.=--it is not practicable to raise another crop of mushrooms in the material of an old bed, although this material is still valuable for garden purposes. the old material should be entirely removed, and the mushroom house thoroughly cleaned before the new beds are made. if this precaution be omitted the next crop may suffer from the diseases or enemies of the mushrooms. [illustration: figure .--a cluster of mushrooms on one root, grown from "lambert's pure culture spawn" of the american spawn co., st. paul, minn.] =spawn.=--the cultivated mushroom is propagated from "spawn," the commercial name applied to the mycelium; the term "spawn" includes both the mycelium and the medium in which it is carried and preserved. spawn may be procured in the market in two forms, flake spawn and brick spawn. in both forms the mycelium growth is started on a prepared medium mainly consisting of manure and then arrested and dried. the flake spawn is short-lived by reason of its loose form, in which the mycelium is easily accessible to the air and destructive bacteria. it deteriorates rapidly in transportation and storage and can only be used to advantage when fresh. growers, especially in the united states, have therefore discarded it in favor of brick spawn, which affords more protection to the mycelium and can be safely transported and stored for a reasonable period. until recently the manufacturer of spawn was compelled to rely entirely upon the caprice of nature for his supply. the only method known consisted in gathering the wild spawn wherever nature had deposited it and running the same into bricks or in loose material, without reference to variety. neither the manufacturer nor the grower had any means of ascertaining the probable nature of the crop until the mushrooms appeared. [illustration: figure .--agaricus villaticus.] =pure culture spawn.=--the recent discovery of pure culture spawn in this country has made possible the selection and improvement of varieties of cultivated mushrooms with special reference to their hardiness, color, size, flavor and prolificness, and the elimination of inferior or undesirable fungi in the crop. the scope of this article precludes a description of the pure culture method of making spawn. it is now used by the large commercial growers and has in many sections entirely superseded the old english spawn and other forms of wild spawn. as now manufactured it resembles much in appearance the old english spawn (see figure ). some remarkable results have been obtained by the use of pure culture spawn. we illustrate a cluster of fifty mushrooms on one root grown by messrs. miller & rogers, of mortonville, pa., from "lambert's pure culture spawn" produced by the american spawn company, of st. paul, minn. (figure ). several promising varieties have already been developed by the new method, and can now be reproduced at will. figure is a good illustration of _agaricus villaticus_, a fleshy species in good demand. figure shows a bed of mushrooms grown from pure culture spawn in a sand rock cave, using the flat bed. [illustration: figure .--a mushroom cave, showing one of the test beds of the american spawn co., st. paul, minn.] =how to cook mushrooms.=--to the true epicure there are but four ways of cooking mushrooms--broiling, roasting, frying them in sweet butter and stewing them in cream. in preparing fresh mushrooms for cooking, wash them as little as possible, as washing robs them of their delicate flavor. always bear in mind that the more simply mushrooms are cooked the better they are. like all delicately flavored foods, they are spoiled by the addition of strongly flavored condiments. =broiled mushrooms.=--select fine, large flat mushrooms, and be sure that they are fresh. if they are dusty just dip them in cold salt water. then lay on cheese cloth and let them drain thoroughly. when they are dry cut off the stem quite close to the comb. or, what is better, carefully break off the stem. do not throw away the stems. save them for stewing, for soup or for mushroom sauce. having cut or broken off the stems, take a sharp silver knife and skin the mushrooms, commencing at the edge and finishing at the top. put them on a gridiron that has been well rubbed with sweet butter. lay the mushrooms on the broiling iron with the combs upward. put a small quantity of butter, a little salt and pepper in the center of each comb from where the stem has been removed and let the mushrooms remain over the fire until the butter melts. then serve them on thin slices of buttered and well browned toast, which should be cut round or diamond shape. serve the mushrooms just as quickly as possible after they are broiled, as they must be eaten when hot. so nourishing are broiled mushrooms that with a light salad they form a sufficient luncheon for anyone. =fried mushrooms.=--clean and prepare the mushrooms as for broiling. put some sweet, unsalted butter in a frying pan--enough to swim the mushrooms in. stand the frying pan on a quick fire, and when the butter is at boiling heat carefully drop the mushrooms in and let them fry three minutes, and serve them on thin slices of buttered toast. serve a sauce of lemon juice, a little melted butter, salt and red pepper with fried mushrooms. =stewed mushrooms.=--stewed mushrooms after the following recipe make one of the most delicious of breakfast dishes: it is not necessary to use large mushrooms for stewing--small button ones will do. take the mushrooms left in the basket after having selected those for broiling, and also use the stems cut from the mushrooms prepared for boiling. after cleaning and skinning them put them in cold water with a little vinegar, and let them stand half an hour. if you have a quart of mushrooms, put a tablespoonful of nice fresh butter in a stewpan and stand it on the stove. when the butter begins to bubble drop the mushrooms in the pan, and after they have cooked a minute season them well with salt and black pepper. now take hold of the handle of the stewpan and, while the mushrooms are gently and slowly cooking, shake the pan almost constantly to keep the butter from getting brown and the mushrooms from sticking. after they have cooked eight minutes pour in enough rich, sweet cream to cover the mushrooms to the depth of half an inch, and let them cook about eight or ten minutes longer. serve them in a very hot vegetable dish. do not thicken the cream with flour or with anything. just cook them in this simple way. you will find them perfect. glossary. abortive, imperfectly developed. aberrant, deviating from a type. acicular, needle-shaped. aculeate, slender pointed. acuminate, terminating in a point. acute, sharp pointed. adnate, gills squarely and firmly attached to the stem. adnexed, gills just reaching the stem. adhesion, union of different organs or tissues. adpressed, pressed into close contact, as applied to the gills. agglutinated, glued to the surface. alveolate, honey-combed. alutaceous, having the color of tanned leather. anastomosing, branching, joining of one vein with another. annual, completing growth in one year. annular, ring-shaped. annulate, having a ring. annulus, the ring around the stem of a mushroom. apex, in mushrooms the extremity of the stem next to the gills. apical, close to the apex. apiculate, terminating in a small point. appendiculate, hanging in small fragments. applanate, flattened out or horizontally expanded. arachnoid, cobweb-like. arculate, bow-shaped. areolate, pitted, net-like. ascus, spore case of certain mushrooms. ascomycetes, a group of fungi in which the spores are produced in sacs. ascospore, hymenium or sporophore bearing an ascus or asci. atomate, sprinkled with atoms or minute particles. atro (ater, black), in composition "black" or "dark." atropurpureous, dark purple (purpura, purple). aurantiaceous, orange-colored (aurantium, an orange). aureous, golden-yellow. auriculate, ear-shaped. azonate, without zones or circular bands. badious, bay, chestnut-color, or reddish-brown. basidium (pl. basidia), an enlarged cell on which spores are borne. basidiomycetes, the group of fungi that have spores borne on a basidium. bifid, cleft or divided into two parts. booted, applied to the stem of mushrooms when inclosed in a volva. boss, a knob or short rounded protuberance. bossed, furnished with a boss or knob, bulbate. byssus, a fine filamentous mass. cæspitose, growing in tufts. calyptra, applied to the portion of volva covering the pileus. campanulate, bell-shaped. cap, the expanded, umbrella-like receptacle of a common mushroom. capillitium, spore-bearing threads, often much branched, found in puffballs. carnose, flesh-color. cartilaginous, hard and tough. castaneous, chestnut-color. ceraceous, wax-like. cerebriform, brain-shaped. cespitose, growing in tufts. cilia, marginal hair-like processes. ciliate, fringed with hair-like processes. cinereous, light bluish gray or ash gray. circumscissile, breaking at or near the middle on equatorial line. circinate, rounded. clavate, club-shaped, gradually thickened upward. columella, a sterile tissue rising column-like in the midst of the capillitium. concrete, grown together. continuous, without a break, one part running into another. cordate, heart-shaped. coriaceous, of a leathery or a cork-like texture. cortex, outer or rind-like layer. cortina, the web-like veil of the genus cortinarius. cortinate, with a cortina. costate, with a ridge or ridges. crenate, notched, indented or escalloped at the edge. cryptogamia, applied to the division of non-flowering plants. cyathiform, cup-shaped. cyst, a bladder-like cell or cavity. cystidium (pl. cystidia), sterile cells of the hymenium, bladder-like. deciduous, of leaves falling off. decurrent, as when the gills of a mushroom are prolonged down the stem. dehiscent, a closed organ opening of itself at maturity. deliquescent, melting down, becoming liquid. dendroid, shaped like a tree. dentate, toothed. denticulate, with small teeth. dichotomous, paired, regularly forked. dimidiate, halved, applied to gills not entire. disc (disk), the hymenial surface, usually cup-shaped. discomycetes, ascomycetes with the hymenium exposed. dissepiments, dividing walls. distant, applied to gills which are not close. discrete, distinct, not divided. echinate, furnished with stiff bristles. effused, spread over without regular form. emarginate, when the gills are notched or scooped out at junction with stem. ephemeral, lasting but a short time. epidermis, the external or outer layer of the plant. epiphytal, growing upon another plant. eccentric, out of the center; stem not attached to center of pileus. exoperidium, outer layer of the peridium. exotic, foreign. explanate, flattened or expanded. farinaceous, mealy. farinose, covered with a mealy powder. falcate, hooked or curved like a scythe. fasciculate, growing in bundles. fastigiate, bundled together with a sheath. ferruginous, rust-colored. fibrillose, clothed with small fibers. fibrous, composed of fibers. filiform, thread-like. fimbriated, fringed. fissile, capable of being split. fistular, fistulose, with the stem hollow or becoming hollow. flabelliform, fan-shaped. flaccid, soft and flabby. flavescent, turning yellow. flexuose, wavy. flocci, threads as of mold. floccose, downy. flocculose, covered with flocci. free, said of gills not attached to the stem. friable, easily crumbling. fugacious, disappearing quickly. fuliginous, sooty-brown or dark smoke-color. furcate, forked. furfuraceous, with bran-like scales or scurf. fuscous, dingy, brownish or brown tinged with gray. fusiform, spindle-shaped. gasteromyces, basidiomycetes, in which the hymenium is inclosed. gelatinous, jelly-like. genus, a group of closely related species. gibbous, swollen at one point. gills, plates radiating from the stem on which the basidia are borne. glabrous, smooth. glaucous, with a white bloom. gleba, the spore-bearing tissue, as in puffballs and phalloids. globose, nearly round. granular, with a roughened surface. gregarious, growing in numbers in the same vicinity. habitat, the natural place of growth of a plant. hirsute, hairy. host, the plant or animal on which a parasitic fungus grows. hyaline, transparent, clear like glass. hygrophanous, looking watery when moist and opaque when dry. hygrometric, readily absorbing water. hymenium, the fruit-bearing surface. hymenophore, the portion which bears the hymenium. hypha, one of the elongated cells or threads of the fungus. imbricate, overlapping like shingles. immarginate, without a distinct border. incarnate, flesh-color. indehiscent, not opening. indigenous, native of a country or a place. indurated, hardened. indusium, a veil beneath the pileus. inferior, the ring low down on the stem of agarics. infundibuliform, funnel-shaped. innate, adhering by growth. involute, edges rolled inward. isabelline, color of sole leather, brownish-yellow. laccate, varnished or coated with wax. lacerate, irregularly torn. laciniate, divided into lobes. lacunose, pitted or having cavities. lamella (lamellæ), gills of a mushroom. lanate, wooly. leucospore, white spore. livid, bluish-black. luteous, yellowish. maculate, spotted. marginate, having a distinct border. micaceous, covered with glistening scales, mica-like. micron, one-thousandth of a millimeter, nearly . of an inch. mycelium, the delicate threads from germinating spores, called spawn. nigrescent, becoming black. obconic, inversely conical. obovate, inversely egg-shaped. obese, stout, plump. ochraceous, ochre-yellow, brownish-yellow. pallid, pale, undecided in color. papillate, covered with soft tubercles. paraphyses, sterile cells found among the reproductive cells of some plants. parasitic, growing on and deriving support from another plant. pectinate, toothed like a comb. peridium, the outer covering of a puffball, simple or double. perithecia, bottle-like receptacles containing asci. peronate, used when the stem has a distinct stocking-like coat. persistent, inclined to adhere firmly. pileate, having a cap or pileus. pileolus (pl. pileoli), a secondary pileus, arising from the primary one. pileus (pileus, a hat), the cap-like head of a fungus. pilose, covered with hairs, furry. pore, the opening of the tubes of a polyporus. pruinose, covered with a frost-like bloom. pubescent, downy. pulverulent, covered with dust. pulvinate, cushion-shaped. putrescent, soon decaying. punctate, dotted with points. reflexed, bent backwards. reniform, kidney-shaped. repand, bent or turned up or back. resupinate, attached to the matrix by the back. reticulate, marked with cross-lines, like the meshes of a net. revolute, rolled backward or upward. rimose, cracked or full of clefts. rimulose, covered with small cracks. ring, a part of the veil adhering to the stem of agarics. rubescent, tending to a red-color. rubiginous, rust-color. rufescent, reddish in color. rugose, wrinkled. rufous, brownish-red. sapid, agreeable to the taste. saprophyte, a plant that lives on decaying animal or vegetable matter. scrobiculate, marked with little pits or depressions. serrate, saw-toothed. sinuate, wavy margin of gills or sinus where they reach the stem. spathulate, in the form of a spathula. spawn, the popular name for mycelium, used in growing mushrooms. spores, the reproductive bodies of mushrooms. sporophore, name given to the basidia. squamose, having scales. squamulose, covered with small scales. squarrose, rough with scales. stigmata, the slender supports of the spores. stipitate, having a stem. striate, streaked with lines. strigose, covered with lines sharp and rigid. strobiliform, pineapple-shaped. stuffed, stem filled with different material from the walls. sulcate, furrowed. tawny, nearly the color of tanned leather. terete, top-shaped. tesselated, arranged in small squares. tomentose, downy, with short hairs. trama, the substance between the plates of gills. truncate, cut squarely off. tubercle, a small wart-like excrescence. turbinate, top-shaped. umbillicate, having a central depression. umbo, the boss of a shield, applied to the central elevation of cap. umbonate, having a central boss-like elevation. uncinate, hooked. undulate, wavy. vaginate, sheathed. veil, a partial covering of stem or margin of pileus. veliform, a thin veil-like covering. venate or veined, intersected by swollen wrinkles below and on the sides. ventricose, swollen in the middle. vernicose, shining as if varnished. verrucose, covered with warts. villose, villous, covered with long, weak hairs. viscid, covered with a shiny liquid which adheres to the fingers; sticky. viscous, gluey. volute, rolled up in any direction. volva, a universal veil. zoned, zonate, marked with concentric bands of color. authorities. it is customary to write, after the name of the plant, the name, or an abbreviation of it, of the person who gave the name. below will be found a brief history and the name in full of each abbreviation. atk. prof. geo. f. atkinson, at the head of the botanical department of cornell university and an authority on mycology. afz. adam afzelius, a swedish botanist, - ; a pupil of linnaeus. ban. miss banning of maryland, a student of mycology. batsch augustus batsch, a german botanist and mycologist, - . berk. rev. j. m. berkeley, a leading mycologist of england. bolt. james bolton, a prominent botanist of halifax. bosc. louis bosc, an early american botanist, - . barl. j. b. barla, a french mycologist. bull. pierre bulliard, one of the first french mycologists, - . curt. rev. m. a. curtise, state botanist of north carolina. d. c. augustin p. de candolle, a swiss botanist, - . dill. johann jakob dillenius, an eminent german botanist. ellis j. b. ellis, newfield, new jersey, an eminent mycologist. fr. elias magnus fries (pron. freece), a swedish botanist and mycologist, - . gill. c. c. gillet, a french botanist. herbst the late dr. william herbst, trexlertown, pa., an authority on mycology. hoffn. hoffman, a german mycologist. holmsk. theodor holmskiold, a danish mycologist, - . huds. william hudson, an eminent english botanist, - . jung. franz w. junghuhn, a prominent german botanist, - . kauff. dr. c. h. kauffman, botanical department michigan university. lasch william lasch, a german mycologist. lenz harald othmar lenz, a german botanist. lk. heinrich friedrich link, a prominent german mycologist. lloyd c. g. lloyd, cincinnati, ohio, one of the finest mycologists of the present day. lev. joseph henri leveille, a french mycologist. let. jean baptiste louis letellier, a french mycologist. l. or linn. carl von linnæus, a swedish botanist who is the author of the linnæan classification and who adopted the binomial nomenclature, viz.: the generic name which is the substantive, or a word used as such, and the specific name, an adjective, - . mass. george massee, an english botanist, principal assistant, royal gardens, kew; author of several works on mycology. morg. prof. a. p. morgan, preston, ohio, a well-known botanist and an authority on mycology. mont. montagne, a french botanist and mycologist. pk. dr. charles horton peck, the state botanist of new york; an eminent authority on mycology and botany generally. pers. christian hendrik persoon, a german botanist, - . rav. w. h. ravenel, leading mycologist of south carolina. roze ernest roze, a french mycologist. schw. rev. louis david de schweinitz, bethlehem, pa., a pioneer american mycologist. schroet. schroeter, a german botanist and mycologist. schaeff. jacobi c. schaeffer, a german botanist, - . scop. giovanni antonio scopoli, an italian botanist, - . schum. schumacher, a german botanist and mycologist. sacc. p. a. saccardo, an italian botanist, the author of sylloge fungorum, a work of several volumes written in latin, describing over forty thousand species. sow. james sowerby, an english botanist. vahl. martin vahl, a norwegian botanist, - . vitt. carlo vittadini, an italian mycologist. wulf. wulfen, a german botanist. references consulted. atkinson's studies of american fungi. cooke's hand-book of british fungi. massee's european fungus flora. mcilvaine's one thousand american fungi. our edible toadstools and mushrooms--w. h. gibson. herbst's fungal flora of the lehigh valley. berkeley's outlines of british fungology. the mushroom book--nina l. marshall. morgan's north american fungi. lloyd's mycological notes. peck's reports of new york. kellerman's mycological bulletins. kauffman's genus cortinarius. longyear's michigan mushrooms. cooke's british fungi. minnesota plant diseases--freeman. corrections. clitocybe metachroa, page . boletus parvus, page . polyporus berkeleyi, page . tricholoma resplendens, page . this page of the manuscript was used in making the sample pages and for some reason was not replaced, which will account for its coming out of order. _tricholoma resplendens. fr._ the shining tricholoma. edible. [illustration: figure .--tricholoma resplendens. entire plant white.] resplendens means shining brightly. the pileus is fleshy, convex, then nearly plane, even, bare, viscid, white, sometimes hyaline-spotted or yellowish on the disk, shining when dry, margin straight. flesh white, taste mild, odor pleasant. the gills are nearly free when young, then emarginate, somewhat crowded, rather thick, entire, white. the stem is solid, bare, subbulbose, even, white, dry. the spores are × µ. the caps are two to four inches broad; the stem is two to four inches long.--_peck._ this is a beautiful plant, entirely white, smell and taste pleasant, and found in poke hollow and in the woods along ralston's run, near chillicothe. this plant is found very generally over the united states. index to genera. agaricus, amanita, amanitopsis, anellaria, armillaria, bolbitius, boletinus, boletus, bovista, bovistella, bulgaria, calvatia, calostoma, calocera, catastoma, cantharellus, chlorosplenium, claudopus, clavaria, claviceps, clitocybe, clitopilus, collybia, coprinus, corticium, cortinarius, craterellus, crepidotus, crucibulum, cyclomyces, cyathus, dædalea, didymius, discina, dictyophora, eccilia, entoloma, epichloe, exidia, favolus, fistulina, flammula, fomes, galera, ganoderma, geaster, gloeoporus, gomphidius, grandinia, guepinia, gyromitra, hebeloma, heliomyces, helotium, helvella, hirneola, hydnum, hygrophorus, hymenochæte, hymenula, hypholoma, hypocerea, hypomyces, inocybe, irpex, lachnocladium, laccaria, lachnea, lactarius, lentinus, lenzites, leotia, lepiota, leptoglossum, leptonia, lycogala, lycoperdon, macropodia, marasmius, merulius, mitremyces, morchella, mucronella, mutinus, mycena, myriostomav, naucoria, nidularia, nolanea, nectrea, nyctalis, oomyces, omphalia, otidea, panæolus, panus, paronia, paxillus, peziza, phallus, phlebia, pholiota, pilosace, piptoporus, pleurotus, pluteolus, pluteus, podaxon, polyporus, polysaccum, polystictus, psathyrella, psilocybe, radulum, reticularia, russula, sarcoscypha, secotium, schizophyllum, scleroderma, sclerotina, sparassis, spathularia, sphærobolus, stemonitis, stereum, strobilomyces, stropharia, thelephora, torrubia, trametes, tremella, tremellodon, tricholoma, trogia, typhula, urnula, verpa, volvaria, xylaria, index to species. abietina (clavaria), abortivus (clitopilus), abruptus (agaricus), abscondens (pleurotus), acerbum (tricholoma), acervata (collybia), acetabulum (peziza), acuminatum (secotium), acuminatum (lycoperdon), acutesquamosa (lepiota), adiposa (pholiota), adirondackensis (clitocybe), adusta (russula), adustus (polyporus), adustum (hydnum), ægerita (pholiota), æruginosa (stropharia), æruginosum (heliotium), æruginosum (chlorosplenium), ætites (mycena), alba (amanitopsis), albellum (tricholoma), albellus (polyporus), albipes (russula), albida (tremella), alboflava (omphalia), alboater (boletus), alboviolaceus (cortinarius), album (tricholoma), alkalina (mycena), alutacea (russula), alveolatus (boletus), ambigua (dædalea), ambusta (collybia), americana (lepiota), americanus (boletus), amethystina (clitocybe), amethystina (clavaria), amianthinus (lepiota), ammophila (psilocybe), androsaceus (marasmius), angusticeps (morchella), anomalus (marasmius), appendiculata (armillaria), appendiculatum (hypholoma), applicatus (pleurotus), archeri (geaster), argyraceum (tricholoma), arcularius (polyporus), armillatus (cortinarius), asterophora (nyctalis), arvensis (agaricus), asper (geaster), aspera (amanita), atkinsonianus (cortinarius), atramentarius (coprinus), atrata (collybia), atratoides (collybia), atroviridus (lactarius), atrotomentosus (paxillus), atrosquamosum (tricholoma), aurantia (peziza), aurantius (hypomyces), aurantium (scleroderma), aurantiacus (cantharellus), aurea (clavaria), aurevella (pholiota), auricula-judæ (hirneola), auripes (boletus), autumnalis (cortinarius), badhami (lepiota), badia (peziza), berkeleyi (poylporus), betulina (lenzites), betulinus (polyporus), bicolor (boletus), biformis (polystictus), bispora (morchella), blackfordæ (hydnum), bolaris (cortinarius), boltoni (bolbitius), bombycina (volvaria), borealis (lysurus), botrytes (clavaria), bovinus (mutinus), bovista (plumbea), brevis (clitopilus), brevipes (cantharellus), brumalis (polyporus), brunnea (gyromitra), bulbigera (armillaria), cælata (calvata), cærulescens (cortinarius), cæsarea (amanita), cæsius (polvporus), cæspitosa (omphalia), calceolum (tricholoma), calopus (marasmius), calostoma (lycoperdon), campanella (omphalia), campanulatus (panæolus), campestris (agaricus), canadensis (favolus), candicans (clitocybe), candidus (marasmius), caninus (mutinus), cantharellus (craterellus), cantharellus (hygrophorus), capitata (torrubia), caperata (pholiota), capitata (cordyceps), capillaris (mycena), caprinus (hygrophorus), caput-medusæ (hydnum), caput-ursi (hydnum), carbonaria (flammula), carneo-grisæ (eccilia), carneus (irpex), cartilaginea (tricholoma), castaneus (boletus), castaneus (cortinarius), cavipes (boletinus), cecilia (agaricus), cepa (scleroderma), cepæstipes (lepiota), ceraceus (hygrophorus), cervinus (pluteus), chlorocephala (leotia), chlorophanus (hygrophorus), chrysenteron (boletus), chrysites (tricholoma), chrysorrheus (lactarius), cibarius (cantharellus), cinereus (lactarius), cinerea (clavaria), cinereum (didymius), cinereum (corticium), cinereus (hygrophorus), cinereus (cantharellus), cinereus (lactarius), cinerascens (tricholoma), cincinnata (inocybe), cinnabarinum (calostoma), cinnabarinus (cortinarius), cinnabarinus (cantharellus), cinnabarinus (polyporus), cinnabarinus (metremyces), cinnamoneus (cortinarius), cinnamoneus (polystictus), circinatus (polyporus), circinatus (pleurotus), circumscissum (catastoma), circumscissa (bovista), cirrhata (collybia), citrinum (heliotium), clavata (spathularia), clavipes (clitocybe), clypeatum (entoloma), coccinea (peziza), coccineus (hygrophorus), cohaerens (marasmius), cohaerens (mycena), cochleatus (lentinus), coliformis (myriostoma), collinitus (cortinarius), colorea (collybia), columbetta (tricholoma), comatus (coprinus), commune (schizophyllum), compactum (stereum), comtulus (agaricus), conchatus (panus), conchoides (gloeoporus), condolleanum (hypholoma), confluens (collybia), confragosa (dædalea), conica (nolanea), conicus (hygrophorus), conica (morchella), corraloides (hydnum), corium (merulius), cornea (calocera), coronata (clavaria), cornucopoides (craterellus), corrugata (hymenochæte), corrugis (lactarius), corticola (mycena), cossus (hygrophorus), cothurnata (amanita), craniiformis (calvatia), crassipes (morchella), craterium (urnula), crenulata (amanita), cretaceus (agaricus), crispa (trogia), crispa (galera), crispa (sparassis), crispula (clavaria), cristatella (lepiota), cristata (helephora), cristata (clavaria), croceocolor (cortinarius), crustuliniforme (hebeloma), cruciatum (lycoperdon), curtisii (polyporus), curtisii (hymenochæte), curtisii (ganoderma), curvipes (pholiota), cuticularis (polyporus), cyanescens (boletus), cyanoxantha (russula), cyathiformis (calvatia), cyathiformis (clitocybe), cyphellæformis (pleurotus), dealbata (clitocybe), deceptivus (lactarius), delica (russula), delectans (marasmius), deliciosa (morchella), deliciosus (lactarius), densifolia (russula), dichrous (polyporus), digitaliformis (verpa), disseminata (psathyrella), distans (lactarius), ditopoda (clitocybe), dryophila (collybia), dubius (craterellus), dulcamara (inocybe), duplicatus (phallus), dura (pholiota), ebulbosus (coprinus), eburneus (hygrophorus), edulis (boletus), edulis var. clavipes (boletus), elata (calvatia), elastica (helvella), elegans (mutinus), elegans (polyporus), emetica (russula), epichysia (omphalia), ephemerus (coprinus), epidendrum (lycogala), epileucus (polyporus), epiphyllus (marasmius), epipterygia (mycena), epimyces (panæolus), equestre (tricholoma), erinaceum (hydnum), erythropus (typhula), erythropus (boletus), esculenta (gyromitra), esculenta (helvella), esculenta (morchella), europeus (favolus), eutheles (inocybe), evernius (cortinarius), eximia (pilosace), eximius (pluteus), eximius (boletus), fagineus (marasmius), fasciatum (stereum), fascicularis (hypholoma), fastibile (hebeloma), felleus (boletus), fennicum (hydnum), ferrugineum (hydnum), ferruginea (stemonites), fibula (omphalia), fillius (flammula), filopes (mycena), fimbriata (tremella), fimbriatus (geaster), fimetarius (coprinus), fimicolus (panæolus), fistulina (hepatica), flaccida (clitocybe), flaccida (lenzites), flava (clavaria), flavida (flammula), flavida (spathularia), flaviceps (hygrophorus), flavipes (hygrophorus), flavus (hygrophorus), flavobrunneum (tricholoma), flavodiscus (hygrophorus), flavovireus (polyporus), floccosus (cantharellus), floccosa (peziza), floccosa (sarcoscypha), foenisecii (psilocybe), foetens (russula), foetidus (marasmius), foetens (heliomyces), fomentarius (fomes), formosa (clavaria), fragilis (bolbitius), fragilis (russula), fraxineus (fomes), frondosus (polyporus), frostiana (amanita), frostii (boletus), fuligineus (hygrophorus), fulva (amanitopsis), fumescens (tricholoma), fumidellum (tricholoma), furcata (russula), fusca (stemonites), fusus (flammula), fusiformis (clavaria), galericulata (mycena), gambosum (tricholoma), geaster (scleroderma), gelatinosum (tremellodon), gemmatum (lycoperdon), geophylla, var. violacea (inocybe), gigantea (calvatia), giganteum (lycoperdon), giganteus (polyporus), gilva (clitocybe), gilvus (polyporus), glabellum (lycoperdon), glutinosum (hebeloma), gracilis (boletus), graminum (marasmius), grande (tricholoma), garnosa (lepiota), granularis (pluteus), granulatus (boletus), granulosa (lepiota), granulosa (grandinia), granulosa (exidia), grammopodium (tricholoma), graveolens (polyporus), graveolens (tricholoma), graveolens (hydnum), grayanum (entoloma), greenii (cyclomyces), grisea (entoloma), griseus (boletus), griseus (lactarius), griseus (polyporus), griseo pallida (cyphella), hæmatosperma (lepiota), hæmatopa (mycena), halophilus (agaricus), hamadryas (naucoria), hardii (stropharia), hariolarum (collybia), hemispherica (peziza), hemispherica (lachnea), herbstii (sparassis), herpeticus (cortinarius), heteroclitus (polyporus), heteroclita (pholiota), heterogeneum (lycoperdon), hepatica (fistulina), herculea (cordyceps), hiemalis (mycena), hirta (psathyrella), hirsutus (polystictus), hirsutum (stereum), hispidus (polyporus), hygrometricus (geaster), hypnorum (galera), ianthina (mycena), ignarius (fomes), illudens (clitocybe), imbricatum (hydnum), imbricatum (tricholoma), immaculata (collybia), inæqualis (clavaria), incana (leptonia), incarnatum (corticium), incarnata (typhula), incertum (hypholoma), indecisus (boletus), indigo (lactarius), ingrata (collybia), infundibuliformis (cantharellus), infundibuliformis (clitocybe), inquinans (bulgaria), insulsus (lactarius), integra (russula), involutus (paxillus), iris (mycena), kunzei (clavaria), kellermani (galera), laccata (clitocybe), laccata (laccaria), lacera (inocybe), laciniata (thelephora), lachnophylla (collybia), lachrymabundum (hypholoma), lacrymans (merulius), lacteum (corticium), lacteus (irpex), lacteus (polyporus), lactifluorum (hypomyces), lacunosa (helvella), lascivum (tricholoma), lævis (panus), laterarium (tricholoma), lateritia (galera), lauræ (hygrophorus), leaiana (mycena), lecomtei (lentinus), lepida (russula), lepideus (lentinus), leporina (peziza), leporina (otidea), leporinus (hygrophorus), leucophæus (fomes), leucocephalum (tricholoma), leucomelas (polyporus), levis (panus), lilacina (calvatia), lignyotus (lactarius), livida (amanitopsis), lignatilis (pleurotus), lilacinus (cortinarius), lixivium (tricholoma), longipes (marasmius), loveiana (volvaria), lubrica (leotia), lucidus (polyporus), luridus (boletus), lutescens (tremella), lutescens (helotium), luteum (leptoglossum), maculata (collybia), maculatescens (tricholoma), magnivelaris (amanita), mammosus (geaster), mappa (amanita), marginatus (hygrophorus), marginata (pholiota), maxima (reticularia), media (clitocybe), medulla-panis (polyporus), mellea (armillaria), var. flava, var. obscura, var. exanulata, var. radicata, var. glabra, var. bulbosa, melaleucum (tricholoma), mesenterica (tremella), metachroa (clitocybe), micaceus (coprinus), micropus (hygrophorus), micheneri (lachnocladium), militaris (cordyceps), militaris (torrubia), miniatus (hygrophorus), miniatus sphagnophilus (hygrophorus), minimus (geaster), mollis (crepidotus), monadelpha (clitocybe), morgani (lepiota), morgani (geaster), morgani (boletus), morrisii (cortinarius), mucida (clavaria), multiceps (clitocybe), muscaria (amanita), muscoides (clavaria), mutabilis (pholiota), mycetophila (tremella), myriadophylla (collybia), nardosmia (armillaria), naucina (lepiota), naucinoides (lepiota), nebularis (clitocybe), nebulosa (peziza), nidulans (claudopus), nigrellus (boletus), nigripes (marasmius), nigripes (heliomyces), nigricans (russula), niveus (hygrophorus), noveboracensis (clitopilus), var. brevis (clitopilus), nudum (tricholoma), oakesii (corticium), obbata (clitocybe), obliquus (polyporus), ohiensis (trametes), ohiensis (bovistella), occidentalis (peziza), ochroleucus (cortinarius), ochropurpurea (clitocybe), ochrophylla (russula), ochraceum (hydnum), odorata (peziza), odora (clitocybe), olivaceo-stramineus (cortinarius), oniscus (omphalia), orcellus (clitopilus), oreades (marasmius), orirubens (tricholoma), ornatipes (boletus), ostreatus (pleurotus), ovalis (galera), ovatus (coprinus), pædidum (tricholoma), pallida (fistulina), pallida (thelephora), pallidus (boletus), pallidus (hygrophorus), pallidifolia (clitocybe), palmata (thelephora), paludosella (naucoria), papilionaceus (panæolus), panæolum (tricholoma), parasiticus (boletus), parvus (boletus), parvula (volvaria), pascua (nolanea), pascuense (hebeloma), pediades (naucoria), pelianthina (mycena), pedicellatum (catastoma), pellucidula (amanita), pelliculosa (mycena), penarius (hygrophorus), perennius (polystictus), pergamenus (polystictus), pergamenus (lactarius), peronatus (marasmius), perplexum (hypholoma), perplexus (polyporus), personatum (tricholoma), petaloides (pleurotus), petersii (peziza), phalloides (amanita), phyllophila (clitocybe), picipes (polyporus), pictus (boletinus), pila (bovista), pinicola (fomes), piperatus (lactarius), pisiformis (nidularia), pisocarpium (polysaccum), pistillaris (clavaria), pithyophila (clitocybe), placomyces (agaricus), placorrhiza (typhula), platyphylla (collybia), plumbea (bovista), polita (eccelia), polymorpha (xilaria), popinalis (clitopilus), porosus (boletinus), porphria (amanita), porreus (marasmius), portentosum (tricholoma), præcox (pholiota), pratensis (hygrophorus), prasiosmus (marasmius), procera (lepiota), prolifera (mycena), prunulus (clitopilus), prunuloides (entoloma), pseudo-pura (mycena), pseudo-boletus (ganoderma), pubescens (polyporus), pulcherrimum (lycoperdon), pulcherrimum (hydnum), punctiformis (hymenula), puniceus (hygrophorus), pura (mycena), purpurascens (cortinarius), purpurium (stereum), purpurina (russula), pusilla (volvaria), pusillum (lycoperdon), pyriforme (lycoperdon), pyriodora (inocybe), pyxidata (omphalia), pyxidata (clavaria), quletii (hygrophorus), quinquepartitum (tricholoma), quercina (dædalea), racemosa (collybia), radiata (phlebia), radicans (boletus), radicata (amanita), radicata (collybia), radicatus (polyporus), ramealis (marasmius), ravenelii (dictyophora), ravenelii (phallus), regalis (lactarius), resinosus (polyporus), recutita (amanita), repanda (peziza), repandum (hydnum), resplendens (tricholoma), reticulatus (pluteolus), retipes (boletus), retirugis (panæolus), rhodopolium (entoloma), rhodoxanthus (paxillus), rimosa (inocybe), rimosus (fomes), rodmani (agaricus), rosea (hygrophorus), roseipes (russula), rotula (marasmius), rubeolarius (boletus), rubellus (merulius), rubescens (amanita), rubescens (trametes), rubiginosa (hymenochæte), rubra (russula), rudis (panus), rufescens (polyporus), rugosa (mycena), rugosum (stereum), russelli (boletus), russula (tricholoma), saccata (calvatia), saccatus (geaster), saccharinus (marasmius), sæpiaria (lenzites), salignus (pleurotus), salmonea (entoloma), sambucum (corticium), sanguinolentum (stereum), sapidus (pleurotus), saponaceum (tricholoma), satanus, (boletus), scaber (boletus), scaber (inocybe), schumacheri (tricholoma), schweintzii (thelephora), scorodonius (marasmius), scrobiculatus (lactarius), scrobiculatum (hydnum), scutellata (peziza), scutellata (trametes), sebacea (thelephora), sejunctum (tricholoma), semilibera (morchella), semiglobata (stropharia), semihirtipes (marasmius), semi-sanguineus (cortinarius), semivestitum (lachnocladium), semiorbicularis (naucoria), semitosta (peziza), semitosta (macropodia), separans (boletus), separans (lycoperdon), separata (anellaria), septentrionale (hydnum), serotinoides (pleurotus), serotinus (pleurotus), serotinus (hygrophorus), serifluus (lactarius), serrulata (leptonia), sericeum (stereum), setosa (mycena), siccus (marasmius), silvaticus (agaricus), silvicola (agaricus), sinuosus (craterellus), solidipes (panæolus), solitaria (amanita), sordidum (tricholoma), sordidus (hygrophorus), spadicea (psilocybe), spadiceum (stereum), spathularia (guepinia), spathularia (xylaria), speciosus (boletus), speciosus (hygrophorus), spectabilis (pholiota), sphagnophilus (hygrophorus), spinulosa (clavaria), spinulifera (collybia), spongiosipes (hydnum), spreta (amanita), spumosa (flammula), squalida (flammula), squamosus (polyporus), squarrosa (pholiota), squarrosoides (pholiota), squarrulosum (tricholoma), stannea (mycena), stercoraria (stropharia), stercoreus (cyathus), stevensoni (peziza), stipitaria (collybia), striata (calocera), striatus (cyathus), striatula (clitocybe), strangulata (amanitopsis), striæpes (boletus), stricta (clavaria), stricta (calocera), strigosus (panus), strobillaceus (strobilomyces), styptus (panus), stypticus (panus), strobiliformis (amanita), suaveolens (trametes), subdulcis (lactarius), subcostatum (entoloma), subditopoda (clitocybe), suberosus (piptoporus), subochracea-burtii (inocybe), subochracea (inocybe), subsericeus (polystictus), subincarnatum (lycoperdon), sublateritium (hypholoma), subluteus (boletus), subterraneum (catastoma), subrufescens (agaricus), subrufescens (hygrophorus), subtomentosus (boletus), subvilis (clitopilus), sullivantii (boletus), sulphurus (polyporus), sulphureum (tricholoma), tabescens (clitocybe), terginus (marasmius), temperata (volvaria), tenera (galera), var. pilosella (galera), tenerum (scleroderma), terreum (tricholoma), terriferum (tricholoma), torminosus (lactarius), torulosus (panus), tornata (clitocybe), transmutans (tricholoma), tremellosus (merulius), trivialis (lactarius), turmalis (cortinarius), triplex (geaster), tuberosa (collybia), tuberosa (peziza), tuberosa (sclerotinia), tulipifera (irpex), ulmarius (pleurotus), umbellatus (polyporus), umbellifera (omphalia), umbonata (volvaria), umbrinum (lycoperdon), umidicola (cortinarius), unicolor (pholiota), unicolor (dædalea), unifactum (tricholoma), urens (marasmius), uvidus (lactarius), vaginata (amanitopsis), variabilis (claudopus), variata (russula), varius (cortinarius), vellereus (lactarius), velutipes (collybia), velutipes (spathularia), velutipes (marasmius), velutinus (geaster), venosa (peziza), venosa (discina), versutus (crepidotus), versicolor (polystictus), versicolor (stereum), verrucosus (cyathus), vermicularis (clavaria), vermiculosus (boletus), verna (amanita), verrucosum (scleroderma), versipeles (boletus), vesca (russula), vesiculosa (peziza), vialis (lenzites), villaticus (agaricus), violaceus (cortinarius), virescens (russula), virgineus (hygrophorus), virosa (amanita), viscidus (gomphidius), vitrea (mycena), volemus (lactarius), volvacea (volvaria), volvatus (polyporus), vulgaris (mycena), vulgaris (polyporus), vulgare (crucibulum), vulgare (scleroderma), vulpinus (lentinus), wrightii (lycoperdon), zanthopus (didymius), zephira (mycena), zonata (collybia), zonatum (hydnum), transcriber's notes: images have been moved from original locations to correspond with their respective descriptions. accents are not always consistently used, especially in headings, illustrations and indexes. these were left as in the original. page myselium changed to: mycelium page veril arachnoid changed to: veil arachnoid page lotos-eaters unchanged: acceptable old spelling. page l. h[oe]matosperma changed to: l. hæmatosperma page tricholoma cartilaginea changed to: tricholoma cartilagineum page clitocybe metachora. fr. changed to clitocybe metachroa. fr. pages , , , , , , and . cinerous changed to: cinereous pages , , , and . companulate changed to: campanulate pages and . tenaceous changed to: tenacious page pileus is small, convex, expanded, obtuse, slightly viscid, striate, quite [blue?] when young, growing brownish with blue fibrils. missing word after quite may be 'blue'. added. page these plants have a wide distribution and [are?] found on branches, among moss and dead leaves. missing word 'are' added. page fagineus means belonging to beach. changed to: fagineus means belonging to beech. page the stem is short, hollow, pub scent, changed to: the stem is short, hollow, pubescent, page the stem is solid, blunt, pub scent, changed to: the stem is solid, blunt, pubescent, page minutely echmulate, changed to: minutely echinulate, page myselium changed to: mycelium page its dingy appearance, slender habit, more uniform and darker color of the pileus, and darker color of the lamellæ. sentence has no verb. it appears to be a comparison to the before mentioned f. spumosa. no change. page whitish, tinged with lilacs. changed to: whitish, tinged with lilac. page the plants in figure [ ?] were found in haynes' hollow and photographed by dr. kellerman. added figure number, assuming it to be the figure pertaining to this article. page long to - lines meaning unknown: may be / or / lines? unchanged. page polyporus berkelyi changed to polyporus berkeleyi page obsoletely zoned, purverulent changed to: obsoletely zoned, pulverulent page it is a small plant resembling, in minature, changed to: it is a small plant resembling, in miniature, page sessible, at first changed to: sessile, at first page asci are cylindrical; spores spindle-shaped, straight or bow-shaped, rough, - ; dimensions don't make sense. it may be x , as this is spindle-shaped. unchanged. page caulogossum/cauloglossum both spellings used; unchanged. page clavata (spathularia), changed to: clavata (spathularia), page referring to spathularia. several instances of porus, which i think mean porous, are unchanged as the use is consistent throughout. the suffixes 'ceus' and 'ceous' are used interchangably, sometimes within the same paragraph. sometimes numbers like - and - may mean \ and \ respectively. measurements are apparently taken from various sources and use several standards, like mm., mc., mm., cm., lines, inches and µ. sometimes the units of measurement are lacking and i assume they are µ for spore sizes. none are changed. [transcriber's note: italic text is rendered with underscores _like this_, and bold with equal signs =like this=] mushrooms of america, edible and poisonous. edited by julius a. palmer, jr. published by l. prang & co., boston. (copyright, . by l. prang & co.) general directions. these charts are prepared for popular use, rather than for students of botanical science; all technical terms are, therefore, as far as possible, avoided. the names "mushroom" and "toadstool" are indefinite, are both applied with equal reason to any fleshy fungus, and are here used as synonymes, like the corresponding term "plant" and "vegetable," or "shrub" and "bush," in common conversation. no general test can be given by which a poisonous mushroom may be distinguished from an edible mushroom. but each species of fungus has certain marks of identity, either in appearance, quality, or condition of growth, which are its own, and never radically varied; none can contain a _venomous_ element at one time, and yet be harmless under other conditions. like other food, animal or vegetable, however, mushrooms may, by decay or conditions of growth, be unfit for table use; yet in this state no _fatality_ would attend such use. therefore the identification of species is a safe guide, and is the only means of knowing what mushrooms should be eaten, and what varieties of fungus should be rejected. having once learned to distinguish any species of mushrooms as esculent, perfect security may be felt in the use of that species wherever and whenever found; but any specimen varying from the type in the slightest degree should be rejected by an amateur. there are about one thousand varieties of mushrooms (exclusive of small or microscopic fungi) native to the united states; many will therefore be found which are not represented on either of these plates. those here depicted are of three classes, namely, the lycoperdaceæ, or puff-ball fungi; the agaricini, or gill-bearing fungi; and the boleti, which last is one division of the polyporei, or pore-bearing fungi. the following definitions are here given, and will be found necessary:-- =_pileus._= the expanded disk or cap of the mushroom or toadstool. =_gills._= the thin plates set on their edges under the pileus, running to a common centre at the stem. =_tubes._= the spongy collection of pores which take the place of gills under the pileus of a boletus. =_veil._= a web or membrane which extends from the margin of the pileus to the stem when the mushroom is young, and thus encloses the gills. =_ring._= a part of the veil adherent to the stem, and forming a collar around it. =_volva._= the sheath or wrapper enclosing the young mushroom, when below or just above the ground; the remains of which are found in the ring, the veil, at the base of the stem, and in the warty or scurfy top of some varieties of mushrooms. =_spores._= the reproductive bodies, analogous to seeds in some other plants, found under the caps of the agaricini and boleti, and appearing like fine dust when the cap is left for a time lying under-side downward. * * * * * there are as many different flavors and tastes among esculent fungi as are found in any other varieties of diet, and the very general ignorance of this fact is a sufficient reason for the issue of this work. many persons claim to know a mushroom from a toadstool. this means that there is one variety out of a thousand of which they eat with safety, and it means nothing more. a person might as well select one fish from the sea, and avoid all other members of the finny tribe on the ground that there are poisonous fishes. it is strange that this general ignorance is most apparent in the case of the english-speaking people. the fungus eaters form a little clique in england, but the majority of her people know nothing of this gratuitous offering from nature's storehouse. no country is richer in mushroom food than america. were the poorer classes of russia, germany, italy, or france to see our forests during the autumn rains, they would feast on the rich food there going to waste. for this harvest is spontaneous; it requires no seed-time, and asks for no peasant's toil. at the same time, the economic value of mushroom diet ranks second to meat alone. with bread, and mushrooms properly gathered and prepared, a person may neglect the butcher during the summer months. this is self-evident to the unscientific mind by the simple facts that mushrooms make the same use of the air we breathe as is made by animals, that cooked they resemble no form of vegetable food, and that in decay their odor in some cases cannot be distinguished from that of putrid meat. to this feast, abundantly provided by nature for the poorest as well as the most epicurean, we invite the american people. in gathering mushrooms for food, cut the stem off about an inch below the cap, and place them in the basket or dish, gills upward. never twist or pull them, as the gills become thereby full of dirt, which is not easily removed. by placing them gills downward, they will shed their spores largely and thus lose flavor. the stem in cutting will often exhibit fine holes; this indicates that maggots have entered the mushroom. if the substance of the pileus continues firm and hard, the mushroom may be cooked and eaten by those not over-nice; but if perforated and soft, the consequent decomposition might induce nausea, and even serious sickness. mushrooms may be noxious as food in three ways:-- ( .) they may disagree with the system, by their toughness, indigestibility, or use in a state of decay. ( .) they may be slimy, acrid, or otherwise nauseous. ( .) they may contain a subtle poison without taste, smell, or other indication of its presence. most noxious fungi appertain to the first or second class above given, and taste or common-sense would readily reject them, unless they were cooked with other food or excessively spiced. for this reason plain cooking is advised, and further, no amateur should venture to mingle with good varieties others to him unknown. of the third class, there is one family, many of whose members contain a violent and deadly poison. this is known as the _amanita_ family; and although out of fourteen varieties, four are known to be edible, yet it is here advised to avoid all fungi as food which have these its distinguishing marks:-- ( .) a scurfy or warty top, the protuberances of which rub easily off, leaving the skin intact. in a number of specimens many will be found entirely smooth, while near them are others of the same variety where more or less of the specks remain. ( .) a ring; generally large and reflexed or falling downward. ( .) a volva; more or less enclosing the young plant, and remaining at the base of the older specimen, so that when the mushroom is pulled up a socket is left in the ground. these three marks should all exist in the typical plant of this family, and the experienced eye will see signs of their presence, even where they are wanting. but the _volva_ rarely or never decays during the life of the specimen, and to reject everything with this mark is recommended to all amateurs. so far as known, there are no cases of death by the use of mushrooms except from this one family. in all well-defined cases of fatal poisoning, the cause is just as well defined, namely, the use of the mushroom represented by plates ix. and x. in this sheet. therefore, when one has become perfectly acquainted with this family, and learned to always reject them, he has very little to fear in the choice of mushrooms for the table. the poisonous varieties of the amanita family are extremely common. the antidote for this poison is found in the skilful use of the alkaloids from the family of the solanaceæ or nightshades, especially in subcutaneous injections of atropine. but to the public generally, in cases of poisoning, no other advice can be given than to call a physician without delay. plate vi. represents several members of the russula family. having once learned to identify it without danger of error, this family is quite safe for use as food; for all the non-esculent russulas are hot or nauseous to the taste, while the edible ones are very nutty and pleasant. the student should, therefore, taste each specimen when preparing them for cooking. some authorities consider all boleti fit for table use, but there are those which are too bitter for food, and one such as the specimen numbered , plate xi., would spoil a whole stew. the tubes of this boletus (_felleus_) are light rose, although they appear to be white when fresh and young. a good rule for amateurs is to avoid all the lurid boleti; by this is meant all those that have the slightest shade of red to the tubes, although i have often eaten of such. the mild-colored members of this family, having white, yellow, or greenish tubes, if pleasant to the taste, may be considered safe eating. plate viii. represents some of the esculent puff-balls. there are some warty fungi growing on wood, which, in early growth, resemble puff-balls, whose qualities are not yet known. but all those varieties of clear white fungi, which appear in little balls on the open ground after rains, may be eaten with perfect safety, if fresh, white inside, and hard; if soft and yellowish, or black in the pulp, they should be avoided, as they are approaching decay. the most important advice to the student is to learn to recognize the amanita family, and to avoid them all; next, to define and recognize any mushroom he is using for food, so that he could pick a single specimen of the same out of a basketful of assorted fungi; and finally, never to pick mushrooms at random for food, unless he has tested by actual use each and all of the varieties so used. there is a large family of mushrooms resembling the russulas, which exude a milky juice if broken or cut. the amateur will do well to avoid all such, although they are esculent where the milk is mild to the taste. additional plates, displaying other varieties of esculent mushrooms, may possibly be issued in the future. julius a. palmer, jr. [illustration: plate i. agaricus campestris et arvensis, or mushroom proper. =description.= pileus. dry, silky or downy from the first; globular, margin united to the stem by the veil, then expanded, bell-shaped, at last even flat. color variable, from white to dark brown. cuticle easily separable in pasture variety. gills. at first pink, then purple, finally almost black, never white; of different lengths. stem. nearly solid, even in size, easily removed from the socket. volva. none; but veil present, at first enclosing gills, then making a ring, finally absent. spores. purple or purplish brown. taste and smell fragrant and agreeable. grows in open pastures, lanes or roadsides; never in forests. (b.) similar to above, but coarser, more brittle and of stronger flavor; turns rust of iron color when bruised; grows on banks, street-sweepings and in hot-houses. =to cook.= stew in milk or cream; prepare to serve with meat as described under plate ii., or broil as directed under plate iii. =to roast in the oven.= cut the larger specimens into fine pieces, and place them in a small dish, with salt, pepper and butter to taste; put in about two tablespoonfuls of water, then fill the dish with the half-open specimens and the buttons; cover tightly and place in the oven, which must not be overheated, for about twenty minutes. the juice of the larger mushrooms will keep them moist, and, if fresh, yield further a most abundant gravy. n. b. in gathering the pasture variety, cut them just below the cap (_don't pull them_); they can then be cooked without washing or peeling. the cultivated mushrooms are often so dirty as to require both washing and peeling.] [illustration: plate ii. coprinus comatus, or shaggy-maned mushroom. =description.= pileus. at first oval and hard; margin then separating from the stem; then equally cylindrical, margin turning black; finally expanded, and decaying by dissolution into inky fluid. color of pileus variable from brown to pure white, always woolly, shaggy, the cuticle coming off in layers like the scales of a fish. gills. at first white, crowded; possibly pink, then dark purple, or black, and moist. stem. thick at base, equal above ground, hollow, appearing like macaroni cooked. volva. none, but ring present, and movable in the full-grown specimen. spores. black. smell strong, especially at centre of pileus. taste. pleasant raw, but should not be eaten after it is moist and black. grows in rich lawns, roadsides, or newly filled city grounds, in groups or solitary. =to cook.= for about twenty mushrooms, put into a saucepan one gill of milk or cream, add salt and pepper to the taste, with a piece of butter the size of the larger specimens above; when it boils, put in the stems and small hard mushrooms; after ten minutes' boiling add the larger specimens; keep the dish covered and boiling for ten minutes longer, then pour the stew over dry toast, and serve. =to serve with meat.= chop the mushrooms fine, let them simmer ten minutes in one half gill of water, with butter, salt and pepper as for oyster sauce; thicken with flour or ground rice; pour over the meat and cover quickly. n. b. but very little fluid is needed in cooking this mushroom, as it yields a rich juice of its own. it should always be cleaned before cooking, by scraping it smooth and until it is perfectly white.] [illustration: plate iii. marasmius oreades, or fairy-ring champignon. =description.= pileus. leathery, tough, and of an equal cream color, pliable when moist; shrivelling, wrinkled, even brittle when dry, changing from the former to the latter with a dew or rain followed by a hot sun, and also _vice versa_. cuticle not separable. gills. broad, wide apart, of the same color as pileus, or a little paler. stem. solid, of equal circumference; tough, not breaking easily if bent or twisted. volva and ring, none. spores white. taste and smell musky, rather strong, but nutty and agreeable. grows in rings or groups in rich lawns or roadsides. =to cook.= for serving with meat or fish, cut the tops clear from the stems just below the gills. to a pint of mushrooms, if moist, add about a gill of water, pepper and salt to the taste, and a piece of butter half the size of an egg. simmer together over the fire ten or fifteen minutes, thicken with flour or ground rice, and pour over the cooked meat or fish. =to broil.= place the tops like oysters on a fine wire gridiron; as soon as they are hot, butter them lightly, and salt and pepper to the taste. put them back over the coals, and when they are heated through they are cooked. butter them, if required, and place in a hot dish. n. b. when the mushrooms are dried, swell them in water before cooking.] [illustration: plate iv. agaricus cretaceus, or chalk mushroom. =description.= pileus. pure white, dry at first, nearly globular, then bell-shaped, finally expanded and becoming darker, even smoky in color. in early growth very brittle, cuticle always peeling easily. gills. at first pure white, then pinkish, finally rusty; withered in color and texture; always turning pink or dark if exposed to dry heat. stem. hollow, bulbous at base in small specimens, then elongated and equal; leaves the socket easily, without breaking into the gills. volva. none; veil distinct and entire, enclosing the gills at first, then ruptured, forming the ring. spores. pale pink or rosy. taste, mild, agreeable, but insipid. odor, none. grows in lawns and richly cultivated grass plots; rarely or never in forests. =to cook.= this mushroom, while sweet and of firm body, has little or no flavor of its own. it may, therefore, be best to stew it as directed under plate i., with milk, or under plate iii., with water; in either case mixing some proportion of either or all of the three preceding kinds. in such case, it will completely absorb their flavor. for those who like spices it is very nice cooked as number three for meat or fish, adding to that receipt chopped parsley, an onion, or a clove of garlic, chopped fine, with a tablespoonful of worcestershire sauce. if served with any meat making an abundant gravy, cook as directed under the plate of edible russulas.] [illustration: plate v. agaricus procerus, or parasol mushroom. =description.= pileus. brown from first to last; thick skinned, very scaly and shaggy; at first egg-shaped, then swollen, finally expanded, a little point in the centre becoming prominent; always pliable and leathery. gills. pure white. stem. fibrous, hollow, equal in size, freckled, deeply sunk into the cap, from which it withdraws free from the gills, leaving a deep socket. volva. none; veil ragged, ring well defined and movable. spores. white. taste sweetish, not marked; odor slight. grows in open fields and lawns or margins of forests. =to cook.= stew in milk or cream as directed under plate ii., except that this mushroom is dry and firm, and more liquid may be used, for it will make little or no gravy of its own. it is not of suitable character to be stewed in water, but is very good broiled, requiring the liberal use of butter, or placed under meat as directed with the edible russulas.] [illustration: plate vi. edible russulas. , . russula heterophylla. . russula virescens. . russula lepida. . russula alutacea. =description.= pileus. many colored; white, drab, green, purple or bright red; cuticle very thin, peeling from the edge, adherent toward the centre; bell-shaped, at first compressing the gills, then expanded, until finally the centre of the cap becomes depressed or concave. gills. generally pure white, sometimes creamy or buff; nearly or quite equal in length, rigid, brittle, breaking into unequal segments if pressed. stem. stout, solid or stuffed; in substance the same as the flesh of the cap, often tapering quite abruptly to a point at the base. volva, ring, and veil all entirely absent at every age of the plant. spores. white. taste, excellent raw, like nuts; odor none. grows in woods, woody paths or clearings; often found gnawed by squirrels or other animals. =to cook.= remove the skin as far as it peels easily, and wash the centre of the cap clean; then place on a gridiron and let them heat through; butter plentifully, and salt and pepper to the taste, then place them in a hot dish in the oven, and after broiling a beefsteak or chicken put it thereon that the gravy may run out and be absorbed by the mushrooms. n. b. the noxious members of this family resemble the esculent so closely that, to the amateur, tasting each one as gathered is the only guide; the hurtful ones being always hot and acrid. equal gills, extreme brittleness, and dry, firm texture are characteristic of the whole russula family.] [illustration: plate vii. boleti. . boletus bovinus. . boletus edulis. . boletus scaber. . boletus sub-tomentosus. . boletus chrysenteron. . boletus strobilaceus. =description. no. .= boletus bovinus. pileus flat, smooth, viscid; the thin, transparent skin easily peeling. flesh white, unchangeable in color (stem same color as pileus). tubes whitish yellow, yellow or gray, shallow. very variable in size. no. . boletus edulis. pileus cushion-like, dry, brown-gray or drab, thick. flesh white, unchangeable. tubes white-yellow to green. stem very thick, often abortive in shape, bulbous at base, very pleasant to taste. no. . boletus scaber. pileus bell-shaped at first and hard, then broad, uneven, soft and flat, variable in color from dark-brown to reddish drab. stem rough, scabby, fibrous. flesh dirty white, often changing to black. tubes white, rusty, often iron-stained in color in spots. no. . boletus sub-tomentosus. pileus very variable in form, from bell to cushion shaped; also in color, from light-brown or olive to any shade of red. stem touched with red, smooth or with light lines, often twisted. flesh and tubes and stem changing to blue wherever bruised or cut. tubes yellow, shading at times toward green. tastes like walnuts. no. . boletus chrysenteron. very similar to no. , except that the pileus is often brick-red. the flesh is sulphur-yellow and scarcely changeable, and the stem with more red. no. . boletus strobilaceus. whole plant blackish, turning red when bruised or cut, broken into thick fir-cone segments or scales. tubes white or rusty, often enclosed by a veil. =to cook.= beat up a batter, or simply some fresh eggs, lay the mushrooms in the same, turning them so as to have the liquid adhere to them. then fry in hot boiling fat, or on a buttered griddle, according to your liking, with salt and pepper to the taste. broil, bake or serve under meat as in other recipes here given. of the above, nos. , and may be stewed, but the others, and, in fact, all boleti are so moist or viscous that they are much better cooked by dry heat. n. b. all the above, and many other varieties of esculent boleti, have tubes colored white, gray, green, or yellow; none are even slightly red.] [illustration: plate viii. lycoperdaceÆ, or puff-balls. . lycoperdon giganteum. giant puff-ball. . lycoperdon saccatum. little puff-ball. . lycoperdon gemmatum. pear-shaped puff-ball. there are many varieties corresponding in most points with some one of the three above named, some growing on stumps, but most of them appearing on sandy soils after heavy rains. none are poisonous. =to cook.= make a batter, properly seasoned as for frying egg-plant, or beat up eggs for the same purpose; cut the puff-balls into slices half an inch thick, and fry in boiling fat or on a buttered griddle. puff-balls are also very good stewed with the coprinus, or with the ordinary mushroom, as their porous substance absorbs the stronger flavor.] [illustration: plate ix. agaricus (amanita) vernus, or poisonous white mushroom. =description.= pileus. at first ovate or bulbous, enclosed in the volva, then expanded, always pure white, usually clammy or viscid to the touch; cuticle thin, separable. gills. pure white, unequal, free from the stem. stem. long, rough or woolly, stuffed or a little hollow toward the cap. volva. always present. ring marked at medium growth; often absent at maturity of the plant; and the same is true of the warts or scurf on the cap. n. b. this mushroom to many persons has no disagreeable taste or smell. it grows in and on the borders of woods, and when half open may easily be taken for those in plates i. or iv., if attention is not paid to the volva. it is deadly poison.] [illustration: plate x. poisonous mushrooms of the genus amanita. . agaricus (amanita) muscarius. , . agaricus (amanita) phalloides. . agaricus (amanita) mappa. =general description of above.= plant when just below the soil enclosed in a volva or wrapper, which as it matures remains ( ) at the base continuing to sheathe the stem; ( ) in the collar or ring; ( ) on the pileus in the form of easily separable scales or warts. generally free from disagreeable taste or smell, except at decay, when the variety illustrated by figures no. and no. is putrid and nauseous. gills pure white at every stage of growth. pileus very variable in color, from pure white to bright orange or red. all contain a deadly poison.] [illustration: plate xi. poisonous or suspicious boleti. . boletus felleus, bitter boletus. . boletus alveolatus, crimson boletus. , . boletus luridus, lurid boletus. figure above is very much like figures and , plate vii., of edible mushrooms, from which it is easily distinguished by its bitter taste and rosy tubes. figure is a distinctively american species, and the authority for suspecting it is found in the fact that all boleti which have red or red-mouthed tubes have been considered poisonous. although valuable for an illustration of the lurid boleti, this variety is probably edible. figure is easily confounded with figures and , plate vii., of edible mushrooms, if attention is not paid to the color of the tubes.] [illustration: plate xii. poisonous or false champignons. , . agaricus (naucoria) semi-orbicularis. , . agaricus (stropharia) semi-globatus. , . agaricus (naucoria) pediades. figure and figure above are of a small mushroom which grows in lawns and pastures, and is very easily mistaken for those on plate iii. of edible mushrooms; but, first, they have no point, but are strictly orbicular; second, the gills are always discolored in age or decay as in figure above; third, the texture is soft, and the mushroom does not dry hard by the sun and re-expand with moisture as a _marasmius_. figures and as also and illustrate species oftenest found in or on manure, and the above distinctions are equally true of these two varieties. the above are not known to be assuredly poisonous, but have none of the esculent qualities of the fairy-ring champignon. there are also other small fungi of soft texture and doubtful quality closely resembling these which grow in lawns and pastures, and the object of this plate is to teach the amateur to avoid all such. the suspicious varieties of marasmius do not grow with the edible species, but in woods.] note: project gutenberg also has an html version of this file which includes the original illustrations. see -h.htm or -h.zip: (http://www.gutenberg.net/dirs/ / / / / / -h/ -h.htm) or (http://www.gutenberg.net/dirs/ / / / / / -h.zip) transcriber's note: text enclosed between equal signs was in bold face in the original (=bold=). an em-dash or double hyphen (--) is used in this e-text to indicate ranges. in chemical formulas, a subscriped number is preceded by and underscore (h_ o). a detailed transcriber's note is at the end of the text. studies of american fungi, mushrooms, edible, poisonous, etc. by george francis atkinson professor of botany in cornell university, and botanist of the cornell university agricultural experiment station recipes for cooking mushrooms, by mrs. sarah tyson rorer chemistry and toxicology of mushrooms, by j. f. clark with illustrations from photographs by the author, and colored plates by f. r. rathbun second edition [illustration: plate . fig. .--amanita muscaria. fig. .--a. frostiana. copyright .] [illustration: printer's logo.] new york henry holt and company copyright, , , by geo. f. atkinson. introduction. since the issue of my "studies and illustrations of mushrooms," as bulletins and of the cornell university agricultural experiment station, there have been so many inquiries for them and for literature dealing with a larger number of species, it seemed desirable to publish in book form a selection from the number of illustrations of these plants which i have accumulated during the past six or seven years. the selection has been made of those species representing the more important genera, and also for the purpose of illustrating, as far as possible, all the genera of agarics found in the united states. this has been accomplished except in a few cases of the more unimportant ones. there have been added, also, illustrative genera and species of all the other orders of the higher fungi, in which are included many of the edible forms. the photographs have been made with great care after considerable experience in determining the best means for reproducing individual, specific, and generic characters, so important and difficult to preserve in these plants, and so impossible in many cases to accurately portray by former methods of illustration. one is often asked the question: "how do you tell the mushrooms from the toadstools?" this implies that mushrooms are edible and that toadstools are poisonous, and this belief is very widespread in the public mind. the fact is that many of the toadstools are edible, the common belief that all of them are poisonous being due to unfamiliarity with the plants or their characteristics. some apply the term mushroom to a single species, the one in cultivation, and which grows also in fields (_agaricus campestris_), and call all others toadstools. it is becoming customary with some students to apply the term mushroom to the entire group of higher fungi to which the mushroom belongs (_basidiomycetes_), and toadstool is regarded as a synonymous term, since there is, strictly speaking, no distinction between a mushroom and a toadstool. there are, then, edible and poisonous mushrooms, or edible and poisonous toadstools, as one chooses to employ the word. a more pertinent question to ask is how to distinguish the edible from the poisonous mushrooms. there is no single test or criterion, like the "silver spoon" test, or the criterion of a scaly cap, or the presence of a "poison cup" or "death cup," which will serve in all cases to distinguish the edible from the poisonous. two plants may possess identical characters in this respect, i. e., each may have the "death cup," and one is edible while the other is poisonous, as in _amanita cæsarea_, edible, and _a. phalloides_, poisonous. there are additional characters, however, in these two plants which show that the two differ, and we recognize them as two different species. to know several different kinds of edible mushrooms, which occur in greater or less quantity through the different seasons, would enable those interested in these plants to provide a palatable food at the expense only of the time required to collect them. to know several of the poisonous ones also is important, in order certainly to avoid them. the purpose of this book is to present the important characters which it is necessary to observe, in an interesting and intelligible way, to present life-size photographic reproductions accompanied with plain and accurate descriptions. by careful observation of the plant, and comparison with the illustrations and text, one will be able to add many species to the list of edible ones, where now perhaps is collected "only the one which is pink underneath." the chapters to should also be carefully read. the number of people in america who interest themselves in the collection of mushrooms for the table is small compared to those in some european countries. the number, however, is increasing, and if a little more attention were given to the observation of these plants and the discrimination of the more common kinds, many persons could add greatly to the variety of their foods and relishes with comparatively no cost. the quest for these plants in the fields and woods would also afford a most delightful and needed recreation to many, and there is no subject in nature more fascinating to engage one's interest and powers of observation. there are also many important problems for the student in this group of plants. many of our species and the names of the plants are still in great confusion, owing to the very careless way in which these plants have usually been preserved, and the meagerness of recorded observations on the characters of the fresh plants, or of the different stages of development. the study has also an important relation to agriculture and forestry, for there are numerous species which cause decay of valuable timber, or by causing "heart rot" entail immense losses through the annual decretion occurring in standing timber. if this book contributes to the general interest in these plants as objects of nature worthy of observation, if it succeeds in aiding those who are seeking information of the edible kinds, and stimulates some students to undertake the advancement of our knowledge of this group, it will serve the purpose the author had in mind in its preparation. i wish here to express my sincere thanks to mrs. sarah tyson rorer for her kindness in writing a chapter on recipes for cooking mushrooms, especially for this book; to professor i. p. roberts, director of the cornell university agricultural experiment station, for permission to use certain of the illustrations (figs. -- , -- , -- ) from bulletins and , studies and illustrations of mushrooms; to mr. f. r. rathbun, for the charts from which the colored plates were made; to mr. j. f. clark and mr. h. hasselbring, for the chapters on chemistry and toxicology of mushrooms, and characters of mushrooms, to which their names are appended, and also to dr. chas. peck, of albany, n. y., and dr. g. bresadola, of austria-hungary, to whom some of the specimens have been submitted. geo. f. atkinson, ithaca, n. y., october, . cornell university. second edition. in this edition have been added plates of mushrooms of which i did not have photographs when the first edition was printed. it was possible to accomplish this without changing the paging of any of the descriptive part, so that references to all of the plants in either edition will be the same. there are also added a chapter on the "uses of mushrooms," and an extended chapter on the "cultivation of mushrooms." this subject i have been giving some attention to for several years, and in view of the call for information since the appearance of the first edition, it seemed well to add this chapter, illustrated by several flashlight photographs. g. f. a. september, . table of contents. page chapter i. form and characters of the mushrooms, chapter ii. development of the mushroom, chapter iii. gill bearing fungi; agaricaceæ, chapter iv. the purple-brown-spored agarics, chapter v. the black-spored agarics, chapter vi. the white-spored agarics, chapter vii. the rosy-spored agarics, chapter viii. the ochre-spored agarics, chapter ix. the tube bearing fungi; polyporaceæ, chapter x. hedgehog fungi; hydnaceæ, chapter xi. coral fungi; clavariaceæ, chapter xii. the trembling fungi; tremellineæ, chapter xiii. thelephoraceæ, chapter xiv. puff-balls; lycoperdaceæ, chapter xv. stinkhorn fungi; phalloideæ, chapter xvi. morels, cup-fungi, helvellas, etc., discomycetes, chapter xvii. collection and preservation of the fleshy fungi, chapter xviii. selection and preparation of mushrooms for the table, chapter xix. uses of mushrooms, fungi in the arts, chapter xx. cultivation of mushrooms, the cave culture of mushrooms in america, the house culture of mushrooms, curing the manure, making up the beds, what spawn is, spawning the beds, chapter xxi. recipes for cooking mushrooms (mrs. sarah tyson rorer), chapter xxii. chemistry and toxicology of the fungi (j. f. clark), chapter xxiii. description of terms applied to certain structural characters of mushrooms (h. hasselbring), appendix. analytical keys (the author), glossary of technical terms (the author), index to genera and illustrations, index to species, corrections. page , th line, for [greek: _kornos_] read [greek: _kopros_]. page , lines and , for _gyromytra_ read gyromitra. chapter i. form and characters of the mushroom. =value of form and characters.=--the different kinds of mushrooms vary in form. some are quite strikingly different from others, so that no one would have difficulty in recognizing the difference in shape. for example, an umbrella-shaped mushroom like the one shown in fig. or is easily distinguished from a shelving one like that in fig. or . but in many cases different species vary only slightly in form, so that it becomes a more or less difficult matter to distinguish them. in those plants (for the mushroom is a plant) where the different kinds are nearly alike in form, there are other characters than mere general form which enable one to tell them apart. these, it is true, require close observation on our part, as well as some experience in judging of the value of such characters; the same habit of observation and discrimination we apply to everyday affairs and to all departments of knowledge. but so few people give their attention to the discrimination of these plants that few know the value of their characters, or can even recognize them. it is by a study of these especial characters of form peculiar to the mushrooms that one acquires the power of discrimination among the different kinds. for this reason one should become familiar with the parts of the mushroom, as well as those characters and markings peculiar to them which have been found to stamp them specifically. =parts of the mushroom.=--to serve as a means of comparison, the common pasture mushroom, or cultivated form (_agaricus campestris_), is first described. figure illustrates well the principal parts of the plant; the cap, the radiating plates or gills on the under side, the stem, and the collar or ring around its upper end. =the cap.=--the cap (technically the _pileus_) is the expanded part of the mushroom. it is quite thick, and fleshy in consistency, more or less rounded or convex on the upper side, and usually white in color. it is from -- cm. thick at the center and -- cm. in diameter. the surface is generally smooth, but sometimes it is torn up more or less into triangular scales. when these scales are prominent they are often of a dark color. this gives quite a different aspect to the plant, and has led to the enumeration of several varieties, or may be species, among forms accredited by some to the one species. =the gills.=--on the under side of the pileus are radiating plates, the gills, or _lamellæ_ (sing. _lamella_). these in shape resemble somewhat a knife blade. they are very thin and delicate. when young they are pink in color, but in age change to a dark purple brown, or nearly black color, due to the immense number of spores that are borne on their surfaces. the gills do not quite reach the stem, but are rounded at this end and so curve up to the cap. the triangular spaces between the longer ones are occupied by successively shorter gills, so that the combined surface of all the gills is very great. [illustration: figure. .--agaricus campestris. view of under side showing stem, annulus, gills, and margin of pileus. (natural size.)] =the stem or stipe.=--the stem in this plant, as in many other kinds, is attached to the pileus in the center. the purpose of the stem seems quite surely to be that of lifting the cap and the gills up above the ground, so that the spores can float in the currents of air and be readily scattered. the stem varies in length from -- cm. and is about -- - / cm. in diameter. it is cylindrical in form, and even, quite firm and compact, though sometimes there is a central core where the threads are looser. the stem is also white and fleshy, and is usually smooth. =the ring.=--there is usually present in the mature plant of _agaricus campestris_ a thin collar (_annulus_) or ring around the upper end of the stem. it is not a movable ring, but is joined to the stem. it is very delicate, easily rubbed off, or may be even washed off during rains. =parts present in other mushrooms--the volva.=--some other mushrooms, like the _deadly amanita_ (_amanita phalloides_) and other species of the genus _amanita_, have, in addition to the cap, gills, stem, and ring, a more or less well formed cup-like structure attached to the lower end of the stem, and from which the stem appears to spring. (figs. , , etc.) this is the _volva_, sometimes popularly called the "death cup," or "poison cup." this structure is a very important one to observe, though its presence by no means indicates in all cases that the plant is poisonous. it will be described more in detail in treating of the genus _amanita_, where the illustrations should also be consulted. [illustration: figure .--agaricus campestris. "buttons" just appearing through the sod. some spawn at the left lower corner. soil removed from the front. (natural size.)] =presence or absence of ring or volva.=--of the mushrooms which have stems there are four types with respect to the presence or absence of the ring and volva. in the first type both the ring and volva are absent, as in the common fairy ring mushroom, _marasmius oreades_; in the genus _lactarius_, _russula_, _tricholoma_, _clitocybe_, and others. in the second type the ring is present while the volva is absent, as in the common mushroom, _agaricus campestris_, and its close allies; in the genus _lepiota_, _armillaria_, and others. in the third type the volva is present, but the ring is absent, as in the genus _volvaria_, or _amanitopsis_. in the fourth type both the ring and volva are present, as in the genus _amanita_. =the stem is absent in some mushrooms.=--there are also quite a large number of mushrooms which lack a stem. these usually grow on stumps, logs, or tree trunks, etc., and one side of the cap is attached directly to the wood on which the fungus is growing. the pileus in such cases is lateral and shelving, that is, it stands out more or less like a shelf from the trunk or log, or in other cases is spread out flat on the surface of the wood. the shelving form is well shown in the beautiful _claudopus nidulans_, sometimes called _pleurotus nidulans_, and in other species of the genus _pleurotus_, _crepidotus_, etc. these plants will be described later, and no further description of the peculiarities in form of the mushrooms will be now attempted, since these will be best dealt with when discussing species fully under their appropriate genus. but the brief general description of form given above will be found useful merely as an introduction to the more detailed treatment. chapter xxi should also be studied. for those who wish the use of a glossary, one is appended at the close of the book, dealing only with the more technical terms employed here. [illustration: figure .--agaricus campestris. soil washed from the "spawn" and "buttons," showing the young "buttons" attached to the strands of mycelium. ( - / natural size.)] chapter ii. development of the mushroom. when the stems of the mushrooms are pulled or dug from the ground, white strands are often clinging to the lower end. these strands are often seen by removing some of the earth from the young plant, as shown in fig. . this is known among gardeners as "spawn." it is through the growth and increase of this spawn that gardeners propagate the cultivated mushroom. fine specimens of the spawn of the cultivated mushroom can be seen by digging up from a bed a group of very young plants, such a group as is shown in fig. . here the white strands are more numerous than can readily be found in the lawns and pastures where the plant grows in the feral state. [illustration: figure .--agaricus campestris. sections of "buttons" at different stages, showing formation of gills and veil covering them. (natural size.)] =nature of mushroom spawn.=--this spawn, it should be clearly understood, is not spawn in the sense in which that word is used in fish culture; though it may be employed so readily in propagation of mushrooms. the spawn is nothing more than the vegetative portion of the plant. it is made up of countless numbers of delicate, tiny, white, jointed threads, the _mycelium_. =mycelium of a mold.=--a good example of mycelium which is familiar to nearly every one occurs in the form of a white mold on bread or on vegetables. one of the molds, so common on bread, forms at first a white cottony mass of loosely interwoven threads. later the mold becomes black in color because of numerous small fruit cases containing dark spores. this last stage is the fruiting stage of the mold. the earlier stage is the growing, or vegetative, stage. the white mycelium threads grow in the bread and absorb food substances for the mold. [illustration: figure .--agaricus campestris. nearly mature plants, showing veil stretched across gill cavity. (natural size.)] =mushroom spawn is in the form of strands of mycelium.=--now in the mushrooms the threads of mycelium are usually interlaced into definite strands or cords, especially when the mycelium is well developed. in some species these strands become very long, and are dark brown in color. each thread of mycelium grows, or increases in length, at the end. each one of the threads grows independently, though all are intertwined in the strand. in this way the strand of mycelium increases in length. it even branches as it extends itself through the soil. =the button stage of the mushroom.=--the "spawn" stage, or strands of mycelium, is the vegetative or growing stage of the mushroom. these strands grow through the substance on which the fungus feeds. when the fruiting stage, or the mushroom, begins there appear small knobs or enlargements on these strands, and these are the beginnings of the button stage, as it is properly called. these knobs or young buttons are well shown in fig. . they begin by the threads of mycelium growing in great numbers out from the side of the cords. these enlarge and elongate and make their way toward the surface of the ground. they are at first very minute and grow from the size of a pinhead to that of a pea, and larger. now they begin to elongate somewhat and the end enlarges as shown in the larger button in the figure. here the two main parts of the mushroom are outlined, the stem and the cap. at this stage also the other parts of the mushroom begin to be outlined. the gills appear on the under side of this enlargement at the end of the button, next the stem. they form by the growth of fungus threads downward in radiating lines which correspond in position to the position of the gills. at the same time a veil is formed over the gills by threads which grow from the stem upward to the side of the button, and from the side of the button down toward the stem to meet them. this covers the gills up at an early period. [illustration: figure .--agaricus campestris. under view of two plants just after rupture of the veil, fragments of the latter clinging both to margin of the pileus and to stem. (natural size.)] =from the button stage to the mushroom.=--if we split several of the buttons of different sizes down through the middle, we shall be able to see the position of the gills covered by the veil during their formation. these stages are illustrated in fig. . as the cap grows in size the gills elongate, and the veil becomes broader. but when the plant is nearly grown the veil ceases to grow, and then the expanding cap pulls so strongly on it that it is torn. figure shows the veil in a stretched condition just before it is ruptured, and in fig. the veil has just been torn apart. the veil of the common mushroom is very delicate and fragile, as the illustration shows, and when it is ruptured it often breaks irregularly, sometimes portions of it clinging to the margin of the cap and portions clinging to the stem, or all of it may cling to the cap at times; but usually most of it remains clinging for a short while on the stem. here it forms the annulus or ring. [illustration: figure .--agaricus campestris. plant in natural position just after rupture of veil, showing tendency to double annulus on the stem. portions of the veil also dripping from margin of pileus. (natural size.)] =the color of the gills.=--the color of the gills of the common mushroom varies in different stages of development. when very young the gills are white. but very soon the gills become pink in color, and during the button stage if the veil is broken this pink color is usually present unless the button is very small. the pink color soon changes to dark brown after the veil becomes ruptured, and when the plants are quite old they are nearly black. this dark color of the gills is due to the dark color of the spores, which are formed in such great numbers on the surface of the gills. [illustration: figure .--agaricus campestris. section of gill showing _tr_==trama; _sh_==sub-hymenium; _b_==basidium, the basidia make up the hymenium; _st_==sterigma; _g_==spore. (magnified.)] =structure of a gill.=--in fig. is shown a portion of a section across one of the gills, and it is easy to see in what manner the spores are borne. the gill is made up, as the illustration shows, of mycelium threads. the center of the gill is called the _trama_. the trama in the case of this plant is made up of threads with rather long cells. toward the outside of the trama the cells branch into short cells, which make a thin layer. this forms the _sub-hymenium_. the sub-hymenium in turn gives rise to long club-shaped cells which stand parallel to each other at right angles to the surface of the gill. the entire surface of the gill is covered with these club-shaped cells called _basidia_ (sing. _basidium_). each of these club-shaped cells bears either two or four spinous processes called _sterígmata_ (sing. _sterígma_), and these in turn each bear a spore. all these points are well shown in fig. . the basidia together make up the _hymenium_. [illustration: figure .--polyporus borealis, showing wound at base of hemlock spruce caused by falling tree. bracket fruit form of polyporus borealis growing from wound. ( / natural size.)] =wood destroying fungi.=--many of the mushrooms, and their kind, grow on wood. a visit to the damp forest during the summer months, or during the autumn, will reveal large numbers of these plants growing on logs, stumps, from buried roots or rotten wood, on standing dead trunks, or even on living trees. in the latter case the mushroom usually grows from some knothole or wound in the tree (fig. ). many of the forms which appear on the trunks of dead or living trees are plants of tough or woody consistency. they are known as shelving or bracket fungi, or popularly as "fungoids" or "fungos." both these latter words are very unfortunate and inappropriate. many of these shelving or bracket fungi are perennial and live from year to year. they may therefore be found during the winter as well as in the summer. the writer has found specimens over eighty years old. the shelves or brackets are the fruit bodies, and consist of the pileus with the fruiting surface below. the fruiting surface is either in the form of gills like _agaricus_, or it is honey-combed, or spinous, or entirely smooth. [illustration: figure .--polyporus borealis. strands of mycelium extending radially in the wood of the same living hemlock spruce shown in fig. . (natural size.)] =mycelium of the wood destroying fungi.=--while the fruit bodies are on the outside of the trunk, the mycelium, or vegetative part of the fungus, is within the wood or bark. by stripping off the bark from decaying logs where these fungi are growing, the mycelium is often found in great abundance. by tearing open the rotting wood it can be traced all through the decaying parts. in fact, the mycelium is largely if not wholly responsible for the rapid disintegration of the wood. in living trees the mycelium of certain bracket fungi enters through a wound and grows into the heart wood. now the heart wood is dead and cannot long resist the entrance and destructive action of the mycelium. the mycelium spreads through the heart of the tree, causing it to rot (fig. ). when it has spread over a large feeding area it can then grow out through a wound or old knothole and form the bracket fruit body, in case the knothole or wound has not completely healed over so as to imprison the fungus mycelium. [illustration: plate , figure .--mycelium of agaricus melleus on large door in passage coal mine, wilkesbarre, pa. ( / natural size.)] =fungi in abandoned coal mines.=--mushrooms and bracket fungi grow in great profusion on the wood props or doors in abandoned coal mines, cement mines, etc. there is here an abundance of moisture, and the temperature conditions are more equable the year around. the conditions of environment then are very favorable for the rapid growth of these plants. they develop in midwinter as well as in summer. =mycelium of coal mine fungi.=--the mycelium of the mushrooms and bracket fungi grows in wonderful profusion in these abandoned coal mines. so far down in the moist earth the air in the tunnels or passages where the coal or rock has been removed is at all times nearly saturated with moisture. this abundance of moisture, with the favorable temperature, permits the mycelium to grow on the surface of the wood structures as readily as within the wood. in the forest, while the air is damp at times, it soon dries out to such a degree that the mycelium can not exist to any great extent on the outer surface of the trunks and stumps, for it needs a great percentage of moisture for growth. the moisture, however, is abundant within the stumps or tree trunks, and the mycelium develops abundantly there. so one can understand how it is that deep down in these abandoned mines the mycelium grows profusely on the surface of doors and wood props. figure is from a flashlight photograph, taken by the writer, of a beautiful growth on the surface of one of the doors in an abandoned coal mine at wilkesbarre, pa., during september, . the specimen covered an area eight by ten feet on the surface of the door. the illustration shows very well the habit of growth of the mycelium. at the right is the advancing zone of growth, marked by several fan-shaped areas. at the extreme edge of growth the mycelium presents a delicate fringe of the growing ends where the threads are interlaced uniformly over the entire area. but a little distance back from the edge, where the mycelium is older, the threads are growing in a different way. they are now uniting into definite strands. still further back and covering the larger part of the sheet of mycelium lying on the surface of the door, are numerous long, delicate tassels hanging downward. these were formed by the attempt on the part of the mycelium at numerous places to develop strands at right angles to the surface of the door. there being nothing to support them in their attempted aerial flight, they dangle downward in exquisite fashion. the mycelium in this condition is very soft and perishable. it disappears almost at touch. on the posts or wood props used to support the rock roof above, the mycelium grows in great profusion also, often covering them with a thick white mantle, or draping them with a fabric of elegant texture. from the upper ends of the props it spreads out over the rock roof above for several feet in circumference, and beautiful white pendulous tassels remind one of stalactites. [illustration: figure .--agaricus campestris. spore print. (natural size.)] =direction in growth of mushrooms.=--the direction of growth which these fungi take forms an interesting question for study. the common mushroom, the _agaricus_, the amanitas, and other central stemmed species grow usually in an upright fashion; that is, the stem is erect. the cap then, when it expands, stands so that it is parallel with the surface of the earth. where the cap does not fully expand, as in the campanulate forms, the pileus is still oriented horizontally, that is, with the gills downward. even in such species, where the stems are ascending, the upper end of the stem curves so that the cap occupies the usual position with reference to the surface of the earth. this is beautifully shown in the case of those plants which grow on the side of trunks or stumps, where the stems could not well grow directly upward without hugging close to the side of the trunk, and then there would not be room for the expansion of the cap. this is well shown in a number of species of _mycena_. in those species where the stem is sub-central, i. e., set toward one side of the pileus, or where it is definitely lateral, the pileus is also expanded in a horizontal direction. from these lateral stemmed species there is an easy transition to the stemless forms which are sessile, that is, the shelving forms where the pileus is itself attached to the trunk, or other object of support on which it grows. where there is such uniformity in the position of a member or part of a plant under a variety of conditions, it is an indication that there is some underlying cause, and also, what is more important, that this position serves some useful purpose in the life and well being of the plant. we may cut the stem of a mushroom, say of the _agaricus campestris_, close to the cap, and place the latter, gills downward, on a piece of white paper. it should now be covered securely with a small bell jar, or other vessel, so that no currents of air can get underneath. in the course of a few hours myriads of the brown spores will have fallen from the surface of the gills, where they are borne. they will pile up in long lines along on either side of all the gills and so give us an impression, or spore print, of the arrangement of the gills on the under side of the cap as shown in fig. . a white spore print from the smooth lepiota (_l. naucina_) is shown in fig. . this horizontal position of the cap then favors the falling of the spores, so that currents of air can scatter them and aid in the distribution of the fungus. [illustration: figure .--lepiota naucina. spore print. (natural size.)] but some may enquire how we know that there is any design in the horizontal position of the cap, and that there is some cause which brings about this uniformity of position with such entire harmony among such dissimilar forms. when a mushroom with a comparatively long stem, not quite fully matured or expanded, is pulled and laid on its side, or held in a horizontal position for a time, the upper part of the stem where growth is still taking place will curve upward so that the pileus is again brought more or less in a horizontal position. [illustration: figure .--amanita phalloides. plant turned to one side by directive force of gravity, after having been placed in a horizontal position. (natural size.)] in collecting these plants they are often placed on their side in the collecting basket, or on a table when in the study. in a few hours the younger, long stemmed ones have turned upward again. the plant shown in fig. (_amanita phalloides_) was placed on its side in a basket for about an hour. at the end of the hour it had not turned. it was then stood upright in a glass, and in the course of a few hours had turned nearly at right angles. the stimulus it received while lying in a horizontal position for only an hour was sufficient to produce the change in direction of growth even after the upright position had been restored. this is often the case. some of the more sensitive of the slender species are disturbed if they lie for only ten or fifteen minutes on the side. it is necessary, therefore, when collecting, if one wishes to keep the plants in the natural position for photographing, to support them in an upright position when they are being carried home from the woods. the cause of this turning of the stem from the horizontal position, so that the pileus will be brought parallel with the surface of the earth, is the stimulus from the force of gravity, which has been well demonstrated in the case of the higher plants. that is, the force which causes the stems of the higher plants to grow upward also regulates the position of the cap of the pileated fungi. the reason for this is to be seen in the perfection with which the spores are shed from the surfaces of the gills by falling downward and out from the crevices between. the same is true with the shelving fungi on trees, etc., where the spores readily fall out from the pores of the honey-combed surface or from between the teeth of those sorts with a spiny under surface. if the caps were so arranged that the fruiting surface came to be on the upper side, the larger number of the spores would lodge in the crevices between the extensions of the fruiting surface. singularly, this position of the fruiting surface does occur in the case of one genus with a few small species. interesting examples of the operation of this law are sometimes met with in abandoned coal mines, or more frequently in the woods. in abandoned mines the mushrooms sometimes grow from the mycelium which spreads out on the rock roof overhead. the rock roof prevents the plant from growing upright, and in growing laterally the weight of the plant together with the slight hold it can obtain on the solid rock causes it to hang downward. the end of the stem then curves upward so that the pileus is brought in a horizontal position. i have seen this in the case of _coprinus micaceus_ several times. [illustration: figure .--polyporus applanatus. from this view the larger cap is in the normal position in which it grew on the standing tree. turn one fourth way round to the right for position of the plant after the tree fell. ( / natural size.)] in the woods, especially in the case of the perennial shelving fungi, interesting cases are met with. figure illustrates one of these peculiar forms of _polyporus (fomes) applanatus_. this is the species so often collected as a "curio," and on account of its very white under surface is much used for etching various figures. in the figure the larger cap which is horizontal represents the position of the plant when on the standing maple trunk. when the tree fell the shelf was brought into a perpendicular position. the fungus continued to grow, but its substance being hard and woody it cannot turn as the mushroom can. instead, it now grows in such a way as to form several new caps, all horizontal, i. e., parallel with the surface of the earth, but perpendicular to the old shelf. if the page is turned one-fourth way round the figure will be brought in the position of the plant when it was growing on the fallen log. [illustration: plate , figure .--dædalea ambigua. upper right-hand shows normal plant in normal position when on tree. upper left-hand shows abnormal plant with the large cap in normal position when growing on standing tree. lower plant shows same plant in position after the tree fell, with new caps growing out in horizontal direction. (lower plant / natural size.)] another very interesting case is shown in the ambiguous trametes (_trametes ambigua_), a white shelving fungus which occurs in the southern states. it is shown in fig. . at the upper right hand is shown the normal plant in the normal position. at the upper left hand is shown an abnormal one with the large and first formed cap also in the normal position as it grew when the tree was standing. when the tree fell the shelf was on the upper side of the log. now numerous new caps grew out from the edge as shown in the lower figure, forming a series of steps, as it were, up one side and down the other. chapter iii. gill bearing fungi: agaricaceae.[a] the gill bearing fungi are known under the family _agaricaceæ_, or popularly the agarics. they are distinguished by the fruiting area being distributed over the surface of plate-like or knife-like extensions or folds, usually from the under surface of the cap. these are known as the gills, or lamellæ, and they usually radiate from a common point, as from or near the stem, when the stem is present; or from the point of attachment of the pileus when the stem is absent. the plants vary widely in form and consistency, some being very soft and soon decaying, others turning into an inky fluid, others being tough and leathery, and some more or less woody or corky. the spores when seen in mass possess certain colors, white, rosy, brown or purple brown, black or ochraceous. while a more natural division of the agarics can be made on the basis of structure and consistency, the treatment here followed is based on the color of the spores, the method in vogue with the older botanists. while this method is more artificial, it is believed to be better for the beginner, especially for a popular treatment. the sections will be treated in the following order: . the purple-brown-spored agarics. . the black-spored agarics. . the white-spored agarics. . the rosy-spored agarics. . the ochre-spored agarics. footnotes: [a] for analytical keys to the families and genera see chapter xxiv. chapter iv. the purple-brown-spored agarics.[b] the members of this subdivision are recognized at maturity by the purple-brown, dark brown or nearly black spores when seen in mass. as they ripen on the surface of the gills the large number give the characteristic color to the lamellæ. even on the gills the purple tinge of the brown spores can often be seen. the color is more satisfactorily obtained when the spores are caught in mass by placing the cap, gills downward, on white paper. agaricus linn. (psalliota fr.) in the genus _agaricus_ the spores at maturity are either purple-brown in mass or blackish with a purple tinge. the annulus is present on the stem, though disappearing soon in some species, and the stem is easily separated from the substance of the pileus. the gills are free from the stem, or only slightly adnexed. the genus is closely related to _stropharia_ and the species of the two genera are by some united under one genus (_psalliota_, hennings). peck, th report, n. y. state mus., p. -- , describes species. lloyd mycol. notes, no. , describes species. c. o. smith, rhodora, i: -- , , describes species. =agaricus (psalliota) campestris= linn. =edible.=--this plant has been quite fully described in the treatment of the parts of the mushroom, and a recapitulation will be sufficient here. it grows in lawns, pastures, by roadsides, and even in gardens and cultivated fields. a few specimens begin to appear in july, it is more plentiful in august, and abundantly so in september and october. it is -- cm. high ( -- inches), the cap is -- cm. broad, and the stem -- mm. in thickness. the =pileus= is first rounded, then convex and more or less expanded. the surface at first is nearly smooth, presenting a soft, silky appearance from numerous loose fibrils. the surface is sometimes more or less torn into triangular scales, especially as the plants become old. the color is usually white, but varies more or less to light brown, especially in the scaly forms, where the scales may be quite prominent and dark brown in color. sometimes the color is brownish before the scales appear. the flesh is white. the =gills= in the young button stage are white. they soon become pink in color and after the cap is expanded they quickly become purple brown, dark brown, and nearly black from the large number of spores on their surfaces. the gills are free from the stem and rounded behind (near the stem). the =stem= is white, nearly cylindrical, or it tapers a little toward the lower end. the flesh is solid, though the central core is less firm. the =veil= is thin, white, silky, and very frail. it is stretched as the cap expands and finally torn so that it clings either as an annulus around the stem, or fragments cling around the margin of the cap. since the =annulus= is so frail it shrivels as the plant ages and becomes quite inconspicuous or disappears entirely (see figs. -- ). [illustration: figure .--agaricus rodmani. entirely white, showing double veil or ring. (natural size.) copyright.] variations in the surface characters of the cap and stem have led some to recognize several varieties. this is known as the common mushroom and is more widely known and collected for food than any other. it is also cultivated in mushroom houses, cellars, caves, abandoned mines, etc. =agaricus (psalliota) rodmani= pk. =edible.=--rodman's mushroom, _agaricus rodmani_, grows in grassy places along streets of cities, either between the curbing and the walk, or between the curbing and the pavement. it is entirely white or whitish and sometimes tinged with yellowish at the center of the pileus. the plants are -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad and the stem -- cm. in thickness. [illustration: figure .--agaricus arvensis, fairy ring.] the =pileus= is rounded, and then convex, very firm, compact and thick, with white flesh. the =gills= are crowded, first white, then pink, and in age blackish brown. the =stem= is very short, solid, nearly cylindrical, not bulbous. the =annulus= is quite characteristic, being very thick, with a short limb, and double, so that it often appears as two distinct rings on the middle or lower part of the stem as shown in fig. . this form of the annulus is probably due to the fact that the thick part of the margin of the pileus during the young stage rests between the lower and upper part of the annulus, i. e., the thick veil is attached both to the inner and outer surface of the margin of the cap, and when it is freed by the expansion of the pileus it remains as a double ring. it is eagerly sought and much relished by several persons at ithaca familiar with its edible qualities. the plant closely resembles a. campestris var., edulis, vittad. (see plate , bresadola, i funghi mangerecci e velenosi, ) and is probably the same. [illustration: figure .--agaricus silvicola. white to cream color, or yellow stains. (natural size.) copyright.] =agaricus (psalliota) arvensis= schaeff. =edible.=--the field mushroom, or horse mushroom, _agaricus arvensis_, grows in fields or pastures, sometimes under trees and in borders of woods. one form is often white, or yellowish white, and often shows the yellow color when dried. the plant sometimes occurs in the form of a fairy ring as shown in fig. . it is -- cm. high, the cap from -- cm. broad and the stem -- mm. in thickness. the =pileus= is smooth, quite thick and firm, convex to expanded. the =gills= are first white, then tinged with pink and finally blackish brown. the =stem= is stout, nearly cylindrical, hollow, bulbous. the veil is double like that of _agaricus placomyces_, the upper or inner layer remaining as a membrane, while the lower or outer layer is split radially and remains in large patches on the lower surface of the upper membrane. [illustration: figure .--agaricus silvicola, showing radiately torn lower part of veil. (natural size.) copyright.] =agaricus (psalliota) silvicola= vittad. =edible.=--the _agaricus silvicola_ grows in woods, groves, etc., on the ground, and has been found also in a newly made garden in the vicinity of trees near the woods. it is an attractive plant because of its graceful habit and the delicate shades of yellow and white. it ranges from -- cm. high, the cap is -- cm. broad and the stem -- mm. in thickness. the =pileus= becomes convex, and expanded or nearly flat, and often with an elevation or umbo in the center. it is thin, smooth, whitish and often tinged more or less deeply with yellow (sulfur or ochraceous) and is sometimes tinged with pink in the center. the flesh is whitish or tinged with pink. the =gills= when very young are whitish, then pink, and finally dark brown or blackish brown, much crowded, and distant from the stem. the =stem= is long, nearly cylindrical, whitish, abruptly enlarged below into a bulb. it is often yellowish below, and especially in drying becomes stained with yellow. the =ring= is thin, membranaceous, delicate, sometimes with broad, soft, floccose patches on the under side. the ring usually appears single, but sometimes the =veil= is seen to be double, and the outer or lower portion tends to split radially as in _a. arvensis_ or _a. placomyces_. this is well shown in large specimens, and especially as the veil is stretched over the gills as shown in fig. . from the form of the plant as well as the peculiarities of the veil in the larger specimens, it is related to _a. arvensis_ and _a. placomyces_, more closely to the former. it occurs during mid-summer and early autumn. figure is from plants (no. c. u. herbarium) collected in open woods at ithaca. [illustration: figure . figure . plate .--agaricus placomyces. figure .--upper view of cap, side view of stem. figure .--under view of plant showing radiately torn under side of the double veil. ( / natural size.) copyright.] [illustration: plate , figure .--agaricus placomyces. three different views, see text for explanations. dark scales on cap. (natural size.) copyright.] =agaricus (psalliota) subrufescens= pk. =edible.=--the _agaricus subrufescens_ was described by dr. peck from specimens collected on a compost heap composed chiefly of leaves, at glen cove, long island. it occurs sometimes in greenhouses. in one case reported by peck it appeared in soil prepared for forcing cucumbers in a greenhouse in washington, d. c. according to the description the =pileus= becomes convex or broadly expanded, is covered with silky hairs and numerous minute scales. the color is whitish, grayish or dull reddish brown, the center being usually smooth and darker, while the flesh is white. the =gills= change from white to pinkish and blackish brown in age. the =stem= is long, nearly cylindrical or somewhat enlarged or bulbous at the base, first stuffed, then hollow, white. the =annulus= is thick, and the under side marked by loose threads or scales. this plant is said to differ from the common mushroom (_a. campestris_) in the more deeply hemispherical cap of the young plant, the hollow and somewhat bulbous stem, and in the scales on the under side of the annulus. in fresh plants the flesh has also a flavor of almonds. it is closely related to =a. silvaticus= schaeff., p. , t. , icones fung. bav. etc., , if not identical with it. _a. silvaticus_ has light ochraceous or subrufescent scales on the cap, a strong odor, and occurs in gardens as well as in the woods. =agaricus (psalliota) fabaceus= berk., was described in hooker's london journal of botany, = =: , , from specimens collected in ohio. the plant is white and is said to have a strong but not unpleasant odor. _agaricus amygdalinus_ curt., from north carolina, and of which no description was published, was so named on account of the almond-like flavor of the plant. dr. farlow suggests (proc. bost. soc. nat. hist. = =: -- , ) that _a. fabaceus_, _amygdalinus_, and _subrufescens_ are identical. =agaricus (psalliota) placomyces= pk. =edible.=--the flat-cap mushroom, _agaricus placomyces_ pk., occurs in borders of woods or under trees from june to september. according to peck it occurs in borders of hemlock woods, or under hemlock trees. at ithaca it is not always associated with hemlock trees. the largest specimens found here were in the border of mixed woods where hemlock was a constituent. it has been found near and under white pine trees in lawns, around the norway spruce and under the norway spruce. the plants are from -- cm. high, the cap from -- cm. in diameter, and the stem -- mm. in thickness. the =pileus= when young is broadly ovate, then becomes convex or fully expanded and flat in age, and is quite thin. the ground color is whitish, often with a yellowish tinge, while the surface is ornamented with numerous minute brownish scales which are scattered over a large part of the cap, but crowded or conjoined at the center into a large circular patch. this gives to the plant with its shapely form a beautiful appearance. in the young stage the entire surface of the pileus is quite evenly brown. as it expands the outer brown portion is torn asunder into numerous scales because the surface threads composing this brown layer cease to grow. these scales are farther apart toward the margin of the cap, because this portion of the cap always expands more than the center, in all mushrooms. the =gills= are at first white, or very soon pink in color, and in age are blackish brown. spores -- × -- µ. the =stem= is nearly cylindrical, hollow or stuffed, white or whitish, smooth, bulbous, and the bulb is sometimes tinged with yellow. the =veil= is very handsome, and the way in which the annulus is formed from it is very interesting. the veil is quite broad, and it is double, that is, it consists of two layers which are loosely joined by threads. in the young stage the veil lies between the gills and the lower two-thirds of the stem. as the pileus expands the lower (outer part) layer of the veil is torn, often in quite regular radiating portions, as shown in fig. . an interesting condition of the veil is shown in the middle plant in fig. . here the outer or lower layer of the veil did not split radially, but remained as a tube surrounding the stem, while the two layers were separated, the inner one being still stretched over the gills. it is customary to speak of the lower part of the veil as the outer part when the cap is expanded and the veil is still stretched across over the gills, while the upper portion is spoken of as the inner layer or part. it is closely related to _a. arvensis_, and may represent a wood inhabiting variety of that species. =agaricus (psalliota) comtulus= fr.--this pretty little agaric seems to be rather rare. it was found sparingly on several occasions in open woods under pines at ithaca, n. y., during october, . lloyd reports it from ohio (mycolog. notes, no. , nov. ), and smith from vermont (rhodora i, ). fries' description (epicrisis, no. ) runs as follows: "pileus slightly fleshy, convex, plane, obtuse, nearly smooth, with appressed silky hairs, stem hollow, sub-attenuate, smooth, white to yellowish, annulus fugacious; gills free, crowded, broad in front, from flesh to rose color. in damp grassy places. stem inches by lines, at first floccose stuffed. pileus -- - / inch diameter. color from white to yellowish." [illustration: figure .--agaricus comtulus (natural size, sometimes larger). cap creamy white with egg-yellow stains, smoky when older. stem same color; gills grayish, then rose, then purple brown. copyright.] the plants collected at ithaca are illustrated in fig. from a photograph of plants (no. c. u. herbarium). my notes on these specimens run as follows: plant -- cm. high, pileus . -- cm. broad, stem -- mm. in thickness. =pileus= convex to expanded, fleshy, thin on the margin, margin at first incurved, creamy white with egg yellow stains, darker on the center, in age somewhat darker to umber or fuliginous, moist when fresh, surface soon dry, flesh tinged with yellow. the =gills= are white when young, then grayish to pale rose, and finally light purple brown, rounded in front, tapering behind (next the stem) and rounded, free from the stem, -- mm. broad. =basidia= clavate, -- × -- µ. =spores= small, oval, -- × -- µ, in mass light purple brown. the =stem= tapers above, is sub-bulbous below, yellowish and stained with darker yellowish threads below the annulus, hollow, fibrous, fleshy. the =veil= whitish stained with yellow, delicate, rupturing irregularly, portions of it clinging to margin of the pileus and portions forming a delicate ring. when parts of the plant come in contact with white paper a blue stain is apt to be imparted to the paper, resembling the reaction of iodine on starch. this peculiarity has been observed also in the case of another species of _agaricus_. the species is regarded with suspicion by some. i collected the plant also at blowing rock, n. c., in september, . the caps of these specimens measure cm. in diameter. =agaricus diminutivus= pk., is a closely related species. it is distinguished chiefly by its somewhat larger size, and purplish to reddish brown hairs on the surface of the pileus, and by the somewhat larger spores, which, however, are small. i have found it at ithaca, the surface of the pileus hairy, with beautiful, triangular, soft, appressed, purplish scales. hypholoma fr. in the genus _hypholoma_ the spores are purple brown, the gills attached to the stem, and the veil when ruptured clings to the margin of the cap instead of to the stem, so that a ring is not formed, or only rarely in some specimens. the stem is said to be continuous with the substance of the cap, that is, it is not easily separated from it. the genus is closely related to _agaricus (psalliota)_ and _stropharia_, from both of which it differs in the veil not forming a ring, but clinging to the margin of the cap. it further differs from _agaricus_ in the stem being continuous with the substance of the cap, while _stropharia_ seems to differ in this respect in different species. the plants grow both on the ground and on wood. there are several species which are edible and are very common. peck gives a synopsis of six species in the th report new york state mus., page , , and morgan describes species in jour. cinn. soc. nat. hist. = =: -- . =hypholoma sublateritium= schaeff. =edible=, _bitter sometimes_. the name of this species is derived from the color of the cap, which is nearly a brick red color, sometimes tawny. the margin is lighter in color. the plants grow usually in large clusters on old stumps or frequently appearing on the ground from buried portions of stumps or from roots. there are from six to ten, or twenty or more plants in a single cluster. a single plant is from -- cm. high, the cap is -- cm. broad, and the stem -- mm. in thickness. the =pileus= is convex to expanded, smooth, or sometimes with loose threads from the veil, especially when young, even, dry. the flesh is firm, whitish, and in age becoming somewhat yellowish. the =gills= are adnate, sometimes decurrent by a little tooth, rather crowded, narrow, whitish, then dull yellow, and becoming dark from the spores, purplish to olivaceous. the =stem= usually tapers downward, is firm, stuffed, smooth, or with remnants of the veil giving it a floccose scaly appearance, usually ascending because of the crowded growth. the =veil= is thin and only manifested in the young stage of the plant as a loose weft of threads. as the cap expands the veil is torn and adheres to the margin, but soon disappears. [illustration: plate , figure .--hypholoma sublateritium. cap brick-red or tawny. (natural size, often larger.) copyright.] [illustration: plate , figure .--hypholoma appendiculatum (natural size, often larger). white floccose scales on cap (var. coroniferum) and appendiculate veil; caps whitish or brown, tawny, or tinge of ochre. gills white, then purple-brown. copyright.] the flesh of this plant is said by european writers to be bitter to the taste, and it is regarded there as poisonous. this character seems to be the only distinguishing one between the _hypholoma sublateritium_ schaeff., of europe, and the _hypholoma perplexum_ pk., of this country which is edible, and probably is identical with _h. sublateritium_. if the plant in hand agrees with this description in other respects, and is not bitter, there should be no danger in its use. according to bresadola, the bitter taste is not pronounced in _h. sublateritium_. the taste probably varies as it does in other plants. for example, in _pholiota præcox_, an edible species, i detected a decided bitter taste in plants collected in june, . four other persons were requested to taste the plants. two of them pronounced them bitter, while two did not detect the bitter taste. there is a variety of _hypholoma sublateritium_, with delicate floccose scales in concentric rows near the margin of the cap, called _var. squamosum_ cooke. this is the plant illustrated in fig. , from specimens collected on rotting wood in the cascadilla woods, ithaca, n. y. it occurs from spring to autumn. _hypholoma epixanthum_ fr., is near the former species, but has a yellow pileus, and the light yellow gills become gray, not purple. =hypholoma appendiculatum= bull. =edible.=--this species is common during late spring and in the summer. it grows on old stumps and logs, and often on the ground, especially where there are dead roots. it is scattered or clustered, but large tufts are not formed as in _h. sublateritium_. the plants are -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem -- mm. in thickness. the =pileus= is ovate, convex to expanded, and often the margin elevated, and then the cap appears depressed. it is fleshy, thin, whitish or brown, tawny, or with a tinge of ochre, and becoming pale in age and when dry. as the plant becomes old the pileus often cracks in various ways, sometimes splitting radially into several lobes, and then in other cases cracking into irregular areas, showing the white flesh underneath. the surface of the pileus when young is sometimes sprinkled with whitish particles giving it a mealy appearance. the =gills= are attached to the stem, crowded, becoming more or less free by breaking away from the stem, especially in old plants. they are white, then flesh colored, brownish with a slight purple tinge. the =stem= is white, smooth, or with numerous small white particles at the apex, becoming hollow. the =veil= is very delicate, white, and only seen in quite young plants when they are fresh. it clings to the margin of the cap for a short period, and then soon disappears. [illustration: figure .--hypholoma appendiculatum (natural size), showing appendiculate veil. copyright.] sometimes the pileus is covered with numerous white, delicate floccose scales, which give it a beautiful appearance, as in fig. , from specimens (no. c. u. herbarium), collected on the campus of cornell university among grass. the entire plant is very brittle, and easily broken. it is tender and excellent for food. i often eat the caps raw. =hypholoma candolleanum= fr., occurs in woods on the ground, or on very rotten wood. it is not so fragile as _h. appendiculatum_ and the gills are dark violaceous, not flesh color as they are in _h. appendiculatum_ when they begin to turn, and nearly free from the stem. =hypholoma lacrymabundum= fr.--this plant was found during september and october in wet grassy places in a shallow ditch by the roadside, and in borders of woods, ithaca, n. y., . the plants are scattered or clustered, several often joined at the base of the stem. they are -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem -- mm. in thickness. [illustration: figure .--hypholoma lacrymabundum (natural size). cap and stem tawny or light yellowish, with intermediate shades or shades of umber, surface with soft floccose scales. copyright.] the =pileus= is convex to expanded, sometimes broadly umbonate in age, and usually with radiating wrinkles extending irregularly. on the surface are silky or tomentose threads not much elevated from the surface, and as the plant ages these are drawn into triangular scales which are easily washed apart by the rains. the color is tawny or light yellowish with intermediate shades, darker on the umbo and becoming darker in age, sometimes umber colored, and stained with black, especially after rains where the spores are washed on the pileus. the flesh is tinged with light yellow, or tawny, or brown, soft, and easily broken. the =gills= are sinuate, adnate, somewhat ventricose, very rarely in abnormal specimens anastomosing near the margin of the pileus, at first light yellowish, then shading to umber and spotted with black and rusty brown as the spores mature, easily breaking away from the stipe, whitish on the edge. drops of moisture sometimes are formed on the gills. =basidia= abruptly clavate, -- × -- µ. =cystidia= hyaline, thin walled, projecting above the hymenium µ, and -- µ broad. spores black, purple tinged, broadly elliptical and somewhat curved, -- × -- µ. the =stem= is fleshy to fibrous, the same color as the pileus, floccose scaly more or less up to the veil, smooth or white pruinose above the veil, straight or curved, somewhat striate below. the =veil= in young plants is hairy, of the same texture as the surface of the pileus, torn and mostly clinging to the margin of the pileus, and disappearing with age. the general habit and different stages of development as well as some of the characters of the plant are shown in fig. (no. cornell university herbarium). the edible qualities of this plant have not been tested. =hypholoma rugocephalum= atkinson.--this interesting species grows in damp places in woods. the plants are tufted or occur singly. they are -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem -- mm. in thickness. the =pileus= is convex to expanded, and the margin at last revolute (upturned). the surface is marked by strong wrinkles (rugæ), which radiate irregularly from the center toward the margin. the pileus is broadly umbonate, fleshy at the center and thinner toward the margin, the flesh tinged with yellow, the surface slightly viscid, but not markedly so even when moist, smooth, not hairy or scaly, the thin margin extending little beyond ends of the gills. the color is tawny (near fulvus). the =gills= are adnate, slightly sinuate, -- mm. broad, in age easily breaking away from the stem and then rounded at this end, spotted with the black spores, lighter on the edge. the =spores= are black in mass (with a suggestion of a purple tinge), oval to broadly elliptical, inequilateral, pointed at each end, echinulate, or minutely tuberculate, -- × -- µ. the =basidia= are short, cylindrical; =cystidia= cylindrical, somewhat enlarged at the free end, hyaline, delicate, thin-walled, in groups of two to six or more (perhaps this is partly responsible for the black spotted condition of the gills). the =stem= is cylindrical, even, somewhat bulbous, of the same color as the pileus, but lighter above the annulus, irregular, smooth, fleshy, hollow, continuous with the substance of the pileus. the =annulus= is formed of a few threads, remnants of the veil, which are stained black by the spores. figure is from plants (no. c. u. herbarium) collected near ithaca, july , . [illustration: plate , figure .--hypholoma rugocephalum ( / natural size). cap tawny, gills purple black, spotted. copyright.] stropharia fr. the genus _stropharia_ has purple-brown spores, the gills are attached to the stem, and the veil forms a ring on the stem. [illustration: figure .--stropharia semiglobata (natural size). cap and stem light yellow, viscid, gills brownish purple. copyright.] =stropharia semiglobata= batsch.--this species is rather common and widely distributed, occurring in grassy places recently manured, or on dung. the plants are scattered or clustered, rarely two or three joined at the base. they are -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stems -- mm. in thickness. the entire plant is light yellow, and viscid when moist, the gills becoming purplish brown, or nearly black. stevenson says it is regarded as poisonous. the =pileus= is rounded, then hemispherical (semi-globate), smooth, fleshy at the center, thinner toward the margin, even, very viscid or viscous when moist, light yellow. the =gills= are squarely set against the stem (adnate), broad, smooth, in age purplish brown to blackish, the color more or less clouded. the =spores= in mass, are brownish purple. the =stem= is slender, cylindrical, becoming hollow, straight, even or bulbous below, yellowish, but paler at the apex where there are often parallel striæ, marks from the gills in the young stage. the stem is often viscid and smeared with the glutinous substance which envelopes the plant when young, and from the more or less glutinous veil. the =ring= is glutinous when moist. figure is from plants (no. c. u. herbarium) collected on one of the streets of ithaca. =stropharia stercoraria= fr., is a closely related plant, about the same size, but the pileus, first hemispherical, then becoming expanded and sometimes striate on the margin, while the stem is stuffed. the gills are said to be of one color and the ring floccose, viscose, and evanescent in drying. it occurs on dung, or in grassy places recently manured. =stropharia æruginosa= curt., the greenish _stropharia_, is from -- cm. high, and the pileus -- cm. broad. the ground color is yellowish, but the plant is covered with a greenish slime which tends to disappear with age. it is found in woods and open places during late summer and in autumn. according to stevenson it is poisonous. footnotes: [b] for analytical key to the genera see chapter xxiv. chapter v. the black-spored agarics. the spores are black in mass, not purple tinged. for analytical keys to the genera see chapter xxiv. coprinus pers. the species of _coprinus_ are readily recognised from the black spores in addition to the fact that the gills, at maturity, dissolve into a black or inky fluid. the larger species especially form in this way an abundance of the black fluid, so that it drops from the pileus and blackens the grass, etc., underneath the plant. in some of the smaller species the gills do not wholly deliquesce, but the cap splits on top along the line of the longer gills, this split passing down through the gill, dividing it into two thin laminæ, which, however, remain united at the lower edge. this gives a fluted appearance to the margin of the pileus, which is very thin and membranaceous. [illustration: figure .--coprinus comatus, "shaggy-mane," in lawn.] the plants vary in size, from tiny ones to those which are several inches high and more than an inch broad. their habitat (that is, the place where they grow) is peculiar. a number of the species grow on dung or recently manured ground. from this peculiarity the genus received the name _coprinus_ from the greek word [greek: kopros], meaning dung. some of the species, however, grow on decaying logs, on the ground, on leaves, etc. =coprinus comatus= fr. =edible.=--one of the finest species in this genus is the shaggy-mane, or horse-tail mushroom, as it is popularly called. it occurs in lawns and other grassy places, especially in richly manured ground. the plants sometimes occur singly, or a few together, but often quite large numbers of them appear in a small area. they occur most abundantly during quite wet weather, or after heavy rains, in late spring or during the autumn, and also in the summer. from the rapid growth of many of the mushrooms we are apt to be taken by surprise to see them all up some day, when the day before there were none. the shaggy-mane often furnishes a surprise of this kind. in our lawns we are accustomed to a pretty bit of greensward with clumps of shrubbery, and here and there the overhanging branches of some shade tree. on some fine morning when we find a whole flock of these shaggy-manes, which have sprung up during the night, we can imagine that some such kind of a surprise must have come to browning when he wrote these words: "by the rose flesh mushroom undivulged last evening. nay, in to-day's first dew yon sudden coral nipple bulged, where a freaked, fawn colored, flaky crew of toadstools peep indulged." [illustration: figure .--coprinus comatus. "buttons," some in section showing gill slits and hollow stem; colors white and black. (natural size.)] the plant is called shaggy-mane because of the very shaggy appearance of the cap, due to the surface being torn up into long locks. the illustrations of the shaggy mane shown here represent the different stages of development, and the account here given is largely taken from the account written by me in bulletin of the cornell university agr. exp. station. [illustration: figure .--coprinus comatus (natural size).] in fig. are shown two buttons of the size when they are just ready to break through the soil. they appear mottled with dark and white, for the outer layer of fungus threads, which are dark brown, is torn and separated into patches or scales, showing between the delicate meshes of white threads which lie beneath. the upper part of the button is already forming the cap, and the slight constriction about midway shows the lower boundary or margin of the pileus where it is still connected with the undeveloped stem. at the right of each of these buttons in the figure is shown a section of a plant of the same age. here the parts of the plant, though still undeveloped, are quite well marked out. just underneath the pileus layer are the gills. in the section one gill is exposed to view on either side. in the section of the larger button the free edge of the gill is still closely applied to the stem, while in the small one the gills are separated a short distance from the stems showing "gill slits." here, too, the connection of the margin of the pileus with the stem is still shown, and forms the veil. this kind of a veil is a marginal veil. [illustration: figure .--coprinus comatus (natural size). this one entirely white, none of the scales black tipped.] the stem is hollow even at this young stage, and a slender cord of mycelium extends down the center of the tube thus formed, as is shown in the sections. the plants are nearly all white when full grown. the brown scales, so close together on the buttons, are widely separated except at the top or center of the pileus, where they remain close together and form a broad cap. a study of the different stages, which appear from the button stage to the mature plant, reveals the cause of this change in color and the wide separation of the dark brown scales. the threads of the outer layer of the pileus, and especially those in the brown patches seen on the buttons, soon cease to grow, though they are firmly entangled with the inner layers. now the threads underneath and all through the plant, in the gills and in the upper part of the stem, grow and elongate rapidly. this pulls on the outer layer, tearing it in the first place into small patches, and causing them later to be more widely separated on the mature plant. some of these scales remain quite large, while others are torn up into quite small tufts. [illustration: figure .--coprinus comatus, sections of the plants in fig. (natural size).] as the plant ages, the next inner layers of the pileus grow less rapidly, so that the white layer beneath the brown is torn up into an intricate tangle of locks and tufts, or is frazzled into a delicate pile which exists here and there between well formed tufts. while all present the same general characters there is considerable individual variation, as one can see by comparing a number of different plants. figure shows one of the interesting conditions. there is little of the brown color, and the outer portion of the pileus is torn into long locks, quite evenly distributed and curled up at the ends in an interesting fashion which merits well the term "shaggy." in others the threads are looped up quite regularly into triangular tresses which appear to be knotted at the ends where the tangle of brown threads holds them together. [illustration: figure .--coprinus comatus, early stages of deliquescence; the ring is lying on the sod (natural size).] there is one curious feature about the expansion of the pileus of the shaggy-mane which could not escape our attention. the pileus has become very long while comparatively little lateral expansion has taken place. the pileus has remained cylindrical or barrel-shaped, while in the case of the common mushroom the pileus expands into the form of an umbrella. [illustration: figure .--coprinus comatus, later stage of deliquescence, pileus becoming more expanded (natural size).] the cylindrical or barrel-shaped pileus is characteristic of the shaggy-mane mushroom. as the pileus elongates the stem does also, but more rapidly. this tears apart the connection of the margin of the pileus with the base of the stem, as is plainly shown in fig. . in breaking away, the connecting portion or veil is freed both from the stem and from the margin of the pileus, and is left as a free, or loose, ring around the stem. in the shaggy-mane the veil does not form a thin, expanded curtain. it is really an annular outer layer of the button lying between the margin of the cap and the base of the stem. it becomes free from the stem. as the stem elongates more rapidly than the cap, the latter is lifted up away from the base of the stem. sometimes the free ring is left as a collar around the base of the stem, still loosely adherent to the superficial layer of the same, or it remains for a time more or less adherent to the margin of the pileus as shown in the plant at the left hand in fig. . it is often lifted higher up on the stem before it becomes free from the cap, and is then left dangling somewhere on the stem, or it may break and fall down on the sod. in other instances it may remain quite firmly adherent to the margin of the pileus so that it breaks apart as the pileus in age expands somewhat. in such cases one often searches for some time to discover it clinging as a sterile margin of the cap. it is interesting to observe a section of the plants at this stage. these sections can be made by splitting the pileus and stem lengthwise through the middle line with a sharp knife, as shown in fig. . here, in the plant at the right hand, the "cord" of mycelium is plainly seen running through the hollow stem. the gills form a large portion of the plant, for they are very broad and lie closely packed side by side. they are nowhere attached to the stem, but at the upper end round off to the cap, leaving a well defined space between their ends and the stem. the cap, while it is rather thick at the center, i. e., where it joins the stem, becomes comparatively thin where it spreads out over the gills. at this age of the plant the gills are of a rich salmon color, i. e., before the spores are ripe, and the taste when raw is a pleasant nutty flavor, reminding one of the meat of fresh green hickory nuts. in a somewhat earlier stage the edges of all the gills are closely applied to the stem which they surround. so closely are they applied to the stem in most cases that threads of mycelium pass from the stem to the edge of the gills. as the cap expands slightly in ageing, these threads are torn asunder and the stem is covered with a very delicate down or with flocculent particles which easily disappear on handling or by the washing of the rains. the edges of the gills are also left in a frazzled condition, as one can see by examining them with a good hand lens. the spores now begin to ripen and as they become black the color of the gills changes. at the same time the gills and the cap begin to dissolve into an inky fluid, first becoming dark and then melting into a black liquid. as this accumulates it forms into drops which dangle from the cap until they fall away. this change takes place on the margin of the cap first, and advances toward the center, and the contrast of color, as the blackening invades the rich salmon, is very striking. the cap now begins to expand outward more, so that it becomes somewhat umbrella shaped. the extreme outer surface does not dissolve so freely, and the thin remnant curls upward and becomes enrolled on the upper side as the cap with wasted gills becomes nearly flat. =coprinus atramentarius= (bull.) fr. =edible.=--the ink-cap (_coprinus atramentarius_) occurs under much the same conditions as the shaggy-mane, and is sometimes found accompanying it. it is usually more common and more abundant. it springs up in old or newly made lawns which have been richly manured, or it occurs in other grassy places. sometimes the plants are scattered, sometimes two or three in a cluster, but usually large clusters are formed where ten to twenty or more are crowded closely together (fig. ). the stems are shorter than those of the shaggy-mane and the cap is different in shape and color. the cap is egg-shaped or oval. it varies in color from a silvery grey, in some forms, to a dark ashen grey, or smoky brown color in others. sometimes the cap is entirely smooth, as i have seen it in some of the silvery grey forms, where the delicate fibres coursing down in lines on the outer surface cast a beautiful silvery sheen in the light. other forms present numerous small scales on the top or center of the cap which are formed by the cleavage of the outer surface here into large numbers of pointed tufts. in others, the delicate tufts cover more or less the entire surface, giving the plant a coarsely granular aspect. this is perhaps the more common appearance, at least so far as my observation goes. but not infrequently one finds forms which have the entire outer surface of the cap torn into quite a large number of coarse scales, and these are often more prominent over the upper portion. fine lines or striations mark also the entire surface of all the forms, especially toward the margin, where the scales are not so prominent. the marginal half of the cap is also frequently furrowed more or less irregularly, and this forms a crenate or uneven edge. [illustration: plate , figure . coprinus comatus, drops of inky fluid about to fall from wasted pileus (natural size).] [illustration: plate , figure .--coprinus atramentarius, nearly smooth form, gray color (natural size).] [illustration: figure .--coprinus atramentarius, scaly form (natural size).] the annulus or ring on the stem of the ink-cap is very different from that of the shaggy-mane. it forms an irregularly zigzag elevated line of threads which extend around the stem near the base. it is well shown in fig. as a border line between the lower scaly end of the stem and the smooth white upper part. it is formed at the time of the separation of the margin of the cap from the stem, the connecting fibres being pulled outward and left to mark the line of junction, while others below give the scaly appearance. it is easily effaced by rough handling or by the washing of the rains. a section of a plant is illustrated by a photograph in fig. . on either side of the stem is shown the layer of fibres which form the annulus, and this layer is of a different texture from that of the stem. the stem is hollow as seen here also. in this figure one can see the change in color of the gills just at the time when they begin to deliquesce. this deliquescence proceeds much in the same way as in the shaggy-mane, and sometimes the thin remnant of the cap expands and the margin is enrolled over the top. [illustration: figure .--coprinus atramentarius, showing annulus as border line between scaly and smooth part of the stem (natural size).] =coprinus micaceus= (bull.) fr. =edible.=--the glistening coprinus received its name because of the very delicate scales which often cover the surface of the cap, and glisten in the light like particles of mica. this plant is very common during the spring and early summer, though it does appear during the autumn. it occurs about the bases of stumps or trees or in grassy or denuded places, from dead roots, etc., buried in the soil. it occurs in dense tufts of ten to thirty or more individuals; sometimes as many as several hundred spring up from the roots of a dead tree or stump along the streets or in lawns, forming large masses. more rarely it occurs on logs in the woods, and sometimes the plants are scattered in lawns. from the different habits of the plant it is sometimes difficult to determine, especially where the individuals are more or less scattered. however, the color, and the markings on the cap, especially the presence of the small shining scales when not effaced, characterize the plant so that little difficulty is experienced in determining it when one has once carefully noted these peculiarities. [illustration: figure .--coprinus atramentarius, section of one of the plants in fig. (natural size).] figure is from a group of three young individuals photographed just as the margin of the pileus is breaking away from the lower part of the stem, showing the delicate fibrous ring which is formed in the same way as in _coprinus atramentarius_. the ring is much more delicate and is rarely seen except in very young specimens which are carefully collected and which have not been washed by rains. the mature plants are -- cm. high ( -- inches), and the cap varies from -- cm. in diameter. the stem is quite slender and the cap and gills quite thin as compared with the shaggy-mane and ink-cap. the gills are not nearly so crowded as they are in the two other species. the cap is tan color, or light buff, or yellowish brown. except near the center it is marked with quite prominent striations which radiate to the margin. these striations are minute furrows or depressed lines, and form one of the characters of the species, being much more prominent than on the cap of the ink-cap. [illustration: figure .--coprinus micaceus, young stage showing annulus, on the cap the "mica" particles (natural size).] [illustration: figure .--coprinus micaceus, plants natural size, from floor of coal mine at wilkesbarre. caps tan color. copyright.] in wet weather this coprinus melts down into an inky fluid also, but in quite dry weather it remains more or less firm, and sometimes it does not deliquesce at all, but dries with all parts well preserved, though much shrunken of course, as is the case with all the very fleshy fungi. [illustration: plate , figure .--panæolus retirugis, group of plants from lawn along street, showing veil in young plants at the left, which breaks into v-shaped loops and clings to margin of the cap. cap dark smoky color at first, becoming grayish in age (natural size). copyright.] panaeolus fr. in _panæolus_, the pileus is somewhat fleshy, or thin, the margin even, that is, not striate. the margin extends beyond the gills, and the gills are not uniform in color, being clouded or spotted with black and brown colors, the edge of the gills often white in contrast. the spores are black. the stem is usually smooth, sometimes floccose scaly, often long, firm, generally hollow. the veil is of interwoven threads, sometimes quite compact, especially when the plants are young. peck, rd report n. y. state mus., p. et seq., gives a synopsis of five species. [illustration: figure .--panæolus retirugis, section of caps showing form and position of gills (natural size).] =panæolus retirugis= fr.--the color of this plant is not attractive, but it is one of the most beautiful species i have studied, if one regards form and the general features in its development. it is said to occur on dung. i have found it in lawns or grassy places, especially freshly made lawns or greenswards which have been heavily manured. the illustrations in figs. -- were made from photographs of plants which grew in a newly made boulevard along buffalo street, ithaca, n. y. (no. c. u. herbarium). the plants are from -- cm. high, the cap from -- cm. in diameter, and the stem is -- mm. in thickness. the size of the plants varies greatly according to the environment, being larger in moist soil and wet weather and smaller in dry soil and dry weather. it occurs in late spring and during the summer. [illustration: figure .--panæolus retirugis, showing rugose character of cap in left-hand plant (natural size). copyright.] the =pileus= is oval to ovate and conic, and in some cases it becomes more or less expanded, but never, so far as i have observed, does it become depressed or even plane. in wet weather it is usually at first dark smoky in color, viscid, becoming grayish in age, and as the pileus dries it becomes shining. in lighter colored forms the pileus is at first light leather color to cream color. toward the center of the pileus are irregular wrinkles or shallow pits, the wrinkles anastomosing more or less, and it is because of this character of the surface of the pileus that the plant receives its specific name. during dry weather there is a tendency for the pileus to crack, separating the dark color of the surface into patches showing the white flesh beneath. the pileus is often umbonate or gibbous, and the center is often darker than the margin. the pileus in rare cases is entirely white. the =gills= are adnate, broad in the middle, and in the more expanded forms as the gills separate more and more from the stem there is a tendency for them to become somewhat triangular. the =spores= are black in mass, are elliptical or short fusiform, and measure from -- × -- µ. the =stem= is cylindrical, sometimes tortuous, smoky gray, light reddish brown, or paler, sometimes entirely white, the lighter forms of the stem accompanying the light forms of the pileus; cartilaginous in texture, becoming hollow, always darker below and paler above, smooth, granulate with minute darker points, bulbous. the =veil= is very prominent and stout when the plant is young, and extends from the margin of the pileus to the stem when the plant is very young and the stem has not elongated. as the stipe elongates the veil separates from the stipe as a ring, and then, as the pileus expands, it is broken quite regularly into short segments which become arranged regularly around the margin of the pileus in the form of the letter v, which gives a beautiful appearance to this stage of the plant. it is only when the plants are fresh and moist that this condition of the veil can be seen, for on drying the veil collapses. water is sometimes caught under the veil before the pileus separates far from the stem, and the spores falling thus float against the stem at this point and make a dark ring around the stem, which, however, should not be mistaken for the annulus. in no case was the veil observed to cling to the stem, and many plants have been observed to see if this variation might present itself. [illustration: figure .--panæolus retirugis, showing cracked surface of cap in the left-hand plant, also in same plant the ring mark of black spores which lodged before veil ruptured, in other plants showing well the v-shaped loops of veil on margin of cap (natural size). copyright.] this peculiarity of the veil in clinging to the margin of the pileus has led hennings to place the plant in karsten's genus (engler and prantl, pflanzenfamilien) _chalymotta_, as _chalymotta retirugis_. the plants have several times been eaten raw by me, and while they have a nutty flavor and odor, the taste is not entirely agreeable in this condition, because of the accompanying slimy sensation. a number of smaller species, among them =p. fimicola= fr., and =p. papilionaceus= fr., occur in similar places. =panæolus solidipes= pk., is a large species with a long, solid stem, growing on dung. =psilocybe foenisecii=, abundant in lawns and grassy places during late spring and summer, resembles a panæolus. the cap shows zones of light and dark color, due to different amounts of water, which disappear as the plant matures. it belongs to the purple-brown-spored agarics. psathyrella fr. the pileus is thin, membranaceous, striate, the margin not extending beyond the edge of the gills, and when young the margin of the pileus lies straight against the stem. the gills are black to fuliginous, of a uniform color, i. e., not spotted as in _panæolus_ and _anellaria_. the spores are black. the plants are all fragile. only one species is mentioned here. in appearance the species are like _psathyra_ of the purple-brown-spored agarics, but much thinner. peck describes three species in the d report n. y. state mus., p. et seq. only one species is described here. [illustration: figure .--psathyrella disseminata (natural size), caps whitish, grayish, or grayish-brown. copyright.] =psathyrella disseminata= pers.--this is a very common and widely distributed species, appearing from late spring until late autumn. it sometimes appears in greenhouses throughout the year. the plants are -- cm. high, and the caps -- mm. broad. the plants are crowded in large tufts, often growing on decaying wood, but also on the ground, especially about much decayed stumps, but also in lawns and similar places, where buried roots, etc., are decaying. they resemble small specimens of a _coprinus_. the =pileus= is whitish or gray, or grayish brown, very thin, oval, then bell-shaped, minutely scaly, becoming smooth, prominently silicate or plicate, plaited. the =gills= are adnate, broad, white, gray, then black. the =spores= are black, oblong, × µ. the =stem= is very slender, becoming hollow, often curved. the entire plant is very fragile, and in age becomes so soft as to suggest a _coprinus_ in addition to the general appearance. figure is from plants collected on decaying logs at ithaca. gomphidius fr. the genus _gomphidius_ has a slimy or glutinous universal veil enveloping the entire plant when young, and for a time is stretched over the gills as the pileus is expanding. the gills are somewhat mucilaginous in consistency, are distant and decurrent on the stem. the gills are easily removed from the under surface of the pileus in some species by peeling off in strips, showing the imprint of the gills beneath the projecting portions of the pileus, which extended part way between the laminæ of the gills. the spores in some species are blackish, and for this reason the genus has been placed by many with the black-spored agarics, while its true relationship is probably with the genus _hygrophorus_ or _paxillus_. =gomphidius nigricans= pk.--the description given by peck for this plant in the th report, p. , , reads as follows: "pileus convex, or nearly plane, pale, brownish red, covered with a tough gluten, which becomes black in drying, flesh firm, whitish; lamellæ distant, decurrent, some of them forked, white, becoming smoky brown, black in the dried plant; stem subequal, longer than the diameter of the pileus, glutinous, solid, at first whitish, especially at the top, soon blackish by the drying of the gluten, whitish within, slightly tinged with red toward the base; spores oblong fusoid, -- µ long, -- µ broad. pileus -- inches broad; stem . -- . inches long, -- lines thick." "this species is easily known by the blackening gluten which smears both pileus and stem, and even forms a veil by which the lamellæ in the young plant are concealed. in the dried state the whole plant is black." "under pine trees, westport, september." [illustration: figure .--gomphidius nigricans. side and under view showing forked gills, and reticulate collapsed patches of dark slime on stem. cap flesh color, gills dark gray; entire plant black when dried (natural size). copyright.] what appears to be the same plant was collected by me at blowing rock, n. c., under a pine tree, in september, (no. c. u. herbarium). the notes taken on the fresh plant are as follows: very viscid, with a thick, tough viscid cuticle, cortina or veil viscid, and collapsing on the stem, forming coarse, walnut-brown or dark vinaceous reticulations, terminating abruptly near the gills, or reaching them. the =stem= is white underneath the slimy veil covering, tough, fibrous, continuous, and not separable from the hymenophore, tapering below. the =pileus= is convex, the very thin margin somewhat incurved, disk expanded, uneven, near the center cracked into numerous small viscid brownish areoles; pileus flesh color, flesh same color except toward the gills. gills dark drab gray, arcuate, distant, decurrent, many of them forked, separating easily from the hymenophore, peeling off in broad sheets, and leaving behind corresponding elevations of the hymenophore which extended between the laminæ of the lamellæ. pileus cm. in diameter; stem -- cm. long by cm. diameter. in drying, the entire plant as well as the gluten becomes black, on the pileus a shining black. the =spores= are rusty to dark brown, or nearly black, fusoid or oblong, and measure -- × -- µ. [illustration: figure .--gomphidius nigricans. under view with portion of gills stripped off from hymenophore, showing forked character of gills (natural size). copyright.] in fig. a side and under view of the plant are given, and in fig. a view after a portion of the lamellæ have been peeled off, showing how nicely the separation takes place, as well as showing the forked character of the lamellæ and the processes of the pileus, which extend between the laminæ of the lamellæ. this plant seems to be very near _gomphidius glutinosus_ (schaeff.), fr., if not identical with it, though the illustrations cited in schaeffer and in krombholz seem to indicate a stouter plant. the descriptions say nothing as to the appearance of the dried plant. chapter vi. the white-spored agarics. the spores are white in mass, or sometimes with a faint yellowish or lilac tinge. for analytical keys to the genera see chapter xxiv. amanita pers. the genus _amanita_ has both a volva and a veil; the spores are white, and the stem is easily separable from the cap. in the young stage the volva forms a universal veil, that is, a layer of fungus tissue which entirely envelops the young plant. in the button stage, where this envelope runs over the cap, it is more or less free from it, that is, it is not "concrete" with the surface of the pileus. as the pileus expands and the stem elongates, the volva is ruptured in different ways according to the species. in some the volva splits at the apex and is left as a "cup" at the base of the stem. in others it splits circularly, that is, transversely across the middle, the lower half forming a shallow cup with a very narrow rim, or in other cases it is closely fitted against the stem, while the upper half remains on the cap and is broken up into patches or warts. in still other cases the volva breaks irregularly, and only remnants of it may be found on either the base of the stem or on the pileus. for the various conditions one must consult the descriptions of the species. the genus is closely related to _lepiota_, from which it is separated by the volva being separate from the pileus. this genus contains some of the most deadly poisonous mushrooms, and also some of the species are edible. morgan, jour. mycol. = =: -- , describes species. peck, d report n. y. state mus., pp. -- , describes species. lloyd, a compilation of the volvæ of the u. s., cincinnati, , gives a brief synopsis of our species. =amanita muscaria= linn. =poisonous.=--this plant in some places is popularly known as the fly agaric, since infusions of it are used as a fly poison. it occurs during the summer and early autumn. it grows along roadsides near trees, or in groves, and in woods, according to some preferring a rather poor gravelly soil. it attains its typical form usually under these conditions in groves or rather open woods where the soil is poor. it is a handsome and striking plant because of the usually brilliant coloring of the cap in contrast with the white stems and gills, and the usually white scales on the surface. it usually ranges from -- cm. high, and the cap from -- cm. broad, while the stem is -- . cm. in thickness, or the plant may be considerably larger. [illustration: plate , figure .--amanita muscaria, "buttons," showing different stages of rupture of the volva or universal veil, and formation of inner veil (natural size). copyright.] [illustration: plate , figure .--amanita muscaria. further stages in opening of plant, formation of veil and ring. cap yellowish, or orange. scales on cap and at base of stem white; stem and gills white (natural size). copyright.] the =pileus= passes from convex to expanded and nearly flat in age, the margin when mature is marked by depressed lines forming parallel striations, and on the surface are numbers of scattered floccose or rather compact scales, formed from the fragments of the upper part of the volva or outer veil. these scales are usually white in color and are quite easily removed, so that old plants are sometimes quite free from them. the scales are sometimes yellowish in color. the color of the pileus varies from yellow to orange, or even red, the yellow color being more common. late in the season the color is paler, and in old plants also the color fades out, so that white forms are sometimes found. the flesh is white, sometimes yellowish underneath the cuticle. the =gills= in typical forms are white, in some forms accredited to this species they are yellowish. the =stem= is cylindrical, hollow, or stuffed when young, and enlarged below into a prominent bulb. it is white, covered with loose floccose scales, or more or less lacerate or torn, and the lower part of the stem and upper part of the bulb are marked usually by prominent concentric scales forming interrupted rings. these are formed by the splitting of the outer veil or volva, and form the remnants of the volva present on the base of the stem. the main features in the development of the plant are shown in figs. -- , where a series from the button stage to the mature plant is represented. in the youngest specimens the outline of the bulb and the young convex or nearly globose cap are only seen, and these are covered with the more or less floccose outer veil or volva. the fungus threads composing this layer cease to grow, and with the expansion of the cap and the elongation of the stem, the volva is torn into patches. the upper and lower surface of the inner veil is attached to the edge of the gills and to the outer surface of the stem by loose threads, which are torn asunder as the pileus expands. floccose scales are thus left on the surface of the stem below the annulus, as in the left hand plant of fig. . the veil remains attached longer to the gills and is first separated from the stem. again, as in the right hand plant, it may first be separated from the gills when it is later ripped up from the stem. the fly agaric is one of the well known poisonous species and is very widely distributed in this country, as well as in other parts of the world. in well developed forms there should be no difficulty in distinguishing it from the common mushroom by even a novice. nor should there be difficulty in distinguishing it from the royal agaric, or cæsar's agaric (_amanita cæsarea_), by one who has become reasonably familiar with the characters and appearance of the two. but small and depauperate specimens of the two species run so nearly together in form, color, and surface characters, that it becomes a matter of some difficulty for even an expert to distinguish them. [illustration: figure .--amanita muscaria. view of upper side of cap (natural size). colors as in fig. . copyright.] figures -- are from plants (no. c. u. herbarium) collected in an open woods near ithaca. for the poisonous property of the plant see chapter xx. =amanita frostiana= pk. =poisonous.=--according to dr. peck, who published the first description of this plant, it grows in company with _amanita muscaria_, but seems to prefer more dense woods, especially mixed or hemlock woods, and occurs from june to october. the plant is -- cm. high, the caps -- cm. broad, and the stems -- mm. in thickness. the =pileus= is "convex to expanded, bright orange or yellow, warty, sometimes nearly or quite smooth, striate on the margin; =lamellæ= white or tinged with yellow; =stem= white or yellowish, stuffed, bearing a slight, sometimes evanescent annulus, bulbous at the base, the bulb _slightly margined_ by the volva; spores globose," . -- µ in diameter. he notes that it appears like a small form of _a. muscaria_, to which it was first referred as _var. minor_,--"the only characters for distinguishing it are its small size and its globose spores." it is near _a. muscaria var. puella_ pers. i have several times found this plant in the adirondack mountains, n. y., and ithaca, and also at blowing rock, n. c. the volva is often yellowish, so that the warts on the pileus are also yellow, and sometimes the only remnants of the volva on the base of the stem are yellow or orange particles. the annulus is also frequently yellow. in our plants, which seem to be typical, the spores are nearly globose, varying to oval, and with the minute point where the spore was attached to the sterigma at the smaller end, the spores usually being finely granular, -- µ in diameter, and rarely varying towards short elliptical, showing a tendency to approach the shape of the spores of _a. muscaria_. the species as i have seen it is a very variable one, large forms being difficult to separate from _a. muscaria_, on the one hand, and others difficult to separate from the depauperate forms of _a. cæsarea_. in the latter, however, the striæ are coarser, though the yellow color may be present only on portions of the pileus. the spores of _a. cæsarea_ are from globose to oval, ovate or short elliptical, the globose ones often agreeing in size with the spores of _a. frostiana_, but they usually contain a prominent oil drop or "nucleus," often nearly filling the spore. in some specimens of _a. frostiana_ the spores are quite variable, being nearly globose, ovate to elliptical, approaching the spores of _a. muscaria_. these intermediate forms should not in themselves lead one to regard all these three species as representing variations in a single variable species. with observations in the field i should think it possible to separate them. =amanita phalloides= fr. =deadly poisonous.=--the _amanita phalloides_ and its various forms, or closely related species, are the most dangerous of the poisonous mushrooms. for this reason the _a. phalloides_ is known as the _deadly agaric_, or _deadly amanita_. the plant is very variable in color, the forms being pure white, or yellowish, green, or olive to umber. variations also occur in the way in which the volva ruptures, as well as in the surface characters of the stem, and thus it is often a difficult matter to determine whether all these forms represent a single variable species or whether there are several species, and if so, what are the limits of these species. whether these are recognized as different forms of one species or as different species, they are all very poisonous. the plant usually occurs in woods or along the borders of woods. it does, however, sometimes occur in lawns. it varies from -- cm. high, the cap from -- cm. broad, and the stem -- mm. in thickness. [illustration: figure .--amanita phalloides, white form, showing cap, stem, ring, and cup-like volva with a free, prominent limb (natural size).] the =pileus= is fleshy, viscid or slimy when moist, smooth, that is, not striate, orbicular to bell-shaped, convex and finally expanded, and in old specimens more or less depressed by the elevation of the margin. the cap is often free from any remnants of the volva, while in other cases portions of the volva or outer veil appear on the surface of the cap in rather broad patches, or it may be broken up into a number of smaller ones quite evenly distributed over the surface of the cap. the presence or absence of these scales on the cap depends entirely on the way in which the volva ruptures. when there is a clean rupture at the apex the pileus is free from scales, but if portions of the apex of the volva are torn away they are apt to remain on the cap. [illustration: plate , figure .--amanita phalloides, brownish, umber, or olive-brown form (natural size). caps brownish or whitish, and streaked with brown, scales white, gills and stem white, stem slowly turning dull brown where bruised. copyright.] the white form is common in this country, and so is the olive or umber form. the yellow form is rarer. sometimes there is only a tinge of yellow at the center of the white pileus, while in other cases a large part of the pileus may be yellow, a deeper shade usually on the center. the green form is probably more common in europe than in this country. the olive form varies considerably also in the depth of the color, usually darker on the center and fading out to light olive or gray, or whitish, on the margin. in other cases the entire pileus may be dark olive or umber color. the =gills= in all the forms are white, and free from the stem or only joined by a narrow line. the stem is stuffed when young, but in age is nearly or quite hollow. it is cylindrical, -- cm. long × -- mm. in thickness. in the larger specimens the bulb is quite prominent and abrupt, while in the smaller specimens it is not always proportionally so large. the =stem= is usually smooth and the color is white, except in the dark forms, when it is dingy or partakes more or less of the color of the pileus, though much lighter in shade. there is a tendency in these forms to a discoloration of the stem where handled or bruised, and this should caution one in comparing such forms with the edible _a. rubescens_. [illustration: figure .--amanita phalloides, volva circumscissile, cap scaly, limb of volva not prominent, cap dark, scales white (natural size). copyright.] perhaps no part of the plant is more variable than the outer veil or volva. where the volva is quite thick and stout it usually splits at the apex, and there is a prominent free limb, as shown in fig. . sometimes thin portions of the volva are caught, and remain on the surface of the pileus. but when the volva is thinner and of a looser texture, it splits transversely about the middle, circumscissile, and all or a large part of the upper half of the volva then clings to the cap, and is separated into patches. between this and the former condition there seem to be all gradations. some of these are shown in fig. , which is from a photograph of dark olive and umber forms, from plants collected in the blue ridge mountains, at blowing rock, n. c., during september, . in the very young plant the volva split transversely (in a circumscissile fashion) quite clearly, and the free limb is quite short and distant from the stem on the margin of the saucer-like bulb. in the large and fully expanded plant at the center, the volva ruptured irregularly at the apex, and portions of the thin upper half remain as patches on the cap while the larger part remains as the free limb, attached at the margin of the broad saucer-shaped bulb, and collapsed up against the base of the stem. [illustration: figure .--amanita phalloides, volva circumscissile, concave bulb margined by definite short limb of volva; upper part of volva has disappeared from cap; cap whitish, tinged with brown.] figure and the small plant in fig. , both from photographs of the sooty form of _amanita phalloides_, show in a striking manner the typical condition of the circumscissile volva margining the broad saucer-like bulb as described for _amanita mappa_. the color of _a. mappa_ is usually said to be straw color, but fries even says that the color is as in _a. phalloides_, "now white, now green, now yellow, now dark brown" (epicrisis, page ). according to this, fig. would represent _a. mappa_. the variable condition in this one species _a. phalloides_, now splitting at the apex, now tearing up irregularly, now splitting in a definitely circumscissile manner, seems to bid defiance to any attempt to separate the species of _amanita_ into groups based on the manner in which the volva ruptures. while it seems to be quite fixed and characteristic in certain species, it is so extremely variable in others as to lead to the suspicion that it is responsible in some cases for the multiplication and confusion of species. at the same time, the occurrence of some of these forms at certain seasons of the year suggests the desirability of prolonged and careful study of fresh material, and the search for additional evidence of the unity of these forms, or of their definite segregation. [illustration: figure .--amanita verna, white (natural size). copyright.] since the _amanita phalloides_ occurs usually in woods, or along borders of woods, there is little danger of confounding it with edible mushrooms collected in lawns distant from the woods, and in open fields. however, it does occur in lawns bordering on woods, and in the summer of i found several of the white forms of this species in a lawn distant from the woods. this should cause beginners and those not thoroughly familiar with the appearance of the plant to be extremely cautious against eating mushrooms simply because they were not collected in or near the woods. furthermore, sometimes the white form of the deadly amanita possesses a faint tinge of pink in the gills, which might lead the novice to mistake it for the common mushroom. the bulb of the deadly amanita is usually inserted quite deep in the soil or leaf mold, and specimens are often picked leaving the very important character of the volva in the ground, and then the plant might easily be taken for the common mushroom, or more likely for the smooth lepiota, _lepiota naucina_, which is entirely white, the gills only in age showing a faint pink tinge. it is very important, therefore, that, until one has such familiarity with these plants that they are easily recognized in the absence of some of these characters, the stem should be carefully dug from the soil. in the case of the specimens of the deadly amanita growing in the lawn on the campus of cornell university, the stems were sunk to three to four inches in the quite hard ground. =amanita verna= bull. =deadly poisonous.=--the _amanita verna_ is by some considered as only a white form of the _amanita phalloides_. it is of a pure white color, and this in addition to its very poisonous property has led to its designation as the "destroying angel." [illustration: figure .--amanita verna, "buttons," cap bursting through the volva; left hand plant in section (natural size). copyright.] the =pileus= is smooth and viscid when moist; the gills free; the =stem= stuffed or hollow in age; the =annulus= forms a broad collar, and the =volva= is split at the apex, and being quite stout, the free limb is prominent, and it hugs more or less closely to the base of the stem. figure represents the form of the plant which gillet recognizes as _a. verna_; the pileus convex, the annulus broad and entire, and the stem scaly. these floccose scales are formed as a result of the separation of the annulus from the outer layer of the stem. the characters presented in the formation of the veil and annulus in this species are very interesting, and sometimes present two of the types in the formation of the veil and annulus found in the genus _amanita_. in the very young plant, in the button stage, as the young gills lie with their edges close against the side of the stem, loose threads extend from the edges of the gills to the outer layer of the stem. this outer layer of the stem forms the veil, and is more or less loosely connected with the firmer portion of the stem by loose threads. as the pileus expands, the threads connecting the edges of the gills with the veil are stronger than those which unite the veil with the surface of the stem. the veil is separated from the stem then, simultaneously, or nearly so, throughout its entire extent, and is not ripped up from below as in _amanita velatipes_. as the pileus expands, then, the veil lies closely over the edges of the gills until finally it is freed from them and from the margin of the pileus. as the veil is split off from the surface of the stem, the latter is torn into numerous floccose scales, as shown in fig. . in other cases, in addition to the primary veil which is separated from the stem in the manner described above, there is a secondary veil formed in exactly the same way as that described for _amanita velatipes_. [illustration: figure .--amanita verna, small form, white (natural size). copyright.] in such cases there are two veils, or a double veil, each attached to the margin of the pileus, the upper one ascending over the edges of the gills and attached above on the stem, while the lower one descends and is attached below as it is being ripped up from a second layer of the stem. figures -- are from plants collected at blowing rock, n. c., in september, . =amanita virosa= fr. =deadly poisonous.=--this plant also by some is regarded as only a form of _amanita phalloides_. it is a pure white plant and the pileus is viscid as in the _a. verna_ and _a. phalloides_. the volva splits at the apex as in _a. verna_, but the veil is very fragile and torn into shreds as the pileus expands, portions of it clinging to the margin of the cap as well as to the stem, as shown in fig. . the stem is also adorned with soft floccose scales. gillet further states that the pileus is conic to campanulate, not becoming convex as in _a. verna_ and _a. phalloides_. the variability presented in the character of the veil and in the shape of the pileus suggests, as some believe, that all these are but forms of a single variable species. on the other hand, we need a more careful and extended field study of these variations. doubtless different interpretations of the specific limits by different students will lead some to recognize several species where others would recognize but one. since species are not distinct creations there may be tolerably good grounds for both of these views. [illustration: figure .--amanita virosa, white (natural size). copyright.] =amanita floccocephala= atkinson. =probably poisonous.=--this species occurs in woods and groves at ithaca during the autumn. the plants are medium sized, -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stems -- mm. in thickness. the =pileus= is hemispherical to convex, and expanded, smooth, whitish, with a tinge of straw color, and covered with torn, thin floccose patches of the upper half of the circumscissile volva. the =gills= are white and adnexed. the =spores= are globose, -- µ. the =stem= is cylindrical or slightly tapering above, hollow or stuffed, floccose scaly and abruptly bulbous below. the =annulus= is superior, that is, near the upper end of the stem, membranaceous, thin, sometimes tearing, as in _a. virosa_. the =volva= is circumscissile, the margin of the bulb not being clear cut and prominent, because there is much refuse matter and soil interwoven with the lower portion of the volva. the bulb closely resembles those in cooke's figure (illustrations, ) of _a. mappa_. figure shows these characters well. [illustration: figure .--amanita floccocephala (natural size). copyright.] =amanita velatipes= atkinson. =properties unknown.=--this plant is very interesting since it shows in a striking manner the peculiar way in which the veil is formed in some of the species of _amanita_. though not possessing brilliant colors, it is handsome in its form and in the peculiar setting of the volva fragments on the rich brown or faint yellow of the pileus. it has been found on several occasions during the month of july in a beech woods on one of the old flood plains of six-mile creek, one of the gorges in the vicinity of ithaca, n. y. the mature plant is from -- cm. high, the cap from -- cm. broad, and the stem -- . cm. in thickness. the =pileus= is viscid when moist, rounded, then broadly oval and convex to expanded, striate on the margin, sometimes in old plants the margin is elevated. it is smooth throughout, and of a soft, rich hair brown, or umber brown color, darker in the center. sometimes there is a decided but dull maize yellow tinge over the larger part of the pileus, but even then the center is often brown in color, shading into the yellow color toward the margin; the light yellow forms in age, often thinning out to a cream color. the flesh of the pileus is rather thin, even in the center, and becomes very thin toward the margin, as shown in fig. . the scales on the pileus are more or less flattened, rather thin, clearly separated from the pileus, and easily removed. they are more or less angular, and while elongated transversely at first, become nearly isodiametric as the pileus becomes fully expanded, passing from an elongated form to rectangular, or sinuous in outline, the margin more or less upturned, especially in age, when they begin to loosen and "peel" from the surface of the cap. they are lighter in color than the pileus and i have never observed the yellow tint in them. the =gills= are white, broad at the middle, about cm., and taper gradually toward each end. the =spores= are usually inequilaterally oval, -- × -- µ, granular when young, when mature with a large oil drop. [illustration: plate , figure .--amanita velatipes ( / natural size). cap hair-brown, or umber-brown, sometimes with tinge of lemon yellow, or entirely maize-yellow. scales, gills, and stem white. copyright.] [illustration: figure .--amanita velatipes. different stages of "buttons," in the right-hand plant the upper part of the volva separating to form the scales (natural size). copyright.] the =stem= is cylindrical, somewhat bulbous, the bulb often tapering abruptly, as shown in figs. , . the stem is white, smooth, or floccose scaly where the veil has been ripped off from it. it is hollow and stuffed with loose cottony threads, as shown in fig. . the =veil= is formed by the ripping up of the outer layer of the stem as the latter elongates and as the pileus expands. when it is freed from the margin of the cap it collapses and hangs downward as a broad collar (fig. ). the =annulus= is inferior, its position on the stem being due to the peculiar way in which it is formed. [illustration: figure .--amanita velatipes. three plants natural size, the left-hand one sectioned, showing stuffed center of stem. others show how veil is ripped up from the stem. for other details see text. copyright.] some of the stages of development are illustrated in figs. -- . the buttons are queer looking objects, the bulb being the most prominent part. it tapers abruptly below, and on the upper side is the small rounded young cap seated in the center. the volva is present as a rough floccose layer, covering the upper part of the bulb and the young cap. as the stem elongates and the pileus enlarges and expands, the volva is torn into areolate patches. the lower patches, those adjoining the margin of the cap and the upper part of the bulb, are separated in a more or less concentric manner. one or more of them lie on the upper part of the bulb, forming the "limb" of the "ocreate" volva. others lie around the margin of the pileus. sometimes an annular one bordering the pileus and bulb is left clinging part way up on the stem, as shown in fig. . the concentric arrangement on the pileus is sometimes shown for a considerable time, as in fig. , the elongated areas being present in greater number at this age of the pileus. however, as the pileus expands more, these are separated into smaller areas and their connection with the surface of the pileus becomes less firm. the formation of the veil and annulus can be easily followed in these figures. the margin of the cap in the button stage is firmly connected with the outer layer of the stem at its lower end. this probably occurs by the intermingling growth of the threads from the lower end of the stem and the margin of the cap, while the edges of the gills are quite free from the stem. now as the stem elongates and the cap expands the veil is "ripped" up from the outer part of the stem. this is very clearly shown in fig. , especially where two strips on the stem have become disconnected from the margin of the cap and are therefore left in position on the outside of the stem. this species is related to _a. excelsa_ fr., which is said to have a superior ring. [illustration: plate , figure .--amanita velatipes. the right-hand plant shows how the veil is ripped up from the stem and also shows the transversely elongate scales on the cap. for details see text (natural size). copyright.] =amanita cothurnata= atkinson. =probably poisonous.=--the booted amanita, _amanita cothurnata_, i have found in two different years in the blue ridge mountains at blowing rock, n. c., once in , during the first week of september, and again during the three first weeks in september, . it occurs sparingly during the first week or so of september, and during the middle of the month is very abundant. the species seems to be clearly distinct from other species of _amanita_, and there are certain characters so persistent as to make it easily recognizable. it ranges in height from -- cm. and the caps are -- cm. or more broad, while the stems are -- mm. in thickness. the entire plant is usually white, but in some specimens the cap has a tinge of citron yellow, or in others tawny olive, in the center. [illustration: plate , figure .--amanita cothurnata. different stages of development; for details see text. entire plant white, sometimes tinge of umber at center of cap, and rarely slight tinge of lemon-yellow at center (natural size). copyright.] the =pileus= is fleshy, and passes, in its development, from nearly globose to hemispherical, convex, expanded, and when specimens are very old sometimes the margin is elevated. it is usually white, though specimens are found with a tinge of citron yellow in the center, or of tawny olive in the center of other specimens. the pileus is viscid, strongly so when moist. it is finely striate on the margin, and covered with numerous, white, floccose scales from the upper half of the volva, forming more or less dense patches, which may wash off in heavy rains. the =gills= are rounded next the stem, and quite remote from it. the edge of the gills is often eroded or frazzly from the torn out threads with which they were loosely connected to the upper side of the veil in the young or button stage. the =spores= are globose or nearly so, with a large "nucleus" nearly filling the spore. [illustration: figure .--amanita cothurnata. different stages opening up of plant, the two center ones showing veil being ripped from stem, but veil narrow. the right-hand illustration has been scratched transversely, these marks not being characteristic of the plant (natural size). copyright.] the =stem= is cylindrical, even, and expanded below into quite a large oval bulb, the stem just above the bulb being margined by a close fitting roll of the volva, and the upper edge of this presenting the appearance of having been sewed at the top like the rolled edge of a garment or buskin. the surface of the stem is minutely floccose scaly or strongly so, and decidedly hollow even from a very young stage, or sometimes when young with loose threads in the cavity. figures -- , from plants (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected at blowing rock, n. c., during september, , illustrate certain of the features in the form and development of this plant. [illustration: figure .--amanita cothurnata. two plants in section showing clearly hollow stem, veil attachment, etc. (natural size). copyright.] in _amanita frostiana_ the remains of the volva sometimes form a similar collar, but not so stout, on the base of the stem. the variations in _a. frostiana_ where the stem, annulus and gills are white might suggest that there is a close relationship between _a. frostiana_ and _a. cothurnata_, and that the latter is only a form of the former. from a careful study of the two plants growing side by side the evidence is convincing that the two are distinct. _amanita frostiana_ occurs also at blowing rock, appearing earlier in the season than _a. cothurnata_, and also being contemporary with it. _a. frostiana_ is more variable, not nearly so viscid, nor nearly so abundant, the stem is solid or stuffed, the annulus is more frail and evolved from the stem in a different manner. the volva does not leave such a constant and well defined roll where it separated on the stem transversely, and the pileus is yellow or orange. when _a. cothurnata_ is yellowish at all it is a different tint of yellow and then only a tinge of yellow at the center. albino or faded forms of _a. frostiana_ might occur, but we would not expect them to appear at a definite season of the year in great abundance while the normal form, showing no intergrading specimens in the same locality, continued to appear in the same abundance and with the same characters as before. the dried plants of _a. cothurnata_ are apt to become tinged with yellow on the gills, the upper part of the stem and upper part of the annulus during the processes of drying, but the pileus does not change in like manner, nor do these plants show traces of yellow on these parts when fresh. the spores are also decidedly different, though the shape and size do not differ to any great extent. in _a. frostiana_ and the pale forms of the species the spores are nearly globose or oval, rarely with a tendency to become elliptical, but _the content is quite constantly finely granular_, while the spores of _a. cothurnata_ are perhaps more constantly globose or nearly so, but the spore is _nearly filled with a highly refractive oil globule or "nucleus."_ the pileus of _a. frostiana_ is also thinner than that of _a. cothurnata_. it is nearer, in some respects, to specimens of _amanita pantherina_ received from bresadola, of austria-hungary. [illustration: figure .--amanita spreta. the two outside plants show the free limb of the volva lying close against the stem (natural size, often larger). copyright.] =amanita spreta= pk. =said to be poisonous.=--according to peck this species grows in open or bushy places. the specimens illustrated in fig. grew in sandy ground by the roadside near trees in the edge of an open field at blowing rock, n. c., and others were found in a grove. the plants are -- cm. high, the caps -- cm. broad, and the stems -- mm. in thickness. the =pileus= is convex to expanded, gray or light drab, and darker on the center, or according to dr. peck it may be white. it is smooth, or with only a few remnants of the volva, striate on the margin, and --. cm. thick at the center. the =gills= are white, adnexed, that is they reach the stem by their upper angle. the =stem= is of the same color as the pileus, but somewhat lighter, white to light gray or light drab, cylindrical, not bulbous, hollow or stuffed. the =annulus= is thin and attached above the middle of the stem. the =volva= is sordid white, and sheathes the stem with a long free limb of -- lobes. it splits at the apex, but portions sometimes cling to the surface of the pileus. figure is from plants (no. , c. u.) collected at blowing rock, n. c., september, . =amanita cæsarea= scop. =edible=, _but use great caution_.--this plant is known as the orange amanita, royal agaric, cæsar's agaric, etc. it is one of the most beautiful of all the agarics, and is well distributed over the earth. with us it is more common in the southern states. it occurs in the summer and early autumn in the woods. it is easily recognized by its usually large size, yellow or orange color of the cap, gills, stem and ring, and the prominent, white, sac-like volva at the base of the stem. it is usually -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stems -- mm. in thickness, though it may exceed this size, and depauperate forms are met with which are much smaller. the =pileus= is ovate to bell-shaped, convex, and finally more or less expanded, when the surface may be nearly flat or the center may be somewhat elevated or umbonate and the margin curved downward. the surface is smooth except at the margin, where it is prominently striate. the color varies from orange to reddish or yellow, usually the well developed and larger specimens have the deeper and richer colors, while the smaller specimens have the lighter colors, and the color is usually deeper on the center of the pileus. the =gills= are yellow, and free from the stem. the =stem= is hollow, even in young plants, when it may be stuffed with loose threads. it is often very floccose scaly below the annulus. it is cylindrical, only slightly enlarged below, where it is covered by the large, fleshy, sac-like white volva. the =annulus= is membranaceous, large, and hangs like a broad collar from the upper part of the stem. the stem and ring are orange or yellow, the depth of the color varying more with the size of the plant than is the case with the color of the cap. in small specimens the stem is often white, especially in depauperate specimens are the stem and annulus white, and even the gills are white when the volva may be so reduced as to make it difficult to distinguish the specimens from similar specimens of the poisonous fly agaric. [illustration: plate , figure .--amanita cæsarea. different stages of development ( / natural size). cap, stem, gills, veil orange or yellow. volva white. copyright.] in the button stage the plant is ovate and the white color of the volva, which at this time entirely surrounds the plants, presents an appearance not unlike that of an egg. the volva splits open at the apex as the stem elongates. the veil is often connected by loose threads with the outer portion of the stem and as the pileus expands this is torn away, leaving coarse floccose scales on the stem. some of the different stages in the opening of the plant are shown in fig. . this illustration is taken from a photograph of plants (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected at blowing rock, n. c., september, . the plant is said to be one of the best esculents, and has been prized as an article of food from ancient times. great caution should be used in distinguishing it from the fly agaric and from other amanitas. [illustration: plate . fig. .--amanita rubescens fig. .--a. cæsarea. copyright .] =amanita rubescens= fr. =edible=, _but use great caution_.--the reddish amanita, _amanita rubescens_, is so called because of the sordid reddish color diffused over the entire plant, and especially because bruised portions quickly change to a reddish color. the plant is often quite large, from -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad and the stem -- mm. in thickness, but it is sometimes much smaller. it occurs during the latter part of the summer and in early autumn, in woods and open places. [illustration: figure .--amanita rubescens. plant partly expanded. dull reddish brown, stains reddish when bruised; for other details see text (natural size). copyright.] the =pileus= is oval to convex, and becoming expanded when old. it is smooth or faintly striate on the margin, and covered with numerous scattered, thin, floccose, grayish scales, forming remnants of the larger part of the volva or outer veil. the color of the cap varies correspondingly, but is always tinged more or less distinctly with pink, red, or brownish red hues. the =gills= are white or whitish and free from the stem. the =stem= is nearly cylindrical, tapering some above, and with a prominent bulb which often tapers abruptly below. in addition to the suffused dull reddish color the stem is often stained with red, especially where handled or touched by some object. there are very few evidences of the volva on the stem since the volva is so floccose and torn into loose fragments, most of which remain on the surface of the cap. sometimes a few of these loose fragments are seen on the upper portion of the bulb, but they are easily removed by handling or by rains. the =annulus= is membranous, broad, and fragile. since the plant has become well known it is regarded as excellent and wholesome for food and pleasant to the taste. in case of the larger specimens there should be no difficulty in distinguishing it from others by those who care to compare the descriptions closely with the fresh specimens. but as in all cases beginners should use extreme caution in eating plants they have not become thoroughly familiar with. small specimens of this species sometimes show but little of the reddish color, and are therefore difficult to determine. figures and are from plants (no. c. u. herbarium) collected at blowing rock, n. c., during september, . =amanita solitaria= bull. =edible=, _but use caution_.--the solitary amanita, like many other plants, is not always true to its name. while it often occurs solitary, it does occur sometimes in groups. it is one of the largest of the amanitas. its large size, together with its chalky white or grayish white color, and ragged or shaggy appearance, makes it a striking object in the woods, or along roadsides in woods where it grows. frequently parts of the cap, the entire stem and the gills are covered with a white, crumbly, floccose substance of a mealy consistency which often sticks to the hands or other objects. the plant ranges from -- cm. or more high, the cap from -- cm. broad, and the stems are -- cm. or more in thickness. in form the =pileus= ranges from nearly globose in the button stage, to hemispherical, convex and expanded, when quite old the margin becoming more or less elevated. it is covered either with flaky or floccose portions of the volva, or with more or less distinct conic white scales, especially toward the center. the conic scales are easily rubbed off in handling or are easily washed off by rains. many of them are loosened and fall because of the tension produced by the expanding pileus on the surface of which they rest. these scales vary in size from quite small ones, appearing like granules, to those fewer in number and larger, mm. high and nearly as broad at the base. in other cases the scales are harder and stouter and dark colored. these forms will be discussed after the description of the other parts of the plant. [illustration: plate , figure .--amanita rubescens. under and side view. dull reddish brown, stains reddish where bruised ( / natural size). copyright.] [illustration: plate , figure .--amanita solitaria. entirely white, or cap and scales sordid buff, dull brown, or grayish in some plants. for details see text ( / natural size). copyright.] the =gills= are free, or are only attached by the upper inner angle; the edges are often floccose where they are torn from the slight union with the upper surface of the veil. the =stem= is cylindrical, solid or stuffed when old, enlarged usually below into a prominent bulb which then tapers into a more or less elongated root-like process, sometimes extending -- cm. in the ground below the bulb. in rare cases the bulb is not present, but the cylindrical stem extends for a considerable distance into the ground. the =veil= is a very interesting part of the plant and the manner in which it forms and disappears as the cap expands is worth a careful study. this is well shown in figs. , , from photographs of plants (no. c. u. herbarium) made at blowing rock, n. c., during september, . during the latter part of august and the first three weeks of september the plants were quite common in the mountain woods at blowing rock. in certain features there was close agreement in the case of all the specimens examined, especially in the long rooting character of the base of the stem. the veil and annulus were also quite constant in their characters, though sometimes a tendency was manifested to split up more irregularly than at other times. in the character of the warts of the pileus there was great variation, showing typical forms of _amanita solitaria_ and grading into forms which might be taken for typical _amanita strobiliformis_. especially is this so in the case of some of my specimens (no. ), where the scales are pyramidal, dark brown, surrounded by a sordid buff or grayish area, and these latter areas separated by narrow chinks whitish in color. the scales in this specimen are fixed quite firmly to the surface of the pileus. in other specimens (no. ) these hard scales remove quite easily, while in still another the pileus is almost smooth, even the floccose scales having been obliterated, while a very few of the hard angular warts are still present. in another half expanded plant (of no. ) the warts are pyramidal, -- mm. long at the center of the pileus and rather closely imbricated, hard, and firmly joined to the surface of the cap. in nos. and the spores measure -- × -- µ. in they are longer, varying from -- µ. the specimens with the long hard scales suggest _amanita strobiliformis_ vittad., but the long rooting base of the stem does not agree with the description of that plant, but does clearly agree with _amanita solitaria_ bull. a study of the variations in these plants suggests that _amanita solitaria_ and _strobiliformis_ vittad., represent only variations in a single species as bulliard interpreted the species more than a century ago. forms of the plant are also found which suggest that _a. polypyramis_ b. & c., collected in north carolina, is but one of the variations of _a. solitaria_. figures , show well certain stages in the development of this plant. the conical or pyramidal warts are formed in a very young stage of the plant by the primary separation of the outer part of the volva, and as the pileus expands more, and the cessation of growth of the outer veil proceeds inward, the scales become more widely separated at the apex and broader at the base. in some cases the volva is probably thinner than in others, and with the rapid expansion of the pileus in wet weather the scales would be smaller, or more floccose. but with different conditions, when it is not so wet, the plant expands less rapidly, the surface of the pileus becomes drier, the volva layer does not separate so readily and the fissures between the scales proceed deeper, and sometimes probably enter the surface of the pileus, so that the size of the warts is augmented. a similar state of things sometimes takes place on the base of the stem at the upper margin of the bulb, where the concentric fissures may extend to some distance in the stem, making the scales here more prominent in some specimens than in others. a similar variation in the character of the scales on the bulb of _amanita muscaria_ is sometimes presented. the veil is often loosely attached to the edges of the gills, and so is stripped off from the stem quite early. sometimes it is more strongly adherent to the stem, or portions of it may be, when it is very irregularly ruptured as it is peeled off from the stem, as shown in the plant near the left side in fig. . the veil is very fragile and often tears a little distance from the margin of the cap, while the portion attached to the stem forms the annulus. this condition is shown in the case of three plants in fig. . the plant is said to be edible. amanitopsis roze. this genus has white spores, and a volva, but the annulus and inner veil are wanting. in other respects it agrees with _amanita_. it is considered as a sub-genus of _amanita_ by some. [illustration: plate , figure .--amanita solitaria. three plants, / natural size. copyright.] =amanitopsis vaginata= (bull.) roz. =edible.=--the sheathed amanitopsis, _a. vaginata_, is a quite common and widely distributed plant in woods. it is well named since the prominent volva forms a large sheath to the cylindrical base of the stem. the plant occurs in several forms, a gray or mouse colored form, and a brownish or fulvous form, and sometimes nearly white. these forms are recognized by some as varieties, and by others as species. the plants are -- cm. high, the caps -- cm. broad, and the stems -- mm. in thickness. [illustration: plate , figure .--amanitopsis vaginata. tawny form (natural size). copyright.] the =pileus= is from ovate to bell-shaped, then convex and expanded, smooth, rarely with fragments of the volva on the surface. the margin is thin and marked by deep furrows and ridges, so that it is deeply striate, or the terms sulcate or pectinate sulcate are used to express the character of the margin. the term pectinate sulcate is employed on account of a series of small elevations on the ridges, giving them a pectinate, or comb-like, appearance. the color varies from gray to mouse color, brown, or ochraceous brown. the flesh is white. the =gills= are white or nearly so, and free. the =spores= are globose, -- µ in diameter. the =stem= is cylindrical, even, or slightly tapering upward, hollow or stuffed, not bulbous, smooth, or with mealy particles or prominent floccose scales. these scales are formed by the separation of the edges of the gills from the surface of the stem, to which they are closely applied before the pileus begins to expand. threads of mycelium growing from the edge of the lamellæ and from the stem intermingle. when the pileus expands these are torn asunder, or by their pull tear up the outer surface of the stem. the =volva= forms a prominent sheath which is usually quite soft and easily collapses (fig. ). the entire plant is very brittle and fragile. it is considered an excellent one for food. i often eat it raw when collecting. authors differ as to the number of species recognized in the plant as described above. secretan recognized as many as ten species. the two prominent color forms are quite often recognized as two species, or by others as varieties; the gray or mouse colored form as _a. livida_ pers., and the tawny form as _a. spadicea_ pers. according to fries and others the _livida_ appears earlier in the season than _spadicea_, and this fact is recognized by some as entitling the two to specific rank. plowright (trans. brit. mycol. soc., p. , -- ) points out that in european forms of _spadicea_ there is a second volva inside the outer, and in _livida_ there are "folds or wrinkles of considerable size on the inner surface of the volva." he thinks the two entitled to specific rank. at ithaca and in the mountains of north carolina i have found both forms appearing at the same season, and thus far have been unable to detect the differences noted by plowright in the volva. but i have never found intergrading color forms, and have not yet satisfied myself as to whether or not the two should be entitled to specific rank. some of the other species of _amanitopsis_ found in this country are =a. nivalis= grev., an entirely white plant regarded by some as only a white form of =a. vaginata=. another white plant is =a. volvata= pk., which has elliptical spores, and is striate on the margin instead of sulcate. [illustration: figure .--amanitopsis farinosa. cap grayish (natural size). copyright.] =amanitopsis farinosa= schw.--the mealy agaric, or powdery amanita, is a pretty little species. it was first collected and described from north carolina by de schweinitz (synop. fung. car. no. , ), and the specimens illustrated in fig. were collected by me at blowing rock, n. c., during september, . peck has given in the rd report n. y. state mus., p. , an excellent description of the plant, though it often exceeds somewhat the height given by him. it ranges from -- or cm. high, the cap from -- cm. broad, and the stem -- mm. in thickness. the =pileus= is from subglobose to convex and expanded, becoming nearly plane or even depressed by the elevation of the margin in old specimens. the color is gray or grayish brown, or mouse colored. the pileus is thin, and deeply striate on the margin, covered with a grayish floccose, powdery or mealy substance, the remnant of the evanescent volva. this substance is denser at the center and is easily rubbed off. the =gills= are white and free from the stem. the =spores= are subglobose and ovate to elliptical, -- µ long. the =stem= is cylindrical, even, hollow or stuffed, whitish or gray and very slightly enlarged at the base into a small rounded bulb which is quite constant and characteristic, and at first is covered on its upper margin by the floccose matter from the volva. [illustration: plate , figure .--lepiota naucina. entirely white (natural size).] at blowing rock the plants occurred in sandy soil by roadsides or in open woods. in habit it resembles strikingly forms of _amanitopsis vaginata_, but the volva is entirely different (fig. ). although _a. vaginata_ was common in the same locality, i searched in vain for intermediate forms which i thought might be found. sometimes the floccose matter would cling together more or less, and portions of it remained as patches on the lower part of the stem, while depauperate forms of _a. vaginata_ would have a somewhat reduced volva, but in no case did i find intermediate stages between the two kinds of volva. lepiota fr. the genus _lepiota_ lacks a volva, but the veil is present forming a ring on the stem. the genus is closely related to _amanita_, from which it differs in the absence of the volva, or perhaps more properly speaking in the fact that the universal veil is firmly connected (concrete with) with the pileus, and with the base of the stem, so that a volva is not formed. the gills are usually free from the stem, some being simply adnexed, but in some species connected with a collar near the stem. the stem is fleshy and is easily separable from the cap. a number of the species are edible. peck, th report n. y. state mus., p. -- , describes species. lloyd, mycol. notes, november, , describes species. =lepiota naucina= fr. (_lepiota naucinoides_ pk., _annularia lævis_ krombh.) =edible.=--the smooth lepiota, _l. naucina_, grows in lawns, in pastures and by roadsides, etc. it occurs during the latter part of summer and during autumn, being more abundant in september and early october. it is entirely white, or the cap is sometimes buff, and in age the gills become dirty pink in color. it is from -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem -- mm. in thickness. the =pileus= is very fleshy, nearly globose, then convex to nearly expanded, smooth, or rarely the surface is broken into minute scales. the =gills= are first white, free from the stem, and in age assume a dull pink tinge. the =spores= are usually white in mass, but rarely when caught on white paper they show a faint pink tinge. the spores are elliptical to oval. the =stem= is nearly cylindrical, gradually enlarging below so that it is clavate, nearly hollow or stuffed with loose threads. [illustration: figure .--lepiota naucina.--section of three plants, different ages.] since the plant occurs in the same situations as the _agaricus campestris_ it might be mistaken for it, especially for white forms. but of course no harm could come by eating it by mistake for the common mushroom, for it is valued just as highly for food by some who have eaten it. if one should look at the gills, however, they would not likely mistake it for the common mushroom because the gills become pink only when the plant is well expanded and quite old. there is much more danger in mistaking it for the white amanitas, _a. phalloides_, _a. verna_, or _a. virosa_, since the gills of these deadly plants are white, and they do sometimes grow in lawns and other grassy places where the smooth lepiota and the common mushroom grow. for this reason one should study the descriptions and illustrations of these amanitas given on preceding pages, and especially should the suggestions given there about care in collecting plants be followed, until one is so certainly familiar with the characters that the plants would be known "on sight." [illustration: plate , figure .--lepiota procera. grayish brown to reddish brown, gills and flesh white ( / natural size). copyright.] the pink color of the gills of this lepiota has led certain students of the fungi into mistakes of another kind. this pink color of the gills has led some to place the plant among the rosy spored agarics in the genus _annularia_, where it was named _annularia lævis_ by krombholtz (vide bresadola funghi mangerecci e velenosi, p. , ). it fits the description of that plant exactly. the pink color of the gills, as well as the fact that the gills turn brownish when dry, has led to a confusion in some cases of the _lepiota naucina_ with the chalky agaric, _agaricus cretaceus_. the external resemblance of the plants, as shown in various illustrations, is very striking, and in the chalky agaric the gills remain pink very late, only becoming brown when very old. =lepiota procera= scop. =edible.=--the parasol mushroom, _lepiota procera_, grows in pastures, lawns, gardens, along roadsides, or in thin woods, or in gardens. it is a large and handsome plant and when expanded seems not inappropriately named. it is from -- cm. or more high, the cap expands from -- cm., while the stem is -- mm. in thickness. it occurs during summer and in early autumn. the =pileus= is oval, then bell-shaped, convex and nearly expanded, with usually a more or less prominent elevation (umbo) at the center. sometimes it is depressed at the center. it is grayish brown or reddish brown in color on the surface and the flesh is whitish. as the cap expands the surface layer ceases to grow and is therefore cracked, first narrow chinks appearing, showing white or grayish threads underneath. as the cap becomes more expanded the brown surface is torn into scales, which give the cap a more or less shaggy appearance except on the umbo, where the color is more uniform. the torn surface of the pileus shows numerous radiating fibres, and it is soft and yielding to the touch. the =gills= are remote from the stem, broad and crowded. the =spores= are long, elliptical, -- µ long. the =stem= is cylindrical, hollow, or stuffed, even, enlarged below into a prominent bulb, of the same color as the pileus, though paler, especially above the annulus. the surface is usually cracked into numerous small scales, the chinks between showing the white inner portion of the stem. the =ring= is stout, narrow, usually quite free from the stem, so that it can be moved up and down on the stem, and is called a movable ring. figure is from plants (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected in a garden at blowing rock, n. c., during september, . a closely related plant, _lepiota rachodes_ vitt., has smaller spores, -- × -- µ. it is also edible, and by some considered only a variety of _l. procera_. it is rare in this country, but appears about boston in considerable quantities "in or near greenhouses or in enriched soil out of doors," where it has the appearance of an introduced plant (webster, rhodora, : , ). it is a much stouter plant than _l. procera_, the pileus usually depressed, much more coarsely scaly, and usually grows in dense clusters, while _l. procera_ usually occurs singly or scattered, is more slender, often umbonate. _l. rachodes_ has a veil with a double edge, the edges more or less fringed. the veil is fixed to the stem until the plant is quite mature, when it becomes movable. the flesh of the plant on exposure to the air becomes a brownish orange tint. [illustration: figure .--lepiota americana. scales and center of cap reddish or reddish brown. entire plant turns reddish on drying (natural size). copyright.] =lepiota morgani= pk.--this plant occurs from ohio, southward and west. it grows in grassy places, especially in wet pastures. it is one of the largest of the lepiotas, ranging from -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem about cm. in thickness. the =pileus=, when fully expanded, is whitish, with large dark scales, especially toward the center. the =ring= is large, sometimes movable, and the =gills= and =spores= are greenish. some report the plant as edible, while others say illness results from eating it. =lepiota americana= pk. =edible.=--this plant is widely distributed in the united states. the plants occur singly or are clustered, -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem -- mm. in thickness. the cap is adorned with reddish or reddish brown scales except on the center, where the color is uniform because the surface is not broken up into scales. the flesh is white, but changes to reddish when cut or bruised, and the whole plant becomes reddish on drying. figure is from plants (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected at ithaca. the european plant, _l. badhami_, also reported in this country, changes to a brownish red. it is believed by some to be identical with _l. americana_. [illustration: figure .--lepiota cristata. entirely white, but scales grayish or pinkish brown, stem often flesh color (natural size). copyright.] =lepiota acutesquamosa= weinm.--this is a medium or small sized plant with a floccose pileus adorned with small, acute, erect scales, and has a loose, hairy or wooly veil which is often torn irregularly. the erect scales fall away from the pileus and leave little scars where they were attached. =lepiota cristata= a. & s. =edible.=--the crested lepiota, _lepiota cristata_, occurs in grassy places and borders of woods, in groves, etc., from may to september, and is widely distributed. the plant is small, -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem -- mm. in thickness. it grows in clusters or is scattered. the =pileus= is ovate, bell-shaped, then convex and expanded, and thin. the surface is at first entirely dull reddish or reddish brown, but soon cracks into numerous scales of the same color arranged in a crested manner, more numerous between the margin and the center, and often arranged in a concentric manner. the center of the cap often preserves the uniform reddish brown color because the pileus at this point does not expand so much and therefore the surface does not crack, while the margin often becomes white because of the disappearance of the brown covering here. the =gills= are free from the stem, narrow, crowded, and close to the stem. the =spores= are more or less angular, elongated, more narrowed at one end, and measure -- × -- µ. the =stem= is slender, cylindrical, hollow, whitish, smooth. the =ring= is small, white, and easily breaks up and disappears. the characters of the plant are well shown in fig. from plants collected at ithaca. _lepiota angustana_ britz. is identical, and according to morgan _l. miamensis_ morgan is a white form of _l. angustana_. =lepiota asperula= atkinson.--this lepiota resembles _a. asper_ in some respects, but it is smaller and the spores are much smaller, being very minute. the plant is -- cm. high, the pileus -- cm. broad, and the stem -- mm. in thickness. it grows in leaf mould in the woods and has been found at ithaca, n. y., twice during july and september, . the =pileus= is convex and bell-shaped, becoming nearly or quite expanded. it is hair brown to olive brown in color. the surface is dry, made up of interwoven threads, and is adorned with numerous small, erect, pointed scales resembling in this respect _a. asper_ fr. the =gills= are white or yellowish, free, but rather close to the stem, narrow, often eroded on the edge, sometimes forked near the stem, and some of them arranged in pairs. the spores are oblong, smooth, and very minute, measuring × µ. the =stem= is the same color as the pileus, cylindrical, hollow, with loose threads in the cavity, enlarged into a rounded bulb below, minutely downy to pubescent. the outer portion of the bulb is formed of intricately interwoven threads, among which are entangled soil and humus particles. the =veil= is white, silky, hairy, separating from the stem like a dense cortina, the threads stretched both above and below as shown in fig. from plants (no. c. u. herbarium), collected at ithaca. in some specimens, as the pileus expands, the spaces between the pointed scales are torn, thus forming quite coarse scales which are often arranged in more or less concentric rows, showing the yellow-tinged flesh in the cracks, and the coarse scales bearing the fine point at the center. a layer connecting the margin of the pileus with the base of the stem and covered with fine brown points, sometimes separates from the edge of the cap and the base of the stem, and clings partly to the cortina and partly to the stem in much the same way that portions of the volva cling to the stem of certain species of _amanita_, as seen in _a. velatipes_ (fig. ). sometimes this is left on the base of the stem and then resembles a short, free limb of a volva, and suggests a species of _amanita_. the scales, however, are concrete with the pileus, and the species appears to show a closer relationship with _lepiota_. [illustration: plate , figure .--lepiota asperula. cap hair-brown to olive-brown, scales minute, pointed, gills and stem white (natural size). copyright.] armillaria fr. in the genus _armillaria_ the inner veil which forms a ring on the stem is present. the stem is fibrous, or the outer portion cartilaginous in some species, and not easily separable from the substance of the pileus (continuous with the hymenophore), and the gills are attached to the stem, sinuate, or decurrent, spores white. peck, rd report n. y. state mus., p. -- , describes species. some of the species resemble very closely certain species of _amanita_ or _lepiota_, but can be distinguished by the firm continuity of the substance of the stem and cap. =armillaria mellea= vahl. =edible.=--this is one of the most common of the late summer and autumn fungi, and is widely distributed over the world. it grows about the bases of old stumps or dead trees, or from buried roots. sometimes it is found attached to the living roots of trees. the plant occurs in tufts or clusters, several to many individuals growing together, the bases of their stems connected with a black rope-like strand from which they arise. the entire plant is often more or less honey colored, from which the plant gets its specific name. its clustered habit, the usually prominent ring on the stems, and the sharp, blackish, erect scales which usually adorn the center of the cap, mark it as an easy plant to determine in most cases. the colors and markings, however, vary greatly, so that some of the forms are very puzzling. the plant varies in height from -- cm., the cap from -- cm. broad, and the stem -- mm. in thickness. the =pileus= is oval to convex and expanded, sometimes with a slight umbo or elevation at the center. the color varies from honey color to nearly white, or yellowish brown to dull reddish brown, usually darker on the center. in typical forms the pileus is adorned with pointed dark brown, or blackish, erect, scales especially abundant over the center, while the margin is often free from them, but may be marked with looser floccose, brownish, or yellowish scales. sometimes there are no blackish pointed scales anywhere on the cap, only loose floccose colored scales, or in some forms the cap is entirely smooth. the margin in old specimens is often striate. the pileus is usually dry, but webster cites an instance in which it was viscid in wet weather. the =gills= are attached to the stem squarely (adnate) or they are decurrent (extend downward on the stem), are white, or whitish, becoming in age more or less dingy or stained. the spores are rounded or elliptical, -- µ. the =stem= is elastic, spongy within and sometimes hollow. it is smooth or often floccose scaly below the ring, sometimes with prominent transverse bands of a hairy substance. it is usually whitish near the upper end, but dull brown or reddish brown below the annulus, sometimes distinctly yellowish. the =veil= varies greatly also. it may be membranaceous and thin, or quite thick, or in other cases may be absent entirely. the =ring= of course varies in a corresponding manner. as shown in fig. it is quite thick, so that it appears double on the edge, where it broke away from the inner and outer surfaces of the margin of the cap. it is frequently fixed to the stem, that is, not movable, but when very thin and frail it often disappears. the honey colored agaric is said by nearly all writers to be edible, though some condemn it. it is not one of the best since it is of rather tough consistency. it is a species of considerable economic importance and interest, since it is a parasite on certain coniferous trees, and perhaps also on certain of the broad-leaved trees. it attacks the roots of these trees, the mycelium making its way through the outer layer, and then it grows beneath the bark. here it forms fan-like sheets of mycelium which advance along both away from the tree and towards the trunk. it disorganizes and breaks down the tissues of the root here, providing a space for a thicker growth of the mycelium as it becomes older. in places the mycelium forms rope-like strands, at first white in color, but later becoming dark brown and shining. these cords or strands, known as _rhizomorphs_, extend for long distances underneath the bark of the root. they are also found growing in the hollow trunks of trees sometimes. in time enough of the roots are injured to kill the tree, or the roots are so weakened that heavy winds will blow the trees over. the fruiting plants always arise from these rhizomorphs, and by digging carefully around the bases of the stems one can find these cords with the stems attached, though the attachment is frail and the stems are easily separated from the cords. often these cords grow for years without forming any fruit bodies. in this condition they are often found by stripping off the bark from dead and rotting logs in the woods. these cords were once supposed to be separate fungi, and they were known under the name _rhizomorpha subcorticalis_. [illustration: plate , figure .--armillaria mellea. showing double ring present in some large specimens; cap honey colored, scales minute, more numerous at center, blackish, often floccose, and sometimes wanting ( / natural size, often smaller). copyright.] =armillaria aurantia= schaeff. (_tricholoma peckii_ howe) =suspected.=--this is a very pretty species and rare in the united states. the plants are -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem -- mm. in thickness. it occurs in woods. it is known by its viscid pileus, the orange brown or ochraceous rufus color of the pileus and stem, and the color of the stem being confined to the superficial layer, which becomes torn into concentric floccose scales, forming numerous minute floccose irregular rings of color around the stem. [illustration: figure .--armillaria aurantia schaeff. (=tricholoma peckii howe). cap orange-brown or ochraceous rufus, viscid; floccose scales on stem same color (natural size). copyright.] the =pileus= is convex to expanded, with an umbo, and the edge inrolled, fleshy, thin, viscid, ochraceous rufus (in specimens collected by myself), darker on the umbo, and minutely scaly from tufts of hairs, and the viscid cuticle easily peeling off. the =gills= are narrow, crowded, slightly adnexed, or many free, white, becoming brown discolored where bruised, and in drying brownish or rufus. the =spores= are minute, globose to ovoid, or rarely sub-elliptical when a little longer, with a prominent oil globule usually, -- . × -- µ, sometimes a little longer when the elliptical forms are presented. the =stem= is straight or ascending, even, very floccose scaly as the pileus is unrolled from it, scales same color as the pileus, the scales running transversely, being separated perhaps by the elongation of the stem so that numerous floccose rings are formed, showing the white flesh of the stem between. the upper part of the stem, that above the annulus, is white, but the upper part floccose. [illustration: figure .--tricholoma personatum. entire plant grayish brown, tinged with lilac or purple, spores light ochraceous (natural size, often larger).] this plant has been long known in europe. there is a rather poor figure of it in schaeffer table , and a better one in gillet champignons de france, hymenomycetes, = =, opposite page , but a very good one in bresadola funghi mangerecci e velenosi, tavel , . a good figure is also given by barla, les champignons des alpes--maritimes, pl. , figs. -- . the plant was first reported from america in the st report, state museum, n. y., p. , , under the name _tricholoma peckii_ howe, from the catskill mountains, n. y. figure is from plants (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected in the blue ridge mountains, at blowing rock, n. c., during september, . the european and american description both ascribe a bitter taste to the flesh of the pileus, and it is regarded as suspicious. there does not seem to be a well formed annulus, the veil only being present in a rather young stage, as the inrolled margin of the pileus is unrolling from the surface of the stem. it seems to be more in the form of a universal veil resembling the veil of some of the lepiotas. it shows a relationship with _tricholoma_ which possesses in typical forms a delicate veil present only in the young stage. perhaps for this reason it was referred by howe to _tricholoma_ as an undescribed species when it was named _t. peckii_. if its affinities should prove to be with _tricholoma_ rather than with _armillaria_, it would then be known as _tricholoma aurantium_. tricholoma fr. in the genus _tricholoma_ the volva and annulus are both wanting, the spores are white, and the gills are attached to the stem, but are more or less strongly notched or sinuate at the stem. sometimes the notch is very slight. the stem is fleshy-fibrous, attached to the center of the pileus, and is usually short and stout. in some specimens when young there is a slight cobwebby veil which very soon disappears. the genus is a very large one. some species are said to be poisonous and a few are known to be edible. peck, th report, n. y. state mus., pp. -- , describes species. [illustration: figure .--tricholoma personatum. section (natural size).] =tricholoma personatum= fr. =edible.=--this plant occurs during the autumn and persists up to the winter months. it grows on the ground in open places and in woods. the stem is short, usually -- cm. long × -- cm. in thickness, and the cap is from -- cm. or more broad. the entire plant often has a lilac or purple tint. the =pileus= is convex, expanded, moist, smooth, grayish to brownish tinged with lilac or purple, especially when young, fading out in age. when young the pileus is sometimes adorned with white mealy particles, and when old the margin may be more or less upturned and wavy. the =gills= are crowded, rounded next the stem, and nearly free but close to the stem, violet or lilac when young, changing to dull reddish brown when old. the =spores= when caught in mass are dull pink or salmon color. they measure -- µ long. the =stem= is solid, fibrous, smooth, deep lilac when young and retaining the lilac color longer than the pileus. sometimes the base is bulbous as in fig. . this plant is regarded by all writers as one of the best of the edible fungi. sometimes the pileus is water soaked and then the flavor is not so fine. the position of the plant is regarded as doubtful by some because of the more or less russety pink color of the spores when seen in mass, and the ease with which the gills separate from the pileus, characters which show its relationship to the genus _paxillus_. =tricholoma sejunctum= sowerb. =edible.=--this plant occurs on the ground in rather open woods during late summer and in the autumn. it is -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem -- mm. in thickness. [illustration: figure .--tricholoma sejunctum. cap light yellow, streaked with dark threads on the surface, viscid. stem and gills white (natural size, often larger). copyright.] the =pileus= is convex to expanded, umbonate, viscid when moist, light yellow in color and streaked with dark threads in the surface. the flesh is white, and very fragile, differing in this respect from _t. equestre_, which it resembles in general form. the =gills= are broad, rather distant, broadly notched near the stem, and easily separating from the stem. the =stem= is solid, smooth and shining white. figure is from plants collected at ithaca. it is said to be edible. [illustration: plate , figure .--clitocybe candida. entirely white (natural size). copyright.] [illustration: plate , figure .--clitocybe candida. under view of nearly lateral stemmed individual (natural size). copyright.] clitocybe fr. the volva and annulus are wanting in this genus, and the spores are white. the stem is elastic, spongy within, the outside being elastic or fibrous, so that the fibres hold together well when the stem is twisted or broken, as in _tricholoma_. the stem does not separate readily from the pileus, but the rather strong fibres are continuous with the substance of the pileus. the gills are narrowed toward the stem, joined squarely or decurrent (running down on the stem), very rarely some of them notched at the stem while others of the same plant are decurrent. in one species at least (_c. laccata_, by some placed in the genus _laccaria_) the gills are often strongly notched or sinuate. the cap is usually plane, depressed, or funnel-shaped, many of the species having the latter form. the plants grow chiefly on the ground, though a number of species occur on dead wood. the genus contains a very large number of species. peck describes ten species in the rd report, n. y. state mus., p. , et. seq., also th report, p. , several species. morgan, jour. cinn. soc. nat. hist. = =: -- , describes species. =clitocybe candida= bres. =edible.=--this is one of the large species of the genus. it occurs in late autumn in europe. it has been found on several occasions during late autumn at ithaca, n. y., on the ground in open woods, during wet weather. it occurs in clusters, though the specimens are usually not crowded. the stem is usually very short, -- cm. long, and -- cm. in thickness, while the cap is up to -- cm. broad. the =pileus= is sometimes regular, but often very irregular, and produced much more strongly on one side than on the other. it is convex, then expanded, the margin first incurved and finally wavy and often somewhat lobed. the color is white or light buff in age. the flesh is thick and white. the =gills= are white, stout, broad, somewhat decurrent, some adnate. the taste is not unpleasant when raw, and when cooked it is agreeable. i have eaten it on several occasions. figures , are from plants (no. c. u. herbarium) collected at ithaca. =clitocybe laccata= scop. =edible.=--this plant is a very common and widely distributed one, growing in woods, fields, roadsides and other waste places. it is usually quite easily recognized from the whitish scurfy cap, the pink or purplish gills, though the spores are white, from the gills being either decurrent, adnate, or more or less strongly notched, and the stem fibrous and whitish or of a pale pink color. when the plants are mature the pale red or pink gills appear mealy from being covered with the numerous white spores. the =pileus= is thin, convex or later expanded, of a watery appearance, nearly smooth or scurfy or slightly squamulose. the =spores= are rounded, and possess spine-like processes, or are prominently roughened. in the warty character of the spores this species differs from most of the species of the genus _clitocybe_, and some writers place it in a different genus erected to accommodate the species of _clitocybe_ which have warty or spiny spores. the species with spiny spores are few. the genus in which this plant is placed by some is _laccaria_, and then the plant is called _laccaria laccata_. there are several other species of _clitocybe_ which are common and which one is apt to run across often, especially in the woods. these are of the funnel form type, the cap being more or less funnel-shaped. =clitocybe infundibuliformis= schaeffer is one of these. the cap, when mature, is pale red or tan color, fading out in age. it is -- cm. high, and the cap -- cm. broad. it is considered delicious. =clitocybe cyathiformis=, as its name indicates, is similar in form, and occurs in woods. the pileus is of a darker color, dark brown or smoky in color. =clitocybe illudens= schw. =not edible.=--this species is distributed through the eastern united states and sometimes is very abundant. it occurs from july to october about the bases of old stumps, dead trees, or from underground roots. it is one of the large species, the cap being -- cm. broad, the stem -- cm. long, and -- mm. in thickness. it occurs in large clusters, several or many joined at their bases. from the rich saffron yellow color of all parts of the plant, and especially by its strong phosphorescence, so evident in the dark, it is an easy plant to recognize. because of its phosphorescence it is sometimes called "jack-my-lantern." the =pileus= is convex, then expanded, and depressed, sometimes with a small umbo, smooth, often irregular or eccentric from its crowded habit, and in age the margin of the pileus is wavy. the flesh is thick at the center and thin toward the margin. in old plants the color becomes sordid or brownish. the =gills= are broad, not crowded, decurrent, some extending for a considerable distance down on the stem while others for a less distance. the =stem= is solid, firm, smooth, and tapers toward the base. while the plant is not a dangerously poisonous one, it has occasioned serious cases of illness, acting as a violent emetic, and of course should be avoided. its phosphorescence has often been observed. another and much smaller plant, widely distributed in this country as well as europe, and belonging to another genus, is also phosphorescent. it is _panus stipticus_, a small white plant with a short lateral stem, growing on branches, stumps, trunks, etc. when freshly developed the phosphorescence is marked, but when the plants become old they often fail to show it. [illustration: figure .--clitocybe illudens. entire plant rich saffron yellow, old plants become sordid brown sometimes; when fresh shows phosphorescence at night ( / natural size, often much larger). copyright.] =clitocybe multiceps= peck. =edible.=--this plant is not uncommon during late summer and autumn. it usually grows in large tufts of to or more individuals. the caps in such large clusters are often irregular from pressure. the plants are -- cm. high, the caps -- cm. broad, and the stems -- mm. in thickness. the =pileus= is white or gray, brownish gray or buff, smooth, dry, the flesh white. the =gills= are white, crowded, narrow at each end. the =spores= are smooth, globose, -- µ in diameter. the stems are tough, fibrous, solid, tinged with the same color as cap. fig. is from plants (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected at ithaca, october , . collybia fr. in the genus _collybia_ the annulus and volva are both wanting, the spores are white, the gills are free or notched, or sinuate. the stem is either entirely cartilaginous or has a cartilaginous rind, while the central portion of the stem is fibrous, or fleshy, stuffed or fistulose. the pileus is fleshy and when the plants are young the margin of the pileus is incurved or inrolled, i. e., it does not lie straight against the stem as in _mycena_. many of the species of _collybia_ are quite firm and will revive somewhat after drying when moistened, but they are not coriaceous as in _marasmius_, nor do they revive so thoroughly. it is difficult, however, to draw the line between the two genera. twenty-five of the new york species of collybia are described by peck in the th report n. y. state mus., p. et seq. morgan describes twelve species in jour. cinn. soc. nat. hist., : -- . =collybia radicata= rehl. =edible.=--this is one of the common and widely distributed species of the genus. it occurs on the ground in the woods or groves or borders of woods. it is quite easily recognized by the more or less flattened cap, the long striate stem somewhat enlarged below and then tapering off into a long, slender root-like process in the ground. it is from this "rooting" character that the plant gets its specific name. it is -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem -- mm. in thickness. the =pileus= is fleshy, thin, convex to nearly plane, or even with the margin upturned in old plants, and the center sometimes umbonate. it is smooth, viscid when moist, and often with wrinkles on the surface which extend radially. the color varies from nearly white in some small specimens to grayish, grayish brown or umber. the flesh is white. the =gills= are white, broad, rather distant, adnexed, i. e., joined to the stem by the upper angle. the =spores= are elliptical and about × µ. the =stem= is the same color as the pileus though paler, and usually white above, tapers gradually above, is often striate or grooved, or sometimes only mealy. the long tapering "root" is often attached to some underground dead root. fig. is from plants (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected at ithaca, august, . [illustration: plate , figure .--clitocybe multiceps. plants white or gray to buff or grayish brown. (three-fourths natural size.) copyright.] [illustration: plate , fig. .--collybia radicata. caps grayish-brown to grayish and white in some small forms. (natural size.) copyright.] [illustration: plate , fig. .--collybia velutipes. cap yellowish or reddish yellow, viscid, gills white, stem dark brown, velvety hairy (natural size). copyright.] =collybia velutipes= curt. =edible.=--this is very common in woods or groves during the autumn, on dead limbs or trunks, or from dead places in living ones. the plants are very viscid, and the stem, except in young plants, is velvety hairy with dark hairs. figure is from plants (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected at ithaca, october, . =collybia longipes= bull., is a closely related plant. it is much larger, has a velvety, to hairy, stem, and a much longer root-like process to the stem. it has been sometimes considered to be merely a variety of _c. radicata_, and may be only a large form of that species. i have found a few specimens in the adirondack mountains, and one in the blue ridge mountains, which seem to belong to this species. =collybia platyphylla= fr. =edible.=--this is a much larger and stouter plant than _collybia radicata_, though it is not so tall as the larger specimens of that species. it occurs on rotten logs or on the ground about rotten logs and stumps in the woods from june to september. it is -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem about cm. in thickness. the =pileus= is convex becoming expanded, plane, and even the margin upturned in age. it is whitish, varying to grayish brown or dark brown, the center sometimes darker than the margin, as is usual in many plants. the surface of the pileus is often marked in radiating streaks by fine dark hairs. the =gills= are white, very broad, adnexed, and usually deeply and broadly notched next the stem. in age they are more or less broken and cracked. the =spores= are white, elliptical, -- × -- µ. the plant resembles somewhat certain species of _tricholoma_ and care should be used in selecting it in order to avoid the suspected species of _tricholoma_. mycena fr. the genus _mycena_ is closely related to _collybia_. the plants are usually smaller, many of them being of small size, the cap is usually bell-shaped, rarely umbilicate, but what is a more important character the margin of the cap in the young stage is straight as it is applied against the stem, and not at first incurved as it is in _collybia_, when the gills and margin of the pileus lie against the stem. the stem is cartilaginous as in _collybia_, and is usually hollow or fistulose. the gills are not decurrent, or only slightly so by a tooth-like process. some of the species are apt to be confused with certain species of _omphalia_ in which the gills are but slightly decurrent, but in _omphalia_ the pileus is umbilicate in such species, while in _mycena_ it is blunt or umbonate. the spores are white. a large number of the plants grow on leaves and wood, few on the ground. some of those which grow on leaves might be mistaken for species of _marasmius_, but in _marasmius_ the plants are of a tough consistency, and when dried will revive again if moistened with water. some of the plants have distinct odors, as alkaline, or the odor of radishes, and in collecting them notes should be made on all these characters which usually disappear in drying. a few of the plants exude a colored or watery juice when bruised, and should not be confounded with species of _lactarius_. =mycena galericulata= scop. =edible.=--_mycena galericulata_ grows on dead logs, stumps, branches, etc., in woods. it is a very common and very widely distributed species. it occurs from late spring to autumn. the plants are clustered, many growing in a compact group, the hairy bases closely joined and the stems usually ascending. the plants are from -- cm. high, the caps from -- cm. broad, and the slender stems -- mm. in thickness. the =pileus= is conic to bell-shaped, sometimes umbonate, striate to near the center, and in color some shade of brown or gray, but variable. the =gills= are decurrent by a tooth, not crowded, connected by veins over the interspaces, white or flesh colored. the slender =stems= are firm, hollow, and hairy at the base. [illustration: figure .--mycena polygramma, long-stemmed form growing on ground (= m. prælonga pk.). cap dark brown with a leaden tint, striate on margin; stem finely and beautifully longitudinally striate (natural size). copyright.] =mycena polygramma= bull.--this plant is very closely related to _m. galericulata_, and has the same habit. it might be easily mistaken for it. it is easily distinguished by its peculiar bright, shining, longitudinally striate to sulcate stem. it usually grows on wood, but does occur on the ground, when it often has a very long stem. in this condition it was described by peck in the rd report, n. y. state mus., p. , as _mycena prælonga_, from plants collected in a sphagnum moor during the month of june. this form was also collected at ithaca several times during late autumn in a woods near ithaca, in . the plants are from -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem -- mm. in thickness. the =pileus= is first nearly cylindrical, then conic, becoming bell-shaped and finally nearly expanded, when it is umbonate. it is smooth, striate on the margin, of a dark brown color with a leaden tint. the =gills= are narrow, white, adnate and slightly decurrent on the stem by a tooth. the very long =stem= is smooth, but marked with parallel grooves too fine to show in the photograph, firm, hollow, somewhat paler than the pileus, usually tinged with red, and hairy at the base. figure is from plants (no. c. u. herbarium), collected in a woods near ithaca in damp places among leaves. a number of the specimens collected were attacked by a parasitic mucor of the genus _spinellus_. two species, _s. fusiger_ (link.) van tiegh., and _s. macrocarpus_ (corda) karst., were found, sometimes both on the same plant. the long-stalked sporangia bristle in all directions from the cap. [illustration: figure .--mycena pura. entire plant rose, rose purple, violet, or lilac. striate on margin of pileus (natural size, often much larger).] =mycena pura= pers.--this plant is quite common and very widely distributed, and occurs in woods and grassy open places, during late summer and in the autumn. the entire plant is nearly of a uniform color, and the color varies from rose, to rose purple, violet, or lilac. plants from the blue ridge mountains of north carolina were chiefly rose purple, very young plants of a much deeper color (auricula purple of ridgeway), while those collected at ithaca were violet. the plants vary from -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem -- mm. stout. the plants are scattered or somewhat clustered, sometimes occurring singly, and again many covering a small area of ground. the =pileus= is thin, conic, bell-shaped to convex and nearly expanded, sometimes with a small umbo, smooth, and finely striate on the margin, in age the striæ sometimes rugulose from the upturning of the margin. sometimes the pileus is rugose on the center. the =gills= vary from white to violet, rose, etc., they are adnate to sinuate, and in age sometimes become free by breaking away from the stem. they are broad in the middle, connected by vein-like elevations over the surface, and sometimes wavy and crenate on the edge, the edge of the gills sometimes white. the =spores= are white, oblong, . -- . × -- µ, smooth. the =basidia= are cylindrical, -- × -- µ, four-spored. there are a few =cystidia= in the hymenium, colorless, thin walled, clavate, the portion above the hymenium cylindrical, and -- × -- µ. the =stem= is sometimes white when young, but later becomes of the same color as the pileus, often a lighter shade above. it is straight, or ascending, cylindrical, even, smooth, hollow, with a few white threads at the base. sometimes on drying the pileus becomes deeper in color than when fresh. the gills also become deeper in color in drying, though the edge remains white if white when fresh. figure is from plants (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected at blowing rock, n. c., in august, . the plants are often considerably larger than shown in the figure. [illustration: figure .--mycena epipterygia. cap viscid, grayish, often tinged with yellowish or reddish in age, gills white, sometimes tinged with blue or red, stem yellowish, or same color as cap (natural size). copyright.] =mycena epipterygia= scop.--this pretty little species is quite readily distinguished by the gray, conic or bell-shaped cap, the long, hollow, slender stem, and the viscid pellicle or skin which is quite easily peeled off from the stem or cap when moist. it grows in woods or grassy places, or among moss, etc., on the ground or on very rotten wood. the plants are from -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem about mm. in thickness. it is widely distributed in europe, america, and other north temperate countries. the =pileus= is viscid when moist, ovate to conic or campanulate, and later more or less expanded, obtuse, the margin striate, and sometimes minutely toothed. the usual color is grayish, but in age it often becomes reddish. the =gills= are decurrent by a small tooth, and quite variable in color, whitish, then gray, or tinged with blue or red. the =stem= is very slender, flexuous, or straight, fistulose, tough, with soft hairs at the base, usually yellowish, sometimes the same color as the cap, and viscid like the cap when moist. figure is from plants (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected at ithaca in august, . =mycena vulgaris= pers.--this common and pretty species is easily recognized by its smoky or grayish color, the umbilicate pileus and very slimy stem. it grows on decaying leaves, sticks, etc., in woods. it occurs in clusters. the plants are small, -- cm. high, the cap -- mm. broad, and the stem about . mm. in thickness. the =pileus= is thin, bell-shaped, then convex, and depressed at the center, with a papilla usually in the center, finely striate on the margin, and slightly viscid. the =gills= are white, thin, and finally decurrent, so that from the form of the cap and the decurrent gills the plant has much the appearance of an _omphalia_. the =stem= is very viscid, grayish in color, often rooting at the base, and with white fibrils at the base, becoming hollow. figure is from plants collected in woods near ithaca, during august, . [illustration: figure .--mycena vulgaris. entirely white, center of cap grayish, entire plant very slimy when moist (natural size). copyright.] =mycena acicula= schaeff.--this is one of the very small mycenas, and with the brilliant red pileus and yellow gills and stem it makes a very pretty object growing on leaves, twigs, or rotten wood in the forest. it occurs during summer and autumn. it is -- cm. high, the cap -- mm. broad, and the stem is thread-like. [illustration: figure .--mycena acicula. cap brilliant red, gills and stem yellowish (natural size). copyright.] the =pileus= is very thin, membranaceous, bell-shaped, then convex, when the pointed apex appears as a small umbo. it is smooth, striate on the margin, and of a rich vermilion or orange color. the =gills= are rounded at the stem and adnexed, rather broad in the middle, distant, yellow, the edge white, or sometimes the gills are entirely white. the =stem= is very slender, with a root-like process entering the rotten wood, smooth except the hairs on the root-like process, yellow. figure is from plants (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected in a woods near ithaca. it has been found here several times. =mycena cyanothrix= atkinson.--this is a very pretty plant growing on rotting wood in clusters, often two or three joined at the base, the base of the stem inserted in the rotten wood for -- cm., and the base is clothed with blue, hair-like threads. the plants are -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem not quite mm. in diameter. the =pileus= is ovate to convex, viscid when young. the color is bright blue when young, becoming pale and whitish in age, with a tendency to fuscous on the center. the cap is smooth and the margin finely striate. after the plants have dried the color is nearly uniform ochraceous or tawny. the =gills= are close, free, narrow, white, then grayish white, the edge finely toothed or fimbriate. the =spores= are globose, smooth, -- µ. the =stem= is slender, hollow, faintly purple when young, becoming whitish or flesh color, flexuous, or nearly straight, even, often two united at the base into a root-like extension which enters the rotten wood. the base of the stem is covered with deep blue mycelium which retains its color in age, but disappears on drying after a time. figure is from plants (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected at ithaca, in woods, june , . =mycena hæmatopa= pers.--this is one of the species of _mycena_ with a red juice which exudes in drops where wounds occur on the plant. it is easily recognized by its dense cespitose habit, the deep blood red juice, the hollow stem, and the crenate or denticulate sterile margin of the cap. numbers of the plant occur usually in a single cluster, and their bases are closely joined and hairy. the stems are more or less ascending according to the position of the plant on the wood. the plants are -- cm. high, the cap is -- . cm. broad, and the stem -- mm. in thickness. [illustration: figure .--mycena cyanothrix. cap viscid when young, blue, becoming pale and whitish in age, and fuscous in center; gills white; stem faintly purple when young, then flesh color or white, blue, clothed with blue hairs at base (natural size). copyright.] the =pileus= is conic, then bell-shaped, and as the margin of the cap expands more appears umbonate, obtuse, smooth, even or somewhat striate on the margin. the color varies from whitish to flesh color, or dull red, and appears more or less saturated with a red juice. the thin margin extends a short distance beyond the ends of the gills, and the margin is then beautifully crenate. the =gills= are adnate, and often extend down on the stem a short distance by a little tooth. the =stem= is firm, sometimes smooth, sometimes with minute hairs, at the base with long hairs, hollow, in color the same as that of the pileus. [illustration: figure .--mycena hæmatopa. dull red or flesh color, or whitish, a dull red juice exudes where broken or cut, margin of cap serrate with thin sterile flaps (natural size). copyright.] the color varies somewhat, being darker in some plants than in others. in some plants the juice is more abundant and they bleed profusely when wounded, while in other cases there is but little of the juice, sometimes wounds only showing a change in color to a deep red without any free drops exuding. figure is from plants collected at ithaca, in august, . it is widely distributed in europe and north america. =mycena succosa= pk., another species of _mycena_ with a juice, occurs on very rotten wood in the woods. it is a small plant, dull white at first, but soon spotted with black, and turning black in handling or where bruised, and when dried. wounds exude a "serum-like juice," and the wounds soon become black. it was described by peck under _collybia_ in the th report, p. . omphalia fr. the genus _omphalia_ is closely related to _mycena_ and _collybia_. it differs from these mainly in the decurrent gills. in the small species of _mycena_ where the gills are slightly decurrent, the pileus is not umbilicate as it is in corresponding species of _omphalia_. in some of the species of _omphalia_ the pileus is not umbilicate, but here the gills are plainly decurrent. the stem is cartilaginous. [illustration: plate , figure .--omphalia campanella. watkin's glen, n. y., august, . caps dull reddish-yellow. gills yellow. stem brownish, hairy at base. (natural size.) copyright.] =omphalia campanella= batsch.--one of the most common and widely distributed species of the genus is the little bell-omphalia, _omphalia campanella_. it occurs throughout the summer and autumn on dead or rotten logs, stumps, branches, etc., in woods. it is often clustered, large numbers covering a considerable surface of the decaying log. it is -- cm. high, the cap -- mm. broad, and the stem very slender. the =pileus= is convex, umbilicate, faintly striate, dull reddish yellow, in damp weather with a watery appearance. the =gills= are narrow, yellow, connected by veins, strongly curved because of the form of the pileus, and then being decurrent on the stem. the =stem= is slender, often ascending, brownish hairy toward the base, and paler above. [illustration: figure .--omphalia epichysium. entire plant smoky or dull gray in color (natural size). copyright.] =omphalia epichysium= pers.--this plant occurs during the autumn in woods, growing usually on much decayed wood, or sometimes apparently on the ground. the smoky, or dull gray color of the entire plant, the depressed or funnel-shaped pileus, and short, slender stem serve to distinguish it. the cap is -- cm. broad, the plant is -- cm. high, and the stem -- mm. in thickness. the =pileus= is convex, becoming expanded, umbilicate or depressed at the center or nearly funnel-shaped, smooth, smoky or gray with a saturated watery appearance, light gray or nearly white when dry. the =gills= are narrow, crowded, or a little decurrent. the slender =stem= is smooth, hollow, equal. figure is from plants (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected in woods near ithaca, n. y., in the autumn of . pleurotus fr. [illustration: figure .--pleurotus ulmarius. cap white, or with shades of yellow or brown near the center (natural size). copyright.] the genus _pleurotus_ is usually recognized without difficulty among the fleshy, white-spored agarics, because of the eccentric (not quite in the center of the pileus) or lateral stem, or by the pileus being attached at one side in a more or less shelving position, or in some species where the upper side of the pileus lies directly against the wood on which the plant is growing, and is then said to be _resupinate_. the gills are either decurrent (extending downward) on the stem, or in some species they are rounded or notched at the junction with the stem. there is no annulus, though sometimes a veil, and the genus resembles both _tricholoma_ and _clitocybe_, except for the position of the stem on the pileus. in _tricholoma_ and _clitocybe_ the stem is usually attached at the center, and the majority of the species grow on the ground, while the species of _pleurotus_ are especially characterized by growing on wood. some species, at least, appear to grow from the ground, as in pleurotus petaloides, which is sometimes found growing on buried roots or portions of decayed stumps which no longer show above ground. on the other hand species of _clitocybe_, as in c. candida (fig. ), often have an eccentric stem. this presents to us one of the many difficulties which students, especially beginners, of this group of fungi meet, and also suggests how unsatisfactory any arrangement of genera as yet proposed is. =pleurotus ulmarius= bull. =edible.=--the elm pleurotus is so called because it is often found growing on dead elm branches or trunks, or from wounds in living trees, but it is not confined to the elm. it is a large species, easily distinguished from the oyster agaric and the other related species by its long stem attached usually near the center of the cap, and by the gills being rounded or notched at their inner extremity. the cap is -- cm. broad, the stem -- cm. long, and -- cm. in thickness. [illustration: figure .--pleurotus ulmarius. under view and section (natural size). copyright.] the =pileus= is convex, the margin incurved, then nearly expanded, smooth, firm, white or whitish, or with shades of yellow or brown on the center, and the flesh is white. the =gills= are broad, rather distant, sinuate, white or nearly so. the =spores= are globose, -- µ in diameter. the =stem= is firm, eccentric, usually curved because of its lateral attachment on the side of the tree, and the horizontal position of the pileus. the elm pleurotus has been long known as an edible fungus, and is regarded as an excellent one for food on account of its flavor and because of its large size. it occurs abundantly during the late autumn, and at this season of the year is usually well protected from the attacks of insects. it occurs in the woods, or fields, more frequently on dead trees. on shade trees which have been severely pruned, and are nearly or quite dead, it sometimes appears at the wounds, where limbs have been removed, in great abundance. in the plants shown in fig. the stems are strongly curved because the weight of the cap bore the plant downward. sometimes when the plant is growing directly on the upper side of a branch or log, the stem may be central. =pleurotus ostreatus= jacq. =edible.=--this plant is known as the oyster agaric, because the form of the plant sometimes suggests the outline of an oyster shell, as is seen in fig. . it grows on dead trunks and branches, usually in crowded clusters, the caps often overlapping or imbricated. it is large, measuring -- cm. or more broad. the =pileus= is elongated and attached at one side by being sessile, or it is narrowed into a very short stem. it is broadest at the outer extremity, where it becomes quite thin toward the margin. it is more or less curved in outline as seen from the side, being depressed usually on the upper side near the point of attachment, and toward the margin convex and the margin incurved. the color is white, light gray, buff or dark gray, often becoming yellowish on drying. the =gills= are white, broad, not much crowded, and run down on the stem in long elevated lines resembling veins, which anastomose often in a reticulate fashion. the =spores= are white, oblong, -- µ long. the =stem= when present is very short, and often hairy at the base. the oyster agaric has long been known as an edible mushroom, but it is not ranked among the best, because, like most _pleuroti_, it is rather tough, especially in age. it is well to select young plants. figure is from plants (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected at ithaca, n. y. [illustration: plate , figure .--pleurotus ostreatus. under view showing decurrent and anastomosing gills on the stem. cap white, light gray, buff, or dark gray in color. spores white (natural size, often larger). copyright.] =pleurotus sapidus= kalchb. =edible.=--this plant usually grows in large clusters from dead trunks or branches or from dead portions of living trees. it grows on a number of different kinds of trees. the stems are often joined at the base, but sometimes the plants are scattered over a portion of the branch or trunk. the cap is from -- cm. broad. the plants occur from june to november. [illustration: plate , figure .--pleurotus sapidus. color of cap white, yellowish, gray, or brownish, with lilac tints sometimes. spores lilac tinted in mass ( / natural size). copyright.] the =pileus= is convex, the margin incurved when young, and more or less depressed in age, smooth, broadened toward the margin and tapering into the short stem, which is very short in some cases and elongated in others. often the caps are quite irregular and the margin wavy, especially when old. it is quite firm, but the margin splits quite readily on being handled. the color varies greatly, white, yellowish, gray, or brownish and lilac tints. the flesh is white. the =stems= are usually attached to the pileus, at or near one edge. the =gills= are white, broad, not at all crowded, and extend down on the stem as in the oyster agaric. they are white or whitish, and as in the other related species are sometimes cracked, due probably to the tension brought to bear because of the expanding pileus. the =spores= are tinged with lilac when seen in mass, as when caught on paper. the color seems to be intensified after the spores have lain on the paper for a day or two. it is very difficult to distinguish this species from the oyster agaric. the color of the spores seems to be the only distinguishing character, and this may not be constant. peck suggests that it may only be a variety of the oyster agaric. i have found the plant growing from a dead spot on the base of a living oak tree. there was for several years a drive near this tree, and the wheels of vehicles cut into the roots of the tree on this side, and probably so injured it as to kill a portion and give this fungus and another one (_polystictus pergamenus_) a start, and later they have slowly encroached on the side of the tree. figure represents the plant (no. , c. u. herbarium) from a dead maple trunk in a woods near ithaca, collected during the autumn of . this plant compares favorably with the oyster agaric as an edible one. neither of these plants preserve as well as the elm pleurotus. =pleurotus dryinus= pers. =edible.=--_pleurotus dryinus_ represents a section of the genus in which the species are provided with a veil when young, but which disappears as the pileus expands. this species has been long known in europe on trunks of oak, ash, willow, etc., and occurs there from september to october. it was collected near ithaca, n. y., in a beech woods along six-mile creek, on october th, , growing from a decayed knothole in the trunk of a living hickory tree, and again in a few days from a decayed stump. the pileus varies from -- cm. broad, and the lateral or eccentric stem is -- cm. long by -- cm. in thickness, the length of the stem depending on the depth of the insertion of the stem in a hollow portion of the trunk. the plant is white or whitish, and the substance is quite firm, drying quite hard. the =pileus= is convex to expanded, more or less depressed in the center, the margin involute, and the surface at first floccose, becoming in age floccose scaly, since the surface breaks up into triangular scales more prominent in and near the center, smaller and inconspicuous toward the margin. the prevailing color is white, but in age the scales become cream color or buff (in european plants said to become fuscous). the pileus is either definitely lateral (fig. ) or eccentric when the stem is attached near the center as in fig. . the =gills= are white, becoming tinged with yellow in age, decurrent (running down on the stem) in striæ for short distances, -- mm. broad, not crowded. the =stem= is nearly central (fig. ), or definitely lateral (fig. ), the length varying according to conditions as stated above. it is firm, tough, fibrous. the =veil= is prominent in young and medium plants, floccose, tearing irregularly as the pileus expands. figure is from plants (no. a c. u. herbarium) growing from knothole in living hickory tree, and fig. from plants (no. b) growing on a dead stump, near ithaca. according to the descriptions of _p. dryinus_ as given by persoon, and as followed by fries and most later writers, the pileus is definitely lateral, and more or less dimidiate, while in _p. corticatus_ fr., the pileus is entire and the stem rather long and eccentric. stevenson suggests (p. ) that corticatus is perhaps too closely allied to dryinus. the plants in our fig. agree in all respects with _p. corticatus_, except that possibly the lamellæ do not anastomose on the stem as they are said to in _corticatus_. according to the usual descriptions _corticatus_ is given as the larger species, while fig. of our plant, possessing the typical characters of _dryinus_, is the larger. the form of the pileus, the length and position of the stem, depends, as we know, to a large extent on the position of the plant on the tree. when growing from the upper side, so that there is room above for the expansion of the cap, the pileus is apt to be more regular, just as is the case in _pleurotus ulmarius_, and the stem more nearly central. when the plant grows from a hollow place in the trunk as those shown in fig. did, then there is an opportunity for them to grow more or less erect, at least until they emerge from the hollow, and then the pileus is more nearly equal in its expansion and the stem is longer. berkeley describes specimens of p. dryinus with long stems growing from a hollow in an ash, and stevenson (p. ) reports the same condition. [illustration: plate , figure .--pleurotus dryinus. side and upper view. plant entirely white, scales sometimes buff or cream colored in age (natural size). copyright.] =pleurotus sulfureoides= pk.--this rare species, first collected in the catskill mountains , and described by peck in the rd report, n. y. state mus., p. , , was found by me on two different occasions at ithaca, n. y., during the autumn of , on rotting logs, ithaca flats, and again in enfield gorge, six miles from ithaca. the plants are from -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem -- mm. in thickness, and the entire plant is of a dull, or pale, yellow. [illustration: plate , figure .--pleurotus dryinus, form corticatus. entire plant white, scales cream or buff in age sometimes. the ruptured veil shows in the small plant below (natural size). copyright.] the =pileus= is nearly regular, fleshy, thin toward the margin, convex, umbonate, smooth or with a few small scales. the =gills= are rather crowded, broad, rounded or notched at the stem, pale yellow. the =spores= are elliptical, -- × -- µ. the =stem= is ascending and curved, nearly or quite central in some specimens in its attachment to the pileus, whitish or yellowish, mealy or slightly tomentose at the apex. figure is from plants (no. , c. u. herbarium) on rotting log, ithaca flats, october, . [illustration: figure .--pleurotus sulfureoides. entire plant dull or pale yellow (natural size). copyright.] =pleurotus petaloides= bull. =edible.=--the petal-like agaric is so called from the fancied resemblance of the plant to the petal of a flower. the plant usually grows in a nearly upright or more or less ascending position, or when it grows from the side of a trunk it is somewhat shelving. it is somewhat spathulate in form, i. e., broad at the free end and tapering downward into the short stem in a wedge-shaped manner, and varies from -- cm. long and -- cm. in breadth. it grows on fallen branches or trunks, on stumps, and often apparently from the ground, but in reality from underground roots or buried portions of decayed stumps, etc. [illustration: figure .--pleurotus petaloides. color pale reddish brown or brown, sometimes entirely white; gills white (natural size). copyright.] [illustration: figure .--pleurotus petaloides. more irregular form than that shown in figure ; color same as there described (natural size). copyright.] the =pileus= varies from a regular wedge-shape to spathulate, or more or less irregularly petaloid, or conchoid forms, the extremes of size and form being shown in figs. , . the margin is at first involute, finally fully expanded, and the upper surface is nearly plane or somewhat depressed. the color is often a pale reddish brown, or brown, and sometimes pure white. the margin is sometimes marked with fine striations when moist. the upper portion near the union with the stem is sometimes tomentose, sometimes smooth. the =gills= are narrow, white, or yellowish, crowded and strongly decurrent. while the plant varies greatly in form and size, it is easily recognized by the presence of numerous short whitish =cystidia= in the hymenium, which bristle over the surface of the hymenium and under a pocket lens present a "fuzzy" appearance to the lamellæ. they are -- × -- µ. the spores are white. figures , are from plants collected at ithaca. =pleurotus serotinus= schrad. this is an interesting plant and occurs during the autumn on dead trunks, branches, etc., in the woods. the stem is wanting, and the cap is shelving, dimidiate, reniform or suborbicular. the plants occur singly or are clustered and overlapping, about the same size and position as _claudopus nidulans_, from which it is readily told by its white gills and spores. the color varies from dull yellow to brownish, often with shades of olive or green. =pleurotus applicatus= batsch.--this is a pretty little species and usually occurs on much decayed wood, lying close to the ground so that it is usually directly on the under side of the log or branch. it does occur, however, on the side of the log when it is more or less shelving, because of the tendency of the pileus always to be more or less horizontal. [illustration: figure .--pleurotus applicatus. color gray to dark bluish gray, or black with a bluish tinge (natural size). copyright.] the =pileus= is -- mm. broad, its upper surface closely applied to the wood or bark on which it is growing when it appears directly on the under side. the margin is sometimes free and involute. sometimes it is attached only by the center of the pileus. there is then often a short process. when it grows on the side of the log it is attached laterally, or on the upper side of one margin, while the greater portion of the pileus is free and shelving. the surface is smooth or somewhat hairy. the color varies from gray to dark bluish gray, or black with a bluish tinge. the =gills= are thick, broad in proportion to the size of the cap, distant, and are said by some to be paler than the pileus. in plants collected at ithaca, the gills are often as dark as the pileus. the entire plant is rather tough, and revives after being dried if placed in water, resembling in this respect _marasmius_, _panus_, or _trogia_, and it may be more nearly related to one of these. figure is from plants (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected at ithaca. hygrophorus fries. [illustration: figure .--hygrophorus chrysodon. entirely white with golden yellow granules on cap and stem (natural size). copyright.] the genus _hygrophorus_ is one which presents some difficulties in the case of some of the species, especially to beginners, and plants need to be studied in the fresh condition to understand the most important character which separates it from certain of the other white-spored agarics. the substance of the pileus is continuous with that of the stem, that is, the stem is not easily separated from the cap at the point of junction, but is more or less tenacious. the gills may be adnexed, adnate, sinuate, or decurrent, but what is important they are usually rather distant, the edge is acute or sharp, and gradually thickened toward the junction with the cap, so that a section of the gill is more or less triangular. this is brought about by the fact that the substance of the cap extends downward into the gill between the laminæ or surfaces of the gill. but the most important character for determining the genus is the fact that the surfaces of the gills become rather of a waxy consistency at maturity, so that they appear to be full of a watery substance though they do not bleed, and the surface of the gill can be rather easily removed, leaving the projecting line of the _trama_. this is more marked in some species than in others. the waxy consistency of the gills then, with the gills acute at the edge, broad at the point of attachment to the pileus, and the gills being rather widely separated are the important characters in determining the species which belong to this genus. the nearest related genus is cantharellus, which, however, has blunt and forked gills. a number of the plants are brilliantly colored. [illustration: plate , figure .--hygrophorus eburneus. entirely white, slimy (natural size). copyright.] =hygrophorus chrysodon= (batsch.) fries. =edible.=--this plant has about the same range as _hygrophorus eburneus_, though it is said to be rare. it is a very pretty plant and one quite easily recognised because of the uniform white ground color of the entire plant when fresh, and the numerous golden floccules or squamules scattered over the cap and the stem. the name _chrysodon_ means golden tooth, and refers to these numerous golden flecks on the plant. a form of the plant, variety _leucodon_, is said to occur in which these granules are white. the plant is -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem -- mm. in thickness. the plants grow on the ground in the woods, or rather open places, during late summer and autumn. the =pileus= is convex, then expanded, the margin strongly involute when young, and unrolling as the cap expands, very viscid, so that particles of dirt and portions of leaves, etc., cling to it in drying. the golden or light yellow granules on the surface are rather numerous near the margin of the pileus, but are scattered over the entire surface. on the margin they sometimes stand in concentric rows close together. the =gills= are white, distant, decurrent, -- mm. broad, white, somewhat yellowish in age and in drying, and connected by veins. the =spores= white, oval to ovate, the longer ones approaching elliptical, -- × -- µ. the =stem= is soft, spongy within, nearly equal, white, the yellowish granules scattered over the surface, but more numerous toward the apex, where they are often arranged in the form of a ring. when the plant is young these yellow granules or squamules on the stem and the upper surface of the inrolled margin of the pileus meet, forming a continuous layer in the form of a veil, which becomes spread out in the form of separated granules as the pileus expands, and no free collar is left on the stem. figure is from plants (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected in october, , in woods, and by roadsides, ithaca, n. y. =hygrophorus eburneus= (bulliard) fries. =edible.=--this plant is widely distributed in europe and america. it is entirely white, of medium size, very viscid or glutinous, being entirely covered with a coating of gluten, which makes it very slippery in handling. the odor is mild and not unpleasant like that of a closely related species, _h. cossus_. the plants are -- cm. high, the cap is from -- cm. broad, and the stem -- mm. in thickness. it grows on the ground in woods, or in open grassy places. the =pileus= is fleshy, moderately thick, sometimes thin, convex to expanded, the margin uneven or sometimes wavy, smooth, and shining. when young the margin of the cap is incurved. the =gills= are strongly decurrent, distant, with vein-like elevations near the stem. =spores= rather long, oval, -- × -- µ, granular. the =stem= varies in length, it is spongy to stuffed within, sometimes hollow and tapers below. the slime which envelops the plant is sometimes so abundant as to form a veil covering the entire plant and extending across from the margin of the cap to the stem, covering the gills. as the plant dries this disappears, and does not leave an annulus on the stem. [illustration: figure .--hygrophorus fuligineus. cap and stem dull reddish brown or smoky brown, very viscid when moist; gills white (natural size). copyright.] figure is from a photograph of plants (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected in enfield gorge near ithaca, n. y., nov. th, . =hygrophorus fuligineus= frost. =edible.=--the smoky hygrophorus was described in the th report of the n. y. state museum, p. . it is an american plant, and was first collected at west albany, during the month of november. it is one of the largest species of the genus, and grows on the ground in woods, in late autumn. the plants are -- cm. high, the cap from -- cm. broad, and the stem -- cm. in thickness. the large size of the plant together with the smoky, brown, viscid cap aid in the recognition of the plant. the =pileus= is convex, becoming expanded, smooth, very viscid, dull reddish brown or smoky brown, darker on the center; the margin of the pileus is even in young specimens, becoming irregular in others; and in age often elevated more or less. the =gills= are broad, distant, usually decurrent, often connected by veins, white, with yellowish tinge in drying. the =spores= oval to elliptical, -- × -- µ. the =stem= is stout, sometimes ascending, equal, or enlarged in the middle, or tapering toward the base, solid, viscid like the pileus, usually white, sometimes tinged with the same color as pileus, somewhat yellowish tinged in drying. figure is from plants (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected in enfield gorge near ithaca, nov. , . =hygrophorus pratensis= (pers.) fr. =edible.=--this hygrophorus grows on the ground in pastures, old fields, or in waste places, or in thin and open woods, from mid-summer to late autumn. the plants are -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. or more broad, and the stem -- mm. in thickness. the cap being thick at the center, and the stem being usually stouter at the apex, often gives to the plant a shape like that of a top. the =pileus= is hemispherical, then convex, then nearly or quite expanded, white, or with various shades of yellow or tawny, or buff, not viscid, often cracking in dry weather. flesh very thick at the center, thinner at the margin. the flesh is firm and white. the =gills= are stout, distant, long decurrent, white or yellowish, and arcuate when the margin of the pileus is incurved in the young state, then ascending as the pileus takes the shape of an inverted cone. the =gills= are connected across the interspaces by vein-like folds, or elevations. the =spores= are nearly globose to ovate or nearly elliptical, white, -- × -- µ. the =stem= is smooth, firm outside and spongy within, tapering downward. =hygrophorus miniatus= fr. the vermilion hygrophorus is a very common plant in the woods during the summer. the cap and stem are bright red, sometimes vermilion. the gills are yellow and often tinged with red. the gills are adnate or sinuate. the plant is a small one but often abundant, and measures from -- cm. high, and the cap -- cm. broad. =hygrophorus coccineus= (schaeff.) fr., is a somewhat larger plant and with a scarlet cap, which becomes yellowish in age, and the gills are adnate. =hygrophorus conicus= (scop.) fr., is another bright red plant with a remarkable conical pileus, and the gills are annexed to free. =hygrophorus psittacinus= fr., is a remarkably pretty plant, the cap being from bell-shaped to expanded, umbilicate, striate, and covered with a greenish slime. it occurs in woods and open places. the prevailing color is yellow, tinged with green, but it varies greatly, sometimes yellow, red, white, etc., but nearly always is marked by the presence of the greenish slime, the color of this disappearing as the plant dries. it occurs in pastures, open woods, etc., from mid-summer to autumn. =hygrophorus hypothejus= fr., is another very variable plant in color as well as in size, varying from yellow, orange, reddish, sometimes paler, usually first grayish when covered with the olive colored slime. the gills are decurrent, white, then yellow. it occurs in autumn. lactarius fr. the genus _lactarius_ is easily distinguished from nearly all the other agarics by the presence of a milky or colored juice which exudes from wounded, cut, or broken places on the fresh plant. there are a few of the species of the genus _mycena_ which exude a watery or colored juice where wounded, but these are easily told from _lactarius_ because of their small size, more slender habit, and bell-shaped cap. by careful observation of these characters it is quite an easy matter to tell whether or not the plant at hand is a _lactarius_. in addition to the presence of this juice or milk as it is commonly termed, the entire plant while firm is quite brittle, especially the gills. there are groups of rounded or vesiculose cells intermingled with thread-like cells in the substance of the cap. this latter character can only be seen on examination with the microscope. the brittleness of the plant as well as the presence of these groups of vesiculose cells is shared by the genus _russula_, which is at once separated from _lactarius_ by the absence of a juice which exudes in drops. in determining the species it is a very important thing to know the taste of the juice or of the fresh plant, whether it is peppery, or bitter, or mild, that is, tasteless. if one is careful not to swallow any of the juice or flesh of the plant no harm results from tasting any of the plants, provided they are not tasted too often during a short time, beyond the unpleasant sensation resulting from tasting some of the very "hot" kinds. it is important also to know the color of the milk when it first exudes from wounds and if it changes color on exposure to the air. these tests of the plant should be made of course while it is fresh. the spores are white, globose or nearly so in all species, and usually covered with minute spiny processes. there are a large number of species. peck, th report, n. y. state mus., pp. -- , describes american species. [illustration: figure .--lactarius corrugis. showing corrugated cap, and white milk exuding. dark tawny brown, gills orange brown (natural size, often larger). copyright.] =lactarius volemus= fr. =edible.=--this species is by some termed the orange brown lactarius because of its usual color. it was probably termed _lactarius volemus_ because of the voluminous quantity of milk which exudes where the plant is broken or bruised, though it is not the only species having this character. in fresh, young plants, a mere crack or bruise will set loose quantities of the milky juice which drops rapidly from the plant. the plant is about the size of _lactarius deliciosus_ and occurs in damp woods, where it grows in considerable abundance from july to september, several usually growing near each other. the =pileus= is convex, then expanded, often with a small elevation (umbo) at the center, or sometimes plane, and when old a little depressed in the center, smooth or somewhat wrinkled. the cap is dull orange or tawny, the shade of color being lighter in some plants and darker in others. the flesh is white and quite firm. the =gills= are white, often tinged with the same color as the pileus, but much lighter; they are adnate or slightly decurrent. the =stem= is usually short, but varies from -- × -- cm. it is colored like the pileus, but a lighter shade. the milk is white, abundant, mild, not unpleasant to the taste, but sticky as it dries. this plant has also long been known as one of the excellent mushrooms for food both in europe and america. peck states that there are several plants which resemble _lactarius volemus_ in color and in the milk, but that no harm could come from eating them. there is one with a more reddish brown pileus, _lactarius rufus_, found sparingly in the woods, but which has a very peppery taste. it is said by some to be poisonous. =lactarius corrugis= pk. =edible.=--this species occurs with _lactarius volemus_ and very closely resembles it, but it is of a darker color, and the pileus is more often marked by prominent wrinkles, from which character the plant has derived its specific name. it is perhaps a little stouter plant than _l. volemus_, and with a thicker cap. the surface of the =pileus= seems to be covered with a very fine velvety tomentum which glistens as the cap is turned in the light. the =gills= are much darker than in _l. volemus_. the plants are usually clearly separated on account of these characters, yet there are occasionally light colored forms of _l. corrugis_ which are difficult to distinguish from dark forms of _l. volemus_, and this fact has aroused the suspicion that _corrugis_ is only a form of _volemus_. the milk is very abundant and in every respect agrees with that of _l. volemus_. i do not know that any one has tested _l. corrugis_ for food. but since it is so closely related to _l. volemus_ i tested it during the summer of in the north carolina mountains. i consider it excellent. the methods of cooking there were rather primitive. it was sliced and fried with butter and salt. it should be well cooked, for when not well done the partially raw taste is not pleasant. the plant was very abundant in the woods, and for three weeks an abundance was served twice a day for a table of twelve persons. the only disagreeable feature about it is the sticky character of the milk, which adheres in quantity to the hands and becomes black. this makes the preparation of the plant for the broiler a rather unpleasant task. figure is from plants (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected in the woods at blowing rock, during september, . just before the exposure was made to get the photograph several of the plants were wounded with a pin to cause the drops of milk to exude, as is well shown in the illustration. the dark color of the lamellæ in _l. corrugis_ is due to the number of brown cystidia or setæ, in the hymenium, which project above the surface of the gills, and they are especially abundant on the edge of the gills. these setæ are long fusoid, -- × -- µ. the variations in the color of the gills, in some plants the gills being much darker than in others, is due to the variations either in the number of these setæ or to the variation in their color. where the cystidia are fewer in number or are lighter in color the lamellæ are lighter colored. typical forms of _lactarius volemus_ have similar setæ, but they are very pale in color and not so abundant over the surface of the gills. in the darker forms of _l. volemus_ the setæ are more abundant and darker in color, approaching those found in _l. corrugis_. these facts, supported by the variation in the color of the pileus in the two species and the variations in the rugosities of the pileus, seem to indicate that the two species are very closely related. [illustration: figure .--lactarius lignyotus. cap and stem sooty, cap wrinkled, gills white, then tinged with ochre (natural size, sometimes larger). copyright.] =lactarius lignyotus= fr.--this is known as the sooty lactarius and occurs in woods along with the smoky lactarius. it is distinguished from the latter by the dark brown color of the pileus and by the presence usually of rugose wrinkles over the center of the cap. in size it agrees with the smoky lactarius. the =pileus= is convex, then plane, or somewhat depressed in the center, dry, sometimes with a small umbo, dark brown or sooty (chocolate to seal brown as given in ridgeway's nomenclature of colors), covered with a very fine tomentum which has the appearance of a bloom. the margin of the cap, especially in old plants, is somewhat wavy or plicate as in _lactarius fuliginosus_. the =gills= are moderately crowded when young, becoming distant in older plants, white, then cream color or yellow, changing to reddish or salmon color where bruised. the =spores= are yellowish in mass, faintly so under the microscope, globose, strongly echinulate, -- µ. the taste is mild, or sometimes slowly and slightly acrid. the plants from north carolina showed distinctly the change to reddish or salmon color when the gills were bruised, and the taste was noted as mild. figure is from plants (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected in the blue ridge mountains, at blowing rock, n. c., september, . =lactarius fuliginosus= fr.--the smoky or dingy lactarius occurs in woods and open grassy places. it is widely distributed. the plants are -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem -- mm. in thickness. the light smoky color of the cap and stem, the dull yellowish white color of the gills, and in old plants the wavy margin of the cap make it comparatively easy to recognize the species. [illustration: figure .--lactarius fuliginosus. cap and stem smoky, cap usually not wrinkled; gills white, then light ochre, distant (natural size). copyright.] the =pileus= is thin, at first firm, becoming soft, convex, then plane and often somewhat depressed in the center, usually even, dry, the margin in old plants crenately wavy, dull gray or smoky gray in color, with a fine down or tomentum. the =gills= are adnate, distant, more so in old plants, white, then yellowish, sometimes changing to salmon color or reddish where bruised. the =spores= are yellowish in mass, faintly yellow under the microscope, strongly echinulate or tuberculate, globose, -- µ. the =stem= is usually paler than the pileus, firm, stuffed. the milk is white, slowly acrid to the taste. figure is from plants (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected at blowing rock, n. c., during september, . =lactarius gerardii= pk.--this plant was described by dr. peck in the th report, n. y. state mus., p. , and in the th rept. p. . according to the descriptions it differs from _lactarius fuliginosus_ only in the spores being white, the gills more distant, and the taste being constantly mild. since the taste in _l. fuliginosus_ is sometimes mild, or slowly acrid, and the lamellæ in the older plants are more distant, the spores sometimes only tinged with yellow, there does not seem to be a very marked difference between the two species. in fact all three of these species, _fuliginosus_, _lignyotus_ and _gerardii_, seem to be very closely related. forms of _fuliginosus_ approach _lignyotus_ in color, and the =pileus= sometimes is rugose wrinkled, while in _lignyotus_ pale forms occur, and the pileus is not always rugose wrinkled. the color of the bruised lamellæ is the same in the two last species and sometimes the change in color is not marked. [illustration: figure .--lactarius torminosus. cap ochraceous and pink hues, with zones of darker color, margin of cap wooly (natural size, often much larger). copyright.] =lactarius torminosus= (schaeff.) fr.--this plant is widely distributed in europe, asia, as well as in america. it is easily recognised by the uneven mixture of pink and ochraceous colors, and the very hairy or tomentose margin of the cap. the plants are -- cm. high, the cap about the same breadth, and the stem -- cm. in thickness. it occurs in woods on the ground during late summer and autumn. the =pileus= is convex, depressed in the center, and the margin strongly incurved when young, the abundant hairs on the margin forming an apparent veil at this time which covers up the gills. the upper surface of the pileus is smooth, or sometimes more or less covered with a tomentum similar to that on the margin. the color is an admixture of ochraceous and pink hues, sometimes with concentric zones of darker shades. the =gills= are crowded, narrow, whitish, with a tinge of yellowish flesh color. the =stem= is cylindrical, even, hollow, whitish. the milk is white, unchangeable, acrid to the taste. figure , left hand plants, is from plants (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected in the blue ridge mountains, n. c., in september, , and the right hand plant (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected at ithaca, n. y. [illustration: figure .--lactarius piperatus. entirely white, milk very peppery (natural size, often larger). copyright.] =lactarius piperatus= (scop.) fr.--this species is very hot and peppery to the taste, is of medium size, entirely white, depressed at the center, or funnel-shaped, with a short stem, and very narrow and crowded gills, and abundant white milk. the plants are -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem -- cm. in thickness. it grows in woods on the ground and is quite common, sometimes very common in late summer and autumn. the =pileus= is fleshy, thick, firm, convex, umbilicate, and then depressed in the center, becoming finally more or less funnel-shaped by the elevation of the margin. it is white, smooth when young, in age sometimes becoming sordid and somewhat roughened. the =gills= are white, very narrow, very much crowded, and some of them forked, arcuate and then ascending because of the funnel-shaped pileus. the =spores= are _smooth_, oval, with a small point, -- × -- µ. the =stem= is equal or tapering below, short, solid. the milk is white, unchangeable, very acrid to the taste and abundant. the plant is reported as edible. a closely related species is _l. pergamenus_ (swartz) fr., which resembles it very closely, but has a longer, stuffed stem, and thinner, more pliant pileus, which is more frequently irregular and eccentric, and not at first umbilicate. figure is from plants (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected at blowing rock, n. c., during september, . [illustration: figure .--lactarius resimus. entire plant white, in age scales on cap dull ochraceous (natural size). copyright.] =lactarius resimus= fr.?--this plant is very common in the woods bordering a sphagnum moor at malloryville, n. y., ten miles from ithaca, during july to september. i have found it at this place every summer for the past three years. it occurs also in the woods of the damp ravines in the vicinity of ithaca. it was also abundant in the blue ridge mountains of north carolina, during september, . the plants are large, the caps -- cm. broad, the stem -- cm. long, and -- cm. in thickness. the =pileus= is convex, umbilicate, then depressed and more or less funnel-shaped in age, white, in the center roughened with fibrous scales as the plant ages, the scales becoming quite stout in old plants. the scales are tinged with dull ochraceous or are light brownish in the older plants. the ochre colored scales are sometimes evident over the entire cap, even in young plants. in young plants the margin is strongly involute or inrolled, and a loose but thick veil of interwoven threads extends from the surface of the roll to the stem. this disappears as the margin of the cap unrolls with the expanding pileus. the margin of the pileus is often sterile, that is, it extends beyond the ends of the gills. the =gills= are white, stout, and broad, decurrent, some of them forked near the stem. when bruised, the gills after several hours become ochraceous brown. the spores are subglobose, minutely spiny, -- µ. the =stem= is solid, cylindrical, minutely tomentose, spongy within when old. [illustration: figure .--lactarius resimus. section of young plant showing inrolled margin of cap, and the veil (natural size). copyright.] the taste is very acrid, and the white milk not changing to yellow. while the milk does not change to yellow, broken portions of the plant slowly change to flesh color, then ochraceous brown. figures , are from plants collected in one of the damp gorges near ithaca, during september, . the forked gills, the strongly inrolled margin of the cap and veil of the young plants are well shown in the illustration. =lactarius chrysorrheus= fr.--this is a common and widely distributed species, from small to medium size. the plants are -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem -- . cm. in thickness. it grows in woods and groves during late summer and autumn. the =pileus= is fleshy, of medium thickness, convex and depressed in the center from the young condition, and as the pileus expands the margin becomes more and more upturned and the depression deeper, so that eventually it is more or less broadly funnel-form. the color varies from white to flesh color, tinged with yellow sometimes in spots, and marked usually with faint zones of brighter yellow. the zones are sometimes very indistinct or entirely wanting. the =gills= are crowded, white then yellow, where bruised becoming yellowish, then dull reddish. the =stem= is equal or tapering below, hollow or stuffed, paler than the pileus, smooth (sometimes pitted as shown in the fig. ). [illustration: figure .--lactarius chrysorrheus. cap white or flesh color, often tinged with yellowish, and with darker zones (natural size). copyright.] the plant is acrid to the taste, the milk white changing to citron yellow on exposure. figure is from plants (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected in the blue ridge mountains at blowing rock, n. c., september, . the species was quite abundant in this locality during august and september, in chestnut groves, mixed woods, and borders of woods. =lactarius deliciosus= (l.) fr. =edible.=--_lactarius deliciosus_ grows in damp woods, is widely distributed and sometimes is quite common. it occurs from july to october. it is one of the medium or large sized species, being -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem -- cm. in thickness. it is easily recognized by its orange color and the concentric zones of light and dark orange around on the pileus, and by the orange milk which is exuded where wounded. the =pileus= is first convex, then slightly depressed in the center, becoming more expanded, and finally more or less funnel-shaped by the elevation of the margin. it is usually more or less orange in color or mottled with varying shades, and with concentric bands of a deeper color. the =gills= are yellowish orange often with darker spots. the =stem= is of the same color as the pileus but paler, sometimes with darker spots. the flesh of the plant is white, shaded with orange. in old plants the color fades out somewhat and becomes unevenly tinged with green, and bruised places become green. peck states that when fresh the plant often has a slight acrid taste. being a widely distributed and not uncommon plant, and one so readily recognized, it has long been known in the old world as well as here. all writers on these subjects concur in recommending it for food, some pronouncing it excellent, some the most delicious known. its name suggests the estimation in which it was held when christened. =lactarius chelidonium= pk. =edible.=--this pretty little _lactarius_ was described by peck in the th report, n. y. state mus., p. . it is closely allied to _lactarius deliciosus_, from which it is said to differ in its "more narrow lamellæ, differently colored milk, smaller spores." the plant is about cm. high, the cap about cm. broad, and the stem -- . cm. in thickness. the =pileus= is fleshy, firm, convex and depressed in the center, smooth, slightly viscid when moist, "of a grayish green color with blue and yellow tints, and a few narrow zones on the margin." the =gills= are crowded, narrow, some of them forked at the base, and sometimes joining to form reticulations. the =spores= are yellowish. the short =stem= is nearly equal, smooth, hollow, and the same color as the pileus. the taste is mild, the milk not abundant, and of a yellowish color, "resembling the juice of celandine or the liquid secreted from the mouth of grasshoppers." wounds on the plant are first of the color of the milk, changing on exposure to blue, and finally to green. the plant occurs during late summer and in the autumn in woods. peck reported it first from saratoga, n. y. it has been found elsewhere in the state, and it has probably quite a wide distribution. i found it during september, , in the blue ridge mountains of n. c. figure , plate , is from some of the water color drawings made by mr. franklin r. rathbun. [illustration: plate . fig. .--lactarius deliciosus. fig. .--l. chelidonium. fig. .--l. indigo. copyright .] =lactarius indigo= (schw.) fr.--the indigo blue lactarius is a very striking and easily recognized plant because of the rich indigo blue color so predominant in the entire plant. it is not very abundant, but is widely distributed in north america. the plant is -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem is -- cm. in thickness. the plants occur during late summer and in the autumn. the =pileus= when young is umbilicate, the margin involute, and in age the margin becomes elevated and then the pileus is more or less funnel-shaped. the indigo blue color is deeply seated, and the surface of the pileus has a silvery gray appearance through which the indigo blue color is seen. the surface is marked by concentric zones of a darker shade. in age the color is apt to be less uniformly distributed, it is paler, and the zones are fainter. the _gills_ are crowded, and when bruised, or in age, the indigo blue color changes somewhat to greenish. the milk is dark blue. russula pers. the species of _russula_ are very characteristic, and the genus is easily recognized in most cases after a little experience. in the very brittle texture of the plants the genus resembles _lactarius_, and many of them are more brittle than the species of this genus. a section of the pileus shows under the microscope a similar vesicular condition, that is the grouping of large rounded cells together, with threads between. but the species of _russula_ are at once separated from those of _lactarius_ by the absence of a juice which exudes in drops from bruised parts of _lactarius_. while some of the species are white and others have dull or sombre colors, many of the species of _russula_ have bright, or even brilliant colors, as red, purple, violet, pink, blue, yellow, green. in determining many of the species, however, it is necessary to know the taste, whether mild, bitter, acrid, etc., and in this respect the genus again resembles _lactarius_. the color of the gills as well as the color of the spores in mass should also be determined. the genus is quite a large one, and the american species are not well known, the genus being a difficult one. in jour. mycolog., = =: -- , , the characters of the tribes of russula with descriptions of species are quoted from stevenson, with notes on their distribution in n. a. by macadam. =russula alutacea= fr. =edible.=--this handsome _russula_ differs from the others described here in the color of the gills and spores. the plant is common and occurs in mixed woods during the summer and early autumn. it is -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem . -- . cm. in thickness. the =pileus= is fleshy, oval to bell-shaped, becoming plane, and sometimes umbilicate. it is red or blood red in color, sometimes purple, and becoming pale in age, especially at the center. it is viscid when moist, the margin thin and striate-tuberculate. the =gills= are free from the stem, stout, broad, first white, becoming yellow, and in age ochraceous. the gills are all of the same length, not crowded, and they are connected by vein-like elevations over the surface. the =stem= is stout, solid, even, white, portions of the stem are red, sometimes purple. the taste is mild, and the plant is regarded as one of the very good ones for food. =russula lepida= fr. =edible.=--this elegant _russula_ occurs in birch woods or in mixed woods during late summer and autumn. it is -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem -- cm. in thickness. the =pileus= is fleshy, convex, then expanded, obtuse, not shining, deep red, becoming pale in age, often whitish at the center, silky, in age the surface cracking, the margin blunt and not striate. the =gills= are rounded next the stem, thick, rather crowded, and sometimes forked, white, sometimes red on the edge near the margin of the pileus. the gills are often connected by vein-like elevations over the surface. the =stem= is equal, white or rose color. the taste is mild. =russula virescens= (schaeff.) fr. =edible.=--this plant grows on the ground in woods or in grassy places in groves from july to september. the stem is short, -- cm. long × -- cm. thick, and the cap is -- cm. broad. the plant is well known by the green color of the pileus and by the surface of the pileus being separated into numerous, quite regular, somewhat angular areas or patches, where the green color is more pronounced. the =pileus= is first rounded, then convex and expanded, and when old somewhat depressed in the center. it is quite firm, dry, greenish, and the surface with numerous angular floccose areas or patches of usually a deeper green. sometimes the pileus is said to be tinged with yellow. the =gills= are adnate, nearly free from the stem, and crowded. the =stem= is white and firm. the greenish russula, _russula virescens_, like a number of other plants, has long been recommended for food, both in europe and in this country. there are several species of _russula_ in which the pileus is green, but this species is readily distinguished from them by the greenish floccose patches on the surface of the pileus. =russula furcata= is a common species in similar situations, with forked gills, and the cap very variable in color, sometimes reddish, purple, purple brown, or in one form green. i know of the _russula furcata_ having been eaten in rather small quantities, and while in this case no harm resulted the taste was not agreeable. [illustration: plate . fig. .--russula virescens. fig. .--r. alutacea. fig. .--r. lepida. fig. .--r. emetica. fig. .--yellow russula. fig. .--r. adusta. copyright .] =russula fragilis= (pers.) fr.--this plant is very common in damp woods, or during wet weather from july to september. it is a small plant and very fragile, as its name suggests, much more so than most other species. it is -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem about cm. in thickness. the =pileus= is convex, sometimes slightly umbonate, then plane, and in age somewhat depressed. the cuticle peels off very easily. the color is often a bright red, or pink, sometimes purple or violet, and becomes paler in age. it is somewhat viscid when moist, and the margin is very thin and strongly striate and tuberculate, i. e., the ridges between the marginal furrows are tuberculate. the =gills= are lightly adnexed, thin, crowded, broad, all of the same length, white. the =stem= is usually white, sometimes more or less pink colored, spongy within, becoming hollow. the taste is very acrid. =russula emetica= fr. =poisonous.=--this _russula_ has a very wide distribution and occurs on the ground in woods or open places during summer and autumn. it is a beautiful species and very fragile. the plants are -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem -- cm. in thickness. the =pileus= is oval to bell-shaped when young, becoming plane, and in age depressed. it is smooth, shining, the margin furrowed and tuberculate. the color is from pink or rosy when young to dark red when older, and fading to tawny or sometimes yellowish in age. the cuticle is easily separable as in _r. fragilis_, the flesh white, but reddish just beneath the cuticle. the =gills= are nearly free, broad, not crowded, white. the stem is stout, spongy within, white or reddish, fragile when old. the plant is very acrid to the taste and is said to be poisonous, and to act as an emetic. =russula adusta= (pers.) fr.--this plant occurs on the ground in woods during late summer and in autumn. it is -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem is -- . cm. in thickness. the =pileus= is fleshy, firm, convex, depressed at the center, and when old more or less funnel-shaped from the upturning of the margin, which is at first incurved and smooth. it varies from white to gray and smoky color. the =gills= are adnate, or decurrent, thin, crowded, of unequal lengths, white, then becoming dark. the =stem= is colored like the pileus. the entire plant becomes darker in drying, sometimes almost black. it is near _russula nigricans_, but is smaller, and does not have a red juice as _r. nigricans_ has. cantharellus adanson. from the other white-spored agarics of a fleshy consistency _cantharellus_ is distinguished by the form of the gills. the gills are generally forked, once or several times, in a dichotomous manner, though sometimes irregularly. they are blunt on the edge, not acute as in most of the other genera. the gills are usually narrow and in many species look like veins, folds, or wrinkles, but in some species, as in _cantharellus aurantiacus_, they are rather thin and broad. [illustration: figure .--cantharellus cibarius. under view showing forked gills with veins connecting them. entire plant rich chrome yellow (natural size).] =cantharellus cibarius= fr. =edible.=--this plant is known as the _chanterelle_. it has a very wide distribution and has long been regarded as one of the best of the edible mushrooms. many of the writers on fungi speak of it in terms of high praise. the entire plant is a uniform rich chrome yellow. sometimes it is symmetrical in form, but usually it is more or less irregular and unsymmetrical in form. the plants are -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem short and rather thick. [illustration: plate , figure .--cantharellus aurantiacus. color orange yellow, and cap varies ochre, raw sienna, tawny, in different specimens (natural size). copyright.] the =pileus= is fleshy, rather thick, the margin thick and blunt and at first inrolled. it is convex, becoming expanded or sometimes depressed by the margin of the cap becoming elevated. the margin is often wavy or repand, and in irregular forms it is only produced at one side, or more at one side than at the other, or the cap is irregularly lobed. the =gills= are very narrow, stout, distant, more or less sinuous, forked or anastomosing irregularly, and because of the pileus being something like an inverted cone the gills appear to run down on the stem. the =spores= are faintly yellowish, elliptical, -- µ. figure represents but a single specimen, and this one with a nearly lateral pileus. [illustration: figure .--cantharellus aurantiacus, under view, enlarged nearly twice, showing regularly forked gills.] =cantharellus aurantiacus= fr.--this orange cantharellus is very common, and occurs on the ground or on very rotten wood, logs, branches, etc., from summer to very late autumn. it is widely distributed in europe and america. it is easily known by its dull orange or brownish pileus, yellow gills, which are thin and regularly forked, and by the pileus being more or less depressed or funnel-shaped. the plants are from -- cm. high, the cap from -- cm. broad, and the stem about -- mm. in thickness. the =pileus= is fleshy, soft, flexible, convex, to expanded, or obconic, plane or depressed, or funnel-shaped, the margin strongly inrolled when young, in age simply incurved, the margin plane or repand and undulate. the color varies from ochre yellow to dull orange, or orange ochraceous, raw sienna, and tawny, in different specimens. it is often brownish at the center. the surface of the pileus is minutely tomentose with silky hairs, especially toward the center, and sometimes smooth toward the margin. the flesh is -- mm. at the center, and thin toward the margin. the gills are arcuate, decurrent, thin, the edge blunt, but not so much so as in a number of other species, crowded, regularly forked several times, at length ascending when the pileus is elevated at the margin. the color of the =gills= is orange to cadmium orange, or sometimes paler, cadmium yellow or deep chrome. the =stem= is clay color to ochre yellow, enlarged below, spongy, stuffed, fistulose, soft, fibrous, more or less ascending at the base. the taste is somewhat nutty, sometimes bitterish. the plants in fig. (no. , c. u. herbarium) were collected near ithaca, october , . marasmius fr. in this genus the plants are tough and fleshy or membranaceous, leathery and dry. they do not easily decay, but shrivel up in dry weather, and revive in wet weather, or when placed in water. this is an important character in distinguishing the genus. it is closely related to _collybia_, from which it is difficult to separate certain species. on the other hand, it is closely related to _lentinus_ and _panus_, both of which are tough and pliant. in _marasmius_, however, the substance of the pileus is separate from that of the stem, while in _lentinus_ and _panus_ it is continuous, a character rather difficult for the beginner to understand. the species of _marasmius_, however, are generally much smaller than those of _lentinus_ and _panus_, especially those which grow on wood. the stem in _marasmius_ is in nearly all species central, while in _lentinus_ and _panus_ it is generally more or less eccentric. many of the species of the genus _marasmius_ have an odor of garlic when fresh. besides the fairy ring (_m. oreades_) which grows on the ground, _m. rotula_ is a very common species on wood and leaves. it has a slender, black, shining stem, and a brownish pileus usually with a black spot in the depression in the center. the species are very numerous. peck, rd report, n. y. state mus., p. -- , describes species. morgan jour. cinn. soc. nat. hist. = =: -- , describes species. =marasmius oreades= fr. =edible.=--this is the well known "fairy ring" mushroom. it grows during the summer and autumn in grassy places, as in lawns, by roadsides, in pastures, etc. it appears most abundantly during wet weather or following heavy rains. it is found usually in circles, or in the arc of a circle, though few scattered plants not arranged in this way often occur. the plants are -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem -- mm. in thickness. [illustration: figure .--marasmius oreades. caps buff, tawny, or reddish.] the =pileus= is convex to expanded, sometimes the center elevated, fleshy, rather thin, tough, smooth, buff color, or tawny or reddish, in age, or in drying, paler. when moist the pileus may be striate on the margin. the =gills= are broad, free or adnexed, rounded near the stem, white or dull yellowish. the =spores= are elliptical, -- µ long. the =stem= is tough, solid, whitish. this widely distributed fungus is much prized everywhere by those who know it. it is not the only fungus which appears in rings, so that this habit is not peculiar to this plant. several different kinds are known to appear in rings at times. the appearance of the fungus in rings is due to the mode of growth of the mycelium or spawn in the soil. having started at a given spot the mycelium consumes the food material in the soil suitable for it, and the plants for the first year appear in a group. in the center of this spot the mycelium, having consumed all the available food, probably dies after producing the crop of mushrooms. but around the edge of the spot the mycelium or spawn still exists, and at the beginning of the next season it starts into growth and feeds on the available food in a zone surrounding the spot where it grew the previous year. this second year, then, the plants appear in a small ring. so in succeeding years it advances outward, the ring each year becoming larger. where the plants appear only in the arc of a circle, something has happened to check or destroy the mycelium in the remaining arc of the circle. it has been noted by several observers that the grass in the ring occupied by the mushrooms is often greener than that adjoining. this is perhaps due to some stimulus exerted by the mycelium of the fungus on the grass, or possibly the mycelium may in some way make certain foods available for the grass which gives an additional supply to it at this point. fig. is from plants (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected in a lawn, october , , ithaca. illustrations of some fine large rings formed by this fungus appeared in circular no. by mr. coville, of the division of botany in the u. s. dept. agr. =marasmius cohærens= (fr.) bres. (_mycena cohærens_ fr. _collybia lachnophylla_ berk. _collybia spinulifera_ pk.)--this plant grows in dense clusters, ten to twenty individuals with their stems closely joined below and fastened together by the abundant growth of threads from the lower ends. from this character the name _cohærens_ was derived. the plants grow on the ground or on very rotten wood in woods during late spring and in the summer. the plant is not very common in this country, but appears to be widely distributed both in europe and here, having been collected in carolina, ohio, vermont, new york, etc. the plants are -- cm. high, the cap -- . cm. broad, and the stem -- mm. in thickness. the =pileus= is fleshy, tough, convex or bell-shaped, then expanded, sometimes umbonate, or in age sometimes the margin upturned and more or less wavy, not viscid, but finely striate when damp, thin. the color varies from vinaceous cinnamon to chestnut or light leather color, or tawny, paler in age, and sometimes darker on the center. the =gills= are sometimes more or less crowded, narrow, -- mm. broad, adnate, but notched, and sometimes becoming free from the stem. the color is light leather color, brick red or bay, the color and color variations being due to numbers of colored cystidia or spicules scattered over the surface of the gills and on the edge. the =cystidia= are fulvous, fusoid, -- µ long. the =spores= are oval, white, small, × µ. the =stem= is long and slender, nearly cylindrical, tapering somewhat above, slightly enlarged below, and rooting. the color is the same as that of the pileus or dark bay brown, and shining, and seems to be due to large numbers of spicules similar to those on the gills. the color is paler below in some cases, or gradually darker below in others. the stems are bound together below by numerous threads. figure is from plants (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected in woods near freeville, n. y. the plants have been collected near ithaca on three different occasions, twice near freeville about nine miles from ithaca, and once in the woods at ithaca. it is easily distinguished by its color and the presence of the peculiar setæ or cystidia. [illustration: figure .--marasmius cohaerens (fr.) bres. (= mycena cohaerens fr. = collybia lachnophylla berk. = c. spinulifera pk.) color chestnut, light leather color, tawny or vinaceous cinnamon, darker in center, stems dark, shining, gills leather color, or fulvous, or wine color, brick red or bay, varying in different specimens (natural size). copyright.] although the plant has been collected on several different occasions in america, it does not seem to have been recognized under this name until recently, save the record of it from carolina by de schweinitz (synop. fung. car. no. . p. ). lentinus fr. the plants of this genus are tough and pliant, becoming hard when old, unless very watery, and when dry. the genus differs from the other tough and pliant ones by the peculiarity of the gills, the gills being notched or serrate on the edges. sometimes this appearance is intensified by the cracking of the gills in age or in drying. the nearest ally of the genus is _panus_, which is only separated from _lentinus_ by the edge of the gills being plane. this does not seem a very good character on which to separate the species of the two genera, since it is often difficult to tell whether the gills are naturally serrate or whether they have become so by certain tensions which exist on the lamellæ during the expansion and drying of the pileus. schroeter unites _panus_ with _lentinus_ (cohn's krypt. flora, schlesien, = =, ; , ). the plants are usually very irregular and many of them shelving, only a few grow upright and have regular caps. =lentinus vulpinus= fr.--this is a large and handsome species, having a wide distribution in europe and in this country, but it does not seem to be common. it grows on trunks, logs, stumps, etc., in the woods. it was quite abundant during late summer and in the autumn on fallen logs, in a woods near ithaca. the =caps= are shelving, closely overlapping in shingled fashion (imbricated), and joined at the narrowed base. the surface is convex, and the margin is strongly incurved, so that each of the individual caps is shell-shaped (conchate). the surface of the pileus is coarsely hairy or hispid, the surface becoming more rough with age. many coarse hairs unite to form coarse tufts which are stouter and nearly erect toward the base of the cap, and give the surface a tuberculate appearance. toward the margin of the cap these coarse hairs are arranged in nearly parallel lines, making rows or ridges, which are very rough. the hairs and tubercles are dark in color, being nearly black toward the base, especially in old plants, and sometimes pale or of a smoky hue, especially in young plants. the pileus is flesh color when young, becoming darker when old, and the flesh is quite thin, whitish toward the gills and darker toward the surface. the =gills= are broad, nearly white, flesh color near the base, coarsely serrate, becoming cracked in age and in drying, narrowed toward the base of the pileus, not forked, crowded, -- mm. broad. the cap and gills are tough even when fresh. the plant has an intensely pungent taste. figures , represent an upper, front, and under view of the pilei (no. , c. u. herbarium). [illustration: plate , figure .--lentinus vulpinus. the coarse, hairy scales are black in old plants, paler, of a smoky hue, in younger ones (natural size). copyright.] =lentinus lecomtei= fr., is a very common and widely distributed species growing on wood. when it grows on the upper side of logs the pileus is sometimes regular and funnel-shaped (cyathiform), but it is often irregular and produced on one side, especially if it grows on the side of the substratum. in most cases, however, there is a funnel-shaped depression above the attachment of the stem. the =pileus= is tough, reddish or reddish brown or leather color, hairy or sometimes strigose, the margin incurved. the =stem= is usually short, hairy, or in age it may become more or less smooth. the =gills= are narrow, crowded, the spores small, ovate to elliptical -- × -- µ. according to bresadola this is the same as _panus rudis_ fr. it resembles very closely also _panus cyathiformis_ (schaeff.) fr., and _p. strigosus_ b. & c. =lentinus lepideus= fr., [_l. squamosus_ (schaeff.) schroet.] is another common and widely distributed species. it is much larger than _l. lecomtei_, whitish with coarse brown scales on the cap. it is -- cm. high, and the cap is often as broad. the stem is -- cm. long and -- cm. in thickness. it grows on wood. [illustration: figure .--lentinus vulpinus, front and under view (natural size). copyright.] =lentinus stipticus= (bull.) schroet. (_panus stipticus_ bull.) is a very small species compared with the three named above. it is, however, a very common and widely distributed one, growing on wood, and may be found the year around. the pileus is -- cm. in diameter, whitish or grayish, very tough, expanded in wet weather, and curled up in dry weather. the stem is very short, and attached to one side of the cap. when freshly developed the plant is phosphorescent. schizophyllum fr. this is a very interesting genus, but the species are very few. the plants are tough, pliant when fresh, and dry. the gills are very characteristic, being split along the edge and generally strongly revolute, that is, the split edges curve around against the side of the gill. this character can be seen sometimes with the aid of a hand lens, but is very evident when a section of the cap and gills is made and then examined with a microscope. the spores are white. [illustration: figure .--schizophyllum alneum (==s. commune). view of under side (natural size). copyright.] =schizophyllum alneum= (l.) schroet.--this species usually goes by the name of _schizophyllum commune_, but the earlier name is _s. alneum_. it is a very common plant and is world wide in its distribution, growing on wood, as on branches, trunks, etc. it is white, and the =pileus= is very hairy or tomentose, with coarse white hairs. it is -- cm. in diameter, and the cap is sessile, either attached at one side when the cap is more produced on one side than on the other, or it may be attached at or near the center of the top, when the cap is more evenly developed on all sides. it is often crenate or lobed on the margin, the larger plants showing this character more prominently. the margin is incurved. the =gills= are white, wooly, branched and extend out toward the margin of the cap like the radiations of a fan. the gills are deeply split along the edge, and strongly revolute. it is a very pretty plant, but one becomes rather tired of collecting it because it is so common. it may be found at all seasons of the year on dead sticks and branches, either in the woods or elsewhere, if the branches are present. it is very coriaceous, and tough. during dry weather it is much shrunken and curled up, but during rains it expands quickly and then it is seen in its beauty. [illustration: plate , figure .--trogia crispa. large cluster of caps, view of underside (natural size). copyright.] figure shows the plant in the expanded condition, from the under side. the plants were growing on a hickory branch, and were dry and shrunken when brought in the laboratory. the branch and the fungus were placed in water for a few hours, when the fungus expanded, and was then photographed in this condition. trogia fr. this genus is characterized, according to fries, by the gills being channeled along the edge, but singularly the only species attributed to the genus in europe and in our country has not channeled gills, but only somewhat crisped along the edges. it is usually, therefore, a difficult matter for a beginner to determine the plant simply from this description. the gills are furthermore narrow, irregular, and the plants are somewhat soft and flabby when wet, but brittle and persistent when dry, so that when moistened they revive and appear as if fresh. =trogia crispa= fr.--this species is the principal if not only one in europe and america. it is widely distributed, and sometimes not very uncommon. it occurs on trunks, branches, etc., often on the birch. the plants are from . -- cm. broad, usually sessile. the upper surface is whitish or reddish yellow toward the attachment, sometimes tan color, and when young it is sometimes covered with whitish hairs. the gills are very narrow, vein-like, irregular, interrupted or continuous, and often more or less branched. the gills are very much crisped, hence the name, blunt at the edge and white or bluish gray. the caps are usually much crowded and overlapped in an imbricated fashion as shown in fig. ; a photograph of a fine specimen after being moistened. chapter vii. the rosy-spored agarics. the spores are rosy, pink, salmon colored, flesh colored, or reddish. for analytical keys to the genera see chapter xxiv. pluteus fr. in the genus _pluteus_ the volva and annulus are both wanting, the gills are usually free from the stem, and the stem is easily broken out from the substance of the cap, reminding one in some cases of a ball and socket joint. the substance of the cap is thus said to be not continuous with that of the stem. the spores seen in mass are flesh colored as in other genera of this subdivision of the agarics. [illustration: figure .--pluteus cervinus. cap grayish brown, or sooty, smooth or sometimes scaly, rarely white, stem same color, but paler; gills first white, then flesh color (natural size, often larger). copyright.] =pluteus cervinus= schaeff. =edible.=--this is one of the very common species of the higher fungi, and is also very widely distributed. it varies considerably in size and appearance. it is -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem -- mm. in thickness. it occurs on the ground from underground roots or rotten wood, or grows on decaying stumps, logs, etc., from spring until late autumn. sometimes it is found growing in sawdust. the =pileus= is fleshy, bell-shaped, then convex, and becoming expanded, the surface usually smooth, but showing radiating fibrils, grayish brown, or sometimes sooty, sometimes more or less scaly. the =gills= are not crowded, broad, free from the stem, white, then becoming flesh color with the maturity of the spores. one very characteristic feature of the plant is the presence of =cystidia= in the hymenium on the gills. these are stout, colorless, elliptical, thick-walled, and terminate in two or three blunt, short prongs. the =stem= is nearly equal, solid, the color much the same as that of the pileus, but often paler above, smooth or sometimes scaly. in some forms the plant is entirely white, except the gills. in addition to the white forms occurring in the woods, i have found them in an old abandoned cement mine growing on wood props. [illustration: figure .--pluteus tomentosulus. cap and stem entirely white, gills flesh color, stem furrowed and tomentose (natural size). copyright.] =pluteus tomentosulus= pk.--this plant was described by peck in the d report, n. y. state mus., page , . it grows on decaying wood in the woods during july and august. the plants are -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem -- mm. in thickness. the description given by peck is as follows: "pileus thin, convex or expanded, subumbonate, dry, minutely squamulose-tomentose, white, sometimes pinkish on the margin; lamellæ rather broad, rounded behind, free, crowded, white then flesh colored; stem equal, solid, striate, slightly pubescent or subtomentose, white; spores subglobose, µ in diameter, generally containing a large single nucleus." from the plant collected at ithaca the following notes were made. the =pileus= and stem are entirely white, the gills flesh color. the pileus is expanded, umbonate, thin except at the umbo, minutely floccose squamulose, no pinkish tinge noted; the flesh is white, but on the umbo changing to flesh color where wounded. the =gills= are free, with a clear white space between stem and rounded edges, crowded, narrow (about -- mm. broad) edge finely fimbriate, probably formed by numerous bottle-shaped cystidia on the edge, and which extend up a little distance on the side of the gills, but are not distributed in numbers over the surface of the gills; =cystidia= thin walled, hyaline. the =spores= are flesh colored, subglobose, -- µ. =stem= cylindrical, even, twisted somewhat, white, striate and minutely squamulose like the pileus, but with coarser scales, especially toward the base, solid, flesh white. the species received its name from the tomentose, striate character of the stem. the plants (no. , c. u. herbarium) illustrated in fig. were collected in enfield gorge, vicinity of ithaca, july , . volvaria fr. this genus takes its name from the volva, which means a wrapper, and which, as we know from our studies of _amanita_, entirely envelops the plant at a young stage. the genus is characterized then by the rosy or reddish spores, the presence of a volva, and the annulus is wanting. the stem is easily separable from the pileus at its junction, in this respect being similar to _amanita_, _amanitopsis_, _lepiota_ and others. the gills are usually, also, free from the stem. the species grow on rotting wood, on leaf mould and on richly manured ground, etc. they are of a very soft texture and usually soon decay. =volvaria bombycina= (pers.) fr. =edible.=--the silky volvaria is so called because of the beautiful silky texture of the surface of the cap. it is not very common, but is world wide in its distribution, and occurs on decayed wood of logs, stumps, etc., during late summer and in autumn. it is usually of a beautiful white color, large, the volva large and thick, reminding one of a bag, and the stem is ascending when the plant grows on the side of the trunk, or erect when it grows on the upper side of a log or stump. the plant is from -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem -- . cm. thickness. the =pileus= is globose, then bell-shaped, and finally convex and somewhat umbonate, white, according to some becoming somewhat reddish. the entire surface is silky, and numerous hairs stand out in the form of soft down, when older the surface becoming more or less scaly, or rarely becoming smooth at the apex. the flesh is white. the =gills= are crowded, very broad along the middle, flesh colored, the edge sometimes ragged. the =spores= are rosy in mass, oval to broadly elliptical, -- × -- µ, smooth. the =stem= tapers from the base to the apex, is solid, smooth. the =volva= is large and bag-like. the plant is considered edible by some. figure is from a plant (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected on a log of acer rubrum in cascadilla woods, ithaca, on august th, . [illustration: figure .--volvaria bombycina. cap, stem and volva entirely white, gills flesh color (natural size). copyright.] =volvaria speciosa= fr.--this plant seems to be rare, but it has a wide distribution in europe and the united states. it occurs on richly manured ground, on dung, etc. the plants are -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem -- cm. in thickness. the entire plant is white or whitish, sometimes grayish, especially at the center, where it is also sometimes darker and of a smoky color. the =pileus= is globose when young, then bell-shaped, and finally more or less expanded, and umbonate, smooth, very viscid, so that earth, leaves, etc., cling to it. the flesh is white and very soft. the =gills= are free, flesh colored to reddish or fulvous, from the deeply colored spores. the =spores= are broadly elliptical, or oval, -- × -- µ. the =stem= is nearly cylindrical, or tapering evenly from the base, when young more or less hairy, becoming smooth. the =volva= is large, edge free, but fitting very close, flabby and irregularly torn. the species is reported from california by mcclatchie, and from wisconsin by bundy. specimens were received in june, , from dr. post of lansing, mich., which were collected there in a potato patch. it was abundant during may and june. plants which were sent in a fresh condition were badly decayed by the time they reached ithaca, and the odor was very disagreeable. it is remarkable that the odor was that of rotting potatoes! in this connection might be mentioned dr. peck's observation (bull. torr. bot. club : p. , ) that _agaricus maritimus_ pk., which grows near the seashore, possessed "a taste and odor suggestive of the sea." mcclatchie reports that it is common in cultivated soil, especially grain fields and along roads, and that it is "a fine edible agaric and our most abundant one in california." clitopilus fr. in the rosy-spored agarics belonging to this genus the gills are decurrent, that is, extend for some distance down on the stem. the stem is fleshy. the gills are white at first and become pink or salmon color as the plants mature, and the spores take on their characteristic color. the plants should thus not be confused with any of the species of _agaricus_ to which the common mushroom belongs, since in those species the gills become dark brown or blackish when mature. the genus corresponds with _clitocybe_ among the white-spored ones. =clitopilus prunulus= scop. =edible.=--this species grows on the ground in the woods from mid-summer to autumn. it is not very common, but sometimes appears in considerable quantities at one place. during the autumn of quite a large number of specimens were found in a woods near ithaca, growing on the ground around an old stump. the plants are -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and stem -- cm. in thickness. [illustration: plate , figure .--clitopilus prunulus, cap whitish or dark gray, gills flesh color (natural size). copyright.] the =pileus= is fleshy, firm, convex and becoming nearly plane, and sometimes as the plants become old the center may be slightly depressed. it is whitish in color, or dark gray, or with a leaden tint, dry, sometimes with a distinct bloom on the surface, and the margin is often wavy. the cap is sometimes produced more on one side than on the other. the =gills= are not close, at first whitish, then salmon colored as the spores mature, and they are decurrent as is characteristic of the genus. the =spores= are elliptical or nearly so, and measure -- µ long. figure is from plants collected near ithaca, in the autumn of . this species is considered to be one of the excellent mushrooms for food. when fresh it has a mealy odor and taste, as do several of the species of this genus. it is known as the prune mushroom. =clitopilus orcella= bull. =edible.=--this plant is sometimes spoken of as the sweet-bread mushroom. it is much like the prune mushroom just described, in odor and taste, and sometimes resembles it in form and other characters. it is white in color, and the plants are usually considerably smaller, and the pileus is, according to my observations, sometimes more irregular, lobed and wavy on the margin. the flesh is also softer, and the cap is said to be slightly viscid in wet weather. the plant grows in the woods and sometimes in open fields. entoloma fr. the volva and annulus are absent in this genus, the spores are rosy, the gills adnate to sinuate or adnexed, easily separating from the stem in some species. the stem is fleshy or fibrous, sometimes waxy, and the pileus is fleshy with the margin incurved, especially when young. the spores are prominently angular. the genus corresponds with _tricholoma_ of the white-spored agarics, and also with _hebeloma_ and _inocybe_ of the ochre-spored ones. _entoloma repandum_ bull., is an _inocybe_ [_i. repandum_ (bull.) bres.] and has angular spores resembling those of an _entoloma_, but the spores are not rosy. =entoloma jubatum= fr.--growing on the ground in woods. the plants are -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem -- mm. in thickness. the =pileus= is conic in some plants, to convex and umbonate, thin, minutely scaly with blackish hairy scales, dull heliotrope purple, darker on the umbo. the =gills= are vinaceous rufus to deep flesh color, strongly sinuate, and irregularly notched along the edge. the =spores= are irregularly oval to short oblong, coarsely angular, with an oil drop, -- angled, -- × -- µ. the =stem= is of the same color as the pileus, sometimes deeply rooting, hollow. figure is from plants (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected at blowing rock, n. c., during september, . =entoloma grayanum= pk.--this plant grows on the ground in woods. it is from -- cm. high, the cap is -- cm. broad, and the stem -- mm. in thickness. [illustration: figure .--entoloma jubatum. entire plant dull heliotrope purple, gills later flesh color (natural size). copyright.] the =pileus= is convex to expanded, sometimes broadly umbonate, drab in color, the surface wrinkled or rugose, and watery in appearance. the flesh is thin and the margin incurved. the =gills= are first drab in color, but lighter than the pileus, becoming pinkish in age. the =spores= on paper are very light salmon color. they are globose or rounded in outline, -- angled, with an oil globule, -- µ in diameter. the =stem= is the same color as the pileus, but lighter, striate, hollow, somewhat twisted, and enlarged below. figure is from plants (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected at blowing rock, n. c., during september, . [illustration: figure .--entoloma grayanum. cap and stem drab, gills flesh color (natural size). copyright.] =entoloma strictius= pk.--the plants grow in grassy places, pastures, etc. they are clustered, sometimes two or three joined at the base of the stem. they are -- cm. high, the caps -- cm. broad, and the stems -- mm. in thickness. the =pileus= is convex, the disk expanded, and the margin incurved and more or less wavy or repand on the extreme edge. it is umbonate at the center with usually a slight depression around the umbo, smooth, watery (hygrophanous) in appearance, not viscid, of an umber color, shining, faintly and closely striate on the margin. in drying the surface of the pileus loses some of its dark umber color and presents a silvery sheen. the flesh is fibrous and umber color also. the =gills= are grayish white, then tinged with flesh color, slightly sinuate, the longer ones somewhat broader in the middle (ventricose), rather distant, and quite thick as seen in cross section, the center of the gill (trama) presenting parallel threads. the sub-hymenium is very thin and composed of small cells; the =basidia= are clavate, -- × -- µ, and four-spored. the =spores= are dull rose color on paper, subgloblose, -- µ in diameter, angular with -- angles as seen from one side. the =stem= is the same color as the pileus, but considerably lighter. it is hollow with white fibers within, fibrous striate on the surface, twisted, brittle, and somewhat cartilaginous, partly snapping, but holding by fibers in places, cylindrical, even, ascending, with delicate white fibers covering the lower end. [illustration: figure .--entoloma strictius. cap umber or smoky, stem paler, gills grayish, then flesh color (natural size). copyright.] figure is from plants (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected near ithaca, october, . leptonia fr. in _leptonia_ the stem is cartilaginous, hollow or stuffed, smooth and somewhat shining. the pileus is thin, umbilicate or with the center darker, the surface hairy or scaly, and the margin at first incurved. the gills are adnate or adnexed at first, and easily separating from the stem in age. many of the species are bright colored. [illustration: figure .--leptonia asprella. cap hair brown (mouse colored), minute dark scales at center, stem same color, but sometimes reddish brown, green or blue, gills flesh color.] =leptonia asprella= fr.--this species occurs on the ground in woods or in open grassy places. the plants are -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem -- mm. in thickness. the =pileus= is convex, then more or less expanded, umbilicate, rarely umbonate, hair brown (mouse colored), with dark scales on the center and minute scales over the surface, striate. the =gills= are sinuate to adnexed. the =spores= are strongly -- angled, -- × -- µ. the =stem= is smooth, even, usually the same color as the cap, but sometimes it is reddish brown, green, or blue. figure is from plants (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected at blowing rock, n. c., during september, . =leptonia incana= fr., is a more common species, and is characterized by an odor of mice. eccilia fr. the genus _eccilia_ corresponds with _omphalia_ of the white-spored agarics. the stem is cartilaginous, hollow or stuffed. the pileus is thin and somewhat membranaceous, plane or depressed at the center, and the margin at first incurved. the gills are more or less decurrent. =eccilia polita= pers.--this plant occurs on the ground in woods. it is -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem is -- mm. in thickness. [illustration: figure .--eccilia polita. cap hair brown to olive, stem lighter, gills flesh color, notched and irregular (natural size). copyright.] the =pileus= is convex and umbilicate, somewhat membranaceous, smooth, watery in appearance, finely striate on the margin, hair brown to olive in color. the =gills= are decurrent. in the specimens illustrated in fig. the gills are very irregular and many of them appear sinuate. the =spores= are strongly -- angled, some of them square, -- µ in diameter, with a prominent mucro at one angle. the =stem= is cartilaginous, becoming hollow, lighter in color than the pileus, and somewhat enlarged below. figure is from plants (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected at blowing rock, n. c., during september, . [illustration: plate , figure .--claudopus nidulans, view of under side. cap rich yellow or buff, gills flesh color (natural size). copyright.] claudopus w. smith. in the genus _claudopus_, recognized by some, the pileus is eccentric or lateral, that is, the stem is attached near the side of the cap, or the cap is sessile and attached by one side to the wood on which the plant is growing; or the plants are resupinate, that is, they may be spread over the surface of the wood. the genus is perhaps not well separated from some of the species of _pleurotus_ with lilac spores like _p. sapidus_. in fact, a number of the species were formerly placed in _pleurotus_, while others were placed in _crepidotus_ among the ochre-spored agarics. several species are reported from america. peck in th report n. y. state mus., p. , _et seq._, , describes five species. =claudopus nidulans= (pers.) pk.--this is one of the very pretty agarics growing on dead branches and trunks during the autumn, and is widely distributed. it has, however, been placed in the genus _pleurotus_, as _p. nidulans_. but because of the pink color of the spores in mass, peck places it in the genus _claudopus_, where fries suggested it should go if removed from _pleurotus_. it seems to be identical with _panus dorsalis bosc_. it is usually sessile and attached to the side of dead branches, logs, etc., in a shelving manner, or sometimes it is resupinate. the =pileus= is sessile, or sometimes narrowed at the base into a short stem, the caps often numerous and crowded together in an overlapping or imbricate manner. it is nearly orbicular, or reniform, and -- cm. broad. the margin is at first involute. the surface is coarsely hairy or tomentose, or scaly toward the margin, of a rich yellow or buff color. it is soft, but rather tough in consistency. the =gills= are broad, orange yellow. the =spores=, pink in mass, are smooth, elongated, somewhat curved, -- µ long. figure is from plants (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected in woods near ithaca. chapter viii. the ochre-spored agarics. the spores are ochre yellow, rusty, rusty-brown, or some shade of yellow. for analytical keys to the genera see chapter xxiv. pholiota fr. the genus _pholiota_ has ferruginous or ferruginous brown spores. it lacks a volva, but has an annulus; the gills are attached to the stem. it then corresponds to _armillaria_ among white-spored agarics, and _stropharia_ among the purple-brown-spored ones. there is one genus in the ochre or yellow-spored plants with which it is liable to be confused on account of the veil, namely _cortinarius_, but in the latter the veil is in the form of loose threads, and is called an arachnoid veil, that is, the veil is spider-web-like. many of the species of _pholiota_ grow on trunks, stumps, and branches of trees, some grow on the ground. =pholiota præcox= pers. =edible.=--_agaricus candicans_ bull. t. , : _pholiota candicans_ schroeter, krypt, flora, schlesien, p. , . this plant occurs during late spring and in the summer, in pastures, lawns and grassy places, roadsides, open woods, etc. sometimes it is very common, especially during or after prolonged or heavy rains. the plants are -- cm. high, the cap from -- cm. broad, and the stem -- mm. in thickness. the plants are scattered or a few sometimes clustered. the =pileus= is convex, then expanded, whitish to cream color or yellowish, then leather color, fleshy, the margin at first incurved, moist, not viscid. sometimes the pileus is umbonate. the surface is sometimes uneven from numerous crowded shallow pits, giving it a frothy appearance. in age the margin often becomes upturned and fluted. the =gills= are adnate or slightly decurrent by a tooth, -- mm. broad, a little broader at or near the middle, crowded, white, then ferruginous brown, edge sometimes whitish. there is often a prominent angle in the gills at their broadest diameter, not far from the stem, which gives to them, when the plants are young or middle age, a sinuate appearance. the =spores= are ferruginous brown, elliptical. =cystidia= abruptly club-shaped, with a broad apiculus. the =stem= is stuffed, later fistulose, even, fragile, striate often above the annulus. the stem is whitish or sometimes flesh color. the veil is whitish, large, frail, and sometimes breaks away from the stem and clings in shreds to the margin of the cap. [illustration: plate , figure .--pholiota praecox. cap whitish, to cream, or leather color, stem white, gills white then ferruginous brown (natural size). copyright.] figure is from plants (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected on the campus of cornell university, june, . the taste is often slightly bitter. =pholiota marginata= batsch.--this is one of the very common species, a small one, occurring all during the autumn, on decaying trunks, etc., in the woods. the plants are usually clustered, though appearing also singly. they are from -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem -- µ in thickness. [illustration: plate , figure .--pholiota adiposa. cap very viscid, saffron-yellow or burnt umber or wood-brown in center, scales wood-brown to nearly black, stem whitish then yellowish; gills brownish, edge yellow (natural size, sometimes larger). copyright.] the =pileus= is convex, then plane, tan or leather colored, darker when dry. it has a watery appearance (hygrophanous), somewhat fleshy, smooth, striate on the margin. the =gills= are joined squarely to the stem, crowded, at maturity dark reddish brown from the spores. [illustration: figure .--pholiota marginata. cap and stem tan or leather color, gills dark reddish brown when mature (natural size). copyright.] the =stem= is cylindrical, equal, smooth, fistulose, of the same color as the pileus, becoming darker, and often with whitish fibrils at the base. the =annulus= is distant from the apex of the stem, and often disappears soon after the expansion of the pileus. figure is from plants (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected near ithaca. =pholiota unicolor= vahl, is a smaller plant which grows in similar situations. the plants are usually clustered, -- cm. high, and the caps -- mm. in diameter, the annulus is thin but entire and persistent. the entire plant is bay brown, becoming ochraceous in color, and the margin of the cap in age is striate, first bell-shaped, then convex and somewhat umbonate. the gills are lightly adnexed. =pholiota adiposa= fr.--the fatty pholiota usually forms large clusters during the autumn, on the trunks of trees, stumps, etc. it is sometimes of large size, measuring up to cm. and the pileus up to cm. broad. specimens collected at ithaca during october, , were -- cm. high, the pileus -- cm. broad, and the stems -- mm. in thickness. the plants grew eight to ten in a cluster and the bases of the stems were closely crowded and loosely joined. the =pileus= is convex, then expanded, the margin more or less inrolled, then incurved, prominently umbonate, very viscid when moist, the ground color a saffron yellow or in the center burnt umber to wood brown. the cuticle of the pileus is plain or torn into scales which are wood brown, or when close together they are often darker, sometimes nearly black. the flesh is saffron yellow, thick at the center of the cap, thinning out toward the margin, spongy and almost tasteless. the =gills= are adnate, and sometimes a little notched, brown (mars brown), and the edge yellow, -- mm. broad. the =spores= are × µ. the =stem= tapers downward, is compact, whitish then yellow, saffron yellow, flesh vinaceous, viscid, and clothed more or less with reflexed (pointing downward) scales. the stem is somewhat cartilaginous, tough, but snapping off in places. the veil is thin floccose and sometimes with coarse scales, soon disappearing. figure is from plants (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected on the ithaca flats from a willow trunk, oct. , . =pholiota aurivella= batsch, which has been found in the united states, is closely related to _p. adiposa_. =pholiota squarrosa= müll., widely distributed and common in the autumn, both in europe and america, on stumps and trunks, is a large, clustered, scaly plant, the scales "squarrose", and abundant over the pileus and on the stem below the annulus. it is brownish or ferruginous in color. =pholiota squarrosoides= pk., as its name indicates, is closely related to _p. squarrosa_. it has erect, pointed, persistent scales, especially when young, and has a similar habit to _squarrosa_, but differs chiefly in the pileus being viscid, while that of _p. squarrosa_ is dry. _p. subsquarrosa_ fr., occurring in europe, and also closely related to _p. squarrosa_, is viscid, the scales are closely appressed to the surface of the cap, while in _squarrosa_ they are prominent and revolute. =pholiota cerasina= pk., occurs on decaying trunks of trees during late summer. the plants grow in tufts. they are -- cm. high, the caps -- cm. in diameter, and the stems -- mm. in thickness. the pileus is smooth, watery when damp, cinnamon in color when fresh, becoming yellowish in drying, and the flesh is yellowish. the stem is solid, and equal, the apex mealy. the annulus is not persistent, and the gills are crowded and notched. the spores are elliptical, and rugose, × µ. [illustration: plate , figure .--pholiota squarrosoides. entire plant brownish or reddish brown; pileus viscid (three-fourths natural size). copyright.] [illustration: plate , figure .--pholiota johnsoniana. cap yellowish to yellowish brown, stem whitish, gills grayish then rust-brown (natural size). copyright.] =pholiota johnsoniana= pk. =edible.=--this species was described from specimens collected at knowersville, n. y., in , by peck, in the rd report n. y. state mus., p. , as _agaricus johnsonianus_. i found it at ithaca, n. y., for the first time during the summer of , and it was rather common during september, , in the blue ridge mountains at blowing rock, n. c. it grows in woods or in pastures on the ground. the larger and handsomer specimens i have found in rather damp but well drained woods. the plants are -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem -- mm. in thickness. the =pileus= is fleshy, very thick at the center, convex, then expanded and plane, smooth, sometimes finely striate on the thin margin when moist, yellowish, or fulvous, the margin whitish. the =gills= are attached to the stem by the upper angle (adnexed), rounded, or some of them angled, some nearly free. in color they are first gray, then rusty brown. they appear ascending because of the somewhat top-shaped pileus. the =spores= are irregularly ovoid, -- × -- . µ. the =stem= is cylindrical or slightly tapering upward, smooth, slightly striate above the annulus, whitish, solid, with a tendency to become hollow. the =veil= is thick, and the annulus narrow and very thick or "tumid," easily breaking up and disappearing. the plant is quite readily distinguished by the form of the pileus with the ascending gills and the tumid annulus. peck says it has a "somewhat nutty flavor." figure is from plants (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected at blowing rock, n. c., during september, . naucoria fr. this genus, with ferruginous spores, corresponds with _collybia_ among the white-spored agarics. the gills are free or attached, but not decurrent, and the stem is cartilaginous. the plants grow both on the ground and on wood. peck, rd report n. y. state mus., p. , _et seq._, gives a synopsis of seven species. =naucoria semi-orbicularis= bull. =edible.=--this is one of the common and widely distributed species. it occurs in lawns, pastures, roadsides, etc., in waste places, from june to autumn, being more abundant in rainy weather. the plants are -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem -- mm. in thickness. the =pileus= is convex to expanded, and is remarkably hemispherical, from which the species takes the name of _semi-orbicularis_. it is smooth, viscid when moist, tawny, and in age ochraceous, sometimes the surface is cracked into areas. the =gills= are attached, sometimes notched, crowded, much broader than the thickness of the pileus, pale, then reddish brown. the =stem= is tough, slender, smooth, even, pale reddish brown, shining, stuffed with a whitish pith. peck says that the plants have an oily flavor resembling beechnuts. =naucoria vernalis= pk.--_naucoria vernalis_ was described by peck in rd report n. y. state mus., p. , from plants collected in may. the plants described here appeared in woods in late autumn. the specimens from which this description is drawn were found growing from the under side of a very rotten beech log, usually from deep crevices in the log, so that only the pileus is visible or exposed well to the view. the plants are -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem -- mm. in thickness. the taste is bitter. [illustration: figure .--naucoria vernalis. cap hair brown to clay color; gills grayish brown to wood brown; stem clay color (natural size). copyright.] the =pileus= is convex, then the center is nearly or quite expanded, the margin at first inrolled and never fully expanded, hygrophanous, smooth (not striate nor rugose), flesh about -- mm. thick at center, thin toward the margin. the color changes during growth, it is from ochraceous rufus when young ( -- mm. broad), then clove brown to hair brown and clay color in age. the =gills= are grayish brown to wood brown, at first adnate to slightly sinuate, then easily breaking away and appearing adnexed. the =spores= are wood brown in color, oval to short elliptical and inequilateral -- × -- µ. =cystidia= hyaline, bottle shaped, -- × -- µ. the =stem= is somewhat hollow and stuffed, rather cartilaginous, though somewhat brittle, especially when very damp, breaking out from the pileus easily though with fragments of the gills remaining attached, not strongly continuous with the substance of the pileus. the color is buff to pale clay color; the stem being even, not bulbous but somewhat enlarged below, mealy over the entire length, which may be washed off by rains, striate at apex either from marks left by the gills or remnants of the gills as they become freed from the stem. base of stem sometimes with white cottony threads, especially in damp situations. in the original description the stem is said to be "striate sulcate." figure is from plants (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected in woods near ithaca, october , . galera fr. _galera_ with ochraceous (ochraceous ferruginous) spores corresponds to _mycena_ among the white-spored agarics. the pileus is usually bell-shaped, and when young the margin fits straight against the stem. the stem is somewhat cartilaginous, but often very fragile. the genus does not contain many species. peck gives a synopsis of five american species in the rd report n. y. state mus., p. , _et seq._, and of twelve species in the th report, p. , _et seq._ one of the common species is =galera tenera= schaeff. it occurs in grassy fields or in manured places. the plants are -- cm. high, the cap -- mm. broad, and the stem -- mm. in thickness. the =pileus= is oval to bell-shaped, and tawny in color, thin, smooth, finely striate, becoming paler when dry. the =gills= are crowded, reddish-brown, adnexed and easily separating. the =stem= is smooth, colored like the pileus but a little paler, sometimes striate, and with mealy whitish particles above. =galera lateritia= is a related species, somewhat larger, and growing on dung heaps and in fields and lawns. =galera ovalis= fr., is also a larger plant, somewhat shorter than the latter, and with a prominent ovate cap when young. =galera antipoda= lasch., similar in general appearance to g. _tenera_, has a rooting base by which it is easily known. =galera flava= pk., occurs among vegetable mold in woods. the pileus is membraneous, ovate or campanulate, moist or somewhat watery, obtuse, plicate, striate on the margin, yellow. the plants are -- cm. high, the caps -- mm. broad, and the stem -- mm. in thickness. the plant is recognized by the pale yellow color of the caps and the plicate striate character of the margin. the plicate striate character of the cap is singular among the species of this genus, and is shared by another species, =g. coprinoides= pk. flammula fr. in the genus _flammula_, the pileus is fleshy, stem fleshy-fibrous, and the gills adnate to decurrent. [illustration: figure .--flammula polychroa, under view. cap vinaceous buff to orange buff, scales lilac, purple or lavender; gills drab to hair brown (natural size). copyright.] =flammula polychroa= berk.--this is a beautiful plant with tints of violet, lavender, lilac and purple, especially on the scales of the pileus, on the veil and on the stem. it occurs in clusters during late summer and autumn, on logs, branches, etc., in the woods. the plants occur singly, but more often in clusters of three to eight or more. the plants are -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem -- mm. in thickness. the =pileus= is convex, and in the young stage the margin strongly incurved, later the cap becomes expanded and has a very broad umbo. it is very viscid. the surface is covered with delicate hairs which form scales, more prominent during mid-age of the plant, and on the margin of the cap. these scales are very delicate and vary in color from vinaceous-buff, lilac, wine-purple, or lavender. the ground color of the pileus is vinaceous-buff or orange-buff, and toward the margin often with shades of beryl-green, especially where it has been touched. in the young plants the color of the delicate hairy surface is deeper, often phlox-purple, the color becoming thinner as the cap expands. the =gills= are notched (sinuate) at the stem, or adnate, sometimes slightly decurrent, crowded. before exposure by the rupture of the veil they are cream-buff in color, then taking on darker shades, drab to hair brown or sepia with a purple tinge. the =stem= is yellowish, nearly or quite the color of the cap, often with a purplish tinge at the base. it is covered with numerous small punctate scales of the same color, or sulphur yellow above where they are more crowded and larger. the scales do not extend on the stem above the point where the veil is attached. the stem is slightly striate above the attachment of the veil. it is somewhat tough and cartilaginous, solid, or in age stuffed, or nearly hollow. the =veil= is floccose and quite thick when the plant is young. it is scaly on the under side, clinging to the margin of the pileus in triangular remnants, appearing like a crown. the color of the veil and of its remnants is the same as the color of the scales of the cap. the spores in mass are light brown, and when fresh with a slight purple tinge. (the color of the spores on white paper is near walnut brown or hair brown of ridgeway's colors.) under the microscope they are yellowish, oval or short oblong, often inequilateral, -- × -- µ. figure is from plants (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected at blowing rock, n. c., september, , on a fallen maple log. the plants sometimes occur singly. it has been collected at ithaca, n. y., and was first described from plants collected at waynesville, ohio. =flammula sapinea= fr., is a common plant growing on dead coniferous wood. it is dull yellow, the pileus -- cm. in diameter, and with numerous small scales. hebeloma fr. in _hebeloma_ the gills are either squarely set against the stem (adnate) or they are notched (sinuate), and the spores are clay-colored. the edge of the gills is usually whitish, the surface clay-colored. the veil is only seen in the young stage, and then is very delicate and fibrillose. the stem is fleshy and fibrous, and somewhat mealy at the apex. the genus corresponds with _tricholoma_ of the white-spored agarics. all the species are regarded as unwholesome, and some are considered poisonous. the species largely occur during the autumn. few have been studied in america. =hebeloma crustuliniforme= bull.--this plant is usually common in some of the lawns, during the autumn, at ithaca, n. y. it often forms rings as it grows on the ground. it is from -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. in diameter, and the stem is -- mm. in thickness. [illustration: figure .--hebeloma crustuliniforme, var. minor. cap whitish or tan color, or reddish-brown at center; gills clay color (natural size). copyright.] the =pileus= is convex and expanded, somewhat umbonate, viscid when moist, whitish or tan color, darker over the center, where it is often reddish-brown. the =gills= are adnexed and rounded near the stem, crowded, whitish, then clay color and reddish-brown, the edge whitish and irregular. the =gills= are said to exude watery drops in wet weather. the =stem= is stuffed, later hollow, somewhat enlarged at the base, white, and mealy at the apex. figure is from plants (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected in lawns on the cornell university campus. the plants in this figure seem to represent the variety _minor_. inocybe fr. in the genus _inocybe_ there is a universal veil which is fibrillose in character, and more or less closely joined with the cuticle of the pileus, and the surface of the pileus is therefore marked with fibrils or is more or less scaly. sometimes the margin of the pileus possesses remnants of a veil which is quite prominent in a few species. the gills are adnate, or sinuate, rarely decurrent, and in one species they are free. it is thus seen that the species vary widely, and there may be, after a careful study of the species, grounds for the separation of the species into several genera. one of the most remarkable species is _inocybe echinata_ roth. this plant is covered with a universal veil of a sooty color and powdery in nature. the gills are reddish purple, and the stem is of the same color, the spores on white paper of a faint purplish red color. some place in it _psalliota_. collected at ithaca in august, . tubaria w. smith. in the genus _tubaria_ the spores are rust-red, or rusty brown (ferruginous or fuscous-ferruginous), the stem is somewhat cartilaginous, hollow, and, what is more important, the gills are more or less decurrent, broad next to the stem, and thus more or less triangular in outline. it is related to _naucoria_ and _galera_, but differs in the decurrent gills. the pileus is convex, or with an umbilicus. =tubaria pellucida= bull.--this species grows by roadsides in grassy places. the plants are from -- cm. high, and the cap -- cm. in diameter, and the stem -- mm. in thickness. [illustration: figure .--tubaria pellucida. dull reddish brown (natural size).] the =pileus= is conic, then bell-shaped, often expanded and with a slight umbo; the color is dull, reddish brown, and it has a watery appearance. the plant is sometimes enveloped with a loose and delicate universal or outer veil, which remains on the margin of the cap in the form of silky squamules as shown in the figure. the margin of the pileus is faintly striate. the =gills= are only slightly decurrent. figure is from plants (no. c. u. herbarium) collected along a street in ithaca. the stem is at first solid, becoming hollow, tapering above, and the apex is mealy. crepidotus fr. in _crepidotus_ the pileus is lateral, or eccentric, and thus more or less shelving, or it is resupinate, that is, lying flat or nearly so on the wood. the species are usually of small size, thin, soft and fleshy. the spores are reddish brown (ferruginous). the genus corresponds to _pleurotus_ among the white-spored agarics, or to _claudopus_ among the rosy-spored ones. peck describes eleven species in the th report, n. y. state mus., p. et seq., . =crepidotus versutus= pk.--this little _crepidotus_ has a pure white pileus which is covered with a soft, whitish down. the plants grow usually on the underside of rotten wood or bark, and then the upper side of the cap lies against the wood, and is said to be resupinate. sometimes where they grow toward the side of the log the cap has a tendency to be shelving. in the resupinate forms the cap is attached usually near one side, and then is produced more at the opposite side, so that it is more or less lateral or eccentric. as the plant becomes mature the edge is free from the wood for some distance, only being attached over a small area. the cap is somewhat reniform, thin, and from -- cm. in diameter. the =gills= radiate from the point where the cap is attached to the substratum, are not crowded, rounded behind, that is, at the lateral part of the cap where they converge. they are whitish, then ferruginous from the spores. the =spores= are sub-elliptical, sometimes inequilateral, and measure from -- × -- µ. [illustration: figure .--crepidotus versutus. cap white, downy; gills whitish, then rusty (twice natural size) copyright.] =crepidotus herbarum= pk., is a closely related species, separated on account of the smaller spores. both species grow either on herbs or decaying wood. as suggested by peck they are both closely related to _c. chimonophilus_ berk., which has "oblong elliptical" spores. the shape of the spores does not seem to differ from the specimens which i have taken to be _c. versutus_. =crepidotus applanatus= fr., is a larger species, shelving and often imbricated. =crepidotus fulvotomentosus= pk., is a pretty species with a tomentose cap and tawny scales, usually occurring singly. it is closely related to _c. calolepis_ fr. figure is from plants of _crepidotus versutus_ pk., (no. c. u. herbarium) collected on rotting wood at freeville, n. y., eight miles from ithaca. the plants are represented twice natural size. cortinarius fr. the genus _cortinarius_ is chiefly distinguished from the other genera of the ochre-spored agarics by the presence of a spider-web-like (arachnoid) veil which is separate from the cuticle of the pileus, that is, superficial. the gills are powdered by the spores, that is, the spores fall away with difficulty and thus give the gills a pulverulent appearance. the plants are fleshy and decay easily. it is necessary to have plants in the young as well as the old state to properly get at the characters, and the character of the veil is only seen in young or half developed specimens. the species are to be distinguished from other ochre-spored agarics with a cobwebby veil by the fact that the veil in _cortinarius_ is superficial and the gills powdery. the number of species is very large, and they are difficult to determine. they mostly occur in northern countries and in the autumn or late summer; some species, however, occur during early summer. peck, d report, n. y. state mus., p. -- , describes species. =cortinarius (inoloma) violaceus= (l.) fr. =edible.=--this species is known by the violet or dark violet color which pervades all parts of the plant. the plants are -- cm. high, the pileus -- cm. broad, and the stem is bulbous, -- mm. in thickness. the veil is single. it occurs in woods and open places during late summer and in the autumn. the flesh of the plant is also violet, and this color is imparted to the liquid when the plant is cooked. the flavor is said to be something like that of _agaricus campestris_. =cortinarius (myxacium) collinitus= (pers.) fr. =edible.=--this is known as the smeared cortinarius because of the abundant glutinous substance with which the plant is smeared during moist or wet weather. it grows in woods. the plants are -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. in diameter, and the stem is -- mm. in thickness. it is usually known by the smooth, even, tawny cap, the great abundance of slimy substance covering the entire plant when moist, and when dry the cracking of the gluten on the stem into annular patches. the =pileus= is convex to expanded, smooth, even, glutinous when wet, shining when dry, tawny. the =gills= are adnate with a peculiar bluish gray tinge when young, and clay color to cinnamon when old. the =spores= are nearly elliptical, and -- × -- µ. the =stem= is cylindrical, even, and with patches of the cracked gluten when dry. =cortinarius (dermocybe) cinnamomeus= (l.) fr. =edible.=--the cinnamon cortinarius is so called because of the cinnamon color of the entire plant, especially of the cap and stem. it grows in the woods during summer and autumn. it is a very pretty plant, and varies from -- cm. high, the cap from -- cm. broad, and the stem -- mm. in thickness. the =pileus= is conic, or convex, and nearly expanded, sometimes nearly plane, and again with a prominent blunt or conic umbo. sometimes the pileus is abruptly bent downward near the margin as shown in the plants in fig. , giving the appearance of a "hip-roof." the surface is smooth, silky, with innate fibrils. sometimes there are cinnabar stains on parts of the pileus, and often there are concentric rows of scales near the margin. the flesh is light yellowish and with stains of cinnabar. the =gills= are adnate, slightly sinuate, and decurrent by a tooth, easily separating from the stem, rather crowded, slightly ventricose. the color of the gills varies greatly; sometimes they are the same color as the pileus, sometimes reddish brown, sometimes blood red color, etc. this latter form is a very pretty plant, and is var. _semi-sanguineus_ fr. [illustration: figure .--cortinarius cinnamomeus var. semi-sanguineus. cap and stem cinnamon, gills blood red color (natural size). copyright.] figure is from plants (no. c. u. herbarium) collected at ithaca. the species is widely distributed in this country as well as in europe. [illustration: plate , figure .--cortinarius ochroleucus. entire plant pale ochre color, gills later ochre yellow (natural size). copyright.] =cortinarius (dermocybe) ochroleucus= (schaeff.) fr.--this is a very beautiful plant because of the soft, silky appearance of the surface of pileus and stem, and the delicate yellowish white color. it occurs in woods, on the ground among decaying leaves. the plants are -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem above is -- mm. in thickness, and below from -- cm. in thickness. [illustration: plate , figure .--cortinarius ochroleucus. colors same as in figure , this represents older plants.] the =pileus= is convex to nearly expanded, and sometimes a little depressed, usually, however, remaining convex at the top. it is dry, on the center finely tomentose to minutely squamulose, sometimes the scales splitting up into concentric rows around the cap. the cap is fleshy at the center, and thin at the margin, the color is from cream buff to buff, darker on the center. the =gills= are sinuate or adnate, slightly broader in the middle (ventricose) in age, pale at first, then becoming ochre yellow, and darker when the plant dries. the =spores= are tawny in mass, oval, elliptical, minutely tuberculate when mature, -- × -- µ. the =stem= is clavate, pale cream buff in color, solid, becoming irregularly fistulose in age, bulbous or somewhat ventricose below, the bulb often large and abrupt, . -- cm. in diameter. the =veil= is prominent and attached to the upper part of the stem, the abundant threads attached over an area cm. in extent and forming a beautiful cortina of the same color as the pileus and stem, but becoming tawny when the spores fall on it. the stem varies considerably in length and shape, being rarely ventricose, and then only at the base; the bulbous forms predominate and the bulb is often very large. figures , are from plants (no. c. u. herbarium) collected at blowing rock, n. c., during september, . bolbitius fries. the genus _bolbitius_ contains a few species with yellowish or yellowish brown spores. the plants are very fragile, more or less mucilaginous when moist, usually with yellowish colors, and, what is the most characteristic feature beside the yellowish color of the spores, the gills are very soft, and at maturity tend to dissolve into a mucilaginous consistency, though they do not deliquesce, or only rarely dissolve so far as to form drops. the surface of the gills at maturity becomes covered with the spores so that they appear powdery, as in the genus _cortinarius_, which they also resemble in the color of the spores. in the mucilaginous condition of the gills the genus approaches _coprinus_. it is believed to occupy an intermediate position between _coprinus_ and _cortinarius_. the species usually grow on dung or in manured ground, and in this respect resemble many of the species of _coprinus_. some of the species are, however, not always confined to such a substratum, but grow on decaying leaves, etc. [illustration: figure .--bolbitius variicolor. cap viscid, various shades of yellow, or smoky olive; gills yellowish, then rusty (natural size).] =bolbitius variicolor= atkinson.--this plant was found abundantly during may and june, , in a freshly manured grass plat between the side-walk and the pavement along buffalo street, ithaca, n. y. the season was rainy, and the plants appeared each day during quite a long period, sometimes large numbers of them covering a small area, but they were not clustered nor cespitose. they vary in height from -- cm., the pileus from -- cm. broad, and the stem is -- mm. in thickness. the colors vary from smoky to fuliginous, olive and yellow, and the spores are ferruginous. the =pileus= is from ovate to conic when young, the margin not at all incurved, but lies straight against the stem, somewhat unequal. in expanding the cap becomes convex, then expanded, and finally many of the plants with the margin elevated and with a broad umbo, and finely striate for one-half to two-thirds the way from the margin to the center. when young the pileus has a very viscid cuticle, which easily peels from the surface, showing the yellow flesh. the cuticle is smoky olive to fuliginous, darker when young, becoming paler as the pileus expands, but always darker on the umbo. sometimes the fibres on the surface of the cap are drawn into strands which anastomose into coarse reticulations, giving the appearance of elevated veins which have a general radiate direction from the center of the cap. as the pileus expands the yellow color of the flesh shows through the cuticle more and more, especially when young, but becoming light olive to fuliginous in age. in dry weather the surface of the pileus sometimes cracks into patches as the pileus expands. the =gills= are rounded next the stem, adnate to adnexed, becoming free, first yellow, then ferruginous. the basidia are abruptly club-shaped, rather distant and separated regularly by rounded cells, four spored. the =spores= are ferruginous, elliptical, -- × -- µ, smooth. the =stem= is cylindrical to terete, tapering above, sulphur and ochre yellow, becoming paler and even with a light brown tinge in age. the stem is hollow, and covered with numerous small yellow floccose scales which point upward and are formed by the tearing away of the edges of the gills, which are loosely united with the surface of the stem in the young stage. the edges of the gills are thus sometimes finely fimbriate. at maturity the gills become more or less mucilaginous, depending on the weather. plants placed in a moist chamber change to a mucilaginous mass. when the plants dry the pileus is from a drab to hair brown or sepia color (ridgeway's colors). figure is from plants (no. c. u. herbarium). paxillus fr. in the genus _paxillus_ the gills are usually easily separated from the pileus, though there are some species accredited to the genus that do not seem to possess this character in a marked degree. the spores are ochre or ochre brown. often the gills are forked near the stem or anastomose, or they are connected by veins which themselves anastomose in a reticulate fashion so that the meshes resemble the pores of certain species of the family _polyporaceæ_. the pileus may be viscid or dry in certain species, but the plant lacks a viscid universal veil. the genus is closely related to _gomphidius_, where the gills are often forked and easily separate from the pileus, but _gomphidius_ possesses a viscid or glutinous universal veil. peck in the bull. n. y. state mus. nat. hist. : -- , describes five species. =paxillus involutus= (batsch.) fr. =edible.=--this plant is quite common in some places and is widely distributed. it occurs on the ground in grassy places, in the open, or in woods, and on decaying logs or stumps. the stem is central, or nearly so, when growing on the ground, or eccentric when growing on wood, especially if growing from the side of a log or stump. the plants are -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem -- cm. in thickness. the plant occurs from august to october. [illustration: figure .--paxillus involutus. cap and stem gray, olive-brown, reddish brown or tawny (natural size). copyright.] the =pileus= is convex to expanded, and depressed in the center. in the young plant the margin is strongly inrolled, and as the pileus expands it unrolls in a very pretty manner. the young plant is covered with a grayish, downy substance, and when the inrolled margin of the cap comes in contact with the gills, as it does, it presses the gills against this down, and the unrolling margin is thus marked quite prominently, sometimes with furrows where the pressure of the gills was applied. the color of the pileus varies greatly. in the case of plants collected at ithaca and in north carolina mountains the young plant when fresh is often olive umber, becoming reddish or tawny when older, the margin with a lighter shade. as dr. peck states, "it often presents a strange admixture of gray, ochraceous, ferruginous, and brown hues." the flesh is yellowish and changes to reddish or brownish where bruised. the =gills= are decurrent, when young arcuate, then ascending, and are more or less reticulated on the stem. they are grayish, then greenish yellow changing to brown where bruised. the =spores= are oval, -- × -- µ. the =stem= is short, even, and of the same color as the cap. [illustration: plate , figure .--paxillus rhodoxanthus. cap reddish brown, stem paler, gills yellow (natural size). copyright.] at ithaca, n. y., the plant is sometimes abundant in late autumn in grassy places near or in groves. the figure is from plants (no. c. u. herbarium) growing in such a place in the suburbs of ithaca. at blowing rock, n. c., the plant is often very abundant along the roadsides on the ground during august and september. =paxillus rhodoxanthus= (schw.)--this species was first described by de schweinitz as _agaricus rhodoxanthus_, p. no. , synopsis fungorum carolinæ superioris, in schriften der naturforschenden gesellschaft : -- , . it was described under his third section of _agaricus_ under the sub-genus _gymnopus_, in which are mainly species now distributed in _clitocybe_ and _hygrophorus_. he remarks on the elegant appearance of the plant and the fact that it so nearly resembles _boletus subtomentosus_ as to deceive one. the resemblance to _boletus subtomentosus_ as one looks upon the pileus when the plant is growing on the ground is certainly striking, because of the reddish yellow, ochraceous rufus or chestnut brown color of the cap together with the minute tomentum covering the surface. the suggestion is aided also by the color of the gills, which one is apt to get a glimpse of from above without being aware that the fruiting surface has gills instead of tubes. but as soon as the plant is picked and we look at the under surface, all suggestion of a _boletus_ vanishes, unless one looks carefully at the venation of the surface of the gills and the spaces between them. the plant grows on the ground in woods. at blowing rock, n. c., where it is not uncommon, i have always found it along the mountain roads on the banks. it is -- cm. high, the cap from -- cm. broad, and the stem -- mm. in thickness. the =pileus= is convex, then expanded, plane or convex, and when mature more or less top-shaped because it is so thick at the middle. in age the surface of the cap often becomes cracked into small areas, showing the yellow flesh in the cracks. the flesh is yellowish and the surface is dry. the =gills= are not very distant, they are stout, chrome yellow to lemon yellow, and strongly decurrent. a few of them are forked toward the base, and the surface and the space between them are marked by anastomosing veins forming a reticulum suggestive of the hymenium of the _polyporaceæ_. this character is not evident without the use of a hand lens. the surface of the gills as well as the edges is provided with clavate =cystidia= which are filled with a yellow pigment, giving to the gills the bright yellow color so characteristic. these cystidia extend above the basidia, and the ends are rounded so that sometimes they appear capitate. the yellow color is not confined to the cystidia, for the sub-hymenium is also colored in a similar way. the =spores= are yellowish, oblong to elliptical or spindle-shaped, and measure -- × -- µ. the =stem= is the same color as the pileus, but paler, and more yellow at the base. it is marked with numerous minute dots of a darker color than the ground color, formed of numerous small erect tufts of mycelium. figure is from plants (no. c. u. herbarium) collected at blowing rock, n. c., during september, . as stated above, the plant was first described by de schweinitz as _agaricus rhodoxanthus_ in . in (synop. fung. am. bor. p. , ) he listed it under the genus _gomphus_ fries (syst. mycolog. , ). since fries changed _gomphus_ to _gomphidius_ (epicrisis, , -- ) the species has usually been written _gomphidius rhodoxanthus_ schweinitz. the species lacks one very important characteristic of the genus _gomphidius_, namely, the slimy veil which envelops the entire plant. its relationship seems rather to be with the genus _paxillus_, though the gills do not readily separate from the pileus, one of the characters ascribed to this genus, and possessed by certain species of _gomphidius_ in even a better degree. (in paxillus involutus the gills do not separate so readily as they do in certain species of _gomphidius_.) berkeley (decades n. a. fungi, ) has described a plant from ohio under the name _paxillus flavidus_. it has been suggested by some (see peck, th report, p. ; lloyd, mycolog. notes, where he writes it as _flammula rhodoxanthus_!) that _paxillus flavidus_ berk., is identical with _agaricus rhodoxanthus_ schw. _paxillus rhodoxanthus_ seems also to be very near if not identical with _clitocybe pelletieri_ lev. (gillet, hymenomycetes = =: ), and schroeter (cohn's krypt, flora schlesien, = =, : , ) transfers this species to _paxillus_ as _paxillus pelletieri_. he is followed by hennings, who under the same section of the genus, lists _p. flavidus_ berk., from n. a. the figure of _clitocybe pelletieri_ in gillet hymenomycetes, etc., resembles our plant very closely, and saccardo (syll. fung. = =: ) says that it has the aspect of _boletus subtomentosus,_ a remark similar to the one made by de schweinitz in the original description of _agaricus rhodoxanthus_. _flammula paradoxa_ kalch. (fung. hung. tab. xvii, fig. ) seems to be the same plant, as well as _f. tammii_ fr., with which patouillard (tab. anal. n. ) places _f. paradoxa_ and _clitocybe pelletieri_. =paxillus atro=tomentosus= (batsch) fr.--this plant is not very common. it is often of quite large size, -- cm. high, and the cap -- cm. broad, the stem very short or sometimes long, from -- . cm. in thickness. the plant is quite easily recognized by the stout and black hairy stem, and the dark brown or blackish, irregular and sometimes lateral cap, with the margin incurved. it grows on wood, logs, stumps, etc., during late summer and autumn. [illustration: figure .--paxillus atro-tomentosus, form hirsutus. cap and stem brownish or blackish (natural size, small specimens, they are often larger). copyright.] the =pileus= is convex, expanded, sometimes somewhat depressed, lateral, irregular, or sometimes with the stem nearly in the center, brownish or blackish, dry, sometimes with a brownish or blackish tomentum on the surface. the margin is inrolled and later incurved. the flesh is white, and the plant is tough. the =gills= are adnate, often decurrent on the stem, and easily separable from the pileus, forked at the base and sometimes reticulate, forming pores. =spores= yellowish, oval, -- × -- µ. stevenson says that the gills do not form pores like those of p. involutus, but fig. (no. c. u. herbarium) from plants collected at ithaca, shows them well. there is, as it seems, some variation in this respect. the =stem= is solid, tough and elastic, curved or straight, covered with a dense black tomentum, sometimes with violet shades. on drying the plant becomes quite hard, and the gills blackish olive. =paxillus panuoides= fr.--this species was collected during august, , on a side-walk and on a log at ithaca. the specimens collected were sessile and the =pileus= lateral, somewhat broadened at the free end, or petaloid. the entire plant is pale or dull yellow, the surface of the pileus fibrous and somewhat uneven but not scaly. the plants are -- cm. long by -- cm. broad, often many crowded together in an imbricated manner. the =gills= are pale yellow, and the =spores= are of the same color when caught on white paper, and they measure -- × -- µ, the size given for european specimens of this species. the gills are forked, somewhat anastomosing at the base, and sinuous in outline, though not markedly corrugated as in the next form. from descriptions of the european specimens the plants are sometimes larger than these here described, and it is very variable in form and often imbricated as in the following species. =paxillus corrugatus= atkinson.--this very interesting species was collected at ithaca, n. y., on decaying wood, august , . the pileus is lateral, shelving, the stem being entirely absent in the specimens found. the =pileus= is -- cm. broad, narrowed down in an irregular wedge form to the sessile base, convex, then expanded, the margin incurved (involute). the color of the cap is yellow, maize yellow to canary yellow, with a reddish brown tinge near the base. it is nearly smooth, or very slightly tomentose. the flesh is pale yellow, spongy. the =gills= are orange yellow, -- mm. broad, not crowded, regularly forked several times, thin, blunt, very wavy and crenulate, easily separating from the hymenophore when fresh; the entire breadth of the gills is fluted, giving a corrugated appearance to the side. the =spores= in these specimens are faintly yellow, minute, oblong, broadly elliptical, short, sometimes nearly oval, × . -- µ. the =basidia= are also very minute. the spores are olive yellow on white paper. the plant has a characteristic and disagreeable odor. this odor persists in the dried plant for several months. figure is from the plants (no. c. u. herbarium) collected as noted above on decaying hemlock logs in woods. a side and under view is shown in the figure, and the larger figure is the under-view, from a photograph made a little more than twice natural size, in order to show clearly the character of the gills. the two smaller plants are natural size. when dry the plant is quite hard. [illustration: plate , figure .--paxillus corrugatus. cap maize yellow to orange yellow, reddish brown near the base; gills orange yellow. two lower plants natural size; upper one - / times natural size. copyright.] [illustration: plate , figure .--paxillus panuoides, pale yellow; natural size. copyright.] [illustration: plate . fig. .--boletus felleus. fig. .--b. edulis. copyright .] chapter ix. the tube-bearing fungi. polyporaceae. the plants belonging to this family are characterized especially by a honey-combed fruiting surface, that is, the under surface of the plants possesses numerous tubes or pores which stand close together side by side, and except in a very few forms these tubes are joined by their sides to each other. in _fistulina_ the tubes are free from each other though standing closely side by side. in _merulius_ distinct tubes are not present, but the surface is more or less irregularly pitted, the pits being separated from each other by folds which anastomose, forming a network. these pits correspond to shallow tubes. the plants vary greatly in consistency, some are very fleshy and soft and putrify readily. others are soft when young and become firmer as they age, and some are quite hard and woody. many of the latter are perennial and live for several or many years, adding a new layer in growth each year. the larger number of the species grow on wood, but some grow on the ground; especially in the genus _boletus_, which has many species, the majority grow on the ground. some of the plants have a cap and stem, in others the stem is absent and the cap attached to the tree or log, etc., forms a shelf, or the plant may be thin and spread over the surface of the wood in a thin patch. in the genus _dædalea_ the tubes become more or less elongated horizontally and thus approach the form of the gills, while in some species the tubes are more or less toothed or split and approach the spine-bearing fungi at least in appearance of the fruit-bearing surface. only a few of the genera and species will be described. the following key is not complete, but may aid in separating some of the larger plants: tubes or pores free from each other, though standing closely side by side, _fistulina_. tubes or pores not free, joined side by side, . --plants soft and fleshy, soon decaying, . plants soft when young, becoming firm, some woody or corky, stipitate, shelving, or spread over the wood, _polyporus_. tubes or pores shallow, formed by a network of folds or wrinkles, plants thin, sometimes spread over the wood, and somewhat gelatinous, _merulius_. --mass (stratum) of tubes easily separating from the cap when peeled off, cap not with coarse scales, tubes in some species in radiating lines, _boletus_. stratum of tubes separating, but not easily, cap with coarse, prominent scales, _strobilomyces_. stratum of tubes separating, but not easily, tubes arranged in distinct radiating lines. in one species (_b. porosus_) the tubes do not separate from the cap, _boletinus_. this last genus is apt to be confused with certain species of boletus which have a distinct radiate arrangement of the tubes. it is questionable whether it is clearly distinguished from the genus boletus. boletus dill. of the few genera in the _polyporaceæ_ which are fleshy and putrescent, _boletus_ contains by far the largest number of species. the entire plant is soft and fleshy, and decays soon after maturity. the stratum of tubes on the under side of the cap is easily peeled off and separates as shown in the portion of a cap near the right hand side of fig. . in the genus _polyporus_ the stratum of tubes cannot thus be separated. in the genera _strobilomyces_ and _boletinus_, two other fleshy genera of this family, the separation is said to be more difficult than in _boletus_, but it has many times seemed to me a "distinction without a difference." the larger number of the species of _boletus_ grow on the ground. some change color when bruised or cut, so that it is important to note this character when the plant is fresh, and the taste should be noted as well. =boletus edulis= bull. =edible.= [_ag. bulbosus_ schaeff. tab. , . _boletus bulbosus_ (schaeff.) schroeter. cohn's krypt, flora. schlesien, p. , ].--this plant, which, as its name implies, is edible, grows in open woods or their borders, in groves and in open places, on the ground. it occurs in warm, wet weather, from july to september. it is one of the largest of the boleti, and varies from -- cm. high, the cap from -- cm. broad, and the stem -- cm. in thickness. [illustration: plate , figure .--boletus edulis. cap light brown, tubes greenish yellow or yellowish; stem in this specimen entirely reticulate (natural size, often larger). copyright.] the =pileus= is convex to expanded, smooth, firm, quite hard when young and becoming soft in age. the color varies greatly, from buff to dull reddish, to reddish-brown, tawny-brown, often yellowish over a portion of the cap, usually paler on the margin. the flesh is white or tinged with yellow, sometimes reddish under the cuticle. the =tubes= are white when young and the mouths are closed (stuffed), the lower surface of the tubes is convex from the margin of the cap to the stem, and depressed around the stem, sometimes separating from the stem. while the tubes are white when young, they become greenish or greenish-yellow, or entirely yellow when mature. the =spores= when caught on paper are greenish-yellow, or yellow. they are oblong to fusiform, -- µ long. the =stem= is stout, even, or much enlarged at the base so that it is clavate. the surface usually shows prominent reticulations on mature plants near the tubes, sometimes over the entire stem. this is well shown in fig. from plants (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected at ithaca, n. y. [illustration: plate , figure .--cap light brown, tubes greenish yellow or yellowish; stem in these specimens not reticulate ( / natural size). copyright.] figure represents plants (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected at blowing rock, n. c., in september, . the plant is widely distributed and has long been prized as an esculent in europe and america. when raw the plant has an agreeable nutty taste, sometimes sweet. the caps are sometimes sliced and dried for future use. it is usually recommended to discard the stems and remove the tubes since the latter are apt to form a slimy mass on cooking. =boletus felleus= bull. =bitter.=--this is known as the bitter boletus, because of a bitter taste of the flesh. it usually grows on or near much decayed logs or stumps of hemlock spruce. it is said to be easily recognized by its bitter taste. i have found specimens of a plant which seems to have all the characters of this one growing at the base of hemlock spruce trees, except that the taste was not bitter. at ithaca, however, the plant occurs and the taste is bitter. it is one of the large species of the genus, being from -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem -- . cm. in thickness. the =pileus= is convex becoming nearly plane, firm, and in age soft, smooth, the color varying from pale yellow to various shades of brown to chestnut. the flesh is white, and where wounded often changes to a pink color, but not always. the =tubes= are adnate, long, the under surface convex and with a depression around the stem. the tubes are at first white, but become flesh color or tinged with flesh color, and the mouths are angular. the =stem= is stout, tapering upward, sometimes enlarged at the base, usually reticulated at the upper end, and sometimes with the reticulations over the entire surface (fig. ). the color is paler than that of the cap. the =spores= are oblong to spindle-shaped, flesh color in mass, and single ones measure -- × -- µ. the general appearance of the plant is somewhat like that of the _boletus edulis_, and beginners should be cautioned not to confuse the two species. it is known by its bitter taste and the flesh-colored tubes, while the taste of the _b. edulis_ is sweet, and the tubes are greenish-yellow, or yellowish or light ochre. plate represents three specimens in color. =boletus scaber= fr. =edible.=--this species is named the rough-stemmed boletus, in allusion to the rough appearance given to the stem from numerous dark brown or reddish dots or scales. this is a characteristic feature, and aids one greatly in determining the species, since the color of the cap varies much. the cap is sometimes whitish, orange red, brown, or smoky in color. the plant is -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem -- mm. in thickness. the =pileus= is rounded, becoming convex, smooth, or nearly so, sometimes scaly, and the flesh is soft and white, sometimes turning slightly to a reddish or dark color where bruised. the =tubes= are small, long, the surface formed by their free ends is convex in outline, and the tubes are depressed around the stem. they are first white, becoming darker, and somewhat brownish. the =stem= is solid, tapering somewhat upward, and roughened as described above. the plant is one of the common species of the genus _boletus_. it occurs in the woods on the ground or in groves or borders of woods in grassy places. writers differ as to the excellence of this species for food; some consider it excellent, while others regard it as less agreeable than some other species. it is, at any rate, safe, and peck considers it "first-class." =boletus retipes= b. & c.--this species was first collected in north carolina by curtis, and described by berkeley. it has since been reported from ohio, wisconsin, and new england (peck, boleti of the u. s.). peck reported it from new york in the d report, n. y. state mus., p. . later he recognized the new york plant as a new species which he called _b. ornatipes_ ( th report, n. y. state mus., p. ). i collected the species in the mountains of north carolina, at blowing rock, in august, . during the latter part of august and in september, , i had an opportunity of seeing quite a large number of specimens in the same locality, for it is not uncommon there, and two specimens were photographed and are represented here in fig. . the original description published in grevillea = =: , should be modified, especially in regard to the size of the plant, its habit, and the pulverulent condition of the pileus. the plants are -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem . -- . cm. in thickness. [illustration: plate , figure .--boletus felleus. cap light brown, tubes flesh color, stem in this specimen entirely reticulate (natural size, often larger). copyright.] [illustration: figure .--boletus retipes. cap yellowish brown, to olive-brown or nearly black, stem yellow, beautifully reticulate, tubes yellow (natural size). copyright.] the =pileus= is convex, thick, soft and somewhat spongy, especially in large plants. the cap is dry and sometimes, especially when young, it is powdery; at other times, and in a majority of cases according to my observations, it is not powdery. it is smooth or minutely tomentose, sometimes the surface cracked into small patches, but usually even. the color varies greatly between yellowish brown to olive brown, fuliginous or nearly black. the =tubes= are yellow, adnate, the tube surface plane or convex. the spores are yellowish or ochraceous, varying somewhat in tint in different specimens. the =stem= is yellow, yellow also within, and beautifully reticulate, usually to the base, but sometimes only toward the apex. it is usually more strongly reticulate over the upper half. the stem is erect or ascending. the plant grows in woods, in leaf mold or in grassy places. it is usually single, that is, so far as my observations have gone at blowing rock. berkeley and curtis report it as cespitose. i have never seen it cespitose, never more than two specimens growing near each other. =boletus ornatipes= pk., does not seem to be essentially different from _b. retipes_. peck says (boleti u. s., p. ) that "the tufted mode of growth, the pulverulent pileus and paler spores separate this species" (_retipes_) "from the preceding one" (_ornatipes_). inasmuch as i have never found _b. retipes_ tufted, and the fact that the pileus is not always pulverulent (the majority of specimens i collected were not), and since the tint of the spores varies as it does in some other species, the evidence is strong that the two names represent two different habits of the same species. the tufted habit of the plants collected by curtis, or at least described by berkeley, would seem to be a rather unusual condition for this species, and this would account for the smaller size given to the plants in the original description, where the pileus does not exceed cm. in diameter, and the stem is only cm. long, and -- mm. in thickness. plants which normally occur singly do on some occasions occur tufted, and then the habit as well as the size of the plant is often changed. a good illustration of this i found in the case of _boletus edulis_ during my stay in the north carolina mountains. the plant usually occurs singly and more or less scattered. i found one case where there were -- plants in a tuft, the caps were smaller and the stems in this case considerably longer than in normal specimens. a plant which agrees with the north carolina specimens i have collected at ithaca, and so i judge that _b. retipes_ occurs in new york. =boletus chromapes= frost.--this is a pretty boletus, and has been reported from new england and from new york state. during the summer of it was quite common in the blue ridge mountains, north carolina. the plant grows on the ground in woods. it is -- cm. high, the cap is -- cm. in diameter, and the stem is -- mm. in thickness. it is known by the yellowish stem covered with reddish glandular dots. [illustration: plate , figure .--boletus chromapes. cap pale red, rose or pink, tubes flesh color, then brown, stem yellowish either above or below, the surface with reddish or pinkish dots (natural size). copyright.] the =pileus= is convex to nearly expanded, pale red, rose pink to vinaceous pink in color, and sometimes slightly tomentose. the flesh is white, and does not change when cut or bruised. the =tube= surface is convex, and the tubes are attached slightly to the stem, or free. they are white, then flesh color, and in age become brown. the =stem= is even, or it tapers slightly upward, straight or ascending, whitish or yellow above, or below, sometimes yellowish the entire length. the flesh is also yellowish, especially at the base. the entire surface is marked with reddish or pinkish dots. [illustration: plate , figure .--boletus vermiculosus. cap brown to gray or buff; tubes yellowish with reddish brown mouths; flesh quickly changes to blue where wounded (natural size, sometimes larger). copyright.] figure is from plants (no. c. u. herbarium) collected at blowing rock, n. c., during september, . =boletus vermiculosus= pk.--this species was named _b. vermiculosus_ because it is sometimes very "wormy." this is not always the case, however. it grows in woods on the ground, in the eastern united states. it is from -- cm. high, the cap from -- cm. broad, and the stem -- cm. in thickness. the =pileus= is thick, convex, firm, smooth, and varies in color from brown to yellowish brown, or drab gray to buff, and is minutely tomentose. the flesh quickly changes to blue where wounded, and the bruised portion, sometimes, changing to yellowish. the =tubes= are yellowish, with reddish-brown mouths, the tube surface being rounded, free or nearly so, and the tubes changing to blue where wounded. the =stem= is paler than the pileus, often dotted with short, small, dark tufts below, and above near the tubes abruptly paler, and sometimes the two colors separated by a brownish line. the stem is not reticulated. figure is from a photograph of plants (no. c. u. herbarium) collected at blowing rock, n. c., during september, . =boletus obsonium= (paul.) fr.--this species was not uncommon in the woods at blowing rock, n. c., during the latter part of august and during september, . it grows on the ground, the plants usually appearing singly. it is from -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem -- cm. in thickness, considerably broader at the base than at the apex. the =pileus= is convex to expanded, vinaceous cinnamon, to pinkish vinaceous or hazel in color. it is soft, slightly tomentose, and when old the surface frequently cracks into fine patches showing the pink flesh beneath. the thin margin extends slightly beyond the tubes, so that it is sterile. the flesh does not change color on exposure to the air. the =tubes= are plane, adnate, very slightly depressed around the stem or nearly free, yellowish white when young, becoming dark olive green in age from the color of the spores. the tube mouths are small and rotund. the =spores= caught on white paper are dark olive green. they are elliptical usually, with rounded ends, -- × -- µ. the =stem= is white when young, with a tinge of yellow ochre, and pale flesh color below. it is marked with somewhat parallel elevated lines, or rugæ below, where it is enlarged and nearly bulbous. in age it becomes flesh color the entire length and is more plainly striate rugose with a yellowish tinge at the base. the stem tapers gradually and strongly from the base to the apex, so that it often appears long conic. the plant is often badly eaten by snails, so that it is sometimes difficult to obtain perfect specimens. figure is from a photograph of plants (no. c. u. herbarium) from blowing rock, n. c. =boletus americanus= pk.--this species occurs in woods and open places, growing on the ground in wet weather. it occurs singly or clustered, sometimes two or three joined by their bases, but usually more scattered. it is usually found under or near pine trees. the plant is -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem is -- mm. in thickness. it is very slimy in wet weather, the cap is yellow, streaked or spotted with faint red, and the stem is covered with numerous brown or reddish brown dots. the =pileus= is rounded, then convex, becoming nearly expanded and sometimes with an umbo. it is soft, very slimy or viscid when moist, yellow. when young the surface gluten is often mixed with loose threads, more abundant on the margin, and continuous with the veil, which can only be seen in the very young stage. as the pileus expands the margin is sometimes scaly from remnants of the veil and of loose hairs on the surface. the cap loses its bright color as it ages, and is then sometimes streaked or spotted with red. the =tube= surface is nearly plane, and the tubes join squarely against the stem. the tubes are rather large, angular, yellowish, becoming dull ochraceous. the =stem= is nearly equal, yellow, and covered with numerous brownish or reddish brown glandular dots. no ring is present. this species grows in the same situations as the _b. granulatus_, sometimes both species are common over the same area. figure is from plants (no. c. u. herbarium) collected at blowing rock, n. c., september, . the species is closely related to _b. flavidus_ fr., and according to some it is identical with it. =boletus granulatus= l. =edible.=--this species is one of the very common and widely distributed ones. it grows in woods and open places on the ground. like _b. americanus_, it is usually found under or near pines. it occurs during the summer and autumn, sometimes appearing very late in the season. the plants are -- cm. high, the cap is -- cm. broad, and the stem is -- mm. in thickness. the plants usually are clustered, though not often very crowded. [illustration: plate , figure .--boletus obsonium. cap cinnamon to pink or hazel in color, slightly tomentose; stem white, then pale flesh color (natural size). copyright.] the =pileus= is convex to nearly expanded, flat. when moist it is very viscid and reddish brown, paler and yellowish when it is dry, but very variable in color, pink, red, yellow, tawny, and brown shades. the flesh is pale yellow. the =tubes= are joined squarely to the stem, short, yellowish, and the edges of the tubes, that is, at the open end (often called the mouth), are dotted or granulated. the =stem= is dotted in the same way above. the =spores= in mass are pale yellow; singly they are spindle-shaped. [illustration: figure .--boletus americanus. cap slimy, yellow, sometimes with reddish spots, tubes yellowish (natural size). copyright.] the species is edible, though some say it should be regarded with suspicion. peck has tried it, and i have eaten it, but the viscid character of the plant did not make it a relish for me. there are several species closely related to the granulated boletus. _b. brevipes_ pk., is one chiefly distinguished by the short stem, which entirely lacks the glandular dots. it grows in sandy soil, in pine groves and in woods. =boletus punctipes= pk.--this species has been reported from new york state by peck. during september, , i found it quite common in the blue ridge mountains of north carolina, at an elevation of between and feet. it grows on the ground in mixed woods. the plants are -- cm. high, the caps -- cm. broad, and the stem -- mm. in thickness. [illustration: figure .--boletus punctipes. cap viscid when moist, reddish brown, pink, yellow, tawny, etc., tubes yellowish, stem dark punctate (natural size). copyright.] the =pileus= is convex, sometimes becoming nearly plane, and it is quite thick in the center, more so than the granulated boletus, while the margin is thin, and when young with a minute gray powder. the margin often becomes upturned when old; the cap is viscid when moist, dull yellow. the =tubes= are short, their lower surface plane, and they are set squarely against the stem. they are small, the mouths rounded, brownish, then dull ochraceous, and dotted with glandules. the =stem= is rather long, proportionately more so than in the granulated boletus. it distinctly tapers upwards, is "rhubarb yellow," and dotted with glandules. this character of the stem suggested the name of the species. the =spores= are -- × -- µ. figure is from plants (no. c. u. herbarium) collected at blowing rock, n. c. it is closely related to _b. granulatus_ and by some is considered the same. =boletus luteus= linn. (_b. subluteus_ pk.) this species is widely distributed in europe and america, and grows in sandy soil, in pine or mixed woods or groves. the plants are -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. in diameter, and the stem -- mm. in thickness. the general color is dull brown or yellowish brown, and the plants are slimy in moist weather, the stem and tubes more or less dotted with dark points. these characters vary greatly under different conditions, and the fact has led to some confusion in the discrimination of species. [illustration: figure .--boletus luteus. cap viscid when moist, dull yellowish to reddish brown, tubes yellowish, stem punctate both above and below the annulus (natural size). copyright.] the =pileus= is convex, becoming nearly plane, viscid or glutinous when moist, dull yellowish to reddish brown, sometimes with the color irregularly distributed in streaks. the flesh is whitish or dull yellowish. the =tube= surface is plane or convex, the tubes set squarely against the stem (adnate), while the tubes are small, with small, nearly rounded, or slightly angular mouths. the color of the tubes is yellowish or ochre colored, becoming darker in age, and sometimes nearly brown or quite dark. the =stem= is pale yellowish, reddish or brownish, and more or less covered with glandular dots, which when dry give a black dotted appearance to the stem. in the case of descriptions of _b. luteus_ the stem is said to be dotted only above the annulus, while the description of _b. subluteus_ gives the stem as dotted both above and below the annulus. the =spores= are yellowish brown or some shade of this color in mass, lighter yellowish brown under the microscope, fusiform or nearly so, and -- × -- µ. the =annulus= is very variable, sometimes collapsing as a narrow ring around the stem as in fig. , from plants collected at blowing rock, n. c., september, (_b. subluteus_ pk.), and sometimes appearing as a broad, free collar, as in fig. . the veil is more or less gelatinous, and in an early stage of the plant may cover the stem as a sheath. the lower part of the stem is sometimes covered at maturity with the sheathing portion of the veil, the upper part only appearing as a ring. in this way, the lower part of the stem being covered, the glandular dots are not evident, while the stem is seen to be dotted above the annulus. but in many cases the veil slips off from the lower portion of the stem at an early stage, and then in its slimy condition collapses around the upper part of the stem, leaving the stem uncovered and showing the dots both above and below the ring (_b. subluteus_). [illustration: plate , figure .--boletus luteus. cap drab to hair-brown with streaks of the latter, viscid when moist, tubes tawny olive to walnut-brown, stem black dotted both above and below the broad, free annulus (natural size). copyright.] an examination of the figures of the european plant shows that the veil often slips off from the lower portion of the stem in _b. luteus_, especially in the figures given by krombholtz, t. . in some of these figures the veil forms a broad, free collar, and the stem is then dotted both above and below, as is well shown in the figures. in other figures where the lower part of the veil remains as a sheath over the lower part of the stem, the dots are hidden. i have three specimens of the _b. luteus_ of europe from dr. bresadola, collected at trento, austria-hungary: one of them has the veil sheathing the lower part of the stem, and the stem only shows the dots above the annulus; a second specimen has the annulus in the form of a collapsed ring near the upper end of the stem, and the stem dotted both above and below the annulus; in the third specimen the annulus is in the form of a broad, free collar, and the stem dotted both above and below. the plants shown in fig. (no. , c. u. herbarium) were collected at blowing rock, n. c., during september, . they were found in open woods under kalmia where the sun had an opportunity to dry out the annulus before it became collapsed or agglutinated against the stem, and the broad, free collar was formed. my notes on these specimens read as follows: "the =pileus= is convex, then expanded, rather thick at the center, the margin thin, sometimes sterile, incurved. in color it runs from ecru drab to hair-brown with streaks of the latter, and it is very viscid when moist. when dried the surface of the pileus is shining. the =tubes= are plane or concave, adnate, tawny-olive to walnut-brown. the tubes are small, angular, somewhat as in _b. granulatus_, but smaller, and they are granulated with reddish or brownish dots. the =spores= are walnut brown, oblong to elliptical, -- × -- µ. the =stem= is cylindrical, even, olive yellow above, and black dotted both above and below the annulus." [illustration: figure .--boletinus pictus. cap reddish, tinged with yellowish between the scales, stem same color, tubes yellow, often changing to reddish brown where bruised (natural size). copyright.] =boletinus pictus= pk.--this very beautiful plant is quite common in damp pine woods. it is easily recognized by the reddish cottony layer of mycelium threads which cover the entire plant when young, and form a veil which covers the gills at this time. as the plant expands the reddish outer layer is torn into scales of the same color, showing the yellowish, or pinkish, flesh beneath, and the flesh often changes to pink or reddish where wounded. the tubes are first pale yellow, but become darker in age, often changing to pinkish, with a brown tinge where bruised. the stem is solid, and is thus different from a closely related species, _b. cavipes_ kalchb. the stem is covered with a coat like that on the pileus and is similarly colored, though often paler. the spores are ochraceous, -- × -- µ. the plants are -- cm. high, the caps -- cm. broad, and the stems -- mm. in thickness. figure is from plants collected in the blue ridge mountains, blowing rock, n. c., september, . =boletinus porosus= (berk.) pk.--this very interesting species is widely distributed in the eastern united states. it resembles a _polyporus_, though it is very soft like a _boletus_, but quite tenacious. the plants are dull reddish-brown, viscid when moist, and shining. the cap is more or less irregular and the stem eccentric, the cap being sometimes more or less lobed. the plants are -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the short stem -- mm. in thickness. it occurs in damp ground in woods. the =pileus= is fleshy, thick at the middle, and thin at the margin. the =tubes= are arranged in prominently radiating rows, the partitions often running radiately in the form of lamellæ, certain ones of them being more prominent than others as shown in fig. . these branch and are connected by cross partitions of less prominence. this character of the hymenium led berkeley to place the plant in the genus _paxillus_, with which it does not seem to be so closely related as with the genus _boletus_. the stratum of tubes, though very soft, is very tenacious, and does not separate from the flesh of the pileus, thus resembling certain species of _polyporus_. figure is from plants collected at ithaca. [illustration: plate , figure .--boletinus porosus. viscid when moist, dull reddish brown (natural size). copyright.] =strobilomyces strobilaceus= berk. =edible.=--this plant has a peculiar name, both the genus and the species referring to the cone-like appearance of the cap with its coarse, crowded, dark brown scales, bearing a fancied resemblance to a pine cone. it is very easily distinguished from other species of _boletus_ because of this character of the cap. the plant has a very wide distribution though it is not usually very common. the plant is -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem -- cm. in thickness. the =pileus= is hemispherical to convex, shaggy from numerous large blackish, coarse, hairy, projecting scales. the margin of the cap is fringed with scales and fragments of the veil which covers the tubes in the young plants. the flesh is whitish, but soon changes to reddish color, and later to black where wounded or cut. the =tubes= are adnate, whitish, becoming brown and blackish in the older plants. the mouths of the tubes are large and angular, and change color where bruised, as does the flesh of the cap. the stem is even, or sometimes tapers upward, often grooved near the apex, very tomentose or scaly with soft scales of the same color as the cap. the =spores= are in mass dark brown, nearly globose, roughened, and -- µ long. figs. -- are from plants collected at ithaca, n. y. another european plant, _s. floccopus_ vahl, is said by peck to occur in the united states, but is much more rare. the only difference in the two noted by peck in the case of the american plants is that the tubes are depressed around the stem in _s. floccopus_. [illustration: plate , figure .--strobilomyces strobilaceus. scales of cap dark brown or black, flesh white but soon changing to reddish and later to black where wounded, stem same color but lighter (natural size). copyright.] [illustration: figure .--strobilomyces strobilaceus. sections of plants. copyright.] [illustration: figure .--strobilomyces strobilaceus. under view. copyright.] fistulina bull. in the genus _fistulina_ the tubes, or pores, are crowded together, but stand separately, that is, they are not connected together, or grown together into a stratum as in _boletus_ and other genera of the family _polyporaceæ_. when the plant is young the tubes are very short, but they elongate with age. =fistulina hepatica= fr. =edible.=--this is one of the largest of the species in the genus and is the most widely distributed and common one. it is of a dark red color, very soft and juicy. it has usually a short stem which expands out into the broad and thick cap. when young the upper side of the cap is marked by minute elevations of a different color, which suggest the papillæ on the tongue; in age the tubes on the under surface have also some such suggestive appearance. the form, as it stands outward in a shelving fashion from stumps or trees, together with the color and surface characters, has suggested several common names, as beef tongue, beef-steak fungus, oak or chestnut tongue. the plant is -- cm. long, and -- cm. broad, the stem very short and thick, sometimes almost wanting, and again quite long. i have seen some specimens growing from a hollow log in which the stems were -- cm. long. the =pileus= is very thick, cm. or more in thickness, fleshy, soft, very juicy, and in wet weather very clammy and somewhat sticky to the touch. when mature there are lines of color of different shades extending out radially on the upper surface, and in making a longitudinal section of the cap there are quite prominent, alternating, dark and light red lines present in the flesh. the =tubes=, short at first, become -- mm. long, they are yellowish or tinged with flesh color, becoming soiled in age. the =spores= are elliptical, yellowish, and -- µ long. the plant occurs on dead trunks or stumps of oak, chestnut, etc., in wet weather from june to september. i have usually found it on chestnut. the beef-steak fungus is highly recommended by some, while others are not pleased with it as an article of food. it has an acid flavor which is disagreeable to some, but this is more marked in young specimens and in those not well cooked. when it is sliced thin and well broiled or fried, the acid taste is not marked. [illustration: plate . fig. .--fistulina hepatica. fig. .--f. pallida. copyright .] =fistulina pallida= b. & rav. (_fistulina firma_ pk.)--this rare and interesting species was collected by mrs. a. m. hadley, near manchester, new hampshire, october, , and was described by dr. peck in the bulletin of the torrey botanical club, = =: , , as _fistulina firma_. but two plants were then found, and these were connected at the base. during august and september it was quite common in a small woods near ithaca, n. y., and was first collected growing from the roots of a dead oak stump, august (no. c. u. herbarium), and afterward during october. during september i collected it at blowing rock, n. c., in the blue ridge mountains, at an elevation of nearly feet, growing from the roots of a dead white oak tree. it was collected during september, , by mr. frank rathbun at auburn, n. y. it was collected by ravenel in the mountains of south carolina, around a white oak stump by peters in alabama, and was first described by berkeley in , in =grev. =: , notices of n. a. f. no. . growing from roots or wood underneath the surface of the ground, the plant has an erect stem, the length of the stem depending on the depth at which the root is buried, just as in the case of _polyporus radicatus_, which has a similar habitat. the plants are -- cm. high, the cap is -- cm. broad, and the stem -- mm. in thickness. [illustration: plate , figure .--fistulina pallida. cap wood-brown to fawn or clay color, tubes and lower part of the stem whitish (natural size). copyright.] the =pileus= is wood brown to fawn, clay color or isabelline color. it is nearly semi-circular to reniform in outline, and the margin broadly crenate, or sometimes lobed. the stem is attached at the concave margin, where the cap is auriculate and has a prominent boss or elevation, and bent at right angles with a characteristic curve. the pileus is firm, flexible, tough and fibrous, flesh white. the surface is covered with a fine and dense tomentum. the pileus is -- mm. thick at the base, thinning out toward the margin. the =tubes= are whitish, -- mm. long and -- in the space of a millimeter. they are very slender, tubular, the mouth somewhat enlarged, the margin of the tubes pale cream color and minutely mealy or furfuraceous, with numerous irregular, roughened threads. the tubes often stand somewhat separated, areas being undeveloped or younger, so that the surface of the under side is not regular. the tubes are not so crowded as is usual in the _fistulina hepatica_. they are not decurrent, but end abruptly near the stem. the =spores= are subglobose, µ in diameter. the stem tapers downward, is whitish below, and near the pileus the color changes rather abruptly to the same tint as the pileus. the stem is sometimes branched, and two or three caps present, or the caps themselves may be joined, as well as the stems, so that occasionally very irregular forms are developed, but there is always the peculiar character of the attachment of the stem to the side of the cap. figure is from plants (no , c. u. herbarium) collected at blowing rock, n. c., september, . figures on the colored plate represent this plant. =polyporus frondosus= fr. =edible.=--this plant occurs in both europe and america, and while not very common seems to be widely distributed. it grows about old stumps or dead trees, from roots, often arising from the roots below the surface of the ground, and also is found on logs. the plant represents a section of the genus _polyporus_, in which the body, both the stem and the cap, are very much branched. in this species the stem is stout at the base, but it branches into numerous smaller trunks, which continue to branch until finally the branches terminate in the expanded and leaf-like caps as shown in figs. -- . the plants appear usually during late summer and in the autumn. the species is often found about oak stumps. some of the specimens are very large, and weigh to pounds, and the mass is sometimes to cm. ( -- feet) in diameter. the plant, when young and growing, is quite soft and tender, though it is quite firm. it never becomes very hard, as many of the other species of this family. when mature, insects begin to attack it, and not being tough it soon succumbs to the ravages of insects and decay, as do a number of the softer species of the _polyporaceæ_. the caps are very irregular in shape, curved, repand, radiately furrowed, sometimes zoned; gray, or hair-brown in color, with a perceptibly hairy surface, the hairs running in lines on the surface. sometimes they are quite broad and not so numerous as in plate , and in other plants they are narrow and more numerous, as in plate . the tubes are more or less irregular, whitish, with a yellowish tinge when old. from the under side of the cap they extend down on the stem. when the spores are mature they are sometimes so numerous that they cover the lower caps and the grass for quite a distance around as if with a white powder. this species is edible, and because of the large size which it often attains, the few plants which are usually found make up in quantity what they lack in numbers. since the plant is quite firm it will keep several days after being picked, in a cool place, and will serve for several meals. a specimen which i gathered was divided between two families, and was served at several meals on successive days. when stewed the plant has for me a rather objectionable taste, but the stewing makes the substance more tender, and when this is followed by broiling or frying the objectionable taste is removed and it is quite palatable. the plants represented in plates and were collected at ithaca. [illustration: plate , figure .--polyporus frondosus. caps hair-brown or grayish, tubes white ( / natural size, masses often -- cm. in breadth). the caps in this specimen are quite broad, often they are narrower as in fig. . copyright.] [illustration: plate , figure .--polyporus frondosus. side and under view of a larger cluster ( / natural size). copyright.] there are several species which are related to the frondose polyporus which occur in this country as well as in europe. =polyporus intybaceus= fr., is of about the same size, and the branching, and form of the caps is much the same, but it is of a yellowish brown or reddish brown color. it grows on logs, stumps, etc., and is probably edible. it is not so common at ithaca as the frondose polyporus. [illustration: figure .--polyporus umbellatus. caps hair-brown (natural size, often much larger). copyright.] =polyporus umbellatus= fr.--this species is also related to the frondose polyporus, but is very distinct. it is more erect, the branching more open, and the caps at the ends of the branches are more or less circular and umbilicate. the branches are long, cylindrical and united near the base. the spreading habit of the branching, or the form of the caps, suggests an umbel or umbrella, and hence the specific name _umbellatus_. the tufts occur from -- cm. in diameter, and the individual caps are from -- cm. in diameter. it grows from underground roots and about stumps during summer. it is probably edible, but i have never tried it. figure is from a plant (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected in cascadilla woods, ithaca. =polyporus sulphureus= (bull.) fr. =edible.= (_boletus caudicinus_ schaeff. t. , : _polyporus caudicinus_ schroeter, cohn's krypt. flora, schlesien, p. , ).--the sulphur polyporus is so-called because of the bright sulphur color of the entire plant. it is one of the widely distributed species, and grows on dead oak, birch, and other trunks, and is also often found growing from wounds or knot-holes of living trees of the oak, apple, walnut, etc. the mycelium enters at wounds where limbs are broken off, and grows for years in the heart wood, disorganizing it and causing it to decay. in time the mycelium has spread over a considerable area, from which nutriment enough is supplied for the formation of the fruiting condition. the caps then appear from an open wound when such an exit is present. the color of the plant is quite constant, but varies of course in shades of yellow to some extent. in form, however, it varies greatly. the caps are usually clustered and imbricated, that is, they overlap. they may all arise separately from the wood, and yet be overlapping, though oftener several of them are closely joined or united at the base, so that the mass of caps arises from a common outgrowth from the wood as shown in fig. . the individual caps are flattened, elongate, and more or less fan-shaped. when mature there are radiating furrows and ridges which often increase the fan-like appearance of the upper surface of the cap. sometimes also there are more or less marked concentric furrows. the caps may be convex, or the margin may be more or less upturned so that the central portion is depressed. when young the margin is thick and blunt and of course lighter in color, but as the plant matures the edge is usually thinner. in some forms of the plant the caps are so closely united as to form a large rounded or tubercular mass, only the blunt tips of the individual caps being free. this is well represented in fig. , from a photograph of a large specimen growing from a wound in a butter-nut tree in central new york. the plant was cm. in diameter. the plants represented in plate grew on an oak stump. the tree was affected by the fungus while it was alive, and the heart wood became so weakened that the tree broke, and later the fruit form of the fungus appeared from the dead stump. [illustration: plate , figure .--polyporus sulphureus, on oak stump. entirely sulphur-yellow ( / natural size). copyright.] the tubes are small, and the walls thin and delicate, and are sometimes much torn, lacerated, and irregular. when the mycelium has grown in the interior of a log for a number of years it tends to grow in sheets along the line of the medullary rays of the wood or across in concentric layers corresponding to the summer wood. also as the wood becomes more decomposed, cracks and rifts appear along these same lines. the mycelium then grows in abundance in these rifts and forms broad and extensive sheets which resemble somewhat chamois skin and is called "punk." similar punk is sometimes formed in conifers from the mycelium of _fomes pinicola_. [illustration: plate , figure .--polyporus sulphureus. caps joined in a massive tubercle ( / natural size).] _polyporus sulphureus_ has long been known as an edible fungus, but from its rather firm and fibrous texture it requires a different preparation from the fleshy fungi to prepare it for the table, and this may be one reason why it is not employed more frequently as an article of food. it is common enough during the summer and especially during the autumn to provide this kind of food in considerable quantities. [illustration: plate , figure .--polyporus brumalis. cap and stem brown, tubes white. lower three plants natural size, upper one enlarged twice natural size. copyright.] =polyporus brumalis= (pers.) fr.--this pretty plant is found at all seasons of the year, and from its frequency during the winter was named _brumalis_, from _bruma_, which means winter. it grows on sticks and branches, or on trunks. it usually occurs singly, sometimes two or three close together. the plants are -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. in diameter, and the stem is -- mm. in thickness. the =cap= is convex, then plane, and sometimes depressed at the center or umbilicate. when young it is somewhat fleshy and pliant, then it becomes tough, coriaceous, and hard when dry. during wet weather it becomes pliant again. being hard and firm, and tough, it preserves long after mature, so that it may be found at any season of the year. the cap is smoky in color, varying in shade, sometimes very dark, almost black, and other specimens being quite light in color. the surface is hairy and the margin is often fimbriate with coarse hairs. the =stem= is lighter, hairy or strigose. the =tubes= are first white, then become yellowish. the tubes are very regular in arrangement. figure represents well this species, three plants being grouped rather closely on the same stick; two show the under surface and one gives a side view. the upper portion of the plate represents two of the plants enlarged, the three lower ones being natural size. the plant is very common and widely distributed over the world. those illustrated in the plate were collected at ithaca. this species is too tough for food. many of the thin and pliant species of _polyporus_ are separated by some into the genus =polystictus=. the species are very numerous, as well as some of the individuals of certain species. they grow on wood or on the ground, some have a central stem, and others are shelving, while some are spread out on the surface of the wood. one very pretty species is the =polystictus perennis= fr. this grows on the ground and has a central stem. the plant is -- cm. high, and the cap -- cm. broad. the =pileus= is thin, pliant when fresh and somewhat brittle when dry. it is minutely velvety on the upper surface, reddish brown or cinnamon in color, expanded or umbilicate to nearly funnel-shaped. the surface is marked beautifully by radiations and fine concentric zones. the =stem= is also velvety. the =tubes= are minute, the walls thin and acute, and the mouths angular and at last more or less torn. the margin of the cap is finely fimbriate, but in old specimens these hairs are apt to become rubbed off. the left hand plant in fig. is _polyporus perennis_. =polystictus cinnamomeus= (jacq.) sacc., (_p. oblectans_ berk. hook. jour. p. , , dec. n. a. f. no. : _p. splendens_ pk., th report n. y. state mus., p. ) is a closely related species with the same habit, color, and often is found growing side by side with _p. perennis_. the margin of the cap is deeply and beautifully lacerate, as shown in the three other plants in fig. . _polystictus connatus_ schw., grows in similar situations and one sometimes finds all three of these plants near each other on the ground by roadsides. _p. connatus_ has much larger pores than either of the other two, and it is a somewhat larger plant. figure is from a photograph of plants collected at blowing rock, n. c., during september, . [illustration: figure .--left-hand plant polystictus perennis; right-hand three plants polystictus cinnamomeus. all natural size. copyright.] =polystictus versicolor= (l.) fr., is a very common plant growing on trunks and branches. it is more or less shelving, with a leaf-like pileus, marked by concentric bands of different colors. =p. hirsutus= fr., is a somewhat thicker and more spongy plant, whitish or grayish in color, with the upper surface tomentose with coarse hairs. =p. cinnabarinus= (jacq.) fr., is shelving, spongy, pliant, rather thick, cinnabar colored. it grows on dead logs and branches. it is sometimes placed in the genus _trametes_ under the same specific name. =polystictus pergamenus= fr., is another common one growing on wood of various trees. it is thin and very pliant when fresh, somewhat tomentose above when young, with faint bands, and the tubes are often violet or purple color, and they soon become deeply torn and lacerate so that they resemble the teeth of certain of the hedgehog fungi. [illustration: plate , figure .--polyporus lucidus. caps bright red or chestnut color, with a hard shiny crust ( / natural size). copyright.] =polyporus lucidus= (leys.) fr. [_fomes lucidus_ (leys.) fr.]--this species is a very striking one because of the bright red or chestnut color, the hard and brittle crust over the surface of the cap, which has usually the appearance of having been varnished. it grows on trunks, logs, stumps, etc., in woods or groves. the cap is -- cm. in diameter, and the stem is -- cm. long, and -- cm. in thickness. the stem is attached to one side of the pileus so that the pileus is lateral, though the stem is more or less ascending. the =cap= is first yellowish when young, then it becomes blood red, then chestnut color. the =stem= is the same color, and the =tubes= are not so bright in color, being a dull brown. the substance of the plant is quite woody and tough when mature. when dry it is soon attacked and eaten by certain insects, which are fond of a number of fungi, so that they are difficult to preserve in good condition in herbaria without great care. the surface of the pileus is quite uneven, wrinkled, and coarsely grooved, the margin sometimes crenate, especially in large specimens. figure represents the plant growing on a large hemlock spruce stump in the woods. the surface character of the caps and the general form can be seen. this photograph was taken near ithaca, n. y. =polyporus applanatus= (pers.) fr. [_fomes applanatus_ (pers.) wallr.]--this plant is also one of the very common woody _polyporaceæ_. it grows on dead trunks, etc., and sometimes is found growing from the wounds of living trees. it is very hard and woody. it has a hard crust, much harder than that of the _polyporus lucidus_. the surface is more or less marked by concentric zones which mark off the different years' growth, for this plant is perennial. at certain seasons of the year the upper surface is covered with a powdery substance of a reddish brown color, made up of numerous colored spores or conidia which are developed on the upper surface of this plant in addition to the smaller spores developed in the tubes on the under surface. the plant varies in size from -- cm. or more in diameter, and -- cm. in thickness, according to the rapidity of growth and the age of the fungus. the fruiting surface is white, and the tubes are very minute. they scarcely can be seen with the unaided eye. bruises of the tubes turn brown, and certain "artists" often collect these plants and sketch with a pointed instrument on the tube surface. for other peculiarities of this plant see page . the age of the plant can usually be told by counting the number of the broader zones on the upper surface, or by making a section through the plant and counting the number of tube strata on the lower surface of the cap at its base. =polyporus leucophæus= mont., is said to differ from this species in being more strongly zonate, and in the crust being whitish instead of reddish brown. =polyporus fomentarius= (l.) fr. [_fomes fomentarius_ (l.) fr.,] is hoof-shaped, smoky in color, or gray, and of various shades of dull brown. it is strongly zoned and sulcate, marking off each year's growth. the margin is thick and blunt, and the tube surface concave, the tubes having quite large mouths so that they can be readily seen, the color when mature being reddish brown. sections of the plant show that the tubes are very long, the different years' growth not being marked off so distinctly as in _p. applanatus_ and _leucophæus_. the plant grows on birch, beech, maple, etc. the inner portion was once used as tinder. =polyporus pinicola= (swartz.) fr. [_fomes pinicola_ (swartz.) fr.] occurs on dead pine, spruce, balsam, hemlock spruce, and other conifers. the cap is about the width of the _f. applanatus_, but it is stouter, and does not have the same hard crust. the young growth at the margin, which is very thick, is whitish yellow, while the old zones are reddish. the tubes are yellowish, and sections show that they are in strata corresponding to the years' growth. =polyporus igniarius= (l.) fr. [_fomes igniarius_ (l.) fr.] is a black species, more or less triangular, or sometimes hoof-shaped. the yearly zones are smaller, become much cracked, and the tubes are dark brown. one of these plants which i found on a birch tree in the adirondacks was over years old. the genus _merulius_ has a fruiting surface of irregular folds or wrinkles, forming shallow, irregular pits instead of a deeply honey-combed surface. =merulius lacrymans= (jacq.) fr., the "weeping" merulius, or "house fungus," often occurs in damp cellars, buildings, conduit pipes, etc. it is very destructive to buildings in certain parts of europe (see figs. , ). =merulius tremellosus= schrad., is very common in woods during autumn. it is of a gelatinous consistency, and spread on the under surface of limbs or forms irregular shelves from the side (see figs. , ). [illustration: plate .--merulius lacrymans. figure .--upper plant in conduit pipe leading from wash room, gymnasium c. u., autumn, . figure .--lower plant from under surface decaying hemlock spruce log in woods near freeville, n. y., october, . margin of plants white, fruiting surface a network of irregular folds, golden brown, or brown. copyright.] [illustration: plate .--merulius tremellosus. figure .--natural size.] [illustration: figure .--enlarged to show character of fruiting surface. fruiting surface yellowish; margin and upper surface in shelving forms, white, hairy. copyright.] [illustration: plate , figure .--phlebia merismoides. on rotting log, woods near ithaca, november , (no. c. u. herbarium). various shades of orange, yellow or yellow brown when old. copyright.] [illustration: plate , figure .--phlebia merismoides. portion of a plant - / times natural size, to show interrupted folds of fruiting surface. for colors see fig. . copyright.] chapter x. hedgehog fungi: hydnaceae. the plants belonging to this family vary greatly in size, form, and consistency. some of them are very large, some quite small, some are fleshy in consistency, some are woody, corky; some membranaceous; and if we include plants formerly classed here, some are gelatinous, though there is a tendency in recent years on the part of some to place the gelatinous ones among the trembling fungi. the special character which marks the members of this family is the peculiarity of the fruiting surface, just as a number of the other families are distinguished by some peculiarity of the fruiting surface. in the _hydnaceæ_ it covers the surface of numerous processes in the form of spines, teeth, warts, coarse granules, or folds which are interrupted at short intervals. these spines or teeth always are directed toward the earth when the plant is in the position in which it grew. in this way the members of the family can be distinguished from certain members of the club fungi belonging to the family _clavariaceæ_, for in the latter the branches or free parts of the plant are erect. in form the _hydnaceæ_ are shelving, growing on trees; or growing on the ground they often have a central or eccentric stem, and a more or less circular cap; some of them are rounded masses, growing from trees, with very long spines extending downward; others have ascending branches from which the spines depend; and still others form thin sheets which are spread over the surface of logs and sticks, the spines hanging down from the surface, or roughened with granules or warts, or interrupted folds (see _phlebia_, figs. , ). in one genus there is no fruit body, but the spines themselves extend downward from the rotten wood, the genus _mucronella_. this is only distinguished, so far as its family position is concerned, from such a species as _clavaria mucida_ by the fact that the plant grows downward from the wood, while in _c. mucida_ it grows erect. hydnum linn. the only species of the _hydnaceæ_ described here are in the genus _hydnum_. in this genus the fruiting surface is on spine, or awl-shaped processes, which are either simple or in some cases the tips are more or less branched. the plants grow on the ground or on wood. the species vary greatly in form. some are provided with a more or less regular cap and a stem, while others are shelving or bracket shaped, and still others are spread out over the surface of the wood (resupinate). [illustration: figure .--hydnum coralloides. entirely white (natural size). copyright.] =hydnum coralloides= scop. =edible.=--among the very beautiful species of the genus _hydnum_ is the coral one, _hydnum coralloides_. it grows in woods forming large, beautiful, pure white tufts on rotten logs, branches, etc. the appearance of one of these tufts is shown in fig. . there is a common stem which arises from the wood, and this branches successively into long, ascending, graceful shoots. the spines are scattered over the entire under side of these branches and hang down for -- mm. they are not clustered at the ends of the branches, as in the bear's head hydnum, and the species can be easily distinguished by giving attention to the form of the branching and the distribution of the spines on the under side of the branches. figure represents a plant collected at ithaca, and it is natural size. they grow, however, much larger than this specimen. the species is widely distributed, and not uncommon. it is excellent for food. [illustration: plate , figure .--hydnum caput-ursi. entirely white (natural size). copyright.] =hydnum caput-ursi= fr. =edible.=--this plant is also a beautiful one. it is more common than the coral hydnum so far as my observation goes. it is known by the popular name of "bear's head hydnum" in allusion to the groups of spines at the ends of the branches. it occurs in woods with a similar habit of growing on trunks, branches, etc. this plant also arises from the wood with a single stout stem, which then branches successively, the ends of the branches having groups of long pendant spines appearing like numerous heads. sometimes the spines on the top of the group are twisted or curled in a peculiar way. large tufts are sometimes formed, varying from -- or more centimeters in diameter. figure is from a plant collected at ithaca. [illustration: figure .--hydnum erinaceus. entirely white (natural size, often larger).] =hydnum caput-medusæ= bull. =edible.=--the medusa's head hydnum is a rarer species than either of the above in this country. it forms a large, tubercular mass which does not branch like the coral hydnum or the bear's head, but more like the satyr's beard hydnum, though the character of the spines will easily separate it from the latter. the spines cover a large part of this large tubercle, and hang downward. the plant is known by the additional character, that, on the upper part of the tubercle, the spines are twisted and interwoven in a peculiar fashion. =hydnum erinaceus= bull. =edible.=--this plant is sometimes called "satyr's beard." it grows on dead trunks in the woods or groves, and is often found growing from wounds in living trees. it forms a large, tubercular mass which does not branch. the spines are very long and straight and hang downward in straight parallel lines from the sides of the mass. the spines are from -- cm. or more long. figure represents one of the plants, showing the long spines. =hydnum repandum= l. =edible.=--this plant is not uncommon, and it is widely distributed. it grows usually in woods, on the ground. it varies greatly in size, from very small specimens, -- cm. high to others -- cm. high. the cap is -- cm. broad, and the stem -- mm. in thickness. [illustration: plate , figure .--hydnum repandum. cap whitish or yellowish, or pale yellowish brown; spines whitish or yellowish (natural size, often smaller). copyright.] it is entirely white or the cap varies to buff, dull yellow reddish or dull brown. it is very brittle, and must be handled with the utmost care if one wishes to preserve the specimen intact. the pileus is more or less irregular, the stem being generally eccentric, so that the pileus is produced more on one side than on the other, sometimes entirely lateral at the end of the stem. the margin is more or less wavy or repand. the spines are white, straight, and very brittle. the stem is even or clavate. figure is from plants collected at ithaca during august, , and represents one of the large specimens of the species. in one plant the pileus is entirely lateral on the end of the long clavate stem, and is somewhat reniform, the stem being attached at the sinus. in the other plant the stem is attached near the center. this species is considered one of the best mushrooms for the table. [illustration: plate , figure .--hydnum putidum. caps whitish then buff, then brownish or nearly black in older parts, edge white (natural size). copyright.] =hydnum imbricatum= l. =edible.=--this is a very variable species both in size and in the surface characters of the pileus. it occurs in woods, groves, or in open places under trees. the plants are -- cm. high, and the pileus varies from -- cm. broad, the stem from . -- . cm. in thickness. the pileus is convex and nearly expanded, fleshy, thinner at the margin, regular or very irregular. the color is grayish in the younger and smaller plants to umber or quite dark in the larger and older ones. the surface is cracked and torn into triangular scales, showing the whitish color of the flesh between the scales. the scales are small in the younger plants and larger in the older ones. figure is from plants collected at ithaca, and the pileus in these specimens is irregular. the species is edible, but bitter to the taste. [illustration: figure .--hydnum imbricatum. caps brownish, spines whitish (natural size, often larger).] =hydnum putidum= atkinson.--this plant grows on the ground in woods, and was collected in the blue ridge mountains at blowing rock, n. c., at an elevation of about feet. it is remarkable for its peculiar odor, resembling, when fresh, that of an ethiopian; for its tough, zonate pileus with a prominent white edge, and the stout irregular stem, resembling the stem of _hydnum velutinum_. the plants are -- cm. high, the cap -- cm. broad, and the stem -- cm. in thickness. the plants grow singly, or sometimes a few close together, and then two or more may be conjoined. the =pileus= is first umbilicate or depressed, becoming depressed or infundibuliform, irregular, eccentric, the margin repand, and sometimes lobed, and lobes appearing at times on the upper surface of the cap. the surface is first tomentose or pubescent, becoming smooth, with prominent concentric zones probably marked off by periodical growth; the color is first white, so that the edge is white, becoming cream color to buff, and in age dull brown and sometimes blackish brown in the center of the old plants. the pubescence disappears from the old portions of the cap, so that it is smooth. the pubescence or tomentum is more prominent on the intermediate zones. the margin is rather thick, somewhat acute or blunt, the upper portion of the flesh is spongy and the middle portion tough and coriaceous, and darker in color. the pileus is somewhat pliant when moist or wet, and firm when dry, the dark inner stratum hard. the =spines= are first white or cream color, in age changing through salmon color, or directly into grayish or grayish brown. the spines when mature are long, slender, crowded, and decurrent on the upper part of the stem. the =spores= are white, globose, echinulate, -- µ. the =stem= is stout and irregular, very closely resembling the stem of _hydnum velutinum_, with a thick, spongy, outer layer and a central hard core. the odor, which resembles that of a perspiring darkey, before the plant is dry, disappears after drying, and then the plant has the same agreeable odor presented by several different species of hydnum. the odor suggests _h. graveolens_, but the characters of the stem and surface of the pileus separate it from that species, while the tough and pliant character of the cap separates it from _h. fragile_. figure is from plants (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected at blowing rock, n. c., during september, . chapter xi. coral fungi: clavariaceae. this family is a very characteristic one, and very interesting from the large number of beautiful species in one genus, the genus _clavaria_. the plants all are more or less erect, or at least stand out from the substratum, that is, the substance on which they are growing. the fruiting surface covers the entire upper part of the plant, all but the bases of the stems. some of the branched species of the _thelephoraceæ_ resemble the branched species of the _clavariaceæ_, but in the former there is a more or less well defined upper portion on the tips of the branches which is flat, or truncate, and sterile, that is, lacks the fruiting surface. some of the species are simple, elongate and clavate bodies. some stand singly, others are clustered, or others are joined by their bases, and others still are very much branched. all of the species are said to be edible, that is, they are not poisonous. a few are rather tough, but they are mostly the small species which would not be thought of for food. the spores are borne on club-shaped basidia, as in the common mushrooms. [illustration: plate , figure .--clavaria formosa. yellowish, red tipped when young, red disappearing in age (natural size, sometimes twice this size). copyright.] clavaria vaill. the genus _clavaria_ is one of the most common ones in the family, and is one of the most attractive from the variety and beauty of several of the species. all of the plants are more or less erect, and at least stand out from the substratum on which they grow. they are either long and simple and more or less club-shaped, as the name implies, or they are branched, some but a few times, while others are very profusely branched. the plants vary in color, some are white, some yellow, some red, and some are red-tipped, while others are brownish in color. [illustration: figure .--clavaria botrytes. branches red tipped (natural size).] =clavaria formosa= pers. =edible.=--this is one of the handsomest of the genus. it is found in different parts of the world, and has been collected in new england and in the carolinas in this country. it is usually from -- cm. high, and because of the great number of branches is often broader in extent. there is a stout stem from -- cm. in diameter, deep in the ground. this branches into a few stout trunks, which then rapidly branch into slender and longer branches, terminating into numerous tips. the entire plant is very brittle, and great care is necessary to prevent its breaking, both before drying and afterward. when the plant is young and is just pushing out of the ground, the branches, especially the tips, are bright colored, red, pink, or orange, the color usually brighter when young in the younger plants. as the plant becomes older the color fades out, until at maturity the pink or red color has in many cases disappeared, and then the entire plant is of a light yellowish, or of a cream buff color. the spores are in mass light yellow, and the spores on the surface of the plant probably give the color to the plant at this stage. the spores are long, oval or oblong, -- × . -- µ, and are minutely spiny. figure is from a plant (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected at blowing rock, n. c., in september, . the plant is very common in the mountain woods of north carolina. [illustration: figure .--clavaria pistillaris. dull whitish, tan or reddish (natural size).] specimens of this clavaria were several times prepared for table use during my stay in the mountains, but the flavor was not an agreeable one, possibly due to the fact that it needs some special preparation and seasoning. =clavaria botrytes= pers. =edible.=--this plant is much smaller than _c. formosa_, but has much the same general habit and color, especially when _c. formosa_ is young. the plant has a stout stem which soon dissolves into numerous branches, which are red tipped. the spores are white, and in this way it may be distinguished from _c. formosa_, or from _clavaria aurea_ (schaeff.), which has yellow or ochre spores, and which has also much the same habit as _c. botrytes_, and is nearer in size. [illustration: figure .--clavaria mucida. white (natural size). copyright.] =clavaria pistillaris= linn. =edible.=--this plant is a characteristic one because of its usually large size and simple form. it is merely a club-shaped body, growing from the ground. it has a wide range, both in europe and north america, but does not seem to be common, though i have found it more common in the mountain woods of north carolina than in new york. the plant is -- cm. high, and -- cm. thick at the upper end. it is smooth, though often irregularly grooved and furrowed, due probably to unequal tensions in growth. the apex in typical specimens is rounded and blunt. it is dull white or tan color or rufescent. the flesh is white, and very spongy, especially in age, when it is apt to be irregularly fistulose. figure is from plants collected at blowing rock, n. c., during september . there is what seems to be an abnormal form of this species figured by schaeffer, table , which fries separated as a distinct species and placed in the genus _craterellus_, one of the _thelephoraceæ_, and called by him _craterellus pistillaris_. this plant has been found at ithaca, and the only difference between this and the _clavaria pistillaris_ l., seems to be in the fact that in _craterellus pistillaris_ the end is truncate or in some specimens more or less concave. the spores seem to be the same, and the color and general habit of the two plants are the same. it is probably only a form of _clavaria pistillaris_. =clavaria mucida= pers.--this is one of the smallest species of the genus _clavaria_. it grows on rotten wood, and appears throughout the year. it is usually simple and clavate, but sometimes branched. the plant is white, or yellowish, or sometimes rose color, and measures from . to cm. in height, though i have usually found it from . -- cm. in height. it is soft and watery. figure is from plants (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected at ithaca in october, . chapter xii. the trembling fungi: tremellineae. these fungi are called the trembling fungi because of their gelatinous consistency. the colors vary from white, yellow, orange, reddish, brownish, etc., and the form is various, often very irregular, leaf-like, or strongly folded and uneven. they are when fresh usually very soft, clammy to the touch, and yielding like a mass of gelatine. they usually grow on wood, but some species grow on the ground, and some are parasitic. the fruit surface usually covers the entire outer surface of the plant, but in some it is confined to one side of the plant. the basidia are peculiar to the order, are deeply seated in the substance of the plant, rounded or globose, and divided into four cells in a cruciate manner. from each one of these cells of the basidium a long, slender process (sterigma) grows out to the surface of the plant and bears the spore. a few species only are treated of here. tremella dill. in this genus the plants are gelatinous or cartilaginous. the form of the plant is usually very much contorted, fold-like or leaf-like, and very much branched. the fruiting surface extends over the entire upper surface of the plant. [illustration: figure .--tremella mycetophila, on collybia dryophila (natural size).] =tremella lutescens= pers.--this plant is entirely yellow, and occurs on branches. it is -- cm. in diameter, and is strongly folded, somewhat like the folds of a brain (gyrose). it is very soft and inclined to be watery and fluid, and is of a bright yellow color, spread out on the surface of rotten wood. it is of world-wide distribution, and appears from mid-summer to late autumn. =tremella mycetophila= pk.--this plant is interesting from the fact that it is parasitic on a mushroom, _collybia dryophila_. it grows on the stem or on the top of the cap of the _collybia_, and it is white, or yellowish, very much contorted (gyrose-plicate), nearly rounded, and -- mm. in diameter. figure represents this _tremella_ growing on the _collybia dryophila_, from plants collected at freeville woods near ithaca. [illustration: figure .--tremella frondosa. pinkish yellow or pinkish vinaceous (natural size). copyright.] =tremella frondosa= fr.--this is said to be the largest species of the genus. it grows on rotten wood. it occurs in europe, has been collected in new york state, and the fig. is from a plant (no. , c. u. herbarium) collected at blowing rock, n. c., in september, . the plant figured here was cm. long and about cm. high. it is very much twisted and contorted, leaf-like, and the middle and base all united. it is of a pinkish yellow color, one plant being vinaceous pink and another cream buff in color. when young the leaf-like lobes do not show well, but as it expands they become very prominent. several other species of tremella are probably more common than the ones illustrated here. one of the commonest of the _tremellineæ_ probably is the =exidia glandulosa=, which in dry weather appears as a black incrustation on dead limbs, but during rains it swells up into a large, black, very soft, gelatinous mass. it is commonly found on fallen limbs of oak, and occurs from autumn until late spring. it is sometimes called "witch's butter." [illustration: figure .--tremella fuciformis. entirely white (natural size). copyright.] =tremella fuciformis= berk.--this is a very beautiful white tremella growing in woods on leaf mold close to the ground. it forms a large white tubercular mass resting on the ground, from the upper surface of which numerous stout, short, white processes arise which branch a few times in a dichotomous manner. the masses are -- cm. in diameter, and nearly or quite as high. the flesh is very soft, and the parts are more or less hollow. the basidia are like those of the genus, globose, sunk in the substance of the plant, and terminate with four long, slender, sterigmata which rise to the surface and bear the spores. the spores are white, nearly ovoid, but inequilateral and somewhat reniform, continuous, -- × -- µ. figure is from a plant collected in a woods near ithaca, in august, . gyrocephalus pers. the genus _gyrocephalus_ differs from the other _tremellineæ_ in having the fruiting surface on the lower side of the fruit body, while the upper side is sterile. [illustration: figure .--gyrocephalus rufus. reddish or reddish yellow (natural size). copyright.] =gyrocephalus rufus= (jacq.) bref.--this species is sometimes very abundant. it grows on the ground, generally from buried wood, or from dead roots. it is erect, stout at the base, and the upper end flattened and thinner. it is more or less spatulate, the upper side somewhat concave, and the lower somewhat convex. in some plants the pileus is more regular and there is then a tendency to the funnel form. it is reddish, or reddish yellow in color, smooth, clammy, watery, and quite gelatinous. when dry it is very hard. figure represents the form of the plant well, from plants collected at ithaca. the plant is quite common in the damp glens and woods at ithaca during the autumn. chapter xiii. thelephoraceae. many of the species of the thelephoraceæ to which the following two species belong are too tough for food. a large number of these grow on wood. they are known by their hard or membranaceous character and by the fruiting surface (under surface when in the position in which they grew) being smooth, or only slightly uneven, or cracked. =craterellus cantharellus= (schw.) fr., is an edible species. in general appearance it resembles the _cantharellus cibarius_. the color is the same, and the general shape, except that the former is perhaps more irregular in form. it may, however, be in most cases easily distinguished from _c. cibarius_ by the absence of folds on the under or fruiting surface, since the fruiting surface is smooth, especially when the plants are young or middle age. however, when the plants get quite large and old, in some cases the fruiting surface becomes very uneven from numerous folds and wrinkles, which, however, are more irregular than the folds of _c. cibarius_. =craterellus cornucopioides= (l.) pers., is another edible species. it grows on the ground in woods. it is of a dusky or dark smoky color, and is deeply funnel-shaped, resembling a "horn of plenty," though usually straight. the fruiting surface is somewhat uneven. the genus _stereum_ is a very common one on branches, etc., either entirely spread out on the wood, or with the margin or a large part of the pileus free. _hymenochæte_ is like _stereum_, but has numerous small black spines in the fruiting surface, giving it a velvety appearance. _corticium_ is very thin and spread over the wood in patches. [illustration: plate , figure .--lycoperdon cyathiforme (natural size).] chapter xiv. puff-balls: lycoperdaceae. this is not the place for a discussion of the different genera of the puff-balls, etc., but it might be well to say that in recent years the old genus _lycoperdon_ has been divided into several genera. the giant puff-ball, and the _l. cyathiforme_, where the wall or peridium ruptures irregularly, have been placed in a genus called _calvatia_; certain other species which are nearly globose, and in which the wall is of a papery texture at maturity, are placed in the genus _bovista_. there is one genus belonging to the same family as the lycoperdons, the species of which are very interesting on account of the peculiar way in which the wall is ruptured. this is the genus _geaster_, that is, "earth star." the wall, or peridium, is quite thick in the members of this genus, and when it matures it separates into several layers which need not all be discussed here. a thick outer portion which separates from a thinner inner portion further splits radially into several star-like divisions, which spread outward and give to the plant the form of a star. since the plants lie on the earth the name earth star was applied to them. this opens out in dry weather, even curving around under the plant, so that the plant is raised above the ground. then in wet weather it closes up again. the inner portion of the wall opens at the apex in various ways, in the different species, so that the spores may escape. a closely related genus has several small perforations like a pepper box in the upper surface of the inner wall, _myriostoma_. lycoperdon tourn. to this genus belong most of the "puff-balls," as they are commonly called, or, as they are denominated in the south, "devil's snuff box." all, or a large portion, of the interior of the plant at maturity breaks down into a powdery substance, which with the numerous spores is very light, and when the plant is squeezed or pressed, clouds of this dust burst out at the opening through the wall. the wall of the plant is termed the _peridium_. in this genus the wall is quite thin, and at maturity opens differently in different species. in several species it opens irregularly, the entire wall becoming very brittle and cracking up into bits, as in the giant puff-ball. in the remaining species it opens by a distinct perforation at the apex, and the remainder of the wall is more or less pliant and membranous. all of the puff-balls are said to be edible, at least are harmless, if eaten when the flesh is white. they should not be eaten when the flesh is dark, or is changing from the white color. =lycoperdon giganteum= batsch. =edible.=--this, the giant puff-ball, is the largest species of the genus. sometimes it reaches immense proportions, two to three or even four feet, but these large sizes are rare. it is usually to cm. ( -- in.) in diameter. it grows on the ground in grassy places during late summer and in the autumn. it is a large rounded mass, resting on the ground, and near or at the center of the under side, it is attached to the cords of mycelium in the ground. it is white in color until it is ripe, that is, when the spores are mature, and it should be gathered for food before it is thus ripe. when it is maturing it becomes yellowish, then dusky or smoky in color. the flesh, which is white when young, changes to greenish yellow and finally brownish, with usually an olivaceous tinge, as the spores ripen. the plant is so large that it may be sliced, and should be sliced before broiling. a single specimen often forms enough for a meal for a large family, and some of the larger ones would serve for several meals. =lycoperdon cyathiforme= bosc. =edible.=--this is called the beaker-shaped puff-ball because the base of the plant, after the spores have all been scattered, resembles to some extent a beaker, or a broad cup with a stout, stem-like base. these old sterile bases of the plant are often found in the fields long after the spores have disappeared. the plants are somewhat pear-shaped, rounded above, and tapering below to the stout base. they are -- cm. in diameter, and white when young. at maturity the spore mass is purplish, and by this color as well as by the sterile base the plant is easily recognized. of course these characters cannot be recognized in the young and growing plant at the time it is wanted for food, but the white color of the interior of the plant would be a sufficient guarantee that it was edible, granted of course that it was a member of the puff-ball family. sometimes, long before the spores mature, the outer portion of the plant changes from white to pinkish, or brownish colors. at maturity the wall, or peridium, breaks into brittle fragments, which disappear and the purplish mass of the spores is exposed. the plant grows in grassy places or even in cultivated fields. =lycoperdon gemmatum= batsch. =edible.=--this puff-ball is widely distributed throughout the world and is very common. it grows in the woods, or in open places on the ground, usually. it is known from its characteristic top shape, the more or less erect scales on the upper surface intermingled with smaller ones, the larger ones falling away and leaving circular scars over the surface, which gives it a reticulate appearance. the plants are white, becoming dark gray or grayish brown when mature. they vary in size from -- cm. high to -- cm. broad. they are more or less top-shaped, and the stem, which is stout, is sometimes longer than the rounded portion, which is the fruiting part. the outer part of the wall (outer peridium) when quite young separates into warts or scales of varying size, large ones arranged quite regularly with smaller ones between. these warts are well shown in the two plants at the left in fig. , and the third plant from the left shows the reticulations formed of numerous scars on the inner peridium where the larger scales have fallen away. [illustration: figure .--lycoperdon gemmatum. entirely white except when old (natural size). copyright.] the plant at the extreme right is mature, and the inner peridium has ruptured at the apex to permit the escape of the spores. the spore mass, together with brownish threads which are intermingled, are greenish yellow with an olive tinge, then they become pale brown. the spores are rounded, . -- . µ in diameter, smooth or minutely warted. another small puff-ball everywhere common in woods is the _lycoperdon pyriforme_, so called because of its pear shape. it grows on very rotten wood or on decaying logs in woods or groves, or in open places where there is rotting wood. it is somewhat smaller than the gem-bearing lycoperdon, is almost sessile, sometimes many crowded very close together, and especially is it characterized by prominent root-like white strands of mycelium which are attached to the base where the plant enters the rotten wood. while these small species of puff-balls are not injurious to eat, they do not seem to possess an agreeable flavor. there are quite a number of species in this country which cannot be enumerated here. related to the puff-balls, and properly classed with them, are the species of _scleroderma_. this name is given to the genus because of the hard peridium, the wall being much firmer and harder than in _lycoperdon_. there are two species which are not uncommon, _scleroderma vulgare_ and _s. verrucosum_. they grow on the ground or on very rotten wood, and are sessile, often showing the root-like white strands attached to their base. they vary in size from -- cm. and the outer wall is cracked into numerous coarse areas, or warts, giving the plant a verrucose appearance, from which one of the species gets its specific name. =calostoma cinnabarinum= desv.--this is a remarkably beautiful plant with a general distribution in the eastern united states. it has often been referred to in this country under the genus name _mitremyces_, and sometimes has been confused with a rarer and different species, _calostoma lutescens_ (schw.) burnap. it grows in damp woods, usually along the banks of streams and along mountain roads. it is remarkable for the brilliant vermilion color of the inner surface of the outer layer of the wall (_exoperidium_), which is exposed by splitting into radial strips that curl and twist themselves off, and by the vermilion color of the edges of the teeth at the apex of the inner wall (_endoperidium_). the plant is -- cm. high, and -- cm. in diameter. when mature the base or stem, which is formed of reticulated and anastomosing cords, elongates and lifts the rounded or oval fruiting portion to some distance above the surface of the ground, when the gelatinous volva ruptures and falls to the ground or partly clings to the stem, exposing the peridium, the outer portion of which then splits in the manner described. when the plant is first seen above the ground it appears as a globose or rounded body, and in wet weather has a very thick gelatinous layer surrounding it. this is the volva and is formed by the gelatinization of the outer layer of threads which compose it. this gelatinous layer is thick and also viscid, and when the plants are placed on paper to dry, it glues them firmly to the sheet. when the outer layer of the peridium splits, it does so by splitting from the base toward the apex, or from the apex toward the base. of the large number of specimens which i have seen at blowing rock, n. c., the split more often begins at the apex, or at least, when the slit is complete, the strips usually stand out loosely in a radiate manner, the tips being free. at this stage the plant is a very beautiful object with the crown of vermilion strips radiating outward from the base of the fruit body at the top of the stem, and the inner peridium resting in the center and terminated by the four to seven teeth with vermilion edges. at this time also the light yellow spore mass is oozing out from between the teeth. the spores are oblong to elliptical, marked with very fine points, and measure -- × -- µ. [illustration: plate , figure .--calostoma cinnabarinum. see text for colors (natural size).] figure is from plants collected at blowing rock, n. c., in september, . the _mytremyces lutescens_ reported in my list of "some fungi of blowing rock, n. c.," in jour. elisha mitchell sci. soc. : -- , , is this _calostoma cinnabarinum_. chapter xv. the stink-horn fungi: phalloideae fries. most of the stink-horn fungi are characterized by a very offensive odor. some of them at maturity are in shape not unlike that of a horn, and the vulgar name is applied because of this form and the odor. the plants grow in the ground, or in decaying organic matter lying on the ground. the spawn or mycelium is in the form of rope-like strands which are usually much branched and matted together. from these cords the fruit form arises. during its period of growth and up to the maturity of the spores, the fruit body is oval, that is, egg form, and because of this form and the quite large size of these bodies they are often called "eggs." the outer portion of the egg forms the volva. it is always thick, and has an outer thin coat or membrane, and an inner membrane, while between the two is a thick layer of gelatinous substance, so that the wall of the volva is often -- mm. in thickness, and is very soft. the outline of the volva can be seen in fig. , which shows sections of three eggs in different stages. inside of the volva is the short stem (_receptacle_) which is in the middle portion, and covering the upper portion and sides of this short stem is the pileus; the fruit-bearing portion, which is divided into small chambers, lies on the outside of the pileus. in the figure there can be seen cross lines extending through this part from the pileus to the wall of the volva. these represent ridges or crests which anastomose over the pileus, forming reticulations. the stem or receptacle is hollow through the center, and this hollow opens out at the end so that there is a rounded perforation through the upper portion of the pileus. the spores are borne on club-shaped basidia within the chambers of the fruit-bearing portion (_gleba_), and at maturity of the spores the stem or receptacle begins to elongate. this pushes the gleba and the upper part of the receptacle through the apex of the volva, leaving this as a cup-shaped body at the base, much as in certain species of _amanita_, while the gleba is borne aloft on the much elongated stem. during this elongation of the receptacle a large part of the substance of the gleba dissolves into a thick liquid containing the spores. this runs off and is washed off by the rains, leaving the inner surface of the gleba exposed, and showing certain characters peculiar to the various genera. among the stink-horns are a number of genera which are very interesting from the peculiarities of development; and some of which are very beautiful and curious objects, although they do possess offensive odors. in some of the genera, the upper part of the plant expands into leaf-like--or petal-like, bodies, which are highly colored and resemble flowers. they are sometimes called "fungus flowers." dictyophora desvaux. =dictyophora= means "net bearer," and as one can see from fig. it is not an inappropriate name. the stem or receptacle, as one can see from the illustrations of the two species treated of here, possesses a very coarse mesh, so that not only the surface but the substance within is reticulated, pitted and irregularly perforated. in the genus _dictyophora_ an outer layer of the receptacle or stem is separated as it elongates, breaks away from the lower part of the stem, is carried aloft, and hangs as a beautiful veil. this veil is very conspicuous in some species and less so in others. =dictyophora duplicata= (bosc.) ed. fischer.--this species is illustrated in fig. , made from plants collected at ithaca. the plants are from -- cm. high, the cap about cm. in diameter, and the stem -- cm. in thickness. according to burt (bot. gaz. = =: , ) it is a common species in the eastern united states. the cap is more or less bell-shaped and the sculptured surface is marked in a beautiful manner with the reticulations. [illustration: plate , figure .--dictyophora duplicata. white (natural size). copyright.] [illustration: plate , figure .--dictyophora ravenelii. mature plants showing volva at base; elongated receptacle, cap at the top, and veil surrounding the receptacle under the cap (natural size). copyright.] [illustration: figure .--dictyophora ravenelii. egg stage, caps just bursting through the volva (natural size). copyright.] [illustration: figure .--dictyophora ravenelii. sections of eggs, and showing cords of mycelium (natural size). copyright.] =dictyophora ravenelii= (b. & c.) burt.--this plant also has a wide distribution in the eastern united states. the stem is more slender than in the other species, _d. duplicata_, the pileus more nearly conic, and the surface of the pileus is merely granular or minutely wrinkled after the disappearance of the gleba, and does not present the strong reticulating ridges and crests which that species shows. the plants are from to cm. high. it grows in woods and fields about rotting wood, and in sawdust. the veil is very thin and delicate, forming simply a membrane, and does not possess the coarse meshes present in the veil of _d. duplicata_. the figs. , represent the different stages in the elongation of the receptacle of this plant, and the rupture of the volva. this elongation takes place quite rapidly. while photographing the plant as it was bursting through the volva, i had considerable difficulty in getting a picture, since the stem elongated so rapidly that the plant would show that it had moved perceptibly, and the picture would be blurred. in a woods near ithaca a large number of these plants have appeared from year to year in a pile of sawdust. one of the most vile smelling plants of this family is the _ithyphallus impudicus_. chapter xvi. morels, cup-fungi, helvellas, etc.: discomycetes. the remaining fungi to be considered belong to a very different group of plants than do the mushrooms, puff-balls, etc. nevertheless, because of the size of several of the species and the fact that several of them are excellent for food, some attention will be given to a few. the entire group is sometimes spoken of as _discomycetes_ or _cup-fungi_, because many of the plants belonging here are shaped something like a disk, or like a cup. the principal way in which they differ from the mushrooms, the puff-balls, etc., is found in the manner in which the spores are borne. in the mushrooms, etc., the spores, we recollect, are borne on the end of a club-shaped body, usually four spores on one of these. in this group, however, the spores are borne inside of club-shaped bodies, called sacs or asci (singular, ascus). these sacs, or asci, are grouped together, lying side by side, forming the fruiting surface or hymenium, much as the basidia form the fruiting surface in the mushrooms. in the case of the cup or disk forms, the upper side of the disk, or the upper and inner surface of the cap, is covered with these sacs, standing side by side, so that the free ends of the sacs form the outer surface. in the case of the morel the entire outer surface of the upper portion of the plant, that where there are so many pits, is covered with similar sacs. since so few of the genera and species of the morels and cup-fungi will be treated of here, i shall not attempt to compare the genera or even to give the characters by which the genera are known. in most cases the illustrations will serve this purpose so far as it is desirable to accomplish it in such a work as the present. certain of the species will then be described and illustrated. [illustration: plate , figure .--morchella esculenta (natural size). copyright.] morchella dill. the morels are all edible and they are usually easy to recognize. the plant consists of two distinct, prominent parts, the cap and the stem. the cap varies in form from rounded, ovate, conic or cylindrical, or bell-shaped, but it is always marked by rather broad pits, covering the entire outer surface, which are separated from each other by ridges forming a network. the color of the plants does not differ to any perceptible extent in our species. the cap is usually buff or light ochre yellow, becoming darker with age and in drying. the stem in all our species is usually quite stout, though it varies to some extent in some of the different species, in proportion to the thickness of the cap. the stem is marked in some of the species by large wrinkles or folds extending irregularly but with considerable uniformity over the surface. the surface is further minutely roughened by whitish or grayish elevations, giving it a granular appearance. sometimes these granules are quite evenly distributed over the surface, and in some species they are more or less separated into small areas by narrow lines. the morels appear early in the season, during may and june. they grow usually in damp situations, and are more abundant during rainy weather. three species are illustrated here. =morchella esculenta= pers. =edible.=--the name of this species, the esculent morel, indicates that it has been long known as an edible plant, especially since the man who named it lived a century ago. the plant is from -- cm. high, the stem is -- cm. in thickness, and the cap is broader than the stem. the cap is somewhat longer than broad, and is more or less oval or rounded in outline. the arrangement of the pits on the surface of the cap is regarded by some as being characteristic of certain species. in this species the pits are irregularly arranged, so that they do not form rows, and so that the ridges separating them do not run longitudinally from the base toward the apex of the cap, but run quite irregularly. this arrangement can be seen in fig. , which is from a photograph of this species. the stem is hollow. =morchella conica= pers. =edible.=--this species is very closely related to the preceding one, and is considered by some to be only a form of the _morchella esculenta_. the size is about the same, the only difference being in the somewhat longer cap and especially in the arrangement of the pits. these are arranged more or less in distinct rows, so that the ridges separating them run longitudinally and parallel from the base of the cap to the apex, with connecting ridges extending across between the pits. the cap is also more or less conic, but not necessarily so. figure illustrates this species. the plant shown here is branched, and this should not be taken to be a character of the species, for it is not, this form being rather rare. [illustration: figure .--morchella conica (natural size). copyright.] [illustration: plate , figure .--morchella crassipes (natural size). copyright.] =morchella crassipes= (vent.) pers. =edible.=--this species differs from the two preceding in the fact that the stem is nearly equal in width with the cap. figure illustrates a handsome specimen which was cm. high. the granular surface and the folds of the stem show very distinctly and beautifully. collected at ithaca. =morchella deliciosa= fr. =edible=, has the cap cylindrical or nearly so. it is longer than the stem, and is usually two or three times as long as it is broad. the plant is smaller than the preceding, though large ones may equal in size small ones of those two. the plant is from -- cm. high. =morchella semilibera= dc., and =m. bispora= sor., [_verpa bohemica_ (kromb.) schroet.] occur in this country, and are interesting from the fact that the cap is bell-shaped, the lower margin being free from the stem. in the latter species there are only two spores in an ascus. helvella l. the helvellas are pretty and attractive plants. they are smaller than the morels, usually. they have a cap and stem, the cap being very irregular in shape, often somewhat lobed or saddle-shaped. it is smooth, or nearly so, at least it is not marked by the large pits present in the cap of the morel, and this is one of the principal distinguishing features of the helvellas as compared with the morels. in one species the thin cap has its lower margin free from the stem. this is =helvella crispa= fr., and it has a white or whitish cap, and a deeply furrowed stem. it occurs in woods during the summer and autumn, and is known as the white helvella. [illustration: figure .--helvella lacunosa (natural size). copyright.] another species which has a wide range is the =helvella lacunosa=, so called because of the deep longitudinal grooves in the stem. the cap is thin, but differs from the _h. crispa_ in that the lower margin is connected with the stem. this species is illustrated in fig. from plants collected at blowing rock, n. c., during september, . the genus _gyromitra_ is very closely related to _helvella_, and is only distinguished by the fact that the cap is marked by prominent folds and convolutions, resembling somewhat the convolutions of the brain. its name means _convoluted cap_. the =gyromitra esculenta= fr., is from -- cm. high, and the cap from -- cm. broad. while this species has long been reported as an edible one, and has been employed in many instances as food with no evil results, there are known cases where it has acted as a poison. in many cases where poisoning has resulted the plants were quite old and probably in the incipient stages of decay. however, it is claimed that a poisonous principle, called _helvellic acid_, has been isolated by a certain chemist, which acts as a violent poison. this principle is very soluble in hot water, and when care is used to drain off first water in which they have been cooked, squeezing the water well from the plants, they are pronounced harmless. the safer way would be to avoid such suspicious species. [illustration: figure .--spathularia velutipes (natural size). copyright.] =spathularia velutipes= cooke & farlow.--this species represents another interesting genus of the _discomycetes_. it is in the form of a "spatula," and from this shape of the plant the genus takes its name. there are several species known in this country, and this one is quite common. the stem extends the entire length of the plant, running right through the cap, or perhaps it would be better to say that the cap or fruiting portion forms two narrow blades or wings on opposite sides of the upper part of the stem. these wing-like expansions of the cap on the opposite sides of the stem give the spathulate form to the plant. figure is from plants collected in the woods near ithaca. [illustration: figure .--leotia lubrica (natural size). copyright.] =leotia lubrica= pers.--the genus _leotia_ is quite readily recognized by its form, and because the plants are usually slimy. this species is called _lubrica_ because of the slippery character of the entire plant. it is dull yellowish or olive yellow in color. the cap, as can be seen from the figure ( ), is irregularly rounded, and broader than the stem. the plant is illustrated natural size from specimens collected near ithaca. the true cup-fungi. by far the larger number of the _discomycetes_ are cup-shaped, and are popularly called "cup-fungi." they vary from plants of very minute size, so small that they can be just seen with the eye, or some of the larger ones are several inches in breadth. they grow on the ground, on leaves, wood, etc. the variety of form and color is great. they may be sessile, that is, the cup rests immediately on the ground or wood, or leaves, or they may possess a short, or rather long stalk. the only species illustrated here has a comparatively long stalk, and the cap is deep cup-shaped, almost like a beaker. this plant is technically known as _sarcoscypha floccosa_. it is represented here natural size (fig. ). the stem is slender, and the rim of the cup is beset with long, strigose hairs. the inner surface of the cup is lined with the sacs (asci) and sterile threads (paraphyses), spoken of on a former page, when treating of the fruiting character of the morels and cup-fungi. in this plant the color of the inside of the cup is very beautiful, being a bright red. another species, _sarcoscypha coccinea_, the scarlet sarcoscypha, is a larger plant which appears in very early spring, soon after the frost is out of the ground. it grows on rotting logs and wood in the woods or in groves. the inside of the cup in this species is a rich scarlet, and from this rich color the species takes its name. [illustration: figure .--sarcoscypha floccosa (natural size). copyright.] chapter xvii. collection and preservation of the fleshy fungi. in the collection of the higher fungi it is of the utmost importance that certain precautions be employed in obtaining all parts of the plant, and furthermore that care be exercised in handling, in order not to remove or efface delicate characters. not only is it important for the beginner, but in many instances an "expert" may not be able to determine a specimen which may have lost what undoubtedly seem, to some, trivial marks. the suggestions given here should enable one to collect specimens in such a way as to protect these characters while fresh, to make notes of the important evanescent characters and to dry and preserve them properly for future study. for collecting a number of specimens under a variety of conditions the following list of "apparatus" is recommended: one or two oblong or rectangular hand baskets, capacity from -- quarts. or a rectangular zinc case with a closely fitting top (not the ordinary botanical collecting case). half a dozen or so tall pasteboard boxes, or tins, × , or × , × inches deep, to hold certain species in an upright position. a quantity of tissue paper cut × or × inches. smaller quantity of waxed tissue paper for wrapping viscid or sticky plants. trowel; a stout knife; memorandum pad and pencil. =collecting.=--during the proper season, and when rains are abundant, the mushrooms are to be found in open fields, waste places, groves and woods. they are usually more abundant in the forests. especially in dry weather are specimens more numerous in rather damp woods, along ravines or streams. in collecting specimens which grow on the ground the trowel should be used to dig up the plant carefully, to be sure that no important part of the plant is left in the ground. after one has become familiar with the habit of the different kinds the trowel will not be necessary in all cases. for example, most species of _russula_, _lactarius_, _tricholoma_, _boletus_, etc., are not deeply seated in the soil, and careful hand-picking will in most cases secure specimens properly, especially if one does not object to digging in the soil with the fingers. but in the case of most species of _amanita_, certain species of _lepiota_, _collybia_, etc., a trowel is necessary to get up the base of the plant in such a way as to preserve essential characters. even then it is possible, if the ground is not too hard, to dig them out with the fingers, or with a stout knife, but i have often found specimens which could only be taken up with a trowel or spade. species growing on sticks or leaves are easily collected by taking a portion of the substratum on which they grow. specimens on the larger limbs or trunks or stumps can sometimes be "picked," but until one is accustomed to certain individualities of the plant it is well to employ the knife and to cut off a portion of the wood if necessary, to avoid cutting off the base of the stem. it is necessary also to handle the specimens with the greatest care to avoid leaving finger marks where the surface of the stem or cap is covered with a soft and delicate outer coat, especially if one wishes to photograph the plant, since rubbed or marked places spoil the plant for this purpose. also a little careless handling will remove such important characters as a frail annulus or volva, which often are absolutely necessary to recognize the species. having collected the specimens, they should be properly placed in the basket or collecting case. those which are quite firm, and not long and slender, can be wrapped with tissue paper (waxed tissue paper if they are viscid or sticky), and placed directly in the basket, with some note or number to indicate habitat or other peculiarity which it is desirable to make at the time of collection. the smaller, more slender and fragile, specimens can be wrapped in tissue paper (a cluster of several individuals can be frequently rolled up together) made in the form of a narrow funnel and the ends then twisted. the shape of the paper enables one to wrap them in such a way as to protect certain delicate characters on the stem or cap. these can then be stood upright in the small pasteboard boxes which should occupy a portion of the basket. a number of such wrappers can be placed in a single box, unless the specimens are of considerable size and numerous. in these boxes they are prevented from being crushed by the jostling of the larger specimens in the basket. these boxes have the additional advantage of preserving certain specimens entire and upright if one wishes later to photograph them. =field notes.=--the field notes which may be taken upon the collection will depend on circumstances. if one goes to the sorting room soon after the collection is made, so that notes can be made there before the more delicate specimens dry, few notes will answer in the field, and usually one is so busy collecting or hunting for specimens there is not much inclination to make extended notes in the field. but it is quite important to note the _habitat_ and _environment_, i. e., the place where they grow, the kind and character of the soil, in open field, roadside, grove, woods, on ground, leaves, sticks, stumps, trunks, rotting wood, or on living tree, etc. it is very important also that different kinds be kept separate. the student will recognize the importance of this and other suggestions much more than the new "fungus hunter." =sorting room.=--when one returns from a collecting trip it is best to take the plants as soon as possible to a room where they can be assorted. an hour or so delay usually does not matter, but the sooner they are attended to the better. sometimes when they are carefully placed in the basket, as described above, they may be kept over night without injury, but this will depend on the _kinds_ in the collection. _coprini_ are apt to deliquesce, certain other specimens, especially in warm weather, are apt to be so infested with larvæ that they will be ruined by morning, when immediate drying might save them. other thin and delicate ones, especially in dry weather, will dry out so completely that one loses the opportunity of taking notes on the fresh specimen. specimens to be photographed should be attended to at once, unless it is too late in the day, when they should be set aside in an upright position, and if necessary under a bell-jar, until the following day. as far as possible good specimens should be selected for the photograph, representing different stages of development, and one to show the fruiting surface. sometimes it will be necessary to make more than one photograph to obtain all the stages. also on different days one is apt to obtain a specimen representing an important stage in development not represented before. the plants should be arranged close together to economize space, but not usually touching nor too crowded. they should be placed in their natural position as far as possible, and means for support, if used, should be hidden behind the plant. they should be so arranged as to show individual as well as specific character and should be photographed if possible natural size, or at least not on a plate smaller than × inches unless the plants are small; while larger ones are better on × or larger. some very small ones it may be necessary to enlarge in order to show the character of the fruiting surface, and even large specimens can sometimes have a portion of the hymenium enlarged to good advantage if it is desirable to show the characters clearly. the background should be selected to bring out the characters strongly, and in the exposure and developing it is often necessary to disregard the effect of the background in order to bring out the detail of texture on the plant itself. the background should be renewed as often as necessary to have it uniform and neat. there is much more that might be said under this head, but there is not space here. =to obtain spore prints.=--in many cases it is desirable to obtain spores in a mass on paper in order to know the exact tint of color produced by the species. often the color of the spores can be satisfactorily determined by an examination of them under the microscope. one cannot always depend on the color of the lamellæ since a number of the species possess colored cystidia or spines in the hymenium which disguise the color of the spores. the best way to determine the color of the spores in mass is to catch them as they fall from the fruiting surface on paper. for the ordinary purpose of study and reference in the herbarium the spores caught on unprepared paper, which later may be placed in the packet with the specimen, will answer. this method has the advantage of saving time, and also the danger of injury to the spores from some of the fixatives on prepared paper is avoided. if for purposes of illustration one wishes pretty spore prints, perfect caps must be cut from the stem and placed fruiting surface downward on paper prepared with some gum arable or similar preparation spread over it, while the paper is still moist with the fixative, and then the specimen must be covered with a bell-jar or other receiver to prevent even the slightest draft of air, otherwise the spores will float around more or less. the spores may be caught on a thin, absorbent paper, and the paper then be floated on the fixative in a shallow vessel until it soaks through and comes in contact with the spores. i have sometimes used white of egg as a fixative. these pieces of paper can then be cut out and either glued to card-boards, or onto the herbarium sheet. =sorting the plants.=--this should be done as soon as possible after collection. a large table in the sorting room is convenient, upon which the specimens may be spread, or grouped rather, by species, the individuals of a species together, on sheets of paper. surplus dirt, or wood, leaves, etc., can be removed. a few of the specimens can be turned so that spores can be caught on the papers. if only one or a few specimens of a given species have been found, and it is desirable not to cut off the cap from the stem, the plant can be supported in an upright position, a small piece of paper slit at one side can be slipped around the stem underneath the cap, on which the spores will fall. sometimes it will be necessary to cover the plant with a bell-jar in order to prevent it from drying before the spores are shed. experience with different species will suggest the treatment necessary. =taking notes on the specimens.=--very few probably realize the desirability of making notes of certain characters while the plants are fresh, for future reference, or for use by those to whom the plants may be sent for determination. it is some trouble to do this, and when the different kinds are plentiful the temptation is strong to neglect it. when one has available books for determination of the species, as many as possible should be studied and determined while fresh. but it is not always possible to satisfactorily determine all. some may be too difficult for ready recognition, others may not be described in the books at hand, or poorly so, and further the number of kinds may be too great for determination before they will spoil. on these as well as on some of the interesting ones recognized, it is important to make a record of certain characters. these notes should be kept either with the specimen, or a number should be given the specimen and the notes kept separately with the corresponding number. memoranda. =no.=____. locality, date. name of collector. =weather.= =habitat.=--if on ground, low or high, wet or dry, kind of soil; on fallen leaves, twigs, branches, logs, stumps, roots, whether dead or living, kind of tree; in open fields, pastures, etc., woods, groves, etc., mixed woods or evergreen, oak, chestnut, etc. =plants.=--whether solitary, clustered, tufted, whether rooting or not, taste, odor, color when bruised or cut, and if a change in color takes place after exposure to the air. =cap.=--whether dry, moist, watery in appearance (hygrophanous), slimy, viscid, glutinous; color when young, when old; whether with fine bloom, powder; kind of scales and arrangement, whether free from the cuticle and easily rubbed off. shape of cap. =margin of cap.=--whether straight or incurved when young, whether striate or not when moist. =stem.=--whether slimy, viscid, glutinous, kind of scales if not smooth, whether striate, dotted, granular, color; when there are several specimens test one to see if it is easily broken out from the cap, also to see if it is fibrous, or fleshy, or cartilaginous (firm on the outside, partly snapping and partly tough). shape of the stem. =gills or tubes.=--color when young, old, color when bruised, and if color changes, whether soft, waxy, brittle, or tough; sharp or blunt, plane or serrate edge. =milk.=--color if present, changing after exposure, taste. =veil.=--(inner veil.) whether present or not, character, whether arachnoid, and if so whether free from cuticle of pileus or attached only to the edge; whether fragile, persistent, disappearing, slimy, etc., movable, etc. =ring.=--present or absent, fragile, or persistent, whether movable, viscid, etc. =volva.=--present or absent, persistent or disappearing, whether it splits at apex or is circumscissile, or all crumbly and granular or floccose, whether the part on the pileus forms warts, and then the kind, distribution, shape, persistence, etc. =spores.=--color when caught on white paper. to the close observer additional points of interest will often be noted. =to dry the specimens.=--frequently the smaller specimens will dry well when left in the room, especially in dry weather, or better if they are placed where there is a draft of air. some dry them in the sun. but often the sun is not shining, and the weather may be rainy or the air very humid, when it is impossible to dry the specimens properly except by artificial heat. the latter method is better for the larger specimens at all times. during the autumn when radiators are heated the fungi dry well when placed on or over them. one of the best places which i have utilized is the brick work around a boiler connected with a mountain hotel. two other methods are, however, capable of wider application. st.--a tin oven about × feet, and two or several feet high, with one side hinged as a door, and with several movable shelves of perforated tin, or of wire netting; a vent at the top, and perforations around the sides at the bottom to admit air. the object being to provide for a constant current of air from below upwards between the specimens. this may be heated, if not too large, with a lamp, though an oil stove or gas jet or heater is better. the specimens are placed on the shelves with the accompanying notes or numbers. the height of this box can be extended where the number of specimens is great. d.--a very successful method which i employed at a summer resort at blowing rock, n. c., in the mountains of north carolina, during september, , was as follows: an old cook stove was set up in an unoccupied cottage, with two wire screens from × feet, one above the other, the lower one about one foot above the top of the stove. large numbers can be dried on these frames. care of course must be taken that the plants are not burned. in all cases the plants must be so placed that air will circulate under and around them, otherwise they are apt to blacken. when the plants are dry they are very brittle and must be handled carefully. when removed from the drier many kinds soon absorb enough moisture to become pliant so that they are not easily broken. others remain brittle. they may be put away in small boxes; or pressed out nearly flat, _not so as to crush the gills_, and then put in paper packets. the plants which do not absorb sufficient moisture from the air, so that they are pliant enough to press, can be placed in small boxes or on paper in a large box with peat moss in the bottom, and the box then closed tightly until they absorb enough moisture to become flexible. the plants must not get wet, and they should be examined every half hour or so, for some become limp much sooner than others. if the plants get too moist the gills crush together when pressed, and otherwise they do not make such good specimens. when the specimens are dried and placed in the herbarium they must be protected from insects. some are already infested with insects which the process of drying does not kill. they must be either poisoned with corrosive sublimate in alcohol, or fumigated with carbon disulphide, and if the latter it must be repeated one or two times at an interval of a month to catch those which were in the egg state the first time. when placed in the herbarium or in a box for storage, naphtha balls can be placed with them to keep out insects, but it should be understood that the naphtha balls will not kill or drive away insects already in the specimens. where there are enough duplicates, some specimens preserved in per cent. alcohol, under the same number, are of value for the study of structural characters. chapter xviii. selection and preparation of mushrooms for the table. in the selection of mushrooms to eat, great caution should be employed by those who are not reasonably familiar with the means of determination of the species, or those who have not an intimate acquaintance with certain forms. rarely should the beginner be encouraged to eat them upon his own determination. it is best at first to consult some one who knows, or to send first specimens away for determination, though in many cases a careful comparison of the plant with the figures and descriptions given in this book will enable a novice to recognize it. in taking up a species for the first time it would be well to experiment cautiously. =no certain rule to distinguish the poisonous from the edible.=--there is no certain test, like the "silver spoon test," which will enable one to tell the poisonous mushroom from the edible ones. nor is the presence of the so-called "death cup" a sure sign that the fungus is poisonous, for the _amanita cæsarea_ has this cup. for the beginner, however, there are certain general rules, which, if carefully followed, will enable him to avoid the poisonous ones, while at the same time necessarily excluding many edible ones. = st.=--reject all fungi which have begun to decay, or which are infested with larvæ. = d.=--reject all fungi when in the button stage, since the characters are not yet shown which enable one to distinguish the genera and species. buttons in pasture lands which are at the surface of the ground and not deep-seated in the soil, would very likely not belong to any of the very poisonous kinds. = d.=--reject all fungi which have a cup or sac-like envelope at the base of the stem, or which have a scaly or closely fitting layer at the base of the stem, and rather loose warts on the pileus, especially if the gills are white. _amanita cæsarea_ has a sac-like envelope at the base of the stem, and yellow gills as well as a yellow cap, and is edible. _amanita rubescens_ has remnants of a scaly envelope on the base of the stem and loose warts on the cap, and the flesh where wounded becomes reddish. it is edible. (see plate .) = th.=--reject all fungi with a milky juice unless the juice is reddish. several species with copious white milk, sweet or mild to the taste, are edible (see _lactarius volemus_ and _corrugis_). = th.=--reject very brittle fungi with gills nearly all of equal length, where the flesh of the cap is thin, especially those with bright caps. = th.=--reject all boleti in which the flesh changes color where bruised or cut, or those in which the tubes have reddish mouths, also those the taste of which is bitter. _strobilomyces strobilaceus_ changes color when cut, and is edible. = th.=--reject fungi which have a cobwebby veil or ring when young, and those with slimy caps and clay-colored spores. in addition, proceed cautiously in all cases, and make it a point to become very familiar with a few species first, and gradually extend the range of species, rather than attempt the first season to eat a large number of different kinds. all puff-balls are edible so long as they are white inside, though some are better than others. all coral-like or club fungi are edible. =to clean and prepare the specimens.=--the mushrooms having been collected, all tough stems, the parts to which earth clings, should be removed. after the specimens are selected, if there is danger that some of them may be infested with larvæ, it is well to cut off the stem close to the cap, for if the insects are in the stem and have not yet reached the cap they may thus be cast away. some recommend that the tubes of all boleti be removed, since they are apt to make a slimy mass in cooking. where the plants are small they may be cooked entire. large ones should be quartered, or cut, or sliced, according to the size and form of the plant, or method of cooking. chapter xix. uses of mushrooms.[c] the most prominent and at present important use of mushrooms from the standpoint of the utilitarian is as an article of food. we have now learned that their food value as a nutrient substance is not so great as has been fondly supposed, but, as mr. clark points out in chapter xxii, in addition to the value they certainly do possess as food, they have very great value as condiments or food accessories, and "their value as such is beyond the computation of the chemist or physiologist. they are among the most appetizing of table delicacies, and add greatly to the palatability of many foods when cooked with them." mushrooms undoubtedly possess a food value beyond that attributed to them by the chemist or physiologist, since it is not possible in laboratory analysis to duplicate the conditions which exist in the natural digestion and assimilation of foods. probably the larger number of persons, in america, at present interested in mushrooms, are chiefly concerned with them as an article of food, but a great many of these persons love to tramp to the fields and woods in quest of them just as the sportsman loves to hunt his game with dog and gun. it is quite likely that there will always be a large body of persons who will maintain a lively interest in the collection of _game_ mushrooms for food. there are several reasons for this. the zest of the search, the pleasure of discovery, and the healthfulness of the outdoor recreation lend an appetizing flavor to the fruits of the chase not to be obtained by purchasing a few pounds of cultivated mushrooms on the market. it cultivates powers of observation, and arouses a sympathetic feeling toward nature, and with those outdoor environments of man which lend themselves so happily in bettering and brightening life, as well as in prolonging it. many others are discovering that the observation of form and habits of mushrooms is a very interesting occupation for those who have short periods of time at their disposal weekly. it requires but a little observation to convince one that there is an interesting variety of form among these plants, that their growth and expansion operate in conformity with certain laws which result in great variation in form and habit of the numerous kinds on the ground, on leaves, on branches, on tree trunks, etc. another very favorable indication accompanying the increasing interest in the study of these plants, is the recognition of their importance as objects for nature study. there are many useful as well as interesting lessons taught by mushrooms to those who stop to read their stories. the long growth period of the spawn in the ground, or in the tree trunk, where it may sometimes be imprisoned for years, sometimes a century, or more, before the mushroom appears, is calculated to dispel the popular notion that the mushroom "grows in a night." then from the button stage to the ripe fruit, several days, a week, a month, or a year may be needed, according to the kind, while some fruiting forms are known to live from several to eighty or more years. the adjustment of the fruit cap to a position most suitable for the scattering of the spores, the different ways in which the fruit cap opens and expands, the different forms of the fruit surface, their colors and other peculiarities, suggest topics for instructive study and observation. the inclination, just now becoming apparent, to extend nature study topics to include mushrooms is an evidence of a broader and more sympathetic attitude toward nature. a little extension of one's observation on the habits of these plants in the woods will reveal the fact that certain ones are serious enemies of timber trees and timber. it is quite easy in many cases for one possessing no technical knowledge of the subject to read the story of these "wood destroying" fungi in the living tree. branches broken by snow, by wind, or by falling timber provide entrance areas where the spores, lodging on the heart wood of broken timber, or on a bruise on the side of the trunk which has broken through the living part of the tree lying just beneath the bark, provide a point for entrance. the living substance (_protoplasm_) in the spawn exudes a "juice" (_enzyme_) which dissolves an opening in the wood cells and permits the spawn to enter the heart of the tree, where decay rapidly proceeds as a result. but very few of these plants can enter the tree when the living part underneath the bark is unbroken. these observations suggest useful topics for thought. they suggest practical methods of prevention, careful forestry treatment and careful lumbering to protect the young growth when timber trees are felled. they suggest careful pruning of fruit and shade trees, by cutting limbs smooth and close to the trunk, and then painting the smooth surface with some lead paint. while we are thus apt to regard many of the mushrooms as enemies of the forest, they are, at the same time, of incalculable use to the forest. the mushrooms are nature's most active agents in the disposal of the forest's waste material. forests that have developed without the guidance of man have been absolutely dependent upon them for their continued existence. where the species of mushrooms are comparatively few which attack living trees, there are hundreds of kinds ready to strike into fallen timber. there is a degree of moisture present on the forest floor exactly suited to the rapid growth of the mycelium of numbers of species in the bark, sap wood, and heart wood of the fallen trees or shrubs. in a few years the branches begin to crumble because of the disorganizing effect of the mycelium in the wood. other species adapted to growing in rotting wood follow and bring about, in a few years, the complete disintegration of the wood. it gradually passes into the soil of the forest floor, and is made available food for the living trees. how often one notices that seedling trees and shrubs start more abundantly on rotting logs. the fallen leaves, too, are seized upon by the mycelium of a great variety of mushrooms. it is through the action of the mycelium of mushrooms of every kind that the fallen forest leaves, as well as the trunks and branches, are converted into food for the living trees. the fungi, are, therefore, one of the most important agents in providing available food for the virgin forest. the spawn of some fungi in the forest goes so far, in a number of cases, as to completely envelop those portions of the roots of certain trees as to prevent the possibility of the roots taking up food material and moisture on their own account. in such cases, the oaks, beeches, hornbeams, and the like, have the younger parts of their roots completely enveloped with a dense coat of mycelium. the mycelium in these cases absorbs the moisture from the soil or forest floor and conveys it over to the roots of the tree, and in this way supplies them with both food and water from the decaying humus, the oak being thus dependent on the mycelium. in the fields, however, where there is not the abundance of humus and decaying leaves present in the forest, the coating of mycelium on the roots of these trees is absent, and in this latter case the young roots are provided with root hairs which take up the moisture and food substances from the soil in the ordinary way. the mushrooms also prevent the forest from becoming choked or strangled by its own fallen members. were it not for the action of the mushroom mycelium in causing the decay of fallen timber in the forest, in time it would be piled so high as to allow only a miserable existence to a few choked individuals. the action of the mushrooms in thus disposing of the fallen timber in the forests, and in converting dead trees and fallen leaves into available food for the living ones, is probably the most important role in the existence of these plants. mushrooms, then, are to be given very high rank among the natural agencies which have contributed to the good of the world. when we contemplate the vast areas of forest in the world we can gain some idea of the stupendous work performed by the mushrooms in "house cleaning," and in "preparing food," work in which they are still engaged. fungi in the arts. a number of different species of mushrooms have been employed in the manufacture of useful articles. their use for such purposes, however, was more common in the past than at present, and it is largely therefore a matter of interest at the present time, though some are still employed for purposes of this kind. =tinder mushroom, or amadou.=--the _polyporus fomentarius_, or "tinder mushroom" or, as it is sometimes called, "german tinder," was once employed in the manufacture of tinder. the outer hard coat was removed and the central portion, consisting almost entirely of the tube system of several years' growth, was cut into strips and beaten to a soft condition. in this form it was used as tinder for striking fire. the inner portion was also used in making caps, chest-protectors, and similar articles. a process now in vogue in some parts of germany, is to steam the fruit bodies, remove the outer crust, and then, by machinery constructed for the purpose, shave the fruit body into a long, thin strip by revolving it against a knife in much the same way that certain woods are shaved into thin strips for the manufacture of baskets, plates, etc. some articles of clothing made from this fungus material are worn by peasants in certain parts of europe. =mushrooms for razor strops.=--the beech polyporus (_p. betulinus_) several centuries ago was used for razor strops. the fruit body after being dried was cut into strips, glued upon a stretcher, and smoothed down with pumice stone (asa gray bull. : , ). the sheets of the weeping merulius (see fig. ) were also employed for the same purpose, as were also the sheets of "punk" formed from mycelium filling in cracks in old logs or between boards in lumber piles. sometimes extensive sheets of this punk are found several feet long and a foot or more wide. these sheets of pure mycelium resemble soft chamois skin or soiled kid leather. =mushrooms employed for flower pots.=--in bohemia (according to cooke, fungi, etc., p. ) hoof-shaped fruit bodies of _polyporus fomentarius_ and _igniarius_ are used for flower pots. the inner, or tube portion, is cut out. the hoof-shaped portion, then inverted and fastened to the side of a building or place of support, serves as a receptacle for soil in which plants are grown. =curios.=--the _polyporus applanatus_ is much sought by some persons as a "curio," and also for the purpose of etching. in the latter case they serve as pastels for a variety of art purposes. the under surface of the plant is white. all collectors of this plant know that to preserve the white fruiting surface in a perfect condition it must be handled very carefully. a touch or bruise, or contact with other objects mars the surface, since a bruise or a scratch results in a rapid change in color of the injured surface. beautiful etchings can thus be made with a fine pointed instrument, the lines of color appearing as the instrument is drawn over the surface. =fungi for medicinal purposes.=--a number of the fungi were formerly employed in medicine for various purposes, but most of them have been discarded. some of the plants were once used as a purgative, as in the case of the officinal polyporus, the great puff ball, etc. the internal portion of the great puff ball has been used as an anodyne, and "formidable surgical operations have been performed under its influence." it is frequently used as a narcotic. some species are employed as drugs by the chinese. the anthelmintic polyporus is employed in burmah as a vermifuge. the ergot of rye is still employed to some extent in medicine, and the ripe puff balls are still used in some cases to stop bleeding of wounds. =luminosity of fungi.=--while the luminosity possessed by certain fungi cannot be said to be of distinct utility, their phosphorescence is a noteworthy phenomenon. that decaying wood often emits this phosphorescent light has been widely observed, especially in wooded districts. it is due to the presence of the mycelium of one of the wood destroying fungi. the luminosity is often so bright that when brought near a printed page in the dark, words can be read. hawthorne "reported the light from an improvised torch of mycelium infected wood, to have carried him safely several miles through an otherwise impassable forest." (asa gray, bull. = =: , ). the sulphur polyporus is said sometimes to be phosphorescent. the _clitocybe illudens_ (see fig. ) has long been known to emit a strong phosphorescent light, and has been called "jack-my-lantern." this plant often occurs in great abundance. at mountain hotels it is often brought in by day, and the guests at night, discovering its luminosity, trace grotesque figures, or monograms, on the ground by broken portions, which can be seen at a considerable distance. _lentinus stipticus_ in this country is also phosphorescent. in europe, the _pleurotus olearius_ (very closely related to our _clitocybe illudens_) on dead olive trunks is one of the best known of the phosphorescent species. other phosphorescent species are, according to tulasne, _a. igneus_ from amboyna, _a. noctileucus_ in manila, and _a. gardneri_ in brazil. the use of certain mushrooms in making intoxicant beverages is referred to in chapter xxii. since the artificial cultivation of mushrooms for food is becoming quite an industry in this country with some, the following chapter is devoted to a treatment of the subject. mention may be made here, however, of the attempts in parts of france to cultivate truffles, species of subterranean fungi belonging to the ascomycetes (various species of the genus _tuber_). it had long been observed that truffles grow in regions forested by certain trees, as the oak, beech, hornbeam, etc. efforts were made to increase the production of truffles by planting certain regions to these trees. especially in certain calcareous districts of france (see cooke, fungi, etc., p. ) young plantations of oak, beech, or beech and fir, after the lapse of a few years, produced truffles. the spores of the truffles are in the soil, and the mycelium seems to maintain some symbiotic relation with the roots of the young trees, which results in the increase in the production of the fruit bodies. dogs and pigs are employed in the collection of truffles from the ground. comparatively few of the truffles, or other subterranean fungi, have been found in america, owing probably to their subterranean habit, where they are not readily observed, and to the necessity of special search to find them. in california, however, dr. harkness (proc. calif. acad. sci.) has collected a large number of species and genera. recently (shear. asa gray bull. : , ) reports finding a "truffle" (_terfezia oligosperma_ tul.) in maryland, and _t. leonis_ occurs in louisiana. footnotes: [c] there is not room here to discuss the uses of other fungi than the "mushrooms." chapter xx. cultivation of mushrooms. the increasing interest in mushrooms during the past few years has not been confined to the kinds growing spontaneously in fields and woods, but the interest aroused in the collection and study of the wild varieties has been the means of awakening a general interest in the cultivation of mushrooms. this is leading many persons to inquire concerning the methods of cultivation, especially those who wish to undertake the cultivation of these plants on a small scale, in cellars or cool basements, where they may be grown for their own consumption. at somewhat frequent intervals articles appear in the newspapers depicting the ease and certainty with which mushrooms can be grown, and the great profits that accrue to the cultivator of these plants. while the profits in some cases, at least in the past, have been very great to cultivators of mushrooms, the competition has become so general that through a large part of the year the market price of mushrooms is often not sufficient to much more than pay expenses. in fact, it is quite likely that in many cases of the house cultivation of mushrooms the profits are no larger, taking the season through, than they are from the cultivation of tomatoes or other hothouse vegetables. occasionally some persons, who may be cultivating them upon a small scale in houses erected for some other purpose, or perhaps partly used for some other purpose, may succeed in growing quite a large crop from a small area with little expenditure of time and money. the profits figured from such a crop grown on a small scale where the investment in houses, heating apparatus, and time, is not counted, may appear to be very large, but they do not represent the true conditions of the industry where the expense of houses and the cost of time and labor are taken into consideration. probably the more profitable cultivation of mushrooms in this country is where the cultivation is practiced on quite a large scale, in tunnels, or caves, or abandoned mines, where no expense is necessary in the erection of houses. the temperature throughout the year is favorable for the growth of the mushrooms without artificial heating. it is possible, also, to grow them on a large scale during the warm summer months when it is impossible to grow them under the present conditions in heating house structures, and also when the market price of the mushrooms is very high, and can be controlled largely by the grower. for this reason, if it were possible to construct a house with some practical system of cooling the air through the summer, and prevent the drip, the cultivation in houses would probably be more profitable. [illustration: figure .--view in akron "tunnel," n. y. mushroom co. beds beginning to bear. copyright.] for the past few years the writer has been giving some attention to the different methods of the cultivation of mushrooms in america, and in response to the growing interest for information concerning the artificial cultivation of these plants, it has seemed well to add this chapter on the cultivation of mushrooms to the second edition of the present work. the cultivation as practiced in america exists under a great variety of conditions. all of these conditions have not been thoroughly investigated, and yet a sufficient number of them have been rather carefully studied to warrant the preparation of this chapter. the illustrations which have been made from time to time, by flash light, of the cave culture of mushrooms in america, as well as of the house culture, will serve to illustrate graphically some of the stages in the progress of the work. for present purposes we will consider, first, the conditions under which the cultivation is carried on, followed by a discussion of the principles involved in the selection and preparation of the material, the selection and planting of the spawn, as well as the harvesting of the crop. the cave culture of mushrooms in america. [illustration: figure .--view in akron "tunnel," n. y. mushroom co. beds beginning to bear. copyright.] this has been practiced for a number of years in different parts of the eastern united states, but perhaps only a small portion of the available caves or tunnels are at present used for this purpose. these subterranean mushroom farms are usually established in some abandoned mine where, the rock having been removed, the space is readily adapted to this purpose, if portions of the mine are not wet from the dripping water. the most extensive one which i have visited is located at akron, new york, and is operated by the new york mushroom company. in a single abandoned cement mine there are to acres of available space; about to acres of this area are used in the operations of the culture and handling of materials. the dry portions of the mine are selected, and flat beds are made upon the bottom rock, with the use of hemlock boards, making the beds usually feet long by feet wide, the boards being inches wide. in this case, the beds, after soiling or finishing, are inches deep, the material resting directly upon the rock, the boards being used only to hold the material on the edges in position. figures and illustrate the position of the beds and their relation to each other, as well as showing the general structural features of the mine. the pillars of rock are those which were left at the time of mining, as supports for the rock roof above, while additional wood props are used in places. in this mine all of the beds are constructed upon a single plan. [illustration: figure .--view in wheatland cave, showing ridge beds, and one flat bed. copyright.] at another place, wheatland, new york, where the wheatland cave mushrooms are grown, beds of two different styles are used, the flat beds supported by boards as described in the previous case, and the ridge beds, where the material, without any lateral support, is arranged in parallel ridges as shown in fig. . this is the method largely, if not wholly employed in the celebrated mushroom caves at paris, and is also used in some cases in the outdoor cultivation of mushrooms. as to the advantage of one system of bed over the other, one must consider the conditions involved. some believe a larger crop of mushrooms is obtained where there is an opportunity, as in the ridge beds, for the mushrooms to appear on the sides as well as on the upper surface of the beds. in the flat beds the mushrooms can appear only at the upper surface, though occasionally single ones crop out in the crevice between the side board and the rock below. [illustration: figure .--single mushroom house (wm. swayne, kennett square, pa.), "curing" shed at left. this house is heated in connection with other hothouses.] probably at paris, and perhaps also at some other places where the system of ridge beds is used, the question of the cost of the lumber is an important one, and the system of ridge beds avoids the expense of this item of lumber. in other cases, where the flat beds are used with the board supports, the cost of lumber is considered a small item when compared with the additional labor involved in making the ridge bed. the flat beds are very quickly made, and the material in some cases is not more than inches deep, allowing a large surface area compared with the amount of food material, for the growth of the mushrooms. it may be possible, with the flat, shallow bed system, that as many or more mushrooms are obtained from the same amount of manure, as in the case of the ridge beds. when we consider the cost of the manure in some places, this item is one which is well worth considering. the house culture of mushrooms. where this method of cultivation is employed, as the main issue, houses are constructed especially for the purpose. in general the houses are of two kinds. those which are largely above the ground, and those where a greater or lesser pit is excavated so that the larger part of the house is below ground. between these extremes all gradations exist. probably it is easier to maintain an equable temperature when the house is largely below ground. where it is largely above ground, however, the equability of the temperature can be controlled to a certain extent by the structure of the house. in some cases a wall air space is maintained around the sides and also over the roof of the building. and in some cases even a double air space of a foot or inches each is maintained over the roof. in some cases, instead of an air space, the space is filled with sawdust, single on the sides of the house, and also a or -inch space over the roof. the sides of the house are often banked with earth, or the walls are built of stone or brick. [illustration: figure .--double mushroom house (l. s. bigony's mushroom plant.) packing room at left, "curing" shed at right, next to this is boiler room.] all of these houses, no matter what the type of construction, require ventilation. this is provided for by protected openings or exits through the roof. in some cases the ventilators are along the side of the roof, when there would be two rows of ventilators upon the single gable roof. in other cases a row of ventilators is placed at the peak, when a single row answers. these ventilators are provided with shut-offs, so that the ventilation can be controlled at will. the size of the house varies, of course, according to the extent of the operations which the grower has in mind. the usual type of house is long and rather narrow, varying from to feet long by to or feet wide. in some cases the single house is constructed upon these proportions, as shown by fig. , with a gable roof. if it is desired to double the capacity of a house, two such houses are built parallel, the intercepting wall supporting the adjacent roof of the two houses, as shown in fig. . a still further increase in the capacity of the house is often effected by increasing the number of these houses side by side. this results in a series of or houses forming one consolidated block of houses, each with its independent ridge roof and system of ventilation. the separating walls between the several houses of such a block are probably maintained for the purpose of better controlling the temperature conditions and ventilation in various houses. if desired, communication from one house to another can be had by doors. =interior structure and position of the beds.=--the beds are usually arranged in tiers, one above the other, though in some houses the beds are confined only to the floor space. where they are arranged in tiers in a house of the proportions given above, there are three tiers of beds. there is one tier on either side, and a tier through the middle; the middle tier, on account of the peak of the roof at this point, has one more bed than the tiers on the side. the number of beds in a tier will depend on the height of the house. usually the house is constructed of a height which permits three beds in the side tier and four in the center tier, with an alley on either side of the center tier of beds, giving communication to all. if the house is very long and it is desirable, for convenience in passing from one house to another, to have cross alley-ways, they can be arranged, but the fewer cross alleys the larger surface area there is for beds. [illustration: figure .--view in mushroom house (wm. swayne), showing upper bed in left hand tier. copyright.] the size of the beds is governed by convenience in making the beds and handling the crop. the beds on the side tiers, therefore, are often three to three and one-half feet in width, affording a convenient reaching distance from the alley. the beds of the center tier have access from the alley on either side and are usually seven feet in width. the width of the alley varies according to the mind of the owner, from two to three or three and one-half feet. the narrow alley economizes space in the structure of a house; the wide alley, while slightly increasing the cost of the structure, makes it much more convenient in handling the material, and in moving about the house. the beds are constructed of one-inch boards. various kinds of lumber are used, the hemlock spruce, the oak, georgia pine, and so on. the beds are supported on framework constructed of upright scantling and cross stringers upon which the bottom boards are laid. these occur at intervals of three to four feet. the board on the side of each bed is to inches in width. the bottom bed, of course, is made on the ground. the upper beds in the tier are situated so that the distance is about three feet from the bottom of one bed to the bottom of the next above. figs. to show the general structure of the beds. =heating.=--one portion of the house is set apart for the boiler room, where a small hot water heater is located. the position of the heater in one of these houses is shown in fig. . in other cases, where the plant is quite a large one, a small separate or connecting boiler apartment is often constructed. in other cases, where the house is connected with or adjoining a system of greenhouses devoted to hothouse vegetables, the water pipes may run from the general boiler house which supplies the heat for all the houses. the water pipes in the mushroom houses are sometimes run beneath the boards or the walk in the alley, or in other cases are run just beneath the roof of the building. =cultivation of mushrooms under benches in greenhouses.=--this method is practiced to quite a large extent by some growers. in the house of mr. william swayne, kennett square, pa., a number of large houses, devoted through the winter to the growing of carnations, are also used for the cultivation of mushrooms, a single long bed being made up underneath the beds of carnations. in these houses the water pipes providing heat for the building run along the sides of the building underneath the carnation beds at this point. under these beds, where the water pipes run, no mushroom beds are made, since the heat would be too great, but under the three middle rows of beds in the house, mushroom beds are located. in this way, in a number of houses, several thousand square feet of surface for mushroom beds can be obtained. the carnations are grown, not in pots, but in a general bed on a bench. in watering the carnations, care is used in the distribution of the water, and in the amount used, to prevent a surplus of water dripping through on the mushrooms below. =cellar culture.=--for the cultivation of mushrooms on a small scale, unoccupied portions of cellars in a dwelling house are often used. the question is sometimes asked if it is injurious to the health of the family in a dwelling house when mushrooms are grown in the cellar. probably where the materials used in making up the beds are thoroughly cured before being taken into the cellar, no injurious results would come from the cultivation of the plant there. in case the manure is cured in the cellar, that is, is there carried through the process of heating and fermentation in preparation for the beds, the odors arising from the fermenting material are very disagreeable to say the least, and probably are not at all beneficial to one's general health. [illustration: figure .--view in mushroom house (wm. swayne). view down alley on right hand side. copyright.] in the cellar culture of mushrooms the places selected are along the sides of the cellar in unused portions. floor beds alone may be made by using the boards to support one side, while the wall forms the support on the other side as in the arrangement of beds on the side tiers in the mushroom houses; or tiers of beds may be arranged in the same way, one bed on the bottom, and one or two beds above. the number of beds will vary according to the available space. sometimes, where it is not convenient to arrange the larger beds directly on the bottom of the cellar, or in tiers, boxes three or four feet, or larger, may be used in place of the beds. these can be put in out of the way places in the cellar. the use of boxes of this description would be very convenient in case it was desired to entirely do away with the possibility of odors during the fermentation of the manure, or in the making up of the bed. even though the manure may be cured outside of the cellar, at the time it is made in the beds the odors released are sometimes considerable, and for several days might be annoying and disagreeable to the occupants of the dwelling, until such a time as the temperature of the manure had dropped to the point where the odors no longer were perceptible. in this case, with the use of boxes, the manure can be cured outside, made into beds in the boxes and taken into the cellar after the temperature is down to a point suitable for spawning, and very little odor will be released. if there is a furnace in the cellar it should be partitioned off from the portion devoted to mushroom culture. =cultivation in sheds or out of the way places.=--it is possible to grow mushrooms in a number of places not used for other purposes. in sheds where the beds may be well protected from the rain and from changing currents of air, they may be grown. in open sheds the beds could be covered with a board door, the sides of the bed being high enough to hold the door well above the mushrooms. in the basements of barns, or even in stables where room can be secured on one side for a bed, or tier of beds, they are often grown successfully. =garden and field culture of mushrooms.=--in europe, in some cases, mushrooms are often grown in the garden, ridge beds being made up in the spring and spawned, and then covered with litter, or with some material similar to burlaps, to prevent the complete drying out of the surface of the beds. sometimes they are cultivated along with garden crops. field culture is also practiced to some extent. in the field culture rich and well drained pastures are selected, and spawned sometime during the month of may. the portions of spawn are inserted in the ground in little t-shaped openings made by two strokes of the spade. the spade is set into the ground once, lifted, and then inserted again so that this first slit is on one side of the middle of the spade and perpendicular to it. the spade is inserted here and then bent backwards partly so as to lift open the sod in the letter t. in this opening the block of spawn is inserted, then closed by pressure with the foot. the spawn is planted in this way at distances of to feet. it runs through the summer, and then in the autumn a good crop often appears. curing the manure. =selection of manure.=--horse manure is the material which is most generally used, though sometimes a small percentage of other manures, as sheep manure, is added. in the selection of the manure it is desirable to obtain that which is as fresh as possible, which has not passed through the stage of fermentation, and which contains some straw, usually as litter, but not too large a percentage of straw. where there is a very large percentage of straw the manure is usually shaken out with a fork, and the coarser portion removed. if there is not too much of this coarse material the latter is often cured in a separate pile and used for the bottom of the beds, the finer portions of the manure, which have been separated, are used for the finishing and for the bulk of the bed. [illustration: figure .--view in mushroom house (l. s. bigony). view on top of fourth bed, middle tier. copyright.] where manure is obtained on a large scale for the cultivation in houses or in caves, it is usually obtained by the carload from liveries in large cities. it is possible to contract for manure of certain livery stables so that it may be obtained in a practically fresh condition, and handled by the liverymen according to directions, which will keep it in the best possible condition for the purpose. in the cave culture of mushrooms the manure is usually taken directly into the caves, and cured in some portion of the cave. in the house cultivation of mushrooms there is usually a shed constructed with an opening on one or two sides, at the end of the house connected with the beds, where the manure may be cured. in curing it, it is placed in piles, the size of which will depend upon the amount of manure to be cured, and upon the method employed by the operator. the usual size, where considerable manure is used, is about three feet in depth by ten or twelve feet wide, and fifteen to twenty feet long. the manure is laid in these piles to heat, and is changed or turned whenever desirable to prevent the temperature from rising too high. the object of turning is to prevent the burning of the material, which results at high degrees of temperature in fermentation. it is usually turned when the temperature rises to about ° f. at each turning the outside portions are brought to the center of the pile. the process is continued until the manure is well fermented and the temperature does not rise above to degrees, and then it is ready for making into beds. there are several methods used in the process of curing, and it does not seem necessary that any one method should be strictly adhered to. the most important things to be observed are to prevent the temperature from rising too high during the process of fermentation, to secure a thorough fermentation, and to prevent the material from drying out, or burning, or becoming too wet. the way in which the material is piled influences the rapidity of fermentation, or the increase of temperature. where the material is rather loosely piled it ferments more rapidly, and the temperature rises quickly. watering the manure tends to increase the rapidity of fermentation and the elevation of the temperature. it is necessary, though, sometimes to water the material if the heat has reached such a point that it is becoming too dry, or if there is a tendency for it to burn. the material is then turned, and watered some, but care should be used not to make it too wet, since the spawn will not run in wet material. in general we might speak of three different methods in the curing of the manure. _first, the slow process of curing._ according to this method, which is practiced by some, the time of fermentation may extend from four to five weeks. in this case the manure is piled in such a way that the temperature does not rise rapidly. during the four or five weeks the manure is turned four or five times. the turning occurs when the temperature has arisen to such a point as to require it. _another method, used by some, might be called a rapid process of curing._ according to this, the time for curing the manure extends over a period of about a week, or five to ten days. the material is piled in such a way as to cause rapid fermentation and rapid rising of temperature, the material sometimes requiring to be turned every day or two, sometimes twice a day, in order to lower the temperature and prevent the material from burning or drying out. between this rapid process of curing, and the slow process of curing, the practice may extend so that, according to the method of different operators, the period of curing extends from one week to a month or five weeks. [illustration: figure .--view in mushroom house (l. s. bigony's mushroom plant, lansdale, pa.), showing alley and side tier of beds. copyright.] _the third method of curing_ consists in putting the material at once into the beds before curing, and mixing in with the manure, as it is placed in the bed, about one part of loam or garden soil to four or five parts of the fresh manure. the material is then left in this condition to cure without changing or turning, the temperature rising perhaps not above ° f. with some experience in determining the firmness with which the bed should be made to prevent a too high rise of temperature, this practice might prove to be successful, and would certainly save considerable labor and expense in the making of the beds. mr. william swayne of kennett square, pa., in the winter of -- , made up a portion of one of his beds in this way, and no difference could be seen in the results of the crop, the crop from the beds made in this way being as good as that of the adjoining beds, and he intends the following year to make up all of his beds in the same way. =mixing soil with the manure at the time of fermentation.=--while in the cave culture of mushrooms the manure is usually fermented and used without the admixture of soil, usually in the house or cellar culture rich loam soil, or rotted sod, is mixed with the manure at the time of turning it, during the process of fermentation. at the time of the first turning, soil is mixed in, a layer of the manure being spread out on the ground, and then a sprinkling of soil over this. then another layer of the manure is added with another sprinkling of soil, and so on as the new pile is built up. in the first turning of the manure, about one part of soil is used to eight or nine parts of manure. then at the last turning another mixture of soil is added, so that there is about one-fifth part soil in the mixture. the soil aids somewhat in lowering the temperature, and also adds some to the bulk, so that more beds can be made up with the same amount of manure. =horse droppings free from straw.=--for growing mushrooms on a small scale, as in cellars or boxes, some prefer to select the horse droppings free from straw. making up the beds. =making up beds without the addition of soil.=--in the cave culture of mushrooms the beds are usually made from manure alone, there being no addition of soil. this is perhaps partly due to the expense of getting the soil in and out from the caves as well as to the low temperature prevailing there. it is believed by many that the results are equally as good in beds from the manure alone as in those which contain an admixture of soil. the method of making the beds in the akron cave, or "tunnel," is as follows: the manure, immediately after it has passed through the process of fermentation and curing in the pile, is carted to the district in the mine where the beds are to be made and is dumped in a long windrow on the ground. the length of the windrow depends of course upon the amount of material which is ready, as well as upon the amount necessary for making up the beds for that distance. two hemlock boards, sixteen feet long and ten inches wide, and two, four feet long and the same width, are then hastily nailed into the form of a rectangular frame. this is placed upon the rock bottom at one end of the row of material, perpendicular to it usually. [illustration: figure .--view in akron "tunnel," n. y. mushroom co. making up the beds. copyright.] the workmen then, with forks, distribute the material in this frame. if there is coarser material which has been separated from the finer material, this is placed in the bottom of the bed and the finer material is then filled on top. a layer of material is distributed over the bottom and then tamped down by striking with the back of the fork, as shown in fig. . in this figure the material is shown to be off at one end of the bed. this was in a section of the mine where it was not convenient to follow the beds in the direction of the pile of manure, so that the material is distributed on from the end of the bed instead of from the side, as is the usual method. after several inches have been distributed in this way and tamped down with the back of the fork, the operator tramps over the material with his feet and presses it down more firmly. another layer of material is distributed over this, and tamped and tramped down in a similar manner. the operation is repeated until the depth of the manure after tramping down is about seven inches. it is then left for the completion of the curing process and for the lowering of the temperature to the desired point. usually, after making the bed in this way, there is a rise in the temperature for several days, gradually lowering until finally it reaches the point favorable for planting the spawn. where the beds are made successively, one after another, following the windrow of manure, the material used for the first bed removes from the windrow a sufficient amount to make room for the second bed, and in like manner room for the successive beds is provided for as the material is taken for each one, so that the frames are put together and the beds are formed rapidly and easily. =making ridge beds in caves.=--in the making of the ridge beds in caves there are two methods which might be spoken of. one method is the well known one practiced in certain of the caves near paris, where the material is taken by workmen in large baskets and distributed in rows. the ridge is gradually formed into shape by walking astride of it, as additional material is emptied on from the baskets, the workmen packing and shaping the ridge by pressure from their limbs as they stand astride of the row. in this way the ridges are made as high or somewhat higher than their breadth at the base, and quite near together, so that there is just room in many cases to walk between the beds. in one cave in america, where the ridge system is used to some extent, the ridges are made with the aid of a board frame the length of the bed and the width of the base of the ridge. the long boards of this frame are slanting so that they are more or less the shape of the ridge, but not equal to its height. this frame is placed on the rock bottom, filled with manure and tramped on by the workmen. then the frame is lifted on the ridge and more material is added and tramped on in like manner, until the bulk of the ridge bed is built up in this way and compressed into shape. =beds in houses constructed for the purpose of growing mushrooms.=--where only the floor of the house is used, a middle bed and two side beds are sometimes formed in the same manner as described in the construction of the house for the tiers of beds, with an alley on either side of the large center bed, giving access to all. in some cases the entire surface of the bottom is covered with material, but divided into sections of large beds by framework of boards, but with no alleys between. access to these beds is obtained by placing planks on the top of the boards which make the frame, thus forming walks directly over portions of the bed. in some cases ridge beds, as described for cave cultivation, are made on the floor of these houses. the beds are filled in the same way as described for the cave culture of mushrooms, but usually, in the beds made in houses built for the purpose of growing mushrooms, a percentage of soil is mixed in with the manure, the soil being usually mixed in at the time of turning the manure during the process of fermentation. garden soil or rich loam is added, say at the first time the manure is turned while it is fermenting. then, some time later during the process of fermenting, another admixture of soil is added. the total amount of soil added is usually equal to about one-fifth of the bulk of the manure. as this material, formed of the manure with an admixture of soil, is placed in the beds it is distributed much in the same manner as described for the making of flat beds in caves or tunnels. usually, however, if there is coarse material which was separated from the manure at the first sorting, this without any mixture of soil is placed in the bottom of the bed, and then the manure and soil is used for the bulk of the bed above. this coarser material, however, is not always at hand, and in such cases the beds are built up from the bottom with the mixture of manure and soil. the depth of the material in the beds in these houses varies according to the experience of the operator. some make the beds about eighteen inches in depth, while others do not make the beds more than eight or ten or twelve inches in depth. where there are tiers of beds, that is, one bed above the other, very often the lowest bed, the one which rests directly upon the ground, is made deeper than the others. while it is the general custom to use material consisting of an admixture of manure and soil in the proportions described, this custom is not always followed. in the case of the beds which are made up in the summer for the fall and early winter crop, soil, being easily obtained at that season of the year, is mixed with the manure. some growers, however, in making the beds in midwinter for the spring crop, do not use any soil since it is more difficult to obtain it at that season. in such cases the beds are made up of manure alone. the experience in some cases shows that the crop resulting from this method is equally as good as that grown where soil has been added. in the experience of some other growers a bin of soil is collected during the summer or autumn which can be used in the winter for mixing in with the manure and making the beds for the spring crop. where sod is used this is collected in pastures or fence rows in june, piled, and allowed to rot during the summer. in distributing the material in the beds, the methods of packing it vary according to the wishes or experience of the grower. it is often recommended to pack the material very firmly. the feeling that this must be packed very thinly has led to the disuse of beds in tiers by some, because it is rather difficult to pack the material down very firmly where one bed lies so closely above another. where the practice is followed of packing the material very firmly in the bed, some instrument in the form of a maul is used to tamp it down. where there are tiers of beds an instrument of this kind cannot well be used. here a brick or a similar heavy and small instrument is used in the hand, and the bed is thus pounded down firmly. this is a tedious and laborious operation. many growers do not regard it as essential that the beds should be very firmly packed. in such cases the material is distributed on the beds and the successive layers are tamped down as firmly as can well be done with the back of a fork or an ordinary potato digger, which can be wielded with the two hands in between the beds. in the experience of these growers the results seem to be just as good as where the beds are more firmly packed down. it is the practice in some cases where the bed lies against the side of the house to build up the material of the bed at the rear, that is, at the side of the house, much deeper than at the front, so that the depth of the bed at the back may be eighteen to twenty inches or two feet, while the front is eight to ten or twelve inches. this provides a slightly increased surface because of the obliquity of the upper surface of the bed, but it consumes probably a greater amount of material. it probably is not advantageous where the operations are carried on on a large scale, where abundant room is available, where the material for making the beds is expensive, and it is desirable to obtain from the material all that can be drawn in a single crop. the same practice is sometimes recommended and followed in the case of the beds made in cellars. in the making of beds with fresh material, that is, with unfermented manure, as was done by mr. william swayne of kennett square, pa., one season, the coarser material is put in the bottom of the bed, and then as the manure is distributed in the bed the soil is sprinkled on also, so that finally when the bed is completed the proportions of soil and manure are the same as when it is mixed in at the time of fermentation. in making the beds in this way, should any one be led to attempt it, it would be necessary to guard against a too high temperature in the fermentation of this fresh material; the temperature should not run above degrees. it would also require a longer time from the making of the bed to planting the spawn than in the case of those beds where the manure is fermented and cured before being made up. probably the total amount of time from the beginning to the completion of the preparation of the bed for spawning would not be greater, if it would be so great. the beds all having been made, they are left until they are in a suitable condition for spawning. the determination of this point, that is, the point when the beds are ready for planting the spawn, seems to be one of the most important and critical features of the business. the material must be of a suitable temperature, preferably not above ° f., and not below °. the most favorable temperature, according to some, other conditions being congenial, ranges from ° to ° f., while many prefer to spawn at ° to °. many of the very successful growers, however, do not lay so much stress upon the temperature of the bed for the time of spawning as they do upon the ripeness, or the cured condition, of the material in the bed. this is a matter which it is very difficult to describe to one not familiar with the subject, and it is one which it is very difficult to properly appreciate unless one has learned it by experience. some judge more by the odor, or the "smell," as they say, of the manure. it must have lost the fresh manure "smell," or the "sour smell," and possess, as they say, a "sweet smell." sometimes the odor is something like that of manure when spawn has partly run through it. it sometimes has a sweetish smell, or a smell suggestive of mushrooms even when no spawn has run through it. another important condition of the material is its state of dryness or moisture. it must not be too dry or the spawn will not run. in such cases there is not a sufficient amount of moisture to provide the water necessary for the growth of the mycelium. on the other hand, it must not be too wet, especially at the time of spawning and for a few weeks after. some test the material for moisture in this way. take a handful of the material and squeeze it. if on releasing the hold it falls to pieces, it is too dry. by squeezing a handful near the ear, if there is an indication of running water, even though no water may be expressed from the material, it is too wet. if on pressure of the material there is not that sense of the movement of water in it on holding it to the ear, and if on releasing the pressure of the hand the material remains in the form into which it has been squeezed, or expands slightly, it is considered to be in a proper condition so far as moisture is concerned for planting the spawn. what spawn is. the spawn of the mushroom is the popular word used in speaking of the mycelium of the mushroom. the term is commonly used in a commercial sense of material in which the mycelium is growing. this material is horse manure, or a mixture of one or two kinds of manure with some soil, and with the threads of the mycelium growing in it. the mycelium, as is well known, is the growing or vegetative part of the mushroom. sometimes the word "fiber" is used by the mushroom growers in referring to the mycelium which appears in the spawn, or in the mushroom bed. the mycelium is that portion of the plant which, in the case of the wild varieties, grows in the soil, or in the leaf mold, in the tree trunk or other material from which the mushroom derives its food. the threads of mycelium, as we know, first originated from the spore of the mushroom. the spore germinates and produces delicate threads, which branch and increase by growth in extent, and form the mycelium. so the term spawn is rarely applied to the pure mycelium, but is applied to the substratum or material in which spawn is growing; that is, the substratum and mycelium together constitute the spawn. =natural spawn or virgin spawn.=--this is termed natural spawn because it occurs under natural conditions of environment. the original natural spawn was to be found in the fields. in the early history of mushroom culture the spawn from the pastures and meadows where mushrooms grew was one of the sources of the spawn used in planting. the earth containing the spawn underneath clumps of mushrooms was collected and used. it occurs more abundantly, however, in piles of horse manure which have stood for some time in barn yards, or very often in stalls where the manure is allowed to accumulate, has been thoroughly tramped down and then has been left in this condition for some time. it occurs also in composts, hothouse beds, or wherever accumulations of horse manure are likely to occur, if other conditions are congenial. the origin of the natural spawn under these conditions of environment is probably accounted for in many cases by the presence of the spores which have been in the food eaten by the horse, have passed through the alimentary canal and are thus distributed through the dung. the spores present in the food of the horse may be due to various conditions. horses which go out to pasture are likely to take in with the food obtained in grazing the spores scattered around on the grass, and in the upper part of the sod, coming from mushrooms which grew in the field. in other cases, the spores may be present in the hay, having been carried by the wind from adjacent fields, if not from those which have grown in the meadow. in like manner they may be present in the oats which have been fed to the horse. in the case of stable-fed animals, the inoculation of the manure in this way may not always be certain or very free. but in the case of pasture-fed horses which are stalled at night probably the inoculation is very certain and very abundant, so that a large number of spores would be present in the manure from horses fed in this way. the natural spawn also may originate from spores which are carried by the wind from the pasture or meadow mushrooms upon manure piles, or especially from spores which may lodge in the dust of the highways or street. many of these spores would cling to the hoofs of the horses and at night, or at times of feeding, would be left with the manure in the stall. at other times horse droppings may be gathered from roads or streets where spores may be present in the dust. the piles of the droppings accumulated in this way, if left a sufficient time, may provide natural spawn by this accidental inoculation from the spores. probably few attempts have been made to grow the natural spawn with certainty in this country, though it does not appear to be an impracticable thing to do, since formerly this was one source of the virgin spawn in europe. it is usually obtained by search through stables and barn yards or other places where piles of horse manure have accumulated and have remained for several months. in some cases the growers keep men employed through the summer season searching the yards and stables over a considerable area for the purpose of finding and gathering this natural spawn. it is probably termed virgin spawn because of its origin under these natural conditions, and never having been propagated artificially. the natural spawn, as indicated above, is employed for a variety of purposes. it is used for inoculating the bricks in the manufacture of brick spawn. it is used for propagating once or twice in the mushroom beds, for the purpose of multiplying it, either in the manufacture of brick spawn, or for flake spawn, which is planted directly in the beds to be used for the crop. in some places in america it is collected on a large scale and relied on as the chief source of spawn for planting beds. in such cases the natural or virgin spawn is used directly and is of the first and most vigorous generation. it is believed by growers who employ it in this way that the results in the quality and quantity of the crop exceed those produced from the market spawn. but even these growers would not always depend on the natural spawn, for the reason, that collecting it under these conditions, the quantity is certain to vary from year to year. this is due probably to varying conditions of the season and also to the varying conditions which bring about the chance inoculation, or the accumulation of the material in the yard for a sufficient amount of time to provide the mycelium. it would be interesting, and it might also prove to be profitable to growers, if some attempt were made to grow natural spawn under conditions which would perhaps more certainly produce a supply. this might be attempted in several different ways. stall-fed horses might be fed a ripe mushroom every day or two. or from the cap of ripe mushrooms the spores might be caught, then mixed with oats and fed to the horse. again, the manure piles might be inoculated by spores caught from a number of mushrooms. manure might also be collected during the summer months from the highways and aside from the probable natural inoculation which this material would probably have from the spores blown from the meadow and pasture mushrooms, additional inoculation might be made. the manure obtained in this way could be piled under sheds, packed down thoroughly, and not allowed to heat above ° f. these piles could then be left for several months, care being used that the material should have the proper moisture content, not too dry nor too wet. this is given only as a suggestion and it is hoped that some practical grower will test it upon a small scale. in all cases the temperature should be kept low during the fermentation of these piles, else the spawn will be killed. one of the methods of obtaining natural spawn recommended by cuthill ("treatise on the cultivation of the mushroom") is to collect horse droppings all along the highways during the summer, mixing it with some road sand and piling it in a dry shed. here it is packed down firmly to prevent the heat rising too high. a "trial" stick is kept in the pile. when this is pulled out, if it is so hot as to "burn the hand," the heat is too great and would kill the spawn. in several months an abundance of the spawn is generated here. =mill-track spawn.=--"mill-track" spawn originated from the spawn found in covered roadways at mills or along tram-car tracks where horses were used. the accumulation of manure trodden down in these places and sometimes mixed with sawdust or earth, provided a congenial place for the growth of the mycelium. the spawn was likely introduced here through spores taken in with the food of the horse, or brought there from highways, if they were not already in the soil from mushrooms grown there. it would be then multiplied by the growth of the spawn, and from spores of mushrooms which might appear and ripen. the well tramped material in which the mycelium grew here, when broken up, formed convenient blocks of spawn for storage and transportation, and probably led to the manufacture of brick spawn. =manufactured spawn.=--the manufactured spawn, on the other hand, is that which is propagated artificially by the special preparation of the substratum or material in which the mycelium is to grow. this material is inoculated either with a piece of natural spawn, or with pieces of previously manufactured spawn. it is put upon the market in two different forms; the brick spawn, and the flake spawn. the latter is sometimes known as the french spawn, while the former, being largely manufactured in england, is sometimes spoken of as the english spawn. [illustration: figure .--brick spawn. three "bricks," one marked to show into how many pieces one brick may be broken.] =brick spawn.=--the brick spawn is so called because the material in which the mycelium is present is in the form of bricks. these bricks are about by inches by - / inches in thickness, and weigh about - / pounds each when dried. the proportions of different kinds of material used in the manufacture of brick spawn probably vary with different manufacturers, since there is a difference in the size and texture of bricks from different sources. one method of making the brick spawn is as follows: equal parts of horse dung, and cow dung, and loam soil are thoroughly mixed together to a consistency of mortar. this is pressed into the form of bricks and stood on edge to dry. when partly dry, a piece of spawn about an inch in diameter is pressed into one side of each brick. the bricks are then stood up again until thoroughly dried. they are then piled upon a layer of fresh horse manure about inches deep, the pile of bricks being about feet high. this pile is then covered over loosely with fresh horse manure, a sufficient amount to produce, when heating, a temperature of about ° f. they are left in this condition until the mycelium or "fiber" has thoroughly permeated the bricks. the spawn is now completed, and the bricks are allowed to dry. in this condition they are put upon the market. the bricks made with a very high percentage of soil often have the appearance of dried soil, with a slight admixture of vegetable matter. brick spawn from other sources presents a very different texture and contains probably a much larger percentage of horse manure, or, at least, a much smaller percentage of soil. the appearance of the brick is not that of soil with a slight admixture of vegetable materials, but has much the appearance of a dried and compressed mixture of horse dung and cow dung, with an abundance of the "fiber" or mycelium, "the greyish moldy, or thready matter," which constitutes the vital part of the spawn. in the selection of spawn this is an important item, that is, the presence of an abundance of "fiber" or mycelium. it can be seen on the surface, usually showing an abundance of these whitish threads or sheets, or a distinct moldy appearance is presented. on breaking the brick the great abundance of the "fiber" or whitish mycelium is seen all through it. this indicates that the brick possesses a high percentage of the "fiber," an important part of the spawn. one not accustomed to the quality of spawn can therefore judge to a certain extent by the appearance of the bricks as to the quality, at least they can judge as to the presence of an abundance or a scanty quantity of the "fiber." since the spawn remains in good condition for several years, there is usually no danger in the use of spawn which may be one or two years old. but it does deteriorate to some extent with age, and young spawn is therefore to be preferred to old spawn, provided the other desirable qualities are equal. those who attempt to cultivate mushrooms, and depend on commercial or manufactured spawn, should see to it that the spawn purchased possesses these desirable qualities of texture, and the presence of an abundance of the mycelium. that which appears devoid of an abundance of mycelium should be rejected, and good spawn should be called for. there is no more reason why a grower should accept a worthless spawn from his seedsman than that he should accept "addled" eggs from his grocer. in this business, that is, the manufacture and sale of spawn, poor material is apt to be thrown on the market just as in the case of seeds, poor material may find its way upon the market. sometimes this occurs through unscrupulous dealers, at other times through their ignorance, or through their failure to know the quality of the product they are handling. there are some brands of spawn, that is, those manufactured by certain houses, which rank very high among those who know the qualities and the value of good spawn. some large growers send direct to the manufacturer for their spawn, and where it is to be obtained in large quantities this is a desirable thing to do, since the cost is much less. where obtained from seedsmen in large quantities, the prices are much lower than where small quantities are purchased. one of these brands of spawn, the barter spawn, is for sale by several different dealers, by mr. h. e. hicks, kennett square, pa., by henry f. michell, market street, philadelphia, and by henry dreer, chestnut street, philadelphia. another brick spawn, known as "watson prolific," is for sale by george c. watson, juniper and walnut streets, philadelphia. james vicks sons, rochester, n. y., and peter henderson & co., new york city, have their spawn manufactured expressly for their trade. the barter spawn is said to be made fresh every year, or every other year. instead of the "continued culture" of spawn, that is, inoculating the bricks each succeeding year from the same line of spawn, which is, as it were, used over and over again, a return is made each year, or in the alternate years, to the natural or virgin spawn, which is obtained from old manure heaps. in this way, the barter spawn[d] is within two to three, or four, generations of the natural spawn. the number of generations distant the brick is from the natural spawn, depends upon the number of times it may have been multiplied before it is inoculated into the bricks. that is, the natural spawn is probably first grown in large beds in order to multiply, to produce a sufficiently large quantity for the inoculation of the immense number of bricks to be manufactured. for it is likely that a sufficient amount of natural spawn could not be obtained to inoculate all the bricks manufactured in one year. if a sufficient amount of the natural or virgin spawn could be obtained to inoculate all the bricks of one year's manufacture, this would produce a spawn removed only one generation from that of natural spawn. if the natural spawn were first grown in beds, and from here inoculated into bricks, this particular brick spawn would be removed two generations from the natural spawn. so the number of times that successive inoculations are made to multiply the spawn, the manufactured products are removed that many generations from the natural spawn. where recourse is had to the natural, or virgin spawn only once in two years, the second year's product would then be further removed from the natural spawn than the first year's product. where we know that it is removed but one or a few generations from the natural spawn, it is a more desirable kind. for the nearer it is to the natural spawn, other things being equal, the more vigorous the mycelium, and the finer will be the mushrooms produced. the brick spawn is sometimes manufactured in this country by growers for their own use, but at present it is manufactured on such a large scale in england that little or no saving is effected by an attempt to manufacture one's own brick spawn in this country. =flake spawn.=--the flake spawn, or "flakes," is commonly known as the french spawn, because it is so extensively manufactured in france. it is made by breaking down beds through which the mycelium has run, and before the crop of mushrooms appears. that is, the bed is spawned in the ordinary way. when the mycelium has thoroughly permeated the bed, it is taken down and broken into irregular pieces, six to eight inches in diameter. thus, the french spawn, where the beds are made entirely of horse manure, with no admixture of soil, consist merely of the fermented and cured manure, through which the mycelium has run, the material, of course, being thoroughly dried. this spawn may be removed one or several generations from the natural spawn. [illustration: figure .--french spawn, or "flakes," ready to plant.] the french growers depend on natural spawn much more than american growers do. the natural spawn is collected from old manure heaps. beds made up in the ordinary way for the cultivation of mushrooms are planted with this. the mycelium is allowed to run until it has thoroughly permeated the manure. these beds are broken down and used to spawn the beds for the crop. in this case the crop would be grown from spawn only one generation removed from the virgin spawn. if a sufficient amount of natural spawn could not be obtained, to provide the amount required one generation old, it might be run through the second generation before being used. from the appearance of any spawn, of course, the purchaser cannot tell how many generations it is removed from the natural spawn. for this quality of the spawn one must depend upon the knowledge which we may have of the methods practiced by the different producers of spawn, if it is possible even to determine this. spawning the beds. the beds for growing the mushrooms having been made up, the spawn having been selected, the beds are ready for planting whenever the temperature has been sufficiently reduced and the material is properly cured. it is quite easy to determine the temperature of the beds, but it is a more difficult problem for the inexperienced to determine the best stage in the curing of the material for the reception of the spawn. some growers rely more on the state of curing of the manure than they do upon the temperature. they would prefer to spawn it at quite a low temperature, rather than to spawn at what is usually considered an optimum temperature, if the material is not properly cured. the temperature at which different treatises and growers recommend that the bed should be spawned varies from ° to ° f. ninety degrees f. is considered by many rather high, while ° f. is considered by others to be rather low; ° to ° is considered by many to be the most favorable temperature, provided of course the other conditions of the bed are congenial. but some, so far as temperature is concerned, would prefer to spawn the bed at ° f. rather than at °, while many recommend spawning at ° to °. in some cases, i have known the growers to allow the temperature of the beds to fall as low as ° before spawning, because the material was not, until that time, at the proper state of curing. yet an experienced grower, who understands the kind of spawn to plant in such a bed, can allow the temperature to go down to ° without any very great risk. fresh spawn in an active state, that is, spawn which is in a growing condition, as may be obtained by tearing up a bed, or a portion of one, through which the spawn has run, is better to plant in a bed of such low temperature. or, a bed of such low temperature, after spawning, might be "warmed up," by piling fresh horse manure over it loosely for a week or ten days, sufficient to raise the temperature to ° or °. [illustration: figure .--pieces of brick spawn ready to plant.] when the brick spawn is used, the method of planting varies, of course, with the methods of different operators. some break the bricks into the desired size and plant the pieces directly in the bed, without any special preparation. the brick is broken into pieces about two or three inches in diameter. some recommend breaking the brick of the ordinary size into about twelve pieces, some into nine pieces, so the custom varies with different operators. these pieces are planted from seven to nine inches apart in the bed. for example, if they are to be planted nine inches apart in the bed, holes are made, either with the hand or with some instrument, by pressing the material to one side sufficiently to admit of the piece of spawn being pressed in tightly. these openings are made, say, the first row on one side of the bed, about four and one-half inches from the side, and nine inches apart in the row. the second row is made nine inches from the first row, and so on. the pieces of spawn are inserted in the opening in the bed, and at a slight distance, two to three inches, below the surface. some, however, insert the piece of spawn just at the level of the bed, the opening being such that the piece of spawn pressed into the opening is crowded below in place, and the surrounding material fits snugly on the sides. thus, when the bed is spawned, the pieces may be a slight distance below the top of the bed when they can be covered by some material, or in other cases, where the operator varies the method, they would lie just at the surface of the bed. the bed is now firmed down according to the custom of the operator, either tamped down with some instrument very firmly, or by others, with the back of the fork or other similar instrument, the bed is made firm, but not quite so hard. the object in firming it down after spawning is to make the surface of the bed level, and also to bring the material in the bed very closely in touch on all sides with the spawn with which it is impregnated. [illustration: figure . piece of natural spawn. piece of french spawn. "flakes" many generations old, "running out."] some growers follow the method of giving the spawn some little preparation before putting it into the bed. this preparation varies with different operators. its object, however, is to slightly moisten the dry spawn, and perhaps, also, to very slightly start the growth. to accomplish this, some will cover the bricks, before breaking them, with fresh horse manure, and allow this to remain several days, so that the warmth and moisture generated here penetrate the material and soften somewhat the brick. some pile it in a room or compartment where there is little moisture, until the bricks are permeated to some extent with the moisture, so that they are a little easier broken. they should not, under any circumstances, be wet or soft in the sense of having absorbed an excess of water, nor should they be stored for any length of time where they will be damp. still others break the bricks into the desired pieces and place these directly on the top of the bed, at the place where they wish to plant the piece of spawn. they are left here for two or three days on the surface of the beds. these pieces absorb some moisture and take up some warmth from the bed. then they are planted in the ordinary way. =spawning with flake spawn, or natural spawn.=--in the use of the flake or natural spawn, the planting is accomplished in a similar way, but larger pieces of the spawn are used, two or three times the size of the pieces of brick employed. some use a large handful. in some few cases, the growers use a flake spawn from their own crop. that is, each year a few beds are spawned from material which has been kept over from the previous season. this is often kept in boxes, in cool places, where it does not thoroughly dry out. in this way, the spawn is used over and over again, until it becomes much less vigorous than natural spawn, or a spawn which is only one or only a few generations distant from the natural spawn. this is seen in the less certainty with which the spawn runs through the bed, in the smaller crop of mushrooms, and their gradual deterioration in size. some few practice the method of breaking down the bed after the crop has been nearly gathered, using this weak spawn to inoculate fresh beds. this practice is objectionable for the same reason that long cultivated spawn is objectionable. =soiling the beds.=--after the beds have been planted with the spawn, the next thing is to soil them. that is, the manure in the bed is covered with a layer of loam soil, or garden soil, to the depth of two inches, then spread evenly over the bed, leveled off, and tamped down, though not packed too hard, and the surface is smoothed off. the time at which the soiling is done, varies also with different operators. some soil immediately after planting the spawn. others believe that the spawn will most certainly fail to run if the beds are soiled immediately after planting. these operators wait two or three weeks after the spawn has been planted to soil it. others wait until the temperature of the bed has fallen from ° or ° at the time of spawning, to ° or ° f. soiling at this temperature, that is, at ° or ° f., probably prevents the rapid cooling down of the bed, and it is desirable to soil, at least at this temperature, for that purpose. when the beds are soiled, they are then left until the crop is ready to gather. some operators give no further attention to the beds after soiling, other than to water the beds, if that becomes necessary. it is desirable to avoid watering, if the bed can be kept at the right state of moisture without. in watering the beds while the spawn is running, there is danger of killing the young spawn with the water. wherever it is necessary, however, if the material in the bed becomes too dry, lukewarm water should be used, and it should be applied through a fine rose of a watering pot. while some operators after soiling the bed give no further care to it until the bed is bearing, others cover the beds with some litter, in the form of straw or excelsior. this is done for the purpose of conserving the moisture in the bed, and especially the moisture on the surface of the bed. sometimes where there is a tendency for the material in the bed to become too dry, this litter on the surface retards the loss of moisture. also, the litter itself may be moistened and the bed can absorb some moisture in this way, if it is desirable to increase the moisture content of the bed slightly. when the spawn has once run well through the bed, watering can be accomplished with less danger of injury, yet great care must be used even now. the spawn will run through a bed with a somewhat less moisture content in the material than is necessary for drawing off the crop of mushrooms, though, of course, the spawn will not run if the bed is too dry. the only way to see if the spawn has run satisfactorily is to open up the bed at one or two points to examine the material, opening it up slightly. if the spawn has run well, a very delicate white "fiber," the mycelium, can be seen penetrating all through the material. this handful can be replaced in the bed, packed down, and the soil covered over and firmed again at this point. when the mushrooms begin to appear, if the bed is a little dry, it should be watered from time to time through the fine rose of a watering pot. lukewarm water should be used. nearly all growers water the beds during the picking of the crop, or during the period of gathering the crop. at the first few waterings, water should not be sprinkled on the beds to wet them entirely through. enough water is applied to diffuse a short distance only through the upper surface of the bed. at the next watering, several days later, the moisture is carried further down in the bed, and so on, through the several weeks, or months, over which the harvesting season extends. the object of thus gradually moistening the bed from above, is to draw the crop from the spawn at the surface of the bed first, and then, as the moisture extends downward, to gradually bring on the crop from the "fiber" below. =gathering the mushrooms.=--in artificial cultivation, the mushrooms usually formed are very near, or on, the surface of the bed. in the case of the meadow or pasture mushrooms, they are formed further below the surface. this is probably due to the fact that the conditions under which the mushrooms grow in cultivation are such that the surface of the bed is more moist, and is less subject to variations in the content of moisture, than is the surface of the ground in pastures. although there may be abundant rains in the fields, the currents of air over the surface of the ground, at other times, quickly dries out the upper layers of the soil. but indoors the mycelium often runs to the surface of the bed, and there forms the numerous pinheads which are the beginnings of the mushrooms. the beds at this stage often present numerous clusters of the mycelium and these minute pinheads crowded very closely together. hundreds or perhaps thousands of these minute beginnings of mushrooms occur within a small space. there are very few of these, however, that reach the point of the mature mushroom. few only of the pinheads grow to form the button, and the others abort, or cease to grow. others are torn out while the larger ones are being picked. the time at which the mushrooms are picked varies within certain limits, with the different growers. most cultivators, especially those who grow the mushrooms in houses, consider ° f. the desirable temperature for the growth of mushrooms, that is, at a room temperature of ° (while some recommend °). the temperature of the beds themselves will be slightly above this. under these conditions, that is, where the mushrooms are grown at a room temperature of about °, they open very quickly. it is necessary here to gather the mushrooms before they open, that is, before the veil on the under surface breaks to expose the gill surface. this practice is followed, of course, within certain limits. it is not possible in all cases, to pick every mushroom before the veil breaks. they are collected once a day usually. at the time of collection all are taken which are of suitable size. many of them may not yet have opened. but in the case of some of the older or more rapidly growing ones, the veil may have broken, although they have not expanded very much. some follow the method of having the fireman, on his round at night, when he looks after the fires in the heating room, gather the mushrooms. he passes through all parts of the house and picks the mushrooms which are of suitable size. these are gathered by grasping a single mushroom by the cap, or where there is a cluster of mushrooms close together, several are taken in the hand. the plant is twisted slightly to free the stem from the soil, without tearing it up to any great extent. they are thrown in this condition into baskets. the collector then takes them to the packing room, and the following morning the plants are trimmed, that is, the part of the stems to which the earth is attached is cut away, the plants are weighed, put in baskets, and prepared for the markets. in other cases, the mushrooms are gathered early in the morning, in the same way, taken to the packing room, where the lower part of the stem is cut away, the plants are weighed, placed into the baskets and shipped to market. [illustration: figure .--view in packing room (h. e. hicks' mushroom house, kennett square, pa.) copyright.] in some of the caves, or abandoned mines, which i have visited, where the mushrooms are grown on a large scale, the practice in picking the mushrooms varies somewhat from that just described. in the first place, the mushrooms are allowed to stand on the bed longer, before they are picked. they are rarely, if ever, picked before they open. mushrooms may be quite large, but if they have not opened, they are not picked. very frequently, the plant may open, but, the operator says, it is not open enough. it will grow more yet. the object of the grower, in this case, is to allow the mushrooms to grow as long as it is possible, before picking, for the larger the mushroom, the more water it will take from the bed, and the more it weighs. this may seem an unprofessional thing for a grower to do, and yet it must be remembered that a large water content of the mushroom is necessary. the mushrooms grown in these mines are very firm and solid, qualities which are desired, not only by the consumer, but are desirable for shipment. these mushrooms are much thicker through the center of the cap than those usually grown in houses at a room temperature of ° f. for this reason, the mushrooms in these caves spread out more, and the edges do not turn up so soon. since the cap is so thick and firm at the center, it continues to grow and expand for some little time after having opened, without turning up on the edges, and without becoming black and unsightly underneath. these large and firm mushrooms are not only desirable for their shipping qualities, but also, if they are not too large, they are prized because they are of such a nice size for broiling. it is quite likely that one of the important conditions in producing mushrooms of this character is the low temperature of the mine. the temperature here, in july and august, rises not higher than ° f., that is, the room temperature of the mines; while in the winter it falls not lower than °. the growth of mushrooms, under these conditions, may not be quite so rapid as in a house maintaining a room temperature of °. the operator may not be able to grow so many crops from the same area, during the same length of time; but the very fact that this low temperature condition retards the growth of the mushrooms is perhaps an important item in producing the firm and more marketable product, which can be allowed to grow longer before it is picked. it is possible, also, that another condition has something to do with the firmness and other desirable qualities of these mushrooms. it is, perhaps, to be found in the fact that natural spawn is largely used in planting the beds, so that the spawn is more vigorous than that which is ordinarily used in planting, which is several or many generations distant from the virgin condition. the methods of picking in this mine differ, also, from those usually employed by growers of mushrooms. the mushrooms are pulled from the bed in the same way, but the operator carries with him two baskets and a knife. as fast as the mushrooms are pulled, and while they are still in hand, before the dirt can sift upon the other mushrooms, or fall in upon the gills of those which are open, the lower part of the stem is cut off. this stem end is then placed in one basket, while the mushrooms which have been trimmed are placed in another basket. in cutting off the stems, just enough is cut to remove the soil, so that the length of the stem of the mushroom varies. the mushrooms are then taken to the packing room in the cleanest possible condition, with no soil scattering therefrom or falling down among the gills, as occurs to a greater or lesser extent where the mushrooms are picked and thrown indiscriminately into baskets. =packing the mushrooms.=--in the packing room the mushrooms are prepared for shipment to market. the method at present usually employed is to ship them in baskets. the baskets vary in size, according to the market to which the mushrooms are to be shipped. they hold from three, to four, five, six, or ten pounds each. the larger baskets are only used where the mushrooms are shipped directly to the consumers. when the customer requires a large number of mushrooms, they can be shipped in these larger baskets. where they are shipped to commission merchants, and the final market is not known to the packer, they are usually packed in small baskets, three to four or five pounds. the baskets are sometimes lined with paper; that is, at the time of the packing the paper is placed in the basket, one or two thicknesses of paper. the number of layers of paper depends somewhat upon the conditions of transportation. the greater amount of paper affords some protection from cold, in cold weather, and some protection from the evaporation of the moisture, in dry weather. when the basket is filled with the required quantity of mushrooms, which is usually determined first by weight, the surplus paper is folded over them. this is covered in most cases by thin board strips, which are provided for basket shipment of vegetables of this kind. in some cases, however, where shipped directly to customers so that the baskets soon reach their destination, additional heavy paper, instead of the board, may be placed over and around the larger part of the basket, and then tied down neatly with cord. =placing the mushrooms in the basket.=--some growers do not give any attention to placing the mushrooms in the baskets. the stems are cut off in the packing room, they are thrown into the weighing pan, and when the beam tips at three, or four, or five pounds, as the case may be, the mushrooms are emptied into the baskets, leveled down, and the baskets closed for shipment. others use more care in the packing of the mushrooms; especially is this the case on the part of those who pick the mushrooms when they are somewhat larger and more open, though the practice of placing the mushrooms in a basket is followed even by those who pick before the mushrooms are open. in placing them, one mushroom is taken at a time and put stem downward into the basket, until the bottom is covered with one layer, and then successive layers are placed on top of these. the upper layers in the basket then present a very neat and attractive appearance. in thus placing the mushrooms in the basket, if there are any mushrooms which are quite large, they are placed in the bottom. the custom of the operator here is different from that of the grower of apples, or of other fruit, where the larger and finer samples are often placed on top, the smaller ones being covered below. it is a curious fact, however, that this practice of placing the largest mushrooms below in the basket is due to the fact that usually the larger mushrooms are not considered so marketable. [illustration: figure .--view in packing room, akron "tunnel," n. y. mushroom co.; placing mushrooms in basket. copyright.] there are several reasons why the larger mushrooms are not considered so desirable or marketable as the medium-sized or smaller ones. in the first place, the larger mushrooms, under certain conditions, especially those grown in house culture at a comparatively high temperature, are apt to be very ripe, so that the gills are black from over-ripe spores, and are thus somewhat unsightly. those grown at a lower temperature, as is the case in some mines, do not blacken so soon, and are therefore apt to be free from this objection. another objection, however, is on the part of the restaurant owner where mushrooms are served. in serving the mushrooms broiled on toast, the medium-sized one is more desirable from the standpoint of the restaurant owner, in that two medium-sized ones might be sufficient to serve two persons, while one quite large one, weighing perhaps the same as the two medium ones, would only be sufficient to serve one person at the same price, unless the large mushroom was cut in two. if this were done, however, the customer would object to being served with half a mushroom, and the appearance of a half mushroom served in this way is not attractive. =resoiling.=--once or twice a week during the harvesting period all loose earth, broken bits of spawn, free buttons, etc., should be cleaned out where the mushrooms have been picked. these places should be filled with soil and packed down by hand. all young mushrooms that "fog off" should be gathered up clean. some persons follow the practice of growing a second crop on the same bed from which the first crop has been gathered. the bed is resoiled by placing about two inches of soil over the old soil. the bed is then watered, sometimes with lukewarm water to which a small quantity of nitrate of soda has been added. the large growers, however, usually do not grow a second crop in this way, but endeavor to exhaust the material in the bed by continuous growth. =use of manure from beds which have failed.=--manure in which the spawn has failed to run is sometimes removed from the bed and mixed with fresh manure, the latter restoring the heat. if the manure was too wet, the moisture content can now be lessened by the use of dry soil. =cleaning house to prepare for successive crops.=--when the crop is harvested, all the material is cleaned out to prepare the beds for the next crop. the material is taken out "clean," and the floors, beds, walls, etc., swept off very clean. in addition, some growers whitewash the floors and all wood-work. some whitewash only the floors, depending on sweeping the beds and walls very clean. still others whitewash the floors and wash the walls with some material to kill out the vermin. some trap or poison the cockroaches, wood-lice, etc., when they appear. some growers who succeed well for several years, and then fail, believe that the house "gets tired," as they express it, and that the place must rest for a few years before mushrooms can be grown there again. others grow mushrooms successfully year after year, but employ the best sanitary methods. =number of crops during a year.=--in caves or mines, where the temperature is low, the beds are in process of formation and cropping continuously. so soon as a bed has been exhausted the material is cleaned out, and new beds are made as fast as the fresh manure is obtained. in houses where the mushrooms cannot be grown during the summer, the crops are grown at quite regular periods, the first crop during fall and early winter, and the second crop during spring. some obtain the manure and ferment it during august and september, spawning the beds in september and october. others begin work on the fermentation of the manure in june or july, make up the beds in july and august, spawn, and begin to draw off the crop somewhat earlier. the second crop is prepared for whenever the first one is drawn off, and this varies even in the experience of the same grower, since the rate of the running of the spawn varies from time to time. sometimes the crop begins to come four or five weeks from the time of planting the spawn. at other times it may be two or three months before the spawn has run sufficiently for the crop to appear. usually the crop begins to come on well in six to eight weeks. the crop usually lasts for six weeks to two months, or longer. =productivity of the beds.=--one pound of mushrooms from every two square feet of surface is considered a very good crop. sometimes it exceeds this, the beds bearing one pound for every square foot, though such a heavy yield is rare. oftener the yield is less than half a pound for a square foot of surface. =causes of failure.=--the beginner should study very carefully the conditions under which he grows his crops, and if failure results, he should attempt to analyze the results in the light of the directions given for the curing of the manure, its moisture content, "sweetness," character of the spawn, temperature, ventilation, etc. while there should be good ventilation, there should not be drafts of air. a beginner may succeed the first time, the second or third, and then may fail, and not know the cause of the failure. but given a good spawn, the right moisture content of the material at time of planting and running of the spawn, the sweet condition, or proper condition of the curing of the manure, proper sanitary conditions, there should be no failure. these are the most important conditions in mushroom culture. after the spawn has run and the crop has begun to come, the beds have been known to freeze up during the winter, and in the spring begin and continue to bear a good crop. after the spawn has run well, beds have accidentally been flooded with water so that manure water would run out below, and yet come on and bear as good a crop as adjoining beds. =volunteer mushrooms in greenhouses.=--volunteer mushrooms sometimes appear in greenhouses in considerable quantity. these start from natural spawn in the manure used, or sometimes from the spawn remaining in "spent" mushroom beds which is mixed with the soil in making lettuce beds, etc., under glass. one of the market gardeners at ithaca used old spawn in this way, and had volunteer mushrooms among lettuce for several years. in making the lettuce beds in the autumn, a layer of fresh horse manure six inches deep is placed in the bottom, and on this is placed the soil mixed with the old, spent mushroom beds. the following year the soil and the manure at the bottom, which is now rotten, is mixed up, and a fresh layer of manure is placed below. in this way the lettuce bed is self-spawned from year to year. about every six years the soil in the bed is entirely changed. this gardener, during the winter of -- , sold $ . to $ . worth of volunteer mushrooms. another gardener, in a previous year, sold over $ . worth. =planting mushrooms with other vegetables.=--in some cases gardeners follow the practice of inserting a forkful of manure here and there in the soil where other vegetables are grown under glass, and planting in it a bit of spawn. =mushroom and vegetable house combined.=--some combine a mushroom house and house for vegetables in one, there being a deep pit where several tiers of beds for mushrooms can be built up, and above this the glass house where lettuce, etc., is grown, all at a temperature of about ° f. three methods suggested for growing mushrooms in cellars and sheds. =first method.=--obtain fresh stable horse manure mixed with straw used in bedding the animals. shake it out, separating the coarse material from the droppings. put the droppings in a pile two to three feet deep. pack down firmly. when the heat rises to near ° f., turn and shake it out, making a new pile. make the new pile by layers of manure and loam soil, or rotted sod, one part of soil to eight or nine parts of manure. turn again when the heat rises to near ° f., and add the same amount of soil. when the temperature is about ° f., the material is ready for the beds. =preparing the beds.=--make the beds as described under the paragraph on pages -- , or use boxes. place the coarse litter in the bottom three to four inches deep. on this place three to four inches of the cured material, pack it down, and continue adding material until the bed is ten to fifteen inches deep. allow the beds to stand, covering them with straw or excelsior if the air in the cellar or shed is such as to dry out the surface. test the moisture content according to directions on page . watch the temperature. do not let it rise above ° f. when it is down to ° f. or ° f., if the manure has a "sweetish" or "mushroomy" smell it is ready to spawn. spawn according to directions on page . soil according to directions on page ; cover bed with straw or excelsior. =second method.=--use horse droppings freed from the coarser material. proceed as in _first_ method. =third method.=--use horse droppings freed from coarser material. pile and _pack firmly_. do not let temperature rise above ° f. when it has cooled to ° f., make up the beds, at the same time mixing in an _equal quantity_ of rich loam or rotted sod. spawn in a day or two. in beginning, practice on a small scale and study the conditions thoroughly, as well as the directions given in this chapter. footnotes: [d] i have not learned the history of the other kinds of spawn referred to above. chapter xxi. recipes for cooking mushrooms. by mrs. sarah tyson rorer. as varieties of mushrooms differ in analysis, texture and density of flesh, different methods of cooking give best results. for instance, the _coprinus micaceus_, being very delicate, is easily destroyed by over-cooking; a dry, quick pan of the "mushroom bells" retains the best flavor; while the more dense _agaricus campestris_ requires long, slow cooking to bring out the flavor, and to be tender and digestible. simplicity of seasoning, however, must be observed, or the mushroom flavor will be destroyed. if the mushroom itself has an objectionable flavor, better let it alone than to add mustard or lemon juice to overcome it. mushrooms, like many of the more succulent vegetables, are largely water, and readily part with their juices on application of salt or heat; hence it becomes necessary to put the mushroom over the fire usually without the addition of water, or the juices will be so diluted that they will lack flavor. they have much better flavor cooked without peeling, with the exception of puff-balls, which should always be pared. as they lose their flavor by soaking, wash them quickly, a few at a time; take the mushroom in the left hand and with the right hand wash the top or pileus, using either a very soft brush or a piece of flannel; shake them well and put them into a colander to dry. agaricus.[e] the wild or uncultivated _agaricus campestris_, which is usually picked in open fields, will cook in less time than those grown in caves and sold in our markets during the winter and spring. cut the stems close to the gills; these may be put aside and used for flavoring sauces or soups. wash the mushrooms carefully, keeping the gills down; throw them into a colander until drained. =stewed.=--to each pound, allow two ounces of butter. put the butter into a saucepan, and when melted, not brown, throw in the mushrooms either whole or cut into slices; sprinkle over a teaspoonful of salt; cover the saucepan closely to keep in the flavor, and cook very slowly for twenty minutes, or until they are tender. moisten a rounding tablespoonful of flour in a little cold milk; when perfectly smooth, add sufficient milk to make one gill; stir this into the mushrooms, add a saltspoon of white pepper, stir carefully until boiling, and serve at once. this makes a fairly thick sauce. less flour is required when they are to be served as a sauce over chicken, steak, or made dishes. =broiled.=--cut the stems close to the gills; wash the mushrooms and dry them with a soft piece of cheesecloth; put them on the broiler gills up. put a piece of butter, the size of a marrowfat pea, in the center of each; sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. put the broiler over the fire skin side down; in this way, the butter will melt and sort of baste the mushrooms. have ready squares of neatly toasted bread; and, as soon as the mushrooms are hot on the skin side, turn them quickly and broil about two minutes on the gill side. five minutes will be sufficient for the entire cooking. dish on toast and serve at once. =panned on cream toast.=--cut the stem close to the gills; wash and dry as directed for broiling. put them into a pan, and pour over a very little melted butter, having gill sides up; dust with salt and pepper, run into a hot oven for twenty minutes. while these are panning, toast sufficient bread to hold them nicely; put it onto a hot platter, and just as the mushrooms are done, cover the bread with hot milk, being careful not to have too much or the bread will be pasty and soft. dish the mushrooms on the toast, putting the skin side up, pour over the juices from the pan, and serve at once. these are exceedingly good served on buttered toast without the milk, and will always take the place of broiled mushrooms. =in the chafing dish.=--wash, dry the mushrooms, and cut them into slices. to each pound allow two ounces of butter. put the butter in the chafing dish, when hot put in the mushrooms, sprinkle over a teaspoonful of salt, cover the dish, and cook slowly for five minutes, stirring the mushrooms frequently; then add one gill of milk. cover the dish again, cook for three minutes longer, add the beaten yolks of two eggs, a dash of pepper, and serve at once. these must not be boiled after the eggs are added; but the yolk of egg is by far the most convenient form of thickening when mushrooms are cooked in the chafing dish. =under the glass cover or "bell" with cream.=--with a small biscuit cutter, cut rounds from slices of bread; they should be about two and a half inches in diameter, and about a half inch in thickness. cut the stems close to the gills from fresh mushrooms; wash and wipe the mushrooms. put a tablespoonful of butter in a saucepan; when hot, throw in the mushrooms, skin side down; cook just a moment, and sprinkle them with salt and pepper. arrange the rounds of bread, which have been slightly toasted, in the bottom of your "bell" dish; heap the mushrooms on these; put a little piece of butter in the center; cover over the bell, which is either of glass, china, or silver; stand them in a baking pan, and then in the oven for twenty minutes. while these are cooking, mix a tablespoonful of butter and one of flour in a saucepan, add a half pint of milk, or you may add a gill of milk and a gill of chicken stock; stir until boiling, add a half teaspoonful of salt and a dash of pepper. when the mushrooms have been in the oven the allotted time, bring them out; lift the cover, pour over quickly a little of this sauce, cover again, and send them at once to the table. =another method.=--wash and dry the mushrooms; arrange them at once on the "bell plate." the usual plates will hold six good sized ones. dust with pepper and salt; put in the center of the pile a teaspoonful of butter; pour over six tablespoonfuls of cream or milk; cover with the bell; stand the dish in a baking pan, and then in a hot oven for twenty minutes. these are arranged for individual bells. where one large bell is used, the mushrooms must be dished on toast before they are served. the object in covering with the bell is to retain every particle of the flavor. the bell is then lifted at the table, that the eater may get full aroma and flavor from the mushroom. =puree.=--wash carefully a half pound of mushrooms; chop them fine, put them into a saucepan with a tablespoonful of butter, and if you have it, a cup of chicken stock; if not, a cup of water. cover the vessel and cook slowly for thirty minutes. in a double boiler, put one pint of milk. rub together one tablespoonful of butter and two tablespoonfuls of flour; add it to the milk; stir and cook until thick; add the mushrooms, and press the whole through a sieve; season to taste with salt and pepper only. =cream of mushroom soup.=--this will be made precisely the same as in the preceding recipe, save that one quart of milk will be used instead of a pint with the same amount of thickening, and the mushrooms will not be pressed through a sieve. coprinus comatus and coprinus atramentarius. as these varieties usually grow together and are sort of companion mushrooms, recipes given for one will answer for the cooking of the other. being soft and juicy, they must be handled with care, and are much better cooked with dry heat. remove the stems, and wash them carefully; throw them into a colander until dry; arrange them in a baking pan; dot here and there with bits of butter, allowing a tablespoonful to each half pound of mushrooms; dust with salt and pepper, run them into a very hot oven, and bake for thirty minutes; dish in a heated vegetable dish, pouring over the sauce from the pan. the _c. micaceus_ may also be cooked after the same fashion--after dishing the mushrooms boil down the liquor. =stewed.=--wash and dry them; put them into a large, flat pan, allowing a tablespoonful of butter to each half pound of mushrooms; sprinkle at once with salt and pepper; cover the pan, and stew for fifteen minutes. moisten a tablespoonful of flour in a little cold milk; when smooth, add a half cup of cream, if you have it; if not, a half cup of milk. push the mushrooms to one side; turn in this mixture, and stir until boiling. do not stir the mushrooms or they will fall apart and become unsightly. dish them; pour over the sauce, and serve at once. or they may be served on toast, the dish garnished with triangular pieces of toast. coprinus micaceus. wash and dry the mushrooms; put them into a deep saucepan with a tablespoonful of butter to each quart; stand over a quick fire, sort of tossing the saucepan. do not stir, or you will break the mushrooms. as soon as they have reached the boiling point, push them to the back part of the stove for five minutes; serve on toast. these will be exceedingly dark, are very palatable, and perhaps are the most easily digested of all the varieties. lepiota. these mushrooms, having very thin flesh and deep gills, must be quickly cooked to be good. remove the stem, take the mushrooms in your hand, gill side down, and with a soft rag wash carefully the top, removing all the little brown scales. put them into a baking pan, or on a broiler. melt a little butter, allow it to settle, take the clear, oily part from the top and baste lightly the mushrooms, gill sides up; dust with salt and pepper. place the serving dish to heat. put the mushrooms over a quick fire, skin side down, for just a moment; then turn and boil an instant on the gill side, and serve at once on the heated plate. in this way _lepiota procera_ is most delicious of all mushrooms; but if cooked in moist heat, it becomes soft, but tough and unpalatable; if baked too long, it becomes dry and leathery. it must be cooked quickly and eaten at once. all the edible forms may be cooked after this recipe. these are perhaps the best of all mushrooms for drying. in this condition they are easily kept, and add so much to an ordinary meat sauce. oyster mushrooms (pleurotus). wash and dry the mushrooms; cut them into strips crosswise of the gills, trimming off all the woody portion near the stem side. throw the mushrooms into a saucepan, allowing a tablespoonful of butter to each pint; sprinkle over a half teaspoonful of salt; cover, and cook slowly for twenty minutes. moisten a tablespoonful of flour in a half cup of milk; when perfectly smooth, add another half cup; turn this into the mushroom mixture; bring to boiling point, add just a grating of nutmeg, a few drops of onion juice, and a dash of pepper. serve as you would stewed oysters. to make this into à la poulette, add the yolks of two eggs just as you take the mixture from the fire, and serve on toast. =mock oysters.=--trim the soft gill portion of the _pleurotus ostreatus_ into the shape of an oyster; dust with salt and pepper; dip in beaten egg, then in bread crumbs, and fry in smoking hot fat as you would an oyster, and serve at once. this is, perhaps, the best method of cooking this variety. russula. while in this group we have a number of varieties, they may all be cooked after one recipe. the stems will be removed, the mushrooms carefully washed, always holding the gill side down in the water, drained in a colander; and while they apparently do not contain less water than other mushrooms, the flesh is rather dense, and they do not so quickly melt upon being exposed to heat. they are nice broiled or baked, or may be chopped fine and served with mayonnaise dressing, stuffed into peeled tomatoes, or with mayonnaise dressing on lettuce leaves, or mixed with cress and served with french dressing, as salads. the "green" or _russula virescens_ may be peeled, cut into thin slices, mixed with the leaves of water-cress which have been picked carefully from the stems, covered with french dressing, and served on slices of tomato. it is well to peel all mushrooms if they are to be served raw. to bake, follow recipes given for baking _campestris_. in this way they are exceedingly nice over the ordinary broiled steak. one of the nicest ways, however, of preparing them for steak is to wash, dry and put them, gills up, in a baking pan, having a goodly quantity; pour over just a little melted butter; dust with salt and pepper, and put them into the oven for fifteen minutes. while you are broiling the steak, put the plate upon which it is to be served over hot water to heat; put on it a tablespoonful of butter, a little salt, pepper, and some finely chopped parsley. take the mushrooms from the oven, put some in the bottom of the plate, dish the steak on top, covering the remaining quantity over the steak. add two tablespoonfuls of stock or water to the pan in which they were baked; allow this to boil, scraping all the material from the pan; baste this over the steak, and serve at once. _agaricus campestris_ and many other varieties may also be used in this same way. lactarii. remove the stems, and wash the mushrooms. put them into a saucepan, allowing a tablespoonful of butter and a half teaspoonful of salt to each pint. add four tablespoonfuls of stock to the given quantity; cover the saucepan, and _cook slowly_ three-quarters of an hour. at the end of this time you will have a rich, brown sauce to which you may add a teaspoonful of worcestershire sauce, and, if you like, a tablespoonful of sherry. serve in a vegetable dish. =lactarius deliciosus stewed.=--wash the mushrooms; cut them into slices; put them into a saucepan, allowing a half pint of stock to each pint of mushrooms; add a half teaspoonful of salt; cover and stew slowly for three-quarters of an hour. put a tablespoonful of butter in another saucepan, mix with it a tablespoonful of flour; add the mushrooms, stir until they have reached the boiling point; add a teaspoonful of kitchen bouquet, a dash of pepper, and serve it at once in a heated vegetable dish. a nice combination for a steak sauce is made by using a dozen good sized _lactarius deliciosus_ with four "beefsteak" mushrooms, using then the first recipe. beefsteak smothered with mushrooms. wash a dozen good sized mushrooms, either _lactarii_ or _agarici_, also wash and remove the spores from half a dozen good sized "beefsteak" mushrooms, cutting them into slices. put all these into a baking pan, sprinkle over a half teaspoonful of salt, add a tablespoonful of butter, and bake in a moderate oven three-quarters of an hour. broil the steak until it is nearly done; then put it into the pan with the mushrooms, allowing some of the mushrooms to remain under the steak, and cover with the remaining portion; return it to the oven for ten minutes; dish and serve at once. boleti. these are more palatable baked or fried. wash the caps and remove the pores. dip the caps in beaten egg, then in bread crumbs, and fry them in smoking hot fat; oil is preferable to butter; even suet would make a drier fry than butter or lard. serve at once as you would egg plant. =baked.=--wash and remove the pores; put the mushrooms into a baking pan; baste them with melted butler, dust with salt and pepper, and bake in a moderately hot oven three-quarters of an hour; dish in a vegetable dish. put into the pan in which they were baked, a tablespoonful of butter. mix carefully with a tablespoonful of flour and add a half pint of stock, a half teaspoonful of kitchen bouquet or browning, the same of salt, and a dash of pepper; pour this over the mushrooms, and serve. =in fritter batter.=--beat the yolk of one egg slightly, and add a half cup of milk; stir into this two-thirds of a cup of flour; stir in the well beaten white of the egg and a teaspoonful of olive oil. wash and remove the pores from the boleti. have ready a good sized shallow pan, the bottom covered with smoking hot oil; dip the mushrooms, one at a time, into this batter, drain for a moment, and drop them into the hot fat. when brown on one side, turn and brown on the other. drain on soft paper and serve at once. =boleti in brown sauce.=--wash and dry the boleti; remove the pores; cut them into small pieces. to each pound allow a tablespoonful of butter. put the butter into a saucepan with the mushrooms; add a half teaspoonful of salt; cover the pan, and stew slowly for twenty minutes; then dust over a tablespoonful of flour; add a half cup of good beef stock; cook slowly for ten minutes longer, and serve. hydnum. as these mushrooms are slightly bitter, they must be washed, dried, and thrown into a little boiling water, to boil for just a moment; drain, and throw away this water, add a tablespoonful of butter, a teaspoonful of salt, a dash of pepper, and a half cup of milk or stock; cover the pan, and cook slowly for twenty minutes. as the milk scorches easily, cook over a very slow fire, or in a double boiler. pour the mixture over slices of toast, and serve at once. a tablespoonful or two of sherry may be added just as they are removed from the fire. clavaria. wash, separating the bunches, and chop or cut them rather fine, measure, and to each quart allow a half pint of supreme sauce. throw the clavaria into a saucepan, cover, and allow it to stew gently for fifteen minutes while you make the sauce. put a tablespoonful of butter and one of flour in the saucepan; mix, and add a half pint of milk or chicken stock; or you may add half of one and half of the other; stir until boiling; take from the fire, add a half teaspoonful of salt, a saltspoonful of pepper, and the yolks of two eggs. take the clavaria from the fire, and when cool stir it into the sauce. turn into a baking dish, sprinkle the top with crumbs, and brown in a quick oven. do not cook too long, as it will become watery. =pickled clavaria.=--wash the clavaria thoroughly without breaking it apart; put into a steamer; stand the steamer over a kettle of boiling water, and steam rapidly, that is, keep the water boiling hard for fifteen minutes. take from the fire, and cool. put over the fire sufficient vinegar to cover the given quantity; to each quart, allow two bay leaves, six cloves, a teaspoonful of whole mustard, and a dozen pepper corns, that is, whole peppers. put the clavaria into glass jars. bring the vinegar to boiling point, and pour it over; seal and put aside. this may be served alone as any other pickle, or on lettuce leaves with french dressing as a salad. =escalloped clavaria.=--wash, separate and cut the clavaria as in first recipe. to each quart allow a half pint of chicken stock, a teaspoonful of salt, a tablespoonful of chopped parsley. put a layer of bread crumbs in the bottom of the dish, then a layer of chopped clavaria, and so continue until you have the dish filled. pour over the stock, which you have seasoned with salt and pepper; dot bits of butter here and there over the top, and bake in a moderate oven thirty minutes. this recipe is excellent for the young or button _hypholoma_, except that the time of baking must be forty-five minutes. puff-balls. to be eatable, the puff-balls must be perfectly white to the very center. pare off the skin; cut them into slices; dust with salt and pepper. have ready in a large, shallow pan a sufficient quantity of hot oil to cover the bottom. throw in the slices and, when brown on one side, turn and brown on the other; serve at once on a heated dish. =a la poulette.=--pare the puff-balls; cut them into slices and then into dice; put them into a saucepan, allowing a tablespoonful of butter to each pint of blocks. cover the saucepan; stew gently for fifteen minutes; lift the lid; sprinkle over a teaspoonful of salt and a dash of pepper. beat the yolks of three eggs until light; add a half cup of cream and a half cup of milk; pour this into the hot mixture, and shake until smoking hot. do not allow them to boil. serve in a heated vegetable dish, with blocks of toast over the top. =puff-ball omelet.=--pare and cut into blocks sufficient puff-balls to make a pint. put a tablespoonful of butter into a saucepan; add the puff-balls, cover and cook for ten minutes. beat six eggs without separating, until thoroughly mixed, but not too light; add the cooked puff-balls, a level teaspoonful of salt and a dash of pepper. put a tablespoonful of butter into your omelet pan; when hot, turn in the egg mixture; shake over the hot fire until the bottom has thoroughly set, then with a limber knife lift the edge, allowing the soft portion to run underneath; continue this operation until the omelet is cooked through; fold and turn onto a heated dish. serve at once. other delicate mushrooms may be used in this same manner. =puff-balls with agaricus campestris.=--as the _agaricus campestris_ has a rather strong flavor and the puff-balls are mild, both are better for being mixed in the cooking. take equal quantities of _agaricus campestris_ and puff-balls; pare and cut the puff-balls into blocks; to each half pound allow a tablespoonful of butter. put the butter in a saucepan, add the mushrooms, sprinkle over the salt (allowing a half teaspoonful always to each pint); cover the saucepan and stew slowly for twenty minutes. moisten a tablespoonful of flour in a half cup of milk, add it to the mixture, stir and cook for just a moment, add a dash of pepper, and serve in a heated dish. this recipe may be changed by omitting the flour and adding the yolks of a couple of eggs; milk is preferable to stock, for all the white or light-colored varieties. morchella. select twelve large-sized morels; cut off the stalks, and throw them into a saucepan of warm water; let them stand for fifteen minutes; then take them on a skimmer one by one, and drain carefully. chop fine sufficient cold boiled tongue or chicken to make one cupful; mix this with an equal quantity of bread crumbs, and season with just a suspicion of onion juice, not more than ten drops, and a dash of pepper. fill this into the mushrooms, arrange them neatly in a baking pan, put in a half cup of stock and a tablespoonful of butter, bake in a moderate oven thirty minutes, basting frequently. when done, dish neatly. boil down the sauce that is in the pan until it is just sufficient to baste them on the dish; serve at once. =a second method.=--select large-sized morels; cut off the stalk; wash well through several waters. put into a frying pan a little butter, allowing about a tablespoonful to each dozen mushrooms. when hot, throw in the mushrooms, and toss until they are thoroughly cooked; then add a half pint of milk or stock; cover the vessel, and cook slowly twenty minutes; dust with salt and pepper, and serve in a vegetable dish. this method gives an exceedingly palatable and very sightly dish if garnished with sweet spanish peppers that have been boiled until tender. =another method.=--remove the stems, and wash the morels as directed in the preceding recipe. make a stuffing of bread crumbs seasoned with salt, pepper, chopped parsley, and sufficient melted butter to just moisten. place them in a baking pan; add a little stock and butter; bake for thirty minutes. when done, dish. into the pan in which they were cooked, turn a cupful of strained tomatoes; boil rapidly for fifteen minutes until slightly thickened; pour this over the mushrooms; garnish the dish with triangular pieces of toasted bread, and serve. general recipes. in the following recipes one may use _agaricus campestris_, _silvicola_, _arvensis_, or _pleurotus ostreatus_, or _sapidus_, or _coprinus comatus_, or any kindred mushrooms. the _agaricus campestris_, however, are to be preferred. =to serve with a boiled leg of mutton=, wash well the mushrooms and dry them; dip each into flour, being careful not to get too much on the gill side. in a saucepan have a little hot butter or oil; drop these in, skin side down; dust them lightly with salt and pepper. after they have browned on this side, turn them quickly and brown the gills; add a half pint of good stock; let them simmer gently for fifteen minutes. take them up with a skimmer, and dish them on a platter around the mutton. boil the sauce down until it is the proper consistency; pour it over, and serve at once. these are also good to serve with roasted beef. =mushroom sauce for game.=--wash well one pound of fresh mushrooms; dry, and chop them very fine. put them into a saucepan with one and a half tablespoonfuls of butter; cover, and cook slowly for eight minutes; then add a half cup of fresh rubbed bread crumbs, a half teaspoonful of salt, a saltspoon of white pepper; cover and cook again for five minutes; stir, add a tablespoonful of chopped parsley, and, if you like, two tablespoonfuls of sherry; turn into a sauce-boat. =a nice way to serve with fricassee of chicken.=--wash and dry the mushrooms; sprinkle them with salt and pepper. put some oil or butter in a shallow pan; when hot, throw in the mushrooms, skin side down; cover the pan, put in the oven for fifteen minutes; baste them once during the baking. lift them carefully and put them on a heated dish. add to the fat in the pan two tablespoonfuls of finely chopped mushrooms, a half cup of good stock; boil carefully for five minutes. have ready rounds of bread toasted; dish the mushrooms on these; put on top a good sized piece of carefully boiled marrow; season the sauce with salt, and strain it over. use these as a garnish around the edge of the plate, or you may simply dish and serve them for breakfast, or as second course at lunch. =oysters and mushrooms.=--wash and remove the stems from a half pound of fresh mushrooms; chop them fine; put them into a saucepan with a tablespoonful of butter, a half teaspoonful of salt, and a dash of pepper; cover closely, and cook over a slow fire for ten minutes. have ready, washed and drained, twenty-five good sized fat oysters; throw them perfectly dry into this mushroom mixture. pull the saucepan over a bright fire; boil, stirring carefully, for about five minutes. serve on squares of carefully toasted bread. =tomatoes stuffed with mushrooms.=--wash perfectly smooth, solid tomatoes; cut a slice from the stem end, and remove carefully the seeds and core. to each tomato allow three good sized mushrooms; wash, dry, chop them fine, and stuff them into the tomatoes; put a half saltspoon of salt on the top of each and a dusting of pepper. into a bowl put one cup of soft bread crumbs; season it with a half teaspoonful of salt and a dash of pepper; pour over a tablespoonful of melted butter; heap this over the top of the tomato, forming a sort of pyramid, packing in the mushrooms; stand the tomatoes in a baking pan and bake in a moderate oven one hour. serve at once, lifting them carefully to prevent breaking. or, the mushrooms may be chopped fine, put with a tablespoonful of butter into a saucepan and cooked for five minutes before they are stuffed into the tomatoes; then the bread crumbs packed over the top, and the whole baked for twenty minutes. each recipe will give you a different flavor. footnotes: [e] the recipes for agaricus are intended for the several species of this genus (psalliota). chapter xxii. chemistry and toxicology of mushrooms. by j. f. clark. regarding the chemical composition of mushrooms, we have in the past been limited largely to the work of european chemists. recently, however, some very careful analyses of american mushrooms have been made. the results of these investigations, while in general accord with the work already done in europe, have emphasized the fact that mushrooms are of very variable composition. that different species should vary greatly was of course to be expected, but we now know that different specimens of the same species grown under different conditions may be markedly different in chemical composition. the chief factors causing this variation are the composition, the moisture content, and the temperature of the soil in which they grow, together with the maturity of the plant. the temperature, humidity, and movement of the atmosphere and other local conditions have a further influence on the amount of water present. the following table, showing the amounts of the more important constituents in a number of edible american species, has been compiled chiefly from a paper by l. b. mendel (amer. jour. phy. = =: -- ). this article is one of the most recent and most valuable contributions to this important study, and anyone wishing to look into the methods of research, or desiring more detailed information than is here given, is referred to the original paper. table i. ===================================================================+ | fresh | in water-free material. | | material.| | -------------------------------------------------------------------| | w | d m | t n| p n| e e| s i p a| f | a | | a | r a | o i| r i| t x| o n e l| i | s | | t | y t | t t| o t| h t| l r c| b | h | | e | t | a r| t r| e r| u o| r | | | r | e | l o| e o| r a| b c h| e | | | | r | g| i g| c| l e o| | | | | | e| d e| t| e n l| | | | | | n| n| | t | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------| | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | coprinus comatus | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | | | | | | | | | | morchella esculenta | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | | | | | | | | | | polyporus sulphureus | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | | | | | | | | | | pleurotus ostreatus | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | | | | | | | | | | clitocybe multiceps | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | | | | | | | | | | hypholoma | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | candolleanum | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | agaricus campestris | . | . | . | . | . | -- | -- | . | ===================================================================+ =water.=--like all growing plants, the mushroom contains a very large proportion of water. the actual amount present varies greatly in different species. in the above table it will be seen that _polyporus sulphureus_, with over per cent. of water, has the least of any species mentioned, while the species of _coprinus_ and _agaricus_ have usually fully per cent. water. the amount of water present, however, varies greatly in the same species at different seasons and in different localities, and with variations in the moisture content of soil and atmosphere, also with the age and rapidity of development of the individual plant. =total nitrogen.=--the proportion of nitrogen in the dry matter of different species varies from per cent. to per cent. this comparatively high nitrogen content was formerly taken to indicate an unusual richness in proteid substances, which in turn led to very erroneous ideas regarding the nutritive value of these plants. the nitrogenous substances will be more fully discussed later, when we consider their nutritive value. =ether extract.=--this consists of a variety of fatty substances soluble in ether. it varies greatly in quality and quantity in different species. the amount is usually from per cent. to per cent. of the total dry matter. it includes, besides various other substances, several free fatty acids and their glycerides, the acids of low melting point being most abundant. these fatty substances occur in the stem, but are much more abundant in the cap, especially in the fruiting portion. just what nutritive value these fatty matters may have has never been determined. =carbohydrates.=--the largest part of the dry matter of the mushrooms is made up of various carbohydrates, including cellulose or fungocellulose, glycogen, mycoinuline, trehalose, mannite, glucose, and other related substances. the cellulose is present in larger proportion in the stem than in the cap, and in the upper part of the cap than in the fruiting surface. this is doubtless related to the sustaining and protective functions of the stem and the upper part of the cap. starch, so common as a reserve food in the higher plants, does not occur in the mushrooms. as is the case with the fats, no determination of the nutritive value of these substances has been made, but it may be assumed that the soluble carbohydrates of the mushrooms do not differ greatly from similar compounds in other plants. =ash.=--the ash of mushrooms varies greatly. _polyporus officinalis_ gives but . per cent. of ash in dry matter, _pleurotus ulmarius_ gives . per cent., and _clitopilus prunulus_ gives per cent. the average of twelve edible species gave per cent. ash in the stem and . per cent. in the cap. in regard to the constituents of the ash, potassium is by far the most abundant--the oxide averaging about per cent. of the total ash. phosphoric acid stands next to potassium in abundance and importance, constituting, on an average, about one-third of the entire ash. oxides of manganese and iron are always present; the former averaging about per cent. and the latter per cent. to per cent. of the ash. sodium, calcium, and chlorine are usually present in small and varying quantities. sulphuric acid occurs in the ash of all fungi, and is remarkable for the great variation in quantity present in different species; e. g., ash of _helvella esculenta_ contains . per cent. h_ so_ while that of _agaricus campestris_ contains the relatively enormous amount of . per cent. any discussion of the bare composition of a food is necessarily incomplete without a consideration of the nutritive value of the various constituents. this is especially desirable in the case of the mushrooms, for while they are frequently overestimated and occasionally ridiculously overpraised by their friends, they are quite generally distrusted and sometimes held in veritable abhorrence by those who are ignorant of their many excellent qualities. on the one hand, we are told that "gastronomically and chemically considered the flesh of the mushroom has been proven to be almost identical with meat, and possesses the same nourishing properties." we frequently hear them referred to as "vegetable beefsteak," "manna of the poor," and other equally extravagant and misleading terms. on the other hand, we see vast quantities of the most delicious food rotting in the fields and woods because they are regarded by the vast majority of the people as "toadstools" and as such particularly repulsive and poisonous. foods may be divided into three classes according to the functions they perform: (_a_) to form the material of the body and repair its wastes. (_b_) to supply energy for muscular exertion and for the maintenance of the body heat. (_c_) relishes. the formation of the body material and the repair of its wastes is the function of the proteids of foods. it has been found by careful experiment that a man at moderately hard muscular exertion requires . lb. of digestible proteids daily. the chief sources of our proteid foods are meats, fish, beans, etc. it has been as a proteid food that mushrooms have been most strongly recommended. referring to table i, it will be seen that nitrogen constituted . per cent. of the total dry substance of _coprinus comatus_. this high nitrogen content, which is common to the mushrooms in general, was formerly taken to indicate a very unusual richness in proteid materials. it is now known, however, that there were several sources of error in this assumption. much of the nitrogen is present in the form of non-proteid substances of a very low food value. another and very considerable portion enters into the composition of a substance closely related to cellulose. a third source of error was the assumption that all the proteid material was digestible. it is now known that a very considerable portion is not digestible and hence not available as food. thus, notwithstanding the . per cent. of nitrogen in _coprinus comatus_, we find but . per cent. in the form of actually available (i. e., digestible) proteids, or approximately one-seventh of what was formerly supposed to be present. the digestibility of the proteids varies very greatly with the species. mörner found the common field mushroom, _agaricus campestris_, to have a larger amount of proteids available than any other species studied by him. unfortunately, the digestibility of the american plant has not been tested. there is great need for further work along this line. enough has been done, however, to demonstrate that mushrooms are no longer to be regarded as a food of the proteid class. the energy for the muscular exertion and heat is most economically derived from the foods in which the carbohydrates and fats predominate. the common way of comparing foods of the first two classes scientifically is to compare their heat-giving powers. the unit of measurement is termed a _calorie_. it represents the amount of heat required to raise a kilogram of water ° centigrade. (this is approximately the heat required to raise one pound of water ° fahrenheit.) a man at moderately hard muscular labor requires daily enough food to give about _calories_ of heat-units. the major part of this food may be most economically derived from the foods of the second class, any deficiency in the . lb. of digestible protein being made up by the addition of some food rich in this substance. in the following table the value of ten pounds of several food substances of the three classes has been worked out. especial attention is called to the column headed "proteids" and to the last column where the number of heat-units which may be purchased for one cent at current market rates has been worked out. table ii. nutritive value of ten pounds of several foods. ========================================================================+ |proteids.|fats.| carbo- |calories.|cost.|calories| | | |hydrates.| | | for one| | | | | | | cent. | ------------------------------------------------------------------------| a. {beef (round) | . | . | ----| |$ . | .| | | | | | | | {beans (dried) | . | . | . | | . | .| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | b. {cabbage | . | . | . | | . | .| | | | | | | | {potatoes | . | . | . | | . | .| | | | | | | | {flour (roller | . | . | . | | . | .| process) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | c. {coprinus comatus | . | . | . | | . | . | | | | | | | | {pleurotus | . | . | . | | . | . | ostreatus | | | | | | | | | | | | | | {morchella | . | . | . | | . | . | esculenta | | | | | | | | | | | | | | {agaricus | . | . | . | | . | . | campestris | | | | | | | | | | | | | | {oysters | . | . | . | | . | . | ========================================================================+ the mushrooms have been valued at cents per pound, which is probably considerably below the average market price for a good article. it should also be remarked that the amounts given in this table are the digestible and hence available constituents of the foods. the only exception to this is in the case of the fats and carbohydrates of the mushrooms, no digestion experiments having been reported on these constituents. in the absence of data we have assumed that they were entirely digested. the beef and beans are typical animal and vegetable foods of the proteid class. a glance at the table will show how markedly they differ from the mushrooms. the latter are nearest the cabbage in composition and nutritive value. the similarity between the cabbage and the _agaricus campestris_ here analyzed is very striking. the potato is somewhat poorer in fat, but very much richer than the mushroom in carbohydrates. the figures in the last column will vary of course with fluctuations in the market price, but such variation will not interfere at any time with the demonstration that _purchased_ mushrooms are not a poor man's food. here we find that one cent invested in cabbage at - / cents per pound, gives _calories_ of nutrition, while the same amount invested in _agaricus campestris_--the common mushroom of our markets--would give but . _calories_, although they are almost identical so far as nutritive value is concerned. the same sum invested in wheat flour, with its high carbohydrate and good proteid content, would yield _calories_ or one-sixth the amount necessary to sustain a man at work for one day. the amount of mushrooms necessary for the same result is a matter of simple computation. mushrooms, however, have a distinct and very great value as a food of the third class, that is, as condiments or food accessories, and their value as such is beyond the computation of the chemist or the physiologist, and doubtless varies with different individuals. they are among the most appetizing of table delicacies and add greatly to the palatability of many foods when cooked with them. it is surely as unfair to decry the mushroom on account of its low nutritive value, as it is wrong to attribute to it qualities which are nothing short of absurd in view of its composition. in some respects its place as a food is not unlike that of the oyster, celery, berries, and other delicacies. worked out on the basis of nutritive value alone they would all be condemned; the oyster for instance presents a showing but little better than the mushroom, and vastly inferior, so far as economy is concerned, to the common potato. this, too, for oysters purchased by the quart. the nutritive value of one cent's worth of oysters "on the half shell" would be interesting! the question of the toxicology of the higher fungi is one of very great theoretical and practical interest. but on account of the great difficulties in the way of such investigations comparatively little has yet been accomplished. a few toxic compounds belonging chiefly to the class termed alkaloids have, however, been definitely isolated. =choline.=--this alkaloid is of wide occurrence in the animal and vegetable kingdoms. it has been isolated from _amanita muscaria_, _a. pantherina_, _boletus luridus_, and _helvella esculenta_. it is not very toxic, but on uniting with oxygen it passes over to muscarine. according to kobert the substance formed from choline on the decay of the mushrooms containing it is not muscarine, but a very closely related alkaloid, _neurin_. this transformation of a comparatively harmless alkaloid to an extremely deadly one simply by the partial decay of the plant in which the former is normally found, emphasizes very much the wisdom of rejecting for table use all specimens which are not entirely fresh. this advice applies to all kinds of mushrooms, and to worm-eaten and otherwise injured, as well as decayed ones. neurin is almost identical in its physiological effects with muscarine, which is described below. =muscarine.=--this is the most important because the most dangerous alkaloid found in the mushrooms. it is most abundant in _amanita muscaria_, it is also found in considerable quantity in _amanita pantherina_, and to a lesser, but still very dangerous extent in _boletus luridus_ and _russula emetica_. it is quite probably identical with bulbosine, isolated from _amanita phalloides_ by boudier. _muscarine_ is an extremely violent poison, . to . of a gram (. grain) being a very dangerous dose for a man. like other constituents of mushrooms, the amount of muscarine present varies very greatly with varying conditions of soil and climate. this, indeed, may account for the fact that _boletus luridus_ is regarded as an edible mushroom in certain parts of europe, the environment being such that little or no muscarine is developed. according to kobert, _amanita muscaria_ contains, besides choline and muscarine, a third alkaloid, _pilz-atropin_. this alkaloid, like ordinary atropin, neutralizes to a greater or less extent the muscarine. the amount of pilz-atropin present varies, as other constituents of mushrooms vary, with varying conditions of soil, climate, etc., and it may be that in those localities where the _amanita muscaria_ is used for food the conditions are favorable for a large production of pilz-atropin which neutralizes the muscarine, thus making the plant harmless. be this as it may, _amanita muscaria_, so deadly as ordinarily found, is undoubtedly used quite largely as food in parts of france and russia, and it has been eaten repeatedly in certain localities in this country without harm. fortunately muscarine has a very unpleasant taste. it is interesting in this connection to note that the _amanita muscaria_ is said to be used by the inhabitants of northern russia--particularly the koraks--as a means of inducing intoxication. to overcome the extremely unpleasant taste of the plant they swallow pieces of the dried cap without chewing them, or boil them in water and drink the decoction with other substances which disguise the taste. the symptoms of poisoning with muscarine are not at once evident, as is the case with several of the less virulent poisons. they usually appear in from one-half to two hours. for the symptoms in detail we shall quote from mr. v. k. chestnut, dept. of agr., washington (circular no. , div. of bot.): "vomiting and diarrhoea almost always occur, with a pronounced flow of saliva, suppression of the urine, and various cerebral phenomena beginning with giddiness, loss of confidence in one's ability to make ordinary movements, and derangements of vision. this is succeeded by stupor, cold sweats, and a very marked weakening of the heart's action. in case of rapid recovery the stupor is short and usually marked with mild delirium. in fatal cases the stupor continues from one to two or three days, and death at last ensues from the gradual weakening and final stoppage of the heart's action." the treatment for poisoning by muscarine consists primarily in removing the unabsorbed portion of the mushroom from the alimentary canal and in counteracting the effect of muscarine on the heart. the action of this organ should be fortified at once by the subcutaneous injection, by a physician, of atropine in doses of from one one-hundredth to one-fiftieth of a grain. the strongest emetics, such as sulphate of zinc or apomorphine, should be used, though in case of profound stupor even these may not produce the desired action. freshly ignited charcoal or two grains of a one per cent. alkaline solution of permanganate of potash may then be administered, in order, in the case of the former substance, to absorb the poison, or, in the case of the latter, to decompose it. this should be followed by oils or oleaginous purgatives, and the intestines should be cleaned and washed out with an enema of warm water and turpentine. experiments on animals poisoned by _amanita muscaria_ and with pure muscarine show very clearly that when the heart has nearly ceased to beat it may be stimulated to strong action almost instantly by the use of atropine. its use as thus demonstrated has been the means of saving numerous lives. we have in this alkaloid an almost perfect physiological antidote for muscarine, and therefore in such cases of poisoning its use should be pushed as heroically as the symptoms of the case will warrant. the presence of phallin in _amanita muscaria_ is possible, and its symptoms should be looked for in the red color of the blood serum discharged from the intestines. =phallin.=--the exact chemical nature of this extremely toxic substance is not certainly known, but it is generally conceded to be of an albuminous nature. that it is an extremely deadly poison is shown by the fact that . grain per lbs. weight of the animal is a fatal dose for cats and dogs. it is the active principle of the most deadly of all mushrooms, the _amanita phalloides_, or death-cup fungus. we quote again from mr. chestnut's account of phallin and its treatment: "the fundamental injury is not due, as in the case of muscarine, to a paralysis of the nerves controlling the action of the heart, but to a direct effect on the blood corpuscles. these are quickly dissolved by phallin, the blood serum escaping from the blood vessels into the alimentary canal, and the whole system being rapidly drained of its vitality. no bad taste warns the victim, nor do the preliminary symptoms begin until nine to fourteen hours after the poisonous mushrooms are eaten. there is then considerable abdominal pain and there may be cramps in the legs and other nervous phenomena, such as convulsions, and even lockjaw or other kinds of tetanic spasms. the pulse is weak, the abdominal pain is rapidly followed by nausea, vomiting, and extreme diarrhoea, the intestinal discharges assuming the 'rice-water' condition characteristic of cholera. the latter symptoms are persistently maintained, generally without loss of consciousness, until death ensues, which happens in from two to four days. there is no known antidote by which the effects of phallin can be counteracted. the undigested material, if not already vomited, should, however, be removed from the stomach and intestines by methods similar to those given for cases of poisoning by _amanita muscaria_. "after that the remainder of the poison, if the amount of phallin already taken up by the system is not too large, may wear itself out on the blood and the patient may recover. it is suggested that this wearing-out process may be assisted by transfusing into the veins blood freshly taken from some warm-blooded animal. the depletion of the blood serum might be remedied by similar transfusions of salt and warm water." =helvellic acid.=--this very deadly poison is sometimes found in _helvella esculenta_ persoon (gyromitra esculenta), particularly in old or decaying specimens. it has been studied and named by boehm. it is quite soluble in hot water, and in some localities this species of _helvella_ is always parboiled--the water being thrown away--before it is prepared for the table. it seems to be quite generally agreed that young and perfectly fresh specimens are free from the poison. as the poison is very violent, however, this plant should be carefully avoided. the symptoms resemble in a very marked degree those of the deadly phallin, the dissolution of the red corpuscles of the blood being one of the most marked and most dangerous; this is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, jaundice, and stoppage of the kidneys. there is no known antidote for this poison, hence the little that can be done would be similar to that mentioned under phallin. when poisoning by mushrooms is suspected, one cannot too strongly urge that the services of a competent physician should be secured with the least possible delay. chapter xxiii. description of terms applied to certain structural characters of mushrooms. by h. hasselbring. in fungi, as in higher plants, each organ or part of the plant is subject to a great number of variations which appeal to the eye of the student, and by which he recognizes relationship among the various individuals, species, and genera of this group. for the purpose of systematic studies of mushrooms or even for the recognition of a few species, it is of primary importance to be acquainted with terms used in describing different types of variation. only a few of the more important terms, such as are employed in this book, together with diagrams illustrating typical cases to which they are applied, will be given here. =the pileus.=--the _pileus_ or _cap_ is the first part of a mushroom which attracts the attention of the collector. it is the fleshy fruit body of the plant. this, like all other parts of the mushroom, is made up, not of cellular tissue as we find it in flowering plants, but of numerous interwoven threads, called _hyphæ_, which constitute the flesh or _trama_ of the pileus. ordinarily, the filamentous structure of the flesh is very obvious when a thin section of the cap is examined under the microscope, but in certain genera, as _russula_ and _lactarius_, many branches of the _hyphæ_ become greatly enlarged, forming little vesicles or bladders. these vesicles lie in groups all through the flesh of the pileus, sometimes forming the greater part of its substance. the filamentous _hyphæ_ pass around and through these groups, filling up the interstices. in cross section this tissue resembles parenchyma, and appears as if it were made up of rounded cells. such a trama is said to be _vesiculose_ to distinguish it from the ordinary or _floccose_ trama. the threads on the outer surface of the pileus constitute the cortex or cuticle. they are thick walled and often contain coloring matter which gives the plants their characteristic color. in many species their walls become gelatinized, covering the outside of the pileus with a viscid, slimy, or glutinous layer, often called _pellicle_. in other instances the corticle layer ceases to grow with the pileus. it is then torn and split by the continued expanding of the rest of the plant, and remains on the surface in the form of hairs, fibers, scales, etc. [illustration: figure . portion of vesiculose trama in the pileus of a russula.] [illustration: figure . portion of a floccose trama.] as an example of the most usual form of the pileus, we may take that of the common mushroom (_agaricus campestris_) when it is nearly expanded. the pileus is then quite regular in outline and evenly _convex_ (fig. ). many mushrooms during the early stages of their development have this form, which is variously changed by later growth. the convex pileus usually becomes _plane_ or _expanded_ as it grows. if the convexity is greater it is said to be _campanulate_ (fig. ), _conical hemispherical_, etc., terms which need no explanation. the pileus is _umbilicate_ when it has an abrupt, sharp depression at the center (fig. ), _infundibuliform_ when the margin is much higher than the center, so that the cap resembles a funnel (fig. ), and _depressed_ when the center is less, or irregularly, sunken. when the center of the pileus is raised in the form of a boss or knob it is _umbonate_ (fig. ). the umbo may have the form of a sharp elevation at the center, or it may be rounded or obtuse, occupying a larger part of the disc. when it is irregular or indistinct the pileus is said to be _gibbous_ (fig. ). [illustration: figure . figure . figure . figure .--omphalia campanella, pileus umbilicate, gills decurrent. figure .--lepiota procera, pileus convex, umbonate; annulus free, movable; gills free. figure .--agaricus campestris, pileus convex, gills free.] =the gills.=--the _gills_ or _lamellæ_ are thin blades on the under side of the pileus, radiating from the stem to the margin. when the pileus is cut in halves the general outline of the gills may be observed. in outline they may be broad, narrow, lanceolate, triangular, etc. in respect to their ends they are _attenuate_ when gradually narrowed to a sharp point, _acute_ when they end in a sharp angle, and _obtuse_ when the ends are rounded. again, the gills are _arcuate_ when they arch from the stem to the edge of the pileus, and _ventricose_ when they are bellied out vertically toward the earth. [illustration: figure . clitocybe infundibuliformis, pileus infundibuliform, gills decurrent.] [illustration: figure . mycena galericulata, pileus conic to campanulate, gills decurrent by a tooth, stem fistulose.] the terms given above are often used in descriptive works, but the most important feature to be noted in the section of the plant is the relation of the gills to the stem. this relation is represented by several distinct types which are sometimes used to limit genera or sub-genera, since the mode of attachment is usually constant in all species of a group. the principal relations of the gills to the stem are described as follows: _adnate_ when they reach the stem and are set squarely against it (fig. ); _decurrent_ when they run down the stem (fig. ); _sinuate_ or _emarginate_ when they have a notch or vertical curve at the posterior end (fig. ); and _free_ when they are rounded off without reaching the stem (fig. ). in all cases when the lamellæ reach the stem and are only attached by the upper angle they are said to be _adnexed_. this term is often used in combination with others, as _sinuate-adnexed_ (fig. , small figure), or _ascending adnexed_ (fig. , larger plant). sometimes the lamellæ are adnate, adnexed, etc., and have a slight decurrent process or tooth as in _mycena galericulata_ (fig. ). in many plants the gills separate very readily from the stem when the plants are handled. sometimes merely the expansion of the pileus tears them away, so that it is necessary to use great caution, and often to examine plants in different stages of development to determine the real condition of the lamellæ. [illustration: figure . figure . figure . figure .--tricholoma, gills sinuate, stipe solid. figure .--panæolus papilionaceus, gills adnate. figure .--left-hand small plant, hygrophorus, gills sinuate, adnexed. right-hand plant panæolus retirugis, gills ascending adnexed, veil appendiculate.] in certain genera the gills have special characteristics which may be noted here. usually the edge of the lamellæ is _acute_ or sharp like the blade of a knife, but in _cantharellus_ and _trogia_ the edges are very blunt or obtuse. in extreme forms the lamellæ are reduced to mere veins or ridges. again, the edge is generally _entire_, i. e., not noticeably toothed, but in _lentinus_ it is often toothed or cut in various ways. in some other plants the edges are _serrulate_, _crenulate_, etc. in _schizophyllum alneum_, a small whitish plant very common on dead sticks, the gills are split lengthwise along the edge with the halves revolute, i. e., rolled back. in _coprinus_ the gills and often a large part of the pileus melt at maturity into a dark, inky fluid. [illustration: figure .--section of portion of gill of marasmius cohærens. _t_, trama of gill; _sh_, sub-hymenium; _h_, hymenium layer. the long, dark cells are brown cystidia, termed spicules by some to distinguish them from the colorless cystidia. the long cells bearing the oval spores are the basidia.] [illustration: figure .--inocybe repanda (bull.) bres. (= entoloma repandum bull.). _t_, trama of pileus; _sh_, sub-hymenium; _h_, the hymenial layer; the long cells with a drop of moisture at the ends are cystidia (sing. cystidium).] =the hymenium.=--the term _hymenium_ is applied to the spore-bearing tissue of many fungi. in the _agaricaceæ_ the hymenium covers the entire surface of the gills and usually the portion of the pileus between the gills. it originates in the following manner: the threads forming the trama of the gills grow out from the lower side of the pileus and perpendicular to its under surface. as growth advances many branches of the threads turn outward toward either surface of the gill and finally terminate in club-shaped cells. these cells, therefore, lie side by side, perpendicular to the surface, forming a pavement, as it were, over the entire surface of the gills. some of them put out four little prongs, on each of which a spore is borne, while others simply remain as sterile cells (figs. , ). the spore-bearing cells are _basidia_; the others are called _paraphyses_. they resemble each other very much, except that the basidia bear four _sterigmata_ and a spore on each. in a few species the number of sterigmata is reduced to two and in some low forms the number is variable. the layer just beneath the basidia is usually more or less modified, being often composed of small cells different from the rest of the trama. this is called the _sub-hymenial_ layer or _sub-hymenium_ (fig. ). other cells called _cystidia_ occur in the hymenia of various species distributed through nearly all the genera of the agarics. cystidia are large, usually inflated, cells which project above the rest of the hymenium (fig. ). they originate either like the basidia, from the sub-hymenial cells (fig. ), or from special hyphæ deeper down in the trama of the gill (fig. ). they are scattered over the entire surface of the hymenium, but become more numerous on the edge of the lamellæ. their number is much smaller than that of the basidia, but in some species where they are colored they may greatly change the appearance of the gills. cystidia often secrete moisture which collects in drops at their tips, a phenomenon common to all free fungous cells. =the stem.=--the stem is usually fixed to the center of the pileus, but it may be _eccentric_, i. e., fixed to one side of the center, or entirely lateral. when the stem is wanting the pileus is _sessile_. with regard to its interior the stem is _solid_, when it is evenly fleshy throughout (fig. ), or _hollow_ when the interior is occupied by a cavity (fig. ). if the cavity is narrow and tubular the stem is _fistulose_ (fig. ); and if the center is filled with a pithy substance it is _stuffed_ (fig. ). these terms apply only to the natural condition of the stem, and not the condition brought about by larvæ, which eat out the interior of the stem, causing it to be hollow or fistulose. the terms applicable to the consistency of the stem are difficult to define. in general, stems may be either _fleshy_ or _cartilaginous_. the meaning of these terms can best be learned by careful study of specimens of each, but a few general characters can be given here. fleshy, fibrous stems occur in the genera _clitocybe_ and _tricholoma_, among the white-spored forms. their consistency is like that of the pileus, namely, made up of fleshy, fibrous tissue. they are usually stout, compared with the size of the plant, and when bent or broken they seem to be more or less spongy or tough, fibrous, so that they do not snap readily. cartilaginous stems have a consistency resembling that of cartilage. their texture is always different from that of the pileus, which is fleshy or membranous. in general such stems are rather slender, in many genera rather thin, but firm. when bent sufficiently they either snap suddenly, or break like a green straw, without separating. in regard to their external appearance some resemble fibrous stems, while others are smooth and polished as in _mycena_ and _omphalia_. =the veil.=--in the young stages of development the margin of the pileus lies in close contact with the stipe, the line of separation being indicated by a kind of furrow which runs around the young button mushroom. in many genera, as _collybia_, _mycena_, _omphalia_, etc., the pileus simply expands without having its margin ever united to the stipe by any special structure, but in other forms, which include by far the greater number of genera of the _agaricaceæ_ and some _boleti_, the interval between the stem and pileus is bridged over by threads growing from the margin of the pileus and from the outer layers of the stem. these threads interlace to form a delicate membrane, known as the _veil_, which closes the gap between the stem and pileus and covers over the young hymenium. the veil remains firm for a time, but it is finally torn by the expanding pileus, and its remnants persist on the cap and stem in the form of various appendages, whose character depends on the character of the veil. in _cortinarius_ the veil is made up of delicate threads extending radially from the stem to the margin of the cap without forming a true membrane. from its resemblance to a spider's web such a veil is said to be _arachnoid_. at maturity mere traces of it can be found on the stem. in many genera the veil consists of a delicate membrane which tears away from the stem and hangs in flakes to the margin of the pileus. in these cases the veil is _appendiculate_ (fig. ). frequently it is so delicate that no trace of it remains on the mature plant. where the veil is well developed it usually remains on the stem as a _ring_ or _annulus_ which becomes free and movable in species of _lepiota_ (fig. ) and _coprinus_, or forms a hanging annular curtain in _amanita_, or a thick, felty ring in _agaricus_, etc. in some plants (species of _lepiota_) the annulus is continuous with the outer cortex of the stem, which then appears as if it were partially enclosed in a sheath, with the annulus forming a fringe on the upper end of the sheath, from which the apex of the stem projects. no reference is here made to the _volva_, which encloses the entire plant, and which is described in connection with the genera in which it occurs. the few typical characters described here will help the student to become familiar with terms applied to them. in nature, however, typical cases rarely exist, and it is often necessary to draw distinction between differences so slight that it is almost impossible to describe them. only by patient study and a thorough acquaintance with the characters of each genus can one hope to become familiar with the many mushrooms growing in our woods and fields. chapter xxiv. analytical keys. by the author. class fungi. sub-class basidiomycetes.[f] plants of large or medium size; fleshy, membranaceous, leathery, woody or gelatinous; growing on the ground, on wood or decaying organic matter; usually saprophytic, more rarely parasitic. fruiting surface, or hymenium, formed of numerous crowded perpendicular basidia, the apex of the latter bearing two to six (usually four) basidiospores, or the basidiospores borne laterally; in many cases cystidia intermingled with the basidia. hymenium either free at the beginning, or enclosed either permanently or temporarily in a more or less perfect peridium or veil. basidiospores continuous or rarely septate, globose, obovoid, ellipsoidal to oblong, smooth or roughened, hyaline or colored, borne singly at the apex of sterigmata. order _gasteromycetes_. plants membranaceous, leathery or fleshy, furnished with a peridium and gleba, the latter being sometimes supported on a receptacle. hymenium on the surface of the gleba which is enclosed within the peridium up to the maturity of the spores or longer; spores continuous, sphæroid or ellipsoid, hyaline or colored. puff-balls, etc. order _hymenomycetes_. hymenium, at the beginning, borne on the free outer surface of the compound sporophore, or if at first enclosed by a pseudo-peridium or veil it soon becomes exposed before the maturity of the spores; mushrooms, etc. hymenomycetes. analytical key of the families. plants not gelatinous; basidia continuous. plants gelatinous or sub-gelatinous, basidia forked, or divided longitudinally or transversely. = =--hymenium uneven, i. e., in the form of radiating plates, or folds; or a honey-combed surface, or reticulate, warty, spiny, etc. hymenium smooth (not as in b, though it may be convolute and irregular, or ribbed, or veined). = =--hymenium usually on the under side, in the form of radiating plates, or strong folds. the genus phlebia in the hydnaceae has the hymenium on smooth, somewhat radiating veins which are interrupted and irregular. one exotic genus has the hymenium on numerous irregular obtuse lobes (rhacophyllus). =agaricaceæ.= hymenium usually below (or on the outer surface when the plant is spread over the substratum), honey-combed, porous, tubulose, or reticulate; in one genus with short, concentric plates. =polyporaceæ.= hymenium usually below (or on the outer surface when the plant is spread over the substratum), warted, tuberculate, or with stout, spinous processes; or with interrupted vein-like folds in resupinate forms. =hydnaceæ.= = =--plants somewhat corky or membranaceous, more or less expanded; hymenium on the under surface (upper surface sterile), or on the outer or exposed surface when the plant is spread over the substratum (margin may then sometimes be free, but upper surface, i. e., that toward the substratum, sterile). (minute slender spines are sometimes intermingled with the elements of the hymenium, and should not be mistaken for the stouter spinous processes of the hydnaceæ). =thelephoraceæ.= plants more or less fleshy, upright (never spread over the surface of the substratum), simple or branched. hymenium covering both sides and the upper surface. =clavariaceæ.= = =--basidia forked or longitudinally divided; or if continuous then globose, or bearing numerous spores; or if the plant is leathery, membranous, or floccose, then basidia as described. hymenium covering the entire free surface or confined to one portion; smooth, gyrose, folded or lobed; or hymenium lamellate, porous, reticulate or toothed forms which are gelatinous and provided with continuous basidia may be sought here. =tremellineæ.= family agaricaceae. pileus more or less expanded, convex, bell-shaped; stipe central or nearly so; or the point of attachment lateral, when the stipe may be short or the pileus sessile and shelving. fruiting surface usually on the under side and exposed toward the earth, lamellate, or prominently folded or veined. lamellæ or gills radiating from the point of attachment of the pileus with the stipe or with the substratum in the sessile forms; lamellæ simple or branched, rarely anastomosing behind, clothed externally on both surfaces with the basidia, each of which bears four spores (rarely two), cystidia often present. key to the north american genera. the white-spored agarics. (sometimes there is a faint tinge of pink or lilac when the spores are in bulk, but the color is not seen under the microscope.) =plants= soft, fleshy or nearly so, usually soon decaying; dried plants do not revive well when moistened. =plants= tough, either fleshy or gelatinous, membranaceous, corky or woody, persistent, reviving when moistened. = =--=gills= acute on the edge. =edge= of the gills obtuse, or gills fold-like, or vein-like, but prominent. = =--=trama= of the pileus of interwoven threads, not vesiculose. =trama= of the pileus vesiculose, plants rigid but quite fragile. = =--=gills= thin, not much broadened toward the pileus. =gills= broadened toward the pileus, of waxy consistency. =hygrophorus.= = =--=stipe= central or sub-central. (some species of pleurotus are sub-central, but the gills are usually not decurrent.) =stipe= on one side of the pileus, or none, rarely with the stipe sub-central. (some species of clitocybe are sub-central.) =pleurotus.= = =--=stipe= fleshy, pileus easily separating from the stipe, gills usually free. =stipe= fleshy or fibrous and elastic, pileus confluent with the stipe and of the same texture. =stipe= cartilaginous, pileus confluent with the stipe, but of a different texture. = =--=volva= and annulus present on the stipe. =amanita.= =volva= present, annulus wanting. =amanitopsis.= =volva= wanting, annulus present. =lepiota.= = =--=annulus= and volva wanting. =annulus= usually present (sometimes vague), volva wanting, gills attached to the stipe. =armillaria.= = =--=gills= sinuate. =tricholoma.= =gills= decurrent, not sinuate. =clitocybe.= = =--=gills= decurrent, pileus umbilicate. =omphalia.= =gills= not decurrent. = =--=margin= of pileus at first involute, pileus flat or nearly so, somewhat fleshy (some plants rather tough and tending toward the consistency of marasmius). =collybia.= =margin= of the pileus at first straight, pileus slightly bell-shaped, thin. =mycena.= =gills= usually free, pileus deeply plicate so that the gills are split where they are attached to the pileus, pileus membranaceous, very tender but not diffluent. =hiatula.= = =--=plants= where bruised exuding a milky or colored juice. =lactarius.= =plants= not exuding a juice where bruised. =russula.= = =--=gills= decurrent, dichotomous, edge blunt. =cantharellus.= =gills= not decurrent, plants parasitic on other mushrooms. =nyctalis.= = =--=edge= of gills not split into two laminæ. =edge= of gills split into two laminæ and revolute. =schizophyllum.= = =--=plants= leathery, either fleshy, membraneous, or gelatinous. =plants= corky or woody (placed by some in polyporaceæ). =lenzites.= = =--=stipe= separate from the pileus (hymenophore), easily separating. =stipe= continuous with hymenophore. = =--=plants= tough and fleshy, membranaceous or leathery. =marasmius.= =plants= gelatinous and leathery. =heliomyces.= = =--=edge= of the gills acute. =edge= of the gills obtuse. = =--=edge= of gills usually serrate. =lentinus.= =edge= of gills entire. =panus.= = =--=gills= dichotomous. =xerotus.= =gills= fold-like, irregular. =trogia.= there are only a few rare species of hiatula, nyctalis, heliomyces and xerotus in the united states. none are here described. the ochre-spored agarics. (the spores are yellowish brown or rusty brown.) =gills= not separating readily from =gills= sometimes separating readily from the pileus, forked or anastomosing at the base, or connected with vein-like reticulations. =paxillus.= = =--=universal veil= not arachnoid (i. e., not cobwebby). =universal veil= arachnoid, distinct from the cuticle of the pileus, gills powdery from the spores. =cortinarius.= = =--=stipe= central. =stipe= eccentric or none. =crepidotus.= = =--=volva= or annulus present on stipe. =volva= and annulus wanting. = =--=stipe= with an annulus. =pholiota.= =stipe= with a volva. =locellina= (not reported in u. s.). = =--=gills= free from the stem. =pluteolus.= =gills= attached. = =--=gills= not dissolving nor becoming powdery. =gills= dissolving into a gelatinous or powdery condition, not diffluent as in coprinus. =bolbitius.= = =--=stipe= fleshy. =stipe= cartilaginous or sub-cartilaginous. = =--=gills= somewhat sinuate. =gills= adnate or decurrent. =flammula.= = =--=cuticle= of the pileus silky or bearing fibrils. =inocybe.= =cuticle= of pileus smooth, viscid. =hebeloma.= = =--=gills= decurrent. =tubaria.= =gills= not decurrent. = =--=margin= of pileus inflexed. =naucoria.= =margin= of pileus straight, from the first. =galera.= no species of pluteolus are here described. the rosy-spored agarics. (the spores are rose color, pink, flesh or salmon color.) =stipe= central. =stipe= eccentric or none and pileus lateral. =claudopus.= = =--=pileus= easily separating from the stipe, gills free. =pileus= confluent with the stipe and of the same texture, gills attached, in some becoming almost free. = =--=volva= present and distinct, annulus wanting. =volvaria.= =volva= and annulus wanting. =pluteus.= = =--=stipe= fleshy to fibrous, margin of pileus at first incurved. =stipe= cartilaginous. = =--=gills= sinuate. =entoloma.= =gills= decurrent. =clitopilus.= = =--=gills= not decurrent (or if so only by a minute tooth), easily separating from the stipe. =gills= decurrent, pileus umbilicate. =eccilia.= = =--=pileus= slightly convex, margin at first incurved. =leptonia.= =pileus= bell-shaped, margin at first straight and pressed close against the stipe. =nolanea.= no species of nolanea are described here. the brown-spored agarics. (the spores are dark brown or purplish brown.) =pileus= easily separating from the stem; gills usually free. =pileus= continuous with the stem; gills attached. = =--=volva= wanting, annulus present. (psalliota fr.) =agaricus.= =volva= present, annulus wanting. =chitonia.= =volva= and annulus wanting. =pilosace.= = =--=veil= present. =veil= wanting or obsolete. = =--=annulus= present, gills attached. =stropharia.= =annulus= wanting, veil remaining attached to margin of pileus. =hypholoma.= = =--=stipe= tenacious, margin of pileus first incurved. =stipe= fragile, margin of pileus at first straight. =psathyra.= = =--=gills= sub-triangularly decurrent. =deconica.= =gills= not decurrent. =psilocybe.= but few species of psathyra, deconica, chitonia and pilosace are noted from the united states. none are here described. the black-spored agarics. =pileus= present to which the gills are attached. =pileus= wanting, gills attached to a disk at apex of stem from which they radiate. =montagnites.=[g] = =--=gills= more or less deliquescing, or pileus thin, membranous and splitting between the laminæ of the gills and becoming more or less plicate. =coprinus.= =gills= not deliquescing, etc. = =--=spores= globose, ovoid. =spores= elongate, fusiform (in some species brown), plants with a slimy envelope. =gomphidius.= = =--=pileus= somewhat fleshy, not striate, projecting beyond the gills at the margin; gills variegated in color from groups of dark spores on the surface. =pileus= somewhat fleshy, margin striate, gills not variegated. =psathyrella.= = =--=annulus= wanting, but veil often present. =panæolus.= =annulus= wanting, veil appendiculate on margin of cap. =chalymotta.= =annulus= present. =anellaria.= glossary of the more technical terms used in this work. abbreviations: cm. = centimeter (about - / cm. make one inch). mm. = millimeter (about mm. make inch). µ = one micron ( µ = mm.). adnate, said of the gills when they are attached squarely, or broadly, to the stem. adnexed, said of gills when they are attached only slightly or only by the upper angle of the stem. anastomose, running together in a net-like manner. annulus, the ring or collar around the stem formed from the inner or partial veil. appendiculate, said of the veil when it clings in fragments to the margin of the pileus. arachnoid, said of the veil when it is cobwebby, that is, formed of loose threads. ascus, the club-shaped body which bears the spores inside (characteristic of the ascomycetes). basidium (pl. basidia) the club-shaped body which bears the spores in the basidiomycetes. these stand parallel, and together make up the entire or large part of the hymenium or fruiting surface which covers the gills, etc. paraphyses (sterile cells) and sometimes cystidia (longer sterile cells) or spines are intermingled with the basidia. bulbous, said of the enlarged lower end of the stem in some mushrooms. circumscissile, splitting transversely across the middle, used to indicate one of the ways in which the volva ruptures. cortina, a cobwebby veil. cuticle, the skin-like layer on the outside of the pileus. decurrent, said of the gills when they extend downward on the stem. diffluent, said of the gills when they dissolve into a fluid. dimidiate, halved, said of a sessile pileus semi-circular in form and attached by the plane edge directly to the wood. echinulate, term applied to minute spinous processes, on the spores for example. eccentric, said of a stem when it is attached to some other point than the center of the pileus. fimbriate, in the form of a delicate fringe. fistulose, becoming hollow. floccose, term applied to indicate delicate and soft threads, cottony extensions from the surface of any part of the mushroom. flocculose, minutely floccose. fugacious, disappearing. fuliginous (or fuligineous), dark brown, sooty or smoky. fulvous, tawny, reddish yellow. fusiform, spindle-shaped. fusoid, like a spindle. furfuraceous, with numerous minute scales. gleba, the chambered tissue forming the hymenium (fruiting surface) in the puff-balls and their allies. hygrophanous, appearing to be water soaked. hymenium, the fruiting surface of the mushrooms and other fungi. hymenomycetes, the subdivision of the basidiomycetes in which the fruiting surface is exposed before the spores are ripe. hymenophore, the portion of the fruit body which bears the hymenium. hypha (pl. hyphæ), a single mycelium thread. imbricate, overlapping like the shingles on a roof. involute, folded or rolled inward. lamella (pl. lamellæ), the gills of the mushroom. mycelium, the vegetative or growing portion of the mushrooms, and other fungi, made up of several or many threads. ocreate, applied to the volva where it fits the lower part of the stem, as a stocking does the leg. pectinate, like the teeth of a comb. peridium, the wall of the puff-balls, etc. pileus (pl. pilei), the cap of the mushroom. plicate, plaited, or folded like a fan. punctate, with minute points. pulverulent, with a minute powdery substance. repand, wavy. resupinate, spread over the matrix, the fruiting surface external and the pileus next the wood. revolute, rolled backward. rugose, wrinkled. rugulose, with minute wrinkles. saprophytic, growing on dead organic matter. sessile, where the pileus is attached directly to the matrix without any stem. sinuate, said of the gills when they are notched at their junction with the stem. stipe, the stem. sulcate, furrowed. squamulose, with minute scales. squarrose, with prominent reflexed scales. tomentose, with a dense, matted, hairy or woolly surface. trama, the interior portion of the gills or pileus. umbo, with a prominent boss or elevation, in the center of the pileus. umbilicate, with a minute abrupt depression in the center of the cap. veil, a layer of threads extending from the margin of the cap to the stem (partial veil or marginal veil). a universal veil envelops the entire plant. veins, elevated lines or folds running over the surface of the lamellæ in some species, and often connected so as to form reticulations. ventricose, enlarged or broadened at the middle, bellied. vesiculose, full of small rounded vesicles, as the trama of the pileus of a russula. volva, a wrapper or envelope, which in the young stage completely surrounds the plant, same as universal veil. at maturity of the plant it may be left in the form of a cup at the base of the stem, or broken up into fragments and distributed over the cap and base of the stem. footnotes: [f] the sub-class ascomycetes includes the morels, helvellas, cup fungi, etc., and many microscopic forms, in which the spores are borne inside a club-shaped body, the ascus. only a few of the genera are described in this book, and the technical diagnosis will be omitted. see page . [g] one american species in texas. index of genera, and illustrations. note.--in this index the generic and specific names have been divided into syllables, and the place of the primary accent has been indicated, with the single object of securing a uniform pronunciation in accordance with the established rules of english orthoepy. agaricus (a-gar'i-cus), -- . arvensis (ar-ven'sis), , fig. . campestris (cam-pes'tris), -- , , figs. -- , . comtulus (com'tu-lus), , fig. . cretaceus (cre-ta'ce-us), . diminutivus (di-min-u-ti'vus), . echinatus (ech-i-na'tus), . fabaceus (fa-ba'ce-us), . maritimus (ma-rit'i-mus), . placomyces (pla-com'y-ces), , pl. , , figs. , , . rodmani (rod'ma-ni), , fig. . silvaticus (sil-vat'i-cus), . silvicola (sil-vic'o-la), , figs. , . subrufescens (sub-ru-fes'cens), . amanita (am-a-ni'ta), . cæsarea (cæ'-sa're-a), , pls. , , fig. . cothurnata (coth-ur-na'ta), , pl. , figs. -- . floccocephala (floc-co-ceph'a-la), , fig. . frostiana (fros-ti-a'na), , , , pl. . mappa (map'pa), . muscaria (mus-ca'ri-a), -- , pls. , , , figs. -- . pantherina (pan-the-ri'na), . phalloides (phal-loi'des), , , -- , , pl. , figs. -- . polypyramis (pol-y-pyr'a-mis), . rubescens (ru-bes'cens), , , pls. , , figs. , . spreta (spre'ta), , , fig. . solitaria (sol-i-ta'ri-a), -- , pls. , , figs. , . strobiliformis (strob-i-li-for'mis), . velatipes (ve-lat'i-pes), -- , pls. , , figs. -- . verna (ver'na), , , , figs. -- . virosa (vi-ro'sa), , , fig. . amanitopsis (a-man-i-top'sis), . farinosa (far-i-no'sa), , , fig. . livida (liv'i-da), . nivalis (ni-va'lis), . spadicea (spa-dic'e-a), . vaginata (vag-i-na'ta), -- , pl. , fig. . volvata (vol-va'ta), . armillaria (ar-mil-la'ri-a), . aurantia (au-ran'ti-a), -- , fig. . mellea (mel'le-a), , , pl. , fig. . annularia lævis (an-nu-la'ri læ'vis), . ascomycetes (as-co-my-ce'tes), . basidiomycetes (ba-sid-i-o-my-ce'tes), . black-spored agarics, . bolbitius (bol-bit'i-us), . variicolor (va-ri-ic'o-lor), , fig. . boletinus (bo-le-ti'nus), . pictus (pic'tus), , fig. . porosus (po-ro'sus), , pl. , fig. . boletus (bo-le'tus), . americanus (a-mer-i-ca'nus), , fig. . brevipes (brev'i-pes), . bulbosus (bul-bo'sus), . chromapes (chro'ma-pes), , pl. , fig. . edulis (e-du'lis), , , , pls. , , , figs. , . felleus (fel'le-us), , pl. , fig. . flavidus (flav'i-dus), . granulatus (gran-u-la'tus), . luteus (lu'te-us), , , pl. , figs. , . obsonium (ob-so'ni-um), , pl. , fig. . ornatipes (or-nat'i-pes), , . punctipes (punc'ti-pes), , fig. . retipes (re'ti-pes), -- , fig. . scaber (sca'ber), . subluteus (sub-lu'te-us), , . subtomentosus (sub-tom-en-to'sus), , . vermiculosus (ver-mic-u-lo'sus), , pl. , fig. . bovista (bo-vis'ta), . calostoma (ca-los'to-ma), . cinnabarinum (cin-na-ba-ri'num), , , pl. , fig. . lutescens (lu-tes'cens), . calvatia (cal-va'ti-a), . cantharellus (can-tha-rel'lus), . aurantiacus (au-ran-ti'a-cus), , , pl. , figs. , . cibarius (ci-ba'ri-us), , fig. . chalymotta retirugis (chal-y-mot'ta re-ti-ru'gis), . clavaria (cla-va'ri-a), . botrytes (bo-try'tes), , fig. . formosa (for-mo'sa), , pl. , fig. . mucida (mu'ci-da), , fig. . pistillaris (pis-til-la'ris), , fig. . clavariaceæ (cla-va-ri-a'ce-æ), . coral fungi, . clitocybe (cli-toc'y-be), . candida (can'di-da), , pls. , , figs. , . cyathiformis (cy-a-thi-for'mis), . illudens (il-lu'dens), , fig. . infundibuliformis (in-fun-dib-u-li-for'mis), , fig. . laccata (lac-ca'ta), . multiceps (mul'ti-ceps), , pl. , fig. . pelletieri (pel-let-i-e'ri), . clitopilus (cli-top'i-lus), . orcella (or-cel'la), . prunulus (pru'nu-lus), , pl. , fig. . collybia (col-lyb'i-a), . dryophila (dry-oph'i-la), , fig. . longipes (lon'gi-pes), . lachnophylla (lach-no-phyl'la), . platyphylla (plat-y-phyl'la), . radicata (rad-i-ca'ta), , pl. , fig. . spinulifera (spin-u-lif'e-ra), . velutipes (ve-lu'ti-pes), , pl. , fig. . coprinus (co-pri'nus), . atramentarius (a-tra-men-ta'ri-us), -- , pl. , figs. -- . comatus (co-ma'tus), -- , pl. , figs. -- . micaceus (mi-ca'ce-us), , -- , figs. , . corticium (cor-tic'i-um), . cortinarius (cor-ti-na'ri-us), . cinnamomeus (cin-na-mo'me-us), , fig. . collinitus (col-li-ni'tus), . ochroleucus (och-ro-leu'cus), , pls. , , figs. , . violaceus (vi-o-la'ce-us), . craterellus (crat-e-rel'lus), . cantharellus (can-tha-rel'lus), . cornucopioides (cor-nu-co-pi-oi'des), . pistillaris (pis-til-la'ris), . crepidotus (crep-i-do'tus), . applanatus (ap-pla-na'tus), . calolepis (ca-lol'e-pis), . chimonophilus (chi-mo-noph'i-lus), . fulvotomentosus (ful-vo-tom-en-to'sus), . herbarum (her-ba'rum), . versutus (ver-su'tus), , fig. . dædalea ambigua (dæ-da'le-a am-big'u-a), , , pl. , fig. . dictyophora (dic-ty-oph'o-ra), . duplicata (du-pli-ca'ta), , pl. , fig. . ravenelii (rav-e-nel'li-i), , , pl. , figs. -- . discomycetes (dis-co-my-ce'tes), . eccilia (ec-cil'i-a), . polita (po-li'ta), , fig. . entoloma (en-to-lo'ma), . grayanum (gray-a'num), , , fig. . jubatum (ju-ba'tum), , , fig. . repandum (re-pan'dum), , , fig. . strictius (stric'ti-us), , , fig. . exidia glandulosa (ex-id'ia glan-du-lo'sa), . fistulina (fis-tu-li'na), , . firma (fir'ma), . hepatica (he-pat'i-ca), , pl. . pallida (pal'li-da), , , pls. , , fig. . flammula (flam'mu-la), . paradoxa (par-a-dox'a), . polychroa (po-lych'ro-a), , , fig. . rhodoxanthus (rhod-o-xan'thus), . sapinea (sa-pin'e-a), . tammii (tam'mi-i), . fomes (fo'mes), , . galera (ga-le'ra), . antipoda (an-tip'o-da), . coprinoides (cop-rin-oi'des), . flava (fla'va), . lateritia (lat-e-ri'ti-a), . tenera (ten'e-ra), . geaster (ge-as'ter), . gomphidius (gom-phid'i-us), . glutinosus (glu-ti-no'sus), . nigricans (nig'ri-cans), -- , figs. , . rhodoxanthus (rhod-o-xan'thus), . gomphus (gom'phus), . gyrocephalus (gy-ro-ceph'a-lus), . rufus (ru'fus), , fig. . gyromitra esculenta (gy-rom'i-tra es-cu-len'ta), . hebeloma (he-be-lo'ma), . crustuliniforme (crus-tu-lin-i-for'me), , fig. . hedgehog fungi, . helvella (hel-vel'la), . crispa (cris'pa), . lacunosa (lac-u-no'sa), , fig. . hydnaceæ (hyd-na'ce-æ), . hydnum (hyd'num), . caput-medusæ (ca'put--me-du'sæ), . caput-ursi (ca'put--ur'si), , pl. , fig. . coralloides (cor-al-loi'des), , fig. . erinaceus (er-i-na'ce-us), , fig. . fragile (frag'i-le), . graveolens (gra-ve'o-lens), . imbricatum (im-bri-ca'tum), , fig. . repandum (re-pan'dum), , pl. , fig. . putidum (pu'ti-dum), , pl. , fig. . velutinum (ve-lu'ti-num), . hygrophorus (hy-groph'o-rus), . chrysodon (chrys'o-don), , fig. . coccineus (coc-cin'e-us), . conicus (con'i-cus), . eburneus (e-bur'ne-us), , pl. , fig. . fuligineus (fu-li-gin'e-us), , fig. . hypothejus (hy-po-the'jus), . miniatus (min-i-a'tus), , . pratensis (pra-ten'sis), . psittacinus (psit-ta-ci'nus), . hymenochæte (hy-me-no-chæ'te), . hymenomycetes (hy-me-no-my-ce'tes), . hypholoma (hyph-o-lo'ma), . appendiculatum (ap-pen-dic-u-la'tum), , , pl. , figs. , . candolleanum (can-dol-le-a'num), . lachrymabundum (lach-ry-ma-bun'dum), -- , fig. . perplexum (per-plex'um), . rugocephalum (ru-go-ceph'a-lum), , pl. , fig. . sublateritium (sub-la-te-ri'ti-um), , pl. , fig. . inocybe (i-noc'y-be), . echinata (ech-i-na'ta), . repanda (re-pan'da), , fig. . ithyphallus impudicus (ith-y-phal'lus im-pu-di'cus), . lactarius (lac-ta'ri-us), . chelidonium (chel-i-do'ni-um), , pl. . chrysorrheus (chrys-or'rhe-us), , fig. . corrugis (cor-ru'gis), , fig. . deliciosus (de-lic-i-o'sus), , pl. . fuliginosus (fu-lig-i-no'sus), , fig. . gerardii (ge-rar'di-i), . indigo (in'di-go), , pl. . lignyotus (lig-ny-o'tus), , fig. . pergamenus (per-ga-me'nus), . piperatus (pip-e-ra'tus), , fig. . resimus (re-si'mus), , figs. , . torminosus (tor-mi-no'sus), , fig. . volemus (vo-le'mus), . lentinus (len-ti'nus), . lecomtei (le-comt'e-i), . lepideus (le-pid'e-us), . stipticus (stip'ti-cus), , . vulpinus (vul-pi'nus), , pl. , figs. , . leotia lubrica (le-o'ti-a lu'bri-ca), , fig. . lepiota (lep-i-o'ta), . acutesquamosa (a-cu-te-squa-mo'sa), . americana (a-mer-i-ca'na), , , fig. . asperula (as-per'u-la), , , pl. , fig. . badhami (bad'ham-i), . cristata (cris-ta'ta), , fig. . naucina (nau-ci'na), , -- , pl. , figs. , . naucinoides (nau-ci-noi'des), . procera (pro-ce'ra), , pl. , figs. , . rachodes (ra-cho'des), . leptonia (lep-to'ni-a), . asprella (as-prel'la), , fig. . incana (in-ca'na), . lycoperdaceæ (ly-co-per-da'ce-æ), . lycoperdon (ly-co-per'don), . cyathiforme (cy-a-thi-for'me), , pl. , fig. . gemmatum (gem-ma'tum), , fig. . giganteum (gi-gan'te-um), . pyriforme (pyr-i-for'me), . marasmius (ma-ras'mi-us), . cohærens (co-hæ'rens), , , figs. , . oreades (o-re'a-des), , fig. . rotula (rot'u-la), . merulius (me-ru'li-us), , , . lacrymans (lac'ry-mans), , pl. , figs. , . tremellosus (trem-el-lo'sus), , pl. , figs. , . mitremyces lutescens (mi-trem'y-ces lu-tes'cens), . morchella (mor-chel'la), . bispora (bis'po-ra), . conica (con'i-ca), , fig. . crassipes (cras'si-pes), , pl. , fig. . deliciosa (de-lic-i-o'sa), . esculenta (es-cu-len'ta), , pl. , fig. . semilibera (sem-i-lib'e-ra), . mucronella (mu-cro-nel'la), . mycena (my-ce'na), . acicula (a-cic'u-la), , , fig. . cyanothrix (cy-an'o-thrix), , fig. . epipterygia (e-pip-te-ryg'i-a), , , fig. . galericulata (gal-e-ric-u-la'ta), , . hæmatopa (hæ-mat'o-pa), -- , fig. . polygramma (pol-y-gram'ma), , fig. . prælonga (præ-lon'ga), , . pura (pu'ra), , , fig. . succosa (suc-co'sa), . vulgaris (vul-ga'ris), , fig. . myriostoma (myr-i-os'to-ma), . naucoria (nau-co'ri-a), . semiorbicularis (sem-i-or-bic-u-la'ris), , . vernalis (ver-na'lis), , fig. . ochre-spored agarics, . omphalia (om-pha'li-a), . campanella (cam-pa-nel'la), , , pl. , figs. , . epichysium (ep-i-chys'i-um), , fig. . panæolus (pa-næ'o-lus), . fimicola (fi-mic'o-la), . papilionaceus (pa-pil-i-o-na'ce-us), , fig. . retirugis (re-ti-ru'gis), -- , pl. , figs. -- , . solidipes (so-lid'i-pes), . panus (pa'nus), . cyathiformis (cy-a-thi-for'mis), . rudis (ru'dis), . strigosus (stri-go'sus), . stipticus (stip'ti-cus), , . paxillus (pax-il'lus) . atro-tomentosus (at-ro-tom-en-to'sus), , fig. . corrugatus (cor-ru-ga'tus), , pl. , fig. . flavidus (flav'i-dus), . involutus (in-vo-lu'tus), , , fig. . panuoides (pan-u-oi'des), , pl. , fig. . rhodoxanthus (rhod-o-xan'thus), , , pl. , fig. . phalloideæ (phal-loid'e-æ), . phlebia (phle'bi-a), . merismoides (mer-is-moi'des), pls. , , figs. , . pholiota (pho-li-o'ta), . adiposa (ad-i-po'sa), , , pl. , fig. . aurivella (au-ri-vel'la), . cerasina (ce-ras'i-na), . johnsoniana (john-so-ni-a'na), , pl. , fig. . marginata (mar-gi-na'ta), , fig. . præcox (præ'cox), , , pl. , fig. . squarrosa (squar-ro'sa), . squarrosoides (squar-ro-soi'des), , pl. , fig. . subsquarrosa (sub-squar-ro'sa), . unicolor (u-nic'o-lor), . pleurotus (pleu-ro'tus), . applicatus (ap-pli-ca'tus), , , fig. . corticatus (cor-ti-ca'tus), , pl. , fig. . dryinus (dry'i-nus), , , pl. , figs. , . ostreatus (os-tre-a'tus), , pl. , fig. . petaloides (pet-a-loi'des), -- , figs. , . sapidus (sap'i-dus), , , pl. , fig. . serotinus (se-rot'i-nus), . sulfureoides (sul-fu-re-oi'des), , fig. . ulmarius (ul-ma'ri-us), -- , figs. , . pluteus (plu'te-us), . cervinus (cer-vi'nus), , , fig. . tomentosulus (to-men-tos'u-lus), , fig. . polyporaceæ (pol-y-po-ra'ce-æ), . polyporus (po-lyp'o-rus), , -- . applanatus (ap-pla-na'tus), , fig. . borealis (bo-re-a'lis), , , figs. , . brumalis (bru-ma'lis), , pl. , fig. . fomentarius (fo-men-ta'rius), . frondosus (fron-do'sus), , pls. , , figs. , . igniarius (ig-ni-a'ri-us), . intybaceus (in-ty-ba'ce-us), . leucophæus (leu-co-phæ'us), . lucidus (lu'ci-dus), , pl. , fig. . sulphureus (sul-phu're-us), , pls. , , figs. , . umbellatus (um-bel-la'tus), , fig. . polystictus (pol-y-stic'tus), . cinnabarinus (cin-na-ba-ri'nus), . cinnamomeus (cin-na-mo'me-us), , fig. . connatus (con-na'tus), . hirsutus (hir-su'tus), . oblectans (ob-lec'tans), . perennis (pe-ren'nis), , fig. . pergamenus (per-ga-me'nus), , . splendens (splen'dens), . versicolor (ver-sic'o-lor), . psalliota (psal-li-o'ta), -- , . psathyrella (psath-y-rel'la), . disseminata (dis-sem-i-na'ta), , , fig. . psilocybe foenisecii (psi-loc'y-be foe-ni-se'ci-i), . purple-brown-spored agarics, . rosy-spored agarics, . russula (rus'su-la), . adusta (ad-us'ta), , pl. . alutacea (al-u-ta'ce-a), , , pl. . emetica (e-met'i-ca), , pl. . fragilis (frag'i-lis), . furcata (fur-ca'ta), . lepida (lep'i-da), , pl. . nigricans (nig'ri-cans), . virescens (vi-res'cens), , pl. . sarcoscypha floccosa (sar-cos'cy-pha floc-co'sa), , , fig. . schizophyllum (schiz-o-phyl'lum), . alneum (al'ne-um), , , fig. . commune (com-mu'ne), . scleroderma (scler-o-der'ma), . verrucosum (ver-ru-co'sum), . vulgare (vul-ga're), . spathularia velutipes (spath-u-la'ri-a ve-lu'ti-pes), , fig. . spinellus fusiger (spi-nel'lus fu'si-ger) . macrocarpus (mac-ro-car'pus), . sterium (ste'ri-um), . strobilomyces (strob-i-lom'y-ces), . floccopus (floc'co-pus), . strobilaceus (strob-i-la'ce-us), , pl. , figs. -- . stropharia (stro-pha'ri-a), . æruginosa (æ-ru-gi-no'sa), . semiglobata (sem-i-glo-ba'ta), , fig. . stercoraria (ster-co-ra'ri-a), . thelephoraceæ (thel-e-pho-ra'ce-æ), . trametes (tra-me'tes), , . ambigua (am-big'u-a), , . trembling fungi, . tremellineæ (trem-el-lin'e-æ), . tremella (tre-mel'la), . frondosa (fron-do'sa), , fig. . fuciformis (fu-ci-for'mis), , fig. . lutescens (lu-tes'cens), . mycetophila (my-ce-toph'i-la), , fig. . tricholoma (trich-o-lo'ma), . peckii (peck'i-i), , . personatum (per-so-na'tum), , figs. , . sejunctum (se-junc'tum), , fig. . trogia (tro'gi-a), . crispa (cris'pa), , pl. , fig. . tubaria (tu-ba'ri-a), . pellucida (pel-lu'ci-da), , fig. . tube-bearing fungi, . verpa bohemica (ver'pa bo-hem'i-ca), . volvaria (vol-va'ri-a), . bombycina (bom-byc'i-na), , , fig. . speciosa (spe-ci-o'sa), , . white-spored agarics, . index to species. acicula (mycena), . acutesquamosa (lepiota), . adiposa (pholiota), . adusta (russula), . æruginosa (stropharia), . alneum (schizophyllum), . alutacea (russula), . ambigua (dædalea), . ambigua (trametes), . americana (lepiota), . americanus (boletus), . antipoda (galera), . applanatus (crepidotus), . applanatus (polyporus), . appendiculatum (hypholoma), . applicatus (pleurotus), . arvensis (agaricus), . asperula (lepiota), . asprella (leptonia), . atramentarius (coprinus), . atro-tomentosus (paxillus), . aurantia (armillaria), . aurantiacus (cantharellus), . aurivella (pholiota), . badhami (lepiota), . bispora (morchella), . bohemica (verpa), . bombycina (volvaria), . botrytes (clavaria), . brevipes (boletus), . brumalis (polyporus), . bulbosus (boletus), . cæsarea (amanita), . calolepis (crepidotus), . campestris (agaricus), . campanella (omphalia), . candida (clitocybe), . candolleanum (hypholoma), . cantharellus (craterellus), . caput-medusæ (hydnum), . caput-ursi (hydnum), . caudicinus (polyporus), . cerasina (pholiota), . cervinus (pluteus), . chelidonium (lactarius), . chimonophilus (crepidotus), . chromapes (boletus), . chrysodon (hygrophorus), . chrysorrheus (lactarius), . cibarius (cantharellus), . cinnabarinum (calostoma), . cinnabarinus (polystictus), . cinnamomeus (cortinarius), . cinnamomeus (polystictus), . coccinea (sarcoscypha), . coccineus (hygrophorus), . cohærens (marasmius), . cohærens (mycena), . collinitus (cortinarius), . comatus (coprinus), . commune (schizophyllum), . comtulus (agaricus), . conica (morchella), . conicus (hygrophorus), . connatus (polystictus), . coprinoides (galera), . coralloides (hydnum), . cornucopioides (craterellus), . corrugatus (paxillus), . corrugis (lactarius), . corticatus (pleurotus), . cothurnata (amanita), . cretaceus (agaricus), . crassipes (morchella), . crispa (helvella), . crispa (trogia), . cristata (lepiota), . crustuliniforme (hebeloma), . cyanothrix (mycena), . cyathiforme (lycoperdon), . cyathiformis (clitocybe), . cyathiformis (panus), . deliciosa (morchella), . deliciosus (lactarius), . diminutivus (agaricus), . disseminata (psathyrella), . dryinus (pleurotus), . dryophila (collybia), . duplicata (dictyophora), . eburneus (hygrophorous), . echinata (inocybe), . edulus (boletus), . emetica (russula), . epichysium (omphalia), . epipterygia (mycena), . erinaceus (hydnum), . esculenta (gyromitra), . esculenta (morchella), . farinosa (amanitopsis), . felleus (boletus), . fimicola (panæolus), . firma (fistulina), . flava (galera), . flavidus (boletus), . flavidus (paxillus), . floccocephala (amanita), . floccopus (strobilomyces), . floccosa (sarcoscypha), . foenisecii (psilocybe), . fomentarius (polyporus), . formosa (clavaria), . fragile (hydnum), . fragilis (russula), . frondosa (tremella), . frondosus (polyporus), . frostiana (amanita), . fuciformis (tremella), . fuligineus (hygrophorus), . fuliginosus (lactarius), . fulvotomentosus (crepidotus), . furcata (russula), . fusiger (spinellus), . galericulata (mycena), . gemmatum (lycoperdon), . gerardii (lactarius), . giganteum (lycoperdon), . glandulosa (exidia), . glutinosus (gomphidius), . granulatus (boletus), . graveolens (hydnum), . grayanum (entoloma), . hæmatopa (mycena), . hepatica (fistulina), . herbarum (crepidotus), . hirsutus (polystictus), . hypothejus (hygrophorus), . igniarius (polyporus), . illudens (clitocybe), . imbricatum (hydnum), . impudicus (ithyphallus), . incana (leptonia), . indigo (lactarius), . infundibuliformis (clitocybe), . intybaceus (polyporus), . involutus (paxillus), . johnsoniana (pholiota), . jubatum (entoloma), . laccata (clitocybe), . lachnophylla (collybia), . lachrymabundum (hypholoma), . lacrymans (merulius), . lacunosa (helvella), . lævis (annularia), . lateritia (galera), . lecomtei, (lentinus), . lepida (russula), . lepideus (lentinus), . lignyotus (lactarius), . livida (amanitopsis), . longipes (collybia), . lubrica (leotia), . lucidus (polyporus), . leucophæus (polyporus), . lutescens (calostoma), . lutescens (mitremyces), . lutescens (tremella), . luteus (boletus), . macrocarpus (spinellus), . mappa (amanita), . marginata (pholiota), . maritimus (agaricus), . merismoides (phlebia), . mellea (armillaria), . micaceus (coprinus), . miniatus (hygrophorus), . morgani (lepiota), . mucida (clavaria), . muscaria (amanita), . mycetophila (tremella), . naucina (lepiota), . nigricans (gomphidius), . nigricans (russula), . nivalis (amanitopsis), . oblectans (polystictus), . obsonium (boletus), . ochroleucus (cortinarius), . orcella (clitopilus), . oreades (marasmius), . ornatipes (boletus), . ostreatus (pleurotus), . pallida (fistulina), . pantherina (amanita), . panuoides (paxillus), . papilionaccus (panæolus), . paradoxa (flammula), . peckii (tricholoma), . pelletieri (clitocybe), . pellucida (tubaria), . perennis (polystictus), . pergamenus (lactarius), . pergamenus (polystictus), . perplexum (hypholoma), . personatum (tricholoma), . petaloides (pleurotus), . phalloides (amanita), . pictus (boletinus), . pinicola (polyporus), . piperatus (lactarius), . pistillaris (clavaria), . pistillaris (craterellus), . placomyces (agaricus), . platyphylla (collybia), . polita (eccilia), . polychroa (flammula), . polygramma (mycena), . polypyramis (amanita), . porosus (boletinus), . præcox, (pholiota), . prælonga (mycena), . pratensis (hygrophorus), . procera (lepiota), . prunulus (clitopilus), . psittacinus (hygrophorus), . punctipes (boletus), . pura (mycena), . putidum (hydnum), . pyriforme (lycoperdon), . rachodes (lepiota), . radicata (collybia), . ravenelii (dictyophora), . repanda (inocybe), . repandum (entoloma), . repandum (hydnum), . resimus (lactarius), . retirugis (chalymotta), . retirugis (panæolus), . rhodoxanthus (flammula), . rhodoxanthus (gomphidius), . rhodoxanthus (paxillus), . rodmani (agaricus), . rotula (marasmius), . rubescens (amanita), . rudis (panus), . rufus (gyrocephalus), . rugocephalum (hypholoma), . sapidus (pleurotus), . sapinea (flammula), . scaber (boletus), . sejunctum (tricholoma), . semiglobata (stropharia), . semilibera (morchella), . semiorbicularis (naucoria), . serotinus (pleurotus), . silvaticus (agaricus), . silvicola (agaricus), . solidipes (panæolus), . solitaria (amanita), . spadicea (amanitopsis), . speciosa (volvaria), . spinulifera (collybia), . splendens (polystictus), . spreta (amanita), . squarrosa (pholiota), . squarrosoides (pholiota), . stercoraria (stropharia), . stipticus (lentinus), . stipticus (panus), . strictius (entoloma), . strigosus (panus), . strobilaceus (strobilomyces), . strobiliformis (amanita), . sublateritium (hypholoma), . subluteus (boletus), . subrufescens (agaricus), . subsquarrosa (pholiota), . subtomentosus (boletus), . succosa (mycena), . sulphureus (polyporus), . sulfureoides (pleurotus), . tammii (flammula), . tenera (galera), . tomentosulus (pluteus), . tomninosus (lactarius), . tremellosus (merulius), . ulmarius (pleurotus), . umbellatus (polyporus), . unicolor (pholiota), . vaginata (amanitopsis), . variicolor (bolbitius), . velutinum (hydnum), . velatipes (amanita), . velutipes (collybia), . velutipes (spathularia), . vermiculosus (boletus), . verna (amanita), . vernalis (naucoria), . verrucosum (scleroderma), . versicolor (polystictus), . versutus (crepidotus), . violacens (cortinarius), . virescens (russula), . virosa (amanita), . volemus (lactarius), . volvata (amanitopsis), . vulgare (scleroderma), . vulgaris (mycena), . vulpinus (lentinus), . * * * * * * transcriber's notes: page [a] for analytical keys to the families and genera see chapter xxii. changed chapter xxii to xxiv. apparently chapters were added making these references outdated. page [b] for analytical key to the genera see chapter xxii. changed chapter xxii to xxiv. page the spores are black in mass, not purple tinged. for analytical keys to the genera see chapter xxii. changed xxii to xxiv. page changed kornos to kopros in accordance with printed correction list. page the spores are white in mass, or sometimes with a faint yellowish or lilac tinge. for analytical keys to the genera see chapter xxii. changed xxii to xxiv. page figures -- are from plants (no. c. u. herbarium) collected in an open woods near ithaca. for the poisonous property of the plant see chapter xx. changed chapter xx to chapter xxii. page condition of the circumsissle changed to circumscissile. page as _a. verna_; the pilus convex, the annulus broad and entire, changed to pileus. page a few remnants of the volva, striate on the margin, and -. cm. unchanged, although - . cm. may have been intended. page facing plate fig. .--a. cæsaria. changed to cæsarea. page often in a recticulate fashion. the =spores= are white, oblong, -- µ changed to 'reticulate'. page variations being due to numbers of colored cystida changed to cystidia. page the spores are rosy, pink, salmon colored, flesh colored, or reddish. for analytical keys to the genera see chapter xxii. changed chapter xxii to xxiv. page the =pileus= is convex and umbilcate, somewhat membranaceous, smooth, changed to umbilicate. page the spores are ochre yellow, rusty, rusty-brown, or some shade of yellow. for analytical keys to the genera see chapter xxii. changed xxii to xxiv. page membraneous, ovate or companulate changed to campanulate. page during may and june, , in a freshly manured grass plat between plat = a portion of flat, even ground. page were found in open woods under kalmia were the sun had an opportunity changed to 'where the sun'. page giant buff-ball, and the _l. cyathiforme_, where the wall or peridium changed to 'puff-ball'. page changed gyromytra to gyromitra in accordance with the corrections list. page then the specimen must be covered with a bell-bar or other receiver changed to 'bell-jar'. page or compartment where there is little moisture, until the bricks are unchanged. although, 'a little moisture' seems to make more sense. page also wash and remove the pores from half a dozen good sized "beefsteak" changed to 'spores'. page made, but it may be assumed that the soluble cabohydrates changed to carbohydrates. page honey-combed surface, or recticulate, changed to 'reticulate'. page =gills= not decurrent, plants parastic on other mushrooms. changed to parasitic. page = =--=stipe= tenaceous, margin of pileus first incurved. changed to tenacious. page carnucopioides (craterellus), . changed to cornucopioides. page spreta (amanita), . relocated alphbetically lines up from original. hyphenation some hyphenation is inconsistent depending on whether it is used in text or in an index/glossary. accents some accents are inconsistent between text and illustration captions. student's hand-book of mushrooms of america edible and poisonous. by thomas taylor, m. d. author of food products, etc. published in serial form--=no. =--price, c. per number. washington, d. c.: a. r. taylor, publisher, mass. ave. n.e. . [illustration: plate a. hymenomycetes. agaricus (psalliota) campester. t. taylor, del.] plate a. in plate a is presented a sketch of the common field mushroom, agaricus campester. fig. represents the mature plant; fig. , a sectional view of the same; fig. , the basidia, club-shaped cells from the summit of which proceed the slender tubes called sterigmata, which support the spores--highly magnified; fig. , the sterigmata; fig. , the mycelium, highly magnified, supporting immature mushrooms; fig. , the spores as shed from an inverted mushroom cap; fig. , spores magnified. [illustration: plate b. hymenomycetes. types of the six orders of hymenomycetes. t. taylor, del.] plate b. in plate b is represented a leading type of each of the six orders of the family hymenomycetes: fig. . cap with radiating gills beneath. agaricini. fig. . cap with spines or teeth beneath. hydnei. fig. . cap with pores or tubes beneath. polyporei. fig. . cap with the under or spore-bearing surface even. thelephorei. fig. . whole plant, club-shaped, or bush-like and branched. clavarei. fig. . whole plant irregularly expanded, substance gelatinous. tremellini. copyright, , by thomas taylor, m. d., and a. r. taylor. introduction. in the year , as microscopist of the department of agriculture, i prepared, as a part of the exhibit of my division at the centennial exhibition at philadelphia, a large collection of water-color drawings representing leading types of the edible and poisonous mushrooms of the united states, together with representations of about nine hundred species of microscopic fungi detrimental to vegetation. in the preparation of the first collection i had the valuable assistance of prof. charles h. peck, state botanist of new york, and in the second the hearty co-operation of rev. m. j. berkeley and dr. m. c. cook, the eminent british mycologists. the popular character of this exhibit attracted the attention of the general public, and many letters were received at the department showing an awakening interest in the study of fungi, particularly with regard to the mushroom family, as to methods of cultivation, the means of determining the good from the unwholesome varieties, etc. my first published paper on the subject of edible mushrooms, entitled "twelve edible mushrooms of the u. s.," appeared in the annual report of the department of agriculture for . this was followed by others to the number of five, and as the demand for these reports increased, reprints were made and issued, by order of the secretary of agriculture, in pamphlet form, under the general title of "food products." numerous editions of these reprints were issued by the department up to . during the year , and the first half of , , of these reports were sent out by the department, and the supply was exhausted. they have been out of print for more than two years. it is in view of this fact, and in response to a great and constant demand for these publications, that i have undertaken to publish a series of five pamphlets on the edible and poisonous mushrooms of the united states, which shall embody the substance of the five pamphlets on "food products" above alluded to, supplemented by new matter relating to classification, general and specific, analytical tables of standard authors, and a continuation of the chapters on structure, etc. additional plates, representing leading types of edible and poisonous mushrooms, will also be inserted in each number. in the compilation and extension of this work i have the assistance of my daughter, miss a. robena taylor, who has given considerable attention to the study of fungi, and who has been my faithful coadjutor in the work of collecting specimens, etc., for a number of years. for valuable suggestions as to structural characteristics and methods of classification i am especially indebted to prof. chas. h. peck, of albany, new york, dr. m. c. cooke, of england, and prof. p. a. saccardo, of italy. the colored plates in pamphlet no. , together with a few of those which will appear in the succeeding numbers of this series, are reproductions of those prepared, under my direct supervision, for the pamphlets entitled "food products" published by the department of agriculture and referred to above. thomas taylor, m. d. may , . cryptogams. the cryptogamic or flowerless plants, _i. e._, those having neither stamens nor pistils, and which are propagated by spores, are divided, according to dr. hooper, into the following four classes:--pteridophyta or vascular acrogens, represented by the ferns, club-mosses, etc.; bryophyta or cellular acrogens, represented by the musci, scale-mosses, etc.; algæ, represented by the "red seaweeds," diatomacæ, etc.; fungi or amphigens, which include the molds, mildews, mushrooms, etc. the lichens, according to the "schwendener hypotheses," consist of ascigerous fungi parasitic on algæ. fungi. botanists unite in describing the plants of this class as being destitute of chlorophyll and of starch. these plants assume an infinite variety of forms, and are propagated by spores which are individually so minute as to be scarcely perceptible to the naked eye. they are entirely cellular, and belong to the class amphigens, which for the most part have no determinate axe, and develop in every direction, in contradistinction to the acrogens, which develop from the summit, possessing an axe, leaves, vessels, etc. fungi are divided by systematists into two great classes: . sporifera, in which the spores are free, naked, or soon exposed. . sporidifera, in which the spores are not exposed, but instead are enclosed in minute cells or sacs, called asci. these classes are again subdivided, according to the disposition of the spores and of the spore bearing surface, called the hymenium, into various families. the sporiferous fungi are arranged into four families, viz: . _hymenomycetes_, in which the hymenium is free, mostly naked, or soon exposed. _example, "common meadow mushroom."_ . _gasteromycetes_, in which the hymenium is enclosed in a second case or wrapper, called a peridium, which ruptures when mature, thus releasing the spores. _example, common puff ball._ . _coniomycetes_, in which the spores are naked, mostly terminal on inconspicuous threads, free or enclosed in a perithecium. dust-like fungi. _example, rust of wheat._ . _hyphomycetes_, in which the spores are naked on conspicuous threads, rarely compacted, thread-like fungi. _example, blue mold._ of these four subdivisions of the sporifera, only the hymenomycetes and the gasteromycetes contain plants of the mushroom family, and these two together constitute the class known as the basidiomycetes. the chief distinction of the basidiomycetes is that the naked spores are borne on the summits of certain supporting bodies, termed basidia. these basides are swollen, club-shaped cells, surmounted by four minute tubes or spore-bearers, called sterigmata, each of which carries a spore. see figs. and , plate a. these basides together with a series of elongated cells, termed paraphyses, packed closely together side by side, and intermixed with other sterile cells, called cystidia, constitute the spore-bearing surface or hymenium of the plant. to the naked eye this hymenium appears simply as a very thin smooth membrane, but when a small portion of it is viewed through a microscope with high powers its complex structure is readily observed and can be carefully studied. the _sporidiferous_ fungi are represented by the families physomycetes and ascomycetes. the first of these consists wholly of microscopic fungi. _ascomycetes._--in the plants of this family the spores are not supported upon basidia, but instead are enclosed in minute sacs or asci formed from the fertile cells of a hymenium. in this connection it would be well to state that saccardo does not recognize the divisions _sporifera_ and _sporidifera_ by those names. they are nearly the equivalent of basidiomycetes and ascomycetes. what cooke names physomycetes, saccardo calls phycomyceteæ, introducing it in his work between gasteromyceteæ and myxomyceteæ, which some mycologists consider somewhat out of place. saccardo calls its asci (sacs which contain the spores) sporangia. he does not regard them as genuine asci, but as corresponding more to the peridium of the _gasteromyceteæ_ and _myxomyceteæ._ peck says that this group seems to present characters of both hyphomycetes and ascomycetes, with a preponderance towards hyphomycetes. it is a small group, however, and since it consists wholly of microscopic fungi, need not be farther considered in this work. in the ascomycetes are included the sub-families discomycetes, pyrenomycetes, and tuberacei. of these the discomycetes and the tuberacei are the only groups which contain any of the mushrooms, and but few of these are large enough or sufficiently tender to possess value as esculents. a good example of the first (discomycetes) is found in the morel, and of the second (tuberacei) in the truffle. in the discomycetes or "disk fungi," the spores are produced in minute membraneous sacs, each sac usually containing eight spores. these spore sacs are imbedded in the flesh of the exterior and upper surface of the mushroom cap. in the four classes, hymenomycetes, gasteromycetes, discomycetes, and tuberacei, therefore, are included all of the plants which are here designated under the generic term of "mushrooms." some idea of the relative numerical value of these classes may be obtained from the following figures given by the distinguished british mycologist, m. c. cooke: "hymenomyceteæ--total number of described species , gasteromycetæ-- " " " " " discomyceteæ-- " " " known " , " (the tuberacei comprise a very small group of subterranean fungi, and comparatively few of the species are described.) saccardo in his sylloge gives a total of , described species of fungi of all classes, including the most minute. of these the hymenomycetes include by far the largest number of edible mushrooms. the family hymenomycetes is divided into the following six orders: agaricini, polyporei, hydnei, thelephorei, clavarei, tremellini. in the order agaricini the hymenium is found on the under surface of the mushroom cap, covering pleats or gills, technically called lamellæ. these gills vary in character in the different genera, being "persistent in such as the agaricus, russula, and lentinus, deliquescent (melting) in coprinus, bolbitius, etc. the edge of the gills is acute in agaricus, marasmius, etc., but obtuse and vein-like in cantharellus, longitudinally channelled in trogia, and splitting in schyzophyllum." in the polyporei, pore-bearing mushrooms, the gills are replaced by tubes or pores. the tubes are little cylinders, long or short, pressed one against another, forming by their union a layer on the under surface of the cap, and the sporiferous membrane or hymenium lines their inner walls. their upper end is always closed, while the lower extremity is open to permit the outward passage of the spores. the tubes are generally joined together and are not easily disunited. they are free, _i. e._, separable, in the sole genus _fistulina_. as regards their attachment to the cap, the tubes may be firmly adherent as in the genus polyporus or easily detached in a single mass as in boletus, the fleshy form of the order polyporei. they frequently leave a circular space of greater or less dimensions around the stem, or they adhere to or are prolonged upon it in such a manner that the orifices rise in tiers one above another. the color of the tubes, although not offering as characteristic varieties as that of the gills, changes nevertheless according to species and according to the age of the plant. the tubes may sometimes be of a different color from their orifices, as in _boletus luridus_. in some of the boleti the color of the flesh is changed on exposure to the air and the tubes often assume the same tints. the tubes, generally called pores, are sometimes closely adherent to the substance of the cap, which is often hard, corky, or coriaceous, as seen in most of the _polyporei_. in the hydnei, spine-bearing mushrooms, the hymenium is seen covering the spines or needle-like processes which take the place of gills in this order, and which project from the under surface of the cap. these spines may be divided or entire, simple or ramified, and are formed of the substance of the cap. in the early stages of development they appear like small projecting points or papillæ, those on the margin of the cap and at the apex of the stem being always less developed, frequently remaining in this rudimentary state. they are rounded in the species hydnum imbricatum, sometimes compressed in hydnum repandum, sometimes terminating in hairs or filaments, as in hydnum barba jovis, or very much divided, as in hydnum fimbriatum. in the clavarei, the whole plant consists of solid fleshy masses without any stem of a distinct substance, sometimes club-shaped, sometimes branched with the hymenium smoothly covering the entire surface, never incrusting or coriaceous. in the thelephorei, the lower surface of the cap presents neither gills, pores, nor spines, but instead the hymenium covers an uneven or slightly wrinkled surface, partially striate, sometimes obscurely papillose. the plants of this order assume a great variety of shape, from that of a perfect cup with a central stem to an irregularly and much branched frond. they are generally dry and tough. very few are recommended as edible. prof. peck says of this order that probably no edible species will be found in any of its genera outside of the genus craterellus. in the order tremellini we have a great departure from the character of the substance, external appearance, and internal structure of the other orders of the hymenomycetes. the substance is gelatinous; the form is lobed, folded, or convolute, often resembling the brain of some animal. it is uniformly composed throughout of a colorless mucilage, with no appreciable texture, in which are distributed very fine, diversely branched, and anastomosing filaments. towards the surface the ultimate branches of this filamentous network give birth to globular cells, both at their summits and laterally, which attain a comparatively large size. these cells are filled with a protoplasm, to which the plant owes its color. the fertile threads are not compacted into a true hymenium. representative types of the above-described orders of the hymenomycetes are shown in plate b. the various genera, and species of these orders, will be described more in detail in connection with the species illustrated. classification. owing to the fact that botanists of various countries, writing in diverse languages, have for more than a century been engaged in describing the fungi of their respective countries, with their work frequently unknown to one another, it is not surprising that there has been constant revision, or that many changes have been made in the way of classification and nomenclature which to the amateur student are often confusing. the classification by the pioneer mycologist, elias fries, as presented in his several works on fungi, ignored all microscopical characters, and saccardo's classification, as presented in his _sylloge fungorum_, was the first complete system offered in its place. saccardo, in , commenced his sylloge, of which not less than twelve volumes have been published. in saccardo's system of classification the six orders of the hymenomycetes are not essentially different in their arrangement from that of fries, although saccardo has raised all the subgenera of agaricus to the rank of genera, and then altered their sequence so as to bring them into four sections, distinguished by the color of their spores. having raised the old subgenera of fries to generic rank, saccardo found it necessary to limit the application of the term agaricus to the group of fungi to which it was originally applied by linnæus, viz., the common field mushroom agaricus campester, and its allies, represented by agaricus arvensis, agaricus rodmani, etc., or, as prof. peck more definitely states it, "to those of the gilled mushrooms which have brown spores, free gills, a stem bearing a ring, gills generally pink-colored in the early stage, and brownish black when fully matured." m. c. cooke, the distinguished english mycologist, prefers to retain the _genus agaricus_ with its original subgenera intact, succeeded by the other genera of agaricini, as in the hymenomycetes europei of fries, giving as his reason the belief "that for purposes of classification features should be taken which are present and evident in the specimens themselves, and are not dependent on any of their life-history which cannot be presented in the herbarium." in a work such as the present, which is designed to be popular in character rather than purely technical, it is deemed advisable to select as a basis for classification that system which is most accessible to reference by the general reading public. saccardo's sylloge, while exhaustive in character and of inestimable value to the mycologist, is written in latin, and is, moreover, a very expensive work--facts which render it practically unavailable to the general public. in the compilation of this series of pamphlets i have adopted the classification of m. c. cooke, which, as regards the hymenomycetes, the family containing most of the fleshy fungi, is, with exceptions noted, in accord with that of saccardo. m. c. cooke's hand-book of fungi is of convenient size and form for ready reference. for the convenience, however, of those who may wish to familiarize themselves with both systems, a synopsis of _saccardo's genera_ of hymenomycetes will be given later. structural characteristics of the agaricini. by far the greater number of the agaricini have both cap and stem. the form of the cap, as well as that of the stem, varies somewhat in the different genera and species. those which are terrestrial in habit are generally of an umbrella-like shape, while those which grow upon trees and decayed tree-stumps are apt to be one-sided or semi-spherical. in many of the parasitical mushrooms the stem is absent. where the stem is present it is either an interrupted continuation of the hymenophore or fleshy substance of the cap, or else is supported separately as a pillar on which the cap rests, a more or less distinct line of demarcation showing where the fibers terminate. sometimes it is quite easily detached from the cap socket, as in the lepiota procerus. it may be hollow or stuffed, solid or fibrillose. it varies in length and thickness. in some species it is smooth and polished, in others rough and hairy, reticulated, etc., sometimes tapering, sometimes distinctly bulbous at the base. the spores of the species differ in color and are usually globular or oblong in shape. all of these characteristics assist in determining the species. mushroom gills. mushroom gills, or lamellæ, anatomically considered, are composed, first, of a central portion, a prolongation of the hymenophore or flesh of the cap, more or less dense, sometimes so thin as to be scarcely perceptible; second, the hymenium or spore-bearing membrane covering the surfaces of this prolonged hymenophore. they are vertical, simple, equal, respectively, or more frequently alternating with shorter gills. they are often evanescent and putrescent, sometimes liquefying altogether. their color is usually different from the upper surface of the cap, not always similar to that of the spores borne upon them, at least in youth; with age, however, they usually assume the color of the mature spore. the change of color of the gills according to the age of the plant is very important in the study of the agaricini; it accounts for the white gills of certain species in youth, the pink in maturity, and the brown when aged. the end of the gill nearest the stalk of the plant is termed the posterior extremity; the opposite end, the anterior extremity. in most of the agaricini the gills are unequal. some extend from the margin to about half the space between it and the stem; others are still shorter. the volva. the volva is a membrane which envelops the entire plant in embryo, giving it the appearance of an egg. it originates at the base of the mushroom and furnishes it, during its foetal life, with the means of support and nourishment. its texture is so delicate that it generally disappears, leaving very little trace of its existence on the adult plant. in many of the volvate species this organ exists only so long as they are under ground, and some mycologists restrict the term "volvati" to such only as retain it afterwards. as the young plant expands it breaks through the top of this volva or wrapper, and, emerging, carries with it patches of the membrane on the upper surface of the cap. these are more or less prominent, numerous, and thick, sometimes irregularly disposed, sometimes regularly in the form of plates, warts, etc. at the base of the stem of the mushroom the remains of the volva are seen in the form of a sort of wrapper. this is more or less ample, thick, and ascending. it is called _free_ when it is loose or easily detached from the stem, and _congenital_ when it cannot be separated from it without laceration. in some species it is distinctly membranous, and in others floccose, and friable in character, sometimes appearing in ridges as a mere border, at others broken up into scales, and, as the plant matures, wholly disappearing. the volva is a feature of great importance in the study of the agaricini, of the subgenera amanita, volvaria, etc. the mushroom veil. the veil is not a constant feature in the agaricini, at least it is not always visible. when present it consists of a membrane which extends from the margin of the cap to the stem, veiling or protecting the gills. this membrane, called the cortina, has given its name to a numerous and important class of mushrooms (the _cortinarias_). it is generally white, soft, slightly spongy, cottony, at times fibrillose or even slightly fibrous, again in texture comparable to the spider's web, and may be even powdery or glutinous. it exists intact only in the youth of the plant. it is not visible in the developing mushroom, at least while the cap is closely pressed against the stem, but as the cap expands the membrane extends and finally breaks, leaving in some species its remnants upon the margin of the cap and upon the stem in the usual form of a ring or a mere zone. when the stem is not ringed the veil rises high upon the stalk, stretches across to meet the edges of the cap, and is afterwards reflected back over its whole surface. mushroom spores and mycelium. the spore is the reproductive organ of the mushroom. it differs from the seed of the flowering plant in being destitute of an apparent embryo. a seed contains a plantlet which develops as such. a spore is a minute cell containing a nucleus or living germ, the reproductive cell germ called by some authors the germinating granule. this in turn throws out a highly elongated process consisting of a series of thread-like cells branching longitudinally and laterally, at length bifurcating and anastomosing the mass, forming the vegetative process known as mycelium or mushroom spawn. on this mycelium, at intervals, appear knob-like bodies, called tubercles, from which the mushrooms spring and from which they derive their nourishment. see fig. , plate a. where the conditions have been unfavorable this mycelium has been known to grow for years without bearing fruit. mushroom spores are very variable in size, shape, and color, but are generally constant at maturity in the same genus. their shape, almost always spherical in the young plant, becomes ovate, ellipsoidal, fusiform, reniform, smooth, stellate, sometimes tuberculate, or remains globose. this feature, varying thus with the age of the plant, should be studied in the mature plant. mycelium. de leveille has thus defined mycelium: "filaments at first simple, then more or less complicated, resulting from the vegetation of the spores and serving as roots to the mushroom." the mycelium of mushrooms or the mushroom spawn is usually white, but is also found yellow, and even red. it is distinguished by some writers as nematoid, fibrous, hymenoid, scleroid or tuberculous, and malacoid. the nematoid mycelium is the most common. creeping along on the surface of the earth, penetrating it to a greater or less depth, developing in manure among the débris of leaves or decayed branches, always protected from the light, it presently consists of very delicate filamentous cells more or less loosely interwoven, divided, anastomosing in every direction and often of considerable extent. its presence is sometimes difficult to detect without the use of the microscope, either on account of its delicacy or because of its being intermingled with the organic tissues in which it has developed. sometimes mycelium unites in bundles more or less thick and branched. this has been called the fibrous mycelium. where the filaments intercross closely, are felted, and inclined to form a membrane, it is hymenoid mycelium. where the filaments are so small and close that they form very compact bodies, constituting those solid irregular products called sclerotium, it is scleroid or tuberculous mycelium. with malacoid mycelium we have nothing to do in this paper. it is a soft, pulpy, fleshy mycelium. systematists have divided the agaricini into groups according to the color of their spores. these groups are defined as follows by various authors: according to-- elias fries, groups: _leucosporus_, white; _hyporhodius_, pink; _cortinaria_, ochraceous; _derminus_, rust; _pratella_, purplish black. rev. j. m. berkeley, groups: very frequently pure white, but presenting also pink, various tints of brown, from yellowish and rufous to dark bister, purple-black, and finally black; _leucospori_, white; _hyporhodii_, salmon; _dermini_, ferruginous; _pratellæ_, brown; _coprinarius_, black. dr. badham, groups: pure white or a yellow tinge on drying; brown; yellow; pink; purple; purple-black; some pass successively from pink to purple and from purple to purple-black. mrs. hussey, shades: white; rose; pale ocher; olivaceous-ocher; reddish-ocher; ochraceous; yellowish olive-green; dull brown; scarcely ferruginous; snuff-color; very dark brown. hogg & johnson, groups: _leucosporei_, white; _hyporhodii_, salmon; _dermini_, rusty; _pratellæ_, purplish-brown; _coprinarii_, black. c. gillet, shades: white; pink; ochraceous; yellow; ferruginous; black or purplish black; round, ovate, elongated, or fusiform, smooth, tuberculate or irregular, simple or composite, transparent or nebulous, etc. jules bel, groups: white; pink; red; brown; black. dr. gautier, shades: white; pink; brown; purplish-brown; black. constantin & dufour, groups: white; pink; ochraceous; brownish-purple; black. j. p. barla, groups: _leucosporii_, white; _hyporhodii_, pink; _cortinariæ_, ochraceous; _dermini_, rust; _pratellæ_, purplish-black; _coprinarii_, blackish; _coprini_ and _gomphi_, dense black. l. boyer, groups, shades: white to cream yellow; pale pink to ochraceous yellow; bay or red brown to brown or blackish bister; rust color, cinnamon or light yellow. w. d. hay, groups: white; pink; brown; purple; black. c. h. peck, groups: _leucosporii_, white; _hyporhodii_, salmon; _dermini_, rust; _pratellæ_, brown; _coprinarii_, black. saccardo divides the agaricini into four sections, according to the color of their spores, as follows: spores brown, purplish brown or black, _melanosporæ_; spores ochraceous or rusty ochraceous, _ochrosporæ_; spores rosy or pinkish, _rhodosporæ_; spores white, whitish or pale yellow, _leucosporæ_. dr. m. c. cooke, groups: _leucospori_, white or yellowish; _hyporhodii_, rosy or salmon color; _dermini_, brown, sometimes reddish or yellowish brown; _pratellæ_, purple, sometimes brownish purple, dark purple, or dark brown; _coprinarii_, black or nearly so. these shades are somewhat different from the colors of the mushrooms' gills, so that, when it is of importance to determine exactly the color of the spore in the identification of a species, we may without recourse to the microscope cut off the stem of an adult plant on a level with the gills and place the under surface of the cap upon a leaf of white paper if a dark-spored species, and upon a sheet of black paper if the spores are light. at the expiration of a few hours we will find, on lifting the cap, a bed of the shed spores which will represent their exact shade. these may be removed to a glass slide and their size and form determined by means of the microscope. in the present work dr. m. c. cooke's grouping of the spore series is adopted. etymology of the word "mushroom." various opinions have been offered as to the derivation of the word "mushroom." according to hay, it probably had its origin in a combination of the two welsh words _maes_, a field, and _rhum_, a knob, which by gradual corruption have become _mushroom_. some writers on the other hand regard it as a corruption of _mousseron_, a name specifically applied by the french to those mushrooms which are found growing in mossy places. but it seems to be of older usage than such a derivation would imply, and therefore the first explanation seems the more likely to be correct. in england the term "mushroom" has been most commonly applied to the "meadow mushroom," that being the one best known; but english-speaking mycologists now apply it generically very much as the french do the term "champignon," while the name "champignon" is restricted in england to the marasmius oreades, or "fairy ring" mushroom. berkeley says the french word "champignon" was originally scarcely of wider signification than our word "mushroom," though now classical in the sense of fleshy fungi generally. the german word _pilz_ (a corruption of boletus) is used to denote the softer kinds by some german authors. constant and dufour, in their recently published atlas des champignons, include types of a great variety of mushrooms. hay contends that the pernicious nick-name "toad-stool" has not the derivation supposed, but that the first part of the word is the saxon or old english "tod," meaning a bunch, cluster, or bush, the form of many terrestrial fungi suggesting it. the second syllable, "stool," is easily supplied. "the erroneous idea of connecting toads with these plants," says hay, "seems to be due to spenser, or to some poet, possibly, before his time." spenser speaks of the loathed paddocks, "paddock" then being the name given in england to the frog, afterwards corrupted to "paddic," and once received, readily converted by the scotch into "puddick-stool." it would seem, therefore, from the foregoing, that the term "toad-stool" can have no proper relation to mushrooms, whether edible or poisonous. the three mushrooms illustrated and described in this pamphlet, plates i, ii, and iii, are of the order agaricini or gilled mushrooms. they are well-defined types and of wide geographical distribution. food value of mushrooms. rollrausch and siegel, who claim to have made exhaustive investigations into the food values of mushrooms, state that "many species deserve to be placed beside meat as sources of nitrogenous nutriment," and their analysis, if correct, fully bears out the statement. they find in parts of dried _morchella esculenta_ . per cent. of protein; in _helvella esculenta_, . per cent. of protein, from to per cent. of potassium salts and phosphoric acid, . per cent. of fatty matter, and a considerable quantity of sugar. the _boletus edulis_ they represent as containing in parts of the dried substance . per cent. of protein. the nitrogenous values of different foods as compared with the mushroom are stated as follows: "protein substances calculated for parts of bread, . ; of oatmeal, . ; of barley bread, . ; of leguminous fruits, . ; of potatoes, . ; of mushrooms, . ." according to schlossberger and depping, in grams of dried mushrooms they found the following proportions of nitrogenous substances: -----------------------+-------- varieties. | grains. | chanterelles | . certain russulas | . lactarius deliciosus | . boletus edulis | . meadow mushroom | . -----------------------+-------- but all chemists are not agreed as to these proportions. for instance, lefort has found . grains of nitrogenous matter in the cap of _agaricus campestris_, . grains in the gills and only . of a grain in the stem. payen has found . grains in _agaricus campestris_, . grains in the common morel (_morchella esculenta_), . grains in the white truffle, and . grains in the black. a much larger proportion of the various kinds of mushrooms are edible than is generally supposed, but a prejudice has grown up concerning them in this country which it will take some time to eradicate. notwithstanding the occurrence of occasional fatal accidents through the inadvertent eating of poisonous species, fungi are largely consumed both by savage and civilized man in all parts of the world, and while they contribute so considerable a portion of the food product of the world we may be sure their value will not be permanently overlooked in the united states, especially when we consider our large accessions of population from countries in which the mushroom is a familiar and much prized edible. in italy the value of the mushroom as an article of diet has long been understood and appreciated. pliny, galen, and dioscorides mention various esculent species, notably varieties of the truffle, the boletus and the puff-ball, and vittadini writes enthusiastically of the gastronomic qualities of a large number of species. of late years large quantities have been sold in the italian markets. quantities of mushrooms are also consumed in germany, hungary, russia, france, and austria. darwin speaks of terra del fuego as the only country where cryptogamic plants form a staple article of food. a bright-yellow fungus allied to _bulgarin_ forms, with shellfish, the staple food of the fuegians. in england the common meadow mushroom _agaricus campestris_ is quite well known and used to a considerable extent among the people, but there is not that general knowledge of and use of other species which obtains in continental europe. in the english-speaking countries much has been done by the rev. m. j. berkeley, dr. m. c. cooke, worthington g. smith, rev. john stevenson, prof. hay, prof. chas. h. peck, prof. w. j. farlow, and others, including the various mushroom clubs, to disseminate a more general knowledge on this subject. late investigations show that nearly all the species common to the countries of continental europe, and of great britain, are found in different localities in the united states, and a number of species have been found which have not been described in european works. the geographical distribution of many species of the mushroom family is very wide. we have had specimens of the _morel_, for instance, sent to us from california and washington, on the pacific coast, and as far north as maine, on the atlantic, as well as from the southern and the midwestern states, and the same is true of other species. the season of their appearance varies somewhat according to the latitude and altitude of place of growth. mushrooms are rarely seen after the first heavy frosts, although an exception is noted in this latitude in the species hypholoma sublatertium, which has been found growing under the snow, at the roots of trees in sheltered woods. frozen mushrooms of this and closely allied species have revived when thawed, and proved quite palatable when cooked. at the present time only two species, agaricus campester and agaricus arvensis, are cultivated in america. some attempts have been made by an amateur mushroom club in ohio to cultivate the morel, but the results have not, so far, been reported. in the meantime, however, it is well to utilize the wild mushrooms as fast as the collector can satisfactorily identify them. the woods of all moist regions of this country abound with edible varieties. prof. curtis, of north carolina, gives a list of over one hundred edible species found in that state alone, and nearly all of these occur in our northern states as well. it is not contended that this list includes all the species which may be eaten, nor have all of these equal value from a gastronomic point of view. some are insipid as to flavor, and others are too tough or too slimy to please the popular taste. cautionary suggestions. before collecting for the table mushrooms found growing in the woods or fields, it would be well for inexperienced persons to consult carefully some work on the subject in which the characteristics of edible and poisonous varieties are described and illustrated. considering that an opinion seems to prevail that the discoloration of the silver spoon or small white onions when brought into contact with mushrooms during the culinary process is an infallible test of the poisonous species, i quote from a french author on mushrooms the following in relation to this supposed test: * * * we may not dispute the fact that a silver spoon or article of brass, or onions, may not become discolored on contact with the poisonous principle, but this discoloration is not reliable as a test for deciding the good or bad quality of mushrooms. in fact, we know that in the decomposition of albuminoids sulphureted hydrogen is liberated which of itself discolors silver, brass, and onions. i have deemed it advisable to publish this as one of the best means of answering those correspondents who have made inquiries as to the reliability of this test. it is by some supposed that high colors and viscidity are indications of non-edible species, but there are numerous exceptions here. _russula alutacea_--the pileus of which is often a purplish red--_amanita cæsarea_, and other species of brilliant coloring are known to be edible. as to viscidity, two very viscid species, when young, are among the highly prized esculents by those who know them, viz., _fistulina hepatica_, or the ox tongue, and _hygrophorus eburneus_, the ivory mushroom. the method of deciding the character of mushrooms by their odor and flavor is not to be relied upon. edible mushrooms are usually characterized by a pleasant flavor and odor; non-edible varieties have sometimes an unpleasant odor, and produce a biting, burning sensation on the tongue and throat, even in very small quantities, but several of the _amanitas_ have only a slight odor and taste, and certain species of mushrooms, acrid otherwise, become edible when cooked. in fact there is no general rule by which the edible species can be distinguished from the unwholesome or poisonous ones. the safest as well as the most sensible plan, therefore, is to apply the same rule as that which we adopt in the case of the esculents among the flowering plants, viz., to learn to know the characteristics of each individual species so as to distinguish it from all others. with regard to the mushrooms which have been designated as poisonous, it should be remembered that the term "poisonous" is used relatively. while some are only slightly poisonous, producing severe gastric irritation and nervous derangement, but without fatal results, others, if eaten in even very small quantity, may cause death. happily, however, the most dangerous species are not numerous as compared with the number that are edible, and with careful attention on the part of the collector they may be avoided. since the amanita group is made responsible by competent authority for most of the recorded cases of fatal poisoning, we would recommend the amateur mycophagist to give special study to this group in order to learn to separate the species authentically recorded as edible from the poisonous ones. some writers, as a measure of precaution, counsel the rejection of all species of amanita. but this is, of course, a matter for individual preference. there would seem to be no good reason why the observant student should not learn to discriminate between the edible and the poisonous species of the amanita as of any other group, and they should not be eaten until this discriminating knowledge is acquired. saccardo describes fifteen edible species of this group of mushrooms. we have tested three of this number, which, on account of their abundance in our locality and their good flavor, we would be loth to discard, viz., a. rubescens, a. cæsarea, and a. strobiliformis. a type of the amanita group, which is named first in the genera of the order agaricini, is shown in fig. , plate b. by reference to this figure some of the special characteristics of the group can be observed. there are mushrooms in other genera which show a volva or sheath at the base of the stem, and which contain edible species, but in these the stem is ringless. the volvariæ, for instance, show a conspicuous volva, a stem that is ringless, and pinkish spores. the amanitopsis vaginata carries a volva, but no ring. the spores are white, as in the amanita. in gathering mushrooms either for the table or for the herbarium, care should be taken not to leave any portion of the plant in the ground, so that no feature shall be lost that will aid in characterizing the species. in the careless pulling up of the plant the volva in the volvate species is often left behind. agaricini. fries. leucospori (spores white, or yellowish). _genus russula_ fr. the _russulæ_ bear some resemblance to the _lactars_, their nearest allies, but are at once distinguished from them by their want of milk. they are very abundant in the forests and open woods. the genus is cited by some authors as the most natural of the agarics, but, as many of the species very closely resemble each other, it requires careful analysis to determine them. the plants of this genus are not volvate, and have neither veil nor ring. the hymenophore is not separate from the trama of the gills. although some are pure white, the caps are usually brilliant in coloring, but the color is very susceptible to atmospheric changes, and after heavy rains the bright hues fade, sometimes only leaving a slight trace of the original coloring in the central depression of the cap. the cap in youth is somewhat hemispherical, afterwards expanding, becoming slightly depressed in the centre, somewhat brittle in texture; gills rigid, fragile, with acute edge; stem thick, blunt, and polished, usually short. the spores are globose, or nearly so, slightly rough, white or yellowish, according to the species. in r. virescens the spores are white, while in r. alutacea the spores are an ochraceous yellow in tint. a number of the species are of pleasant flavor, others peppery or acrid. out of seventy-two described by cooke, twenty-four are recorded as acrid. with some of these the acridity is said to disappear in cooking, and a few mycophagists claim to have eaten all varieties with impunity. we have recorded, however, some well authenticated cases of serious gastric disturbance, accompanied by acute inflammation of the mucous membrane, caused by the more acrid of these, notably _r. emetica_ and _r. foetens_, and in view of this fact it would seem a wise precaution for the _amateur_ collector to discard or at least to use very sparingly all those which have an acrid or peppery taste, until well assured as to their wholesomeness. the _genus russula_ has been divided into the following tribes or groups:--compactæ, furcatæ, rigidæ, heterophylla, and fragiles. the species _russula (rigidæ) virescens_, illustrated in plate i, belongs to the tribe rigidæ. in the plants of this group, the cap is absolutely dry and rigid, destitute of a viscid pellicle; the cuticle commonly breaking up into flocci or granules; the flesh thick, compact, and firm, vanishing near the margin, which is never involute, and shows no striations. the gills are irregular in length, some few reaching half way to the stem, the others divided, dilated, and extending into a broad rounded end, stem solid. [illustration: plate i. russula virescens fr. (edible) the verdette from nature collected in the district of columbia report of microscopist, u. s. department of agriculture l. krieger, pinx. avil. co. lith. phila.] plate i. =russula virescens= fries. "_the verdette_" _or_ "_greenish russula_." edible. the cap of this species is fleshy and dry, the skin breaking into thin patches. the margin is usually even, but specimens occur which show striations. the color varies from a light green to a grayish or moldy green, sometimes tinged with yellow; gills white, free from the stem or nearly so, unequal, rather crowded; stem white, stout, solid, smooth, at first hard, then spongy; spores white, nearly globose. one writer speaks of the "warts" of the cap, but the term warts, used in this connection, refers merely to the patches resulting from the splitting or breaking up of the epidermis of the cap, and not to such excrescences called warts, as are commonly observed on the cap of amanita muscaria, for instance, which are remnants of the volva. the _r. virescens_ is not as common as some others of the russulæ, in some localities, and hitherto seems to have attracted but little attention as an edible species in this country, although highly esteemed in europe. it has been found growing in thin woods in maryland and in virginia from june to november, and we have had reports of its growth from new york and massachusetts. the peasants in italy are in the habit of toasting these mushrooms over wood embers, eating them afterwards with a little salt. vittadini, roques, and cordier speak highly of its esculent qualities and good flavor. we have eaten quantities of the virescens gathered in washington, d. c., and its suburbs, and found it juicy and of good flavor when cooked. explanation of plate i. plate i exhibits four views of this mushroom (_r. virescens_) drawn and colored from nature. fig. , the immature plant; fig. , advanced stage of growth, cap expanded or plane; fig. , section showing the unequal length of the gills and manner of their attachment to the stem; fig. , surface view of the cap showing the epidermis split in characteristic irregular patches; fig. , spores, white. agaricini. coprinarii (spores black or nearly so). genus _coprinus_ fries. hymenophore distinct from the stem. gills membranaceous, at first coherent from the pressure, then dissolving into a black fluid. trama obsolete. spores, oval, even, black. m. c. cooke. the plants of this genus have been divided into two tribes, viz., _pelliculosi_ and _veliformis_. in the _pelliculosi_ the gills of the mushrooms are covered with a fleshy or membranaceous cuticle, hence the cap is not furrowed along the lines of the gills, but is torn and revolute. in this tribe are included the _comati_, _atramentarii_, _picacei_, _tomentosi_, _micacio_ and _glabrati_. in the tribe _veliformis_ the plants are generally very small, and the cap much thinner than in those of the _pelliculosi_, soon showing distinct furrows along the back of the gills, which quickly melt into very thin lines. the stem is thin and fistulose. cordier states that all the species of _coprinus_ are edible when young and fresh. this is probably true, but most of them have so little substance and are so ephemeral as to be of small value for food purposes. _c. comatus_, _c. atramentarius_, _c. micaceus_, and _c. ovatus_ have the preference with most mycophagists, but even these soon melt, and should be gathered promptly and cooked immediately to be of use for the table. [illustration: plate ii. coprinus comatus fr. (edible) the maned mushroom from nature collected in the district of columbia report of microscopist, u. s. department of agriculture l. krieger, pinx. avil. co. lith. phila.] plate ii. =coprinus comatus= fries. _maned or shaggy coprinus_. edible. cap at first oblong or cylindrical, then campanulate, the cuticle breaking into shaggy fibrous scales, color whitish, the scales generally yellow or yellowish, margin revolute and lacerated, soon becoming black. gills linear, free, and close together, at first white, then pink or purplish, turning to black. stem hollow or slightly stuffed, nearly equal, somewhat fibrillose, with bulb solid; the ring movable or very slightly adherent, generally disappearing as the plant matures. spores oval, black, . to . in. long. this species is found in abundance in different parts of the united states, generally in rich soil, in pastures, by roadsides, in dumping lots, etc. of late years quantities have been gathered in the lawn surrounding the capitol grounds, and in the parks of the district of columbia, as well as in the débris of the wooden block pavements used for surface soiling gardens in vicinity of the capital. they have been offered for sale in open market as low as cents per pound. a correspondent from rochester, new york, states that in a patch of his grounds which had been quarried out and filled with street sweepings the coprinus comatus appeared in such quantities as to make it impossible to walk over the space without stepping upon them, and that he was able to gather from this small space from one to two bushels at a time in the spring and the fall. in flavor the c. comatus resembles the cultivated mushroom, though perhaps more delicate. the _coprinus ovatus_, "_oval coprinus_," a closely allied species, is similar to the comatus, but smaller, more ovate in shape and delicate in flavor, less deliquescent; stem usually / of an inch long. the _coprinus atramentarius_ has a mouse-gray or brownish cap with irregular margin, slightly striated. it is not shaggy, but is spotted with minute, innate punctate scales. the stem is hollow, somewhat ringed when young. spores elliptical, black. _coprinus micaceus_ is a very common species, and is found generally in clusters on old tree stumps or on decaying wood. the cap is thin and of a reddish buff or ochraceous tint, often showing a sprinkling of glistening micaceous scales or granules; gills crowded, whitish. it is at first ovate or bell-shaped, then expanding; striated. the stem is white, slender, and hollow, not ringed. the spores in this species are a very dark brown, which is unusual in the genus _coprinus_. it is generally found in decaying wood or old tree-stumps, growing in dense clusters. prof. peck says: "european writers do not record the '_glistening coprinus_' among the edible species, perhaps because of its small size. but it compensates for its lack of size by its frequency and abundance. in tenderness and delicacy it does not appear to be at all inferior to the '_shaggy coprinus_.'" explanation of plate ii. =coprinus comatus= fr. _the shaggy maned mushroom_. fig. . a young plant. fig. . a plant partly expanded, exposing the tender pink of the gills. fig. . a mature plant, bell-shaped and shaggy, with movable ring detached from the cap, and with stem unequal and rooting. fig. . a sectional view, showing hollow stem, thin cap, and broad, free, linear gill. fig. . spores black. agaricini. leucospori (spores white, or yellowish.) genus _marasmius_ fries.--tough dry shrivelling fungi--not putrescent, reviving when moistened; veil none. stem cartilaginous or horny. gills tough, rather distant, edge acute and entire. m. c. cooke. a characteristic of the species of this genus is their tendency to wither with drought and revive with moisture. this biological characteristic is of great importance in determining the true marasmii. the plants are usually small and of little substance. cooke divides the marasmii into three tribes, and these again into several subdivisions. in the division scortei of this genus are classed three species which are described in the works of most of the continental writers; the marasmius oreades, which has recognized value as an esculent, marasmius urens and marasmius peronatus, which have the reputation of being acrid and unwholesome. [illustration: plate iii. marasmius oreades fr. (edible) the fairy ring mushroom. report of microscopist, u. s. department of agriculture l. k. after gillet. avil. co. lith. phila.] plate iii. =marasmius oreades= fries. "_fairy ring mushroom_." edible. cap fleshy, convex at first, then nearly plane, pale yellowish red, or tawny red when young, fading to yellow or buff as the plant matures, slightly umbonate, flesh white; gills broad, wide apart, rounded or deeply notched at the inner extremity, slightly attached to or at length free from the stem, unequal in length, whitish or creamy yellow in color; stem slender, solid and tough, whitish, generally one to two inches in length and one-fourth of an inch in thickness, showing a whitish down, easily removed, not strigose or villose, as in the marasmius urens. spores white. this species is usually found in open grassy places, sometimes in rings, or in parts of rings, often in clusters, and writers generally agree as to its agreeable taste and odor. when properly cooked its toughness disappears. prof. peck describes two mushrooms which are somewhat similar in appearance to the "_fairy ring_," and which might be taken for it by careless observers, viz., the naucoria semi-orbicularis, sometimes growing in company with it, and the _collybia dryophila_, a wood variety which is sometimes found in open places. the first of these may be distinguished from the _oreades_, by the rusty brown color of the gills, its smooth stem and rusty colored spores. in the second the gills are much narrower and the stem is very smooth and hollow. the _marasmius urens_ as described by european authors has a pale buff cap, not umbonate but flat, and at length depressed in the centre, from one to two inches across. the gills are unequal, free, very crowded; cream color, becoming brownish. the stem is solid and fibrous, densely covered with white down at the base. it is very acrid to the taste. in habit of growth it is subcæspitose; sometimes found growing in company with the m. oreades. prof. peck says of _m. urens_ that he has not yet seen an american specimen which he could refer to that species with satisfaction. our experience, so far, is the same as that of prof. peck. _marasmius peronatus_ has a reddish buff cap, with crowded thin gills, creamy, turning to reddish brown; the stem solid and fibrous, with yellowish filaments at the base. it is acrid in taste and is usually found among fallen leaves in woods. explanation of plate iii. in plate iii, fig. represents an immature plant; fig. , cap expanding with growth; fig. , cap further expanded and slightly umbonate; fig. , mature specimen, cap plane or fully expanded, margin irregular and smooth, stem equal, smooth and ringless; fig. , section showing gills broad, free, ventricose, unequal, and flesh white; fig. , spores white. appendix a. preserving and cooking mushrooms. in europe several species of mushrooms are preserved by boiling and afterwards placing them in earthern jars or tubs filled with water, which is renewed from time to time. this simple and economical method of keeping mushrooms affords the people considerable provision. with regard to the preparation of fresh mushrooms for table use, dr. roques, an eminent writer on fungi, gives the following excellent suggestions: "after selecting good mushrooms, remove the skin or epidermis, cutting away the gills, and in some cases the stem, which is usually of not so fine a texture. "it is important to collect for use only young and well-preserved specimens, because a mushroom of excellent quality may, nevertheless, when overmature or near its decline, become dangerous for food. it then acts as does every other food substance which incipient decomposition has rendered acrid, irritating and indigestible. it is, moreover, rarely the case that mushrooms in their decline are not changed by the presence of larvæ." in geneva a very lucrative trade is carried on in the exportation of the "_edible boletus_," which is preserved for use in various ways, the simplest of which consists in cutting the caps in slices and stringing them, after which they are placed on hurdles in the shade to dry. they may also be dried in a stove or oven, but the former method is preferable, as the mushroom then retains more of its flavor or perfume. when the slices are perfectly dried they are put into sacks and suspended in a dry, airy place. sometimes before the mushrooms are sliced they are plunged into boiling water for an instant, which treatment is said to preserve them from the ravages of insects. several kinds of mushrooms are preserved in the following manner: after they have been properly washed and cleansed, they are boiled in salted water and afterwards wiped dry. they are then placed in layers, in jars, sprinkled with salt and pepper, and covered with pure olive oil or vinegar. _lactarius deliciosus_, _cantharellus cibarius_, _morchellas_, _clavarias_, etc., are thus preserved. before using the dried mushrooms they are soaked in tepid water for some time and afterwards prepared as if fresh, with the usual seasoning. receipts. _broiled procerus._--remove the scales and stalks from the agarics, and broil lightly on both sides over a clear fire for a few minutes; arrange them on a dish over freshly made, well-buttered toast; sprinkle with pepper and salt and put a small piece of butter on each; set before a brisk fire to melt the butter, and serve quickly. bacon toasted over mushrooms improves the flavor and saves the butter. _agarics delicately stewed._--remove the stalks and scales from the young half-grown agarics, and throw each one as you do so into a basin of fresh water slightly acidulated with the juice of a lemon or a little good vinegar. when all are prepared, remove them from the water and put them in a stewpan with a very small piece of fresh butter. sprinkle with pepper and salt and add a little lemon juice; cover up closely and stew for half an hour; then add a spoonful of flour with sufficient cream or cream and milk, till the whole has the thickness of cream. season to taste, and stew again until the agarics are perfectly tender. remove all the butter from the surface and serve in a hot dish garnished with slices of lemon. a little mace or nutmeg or catsup may be added, but some think that spice spoils the flavor. _cottager's procerus pie._--cut fresh agarics in small pieces; pepper, salt, and place them on small shreds of bacon, in the bottom of a pie dish; then put in a layer of mashed potatoes, and so fill the dish, layer by layer, with a cover of mashed potatoes for the crust. bake well for half an hour and brown before a quick fire. _a la provencale._--steep for two hours in some salt, pepper, and a little garlic; then toss them into a small stewpan over a brisk fire with parsley chopped and a little lemon juice. _agaric catsup._--place the agarics of as large a size as you can procure, layer by layer, in a deep pan, sprinkling each layer as it is put in with a little salt. then next day stir them several times well so as to mash and extract their juice. on the third day strain off the liquor, measure and boil for ten minutes, and then to every pint of liquor add half an ounce of black pepper, a quarter of an ounce of bruised ginger root, a blade of mace, a clove or two, and a teaspoonful of mustard seed. boil again for half an hour; put in two or three bay leaves and set aside until quite cold. pass through a strainer and bottle; cork well and dip salt on the gills. lay them top downwards on a gridiron over a moderate fire for five or six minutes at the most. _to stew mushrooms._--trim and rub clean half a pint of large button mushrooms. put into a stewpan ounces of butter; shake it over a fire until thoroughly melted; put in the mushrooms, a teaspoonful of salt, half as much pepper, and a blade of mace pounded; stew until the mushrooms are tender, then serve on a hot dish. this is usually a breakfast dish. _mushrooms à la crême._--trim and rub half a pint of button mushrooms; dissolve in a stewpan ounces of butter rolled in flour; put in the mushrooms, a bunch of parsley, a teaspoonful of salt, half a teaspoonful each of white pepper and of powdered sugar; shake the pan for ten minutes; then beat up the yolks of two eggs with two tablespoonfuls of cream, and add by degrees to the mushrooms; in two or three minutes you can serve them in sauce. _mushrooms on toast._--put a pint of mushrooms into a stewpan with two ounces of butter rolled in flour; add a teaspoonful of salt, half a teaspoonful of white pepper, a blade of powdered mace, and a half a teaspoonful of grated lemon; stew until the butter is all absorbed; then serve on toast as soon as the mushrooms are tender. appendix b. glossary of terms used in describing mushrooms. _abortive_, imperfectly developed. _acaulescent_, _acaulous_, having a very short stem or none. _acetabuliform_, cup-shaped. _acicular_, needle-shaped. _aculeate_, slender pointed. _acuminate_, terminating in a point. _acute_, sharp pointed. _adnate_, gills firmly attached to the stem. _adnexed_, gills just reaching the stem. _adpressed_, pressed in close contact, as applied to gills. _Æruginous_, verdigris-green. _agglutinated_, glued to the surface. _aggregated_, collected together. _alveolate_, socketed or honeycombed. _amphigenous_, when the hymenium is not restricted to a particular surface. _analogy_, superficial or general resemblance without structural agreement. _anastomosing_, branching, joining of one vein with another. _annular_, ring-shaped. _annulate_, having a ring. _annulus_, ring round the stem of agarics. _apex_, in mushrooms the extremity of the stem nearest the gill. _apical_, close to the apex. _apiculate_, terminating in a small point. _appendiculate_, hanging in small fragments. _approximate_, of gills which approach the stem but do not reach it. _arachnoid_, cobweb-like. _arboreal_, _arboricle_, tree-inhabiting. _arcuate_, bow-shaped. _areolate_, divided into little areas or patches. _argillaceous_, clayey, like clay. _ascending_, directed upward. _asci_, _ascidia_, spore-cases of certain mushrooms. _attenuated_, tapering gradually to a point upward or downward. _band_, a broad bar of color. _banded_, marked with bands. _barbed_, furnished with fibrils or hairs. _basidia_, cellular processes of certain mushroom-bearing spores. _bibliography_, condensed history of the literature of a subject. _bifurcated_, divided into two, as in the gills of certain agarics. _booted_, applied to the stem of a mushroom when inclosed in a sheath or volva. _boss_, a knob or short rounded protuberance. _bossed_, _bullate_, furnished with a boss or knob. _branched_, dividing from the sides; also styled furcate and forked. _brick_, trade term for a mass of mushroom spawn, in dimensions the size of a brick of masonry. _broad_, wide or deep vertically. _bulbous_, having the structure of a bulb. _cæspitose_, growing in tufts. _calcareous_, chalky, chalk-like. _calyptra_, applied to the portion of volva covering the pileus. _campanulate_, bell-shaped. _canaliculate_, channelled. _cancellate_, latticed, marked both longitudinally and transversely. _cap_, the expanded, umbrella-like receptacle of the common mushroom. _capillitium_, spore-bearing threads, variable in thickness and color, sometimes continuous with the sterile base, sometimes free, dense, and persistent, or lax and evanescent, often branched; found in the lycoperdons. _carious_, decayed. _carneous_, fleshy. _cartilaginous_, hard and tough. _castaneous_, chestnut color. _ceraceous_, wax-like. _channelled_, hollowed out like a gutter. _chlorosis_, loss of color. _cilia_, marginal hair-like processes. _ciliate_, fringed with hair-like processes. _cinerous_, ash-colored. _circinate_, rounded. _clathrate_, latticed. _clavate_, club-shaped, gradually thickened upward. _close_, packed closely side by side; also styled crowded. _columella_, a sterile tissue rising column-like in the midst of the capillitium, serving as a point of insertion for the threads which connect it with the peridium in the form of a net-work. _concentric_, having a common center, as a series of rings one within another. _connate_, united by growing, as when two or more caps become united. _concolored_, of a uniform color. _confervoid_, from the finely branched threads. _continuous_, without a break, of a surface which is not cracked, or of one part which runs into another without interruption. _cordate_, heart-shaped. _coriaceous_, of a leathery texture. _corrugated_, drawn into wrinkles or folds. _corticated_, furnished with a bark-like covering. _cortina_, a partial veil formed not of continuous tissue but of slender threads, which in certain mushrooms when young unite the stem with the margin of the cap. this membrane remains later as a filamentous ring on the stem, or threads hanging to the margin of cap. applied to the peculiar veil of the cortinarias. _cratera_, a cup-shaped receptacle. _crenate_, _crenulate_, notched at the edge, the notches blunt or rounded, not sharp as in a serrated edge, serratures convex. _cribrose_, pierced with holes. _cryptogamia_, applied to the division of nonflowering plants. _cupreous_, copper-colored. _cuspidate_, with a sharp, spear-like point. _cyathiform_, cup-shaped. _cystidia_, sterile cells of the hymenium, generally larger than the basidia cells, with which they are found. _deciduous_, temporary falling off. _decurrent_, as when the gills of a mushroom are prolonged down the stem. _dehiscent_, a closed organ opening of itself at maturity, or when it has attained a certain development. _deliquescent_, relating to mushrooms which at maturity become liquid. _dentate_, toothed, with concave serratures. _denticulate_, finely dentate. _dermini_, brown or rust colored spores. _determinate_, ending definitely; having a distinctly defined outline. _diaphanous_, transparent. _dichotomous_, paired by twos; regularly forked. _dimidiate_, applied to some gills of mushrooms which reach only halfway to the stem. _disciform_, of a circular, flat form. _dissepiments_, dividing walls. _distant_, applied to gills which have a wide distance between them. _divaricate_, separating at an obtuse angle. _echinate_, furnished with stiff bristles. _echinulate_, with minute bristles. _effused_, spread over without regular form. _elongate_, lengthened. _emarginate_, applied to gills which are notched or scooped out suddenly before they reach the stem. _embryo_, the mushroom before leaving its volva or egg stage; also any early stage of mushrooms which may have no volva. _entire_, the edge quite devoid of serrature or notch. _epidermis_, the external or outer layer of the plant. _epiphytal_, growing upon another plant. _equal_, all gills of the same, or nearly the same length from back to front. _eroded_, the edge ragged, as if torn. _etiolated_, whitened, bleached. _even_, distinguished from smooth: a surface quite plane as contrasted with one which is striate, pitted, etc. _excentric_, out of center. the stems of some mushrooms are always excentric. _exotic_, foreign. _family_, a systematic group in scientific classification embracing a greater or less number of genera which agree in certain characters not shared by others of the same order. _farinaceous_, mealy. _farinose_, covered with a white, mealy powder. _fascia_, a band or bar. _fasciate_, zoned with bands. _fasciculate_, growing in small bundles. _fastigiate_, bundled together like a sheath. _favose_, honeycombed. _ferruginous_, rust-colored. _fibrillose_, clothed with small fibers. _fibrous_, composed of fibers. _filiform_, thread-like. _fimbriated_, fringed. _fissile_, capable of being split. _fistular_, _fistulose_, tubular. _flabelliform_, fan-shaped. _flavescent_, yellowish, or turning yellow. _flexuose_, wavy. _flocci_, threads as of mold. _floccose_, downy. _flocculose_, covered with flocci. _foveolate_, pitted. _free_, in relation to the gills of mushrooms reaching the stem but not attached to it. _fringe_, a lacerated marginal membrane. _fructification_, reproducing power of a plant. _fugacious_, disappearing rapidly. _furcate_, forked. _fuliginous_, blackish or sooty. _fulvous_, tawny; a rather indefinite brownish yellow. _furfuraceous_, with branny scales or scurf. _fuscous_, brownish, but dingy; not pure. _fusiform_, spindle-shaped. _genera_, plural of genus. _generic_, pertaining to a genus. _genus_, a group of species having one or more characteristics in common; the union of several genera presenting the same features constitutes a tribe. _gibbous_, in the form of a swelling; of a pileus which is more convex or tumid on one side than the other. _gills_, vertical plates radiating from the stem on the under surface of the mushroom cap. _glabrous_, smooth. _glaucescent_, inclining to glaucose. _glaucose_, covered with a whitish-green bloom or fine white powder easily rubbed off. _globose_, nearly spherical. _granular_, with roughened surface. _greaved_, of a stem clothed like a leg in armor. _gregarious_, of mushrooms not solitary but growing in numbers in the same locality. _grumous_, clotted; composed of little clustered grains. _guttate_, marked with tear-like spots. _gyrose_, circling in wavy folds. _habitat_, natural abode of a vegetable species. _hepatic_, pertaining to the liver; hence, liver-colored. _heterogeneous_, of a structure which is different from adjacent ones. _hibernal_, pertaining to winter. _hirsute_, hairy. _homogeneous_, similar in structure. _hyaline_, transparent. _hygrophanous_, looking watery when moist and opaque when dry. _hymenium_, the fructifying surface of the mushroom; the part on which the spores are borne. _hymenophore_, the structure which bears the hymenium. _hypogæous_, subterranean. _identification_, the determination of the species to which a given specimen belongs. _identify_, to determine the systematic name of a specimen. _imbricate_, overlapped like tiles. _immarginate_, without a distinct border. _immersed_, sunk into the matrix. _incised_, cut out; cut away. _indehiscent_, not opening. _indigenous_, native of a country. _inferior_, growing below; of the ring of an agaric, which is far down on the stem. _infundibuliform_, funnel-shaped. _innate_, adhering by growing into. _inserted_, growing like a graft from its stock. _involute_, edges rolled inward. _laciniate_, divided into flaps. _lactescent_, milk-bearing. _lacunose_, pitted or having cavities. _lamellæ_, gills of mushrooms. _lanceolate_, lance-shaped; tapering to both ends. _lateral_, attached to one side. _latex_, the viscid fluid contained in some mushrooms. _laticiferous_, applied to the tubes conveying latex, as in the lactarias. _lepidote_, scurfy with minute scales. _leucospore_, white spore. _ligneous_, woody consistency. _linear_, narrow and straight. _linguiform_, tongue-shaped. authorities consulted. fries, saccardo, kromholtz, cooke and berkeley, m. c. cooke, peck, stevenson, badham, gillet, boyer, gibson, roques, hussey, hay, bel, paulet and leveille, constantin and dufour, barla, roze, w. g. smith, vittadini. student's hand-book of mushrooms of america edible and poisonous. by thomas taylor, m. d. author of food products, etc. published in serial form--=no. =--price, c. per number. washington, d. c.: a. r. taylor, publisher, mass. ave. n.e. . the ten mushrooms illustrated in the five plates contained in the first number of this series belong to the family hymenomycetes. in the present number are presented illustrations representing three additional specimens of the hymenomycetal fungi (plates v, vi, and vii). there are also presented, in plates c and d, illustrations of nine species comprised in four genera of the sub family discomycetes, of the family ascomycetes. copyright, , by thomas taylor, m. d., and a. r. taylor. ascomycetes. fruit, consisting of sporidia, mostly definite, contained in asci, springing from a naked or enclosed stratum of fructifying cells, and forming a hymenium.--cooke and berkeley. prof. j. de seyne states that the three elements which form the hymenium in the families hymenomycetes and gasteromycetes are ( ) the normal basidium, that is, the fruitful club-shaped cell which supports the naked spores, ( ) the cystidium or sterile cell, an aborted or atrophied basidium, and ( ) the paraphyses, hypertrophied basidium, the one organ, the basidium, being the basis of it all, according as it experiences an arrest of development, as it grows and fructifies, or as it becomes hypertrophied. in the family ascomycetes a minute ascus or spore case envelops the sporidia, and takes the place of the basidium, and the hymenium consists of ( ) the asci containing the sporidia, ( ) the paraphyses, and ( ) a colorless or yellowish mucilage which envelops the paraphyses and asci. the asci are present in all species. in some species, however, the paraphyses are rare, and the mucilaginous substance is entirely wanting. the asci differ in shape and size, according to the species. the paraphyses, when present, are at first very short, but they rapidly elongate, and are wholly developed before the appearance of the asci. they are linear, simple or branched according to the species of plant, usually containing oily granules. there is some difference of opinion among mycologists as to the special functions of the paraphyses, some considering them as abortive asci, and others, like boudier, as excitatory organs for the dehiscence of the asci, by which the spores are liberated. the family ascomycetes is rich in genera and species. it consists largely of microscopic fungi, however, and the only group which will be considered here is that which includes plants of the mushroom family which are edible and indigenous to this country, viz., the sub-family discomycetes. discomycetes. the name discomycetes, "disk-like fungi," does not give an accurate idea of the distinguishing characteristics of this sub-family, the discoid form only belonging to the plants of one of its groups. in the discomyceteæ the hymenium is superior, that is, disposed upon the upper or exterior surface of the mushroom cap. the sporidia are produced in membraneous asci, usually four or eight, or some multiple of that number, in each ascus; cooke says "rarely four, most commonly eight." the sporidia are usually hyaline, transparent; colored sporidia are rare. the asci are so minute as to be imperceptible to the naked eye; but if a small portion of the upper surface of the cap is removed with a pen knife and placed under a microscope having a magnifying power of from to diameters, the asci, or spore sacks, can be separated and their structure studied. of the genera included in the discomycetes the genus peziza comprises by far the largest number of described species. the plants in this genus are generally small, thin, and tough. a few of them have been recorded as edible by european authors, but not specially commended; one form, peziza _cochleata_, has been spoken of by berkeley as being gathered in basketfuls in one county in england, where it is used as a substitute, though a very indifferent one, for the morel. vittadini says the verpa _digitaliformis_ persoon, a small brownish-colored mushroom, is sold in italian markets for soups, but that, "although sold in the markets, it is only to be recommended when no other fungus offers, which is sometimes the case in the spring." p. _aurantia_ vahl., a small peziza growing in clusters in the grass, is reported as edible by a member of the boston mycological club, who speaks well of it. the genera morchella, gyromitra, helvella, and mitrula contain, however, what may be considered the most desirable edible species. types of these four groups are represented in figs. , , , , and , plate c. the plants of these genera have a stem and cap. the cap, however, differs very much from that of the ordinary mushroom. in the genus morchella the cap is deeply pitted and ridged so that it presents a honeycombed appearance. in gyromitra the cap is convolutely lobed but not pitted. in helvella the cap is very irregular and reflexed, and in mitrula the cap is ovate or club shaped and smooth. in all four of these genera the hymenium is superior, _i. e._, it is on the upper and outer surface of the cap, the interior surface being barren. in plates c and d are figured types of edible fungi included in the family ascomycetes, sub-family discomycetes. [illustration: plate c. ascomycetes sub-family discomycetes types of four of the leading genera of discomycetes, in which occur edible species t. taylor, del. the norris peters co., photo-litho., washington, d. c.] plate c. fig. . =morchella esculenta= pers. "_common morel_." edible. _genus morchella_ dill. receptacle pileate or clavate, impervious in the centre, stipitate, covered with hymenium, which is deeply folded and pitted.--cooke. in this genus the species have a general resemblance to each other in size, color, form, texture, and flavor. the cap is usually a dull yellow, sometimes slightly olive-tinted, darkening with age to a brownish leather tinge. the stems are stout and hollow, white or whitish. this genus has a very wide geographical distribution, but the species are not numerous. cooke describes twenty-four, some of them found in india, java, great britain, central and northern europe, australia, and north america. peck describes six species found in new york state. the lines of demarcation between species are not very decided; but as none of the species are known to be poisonous, it may be considered a safe genus to experiment with. in the morchella esculenta the cap is ovate, in one variety rotund, the margin attaching itself to the stem; ribs firm and anastomosing, forming deep hollows or pits; color yellowish tan, olivaceous; spores hyaline, colorless; asci very long. the morel, though rare in some localities, is found in large quantities in some of the midwestern states, sometimes in the woods along the borders of streams, often in peach orchards, at the roots of decaying trees. i am informed by correspondents who have collected and eaten them that the morels can be gathered in abundance in the springtime along the banks of the missouri and tributary streams. a lieutenant in the united states army informs me that he found fine specimens of this species in the mountains of california, five or six thousand feet above sea-level. a correspondent, mr. h. w. henshaw, writes that he has made many excellent meals of them, finding them on the banks of chico creek, sacramento valley, california, on gen. bidwell's ranch, in april. a correspondent in minnesota writes: "the morel grows abundantly in some places here, but so prejudiced are many of the natives against 'toad-stools' that i had to eat the morel alone for a whole season before i could induce any one else to taste it." mr. hollis webster, of the boston mycological club, reports the morchella _conica_ as appearing in abundance in eastern massachusetts in may of this year. a correspondent in west virginia reports that quantities of a large-sized morel are found in the mountain regions there. i have reports also of the appearance of the morel in western new york, and on the coast of maine and of oregon. a miner writes to me from montana that he and several other miners, having lost their way in the mountains of that state during the spring of the year, subsisted entirely for five days on morels which they collected. the specimen represented in plate c, fig. , is figured from a morchella _esculenta_ which grew in the vicinity of falls church, va., less than ten miles from the district of columbia. the reports which i have received from correspondents in twenty states show that the morel is not so rare in this country as was formerly supposed. the advantages which this mushroom possesses over some others are ( ) the readiness with which it can be distinguished, ( ) its keeping qualities, and ( ) its agreeable taste. it is easily dried, and in that condition can be kept a long time without losing its flavor. though it has not the rich flavor of the common field mushroom, it is very palatable when cooked, and when dried it is often used in soups. it is very generally esteemed as an esculent among mycophagists. fig. represents the sporidia enclosed in the ascus, or spore sack, with accompanying paraphyses. fig. . =gyromitra= _esculenta_ fries. "_esculent gyromitra_." _genus gyromitra_ fries. this genus contains very few species, but all are considered edible, though differing somewhat in flavor and digestibility. five or six species are figured by cooke. peck speaks of several species found in new york. one of these, g. curtipes fries, is also figured by cooke as found in north carolina. this species cooke regards as equal in flavor to g. esculenta. g. esculenta has a rounded, inflated cap, irregularly lobed and hollow, smooth and brittle in texture, reddish brown. it falls over the stem in heavy convolutions, touching it at various points. the stem is stout, stuffed, at length hollow, whitish or cinereous; spores elliptical with two nuclei, yellowish, translucent. the plant is usually from two to four inches in height, but larger specimens are found. fig. represents the spore sack with enclosed sporidia. mr. charles l. fox, of portland, maine, records the gyromitra _esculenta_, of which he sent me a very good specimen last spring, as quite abundant during may in the open woods near the city named. speaking of this species, he says: "from the point of view of their edibility, we have classed them under two heads--the light and the dark varieties. these differ in the locality in which they are found, in their color and in the convolutions of their surface. both grow large. "the _light gyromitra_ is the more easily digested of the two. its height varies from three to five inches, cap three to five inches in diameter. its cap is inflated, very irregular, and twisted in large convolutions. these convolutions are almost smooth on the surface, sometimes showing small depressions; margin generally attached to the stem in parts. it is a transparent yellow in color. this variety does not grow dark brown with age. stem white or very light buff, smooth, and hollow. it grows best on slopes facing the south, in scant woods of birch, maple, and pine. we have found no specimens in open places or on the borders of woods. "the _dark gyromitra_ is more common than the light variety. its color is generally of dark lake brown, even in the young plant, though it is sometimes of a light warm yellow, which grows darker with age. stem flesh-colored or pallid, but not white, nor so light as in the first variety. its cap is similar in its large convolutions to that of the light variety, but it is covered with many intricate vermiform ridges, sometimes in high relief or even strongly undercut. grows in mossy places, in light sandy soil, on borders of pine woods. its flesh is brittle, but not so tender as that of the first variety. both varieties dry readily. we should advise eating the _dark gyromitra_ only in moderate amounts, as, if eaten in quantity, or if old specimens are used, indigestion or nausea is liable to follow. in regard to both varieties, i would advise that only young specimens should be eaten at first, as they are more tender and less pronounced in flavor than the older plants. we have eaten, however, a considerable quantity of the _light gyromitra_ with no unpleasant results. the flavor of the gyromitras is quite strong, and some have found it too much so to be agreeable on the first eating. the general opinion here, however, is favorable to the gyromitra as an excellent addition to the table." some german authorities speak well of the flavor of the g. esculenta, and it is sold in the german markets. cordier records it as agreeable in taste when cooked. peck says that he has repeatedly eaten it without experiencing any evil results, but does not consider its flavor equal to that of a first-class mushroom. he advises also that it should be eaten with moderation, and that only perfectly fresh specimens should be used, sickness having resulted from eating freely of specimens that had been kept twenty-four hours before being cooked. i have not been fortunate in securing a sufficient quantity of fresh specimens to test its edible qualities personally, but the testimony received from those who have eaten it seems to point to the necessity for moderation in eating and care in securing fresh specimens to cook. fig. . =helvella crispa=. "_crisp helvella_." _genus helvella_ linn. the plants of this genus are usually small, though a few of the species are of good size. they are not plentiful, but they are very generally regarded as edible, the flavor bearing a resemblance to that of the morel. the cap has a smooth, not polished, surface, and is very irregular, revolute, and deflexed, not honeycombed like the morel, nor showing the brain-like convolutions of the gyromitras. color brownish pale tan, or whitish. the stem in the larger species is stout, and sometimes deeply furrowed in longitudinal grooves, usually white or whitish. the species helvella crispa is white or pallid throughout, cap very irregular, sometimes deeply concave in the centre, with margin at first erect, then drooping; again it is undulating, much divided and deflexed; in fact, so irregular is the shape that scarcely two specimens will show the cap the same in outline; stem stout and deeply channelled. spores elliptical, transparent. habitat woods, growing singly or in groups, but not cæspitose. fig. , the ascus or spore sack and paraphyses. _genus mitrula_ fries. soft and fleshy, simple capitate, stem distinct, hymenium surrounding the inflated cap; head ovate, obtuse, inflated.--m. c. cooke. cooke says of this genus that it is scarcely so well characterized as many with which it is associated, and that some of the species are evidently so closely allied to some of the species of the genus geoglossum that it is difficult to draw the line of demarcation between them, particularly so with the species mitrula _pistillaris_ b. from louisiana. the plants are very small, and though none are recorded as poisonous, only one or two have any value as esculents. fig. . =mitrula sclerotipes= boudier. the cap in this species is small, and the stem long and slender. the spores are transparent, the asci club-shaped. the plants of this species are always found springing from an oblong sclerotium; hence the name sclerotipes. fig. represents the sporidia enclosed in their asci with paraphyses and individual spores, the latter magnified diameters. fig. , sectional view of mature plant. fig. . =mitrula vitellina= sacc., var. _irregularis_ peck. saccardo, in his sylloge fungorum, includes in this genus those having a club-shaped cap, which brings into it, with others, the species mitrula _vitellina_ sacc., formerly classed in the genus geoglossum, and its variety _irregularis_ peck. the latter was first described in , in peck's thirty-second report, under the name geoglossum _irregulare_. prof. peck now gives preference to the name assigned to it by saccardo, and it is so recorded in peck's later reports. prof. peck records this species as edible, and recommends it as having tender flesh and an agreeable flavor. it sometimes grows in profusion in wet mossy places, in woods, or swampy ground. it is bright yellow in color, clean and attractive. the cap is much longer than the stem, often deeply lobed, extremely irregular in outline, and tapers to a short yellowish or whitish stem. the spores are narrowly elliptical and transparent. the specimen illustrated is from a small one figured by peck. the plants sometimes reach two inches in height. they are most abundant in temperate climates. [illustration: plate d. four types of the genus morchella. t. taylor, del. the norris peters co., photo-litho., washington, d. c.] plate d. in plate d are represented four species of the genus morchella, viz., m. _semilibera_, m. _bispora_, m. _conica_, and m. _deliciosa_. morchella _esculenta_ is figured in plate c. fig. . =morchella semilibera= de candolle. "_half free morel_." edible. cap conical but half free from the stem as the name of the species indicates. the ribs are longitudinal, forming oblong pits; stem hollow, much longer than the cap, white; spores elliptical. peck says that this species has been described by persoon under the name morchella _hybrida_, and this name is adopted in saccardo's sylloge fungorum, but most english writers prefer the first. fig. . sectional view of morchella _semilibera_. fig. . sporidia of same inclosed in ascus with accompanying paraphyses. fig. . sectional view of =morchella bispora= sorokin. "_two-spored morel_." edible. cap free from the stem to the top, somewhat resembling that of m. _semilibera_, but blunt at its summit instead of conical, the outward surface deeply pitted, inner surface smooth and barren. a characteristic of this species which distinguishes it from others of the same genus is found in the number of its sporidia, spores as seen in the ascus or spore sack. in the plants of the genus morchella the spore sacks, with one or two exceptions, contain eight spores. in the species m. _bispora_ the spore sacks contain but two spores and these are much larger than the sporidia of those which contain eight. this characteristic, however, can only be determined by the aid of the microscope. cooke figures a specimen taken from those published by sorokin in thumen's exsiccata, and calls it a variety of morchella _bohemica_ kromb. he says that it is not unusual to find m. _bohemica_ with two or four sporidia in some of the asci, mixed with others containing more, some specimens being entirely tetrasporous, and some, as the variety _bispora_, usually containing but two sporidia. cooke contends that m. bispora is simply a bisporous form of morchella _bohemica_, and calls it m. _bohemica_ var. _bispora_. it is not as common as other species. fig. represents asci of m. bispora showing the two spores in each ascus. fig. . =morchella conica.= "_conical morel_." edible. cap conical or oblong-conical, margin adhering to the stem, the prominent ridges longitudinal and irregularly bisected with shorter ones; the whole plant hollow throughout; color pale tan or ochraceous yellow, growing dingy and darker with age; stem white; spores elliptical. this species is quite plentiful in some localities; the flavor is like that of m. _esculenta_. fig. . sectional view of m. _conica_. fig. . ascus, sporidia and paraphyses. fig. . =morchella deliciosa= fries. "_delicious morel_." cap nearly cylindrical, blunt at the top, and usually much longer than the stem, adnate. plant hollow throughout. stem white. spores elliptical. fig. . sectional view of m. _deliciosa_. fig. . ascus, sporidia, and paraphyses. the morchella _deliciosa_ is highly esteemed as an esculent wherever eaten. split open and stuffed with bread crumbs seasoned with pepper, salt, and butter and a pinch of thyme or onion, steamed in a hot oven, and served with butter sauce, this mushroom makes a very savory dish. _note._--small specimens have been selected for illustration in this plate in order to utilize as much as possible the plate space. [illustration: plate iv. the norris peters co., photo-litho., washington, d. c.] plate iv. structure of the agaricini, gill-bearing mushrooms. fig. . cap or pileus umbonate, _a_; stem or stipe fistulose, tubular, _b_; gills or lamellæ adnate, and slightly emarginate. fig. . gills remote, _i. e._, distant from the stem. (see _a_.) fig. . gills adnexed, partly attached to the stem at their inner extremity, _a_. fig. . gills emarginate, with a tooth, as at _a_; stem stuffed. fig. . cap obtuse, _e_; gills free, _i. e._, reaching the stem but not attached thereto (see _a_); _b_ stem stuffed. fig. . cap umbilicate, slightly depressed in the centre, _b_; gills decurrent, _i. e._, running down the stem. (see _a_.) fig. . basidium, cell _a_, borne on the hymenium, or spore-bearing surface of the gills; _b_, stigmata; _c_, spores. fig. . gills adnate, _i. e._, firmly attached to the stem at their inner extremity, as at _a_. fig. . cap, with border involute, _i. e._, rolled inward. (see _a_.) fig. . lamellæ or gills dentated or toothed. (see _a_.) fig. . cap with border revolute, _i. e._, rolled backward. (see _a_.) agaricini. fries. leucospori (spores white or yellowish). _genus lactarius_ fries. the plants of this genus have neither veil nor volva. they somewhat resemble the _russulæ_, but can be readily distinguished from them by the greater fleshiness of the stem and by the milky juice which exudes from the flesh. the latter is a characteristic feature of the _lactars_, giving to the group its name. the species were originally arranged by fries into groups according to the color and quality of the milk, and of the naked or pruinose character of the gills. prof. peck, however, considering the latter character not sufficiently constant or obvious to be satisfactory, in his early reports makes the color of the milk alone the basis of the primary grouping of the american species. saccardo, in his sylloge, follows fries in his classification of the species of the genus lactarius. in some species the milk is at first bright colored and continues unchanged; in others it is always white or whitish, and in others again it is at first white, changing to different hues on exposure to the air, becoming pinkish, pale violet, or yellow. in one species (c. indigo) both plant and milk are of indigo blue. the taste of the milk varies, as does that of the flesh, according to species. sometimes it is mild or very slightly acrid, and again it resembles cayenne pepper in its hot, biting acridity. it is somewhat viscid or sticky in character, and permeates to some extent the whole flesh of the mushroom, but is most profuse in the gills, where in fresh young specimens it is seen exuding on the slightest pressure. in old or wilted specimens it does not flow so freely, but may be found by breaking off portions of the cap. the plants usually present a fleshy cap, the flesh quite brittle, and breaking in clean, even fractures. in a number of the species the upper surface of the cap shows bands or zones of warm coloring, not found in any of the species of the allied genus russula. the gills are sometimes even, more often forked, acute on the edge, color white or whitish, but changing to yellowish or reddish tints as the plants mature, or when cut or bruised. while they are at first adnate they become, with the expansion of the cap, somewhat decurrent, showing in this particular a resemblance to the plants of the genus clitocybe. the stem is central, except in a few species, where it is eccentric or lateral, notably the latter in l. _obliquus_; spores white or yellowish, according to species; cooke says, "rarely turning yellow." they are globose, or nearly so, and slightly rough. this genus is a large one, and contains many acrid species. out of fifty-three described and figured by cooke, more than half are given as having the milk more or less acrid. more than forty species have been recorded as growing in this country, and many of these are extremely acrid in taste. a number of the species are edible, while others have been recorded as deleterious, poisonous, etc. l. torminosus, l. piperatus, and l. insulsus are species about which there seems to be difference of opinion among authors as to their wholesomeness or edibility, some contending that, in spite of their extreme acridity, they are edible when cooked, and others that they are deleterious in their effects. l. _deliciosus_ and l. _volemus_ have a good reputation in this country as well as abroad, and are quite abundant in some localities. they are more frequent in temperate climates than in northern latitudes or in the tropics. [illustration: plate v. lactarious deliciosus. general form. section. spores.] plate v. =lactarius deliciosus= fries. "_delicious lactarius_" _or_ "_orange milk mushroom_." edible. cap fleshy, viscid, at first convex, then nearly plane, becoming much depressed in the centre, funnel-shaped, marked in the adult plant with rings or rust-colored zones. color of the cap dull orange, turning paler, and grayish or greenish yellow when old or dried; margin at first turned inwards; flesh whitish or tinged with yellow; gills decurrent, crowded rather thick, sometimes slightly forked at the base, pale yellow, sometimes a saffron yellow, exuding when bruised a saffron-red or orange-colored liquid, hence the popular name of "orange milk mushroom;" stem smooth, somewhat spotted, stout, stuffed with a yellowish pith, eventually becoming hollow; color about the same as that of the cap. spores subglobose, yellowish. taste mild or very slightly acrid when raw. mycophagists generally concur in the opinion that it is of very pleasant flavor when cooked, and some speak very enthusiastically of its esculent qualities. over-cooking is apt to make it tough. i find steaming in the oven with butter, pepper, and salt, and a very small quantity of water, as oysters are steamed, a very good method of preserving the juices and flavor. it is found in maryland, under the pines and sometimes in mossy and swampy places. prof. underwood, president of the new york mycological club, reports it as fairly abundant in connecticut. lactarius _volemus_ fries, the "orange-brown lactar," somewhat resembles the l. _deliciosus_ in shape and size, but the cap is dry and glabrous and the skin is apt to crack in patches in somewhat the same manner as does that of the russula _virescens_. it is a warm orange-brown in color, varying slightly with age, and is not zoned. the gills are white or yellowish and crowded, adnate in the young specimens, and decurrent in the mature, exuding a white milk when bruised. the spores are globose, and white. it is found in open woods. the flavor is much like that of l. _deliciosus_, although perhaps not so rich. one author states it as his experience that the lactars which have _bright_-colored milk, unchanging, are usually edible and have a mild taste. l. _indigo_ schwein has been recorded as less abundant than some other species, but edible. the plant is a deep blue throughout, the milk of the same color and unchanging. the taste of both flesh and milk is mild. specimens of this species were sent to me from western new york several years ago by a correspondent who found it growing in quantities in a corn field. he had cooked several dishes of it, and reported its flavor as very agreeable. l. _vellereus_ and l. _piperatus_ are very common in fir woods. the plants are large and stout, white throughout, the milk white and excessively acrid; gills decurrent, unequal and narrow. the milk in _vellereus_ is apt to be scanty but copious in _piperatus_. of l. _piperatus_, worthington smith says: "so strongly acrid is the milk that if it be allowed to trickle over tender hands it will sting like the contact of nettles; and if a drop be placed on the lips or tongue the sensation will be like the scalding of boiling water." he records it as "poisonous." fries and curtis say that, "notwithstanding its intense acridity, it is edible when cooked." cordier, while recording it as edible, says that the milk, and butter made from the milk of cows fed with it, are bitter and nauseous, although cows eat it with avidity. gibson, while quoting one or two authors as to its edibility when cooked, says: "its decidedly ardent tang warns me not to dwell too enthusiastically upon its merits in a limited selection of desirable esculents." the secretary of the boston mycological club, writing in the club bulletin, says "it has been eaten as a sort of duty after the acridity was cooked out," but does not commend it. it is spoken of as "an unattractive fungus which usurps in the woods the place that might well be occupied by something better." in this opinion i fully concur. l. _torminosus_, "_wooly lactarius_," sometimes called the "_colic lactarius_," has been termed acrid and poisonous by badham. cordier and letellier, on the other hand, say that it can be eaten with impunity when cooked. gillet declares it deleterious and even dangerous in the raw state, constituting a very strong and drastic purgative. one author states that, although it does not constitute an agreeable article of food, it is eaten in some parts of france and in russia. considering the differences of opinion which exist with regard to this and other extremely acrid species, it would seem the part of prudence for persons with delicate stomachs to avoid the use of very acrid species, for, though the acridity may be expelled by cooking, there would seem to be no necessity for risking unpleasant or dangerous results while the range of unquestionably wholesome and agreeable species is sufficiently wide to satisfy the most enthusiastic mycophagist. agaricini. leucospori (spores white or yellowish). armillaria fries. cooke places armillaria in the order agaricini, _genus agaricus_, making of it a _sub_-genus. saccardo, in taking it out of agaricus, elevates it to the position of a separate genus. the name armillaria is derived from a greek word, meaning a ring or bracelet, referring to its ringed stem. in the plants of the armillaria the veil is partial in infancy, attaching the edge of the cap to the upper part of the stem; the stem furnished with a ring. below the ring the veil is concrete with the stem, forming scurfy scales upon it. the gills are broadly adnexed. in abnormal specimens the ring is sometimes absent, or appearing only in scales, running down the stem. spores white. the species are few; eight are recorded as growing in the united states. cooke describes twelve species found in great britain. [illustration: plate vi. agaricus (armillaria) melleus. group from hynesboro park, md., u. s. k. mayo, del.] plate vi. =ag. (armillaria) melleus= vahl. "_honey-colored armillaria._" edible. cap fleshy, rather thin at the margin, at first subconical, then slightly rounded, or nearly plane, clothed with minute hairy tufts; margin sometimes striate, color varying, usually a pale-yellowish or honey color or light reddish brown; flesh whitish. gills whitish or paler than the cap, growing mealy with the shedding of the profuse white spores, and often spotted with reddish-brown stains, adnate, ending with decurrent tooth. stem fibrillose, elastic, stuffed or hollow, ringed, and adorned with floccose scales which often disappear with age; in some varieties distinctly bulbous at the base, in others showing tapering root. specimens occur in which the ring is wanting or only traces of it appear in the form of scales encircling the stem. veil usually firm, membraneous, and encircling the stem in a well-pronounced ring or collar, but sometimes filmy as a spider's web, in very young specimens hiding the gills, but breaking apart as the cap expands. manner of growth cæspitose, generally on decayed tree stumps, although the group figured in the plate was found growing on moist sand, mixed with clay, on a roadside in hynesbury park. authors differ widely as to the value of this species as an esculent. i have only eaten the very young and small specimens when cooked, and found them very palatable. a boston mycophagist records it as "very good," fried after five minutes' boiling in salted water. prof. peck, having tried it, considers it "a perfectly safe species, but not of first-rate quality." it is very common in maryland and virginia, and in the mountain districts prolific. i have talked with bohemians and with germans who have gathered it in basketfuls in the vicinity of the district of columbia, who speak well of it, considering it a valuable addition to the table. its prolific growth makes it valuable to those who like it. there are no species recorded as dangerous in this group. ag. (armillaria) robustus, a very stout species, with a fleshy, compact, smooth cap, bay color or tawny, occurs in the maryland woods, and in the open woods of the massachusetts coast. agaricini. fries. _genus cantharellus_ adans. in the plants of this genus the hymenophore or fleshy substance of the cap is continuous with the stem. they are fleshy, membranaceous, and putrescent, having neither veil, ring, nor volva. the stem is central, except in a few species, where it is lateral. a characteristic of the genus which separates it from other genera of the agaricini is the vein-like appearance of the gills. they are very shallow and so obtuse on the edges as to present the appearance of a network of swollen branching veins. they are usually decurrent and anastomosing. it is a small genus. cooke figures nineteen species. among the described species c. cibarius is the only one whose edible qualities have been highly recommended. c. umbonatus, a very small plant, found in eastern massachusetts is commended by those who have eaten it. they are usually found in woods, and amongst moss. one species, _c. carbonatus_, is found upon charred ground. [illustration: plate vii. cantharellus cibarius fr. , , , various stages of growth. a section. spores. spores and basidia. from hynesbury, md., u. s. sackett & wilhelms lithographing co., new york.] plate vii. =cantharellus cibarius= fries. "_the edible chantarelle_." edible. cap a rich golden yellow, like the yolk of an egg; at first convex, later concave and turbinated; margin sinuous, undulate, smooth, shining, and more or less lobed; diameter from two to four inches; flesh pale yellow or whitish; veins or gills rather thick and wiry, remarkably decurrent, usually very much bifurcated and of the same golden yellow as the cap; stem solid or stuffed, slightly attenuated downwards, yellow; spores white or pale yellowish, elliptical. european authors esteem it very highly, and some speak of the odor as like that of ripe apricots. the plant as found in maryland and virginia has a slightly pungent but agreeable taste when raw, and a pleasant odor when cooked. it is ranked as one of the best of the wood mushrooms by those who have eaten it in this locality (district of columbia). it is found here in abundance, after light rains, in fir woods. berkeley states that it is somewhat rare in england, where it is held as a delicacy, but quite common on the continent. we have had specimens from various localities throughout the states. cooke says the spores are white. peck and gibson record them as yellow. i find them white, sometimes slightly tinted with yellow. the _chantarelle_ takes its name from a greek word signifying a cup or vase, referring to its shape and possibly also to its rich golden color; _cibarius_ refers to its esculent qualities. the variety _rufipes_ gillet closely resembles c. _cibarius_, but is darker, with the stem _rufous_, reddish, at the base. c. _aurantiacus_ fries bears a sufficient resemblance to c. _cibarius_ to be sometimes taken for it, although the cap is tomentose and of a much deeper orange in tint, the gills more crowded, darker than the cap, and the stem less stout. in the variety _pallidus_ the whole plant is very light or buff yellow, and the gills nearly white. c. aurantiacus has been recorded as poisonous or unwholesome by some of the earlier authors, others say that they have eaten it, but do not commend it. receipts for cooking. _stuffed morels._--choose the freshest and lightest colored morels, open the stalk at the base, fill with minced veal and bread-crumbs, secure the ends of the stalk and place between thin slices of bacon. the morel should not be gathered immediately after heavy rains, as it becomes insipid with much moisture. the flavor is said to grow stronger in drying. _escalloped mushrooms._--(from mr. frank caywood, fredericktown, ohio, november , .) season as directed in the usual methods for mushrooms and add a small quantity of vinegar to hasten the cooking. cook slowly until tender; rapid boiling evaporates the flavor. when done, put in from a pint to a quart of sweet milk and heat. take a pudding dish and put in a layer of broken crackers; light milk crackers are the best. put lumps of butter and pepper and salt over the crackers. next a layer of the tender mushrooms with some of the hot gravy and milk. continue these layers until the dish is full, having a layer of crackers on top. place the dish in the oven and bake slowly until the crackers are browned. _mushroom fritters._--take nice large tops, season, and dip into batter and fry in hot butter as other fritters. _mushrooms en ragout._--put into a stewpan a little "stock," a small quantity of vinegar, parsley, and green onions chopped up, salt and spices. when this is about to boil, the cleaned mushrooms are put in. when done remove them from the fire and thicken with yolks of eggs. the lactarius _deliciosus_ may be served with a white sauce or fried. badham says the best way to cook them is to season first with pepper, salt, and small pieces of butter, and bake in a closely covered pie dish for about three quarters of an hour. the cantharellus, being somewhat dry, requires more fluid sauce in cooking than the juicier mushrooms, and is best minced and slowly stewed until quite tender. some advise soaking it in milk a few hours before cooking. the italians dry or pickle it or keep it in oil for winter use. persoon gives the following recipes for cooking the morel: st. wash and cleanse thoroughly, as the earth is apt to collect between the ridges; dry and put them in a saucepan with pepper, salt, and parsley, adding or not a piece of bacon; stew for an hour, pouring in occasionally a little broth to prevent burning; when sufficiently done, bind with the yolks of two or three eggs, and serve on buttered toast. . _morelles à l'italienne._--having washed and dried, divide them across, put them on the fire with some parsley, scallion, chives, tarragon, a little salt, and two spoonfuls of fine oil. stew till the juice runs out, then thicken with a little flour; serve with bread crumbs and a squeeze of lemon. mushroom growing.[a] [a] a part of the matter presented under this caption was contributed by the author to the health magazine and appeared in the march number ( ) of that periodical. to france is due the credit of being the first country to cultivate mushrooms on a large scale, and france still supplies the markets of the world with canned mushrooms. the mushroom which is cultivated in the caves and quarries of france, to the exclusion of all others, is the agaricus arvensis (the "snowball"), a species of field mushroom. of late years france has found a formidable competitor in the culture of mushrooms in great britain. the english market gardeners find their moist, equable climate favorable to outdoor culture, and abundant crops are grown by them in the open air, chiefly, however, for the home market. that mushroom growing can be made a lucrative business is shown by the experience of a well-known english grower, mr. j. f. barter, who on one acre of ground has produced in the open air, without the aid of glass, an average of from ten to twelve thousand pounds of mushrooms annually; the price obtained for them varying according to the season, but averaging ten pence, or twenty cents, per pound for the whole year. the value of twelve thousand pounds of mushrooms at ten pence per pound would be £ sterling or $ , . for the purposes of comparison the following are quoted from the pall mall gazette, as exceptional prices realized in england for other fruits and vegetables in recent years: pounds sterling per statute acre: very early gooseberries, ; onions, ; early lettuces, ; plums, ; potatoes, ; strawberries, ; black currants, ; filberts, . it will be seen that onions and filberts head the list, but the product of an acre of mushrooms has been shown to be worth more than double that of either filberts or onions. in the localities specially favorable to hop growing cwt. of hops to the acre is considered exceptional, while the average price has been quoted at pounds sterling, or about one-fifth of the sum obtained from mr. barter's acre of mushrooms. three months in the year the weather does not favor outdoor culture, and these months mr. barter spends in manufacturing brick spawn, which he exports to this and other countries. among those who have been very successful in indoor culture are mr. william robinson, editor of the "london garden," and mr. horace cox, manager of the "field." in america, where mushroom culture is still comparatively in its infancy, there have already been obtained very encouraging results by painstaking growers. most of the cultivation has been in the northern and midwestern states, where the climatic conditions seemed most favorable to indoor culture. a few figures as to the revenue obtained in this way may be interesting to readers. an experienced pennsylvania grower states that from a total area of , square feet of beds, made up in two mushroom houses, he obtained a crop of , pounds of mushrooms in one season, or about one pound to the square foot. these sold at an average of a little over cents per pound. a third house, with , square feet of beds, produced , pounds, or one and one-half pounds to the square foot. this house yielded a net profit of one thousand dollars. this, however, can be quoted only as showing the possibilities of careful culture by experienced growers under very favorable circumstances. amateurs could scarcely expect such good results. three-fourths of a pound to the square foot would probably come nearer the average. a philadelphia grower gives the average price secured from fifty shipments of mushrooms in one season at cents per pound. new york dealers report higher rates than this. a washington florist who utilizes the lower shelves of his propagating houses for the purpose of mushroom growing informed me that during two seasons he received cents per pound wholesale, shipping to new york, and that he sold one thousand dollars worth in one season. mr. denton, a market gardener of long island, who cultivates in houses built for the purpose, markets from , to , pounds per year. thus far the market is in the hands of a comparatively few dealers in the neighborhood of large cities, but there is certainly no good reason why the growing of mushrooms should not be more generally undertaken by the farming community. certainly no one has better facilities than are at the command of the enterprising american farmer. on most farms the conditions are favorable or could easily be made so for mushroom culture, on a moderate scale, at least. generally there are disused sheds, old barns, etc., which with a small outlay could be transformed into mushroom houses, and where timber is plentiful the cost of building a small mushroom house would be repaid by the profits accruing from the business. in the culture of mushrooms there are open, to the enterprising with small capital, four sources of profit: first, the sale of the fresh mushrooms; second, the manufacture of mushroom catsup; third, the canning of the small button mushroom for exportation; and, fourth, the manufacture of spawn. it is well in this, as in all new industries, to begin in a small way, and if success is attained it is easy to extend operations on a larger scale. my advice to amateurs is to begin with one or two beds in a well-drained cellar or shed where good ventilation and even temperature can be secured at moderate cost. in the underground cellar economy is secured by the saving in fuel. the beds can be made on the floor, flat, ridged or banked against the wall, ten or twelve inches deep in a warm cellar, and from fifteen to twenty inches in a cool cellar. the boxing for the sides and ends may be built six or eight inches higher than the beds to give the mushrooms plenty of head room. directions for preparing the compost for the beds. procure not less than a cartload of clean, fresh stable manure. place it under cover, to protect it from rain and drain water, mix well and heap up the whole mass into a mound three feet high then beat the mound firmly down to prevent undue heating. repeat this operation every other day until its rank smell is gone, taking care that on each turning the outside dry manure is placed in the centre of the mound. by this means the stable odor is dissipated while its heating properties are equally distributed. add to this from one-fourth to one-fifth of clean, rich garden mould. mix well. after this careful handling, the mass may be considered fit for bedding purposes. when placed in the beds the mass should be compacted again by beating with the back of a spade or trowel. the bed surface should appear moist but not wet, smooth and of firm consistence. from day to day it will be necessary to test its general temperature by means of a thermometer. to this end make at various places at different depths openings sufficiently large to admit the use of a thermometer. it will be found that the temperature is highest nearest the bottom. test at various points. at first the temperature will run high; ° to ° fahrenheit is probably as high as it will reach, but in a few days it will fall to ° or ° fahrenheit. at this point spawn the bed. for this purpose make holes in the top of the bed about six inches apart and two inches deep with a blunt dibble or broom handle. place in these holes or openings a piece of brick spawn about the size of a hen's egg, and cover the holes with manure; finish by packing the same, keeping the surface of the bed smooth and moist. the spawn should be slightly moistened before using. should the surface of the bed become dry, use water from a fine sprinkling pan. the temperature of the cellar or house in which the bed may be placed should range between ° and °, and should not be lower than °. if the spawn is good and all conditions attended to, the white filaments should appear spreading through the bed within eight or ten days after spawning. when the white spawn is observed on or near the surface, cover the whole surface with from one to two inches of garden loam well pulverized. a good general rule for spawning the bed is to wait until the heat of the bed is on the decline and has fallen to at least ° fahrenheit. if the heat in the middle of the bed runs too high the spawn is killed. the experience of a number of growers has shown that a bed spawned at ° to ° and kept at ° after the mushrooms appear gives better results than one spawned at °. the quality of the manure makes some difference in its temperature. that obtained from stables where horses are grass fed will be of lower normal temperature and will chill quicker than that obtained from corn or oat fed stock. a solution of saltpeter in proportion of about fifteen grains to a quart of water, occasionally spread over the bed with a fine hose, helps to accelerate the growth of the mushrooms. the proper condition of the manure as regards dryness or moistness can be readily ascertained by squeezing it in the hand; it should be unctuous enough to hold together in a lump, and so dry that you cannot squeeze a drop of water out of it. excessive moisture in the manure has been often a cause of failure. it should be remembered also that when the heat of the manure is on the decline it falls rapidly, five, often ten degrees a day, till it reaches about °, and between that and ° it may rest for weeks. one of the principal causes of the failure of mushroom culture in this country is the use of old or poor spawn. good spawn should have a fresh, mushroomy odor, and a bluish-white appearance on the surface. in buying spawn one should always go to reliable seedsmen. compost for mushroom beds. sawdust has been used in england for mushroom beds, after having been used for stable bedding, with very good results. it has also been used successfully in the district of columbia. in fact, the very large models of cultivated mushrooms exhibited by the division of microscopy of the department of agriculture at the world's fair in chicago were moulded from mushrooms which were grown on the writer's premises, in a composition of sawdust stable bedding, combined with about one-fourth garden mould, but i am confident, at the same time, that much depends on the kind of timber the sawdust is made from. in this case the sawdust came from spruce. mushroom culture in canada. a canadian correspondent informs me that he, with others, has been very successful in growing mushrooms in the open air during the summer months in canada, and gives the following directions for preparing the beds in the colder latitudes: place under a shed such amount of clean stable manure as may be required for the beds, turning it over and over until all free ammonia has escaped and the tendency of undue fermentation and evolution of high temperature has greatly modified. to effect this, it is necessary to heap up the manure each time in a mound, say three feet high after turning, and beat it firmly down (the exclusion of free air prevents overheating). to put the manure in proper condition for use in the beds, from two to four weeks' treatment may be required, but much depends on the quality of the manure and temperature of the atmosphere. before making the beds, and several days after the last turning, test the internal temperature of the mound in the following manner: make a hole with a broomstick through the mound from top to bottom, and suspend a thermometer half way down in the hole for, say, an hour. the temperature may be as high as ° f. after the lapse of the time stated, beat the mound more firmly down to prevent rise of temperature. test again two days after in the same manner. if the temperature has risen several degrees the mound must be again taken down, turned over, and remade. if, on the other hand, the temperature has fallen to ° f., the permanent bed may be made. if indoor growth is desired, such as a cellar, outbuilding, or cave, the atmosphere must not fall below ° f., nor be over ° f. air drafts cannot be permitted. the floor must be dry and the atmosphere moist. the cellar may be dark, or moderately light. growers differ in opinion in this respect. growers generally add to the manure about one-fourth or one-fifth garden soil, but success has been attained without the use of garden soil, except as surface dressing after spawning the bed; an excessive use of loam, in any case, tends to lower the temperature too rapidly. having prepared a box or frame-work for the bed twelve inches deep, fill it up to within two inches of the top; beat gently down with a board, or a brick, until it is even and compact. on the following day make holes in the bed, with a dibble, ten inches deep, in which suspend a thermometer half way down for an hour. should the temperature have fallen to ° f., cover lightly with straw and test on the following day. should the temperature prove to be going down, say to ° f., or ° f., it is safe to plant the spawn; but should the temperature be on the rise, wait until it is falling. one grower has stated that his greatest success has been when the spawn was planted at the temperature of ° f. should the temperature fall too quickly and the surface be too dry, sprinkle with water at blood heat, using a very fine hose, and cover the bed with straw. the spawn brick should be cut into pieces, about the size of an egg, and planted in holes made in the bed, about two inches deep and about six inches apart. the holes are then filled up and about two inches of garden soil sifted over the surface of the bed. tamp the bed surface gently with the back of a spade. mushrooms may be expected for table use in about six or seven weeks, provided the spawn is good and the temperature has not fallen below ° f. in outdoor culture the beds must be well covered with straw or canvas, and had better be under a shed roof with southern exposure. the spawn used by this grower is the "brick" spawn, imported from carter & holborn, london, england. cultivation of mushrooms in japan. the japanese are very successful in cultivating a mushroom which they call "shiitake" or "lepiota shiitake." china also produces the same mushroom, but of an inferior quality. the chinese therefore prefer the mushroom cultivated by the japanese, which they import from japan in large quantities. it is cultivated on a variety of trees, but is said to grow best on the "shiinoki," a species of oak (quercus cuspidata). there are three varieties of "shiitake," the spring, summer, and autumn crops differing somewhat in quality. the method of growing the "shiitake" is given by the japanese commissioner of agriculture as follows: "trees of from twenty to fifty years' growth are cut down at the approach of winter when the sap has ceased to run, and after the lapse of twenty or thirty days, according to the condition of the drying of the wood, are sawed into logs of or feet in length. into each of these logs incisions are made with a hatchet, at intervals of about inches, and they are piled regularly upon a frame-work erected at a height of about foot above the ground, under the trees. the location of the ground selected for piling the logs should be the slopes of a forest, facing southeast or southwest. after keeping the logs as above described for from two to three years, they are immersed in water for twenty-four hours in the middle of november, and again laid one upon another for about four days; if it is in a cold district, the pile is covered with straw or mats. at the expiration of the fourth day the logs are obliquely tilted against poles fixed horizontally to the trees at a height of about feet in a well-ventilated and sunny situation. the mushrooms soon appear in quantity, and, after twenty or thirty days' growth, are ready for harvesting." recent reports of the japanese agricultural department show the total value of the annual export of "shiitake" to be nearly five hundred thousand "yen" (silver). manufacture of spawn. as many tons of artificial spawn are yearly imported into this country, it would seem that the manufacture of spawn in the united states might prove a profitable form of investment. "brick spawn." for commercial purposes the english method of making the spawn into bricks has some advantages over the french "flake" process. its compact and uniform shape makes the brick more convenient for storage and general handling, and greatly facilitates its transportation to long distances. brick spawn is made in the following manner: clean horse droppings, cow manure, loam, and road sweepings are beaten up in a mortar-like consistency and then formed into bricks, moulds being used, slightly differing in shape with different makers, but usually thinner and wider than common building bricks. the following proportions are given: ( ) horse droppings the chief part; one-fourth cow dung; remainder loam. ( ) fresh horse droppings mixed with short litter for the greater part; cow dung, one third; and the rest mould or loam. ( ) horse dung, cow dung, and loam, in equal parts. when about half dry, depressions are made in the bricks, sometimes in the centre, and sometimes in each corner, and small pieces of good spawn are placed in these depressions, and plastered over with the material of the brick. the cakes are then laid out to dry, standing on their edges, and when nearly dry are piled in pairs with the spawn-larded surfaces face to face. the bricks are then stacked away, and covered with sweet fermenting litter, sufficiently to cause a heat of ° f. it should not be over ° f. one spawn manufacturer says that the most rapid and successful growth of the mycelium is attained when the temperature is from ° f. to ° f. the bricks are examined frequently during the process, and when the mycelium of the old spawn has permeated the whole mass like a fine white mould, the bricks are taken out and dried in a well-ventilated dark place. they are then placed in a cool, dark storehouse, where they are not subject to dampness and where the temperature is about ° f., not over ° or below ° f. slight ventilation is necessary, but not enough to make the bricks dust-dry. keeping the spawn dry merely suspends its growth; as soon as it is again submitted to favorable conditions of moisture and heat, its pristine activity returns. dampness, combined with heat, stimulates the growth of mycelium; frost also destroys the vitality of the spawn. it is evident, therefore, that these conditions should not exist in the store-room. one manufacturer advocates piling the bricks, after spawning, on a clay floor, packing closely four bricks deep, and covering them with sifted loam. by this method it is claimed that danger of "fire fang" will be avoided, as the bricks will be kept at a perfectly uniform temperature of about ° or °, which causes the spawn to run quickly and uniformly. in from four to six weeks they are ready to take out and dry for use or storage. the french or "flake" spawn comes in light masses of loose, dry litter. it is obtained in the following way: a bed is made up as if for mushrooms in the ordinary way, and spawned with "virgin" spawn, and when the bed is thoroughly impregnated with spawn, it is broken up and set aside to dry. this spawn is usually sold in small boxes, containing from two to five pounds, but it also can be obtained in bulk when it is purchased by weight. the french or "flake" spawn is much more expensive than the english or "brick" spawn. it is claimed by some very successful growers, who have tried both, that the brick spawn produces heavier and fleshier mushrooms than the french "flake." "mill track" spawn. "mill track" spawn was formerly considered the best in england, but since horse power has given place to steam power in the mills there is now no further supply of mill track, and it is practically superseded by the "brick" spawn. the real "mill track" is the natural spawn that has spread through the thoroughly amalgamated horse droppings in mill tracks, or the sweepings from mill tracks. spawn produced in a manure heap. during the past year i have made some experiments in the pine and oak woods of hynesboro' park, maryland, with relation to spawn culture, an account of which may prove of interest to students in this line of investigation. several loads of stable manure and oak-leaf bedding were well mixed and formed into a mound about three feet in height, having a diameter of six feet, and tapering to about four inches in depth at the outer edge. the mass was quite moist and slightly tamped to give it general consistency. it was exposed to the open air, without protection, during the months of september, october, and november. in the meantime, frequent rains occurred. on examination it was found that the rains did not penetrate to a depth of more than four inches. on opening up the centre of the mound, it was observed that the portion thus exposed consisted of highly decomposed leaves, and presented a white mass of matted, "burned" mycelium. it was evident that the temperature at that point had risen considerably above ° fahr. the mycelium was, doubtless, produced in abundance before the temperature reached fahr. and became scorched as the temperature increased. on examining the outer edges, where the depth was only twelve inches, i found an abundance of mycelium which did not show any appearance of having been scorched by undue temperature. since no mycelium had been added to the mound, it is evident that the spores which produced it must have been present, although unobserved, and awaiting only the proper conditions for development, _i. e._, for budding and the production of mycelium. at the end of the third month, groups of the common meadow mushroom, agaricus campestris, together with some fine examples of tricholoma terreum, an edible mushroom, common to these woods, appeared on the edges of the mound. appendix a. continuation of glossary of terms used in describing mushrooms. _maculate_, spotted. _marginate_, having a distinct border. _matrix_, the substance upon which a mushroom grows. _medial_, at the middle; of the ring of a mushroom which is between superior or near the apex of the stem, and distant or far removed from the apex. _merismoid_, having a branched or laciniate pileus. _moniliform_, contracted at intervals in the length, like a string of beads. _multifid_, having many divisions. _multipartite_, divided into many parts. _mycelium_, the delicate threads proceeding from the germinating spores, usually white and popularly termed spawn. _narrow_, of very slight vertical width. _netted_, covered with projecting reticulated lines. _nucleus_, the reproductive germ in the spore. _obconic_, inversely conical. _obcordate_, like an inverted heart. _oblique_, slanting. _oblong_, longer than broad. _obovate_, inversely egg-shaped, broadest at the apex. _obtuse_, blunt or rounded. _ochrospore_, ochre-colored spore. _orbicular_, having the form of an orb. _order_, group of a classification intermediate between tribe and family. _ostiole_, _ostiolum_, mouth of the perithecium; orifice through which the spores are discharged. _ovate_, egg-shaped. _pallid_, pale, undecided color. _papillate_, _papillose_, covered with soft tubercles. _paraphyses_, sterile cells found with the reproductive cells of some plants. _parasitic_, growing on and deriving support from another plant. _partial_, of a veil clothing the stem and reaching to the edge of the cap but not extending beyond it. _patent_, spreading. _pectinate_, toothed like a comb. _pedicel_, foot-stock. _pedicillate_, having a pedicel. _pelliculose_, furnished with a pellicle or distinct skin. _penciled_, with pencil-like hairs either on the tip or border. _peridium_, general covering of a puff-ball, simple or double, dehiscent or indehiscent at maturity. _perithecia_, bottle-like receptacles containing asci. _peronate_, used when the stem has a distinct stocking-like coat. _persistent_, inclined to hold firm, tenacious. _pervious_, forming an open tube-like passage. _pileate_, having a cap. _pileoli_, secondary pilei; arising from a division of the primary pileus. _pileus_, the cap, receptacle, or one part of a mushroom; other parts are the stem and gills. _pilose_, covered with hairs. _pits_, depressions in cells or tubes resembling pores, applied also to hollow depressions in the surface of the cap of the morel. _plumose_, feathery. _pore_, orifice of the tubes of polypores. _poriform_, in the form of pores. _porous_, having pores. _powdery_, covered with bloom or powder. _projecting_, the anterior end jutting out beyond the margin. _proliferous_, applied to an organ which gives rise to secondary ones of the same kind. _pruinose_, covered with frost-like bloom. _pruniform_, plum-shaped. _pubescent_, downy. _pulverulent_, covered with dust. _pulvinate_, cushion-shaped. _punctate_, dotted with points. _pyriform_, pear-shaped. _quaternate_, arranged in groups of four. _receptacle_, a part of the mushroom extremely varied in form, consistency, and size, inclosing the organs of reproduction. _remote_, when the margin of the gill comes to an end before reaching the stem. _reniform_, kidney-shaped. _repand_, bent backwards. _resupinate_, of mushrooms spread over the matrix without any stem and with the hymenium upwards; inverted by twisting of the stalk. _reticulate_, marked with cross lines like the meshes of a net. _revolute_, rolled backwards; of the margin of a cap, the opposite of involute. _rhodospore_, rose or pink spore. _rimose_, cracked. _ring_, a part of the veil adhering to the stem of a mushroom in the shape of a ring. _rivulose_, marked with lines like rivulets. _rubiginous_, rust colored. _rufescent_, reddish in color. _rugose_, wrinkled. appendix b. through the courtesy of mr. hollis webster, secretary of the boston mycological club, the following list of mushrooms, which have been collected and eaten by members of that club during the past year, has been supplied to me: amanita. a. _cæsarea_ scop., "true orange." a. _rubescens_ persoon. a. _vaginata_ bull. lepiota. l. _procera_ scop., "parasol mushroom." l. _rachodes_ vilt. l. _americana_ pk. l. _naucinoides_. armillaria. a. _mellea_ vahl, "honey mushroom." tricholoma. t. _equestre_ l. t. _sejunctum_ low, "yellow blusher." t. _portentosum_ fr. t. _coryphacum_ fr. t. _russula_ schaeff. t. _columbetta_ fr. t. _gambosum_ fr., "st. george's mushroom." t. _personatum_. t. _nudum_. hygrophorus. h. _virgineus_ fr. h. _fuligineus_ frost. h. _flavo discus_ frost, "yellow sweet-bread." h. _hypothejus_ fr. h. _puniceus_ fr. lactarius. l. _piperatus_ fr. l. _deliciosus_ fr. l. _volemus_ fr. russula. r. _virescens_ fr. r. _lepida_ fr. r. _punctata_ gt. r. _aurata_ fr. r. _ochracea_ fr. r. _alutacea_ fr. cantharellus. c. _cibarius_ fr. c. _umbonatus_ fr. marasmius. m. _oreades_ fr., "fairy ring." m. _scorodonius_ fr. m. _alliaceus_ fr. hypholoma. h. _sublateritium_ schaeff. h. _candolleanum_ fr. h. _perplexum._ h. _appendiculatum_ bull. coprinus. c. _comatus_ fr., "shaggy mane." c. _ovatus_ fr. c. _atramentarius_. c. _micaceus_ fr. c. _fimetarius_ fr. cortinarius. c. _turmalis_ fr. c. _sebaceus_ fr. c. _cærulescens_ fr. c. _collinitus_ fr. c. _violaceus_ fr. c. _albo violaceus_ pers. c. _cinnamomeus_ fr. c. _cinnamomeus_ var. _semi-sanguineus_ fr. clitocybe. c. _clavipes_ fr. c. _odora_ fr. c. _dealbata_ low. c. _laccata_ scop. c. _multiceps_ pk. c. _infundibuliformis_ schaeff. collybia. c. _dryophila_ bull. c. _velutipes_ curt. pleurotus. p. _ostreatus_ fr. p. _sapidus_ kalch. p. _ulmarius_ fr., elm-tree mushroom. p. _pluteus cervinus_ schaeff. clitopilus. c. _prunulus_ scop. c. _orcella_ bull. c. _unitinctus_ pk. c. _seymourianus_ pk. pholiota. p. _caperata_ pers., "the gypsy." p. _præcox_ (when too old is bitter). p. _adiposa_. agaricus (psalliota). a. _arvensis_. a. _cretaceus_ fr. a. _campester_ l. a. _silvicola_ vilt. sparassis. s. _crispa_ fr. clavaria. (any and all clavarias found are generally eaten by us without identification). c. _botrytes_ pers. c. _amethystina_ bull. c. _coralloides_ l. c. _cinerea_ bull. c. _aurea_ schaeff. c. _rugosa_ bull. c. _pistillaris_ l. lycoperdon. l. _cyathiforme_ bose. l. _giganteum_ batsch. l. _pyriforme_ schaeff. l. _saccatum_ fr. morchella. m. _esculenta_ bull. m. _conica_ pers. peziza. p. _aurantia_ vahl. strobilomyces. s. _strobilaceus_ berk. fistulina. f. _hepatica_ fr., "beef steak mushroom." polyporus. p. _betulinus_ fr. (coriaceous when old). p. _sulphureus_ fr. hydnum. h. _imbricatum_ l. h. _repandum_ l. h. _caput-medusæ_ bull. also thirteen of the boleti. student's hand-book of mushrooms of america edible and poisonous. by thomas taylor, m. d. author of food products, etc. published in serial form--=no. =--price, c. per number. washington, d. c.: a. r. taylor, publisher, mass. ave. n.e. . [illustration: plate e. the norris peters co., photo-litho., washington, d. c.] plate e. plate e illustrates various forms and positions of the annulus or ring characteristic of certain species of mushrooms, together with the cortina or veil of which the ring, if present, is the remnant, in some species, either as it appears entire or as a fringe on the margin of the cap, contrasting these forms with a sectional view of a species in which the veil or ring is always wanting. fig. . ring broad, reflexed or deflexed, or both; situated high up on the stem, as in _armillaria mellea_. fig. . ring situated about midway of the stem, deflexed and pendulous as in _amanita muscaria_. fig. . ring about half midway of the stem, split, and radiating outwards, as in _agaricus arvensis_. fig. . ring drooping. fig. . ring persistent, movable, wholly detached, in age, from the tall and slender stem, upon which it easily slips up and down. a species of great beauty, _lepiota procera_. fig. . ring narrow, scarcely perceptible above the middle of the stem; remnants of the veil adhering to the margin of the cap as a fugacious web. fig. . ring generally wanting--_tricholoma nudum_. remnants of the veil seen on the margin of the cap. fig. . remnants of the veil appearing on the margin of the cap as a fringe, and particularly on the stem as a mere fibrillose zone of a darker color as in the _cortinarii_. fig. . plant exhibiting the cortina unbroken, the extremities of its delicate arachnoid threads attached to cap and stem, respectively. fig. . section of a russula, in which genus the ring is always wanting; veil none. [illustration: plate f. the norris peters co., photo-litho., washington, d. c.] plate f. plate f illustrates by section or otherwise various forms of these gill-like processes characteristic of species, considered either with regard to marginal outline or position of their posterior extremity: fig. . gills distant. fig. . gills crowded. fig. . gills flexuose. fig. . gills unequal. fig. . bifurcated. fig. . anastomosing veins. fig. a. sectional view. fig. . gills narrow. fig. . gills broad. fig. . lanceolate. fig. . ventricose. fig. . anteriorly rounded. fig. . posteriorly rounded. fig. . emarginate. fig. . emarginate and denticulate. copyright, , by thomas taylor, m. d., and a. r. taylor. agaricini. _subgenus hypholoma_. hymenophore continuous with the stem, veil woven into a fugacious web, which adheres to the margin of the pileus. gills adnate or sinuate; spores brownish purple, sometimes intense purple, almost black.--m. c. cooke. this subgenus has been divided into the following five groups: . fasciculares.--pileus smooth, tough, bright colored when dry, not hygrophanous. examples, ag. (hypholoma) _sublateritius_ and ag. (hypholoma) _fascicularis_. . viscidi.--pileus naked, viscid. example, ag. (hypholoma) _oedipus_. . velutini.--pileus silky, with innate fibrils. example, ag. (hypholoma) _velutinus_. . flocculosi.--pileus clad with floccose superficial evanescent scales. example, ag. (hypholoma) _cascus_. . appendiculati.--pileus smooth and hygrophanous. example, ag. (hypholoma) _candollianus_. the species are not numerous. they are generally either gregarious or cæspitose, and are often found in clusters upon tree stumps, or springing from the buried roots of stumps. a few species are found in short grass in open places; but few are recorded as edible, and one, h. _fascicularis_, has been classed as deleterious by berkeley, cooke, and some of the earlier authors. i find, however, no authenticated case of poisoning by this species, and, indeed, have as yet found no species of hypholoma which could be satisfactorily identified as h. fascicularis. the few species of hypholoma which i have tested have been palatable, and one or two are of very delicate flavor. [illustration: plate viii. edible agaricus (hypholoma) _sublateritius_ fries (hypholoma sublatertium) "brick top." group from seabrooke woods, md. t. taylor, del.] plate viii. =ag. (hypholoma) sublateritius= schaeff. "_red tuft_." (=hypholoma sublateritium=) "_the brick top_." edible. the cap of this species is fleshy and obtuse, convexo-plane, sometimes showing a superficial whitish cloudiness upon the margin coming from the veil, which soon disappears, leaving it smooth and dry; color tawny brick red, with pale straw margin; flesh compact and whitish, turning yellow when wilted. stem stuffed and fibrillose, tapering downward. near its attachment to the cap the color is very light yellow; lower down and towards the root it is covered with patches and lines of burnt sienna color. it bears no distinct ring. in very young plants the filmy veil is sometimes perceived, reaching from the margin of the cap to the stem. this disappears as the cap expands, sometimes leaving the stem obscurely annulate. gills adnate in full-grown specimens, slightly decurrent, somewhat crowded, dingy white or cinereous, turning to dark olive, never yellow; in old or wilted specimens changing to a dark brown. in old specimens the cap is a reddish brown and the gills are sometimes stained with the purplish brown of the spores. this is a very common species and very abundant in pine and oak woods. i have seen an oak stump in prince george's county, md., measuring from to feet in height, literally covered with mushrooms of this species. this mushroom has been recorded as suspicious by some writers, probably owing to its slightly bitter taste, but i have thoroughly tested its edible qualities, both uncooked and prepared in various ways for the table, using the caps only. it keeps well when dried, and when ground into powder, with the addition of boiling water and a little pepper and salt, makes a very pleasant and nutritious beverage. it is most abundant in the early autumn, and is gathered in this latitude well into the winter, even when the snow is on the ground. our american plant is less heavy and more graceful in aspect than the same species in england, as figured in english works, but the general characteristics are the same. ag. (hypholoma) _fascicularis_ hudson, recorded as deleterious, is figured in "cooke's illustrations." dr. berkeley thus distinguishes these two species from each other. cap of _sublateritius_ is obtuse, discoid; that of _fascicularis_, subumbonate. flesh of the former, compact, dingy-white; that of the latter, yellow. stem in _sublateritius_ is "stuffed," attenuated downwards, ferruginous; stem of _fascicularis_ hollow, thin, flexuose. the gills in both species are adnate, crowded; but in _fascicularis_ they are also linear and deliquescent, and are _yellow_ in color. note.--in the friesian arrangement of the genera of the order agaricini, which is adopted by m. c. cooke, hypholoma finds place as a subgenus of the genus agaricus, spore series pratelli. saccardo in his sylloge elevates hypholoma to the rank of a separate genus and places it in his spore series melanosporæ. [illustration: plate ix. edible agaricus (hypholoma) _candollianus_, fries., variety _incertus_ peck figured from specimens collected in the district of columbia t. taylor, del.] plate ix. =agaricus (hypholoma) incertus= peck. (_hypholoma incertum_.) edible. cap fleshy but fragile, smooth and hygrophanous, moist; at first convex, then expanding; color creamy white. gills adnate, narrow, crowded, whitish in young specimens, turning to a pinkish dun color, later to a rosy cinnamon, sometimes showing when mature a slightly purplish tint. stem smooth, slender, long and hollow, with slight striations near the apex, white. specimens occur in which the stem is obscurely annulate arising from the attachment to it of fragments of the veil, but usually it is ringless. the typical species of hypholoma have the fleshy part of the cap confluent with the stem, but in h. _incertum_ the stem is not confluent and is easily separated from the cap as in the lepiotas. this mushroom was first recorded by peck in his early reports as the variety "_incertus_" of the species agaricus (hypholoma) candollianus, but has since been recorded by saccardo as a distinct species, hypholoma incertum. two species of hypholoma have the same habit and sufficiently resemble _incertum_ to be taken for it, if not carefully examined as to points of difference. these are h. _candollianum_, named in honor of a. de candolle, and h. _appendiculatum_. in the first named of these two species the cap is whitish, the gills at first violet in color, changing to dark cinnamon brown. in h. appendiculatum the pileus is rugose when dry, and sprinkled with atoms. it is darker in color than that of h. incertum; cooke says tawny or pale ochre; massee says bay, then tawny. the gills are sub-adnate, in color resembling those of h. incertum; stem slender, smooth, and white. from the foregoing it will be seen that h. _incertum_ agrees more nearly with h. _candollianum_ in the color of the cap, but more nearly with h. _appendiculatum_ in the color of the gills. saccardo recognizes the three as "distinct species of the _genus hypholoma_." as all are edible, the slight differences observed are interesting chiefly to the mycologist. the mycophagist will find them equally valuable from a gastronomic point of view. in taste they resemble the common mushroom. they are more fragile, however, and require less cooking than the cultivated mushroom. broiled on toast or cooked for ten minutes in a chafing dish, they make a very acceptable addition to the lunch menu. the specimens figured in plate ix were selected from a crop of thirty or more growing in the author's garden, in very rich soil at the base of a plum-tree stump. for several seasons past small crops have been gathered from the same spot, as well as around the base of a flourishing peach tree. quantities of all three species have been gathered in the short grass of the capitol grounds for a number of seasons, and in the various parks of the district of columbia. specimens have been received from western new york and massachusetts. those growing upon soil very heavily fertilized are apt to be somewhat stouter and shorter stemmed than those coming up through the short grass in the parks. analytical table. the following compendious analytical table showing prominent characteristics of the leading genera and subgenera of the order agaricini, according to fries, worthington smith, and other botanists, which appears in cooke's hand book, revised edition, will be found helpful to the collector in determining the genus to which a specimen may belong. order agaricini i. spores white or very slightly tinted--leucospori . plant fleshy, more or less firm, putrescent (neither deliquescent nor coriaceous) . hymenophore free . pileus bearing warts or patches free from the cuticle (volvate) _amanita_ . pileus scaly, scales concrete with the cuticle (not volvate) _lepiota_ . hymenophore confluent . without cartilaginous bark . stem central . with a ring _armillaria_ . ringless . gills sinuate _tricholoma_ . gills decurrent . edge acute _clitocybe_ . edge swollen obtuse cantharellus . gills adnate . parasitic on other agarics nyctalis . not parasitic . milky lactarius . not milky . rigid and brittle russula . waxy hygrophorus . stem lateral or absent _pleurotus_ . with cartilaginous bark . gills adnate _collybia_ . gills sinuate _mycena_ . gills decurrent _omphalia_ . plant tough, coriaceous or woody . stem central. . gills simple marasmius . gills branched xerotus . stem lateral or wanting . gills toothed lentinus . gills not toothed panus . gills channelled longitudinally or crisped trogia . gills splitting longitudinally schizophyllum . gills anastomosing lenzites ii. spores rosy or salmon color--hyporhodii . without cartilaginous bark . hymenophore free . with a volva _volvaria_ . without a volva . with a ring _annularia_ . ringless _pluteus_ . hymenophore confluent, not free . stem central . gills adnate or sinuate _entoloma_ . gills decurrent _clitopilus_ . stem lateral or absent _claudopus_ . with cartilaginous bark . gills decurrent _eccilia_ . gills not decurrent . pileus torn into scales _leptonia_ . pileus papillose, sub-campanulate. . gills membranaceous, persistent _nolanea_ . gills sub-deliquescent bolbitius iii. spores brownish, sometimes rusty, reddish or yellowish brown.--dermini. . without cartilaginous bark. . stem central. . with a ring. . ring continuous _pholiota_ . ring arachnoid, like a spider's web filamentous or evanescent. . gills adnate terrestrial cortinarius . gills decurrent, or acutely adnate, mostly epiphytal, _flammula_ . without a ring. . with rudimentary volva _acetabularia_ . without a volva. . gills adhering to the hymenophore, and sinuate. . cuticle fibrillose or silky _inocybe_ . cuticle smooth viscid _hebeloma_ . gills separating from the hymenophore, and decurrent, paxillus . stem lateral or absent _crepidotus_ . with cartilaginous bark. . gills decurrent _tubaria_ . gills not decurrent. . margin of pileus at first incurved _naucoria_ . margin of pileus always straight. . hymenophore free _pluteolus_ . hymenophore confluent _galera_ iv. spores purple, sometimes brownish purple, dark purple, or dark brown.--pratellæ. . without cartilaginous bark. . hymenophore free. . with a volva _chitonia_ . without a volva _psalliota_ . hymenophore confluent. . veil normally ring shaped on the stem _stropharia_ . veil normally adhering to the margin of the pileus _hypholoma_ . with cartilaginous bark. . gills decurrent _deconica_ . gills not decurrent. . margin of pileus at first incurved _psilocybe_ . margin of pileus at first straight _psathyra_ v. spores black or nearly so.--coprinarii. . gills deliquescent coprinus . gills not deliquescent. . gills decurrent gomphidius . gills not decurrent. . pileus striate _psathyrella_ . pileus not striate _panæolus_ in the friesian classification which, with modifications, has prevailed for many years among mycologists, the _genus agaricus_ included in its _subgenera_ the greater part of the species of the order _agaricini_. the subgenera, printed in the above table in italics, were included in this genus. the genera are printed in capitals. in the saccardian system, all the _subgenera_ of _agaricus_ having been elevated to _generic_ rank, the term agaricus is limited to a very small group which includes the _subgenus psalliota_ of fries, the species being characterized by fleshy caps, free gills, ringed stem, and dark brown or purplish brown spores. as restricted, it naturally falls into the spore series _melanosporeæ._ in the white-spored section, leucospori, the recorded edible species occur in the following genera: marasmius, cantharellus, lactarius, russula, hygrophorus, collybia, pleurotus, clitocybe, tricholoma, armillaria, lepiota, and amanita. the plants of marasmius are usually thin and dry, reviving with moisture. cantharellus is characterized by the obtuseness of the edges of the lamellæ, lactarius by the copious milky or sticky fluid which exudes from the plants when cut or bruised. russula is closely allied to lactarius, and the plants bear some resemblance in external appearance to those of that genus, but they are never milky, and the gills are usually rigid and brittle. in hygrophorus the plants are moist, not very large, often bright colored, and the gills have a waxy appearance. the collybias are usually cæspitose, the stems exteriorly cartilaginous, in some species swelling and splitting open in the centre. in pleurotus the stem is lateral or absent. the plants are epiphytal, usually springing from the decaying bark of trees and old stumps. in clitocybe the plants are characterized by a deeply depressed, often narrow cap, with the gills acutely adnate, or running far down the stem, which is elastic, with a fibrous outer coat covered with minute fibers. many of the species have a fragrant odor. the tricholomas are stout and fleshy, somewhat resembling the russulas, but distinguished from them by the sinuate character of the gills, which show a slight notched or toothed depression just before reaching the stem (represented in fig. , plate iv). typical species of armillaria show a well-defined ring and scales upon the stem, the remains of the partial veil, and the plants are usually large, and cæspitose. the lepiotas are recognized by the soft, thready character of the fleshy portion of the cap, and the fringed scales formed by the breaking of the cuticle. the ease with which the ringed stem is removed from its socket in the cap is another characteristic which distinguishes the plants from those of other genera. the amanitas are distinguished by the volva, which sheathes the somewhat bulbous stem at its base and the ring and veil which in the young plant are very distinct features, the whole plant in embryo being enveloped in the volva. the amanita group, besides containing some very good edible species, is also credited with containing the most dangerous species of all the mushroom family, and some which are undoubtedly fatal in their effects.[a] [a] a more detailed description of this group will appear in no. of this series. the nyctali are minute mushrooms parasitic on other mushrooms. in omphalia, the plants are quite small, with membranaceous caps, gills truly decurrent, and cartilaginous stems. the myceneæ are generally very small, slender, and fragile, usually cæspitose, with bell-shaped caps, sinuate gills, not decurrent, and cartilaginous stems. in some species the plants exude a milky juice. in the genera panus, lentinus, lenzites, schizophyllum, xerotus, and trogia, the plants are leathery or coriaceous, dry and tough, and though none are recorded as poisonous, they are too tough to be edible. the mushrooms having pink or salmon colored spores, section rhodosporii, form the smallest of the four primary groups of agaricini, the number of known species not exceeding , and most of these are tasteless, or of disagreeable odor, while some are recorded as unwholesome. the species are pink-gilled when mature, though often white or whitish when very young. the recorded edible species are found in volvaria, clitopilus, and pluteus. the volvariæ are characterized by the very large and perfect volva which wraps the base of the stem in loose folds, the ringless stem, and the pink, soft, liquescent gills, which are free and rounded behind. the cap is not warted; in some species it is viscid, and in _bombycinus_, recorded by several authors as edible, and by some as doubtful, it is covered with a silky down. in clitopilus the odor of the edible species is more or less mealy. the cap is fleshy, and the margin at first involute. two edible species which closely resemble each other--viz., clitopilus _prunulus_, "plum mushroom," and clitopilus _orcella_, "sweetbread mushroom,"--are highly recommended for their delicacy of flavor. in leptonia most of the species are small, thin, and brittle, corresponding with mycena in the white-spored series, and with psathyra and psathyrella in the dark-spored series. eccilia corresponds with omphalia. claudopus corresponds with pleurotus in its habit of growth and lateral stem, differing in the color of the spores. annularia includes only a few small species having a ringed stem, no volva, and free pink gills. cooke says of this subgenus that no british species are known. the recorded species of pluteus have their habitat on tree stumps, sawdust, or upon fallen timber. one species, pluteus _cervinus_, is recorded as edible, but not specially commended. of entoloma, worthington smith says, "it is allied to tricholoma, though most of the species are thinner and often brittle. it agrees also in structure with hebeloma and hypholoma." none of the species are recorded as having value as esculents. the genus bolbitius is described by cooke as a small genus intermediate between agaricus and coprinus on the one side, and coprinus and cortinarius on the other. the species are small and ephemeral. saccardo places bolbitius in his division melanosporæ, although the spores are ochraceous. in the section pratelli psalliota and hypholoma contain mushrooms which are of exceptionally fine flavor. in the first of these is found the common field mushroom agaricus campester and its allies. the black-spored section coprinarii contains two genera which include a few recorded edible species, viz., coprinus and gomphidius. the psathyrellas correspond in size to the mycenas in the white-spored series and to the psathyras in the purple-spored section; the gills are free or adnate and turn black when mature. none of the species are edible. in paneolus the plants are somewhat viscid when moist, the gills are described as "clouded, never becoming purple or brown." they are usually found on manure heaps near cities. none are edible. saccardo in his sylloge combines the pratellæ and coprinarii, making of them one section which he calls _melanosporeæ_. g. massee, the british mycologist, makes of the black-spored and the purple and purplish-brown spored series two divisions, calling them, respectively, _porphyrosporeæ_ and _melanosporeæ_. the recorded edible species of the spore section dermini are found in pholiota, cortinarius, and paxillus. the larger proportion of the pholiotas grow upon tree stumps. they have a fugacious, persistent friable ring, and are liable to be confused with the cortinarii, unless attention is paid to the spidery veil and the iron-rust tint of the spores of the latter. only a few of the species are recorded as edible, but none are known to be poisonous. cortinarius is a large genus. it contains a larger proportion of edible species than pholiota, and none are recorded as poisonous. the cobweb-like veil which extends from stem to margin of cap in the young species, and the rust-colored spores which dust the gills as the species mature, distinguish the genus from all others. a characteristic feature of paxillus, and one which makes it easily distinguishable from others of the same group, is the ease with which the gills as a whole can be separated from the substance or fleshy portion of the cap. there is an exception to this in the species paxillus involutus, recorded by peck as edible. polyporei. hymenium lining the cavity of tubes or pores which are sometimes broken up into teeth or concentric plates.--berkeley's outlines. the plants of this second primary group or order of the family hymenomycetes exhibit a greater dissimilarity of form and texture than do those of the agaricini. some of its genera consist almost wholly of coriaceous or woody plants. a few contain fleshy ones. some of the species have a distinct stem, while others are stemless. with regard to the receptacle in the plants of the genera _boletus_, _strobilomyces_, etc., it forms a perfect cap, like that of the common agaric, a cushion of tubes taking the place of gills on the under surface of the cap, the hymenium in this case lining the inner surface of the tubes from which the spores drop when mature. in some species, such as those of the genus poria, the receptacle is reduced to a single thin fibrous stratum, adhering closely to the matrix and exposing a surface of crowded pores, and in others it consists of fibrous strata formed in concentric layers. a number of groups, each of which was treated in the original friesian classification as a single genus, have more recently been recognized as comprising several distinct genera. in the saccardian system the genera trametes, dædalea, merulius, porothelium, and fistulina still retain the generic rank assigned to them by fries, but the old genus boletus is subdivided into four genera, boletus, strobilomyces, boletinus, and gyrodon, while polyporus, originally a very large genus, is subdivided into the genera polyporus, fomes, polystictus, and poria. this arrangement was in part suggested by fries in his later works, and is accepted by m. c. cooke, as indicated in his latest work on fungi. quoting m. c. cooke, "_strobilomyces_ is _boletus_ with a rough warty and scaly pileus; _boletinus_ is _boletus_ with short, large radiating pores; and _gyrodon_ is _boletus_ with elongated sinuate irregular pores, all fleshy, firm fungi of robust habit, possessing stem and cap." the species of the genus polyporus as now restricted are somewhat fleshy in the young stage, shrinking as they mature and dry, and becoming indurated with age. in fomes the species, of woody consistency from the first, have no room for shrinkage, and are quite rigid; the tubes being in strata, and the strata growing yearly, the species are virtually perennial. the pileus of the plant shows a rigid polished crust resulting from resinous exudations. in polystictus the plants are usually small, thin, tough, and irregular in outline, the tubes exceedingly short, with thin walls, which easily split up, giving the pores at times a toothed or fringed appearance. the surface is velvety, or hairy, and zoned in varying colors. they are very common upon decaying tree stumps, often covering the surface of the stump in gaily colored layers. not esculent. poria is composed of resupinate species with the pores normally in a single series, the whole stratum spread over, and adhering to the matrix. the species are coriaceous or woody. not esculent. the plants of the genus trametes allied to fomes are epiphytal, with the trama the same in substance and color as the hymenophore. the tubes do not form in regular strata, but are sunk into the substance of the pileus. the plants are coriaceous, and none are edible. dædalea closely resembles _trametes_ with the tubes forming deep labyrinthiform depressions. whole plant woody, sessile. hexagonia, allied by its characteristics to polystictus, has large hexagonal pores, with firm, entire dissepiments. in favolus the plants are slightly fleshy and substipitate with the pores angular, and radiating from the stem. not edible. the species of the genus laschia are recognized by the shallow irregular pores and the vein like character of their dissepiments (or pore walls). substance slightly gelatinous. in the plants of porothelium, irregular papillæ take the place of tubes, and the plants are sub-membranaceous and resupinate, having the habit of those of poria. the genus merulius has been termed the lowest and most imperfect of the genera of polyporei. it presents a soft, waxy spore-bearing surface, reticulated with obtuse folds. solenia, by early authors placed in discomycetes, thence transferred to auricularini, and by some authors associated with cyphella in theleporei, now finds place as one of the genera of polyporei as given by saccardo. the above-mentioned genera, together with myriadoporus, ceriomyces, bresadolia, theleporus, gloeporus, and cyclomyces, constitute the polyporeæ of the saccardian system. _myriadoporus_ is a north american genus. it is a form of the genus polyporus, but with pores in the _interior_ as well as on the _exterior_ surface. _ceriomyces_ is generally regarded as a spurious genus. it is similar to _myriadoporus_, but with internal pores and only spurious pores externally. of _bresadolia_ cooke says "there is only one described species, and of this only one specimen has been found." _theleporus_ is an african genus of which only one species is known. _gloeporus_ is a form of resupinate polyporus, except that the hymenium or pore-bearing surface is gelatinous instead of being firm. _cyclomyces_ is a genus with some features of lenzites; it is leathery. all of these are more or less coriaceous. none are edible. _campbellia_ is a new genus. it is _merulius_ with a pileus and central stem. the edible polyporeæ are found in the genera boletus, strobilomyces, gyrodon, boletinus, polyporus, and fistulina. of these, the first four genera contain most of the edible species as well as a few which have been regarded as unwholesome or poisonous. in the genus polyporus as now restricted, the species polyporus _sulphureus_ fries is perhaps the one most likely to be selected for table use, the others becoming very quickly indurated or tough, and this should be gathered when very young, as in maturity it loses its fleshy consistency and becomes dry and tough. it is common on old tree stumps and is often found on the dead wood of living trees, the bright yellow and vivid orange red tints which characterize the young plant making it very conspicuous. it is easily recognized by its irregular, closely overlapping frond-like caps, white flesh, and the very small sulphur-yellow tubes. the spores are white, elliptical. the flesh of young specimens is somewhat juicy. the geographical distribution is wide, and in places where a moist, warm temperature prevails plants of this species often attain very large proportions, sometimes completely encircling the trunk of a tree at its base. the bright colors fade as the plant matures, and the plant becomes indurated and friable, when very old crumbling readily in the hands. to prepare for the table, very thin slices of young specimens should be cut and either allowed to slowly simmer on the back of the range, or soaked in milk and then fried in butter. of the genus fistulina but one species, fistulina hepatica, figured in plate x, is recorded as edible and indigenous to this country. [illustration: plate x. fistulina hepatica specimen, upper view. same, under view. specimen, upper view. same, under view. spores. k. mayo, del.] plate x. =fistulina hepatica= bull. "_beefsteak mushroom_," "_liver fungus_." edible. _genus fistulina_ bull. hymenophore fleshy, hymenium inferior, that is, on the under surface of the cap, at first papillose; the papillæ at length elongated, and forming distinct tubes. besides fistulina _hepatica_, five species of this genus are recorded in saccardo's sylloge, viz., f. _radicata_ schw., f. _spathulata_ b. & c., f. _pallida_ b. & r., f. _rosea_ mont., and f. _antarctica_ speg.; the last indigenous to patagonia. f. _hepatica_ is the only species with which i am familiar. the plants of this species are very irregular in form, rootless, epiphytal, often stemless, and sometimes attached to the matrix by a very short stem. this fungus is frequently found upon old oak, chestnut, and ash trees, developing in the rotting bark. it appears first as a rosy pimple, or in a series of red granules. in a very short time it becomes tongue-shaped, sometimes kidney shaped, assuming the color of a beet root. as it increases in size it changes form again, becoming broad in proportion to its length, and changing in color to a deep blood red, and finally to a dull liver tint. its lower surface is often paler than its upper, it being tinged with yellow and pinkish hues. one author states that it requires about two weeks to attain its highest development, after which it gradually decays. it varies in size from a few inches to several feet in circumference. rev. m. j. berkeley mentions one which weighed thirty pounds. it has been styled, the "_poor man's fungus_," and in flavor resembles meat more than any other. the substance is fleshy and juicy in the early stage. the pileus is papillose, the papillæ elongated, and forming distinct tubes as the pileus expands. these tubes are separable from each other, and with age become approximate and jagged at their orifices. the tubes are at first yellowish, with a pink tinge, becoming dingy with age. the fleshy substance, or hymenophore, is often veined in light and dark red streaks. the juice is pellucid, red, and slightly acid. spores at first nearly round, becoming elliptical, salmon color. this fungus is esteemed in europe, where it is eaten prepared in a variety of ways. when young and tender it can be sliced and broiled or minced and stewed, making a delicious dish. when too old the stock is rather tough for good eating, but the gravy taken from it forms a rich flavoring for a vegetable stew or a meat ragout. the following recipe for cooking this mushroom has been recommended: slice and macerate it, add pepper and salt, a little lemon, and chopped onions or garlic; then strain and boil the liquid, which makes most excellent gravy, resembling that of good beefsteak. the fistulina hepatica is well known in europe, and is found in different parts of the united states, in some places growing abundantly. i have gathered some fine specimens in maryland and virginia, but none as large as that described by dr. berkeley. recipes for cooking mushrooms. _to pot mushrooms._--the small open mushrooms suit best for potting. trim and rub them; put into a stewpan a quart of mushrooms, ounces of butter, teaspoonfuls of salt, and half a teaspoonful of cayenne and mace, mixed, and stew for ten or fifteen minutes, or till the mushrooms are tender; take them carefully out and drain them perfectly on a sloping dish, and when cold press them into small pots and pour clarified butter over them, in which state they will keep for a week or two. writing-paper placed over the butter, and over that melted suet, will effectually preserve them for weeks in a dry, cool place. _to pickle mushrooms._--select a number of sound, small pasture mushrooms, as nearly alike as possible in size. throw them for a few minutes into cold water, then drain them, cut off the stalks, and gently rub off the outer skin with a moist flannel dipped in salt; then boil the vinegar, adding to each quart two ounces of salt, half a nutmeg grated, a dram of mace, and an ounce of white pepper corns. put the mushrooms into the vinegar for ten minutes over the fire; then pour the whole into small jars, taking care that the spices are equally divided; let them stand a day, then cover them. _baked mushrooms._--peel the tops of twenty mushrooms; cut off a portion of the stalks and wipe them carefully with a piece of flannel dipped in salt. lay the mushrooms in a tin dish, put a small piece of butter on the top of each, and season with pepper and salt. set the dish in the oven and bake them from twenty minutes to half an hour. when done, arrange them high in the centre of a very hot dish, pour the sauce around them, and serve quickly and as hot as you possibly can. _mushrooms with bacon._--take some full-grown mushrooms, and, having cleaned them, procure a few rashers of nice streaky bacon and fry them in the usual manner. when nearly done add a dozen or so of mushrooms and fry them slowly until they are cooked. in this process they will absorb all the fat of the bacon, and with the addition of a little salt and pepper will form a most appetizing breakfast relish. _mushroom pie._--a very good mushroom pie is made in the following manner: chop a quart of mushrooms into small pieces, season to taste, and add one pound of round steak chopped fine and seasoned with a small piece of onion. if the steak is lean, add a small piece of suet, unless butter is preferred to give flavor. put the chopped steak and mushrooms in deep saucepan with cover, and stew slowly until tender. make a crust as for beefsteak pie and put in a deep earthern dish, lightly browning the under crust before adding the stew, and cover with a crust lightly punctured. in some parts of russia mushrooms form an important part of the diet of the people, especially during the lenten season, when the fast of the greek church is very strictly kept, and meat, fish, eggs, and butter are forbidden. provision is made for this season in the securing of quantities of dried and salted mushrooms, which are cut up in strips and made into salads with a dressing of olive oil and vinegar. the poorer classes to whom the olive oil is unattainable use the rape seed and other vegetable oils in the cooking of their mushrooms. the following recipes are translated from a recently published russian work on the subject of mushrooms, cultivated and wild: select fresh, sound boleti, cut off the caps, and, after wiping clean with a napkin, place them in a sieve, pouring over them scalding water; when thoroughly drained, leave them where there is a free current of air until perfectly dry. next string them upon stout twine, leaving spaces between to allow of free circulation of air. if convenient, they can be dried artificially by placing in a not too hot oven with the door open. dried by either method, they can be kept all winter. before using, they should be soaked in water or milk until soft. in this condition they make very good flavoring for soup or gravy, and can also be used as filling for pies. _mushrooms cooked in butter._--wipe the mushrooms clean and dip in dry flour. heat a quantity of butter to boiling temperature in a saucepan, seasoning with a small piece of onion. drop the flour-covered mushrooms into the boiling butter, shaking the pan constantly over the fire. when the mushrooms are cooked add sour cream to taste. before serving, sprinkle with grated muscat nut. _mushroom pickle._--select only young button mushrooms. put them for a few moments in boiling water lightly salted and vinegared. boil vinegar (only the best should be used), spicing it according to taste. allow the vinegar to cool. put the mushrooms in layers in a jar and pour over them enough spiced vinegar to cover. seal tightly. _salted piperites._--only the caps are taken of the lactarius piperites. they are placed first in salted scalding water for several minutes. the water is then gently pressed out with a napkin, the mushrooms are placed on sieves and cold water poured over them. they are then placed in layers in a jar, each layer sprinkled with salt, and whole pepper and minced onion scattered over the layer. when the jar is full a thin round board is placed upon the top layer and pressed down with weights, and as the mass gives way mushrooms are added until the jar is compactly filled. the jar is then covered with parchment or otherwise tightly sealed. eight gallons of mushrooms require from one to one and a half glasses of salt. this makes a good salad when treated with oil. note.--l. piperites is an extremely acrid mushroom when in the raw state, and the russians do not stew it, but prepare it in the above way, taking the precaution to scald thoroughly with salted water before putting away. the precaution of scalding through several waters is a wise one to use in the preparation of all mushrooms inasmuch as the poisonous principle of most mushrooms is soluble in scalding water. dilute vinegar is frequently used in the same manner. vinegar should not be used in metal vessels unless porcelain-lined. list of the genera of hymenomycetes. the following list of the genera of hymenomycetes, summarized from kellerman's synopsis of saccardo's sylloge fungorum, will be found useful for reference: i.--agaricaceÆ. _leucosporeæ._ (spores white or slightly tinted yellowish.) genera. amanita pers. amanitopsis roze. lepiota fries. schulzeria bres. armillaria fries. tricholoma fries. clitocybe fries. collybia fries. mycena fries. hiatula fries. omphalia fries. pleurotus fries. hygrophorus fries. lactarius fries. russula pers. cantharellus adans. arrhenia fries. nyctalis fries. stylobates fries. marasmius fries. heliomyces lev. lentinus fries. panus fries. xerotus fries. trogia fries. lenzites fries. tilotus kalch. hymenogramme b. & mont. oudemansiella speg. pterophyllus lev. rachophyllus berk. schizophyllum fries. _rhodosporæ_ (spores pink or salmon color), corresponding to the hyporhodii of fries. genera. volvaria fr. annularia schulz. pluteus fries. entoloma fries. clitopilus fries. leptonia fries. nolanea fries. eccilia fries. claudopus worth. smith. _ochrosporæ_ (spores tawny ochraceous, or light rusty tint of brown), corresponding to the dermini of fries. genera. pholiota fries. locillina gill. inocybe fries. hebeloma fries. flammula fries. naucoria fries. pluteolus fries. galera fries. tubaria worth. smith. crepidotus fries. cortinarius fries. paxillus fries. _melanosporæ_ (spores black, dark-brown or purplish-brown), combining the attributes of both the coprinarii and the pratelli of fries. genera. chitonia fries. agaricus linn. pilosace fries. stropharia fries. hypholoma fries. psilocybe fries. deconica worth. smith. psathyra fries. bolbitius fries. coprinus pers. panæolus fries. annellaria karsh. psathyrella fries. gomphidius fries. anthracophyllum ces. montagnites fries. ii.--polyporaceÆ (polyporei). genera. boletus dill. strobilomyces berkeley. boletinus kalchbr. gyrodon opatowski. fistulina bull. polyporus mich. fomes fries. polystictus fries. poria pers. trametes fries. hexagonia fries. dædalea pers. myriadoporus peck. ceriomyces corda. bresadolia speg. cyclomyces kunz. favolus fries. gloeoporus mont. laschia fries. merulius hall. theleporus fries. porothelium fries. solenia hoffm. iii.--hydnaceÆ (hydnei). genera. hydnum linn. caldesiella lace. hericium pers. tremellodon pers. sistotrema pers. irpex fries. radulum fries. plebia fries. lopharia k. & m. ow. grandinia fries. grammothele b. & c. odontia pers. kneiffia fries. mucronella fries. iv.--thelephoraceÆ (thelephorei). genera. craterellus fries. hypolyssus pers. thelephora ehrh. cladoderris pers. beccariella ces. stereum pers. hymenochæte lev. skepperia berk. corticium fries. peniophora cooke. coniophora d. c. michenera b. & c. matula mass. hypochnus fries. exobasidium weron. helicobasidium pat. cyphella fries. friesula speg. cora fries. rhipidonema matt. v.--clavariaceÆ (clavariei). genera. sparassis fries. acartis fries. clavaria vaill. calocera fries. lachnocladium lev. pterula fries. ptifula pers. pistallaria fries. physalacria peck. vi.--tremellaceÆ (tremellini) genera. auricularia bull. hirneola fries. platygloea schroet. exidia fries. ulocolla bref. craterocolla bref. femsjonia fries. tremella dill. næmatelia fries. gyrocephalus pers. delortia pat. & gail. arrhytidia berk. ceracea cragin. guepinia fries. dacryomitra pul. collyria fries. genera minus certa. hormonyces bon. ditiola fries. apyrenium fries. brefield's classification of fungi. a system of classification of fungi which is receiving attention from mycologists is that recently presented by the distinguished german author dr. oscar brefield. dr. brefield's exhaustive investigations into the life-history of fungi in general have been such as to entitle his views to consideration, although the system presents some inconsistencies which may prevent its adoption in its entirety. according to the brefield system, as summarized by his colleague dr. von tavel, fungi are divided into two primary classes: ( ) the _phycomycetes,_ or lower fungi nearest like the algæ, _consisting of a one-celled thallus with sexual as well as non-sexual modes of reproduction_, and ( ) the mesomycetes and the mycomycetes, _having a divided or many celled thallus, propagated by non-sexually formed spores_. the phycomycetes are further divided into two large sections, based on their methods of reproduction, termed, respectively, zygomycetes and oomycetes. these include the old typical mucors, the peronosporeæ or "rotting moulds," once classed with the hyphomycetes, the saprolegniaceæ, "fish moulds," of aquatic habit, the entomophthoraceæ, "insect moulds," together with some minor groups. the mesomycetes connect the phycomycetes with the mycomycetes. the class mycomycetes is primarily divided into two sections, viz., ascomycetes and basidiomycetes, with the ustilagineæ, "smut fungi," in mesomycetes, forming a transitional group between phycomycetes and the basidiomycetal group of the higher fungi. the ascomycetes are primarily subdivided into _exoasci_ and _carpoasci,_ groups based on the character of the asci. in the first, _exoasci,_ the asci are naked and borne directly on the mycelium; in the second, _carpoasci,_ they are enclosed in a wrapper composed of fertile hyphæ and sterile threads, having also accessory fruit forms. the first includes endomycetes and taphrineæ. in the second are included the groups gymnoasci, perisporaceæ, pyrenomycetes, hysteriaceæ, discomycetes, and helvellaceæ. the basidiomycetes characterized by the possession of basidia are arranged in two groups, based on the character of the basidia: ( ) the protobasidiomycetes, in which the basidia are septate, divided, and ( ) the autobasidiomycetes, in which the basidia are not divided, and bear a definite number of spores. the first of these (protobasidiomycetes) includes the following distinct groups: ( ) the uredineæ, "rust fungi," which have horizontally divided basidia, always free, never enclosed; ( ) the auricularieæ, having basidia somewhat resembling those of the uredineæ, but which are borne in fruit bodies with open hymenia; ( ) pileacreæ, having horizontal septate basidia in closed receptacles; and ( ) tremellineæ, having vertically divided basidia borne in gymnocarpous receptacles--that is, those in which the hymenium is exposed while the spores are growing. the autobasidiomycetes are characterized by undivided basidia, bearing spores only at the apex. this group is subdivided into three sections: ( ) dacryomycetes, which includes the lowest of the tremelloid forms, with club-shaped basidia, nearly approaching the true hymenomycetal type, together with several groups of minor import; ( ) gasteromycetes; and ( ) hymenomycetes, with phalloideæ placed in the group as a subsection of gasteromycetes. the above can only be considered as a very brief abstract of the system of classification proposed by dr. brefield, but it will serve to give some idea of the principle on which the system is based, which is sufficient for our present purpose. those who wish to study the system in detail will find it treated in a comprehensive manner in dr. von tavel's summary as it appears in the _vergleichende morphologie der pilze_, jena, . coniomycetes and hyphomycetes. in the original classification of fries two of the primary divisions of the sporiferous fungi were termed, respectively, _coniomycetes_ and _hyphomycetes_. this arrangement was accepted by berkeley, the term _coniomycetes_ being applied to all fungi in which the naked spores, appearing like an impalpable dust, were the principal feature of the plant, and the term _hyphomycetes_ to fungi in which the threads or hyphæ bearing the spores were the most conspicuous feature. coniomycetes, as broadly interpreted by berkeley and other mycologists of his day, included the uredineæ or "rust fungi," the ustilagines or "smut fungi," the sphæropsideæ, and the melanconieæ. this arrangement was very unsatisfactory on account of the distinctively different character of the methods of reproduction of the respective groups, and they have since been disassociated and by some authors ranked as distinct orders or families. others combine uredinei and ustilaginei in one group under the name hypodermei. familiar examples of uredinei are seen in the rust of the barberry leaf, etc., and of the ustilaginei in the "smut" of corn and the "bunt" of wheat. some authors combine the sphæropsideæ with the closely allied melanconieæ. m. c. cooke contends that the _sphæropsideæ_ should be considered apart from the _melanconieæ,_ on the fundamental basis that the former possess a distinct perithecium, while the latter do not. the _sphæropsideæ_ as recently defined by cooke are "fungi _possessed of a perithecium, but without asci_, ... sporules or stylospores being produced internally at the apex of more or less distinct supporting hyphæ or pedicels, termed sporophores." the sphæropsideæ somewhat resemble the pyrenomyceteæ in external characteristics, but differ from them in the absence of asci and paraphyses. saccardo retains all the species in his sylloge, but relegates them to an inferior position as imperfect fungi. the group _pyrenomycetes_, or _sphæriacei_, as at first recognized by _fries_, included not only the _sphæriacei_ and the _perisporacei_, but also the _sphæropsidei_ and _melanconiaceæ_. later, when ascigerous fungi were separated from stylosporous fungi, this group was revised, the ascigerous species only being retained. as at present limited, the pyrenomycetes are "_ascigerous_ fungi having the fructification enclosed within a perithecium." they constitute a very large group, the described species, according to cooke's census of fungi, numbering not less than , , or at least , more than all the recorded species of hymenomycetes. the plants are microscopic in size, and grow upon vegetable or animal substances. hyphomycetes. with regard to the hyphomycetes, cooke takes the ground that in their internal relations to each other, and their external relations to the remaining orders, the hyphomycetes are undoubtedly a well-defined and natural group, and should have place as such in a systematic work. it is a large order, containing nearly , species, mostly parasitic on dead animals and vegetable matter. the spores, termed conidia, are free, as in hymenomycetes. the species are microscopic in size, and the hyphæ are strongly developed. they have no hymenium and no true basidia, and are non-sexual in their reproduction. the four primary sections are the mucedineæ, or "white moulds;" the dematieæ, or "black moulds;" the stilbea, with the hyphæ or thread-like filaments pallid or brown, and densely cohering, and the tubercularieæ, with the hyphæ densely compacted in wart-like pustules of somewhat gelatinous consistency. the divisions called melanconieæ, sphæropsideæ, and hyphomyceteæ are not recognized in the brefield system of classification as distinct groups. massee and cooke, with other mycologists, take exception to this omission and its implication, in their discussion of the subject, giving consistent reasons for the retention of these groups in systematic works. phycomycetes or physomycetes. as originally defined by berkeley, this group was composed chiefly of the old typical mucors and their allies, and was then termed physomycetes. in the newer system of classification its original definition has been extended so as to include a number of groups somewhat dissimilar in their habits and characteristics, but "united under the conservating bond of a dimorphic reproduction," and the name has been changed to phycomycetes. as at present recognized "the phycomycetes are characterized by a unicellular mycelium, often parasitic on plants or animals, sometimes saprophytic, developed in the air or in water. reproduction sexual or asexual." as thus interpreted, phycomycetes includes the mucoracei; the peronosporaceæ, or "rotting moulds;" the cystopi, or "white rusts;" the saprolegniaceæ, or "fish moulds;" the entomophthoraceæ, or "insect moulds," together with a few minor groups of doubtful natural affinity. bibliography. saccardo, p. a. "sylloge sphæropsidearum et melanconiearum," in sylloge fungorum. vol. iii. imp. vo. padua, . l. a. crie. _recherches sur les pyrenomycetes inferieurs du group de depazées._ vo. paris, . j. c. corda. _icones fungorum._ fol. vol. prague, -' . bonorden. _zur kenntniss der coniomyceten u. cryptomyceten._ to. halle, . m. c. cooke. _the hyphomycetous fungi of the united states._ vo. . p. a. saccardo. _sylloge fungorum._ vol. iv.--"hyphomyceteæ." padua, . de toni, j. b. "sylloge ustilaginearum et uredinearum," in saccardo, _sylloge fungorum._ imp. vo. vol. vii, pt. ii. padua, . geo. winter in rabenhorst's _kryptogamen florader pilze_. vo. cuts. . geo. massee. _british fungi--phycomycetes and ustilagineæ._ vo. cuts. london, . o. brefield. _bot. untersuch. ü. hefenpilze._ leipzig, . tulasne. "memoire sur les ustilaginées comparées aux uredinées." ann. des sci. nat., d series, vol. vii. paris, . m. woronin. beitrag zur kenntniss der ustilagineen. . m. c. cooke. rust, smut, mildew, and mould. mo. col. plates. london, . c. b. plowright. _a monograph of the british uredineæ and ustilagineæ._ vo. london, . w. c. smith. _diseases of field and garden crops._ mo. cuts. london, . d. d. cunningham. _conidial fructification in the mucorini._ r. thaxter. "the entomophthoreæ of the united states." memoirs of boston society of natural history. vol. iv, to. plates. . l. mangin. _sur le structure des peronosporées._ paris, . k. lindstedt. _synopsis d. saprolegniaceen._ vo. four plates. berlin, . m. cornu. "monographie des saprolegniées." ann. des sci. nat., th series. vol. xv. paris, . m. c. cooke. _synopsis pyrenomycetum._ parts. vo. london, -' . a. de zaczewski. "classification naturelle des pyrenomycetes." bull. soc. myc. de france, vol. x. . j. b. ellis and b. m. everhart. _the north american pyrenomycetes._ m. c. cooke. _mycographia,_ vol. i. "discomycetes." col. plates. imp. vo. london, . w. phillips. _a manual of british discomycetes._ im. vo. plates. london, . p. a. saccardo. "sylloge discomycetum," in _sylloge fungorum_. vol. viii. padua, . r. hartig. _text book of diseases of trees._ roy. vo. london, . geo. massee. the evolution of plant life, lower forms. mo. london, . marshall ward. diseases of plants. mo. cuts. london, . a. de bary. _recherches sur le developpement de quelques champignons parasites._ vo. plates. berlin, -' . appendix. _superior_, the upper surface; applied to the ring when near the apex of the stem. _tetraspore_, _tetra_ gr. four; spores. _theca_, cell-mother, the protoplasm of which originates by segmentation; a certain number of spores, usually eight, held in suspension in the protoplasm of the theca without being attached to each other or to the cell walls. _thecaspore_, the spore thus encased. _tomentose_, downy, with short hairs. _torsive_, spirally twisted. _torulose_, a cylindrical body swollen and restricted alternately. _toxic_, poisonous. _trama_, the substance proceeding from the hymenophore, intermediate between the plates (central in) of the gills of agarics. _transverse_, crosswise. _tremelloid_, jelly-like. _truncate_, ending abruptly, as if cut short; cut squarely off. _tubæform_, trumpet-shaped. _tubercle_, a small wart-like excrescence. _tubular_, hollow and cylindrical. _turbinate_, top-shaped. _typical_, agreeing closely with the characters assigned to a group or species. _umbilicate_, having a central depression. _umbo_, the boss of a shield; applied to the central elevation of the cap of some mushrooms. _umbonate_, having a central boss-like elevation. _uncinate_, hooked. _unequal_, short imperfect gills interspersed among the others. _universal_, used in relation to the veil or volva which entirely envelops the mushroom when young. _variety_, an individual of a species differing from the rest in external form, size, color, and other secondary features, without perpetuating these differences only under exceptional circumstances. _veil_, in mushrooms a partial covering of the stem or margin of the pileus. _veliform_, a thin veil-like covering. _venate_, _veined_, intersected by swollen wrinkles below and on the sides. _ventricose_, swollen in the middle. _vernicose_, shining as if varnished. _verrucæ_, warts or glandular elevations. _verrucose_, covered with warts. _villose_, _villous_, covered with long, weak hairs. _virescent_, greenish. _virgate_, streaked. _viscid_, covered with a shiny liquid which adheres to the fingers when touched. _viscous_, gluey. _volute_, rolled up in any direction. _volva_, a substance covering the mushroom, sometimes membranous, sometimes gelatinous; the universal veil. _walnut brown_, a deep brown like that of some varieties of wood. (raw umber, and burnt sienna and white.) _wart_, an excrescence found on the cap of some mushrooms; the remains of the volva in form of irregular or polygonal excrescences, more or less adherent, numerous, and persistent. _zone_, a broad band encircling a mushroom. _zoned_, furnished with one or more concentric circles. although some writers apply the terms spore, sporidia, sporophore, sporules, and conidia somewhat indiscriminately to all spore bodies, in order to avoid confusion, it is now recommended by the best authorities that certain distinctive limitations should be adhered to in the use of these terms. saccardo, in defining the terms which he employs, accepts the term spores as applicable exclusively to the naked spores supported on basidia, as found in the basidiomyceteæ. the term sporidia he limits to spores produced or enclosed in an ascus, as in the ascomyceteæ. the term sporules he applies to the spores of imperfect fungi, where they are enclosed in perithecia (microscopic cups or cells), such as the sphæropsidea. the term conidia he uses to designate the spores of imperfect fungi without perithecia or asci, such as the hyphomyceteæ and the melanconieæ. this arrangement is in accordance with m. c. cooke's published views on the subject, except in the case of the spore bodies of the melanconieæ, which he prefers, for well-defined reasons, to call sporules. in accordance with these limitations, the terms _spermatia_, _stylospores_, and _clinospores_ are merged in _sporule_. other terms appropriate to their development are employed to designate the spores of uredineæ, phycomyceteæ, etc. student's hand-book of mushrooms of america edible and poisonous. by thomas taylor, m. d. author of food products, etc. published in serial form--=no. =--price, c. per number. washington, d. c.: a. r. taylor, publisher, mass. ave. n.e. . copyright, , by thomas taylor, m. d., and a. r. taylor. gasteromycetes. hymenium more or less permanently concealed, consisting in most cases of closely packed cells of which the fertile ones (the basidia) bear naked spores on distinct spicules, exposed only by the rupture or decay of the investing coat or peridium. berkeley's outlines. this family has been subjected to numerous revisions since the days of fries, when its structural characteristics were not so well understood as at present. montagne and berkeley are credited with being the first to show the true structure of the hymenium in the puff-balls, as well as to demonstrate the presence of basidia. this important discovery led to the correlating of the gasteromycetes with the hymenomycetes under the common title basidiomycetes, both having the spores borne upon basidia. the two families still remained distinct, however, not only because of the dissimilarity in their external features but principally on account of the difference in the disposition and character of the hymenium. in the hymenomycetes the hymenium is exposed to the light from the first, and the spores drop from the basidia as they mature; whereas in the gasteromycetes the hymenial pulp, or gleba, consisting of the spores with the supporting basidia and the hyphæ, is enclosed within the substance of the fungus, and the spores are exposed only on the decay of the investing coat. the basidia of the gasteromycetes, though resembling those of the hymenomycetes, are more variable in form and the number of the spores not so constant. they perform the same functions and bear spicules, sometimes in pairs, sometimes quaternate, each spicule being surmounted by a spore. they dissolve away as the spores mature and can, therefore, only be observed in the very young stage of the plant. the spores of the gasteromycetes are usually colored and, except in the subterranean species, globose. as seen through the microscope they have often a rough warty appearance, sometimes spinulose. paraphyses may be present as aborted basidia, but cystidia are rarely distinguished. a characteristic of a large proportion of the plants is the drying up of the hymenial substance, so that the cavity of the receptacle becomes at length filled with a dusty mass composed of spores and delicate threads, the remains of the shriveled hyphæ. the following table will serve to show the distinctive features of the four primary divisions of the gasteromycetes: _lycoperdaceæ_.--hymenium fugitive, drying in a dusty mass of threads and spores, dispersed by an opening or by fissures of the peridium. terrestrial. _phalloideæ_.--hymenium deliquescent and slimy; receptacle pileate; volva universal. foetid fleshy fungi. _hypogæi_, or _hymenogastreæ_.--hymenium permanent, not becoming dusty or deliquescent except when decayed. capillitium wanting. subterranean. _nidulariaceæ_.--receptacle cup-shaped or globose; spores produced on sporophores or short basidia enclosed in globose or disciform bodies (sporangia) contained within a distinct peridium. terrestrial. the section lycoperdaceæ contains upwards of species or more than two-thirds of the whole number of recorded species of the gasteromycetes. lycoperdon, bovista, and geaster, its most conspicuous genera, are said to contain the largest number of well-known species. a few are edible. the phalloideæ include about species. the plants are usually ill-smelling and unwholesome. some are stipitate, others are latticed, etc. some are conspicuous for their bright coloring. in the young stage they are enclosed in an egg-shaped volva having a gelatinous inner stratum. the plants of the nidulariaceæ are very minute, tough, and widely distributed. the species cyathus, the "bird's-nest fungus," is quite common in some localities, and is interesting because of its peculiar form. the individual plant is very small, not more than two centimeters high. it resembles an inverted bell, or a miniature wine-glass. a delicate white membrane covers the top at first. this disappears as the plant matures, revealing lentil-shaped bodies packed closely together like eggs in a nest. these oval bodies are the peridiola containing the spores. they are usually found upon rotten wood or sticks on the ground. sixty-five species are recorded, but none are edible. the plants of the division hypogæi or hymenogastreæ are subterranean in habit, preferring a sandy soil. they are usually somewhat globose in form, having a thick outer coat or peridium, though in some of the genera the outer coat is very thin or obsolete. they are dingy in color. in the young plants the interior substance somewhat resembles that of the truffle, but is streaked and mottled. when old the gleba consists of a dusty mass of threads and spores. they are known under various appellations, such as "underground puff-balls," "false truffles," etc. the hypogæi are analogous to the tuberacei, except that the spores are not contained in asci as in the latter. cooke says they appear to be the link which unites the basidiomycetes to the ascomycetes by means of the tuberacei or genuine truffles. in the young stage the basidia in the hypogæi are easily distinguished by the aid of the microscope. in external features and habit of growth the species of elaphomyces, a genus of tuberacei, closely resemble the hypogæi, and in old age, when the _asci_ have disappeared, it is difficult to distinguish the plants of this genus from the hypogæi. the genus _melanogaster_ contains an edible species, _m. variegatus_, tulasne, commonly known in europe as the "red truffle" or "false truffle." _m. variegatus_ is usually gregarious and subterranean in habit. the exterior is minutely granular, tawny yellow or reddish rust color; the interior soft, bluish-black, streaked with yellow, the spore mass in maturity becoming pubescent. the odor is pleasantly aromatic, and the taste sweet. under trees in woods. the variety _broomeianus_ berk. is paler in the marbling, which shows reddish instead of yellow streaks. the pulpy mass is at first white, changing to a yellowish, smoky hue. lycoperdaceÆ and phalloideÆ. the plants figured in plates g and h belong to the lycoperdaceæ and phalloideæ. lycoperdaceÆ. massee, who has given the puff-ball group very close study, says that in the gleba of the lycoperdaceæ, "at a very early period two sets of hyphæ are present. one, thin-walled, colorless, septate and rich in protoplasm, gives origin to the trama, and elements of the hymenium, and usually disappears entirely after the formation of the spores; the second type consists of long thick-walled aseptate or sparsely septate, often colored hyphæ, which are persistent and form the capillitium. the latter are branches of the hyphæ forming the hymenium." genera lycoperdon and bovista. to the genera lycoperdon and bovista belong most of the "puff-balls" and all of the species figured in plate g. in the plants of these two genera the peridium is more or less distinctly double, and the hyphæ, or delicate threads which are seen mixed with the dusty mass of spores in the mature plant, forming what is called the capillitium, are an important element in classification. _genus lycoperdon_ tourn. in this genus the investing coat or peridium is membranaceous, vanishing above or becoming flaccid; bark or outer shell adnate, sub-persistent, breaking up into scales or warts; capillitium soft, dense, and attached to the peridium, base spongy and sterile. [illustration: plate g. gasteromycetes. six types of the "puff-ball" group. edible.] plate g. edible puff-balls. fig. .--=lycoperdon cælatum= fries. "_collapsing puff-ball_." peridium flaccid above, with mealy coating, obtuse, at length collapsing, the sterile stratum cellulose. inner peridium distinct from the outer all round; capillitium nearly free, collapsing when mature, threads long and brittle; spores dingy olive, turning brown; base stem-like, broad and blunt, with root, obconical, somewhat spongy. common in pastures and open woods. edible when young, but not much commended. plant pale cream color. figs. and .--=lycoperdon gemmatum= batsch. "_warted puff-ball_," "_studded puff-ball_." plant sub-globular, with a stem-like base; white or cinereous, turning to light greyish-brown, the surface warty, the warts unequal, the larger ones somewhat pointed, the smaller granular. as the warts fall off they leave the surface of the denuded peridium somewhat dotted or slightly reticulated. flesh, when young, firm and whitish. the plants of this species are small, variable in form, sometimes turbinated, sometimes nearly globose, or depressed globose, but usually the basal portion is narrower than the upper portion. the stem varies in thickness and length; sometimes it is quite elongated, in some instances absent. capillitium and spores yellowish-green, turning dark olive or brown. columella present. when the spores are fully ripe the peridium opens by a small apical aperture for their dispersion. the plants are sometimes densely cæspitose, and crowd together on the ground or on decaying wood in large patches after warm rains. they are found both in fields and open woods during summer and autumn. they are edible when young, but not specially well flavored. there are several varieties. plants sometimes oval or lens-shaped. in var. _hirtum_ the plant is turbinate, subsessile, and hairy, with slender, spinous warts. the variety _papulatum_ is subrotund, sessile, papillose and pulverulent, the warts being nearly uniform in size. plants from one to two inches in height. figs. and .--=lycoperdon pyriforme= schaeffer. "_pear-shaped puff-ball_." plant dingy white or brownish yellow; pear-shaped, or obovate pyriforme, sometimes approaching l. gemmatum in size and shape, but easily distinguished from that species by the surface features of the peridium and the internal hyphæ. the persistent warts which cover the surface of the peridium are so minute as to appear to the naked eye like scales. in some instances the peridium is almost smooth, and sometimes cracks in areas, inner peridium thin and tough. the hyphæ are thicker than the spores and branched, continuous with the slightly cellular base, and forming a columella inside the peridium. spores greenish-yellow, then brownish-olive, smooth and globose. the short stem-like base of the plant terminates in fiber-like rootlets, creeping under the soil and branching, thus attaching large clusters of the young plants together. they are often found in quantity on the mossy trunks of fallen trees. fig. .--=lycoperdon giganteum= batsch. "_giant puff-ball_." the giant puff-ball, so generally neglected, is one of the most valuable of the edible mushrooms. it is readily distinguished from other puff-balls and allied fungi by its large size. it is subglobose in form, often flattened at the top and usually wider than deep. the peridium or rind is membranaceous, smooth, or very slightly floccose, and creamy white at first, turning to pale yellowish-brown when the plant is old. when young it is filled with a white, seemingly homogeneous fleshy substance of pleasant flavor. this substance changes, when mature, to an elastic, yellowish or olivaceous brown, cottony but dusty mass of filaments and spores. the peridium is very fragile above, cracking into areæ in the mature plant and breaking up and falling away in fragments, thus allowing the dispersion of the spores. the capillitium and spores are at first greenish-yellow, turning to dingy olive. the plants vary in size, but average from ten to twenty inches in diameter. in the columns of the _country gentleman_ some years ago there appeared a description of a puff-ball of this species which weighed forty seven pounds and measured a little over eight feet in circumference. it was found in a low, moist corner of a public park. specimens weighing from twenty to thirty pounds are recorded as being found in different parts of the country; but specimens of such large dimensions are unusual. this species is found in many parts of the united states. it is the l. _bovista_ of linn. sacc. a correspondent writes that he has found the giant puff-ball in great abundance growing on the genessee flats, livingstone co., new york. another writes from nebraska that it is quite abundant on the prairies there in summer. a third writes from missouri, "since the late rains we have had puff-balls in abundance, and find them delicious made into fritters." the puff-balls should be gathered young. if the substance within is white and pulpy, it is in good condition for cooking, but if marked with yellow stains it should be rejected. vittadini says: "when the giant puff-ball is conveniently situated you should only take one slice at a time, cutting it horizontally and using great care not to disturb its growth, to prevent decay, and thus one may have a fritter every day for a week." different authors write with enthusiasm of the merits of the giant puff-ball as an esculent. mrs. hussey, an english botanist, gives the following receipt for "puff-ball omelet:" first, remove the outer skin; cut in slices half an inch thick; have ready some chopped herbs, pepper, and salt; dip the slices in the yolk of an egg, and sprinkle the herbs upon them; fry in fresh butter, and eat immediately. i have tested fine specimens of the giant puff-ball gathered in the public parks of washington, d. c., finding it delicious eating when fried in batter. figs. and .--=lycoperdon cyathiforme= bose. "_cup-shaped puff-ball_." synonyms--l. fragile vitt. l. albopurpureum frost. plant nearly globose, with a short, thick, stem-like base, color varying, cinereous, brown, tinged with violet. rind or peridium smooth, or minutely floccose, scaly in the mature plant, cracking into somewhat angular areas, the upper portion finally falling away in fragments, leaving a wide cup-shaped base, with irregular margin, which remains long after the dispersion of the spores and capillitium. this basal portion is often tinged with the purplish hue of the spores. spores rough, purplish-brown. capillitium same color as the spores. lycoperdon _cyathiforme_ is a more common species than l. _giganteum_, and is deemed quite equal to the latter in flavor. the plants are of good size, being from to inches in diameter. they are frequently found in open fields and grassy places after electric storms. when sliced and fried in egg batter, they taste much like the _giganteum_ or _giant puff-ball_. a puff-ball which is not inferior to either of the two last-named species, though not as large, and perhaps not as abundant as either, is the lycoperdon _saccatum_ of fries, sometimes called the "long-stemmed puff-ball," because of its elongated stem. the plants of this species are attractive in appearance, usually hemispherical, or lentiform in shape, with cylindrical stem-like base. the peridium is thin and delicate, breaking into fragments; creamy white in the young stage, and clothed with delicate warts, so minute as to give the surface a soft mealy appearance, the under surface somewhat plicate. capillitium sub-persistent and dense. both spores and capillitium brown. lycoperdaceÆ. _genus bovista_ dill. peridium papery (or sometimes corky), persistent; the outer rind, sometimes called the bark, quite distinct from the inner, at length shelling off. capillitium sub-compact, equal, adnate to the peridium on all sides; spores pedicillate, brownish. figs. and .--=bovista plumbea= pers. _lead-colored bovista_. plant small, spherical, having a double shell or peridium, the inner one white and the outer one smooth and greyish lead-color or bluish-grey, and shelling off at maturity. when young the interior is filled with a creamy white substance. this soon begins to disintegrate, and, as the spores mature, changes to a mass of dusty brown spores and threads. when the spores are ready for dissemination a small aperture appears in the top of the peridium, through which they push their way outwards like a little puff of smoke. when young, and while the flesh is white throughout, the plant is edible, although so small that it would take a quantity to make a good dish. it is found chiefly in pastures in the autumn. sometimes found growing in company with agaricus campestris. of pleasant flavor when young. fig. . basidium and spores of a lycoperdon highly magnified. an english author states that inflammation of the throat and swelling of the tongue have been known to ensue from eating some of the small species of lycoperdon in the raw state. it would be a wise precaution, therefore, to cook all of the smaller species well before eating. the genus scleroderma is allied to lycoperdon, but differs from it in the absence of a capillitium, and in the thick indehiscent outer skin, or peridium, which bursts irregularly on the maturity of the spore-mass, the flocci adhering on all sides to the peridium and forming distinct veins in the central mass. the species scleroderma _vulgare_ is very common in woods, and has sometimes been mistaken for a form of truffle. the plants are not very attractive, and the odor is rank. they are subsessile and irregular in shape, with a hard outer skin, the larger form of a yellowish or greenish brown hue, and covered with large warts or scales, the smaller very minutely warty, and of a darker brown hue. the internal mass is of a bluish-black hue, threaded through with white or greyish flocci. spores dingy. the interior becomes pulverulent when the plant matures. this species has been eaten in its young state when cooked, but the flavor is by no means equal to that of the large puff-balls. it is sometimes attacked by a fungus larger than itself, called boletus _parasiticus_, and this parasite is again attacked by a species of hypomyces, one of the genera of the pyrenomycetes, which grows in patches upon dead fungi. phalloideÆ or phallaceÆ. the phalloideæ, sometimes called the "stink-horn" fungi on account of their foetid odor, are not numerous, the whole number of described species being about eighty. the plants are watery, quick in growth, and decay very rapidly. they are varied in form and are quite unlike the ordinary mushroom types. in some of the genera the plants are columnar and phalloid, in other clathrate or latticed, in others again the disk is stellate, and in one genus it is coralloid, but they are all enclosed, in the early stage, in a volva which is at first hidden or partially hidden beneath the surface of the ground. a gelatinous stratum is contained within the firmer outside membrane. _genus ithyphallus_. in this genus the cap is perforated at the top, free from the stem and reticulate. no veil. the mature plants are columnar in form with the remains of the volva enclosing the column-like stem at the base; the cap in its deeply pitted reticulations somewhat resembling that of the _morel_, although of different texture. [illustration: plate h. gasteromycetes. phalloideæ. figs. to , ithyphallus impudicus, linn. "foetid mushroom." fig. , clathrus cancellatus, fr. "latticed mushroom." unwholesome.] plate h. figs. to .--=ithyphallus= _impudicus_ linn. "_foetid wood witch_." in the embryonic stage the plant is enclosed in a volva which is composed of three layers, the outer one firm, the intermediate one gelatinous, and the inner one consisting of a thin membrane. the gleba, or spore-bearing portion, in the early stage forms a conical honeycombed cap within the inner shell or membrane, concealing the stem to which it is attached. the stem at this stage is very short, cylindrical, and composed of small cells filled with a gelatinous substance. the volva is about the size of a hen's egg. on maturity it ruptures at the apex. the stem rapidly expands and, elongating, elevates the cap into the air. the stem becomes open and spongy, owing to the drying of the gelatinous matter and its quick expansion. the whole plant attains a height of from four to ten inches in a few hours. the hymenial surface is on the outside of the cap, the spores being embedded in its glutinous coated ridges and depressions. the hymenium is at first firm but rapidly deliquesces, holding the spores in the liquid mass. the cap is greenish or greenish-gray in color, changing to a dark bottle-green. in its deliquescent state the odor is very repulsive. while enclosed in the volva the unpleasant odor is not so perceptible, and it has been eaten in that condition without unpleasant effects, but in its mature stage it is considered unwholesome, and certainly its offensive odor would be quite sufficient to deter most persons from attempting to test its edible qualities. flies, however, are very fond of the fluid, and consume it greedily and with impunity. it is found in gardens and woods, its presence being detected several rods away by the offensive odor. specimens occur in which the color of the cap is white or reddish. in the allied genus _mutinus_ the pileus is adnate and is not perforated at the apex. mutinus _caninus_ resembles _impudicus_ in form, but the cap is continuous with, not free from the stem, and is crimson in color, covered with a greenish-brown, odorless mucus. the stem is hollow, whitish, tinted with a pale yellow or orange color. not common. _genus clathrus_ mich. in this genus the receptacle is sessile, and formed of an obovate globular net-work. at first wholly enclosed in a volva which becomes torn at the apex and falls away, leaving a calyx-like base at its point of contact with the stem. fig. .--=clathrus cancellatus= tourn. unwholesome. receptacle bright vermillion or orange red, covered at first with a greenish mucus which holds the colorless spores. volva white or pale fawn color. odor strongly foetid. myxomycetes or myxogasters.--"_slime fungi_." in their early history the myxomycetes, or "slime moulds," were classed with the gasteromycetal fungi, and by fries grouped as a sub-order of the gasteromycetes, under the name myxogasters. from this connection they were severed in by link, who, recognizing certain distinctive features which entitled them to consideration as an entirely separate group, ranked the myxogasters, as a separate order, under the title _myxomycetes_, _slime moulds_. de bary, in a monograph on the subject written some years later, questioned the right of this group to the place assigned it in the vegetable world, claiming that the myxogasters were as nearly related to the animal as to the vegetable kingdom, and changing the name to mycetozoa. massee assailed this position in his "monograph of the myxogasters," pointing out that de bary derived his reasons and deductions from the early or vegetative stage of the fungi, without taking sufficiently into account the characteristics of the later or reproductive stage in which the great disparity between these organisms and those of the lower animals becomes apparent. dr. rostafinski, the polish botanist, and pupil of de bary, adopts the name given the group by de bary, but applies it in a more restricted sense, classifying on a botanical basis. both de bary and massee have their earnest disciples. m. c. cooke takes the ground that the myxomycetes are entitled to mention as "_fungi_ which produce their fructification enclosed within a peridium," although considering them as an aberrant group which, on account of certain peculiarities of their early or vegetative stage, should no longer be classed as having affinity with gasteromycetes. without further discussion of the subject, it is sufficient, for our present purpose, to state that mycologists now very generally agree in regarding this group as quite distinct from the gasteromycetes. the species are minute, rarely exceeding a millimeter in diameter, at first pulpy, then dry. in the early or vegetative stage the "slime mould" is plasmoidal, consisting of a mass of protoplasm without cell wall, and prefers damp surfaces, such as rotting leaves, moist logs, etc. the whole substance is slippery or slimy and presents different hues, red, orange, violet, brown, etc., according to species, but never green. it is in the reproductive or fruiting stage that their resemblance to microscopic puff-balls appears, the sporangium in many species exhibiting a distinct peridium or outer coat which encloses the spores together with the hair-like threads called the capillitium. on the ripening of the spores this peridium ruptures, allowing their escape, the capillitium lending valuable aid in their dissemination. genera of gasteromycetes, according to saccardo. i.--phallaceÆ, or phalloideÆ. dictyophora, desvaugh. ithyphallus, fr. mutinus, fr. kalchbrennera, berk. simblum, klotzsch. clathrus, mich. colus, cav. & sech. lysurus, fr. anthurus, kalchbr. calathiscus, mont. aseroë, la bill. staurophallus. (?) ii.--nidulariaceÆ. nidularia, fr. & nordh. cyathus, hall. crucibulum, tul. thelebolus, tode. dacryobolus, fr. sphærobolus, tode. polyangium, link. } genera delenda. atractobolus, tode. } iii.--lycoperdaceÆ. gyrophragmium, mont. secotium, kunze. polyplocium, berk. cycloderma, klotzsch. mesophellia, berk. cauloglossum, grev. podaxon (desv.) fr. sphæriceps, welw. & curr. tylostoma, pers. queletia, fr. battarrea, pers. husseya, berk. mitremyces, nees. geaster, mich. diplocystis, b. & c. diploderma, link. trichaster, czern. broomeja, berk. coilomyces, b. & c. lanophila, fr. eriosphæra, reich. bovista, dill. calvatia, fr. lycoperdon, tourn. hippoperdon, mont. scleroderma, pers. castoreum, c. & m. xylopodium, mont. areolaria, forquigu. phellorina, berk. favillea, fr. polygaster, fr. polysaccum, d. c. testicularia, klotzsch. arachnion, schw. scoleciocarpus, berk. paurocotylis, berk. iv.--hymenogastraceÆ (hypogÆi). hysterangium, vitt. octaviania, vitt. rhizopagon, fr. melanogaster, corda. hymenogaster, vitt. hydnangium, walk. gautieria, vitt. macowanites, kalchbr. bibliography. e. fischer, etc. "gasteromycetæ," saccardo, _sylloge fungorum_. vol. vii, part i. padua, . chas. h. peck. "united states species of lycoperdon." geo. massee. "monograph of the british gasteromycetes." _annals of botany,_ nov., . "monograph of the genus lycoperdon" in _journal royal micro. soc._ london, . c. bambeke. _morphologie du phallus impudicus._ gand, . a. p. morgan. "north american geasters" in _american naturalist_. roy. vo. . l. and c. tulasne. "essai d'une monographie des nidulariees." ann. des sci. nat. vo. paris, . m. c. cooke. _the myxomycetes of great britain._ plates. vo. london, . _the myxomycetes of the united states_, by the same author. new york, . geo. massee. _a monograph of the myxogasters._ col. plates. roy. vo. london, . a. de bary. "die mycetozoon" (_schleimpilz_). plates. vo. leipzig, . j. rostafinski. _sluzowce, mycetozoa monografia._ plates. to. paris, . geo. a. rex. new american myxomycetes. proc. acad. nat. sci. phila., part iii, dec. , , pp. - . balliet letson. "slime molds." the ornithologist and botanist. vol. i. binghamton, n. y., nov., , p. . col. thos. h. mcbride. "the myxomycetes of eastern iowa." bulletin from the laboratories of natural history of the state university of iowa. iowa city, iowa, . agaricini. _subgenus lepiota_ fries. veil universal and concrete, with the cuticle of the pileus breaking up in the form of scales. gills typically free, often remote, not sinuate or decurrent. stem generally distinct from the hymenophore. volva absent. habitat terrestrial, mostly found on rich soil or in grassy places. (in saccardo's _sylloge_, lepiota is given generic rank.) the lepiotas have a wide geographical distribution. no less than species have been recorded as found in different parts of the world. these are pretty evenly divided between the torrid and temperate zones. they are generally smaller than the amanitas, less fleshy and somewhat dry and tough. the flesh is soft and thready, not brittle. in the plants of most of the species the cap is rough, the cuticle being broken up into tufts or scales. these tufts are readily distinguished from the warts which characterize certain species of amanita, being formed from the breaking up of the cuticle with the concrete veil, while the wart-like excrescences seen upon amanita _muscaria_, for example, are composed of fragments of the volva, which is always found enclosing the very young plants of the genus amanita. a few of the species are characterized by a smooth cap; in some instances it is granulose or mealy. usually the cuticle is dry, but in a few of the species it is viscid. the stem is generally long and hollow, and, being of different texture from the flesh of the cap, is easily separated from it, often leaving a distinct socket at the junction of stem and cap. it is sometimes smooth, sometimes floccose. in some species it is bulbous at the base, in others not. the ring which encircles the stem is at first continuous with the cuticle of the cap, breaking apart with its expansion. it is sometimes movable, sometimes evanescent. the species generally are considered edible, or innoxious. none are recorded as dangerous. a mycophagist from augusta, ga., reports, however, that the members of a family in that vicinity were made quite ill from eating the lepiota _morgani_, a greenish-spored species of lepiota, while he himself ate of the same dish, experiencing no unpleasant effects. i have had no personal experience with this species. two edible species of lepiota, which are widely commended as of good quality, and which are sufficiently abundant to have value as esculents, are figured in plate xi. a third, ag. (lepiota) cepæstipes, var. cretaceus--lepiota _cretacea_, figured in plate xi½, is an exotic species found in greenhouses. it is of very delicate flavor. [illustration: plate xi. edible figs. to agaricus (lepiota) procerus, fries (lepiota procera) "_parasol mushroom_." figs. to lepiota naucinoides peck. (agaricus naucinus fries) "_smooth white lepiota_." t. taylor, del.] plate xi. figs. to .--=ag. (lepiota) procerus= scop. (=lepiota procera=). "_parasol mushroom_." edible. cap at first ovate, then expanded, showing distinct umbo, cuticle thick, torn into evanescent scales; gills remote from the stem, free, white, or yellowish-white; stem long, slender, variegated with brownish scales, hollow or slightly stuffed, bulbous at the base, and bearing a well-defined thickish ring, which in the mature plant is movable. spores white, elliptical. the color of the cap varies from a light tan or ochraceous yellow to a dark reddish-brown. the surface showing beneath the lacerated cuticle is of a lighter hue than the cuticle, and is silky and fibrillose, giving the cap a somewhat shaded or spotted appearance. the flesh is dry, soft and thready, white. taste and odor pleasant. cap from to inches broad; stem from to inches high. this species is commonly found in pastures and in open grassy places; sometimes in open woods near cultivated fields, usually solitary or in very small clusters. it is a favorite among mycophagists. lepiota _racodes_ closely resembles lepiota _procera_, and by some botanists the two are regarded as forms of the same species. in l. _racodes_ the pileus is at first globose, expanded, and finally depressed in the centre; the cuticle is thin and broken into persistent scales; the whole plant smaller than l. procera. flesh slightly reddish when bruised. edible. there is also a white variety (_puellaris_) with a floccose squamose cap. plate xi. figs. to .--=ag. (lepiota) naucinus= fries (=lepiota naucinoides= peck). "_smooth white lepiota_." edible. cap at first sub-globose, then curved, the surface smooth and satiny when dry, creamy white; gills close and slightly rounded at the inner extremity towards the stem, free from the stem, white; stem white, smooth, hollow, and bulbous at the base; ring thick, distinct, movable, white. the gills, soon after gathering, become suffused with a faint pinkish or fleshy tint. the spores are white, sub-elliptical. specimens occur in which there is a slight granulation in the centre of the cap, but they are rare. the variety _squamosa_ shows the surface of the cap, somewhat broken into thick scales. l. _naucinoides_ is a very clean and attractive looking mushroom, usually symmetrical in shape. it is a fleshier mushroom than l. _procera_, and is found in grassy places, in lawns, sometimes in gardens, or by roadsides, especially where the soil is rich. the specimens figured in plate xi were gathered in a rose garden, growing in loamy soil. specimens have been received from different states, some of them much larger than those here illustrated. this mushroom is recorded by some authors as equal in flavor to the parasol mushroom. when stewed with butter it makes a very appetizing dish. there is a fatally poisonous mushroom to which it bears some resemblance, and which might be taken for it, viz., amanita _verna_, or "spring mushroom." it is therefore necessary, in order to guard against such a mistake, to give particular attention to the characteristics of these two mushrooms. they are both white throughout, and both have white spores and ringed stem. amanita _verna_, however, carries a white volva or cup-shaped sheath at the base of the stem, and the gills do not show a pinkish or flesh colored tinge at any stage. in lepiota _naucinoides_, as in all the lepiotas, the volva is wanting. amanita _verna_ is apt to be moist and clammy to the touch, and is tasteless. l. _naucinoides_ is dry, and has a pleasant flavor. the first is found _wholly_ in _woods_; the second prefers pastures, open grassy places, and gardens, though sometimes found in light woods. i have never found an amanita in a lawn, pasture, or garden. an edible mushroom, agaricus (psalliota) _cretaceus_, found in pastures, bears a slight resemblance to l. _naucinoides_, when the color of the spores and gills are not taken into consideration. in the former the gills very quickly change from their early stage of rosy pink to a dark purplish-brown color, like that of the common mushroom. the spores are purplish-brown, while in l. _naucinoides_ the pinkish hue which tinges the fading plant is very faint, and changes to a very light tan color with age. the spores being white, the gills retain their white color for a long time, never changing to dark brown. l. _americana_ pk. a. & s., l. _excoriata_ schaeff., and l. _rubrotincta_ pk. have been tested and are of good flavor. l. _americana_ has a reddish or reddish-brown cap, umbonate, with close adpressed scales and white flesh. the gills are broad and free from the stem, sometimes anastomosing near it, white; stem white, hollow, tapering towards the cap, annulate. when dried the whole plant has a brownish-red hue. when cut or bruised it sometimes exudes a reddish juice. miss banning reports specimens found in druid hill park, baltimore. i have gathered very beautiful specimens in montgomery county, md. this mushroom sometimes grows to a very large size. l. _excoriata_ has a pale fawn-colored cap, slightly umbonate, with thin cuticle, breaking into scales; gills remote, white; stem white, hollow, and short, nearly cylindrical. odor faint, pleasant. l. _rubrotincta_ pk. "_red-tinted agaric_." cap reddish or pinkish, broadly umbonate and clothed with adpressed scales; gills whitish, free, and close; stem nearly equal or slightly thickened at the base, with a well-developed persistent white or pinkish ring. spores white, sub-elliptical. l. _holosericeus_ fries has a fleshy white cap, soft, silky, and fibrillose, a solid bulbous stem, with persistent broad, reflexed ring, and free ventricose, white gills. edible. it is found in gardens and cultivated places. l. _acutesquamosa_ wein, found in greenhouses and soil in gardens, is a heavy but not very tall species. the cap is obtuse, and fleshy, at first floccose. as the cap expands it bristles with erect pointed tufts or scales. the gills are white or yellowish, lanceolate and simple, free from the stem. stem bulbous, somewhat stuffed, rough or silky below the ring, and downy above. ring persistent. color of cap whitish or light brown, with darker scales. l. _granulosus_ batsch. cap thin, wrinkled or corrugated, granulose, mealy; gills white, _reaching the stem_, sometimes free. plants very small and varying in color--pink, yellow, and white, according to variety. l. _amiantha_. plants very small, ochraceous in color, with yellow flesh and white gills _adnate_ and crowded. l. _cepæstipes_ sow. cap thin, broad, sub-membranaceous, broadly umbonate, adorned with mealy evanescent scales, margin irregular; gills white, at length remote. stem hollow and floccose, narrow at top, ventricose; ring evanescent. generally found in hothouses. cap to inches broad. stem to inches high. spores white. l. _cristata_ is a common species found on lawns and in fields where the grass is short. the plants are small, the cap from ½ to ½ inches in width. not very fleshy. the cuticle of the cap is at first continuous and smooth but soon breaks into reddish scales. the stem is fistulose, slender and equal; gills free. odor and taste somewhat strong and unpleasant. [illustration: plate xi½. agaricus (lepiota) cepæstipes--var. cretaceus, peck. (lepiota cretacea.) edible. from nature.] plate xi½. =ag. (lepiota) cepæstipes=, variety =cretaceus= peck (=lepiota cretacea=). edible. this very delicate and beautiful agaric is found on tan and leaves in hothouses. the specimens here delineated were gathered in one of the hothouses of the agricultural department and first described and figured in _food products_, no. , of the report of the division of microscopy. the plants are a pure white throughout, and both stem and pileus are covered with small chalk-white mealy tufts. berkeley says, "this species is probably of exotic origin, as it never grows in the open air." it is also met with in the hothouses of europe. specimens have been received from contributors who gathered them in greenhouses in different localities. this species should not be confounded with the purplish-brown spored mushroom agaricus (psalliota) cretaceus, which has pink gills turning to dark brown and is allied to the common meadow mushroom. lepiota _cretacea_ is a delicious mushroom when broiled, or cooked in a chafing dish, and served on hot buttered toast. it has a pleasant taste when raw. lepiota _morgani_ peck, the "_green-spored lepiota_," is an exception to the general type of lepiotas in the color of its gills and spores. it is western and southern in its range. this species is described by peck in the botanical gazette of march, , p. , as follows: "pileus fleshy, soft, at first sub-globose, then expanded, or depressed, white, the brownish or alutaceous cuticle breaking up into scales except on the disk; lamellæ close, lanceolate, remote, white, then green; stem firm, equal, or tapering upwards, sub-bulbous, smooth, webby-stuffed, whitish, tinged with brown, annulus rather large, movable; flesh both of the pileus and stem white, changing to reddish, and then to yellowish hue when cut or bruised; spores ovate, sub-elliptical, mostly uninucleate, . to . inches long, . to . broad, sordid green. "plant to inches high, pileus to inches broad, stem to lines thick. open dry grassy places. dayton, ohio. a. p. morgan." agaricini. _genus cortinarius_ fries. this genus is distinguished by a cob-web-like veil, dry persistent gills, which in the mature plants become discolored, and pulverulent with the rusty or ochraceous colored spores. the veil is very delicate, resembling a spider's web. it is not concrete with the cuticle of the cap, but extends from its margin to the stem, in the young plants sometimes concealing the gills, but disappearing as the cap expands. sometimes a few filaments are seen depending from the margin of the cap or encircling the stem. in the young plants of this genus the gills vary very much in color. they are whitish, clay-color, violet, dark purple, blood-red, etc., according to species, but, as the plants mature, the gills become dusted with the rust-colored falling spores, and with age usually become a rusty ochraceous, or cinnamon color. the stem in some of the species is distinctly bulbous and in others equal, cylindrical, or tapering. in identifying the species it is necessary, in order to ascertain the true color of the gills, to examine the plants at different periods of growth. the genus cortinarius is a large one, and contains many beautiful species. it is mainly confined to temperate regions. not a single species has been recorded as found in ceylon, the west indies, or africa, but one tropical species is found in brazil. nearly four hundred species have been described, and over three hundred and seventy of these belong to the united states and europe. a few are found in the extreme southern or temperate portion of south america, and several are reported from a temperate elevation among the himalayas. sweden and great britain, with their temperate climates, claim a large proportion of the european species. not many of the cortinarii have been recorded as edible, and none as dangerous. the rev. m. j. berkeley records, however, a case of poisoning by one of the species, c. (inoloma) _bolaris_ pers., which though not fatal was somewhat alarming, the symptoms being great oppression of the chest, profuse perspiration, and the enlargement for two days of the salivary glands of the patient. i have seen no other statements relating to the poisonous properties of this species, and the results alluded to may have been owing to some individual idiosyncrasy. berkeley, in his "outlines," gives the following description of this mushroom: "pileus fleshy, obsoletely umbonate, growing pale, variegated with _saffron-red, adpressed, innate_ scales; stem stuffed, then hollow, nearly equal, squamose, of the same color as the cap; gills subdecurrent, crowded, watery, cinnamon color. cap to inches broad. stem to inches long." in beech woods in september and october. the genus cortinarius has been divided by some authors into the following six groups: ( ) _phlegmacium_, in which the cap is fleshy and viscid, the veil partial, and the stem firm and dry; ( ) _myxacium_, in which the veil is universal and glutinous, hence the cap and stem both viscid; cap thin and the gills adnate or decurrent; ( ) _inoloma_, in which the cap is fleshy, dry, and at first silky with innate fibrils; veil simple and stem slightly bulbous; ( ) dermocybe, in which the pileus is thinly fleshy, dry, and at first downy, becoming smooth; the veil single and fibrillose; flesh watery, colored when moist, stem equal or attenuated downwards; ( ) telamonia, in which the cap is moist, at first smooth or dotted with the superficial fragments of the veil, the stem ringed below, or peronately scaly from the remains of the universal veil; ( ) hydrocybe, in which the cap is thin and moist, not viscid, smooth, or covered with superficial white fibrils; stem rigid, not scaly, veil thin, occasionally collapsed in an irregular ring. these subdivisions have been designated as _tribes_ by some botanists and _subgenera_ by others, etc. to the divisions inoloma and phlegmacium, respectively, belong the two species illustrated in plate xii. [illustration: plate xii. edible figs. to cortinarius (inoloma) violaceus, linn. "_violet cortinarius_." figs. to cortinarius (phlegmacium) cærulescens, fries. t. taylor, del.] plate xii. figs. to .--=cortinarius (inoloma) violaceus= fr. "_violet cortinarius_." edible. cap fleshy, at first convex, then nearly plane, dotted with hairy tufts or scales, margin at first involute, color purple or dark violet, flesh soft, purplish; gills distant, broad, adnate, somewhat rounded near the stem, at first purplish violet, changing to an ochraceous or brownish cinnamon color as the plant matures; stem solid, somewhat bulbous at the base, purple; cortina or veil white or tinged with violet, sometimes bluish. this is a handsome species, and though it is somewhat rare in many localities, its pretty and unusual coloring does not allow it to be easily overlooked. it is edible, and has a mushroomy taste when raw. agaricus _nudus_ bull, a purple species with white spores, is sometimes confounded with it. there are other purple species of cortinarius not so pleasant to the taste, which bear some resemblance to c. _violaceus_. the specimens figured in plate xii were gathered near dedham, mass., on open ground on the border of a stretch of pine woods. figs. to .--=cortinarius (phlegmacium) cærulescens=. edible. cap fleshy, at first convex, then plane, surface even, viscid; color bluish or violet; gills adnexed and crowded, at first bluish, changing to violet or purplish hues; stem solid, short, and thick, with a broadly bulbous base, same color as the cap; veil filmy, single. in woods and on the borders of woods. this mushroom varies in color, the bluish or purplish tints being quite susceptible to atmospheric changes. when growing in the shade or well-sheltered places, it is much darker in hue than when exposed unsheltered to the bright sunlight. the specimen figured in plate xii was gathered on low ground near a pine grove in essex county, mass. cortinarius (phlegmacium) _purpurascens_ fr. bears a slight resemblance to _cærulescens_, but can be distinguished from it by the spotted or zoned character of the cap and the broadly emarginate gills. cortinarius _turmalis_, an edible autumnal species, having an ochraceous or brownish-yellow cap with emarginate or decurrent gills, the latter at first whitish, then reddish clay color, is found in abundance in some parts of maryland. the gills are never tinged with purple or blue. the flesh is white. the plants are easily discovered by those familiar with their habitat, as they grow under pine needles in groups, forming small mounds extending over large spaces, and in these hiding places, in the autumnal months, they are free from insects and dust. i have collected a bushel of them in less than an hour in fresh condition in october. some of the french authors do not class this species as edible. gillet, in his hymenomycetes of france, enumerates fifty-three edible species of cortinarius, but places _turmalis_ among the suspects. i find this mushroom not only edible, but very valuable, because of its abundance in the localities where found. it is often densely cæspitose. the plant, when mature, is from to inches high. c. _sebæceus_, found also in pine woods, is recorded as edible. the plant is tall, white-stemmed, with broad tan-colored, somewhat viscid cap; emarginate gills, clay color at first, at last cinnamon color; stem solid, stout, fibrillose, and equal. cortinarius _collinitus_, smeared cortinarius, and cortinarius _cinnamomeus_, with its variety semi-sanguinea, have also been tested, and found edible. the first of these is somewhat common. the plants when fresh are covered with a glutinous substance, and this should be removed before cooking. cap smooth under the glutinous coat, light brown or tawny yellow in color, flesh white; gills whitish or light gray when young, cinnamon-hued in the matured plant. stem solid, nearly equal, cylindrical, yellowish, and somewhat scaly. c. _cinnamomeus_ belongs to the division dermocybe. the cap is thin at first, silky with innate fibrids, becoming smooth, and varies from light brown to a dark cinnamon color. the gills are yellowish, then cinnamon; stem downy or silky, yellow. the variety _semi-sanguinea_ has the lamellæ red, almost as in the preceding species. c. (phlegmacium) _varius_, "variable cortinarius," edible, has a compact fleshy viscid, even cap, brownish in color, gills at first violet, changing to cinnamon, stout solid stem, white or whitish, adorned with adpressed flocci, flesh white. cortinarius (telamonia) _armillatus_ fries is given in m. c. cooke's list of edible cortinarii. cap fleshy but not thick, fibrillose and slightly scaly, bright bay color, thin uneven margin; stem solid, dingy, rufescent, showing irregular red zones or bands elongated and slightly bulbous at the base; gills distant, broad, pallid in color at first, changing to dark cinnamon. c. (telamonia) _hæmatochelis_ bull. (edible), somewhat resembles the former in color and size, though not so bright a brown. cap thin, silky-fibrillose; gills adnate, narrow and crowded, light cinnamon; stem long, solid, dingy, with a reddish zone. c. (hydrocybe) _castaneus_ bull., _chestnut cortinarius_ (edible), is found in woods and gardens. the plants of this species are usually small. cap at first campanulate, expanding, sometimes slightly umbonate in the centre, chestnut color; gills ventricose, crowded, purplish, changing to rust color; stem short, hollow or stuffed, cartilaginous, equal, pallid, reddish brown, or tinged with violet; veil white. _subgenus collybia_ fries. cap at first convex, then expanded, not depressed, with an involute margin; gills reaching the stem, but not decurrent, sometimes emarginate; stem hollow, with cartilaginous bark of a different substance from the hymenophore, but confluent with it; often swollen and splitting in the middle; spores white. the plants are usually found growing upon dead tree stumps; some grow upon the ground; a few are parasitic on other fungi or springing from _sclerotia_, small impacted masses of mycelium. the species are generally small and firm and of slow growth. a few are edible, some few have an unpleasant odor. on account of the cartilaginous stem and the dryness of their substance, some of the smaller species are apt to be taken for marasmii. note: saccardo in his sylloge gives collybia generic rank. [illustration: plate xiii. edible figs. to agaricus (collybia) fusipes, bull. "_spindle foot collybia_." figs. to agaricus (collybia) maculatus, a. & s. "_spotted white collybia_." figs. to agaricus (collybia) velutipes, curt. "_velvet footed collybia_." t. taylor, del.] plate xiii. figs. to .--=ag. (collybia) fusipes= bull. "_spindle-foot collybia_." edible. cap fleshy, somewhat tough, convex, then plane, smooth, even or slightly cracked in places, umbo evanescent, reddish brown; gills adnexed, nearly free, broad, distant, at length separating near the stem, firm, white, changing to fawn color, or pale brown often spotted; stem long, stuffed, then hollow, externally cartilaginous, contorted, swollen in the middle, cracking in longitudinal slits, fusiform, tapering narrowly to a rooted base, reddish brown. on stumps in woods in the autumn. cap to inches broad; stem to inches long. this species is densely cæspitose. it is very generally recorded among authors as edible, although the flesh is somewhat tough. it requires long and slow cooking. an english author recommends it for pickling. only the caps should be used for this purpose. figs. to .--=ag. (collybia) maculatus= a. & s. (=collybia maculata=). "_spotted white collybia_." cap fleshy and compact, convexo-plane, obtuse, smooth, even, margin thin, at first involute, turned inwards, white; stem long and stout, externally cartilaginous, ventricose, sometimes striate, tapering towards the base; gills free, or nearly so, narrow, crowded, somewhat linear, white, becoming spotted. taste slightly acid. the whole plant is creamy white, becoming spotted and stained throughout with rusty-brown or foxy-red tints. the plants are usually large, long stemmed, and grow in irregular clusters on decayed tree stumps in woods. specimens of a large size have been gathered in the fir woods near mattapoisett, massachusetts. cap to inches broad; stem to inches long. the variety _immaculatus_ differs from the typical form in not becoming spotted and in the broader gills, which are serrated. figs. to .--=ag. (collybia) velutipes= curt. "_velvet-footed collybia_." cap fleshy, thin, at first convex, then plane, obtuse, smooth, viscid, tawny or brownish yellow, turning dark; flesh yellowish and soft; gills slightly adnexed, pale yellow; stem tough, stuffed, externally cartilaginous, sometimes slender, but usually thick, covered with a brown velvety down, dark bay color. this is a very common species in some localities. it is densely cæspitose, growing in heavy clusters on old logs and tree trunks in parks, woods, and gardens. the plants are quite gelatinous when cooked. group figured from illustration by m. c. cooke. collybia _radicata_ rehl. is recorded as an edible species. the plants have a thin, slightly fleshy cap, slightly umbonate, wrinkled, and glutinous at maturity; distant, white, adnexed gills, and tall, slender, rigid stem. the latter is often twisted and usually attenuated upwards, color pale brown. it has a long tapering root entering deeply into the soil. this species is solitary in habit, and is commonly found in grass, or near decayed stumps. cap from to inches in diameter, stem inches to inches in length. collybia _esculenta_ jacq., a small species found in pine woods as well as in pastures in the spring, is recorded as edible by a number of authors. in this species the cap is nearly plane, obtuse, and smooth, brownish; gills adnate, whitish; stem very slender, fistulose, equal, tough, smooth, reddish clay color, deeply rooting. appendix. as chief of the division of microscopy, u. s. department of agriculture, the author prepared for the world's columbian exposition at chicago a collection of models of edible and poisonous mushrooms, for which a medal and diploma were there awarded. the same collection, which now belongs to the museum of the department of agriculture, was exhibited at the atlanta cotton exposition in , where a diploma was again awarded for it, and has since been exhibited at the exposition of in nashville, tenn. the models composing this collection, about one thousand in number, were made from actual specimens and colored to nature, the same species being generally represented by numerous specimens so as to illustrate the various stages in the life of the plant, habit of growth, etc. the following is a list of the mushrooms represented in this collection, among which there are types of most of the genera in which species recorded as edible occur: amanita _cæsarea_ schaeff. "orange amanita." edible. amanita _rubescens_ pers. "the blusher." "reddish-brown amanita." edible. amanita _strobiliformis_ vitt. "fir-cone" or "pine-cone amanita." edible. amanita _pantherinus_ d. c. "panther mushroom." poisonous. amanita _phalloides_ fr. "poison amanita." poisonous. amanita _muscaria_ linn. "fly amanita." "false orange." poisonous. amanita _verna_ bull. "spring mushroom." "vernal amanita." poisonous. amanitopsis _vaginata_ roze. "the _grizette."_ "sheathed amanitopsis." edible. lepiota _procera_ scop. "parasol mushroom." "tall lepiota." edible. lepiota _racodes_ vitt. "ragged lepiota." edible. armillaria _mellea_ fr. "honey mushroom." edible. tricholoma _terreum_ schaeff. "the gray cap." edible. clitocybe _illudens_ schw. "giant clitocybe." unwholesome. clitocybe _odora_ bull. "odorous clitocybe." edible. clitocybe _laccata_ scop. edible. collybia _fusipes_ bull. "spindle-foot collybia." edible. pleurotus _ostreatus_ jacq. "oyster mushroom." edible. pleurotus _ulmarius_ jacq. "elm pleurotus." edible. volvaria _bombycina_ schaeff. "silky volvaria." this species has been recorded by some authors as poisonous. hays, after testing it, speaks well of it, and states that is eaten on the continent. volvaria _speciosa_ fr. not commended. pholiota _caperata_ pers. edible. agaricus _campester_. "field mushroom." edible. agaricus _arvensis_ schaeff. "horse mushroom." edible. hypholoma _sublateritium_. "brick top." edible. hypholoma _candolliana_. edible. coprinus _comatus_ fr. "shaggy mane mushroom." edible. coprinus _atramentarius_. "inky coprinus." edible. cortinarius _turmalis_ fr. edible. cortinarius _cærulescens_ fr. edible. hygrophorus _conicus_ fr. conical mushroom. has been recorded by a number of authors as poisonous. some later writers speak of it as edible. hygrophorus _puniceus_ fr. "purplish hygrophorus." edible. hygrophorus _ceraceus_ fr. "waxen hygrophorus." edible. lactarius _deliciosus_ fr. "delicious lactarius." edible. lactarius _volemus_ fr. "orange-brown lactarius." edible. lactarius _torminosus_ fr. this mushroom is said to contain an acrid juice which acts seriously on the stomach and alimentary canal. lactarius _rufus_ fr. intensely acrid. lactarius _vellereus_ fr. extremely acrid. lactarius _piperatus_. "fiery milk mushroom." extremely acrid when raw. the russians parboil it, throwing away the liquid, before preparing for pickling. a noted german chemist reports it "not very safe." russula _alutacea_ fr. yellow-gilled russula. edible. russula _virescens_ fr. edible. russula _cyanoxantha_ schaeff. "variable russula." edible. russula _emetica_ fr. this mushroom is extremely acrid when raw; by some authors it is recorded as poisonous, by others as edible. chemical analysis has shown that it contains a varying proportion of muscarin, as well as cholin, etc. cantharellus _cibarius_ fr. "the chantarelle." edible. marasmius _oreades_ bolt. "the fairy ring mushroom." edible. boletus _edulis_ bull. edible. boletus _scaber_ fr. edible. boletus _granulatus_ linn. edible. boletus _brevipes_ pk. edible. boletus _luteus_ linn. edible. boletus _pachypus_ fr. edible. boletus _americanus_ pk. edible. boletus _subtomentosus_ linn. edible. boletus _castaneus_ bull. edible. boletus _satanus_ lenz. "white-topped boletus." recorded as poisonous. boletus _luridus_ schaeff. "red-pored boletus." recorded as poisonous. strobilomyces _strobilaceus_ bull. edible. fistulina _hepatica_ fr. "beefsteak fungus." edible. polyporus _sulfureus_ bull. edible. hydnum _repandum_ linn. edible. hydnum _erinaceum_ bull. edible. sparassis _crispa_ wulf. edible. clavaria _cinerea_ bull. edible. clavaria _rugosa_. edible. lycoperdon _gemmatum_ fr. edible. lycoperdon _giganteum_ fr. "giant puff-ball." edible. lycoperdon _pyriforme_ schaeff. "pear-shaped puff-ball." edible. scleroderma _vulgare_ fr. morchella _esculenta_ pers. edible. morchella _conica_ bull. edible. hirneola _auricula judæ_ bull. edible. ithyphallus _impudicus_ linn. unwholesome. clathrus _cancellatus_ linn. unwholesome. note.--in addition to the above there were also represented a number of coriaceous or woody species which grow upon trees, old stumps, etc. student's hand-book of mushrooms of america edible and poisonous. by thomas taylor, m. d. author of food products, etc. _fellow of the a. a. a. s.; hon. member of the mic. section royal inst., liverpool, england; member of honor of the international medical society of hygiene, brussels; member of the american and washington chemical societies; french chemical society, paris; of the american textile society; medical society of washington, d. c.; cor. member academy of arts and sciences of brooklyn, n. y.; cor. member mic. societies of new york, buffalo, etc., etc._ published in serial form--=no. =--price, c. per number. washington, d. c.: a. r. taylor, publisher, mass. ave. n.e. . publisher's note. it has not been possible to represent all the genera of mushrooms which contain species having value as esculents within the compass of this series of five pamphlets, but the demand for these promises to justify the publication, at a future date, of a second series, which the author now has in preparation. a. r. t. copyright, , by thomas taylor, m. d., and a. r. taylor. agaricini. leucospori--(spores white). subgenus _pleurotus_ fries. the pleuroti are similar in some respects to the tricholomas and clitocybes, some of the species having notched gills near the stem, and others, again, having the gills decurrent, or running down the stem. most of the species grow upon dead wood or from decaying portions of live trees. very few grow upon the ground. the stem is mostly eccentric, lateral, or wanting; when present it is homogeneous or confluent with the substance of the cap; the substance may be compact, spongy, slightly fleshy, or membranaceous. veil evanescent or absent. the spores are white or slightly tinted. m. c. cooke figures over thirty species of pleurotus found in great britain, and describes species found in australia. with few exceptions, all of these grow upon wood. very few have value as esculents. [illustration: plate j. agaricus (pleurotus) ostreatus, jacq. edible. _t. taylor, del._] plate j. =ag. (pleurotus) ostreatus= jacq. "_oyster mushroom_." edible. cap soft, fleshy, smooth, shell-shaped, white or cinereous, turning brownish or yellowish with age. flesh white, somewhat fibrous. gills white, broad and decurrent, anastamosing at the base. stem usually not well defined, lateral, or absent. spores elliptical, white. the caps are sometimes thickly clustered and closely overlapping, and sometimes wide apart. this mushroom has long been known as edible both raw and cooked. it has a pleasant but not decided flavor and must be cooked slowly and carefully to be tender and easily digestible. old specimens are apt to be tough. it is found on decaying wood and often on fallen logs in moist places or upon decaying tree-trunks. it is frequently recurrent on the same tree. i have gathered great quantities of the oyster mushroom during several seasons past from a fallen birch tree which spanned a small stream. the lower end of the tree rested on the moist ground at the edge of the stream. specimens have been found on the willow, ash and poplar trees, and upon the apple and the laburnum. pleurotus _sapidus_ kalchb. _sapid pleurotus_. edible. this species closely resembles the oyster mushroom in form and habit of growth, and is by some considered only a variety of _p. ostreatus_. it grows usually in tufts with the caps closely overlapping, varying in color white, ashy, grayish or brownish. flesh white. the stems are white, smooth and short, mostly springing from a common base. the gills are white and very broad, and decurrent. the spores assume a very pale lilac tint on exposure to the atmosphere. pleurotus _ulmarius_ bull. "_elm pleurotus_." edible. the elm pleurotus is quite conspicuous by reason of its large size and light color. the cap is smooth and compact, usually whitish with a dull yellowish tinge in the center. flesh white. the skin cracks very easily, giving it a scaly appearance. the gills are broad, and toothed or notched near their point of attachment to the stem as in the tricholomas, white in color, turning yellowish with age. the stem is firm and smooth, solid and rather eccentric, thick and sometimes slightly downy near the base, from two to four inches in length. although this mushroom seems to prefer the elm and is most frequently found on trees of that species, it is found also upon other trees, but principally the maple, the ash, the willow, and the poplar. it grows upon live trees, usually where the branches have been cut away, and upon stumps as well. most authors recommend it as an esculent, although it has not the rich flavor of some other mushrooms. it dries well and can be kept thus for winter use. this species has a wide range and grows most abundantly in the autumn. its resistance to cold has been frequently remarked. agaricini. subgenus _amanita_. the amanitas are usually large and somewhat watery, the flesh brittle rather than tough. the very young plants are enveloped in a membranous wrapper, which breaks apart with the expansion of the plant, leaving a more or less persistent sheath at the base of the stem. the universal veil is distinct and free from the cuticle of the cap. the cap is convex at first, then expanded; in some species naked and smooth; in others, clothed with membranaceous patches of the volva. the stem is distinct from the fleshy substance of the cap, ringed and furnished with a volva or sheath. in some of the species this sheath is connate with the base of the stem, firm and persistent. in others, it is friable, at length nearly obsolete. the ring is usually persistent, deflexed, more or less prominent, in rare cases pressed close against the stem, and sometimes scarcely distinguishable from it. the gills in most of the species are free from the stems, but there are exceptions to this rule. spores white. as to geographical distribution, according to m. c. cooke, seven-eighths of the species are distinctly located in the temperate zone, one-twentieth at a temperate elevation, and only one-twentieth presumably tropical. out of the eighty species, about sixty are north american and european, and one species is found on the slopes of the andes, in south america. as heretofore stated, this group among mushrooms is made responsible for most of the well authenticated cases of fatal poisoning by mushrooms. it would be judicious, therefore, for those who are not thoroughly familiar with the characteristics of the edible amanitas to defer making experiments with them for table use until that familiarity is acquired. saccardo in his _sylloge_ describes no less than fifteen edible species of amanita as found in different parts of the world. of those i have personally been able to identify but three which are common in this country, and which have been well tested. specimens of these three species are illustrated in plates xiv and xiv½ of this pamphlet. they are each and all found in varying abundance in different parts of the united states. [illustration: plate xiv. edible amanitas. figs. to ag. (amanita) cæsareus, scop. (amanita cæsarea) "orange amanita." figs. to ag. (amanita) rubescens. pers. "the blusher." "reddish brown amanita." edible. t. taylor, del.] plate xiv. figs. to . =ag. (amanita) cæsareus= scop. (=amanita cæsarea=). "_orange amanita_," "_true orange_." edible. cap at first convex, afterwards well expanded; _smooth_, free from warts, striate on the margin; color orange-red or bright lemon-yellow, with red disk; gills lemon-yellow, rounded near the stem, and free from it; stem equal or slightly tapering upwards, stuffed with cottony fibrils, or hollow (color clear lemon-yellow), bearing a yellowish ring near the top and sheathed at the base with large, loose, membranous, white volva. odor faint but agreeable. spores white, elliptical. the whole plant is symmetrical in form, brilliant in coloring, clean and attractive in appearance. the american plant seems to differ in some slight respects from the european as figured and described in european works. in europe the pileus or cap is said to vary in color, being sometimes white, pale yellow, red or even copper color, although it is usually orange-yellow. my own observation of the american plant of this species agrees with that of prof. peck in that the cap is uniform in color, being at first bright reddish-orange or even brilliant red, fading with age to yellow, either wholly or only on the margin. no white specimens have been as yet recorded in this country. the red color disappears in the dried specimens. the striations of the margin are usually quite deep and long and almost as distant as in the edible species amanitopsis _vaginata_. some european writers have described the flesh or substance of the cap as yellowish. in our plant the flesh is white, but stained with yellow or red immediately under the cuticle. amanita _cæsarea_ is the only one of the amanitas which has yellow gills. berkeley, in his "outlines of british fungi," describes a. cæsarea as it is found in some parts of continental europe, but states that up to the date of his writing it had not been found in great britain. it is not recorded in the more recent lists of british fungi by m. c. cooke nor in that of australian fungi by the same author. the species has a wide range in this country, and though not very common in the north, in some localities, as in the pine and oak woods of north carolina, it is found in great abundance. dufour states that it is much esteemed as an esculent in france, and though rare in the northern part of that country, it is common in the center and the south of france in autumn. it is well known in different portions of continental europe, and is frequently figured in contrast with its very poisonous congener, amanita muscaria, or "false orange," commonly known as the "fly amanita," or "fly-killer." a careless observer might mistake one for the other, but with a little attention to well-defined details the edible form can be readily distinguished from the poisonous one. in analyzing the species the attention should be directed to the following characteristics of the two mushrooms: in a. _cæsarea_ the cap is _smooth_, the stem, gills and ring _lemon-yellow_, and the cup-shaped wrapper or volva which sheathes the base of the stem is white and _persistently membranous_. in a. _muscaria_ the cap is _warty_ or shows the traces or remains of warts; the gills _white_, stem _white_, or only very slightly yellowish, and the wrapper or volva is evanescent, breaking up into ridge-like patches adhering to the base of the stem. the amanita cæsarea has long been esteemed as an esculent in foreign countries, and was known in ancient times to the greeks and romans. it is known under the following names: "orange," "cæsar's mushroom," "imperial mushroom," "yellow-egg," "kaiserling," etc. mycologists who have tested it agree as to its edibility and delicate flavor. the specimens figured in plate xiv represent the average size of those which i have gathered in the vicinity of the district of columbia. much larger ones have been gathered in the woody portions of druid hill park, baltimore, md. dufour writes: "this mushroom, the "true oronge," is cooked in a variety of ways, and it always constitutes an exquisite dish." this author gives the following recipes for cooking the _cæsarea_, which he calls the "oronge:" _oronge à la bordelaise._--the stem is minced with fine herbs, bread-crumbs, and garlic, and seasoned with pepper and salt. this hash is placed in the concavity of the caps, and all is put to bake with good oil in a pan steamed in a chafing dish. _oronge à l'italienne._--stew gently with a little butter and salt, then serve with a sauce composed of oil seasoned with the juice of lemon, pepper, garlic, and extract of sweet almond. the spanish are fond of this mushroom, and it is said to enter into their national dish, olla podrida, a mixture of meat, vegetables, and spices, whenever it can be obtained. it is sometimes fried in butter or olive oil and seasoned with sugar. plate xiv. figs. to .--=ag. (amanita) rubescens= pers. (=amanita rubescens=). "_the blusher_," "_reddish brown amanita_." edible. cap at first convex then expanded, margin even or very slightly striated, usually reddish-brown or reddish-fawn color, covered with mealy, more or loss persistent warts; flesh white, changing to a reddish or pinkish tinge, where cut or bruised, the reddish tinge most intense in the bulbous portion of the base of the stem; _gills reaching the stem and forming decurrent lines upon it_, white, becoming spotted with rusty or wine red stains when bruised or attacked by insects; stem ringed, whitish or dingy white, becoming brownish or spotted, with reddish-brown stains. the base of the stem is usually bulbous, the bulb sometimes tapering to a point at the root, and in some instances ending abruptly. the ring or collar which encircles the stem near the top is membranous, and usually well defined. the volva which completely envelops the young plant is very friable and soon disappears. fragments of the volva may be seen in the shape of scales or small particles upon the mushroom stem, and in wart-like patches upon the cap. in the representations of this mushroom which appear in european works the cap is a deeper reddish-brown tint than i have found it here. the color of the cap is usually a light reddish brown or reddish gray, sometimes almost white. this species is found usually in light open woods. in a warm moist climate it appears early in the season, and can be gathered until the frosts come. taste very pleasant. there is a poisonous species, amanita _pantherinus_, rare, which has a viscid brown warted cap bearing a slight resemblance to that of the _rubescens_, but the gills do not turn red when bruised, and the volva at the base of the stem is well defined and persistent. the _rubescens_ is very plentiful in the woods of maryland and virginia, and specimens have been received from different parts of the country. i have frequently eaten it stewed with butter, and found it very good eating. hay speaks of it as being eaten in england, where it is called the "blusher." cooke says it is pleasant both in taste and odor. it is spoken of by french authors as of delicate flavor, and as well known in some parts of france. in preparing for the table bring the mushroom to a quick boil and pour off the first water, then stew with flavoring to suit the taste. the specimens of this species represented in plate xiv were collected in the woods of forest glen, maryland. they are often found of much larger size and much lighter in coloring, with the stains upon the gills redder in color. the very young plants as they burst through the surface of the soil show a distinct volva at the base of the stem. in the mature plant this disappears, often leaving the slightly bulbous base quite smooth. [illustration: plate xiv½. agaricus (amanita) strobiliformis, vitt. "fir-cone mushroom." edible. from nature. _t. taylor, del._] plate xiv½. =ag. (amanita) strobiliformis= fries (=amanita strobiliformis=). "_fir-cone mushroom_." edible. cap fleshy, convex at first, then expanded, covered with persistent white warts, margin even, white; flesh white, firm and compact; gills rounded behind and free from the stem, white; stem solid, the bulbous base tapering, furrowed with concentric and longitudinal channels at the root, and extending well into the ground, white; ring large, soon splitting; volva breaking up and appearing in concentric ridges upon the stem. spores white. this mushroom is very pleasant to the taste when raw as well as when cooked. it is found in light woods or on the borders of woods where the soil is somewhat friable, generally solitary, but sometimes two or three are found clustered together. the plants are sometimes so large that two or three of them would make a very good meal. specimens have been found with the cap measuring to inches across when expanded, the stem varying from to inches in height, and from to inches in thickness. when young the plants are generally snowy white throughout, changing with age to a dingy white or cinereous hue. the specimens figured in the plate formed one of a cluster of three mushrooms of this species found growing in the fir woods of the district of columbia. during some seasons i have found the _strobiliformis_, or "fir-cone mushroom," fairly plentiful in some parts of maryland, and in other seasons it has been rare. the whole plant when young is enclosed in a white membranous wrapper. although this species is very generally recognized by mycologists as edible, i would advise great caution in selecting specimens for table use, since there is a dangerous species which might be mistaken for it by one not familiar with the characteristics of both species; i refer to a form of amanita muscaria with ochraceous yellow cap which, when faded or bleached by the sun and rain, sometimes approaches, in tint, the dingy white of old or faded specimens of the _strobiliformis_. both species have _white gills_, _white stems_, and _white flocculent veil_. the volva is evanescent in both, leaving traces of its existence in concentric ridges at the base, and part way up the stem. in the species _strobiliformis_, the flesh of the cap is white throughout, as well as the cuticle. in the yellowish _muscaria_, the flesh _immediately_ beneath the cuticle of the upper surface of the cap is yellowish, frequently deepening at the disk to orange hue. the cap of amanita _muscaria_ is very attractive to flies, but proves to them, as also to roaches and to some other insects, a deadly poison. the juice of _strobiliformis_ is not poisonous to flies. this fact may aid in identifying the species. subgenus _amanitopsis_ roze. the species of this subgenus were formerly included in amanita. the characteristic which separates it from amanita is the _absence of a ring on the stem_. the gills are free from the stem, the spores are white, and the whole plant in youth is encased in an egg-shaped volva.[a] [a] although this subgenus is not included in m. c. cooke's analytical key to the order of agaricini, published with his kind permission in no. of this series, he now includes it as one of the subgenera which should have a place in that list. amanitopsis _vaginata_ roze. edible. this species is very common in pine and oak forests. the plant, as a whole, has a graceful aspect and grows singly or scattered through open places in the woods. it is somewhat fragile and easily broken. the cap in this species is usually a mouse-gray, sometimes slaty gray or brownish, generally umbonate in the center and distinctly striated on the margin. the stem is white, equal, and slender in proportion to the width of the cap, and sheathed quite far up with a loose white membranous wrapper. this sheath is so slightly attached to the base of the stem that it is often left in the ground if the plant is carelessly pulled. the gills are white, or whitish, free from the stem and rounded at the outer extremity. there is a white variety, (variety _alba_) a. _nivalis_, in which the whole plant is white, and a tawny variety (a. _fulva_ schaeff.) in which the cap is a pale ochraceous yellow, with the gills and stem white or whitish. in the variety a. _livida_ or a. _spadicea_ grev. the cap is brown, while the stem and gills are tinged a smoky brown. these are all edible and of fairly good flavor. except in the absence of the ring upon the stem, the light varieties might be mistaken for small forms of the poisonous species amanita _verna_ or of _phalloides_. great caution should therefore be observed, in gathering for the table, to be sure of the species. [illustration: plate xv. figs. to . ag. (amanita) muscarius, linn. (amanita muscaria) "fly mushroom." fig. . ag. (amanita) phalloides, fries. fig. . ag. (amanita) mappa batsch. poisonous. t. taylor, del.] plate xv. figs. to .--=ag. (amanita) muscarius= linn. (=amanita muscaria=). "_fly mushroom_," "_false orange_." poisonous. cap warty, margin striate; gills white, reaching the stem, and often forming decurrent lines upon it; stem white, stuffed, annulate, bulbous at the base, concentrically ridged or scaly at the base, and sometimes part way up, with fragments of the ruptured wrapper. spores widely elliptical, white, . to . of an inch in length. the plants of this species vary very much in size and in the color of the cap. the latter is sometimes a bright scarlet and again it is orange color, more frequently ochraceous yellow, fading to a very pale yellow tint. in the variety _albus_ it is white. the stem is stuffed with webby fibrils and varies very much in thickness: sometimes in young specimens it is very stout, with a thick ovate bulb reaching well up towards the cap, and again it is comparatively slender and nearly equal from the cap down to a very slight bulb at the base. the very young plant is completely enveloped in a white or yellowish egg-shaped wrapper or volva, which, being friable, generally breaks up into scales, forming warts upon the upper surface of the cap. when the plant is young and moist the cap is slightly sticky. a thickish white veil extends from the stem to the inner margin of the cap. this breaks away with the growth and expansion of the plant and falls in lax folds, forming a deflexed ring round the upper portion of the stem. this mushroom is very common in woods and forests in summer and autumn, and has a wide geographical range. it is recorded by all mycologists as poisonous. one author states that when eaten in very small quantities it acts as a cathartic, but that it causes death when eaten freely. flies find in it a deadly poison, and the poisonous alkaloids are not destroyed by drying. although cases are cited where this mushroom has been eaten without injury, its fatally poisonous effects have been too well and too often tested to allow of any doubt as to the danger of eating it, even in small quantities. amanita frostiana, frost's amanita, is a much smaller species than a. muscaria. it bears a very close resemblance to the fly amanita, and might easily be taken for a small form of the same. the cap is yellowish and warted, and specimens occur in which the stem and gills are slightly tinged with yellow. it is poisonous. plate xv. fig. .--=ag. (amanita) phalloides= fries (=amanita phalloides=) =a. vernalis= bolt., =a. verrucosus= curtis. "_poisonous amanita_," "_death cup_." poisonous. cap bell-shaped or ovate at first, then expanded, smooth, obtuse, viscid, margin even, creamy-white, brown, or greenish, without warts; flesh white; stem white, hollow or stuffed, bulbous at the base, annulate; gills rounded and ventricose, coarse, and persistently white, free from the stem; volva conspicuous, large, loose, adhering to the base, but free from the stem at the top, with the margin irregularly notched. in the white forms there is frequently a greenish or yellow tinge at the disk or centre of the cap. the white form is most common, but the brownish is often found in this country. i have not yet found the green-capped variety sometimes figured in european works. in the brown variety the stem and ring are often tinged with brown, as also the volva. the cap is usually from to inches broad, and the stem from to inches long. the whole plant is symmetrical in shape and clean looking, though somewhat clammy to the touch when moist. it is very common in mixed woods, in some localities, and is universally considered as fatally poisonous. the white form of a. _phalloides_, although in reality bearing very little resemblance to the common field mushroom, has been mistaken for it as also for the _smooth white lepiota_, and in some instances has been eaten with fatal results by those who gathered it. the distinction between this most poisonous amanita and the common field mushroom is well marked. in the common mushroom the _gills_ are _pink, becoming dark brown_, the _spores purplish brown_, and the whole mushroom is stout and short stemmed, the stem being shorter than the diameter of the cap, and having no volva, or wrapper at its base. in the species a. _phalloides_ the _gills_ are _persistently white_ and the bulb is distinct and broad at the base, the white cup-shaped wrapper sheathing the base of the stem like the calyx of a flower. the _smooth white lepiota_ shows neither volva nor trace of one, and has other distinct characteristics which distinguish it from a. _phalloides_. see page , no. of this series. the specimen figured in plate xv grew in maryland, where it is quite common. plate xv. fig. .--=ag. (amanita) mappa (amanita mappa)= linn., =amanita citrina=, =a. virosa.= poisonous. cap at first convex, then expanded, dry, without a separable cuticle, not warty but showing white, yellowish, or brownish scales or patches on its upper surface; gills white, adnexed; flesh white, sometimes slightly yellowish under the skin; stem stuffed, then hollow, cylindrical, yellowish white, nearly smooth, with a distinctly bulbous base; volva white or brownish. odor pleasant. spores spheroidal. the cap in this species is somewhat variable in color, but those having a white cap are most common. the plant is not so tall as those of the species _phalloides_. it is solitary in habit, and is found usually in open woods. curtis and lowerby figure _mappa_ and _phalloides_ under the same name. [illustration: plate xvi. fig. . ag. (amanita) vernus, bull. (amanita verna.) "spring mushroom." fig. . represents section of mature plant. fig. . spores; fig. . young plant. poisonous. t. taylor, del.] plate xvi. figs. to .--=ag. (amanita) vernus= bull. =(amanita verna)= linn., =amanita bulbosa=, =ag. solitarius.= "_vernal mushroom_," "_spring mushroom_," etc. poisonous. cap at first ovate, then expanded, becoming at length slightly depressed, viscid, white; margin smooth; flesh white; gills white, free; stem white, equal, stuffed or hollow, easily splitting, floccose, with bulbous base; volva white, closely embracing the stem, but free from it at the margin; ring reflexed; spores globose, . in. broad. the plant is creamy white throughout and does not seem to be easily distinguishable from the white forms of a. _phalloides_. fries and some others consider this species merely a variety of amanita _phalloides_, and it is regarded as equally poisonous, the poisonous principle being the same as that of a. _phalloides_. it is very common in mixed woods from early spring to frosty weather. alkaloids of the poisonous mushrooms. schrader, after some experiments made in , stated that the poisonous principle of the "fly mushroom," amanita muscaria, seemed to be combined with its red coloring matter and might be extracted by water or aqueous alcohol, but that it was not soluble in ether. vaquelin, as the result of more extended investigations made in , expressed the opinion that this poison was not confined to the coloring matter of the mushroom, but that it was an integral part of the fatty constituents not only of _muscaria_ but of several species of mushrooms. in and , and again in , important investigations were made and published by letellier relating to the medical and poisonous properties of mushrooms growing around paris. letellier's early investigations led him to the conclusion that there were two poisons contained in certain fungi--( ) an acrid principle easily destroyed by drying or boiling or by maceration in alcohol or in alkaline solution, and ( ) a peculiar poisonous alkaloid found only in certain of the amanita group. letellier in named this latter alkaloid _amanitin_. he then considered it to be the active poison of amanita _muscaria_, amanita _phalloides_, and amanita _verna_, but a subsequent analysis by the german chemists schmiedeberg and koppe showed the _amanitin_ of letellier to be identical with _cholin_, a substance found in bile. kobert says that _amanitin_ is non-poisonous in itself, but states that it may be changed on decay of the mushroom to the muscarin-like acting _neurin_, which is highly poisonous. he thinks it highly probable that nearly all of the edible and non-edible mushrooms contain pure _amanitin_ (cholin) partly in primitive condition and partly in a more intricate organic connection, as _lecithin_. it has been demonstrated that amanitin separates very readily from lecithin during the _decay or careless drying_ of mushrooms and changes into the _poisonous neurin_; hence the necessity of using mushrooms only when _perfectly fresh_ or when _quickly dried_. muscarin.[a] [a] the earliest account of the separation of the poisonous principles of the mushrooms of the genus amanita dates back to the experiments of apoiger in . harnack's researches were published in and those of huseman in . to the eminent german chemists schmiedeberg and koppe is due the credit of isolating the active poisonous principle of the fly mushroom (_muscarin_). these authors published in a series of interesting experiments made with _muscarin_, having relation to its effect upon the heart, respiration, secretions and digestive organs, etc., and this was supplemented by other experiments made by their pupils, prof. r. boehm and e. harnack. schmiedeberg and koppe's work relates to the effect of this poison on man as well as upon the lower animals. dr. j. l. prevost in reviewed the investigations made by schmiedeberg and koppe in a paper read before the biological society of geneva, adding some confirmatory observations of his own relative to experiments made with muscarin upon the lower animals. the experiments made by these authors demonstrated "that muscarin arrests the action of a frog's heart, that a muscarined frog's heart began to beat immediately under the influence of atropin, and further that it was impossible to muscarine a frog's heart while under the influence of atropin." schmiedeberg subjected cats and dogs to doses of muscarin, large enough to produce death, and when the animals were about to succumb, injected hypodermically from one to two milligrams of sulphate of _atropin_, after which the toxic symptoms disappeared and the animals completely revived. prof. boehm found that _digitalin_ likewise re-established heart action when suspended by the action of muscarin. in man the fatal termination, in cases of mushroom poisoning, where the antidote is not used, may take place in from to hours or not for two or three days. according to prof. e. kobert's recent chemical analysis, the "fly mushroom," amanita muscaria, contains not only the very poisonous alkaloid _muscarin_ and the _amanitin_ of letellier (_cholin_), but also a third alkaloid, _pilz atropin_. the pilz-atropin (mushroom atropin) was discovered by schmiedeberg in a _commercial_ preparation of _muscarin_, and later prof. kobert discovered it in varying proportions in fresh mushrooms of different species. the effect of this third alkaloid, it is claimed, is to neutralize to a greater or less extent the effect of the poisonous one. under its influence, when present in quantity, the poison is almost entirely neutralized. contraction of the pupils changes to dilation, and slowing of the pulse may disappear. only through the presence of this natural antidote in the fly mushroom, says kobert, is it possible, as in some parts of france and russia, to eat without danger this mushroom, which contains % of sugar (trehalose or mycose) in a fermented and unfermented condition. he states also that delirium, intoxication, and other symptoms which, according to prof. dittmer of kamschatka and various scientific travellers, are reported effects of the fly mushroom in the extreme north, are not experienced in the same degree in southern russia. this difference in action, he thinks, may be very properly attributed to the varying proportion of the above-mentioned atropin in the mushroom or to the presence of substances which develop only in the extreme north. the symptoms of _muscarin_ poisoning, apart from vomiting and purging, are slowing of the pulse, cerebral disturbance, contraction of the pupils, salivation and sweating. in case of death, which is caused by suffocation or a suspension of heart action, the lungs are found to be filled with air, and there is a transfusion of blood in the alimentary canal. prof. r. kobert, in a lecture delivered before the university of dorpat in , states that _muscarin_ is found equally in the fly mushroom (a. muscaria), the panther mushroom (a. pantherinus), boletus luridus, and in varying quantities in russula emetica. he states also that though highly poisonous to vertebrates, _muscarin_ is not so to flies, and that the noxious principle in a. muscaria which kills the flies is not as yet determined. it has been shown that the lower animals, such as sheep and geese, as well as man, have been severely poisoned by feeding on the "fly mushroom," and that in the case of the horse, experiments have demonstrated that even . of a gramme, . of a grain, have caused marked symptoms of poisoning. for _muscarin_ as for _neurin_ poisoning the antidote is atropin administered internally or by subcutaneous injection. phallin. the toxic alkaloid of amanita _phalloides_ fries (amanita _bulbosa_) was examined by boudier, who named it "_bulbosin_," and by oré, who named it "_phalloidin_," but their examinations, it is claimed, proved little beyond the fact that it seemed to be in the nature of an alkaloid, identical neither with _muscarin_ nor _helvellic_ acid. oré affirmed that the _phalloidin_ of the amanita phalloides was very nearly related to, and perhaps identical with, strychnine. from this view kobert and others dissent. the poisonous principle of amanita _phalloides_ has recently been subjected to very careful analysis by prof. kobert. as a result of a large number of experiments and post-mortem examinations held on persons poisoned by a. _phalloides_, kobert states that the symptoms can be explained uniformly by the action of a poison, to which he gives the provisional name of "_phallin_." this is an albuminous substance which dissolves the corpuscles of the blood, resembling in this and other respects in a remarkable degree the action of _helvellic_ acid. according to kobert _phallin_ has so far only been found in amanita _phalloides_ and in its varieties _verna_, _mappa_, etc. he finds also in this mushroom muscarin and an atropin-like alkaloid. the symptoms of the phalloides poisoning are complex. vomiting is accompanied by diarrhoea, cold sweats, fainting at times, convulsions, ending in coma. there is also fever and a quickening of the pulse. all these symptoms, which follow in succession, according to one author, are dependent on two different poisonous substances. the first may be an acrid and fixed poison, for it is found after repeated dryings, as well in the aqueous as in the alcoholic extract. the second acts by absorption, and is purely narcotic. phallin has some of the properties of the toxalbumin of poisonous spiders, and is a vegetable toxalbumin. it has been remarked that in cases of poisoning by a. _phalloides_, the mushroom has tasted very good, and those poisoned felt well for several hours after eating. phalloides poisoning is said to bear a marked resemblance to phosphorus poisoning and to acute jaundice. there is no known antidote to the poisonous alkaloid _phallin_. according to prof. kobert's analyses, the proportion of phallin in the dried mushroom amounts to less than %, but its effect on account of its concentration is the more intensive. extensive experiments made by kobert with ox blood in regard to the comparative action of different substances in their power of dissolving the red blood corpuscles demonstrate that _phallin_ in this respect exceeds all known substances. kobert states that "if _phallin_ be added to a mixture of blood with a % solution of common salt, using the blood of man, cattle, dogs, or pigeons, the blood corpuscles will be entirely dissolved by the poison diluted to - , ." prof. kobert states that he has examined the species boletus edulis, agaricus campester, and amanita cæsarea a number of times, but could never detect the action of phallin in them. neither has he found it in a. muscaria. the poisonous alkaloid of gyromitra esculenta fries (helvella esculenta pers.) helvellic acid. prof. kobert writes of a number of cases of poisoning in the baltic provinces of russia by the mushroom helvella _esculenta_ persoon, sometimes called the lorchel. it should be here stated that the _helvella esculenta_ of persoon is the _gyromitra esculenta_ of fries. this mushroom is described as edible and placed in the edible lists by dr. m. c. cooke, prof. peck, and other distinguished mycologists, who have tested it and found it edible when perfectly fresh. the poisonous principle of this mushroom was isolated and analyzed by prof. r. boehm, of russia, in . it was by him designated as "_helvellic acid_," and found to be soluble in hot water. profs. eugene bostroem and e. ponfick, after giving some study to the effects of this mushroom poison, agreed in their report concerning it, which is to the effect that the _quickly dried_ h. _esculenta_ (gyromitra _esculenta_) is not poisonous, and that the poisonous acid of the fresh ones may be extracted by means of hot water, so that while the decoction is poisonous the mushroom is not at all so, after the liquid is pressed out. experiments with this mushroom were made by both authors on dogs, which ate them greedily, but without exception the dogs were very sick afterwards. the symptoms were nausea, vomiting, jaundice, stoppage of the kidneys, and hæmaglobinuria. the symptoms observed in man correspond to those manifested by the lower animals. dissection showed the dissolution of innumerable blood corpuscles. prof. kobert, commenting on the experiments made by bostroem and ponfick, states that he himself had been furnished yearly with fresh specimens of "h. _esculenta_" (g. _esculenta_) specially gathered for him at dorpat, and after making various experiments with the freshly expressed juice he became convinced that the poisonous principle greatly varies, the juice sometimes operating as very poisonous, and sometimes as only slightly so. he states also that the proportion of poison in the mushroom varies with the weather, location, and age of the mushroom. the inhabitants of russia do not eat this mushroom, but in germany it is eaten dried or when perfectly fresh, after cooking, and after the first water in which it is boiled is removed. helvellic acid is not found in morchella _esculenta_ (the true morel), nor is it known to exist in any other species except g. _esculenta_. it has been stated that there is no antidote for helvellic poisoning after the symptoms have appeared. a specimen of gyromitra esculenta was forwarded to me from portland, maine, by a member of a mycological club of that city, who stated that this mushroom was quite abundant in the early spring in the woods near portland and that the plants were eaten by the members of the club, _care being taken to use them only when perfectly fresh_. indigestion and nausea followed the eating of old specimens, but the general opinion was "favorable to the gyromitra as an addition to the table." (see page , part , of this series.) prof. chas. h. peck, of albany, while placing this mushroom in his edible list as one which he had repeatedly tested, advises that it should be eaten only when perfectly fresh, as nausea and sickness had been known to result from the eating of specimens which had been kept twenty-four hours before cooking. i forwarded a number of drawings of the american species of g. _esculenta_, together with a dried specimen of the same received from maine, to prof. kobert, who identified both drawings and specimen as the _gyromitra esculenta_ of fries, synonymous with the _helvella esculenta_ of persoon. prof. kobert also informs me that he finds the fresh g. _esculenta_ perfectly harmless when freed of the water of the first boiling. he says: "my wife and i eat it very often, when in fresh condition, and after the first water in which it is boiled is poured off." the active poisonous principle of this mushroom is the _helvellic acid_, which is soluble in hot water. when the mushroom is gathered fresh and _quickly dried_ it is then also innoxious. in this respect it differs from the species _a. muscaria_, in which the poisonous alkaloid _muscarin_ is not destroyed in the drying, but remains unchanged for years in the dried mushroom. the fact that there have been seemingly well-authenticated cases of fatal poisoning in the eating of this mushroom shows that if used at all it should be eaten _only when the conditions essential to safety are most carefully observed_, and as these mushrooms show varying qualities, according to local conditions of soil and climate, etc., amateurs finding it in localities where it has not been heretofore used should proceed tentatively and with much care before venturing to eat it freely. poisonous and deleterious mushrooms of the lactar, russula, and boletus groups. lactarius _torminosus_ fries contains in its milky juice an acrid resin which causes inflammation of the stomach and of the alimentary canal. when parboiled and the first water removed, it has been eaten without injurious effects. lactarius _plumbeus_ bull., lactarius _uvidus_ fries, lactarius _turpis_ weinn., and lactarius _pyrogalus_ bull., all acrid mushrooms, according to kobert, are similarly poisonous. of the "erdschieber" (lactarius _vellereus_) and the "pfefferling" (lactarius piperatus scop.) kobert says they are eaten in parts of russia and in some places in germany, but that neither is very safe. there is a species of _russula_ (r. _emetica_) very common in woods, easily recognized by its smooth scarlet top, white gills, and white stem and by its biting acridity, which, though recorded as poisonous by some authors, is considered edible by others. this mushroom, r. _emetica_, has been subjected to chemical analysis by kobert, who finds in it _muscarin_, _cholin_, and _pilz-atropin_ in varying proportions. kobert states that in germany it is "_rightly_" considered poisonous, though eaten in russia, and ascribes the fact that it is not deemed poisonous in the latter country to the manner in which it is there prepared, the poisonous alkaloid being in greater part eliminated by parboiling the mushrooms, and not merely pouring off the water, but carefully squeezing it out of the parboiled fungi. to the presence in this mushroom of the neutralizing alkaloid "pilz-atropin" in varying proportions may also be attributed in some measure the safety with which it has been eaten under certain conditions. r. foetens and other acrid russulas, as well as lactars, have been known to produce severe gastro-enteritis. considering the foregoing, it would seem the part of prudence at least to avoid such of the lactars and russulas as have an acrid or peppery taste. i think it would be a wise precaution to pour off the water of the first boiling in the case of all mushrooms about which there is a particle of doubt, whether _recorded_ as poisonous or not. lactarius _torminosus_ fries. cap fleshy, at first convex, then expanded, at length depressed in the center, slightly zoned, margin turned inwards, pale ochraceous yellow, with flesh-colored mottlings; _downy_ or _hairy_; gills whitish, changing to pinkish yellow, narrow and close together; stem equal, stuffed or hollow, pallid or whitish; milk persistently _white and acrid_. in woods and fields. specimens have been collected in new york, massachusetts, maryland, and virginia. cap to inches, stem ½ to inches. lactarius _pyrogalus_. cap fleshy, slightly zoned, _smooth_, even, and moist, depressed in the center, grayish, or cinereous; gills white or yellowish, thin, not crowded; stem short, stout, stuffed, or hollow, sometimes slightly attenuated towards the root, pallid; flesh white or whitish; milk _white_ and _extremely acrid_, copious. borders of woods and meadows. this mushroom is sometimes called the "fiery milk mushroom." lactarius _uvidus_ fries. cap thin, convex, then plane, and slightly depressed in the center, sometimes showing slight umbo, viscid, _zoneless_, smooth, dingy gray or pallid brown, margin turned inwards; gills narrow and close together, white or yellowish, when cut or bruised turning a purplish hue; stem stuffed or hollow, viscid, smooth, equal or slightly tapering towards the cap, white; milk white, changing to lilac, acrid. height to inches. cap to inches broad. in woods. lactarius _turpis_ fries. cap viscid, compact, _zoneless_, greenish umber, margin clothed with yellowish down; gills thin, paler than the cap; stem hollow or stuffed, stoutish, short, viscid, olive color, slightly attenuated towards the base; milk _white_, _acrid_. fir woods. lactarius _plumbeus_ fries. cap fleshy, firm, dry, somewhat hairy, varying in color, usually some shade of brown; gills yellowish, thin, and close together; stem solid, equal, lighter in color than the cap; flesh white; milk _white_ and _acrid_. lactarius _vellereus_ fries. _fleecy lactarius_. cap compact, convex or umbilicate, zoneless, _minutely downy_; margin reflexed, gills white, _distant_, arcuate; stem short, solid, pubescent; milk _white_, _acrid_, somewhat scanty. in woods. whole plant white. lactarius _piperatus_ scop. _peppery lactarius_. cap fleshy, compact, convex and slightly umbilicate, at last deeply depressed, becoming funnel-formed, smooth and even; gills decurrent, very narrow, thin, even and close together, dichotonous, white; flesh white; milk _white_, _extremely acrid_, copious; stem very short, stout, solid. whole plant white. lactarius _blennius_ fries. cap depressed, slimy or glutinous, greenish-gray; margin incurved and somewhat downy. gills narrow, white or whitish; stem stuffed or hollow, viscid, and of same color as the cap or paler; milk white and very acrid. m. c. cooke divides the genus lactarius into "tribes": ( ) piperites, in which the stem is central, gills _unchangeable_, naked, neither discolored nor _pruinose_, milk at first _white_ and _commonly acrid_; ( ) dapetes, in which the stem is central, gills naked, _milk from the first deeply colored_; ( ) russulares, in which the stem is central, gills pallid, _then discolored_, becoming darker, changing when turned to the light, at length _pruinose_, with milk at _first white_ and _mild_ and _sometimes becoming acrid_; ( ) pleuropos, in which the stem is concentric or lateral. to the first of these subdivisions, _piperites_, belong all of the lactars enumerated above. the russians eat the piperites only after the water of the first boiling has been taken off. lactarius _rufus_ scop., a very acrid species of large size, having reddish ochraceous gills and zoneless cap of reddish yellow with white milk, belongs to the subdivision russulares. common in fir woods. dangerous. lactarius _volemus_ fries, a tawny yellow-capped mushroom with white gills changing to a yellowish hue, and copious _sweet_ white milk, belongs also to the latter subdivision. edible. russula (fragiles) _emetica_ fries. cap fleshy, at first convex, then expanded or depressed, smooth, polished, red, margin sulcate; gills free, equal and broad, white; stem solid but somewhat spongy in the center, smooth, short, stoutish, white or stained reddish; flesh white, sometimes slightly tinted red, under the thin red cuticle. the cap of this mushroom varies from a deep rich crimson to a pale pinkish red, being very subject to atmospheric changes. specimens are often found with the cap washed almost white after heavy rains, or with but a slight red spot in the center. the gills and spores are pure white, and the flesh peppery to the taste. if tasted when raw the juice should not be swallowed. the variety _clusii_ has a blood-red cap, pallid yellowish gills, adnexed, becoming adnate. spores white. in woods. acrid. the variety _fallax_ is fragile, with dingy reddish pileus and adnexed, distant, whitish gills. besides the above mentioned, there are other acrid russulas and lactars which are regarded with suspicion, though not as yet satisfactorily tested. poisonous boleti. several of the boleti have the reputation of being poisonous or deleterious, among them boletus _luridus_, boletus _satanas_, and boletus _felleus._ kobert's analysis of b. _luridus_ shows the presence of the poisonous alkaloid muscarin in this mushroom, while the bitterness of b. _felleus_ should make one chary of eating it in quantity, if at all. schmiedeberg and koppe describe experiments made with boletus satanas, in which the symptoms experienced closely resemble those of muscarin poisoning. a correspondent living in georgia, who is quite familiar with the species, writes that he has frequently eaten the yellow form of the _muscaria_, when cooked, without serious inconvenience. another correspondent writes that he has eaten the species boletus luridus and boletus satanas, as well as several other mushrooms of poisonous repute, with perfect impunity. without calling in question the testimony of persons who state that they have with impunity eaten mushrooms generally found to be poisonous, it must be said that even if, through local conditions of soil or climate, the poisonous constituents of such mushrooms sometimes exist in comparatively minute proportions, or are _neutralized_ by an unusual proportion of _mushroom atropin_ in the plant, or eliminated by some process used in its preparation for the table, or, finally, if constitutional idiosyncrasies should enable some persons safely to eat what is poisonous to others, the rule that such are to be avoided should never be disregarded by the ordinary collector, nor should it be departed from even by experts, except upon the clearest evidence that in the given case the departure is safe. it is certainly the part of discretion, when in doubt, to take no risks. recent instances of mushroom poisoning. about a year ago a physician in vineland, new jersey, furnished the following in regard to his personal experience of the effects of mushroom poisoning: "my wife, daughter, and self selected, according to an article in the encyclopedia britannica, what we thought were a nice lot of mushrooms, cooked them in milk, and ate them for dinner with relish. in a few hours we were vomiting, laughing, and staggering about the house. we could not control ourselves from the elbows to the finger tips, nor our legs from the knee to the ends of our toes. in other words, we were drunk on mushrooms. the mushrooms grew within the shade of norway spruce and other ornamental trees on the lawn in front of our house. they were pure white inside and out; smooth shiny tops that easily peeled off. the caps were about two or three inches in diameter, and had a stem of the same length. on the day before, my wife and a friend ate some of these mushrooms raw and experienced no bad effects. the next day at noon we ate them cooked in milk with a little butter, and they were very good. about two o'clock our food did not seem to digest well, and soon my daughter, sixteen years of age, vomited all her dinner. then my wife began to feel the effects, and took hot water freely, sweet oil, currant wine, and at last an overdose of tartar-emetic. of course, she was the sickest of all. i was cool and happy and amused at the situation, and drunk from my head down. i did not vomit, and my mushrooms remained with me for at least hours. i took nothing but hot water and sweet oil. a friend of my daughter's of her own age partook of the mess and had not a single bad symptom." a physician from west grove, pennsylvania, writes: "i determined to risk a test of the amanita muscaria. accordingly, two good-sized specimens were steamed in butter. i ate one, and another member of my family ate the other, feeling that the consequences could not be serious from so small an amount. about an hour after eating, a sensation of nausea and faintness was experienced in both cases, followed by nervous tingling, some cold perspiration and accelerated and weakened action of the heart. considerable prostration ensued within two hours. knowing that sulphate of atropin has proved the most successful remedy for the active principle of the fly agaric, amanita muscaria, a small dose, one-sixtieth of a grain, was taken by each. considerable relief was experienced within minutes, and all unpleasant symptoms had disappeared within hours, without repeating the medicine." another case, wherein the antagonism of atropin for muscarin was demonstrated, was brought to our notice during the month of september of the past year. an entire party of people were badly poisoned by eating mushrooms, and, although a doctor was called in very late, most of them were saved by the use of sulphate of atropin. it would seem from the foregoing cases that the intensity and action of the mushroom poison must depend in some degree on the constitution of the individual, as well as on the quality and quantity of the mushrooms eaten. the first treatment should be to get rid of the poison immediately and by every possible means, so as to prevent or at least arrest the progress of inflammation of the alimentary canal, and at the same time to prevent the absorption of the poison. in a majority of cases the recovery of the victim depends solely upon the promptness with which vomiting is excited. vertigo, convulsions, spasms, and other grave nervous symptoms, which ordinarily follow the cessation of the most important functions, yield, ordinarily, to the action of an emetic without the necessity of ulterior remedies, if taken in time, while the substance is yet in the stomach; when it has entered the lower bowels purgation is necessary. sweet oil should always be taken in combination with castor oil, or such other purgatives as are used. enemas of cassia, senna, and sulphate of magnesia have also been used with good effect. the fatal poisoning of count achilles de vecchj, in november, , by eating the amanita muscaria, is so fresh in the public recollection, and the details in regard to it were so widely published through the newspaper press, that it is unnecessary to take up space in recapitulating the circumstances. the death of chung yu ting, in , was occasioned by eating mushrooms which he had collected in a patch of woods near washington, d. c., and which i identified at the time as amanita phalloides, sometimes called the "death cup." he had eaten very freely of this mushroom and died after great suffering, although ten hours had elapsed before the toxic effects began to show themselves. since it has been shown that vinegar and the solution of common salt have the power to dissolve the alkaloids of the poisonous mushrooms, it follows that the liquor thus formed must be extremely injurious. it should, therefore, be obvious that vinegar and salt should not be introduced into the stomach after poisonous mushrooms have been eaten. the result would only be to hasten death. ether and volatile alkali are also attended with danger. a physician should in all cases be promptly called, and, if muscarin poisoning is suspected, hypodermic injections of the sulphate of atropin, the only chemical antidote known to be efficacious, should be administered, the dose being from / up to / of a grain. small doses of atropin can also be taken internally, to accelerate heart action. to relieve the pains and irritation in the abdomen sweet oil and mucilaginous drinks should be given. bibliography--fungi. north america. berkeley, m. j. "fungi of arctic expedition, -' ." linn. journ., xvii. . ---- "decades of fungi," viii-x, in hook. journ., vol. iv. london. . ---- "decades of fungi," xii-xiv. "ohio fungi," hook. journ., vol. vi. london. . ---- "decades of fungi," xxi-xxii. "north and south carolina." hook. journ., vol. i. . berkeley, m. j., and curtis, m. a. "north american fungi" in _grevillea_, vols. i-iv. london. -' . bessey, c. e. the erysiphei. (monograph.) michigan. curtis, m. a. "contributions to the mycology of north america," silliman journal. vo. . ---- "catalogue of the plants of north carolina." vo. raleigh. . cooke, m. c. "fungi of texas." linn. journ., vol. xvii. ---- and ellis, j. b. "new jersey fungi," in _grevillea_. -' . ellis, j. b. "canadian fungi." journ. mycol., vol. . manhattan. . farlow, w. g. list of fungi found in the vicinity of boston. _bulletin of the bussey inst_., vol. . gibson, hamilton wm. our edible toadstools and mushrooms. harper bros., new york. harkness, h. w. pacific coast fungi, i, iv. san francisco. -' . peck, c. h. reports of the new york museum of natural history. albany. -' . albany, n. y. ravenel. "fungi carolinia," fasc.: v. . schweinitz, l. de _synopsis fungorum_ in _amer. boreali media degentium_. to. philadelphia. . taylor, thomas. _mildew of the native grape vine_. _peronospora viticola_. ---- _erysiphei of the european grape vine_. ---- _fungoid diseases of the peach tree_. ---- _mildew of the lilac_. illustrated. an. report of the u. s. dept. of agriculture, , pages to , inclusive. ---- _black-knot on plum and cherry trees_. illustrated. ---- _blight and rot of the potato_, "_peronospora infestans_." illustrated. ---- _blight and smut in onions_. illustrated. an. report of the u. s. dept. of agriculture, , pages to , inclusive. ---- _potato blight and rot_. pages to and - . ---- _new fungus of the hawthorn_. _roestelia aurantiaca_. pages - . illustrated. ---- _rust of the orange_. pages - . an. report of dept. of agriculture, . taylor, thomas. _fungoid disease of the cherry._ page . ---- _grape-vine disease._ page . ---- cranberry scald and rot. page . illustrated. an. report of dept. of agriculture, . ---- _fungoid diseases of the cranberry._ page . ---- _fungoid diseases of the plum and cherry trees._ pages and . an. report dept. of agriculture, . ---- food product reports, mushrooms, edible and poisonous. annual reports of u. s. dept. agriculture, - . ---- student's handbook of mushrooms of america, edible and poisonous. watt, d. a. p. provisional catalogue of canadian cryptogams. bulletins of the boston, new york, and philadelphia mycological societies. published in boston, mass., new york, n. y., and philadelphia, penn., respectively. bibliography. toxicology of mushrooms. boudier, emile. _gazette des hop._ paris. . ---- mushrooms toxicologically considered. paris. . t. husemann und a. husemann. "handb. der toxicologie." berlin. . letellier and speneux. "experiences nouvelles sur les champignons vénenéux etc." paris. . mcilvaine, chas. article on amanita poisonings, therapeutic mag. philadelphia, . schmiedeberg and koppe. "das muscarin das giftige alkaloid des fliegenpilzes." leipzig. verlag von f. c. w. vogel. . kobert, rudolph. "sitzungsberichte der naturforscher-gesellschafft." dorpat, russia. -' . ---- lehrbuch der intoxication. stuttgard, germany. index to illustrations. no. . plate a. agaricus (psalliota) campester. edible. plate b. types of the six orders of hymenomycetes. plate i. russula virescens fries. edible. plate ii. coprinus comatus fries. edible. plate iii. marasmius oreades fries. edible. no. . plate c. types of four of the leading genera of discomycetes, in which occur edible species. plate d. four types of the genus morchella. edible. plate iv. outline sketches showing structure of the agaricini. plate v. lactarius deliciosus fries. edible. plate vi. agaricus (armillaria) melleus vahl. edible. plate vii. cantharellus cibarius fries. edible. no. . plate e. outline sketches of various mushrooms. plate f. outline sketches showing characteristics of the lamellæ or gills of mushrooms. plate viii. ag. (hypholoma) sublateritius fries. edible. plate ix. ag. (hypholoma) incertus (hypholoma incertum) peck. edible. plate x. fistulina hepatica bull. edible. no. . plate g. six types of the puff-ball group. edible. plate h. two types of the subdivision phalloideæ. unwholesome. plate xi. ag. (lepiota) procerus fries. (lepiota procera.) edible. plate xi. ag. (lepiota) naucinoides peck. edible. plate xi½. ag. (lepiota) cepæstipes--var. cretaceus peck (lepiota cretacea). edible. plate xii. cortinarius (inoloma) violaceus. linn. plate xii. cortinarius (phlegmacium) cærulescens fries. plate xiii. figs. to , ag. (collybia fusipes) bull. edible. plate xiii. figs. to , ag. (collybia maculatus) a. & s. (collybia maculata). (after cooke.) edible. plate xiii. figs. to , ag. (collybia) velutipes curt. (after cooke.) no. . plate j. ag. (pleurotus) ostreatus jacq. edible. plate xiv. figs. to , ag. (amanita) cæsareus scop. (amanita cæsarea). edible. plate xiv. figs. to , ag. (amanita) rubescens pers. edible. plate xiv½. ag. (amanita) strobiliformis vitt. edible. plate xv. figs. to , ag. (amanita) muscarius linn. (amanita muscaria). poisonous. plate xv. fig. , ag. (amanita) phalloides fries. poisonous. plate xv. fig. , ag. (amanita) mappa batsch. poisonous. correction of plates. part . plate b. fig. should read fig. , fig. should read fig. . part . plate d. fig. , the exposed inner surface of the cap, should be _smooth_, not _ridged_, as the straight lines in the engraving might suggest. plate v. for lactarious read lactarius. part . plate viii. the red on the upper surface of the cap is too bright in tint. it should be a dull brick-red. plate ix. fig. . the spores should be a deeper tint or brownish purple. the spores as delineated on the plates represent a magnification of from to diameters. transcriber's notes. to avoid confusion, corrections noted above were not made to the plates or their captions. "membranaceous," "membraneous" and "membranous" all appear multiple times; i left them as is. similarly for "hynesboro" and "hynesbury," "sebaceus" and "sebæceus," "subglobose" and "sub-globose," "center" and "centre," "net-work" and "network." both "huseman" and "husemann" appear; perhaps they refer to the same person, but i couldn't be sure, so i left them as is. there is little consistency about when names are italicized or placed in quotes. except where noted below, i left them as typeset in the original. changed "filamentose" to "filamentous" on page of part : "filamentous network." changed "sub generas" to "subgenera" on page of part : "of the subgenera." changed "pratelæ" to "pratellæ" on page of part , in dr. m. c. cooke's subdivisions. changed "puffball" to "puff-ball" on page of part : "and the puff-ball." changed "ii" to "i" on page of part to match the illustrations: "illustrated in plate i." changed "mycophogists" to "mycophagists" on page of part : "with most mycophagists." changed "micaceous" to "micaceus" on page of part : "coprinus micaceus." changed "plain" to "plane" on page of part : "then nearly plane." changed "parsely" to "parsley" on page of part : "with parsley chopped." changed "channeled" to "channelled" on page of part : "_canaliculate_, channelled." changed "channeled" to "channelled" on page of part : "_channelled_, hollowed out like a gutter." changed "clustured" to "clustered" on page of part : "little clustered grains." changed "charactertistics" to "characteristics" on page of part : "the distinguishing characteristics." changed "mushroon" to "mushroom" on page of part : "common field mushroom." changed "paraphesis" to "paraphyses" on page of part : "spore sack and paraphyses." changed "saac." to "sacc." on page of part : "mitrula vitellina sacc." changed "tetrasporus" to "tetrasporous" on page of part : "being entirely tetrasporous." changed "agaricus" to "agaricus" on page of part : "agaricus arvensis." changed "mid-western" to "midwestern" on page of part : "and midwestern states." the arithmetic doesn't work out right for the third house of the pennsylvania grower on page of part . perhaps it produced , pounds rather than , . however, i left it as it was. removed duplicate word "the" on page of part : "add to the manure." changed "surfare" to "surface" on page of part : "surface be too dry." changed "polyporous" to "polyporus" on page of part . changed "deletereous" to "deleterious" on page of part : "classed as deleterious." changed "yellew" to "yellow" on page of part : "never yellow." changed "flexuous" to "flexuose" on page of part : "thin, flexuose." the analytic table starting on page of part was changed to use numeric codes to identify the branches in the tree rather than the special characters, for clarity and elimination of non-latin- characters. "massée" appeared on pages , and of part ; they were all changed to "massee." changed "psilosybe" to "psilocybe" in the table on page of part . changed "fibres" to "fibers" on page of part : "with minute fibers." changed "rhodosporhii" to "rhodosporii" on page of part : "section rhodosporii." "pleurotos" appeared on pages and of part and page of part ; they were all changed to "pleurotus" for consistency. changed "epyphytal" to "epiphytal" on page of part : "epiphytal, often stemless." changed "mushroooms" to "mushrooms" on page of part : "mushrooms with bacon." changed "importatnt" to "important" on page of part : "an important part." changed "hymenomycetefs" to "hymenomycetes" on page of part : "the genera of hymenomycetes." both "gloeoporus" and "gloeporus" appear. i left both spellings, since i couldn't determine the author's intention. changed "basidyomycetes" to "basidiomycetes" on page of part : "ascomycetes and basidiomycetes." changed "myceluim" to "mycelium" on page of part : "directly on the mycelium." changed "dacyromycetes" to "dacryomycetes" on page of part : "( ) dacryomycetes." some text was dropped on page of part . i inserted an ellipsis as a place-holder: "without asci, ... sporules or stylospores." moved semi-colon inside quote three times on page of part , for grammatical consistency: 'or "rotting moulds;" the cystopi, or "white rusts;" the saprolegniaceæ, or "fish moulds;".' changed "entomothoraceæ" to "entomophthoraceæ" on page of part . changed "uutersuch." to "untersuch." on page of part : "bot. untersuch." changed "mongraphie" to "monographie" on page of part : "monographie des saprolegniées." changed "spois" to "spores" on page of part , in the entry for tetraspore. changed "perethecia" to "perithecia" twice on page of part : "enclosed in perithecia" and "fungi without perithecia." changed "hyphomecetea" to "hyphomyceteæ" on page of part : "such as the hyphomyceteæ." changed "rotton" to "rotten" on page of part : "rotten wood or sticks." changed "puff ball" to "puff-ball" in caption to plate g. changed "globuse" to "globose" on page of part : "sometimes nearly globose." changed "fetid" to "foetid" on page of part , for consistency: "their foetid odor." also in the caption to plate h. changed "disc" to "disk" on page of part : "the disk is stellate." changed "phalloideae" to "phalloideæ" in the caption to plate h. changed "lycoperadaceæ" to "lycoperdaceæ" on page of part : "iii.--lycoperdaceæ." italicized "lepiota" on page of part , for consistency: "_subgenus lepiota_ fries." changed "cepaestipes" to "cepæstipes" in the caption to plate xi½: "agaricus (lepiota) cepæstipes." changed "coerulescems" to "cærulescens" in the caption to plate xii. removed italics from "scop." on page of part : "clitocybe _laccata_ scop." changed "satanus" to "satanus" on page of part : "boletus _satanus_ lenz." changed "beef-steak" to "beefsteak" on page of part : "beefsteak fungus." one of the plates was labeled with script letter i, to differentiate it from roman numeral i. i changed script letter i to upper case letter j. changed "caesareus" and "caesarea" to "cæsareus" and "cæsarea", respectively, in the caption to plate xiv: "ag. (amanita) cæsareus, scop. (amanita cæsarea)." removed italics from "roze" on page of part , twice: "subgenus _amanitopsis_ roze", "amanitopsis _vaginata_ roze." changed "mappá" to "mappa" in caption to plate xv: "ag. (amanita) mappa batsch." the footnote on page of part had no anchor in the text. i attached it where i thought it made the most sense. changed "washington, d. d." to "washington, d. c." on page of part . removed italics from "linn." on page of part : "linn. journ." italicized "grevillea" on page of part : '"north american fungi" in _grevillea_.' added closing quote on page of part to bibliography entry for letellier. changed "psaliota" to "psalliota" on page of part : "agaricus (psalliota) campester." plate xvi is omitted from the index to illustrations; since i wasn't sure how the author would have wanted to describe it, i left it out. for the latin- version, i replaced the oe-ligature with the two separate characters: "oe." european fungus flora agaricaceae european fungus flora agaricaceae george massee, f.l.s., principal assistant (cryptogams), royal botanic gardens, kew. president of the quekett microscopical club; chairman of the mycological section of the yorkshire naturalists' union; member of the scottish cryptogamic society; member of the new zealand institute; hon. member of the royal horticultural society, windsor and eton scientific society, hertfordshire natural history society, essex field club, &c. author of _a text-book of plant diseases_; _british fungi_; _british fungus-flora_; _a monograph of the myxogastres_; &c., &c. [illustration] london duckworth & co. henrietta street, w.c. cambridge: printed by j. and c. f. clay, at the university press. _to my friend dr m. c. cooke, to whom in matters mycological i cannot sufficiently express my indebtedness; i have much pleasure in dedicating this attempt to introduce to british mycologists, the agarics of european countries._ _geo. massee._ contents. page dedication iii preface v agaricaceae, definition of agaricaceae, definition of sections of leucosporae, analysis of genera abbreviations chlorosporae, analysis of genera rhodosporae, analysis of genera ochrosporae, analysis of genera melanosporae, analysis of genera addenda corrections bibliography index preface. observations extending over a period of twenty-five years, made at fungus forays and kindred meetings where mycologists assemble together, has led to the conviction that familiarity with the fungi and literature pertaining thereto, of one country only, leads to a false impression as to the significance of the term 'species.' it conveys the idea that species are much more sharply defined than proves to be the case, when the entire fungus flora of europe is included. in all large genera common to european countries, the continental species can be sandwiched between british species. even in large genera there are as a rule not more than eight or ten primary differentiating specific characters present, and it is the constant correlation of two or three of those primary characters that constitute a species, as understood at the present day. if two british species are characterised respectively by the marks , , and , , then we find that two continental species belonging to the same genus will be indicated by the characters , , and , , respectively. primary specific characters should include only those features that are constant, and not materially modified by geographical or exceptional local conditions as to environment, etc., and such alone should constitute a specific diagnosis. trivial or local characteristics should follow the essential diagnosis as a rider. with the introduction of characters due to local conditions, a description ceases to be a specific diagnosis in the proper sense, and is merely a description of a certain state of a species occurring under a given set of conditions. such, however, is too frequently the nature of so-called specific characters given in local floras. a lengthy and laboured description suggests lack of power to grip essentials on the part of the compiler, and does not as a rule facilitate the recognition of the species intended. the idea of this work is to give the essential characters of each species as presented by pileus, gills, stem and spores respectively. this, however, owing to the views of some authors as to the predominant value of one feature to the exclusion of others, has not always been possible. for this reason the species of britzelmayr are not included, as his descriptions, even when aided by what are presumably intended as figures, could not in many instances be construed into an intelligible diagnosis. in cooke and quélet's _clavis synoptica hymenomycetum europaeorum_ ( ), species of agarics are recorded as european, and of these are given as british. the present work includes descriptions of european species, of which are british, a number considerably in excess of that recorded for the species of any other european country. the species indicated by brackets have not been recorded as british. g. m. kew, _june, _. agaricaceae, fries. hymenium covering the entire surface of radiating lamellae or gills. spores one-celled. primary divisions of the agaricaceae depend on the colour of the spores as seen in the mass, when deposited on an opaque substance; and not as seen under the microscope by transmitted light. i. leucosporae. spores white. in some cases with a tinge of yellow or pink. in some species of _russula_ the spores are clear ochre, but such species belong obviously to _russula_ notwithstanding. ii. chlorosporae. spores clear green or bluish-green. iii. rhodosporae. spores salmon-colour or pink. iv. ochrosporae. spores ochraceous or rust-colour. v. melanosporae. spores black, blackish-brown, or black with a purple tinge. leucosporae. i. haplophyllae. margin of gills acute; i.e. not longitudinally split or grooved. * molles. more or less fleshy, soft, and soon decaying or shrivelling (not corky, woody, or rigid). + _ring, or volva, or both present, or gills free._ =amanita=. volva and ring present. gills usually free, rarely adnexed or adnate. (volva sometimes not evident round base of stem, but loose patches on pileus prove its presence.) =amanitopsis=. volva present, ring absent; gills free. =lepiota=. ring present, volva absent; gills free. (in some sp. the ring is imperfect, and in a few the gills are slightly attached.) =hiatula=. gills free; volva and ring absent. =armillaria=. ring present, volva absent; gills attached. ++ _gills adnexed or adnate; ring and volva absent._ =tricholoma=. gills sinuate; stem fleshy. =russula=. pileus fleshy; gills very rigid, brittle. =mycena=. pileus slender, campanulate, usually striate, margin straight and adpressed to stem when young. =collybia=. pileus rather fleshy, more or less plane, margin incurved when young; stem cartilaginous outside. =marasmius=. tough, drying up and reviving when moistened; gills often connected by veins. +++ _gills decurrent._ =lactarius=. gills and flesh exuding milk when broken. (in some sp. the gills are adnate.) =hygrophorus=. gills thick at the base, edge acute, rather waxy, often branched; pileus often hygrophanous. (in some sp. the gills are adnate or even free.) =clitocybe=. gills thin, pliant, sometimes powdered with the spores; stem fibrous outside. =omphalia=. gills thin, pliant, stem cartilaginous outside. =pleurotus=. growing on wood. stem lateral or excentric when present. =cantharellus=. gills narrow, edge thick, rather waxy, forking. =arrhenia=. gills reduced to very slight wrinkles or veins. =nyctalis=. gills thick, edge blunt. parasitic on fungi, or among dead leaves, &c. ** tenaces. coriaceous, corky, or woody, persistent, rigid when dry. =lentinus=. pileus coriaceous; gills decurrent, edge toothed or eroded. =panus=. pileus coriaceous; gills decurrent, edge quite entire. =xerotus=. pileus coriaceous; gills forking, edge thick. =lenzites=. horizontal, sessile, woody or corky; gills radiating from behind. ii. schizophyllae. margin of gills split open. =trogia=. gills resembling folds or wrinkles, edge grooved. (in the only european species the edge of gills not grooved.) =schizophyllum=. margin of gills split, the split portions rolling outwards. abbreviations used. cm. = centimetres; compr. = compressed; decur. = decurrent; depr. = depressed; exp. = expanded; g. = gills; hygr. = hygrophanous; infundib. = infundibuliform; mm. = millimetres; p. = pileus; s. = stem; sp. = spores; umb. = umbonate; umbil. = umbilicate. the measurement given of the stem is that of its average length; that of the pileus, its average breadth when expanded. the measurement of the spores is given in micro-millimetres, usually indicated by the greek letter µ. amanita, fries. * _margin of volva free, persistent._ + _pileus red or deep orange._ [=caesarea=, scop. p. hemispherical then exp. orange or red, edge striate, flesh yellowish; g. yellow; s. stout, yellow, ring and volva lax; sp. - × . edible. ++ _pileus white, sometimes tinged yellow or green._ =virosa=, fr. entirely white. p. - cm. conical, then expanded; viscid when moist; g. free, crowded; s. - cm. slightly thinner upwards, squamulose, ring near apex, torn, volva large, lax; sp. subglobose, - . poisonous. =phalloides=, fr. p. - cm. viscid, obtuse, white, tinted yellow or greenish; g. free, white; s. - cm. white, tapering upwards, bulbous, ring large, volva large, margin irreg. free; sp. subglobose, - . poisonous. =mappa=, fr. smell strong. p. - cm. convex then expanded, dry, white or yellowish, usually with patches of the volva; g. adnexed, white; s. - cm. white, bulbous, ring torn, volva without a large, free margin; sp. subglobose, - . poisonous. differs from _a. phalloides_ in shorter equal stem. [=ovoidea=, bull. white. p. silky, margin incurved, even; s. squamulose. [=coccola=, scop. white; margin of p. incurved, sulcate; s. villose; sp. - × . [=lepiotoides=, barla. at first entirely closed in brown volva. p. exp. edge striate, squamulose, whitish, cuticle broken into greyish tawny areolae or scales; g. broad, whitish, brownish when bruised; s. yellowish-white, squamulose, ring thin, fugacious. +++ _pileus yellow, sometimes tinged red._ [=junquillea=, q. p. pale orange or lemon yellow, viscid, deeply striate; g. adnexed; s. and fugacious ring yellowish-white, base ovoid-bulbous, volva circumscissile. [=vernalis=, gillet. p. exp. pale dingy yellow with tinge of red, with scattered white scales; g. free, white, broadest in front; s. white, squamulose below the ring, base bulbous, volva ample margin free. in early spring. [=lutea=, otth. p. conical, exp. yellow or yellowish ochre, edge invol. slightly striate, disc papillose, viscid, usually with broad scattered scales; g. white, crowded; s. rather narrowed upwards, base bulbous, ring thin, white, volva membranous. ++++ _pileus brownish or grey._ [=porphyria=, a. & s. p. brownish or with a violet tinge; g. adnexed; s. slender, ring distant brownish; sp. - . =recutita=, fr. p. - cm. soon expanded, dry, glabrous, fragments of volva present as a rule, grey or brownish; g. forming lines down the stem; s. narrowed upwards, silky, white, ring distant, white, edge of volva not free; sp. ----. differs from _a. porphyria_ in ring not being tinged brown. [=cinerea=, bresad. small. p. conico-campan. edge striate, livid-grey; g. free, crowded, white, edge fimbriate; s. equal, almost glabrous, partly hollow, colour of p., ring apical, persistent, white; volva free, sheathing, limb lobed, whitish; sp. - × . ** _volva without a free loose margin, or almost obsolete._ + _pileus red, reddish-brown or dingy brown._ =muscaria=, fr. p. - cm. soon plane, striate, viscid, scarlet or orange with white patches; gills forming lines down the stem, white; s. - cm. stout, white, ring lax, volva broken up into concentric ridges; sp. × . poisonous. var. _regalis_, fr. large. p. liver-colour. var. _formosa_, pers. p. yellow or tawny orange, scales usually absent; s. elongated, yellowish. var. _umbrina_, viv. p. umber or livid, disc fuscous; s. hollow. a slender form. =rubescens=, fr. p. - cm. convex then expanded, dingy red-brown, sprinkled with small pale warts, flesh brownish when broken; g. whitish, forming lines down the stem; s. - cm. stout, narrowed upwards, squamulose, whitish, ring large, bulbous base concentrically grooved; sp. × . edible. [=roseola=, steinh. p. exp. rosy, with rosy mealy warts or naked, flesh rosy; g. crowded, adnexed, white; s. cylindrical, somewhat bulbous, with rufous squamules below ring, volva obsolete; sp. - × - . [=eliae=, q. p. reddish-lilac, margin sulcate; g. adnexed; s. white, striate, volva obsolete; sp. long. =magnifica=, fr. p. - cm. soon almost plane, striate, reddish-brown or bay, with mealy patches, flesh reddish; g. slightly decurrent; s. - cm. bulbous, nearly equal, scaly and coloured like pileus up to the large ring; sp. - × . very close to _armillaria_. =megalodactyla=, berk. strong scented. p. - cm. soon expanded, subgibbous, reddish-grey; g. free, becoming tinged red; s. - cm. rather bulbous, fibrillose, white, ring large; sp. × . =aspera=, fr. p. - cm. soon plane, dusky olive, livid, or brownish, with small, crowded, angular warts, flesh reddish under the cuticle; g. free; s. - cm. white, squamulose, bulb rugulose, ring entire; sp. × . var. _francheti_, boud. p. pale yellowish-green with golden warts; sp. × . =excelsa=, fr. p. - cm. soon plane, viscid, brownish-grey, warts greyish, soon disappearing; g. free, white; s. - cm. squamose up to the imperfect ring, and base bulbous, no free edge to volva; sp. - × - . poisonous. =pantherina=, fr. p. - cm. soon plane, viscid, striate, yellow-brown, grey, or whitish, with flat mealy warts; g. free but close to stem, white; s. - cm. bulbous, whitish, silky, ring distant, extreme edge of volva free, sp. × . [=valida=, fr. p. dark, with mucronate dark pointed warts; g. running down stem in lines. =spissa=, fr. p. - cm. soon plane, umber or grey with small grey warts, flesh persistently white; g. running in lines down stem, white; s. - cm. white, bulbous, slightly rooting, concentrically cracked or squamulose, ring large; sp. - × . ++ _pileus clear yellow or orange._ =aureola=, kalchb. p. - cm. soon plane, orange or golden, viscid, naked; g. free; s. - cm. slender, white, floccosely-squamulose, ring sup. volva marginate; sp. ----. =citrina=, gon. & rab. p. convex, obtuse, - cm. bright yellow with white patches; g. white, broad, free; s. - cm. long, stout, white, volva imperfect, ring large; sp. globose, warted, - . [=amici=, gill. p. conical, then obtusely umb., striate, slightly viscid, yellowish ochre, disc brownish and covered with large irreg. greyish persistent patches; g. free, ventricose, narrowed at both ends; s. hollow, bulbous, ring small inf., no free edge to volva. +++ _pileus whitish or greyish._ =nitida=, fr. p. - cm. hemispherical, whitish, with thick, angular, brownish warts; g. free, crowded; s. - cm. conical, bulbous, squamulose, white, ring torn; sp. ----. =solitaria=, bull. - cm. soon plane, whitish or tinged rufous, warts angular, small, floccose, easily removed; g. white, broad, narrowed behind and adnexed; s. - cm. with imbricated scales below, ring torn, base swollen, rooting, volva marginate; sp. - × - . =echinocephala=, vitt. white. p. convex then plane, shining, bristling with acute, deciduous pyramidal warts; g. adnexed; s. solid, scaly, base bulbous, rooting, ring distant; sp. diam. [=persoonii=, fr. p. greyish-white, margin even; g. free; s. solid, nearly equal, rooting. [=arida=, fr. p. soon plane, grey, margin sulcate; g. adnexed; s. subglabrous, ring distant, volva absent. =strobiliformis=, vitt. p. - cm. convex then expanded, white, grey, or dingy ochre, with large pyramidal, hard warts; g. free; s. floccosely scaly, bulbous, ring large, torn, volva forming concentric rings; sp. - × - . [=cariosa=, fr. p. soft, even, umber or dark grey, with mealy patches; g. adnate; s. equal throughout; sp. long. amanitopsis, roze. * _pileus coloured._ =vaginata=, bull. p. - cm. plane, margin striate, grey, yellow, brown, or white; g. pallid; s. - cm. narrowed upwards, minutely squamulose, volva large, margin free; sp. × - . the grey form is edible, the brown form is unpalatable. =strangulata=, fr. p. - cm. soon plane, livid-bay or grey, with patches of the volva, margin striate; g. free, white; s. - cm. stout, thinner upwards, pale, volva breaking up and forming - ring-like ridges on the stem; sp. - × . perhaps a vigorous form of _a. vaginata_. [=urceolata=, viv. p. thin, hemispher. then slightly depr. umb. viscid, mouse-colour, edge striate; g. adnate, shining white; s. white, even, naked, volva urceolate. [=friabilis=, karst. p. exp. thin, rather viscid, greyish, edge sulcate, with broad crowded warts or scales; g. free, white, edge darker, crenulate; s. conical, everywhere floccosely scaly, white or greyish; volva broken up into fragments; sp. glob. - . differs from _a. vaginata_ in smaller size and imperfect volva. [=praetoria=, paul. p. thin, campan. then exp. naked, pectinately sulcate, maroon or brownish; g. annulato-adnexed; s. ventricose, volva large, lax. =lenticularis=, fr. p. - cm. globose, then convex, even, naked, reddish-tan; g. free, crowded, pallid; s. - cm. subbulbous, white, ring large; sp. ----. [=godeyi=, gillet. p. pale honey-colour, naked, striate; g. free, crowded; s. cylind., volva large, torn; sp. - long. [=scobinella=, trog. p. exp. fuscescent, pellicle broken up into minute, deciduous, darker wart-like squamules, near margin even and silky; g. white; s. conical, base white-squamulose. [=gemmata=, paul. exp. vermilion with angular warts; g. pure white; s. solid, bulbous, whitish, no distinct volva. =adnata=, w. g. sm. p. - cm. yellowish-buff with patches of the volva; g. adnate, crowded, white; s. - cm. fibrillose, buff, volva almost obsolete; sp. subglobose, - . [=insidiosa=, letell. p. exp. even, glabrous, lurid, greenish-olive, &c.; g. free, white; s. solid, slightly thinner upwards, edge of volva free; sp. ----. differs from _a. baccata_ in even p. and free margin of volva. fries suggests _a. phalloides_ without the ring. [=bresadolae=, sacc. volva subglobose, not sheathing, edge stellate, tinged brown; p. exp. glabrous, whitish, often with angular umber warts; g. almost free, whitish; s. cylindr. whitish; sp. subg. - . superficially resembles _volvaria parvula_. ** _pileus white._ [=leiocephala=, d. c. shining white. p. convex then plane, silky, edge even; g. free; s. solid, short, firm, volva very large, lax. [=cygnea=, schulz. white. p. soon plane; g. attenuato-adnexed; s. clothed with adnate patches above the ample sheathing volva. [=hyperborea=, karst. (= _ag. gemmatus_ var. _lapponicus_ karst.). entirely white. p. thin, convex, exp. covered with angular warts, edge pectinato-sulcate; g. free, shining white; s. bulbous, attenuated upwards, ring absent; sp. glob. - . perhaps a var. of _a. vaginatus_. [=leccina=, scop. p. exp. obtuse, naked, whitish or yellowish, edge even; g. adnate; s. equal, edge of ring reddish; sp. × . [=baccata=, fr. p. white, covered with globose warts; g. free; s. equal, volva obtusely marginate; sp. × . [=boudieri=, barla. p. globose then exp. or depr., satiny, white, disc tinged, warted, edge even; g. broad, white then tinged yellow, subadnexed; s. long, subcylindrical, white and scurfy at apex, rest yellowish-white, bulb turbinate, volva obliterated, brownish, ring thin, caducous; sp. ellipsoid, elongated. differs from _a. baccata_ in longer sp. lepiota, fr. a. _epidermis dry._ * _ring free, distinct from the volva._ =procera=, scop. p. soon expanded, umbonate, with brownish scales, - cm.; g. free, crowded; s. - cm., base thickened, brownish, transversely cracked, ring free; sp. - × - . edible. =rachodes=, vitt. p. - cm. soon expanded, not umbonate, with brown scales, flesh brownish when broken; gills free; s. white, not cracked, - cm., ring free; sp. × . edible. differs from _l. procera_ in the flesh turning brown when cut. var. _puellaris_, fr. small, entirely white, stem flocculose. [=olivieri=, barla. p. convex, then exp. or depr., whitish tinged fawn at disc, covered with fawn adpr. fibrillose scales; g. broad, free yellowish-white; s. whitish, base swollen, ring cottony, caducous; flesh white, brick-red then brownish when broken. allied to _l. rachodes_ with which it agrees in size. =prominens=, viv. p. - cm., umbo very strong, ochraceous, scaly; g. white; s. - cm. slender, base swollen, ring free; sp. × . =permixta=, barla. p. convex, more or less umb. campan. then exp. silky, greyish fawn, centre darker, with adpr. brown scales and becoming deprived of cuticle at edge; g. pale wax or tinged red; s. cylindr. dingy white cracked into brown adpr. scales, base swollen, ring brownish; flesh reddish when broken. resembles _l. procera_ in size and marking of s.; _l. rachodes_ in flesh becoming red; and _l. excoriata_ in having border deprived of cuticle. [=molybdites=, mey. p. globose then campan. broken into crustaceous scales up to middle; g. remote, white then tinged blue; s. hollow, blackish-brown, bulbous, ring equal. an introduced species. =excoriata=, schaeff. p. globose then plane, - cm. bistre or whitish, silky or squamulose; g. free; s. cylindrical, white, - cm. hollow, ring free; sp. - × - . _l. naucina_ differs in the fragmentary ring. [=carneifolia=, gill. p. fleshy, exp. brown or purple brown, glabrous then minutely broken up into fascicles of fibrils; g. fleshy, crowded, distant from s.; s. white, fibrillose, thickened at base, ring large, soon free. =densifolia=, gill. p. obtuse, white, soon broken up into adpressed fibrillose scales; g. closely crowded, thin, white, broadest in front; s. white, shining, ring free. =gracilenta=, kromb. p. soon expanded, obtusely umbonate, - cm., brown patches on white ground; g. free, broad; s. thickened at base, - cm., white, ring floccose, disappearing; sp. - × . . differs from _l. procera_ in smaller size and more especially in the fugacious ring. _l. prominens_ differs in very large umbo and permanent, free ring. =mastoidea=, fr. entirely whitish. p. - cm. with small disappearing warts; g. free; s. narrow up from bulbous base, - cm., ring free; sp. - × . the smallest species of the present section. like _l. gracilenta_ in miniature. ** _ring fixed, homogeneous with the universal veil clothing the stem._ =friesii=, lasch. p. - cm. expanded, subumb. with adpressed, tomentose brown scales; g. free, crowded; s. - cm. subbulbous, scaly, brownish, ring pendulous; sp. - × . =acutesquamosa=, weinm. p. - cm. convex, obtuse, pale rusty with numerous small pointed warts; g. free, crowded; s. - cm. narrowed from swollen base, white with rusty scales below, ring large; sp. - × . differs from _l. friesii_ in rigid deciduous warts, and broad gills very close to stem. =badhami=, berk. p. - cm. expanded, obtuse, squamulose, dark brown, cracked into patches, flesh like that of stem saffron-red when broken; g. free; s. - cm. bulbous, whitish, ring rather loose; sp. × . =emplastra=, cke. and mass. p. - cm. convex, glabrous, dark brown, cracked and showing white ground; g. free; s. - cm. whitish, ring brown outside; sp. - × - . differs from _l. badhami_ in glabrous pileus and larger spores. =meleagris=, sow. p. - cm. soon plane, minute black scales on a pale ground, flesh becoming red; g. free; s. - cm., with blackish squamules, stuffed, ring obsolete; sp. - × . =biornata=, b. and br. p. - cm. convex, white tinged yellow, sprinkled with red scales; g. free; s. - cm. long, ventricose, white spotted red as is also the ring; sp. - × . =hispida=, lasch. p. - cm. soon expanded, umb. tawny-brown, tomentose then hispid; g. free, crowded; s. - cm. floccosely-scaly up to ring, tawny; sp. - × . [=lignicola=, karst. p. exp. whitish- or yellowish-rusty, with innate, erect, rusty concentric scales, edge fibrillose; g. crowded, free, edge crenulate; s. curved, rusty, squamulose up to obsolete ring; sp. - × - . superficially resembles _phol. squarrosa_. [=helveola=, bres. p. exp. umb. scaly, reddish-brown; g. free, ventricose, white; s. white then fawn, ring white. poisonous. [=boudieri=, bres. subcaespitose. p. campan. exp. fawn, with minute darker scales; g. densely crowded, white, edge purple primrose; s. bulbillose, brownish and fibrillose up to ring; sp. - × . . [=ignicolor=, bres. p. conico-campan. subexp. umb. squamulose or fibrillose then almost glabrous, dry, fiery tawny; g. yellowish, edge tawny; s. colour of p., base somewhat rooting with bright tawny fibrils; ring evanescent; sp. - × . - . [=castanea=, q. p. umb. squamulose, brown; s. and ring white with tawny flecks. [=echinella=, q. and bern. smell like radishes. p. camp. then convex and umb. bay, bristling with brown pyramidal hairs; g. free, pallid, tinged red; s. rosy, blackish scales below silky ring, pale above. much more slender than _l. hispida_. [=morieri=, gill. p. exp. umb. white, shining, covered with reddish scales, umbo smooth, edge appendiculate; g. white, edge denticulate; s. fibrillose, white, shining, ring ample. =clypeolaria=, bull. - cm. campan., at first incrusted, umb. tawny, remainder with brownish scales; g. free; s. - cm., fibrillosely squamulose up to ring, striate above; sp. × . differs from _l. hispida_ in pileus not being tomentose, and paler colour. from _l. cristata_ by squamulose stem. [=brunneoincarnata=, chod. and mart. p. subglobose then campan.-conic and umb. with scattered rufescent scales; g. free, white; s. fistulose, equal, colour of p. [=forquignoni=, q. p. white, silky, umbo olive; g. becoming rosy; s. white. =felina=, pers. p. - cm. camp. expanded, umbo black, rest with concentric black scales on a white ground; g. free; s. - cm., white, sometimes with black specks; sp. × . =metulaespora=, b. and br. p. - cm. campan. then expanded, margin coarsely striate, whitish-yellow with pale squamules; g. almost free; s. - cm., pale lemon yellow inside and out; sp. fusiform, - × . =cristata=, a. and s. p. - cm. soon expanded, reddish-brown cuticle at first continuous, then broken up into concentric scales on a whitish ground; g. free; s. - cm., whitish, fibrillose; sp. × . differs from _l. clypeolaria_ in stem not being squamulose. [=lilacea=, bres. p. convex-campan. exp. depr. sometimes umb. purple-lilac then pale and broken up into fuscous squamules; g. free, white; s. fibrillosely scurfy, then almost glabrous, whitish then pinkish lilac, ring inf. persistent blackish violet underneath; sp. - × - . . differs from _lepiota cristata_ in absence of smell, a feature which also separates it from _l. bucknallii_. =nigro-marginata=, mass. p. - cm. soon expanded, buff with small, brown, concentric scales; g. narrow, pallid; s. - cm. slender, smooth, buff, peronate up to distant ring; sp. - × . [=magnusiana=, p. henn. p. cylindrico-campan. then exp. papillately scaly, white, centre yellowish with age, edge striate; g. free, crowded, lanceolate, white then reddish; s. equal, white then reddish, ring membranaceo-flocculose; sp. - × - . =erminea=, fr. white. p. - cm., camp. then expanded, even, glabrous, then silky towards margin; g. free; s. - cm. fibrillose; sp. - × - . =micropholis=, b. and br. p. - . cm., soon plane, white with minute radiating blackish squamules; g. free; s. - . cm., white, ring spreading; sp. × . =citriophylla=, b. and br. p. . - cm. expanded, umb. lemon yellow with rufous squamules; g. free, lemon yellow; s. - cm. squamulose, yellow; sp. - × . differs from _l. amianthina_ by free gills and white flesh; and from _l. metulaespora_ in squamulose stem. =atro-crocea=, w. g. sm. p. . cm. soon plane, margin often lobed, deep orange, covered with purple-brown fibrils; g. slightly attached, tinged yellow; s. - cm. orange; sp. ----. *** _ring superior, fixed, subpersistent; universal veil adnate to the pileus._ =vittadinii=, fr. p. - cm. expanded, obtuse, whitish, densely covered with small erect warts; g. free, with a greenish tinge; s. - cm. with concentric scales up to large ring, whitish or scales tipped red; sp. ----. differs from _l. nympharum_ in solid stem and superior ring. [=strobiliformis=, gill. p. convex, edge irreg. covered with strong brown, angular and pyramidal warts; g. closely crowded, narrow; s. cylindrical, stout, whitish, ring membranous. [=furnacea=, let. p. white with a black cortex splitting radially; s. white with concentric black scales. =nympharum=, kalchb. p. - cm. soon expanded, umb. often tinged brown, rest white with overlapping scales; g. free; s. white, hollow, glabrous; sp. globose. [=colubrina=, kromb. p. convex, obtuse, tinged fuscous, covered with tomentose imbricated scales; g. white; s. solid, very long, ring distant. =holosericea=, fr. very soft. p. - cm. soon plane, obtuse, floccose, whitish or tinge of tan; g. free; s. - cm. bulbous, whitish, silky, ring large; sp. - × . =naucina=, fr. white. p. - cm. globose then plane, subumb. glabrous then breaking up into granules; g. free; s. - cm. tapering to thickened base, fibrillose, ring sup. thin, disappearing; sp. subg. - . differs from _l. excoriatia_ in the ephemeral ring. =leucothites=, vitt. p. - cm. subumbonate, white, disc tinged brown, silky then squamulose; g. white then pink; s. - cm. white, smooth, bulbous, ring large, persistent; sp. hyaline, × . [=rorulenta=, paniz. tufted. p. whitish, campan. umb. sulcate, softly granulato-squamulose; g. closely crowded, tinged rosy; s. slender, elongated, base thickened. =cepaestipes=, sow. yellow. p. - cm. expanded, umb., scaly, margin plicate; g. free; s. swollen below, - cm. floccose; sp. - × . there is a white form. [=medioflava=, boud. p. exp. striate, snow-white, very minutely silky tomentose, centre depr. but the prominent umbo yellowish; g. free, white; s. fistulose, white, minutely scurfy above median reflexed ring, thickened base often yellowish; sp. - × . =licmophora=, b. and br. pale yellow. p. - cm. glabrous, coarsely grooved; g. free; s. - cm. thicker below, smooth; sp. - × . differs from _l. cepaestipes_ in glabrous pileus. [=brebissoni=, godey. p. exp. subumb. very thin, striate to middle, brownish, paler towards edge, with brown scales at centre and paler ones at margin; g. distant, edge toothed; s. swollen below, silvery white, pruinose above the ring. resembles some sp. of _coprinus_ in transparency and fragility. [=schulzeri=, kalchbr. white. p. convex then exp. umb. even, glabrous; g. free, remote, narrowed behind; s. hollow, narrowed from a subbulbous base, naked, ring median, small. [=straminella=, bagl. entirely straw-colour. p. obtuse, sulcate, with glutinous mealy flecks; g. attached to ring behind, s. floccose, bulbous. **** _pileus granular or warted. universal veil of pileus and stem at first continuous, on rupturing forming an inferior ring._ =cinnabarina=, a. and s. p. - cm. obtuse, more or less gibbous, scurfy, persistently brick-red; g. free; s. - cm. with red scales up to imperfect ring; sp. - × . var. _terreyi_, b. and br. p. subglobose, bright tawny red, rough with warts. differs from _l. granulosa_ by larger size and persistently red pileus. =carcharias=, pers. smell strong. p. - cm. soon plane, subumb. pale flesh colour or yellowish-pink, granular; g. adnexed, white; s. - cm. granular and coloured like pileus up to ring; sp. ----. var. _terrei_, b. and br. p. orange-red, convex; s. nearly equal; g. broad, ventricose. [=tuberculata=, brig. p. globoso-exp. cuticle thick, breaking into tubercles, pale tan; g. white; s. subbulbous, fibrillose. [=venusta=, bagl. p. convex, edge very thin, crenulate, sulcate, cuticle tawny cracking in the centre; g. adnexed by a tooth; s. solid, thickened upwards, peronate half way up. [=pauletii=, fr. p. exp. bristling with spines, brownish; g. crowded; s. short, white. =granulosa=, batsch. p. - cm. expanded, obtusely umb. scurfy or granular, rusty or brownish-orange, pale and hoary when dry; s. - cm. floccosely scaly and coloured like pileus up to ring; sp. ----. pileus often wrinkled, sometimes pale. var. _rufescens_, b. and br. entirely white, becoming rufous when dry. _l. amianthina_ differs in adnate gills and yellow flesh of stem. differs from _l. carcharia_ in absence of unpleasant smell. =amianthina=, scop. p. - . cm. soon plane and subumb. granular, ochraceous, flesh yellow; g. adnate, yellowish; s. - cm. squamulose up to ring, flesh yellow; sp. ----. var. _broadwoodiae_, b. and br. p. yellow; g. white. =polysticta=, berk. p. - cm. soon expanded, reddish or yellow-brown broken up into minute scales; g. free, yellowish; s. - cm. scaly and coloured like pileus up to ring; sp. ----. ***** _cuticle of pileus dry, entire, not granular nor scaly; small, slender._ =parvannulata=, lasch. p. - . cm. expanded, subumb. silky, white or tinged yellow; g. free, crowded; s. - cm. white, fibrillose up to distant small spreading ring; sp. × . . _l. erminea_ differs in superior, torn ring, glabrous pileus, and radishy smell. =sistrata=, fr. p. - cm. expanded, whitish, disc often tinged yellow or reddish, pruinose with glistening particles; g. nearly free, crowded; s. - cm. white, silky, ring fibrillose; sp. ----. _l. seminuda_ differs in mealy stem, and _l. mesomorpha_ in glabrous pileus and stem, and entire ring. =seminuda=, lasch. p. - cm. expanded, umbonate, whitish or tinged fleshcolour, mealy then naked; g. reaching the stem; s. - cm. whitish, mealy, ring small, superior; sp. × . _l. sistrata_ differs in fibrillose stem and pileus covered with glistening particles. =bucknallii=, b. and br. p. - cm. convex, white with violet powder; g. reaching stem; s. - cm. white with violet powder; sp. × . smell strong, like gas-tar. =ianthina=, cke. p. cm. expanded, umb. whitish, disc violet, fibrillose; g. free; s. - cm. wavy, white, ring distant, disappearing; sp. ----. =mesomorpha=, bull. p. about . cm. expanded, subumb. pale brown or yellowish, even, glabrous; g. free; s. - cm. pale, glabrous, ring superior; sp. ----. [=denudata=, rab. p. campan.-exp. pale sulphur, very thin, floccosely scurfy then naked; g. ventricose; s. subequal, with a minute very fugacious ring. [=serena=, fr. white. p. campan. glabrous; s. slender, subbulbous, ring thin, deciduous. =martialis=, cke. and mass. p. - . cm. soon plane, deep rose; g. free; s. - cm. pink up to broad ring; sp. × . b. _cuticle of pileus viscid, not broken up._ [=demisannulata=, secr. p. thin, umb. even; g. free, crowded, white; s. nearly equal, with black fibrils, ring pendulous. =medullata=, fr. white. p. - cm. soon expanded, glabrous, viscid, veil in fragments at margin; g. free; s. - cm. dry, obsoletely squamulose below, ring torn; sp. ----. differs from _l. illinita_ in dry stem. =glioderma=, fr. p. . - cm. campan. then convex, even, viscid reddish-bay; g. free; s. - cm. dry, whitish, densely squamulose up to torn ring; sp. ----. =delicata=, fr. p. - cm. convex then plane, even, viscid, granular, rufescent or yellowish; g. free; s. - cm.; s. dry, whitish floccosely squamulose up to ring; sp. ----. differs from _l. glioderma_ in p. not being campanulate, and stem floccose, not squamose. =illinita=, fr. p. - cm. white or tinged tan, subumb. glabrous, viscid; g. free; s. - cm. white, glutinous, ring obsolete; sp. ----. distinct from all species by glutinous stem. [=pingua=, fr. p. white or greyish, viscid, as is also the ring; s. short, dry. [=inoculata=, fr. p. exp. obtuse, honey colour, even, viscid; g. crowded, broad; s. abruptly vaginate by the veil. =georginae=, w. g. sm. white. p. . - . cm. mealy, viscid, changing to crimson when touched, as do also the gills and stem. [hiatula, fr. [=wynniae=, b. and br. p. - cm. membranaceous, splitting along back of gills, pale; g. rather distant, white; st. - cm. hollow. introduced from queensland. phosphorescent. armillaria, fr. * _gills sinuate, adnexed._ =bulbigera=, a. and s. p. - cm. brownish, dry, fibrillose near margin; g. emarginate; s. marginately bulbous, pale, ring soon disappearing; sp. - × . [=phoenicea=, weinm. p. exp. glabrous, viscid, red; g. free, shining white; s. bulbous, with red fibrils, ring fugacious. =focalis=, fr. p. - cm. reddish-tawny, silky, obtuse; g. almost free; s. - cm. equal, fibrillose, ring median; sp. ----. var. _goliath_, fr. larger than type, s. rooting, ring almost obsolete. =robusta=, a. and s. p. - cm. dry, rufous-bay, flesh thick; g. nearly free; s. - cm. stout, base narrowed, brownish floccose up to ring, white above; sp. ----. differs from _a. aurantia_ in deeply emarginate, broad, whitish gills. [=squamea=, barla. smell like cucumber. p. convex then exp. reddish cinnamon, covered with brown-red scales; edge incurved; g. broad, subdecur. whitish tinged red; s. subventricose with a long tapering base, reddish-brown and scaly up to torn ring, white above; flesh-white, saffron when broken. allied to _armill. robusta_ but larger. [=caussetta=, barla. smell like cucumber. p. exp. depr. dry, silky, squamulose at centre, rather viscid when moist, brick-red, edge incurved then spreading; g. broad, pale or tinged red; s. stout, narrowed at base, fibrillose and reddish up to ring, white above; flesh white, reddish when broken. [=caligata=, viv. smell strong. p. exp. tawny, spotted with adpressed silky scales; g. emarginate; s. solid, with brownish concentric scales below the membranous persistent ring. [=megalopoda=, bres. smell strong. p. convex, exp. or depr. even, glabrous, rather viscid, chestnut; g. crowded, whitish then straw-colour; s. brownish-squamulose up to median ring, white above; sp. glob. - . [=luteovirens=, a. and s. all except white squamulose stem straw-colour; p. torn into squamules, greenish when mature; ring imperfect. =aurantia=, schaeff. p. - cm. rusty orange; g. adnexed; s. - cm. stout, orange and concentrically squamose up to ring, white above; sp. ----. [=dehiscens=, viv. p. hemispher. then depr. yellowish ochre; g. adnexo-decur., broad; s. cylindric, scaly, viscid, ring very narrow, persistent. =ramentacea=, bull. p. - cm., obtuse, whitish or yellowish with darker squamules; g. adnexed becoming free; s. - cm. with brown squamules up to the oblique fugitive ring; sp. ----. [=ambrosii=, bres. p. convex, exp. dry, soft, floccosely-downy, snow-white, edge append.; g. white; s. even above ring, floccose below, white; ring inferior, torn, deciduous, sp. - × . . [=cingulata=, fr. p. thin umb. greyish brown, squamosely fibrillose; g. greyish white; s. even, ring median. [=scruposa=, paulet. p. exp. glabrous, rough with contorted ridges, subfuscous; g. sinuato-adnate; s. solid, equal, rooting, ring firm, narrow. [=albosericea=, brig. white. p. exp. broadly umb., even; g. crowded; s. silky, base tuberous, ring remote, fugacious. =constricta=, fr. all white. p. - cm. obtuse, dry, glabrous, silky; g. emarginate, adnexed, or almost free; s. - cm. solid, fibrillose or squamulose, ring apical, narrow; sp. much stouter than _a. subcava_. [=verrucipes=, fr. pure white. p. glabrous; s. with brown warts up to annular zone, ring absent; g. sinuato-adnate. ** _gills narrowed behind, more or less decurrent, with no sinus._ [=imperialis=, fr. p. brown with darker scales; g. deeply decurrent; ring double, sp. - × . [=laschii=, fr. p. fawn colour, even, glabrous, thin ring erect; g. crowded, white. [=tumescens=, viv. p. exp. even, glabrous, whitish; g. adnate, pale ochre, then tinged red; s. solid, stout, narrowed from the base, whitish, ring fugacious. [=rhadigosa=, fr. p. depr. moist, whitish with brownish adpressed scales at disc; g. decur., broad, white; s. short, equal, ring reflexed. =mellea=, vahl. p. - cm. soon expanded, yellowish-brown, squamulose, margin striate; g. slightly decurrent; s. - cm. floccose up to spreading ring, base honey-colour; sp. × - . mycelium forming long black strands. a destructive parasite. =denigrata=, fr. p. - cm. obtuse, dark brown, rather viscid, spotted with droplike depressions, and with elevated warts, margin even; g. rather decurrent; s. - cm. solid tinged brown, ring disappearing; sp. ----. [=morio=, fr. p. campan.-exp. irreg. cracked, viscid, greyish brown then rufescent; g. adnate; s. solid, fibrous, ring narrow. [=viviani=, fr. p. convex, glabrous, dark bay then whitish; g. adnate, pale fawn; s. elongated, white, ring narrow. [=griseofusca=, d. c. p. convex, even, glabrous, brownish grey, discoid; g. decur.; s. equal, glabrous, ring persistent. [=pleurotoides=, fr. p. subexcentric, ring toothed; s. whitish with a flesh-coloured tint. =citri=, inz. p. - cm. soon plane, subumb., even, yellow; g. adnate; s. - cm., slender, ring spreading; sp. subgl. × . =subcava=, schum. p. - cm. white, umbo brownish, striate to middle; g. decurrent; s. equal, hollow upwards, - cm., even up to torn ring, punctate above, white; sp. ----. differs from _a. constricta_ by longer thinner stem, and striate pileus. =haematites=, b. and br. p. - cm. obtuse, liver-coloured; g. adnato-decurrent; s. - cm. coloured like pileus up to ring, whitish above; sp. × . *** _gills adnate without a sinus._ [=laqueata=, fr. white. p. - cm. hemispherical, obtuse, viscid when moist, smooth; g. adnate; s. - cm. solid, squamulose or fibrillose below the ring, base tinged brown; sp. ----. =mucida=, schrad. p. - cm. soon expanded, white or grey, rugulose, glutinous; g. striately decurrent; s. - cm. base thickened, ring apical, striate, tumid; sp. - × - . =jasonis=, cke. and mass. p. - cm., camp. then expanded, umb., yellow, disc tawny, papillate; g. adnate; s. - cm. coloured like pileus, squamulose up to torn ring; sp. × µ. [=fracida=, fr. smell rancid. p. convex, obtuse, even, spotted, brownish-olive; g. becoming free, white; s. base narrowed, squamulose, smooth above the spreading torn ring. [=pinetorum=, gill. p. exp. umb. granular, pale or yellowish white, covered with reddish squamules; g. sinuato-decur., pallid; s. colour of p., squamulose up to spreading ring which is also squamulose outside. tricholoma, fr. a. _pileus viscid, scaly, or villose._ i. limacina. _pileus viscid when moist, innately fibrillose or squamulose, but not broken up._ * _gills not changing colour, not becoming rufescent._ =equestre=, linn. p. - cm. exp. obtuse, viscid, squamulose, yellow or tinged green; g. sulphur yellow; s. - cm. yellow; sp. - × . =coryphaeum=, fr. p. - cm. soon exp. viscid, yellowish with darker squamules; g. white, edge yellow; s. solid, obclavate; sp. subglobose, - . _t. equestre_ differs in having gills entirely yellow, and _t. sejunctum_ in its pure white gills. =sejunctum=, sow. p. - cm. expanded, yellow with brown streaks, viscid; g. pure white; s. - cm. white, apex squamulose; sp. subgl. - . =portentosum=, fr. p. - cm. viscid, sooty often with purple tinge, viscid, streaked with dark lines; g. white, very broad; s. - cm. whitish, glabrous; sp. subgl. - × . =fucatum=, fr. p. - cm. soon plane, viscid, dingy yellow with darker stains; g. white or tinged yellow; s. - cm. fibro-squamulose, whitish; sp. ----. =quinquepartitum=, fr. p. - cm. viscid, even, glabrous, pale yellowish; g. broad, white; s. - cm. white, striate, glabrous; sp. - × - . differs from _t. portentosum_ in p. not being virgate, and from _t. fucatum_ in glabrous striate stem. =resplendens=, fr. white. p. - cm. expanded, viscid, even, glabrous, shining when dry, margin straight; g. very emarginate; s. - cm., solid, apex flocculose; sp. - × . differs from _t. spermaticum_ in solid stem. =spermaticum=, fr. white. p. - cm. expanded, viscid, wavy, glabrous, shining when dry, margin at first incurved; g. margin eroded; s. - cm. twisted; sp. ----. ** _gills becoming discoloured, usually spotted with brownish-red._ =colossus=, fr. p. - cm. expanded, margin at first incurved, dull red or reddish umber, glabrous then squamulose, flesh very thick, reddish when broken; g. broad, reddish; s. - cm. stout, apex constricted, solid, reddish; sp. × . [=aurata=, fr. p. exp. obtuse, even, yellow then rufescent; g. yellow; s. solid, fibrillose, yellow. =nictitans=, fr. p. - cm. exp. obtuse, even, glabrous, viscid, yellowish; g. yellow; s. - cm. solid, yellow, apex squamulose; sp. - × . differs from _t. flavobrunneum_ in squamulose apex of stem. =fulvellum=, fr. p. - cm. exp. viscid, even, yellowish tan disc darker and wrinkled; g. white then tinged rufescent; s. - cm. fibrillose, apex naked, white tinged rufous; sp. subgl. - . =flavobrunneum=, fr. p. - cm. soon exp. viscid, bay, virgate-squamulose, flesh yellow then tinged rufous; g. pale yellow; s. - cm. ventricose, hollow, brownish, flesh yellow, viscid at first; sp. - × - . =albobrunneum=, fr. p. - cm. obtuse, viscid, brown, streaked with fibrils, disc papillose; g. broad, whitish; s. - cm. equal, rufescent, solid, flesh white; sp. - × - . =irregulare=, karst. p. convex then exp. very irreg. rather viscid, fibrillosely virgate, pale, tinged tawny rufous; g. white then reddish or spotted; s. equal, curved, white, apex flocculose. smell strong. differs from _t. albobrunneum_ in paler, irreg. p. and smell. [=salero=, barla. smell strong, mealy. p. exp. obtuse, even, viscid when moist, satiny when dry, chestnut; g. white then reddish; s. cylindrical, white and squamulose at apex, fibrillose and reddish at middle; flesh white, reddish when broken, very bitter. =ustale=, fr. p. - cm. exp. umb. then nearly plane, even, glabrous, disc rugulose bay; g. white tinged brown later, decur. tooth; s. - cm. equal, somewhat rooting, apex naked, whitish; sp. - × . =pessundatum=, fr. p. - cm. obtuse, wavy, glabrous, viscid, bay or rufescent, granular or spotted; g. almost free, white then tinged rufous; s. - cm. white, floccosely squamulose; sp. × . . =stans=, fr. p. - cm. exp. viscid, rufescent, even, flesh red under cuticle; g. crowded, spotted reddish; s. - cm. whitish, squamulose; sp. - × . =russula=, schaeff. p. - cm. exp. viscid, rosy red, granulated; g. subdecurrent; s. - cm. rosy, apex squamulose; sp. × . =frumentaceum=, bull. p. - cm. exp. viscid, glabrous, pallid, streaked or stained reddish; g. crowded; s. - cm. solid, fibrillose, white, variegated red; sp. × . . ii. genuina. _pellicle not viscid, torn into scales, or fibrillose._ * _gills not changing colour, neither spotted with rufous nor black._ =rutilans=, schaeff. p. - cm. exp. coated with purplish down, flesh yellow; g. yellow, edge downy, orange; s. - cm. yellow with purple squamules; sp. subgl. - . =variegatum=, scop. p. - cm. exp. yellow with purplish squamules; g. pale yellow, edge entire not darker coloured; s. - cm. pale yellow, more or less variegated with red; sp. - × - . differs from _t. rutilans_ in edge of gills. [=albofimbriatum=, trog. p. exp. obtusely umb. fibrillose, scaly towards edge, brownish; g. sinuate, closely crowded, yellow then rufescent, edge white-fimbriate; s. yellow-rufescent. [=aestuans=, fr. p. conico-exp. umb. with fugacious longitudinal fibrils, yellow-rufescent; g. very broad, yellow then pallid; s. equal, glabrous, striate. =centurio=, kalchb. p. campan. strongly umb. edge incurved then spreading and wavy, fuscous then livid; g. deeply emarginate, almost free, pallid; s. ventricose, stout, white. =luridum=, fr. p. - cm. exp. rather wavy, dry, glabrous, then torn into livid squamules, yellowish-grey; g. broad, crowded; s. - cm. glabrous, white; sp. - × - . differs from _t. saponaceum_ in persistently white flesh. =guttatum=, schaeff. p. - cm. exp. cinnamon or with a pink tinge, dry, granulose or floccose, margin remotely sulcate; g. with decurrent line down stem, crowded; s. - cm., white, mealy; sp. ----. differs from _t. tigrinum_ in white gills and sulcate margin of pileus. [=goniospermum=, bres. p. fleshy, compact, hemispher. tinged fuscous or livid yellowish; g. much crowded, smoky-grey or lilac then yellowish; s. solid, whitish or lilac above, base brownish; sp. more or less cruciform rarely subtriangular, - × - . [=psammopodium=, kalchb. p. obtuse or subumb. dry, with scattered fibrillose squamules, dusky cinnamon then tawny; g. yellowish; s. ventricose, colour of p. with darker squamules downwards. [=impolitum=, lasch. p. exp. flocculose, then broken into scales and subdepr.; g. crowded; s. solid, fibrillose, floccosely scaly above. =columbetta=, fr. white, here and there spotted with red. p. - cm. dry, glabrous then fibrillose; g. subserrulate; s. - cm. stout, solid, striate; sp. - × - . =scalpturatum=, fr. p. - cm. conical then exp. dingy, tomentose then broken up into rufous or umber scales; g. white then yellowish; s. - cm. whitish, fibrillose; sp. - × . . var. _argyraceum_, bull. slender; p. silvery grey. var. _chrysites_, jungh. pale, p. and g. becoming yellowish. var. _virescens_, wharton. yellow-green when bruised. these are forms rather than varieties. ** _gills rufous or greyish; edge usually spotted with rufous or black._ =imbricatum=, fr. p. - cm. exp. obtuse, dry, rufous umber, innately squamulose, margin involute and downy at first; g. sinuate, crowded; s. - cm. solid, paler than p. apex white-pulverulent; sp. × . =vaccinum=, fr. p. - cm. exp. umb. dry, rufous, squamulose, margin at first involute and downy; g. almost adnate; s. - cm. hollow, fibrillose, brownish; sp. subg. - . differs from _t. imbricatum_ in hollow stem and reddish flesh. [=polyphyllum=, d. c. p. obtuse, irreg. with adpressed fibrillose scales; rufous umber; g. white then tinged red; s. solid, white, squamulose, apex striate. =immundum=, berk. p. - cm. greyish, silky-squamulose, stained, margin incurved; g. greyish pink, separating readily from flesh; s. - cm. greyish, fibrillose; sp. subg. - . every part blackish when bruised. =inodermeum=, fr. p. - cm. acute then umb. rufous brown, fibrillose and with radiating scales; g. free, ventricose, white, spotted red when bruised; s. - cm. fibrous, white with rufous tinge, apex powdered white; s. - × . [=furvum=, fr. p. campan.-exp. wavy, dry, brownish, fibrillosely striate; g. entire, white then greyish; s. solid, fibrillose. [=unguentatum=, fr. p. exp. umb. grey, viscid, floccosely-squamulose; g. very broad, crowded, whitish; s. white, solid, fibrillose. [=gausapatum=, fr. p. bullate, obtuse, wavy, covered with dense superficial fibrils, edge at first incurved and with white wool; g. adnate, grey; s. solid, white, fibrillose. =terreum=, schaeff. p. - cm. exp. umb. bluish grey with minute squamules; g. greyish, sinuate; s. whitish, fibrillose; sp. subgl. - . var. _orirubens_, q. edge of g. reddish. var. _atrosquamosum_, chev. p. grey with small black scales, g. whitish. var. _argyraceum_, bull. entirely pure white, or p. greyish. var. _chrysites_, jungh. p. tinged yellowish or greenish. [=squarrulosum=, bres. p. convex then exp. umb. dry, fuscous then lurid tan, centre black, with black squamules, edge fibrillose, exceeding gills; g. broad, crowded, whitish grey, reddish when bruised; s. colour of p. punctato-squamulose; sp. - × - . [=triste=, fr. p. conic then exp. umb. fuscous, fibrillosely scaly; g. white then greyish; s. fistulose, slender, floccose. iii. rigida. _pellicle rigid, punctato-granulate, or broken up into glabrous fragments when dry._ * _gills white or pallid, not rufous or grey spotted._ =macrorhizum=, lasch. smell strong. p. - cm. exp. ochraceous, darker and cracked when old; g. almost free; s. - cm. stout, ochraceous, rooting, solid, ventricose; sp. subgl. - . [=compactum=, fr. p. soon plane, even, dry, glabrous, livid grey, compact; g. yellow; s. solid, white. =saponaceum=, fr. smell strong. p. exp. obtuse, dry, livid, tinged olive, glabrous then often squamulose or punctate, flesh reddish; g. pallid with greenish tinge; s. - cm. whitish, somewhat rooting; sp. × . var. _atrovirens_, p. thin, wavy, obscure green with crowded black squamules. [=boudieri=, barla. p. exp. even, dry, satiny maroon or vinous with coppery tint, then sooty brown with deeper granules at centre; g. tinged green then ochre; s. subcylindrical, rather unequal, fibrillose, whitish tinged red, then brownish-fawn; flesh white then reddish. differs from _trich. saponaceum_ in the copper coloured p. [=miculatum=, fr. p. exp. obtuse, glabrous, granulated then cracked, umber; g. subadnate; s. solid, fibrillosely floccose. =cartilagineum=, bull. p. - cm. soon exp. and wavy, margin persistently incurved, blackish, then broken up into small black spots; g. crowded then greyish; s. - cm. glabrous, pure white; sp. ----. =tenuiceps=, cke. and mass. p. - cm., flesh very thin, obtuse, dry, granular, dusky brown; g. narrowed in front, white; st. - cm. ochraceous white, everywhere granular, base abrupt with cord-like mycelium; sp. subgl. - . =loricatum=, fr. smell strong. p. - cm. tough, convex, wavy, rather viscid, brown, cuticle thick, tough, separable; g. almost free, pallid; s. - cm. tough, often twisted, brownish red; sp. ----. =atrocinereum=, pers. p. - cm. soon plane, grey, prominent disc darker, often cracked; g. crowded, hyaline; s. - cm. cylindrical, stuffed, glabrous, apex naked, whitish; sp. ----. =cuneifolium=, fr. smell strong. p. . - . cm. soon plane, dry, brown, glabrous then squamulose; g. crowded, white, broad and obliquely truncate in front; s. . cm. hollow, narrowed at base, pallid, apex mealy; sp. subgl. - . differs from _t. atrocinereum_ in hollow stem. ** _gills discoloured, with rufous or grey, spotted._ =crassifolium=, berk. smell strong. p. - cm. exp. wavy, flesh thin, umb. ochraceous, disc darker; g. nearly free, becoming yellowish, thick; s. solid, paler than p., pruinose; sp. ----. [=geminum=, fr. stout, compact. p. obtuse, rufous cinnamon, velvety then rimose; g. crowded; s. solid, floccose. =sudum=, fr. p. - cm. soon plane, dry, greyish brown, glabrous, disc often squamulose; g. deeply emarginate, white then tinged rufous; s. - cm. solid, pallid, fibrillosely-squamulose, striate; sp. - × . . =tumidum=, p. smell slight. p. - cm. bullate, deformed then exp. and wavy, livid grey, spotted, somewhat shining, cracking; g. white then grey with rufous tinge; s. - cm. stout, tumid, striate, white, rooting; sp. × . var. _keithii_, phil. and plowr. p. rufous grey; s. dingy white, tinged red near base. =murinaceum=, bull. smell strong. p. - cm. exp. sometimes subumb. grey, silky, cracking into squamules; g. deeply sinuate, broad, grey; s. grey with darker squamules; sp. ----. [=bisontinum=, roll. p. pulvinate, cuticle thick, brown with greenish tinge, virgate with minute adpr. fibrils; g. thick, grey, with flat, transverse, more or less branched veins; s. solid, narrowed below, fibrillosely striate, with minute dark granules above, pale; - × . =hordum=, f. p. exp. subumb. grey, dry, glabrous then breaking up into squarrose scales; g. rather distant, becoming greyish; s. - cm. whitish, glabrous; sp. =virgatum=, fr. p. rigid, - cm. exp. umb. very dry, greyish, virgate with radiating blackish lines; umb. often broken up into squamules; g. broadly emarginate, becoming greyish, crowded; s. - cm. striate, glabrous, whitish; sp. - × - . the only dry sp. with a virgate pileus. [=dissultans=, karst. p. fragile, thin, convexo-plane, acutely umb. very dry, hoary with dense subreticulately interwoven superficial fibrils, grey; g. hoary; s. hollow, equal, white, loosely fibrillose, apex pruinose; sp. - × . [=elytroides=, scop. p. exp. obt. scabrid, disc floccosely scurfy, grey; g. broad, grey; s. with dense fibrils directed upwards. [=opicum=, fr. p. umb. even, soon squamulose, greyish as is also the flesh; g. arcuato-adfixed, hoary; s. stuffed, equal, almost glabrous. iv. sericella. _pileus at first silky, soon glabrous, quite dry._ * _gills broad, thickish, rather distant._ =sulphureum=, fr. strong smelling. entirely sulphur yellow or p. tinged rufous. p. - cm. subumb. silky, even; g. distant; s. - cm. striate, same colour inside; sp. - × . =bufonium=, pers. p. - cm. soon plane, subumb. silky, soon glabrous, rugulose, opaque, purplish brown, umber, or tan; g. yellowish-tan then pallid; s. - cm. flocculose, coloured like p.; sp. subgl. - . =lascivum=, fr. smell strong. p. - cm. exp. and subdepressed, even, silky then glabrous, tan colour then pallid; g. arcuately adnexed, crowded, white; s. - cm. solid, rigid, tomentose, whitish, apex mealy, rooting; sp. - × - . var. _robustum_, cke. robust. p. whitish, silky; smell weak or none. =interveniens=, karst. p. convexo-plane, depr. silky then glabrous, rugulose near edge, tan then pale; g. arcuato-adnex. crowded, pallid; s. solid, equal, rooting, fibrillose, pallid; sp. - × - . . =inamoenum=, fr. foetid. white. p. - cm. exp. umb. silky then glabrous, even; g. arcuato-adnexed, crowded; s. - cm. equal, solid, rooting; sp. - × - . the only white, foetid _tricholoma_. ** _gills thin, crowded, narrow._ =cerinum=, pers. p. - cm. exp. obtuse or depressed, even, dry, almost glabrous, wax-yellow or brown; g. crowded, yellow; s. - cm. stuffed, fibrillosely striate, yellowish, base darker; sp. ----. [=chrysenterum=, bull. entirely yellowish outside and inside. p. fleshy, convexo-plane, obsoletely umb. silky then almost glabrous; g. free, crowded, narrow; s. solid, base with white wool. [=stiparophyllum=, fr. smell strong. p. exp. silky then glabrous, yellowish white; g. crowded, white; s. hollow, white, glabrous, apex mealy. [=cerinum=, pers. p. exp. depr. almost glabrous, waxy yellow or fuscescent; g. crowded, yellow; s. stuffed, fibrillosely striate, base glabrous, often brownish. [=onychinum=, fr. p. exp. subumb. dingy purple or brown, margin silky; g. yellow, crowded; s. pallid, apex reddish. =ionides=, bull. p. - cm. soon plane, umb. even, dingy violet then pale; g. crowded, white, edge irreg.; s. - cm. elastic, fibrillose, coloured like p.; sp. - × . . differs from _t. humile_ and _t. sordidum_ in white gills. var. _parvum_, lasch. p. reddish brown. var. _persicolor_, fr. p. convexo-plane, peach-colour, then pale; g. sinuate, white; s. paler than p. =carneum=, bull. p. . - . cm. fragile, exp. obtuse, glabrous, persistently reddish flesh colour; gills pure white; s. - . cm. coloured like pileus, not fading; sp. × . [=carneolum=, fr. small. p. plano-depr. obtuse, even, flesh-red then pale; g. closely crowded, very broad behind, shining white. =caelatum=, fr. p. - . cm. persistently umbilicate glabrous, brown then greyish, becoming cracked; g. crowded; s. . cm. glabrous, brown; sp. × . b. _pileus even, glabrous, neither villose, scaly nor viscid._ v. guttata. _pileus fleshy, soft, fragile, with drop-like markings; stem solid._ * _gills not discoloured._ =gambosum=, fr. p. - cm. flesh thick, exp. and wavy, glabrous, spotted, pallid tan, margin incurved and downy at first; g. crowded, ventricose; s. - cm. stout, flocculose at apex, white; sp. - × - . edible. [=georgii=, clus. p. exp. rather wavy, dry, flocculosely soft, ochraceous, edge even, naked, ochraceous; g. linear, transversely striate, whitish; s. solid, stout, fibrillose. edible. =albellum=, fr. p. - cm. conical then exp. gibbous, whitish, pallid, greyish when dry, mottled with spots, margin naked; g. crowded, broadest in front; s. - cm. fibrillosely striate, solid, white; sp. - × . =boreale=, fr. p. - cm. irreg. subumb. glabrous, rivulose when dry, margin even, naked, flesh-colour becoming pale; g. crowded; s. - cm. solid, elastic, base narrowed, whitish; sp. subg. - . ** _gills discoloured, rufescent or smoky._ =amethystinum=, scop. p. - cm. exp. wavy, glabrous, livid and spotted with bluish patches; g. crowded, white then rufescent; s. - cm. solid, narrowed at base, paler than p.; sp. ----. [=graveolens=, fr. p. compact, obt. glabrous, margin even, rivulose when dry, dusky brown; g. white then fuliginous; s. solid, firm, fibrillose. =tigrinum=, schaeff. p. - cm. exp. often wavy, glabrous, margin invol. pale brown or greyish with brown spots; g. crowded, narrow, white then greyish; s. - cm. and nearly as thick, solid, white, pruinose; sp. subgl. . differs from _t. guttatum_ in glabrous pileus with an even margin. [=leucophaeatum=, karst. (= _coll. leucophaeatus_, fr.). p. convexo-plane, broadly and obtusely umb. pallid grey; with thin hoary tomentum; g. crowded, whitish then dingy, broadest behind; s. equal, often curved, pallid, base strigose; sp. ----. =pes-caprae=, fr. p. - cm. conical then exp. umb. unequal, greyish brown, glabrous; g. broad, greyish white; s. - cm. naked, white; sp. × . var. _multiforme_, schaeff. p. irreg., caespitose, smaller than type. vi. spongiosa. _pileus compact then spongy, obtuse, even, glabrous, not hygrophanous._ * _gills not discoloured._ =schumacheri=, fr. p. - cm. exp. obtuse, livid grey, even, moist, edge beyond gills incurved; g. narrow, crowded, pure white; s. - cm. white, solid, fibrillosely-striate; sp. ----. [=amicus=, fr. p. fuscous; g. distant, white; s. bulbous, solid, white. =patulum=, fr. p. - cm. plane, obtuse, wavy, even, glabrous, pale grey or pallid; g. sides veined, pallid; s. elastic, equal, glabrous, - cm.; sp. - × . =circumtectum=, cke. and mass. p. - cm. dry, obt. or subumb. wavy, margin incurved, downy, greenish olive then tan; g. white; s. - cm. whitish, striate, base pointed; sp. subgl. - . [=maluvium=, fr. p. campan.-convex, obtuse, glabrous, greenish; g. rounded, crowded, pallid; s. solid, firm, elastic. [=conglobatum=, vit. densely clustered. p. unequal, even, edge thin, inflexed, somewhat pruinose, blackish fuscous; g. free; s. stems solid, ventricose, subtomentose, springing densely from a common tuber. =arcuatum=, bull. p. - cm. brownish white then tan, exp. margin incurved, glabrous, flesh-coloured; g. arcuate, crowded, white; s. - cm. solid, fibrilloso-squamulose, pale brown, base darker, bulbous; sp. ----. differs from _t. panaeolum_ in having white gills, and from _t. melaleucum_ in having coloured flesh. var. _cognatum_, bull. larger. gilvous outside and inside or dingy tan; p. obtuse, discoid; g. tan. _oreinum_, fr. p. - cm. soon plane, obtuse, glabrous, fuscous, even; g. rounded, free, white; s. solid, short, - cm. whitish, apex white squamulose; sp. ----. separated from _t. humile_ by the gills projecting beyond the margin of pileus. =album=, schaeff. entirely white, taste acrid. p. - cm. convex then depr. even, glabrous, dry, disc sometimes tinged yellow; g. rather crowded; s. - cm. narrowed upwards, solid, elastic; sp. - × . var. _caesariatum_, fr. p. white or yellowish, exp. fibrillosely silky, then glabrous; s. slender, fragile, apex rather mealy; g. nearly free. [=lentum=, post. entirely white not becoming spotted. p. convex, unpolished and at first rather velvety, disc tinged pallid when old; g. sinuate or subdecurr.; s. base narrowed, apex usually longitudinally costate; sp. . - × . - . [=raphanicum=, karst. smell very strong, like radishes. p. convex, often gibbous, white, disc tinged tan; g. white; s. rooting, flocculose above; sp. glob. - . =leucocephalum=, fr. pure white, smell mealy. p. - cm. plane, even, moist, glabrous after silky veil has gone; g. crowded; s. - cm. hollow, smooth, cartilaginous, tough, rooting; sp. - × - . _t. album_ differs in having no smell, and _t. inamoenum_ in strong disagreeable smell and very broad gills. ** _gills discoloured._ =acerbum=, bull. p. - cm. expanded, margin at first involute, sulcate and rugulose, viscid, whitish then tinged rufous; g. narrow rufescent; s. - cm. pale, apex squamulose; sp. subg. - . =militare=, lasch. smell and taste unpleasant. p. - cm. convex, gibbous, margin even, viscid, cinnamon; g. white, torn, then spotted; s. - cm. solid, squamulose, pallid, base subbulbous; sp. ----. differs from _t. civile_ in strong smell and spotted gills. =civile=, fr. p. - cm. soft, soon exp. glabrous, moist, pale yellow brown, cuticle separable; g. crowded, white then yellowish; s. - cm. solid, soft, fragile, fibrillosely squamulose, whitish; sp. ----. =duracinum=, cke. p. - cm. convex, gibbous, even, dry, shining, grey with olive tinge; g. arcuate, grey; s. - cm. reticulately squamulose above, striate below, greyish white; sp. ----. [=irinum=, fr. p. spongy-compact, convex then plane, moist, obsoletely innately virgate, flesh-colour then pale, edge even, pruinose; crowded, narrow, quite entire, greyish then lurid; s. solid, subbulbous, reticulately fibrillose. =personatum=, fr. p. - cm. regular, obtuse, even, glabrous, margin invol. and downy, tan or with a lilac tinge; g. rounded-free, crowded, broad, violet then dingy; s. - cm. solid, stout, dingy purple, villose; sp. - × - . flesh of stem white. in _t. nudum_ tinted violet. =saevum=, gillet. p. - cm. convex then plane, buff, margin naked, flesh thick; g. crowded, narrow, pallid; s. - cm. long, cm. or more thick, purple, slightly squamulose; sp. × . differs from _t. personatum_ in the short, stout, squamulose stem, and absence of purple tint on gills. [=glaucocanum=, bres. p. rather soft, convex, exp. glabrous, edge involute subflocculosely pruinose, glaucous-grey; g. closely crowded, greyish violet, easily separating; s. solid, fibrillosely striate, apex subsquamulose, base bulbous, colour of p.; sp. × . =nudum=, bull. whole fungus violet at first. p. - cm. soon exp. often wavy, flesh thin; g. narrow, becoming rufescent; s. - cm. equal, elastic, rather mealy; sp. × . . flesh of stem tinted violet. in _t. personatum_ white. [=violaceonitens=, bagl. p. convex, umb. dusky violet, shining, edge wavy, rugulosely sulcate; g. crowded, dingy white; s. solid, stout, base narrowed, colour of p. =cinerascens=, bull. p. - cm. convex, even, glabrous, white then greyish; g. dingy, easily separating from flesh; s. - cm. solid, equal, glabrous; sp. ----. =panaeolum=, fr. p. - cm. convex then almost plane, dusky grey with a grey bloom, often spotted; g. grey with rufous tinge; s. - cm. solid, fibrous-striate, greyish; sp. subgl. - . var. _calceolum_, sterb. p. spongy, deformed, thin, soft, exp. edge incurved, sooty-grey or reddish-grey; g. smoky; s. excentric, fusiform, very short. =cnista=, fr. p. - cm. exp. moist, glabrous, pale tan or whitish, margin incurved, naked, even; g. white, veined, reddish when bruised; s. - cm. solid, glabrous, white; sp. - × . differs from _t. panaeolum_ in p. not becoming grey. =fallax=, peck. p. - cm. soon plane, yellow, disc darker, even; g. becoming yellowish; s. . cm. yellow, hollow; sp. - × . vii. hygrophana. _pileus thin, subumbonate, hygrophanous._ * _gills whitish, not spotted._ =melaleucum=, pers. p. - cm. convex then plane, umb. blackish then paler, glabrous; g. emarginate adnexed, white; s. - cm. equal, elastic, whitish with dark fibrils; sp. × - . _coll. stridula_ much resembles this sp. but has a brownish stem. _t. arcuatum_ has flesh tinged brown. _t. oreinum_ has apex of stem squamulose. var. _adstringens_, pers. p. exp. pitch black and rather shining when dry; g. tinged pink; s. naked. var. _polioleucum_, fr. p. obtusely umb. livid then grey; s. apex white-pruinose. var. _porphyroleucum_, bull. p. fleshy, umbo disappearing, sooty or fuscous-rufescent; s. solid, subfibrillose; g. white. [=microcephalum=, karst. p. - cm. convexo-plane, livid-sooty then pale; g. much crowded, soft, white; s. tall, - cm. splitting easily into fibres, pallid, glabrous; sp. subg. - × . [=turritum=, fr. p. conico-exp. umb. moist, obscure purple, somewhat spotted; g. soon free, white; s. stuffed then hollow, white with dusky fibrils. =grammopodium=, bull. p. - cm. camp. conv. then depr. umb. glabrous, ruddy then pallid; g. arcuato-adnate, crowded; s. - cm. stuffed, coarsely striate, glabrous, pallid; sp. - × . [=strictipes=, karst. p. soft, gibbous, plane or depr. white or yellowish-white, centre often tinged; g. closely crowded, shining white, entire; s. solid, equal, cylindrical, base usually thickened, straight, white, glabrous; sp. - × - . =brevipes=, bull. p. - cm. brown then pale, glabrous, convex then plane; g. crowded, tinged fuscous then pale; s. - . cm. solid, rigid, brown outside and inside; sp. × . =humile=, pers. p. - cm. umb. then convex or depressed, even, glabrous; g. crowded, ventricose; s. - , greyish white, villosely pulverulent, stuffed; sp. - × . differs from _t. brevipes_ in pale stem and tufted habit. =exsiccum=, fr. p. - cm. exp. then umb. greyish brown then hoary; g. crowded, narrow, pure white; s. - cm. solid, glabrous, rather shining; sp. - × . =subpulverulentum=, pers. p. - cm. greyish white, pulverulent, convex then depr. even, extreme edge persistently incurved; g. crowded, narrow, white; s. - cm. solid, whitish, slightly striate; sp. × . [=persicinum=, fr. p. obtuse, even, glabrous, flesh-colour then pale; s. cartilaginous, glabrous; g. arcuate, white. [=juranum=, q. obtuse, rufous then pale, white-floccose, margin crenulate, mealy; g. white, crowded; s. solid, white, apex mealy. ** _gills violet, grey or smoky._ [=urbum=, fr. p. campan.-exp. brownish black with bluish tinge, subumb., margin straight; g. densely crowded, like flesh, bluish white; s. incurved, fibrillose, bulbous. =sordidum=, fr. p. . - cm. plano-depr. subumb. glabrous, brownish lilac then dusky; g. rounded, dingy violet then dusky; s. - cm. coloured like p. fibrillosely striate, slightly curved as a rule; sp. - × - , minutely rugulose. differs from _t. nudum_ in being smaller, tougher, and hygrophanous. var. _feuilleauboisii_, lucand and quel. the broadly gibbous p. and s. dark umber; g. deep violet. =paedidum=, fr. p. - cm. soon depr. round conical umbo, smoky grey, somewhat streaked; g. crowded, adnexed, narrow, white then greyish; s. - cm. dingy grey, slightly striate base thickened; sp. - × - . differs from _t. sordidum_ in having no trace of violet colour; _t. lixivium_ differs in the free truncate gills. =lixivium=, fr. p. - cm. greyish brown, soon plane and umb. margin expanded, membranaceous, striate; g. truncato-free, grey; s. - cm. grey, whitish floccose, often flexuous; sp. × - . [=rasile=, fr. soft. p. campan.-exp. umb. fibroso-virgate, undulate, fuliginous; g. connected by veins, greyish-umber, edge white floccose; s. equal, fibrillose. [=favillarum=, fr. p. exp. depr. round umbo, even, glabrous, moist, edge spreading, even, whitish when dry; g. closely crowded, greyish. =putidum=, fr. smell strong, rancid. p. - cm. umb. even, soft, olive grey, hoary when dry; g. adnexed, crowded, grey; s. - cm. greyish, pruinose; sp. - × - . _coll. rancida_ differs in glabrous, rooting stem. [=hospitans=, fr. shining white, campan. obtuse, even, edge straight, adpressed to stem at first; g. free, very ventricose; s. solid, fibrous, glabrous, apex pruinose. resembling a _mycena_ but s. solid and fibrous. russula, fr. i. taste mild. * _gills ochraceous_ (not clear yellow). =alutacea=, fr. p. - cm. viscid, exp. depr. red, dark purple, disc becoming pale, at length striate and tuberculose at margin, flesh white; g. broad, rather distant, ochre, naked; s. - cm. white or tinged red; sp. - . differs from _r. integra_ in gills not being powdery. =integra=, fr. p. - cm. viscid, exp. depr. red or greenish, margin at length sulcate and tuberculose, flesh white; g. broad, yellow, powdered with the ochre spores; s. - cm. even, ventricose, white; sp. - . var. _alba_, cke. whole fungus except gills creamy white. =xerampelina=, fr. p. - cm. compact, exp. then depr., dry, rosy purple sometimes tinged olive, disc paler, cracked into granules, flesh tinged yellow; g. forked, white then ochre; s. - cm. clavate, white, more or less tinged red; sp. - × - . differs from _r. integra_ by narrow gills not powdered with the spores. =nauseosa=, fr. smell strong. p. - cm. viscid, plane then depr., purple or lilac, disc darker, coarsely striate; g. rather distant, ochre; s. - cm. slightly striate, white; sp. - . _r. nitida_ differs in the yellow, shining gills. var. _flavida_, cke. p. primrose yellow. =vitellina=, fr. strong scented. p. - cm. soon plane, yellow, edge tuberculose, striate; g. saffron ochre; s. - cm. slender, white; sp. - . differs from _r. lutea_ in strong smell and tuberculose margin. var. _major_, cke. similar to type, but larger. =lilacea=, q. p. - cm. exp. depr., viscid, violet becoming pallid; g. white, broad; s. - cm. fragile, white or base tinted rose; sp. - . =ochracea=, fr. every part inside and outside ochraceous. p. - cm. viscid, coarsely striate; g. broad; s. - cm. wrinkled; sp. - . _r. fellea_ differs in bitter taste. =lutea=, fr. p. - cm. plano-depr. viscid, yellow becoming pale; g. connected by veins, egg-yellow; s. - cm. even, white; sp. - × - . differs from _r. vitellina_ by even margin of p. and absence of smell. =elegans=, bresad. p. - cm. convex then depr., tuberculose and striate with age, rosy, yellowish towards margin, densely granular everywhere; g. ochraceous orange; s. - cm. white; sp. - . differs from _r. vesca_ in granular, rosy pileus. =armeniaca=, cke. p. - cm. soon depr., peach colour, margin even; g. deep ochraceous; s. - cm. white, hollow; sp. × . [=ravida=, fr. p. depr. wavy and more or less lobed, brownish grey then yellowish, opaque, edge even, flesh grey; g. broad, ochre; s. pallid, brown striate. =xanthophaea=, boud. p. depr., edge sulcate and tuberculose, brownish bay; gills clear ochre; s. white; taste mild. differs from _r. pectinata_ in ochre gills and mild taste, and from _r. ravida_ in pectinate and tuberculose margin. ** _gills yellow, without an ochraceous tinge._ =coerulea=, fr. p. - cm. convex then exp., polished, edge even, bluish or bluish purple; g. adnate, pale yellow; s. - cm. white; sp. - . much the appearance of _r. cyanoxantha_, differs in crowded yellow gills. =nitida=, fr. smell unpleasant. p. - cm. plane or slightly depr., viscid, purplish-bay, reddish, &c., shining, edge striate; g. sulphur yellow, naked; s. - cm. white then pallid; sp. - × - . _r. nauseosa_ differs in ochre, powdered gills. var. _cuprea_, cke. p. copper colour. =aurata=, fr. p. rigid, - cm. plane, yellow, orange or reddish, disc darker, margin striate, flesh yellow under the viscid cuticle; g. broad, edge lemon yellow; s. - cm. white or yellow; sp. - . =decolorans=, fr. p. - cm. globose then exp., regular, viscid, orange red then yellowish, margin becoming striate; flesh turning grey; g. yellowish; s. - cm. white then grey, especially inside; sp. - . differs from _r. depallens_ in the long s., and the yellow gills. =punctata=, gillet. p. - cm. convex then plane, viscid, rosy, punctate with brown warts, striate; g. yellowish, edge often reddish; s. - cm. coloured like p. base whitish; sp. - . var. _leucopus_, cke. stem white. =olivacea=, fr. p. - cm. convex then plane or depr., margin even, minutely silky squamulose, purple with olive tinge, or brownish olive; g. broad, yellow; s. - cm. pale rose; sp. - . differs from _r. rubra_ in deeper yellow colour of g. and unpolished p. and mild taste. =linnaei=, fr. p. - cm. plane then depr., polished, edge even, blood red or dark rose; g. adnato-decur. yellowish; s. - cm. blood red; sp. ----. =chamaeleontina=, fr. p. - cm. plane or subdepr., slightly viscid, edge becoming slightly striate, rose red, purplish lilac, &c., then yellowish; g. closely crowded, plane, yellow; s. - cm. white; sp. - . =puellaris=, fr. p. - cm. almost membranaceous, conico-convex then exp., tuberculose striate to the middle, purplish livid then yellowish, disc brown; g. pale yellow, naked; s. - cm. yellowish white, soon hollow; sp. × - . p. not shining as in _r. nitida_. var. _intensior_, cke. p. deep purple, blackish at disc. var. _roseipes_, secr. s. sprinkled with rosy meal. [=bona=, schwalb. p. often irreg., lilac, centre pallid or obscure, velvety; g. adnexed, pale yellow then pale egg-yellow; s. unequal, often curved, white, hollow; taste mild; - . [=grisea=, fr. p. exp. depr., polished, grey or olive, disc purplish, edge even, flesh under cuticle violet; g. adnate, white then yellow s. even, polished, white. *** _gills white or creamy white._ + _pileus white or cream colour_ (often becoming blackish when old). =virginea=, cke. and mass. persistently pure white. p. - cm. soon exp., viscid, polished when dry; g. subdecur., narrow, repeatedly forked, veined; s. - cm. solid, rugulose; sp. - . =semicrema=, fr. p. - cm. persistently white, edge involute, even, glabrous; g. decur. crowded, white; s. - cm. white, becoming blackish; sp. - . differs from _r. adusta_ and _r. densifolia_ in persistently white p.--flesh also--and g., and from _r. delica_ in flesh of stem becoming blackish. =lactea=, fr. entirely white or pallid. p. - cm. obtuse, even, unpolished then minutely cracked; g. free, thick, distant; s. - cm. solid, stout; sp. - . var. _incarnata_, q. p. white tinged rose, then pale tan. =nigricans=, fr. p. - cm. exp. umbilicato-depr. whitish, soon sooty-olive, flesh white, reddish when broken; g. rounded, very thick and distant; s. - cm. stout, solid, pallid then black; sp. - . every part black when old. =adusta=, fr. p. - cm. exp. depr. white then brownish, at length scorched; g. thin, crowded, pallid; s. - cm. solid, pallid then dusky grey; sp. - . differs from _r. nigricans_ in much closer gills, and in flesh not changing to red. =densifolia=, gillet. p. - cm. convex then depr. white then brownish, flesh red when broken; g. thin, crowded, pallid; s. - cm. slightly mealy, white then grey, at length blackish; sp. - . differs from _r. adusta_ in flesh turning red, and from _r. nigricans_ in crowded gills. =delica=, fr. white. p. - cm. exp. umbil. polished, edge incurved, even, glabrous; g. decur. thin, distant, white; s. - cm. solid, compact; sp. - × - . this species has been confounded with _r. chloroides_, bres. (= _r. delica_, mass. fung. fl. iii, , _lact. exsuccus_, otto, &c.) but differs in polished pileus, pure white gills, &c. =chloroides=, bresad. (= _lact. exsuccus_, otto; _agaricus chloroides_, krombh.; _russula delica_, mass, &c. not of cooke). p. - cm. depr. edge involute, whitish, pubescent, flesh thick, white; g. decurrent, white with a tinge of green, connected by veins, forked; s. - cm. stout, white, tomentose, sometimes with a pale green zone at apex; sp. - . differs from _r. delica_ in pubescent pileus and stem, and green tinted gills. ++ _pileus clear yellow._ =citrina=, gillet. p. - cm. slightly viscid, convex then depr.; g. broadest in front, forked, white; s. - cm. white, solid, slightly rugulose; sp. - . =fingibilis=, britz. p. - cm. exp. depr. even, slightly viscid; g. almost free, white; s. - cm. white, becoming hollow; sp. - . +++ _pileus greenish or olive._ =olivascens=, fr. p. - cm. exp. umbil. olive disc becoming yellowish, edge even; g. white then tinged yellow; s. - cm. stout, firm, even; sp. - . =heterophylla=, fr. p. - cm. exp. depr. even, polished, greenish, yellow-brown, &c., disc becoming ochre, flesh white; g. very narrow, closely crowded; s. - cm. solid, white; sp. - . var. _galachroa_, fr. p. milky white then greenish. differs from _r. cyanoxantha_ in very narrow, crowded gills. [=smaragdina=, q. p. thin, viscid, somewhat zoned, clear green, edge white; g. narrow, white; s. slender, pruinose, white; taste mild. =azurea=, bres. p. - cm. exp. depr. pale glaucous green, with white bloom; g. pale cream colour; s. - cm. white, rugulose; sp. - . differs from _r. cyanoxantha_ in white meal on the pileus. =virescens=, fr. p. - cm. exp. umbil. dingy opaque green, innately flocculose, areolately cracked; g. rather crowded, forked; s. - cm. stout, white; sp. - . edible. [=luteo-viridans=, c. mart. p. convex then depr. then edge erect and sulcate, pellicle viscid, separable, yellow with green or brown stains; g. broad; s. reticulated, base narrowed. acrid. var. _bicolor_, c. mart. disc of p. yellow, edge brown; g. dark ochre. var. _purpurea_, c. mart. p. purple, disc yellow. =furcata=, fr. p. - cm. rigid, depr. sometimes subinfund. even, dark lurid green, even, frosted with a white silkiness; g. adnato-decur. thickish, forked; s. - cm. firm, even, white; sp. - . var. _pictipes_, cke. s. rosy at apex, greenish below. var. _ochroviridis_, cke. disc of p. olive or sooty, ochraceous towards edge. =aeruginea=, lindbl. p. - cm. exp. darker disc depr., verdigris green, edge striate; g. narrow behind, slightly adnexed, pure white; s. - cm. firm, even, persistently white; sp. - . ++++ _pileus red, brownish, purple, sometimes with green intermingled._ =lepida=, fr. p. - cm. compact, depr. not polished, blood red, becoming pale, minutely cracked into squamules; g. much forked; s. - cm. even, white with rosy tinge; sp. - . =atropurpurea=, kromb. p. - cm. hard, convex then exp. depr. smooth, even, deep blood red or purple red; g. adnate, white; s. - cm. white or tinged red. differs from _r. rubra_ in being quite mild. [=cerasina=, c. mart. p. viscid, depr. subcyathiform, edge sulcate, pellicle separable, cherry-red, disc yellow, flesh purple under cuticle; g. adnato-decur. ochre; s. rugulose, white. acrid. =cutefracta=, cke. p. - cm. exp. depr. even, purple, dull red, etc., cracking into areolae from edge towards disc; g. adnexed, crowded; s. - cm. solid, white with tinge of purple; sp. - . =vesca=, fr. p. - cm. exp. depr. flesh colour, disc darker, viscid, rugulose; g. adnate, crowded; s. - cm. solid, white, reticulately wrinkled; sp. - . var. _duportii_, phil. p. disc rufous, edge bluish, flesh reddish when cut. smells of crab. var. _lilacea_, q. p. violet or purple, flesh violet under the cuticle. var. _barlae_, q. p. peach colour. =depallens=, fr. p. - cm. firm, undulate, viscid, reddish, crimson, or brownish, disc paler at length; g. crowded, forked; s. - cm. base narrowed, white then grey; sp. - . differs from _r. decolorans_ in having white gills. [=pallida=, karst. acrid. p. convex then exp. mostly undulate, rather viscid, constantly pallid, here and there tinged rose, edge even; g. white, edge sometimes sulphur; s. white, often curved; sp. - . differs from _russula pallescens_ in being more robust and even margin of p. =cyanoxantha=, schaeff. p. - cm. globose then depr. or infundib. viscid, lilac, purplish, olive green, &c., edge generally bluish; g. broad, forked; s. - cm. even, white; sp. - . =elephantina=, fr. p. - cm. convex, umbil. margin incurved, brownish tan, wavy; g. obtusely adnate, arcuate, rather crowded, thin; s. firm, white; sp. ----. differs from _r. nigricans_ and _r. adusta_ in not turning black or red when old. =mustelina=, fr. p. - cm. depr. edge upturned, even, opaque, brownish or dingy yellowish, flesh persistently white; g. crowded, thin, connected; s. - cm. even, white; sp. - . ii. taste acrid. * _gills yellow or ochraceous._ + _pileus yellow or ochraceous._ =fellea=, fr. every part, outside and inside, pale ochraceous or straw colour, very acrid. p. - cm. exp. not becoming pale; g. adnate; s. even, - cm. differs from _r. ochracea_ in being very acrid. =aurata=, fr. p. - cm. rigid, exp. polished, citrin or orange, sometimes reddish, edge becoming striate, flesh under cuticle citrin; g. broad, shining citrin; s. - cm. white tinged yellow; sp. ----. [=rhytipes=, fr. foetid. p. depr. dry, yellowish, blotched purple or olive, corrugated, flesh sulphur yellow; g. broad, yellow, edge darker; s. conical, reticulately rugose, greyish purple. no account of mild or acrid taste is given, hence its position is uncertain. has points in common with _r. aurata_. =claroflava=, grove. p. - cm. bullate then plane, chrome yellow; g. white, lemon yellow, then tinged ochre; s. - cm. white then grey or blackish; sp. - . differs from _r. ochroleuca_ in bright yellow p. ++ _pileus red or purple._ =rubra=, fr. p. - cm. rigid, convex exp. depr. dusky blood red or with a tinge of purple, polished and even when dry; g. adnate whitish; s. - cm. hard, white sometimes tinged red; sp. - . differs from _r. atropurpurea_ in very acrid taste. =drimeia=, cke. (= _r. expallens_, gil.). p. - cm. firm, exp. depr. bright purple to rose colour; g. clear yellow; s. - cm. purple, paler than p.; sp. - . intensely acrid. =veternosa=, fr. p. - cm. plano-depr. rosy or flesh colour then pale, slightly viscid; g. adnate, narrow, white then straw colour; s. - cm. spongy then hollow, white; sp. - . =maculata=, q. p. - cm. thin, firm, exp. viscid, reddish flesh-colour, then pale and blotched brownish; g. sulphur then peach colour; s. - cm. white or tinged rose, then spotted ochre; sp. - . differs from _r. depallens_ in being smaller, acrid, and stem not grey. =serotina=, q. p. - . cm. globose then more or less exp. purple brown or olive, edge lilac, with white bloom at first; g. almost free, white then tinged yellow; s. - cm. white; sp. - . ** _gills white._ + _pileus ochraceous or umber._ =ochroleuca=, fr. p. - cm. exp. depr. viscid at first, ochraceous then pale, disc cracked into granules, margin almost even; g. rounded behind, broad, subequal, whitish; s. - cm. soft, white then grey, reticulately rugulose; sp. - . differs from _r. granulosa_ in stem becoming grey. =granulosa=, cke. p. - cm. exp. often depr. viscid at first, ochraceous, disc darker and granular; s. - cm. white, granular; g. nearly free, white; sp. - . close to _r. ochroleuca_, differing in granular persistently white stem. =foetens=, fr. foetid. p. - cm. bullate, then exp. and depr. rigid, viscid, edge at first incurved, tuberculato-sulcate, ochraceous then pale; g. very unequal, forked, whitish; s. - cm. soon hollow, whitish; sp. - . [=foetida=, c. mart. smell foetid. p. viscid, sulcate, yellow-brown, flesh under cuticle brown, rest white; g. forked near stem, white then yellow; s. very fragile, hollow, white, often spotted red below. mild. =consobrina=, fr. p. - cm. exp. depr. viscid, edge even, brown or dark grey, flesh grey under the cuticle; g. forked, white; s. - cm. white then grey; sp. - × . var. _sororia_, fr. edge of p. striate. =pectinata=, fr. smell nauseous. p. - cm. exp. then depr. or broadly infundib., rigid, brownish tan then pale except disc, viscid, margin sulcate, flesh yellowish under cuticle; g. attenuato-free, equal, white; s. rigid, striate, white; sp. - . differs from _r. consobrina_, var. _sororia_ in tubercular sulcate edge, and gills not connected by veins. [=intermedia=, karst. acrid. p. exp. depr. irreg. viscid, edge even, at length sulcate and tuberculose, tawny, disc darker, discoloured; g. white then yellowish; s. white. near to _russ. integra_, differs in taste and colour. =sardonia=, fr. p. - cm. plane, wavy, viscid, edge even, dingy yellow, then pale; g. adnate, closely crowded, white then yellowish; s. - cm. white often tinged red; sp. - . differs from _r. rosacea_ and _r. expallens_ in yellowish colour. ++ _pileus red or purplish._ =emetica=, fr. p. - cm. exp. depr. shining, rosy to blood red, then pale or white, edge at length sulcate, flesh white, red under cuticle; g. free, white; s. - cm. even, white or tinged red; sp. - . poisonous. var. _clusii_, fr. flesh and gills tinged yellow. =rosacea=, fr. p. - cm. exp. unequal, viscid then dry and spotted, rosy; edge acute, even; g. adnate, white; s. - cm. white or tinged rose; sp. - . differs from _r. sanguinea_ in irregular, often excentric p. and broader gills. =sanguinea=, fr. p. - cm. exp. depr. or infundib. polished, blood-red then pale, edge acute, even; g. decur. closely crowded, white; s. - cm. striate, white or tinged red; sp. - . _r. rubra_ differs in rigid p. and g. tinged yellow. =fragilis=, fr. p. - cm. thin, fragile, exp. flesh colour or red, soon pale, rather viscid, edge tubercular-striate; g. thin, crowded, ventricose, white; s. - cm. white, polished; sp. - × . var. _nivea_, cke. entirely white. var. _violacea_, q. p. violet, with narrow pale edge. var. _fallax_, cke. disc of p. very dark, rest pale reddish purple. =queletii=, fr. p. - cm. soon plane, viscid, dark violet, edge slightly striate, lilac; g. white; s. - cm. purple; sp. - . var. _purpurea_, cke. (= _r. purpurea_, gillet). stem whitish, tinged rosy at middle part; g. pale yellow. mycena, fr. i. calodontes. _edge of gills denticulate, dark coloured._ =pelianthina=, bolton. p. . - cm. obtuse, hygr. purplish then pale; g. broad, adnexed, purplish with darker fimbriated margin; s. - cm. equal, pallid; sp. × . =balanina=, b. p. - cm. exp. umb. pale yellowish brown, striate when moist; g. adnate, separating, pinkish-white, edge purple; s. - cm. tinged brown, squamulose above, brown and thin below. [=crenulata=, schum. p. camp. umb. purplish-bay; g. adnexed, paler than p., edge distinctly crenulated but scarcely darker; s. even, glabrous, base narrowed. =mirabilis=, cke. and q. (= _ag. marginellus_, fr., non pers.). p. - . cm. camp. pale bluish grey, umb. darker, then tan, finely striate; g. whitish, edge darker with minute particles; s. greyish, minutely floccose, rooting and tomentose at base; sp. ----. =aurantiomarginata=, fr. p. - cm. subumb. even, brownish olive then pale; g. adnexed, edge flocculent, orange; s. - cm. base ventricose and strigose; sp. ----. =elegans=, pers. p. . - cm. umb. striate, brown or livid-yellow; g. adnate, edge saffron; s. - cm. equal, livid; sp. - × - . =olivaceomarginata=, mass. p. - . cm. striate up to disc, honey colour; g. adnexed, pallid, edge brownish olive; s. - cm. shining, coloured like p.; sp. × - . [=avenacea=, fr. p. camp. obt. fuscous then livid grey, slightly striate; g. adnate, white, edge fuscous; s. even, glabrous, without juice, base fibrillose. [=atromarginata=, fr. p. exp. sulcate, viscid; g. white with a very narrow black edge; s. tall, striate, glabrous. =rubromarginata=, fr. p. - cm. camp. obtuse, striate, hygr. grey, livid, reddish &c., paler; g. adnate, whitish, edge purple brown; s. - cm. even, pallid; sp. ----. var. _fuscopurpurea_, lasch. p. purple brown; g. edge eroded, brownish. [=luteorufescens=, karst. p. campan. often oblique, striato-virgate, yellowish fuscous, disc rufescent, opaque; g. distant, whitish glaucous; s. yellowish, glabrous; sp. - × - . [=viridimarginata=, karst. p. campan. exp. umb. sulcate, glabrous, brownish honey-colour, not hygr.; g. white then glaucous; s. rigid, fragile, honey-colour then pale, not rooting; sp. - × - . =strobilina=, fr. every part deep red. p. - . cm. acutely umb. not becoming pale; g. adnate edge dark blood red; s. - cm. rigid; sp. - × . var. _coccinea_, sow. edge of g. not darker. differs from _m. rosella_ in larger size, and in not becoming pale, acute umbo, &c. =rosella=, fr. every part pale rose colour. p. - mm. obtusely umb. striate, becoming pale; g. adnate, edge darker; s. - cm. slender; sp. - × . [=venustula=, q. p. white, diaphanous, with rosy granules; g. few, white, edge rosy; s. white, hyaline. =carneosanguinea=, rea. p. . - cm. livid grey, umbo rufous, even, flesh becoming blood-red when broken; g. purplish-brown, edge dark purple, denticulate; s. cm. grey, base thickened; sp. - × - . [=citrinomarginata=, gill. p. campan. striate to apex, yellow; g. distant, pale, edge citrin; s. thickened and downy at base, pale. [=fuscomarginata=, godey. p. campan. even, pale tan then pallid; g. pale, edge brownish or reddish-purple; s. bay, summit pale. ii. adonideae. _stem juiceless, gills all one colour, colour clear, bright, not brownish or greyish._ =pura=, pers. smell like radishes. p. - cm. umb. margin striate, lilac, reddish, &c., then pale; g. sinuato-adnexed, very broad, connected by veins, pale; s. - cm. even, pale or tinged like pileus; sp. - × - . . _m. pelianthina_ differs in dark edged gills. _m. pseudopura_ and _m. zephira_ have no smell. _m. ianthina_ differs in persistently conical pileus. [=fimicola=, karst. p. convex then plane, umb. or papillate, umb. striate, glabrous, reddish ochre then tan; g. whitish then tan; s. equal, wavy, tough, glabrous, rusty then bay; sp. - × - . var. _multicolor_, bres. p. clear greyish blue, umbo tawny, edge striate; g. grey; s. rosy-purple, base yellowish, tomentose; sp. - × - . =pseudopura=, cke. p. cm. exp. obtusely umb. vaguely striate, rosy then pale; g. adnate, whitish; s. - cm. rigid, pallid rosy, brownish when dry, naked; sp. × . _m. pura_ differs in larger size of entire fungus, and smaller spores. _m. zephira_ differs in squamulose stem. =zephira=, fr. p. - cm. diaphanous, obtuse, striate to middle, reddish or pinkish; g. adnate white; s. - cm. tinged pinkish rufescent, squamulose, base cottony; sp. ----. differs from _m. pura_ in absence of smell. [=caesiolivida=, bres. p. campan. exp. or revolute, subirreg. glabrous, hygr. livid blue or grey then rosy livid; g. white then rosy, at length livid flesh colour; s. short, greyish or bluish livid, base strigosely rooting; - × . - . [=renati=, q. p. rosy lilac, disc brownish; g. white then tinged rosy; s. pellucid, amber yellow. [=seynii=, q. p. vinous, shining; g. rosy lilac; s. fistulose, hyaline, purplish, base hairy, white. [=punicella=, fr. p. conical, obtuse, subviscid, scarlet, edge striate, yellow; g. free, pallid; s. diaphanous, rooting, base dusky green, apex yellowish. =flavipes=, q. tufted, smells like radishes. p. - cm. camp. obtuse, rosy pink or lilac; g. adnexed, whitish; s. - cm. polished, yellow, rooting; sp. × - . [=rubella=, q. p. campan. striate, orange red; g. white then tinged rosy; s. hyaline, apex rosy. =adonis=, bull. p. - cm. conical then campan. rosy; g. uncinately adnexed, narrow, white tinged pink; s. equal, white; sp. ----. [=chlorantha=, fr. p. camp. obtuse, green; g. sinuato-adnexed, white; s. short, glabrous, greenish. =lineata=, bull. p. - cm. obt. glabrous, everywhere finely striate, tinged yellow or whitish; g. adnate, white; s. - cm. even, base downy; sp. ----. =farrea=, lasch. p. - . cm. very thin, expanded, furfuraceous with shining particles, pale, sulcate; g. adnate, snow-white; s. - cm. silky, striate; sp. ----. among moss and grass. the only known _mycena_ with a furfuraceous pileus. =luteoalba=, bolton. p. - cm. campan. then exp. and umb. pale yellow; g. adnate, broad, white; s. - cm. shining, glabrous, yellowish; sp. ----. =flavoalba=, fr. p. - cm. exp. umb. often cracked at margin, yellowish or white; g. soon free, distant; s. - cm. white, pellucid, apex pruinose; sp. - × - . _m. lactea_ differs in adnate gills and downy base of stem. _m. luteoalba_ has a yellowish stem. =lactea=, pers. white. p. - . cm. subumb. striate, even when dry; g. adnate, narrow, crowded; s. - cm. toughish, not quite straight, glabrous; sp. - × - . differs from _m. gypsea_ and _m. tenuis_ in scattered habit. var. _pithya_, fr. smaller, p. becoming almost plane; s. thin, base bubillose, downy. forma _pulchella_, fr. milk-white; g. linear, ascending; s. attenuated. solitary. [=olida=, bres. smell very strong, rancid. p. thin, conico-campan. obtuse, then exp. and umb. yellow soon pale straw; g. uncinato-decur. connected by veins, white; s. hyaline, strigosely rooting; sp. - × . =gypsea=, fr. caespitose. pure white, rarely with a yellow tinge. p. - cm. conical then campan. striate up to umbo, glabrous; g. subuncinate; s. - cm. straight, narrowed upwards from hairy base; sp. - × . [=nivea=, q. shining white. p. sulcate, diaphanous; g. uncinate; s. pruinose, base rather swollen, fibrillose. [=galeropsis=, fr. p. conico-camp. even, gilvous; g. free, whitish; s. straight, narrowed upwards, fragile, not rooting, ferruginous below. [=nucida=, brig. p. campan. obtuse, even, downy under a lens, deep rust-colour, hygr.; g. free, white then rosy; s. silky shining, base snow-white, apex mealy. [=benzonii=, fr. p. very thin, campan. exp. umbil. finely striate, pallid or reddish; g. white; s. equal, glabrous, white. an introduced species. [=melanops=, west. p. convexo-camp. plicate, umbo blackish-brown; g. adnexed to a collar; s. slender, glabrous base fibrillose. [=pruinatus=, fr. shining white. p. thin, conico-campan. papillate, edge deflexed, sulcate, pruinose; g. crowded; s. bulbous, naked. iii. rigidipedes. _stem firm, rigid, rather tough, juiceless, base strigosely rooting, gills discoloured, grey, reddish, &c., often connected by veins._ =cohaerens=, fr. p. - cm. camp. obtuse, tawny cinnamon, soft and velvety; g. free, distant, very broad, pallid; s. - cm. horny, rigid, even, shining, bay, base downy, rooting; sp. × - . [=raeborhiza=, lasch. p. acute camp. exp. glabrous, striate, rather tawny then pale; g. almost free, connected by veins; s. even, floccosely pruinose, rooting, tinged tawny. =prolifera=, sow. caespitose. p. - cm. camp. then exp. subumb., margin coarsely striate, yellowish tan; g. adnexed; s. - cm. glabrous, shining, striate, brownish below, rooting; sp. ----. =excisa=, lasch. (non berk.). p. - cm. camp. then obtuse, greyish fuscous or pallid; g. scarcely adnexed, narrowed behind, very broad in front, pallid; s. - cm. tough, even, grey, rooting; sp. ----. differs from _m. polygramma_ in smooth stem. var. _fagetorum_, fr. slender. p. even, striate to middle, smoky or livid then pale; g. joined to a collar; s. incurved at base, fixed to leaves by down. =rugosa=, fr. p. - cm. camp. then exp. subumb. tough, irreg. radially rugulose, greyish; g. arcuately adnate, white then tinged grey; s. - cm. tough, even, glabrous, pallid; sp. ----. =sudora=, fr. white. p. - cm. umb. striate, viscid; g. obtusely adnate, sometimes tinged pink; st. - cm. even, dry, rooting; sp. ----. =galericulata=, scop. p. - cm. conic camp. exp. striate up to umbo, dry, brownish, livid, &c.; adnate with decurrent tooth, connected by veins, pinkish when old; s. - cm. polished, even, glabrous; sp. - × . _m. rugosa_ differs from present sp. in having grey gills and rugulose pileus. [=simillima=, karsten. p. conico-campan. even, dry, glabrous, livid or dingy pallid; g. emarginato-decur. crowded, white, very slightly tinged rose; s. fragile, polished, even, glabrous, base curved, rooting; sp. ----. very near to _mycena galericulata_, differing in being fragile and in becoming pale. =polygramma=, bull. p. - cm. conic camp. subumb. dry, striate, dark grey or blackish-blue when young; g. pale pinkish-grey tinge; s. - cm. rigid, tough, shining, longitudinally striate, strigosely rooting, grey; sp. - × . differs from _m. plicata_ in striate stem. [=inclinata=, fr. p. camp. obtuse, striate to middle, everywhere brownish; g. adnate, whitish, base grey; s. rigid, twisted, pruinosely fibrillose, upwards interruptedly striate. =parabolica=, fr. p. - cm. oval then camp. striate to middle, disc blackish-violet, margin paler, becoming pale; g. adnate; s. - cm. even, glabrous, base strigose, dark coloured; sp. - × . differs from _m. galericulata_ in absence of decurrent tooth of gills, also their pinkish colour. =tintinabulum=, fr. p. - cm. tough, camp. even, bay, yellow brown, pallid, &c., viscid when moist; g. adnate with a decurrent tooth, crowded; s. - cm. even, glabrous, pallid, strigosely rooting; sp. - × . differs from _m. galericulata_ in short stem and even pileus. =berkeleyi=, mass. (= _excisa_, b.). p. - cm. camp. striate up to umbo, hygr. dingy brown then paler; g. broadly sinuate with decurrent tooth, tinged flesh colour; s. - cm. long, purplish brown, base rooting; sp. × . . [=laevigata=, lasch. constantly white. p. hemispher.-exp. obtuse, even when dry; g. with decur. tooth, crowded, distinct, joined to a collar; s. even, glabrous, lubricous, base strigose. requires to be carefully distinguished from white forms of _m. galericulata_ and _m. rugosa_. s. lubricous when moist, not viscid. [=lasiosperma=, bres. caespitose. p. thin, conico-campan. exp. umb. edge then upturned, rather viscid, striate to umbo, livid grey with a grey bloom at first; g. sinuato-unc. connected by veins, whitish then grey; s. pallid above, chestnut and white-pruinose below; sp. globose, aculeate, - . iv. fragilipedes. _stem fragile, dry, juiceless. pileus hygrophanous. gills often discoloured._ =atroalba=, bolton. p. - cm. campan. obtuse, disc blackish or fuscous, whitish towards striate margin; g. free, crowded, glaucous; s. - cm. pallid, apex darker, base swollen, strigose; sp. ----. =dissiliens=, fr. smell strong, very fragile, conico-camp. obtuse, greyish-brown then pale, grooved to middle; g. broadest in front, base tinged grey; s. - cm. subincurved, slightly striate, dusky grey, base strigose; sp. ----. when compressed the stem splits into pieces which curl outwards elastically. =atrocyanea=, batsch. p. - . cm. convex-camp. sulcate, dark brown then blue-grey, powdered with white meal, deformed umbo obtuse; g. adnexed, whitish; s. - cm. slender, glabrous, blackish-blue; sp. ----. =pullata=, b. and cke. smell slightly nitrous. p. . - cm. dark brown, disc blackish, obtusely umb. striate to middle; g. white; s. - cm. coloured like pileus, rooting; sp. × . _m. leucogala_ and _m. galopoda_ differ in white milk in stem. _m. atrocyanea_ differs in dark blue tinge of p. and s. [=cinerella=, karst. smell very strong of meal. p. campan. entirely striate, grey or greyish-pallid; g. broadly adnato-decur. greyish-white; s. greyish-white, base fibrillose, not rooting; sp. ----. =psammicola=, b. and br. smell strong. p. - mm. hemispherical, brown, paler towards striate margin, sprinkled with minute particles; g. adnexed, sinuate; s. . - cm. umber, paler upwards, everywhere pulverulent; sp. ----. differs from _m. paupercula_ in pulverulent stem and pileus. =paupercula=, b. smell strong. p. - mm. conical, exp. pale ochraceous, minutely fibrillose; g. free, whitish; s. - . cm. slender, whitish, rooting; sp. ----. =leptocephala=, pers. smell strong, solitary, entirely grey. p. - . cm. umb. sulcate, pruinose, opaque; g. emarginate; s. - cm. slightly striate, opaque, dry; sp. ----. =alcalina=, fr. smell strong. p. . - . cm. camp. obtuse, naked, deeply striate when moist, shining when dry, pallid or tinged yellowish-green; g. adnate; s. - cm. yellowish, viscid, glabrous, shining, base villose; sp. × . =ammoniaca=, fr. smell strong. p. . - cm. conico-exp. umb. naked, discoid, opaque, dark brown or greyish, striate at paler margin; g. adnate; s. even, glabrous, rooting, pallid, - cm.; sp. ----. _m. alcalina_ differs in tufted habit, viscid stem with yellow tinge of colour. =metata=, fr. smell weak, alkaline, soft. p. obt. striate, hygr. grey--rarely yellowish or pinkish--even, opaque, and whitish when dry; g. adnate, not connected by veins, whitish; s. - cm. firm, even, glabrous, base fibrillose; sp. ----. =cinerea=, mass. and crossl. entirely grey, smell strong, like radishes. p. . - cm. subgibbous, exp. pale, silky and even when dry; g. adnate; s. - cm. glabrous, downy and white at base; sp. × ; cystidia fusiform. _m. leptocephala_ differs in sulcate p., and _m. metata_ in white gills. _m. plumbea_ has no smell. =plicosa=, fr. . - . cm. exp. plicato-sulcate, greyish brown, opaque when dry; g. thick, distant, veined, grey; s. - cm. polished, greyish; sp. globose, - . [=subplicosa=, karst. p. campan. obtuse, with distant grooves, almost plicate, glabrous, grey then pallid; g. adnate, whitish; s. rigid, shining, hyaline or livid, base strigose not rooting; sp. - × - . =consimilis=, cke. p. . - . cm. camp. grey, umbo darker, striate to middle, margin upturned and splitting; g. adnexed, grey; s. . - . cm. dry, smooth, paler than p.; sp. ----. more or less resembling several species. _m. leptocephala_ and _m. metata_ differ in strong smell. _m. peltata_ in orbicular plane pileus. _m. rugosa_ differs in rugose pileus. =peltata=, fr. p. . - cm. orbicular, soon plane, disc fleshy, blackish brown then grey, margin striate; g. with decurrent tooth, grey; s. - cm. even, glabrous, base downy; sp. ----. differs from _m. pelliculosa_ in absence of viscid pellicle. =aetites=, fr. p. . - cm. camp.-convex, coarsely striate, hygr. broad obtuse umbo prominent, brownish; g. uncinate, thin, connected by veins; s. - cm. glabrous, shining subcompressed; sp. ----. =stannea=, fr. p. - cm. exp. hygr. grey, even, and tin colour with a silky sheen when dry; g. with decurrent tooth, connected by veins, greyish white; s. - cm. even, shining, often compressed; sp. ----. differs from _m. vitrea_ in decurrent tooth to gills. =vitrea=, fr. p. . - . cm. livid brown, finely striate all over, no trace of umbo or fleshy disc; g. adnate, not connected by veins; s. - cm. slightly striate, polished, pale, base fibrillose; sp. ----. differs from _m. aetites_ and _m. stanneus_ in gills not having a decurrent tooth and not connected by veins. =tenuis=, bolton. white, tufted. p. - . cm. brittle, camp. obtuse, then exp. striate; g. adnate; s. - cm. thin, pellucid, glabrous; sp. ----. _m. gypsea_ differs in decurrent tooth of gills, and strigose base of stem. v. filipedes. _stem very slender, flaccid, rooting, dry, juiceless. gills discoloured, edge paler._ =filopes=, bull. p. - . cm. camp. then exp. striate, livid grey; g. free, white; s. - cm. flaccid, glabrous, rooting, base downy; sp. ----. =iris=, b. p. - cm. exp. obtuse, slightly viscid, striate, blue when young, then brownish with blue fibrils; g. free, tinged grey; s. - cm. bluish below, tinged brown above, with scattered fascicles of down; sp. ----. =amicta=, fr. p. up to cm. conico-camp. greyish, striate to middle, dry, glabrous; g. free, grey; s. - cm. filiform, tough, downy-pulverulent; sp. ----. =plumbea=, fr. p. - cm. convex then flattened, obtuse, sulcate, lead colour powdered with white meal; g. adnate horizontal, grey; s. - cm. elongated, pulverulent, grey, apex hyaline, base strigose, fragile; sp. ----. [=ianthina=, fr. p. conical, striate all over, glabrous, lilac; g. broadest in front, greyish-white; s. attenuated, flaccid, glabrous, slightly striate, brownish lilac. differs from _p. pura_ in persistently conical pileus. =urania=, fr. p. camp. then convex, dark violet when young, then blue becoming pale; g. uncinato-adnate, white; s. flaccid, even, glabrous, base rather rooting, floccose. =debilis=, fr. p. - . cm. camp.-convex, striate, whitish or livid then brownish, opaque, rugulose when dry; g. broadly adnate; s. - cm. flaccid, base fibrillose not rooting; sp. ----. [=lasiosperma=, bres. p. striate, grey, umbo darker; g. greyish white; s. white, pruinose, base brownish, strigosely rooting; sp. globose, aculeate. =vitilis=, fr. p. - mm. conical then exp. papillate, deeply striate when moist, brownish or greyish then pale; g. narrowed and adnate, greyish white; s. - cm. livid, flexile, rooting; sp. ----. var. _amsegetes_, secr. p. conico-campan. everywhere striate; g. not connected by veins, edge entire; s. thicker, short. [=latebricola=, karst. p. campan. then plano-convex, disc depr. striate, livid, fuscescent when dry; g. adnato-decurr., whitish; s. filiform, tough, glabrous, pallid, root strigose; sp. ----. [=canescens=, weinm. p. hemispher. then plane, subumbil., white then tinged grey; g. adnate, greyish; s. filiform, sooty grey, base fibrillose. =collariata=, fr. p. - cm. convex, subumb. striate, brownish or greyish then pale; g. adnate to a collar, whitish then tinged pink; s. - cm. pale, polished, tough; sp. ----. [=cimmeria=, fr. p. convex, slightly striate, dry, yellowish brown; g. adnexed, saffron yellow, edge white; s. glabrous, fibrillosely rooting. [=cladophylla=, lév. p. camp.-convex, wavy, glabrous, greyish white, shining; g. adnate, branched; s. naked, white, base brownish. [=epiphloea=, fr. p. persistently acutely conical, papillate, everywhere striate, whitish, apex tinged brown; g. free, ventricose, distant; s. diaphanous, pallid. [=supina=, fr. small. p. obtuse, striate; g. almost free, ventricose, white; s. short, incurved, tough, glabrous, white. =speirea=, fr. p. cm. convex, dark disc becoming depr. greyish with brown lines; g. plane then decurrent, shining white; s. - cm. tough, polished, fibrillosely rooting; sp. ----. =tenella=, fr. tufted. p. up to cm. obtuse, whitish, pellucid, margin striatulate; g. uncinate, white then pink; s. cm. glabrous, base downy; sp. ----. caespitose. altogether white or livid-rosy. pileus exceedingly delicate. =acicula=, schaeff. p. - mm. camp., orange red, margin striate; g. yellow; s. - cm. yellowish, base rooting; sp. ----. pileus at first subumbonate. gills subovate, almost free, yellow then pale. vi. lactipedes. _gills and rooting stem dry, giving out milk when broken._ =haematopoda=, pers. caespitose. p. - cm. camp. obtuse, edge denticulate, reddish disc darker; g. adnate, whitish, edge the same; s. - cm. reddish, white pulverulent, containing dusky red juice. =cruenta=, fr. p. cm. conico-camp. margin striate, edge entire, reddish; g. adnate, entirely white; s. - cm. containing dusky red juice; sp. =sanguinolenta=, a. and s. p. cm. convexo-camp. striate, reddish, edge darker; s. - cm. reddish with dark red juice; sp. ----. =crocata=, fr. p. . - . cm. conico-camp. umb. reddish; g. white; s. - cm. narrowed, downy rooting, containing saffron-red juice; sp. ----. =chelidonia=, sow. p. cm. camp. then obtuse, nearly even, pinkish with yellow tinge; g. adnate, tinged yellow; s. - cm. smooth, rooting, often compr. with yellow juice; sp. - × . =galopoda=, fr. p. - . cm. camp. umb. striate sooty or greyish; g. glaucous; s. slender, pallid, fibrillosely rooting, containing white milk; sp. - × . _m. leucogala_ differs in the grey gills. =leucogala=, cke. p. - . cm. camp. umb. sulcate, sooty or purple brown; g. adnate, grey; s. - cm. dark with whitish down at base, containing a large quantity of white milk; sp. ----. _m. pullata_ and _m. atrocyanea_ differ in having no milk. vii. glutinipedes. _stem juiceless, viscid or glutinous._ =epiterygia=, scop. p. - . cm. camp. then exp. striate with a separable viscid pellicle, greyish or greenish yellow; g. adnate; s. - cm. tough, glabrous, viscid, rooting, yellowish; sp. - × - . resembling _m. alcalina_, but no smell. =clavicularis=, fr. p. - cm. exp. striate, dry, not pelliculose, disc becoming depr. brownish, yellowish or pale; g. adnate, white; s. - cm. glabrous, viscid, whitish, base fibrillose; sp. ----. =pelliculosa=, fr. p. - cm. convex, obtuse, finely striate, viscid pellicle separable, grey or brownish; g. rather fold-like; s. - cm. glabrous, viscid, livid; sp. ----. differs from _m. vulgaris_ in separable cuticle. =vulgaris=, pers. p. - mm. convex then depr. with central papilla, viscid brownish or grey with darker lines; g. decur. white; s. viscid, pale, fibrillosely rooting; sp. × . . =citrinella=, pers. p. - mm. viscid, camp. then exp. umb. yellow; g. uncinate, white; s. cm. tough, viscid, yellow; sp. - × - . =plicato-crenata=, fr. p. cm. conical, subumb. coarsely plicate, edge crenate, pale yellow; g. white; s. - cm. viscid, tinged red or brownish, inside yellow; sp. ----. =rorida=, fr. p. up to cm. convex, umbil. sulcate, dry, pale ochre; g. subdecur. white; s. - cm. whitish, very glutinous; sp. ----. viii. basipedes. _stem dry, base expanded into an orbicular disc or bubillose and strigose_. =stylobates=, pers. white. p. - mm. obtuse, striate, subpilose; g. free; s. - cm. filiform, glabrous, inserted on a plane, orbicular, downy, striate disc; sp. × . [=dilatata=, fr. white. p. convexo-plane, obtuse, edge slightly striate; g. sublinear, connected into a collar; s. filiform, base orbicular, convex, glabrous. var. _clavicularis_. p. greyish, disc subrotund. =tenerrima=, b. white. p. - mm. convex, scurfy; g. free; s. - cm. minutely hairy below, fixed by a minute downy disc; sp. subgl. - . =discopoda=, lév. white. p. - mm. conical, obtuse, with white meal; g. adnate, distant; s. - mm. mealy, expanding at base into a minute downy disc; sp. ----. =saccharifera=, b. & br. whitish. p. - mm. convex; g. arcuately decur. dusted with shining particles; s. - mm. filiform, minute disc fixed by filaments; sp. ----. var. _eclectica_, buck. white. p. sulcate, and like gills and stem, sparkling with granules. [=mammillata=, pass. p. conico-campan. mammilate, sulcate, glabrous, shining white then greyish; g. adnate, broad; s. floccose below, base ending in a flat orbicular disc. [=mucor=, batsch. minute, fugacious. p. plicate, grey; g. adnate, distant, greyish white; s. hyaline, white, inserted in an orbicular disc. [=echinipes=, lasch. minute, white. p. camp. hyaline, striate; g. thick, distant; s. thickish, glabrous, base slightly bulbous, hairy. =pterigena=, fr. pale rose colour. p. - mm. camp. obtuse; g. adnate, broad, distant; s. - mm. thin, wavy, smooth, ending in a radially strigose disc; sp. ----. [=trachelina=, fr. p. brown, fibrillose; g. adnate, broad floccoso-fimbriate; s. villosely squamulose, bulbillose, strigosely rooting. [=cyanorhiza=, q. p. striate, greyish white; g. broad, whitish; s. greyish white, base somewhat swollen, hairy, blue. ix. insititiae. _stem very slender, not rooting nor attached by a disc but penetrating the substratum abruptly. gills adnate._ =corticola=, fr. p. - mm. obtuse, umbil. sulcate, blackish, brown, grey, &c.; g. adnate, broad; s. . cm. slender, incurved, minutely scurfy; sp. ----. =hiemalis=, osbeck. p. - mm. camp. umb. striate, pinkish, rufescent, white, &c., often pruinose; g. narrow; s. - cm. curved, base downy; sp. - × . differs from _m. corticola_ in narrow gills, and striate not sulcate pileus. =codoniceps=, cke. p. - mm. high and . mm. broad, pale umber, not exp. sulcate, delicately hairy; g. adnate; s. - mm. umber below; sp. × . . =setosa=, sow. white. p. mm. obtuse, smooth, g. almost free; s. - cm. slender, covered with delicate spreading hairs; sp. ----. =capillaris=, fr. white. p. mm. camp. obtuse, then umbil.; g. adnate, few; s. . - . cm. hair-like, wavy, glabrous; sp. - × . [=stipularis=, fr. very minute and delicate. p. convex subumbil. rosy, as are also the gills; s. downy, yellowish. =juncicola=, fr. p. - mm. striate, glabrous, rufescent or rosy; g. adnate, distant; s. - . cm. glabrous, fuscous; sp. ----. collybia, fr. a. _gills white or clear coloured, not grey; flesh white._ i. striaepedes. _stem stout, hollow or loosely stuffed, sulcate or fibrillosely striate._ * _gills white, rather distant._ =radicata=, relh. p. - cm. exp. gibbous, rugose, viscid, brownish ochre; g. distant, white; s. - cm. attenuated upwards, glabrous, rooting; - × - . =longipes=, bull. p. - cm. exp. umb. dry, minutely velvety, pale brown; s. - cm. velvety, with a rooting base, brownish; sp. ----. differs from _c. velutipes_ in dry, velvety pileus. =veluticeps=, rea. p. - cm. velvety, tawny; g. sinnato-adnate, deep ochre; st. - cm. fusiform, striate, slightly velvety, with rhizomorphic mycelium; sp. - × - . caespitose. [=elevata=, weinm. p. tough, exp. subfibrillose, umbo evanescent, greyish white, shining, floccosely scaly; g. shining white then dingy; s. long, striate, abruptly rooting. =platyphylla=, fr. p. - cm. exp. obtuse, moist, fibrillosely virgate, brown or greyish; g. truncate behind, white; s. - cm. striate, pallid, base abrupt, with cord-like strands of mycelium; sp. - × . var. _repens_, ach. p. depr.; s. hollow, compr. apex pruinose, rhizomorphic mycelium copious, anastomosing. =semitalis=, fr. p. - cm. exp. obtuse, glabrous, moist, sooty or livid ochraceous, pale when dry; g. white, blackish when bruised, finally obscure; s. - cm. fibrillose, with a thin cartilaginous cuticle, brownish or grey; sp. - × - . [=lentiniformis=, karst. p. convexo-plane, umbil. or depr. irreg. even, glabrous, rufescent; g. almost free, crowded, white then spotted black; s. apex thickened and silky, whitish, blackish when bruised; sp. - × - . resembling _lentinus cochleatus_ in form and colour. [=concolor=, del. white then tan. p. umboniform then exp. even, rarely scaly; g. adnexed, pallescent; s. solid, equal, glabrous. [=loripes=, fr. caespitose. p. exp. flexuose, lax, yellowish rufous, even, glabrous; g. white then sulphur yellow; s. pallid, flexuous, fibrillosely striate. [=aerina=, q. p. flexuous, tomentose, coppery olive; g. distant, yellow; s. striate, orange yellow. =fusipes=, bull. p. - cm. exp. umbo at length disappearing, rufous or dingy tan, often cracked; g. adnexed, white then dingy; s. - cm. ventricose, grooved, rooting, glabrous, cartilaginous; sp. - × - . tufted. edible. var. _oedematopa_, schaeff. subcaespitose, p. conical then flattened, rufous bay; g. pallid; s. ventricose, fibrillosely pulverulent. var. _contorta_, bull. caespitoso-connate, pileus and twisted stem thinner; g. crowded, white. =lancipes=, fr. p. - cm. exp. umb. radiately rugulose, margin striate, pale flesh colour then pallid; g. connected by veins, tinged flesh colour; s. - cm. striate, narrowed towards rooting base; sp. ----. differs from _c. fusipes_ in rugulose pileus, and in growing singly. =mimica=, w. g. sm. smell strong, fishy. p. - cm. obtuse, with separable cuticle, dingy ochraceous, as are the broad g.; s. narrowed towards base, ochraceous, - cm.; sp. × - . ** _gills crowded, narrow._ =maculata=, a. & s. white; p. - cm. obtuse, compact, becoming spotted with rust colour; g. free, closely crowded; s. - cm. more or less ventricose, grooved, narrowed below, spotted rusty; subgl. - . var. _immaculata_, cke. not becoming spotted; g. minutely serrulate. var. _scorzonera_, batsch. smaller, yellowish, stem long, rooting, often wavy; g. yellowish. [=serpentina=, otth. p. campan. yellowish white, glabrous, somewhat shining, whitish, edge involute, white-fibrillose; g. crenulate, whitish, becoming tinged red; s. whitish, striate, silky shining, hollow, ending in a long contorted serpentine root running amongst leaves. =prolixa=, fl. dan. p. - cm. lax, exp. gibbous, even, glabrous, tawny or brick red tinge; g. free, crowded, narrow, not spotted; s. solid, subequal, not rooting, sulcate, brick-red, - cm.; sp. - × . =distorta=, fr. p. lax, - cm. exp. umb. glabrous, even, bay then pale; g. narrow, much crowded, soon spotted red; s. - cm. narrowed from ventricose base, sulcate, more or less twisted, pallid; sp. - × . =butyracea=, bull. p. - cm. exp. umb. even, glabrous, moist and shining, reddish brown then pallid, flesh whitish; g. crenulate; s. - cm. conical, striate, rufous; sp. - × - . var. _bibulosa_, mass. p. dingy olive at first. var. _aurorea_, larb. p. thinner, edge striate, flesh rufescent; s. hollow. [=funicularis=, karst. (= _coll. dryophila_, var. _funicularis_, fr.). p. rufous then pale, even; g. sulphur then pale; s. sulcate, apex thickened, curved, yellowish white; sp. × - . [=phaeopodia=, fr. p. exp. even, glabrous, moist, umbo evanescent, flesh brownish, fuscous brown; g. white; s. blackish brown, thickened at both ends. [=epipphia=, fr. p. discoid, viscid, striate to middle; g. white, connected by veins; s. narrowed upwards, striate, white. [=asema=, weinm. p. thin, umb. hygr. livid, whitish when dry, flesh watery, horny-grey near gills; g. crowded, entire, whitish; s. striate, livid. =stridula=, fr. p. soft, soon exp. even, moist, hygr. blackish then pale; g. arcuato-adnexed, white; s. fibrilloso-striate, livid brown. distinguished from _trich. melaleucum_ by the dark stem. [=pulla=, schaeff. p. campan.-exp. obtuse, even, glabrous, hygr. purple bay then pallid fuscous; g. transversely pellucidly striate, whitish; s. twisted, soft. =xylophila=, fr. p. - cm. lax, campan. then exp. gibbous, disc brownish tan, rest paler; g. adnate, very narrow, much crowded; s. - cm. subflexuous, fibrillose, whitish; × . . caespitose. _c. confluens_ and _c. ingrata_ differ in downy stem. [=jurana=, q. p. thin, fleshy-buff colour, white floccose, margin crenulate; g. whitish tinged flesh colour; s. fibrillose, whitish. [=ramosa=, bull. pure white. p. exp. disc depr. slightly striate; g. crowded; s. stuffed, subequal, rooting, glabrous. [=strumosa=, fr. white. p. wavy, glabrous, margin at first incurved and downy; g. crowded; s. hollow, equal, flexuous, surface crisped and wavy, striate. [=globularis=, weinm. white. p. globose, disc becoming plane and umbil., edge roundly incurved; g. adnate, crowded, broad; s. apex flocculose, base tomentose. ii. vestipedes. _stem thin, equal, fistulose or medullate, even, velvety, floccose or pruinose._ * _gills broad, rather distant._ =velutipes=, fr. - cm. exp. viscid, yellow, glabrous; g. yellowish; s. - cm. velvety, blackish brown below, rooting; sp. × - . . var. _rubescens_, cke. p. tawny; g. ochraceous. var. _lactea_, q. p. white; g. broad; s. velvety. =laxipes=, fr. p. - cm. obtuse, glabrous, moist, whitish; g. distant; s. - cm. lax, stuffed, with rufous velvety down; sp. ----. much smaller and slenderer than _c. velutipes_. [=declinis=, weinm. p. conico-campan. umb. moist, at length rivulose, pale fuscous; g. scarcely adnexed, pallid, edge floccoso-crenulate; s. white, apex flocculoso-pulverulent. [=benoistii=, boud. soft. p. convex then plane, rather hygr. dark purple-bay then paler, edge striate, pellucid; g. nearly free, whitish then tinged purple-bay; s. bay, apex paler and scurfy, pale flocculose; flesh coloured. =floccipes=, fr. p. - cm. convex, umb. even, sooty brown then pale; g. thick; s. - cm. whitish and rough with minute black points, rooting; sp. ----. [=trochila=, lasch. p. convex, glabrous, umbilicately depr. discoid, hyalino-striate, pallid fuscous; g. adnate, narrow; s. long, rigid, blackish brown. =vertiruga=, cke. p. - cm. subpulverulent, exp. dull brown or grey, radially wrinkled; g. adnate; s. - cm. tawny, minutely velvety, base strigose; sp. ----. differs from _c. stipitaria_ in adnate gills and dingy pileus. =stipitaria=, fr. p. - . cm. exp. umb. velvety-squamulose, whitish with brown fibrils; g. ventricose; s. . - cm. bay, fibrillose or hairy; sp. ----. [=sobolewski=, weinm. p. thin, hemispher. obtusely umb. white-pulverulent, shining white then tinged rosy; g. free; s. slender, tinged fuscescent, shining, white-fibrillose. [=alumna=, schum. white. p. thin, globose-campan. exp. glabrous, striate; g. adnate, broad; s. subulate from thickened base, downy below. habitat on fungi like _c. tuberosa_, from which it differs in adnate gills. ** _gills very narrow, closely crowded._ =hariolorum=, bull. p. - cm. exp. glabrous, dingy tan; g. white then pallid; s. - cm. narrowed upwards, rufescent, woolly-hirsute; sp. - × - . =confluens=, pers. p. - cm. obtuse, flaccid, glabrous, rufescent then pallid; g. closely crowded; s. - cm. more or less compressed, rufous, everywhere with white down; sp. subgl. - . differs from _c. hariolorum_ in densely tufted habit. =ingrata=, schum. p. - cm. convex, umb. even, brownish tan; g. free, pallid; s. - cm. twisted, subcompressed, with white meal above, umber and naked below, equal; sp. ----. [=lilacea=, q. subtomentose, lilac; p. thin, hoary; g. amethyst; s. slender, base with white down. [=lupuletora=, weinm. p. exp. depr. even, glabrous, livid or pale tan then pallid; g. adnate, crowded, white; s. not rooting, white and pulverulently scaly above, brownish, glabrous, and narrowed below. [=foetidissima=, gill. smell extremely foetid. p. convex, umbil. wavy, yellowish white; g. whitish; s. white. [=orbicularis=, secr. p. exp. umb. brown, disc with small viscid blackish warts; g. adnexed, crowded; s. rufescent with white meal. [=myosura=, fr. p. orbicular, exp. obtuse, rufous, becoming pale; g. free, much crowded; s. rufescent, apex powdered, root long, glabrous. =conigena=, pers. - cm. exp. subumb. glabrous, reddish-yellow or pale; g. free, much crowded, pallid; s. - cm. pulverulent, pallid, base strigose, rooting; sp. - × . differs from _c. tenacella_ and _c. esculenta_ in free, crowded, narrow gills. var. _lutea_, vogl. p. yellow; g. densely crowded, white. =cirrhata=, fr. - . cm. exp. at length umbilicate, silky, opaque, white; g. adnate; s. - cm. slender, wavy, whitish, with a downy root; sp. - × - . differs from _c. conigena_ in adnate gills, and from _c. tuberosa_ in downy rooting stem not springing from a sclerotium. =tuberosa=, bull. p. about cm. white, exp. umb. even; g. adnate; s. . - cm. thin, white, root glabrous and springing from a sclerotium; sp. - × - . =racemosa=, pers. p. up to cm. convex, papillate, grey, subtomentose; g. adnate; s. - cm. base dark, springing from a blackish sclerotium; several minute stems with abortive pilei often spring from the stem; sp. ----. iii. laevipes. _stem thin, equal, fistulose, naked, glabrous (except base), not conspicuously striate._ * _gills broad, lax, usually more or less distant._ =collina=, scop. p. - cm. exp. umb., brownish then pale; g. adnexed then free; s. - cm. equal, even, glabrous, base abrupt, downy; sp. ----. =thelephora=, cke. and mass. p. - cm. camp. lax, umb. apiculate, dingy ochraceous, disc darker; g. adnate; s. - cm. equal, hollow, glabrous, base dark; sp. × . =ventricosa=, bull. p. - cm. camp. umb. glabrous, pale tan; g. with rufous tinge; s. - cm. rufescent, base ventricose, rooting; sp. ----. differs from _c. dryophila_ in ventricose, rooting stem. =leucomyosotis=, cke. strong scented, rather fragrant. p. - cm. exp. grey then paler; g. adnate, sinuate, white; s. - cm. equal, brittle, pallid; sp. × . =stevensoni=, b. and br. p. - . cm. obtuse, viscid, pale yellow; g. broadly adnate, broad, white; s. - cm. rufous, equal, fibrillose, rooting; sp. - × - . differs from _c. esculenta_ in broad, adnate gills. =psathyroides=, cke. ivory white. p. . - cm. broad and nearly . cm. high, camp. obtuse, rather viscid; g. broadly adnate, broad; s. - cm. equal, straight, hollow; sp. × . =xanthopoda=, fr. p. . cm. exp. umb. glabrous, lax, yellow or tan colour then pale; g. truncate behind; s. - cm. equal, hollow, tough, glabrous, yellowish, strigosely rooting; sp. ----. differs from _c. dryophila_ in umbo, broad gills, and strigosely rooting stem. =nitellina=, fr. p. - cm. exp. even, shining, tawny, hygroph.; g. adnate, white then tinted; s. - cm. equal, rigid, glabrous, tawny; sp. ----. =succinea=, fr. p. - . cm. even, exp. then subdepressed, pale rufous, often cracked; g. adnexed, broad, thickish, serrulate; s. - cm. polished, rufescent, not rooting; sp. ----. differs from _c. dryophila_ by broader, thicker, less crowded gills, and from _c. xanthopoda_ by absence of an umbo. =nummularia=, bull. p. - cm. exp. subdepressed round small umbo, pallid; g. free; s. - cm. glabrous, pallid, apex thickened; sp. ----. =esculenta=, wulf. p. - cm. orbicular, exp. obtuse, glabrous, pallid tan; g. adnate, lax, whitish; s. . cm. indistinctly hollow, even, polished, yellowish tan, rooting, base glabrous; sp. ----. _c. tenacella_ differs in fibrillose rooting base, and snow-white gills. =tenacella=, pers. p. . - cm. exp. subumb. even, glabrous, brownish then pale; g. broad, snow-white; s. - cm. narrowly fistulose, straight, even, glabrous, tawny, long root strigose; sp. - × . var. _stolonifer_, jungh. p. springing from a long, creeping, cord-like mycelium. =eustygia=, cke. smell of rancid meal. p. - cm. exp. subdepr. often wavy, whitish, shining when dry; g. dark grey; s. - cm. white above and sprinkled with pointed scales; darker below, rooting; sp. subgl. - . [=rhodella=, pat. p. thin, convexo-plane, reddish-brown, disc rugulose, edge striate; g. adnate, distant, white, tinged pink; s. tinged brown, twisted, wavy. =retigera=, bres. p. - cm. campan.-exp. umb. dry, glabrous, fuscous-grey then pale, centre somewhat tawny, raised veins forming a network on the surface; g. broad, edge paler, fimbriate; s. - cm. pallid, whitish fibrillose, often compressed, somewhat rooting; sp. ----. [=plumipes=, kalchb. p. campan. exp. subumb. slightly innato-fibrillose, livid fuscous, shining; g. broad, white; s. glabrous, white, base fibrilloso-strigose. differs from _c. conigena_ in glabrous s. and broad g. [=planipes=, brig. caespitose. p. orbicular, exp. rather viscid, bay; g. free; s. colour of p., rooting. [=gussonei=, inzeng. p. convex, subumb., rather striate, brick-red, edge dingy yellow; g. adnate, broad, crimson; s. compr. ochre with a crimson zone. ** _gills narrow, crowded._ =acervata=, fr. caespitose. p. - cm. exp. obtuse, then umb., reddish then pale; g. free, narrow, closely crowded; s. - cm. equal, glabrous, rufous, base downy, rooting; sp. - × . . differs from _c. confluens_ in glabrous stem, and from _marasmius erythropus_ in narrow, closely crowded gills. =dryophila=, bull. p. . cm. obtuse, then subdepr. reddish or pale tan, even; g. sinuate, crowded, narrow; s. - cm. hollow, glabrous, rufescent or yellowish; sp. - × . =aquosa=, fr. every part honey-colour. p. - . cm. obtuse, hygr. margin striate; g. rounded and free, crowded; s. - cm. polished, surface slightly wavy; sp. × . var. _bulliardii_. p. reddish ochre then pale; s. tawny. =extuberans=, fr. p. - . cm. exp. umb. prominent, bay or umber; g. crowded, narrow; s. - cm. equal, straight, glabrous, pallid, rooting; sp. ----. =exsculpta=, fr. p. - cm. exp. umbilicate, persistently tawny brown; g. closely crowded, sulphur-yellow; s. - cm. yellow; sp. ----. [=luteifolia=, gill. p. exp. edge lobed, irreg. reddish or cinnamon; g. sulphur yellow; s. glabrous, colour of p. [=cinnamomaeifolia=, gill. p. convex, subdepr. with a slight umbo, whitish yellow; g. crowded, pale cinnamon; s. reddish. =macilenta=, fr. entirely yellow. p. - . cm. obtuse, even, glabrous; g. linear; s. minutely fistulose, glabrous, tough, rooting, - cm.; sp. - × . =clavus=, l. p. - mm. obtuse, even, orange-red, shining; g. crowded, white; s. . - . cm. very slender, whitish, glabrous; sp. × . . _mycena acicula_ differs in yellow gills and rooting stem. =ocellata=, fr. p. - . cm. exp. disc depr. round pale small umbo, rufous or yellowish; g. crowded, white; s. - cm. slender, tough, glabrous, tinged fuscous, base rooting, fibrillose; sp. ----. distinguished from _c. cirrhata_ by glabrous stem. [=floridula=, fr. p. exp. obtuse, slightly striate, tinged flesh colour then pale; g. pale rose colour; s. pellucid, white. [=micheliana=, fr. pure white. p. obtuse, margin slightly striate; g. adnexed, crowded; s. thin, glabrous, base slightly thickened. =muscigena=, schum. pure white. p. - mm. obtuse, even; g. adnate; s. . - . cm. very slender, wavy, equal, glabrous; sp. ----. known from small sp. of _mycena_ by the broadly adnate gills and even pileus. [=ludia=, fr. pure white. p. subumb. exp. revolute, undulate and irreg. lobed, even; g. rather distant; s. slender, wavy, naked, root creeping, branched, fibrillose. b. _gills grey._ iv. tephrophanae. _brown or greyish._ * _gills crowded, rather narrow._ =rancida=, fr. smell strong. p. - cm. umb. dusky grey with a white silkiness; g. free, narrow, grey; s. - cm. glabrous, grey, rooting; sp. - × - . distinguished among strong-smelling species by the rooting stem. [=ignobilis=, karst. p. plane, subdepr. edge spreading, livid, hoary, pale when dry; g. crowded, dingy pallid; s. livid, floccosely pruinose; sp. - × . [=daemonica=, karst. p. convex then exp. subumb. glabrous, rather virgate, livid fuscous, disc blackish, pale when dry; g. adnate, crowded, smoky, blackish when bruised; s. equal, glabrous, wavy, fibrillosely striate, pallid, apex white flocculose; sp. - × - . =coracina=, fr. smell strong. p. - cm. exp. naked, hygr. brownish then grey; g. greyish-white; s. - cm. hollow, rigid, not rooting, brown, apex mealy-squamulose; sp. ----. differs from _c. rancida_ in the short stem thickened at base, and not rooting; _c. ozes_ differs from present in long, slender, flexuous stem. =ozes=, fr. smell strong. p. - cm. exp. umb. naked, glabrous, hygr. margin striate, greyish brown; g. adnexed, grey then olive; s. - cm. subflexuous, slender, fragile, slightly striate, grey, apex with white meal; sp. ----. _c. rancida_ differs in free gills and rooting stem. [=mephitica=, fr. smell strong. p. exp. subumb. even, adpressedly innately silky, whitish; g. obtusely adnate, crowded, whitish; s. filiform, obsoletely fistulose, tough, grey, pruinosely velvety. =inolens=, fr. p. - cm. exp. umb. glabrous, livid or pale tan; g. adnexed, greyish-white; s. - cm. livid, undulate, base white-strigose, apex white squamulose; sp. - × - . _c. plexipes_ and _c. protracta_ differ in having the stem glabrous at the apex. =plexipes=, fr. p. - cm. camp. rather rugulose, slightly striate, glabrous, sooty; g. free; s. - cm. livid, silky fibrillose, rooting; sp. - × . differs from _c. protracta_ in free gills. [=miser=, fr. p. subumb. glabrous, margin striate; g. adnate, grey; s. fuscous, apex mealy. [=atramentosa=, kalchb. p. exp. subumb. rugulose, livid then sooty, flesh black; g. narrow, becoming blackish; s. naked, colour of p. [=fuliginaria=, weinm. p. fuscous, with down; g. glaucous; s. fuscous, flocculose. =atrata=, fr. p. - cm. pitch-black then brown, even, exp. or depr. margin arched; g. adnate; s. - . cm. even, glabrous, brown outside and inside; sp. ----. =ambusta=, fr. p. - cm. exp. papillate, slightly striate, glabrous, livid brown; g. adnate, tinged fuscous; s. . - cm. somewhat stuffed, tough, livid; sp. - × - . differs from _c. atrata_ in umbonate pileus. ** _gills very broad, more or less distant._ =lacerata=, lasch. p. . - . cm. camp. moist, streaked dark brown on pale ground; g. adnexed, broad, thick, greyish; s. - cm. twisted, fibrous, apex floccose; sp. ----. [=phalliodorus=, alex. foetid, convex, subumbilicate, at length lobed, dingy ochraceous; g. adnate, white; s. glabrous. =murina=, fr. p. - cm. exp. umbilicate, glabrous then rugulosely squamulose, dark brown then pale; g. slightly adnexed, broad; s. - cm. hollow, cylindrical, not rooting, grey; sp. × . somewhat resembling _c. atrata_, differing in very broad almost free gills. [=glacialis=, fr. p. watery, fragile, obtuse, dusky fuscous then pale; g. free, grey; s. grey, naked. =protracta=, fr. p. . - cm. exp. shining, disc fleshy, depressed, subpapillate, greyish brown, margin striate; g. broad, grey; s. - cm. glabrous, root long fibrillosely strigose; sp. ----. =tesquorum=, fr. p. - . cm. plane, obtuse, even, blackish then pale; g. free, greyish brown; s. - cm. thin, brown, apex pruinose; sp. ----. [=cessans=, karst. p. exp. then depr. glabrous, striate, pallid fuscous then pale and hoary, sublubricous; g. adnate, then adnato-decur. connected by veins, whitish; s. solid, pallid, apex pruinose. =clusilis=, fr. p. - cm. exp. umbilicate, glabrous, hygr. livid then pale; g. arcuately adfixed, semicircular, broad; s. - cm. glabrous, pallid, not rooting; sp. ----. differs from _c. tylicolor_ and _c. nummularia_ in umbilicate pileus, and decurrent tooth to gills. [=erosa=, fr. p. exp. striate, hygr. silky when dry, grey; g. broadly emarginate, greyish; s. greyish-white, glabrous. =tylicolor=, fr. p. - cm. exp. subumb. even, glabrous, bluish-grey, with white meal when young; g. free, distant, broad, grey; s. - cm. pulverulent, grey; sp. ----. _introduced species._ =dorotheae=, b. p. cm. globose then exp. subumb. dark brown then paler, sulcate, squarroso-setulose; g. white, distant; s. - cm. slender, minutely discoid at base, granulated like pileus and beset with white bristles. =caldarii=, b. p. cm. hemispherical, umb. brown, rugose; g. grey; s. - cm. pale grey, cartilaginous; sp. ----. marasmius, fr. a. collybia. _margin of pileus incurved at first. stem cartilaginous; mycelium floccose._ i. scortei. _stem solid, or stuffed then hollow, fibrous inside; outside villose over the cartilaginous cortex. gills becoming free._ * _base of stem strigosely woolly._ =urens=, fr. p. acrid. - cm. exp. glabrous, even, pinkish buff, pale when dry; g. free, becoming brownish, at length remote; s. - cm. everywhere covered with white farinose down; sp. × . the acrid taste separates this sp. from _m. oreades_. [=subannulatus=, trog. p. plane or depr. even, yellowish; g. adnate, reddish then brownish; s. with an incomplete ring about the middle, base with white down. =peronatus=, fr. acrid. p. exp. reddish brown, then tan colour, becoming lacunose, margin striate; g. adnexed, seceding, pallid then rufescent; s. - cm. villosely downy, lower portion coarsely strigose, yellowish; sp. × - . =porreus=, fr. smell of garlic. p. - cm. dingy yellowish then paler, striate, disc even, flaccid; g. distant, firm, yellow then pale; s. - cm. reddish-brown, pubescent; sp. subgl. . differs from _m. prasiosmus_ in yellowish gills and stem everywhere pubescent. [=mulleus=, fr. mild. p. plane or depr. even, yellow brown then paler; g. citrin; s. bay towards fusiform rooting base, with a purplish tomentose ring. [=queletii=, schulz. white. p. diaphanous, umb.; g. free, white; s. stuffed; with grey rooting mycelium. [=foeniculaceus=, fr. p. tough, convex-umb. then plano-depr. pallid then white; g. broad, thick, adnex. distant, whitish; s. fibrous, glabrous, base abrupt, with rufous fibres. used as a condiment. ** _base of stem naked, often formed of twisted fibres._ =oreades=, fr. p. - cm. subumb. glabrous, brownish then pale; g. free, broad, distant, pale; s. - cm. pallid, everywhere with a downy surface; sp. × . edible. [=globularis=, fr. p. globose campan. umb. hygrophanous, pellucidly striate; g. free, white then dingy; s. pulverulent, white. =plancus=, fr. p. -... cm. pliant, plane or depr. even, rufescent then pale; g. narrow, tinged ochraceous-brown; s. - cm. with white down, base narrowed, naked; sp. ----. differs from _m. oreades_ in narrower, darker coloured gills. [=pyramidalis=, fr. p. umb. shining, dingy brown then pale; g. arcuately adnexed, white then reddish; s. narrowed upwards, flocculose, whitish, rooting. =scorteus=, fr. p. - . cm. pallid, exp. obtuse, even, wrinkled; g. broad, distant, white; s. - cm. obsoletely hollow, equal, tinged fuscous, glabrous, apex slightly mealy; sp. × . resembling _m. oreades_, but smaller and stem glabrous. ii. tergini. _stem rooting, distinctly tubular, not fibrous, evidently cartilaginous. gills becoming free._ * _stem woolly below, glabrous above._ =prasiosmus=, fr. smell of garlic. p. . - cm. pale yellow or whitish disc, often darker, wrinkled, g. adnexed; s. - cm. pallid and glabrous above, thickened and subtomentose below and brownish; sp. - × . differs from _m. porreus_ in white gills and estriate pileus. =varicosus=, fr. p. . - cm. reddish brown, plane or depr. wavy, subumb. darker when dry; g. closely crowded, very narrow; s. - cm. reddish, with red juice, base with reddish down; sp. × . =fuscopurpureus=, fr. - . cm. exp. often umbilicate, purplish brown then pale; g. attached to collar then free, tinged reddish; s. . - cm. dry, dingy purple, base with reddish down; sp. - . =terginus=, fr. p. . - . cm. exp. obtuse, shining, reddish, then pale, striate at margin; g. narrow, free; s. - cm. glabrous, shining, pallid, reddish below with white down, rooting; sp. - × . much like _m. prasiosmus_ and _m. porreus_, differing from both in absence of smell. [=gelidus=, q. p. campan. exp. thin, rugosely striate, pruinose, translucent; g. free, hyaline or tinged rose; s. filiform, striate, pruinosely-pubescent, base cottony, recurved; sp. - . [=putillus=, fr. p. rufescent then tan; g. rufous, margin paler, entire; s. short, rufescent, abrupt base with white down. [=carpathicus=, kalchb. p. exp. subumb. rather viscid, brownish, hygr. edge striatulate; g. rotundato-adnexed, pallid; s. even, naked above, pallid, rest bay, white downy base rooting. ** _stem (at least when dry) everywhere pruinosely velvety._ =wynnei=, b. and br. p. . - cm. soon plane, subumb. lilac-brown; g. adnexed, lilac; s. - cm. paler than p., scurfy; - × . =erythropus=, fr. p. - cm. obtuse, even, then rugulose, pallid; g. broad, lax, pallid, connected by veins; s. - cm. hollow, striate, glabrous, dark red, base with white down; sp. - × - . differs from _collybia acervata_ by the broad distant gills. [=dispar=, fr. p. subumb. whitish, margin striate; g. nearly free, crowded, narrow; s. purplish-brown, pruinose, base with white down. =archyropus=, fr. p. . - . cm. plane or depr. glabrous, pallid; g. crowded, linear, pallid; s. - cm. rigid, straight, pale rufescent, coated with white down, base similar; sp. subgl. - . differs from _m. terginus_ in tufted habit, and from _m. prasiosmus_ in absence of smell. =torquescens=, q. p. - . cm. plane, rugosely striate, pallid; g. free; s. - cm. brown, minutely velvety, apex pale and glabrous; sp. × . =impudicus=, fr. smell foetid. p. . - . cm. rugulosely striate, reddish bay, then pale; g. tinged red then pale; s. - cm. equal, purplish, covered with white down when dry, base naked, rooting; sp. × - . differs from _m. foetidus_ in free gills. [=saxatilis=, fr. p. depr. striate, reddish; g. adnate, white; s. glabrous, apex pruinose, reddish. iii. calopodes. _stem short, not rooting, entering matrix abruptly, often with a small floccose tubercle at base. gills adnate then subdecur. when p. expands._ * _stem very glabrous upwards, shining, base simple._ =scorodonius=, fr. smell of garlic. p. . - cm. soon plane, dry, rufous then pale, wrinkled; g. adnate, whitish; s. . - cm. equal, everywhere glabrous, shining, rufous; sp. × . =calopus=, fr. p. - . cm. exp. even then wrinkled, glabrous, whitish; g. emarginately adnexed; s. - . cm. even, glabrous, bay, shining, not rooting; × . habit of _m. scorodonius_, but no smell. =vaillantii=, fr. p. . - . cm. depr. plicately rugose, whitish; g. broad, subdecurrent; s. - . cm. glabrous, bay, apex paler and thickened; sp. × . _m. impudicus_ differs in purplish stem with white down when dry. _m. foetidus_ differs in strong smell. =angulatus=, fr. p. - . cm. soon exp. at length folded and angular, whitish or tinge of tawny; g. distant; s. - cm. greyish rufescent, thickened at both ends; sp. × . closely resembling _m. curreyi_ and _m. graminum_; differs from former in ventricose gills not attached to a collar; from the latter in the gills not being attached to a collar. _m. calopus_ differs in the shining, bay stem. [=kirchneri=, thurn. p. often umb. pallid whitish brown; g. subdecur. distant, whitish fuscous; s. filiform, glabrous, brown. =languidus=, fr. p. . - cm. umbil. flocculose, rugosely sulcate, whitish tinged yellow or flesh colour; g. narrow; s. - cm. thickened upwards, pale, naked, base tawny; sp. - × . =rubricatus=, mass. p. up to cm. soon plane, whitish tinged red; g. adnexed, white then brownish; s. - cm. slender, incurved, hollow; sp. × . ** _stem velvety pruinose, base subtuberculose._ =foetidus=, fr. foetid. p. - cm. exp. and umbil. or wavy, striato-plicate, tawny bay or rufous, pruinose when dry; g. rufescent with a yellow tinge; s. - cm. hollow, bay, minutely velvety; sp. × . =inodorus=, pat. p. thin, exp. reddish brown with adpr. silky down; g. adnate, crowded, whitish; s. blackish red, apex pale, entirely covered with white bloom. differs from _m. foetidus_ in absence of smell. [=xerotoides=, tr. p. umbilicate, umber, striate; g. broadly adnate, becoming greyish; s. velvety, base thickened, strigose. [=lagopinus=, fr. p. convex, even, glabrous, pallid; g. adnate, pallid; s. pallid, white floccose half way up, apex naked. =amadelphus=, fr. p. - mm. soon plane, disc slightly pruinose, margin at length striate, pale reddish-yellow; g. broadly adnate, broad; s. pallid, bay below, slightly pruinose - . cm.; sp. × . . var. _insignis_. g. very distant, pale umber. =ramealis=, fr. p. - mm. opaque, rugulose, not striate, white, disc often tinged rufescent; g. rather distant, narrow, white, adnate; s. cm. white, mealy, base darker; sp. × . =candidus=, bolt. entirely white. p. up to . cm. pellucid, wrinkled, naked; g. adnexed; s. - cm. whitish, slightly pruinose, base tinged brownish; sp. × . b. mycena. _stem horny, fistulose but often with a pith, tough, dry, mycelium rhizomorphoid, cortex not floccose, edge of pileus straight and adpressed to stem at first._ i. chordales. _stem rigid, rooting, or adnate by a dilated base._ =alliaceus=, fr. smell of garlic. p. . cm. subumb. even then striate or sulcate, greyish; g. free; s. - cm. minutely velvety, blackish; sp. - × . =molyoides=, fr. smell somewhat unpleasant. p. soon plane, even, brownish then pale; g. free, crowded, white; s. tall, hollow, glabrous, blackish brown. [=chordalis=, fr. p. plicate, brownish; g. adnato-decurrent, white; s. elongated, straight, velvety, blackish brown, stuffed, rooting. =cauticinalis=, fr. p. about cm. yellowish, even then striato-sulcate; g. adnato-decur. connected by veins, yellow; s. - cm. flocculose, bay, paler and mealy upwards; sp. × - . [=schizopus=, secr. p. very thin, campan. plicato-sulcate, whitish; g. thick, distant, white, with a collar; s. whitish, base a darker dilated tubercle. [=torquatus=, fr. p. campan. sulcate, whitish; g. thick, attached to a collar; s. whitish, with a darker tubercular dilated base. ii. rotulae. _stem filiform, flaccid, base entering matrix abruptly._ * _stem very glabrous, shining._ =rotula=, fr. p. - mm. umbilicate, plicate, whitish or disc slightly tinged; g. attached to a free collar encircling the stem; s. - cm. glabrous, blackish, shining; sp. × - . [=littoralis=, q. p. umbil. plicate, white; g. free, distant; s. horny, umber, apex pale, base downy. =graminum=, berk. p. up to cm. umb. striate or sulcate, pale rufous, disc darker; g. attached to a collar encircling stem, few in number; s. - cm. black, shining, glabrous, apex paler; sp. subgl. - . [=epodius=, bres. p. convexo-campan. exp. usually umb. and depr. edge at first incurved, sulcate, centre usually reticulated, reddish-yellow then pale; g. free, white then yellowish; s. very glabrous, rufescent then bay, apex hyaline, base bulbillose substrigose; sp. - × . - . [=menieri=, boud. p. - mm. excentric, broadly subumb. punctulate tawny; g. fold-like, few, branched, paler than p.; s. curved, tawny, base black; sp. - × - . [=faveolaris=, fr. p. sulcate, exp. disc coloured; g. attached to a ring, anastomosing to form cells; s. glabrous, subulate, bay below. =androsaceus=, fr. p. - . cm. whitish, umbilicate striate; g. adnate to stem; s. - cm. black, glabrous, polished; sp. × - . [=sclerotipes=, bres. p. thin, convex, edge incurved then plane, ruguloso-striate, shining white, umbil. yellowish, subflocculose; g. distant, adnate, white, edge fimbriate; s. filiform, tinged rufescent downwards, adnate to a rufescent sclerotium. passed as _collybia cirrhata_ very frequently. the latter differs in not springing from a sclerotium. _collybia tuberosa_ differs in growing on fungi. [=bulliardi=, q. p. plicate, dingy yellow brown; g. whitish; s. bay. =splachnoides=, fr. inodorous. p. up to cm. whitish, subumbilicate, striate; g. subdecurrent; s. - cm. polished, reddish-brown; sp. × . similar in habit to _m. perforans_, but no smell, and white subdecurrent gills. [=limosus=, q. very minute. p. plicate, diaphanous, whitish; s. capillary, brownish. =flosculus=, q. p. white, umbil. sulcate; g. adnate, white; s. short, incurved, bay, apex pale. =curreyi=, b. & br. p. up to cm. pale rufous, coarsely striate, umb. tawny; g. attached to collar; s. - cm. polished, blackish, apex white; sp. × - . ** _stem velvety or pilose._ =perforans=, fr. foetid. p. up to cm. whitish or tinged rufous, plane, not striate, rugulose; g. adnate; s. - cm. minutely velvety, blackish brown; sp. × . =insititius=, fr. inodorous. p. - . cm. subumbilicate, at length plicate, pale yellow-brown then whitish; g. broadly adnate, simple, unequal, distant; s. - cm. floccose or scurfy, reddish-brown; sp. × . . =hudsoni=, pers. p. - mm. rugulose, tinged brown, covered with spreading purplish hairs; g. white; s. - . cm. with hairs like the pileus; sp. × . [=buxi=, fr. p. sulcate, minutely squamulose, tawny; g. few; s. blackish purple, pilose below, glabrous above. =epichloe=, fr. p. - mm. plane, papillate, even, whitish, disc darker; g. broadest behind; s. - cm. bay, coarsely striate, striae setulose; sp. × . =actinophorus=, b. & br. p. - mm. umbilicate, pale bay with darker radiating lines, wrinkled when dry; g. adnexed; s. - cm. paler than pileus; sp. subgl. - . =saccharinus=, batsch. p. - mm. subpapillate, glabrous, sulcate, whitish; g. broadly adnate, connected by veins; s. . - . cm. reddish, minutely flocculose, then almost glabrous; sp. × . resembling _m. polyadelphus_, but not clustered, and papillate pileus. =epiphyllus=, fr. p. - cm. umbilicate, wrinkled, white; g. adnate, distant, veined; s. - cm. bay, minutely velvety, apex pale; sp. × . c. apus. _pileus sessile, resupinate._ =spodoleucus=, b. & br. p. - mm. shell-shaped, resupinate, sessile, grey, slightly pulverulent; gills few, white. [=recubans=, q. p. hemisph. sulcate, white; g. white; s. capillary, villose, brown. lactarius, fr. * _milk yellow, acrid._ [=resimus=, fr. p. fleshy, umbil. then infundib. even, glabrous, viscid, white or pallid, edge incurved and tomentose then spreading and naked; g. decur. white; s. stout, hollow, villose; milk soon sulphur colour; sp. - × - . =scrobiculatus=, scop. p. - cm. yellowish, depr. zoneless, incurved margin fibrillose; g. decur. whitish; s. - cm. stout, yellow, pitted; milk soon sulphur yellow; sp. subgl. echin. - . ( - × - sacc.) =chrysorrheus=, fr. p. - cm. umbil. then infundib. pale yellowish flesh colour, zoned; g. yellowish; s. white, - cm.; milk white then golden yellow; sp. - . =intermedius=, kromb. p. - cm. infundib. viscid, ochraceous, incurved margin tomentose at first; g. decur.; s. - cm. stout, yellowish, pitted; milk soon yellowish; sp. ----. differs from _l. scrobiculatus_ in infundibiliform pileus. =theiogalus=, bull. p. - cm. depr. viscid, tawny rufous; g. pale rufescent; s. - cm. colour of p.; milk white then sulphur yellow, becoming acrid; sp. - . agrees with _l. chrysorrheus_ in yellow milk, but differs in tawny rufous stem. ** _milk violet._ + _milk acrid._ =aspideus=, fr. dingy straw colour. p. - cm. zoneless, convex then depr. at first with white down; g. narrow, thickish; s. - cm. glabrous, dry; milk white soon becoming lilac; sp. echin. - . differs from _l. uvidus_ in narrow gills. =uvidus=, fr. p. - cm. thin, depr. zoneless, dingy tan; g. broad, white; s. - cm. viscid, pallid; milk white soon lilac; sp. - . ( - sacc.) [=flavidus=, boud. p. exp. viscid pale primrose yellow; g. whitish; s. solid, white with yellow tinge; milk white then deep violet; sp. - . ++ _milk sweet._ [=violascens=, fr. p. depr. glabrous, grey with darker zones; g. white; s. solid, greyish white; milk violet. *** _milk reddish, saffron, or brownish._ + _milk acrid._ =deliciosus=, fr. p. - cm. convex, umbil. dusky orange, zoned; g. subdecurrent, orange; s. - cm. smooth; milk saffron red; sp. - × - . every part becoming red then greenish when bruised; sp. - . edible. [=flammeolus=, fr. p. subumb. not zoned, flame coloured; g. adnate, yellow; s. hollow, pale orange; milk reddish, slowly acrid. differs from _l. mitissimus_ in red milk. =acris=, fr. p. - cm. soon infundib. viscid, sooty grey; g. pale yellow; s. often excentric, pallid, narrowed below; milk white then reddish; sp. - × - . =fuliginosus=, fr. p. - cm. soon depr. obtuse, even, at first with sooty-brown powder, then naked and greyish tan; g. adnate, white then tan; s. - cm. stuffed, naked, greyish tan; milk and flesh white then reddish-yellow; sp. - . distinguished from allies by pileus not being velvety. [=fuscus=, roll. caespitose, scented. p. exp. and slightly depr. round the umb. edge grooved, fibrillose or squamulose, sooty grey or dingy violet, often zoned; g. forked, pallid then ochre; s. firm ochre or tinged red, pruinose. [=argematus=, fr. white. p. thin, exp. glabrous, edge even; g. adnate, crowded; s. stuffed, short, glabrous; milk slowly acrid, white then rufescent. ++ _milk mild._ =retisporus=, mass. p. - cm. depr. smoky brown, velvety, radially rugulose, minutely velvety; g. deeply sinuate, pale ochre; s. - cm. glabrous, paler than p.; milk white then brown; sp. globose, - , with a raised network. close to _l. ligniotus_, differing especially in the spores. [=sangifluus=, fr. p. depr. even, not zoned, blood-red; s. narrowed upwards, paler; g. thin, white; milk blood-red; sp. . **** _milk becoming grey._ =vietus=, fr. p. - cm. subumb. then plane and umbil. flesh colour, pale and silky when dry; g. subdecurrent; - cm. soon hollow, livid; milk white then grey, becoming acrid; sp. - . [=musteus=, fr. p. convex then depr. zoneless, very viscid when moist, gilvous then pallid; g. closely crowded, whitish; s. short, whitish; milk scanty, slightly acrid, whitish then grey, as is the flesh when cut; sp. - . ***** _milk becoming glaucous-green._ =glaucescens=, crossl. p. - cm. whitish, depressed, flesh thick; g. adnate, narrow, pallid; s. . - long by . thick, whitish; milk white then glaucous-green; sp. echinulate, - µ. ****** _milk persistently white._ + _milk mild._ § _gills rufescent or yellowish._ =volemus=, fr. p. - cm. rigid, depr. obtuse, dry, glabrous, golden tawny at length minutely broken up; g. decur. crowded, yellowish; s. - cm. solid, stout, coloured like p. pruinose; milk white; sp. - . edible. =ichoratus=, batsch. p. - cm. thin, depr. even, glabrous, wavy, tawny, zoned; g. adnate, white then ochre; s. - cm. glabrous, tawny; milk white; sp. - × - . differs from _l. volemus_ in zoned p. and in being altogether more slender. _l. tithymalinus_ differs in acrid milk and pinkish gills. =mitissimus=, fr. p. . cm. depr. papillate, dry, even, zoneless, deep orange, shining; g. crowded, paler than p.; s. - cm. hollow, orange; milk white; sp. - × - . differs from _l. subdulcis_ in bright orange, shining p., and copious milk. =quietus=, fr. smell oily. p. - cm. depr. viscid at first, reddish cinnamon, pale and rather silky when dry; g. paler than p.; s. - cm. colour of p. glabrous; milk white; sp. - × - . =serifluus=, fr. p. - cm. plane then depr. rather wavy, glabrous, not zoned, tawny brown, margin incurved; g. crowded, yellowish; s. - cm. slightly incurved, paler than p. solid; milk scanty, watery; sp. - . differs from _l. subdulcis_ in solid stem. =camphoratus=, fr. smell strong, pleasant. p. - cm. thin, depr. dry, glabrous, reddish-brown, slightly zoned, rather wavy; g. adnate, reddish-yellow; s. - cm. subundulate, colour of p.; milk white; sp. - . smell strong and fragrant, especially when dry. _l. cimicarius_ has a very strong smell when quite fresh, but none when dry. =subumbonatus=, lindgr. p. - cm. thin, depr. subumb. rugose, punctate, wavy, dusky cinnamon, flesh grey then yellowish; g. adnate, pinkish rufous; s. - cm. stuffed, rufescent; milk watery, whitish; sp. - . ( , sacc.) smell foetid when dry. =tomentosus=, otto. p. - cm. umb. then depr. or infundib. downy, dingy flesh colour or brownish; g. tinged reddish-yellow; s. - cm. soon hollow, pallid, naked, smooth; milk white; sp. - . =helvus=, fr. p. - cm. fragile, plane, subumb. pale brick red, broken up into floccose squamules; g. decurrent, soon ochraceous; s. - cm. brick red, pruinosely pubescent; milk scanty, white, rather sweet; sp. - . _l. tomentosus_ differs in the naked stem. =squalidus=, kromb. p. - cm. umbil. pale greyish olive or lurid; g. narrow, yellowish; s. - cm. solid, equal, glabrous, pale brown; milk whitish; sp. - . about size of _l. pyrogalus_, but gills narrow and milk mild. =ligniotus=, fr. p. - cm. exp. umb. plicato-rugulose, pruinosely velvety, sooty umber; g. adnate, snow-white then tinged ochre; s. - cm. colour of p., apex constricted and plicate; milk white; sp. echinulate, - . known by rugulose pileus and mild milk. §§ _gills pallid._ =pallidus=, fr. p. - cm. umbil. viscid, pale ochraceous tan, zoneless; g. crowded, pallid, pruinose; s. - cm. pallid tan, soon hollow; milk white; sp. - × - . =cremor=, fr. p. - cm. soon plane, minutely punctate, tawny, margin striate; g. adnate, pallid; s. - cm. hollow, coloured like p.; milk whitish, watery; sp. - . var. _pauper_, karst. p. cm. margin sulcate; milk none; sp. . [=rubrocinctus=, fr. p. plane, tawny then paler; g. adnate, pallid; s. pallid with a pale red zone at the apex; milk scanty, white. ++ _milk acrid._ § _gills whitish or pallid._ =vellereus=, fr. white. p. - cm. umbil. tomentose, zoneless; g. decurrent, distant; s. solid, pubescent, - cm.; milk scanty, white; sp. × . =piperatus=, fr. white. p. - cm. thick, firm, umbil. then infundib. edge erect, glabrous, even; g. decur. crowded, narrow, forked; s. - cm. stout, smooth, solid; milk copious, white, acrid; sp. - . =pergamenus=, fr. white. p. - cm. plane then depr. wavy, rugulose; g. adnate, very narrow, horizontal, tinged straw colour; s. glabrous, discoloured, - cm.; milk white; sp. × . differs from _l. piperatus_ in crowded narrow gills, longer stem, and thinner pileus. =scoticus=, b. and br. pallid white, smell pungent. p. . cm. soon plane, tomentose then smooth except incurved margin; g. thin, rather broad; s. - cm. solid, tinged pink; milk white; sp. - . =involutus=, soppitt. white. p. - cm. plane or depr. incurved edge silky; g. subdecurrent, very narrow, densely crowded; s. - . cm. glabrous, solid; milk white; sp. elliptical, × . differs from _l. scoticus_ and all known species in the smooth, elliptical spores. =torminosus=, schaeff. p. - cm. obt. depr. slightly zoned, margin strongly involute and shaggy, tinged flesh colour or ochre; g. subdecur. pale; s. - cm. paler than p.; milk white; sp. echin. - × - . differs from _l. cilicioides_ in zoned pileus and white milk. =cilicioides=, fr. p. - cm. soft, not zoned, exp. and depr. margin fibrillose, pale flesh colour with rufous tinge; g. decur. somewhat branched; s. - cm. stuffed, even, silky, not spotted, pallid; milk white or faintly tinged yellow; sp. × - , echinulate. =pubescens=, fr. p. - cm. thin, exp. umbil. zoneless, whitish, margin pubescent; g. crowded, tinged pink; s. - cm. pinkish then pale, narrowed downwards; milk white; sp. echin. - . differs from _l. torminosus_ and _l. cilicioides_ in the margin being only downy. =insulsus=, fr. p. - cm. soon infundib. viscid, slightly zoned, yellowish or reddish, margin naked; g. forked, pallid; s. - cm. stuffed then hollow, pallid; milk white; sp. echin. × . _l. zonarius_ differs in the solid stem. =hysginus=, fr. p. - cm. rigid, umbil. viscid, thin margin incurved, reddish flesh colour; g. crowded; s. - cm. stuffed then hollow; milk white; sp. × - . [=luridus=, fr. p. fleshy, almost plane, even, viscid, slightly zoned, rufous-grey, edge bent down; g. decur. whitish; milk white, acrid; s. hollow, pallid; sp. × . =zonarius=, fr. p. - cm. compact, viscid, pale orange or yellowish, zoned; g. whitish; s. - cm. solid, yellowish; milk white; sp. - × . =circellatus=, fr. p. - cm. soon plane, wavy, viscid, brownish, zones and umbilicate disc darker; g. crowded, whitish; s. solid, narrowed below, pallid; milk white; sp. - . _l. flexuosus_ differs in yellow gills. =trivialis=, fr. - cm. depr. viscid, zoneless, pale yellowish or pinky tan, margin incurved; g. crowded, white; s. - cm. paler than p., hollow; milk white; sp. - . =turpis=, fr. p. - cm. rigid, depr. zoneless, viscid, olive-umber, margin at first with yellow down; g. thin, pallid; s. - cm. viscid, olive, narrowed at base; milk white; sp. echin. - . differs from _l. blennius_ in absence of circles of spots on pileus. =umbrinus=, pers. p. - cm. plane, umbil. wavy, dry, floccose, umber, not zoned; g. crowded, pallid; s. solid, very short, cm. greyish white; milk white, forming grey spots; sp. - . =blennius=, fr. p. - cm. depr. glutinous, dingy olive grey, often concentrically spotted, margin at first incurved; g. crowded; s. - cm. viscid, coloured like pileus; milk white; sp. - × . [=lividus=, lamb. p. convex then plane or depr. not distinctly zoned, pale livid, centre fuscescent, viscid (?); g. subdecur. pale livid, crowded; s. livid, solid, curved; milk white, acrid. [=impolitus=, fr. p. convex then depr. subumb. dry, silky, not zoned, becoming pale; g. adnate, crowded, pallid; s. glabrous but not polished, reddish white; milk white, acrid. §§ _gills rufescent or yellowish._ =rufus=, scop. p. - cm. umb. depr. flocculose then glabrous, zoneless, rufous bay, shining; g. yellowish rufous; s. - cm. rufescent; milk white; sp. - . [=decipiens=, q. p. moist then puberulent, reddish flesh-colour; g. narrow, tinged flesh-colour; s. slender, paler than p., milk very acrid; sp. - . [=maliodorus=, boud. smell unpleasant. p. infundib. dry, rather viscid when moist, tawny ochre or tawny brick-red, zones formed of darker spots, edge glabrous; g. subdecur. pallid then like p.; s. short, rugose; flesh tawny, milk white, acrid. differs from _l. quietus_ in brighter colour and acrid milk. =capsicum=, schulz. p. - cm. obtuse, deep chestnut colour, margin strongly incurved; g. tawny; s. white with tawny fibrils; milk white; sp. - . [=tithymalinus=, fr. p. umb. then convex, depr. dry, even, glabrous, not zoned, yellow, disc rufescent; g. adnate, crowded, yellowish then flesh-colour; s. glabrous, colour of p.; milk white, acrid. =subdulcis=, fr. p. - cm. thin, at length depr. papillate, even, glabrous, zoneless, bay or rufous cinnamon, not turning pale; g. adnate, paler than p.; s. - cm. soon hollow, equal, rufescent, slightly pruinose; milk white, sweet at first then very slightly acrid; sp. - . var. _concavus_, fr. p. rufous bay; g. reddish, pruinose; mild. var. _sphagneti_, fr. p. shining, margin crenate; s. hollow, glabrous. =terrei=, b. and br. caespitose. p. - cm. wrinkled, depr. bay; g. decur. pallid; s. thickened at base, hollow, with orange down; smell sweet. [=rubescens=, bres. p. convexo-plane then depr. rarely subumb. polished, dry, edge at first incurved and white-pruinose, pinkish brick-red then paler; g. crowded, pallid then pinkish-rufescent, subdecur.; s. colour of p.; milk white, sparingly acrid; sp. - . =cimicarius=, batsch. smell unpleasant, oily. p. - cm. depr. or infund. wavy, dark bay brown; g. reddish ochre, subdecur.; s. - cm. paler than p.; milk white; sp. - . smell strong, said to resemble bugs. =obnubilus=, lasch. p. - cm. thin, convex, umbil. sooty brown, slightly striate; g. rather crowded, yellowish; s. - cm. stuffed, slender, paler than p.; milk white; sp. - . var. _crenatus_, mass. p. - cm. sooty brown, coarsely sulcate, margin crenate. =flexuosus=, fr. p. - cm. dry, depr. wavy, lead colour or with lilac tinge, becoming squamulose; g. thick, distant, yellow; s. - cm. stout, solid, greyish; milk white; sp. - . var. _roseozonatus_, fr. p. rose colour, zones darker. differs from _l. blennius_ in yellow gills. =plumbeus=, fr. p. - cm. convex then infundib. dry, dull, sooty then blackish brown; g. crowded, tinged yellow; s. solid, equal, stout; milk white, acrid; sp. - × - . [=capsicoides=, fr. p. compact, convex-incurved, wavy, dry, glabrous, not zoned, flesh-colour; g. broad, crowded, whitish; s. solid, short, thick. differs from _l. flexuosus_ in broad, crowded, white g. [=jecorinus=, fr. p. convex then plano-depr. rugulose with elevated ridges, zoneless, viscid, reddish liver-colour; g. distant, yellow; s. hollow, pallid; milk white, acrid; sp. . [=crampylus=, fr. p. convex, umbil. everywhere rugulosely tomentose, zoneless, sooty red, edge downy; g. yellow; s. greyish; milk white, acrid. =pannucius=, fr. p. plano-discoid, zoneless, glabrous, brick-red, edge white-tomentose at first; g. yellow; s. elongated; milk white, acrid. [=fluens=, boud. p. convex, viscid, blackish olive, centre scarcely zoned, edge pale; g. adnate, ochre with grey tinge later; s. solid, rather viscid greyish ochre, brown when bruised like gills; milk acrid, white then brownish. differs from _l. blennius_ in larger size, tufted habit, convex p. and darker colour. =fascinans=, fr. p. convex then depr. viscid, brownish brick-red, zoneless, edge downy white at first; g. thickish, yellowish; s. hollow, pallid; milk white. =cyathicula=, fr. p. - cm. plane, umb. brick-red then pale, broken up, opaque; g. decurrent, crowded, yellowish; s. - cm. pallid; milk white; sp. - . =glyciosmus=, fr. strong scented. p. - cm. soon exp. umb. squamulose, greyish or brownish, opaque; g. soon pale ochre; s. - cm. pubescent, pallid; milk white; sp. - . var. _flexuosus_, fr. p. wavy, somewhat zoned. =pyrogalus=, bull. p. - cm. exp. depr. livid grey; g. thin, ochraceous; s. - cm. hollow, pallid; milk white; sp. - . _l. flexuosus_ differs in larger size, thick gills, and squamulose dark pileus. =utilis=, weinm. p. - cm. exp. then infund. glabrous, tan; g. adnate; s. - cm. hollow, even, coloured like p.; milk white; sp. - × - . =mammosus=, fr. p. - cm. acutely umb. then depr. zoneless, dry, greyish brown or lurid, covered with grey down; g. adnate, pale rusty; s. - cm. stuffed then hollow, pallid, downy; milk white, slowly acrid; sp. - . =aurantiacus=, fr. p. - cm. depr. even, zoneless, slightly viscid dull orange; g. decurrent, ochre; s. - cm. coloured like p.; milk white, becoming acrid; sp. - . _l. volemus_ differs in pruinose stem, and _l. mitissimus_ in mild milk. [=porinae=, roll. p. very firm, rugose, glabrous, viscid, orange yellow, generally with red zones, convex then plane, at length infundib. irreg. subumb. edge even incurved; g. yellow then ochre, crowded; s. ochre, rooting; milk white, scanty, rather acrid; sp. . . =picinus=, fr. p. - cm. convex then plane, umb. brownish umber, at first villosely velvety then disc almost glabrous; g. adnate, much crowded, ochre; s. - cm. even, glabrous, paler; milk white; sp. - . ( - sacc.) velvety p. and acrid milk mark this species. =spinulosus=, q. p. - cm. depr. umbo acute, flesh colour or rosy, with minute erect spines towards margin; g. decur. flesh colour with yellow tinge; s. - cm. flexuous, rugulose, paler than p.; milk white; sp. . var. _violaceus_, cke. p. rosy violet; s. almost smooth. =lilacinus=, lasch. p. - cm. depr. papillate, rosy-lilac, floccose when dry; g. adnate, tinged pink; s. - cm. pallid with a white bloom; milk white; sp. - . =lateritioroseus=, karst. p. plano-depr. often subinfundib. and irreg. granulose or squamulose especially near the edge, zoneless or nearly so, pale brick-red with rosy tinge; g. decur. pinkish; s. solid, colour of p., apex with white meal; milk scanty, white, acrid; sp. - × - . differs from _lact. lilacinus_ in decur. g. and pileus not floccose. =controversus=, pers. p. - cm. umbil. then infundib. whitish with red spots or zones; g. closely crowded, soon with flesh-coloured tint; s. - cm. white; milk white; sp. echin. - . [=viridis=, fr. p. depr. wavy, dry, green; g. white tinged rufous; s. hollow, stout, base narrowed; milk white; sp. . × . [=tabidus=, fr. p. submembranaceous, acutely umb., reddish then pale, edge striate when moist; s. subfistulose, pallid; g. flaccid, pallid; milk; sp. × - . recognised by very thin, acutely umbonate p.; owing to absence of description of milk, position uncertain. [=rutaceus=, lasch. p. subdepr. almost glabrous, opaque, reddish-fawn; g. subdecur. crowded, narrow, yellowish clay-colour. smell like _ruta graveolens_, taste bitter and of camphor. _stem excentric or lateral; growing on wood._ [=lateripes=, fr. p. white tinged rosy, subdimidiate; g. crowded, pallid; s. lateral; milk white, rather acrid. [=hometi=, gill. p. lateral, fleshy, convex, pale yellowish ochre, edge irreg. flesh white then violet; g. slightly decur. narrowed at both ends, pallid, spotted violet; s. lateral, stout, colour of p. =minimus=, w. g. sm. p. cm. convex, subumb. excentric, pallid tan; g. subdecur. pallid; s. cm. solid, coloured like p.; milk abundant, white; sp. - . =obliquus=, fr. smell strong. p. - cm. thin, depr. oblique, lobed, zoned greyish, silky; g. crowded; s. subexcentric, curved; milk white; sp. - . hygrophorus, fr. i. limacium. _pileus viscid, stem also often so; secondary veil floccose, forming a ring or attached to edge of p.; s. squamulose, or scabrid at apex; g. adnato-decur._ * _white or yellowish._ [=ligatus=, fr. white. p. convexo-plane, even; g. thick, distant; s. long, fibrillose, apex naked, ring inferior, subappend.; sp. - × - . sometimes tinged yellow, rarely spotted red. =chrysodon=, fr. white, edge of p. gills and upper part of stem tinged yellow. p. - cm. exp.; g. broad, thin; s. - cm. yellow squamules forming ring at apex; sp. × . [=gliocyclus=, fr. p. exp. pallid-white, very glutinous; g. decur. distant, permanently white; s. with inferior glutinous ring. [=hyacinthinus=, q. fragrant. p. snow-white, viscid, silky-shining, margin pubescent; s. slender, striate, pruinose. =eburneus=, bull. white. p. - cm. exp. even, edge soon naked; g. decur. distant, firm; s. - cm. viscid, rough with points at apex; sp. × . differs from _h. cossus_ in pure white colour and absence of unpleasant smell. [=subpurpurascens=, allesch. p. hemispher. viscid, white, tan or brownish when dry; g. decur. white, brownish-purple when dry; s. viscid, narrowed below and rooting, white, apex white-scurfy; sp. - × - . =cossus=, sow. smell strong. p. - cm. exp. glutinous, shining when dry, white with yellow tinge, edge naked; g. subdecur. distant, firm; s. scurfy-punctate upwards; sp. - × - . [=melizeus=, fr. straw colour. p. exp. depr. even; g. decur. thin, distant; s. soft, narrowed below, apex with white squamules. =penarius=, sow. p. - cm. p. umb. then exp. and obtuse, usually dry, compact, pallid tan, opaque; g. decur. distant, thick; s. - cm. glutinous then dry and rugulose, fusiformly rooting; sp. - × - . ** _reddish._ [=purpurascens=, fr. p. whitish, disc with purplish squamules; g. decur. white tinged purple; s. white, bristling with purplish squamules, ring inferior. [=capreolarius=, kalchbr. entirely purple rufous. p. soon dry, virgate with darker fibrils, centre squamulosely punctate, flesh reddish; g. rigid, purplish then changing to cinnamon; s. reticulately striate with darker purple-umber fibrils. =erubescens=, fr. p. - cm. gibbous then convexo-plane, white then deep rosy or dingy red; g. soft, white spotted red; s. - cm. reddish fibrillose, apex red punctate; sp. - × - . usually growing in circles. pileus and flesh white suffused with red everywhere. =pudorinus=, fr. p. - cm. convex depr. viscid, clear reddish flesh colour; g. distant, thick, shining white; s. - cm. white, apex constricted and rough with points; sp. × . differs from _h. erubescens_ in pure white gills, and clearer colour of p. =rubescens=, beck. p. convex, shining, flesh-colour or yellowish, disc often somewhat tawny; g. very distant, adnate, scarcely decur., pale flesh-colour; s. clavate from base, yellowish white, narrowed and floccosely-verruculose below gills; sp. . - × - ; flesh of p. reddish. differs from _h. pudorinus_ and _h. discoideus_ in clavate s. and red flesh. [=queletii=, bres. p. convex-plane, subumb. white with pinkish flecks at centre, epidermis becoming squamulose, edge at first incurved and white-floccose, viscid; g. adnato-decur. white or yellowish, edge citrin; s. solid, white, scurfy with reddish flecks; sp. - × . sometimes entirely white and p. concentrically cracked. =glutinifer=, fr. p. - cm. exp. rufescent, pellicle glutinous, disc rugosely punctate; g. arcuato-decur. white; s. - cm. stuffed, ventricose below, viscid, colour of p., apex white squamulose; sp. ----. [=leucophaeus=, fr. p. exp. pallid gilvous, disc rugosely punctate; g. adnate then decur. pallid; s. hollow, narrowed below, pallid, apex white floccose; sp. - × . [=secretani=, henn. (= _ag. suaveolens_, var. d. secr.) smell strong, like aniseed. p. camp. exp. white, disc with rosy fibrils; g. adnato-decur. distant, thick, white then tan or yellowish; s. white, glabrous, apex white-floccose; sp. - × - . [=persicinus=, beck. p. conic then hemispher. edge incurved, peach colour or somewhat orange, shining, even; g. thick, both ends narrowed, decur. edge very obtuse, fuscescent; s. constricted below gills, pale lilac-peach-colour, base yellowish; sp. - × - . [=miniaceus=, beck. p. convex then exp. fleshy, vermilion brick-red, centre innately floccose; g. adnate, very distant, broad, white; s. orange flesh-colour; flesh white soon reddish, deep rose under cuticle of p.; sp. - . *** _tawny or yellow._ =arbustivus=, fr. p. - cm. exp. viscid, innately virgate, tawny; g. adnate, thick, white; s. solid, - cm. pallid, apex with loose white mealy granules; sp. × . =discoideus=, fr. p. - cm. exp. depr. glutinous, pale gilvous, disc dark and rusty; g. adnato-decur. soft, colour of p. then pallid; s. viscid, flocculose, with white points upwards, - cm.; sp. - × - . [=friesii=, sacc. (_h. nitidus_, fr. mon., not b. and c.). p. convex then plane, obtuse, viscid, yellow; g. deeply decur. white then pallid; s. solid, glabrous, viscid, apex even, white; sp. × - . [=nitidus=, fr. p. exp. viscid, yellow; g. deeply decur. distant, white then pallid; s. solid, glabrous, viscid, apex smooth, white. =aureus=, arrh. p. - cm. exp. glutinous, golden yellow; g. adnato-decur. white; s. - cm. reddish tawny and glutinous up to imperfect ring; sp. × . [=bresadolae=, q. p. campan.-exp. umb. glutinous, clear yellow, umb. orange tawny; g. distant, thick, attenuato-decur. citrin or more or less white; s. apex white, yellow-flocculose below ring, glutinous; sp. - × . [=lucorum=, kalchb. p. plano-depr. subumb. viscid, whitish, disc bright citrin, altogether yellowish when old; g. adnato-decur. pallid or citrin, edge white; s. slender, base subbulbous, colour of p.; sp. × . =aromaticus=, sow. p. - cm. exp. very fragile, cinnamon, glutinous; g. subdecur. white with pink tinge; s. - cm. equal, colour of p. smell spicy, taste like peppermint. a fungus of uncertain affinity. **** _olivaceous-umber._ =limacinus=, fr. p. - cm. convex, obtuse, umber then smoky olive, edge paler; g. adnato-decur. greyish white; s. - cm. solid, viscid, apex squamulose; × . differs from _h. olivaceo-albus_ in squamulose apex of stem, and from _h. agathosmus_ in viscid stem. [=vignolius=, paniz. p. obtuse, very glutinous, olive; g. adnate, greyish-purple then rusty, edge white; s. with dark concentric scales or glutinous and fibrillose. =olivaceo-albus=, fr. p. - cm. exp. even, with olive gluten which disappears leaving surface pale, umbo brown; g. adnato-decur. white; s. - cm. viscid, with a floccose ring at first, scaly and spotted brown, apex glabrous; sp. - × . =hypothejus=, fr. p. - cm. exp. and more or less depr. thin, olive gluten disappearing and leaving p. yellowish-olive or brownish, virgate; g. decur. yellow; s. - cm. viscid, paler than p., trace of ring when young; sp. - × - . _h. olivaceo-albus_ differs in white gills. =cerasinus=, b. smell strong, like cherry-laurel. p. - cm. obtusely umb. viscid, pale umber then greyish, margin downy; g. very distant, tinged pink; s. - cm. white, apex squamulose; sp. × . ***** _brownish grey or livid._ =fusco-albus=, lasch. p. - cm. exp. even, viscid, brownish grey; g. decur. broad, snow-white; s. - cm. equal, dry, apex white-floccose; sp. - × - . =agathosmus=, fr. smell like aniseed. p. - cm. exp. gibbous, viscid, livid grey, disc with crowded pellucid papillae; g. decur. soft, white; s. - cm. dry, fibrillosely striate, rough with squamules upwards; sp. - × . [=pustulatus=, fr. p. exp. umb. viscid, livid grey, umbo fuscous, cracked into papillae; g. adnato-decur. white, often glaucous; s. equal, white, rough with black points; sp. - × - . var. _terebratus_, fr. p. subumb. glabrous; g. triquetrous; s. wavy, pure white, apex with black points. [=tephroleucus=, fr. p. exp. then depr. round the brown umbo, viscid, grey, adpressedly squamuloso-fibrillose; g. decur. white; s. solid, with black fibrils above. [=hyporrhodius=, otth. p. convex then depr. greyish brown, disc squamulose; g. slightly decur. both ends acute, rosy white, connected by veins; s. equal, white, granulosely squamulose. [=albidus=, karst. p. convexo-plane, umb. cuticle longitudinally interwoven, rugosely papillate near edge, even, whitish, viscid; g. adnato-decur. distant, shining white; s. equal, flocculose, white; sp. - × . =mesotephrus=, b. p. - cm. hemispher. hygr. viscid, striate, whitish with brown disc; g. decur. white, s. - cm. slender, flexuous, white, viscid, apex granular; sp. - × . =livido-albus=, fr. p. - cm. even, glabrous, viscid, exp. obtuse, thin, everywhere livid; g. decur. white; s. slender, even, almost smooth; sp. × . differs from _h. eburneus_ in livid p. and glabrous s. =calophyllus=, karst. p. conico-convex, exp. obsoletely umb. viscid, even, glabrous, sooty-fuscous; g. decur. distant, joined by veins, rosy or at length whitish; s. thicker below, wavy, pallid then sooty, glabrous, even, dry; sp. - × - . ii. camarophyllus. _veil absent. stem not punctate or scabrid. pileus firm, moist in wet weather but not viscid. gills distant, arcuate._ * _gills deeply and at length obconically decurrent._ =caprinus=, scop. p. - cm. fleshy, fragile, exp. umb. rather wavy, sooty, fibrillose; g. very broad, thick, very distant, white then glaucous; s. - cm. solid, sooty fibrillose; sp. × - . =leporinus=, fr. p. - cm. convex, gibbous, reddish-yellow, fibrilloso-floccose, opaque; g. decur. gilvous; s. - cm. fibrillose, pallid; sp. subgl. - . differs from _h. pratensis_ in floccose p. [=alutaceorubens=, otth. p. convex then flat, yellowish red, disc darker; g. scarcely decur. reddish-yellow; s. cylind. rather twisted, apex reddish and mealy, whitish below. [=velutinus=, borsz. p. exp. gibbous then subdepr. even when moist, floccosely squamulose when dry, tawny yellow; g. deeply decur. thick, orange; s. fibrillosely squamulose, darker; sp. × . =nemoreus=, fr. p. - cm. equally fleshy, exp. almost glabrous, tawny orange; g. thick, distant, colour of p.; s. squamulose, fibroso-striate, base narrowed, pale; sp. - × . differs from _h. pratensis_ in squamulose, pale s., and from _h. leporinus_ in glabrous p. =pratensis=, fr. every part tawny-yellow or buff. p. - cm. disc very fleshy, gibbous, margin thin, altogether obconic; g. deeply decur. thick, distant; s. - cm. stuffed, even, glabrous, narrowed downwards; sp. × . edible. variable in size, sometimes all white or grey, s. often pale. var. _cinereus_, fr. p. and g. grey, s. whitish, slender. var. _pallidus_, b. and br. p. depr. or infundib., edge wavy, entirely pale ochre. [=bicolor=, karst. p. compact and thick, obconoid, convex, often depr. whitish, even, glabrous, g. deeply decur. gilvous; s. long, solid, narrowed below, glabrous, whitish; sp. × . [=suberosus=, jacobasch. p. convex, subdepr. subturbinate, not umb. reddish yellow, g. decur. pallid; s. pallid, equal, floccosely tomentose; sp. . - . . [=karstenii=, sacc. and cub. p. fleshy, disc compact, convexo-plane, glabrous, even, whitish; g. deeply decur. distant, yellow; s. solid, narrowed below, wavy, whitish; sp. × . =virgineus=, wulf. white. p. - cm. fleshy, exp. obtuse then depr. becoming cracked and floccose when dry; g. distant, thickish; s. - cm. stuffed, firm, short, narrowed downwards; sp. - × . edible. var. _roseipes_, mass. stem rosy downwards. =niveus=, fr. white. p. . - . cm. tough, membranaceous, convex, umbil. viscid; g. thin, arcuate, distant; s. - cm. slender, equal; sp. - × - . differs from _h. virgineus_ in smaller size, thin p. and slender equal s. =russo-coriaceus=, b. and br. white, fragrant. p. . - cm. convex, disc fleshy, edge thin; g. thick, very distant; s. . - . cm. solid, smooth, base narrowed; sp. × . differs from _h. niveus_ in thick disc, and smell resembling russian leather. [=helvella=, boud. p. hygr. glabrous, greyish ochre, obconic-campan. edge sometimes wavy; g. shortly decur. narrow, grey; s. whitish, equal, scurfy above, base thickened and downy. [=glaucus=, karst. p. convexo-plane, umb. then depr. and somewhat wavy, moist, glabrous, shining, even, glaucous; g. deeply decur. rather branched, glaucous; s. wavy, with white down then glabrous, white; sp. - , glob. [=clivalis=, fr. white, fragile. p. campan. exp. shining, edge at first incurved then spreading, striate; g. narrowed behind, nearly free, ventricose, distant; s. solid, short, fragile, narrowed below; sp. - × . =ventricosus=, b. and br. white. p. - cm. convex, disc fleshy, edge thin, sometimes irreg.; g. deeply decur. narrow; s. - cm. ventricose, solid, smooth; sp. × . known among white sp. by fleshy p. and stout, ventricose stem. ** _gills ventricose, sinuato-arcuate or plano-adnate._ =fornicatus=, fr. p. - cm. campan. then exp. even, glabrous, viscid, white or livid; g. sinuato-adnexed, thick, white; s. - cm. firm, equal, tough, glabrous, white; sp. - × . stem solid below, apex hollow. pileus obsoletely umb. rather wavy; gills sometimes free, with a decurrent tooth, not decurrent as in _h. virgineus_. =distans=, b. p. - cm. exp. or depr. umbil. thin, viscid, white with silky sheen, sometimes stained with brown; g. adnate, very distant, white; s. - cm. white above, rather narrowed and greyish below; sp. × . [=streptopus=, fr. fragile, splitting. p. campan. exp. greyish white; g. sinuato-adnate, rather crowded, white; s. hollow, rather twisted, white. =clarkii=, b. and br. p. - cm. fragile, thin, exp. subumb. viscid, livid grey; g. adnate with decur. tooth, broad, thick, distant, white; s. - cm. grey, base white; sp. subgl. × . _h. distans_ differs in white umbilic. p. =metapodius=, fr. p. - cm. compact, exp. viscid then silky squamulose, brownish; g. arcuato-decur. thick, distant, greyish; s. - cm. glabrous, grey, reddish inside; sp. × . =ovinus=, bull. p. - cm. thin, conical then exp. gibbous, viscid then squamulose, fuscous; g. arcuato-adnate, connected by veins, grey then rufescent; s. - cm. glabrous, often twisted, pallid or dark; sp. × - . differs from _h. metapodius_ in thin p. subequal s. and thinner g. [=connatus=, karst. p. thin, convexo-exp. unequal, dry, even, grey then pallid, silky-white then glabrous; g. decur. distant, branched, narrow, grey; s. solid, rather wavy, squamulose above, colour of p.; sp. - × - . [=flavus=, lamb. smell like new meal. p. convex, exp. then umbil. edge sublobed, glabrous, even, yellowish; g. adnexed with decur. tooth, very broad, ventricose, distant, whitish; s. equal, even, cylindrical, colour of p. =subradiatus=, fr. p. - cm. submembranaceous, subumb. radiato-striate, brownish; g. adnate with decur. tooth, thin, white; s. - cm. fistulose, glabrous, pallid; sp. × . var. _lacmus_, fr. p. plano-depr. lilac then pallid, disc sometimes fibrillose; g. grey. =irrigatus=, fr. p. - cm. thin, campan. then exp. subumb. livid, lubricous; g. whitish, with a decur. tooth; s. - cm. grey, very viscid; sp. - × . _h. unguinosus_ differs in the sooty-grey gluten. iii. hygrocybe. _veil absent. entire fungus thin, watery, fragile. p. viscid when moist, shining when dry, rarely floccose. often bright coloured._ * _gills decurrent or adnate with decur. tooth._ =colemannianus=, blox. p. - cm. campan. then exp. and strongly umb. pale umber paler except disc when dry; g. deeply decur. connected by veins, pale brown; s. - cm. white, silky upwards; sp. × . =foetens=, phill. very foetid. p. - cm. exp. umber; g. grey; s. - cm. olive yellow, squamulose; sp. subgl. - . =sciophanus=, fr. p. - cm. exp. slightly viscid, opaque, pale brick red, or tawny, striate; g. decur. connected by veins, tinged red; s. - cm. hollow, subflexuous, smooth; sp. ----. [=sulcatus=, karst. p. campan. exp. viscid, sulcate except disc, deep tawny; s. hollow, equal, glabrous, viscid, yellowish; g. decur. yellowish. =laetus=, fr. (= _h. houghtoni_, b.). p. - cm. thin, convexo-plane, viscid, tawny; g. thin, distant, paler than p. decur.; s. - cm. tough, equal, viscid, colour of p.; sp. × - . differs from _h. sciophanus_ in viscid stem. =vitellinus=, fr. every part clear lemon yellow, paler when dry. p. . - . cm. viscid, edge plicato-striate; g. decur. rather distant; s. - cm. hollow, fragile; sp. × . =ceraceus=, wulf. p. - cm. fragile, thin, exp. viscid, shining, wax-yellow; g. adnate, subdecur. distant, broad, almost triangular, yellow; s. hollow, - cm. hollow, colour of p. often flexuous; sp. × . differs from _h. vitellinus_ in broad gills and wax-yellow s. and p. =coccineus=, schaeff. p. . - cm. fragile, thin, convexo-plane, obtuse, viscid, glabrous, scarlet then pale; g. adnate with decur. tooth, connected by veins, reddish or yellowish; s. - cm. hollow, compr. yellowish, crimson above; sp. - × . ( - × - .) differs from _h. puniceus_ in adnate g. and yellow base of s., from _h. miniatus_ in glabrous p. and yellow base of s. =miniatus=, fr. p. - cm. fragile, thin, convex then umbil. scarlet then pale, opaque and squamulose; g. adnate, distant, yellow and red; s. - cm. terete, polished, scarlet; sp. × . =turundus=, fr. p. - cm. thin, convex then umbil. very brittle, covered with greyish-brown down then squamulose; g. decur. distant, white then yellowish; s. - cm. tawny, polished; sp. ----. p. soon broken up into smoky squamules, but golden and viscid at first. var. _mollis_, b. and br. p. golden with fibrils of same colour; s. yellow; g. shortly decur. var. _lepidus_, boud. brilliant golden orange; p. convex, squamulose or hirsuto-tomentose, umbil. then golden, centre deepest; g. thick distant, deeply and abruptly decur. pallid; s. elongated, colour of p.; sp. - × - . =mucronellus=, fr. p. - cm. submembranaceous, fragile, conic then campan. acutely umb. glabrous, vermilion then pale; g. decur. triangular, thick, yellow; s. - cm. slender, colour of p. base white; sp. ----. =wynniae=, b. and br. (= _clitocybe xanthophylla_, bres., _fide_ berk.). p. . - . cm. thin, convex then umbil. or infundib., striate, lemon yellow, greenish when dry; g. decur. yellowish then tinged green; s. - cm. colour of p.; sp. - × . [=syrjensis=, karst. p. thin convex, disc depr. glabrous, even, dry, fuscous-white or dingy yellowish; g. deeply decur. brownish, somewhat branched; s. equal, pallid; sp. × - . =micaceus=, b. and br. p. - . cm. thin, exp. yellow then grey with green tinge, wrinkled, micaceous; g. decur. pale umber; s. - . cm. slender, yellow, base brown; sp. × . ** _gills adnexed then separating from stem._ =puniceus=, fr. p. - cm. campan. obtuse, wavy, viscid, crimson then pale; g. slightly adnexed, thick, distant, yellow; s. - cm. hollow, striate, colour of p. base white; sp. × . differs from _h. coccineus_ in adnexed g. and striate stem with white base. var. _nigrescens_, q. becoming blackish everywhere. p. orange, virgate, then grey and silky; s. striate, yellow, apex red. =obrusseus=, fr. p. - cm. conico-convex, wavy, golden yellow, shining; g. adnato-ventricose, thick, distant; s. - cm. hollow, subcompressed, glabrous, even, yellow, base tawny; sp. - × . tawny base of stem not always evident. [=citrino-croceus=, beck. p. convex, flattened, glabrous, shining, citrin-saffron, disc golden, edge whitish, slightly upturned; g. very distant, broad, shortly decur. white; s. solid, subequal white or spotted citrin; sp. . - . × . - . =intermedius=, pass. p. - cm. thin, campan. then exp. silky-fibrillose, golden then greyish; g. adnate, ventricose, white then yellow; s. - cm. yellow, fibrillosely striate; sp. - × . differs from _h. obrusseus_ in strong mealy smell, and p. becoming grey. =conicus=, fr. p. - cm. conical, acute, often lobed, yellow or tinged crimson; g. nearly free, thin, yellowish; s. - cm. hollow fibroso-striate, colour of p.; sp. - × - . every part blackish when bruised or old. [=albus=, otth. p. conical, obtuse, even, white; g. free, snow-white; s. white, striate, shining. differs from _hygr. conicus_ in colour and obtuse p. =calyptraeformis=, b. p. - cm. acutely conical then splitting and exp. clear rose then paler; g. slightly adnexed, tinged rose; s. - cm. hollow, white; sp. × . var. _niveus_, cke. entirely white. =chlorophanus=, fr. p. - cm. fragile, very thin, convex, obtuse, viscid, yellow, sometimes crimson; g. emarginate, adnexed, white tinged yellow; s. viscid when moist, even, everywhere yellow, - cm.; sp. × . differs from _h. conicus_ in not becoming black. =psittacinus=, schaeff. p. . - cm. campan. then exp. umb. striate, yellow and orange, with green gluten; g. thick, distant, greenish; s. - cm. glutinous, yellow, apex green; sp. × . =spadiceus=, fr. p. - cm. thin, conical, acute, fibrilloso-virgate, with olive-bay gluten, blackish and shining when dry; g. citrin; s. - cm. hollow, dry, tawny-fibrillose; sp. - × . differs from _h. conicus_ in virgate p. and thicker g. not narrowed behind. [=squalidus=, lasch. fragile. p. campan. exp. gibbous, and with the glabrous hollow s. sooty and glutinous, orange after the gluten has gone; g. thick, livid then fuscous, edge orange. =unguinosus=, fr. p. - cm. fragile, thin, obtuse, uneven, smooth, with smoky-brown dripping gluten, becoming cracked; g. white; s. - cm. hollow, with smoky gluten; sp. × - . [=obscuratus=, karst. p. fragile, convex, obtuse, dry, squamulose, sooty or livid blackish, mouse-colour when dry; g. sinuato-adnate, whitish or glaucous; s. unequal, usually inflated below, wavy, glabrous, pallid, centre often tinged smoky; sp. - × - . =nitratus=, pers. smell strong, nitrous. p. - cm. deformed, viscid, soon dry and squamulose, brownish-grey; g. broad, distant, white then glaucous; s. - cm. polished, white or tinged yellow; sp. × . there are two forms, a large one in woods, and a smaller one in pastures, structure that of _h. coccineus_, but colours very different. readily distinguished by the strong nitrous smell. [=schulzeri=, bres. p. hemispher. exp. or depr. dry, even, livid cinnamon; g. distant, subdecur. white then greyish; s. dry, colour of p., apex white-scurfy; inodorous; sp. glob. - . . [=glauconitens=, fr. rigid. p. fibrillosely virgate, olive-black or sooty then pale; g. glaucous; s. equal, shining; sp. - × - . fries thinks this may be a young state of _h. nitratus_. smell same but weaker. [=marzuolus=, bres. (= _clitocybe marzuolus_, bres.). p. . - cm. s. - cm. base clavate; sp. - × - . bresadola considers this sp. is the _clitocybe_ of fries. clitocybe, fr. a. _p. fleshy, not hygr. pale and silky when dry._ * disciformes. _p. fleshy, convex then plane or subdepressed._ + _p. greyish or brownish._ =nebularis=, batsch. p. - cm. convex then subgibbous, grey, at first with grey meal; g. narrow, subdecur. crowded, pallid; s. - cm. narrowed upwards, fibrillose, pale; sp. × . . edible. =clavipes=, pers. p. - cm. convex then plane, naked, grey or brownish; g. decur. down stem, rather distant; s. obconic, fibrillose, - cm. livid sooty; sp. - × . =comitalis=, fr. p. - cm. soon plane, obtuse, sooty umber; s. - cm. obconic, sooty; g. plane, crowded; sp. - × . =gangraenosa=, fr. foetid. p. - cm. soon plane, obtuse, whitish, variegated black, greenish, livid &c.; g. dingy white; s. - cm. striate, somewhat bulbous; sp. ----. =polius=, fr. p. - cm. convexo-plane, regular, grey; g. decur. closely crowded, white; s. - cm. equal, glabrous, whitish; sp. ----. _c. fumosa_ differs in cartilaginous substance, mealy apex of stem, hygr. &c. =inornata=, sow. p. - cm. plane or depr. pale greyish tan often with olive tinge, cuticle separable; g. adnate then decur. grey; s. - cm. glabrous, greyish; sp. ----. [=cardarella=, fr. convex then plano-depr. glabrous, shining, covered with a thick separable pellicle, blackish red, very viscid; g. decur. broad, shining white; s. solid, stout, white. edible. [=auricula=, d. c. p. hemispher. even, glabrous, edge incurved, naked, greyish brown; g. white; s. solid, glabrous, white. [=nimbata=, batsch. p. camp.-convex, even, thin margin incurved, white mealy; g. crowded, arcuate, white; s. solid, innately squamulose, squamules becoming blackish. [=luscina=, fr. p. exp. even, glabrous, edge spreading, naked, fuscous then livid; g. subdecur. crowded; s. solid, short, narrowed downwards, powdered with white meal. [=curtipes=, fr. p. exp. oblique, obtuse, brown then pale, flesh brown; g. closely crowded, white; s. short, rigid, fuscous, thickened upwards, pale and subpruinose. =hirneola=, fr. p. - . cm. convex then plane, silky shining, grey then pale; g. crowded, hoary; s. - cm. slender, subflexuous, grey, apex with white meal; sp. × . var. _major_, fr. p. wavy, slightly zoned, whitish. var. _undulata_, ----. p. exp. slightly wavy and zoned, whitish; s. thickened downwards. [=dothiophora=, fr. p. exp. oblique, gibbous, hoary; g. decur. crowded, whitish; s. solid, short, excentric, glabrous. ++ _pileus violet or rufescent._ =cyanophaea=, fr. p. - cm. plane, obtuse, brownish-blue; g. deeply decur. violet then pale; s. - cm. narrowed upwards, bluish when young, apex abruptly white; sp. ----. differs from _trich. nudum_ in decurrent gills, &c. [=tyrianthina=, fr. exp. even, purplish flesh colour, pellicle separable when dry; g. rosy violet; s. villose then striate. differs from _c. gilva_ in springing from a fiery-red mycelium. somewhat resembling _trich. personatum_. =opiparia=, fr. p. - cm. nearly plane, obtuse, yellowish flesh-colour, shining; g. white, connected by veins; s. - cm. solid, glabrous, whitish; sp. ----. =amara=, fr. taste very bitter. p. - cm. plane, obtuse or subumb. floccosely broken up, rufescent; g. crowded, narrow, white; s. - cm. white, solid, floccose then glabrous; sp. × . [=vulpecula=, kalchb. p. exp. depr. gilvous-rufescent; g. acutely adnate, narrow; s. hollow, naked, whitish. =socialis=, fr. p. - cm. umb. even, yellowish-red; g. tinged yellow; s. - cm. reddish, rooting base hairy; sp. ----. stem strigose as in _marasmius personatus_. +++ _pileus becoming yellowish._ =amarella=, pers. smell strong, taste bitter. p. - cm. plane, subumb. reddish-yellow or fawn colour; g. tinged grey, shining; s. - cm. pallid grey, white down at base; sp. ----. [=veneris=, fr. p. exp. gibbous, yellow; g. crowded, shining white; s. elastic, glabrous, white. =vernicosa=, fr. p. - cm. obtuse, even, glabrous, gilvous or deep yellow; g. yellow; s. - cm. glabrous, yellow; sp. ----. distinguished from _trich. cerinum_ by decur. gills. =venustissima=, fr. p. - cm. exp. obtuse, striate, orange, tinged red; g. decur. orange; s. - cm. long, glabrous, orange-red; sp. × . . =alutacea=, cke. and mass. p. - . cm. convex then umbil. edge incurved, even, tan; g. narrow, crowded, arcuate, decur. paler than p.; s. - cm. smooth, pale; sp. × . =subalutacea=, batsch. p. - cm. plano-depr. obtuse, yellowish then pale; g. broad, whitish; s. - cm. firm, elastic, glabrous; sp. ----. ++++ _pileus greenish or pallid._ =odora=, sow. smell fragrant. p. - cm. wavy, pale, dingy opaque green; g. adnate, not crowded, pallid; s. - cm. elastic; sp. - × - . =trogii=, fr. smell fragrant. p. - cm. compact, greyish white; g. crowded, white; s. - cm. whitish, solid; sp. ----. stouter than _c. odora_, and p. greyish, not green. [=vilis=, karst. p. convex, exp. umb. glabrous, pellucidly striate, livid, pallid when dry; g. decur. pallid; s. equal, wavy, glabrous, umber, apex white-scurfy, livid when dry; sp. . - . × . [=bifurcata=, weinm. p. exp. rather silky, clay-colour then pale, edge substriate; g. adnato-decur. simple or bifurcate, white; s. fibrillose. =rivulosa=, pers. p. - cm. exp. or depr. obtuse, flesh-colour, rufescent &c. then pale, glabrous then with white down; g. broad, rather crowded, faintly tinged pink; s. - cm. tough, rather fibrillose, whitish; sp. × . . var. _neptunea_, cke. smaller than type. [=rigidata=, karst. p. rigid, plane, depr. unequal, even, glabrous, pallid then whitish; g. adnate, pallid; s. thickened upwards, often compr. rooting, pallid; sp. - × - . +++++ _pileus white, shining when dry._ =cerussata=, fr. white. p. - cm. plane, obtuse, even, subglabrous; g. closely crowded, adnate; s. - cm. smooth, elastic; sp. ----. var. _difformis_. tufted, p. lobed; s. rugose; g. pallid. var. _obtextus_, lasch. snow-white. p. fibrillosely interwoven then glabrous, rather viscid; g. subdecur. crowded. [=puellula=, karst. p. convexo-plane, subumb. even, glabrous, shining white; g. adnate, crowded, white; s. subequal, straight, elastic, white with blackish squamules; sp. - × - . allied to _clito. cerrusatus_ but smaller and with black squamules on stem. [=adsentiens=, karst. p. convexo-plane, obtuse, even, at length scaly, white; g. adnate, closely crowded, white; s. short, base thickened, white with blackish scales; sp. ----. =phyllophila=, fr. whitish-tan. p. - cm. convexo-plane, umbil. not becoming pale, veil forming a silvery zone near margin; g. rather distant, white then pallid; silky-fibrous, tough, - cm.; sp. × . =pithyophila=, fr. white. p. - cm. exp. umbil. glabrous, becoming shining white; g. crowded, permanently white; s. - cm. often compr. base downy; sp. ----. =tornata=, fr. white. p. - cm. orbicular, subdepr. glabrous, shining; g. rather crowded; s. stuffed, glabrous, - cm.; - × - µ. very regular in form. var. _opala_, fr. white. p. viscid. [=olorina=, fr. whitish. p. exp. even, glabrous; s. hollow, rigid, cylindrical, squamulose; g. subdecur. crowded. =candicans=, pers. white. p. - cm. plane or subdepr. umbil. with adpressed silkiness, shining white when dry; g. adnate then decur. crowded; s. - cm. subfistulose, cartilaginous, shining; sp. - × . =dealbata=, sow. white. p. - cm. plane then upturned and wavy, glabrous, rather shining; g. adnate, crowded, white; s. - cm. entirely fibrous, thin, equal, stuffed; sp. - × . . =gallinacea=, scop. white, taste acrid. p. depr. even, dry, opaque; g. crowded, narrow; s. - cm. equal, even, solid; sp. ----. differs from _c. dealbata_ in dingy white, opaque p. and acrid taste. ** difformes. _pileus fleshy at the disc, margin thin, umb. at first, then exp. depr. and irregular._ =decastes=, fr. clustered. p. - cm. wavy, subumb. glabrous, uniformly dingy brown or livid, then pale; g. crowded, wavy, white; s. - cm. long, solid, glabrous, white, apex pruinose; sp. globose, - . =subdecastes=, cke. and mass. clustered. p. - cm. convex, obtuse, ochre, paler towards lobed margin; g. crowded, white; s. - cm. fibrillose, whitish; sp. globose, - . =ampla=, pers. p. - cm. convex then exp. wavy, sooty then livid, even; g. broad, smoky then dingy white; s. - cm. subcartilaginous, naked, white, apex somewhat downy; sp. ----. [=molybdina=, bull. p. camp. exp. umb. glabrous, sooty, disc livid rufous, then pale; g. horn colour then pallid; s. stout, fibrillosely striate, mealy squamulose upwards, pallid. [=coffeata=, fr. p. brownish fawn then sooty grey, fawn colour and shining when dry, virgate or spotted; g. decur. dingy white, as is also the glabrous s. =aggregata=, schaeff. tufted. p. - cm. wavy, greyish or reddish yellow, then pale, silkily virgate; g. yellowish flesh colour; s. - cm. fibrillose, narrowed below and often grown together at base; sp. ----. [=hortensis=, pers. caespitose, elastic. p. exp. obsoletely umb. sooty, blackish; g. decur. white then flesh-colour; s. hollow, rather wavy. [=tabescens=, scop. (= _coll. tabescens_, fr.). p. conico-campan. exp. umb. depr. round umbo, tawny honey-colour, or tawny-brown, disc scaly; g. decur. pallid then pinkish tan; s. fibrillosely scaly, pallid or lurid yellow, elongated; sp. - × - . closely resembling _armillaria mellea_, but no ring on stem. [=anapacta=, pers. p. depr. wavy, brown, edge incurved; g. broad, dingy tan; s. narrowed below, pallid. =elixa=, sow. p. - cm. unequal, wavy, disc umb. smoky buff, edge paler; g. distant; s. - cm. solid, dingy, subfloccose; sp. × . =fumosa=, pers. tufted. p. - cm. subcartilaginous, obtuse, wavy, sooty brown then pale; g. adnate, livid; s. - cm. often twisted, dingy, apex minutely mealy; sp. subgl. - . differs from _c. elixa_ in obtuse, non-virgate p. [=effocatella=, viv. caespitose. p. convex, even, glabrous, livid chestnut or umber; g. adnate, crowded, white; s. naked, ventricose below. =tumulosa=, kalchbr. tufted. p. . cm. umb. even, umber then pale; g. soon greyish; s. - cm. solid, dingy, floccosely pruinose; sp. ----. =pergamena=, cke. tufted. p. - cm. convex then plane, subumb. pallid; g. broadly adnate with decur. tooth, white; s. - cm. whitish, apex squamulose; cartilaginous; sp. ----. [=humosa=, fr. p. fragile, exp. wavy, fuscous; g. adfixed, both ends narrowed; s. short, whitish like the gills. [=adunata=, secr. tufted, foetid. p. exp. gibbous then depr. white becoming spotted red then rufous, becoming viscid; g. decur. crowded, eroded, dingy red; s. stout, twisted, narrowed below, whitish. =cryptarum=, letell. tufted. p. somewhat conical, flocculose, spotted brown; g. decur. narrow, white; s. white, striate. a doubtful species. [=hebepodia=, fr. p. exp. depr. unequal, even, grey then pale; g. decur. white; s. woolly, white. [=connata=, schum. shining white. p. conical exp. unequal, moist, obtuse umbo disappearing; g. unequally decur. narrow, crowded; stems numerous, hollow, collected at base into a tuberous mass. =opaca=, fr. white. p. - cm. umb. often depr. and wavy, minutely flocculose; g. closely crowded; s. - cm. fibrillose, wavy; sp. ----. differs from _c. cerrusata_ in umbonate p. =occulta=, cke. p. - cm. depr. virgate, viscid, disc smoky rest whitish; g. adnate, white; s. - cm. fibrillosely striate, solid, white; sp. ----. =monstrosa=, sow. p. - cm. umb. wavy, opaque white; g. adnato-decur. creamy; s. - cm. opaque white, streaked; sp. ----. =marzuola=, fr. p. compact, exp. subdepr. even, wavy, dusky; g. unequally decur.; s. stout, short, white. *** infundibiliformes. _pileus fleshy at disc, thinner towards the margin, becoming deeply umbilicate or infundibuliform._ + _pileus coloured, or becoming pallid, silky._ =gigantea=, sow. (= _pax. giganteus_, fr.) p. - cm. infundib. whitish or tinged tan, edge coarsely striate; g. closely crowded; s. pallid, solid, glabrous, - cm.; sp. × . =maxima=, fr. - cm. infundib. subumb. whitish or tinged tan, edge even; g. deeply decur.; s. - cm. compact, fibrillosely striate, whitish; sp. × . =infundibiliformis=, schaeff. p. - cm. convex, umb. then infundib. yellowish pink then pale, innately silky; g. deeply decur.; s. - cm. thinner upwards, pallid; sp. - × - . var. _membranacea_, fr. p. not umb.; s. equal; altogether more slender than type. [=squamulosa=, pers. p. obtuse, tan, squamulose, at first obtuse, deeply infundib.; g. decur. distant, white; s. narrowed upwards, elastic. [=nauseosodulcis=, karst. very foetid when old. p. irregular, convex then plane, glabrous, often areolately squamulose, entirely clay-colour; g. decur. pallid; s. excentric, rarely central, usually unequal and curved, solid, whitish; sp. - × . connato-caespitose, resembling _pleurotus sapidus_. [=panizzii=, barla. caespitose. p. convex then umbil. or infundib. white or grey, edge lobed, wavy; g. thin, narrow, striately decur. pale or tinged rose; s. long, wavy, white; flesh elastic, white. =trullaeformis=, fr. p. - cm. obtuse then infundib. edge spreading, greyish brown, floccosely villose; g. decur. connected by veins; s. - cm. striate, grey; sp. ----. differs from _c. cyathiforme_ in pure white flesh and gills. =incilis=, fr. p. - cm. plane then umbil. or infundib. margin silky, incurved, crenate, brick red; g. white then pallid, connected by veins; s. - cm. base narrowed, red; sp. × . [=pulla=, gill. p. depr. then infundib. glabrous, hygr. brown then pale; g. united by veins, lilac grey; s. swollen at base which is downy, colour of p. white-fibrillose below, wavy. near _c. obbata_, which differs in striate margin, equal s. and distant gills. [=lenticulosa=, gill. p. exp. umbil. then infundib. dry, reddish orange, tuberculose near the even edge; g. crowded, white then tinged rose, finally colour of p.; s. solid, paler than p. differs from _c. lentiginosa_ in solid s. and edge of p. not striate. =sinopica=, fr. smell strong, mealy. p. - cm. brick red then pale, plane then umbil. at length flocculose; g. closely crowded, white then yellow; s. red, fibrillose, - cm.; sp. ----. differs from _c. incilis_ in solid stem, even edge of p. and yellowish g. [=arnoldi=, boud. p. depr. then infundib. wavy, subtomentose, minutely squamulose, ochrey brick-red; g. whitish; s. colour of p. fibrillose below; sp. - × - . [=lentiginosa=, fr. p. plane, deeply umbil. with concentric zones of minute tubercles, yellowish ochre; g. deeply decur. yellow; s. hollow, equal, yellowish fuscous. =parilis=, fr. p. . - cm. disc depr. edge involute, greyish white, ornately flocculose; g. narrow, greyish white; s. . cm. fibrous, sooty; sp. ----. ++ _pileus coloured or pallid, glabrous._ =geotropa=, bull. p. - cm. plane then infundib. obtusely umb. pallid; g. crowded, white then pallid; s. - cm. solid, fibrillose, flesh white; sp. - × - . [=candida=, bres. large. p. fleshy, plano-convex then depr. edge involute, even, pubescent, white becoming tinged tan; g. much crowded, narrow, attenuato-decur. white then pallid; s. stout, short, white; flesh white; sp. × . close to _c. geotropa_ and _c. gigantea_. differs in pure white colour and in sp. =gilva=, pers. p. - cm. soon depr. and wavy, dingy ochre, flesh same colour; g. closely crowded, ochre; s. - . cm. solid, ochre; sp. subgl. - . =subinvoluta=, batsch. p. - cm. convex then depr. tinged brick red, fibrillose, zoned; g. pale tan; s. - cm. reddish, grooved; sp. ----. =spinulosa=, w. g. sm. p. - cm. depr. gibbous, yellowish pink, edge even, incurved; g. white then pale yellow; s. - cm. fibrillose, whitish, zoned with tan; sp. globose, spinulose, - . =splendens=, pers. p. - cm. plane then depr. or infund. pinkish-yellow, shining; g. deeply decur. white; s. - cm. glabrous, yellow; sp. ----. differs from _c. gilva_ in white flesh. =inversus=, scop. p. - cm. convex then infundib. edge involute, rufescent; g. soon tinged rufous; s. - cm. hollow, rigid, paler than p. flesh pallid; sp. subg. - . often tufted. =flaccidus=, sow. p. - cm. thin, flaccid, umbil. then infund. edge reflexed, tawny or rusty; g. yellowish; s. - cm. rusty, rather wavy; sp. - × - . often tufted. var. _lobatus_, fr. tufted. p. darker, edge lobed. [=rhodoleuca=, rom. fleshy, almost glabrous, in dry weather pure white except gills which are tinted rose; in rainy weather everywhere inside and out deep rose, gills darkest. p. obconic, convex or almost flattened above; sp. - × - . . [=zizyphana=, viv. p. convex then infundib. often excentric, rufous brown, flesh reddish white; g. yellow; s. equal, pallid. [=cervina=, hoffm. p. plano-infundib. oblique, glabrous, edge convex, greyish fawn, subzoned; g. pallid, edge darker; s. cylindrical, base tuberous. [=garidelli=, fr. p. convex, at first umbil. edge incurved, deep rose to flesh colour; g. decur. crowded, edge red; s. short, stout, flesh colour. edible. [=ambigua=, karst. p. tough, orbicular, convex, obtuse, glabrous, even, pallid rufous tinged pink then pale; g. adnato-decur. pallid; s. glabrous, wavy, whitish, base woolly; sp. - × . [=paropsis=, fr. p. plano-depr. glabrous, edge spreading, flaccid, rufous or flesh-colour; g. narrow, shining white; s. cylindrical, base rather bulbous. =vermicularis=, fr. p. - cm. convex, umbil. then infund. edge incurved, often wavy, reddish tan then pale, flesh same colour; g. closely crowded, white; s. - cm. hollow, elastic, striate, paler than p.; sp. × . [=cacaba=, fr. p. flaccid, infundib. glabrous, edge broadly reflexed, sooty; g. very deeply decur. closely crowded, dark grey; s. striate, base thickened, downy. =senilis=, fr. p. - cm. infundib. brownish tan, concentrically cracked, edge spreading; g. narrow, soon colour of p.; s. - cm. solid, glabrous, pallid; sp. - × . +++ _pileus clear white._ =catina=, fr. p. - cm. plane then infundib. glabrous, white, discoloured when old; g. decur. somewhat crowded, white; s. - cm. elastic, white; sp. ----. _c. infundibiliformis_ differs in not being umb. and in being glabrous. _c. phyllophila_ differs in adnate gills. =tuba=, fr. white. p. - cm. umbil. margin even, shining with a silky lustre when dry; g. broad, closely crowded, decur.; s. - cm. equal, soon hollow and compressed; sp. ----. differs from _c. pithyophila_ in umbil. p.; g. deeply decurrent. =ericetorum=, bull. white. p. - cm. fleshy, subturbinate, glabrous, shining when dry; g. distant, connected by veins; s. - cm. glabrous; sp. ----. resembling _hygr. niveus_ in appearance. b. _pileus thin, hygrophanous, soft, watery._ **** cyathiformes. _p. thin, depressed then cup-shaped. colour dingy when moist._ =cyathiformis=, bull. p. - cm. deeply depr. edge incurved, sooty-brown then pale; g. dingy; s. - cm. stuffed, elastic, narrowed upwards, reticulately fibrillose, sooty; sp. ----. var. _cinerascens_, fr. smaller. p. pale grey-brown; g. tinged yellow. =expallens=, pers. p. - cm. plane then deeply depr. greyish brown then pale, margin soon expanded; g. greyish white; s. - cm. greyish white, hollow, equal; sp. ----. =obbata=, fr. p. - cm. plane, umbil. then deeply depr. sooty brown, edge at length striate; g. decur. distant, greyish, pruinose with white; s. - cm. glabrous, greyish brown, hollow; sp. ----. [=fritilliformis=, lasch. convex-umbil. then infundib. glabrous, grey then pallid, becoming fuscescent when dry, edge sublobed; g. thickish, pallid; s. subtomentose, thickened upwards. [=calatha=, fr. p. exp. infundib. hygr. edge soon spreading, even, sooty; g. deeply decur. violet then reddish; s. solid, tough, striately rugose, narrowed below, violet then reddish. =pruinosa=, lasch. p. - cm. umbil. then deeply depr. brown, powdered with grey bloom; g. decur. crowded, narrow, dingy; s. - cm. fibrillose, pallid; sp. ----. =concava=, scop. p. - cm. broadly and deeply umbil. flaccid, wavy, dark grey; g. decur. narrow, smoky; s. - cm. equal, glabrous, grey; sp. ----. [=vibecina=, fr. p. exp. then infundib. greyish livid then pale, margin soon extended, striate; g. deeply decur. greyish white; s. hollow, glabrous, rather wavy. [=queletii=, fr. p. convex, umbil. whitish with brown squamules when dry; g. deeply decur. whitish; s. flocculose, whitish. =suaveolens=, fr. fragrant. p. - cm. convex then concave, discoid, buff, hygr. margin striate; gills crowded, pallid; s. - cm. thinner upwards, tinged brown; sp. × . among grass. differs from _c. fragrans_ in concave pileus with striate margin. =brumalis=, fr. p. . - . cm. umbil. then deeply depr. flaccid, glabrous, wavy, livid, pale when dry; g. pallid; s. - cm. glabrous, whitish, often curved; sp. - × - . ***** orbiformes. _pileus rather fleshy, convex then flattened or depressed, polished; g. adnate; dingy, becoming pale._ + _gills grey or olive._ =orbiformis=, fr. p. - cm. convexo-plane, even, smoky grey; g. greyish white; s. - cm. naked, narrowed upwards, grey; sp. ----. differs from _c. cyathiforme_ in plane p. [=applanata=, secr. p. exp. disc depr. flaccid, lurid then hoary; g. greyish white; s. fuscous with white down, pallid and silky fibrillose upwards. [=insignis=, gill. p. conical, convex, then exp. edge more or less wavy and upturned, much depr. round strong umbo, even, glabrous, red, umb. rusty; g. closely crowded, clear white; s. cylindrical, solid, colour of p. [=papillata=, gillet. p. convex then exp. with a little persistent brown umbo, glabrous, hygr. slightly striate, clear reddish; g. pallid; s. subequal, wavy, white-pruinose, apex colour of p. [=radicellata=, godey. p. convex, umbil. purplish brown, grey-pruinose; g. crowded, soon yellowish grey; s. equal, curved, colour of g. with a white bloom, base white with a number of branched strands. [=ochracea=, gill. p. irreg. umb. uniformly ochre, silky or pruinose; g. distant; s. excentric, colour deeper than p. [=macrophylla=, karst. p. thin, convex, orbicular, livid-white then paler and shining; g. adnate, very broad, triangular, white; s. wavy, whitish, glabrous, base thickened; sp. ----. [=lepiphylla=, gill. p. convex then depr. uniformly pale grey then pallid; g. decur. tinged grey; s. elastic, wavy, grey, with a white bloom, with longitudinal whitish striae. =metachroa=, fr. p. - cm. convexo-plane then depr. brownish grey, then livid, at last pallid; g. pale grey; s. - cm. grey, apex mealy; sp. ----. =zygophylla=, cke. and mass. p. - cm. thin, wavy, slightly depr. greyish ochre then pallid, edge plicate; g. deeply decur. grey, veined; s. - cm. smooth, pallid; sp. × . =pausiaca=, fr. p. - cm. soon plane, umber with olive tinge, often silky; g. adnate, olive; s. - cm. striate, coloured like p., apex powdery; sp. ----. =ditopa=, fr. smell strong, mealy. p. - cm. plane then depr. brownish grey then pale, often wavy; g. adnate, dusky grey; s. . cm. hollow; sp. ----. differs from _c. metachroa_ in mealy smell. [=nubila=, fr. p. exp. umb. livid then tan, glabrous; g. subdecur. rather distant, brownish tan; s. slender, apex pruinose. [=obola=, fr. p. convexo-plane, obtuse, glabrous, hygr. livid then whitish; g. adnate, livid; s. equal, thin, striate, naked, livid. ++ _gills whitish._ =diatreta=, fr. p. - cm. plane then depr. edge involute, pubescent, often wavy, flesh colour then pallid tan; g. with an acute decur. tooth, crowded, narrow; s. - cm. pallid, straight, terete; sp. ----. =fragrans=, sow. smell strong, spicy, - cm. depr. pallid; g. subdecur. rather crowded; s. - cm. elastic, glabrous; sp. ----. _c. suaveolens_ differs in cup-shaped p. and brownish stem. =angustissima=, fr. p. - cm. plano-depr. edge spreading, pallid, shining white when dry; g. subdecur. narrow, closely crowded; s. - cm. white, naked, flexuous; sp. × . [=isabellina=, q. p. yellowish white, umb. hygr.; g. thick, often branched, whitish; s. fistulose, wavy, white, base narrowed. =obsoletus=, batsch. smell spicy, but weak. p. - cm. plano-depr. even, pale pinky tan, pale when dry; g. obtusely adnate, broad; s. - cm. elastic, soon hollow, whitish; sp. ----. [=mortuosa=, fr. p. plano-depr. umber or brown then pale, even; g. adnate, closely crowded, narrow, whitish; s. short, glabrous, compr. whitish. [=gyrans=, fr. p. convex-umb. even, glabrous, hygr. edge broadly incurved, whitish; g. crowded, white; s. hollow, glabrous. ****** versiformes. _pileus thin, convex then deformed, squamulose or furfuraceous; g. adnate, broad; usually distant and powdered with the white spores._ =ectypa=, fr. p. - cm. exp. then depr. revolute, dingy yellow or rufescent, slightly streaked with dark fibrils, edge slightly striate; g. adnate, pallid then spotted with red and powdered with the spores; s. - cm. dingy yellowish, fibrillose; sp. × . [=difformis=, pers. p. convex, plane, subumbil. glabrous, hygr. striate when moist, even when dry, at length subsquamulose, livid then whitish; g. adnate, distant; s. hollow, glabrous, shining. var. _stygia_, fr. p. campan. umbil.; g. adnexed, ventricose; s. long, slender. [=incompta=, fr. p. plane then depr. blackish olive, virgate with adglutinated blackish fibrils, viscid; g. pale grey; s. fibrillosely striate, grey. [=xanthophylla=, bres. p. convex-umbil. dry greyish-hoary, virgate especially at centre with brownish fibrils; g. decur. clear yellow; s. greyish-white, fibrillose. [=nigropunctata=, secr. p. exp. umb. whitish, mealy, disc dotted with black; g. crowded, pallid then yellowish; s. hollow, striate with black. [=pachyphylla=, fr. p. convexo-plane, dingy yellow or rufescent, floccosely squamulose; g. thick, distant, yellow; s. tough, yellow. var. _absinthiata_. p. scurfy-squamulose, brown-ochre; g. very broad, grey then pallid. =bella=, pers. p. - cm. exp. depr. or umbil. orange yellow with darker squamules; g. yellow, connected by veins, mealy; s. - cm. yellowish; sp. - , subgl. warted. =laccata=, scop. (= _laccaria_, b. and br.). p. exp. subumbil. irreg. mealy subsquamulose, violet or brown, whitish when dry, - cm.; g. thick, distant, coloured like p., mealy; s. - cm. fibrous, colour of p.; sp. globose, warted, - . =proxima=, boud. p. - cm. convex then plane, glabrous, yellowish-brown; g. adnato-decurrent, pinkish; s. - cm. even, smooth, paler than pileus; sp. × . . resembling the brown form of _c. laccata_, differing in the elliptical, warted spores and glabrous pileus. [=sandicina=, fr. p. convexo-plane, umbil. deformed, even, hygr. at length greyish-mealy; g. adnate, crowded, purplish, almost naked; s. hollow, unequal, glabrous, purplish. [=grumata=, scop. p. campan.-convex, glabrous, cracked into squamules, disc depr. yellow; g. broadly adnate, distant, white; s. equal, pallid. =sadleri=, berk. this is only an abnormal condition of _hypholoma fasciculare_. omphalia, fr. i. collybiarii. _pileus expanded from the first, edge incurved._ * _usually large, gills narrow, closely crowded._ =hydrogramma=, fr. livid white, white when dry. p. - cm. flaccid, thin, umbil. hygr. edge spreading, striate; g. closely crowded; s. - cm. base rooting; sp. ----. differs from _clito. phyllophila_ in polished stem. [=chrysoleuca=, fr. p. very thin, umbil. shining, white, edge reflexed, substriate; g. yellowish; s. smooth, base thickened; sp. - × . [=ventosa=, fr. p. infundib. glabrous, flaccid, flesh-colour, hygr.; g. white then flesh-colour; s. colour of p. [=dumosa=, fr. p. very thin, plane, subumbil. rigid, deep brick-red; g. pallid; s. glabrous, colour of p. =detrusa=, fr. p. - cm. rather fleshy, umbil. dark grey; g. with a decur. tooth, whitish; s. - cm. glabrous, dark grey; sp. ----. [=umbilicata=, fr. p. umbil. then infundib. edge reflexed, even, hygr. tinged brown, then pale but disc darker; g. whitish; s. terete, apex striate with white fibrils; sp. - × . =maura=, fr. p. - cm. thin, deeply umbil. hygr. striate, sooty brown, pale and silky when dry; g. shining white; s. - cm. rigid, straight, blackish; sp. - × - . differs from _col. atrata_ in decur. narrow gills. [=lituua=, fr. p. thin, plane, deeply umbil. hygr. even, bay then tan; g. grey; s. slightly wavy, grey. =offuciata=, fr. p. - cm. plano-depr. flesh-colour then pale; g. colour of p.; s. - cm. glabrous, reddish; sp. ----. [=scyphoides=, fr. shining white. p. infundib. silky, unequal; g. narrow; s. subvillose, short; sp. × . [=albula=, q. p. umbil. thin, wavy, glabrous; s. solid, slender, incurved; g. adnato-decur. unequal, yellowish; sp. - long. [=giovanellae=, bres. p. thin, convex and umbil. then exp. and umbil., edge striate, silky-flocculose, grey then hoary brown; g. decur. crowded, colour of p.; s. glabrous, colour of p.; sp. × . differs from _omp. scyphoides_ in hoary-grey colour of every part. ** _medium size; gills rather distant, narrow, narrowed at both ends._ =chrysophylla=, fr. p. - cm. thin, umbil. flaccid, floccose, brownish yellow then paler, edge reflexed; g. deep golden yellow; s. - cm. yellow; sp. × . differs from _o. postii_ in the floccose pileus. =postii=, fr. p. - cm. thin, umbil. glabrous, orange; g. whitish; s. - cm. glabrous, yellow; sp. ----. var. _aurea_, mass. p. very regular; g. slightly decur.; sp. × . . =vesuviana=, brig. p. infundib. orange, edge at length wavy; g. thickish, narrow; s. fibrillose, colour of p. =pyxidata=, bull. p. . - cm. thin, infundib. rufous-red, radiately striate, pale when dry, hygr.; g. flesh-colour then yellowish; s. . - cm. tough, pale tawny; sp. - × - . =leucophylla=, fr. p. - cm. thin, quite infundib. dark grey, even; g. shining white; s. - cm. grey; sp. long. =luffii=, mass. fragrant. p. - cm. convex then depr. glabrous, pallid then white; g. crowded, decur. pallid; s. - cm. solid, pallid, polished, often wavy; sp. × . ground among grass &c. differs from _clito. fragrans_ in short, polished stem. =costatula=, bres. p. infundib. then revolute, brown, glabrous, edge striate wavy; g. decur. straw-colour, joined by veins; s. glabrous, tinged straw-colour, base brownish; sp. × . =striaepileus=, fr. p. - cm. plane, umbil. glabrous, entirely striate, livid brown, hygr.; g. white; s. - cm. tough, tinged brown; sp. rough, - . =nevillae=, b. p. - . cm. depr. rugose, disc granulated, striate, brown then pale; g. white, veined; s. - cm. brownish, rough, base downy; sp. ----. _o. affricata_ differs in scaly p. =sphagnicola=, b. p. - cm. thin, soon deeply umbil. squamulose, dingy ochraceous; g. dingy ochre; s. - cm. slightly flexuous, colour of p.; sp. × . =telmatiaea=, b. p. - cm. thin, pliant, soon infund. edge arched and drooping, umber, hygr. pale and silky when dry; g. pallid; s. - cm. grey, base cottony, white; sp. × . [=affricata=, fr. p. umbil. then infundib. not striate, edge bent down, everywhere with blackish squamules; g. grey; s. glabrous, greyish. [=epichysia=, pers. soft. p. thin, exp. umbil. sooty grey, pallid when dry, silky or floccosely scaly; g. plano-decur. whitish then grey; s. grey; sp. - × - . =philonitis=, lasch. p. - cm. deeply umbil. edge erect, hygr. floccose when dry, grey; g. deeply decur. greyish; s. - cm. glabrous, grey; sp. - × . . differs from _o. oniscus_ and _o. epichysium_ in erect margin of p. [=campestris=, rom. p. campan. umbil. then exp. sooty-fuscous, sulcate when dry; g. greyish-white, decur.; s. equal, glabrous, colour of p. appearing late in the season; glabrous; sp. - × - . =oniscus=, fr. p. . - . cm. thin, infundib. wavy, flaccid, glabrous, even, grey; g. grey; s. - cm. wavy, grey; sp. × . [=oniscoides=, karst. p. convex-umbil. sometimes reflexed and concave, glabrous, everywhere pellucidly striate, sooty or livid fuscous, pallid grey when dry; g. adnate, then subdecur. white or greyish, edge denticulate, s. tinged fuscous, base darkest; sp. - × . =caespitosa=, bolt. p. - cm. thin, hemisph. umbil. sulcate, whitish ochre; g. whitish; s. - cm. coloured like p., base thickened; sp. × . [=arenicola=, fr. p. thin, cup-shaped, wavy, with wart-like spots, umber; g. paler than p.; s. short, umber. =glaucophylla=, fr. p. - . cm. infundib. plicato-striate, hygr. mouse-colour then paler; g. olive; s. stuffed, firm; sp. ----. =rustica=, fr. p. - mm. thin, slightly convex, umbil. striate, hygr. greyish brown then paler and silky; g. grey, edge arcuate; s. - . cm., colour of p.; sp. ----. differs from _o. umbellifera_ by gills being narrowed behind. [=scyphiformis=, fr. white. p. infundib. glabrous; g. decur. thin; s. thin, short, glabrous. differs from _o. scyphoides_ in glabrous stem. *** _gills truly distant, broad, usually thick._ [=tricolor=, a. and s. p. ochraceous white, thin, umbil.; g. orange, at first with rosy pruinose; s. yellowish. [=cortiseda=, karst. p. convex then plane, radiato-striate, glabrous, pallid; g. adnato-decur. very distant, thickish, few, pallid; s. equal, hyaline, pallid; sp. - × - . [=sciopoda=, q. p. convex then umbil. rather crisped, pale straw-colour, pruinose; g. adnate, thick, sometimes branched, straw-colour then tinged rose; s. slender, wavy, velvety-pruinose, white above, grey below. =demissa=, fr. p. - . cm. thin, plane then umbil. striate, shining rufous then pale; g. purplish; s. cm., colour of p.; sp. × . ( - × - sacc.) [=grisella=, karst. p. convex, disc depr. silky, sulcate, pale fuscescent, whitish when dry; g. adnate, distant, plane, whitish; s. equal, glabrous, apex pruinose, pale, becoming more or less smoky; sp. - × - . =hepatica=, fr. p. . - . cm. tough, rigid, infundib. glabrous, brownish flesh-colour then pale; g. narrow, whitish, connected by veins; s. cm. very tough, colour of p.; sp. - × - . differs from _o. pyxidata_ in toughness, even edge of p. and pallid gills. =muralis=, sow. p. - cm. becoming infundib. radiato-striate, rufous brown; g. pallid; s. - . cm. glabrous, coloured like p.; sp. rough, × . [=cuneifolia=, karst. very fragile. p. convex then plane, obtuse, dry, glabrous, pellucidly striate when moist, sooty, tan when dry; g. adnate, distant, thickish; broad, ventricose or broadest in front, obliquely truncate, greyish; s. apex scurfy, solid; sp. - × - . [=lilacina=, laest. p. plane, violet then pale; g. deeply decur. connected by veins, yellow; s. persistently violet. =umbellifera=, l. p. - cm. convexo-plane, radiately striate, even and rather silky when dry, grey, yellow, brownish, pallid, &c.; g. very distant and broad behind, colour of p.; s. cm. colour of p.; sp. × . . var. _myochroa_, fr. p. brownish umber; s. strigosely rooting. var. _abiegena_, b. and br. pale yellow. var. _viridis_, fl. dan. every part pale green. [=kalchbrenneri=, bres. p. tough, convex, umbil. subexp. glabrous, hygr. subochre; g. deeply decur. whitish; s. colour of p., base often brownish; sp. - × - . [=velutina=, q. downy, greyish. p. umbil. striate; g. arcuate; s. filiform, base white floccose; sp. long. =infumata=, b. and br. p. - mm. obtuse, greenish then smoky; g. few, broad, yellow; s. cm. thin, yellow, tomentose below. [=griseolilacina=, steinh. entirely greyish lilac, grey when dry; p. umb. then exp. edge incurved, even, glabrous; g. adnate then decur.; s. cylindrical, equal; sp. - × - . =buccinalis=, sow. white. p. up to cm. trumpet-shaped, plane or depr.; g. deeply decur. triangular; s. expanding into p.; sp. ----. [=hirsuta=, q. (= _o. caricicola_, lasch). hyaline-white, soon flaccid. p. umbil. convex, very thin; gills or folds obliterated; s. capillary, short, pilose, base bulbillose; sp. rough, long. =retosta=, fr. p. - cm. plano-depr. umber, polished and pale when dry; g. distant, broad, narrowed at both ends, paler than p.; s. cm. glabrous, paler than p.; sp. ----. differs from _o. umbellifera_ in having gills narrowed behind. =abhorrens=, b. and br. foetid. p. - . cm. umbil. brown then pale; g. narrow, pale; s. cm. slender, apex thickened, colour of p.; sp. ----. =pseudoandrosacea=, bull. p. convex, umbil. then infundib. plicate, edge crenulate, whitish or grey; g. deeply decur. segmentoid; s. slender; sp. - × - . =griseo-pallida=, desm. p. plane, umbil. even, glabrous, brownish grey then pale; g. broadest behind, grey; s. stuffed, fuscous, cm.; sp. ----. differs from _o. umbellifera_ and _o. rustica_ by p. not being striate when moist. =albidopallens=, karst. p. convex, orbicular, scarcely umbil. pellucidly striate, naked, hyaline white or pallid; g. adnate, decur. crowded, pallid; s. equal, naked, pallid; sp. - × . [=schizoxylon=, fr. p. thin, almost plane, umbil. glabrous, grey; g. narrow, paler than p.; s. rufous brown. [=bibula=, q. p. umbil. when moist, silky, olive-yellow then grey; g. arcuate, broad, citrin; s. tinged citrin. near to if not identical with _hygr. wynniae_. =stellata=, fr. white. p. convex, umbil. diaphanous, striate; g. very distant, thin, broad; s. equal, base radiately floccose; sp. × . ii. mycenarii. _p. at first campanulate, margin straight, adpressed to stem._ * _gills broad, perfect, unequal._ =campanella=, batsch. p. cm. convex, umbil. striate, hygr. rusty yellow; g. connected by veins, arcuate, yellow; s. - cm. horny, bay, base narrowed, tawny-strigose; sp. - × - . var. _badipus_, cke. base of s. slightly bulbous. var. _papillata_, fr. p. acutely conical. var. _myriadea_, kalchbr. small, caespitose. [=incomis=, karst. p. convex, umbil. glabrous or broken up into squamules, pale fuscous; g. adnato-decur. broad, white; s. tough, thinner below, colour of p.; sp. ----. [=psilocyboides=, karst. p. convex, umbil. glabrous, tawny yellow; g. very broad, yellowish-white; s. - cm. equal, bay, white-fibrillose, apex paler and pruinose; sp. ----. [=brunneola=, q. chestnut umber. p. umbil. squamulose; g. arcuate, white; s. floccosely punctate, base with spreading fawn-coloured down; sp. . [=atripes=, rab. p. thin, plano-depr. infundib. brown, pale and silky shining when dry; g. very broad behind, brownish, albo-pruinose; s. black, base bluish-pruinose. [=laestadii=, fr. p. hemispherical, umbil. even, tawny-bay, shining; g. distinct, yellow; s. rigid rufous bay. =picta=, fr. p. cm. campan. cucullate, umbil. glabrous, striate, fuscous; g. very broad, pallid; s. horny, bay, membranous spreading base tawny; sp. - × . =camptophylla=, b. p. cm. convex then exp. deeply striate, disc brown, rest pale grey; g. ascending then abruptly decur. white; s. - cm. very slender, whitish, base radiately strigose; sp. - × - . [=cyanophylla=, fr. p. thin, camp. umbil. striate, livid or bluish becoming yellowish; g. clear blue; s. glabrous; sp. - × - . [=cornui=, q. p. umbil. tawny; g. yellow with violet tinge; s. horny, bay, base inflated, downy, yellow. [=reclina=, fr. p. thin, rigid camp. then entirely infundib. livid; g. thick, white or grey; s. tough; sp. × - . [=deflexa=, karst. p. campan.-convex, mostly umbil. everywhere striate, fuscescent or pale livid, pale when dry; g. decur. arcuate, white; s. solid, tough, pallid, glabrous; sp. - × - . =umbratila=, fr. p. cm. thin, campan. then convex, umbil. umber brown, hygr.; g. broad, brownish; s. - cm. stuffed, brownish; sp. × . readily mistaken with _coll. atrata_ and _c. ambusta_, differs in subdecur. gills. [=invita=, karst. p. convex, umbil. glabrous, striate when moist, sooty or livid sooty, pale when dry; g. adnate, very broad, white; s. colour of p.; sp. glob. - . =grisea=, fr. p. - . cm. camp. glabrous, everywhere striate, livid grey then hoary; g. distant, greyish; s. greyish-white, apex thickened, - cm.; sp. - × . [=setipes=, fr. p. convex, subpapillate, everywhere striate, brownish-grey; g. greyish white, connected by veins; s. filiform, base pubescent; sp. - × - . =fibula=, bull. p. up to cm. cucullate then exp. umbil. striate, orange yellow then pale; g. deeply decur. pale; s. - cm. very slender, weak, pale orange; sp. - × . var. _swartzii_, fr. apex of stem violet. [=chlorocyanea=, pat. small, entirely bluish green outside and inside. p. convex; g. distant, decur. unequal; s. solid, slender. =directa=, b. and br. p. - mm. nail-shaped flat at apex, white; g. decur. white; s. rather wavy, cm. whitish, tinged rufous, with long hairs at base. =belliae=, johnst. p. cm. thin, dry, top-shaped, infundib. pallid; g. decur. thick, veined; s. - cm. brownish, adhering by a cottony base. [=pectinata=, rom. entirely white, glabrous, hygr. p. thin, convex, umbil. edge wavy or lobed, sulcate to middle; g. decur. distant; s. subequal, almost glabrous; sp. - × . =gracillima=, weinm. snow-white. p. - mm. downy, sulcate; g. decur. distant, thin; s. . cm. filiform, base cottony; sp. - × . [=gracilis=, q. snow-white. p. apiculate, striato-sulcate, glabrous; g. arcuate, distant; s. filiform, pellucid, pruinose, base downy, rooting; sp. × . [=candida=, bres. shining white. p. thin, convex, exp. often papillate, glabrous, pellucidly striate; g. deeply decur. connected by veins at base; s. splitting into fibres, glabrous, base rooting, strigose; sp. - × . - . =bullula=, brig. white. p. - mm. even, hemisph. diaphanous; g. arched, decur.; s. cm. filiform. ** _gills fold-like, narrow._ =integrella=, pers. white. p. - mm. hemisph. then exp. pellucid-striate; g. equal, fold-like, distant, rather branched; s. very slender, pubescent; sp. - × . [=microscopica=, wirt. minute, diaphanous. p. - mm. infundib. - , sulcate; g. very narrow, arcuate; s. capillary. =polyadelphus=, lasch. pure white. p. - mm. coarsely striate and minutely flocculose; g. decurrent; s. - cm. very slender, base downy; sp. × . . [=cuspidata=, q. hyaline white. p. very acuminate, striate, flocculose; g. decur. branched; s. filiform, pulverulent, the slight bulb hairy; sp. long. [=crispula=, q. white, diaphanous. p. crisped, pruinose; g. wrinkled, very thin; s. short, filiform, pruinose; sp. long. [=gibba=, pat. (= _cyphella infundibuliformis_, fr.). white, minute. p. trumpet-shaped, gibbous then deeply infundib. downy; g. mere traces of folds; s. slender, downy. pleurotus, fr. a. excentrici. _pileus entire, extended laterally, excentric but not truly lateral._ * _veil forming a ring on the stem._ =corticatus=, fr. p. - cm. convex then exp. covered with dense greyish down then floccosely squamulose; g. decur. white, anastomosing behind; tinged yellow when old; s. - cm. subexc. rooting, ring torn; s. - × - . [=albertinii=, fr. p. convex, dimidiate, sooty, with black squamules; g. decur. distinct, white; s. with black squamules up to sooty ring. =dryinus=, pers. p. - cm. oblique or subcircular, hard, whitish with brownish spot-like squamules, flesh white then yellowish; g. decur. not anastomosing behind, white tinged yellow; s. - cm. sublateral, ring fugacious, torn; sp. × . differs from _p. corticatus_ in gills not anastomosing behind. =spongiosus=, fr. p. - cm. spongy, pulvinate, greyish tomentose; g. sinuato-adnexed, white, simple; s. - cm. tomentose, white, ring white, soon torn; sp. - × . [=calyptratus=, lindbl. p. soft, lateral-dimidiate, horizontal, reniform, glabrous, viscid, sooty or livid; g. adnate to a nodule, crowded, white then yellowish; s. a downy nodule, viscid membranous ring torn. ** _gills sinuate or obtusely adnate._ =ulmarius=, bull. p. - cm. convex then plane, glabrous, livid then pale, spotted; g. adnexed, broad, whitish; s. - cm. base thickened, tomentose; sp. - , glob. =tessulatus=, bull. p. - cm. convex then plane or depr. behind, glabrous, tawny then paler and spotted; g. uncinato-adnate, white then yellowish; s. - cm. glabrous; sp. ----. [=pardalis=, schulz. caespitose. p. fleshy, convex, subcentral, glabrous, chestnut then spotted; g. free, crowded, pallid; s. stout, solid, connate at base, white. [=decorus=, fr. yellow. p. thin, convex then exp. obtuse, rough with adnate blackish scales; g. obtusely adnate, crowded; s. stuffed then hollow, fibrillose; sp. glob. . [=ornatus=, fr. p. convexo-plane, umb. with rusty floccose squamules that disappear; g. adnate, very broad, yellow; s. spongy, yellow; sp. long. [=properatus=, c. mart. p. membranous, form various, always umbil. central or excentric, yellowish white with concentric brown scales; g. adnato-decur. tinged yellow, edge eroded; s. cylindric with concentric brown scales, ring membranaceous, fugacious. =subpalmatus=, fr. p. - cm. caespitose. convex then depr. rugulose, rufescent, cuticle gelatinous; g. adnate, connected behind, dingy; s. - cm. incurved; sp. ----. remarkable for the variegated flesh. [=coripellis=, fr. p. rigid, glabrous, moist, somewhat bay, thick pellicle separable, disc compact, umb.; g. arcuato-adnate, plane, crowded, white; s. excentric, vertical, rigid, fibrillosely striate, whitish. p. almost black but fawn or yellow-brown when dry. flesh tinged fuscous. =craspedius=, fr. caespitose. p. - cm. thin, crenate or lobed, brick-red or paler, glabrous; g. adnate, narrow, crowded, white; s. - cm. solid, elastic, glabrous, pallid; sp. . =fimbriatus=, bolt. p. - cm. thin, plane then depr. margin sinuate or lobed, hygr. hyaline, whitish; g. adnate, closely crowded, white; s. - cm. firm, compr. downy; sp. ----. =lignatilis=, fr. whitish. p. tough, convex then plane, umbil. irreg. floccosely pruinose then glabrous; g. adnate, crowded, narrow, shining white; s. irreg. rather downy; sp. × . var. _tephrocephalus_, fr. p. more compact, disc black then grey, edge white. =ruthae=, b. and br. p. - cm. more or less fan-shaped, whitish or yellowish-buff, cuticle gelatinous, rather hispid; g. anastomosing behind, white then reddish, veined; s. - cm. reddish, hispid; sp. ----. differs from _p. pantoleucus_ in g. anastomosing behind, and not decurrent. =circinatus=, fr. white. p. - cm. plane, orbicular, silky-pruinose; g. adnato-decur. crowded; s. - cm. equal, glabrous, rooting; sp. ----. [=olearius=, d. c. caespitose. p. subexcentric plane or umbil. dry, reddish tawny or deep brown; g. decur. narrow, yellow; s. solid, firm, reddish-brown; sp. × . gills phosphorescent. var. _carpini_ (= _p. carpini_, fr.). p. convexo-exp. angular, rivulosely scaly when dry; s. slender, short, excentric or lateral; g. adnexed, thin, rusty. [=juglandinus=, kalchbr. p. plano-convex, even, glabrous, dingy golden-yellow, rather lobed; g. decur. distant, ends narrowed; s. excentric, solid, brown-pilose; sp. . × . . *** _gills decurrent; stem almost vertical._ [=aquifolii=, fr. p. rather wavy, soft, convex then plane, dusky tan; g. thick, dusky, joined in a ring behind; s. stout, equal, white. edible. [=eryngii=, d. c. p. fleshy, tough, exp. depr. irreg. rufous-grey, scabrid-virgate; g. broad, tinged pink; s. naked, whitish, solid; sp. - × . . [=nebrodensis=, inzeng. p. compact, convex then depr. even, glabrous, grey; g. decur. whitish; s. solid, excentric or lateral, short, ascending, whitish. [=nauseosodulcis=, karst. p. soft, irreg. unequal, exp. even, glabrous, entirely tan; g. decur. crowded, pallid; s. excentric, rarely central, solid, tomentose, whitish; sp. - × . =sapidus=, kalchbr. caespitose. p. fleshy, deformed, centre depr. glabrous, pallid; g. decur. whitish; several stems springing from a common base; sp. - × . more or less trumpet-shaped. edible. [=cornucopoides=, pers. p. very variable in form, convex, depr. glabrous, white then livid yellow; g. decur. white; s. subexcentric to lateral, expanding into p. [=lingulatus=, paulet. p. dimidiate or entire, umbil. convex, deformed, even, pale ochre, edge incurved; g. subdecur. closely crowded, paler than p.; s. solid, long, subcompr. white; sp. - long. [=melanopus=, fr. p. excentric or dimidiate, deformed, somewhat lobed, glabrous pale rufous; g. decur. crowded, narrow, whitish red; s. solid, glabrous, ascending, black. [=spodoleucus=, fr. p. plane, orbicular, even, glabrous, greyish; g. crowded, white, separate behind; s. solid, glabrous, paler than p.; sp. - × - . =pantoleucus=, fr. white. p. - cm. even, glabrous, spathulate, depr. behind, marginate; g. crowded, distinct at base; s. - cm. ascending, glabrous, not rooting; sp. - × . differs from _p. spodoleucus_ in pileus being white and depressed behind. [=pometi=, fr. white. p. fleshy, rather flaccid, convex, even, disc depr.; g. decur. crowded, not joined behind; s. elastic with a downy rooting base; sp. - × - . [=battarrae=, q. white. p. cyathiform, spotted with blackish brown squamules; g. milk-white; s. slender, attenuated; sp. long. [=lignicola=, sacc. white. p. tough, irreg. exp. subumbil. floccosely pruinose; g. adnato-decur. crowded, shining white; s. long, incurved, flocculose at first; sp. × . =mutilus=, fr. white. p. - . cm. fleshy, irreg. silky when dry; g. narrow, simple; s. - cm. long, terete, base downy; sp. ----. resembles _omph. scyphoides_. differs in nearly glabrous, irreg. p. not becoming infundib. [=macropus=, bagl. large, caespitose. p. excentric, exp. glabrous, sooty-grey; g. decur. white; s. joined at base, firm, long, thickly tomentose. [=luteo-caesius=, bagl. p. subexcentric, exp. fibrillosely rivulose, tawny brown, edge wavy, incurved; g. subdecur. narrow, greyish yellow; s. solid, fibrillose, long rooting. [=lutincola=, lasch. caespitose, fuscous; p. glabrous; g. adnate with a tooth running down stem to torn ring; s. often excentric. [=pulvinatus=, pers. p. pulvinate, rather wavy, glabrous, whitish, disc tinged flesh-colour; g. decur. crowded, white; s. very short, solid, hard. **** _veil absent; gills deeply decur.; pileus lateral, sessile or produced behind into a short stem-like base._ =ostreatus=, jacq. tufted. p. - cm. fleshy, shell-shaped, ascending, blackish then grey or pallid; g. rather distant, anastomosing behind, pallid; s. widening into p. very short, downy or strigose at base; sp. - × - . esculent. var. _euosmus_, b. smell strong. gills and spores tinged pink. var. _columbinus_, q. p. dark bluish-grey. var. _nudipes_, boud. s. quite glabrous. [=ambiguus=, oud. excentric. p. sessile or shortly stalked, shining, blackish or deep violet, edge incurved; g. deeply decur. anastomosing behind, lilac; s. firm, elastic, thickened upwards, base strigose. =revolutus=, kickx. p. - cm. fleshy, firm, elastic, shining, depr. behind, smoky-yellow then grey, edge incurved; g. serrulate, white; s. - cm. short, thick, whitish; sp. ----. var. _anglicus_. edge of p. not or very slightly incurved; g. pallid ochraceous. [=staringii=, oud. excentric. p. lateral, produced at base into a short oblique stem, suborbicular or reniform, exp. very glabrous, smoky fuscous, centre paler; g. white, anastomosing behind. =salignus=, pers. p. - cm. fleshy, spongy, becoming depr. behind and strigose, horizontal, yellow brown or dusky; g. somewhat branched, edge eroded, dingy; s. short, firm, tomentose; sp. - × - . [=saccardianus=, arc. subexcentric, usually sinuately lobed, even, glabrous, at length exp. and wavy, tan or grey; g. narrow, thin, crowded; s. striate, glabrous, grey or umber; sp. - × - . [=roseocinereus=, allesch. p. thin, campan. edge becoming split and striate, fibrously silky, rosy-grey; g. very broad, pallid flesh-red; s. shining white, fibrously striato-sulcate; sp. pale rufous, - . =acerinus=, fr. white. p. - cm. tough, circular, silky-villose; g. closely crowded, white then yellowish; s. subobsolete, downy; sp. ----. [=pathenopejus=, comes. large, caespitose. p. excentric, generally dimidiate, conchate, elliptical or rounded, mouse-grey then pale, viscid, squamulose; g. deeply decur. base anastomosing, white then tinged yellow; sp. - × - . [=gemmellari=, inzeng. large, sessile. p. lateral, convex then exp. yellowish, striate, upper stratum gelatinous; g. decur. broad, anastomosing behind, white then sulphur. b. dimidiati. _p. definitely lateral, without a free margin behind; not resupinate at first._ [=geoginus=, d. c. p. erect, subinfundib. even, glabrous, edge wavy, reflexed, brownish; g. decur. crowded, white; s. very short, thick, tuberous. =petaloides=, bull. p. - cm. thin, ascending, spathulate, entire, disc depr. brownish then pale; g. crowded, narrow, whitish; s. short, compressed, downy; sp. - × . _p. porrigens_ differs in being white and stemless. [=semiinfundibuliformis=, karst. erect, simple, semiinfundib. even, glabrous, rusty tan, edge wavy, reflexed; g. deeply decur. crowded, whitish then yellowish; s. exactly lateral, pallid; sp. - , subgl. =pulmonarius=, fr. p. - cm. obovate or reniform, rather convex, glabrous, greyish or tan; g. plano-decur. simple, albo-livid; s. round, very short, downy; sp. ----. differs from _p. serotinus_ in very short s., and glabrous p. var. _juglandis_, fr. gregarious; g. greyish brown. [=pulmonariellus=, karst. p. convex, reniform, rather strigose, even, yellowish, intermediate stratum thick, gelatinous; g. plano-decur. crowded, white then yellowish; s. very short. [=almeni=, fr. p. thin, reniform, glabrous, brownish tawny, narrowed behind into a very short stem; g. determinately decur. divergent, paler than pileus; sp. - × - . =serotinus=, schrad. p. - cm. fleshy, compact, viscid, reniform or obovate, yellowish-green, or sooty-olive; g. crowded, yellow then pallid; s. cm. with blackish squamules; sp. ----. =mitis=, pers. p. - cm. tough, reniform, dry, rufescent then whitish; g. crowded, distinct, white; s. cm. compressed, dilated upwards, whitish-squamulose; sp. × . =gadinoides=, w. g. sm. white. p. - . cm. horizontal, shell-shaped, hygr. floccose, dry; g. crowded, branched; s. minute or absent; sp. × . =limpidus=, fr. white. p. - cm. obovate or reniform, even, glabrous, hygr., narrowed behind to point of attachment; g. white, decur. to base; sp. ----. differs from _p. mitis_ in being shining white and subsessile. [=limpidoides=, karst. p. obovoid or reniform, often lobed, soft, even, velvety, dark grey then livid; g. decur. whitish; upper stratum of flesh gelatinous; sp. - × - . [=subrufulus=, karst. p. soft, subgelatinous, orbicular or reniform, even, glabrous, rufous- or pinkish-white; g. crowded, white; s. lateral, strigose, very short. [=planus=, fr. minute, subsessile, violet then flesh-colour. =reniformis=, fr. p. - cm. horizontal, reniform, grey, disc depr. plane; g. spreading from tubercular stem-like base, divergent, grey; sp. ----. [=kerneri=, wettst. p. obovate or reniform, lateral, not immarginate behind, sessile, entire, edge lobed, convex, grey, base blackish, minutely pulverulent; g. grey, simple; sp. glob. - . =tremulus=, fr. p. - cm. reniform, even, glabrous, disc depr. greyish brown then pale; g. rather distant, grey; s. cm. subterete, ascending, grey; sp. - × - . differs from _p. reniformis_ in having a stem. =lauro-cerasi=, b. and br. p. - cm. thin, horizontal, circular or shell-shaped, sulcate, brownish, attached by narrowed base; g. broad at middle, whitish; sp. × . [=dictyorhizus=, d. c. white. p. very thin, orbicular, sinuate, subsessile, base reticulately-fibrillose; g. simple, unequal; sp. long. =acerosus=, fr. p. - cm. very thin, reniform, plane, striate, sublobed, grey, silky white when dry; g. narrow, crowded, grey; s. obsolete, base substrigose; sp. glob. - . [=severinii=, com. shining white. velvety then almost glabrous, orbicular, edge entire, incurved; g. decur. simple; s. short, incurved. c. resupinati. _pileus at first resupinate; gills radiating from an excentric point; then reflexed, sessile._ * _pileus fleshy, uniform in texture._ =porrigens=, pers. white. p. - cm. thin, tough, resup. then ascending, ear- or fan-shaped, glabrous upwards; g. very narrow; sp. - × . resembling _p. petaloides_ in habit but white, and no stem-like base. [=pinsitus=, fr. p. fleshy, soft, horizontal, silky-villose, wavy, hygr. dingy then white; g. broad, distinct; sp. rough, - long. [=nidulans=, pers. p. subreniform, tomentose, yellow; g. broad, tawny-orange; sp. - × . [=caesiozonatus=, rab. p. subsessile, tough, plane then depr. behind, downy, ochre-brown, zoned with bluish grey; g. broad, brownish yellow. =septicus=, fr. p. - cm. rather fleshy, resup. then reflexed, pubescent, white; s. thin, - mm. incurved, disappearing; g. distant; sp. - × . _claudopus variabilis_ differs in tinted gills and spores. [=roseolus=, q. p. convex, conchoid, translucent, striate, rather woolly, rosy-purple; g. rosy, edge darker; s. curved, downy, colour of p.; sp. . ** _pileus fleshy, striate, upper surface gelatinous, or with a viscid pellicle._ =mastrucatus=, fr. p. - cm. resup. then exp. and horizontal, often lobed, brown, with erect bristly squamules; g. broad, greyish white; sp. ----. [=rivulorum=, pat. and doas. p. subgelatinous, pellucid, rusty brown and covered with white down, horizontal or ascending; g. grey then vinous; s. lateral, tubercular, downy, white, rosy when touched; sp. - . [=tremens=, q. p. reniform or flabellate, diaphanous, rosy-violet, tremelloid; g. sinuate, pinkish; s. lateral, colour of p.; sp. rough, - . =atrocoeruleus=, fr. p. - cm. fleshy, downy, dusky blue; g. broad, whitish; sp. glob. - . p. sometimes brownish, and g. sometimes yellowish. [=myxotrichus=, lév. p. reniform, at first viscid, becoming spongy, covered with white down, sessile or with a short stem; g. rather broad, crowded; sp. - long. [=furvellus=, karst. p. dusky or bluish rosy, yellowish-white then brownish when old; sp. - × - . allied to _p. unguicularis_ but larger and becoming pale. =leightoni=, b. p. - . cm. at first obliquely conical then shell-shaped, umber or lead-colour, scurfy and with short black bristles; g. distant, tan, forked at base; sp. ----. =algidus=, fr. p. - cm. horizontal, reniform, pellicle thin, viscid, reddish-brown or grey; g. crowded, yellowish. =fluxilis=, fr. p. reniform, gelatinoso-viscid above, umber; g. radiating from a lateral point, distant, whitish; sp. long. [=unguicularis=, fr. p. resup. covered with a viscid pellicle, grey or blackish; s. incurved then ascending, very short, white; g. distant, white; sp. - × . . [=silvanus=, sacc. p. thin, sessile, cupulate or dimidiate, resupinate then reflexed, very even, glabrous, greyish black, very minutely white-scurfy; g. broad, dingy white; sp. strongly curved, - × . - . =cyphellaeformis=, b. p. - mm. pendulous, cup-shaped, downy or mealy, upper layer gelatinous, grey; g. narrow, distant, pure white; sp. ----. resembling a _cyphella_ in habit. [=nivosus=, q. p. thin, campan. sessile, gelatinous, white and like parchment when dry, granularly rugose, striate, subpellucid, smoky grey, when moist with hyaline warts; g. narrow, white; sp. reniform, × . =applicatus=, batsch. p. - mm. dusky grey, sessile, thin, rather firm, cupulate, resupinate then reflexed, slightly striate, subpruinose, base downy; gills broad, paler; sp. glob. - . differs from _p. tremulus_ in absence of distinct s. [=mustialensis=, karst. p. resupinate, subgelatinous within, sessile or with an exceedingly short lateral stem, black, white-tomentose; g. distant, narrow, paler; sp. - × . differs from _p. applicatus_ in black p. with white down, and dark g. *** _pileus membranaceous, not viscid._ =hobsoni=, b. p. - mm. reniform or semicircular, horizontal, pale grey, downy; g. radiating, pallid; sp. ----. differs from _p. applicatus_ in being plane. =striatulus=, fr. p. - mm. very thin, pale grey, slightly cup-shaped, striate, glabrous; g. few, distant. [=canus=, q. p. thin, dimidiate, reniform, edge mostly lobed, whitish, downy, striate; g. very distant, adnate, white, edge fimbriate; s. rudimentary; sp. - × . [=arenarius=, lasch. hoary-pallid, subsulcate, slightly tomentose; g. distant, thick, broad; s. absent or very short, white-floccose. allied to _p. striatulus_. [=perpusillus=, fr. white. p. very thin, resup. then reflexed, even, glabrous; g. few, broad. [=subplicatus=, karst. p. very thin, resup. orbicular, usually entire, almost plane, striato-plicate, rather silky, white, fixed by a white downy base; g. radiating from an excentric point, broad, whitish; sp. - × - . var. _cinereus_, karst. entirely pale grey or glaucous. =hypnophilus=, b. p. - mm. very thin, flat, white, rather reniform, nearly smooth; g. radiating, distant, simple; sp. × . resembling _claudopus variabilis_, but gills and spores white. =chioneus=, pers. snow white. p. - mm. very thin, subresupinate, downy; s. short, downy, evanescent; g. rather broad; sp. long. _p. septicus_ is larger; s. more distinct; p. thicker. differs from _p. hypnophilus_ in downy pileus. [=craterellus=, dur. and lév. cupulate, white, even, downy, edge entire; sp. long. [=pudens=, q. p. downy, hygr. coriaceous, cup-shaped, g. radiating, thin, wavy, white tinged lilac; s. central, short. cantharellus, adans. a. mesopus. _pileus entire. stem central._ * _pileus and stem fleshy and solid._ =cibarius=. every part opaque yellowish-buff. p. - cm. wavy then turbinate, glabrous; g. thick, distant; s. - cm. narrowed below; sp. × - . edible. smell none when fresh, like apricots when kept for some time. sometimes all whitish. var. _rufipes_, gillet. flesh pale ochraceous, s. rufous at base. [=amethysteus=, q. p. thick, egg-yellow, edge flocculose violet flesh-colour; g. reticulate, yellow; s. obconic, colour of p.; sp. long. =friesii=, q. p. - cm. convex then depr. villose, somewhat orange; g. fold-like, branched, yellow; s. cm. slender, downy, base white, narrowed; sp. - × - . with gills of _c. cibarius_ and habit of _c. aurantiacus_. =aurantiacus=, fr. p. - cm. thin, depr. soft, subtomentose, dingy orange then pale; g. crowded, dichotomous, orange, rather broad; s. - cm. expanding upwards, orange, base often dark; sp. × . poisonous. perhaps should be placed under _clitocybe_. [=hypnorum=, brond. p. campan. tomentose, yellowish or pale ochre; g. decur. branched, yellow; s. slender, solid, wavy, almost glabrous, yellowish. [=rufescens=, fr. p. plano-depr. almost glabrous, gilvous, thin; g. crowded, thin; s. elongated, stuffed, narrowed upwards. [=olidus=, q. (= _c. rufescens_, q. not fr.) p. fleshy, edge downy, white, convex then cyathiform, flesh white then pinkish; g. decur. pinkish; s. rosy; sp. - long. taste sweetish. smell of burnt sugar when dry. [=brachypodes=, chev. p. thin, infundib. almost glabrous, fuscous; the short stuffed stem and straight gills yellowish. =brownii=, b. and br. p. rather fleshy, convex, subumb. pale ochre then reddish; g. very narrow, simple or forked, whitish; s. - cm. slender, tough; sp. × . gills very narrow, vein-like, hardly decur. [=subdenticulatus=, mont. small, entirely apricot colour. p. rather scurfy, convex and umb. then subdepr. edge spinously toothed; gills fold-like, thickish, decur.; s. solid, flocculose above, base narrowed; sp. globose. [=parvus=, otth. p. infundib. fibrously scaly, brownish-grey; g. fold-like, scarcely prominent, yellowish; s. slender, twisted, greyish-yellow, sulcate. =carbonarius=, a. and s. p. - cm. umbil. bay then blackish, striato-squamulose; g. straight, narrow, white; s. . cm. paler than p. rooting; sp. - × - . fasciculate, - pilei often appearing to spring from a branched stem. =umbonatus=, fr. p. . - . cm. thin, umb. then depr. flocculose, blackish grey; s. - cm. equal, paler; g. straight, crowded, white; sp. × - . resembling an agaric in habit. =albidus=, fr. p. . - . cm. infundib. wavy, glabrous, pallid, sometimes indistinctly zoned; g. dichotomous, white; s. - cm. solid, subequal, glabrous; sp. ----. tough, sometimes tinged brown or yellow. [=longipes=, lamb. p. centre prominent, edge thin, upturned, dry, even, chestnut; g. fold-like, decur. closely crowded, forked, yellowish; s. long, pale grey. [=turrissi=, inz. straw-colour. p. fleshy-waxy, hygr. convex then digitaliform, often umbil.; g. decur. white, thick, fold-like, simple, rarely branched; s. white, ventricosely fusiform. ** _pileus submembranaceous; stem tubular, polished._ =tubaeformis=, fr. p. - cm. infundib. wavy, lobed, flocculose, brownish then pale; g. thick, distant, much branched, smoky yellow, not pruinose; s. - cm. hollow, glabrous, lacunose, tawny-orange; sp. × - . var. _lutescens_, fr. p. convex, umbil. almost regular, nearly glabrous; g. less divided. connects present sp. with _c. infundibuliformis_. var. _lutescens_, fr. p. convex, umbil. almost even and regular; g. less divided. differs in more equal stem narrowed upwards. connects _c. tubaeformis_ with _c. infundibuliformis_. =infundibuliformis=, fr. p. - cm. thin; infundib. floccoso-rugose, smoky yellow then pale; g. thick, dichotomous, greyish yellow, pruinose; s. fistulose, even, glabrous, yellow; sp. - × . =cinereus=, fr. p. - cm. thin, infundib. open at base, blackish grey, villosely-squamulose; g. thick, distant, grey; s. - cm. paler than p.; sp. × . ( - sacc.) resembling _craterellus cornucopioides_ but having distinct gills. [=leucophaeus=, nouel. p. thin, tough, infundib. glabrous, brownish umber; g. distant, simple, mixed with dichotomous ones, white; s. stuffed, thin, even, colour of p. =cupulatus=, fr. p. - . cm. plano-infundib. wavy, hygr. pallid fuscous or brownish, flocculose when dry; g. very distant, branched, grey; s. - cm. stuffed, polished, colour of p.; sp. × . =houghtoni=, phil. p. - cm. convex, umbil. wavy, whitish; g. slightly decur. narrow, tinged pink; s. - cm. equal, whitish, stuffed; sp. × . =stevensoni=, b. and br. p. - mm. orbicular, umbil. pallid, smooth; g. decur. pallid; s. - . cm. slender, cylindrical, white then darker, pulverulent; sp. ----. =replexus=, fr. p. . - . cm. campan. convex, exp. and inversed, striate, brown then grey; g. adnato-decur. veined, branched, distant, white or glaucous; s. - cm. fistulose, glabrous, thickened upwards; sp. ----. habit of a _mycena_ but g. thick and fold-like. var. _devexus_, fr. p. cucullate; s. stuffed; g. simple, grey. [=hygrophanous=, c. p. laest. p. infundib. punctate, hygr. edge involute, obtuse; g. decur. branched, edge obtuse; s. fistulose, tough, silky-shining. [=coriaceus=, preuss. p. depr. rusty brown, edge rather wavy and then incurved; g. vein-like, forked, pale yellow; s. stuffed, thick, pallid. b. merisma. _stems very numerous, united into an elongated column, or branched._ [=fascicularis=, strauss. p. tubiform, split on one side, cochleate, downily scaly; flesh and connate stems violet. [=ramosus=, schulz. lurid yellow. p. fleshy, plano-depr. at length deeply umbil. fibrous; s. solid, caespitose, divided into branches each dilating into a pileus at its apex; g. vein-like, anastomosing. [=polycephalus=, bres. branched. p. convex then subinfundib. white, edge lobed; g. decur. white, connected by veins; s. white, downy, apex branched; sp. × . . [=ochraceus=, gill. p. unequally infundib. edge upturned, lobed, yellowish ochre; g. decur. almost to base of stem, anastomosing, rosy-white; s. branched, even, spotted ochre. c. pleuropus. _stem exactly lateral._ [=spathulatus=, fr. p. fleshy, spathulate, glabrous, brownish; g. dichotomous, crowded, white; s. thin, glabrous. =muscigenus=, fr. p. - . cm. spathulate, horizontal, glabrous, zoned, yellowish brown or fuscous, greyish white when old; g. thick, distant, branched, colour of p.; s. short, base downy; sp. - × - . differs from _c. glaucus_ in being brown when moist, and from _c. retirugis_ in having a distinct lateral stem. =glaucus=, batsch. grey. p. cm. ligulate, ascending, silky, not zoned; g. fold-like, tumid, distant, forked; s. short, pruinose; sp. × . d. resupinate. _pileus cup-shaped at first, fixed by the vertex, then subreflexed._ * _growing on mosses._ [=bryophilus=, fr. p. thin, cupulate, white, vertex forming a stem-like point of attachment, villose; g. broad, dichot., radiating from centre. gills acute, much resembling an agaric. [=juranus=, q. and pat. (= _dictyolus_.) p. wavy, - mm. diam. snow-white, becoming split, thin, downy, springing from cobweb-like mycelium; g. fold-like, branched, broad, thin, white then cream; sp. - long. close to _c. bryophilus_. =retirugus=, fr. p. - cm. thin, exp. wavy and lobed, greyish-white, adfixed by fibrils behind; g. radiating from centre, very thin, reticulated; sp. × . =lobatus=, fr. p. - cm. horizontal, lobed, brown then pale; g. fold-like, distinct, branched, divergent; sp. ----. [=muscorum=, fr. p. thin, gelatinous, ear-shaped, dingy rufous, glabrous; g. crisped, folds divided near the margin of p.; sp. - × - . ** _growing on wood._ [=applicatus=, lév. p. lobed, margin byssoid, tomentose, white; g. vein-like, radiating from the centre, forked, white. [=odorus=, wetts. reddish-yellow, strongly-scented. p. entire, solid, fleshy, convex then turbinate or subconcave, often umbil. or subwavy, glabrous, edge slightly incurved; g. thick, forked, decur.; s. solid, glabrous; sp. subgl. - . [=crucibulum=, fr. p. cup-shaped, downy, white; g. dichotomous, broad, dingy yellow, edge obtuse. [=coemansii=, rab. p. campan. tomentose, whitish, edge incurved; g. fold-like, somewhat forked, cinnamon. arrhenia, fr. * _stem lateral._ [=auriscalpium=, fr. brown. p. thin, convex, glabrous; g. vein-like, few, distant, simple; s. exactly lateral, straight, downy. resembling _hyduum auriscalpium_ in form, but smaller. ** _pileus sessile._ [=tenella=, fr. p. . - cm. effuso-reflexed, thin, soft, blackish, becoming lobed; g. vein-like, simple, with shorter ones, dark. [=cupularis=, fr. p. - mm. resupinate, soft, orbicular, outside even, downy, grey; g. vein-like, simple, radiating from centre. resembles young condition of _pleurotus applicatus_. [=fimicola=, bagl. p. resupinate, thin, concavo-patellate, flesh-colour, with a byssoid border; veins very slight, distant. nyctalis, fr. a. speleae. _gills crowded, more or less coalescent. very doubtful, probably morbid forms of agarics._ [=verpoides=, fr. p. campan. obtuse, glabrous, brown; g. very thick, coalescent; s. equal, rigid, striate, glabrous. [=cryptarum=, secr. foetid. p. conico-deformed, brown; g. adnexed, undulate, subcoalescent, flocculose, fleshy-grey; s. unequal, flexuose, hoary-fibrillose. [=canaliculata=, pers. p. pallid white, oblique, subumbil. almost glabrous; g. crowded, distinct, almost simple, edge slightly canaliculate; s. solid, subundulate, naked. =caliginosa=, w. g. sm. p. subumb. edge incurved, greyish, white and silky when dry, cm.; g. subdecur. thick, narrow, branched, grey; s. - cm. often inflated, whitish, silky, hollow, rusty inside; sp. × . b. parasitae. _gills distinct from each other, distant. growing on decaying fungi._ [=nauseosa=, weinm. smell nauseous. p. fleshy, globose then hemisph. ochraceous, pulverulent, edge involute; g. distant, forked, pallid; s. fistulose, thick, obliquely sulcate and twisted, pallid. larger than _n. asterophora_. =asterophora=, fr. p. - . cm. conical then hemispher. fawn, mealy with large stellate conidia; g. adnate, distant, rather forked, dingy; s. - . cm. whitish pruinose then brownish, twisted; sp. × . =parasitica=, fr. p. - cm. conical then exp. irreg. with grey meal formed of large, elliptical, smooth conidia; g. adnate, thick, distant, then forked and anastomosing, dusky; s. - cm. whitish, floccosely downy; sp. × . . [=microphylla=, corda. p. hemispher. soft, glabrous, naked, white; g. adnate, entire, dingy white; s. glabrous, bluish. [=vopiscus=, fr. p. cup-shaped, reflexed then recurved, pallid; g. thick, radiating from centre; s. short, excentric, curved, flocculose, pallid. lentinus, fr. a. mesopodes. _pileus subentire; stem distinct._ * _pileus squamulose._ =tigrinus=, fr. p. - cm. orbicular, umbil. whitish, with blackish innate scales; g. very narrow, tinged yellow; s. - cm. slender, squamulose; sp. × . . =dunalii=, fr. p. umbil. deformed, pallid with spot-like adpressed scales which disappear; g. crowded, pallid; s. . - cm. rather silky; sp. ----. =lepideus=, fr. p. - cm. tough, depr. irreg. pale ochre breaking up into darker spot-like scales; g. sinuato-decur. broad, whitish; s. - cm. stout, rooting, tomentosely squamulose; sp. × . ( - × sacc.) var. _contiguus_, fr. p. thinner, plano-depr. and with the slender stem, even. [=gallicus=, q. p. ivory colour with tawny lilac flecks, then areolate; s. pubescent, white, apex sulcate, then torn into scales, flesh coloured; g. white, decur. in lines; sp. - long. [=sitaneus=, fr. p. elastic, convex, unequal, grey, fibrillosely scaly; g. deeply decur. base anastomosing; s. firm, curved, fibrillose. [=degener=, kalchb. p. hemispher. exp. ochre with tawny scales; g. very narrow, anastomosing; s. stout, scaly, base blackish. [=contortus=, fr. p. orbicular, umbil. tawny rufescent with darker scales; g. crowded, subdecur.; s. twisted, subsulcate, squamulose. [=queletii=, schulz. p. at first regular, edge incurved, umber, then depr. edge wavy and split, and becoming pale or almost white, scaly; g. pale ochre, edge torn; s. branched, excentric, colour of p. squamulose; sp. - × . ** _pileus villose or pulverulent._ =leontopodius=, schulz. p. - cm. tough, irreg. slightly tomentose, disc depr. tan, edge bent down, lobed; g. decur. connected by veins, sides rugose; s. - cm. stout, woody, pulverulent, tan, base blackish; sp. - long. [=domesticus=, karst. very large. p. tough, edge thin, subinfundib. oblique, irregular, cuticle broken up into darker adpressed revolute scales, rusty; g. deeply decur. toothed, narrowed at both ends, very broad, pale tawny rusty then reddish; s. excentric, solid, rusty, squamulose; sp. - × - . [=hornotinus=, fr. p. deformed, pulverulent, grey; g. crowded, white; s. caespitosely branched, unequal, rather woody. [=pulverulentus=, scop. p. tough, convex, yellow, white-pulverulent; g. toothed, white; s. stout, equal, rigid, with white powder. [=lusitanicus=, kalchb. p. oblique, not compact, depr. sublobed, tomentose, becoming naked, tan; g. decur. crowded, anastomosing, white; s. short, excentric or lateral, solid, even, glabrous, colour of p.; sp. ----. =resinaceus=, fr. p. - cm. tough, excentric, cinnamon-ochre, villose, matted with resin; g. crowded, shining white; s. cm. partly hollow, downy; sp. ----. =adhaerens=, a. and s. p. - cm. tough, irreg. lacunose, rather pulverulent; g. decur. in lines, very thin, torn, white; s. colour of p. glutinous, rooting; sp. ----. p. and s. appear as if lacquered from the dried gluten. *** _pileus glabrous._ [=suffrutescens=, fr. p. tough, convex then infundib. glabrous, somewhat rusty; g. crenato-torn, yellowish; s. elongated, somewhat branched, woody. [=auricolor=, brig. subcaespitose, golden yellow, oblique; g. decur.; s. fibroso-woody, subexcentric, distorted. [=anisatus=. p. tough, subflabelliform or obliquely subinfundib. somewhat lobed, whitish; g. decur. tinged yellow, edge entire; s. lateral or excentric, short, pallid; sp. - × . . [=jugis=, fr. white. p. irreg. lobed, glabrous, rather viscid; g. dentate; s. short, irreg. scaly. [=umbellatus=, fr. p. tough, umbil. pervious, glabrous, yellowish grey; g. very narrow, white; s. branched, sulcate. =cochleatus=, fr. p. - cm. tough, flaccid, irreg. depr. or infundib. reddish cinnamon; g. crowded, serrate, pinkish white; s. solid, length variable, several frequently more or less grown together, sulcate, glabrous; sp. ----. edible. smell sometimes spicy, at others almost none. [=friabilis=, fr. caespitose, fleshy-fibrous, fragile, becoming pale. p. thin, subdimidiate, umbilicate, pervious into partly hollow contorted s.; g. crowded, narrow. [=omphalodes=, fr. solitary. p. thin, tough, at first deeply umbil. livid straw-colour then pale, limb convex then exp. and wavy; g. decur. arcuate, pallid; s. central, thin, tough, glabrous, scrobiculate. [=bisus=, q. p. tough, convex, exp. deeply umbil. irreg. excentric, edge lobed, livid grey, umbil. fuscous; g. sinuato-decur. greyish white, edge toothed; s. brown, longitudinally sulcate, twisted, excentric; sp. glob. - . [=badius=, bres. p. thin, tough, regular, excentric, or subdimidiate, with longitudinal cristate veins, bay then pale; g. very distant, edge deeply and irreg. crenate; s. short, greyish-lilac; sp. - × - . . [=bresadolae=, schulz. (= _l. divisus_, schulz.) p. soon irreg. infundib. wavy and sinuate, glabrous, even, pale smoky fuscous; g. distant, spuriously decur.; s. very tough, obconic, subrooting, tinged reddish; sp. - long. [=hispidosus=, fr. caespitose. p. thin, subdimidiate, lobed, infundib. hispidly scaly, rusty, edge torn, proliferous; g. serrulate; s. many, growing out of each other. b. pleuroti. _dimidiate, sessile or with a sublateral stem._ =scoticus=, b. and br. p. - cm. thin, umbil. or infundib. smooth, pallid or brownish, hygr.; g. decur. when stem is present, pallid, strongly toothed; s. excentric or lateral, variable, darker than p. springing from a branched brown mycelium; sp. - × . =fimbriatus=, currey. p. - cm. thin, depr. behind, pale fawn with darker scales, margin hairy; g. narrow, tinged brown; s. . cm. thin, whitish; sp. ----. [=ursinus=, fr. p. sessile, imbricated, ear-shaped, ascending, even, rufous brown, brownish tomentose behind with age, edge entire, glabrous; g. broad, torn, whitish. [=castoreus=, fr. p. subsessile, imbricate, pilei tongue-shaped, glabrous, subrugose, rufous then tan, edge involute, entire; g. closely crowded, rufescent. =vulpinus=, fr. p. - cm. tough, shell-shaped, imbricate, connate behind, longitudinally corrugated with ribs, floccoso-scrupose, tan, edge incurved, entire; g. broad, torn, white; sp. glob. . [=auricula=, fr. white, caespitosely imbricated, p. dimidiate, sessile, ascending, glabrous, at length revolute; g. linear, densely crenulate; sp. glob. . habit of _pleur. porrigens_. [=suavissimis=, fr. smell very pleasant. subsessile, white, thin, peltate, even, glabrous; g. dentate, decurrent from base, anastomosing. =flabelliformis=, fr. p. - cm. subsessile, thin, tough, reniform, glabrous, fawn-colour, edge crenato-fimbriate; g. broad, torn, pallid. [=tomentellus=, karst. subsessile, imbricately tufted, coriaceous, p. horizontal, tongue-shaped or obovoid, tomentose, whitish then tinged rufescent, yellowish when dry, edge wavy, incurved; g. much crowded, narrow, whitish, tinged red when dry, edge toothed. [=hygrophanus=, harz. p. conchate, woolly, digitately lobed, white then yellowish ochre, glabrous, hygr. fragile, fixed by a narrow lateral point; g. densely and acutely dentato-serrate; sp. glob. - . . panus, fr. * _pileus irregular; stem excentric._ [=farneus=, fr. p. compact, hard, irreg. circinate, nearly plane, unequal, dingy yellow; g. adnate, crowded; s. short, glabrous, sulcate, pinkish. [=cyathiformis=, schaeff. p. obliquely cup-shaped, wavy, squamulose, brick-red then pale; g. crowded, pallid then yellowish; s. very short, even, firm, excentric. [=fulvidus=, bres. p. tough, thin, convex or subcampan. exp. gibbous or umb. tawny then pale, with brown squamules, edge fibrilloso-sulcate; g. almost free, white; s. solid, white, narrowed to a rooting base, apex sulcate; sp. - × - . [=urnula=, fr. subsessile, imbricated. p. subexcentric, urniform, even, glabrous, fuscous, pale when dry, edge lobed; g. attenuato-decur. grey. [=vaporarius=, bagl. caespitose imbricate. p. subcoriaceous, base narrowed, erect, spathulate then utriculiform, undulately lobed, pruinose, dingy white then livid violet; g. decur. very narrow, tinged rose. =conchatus=, fr. p. tough, thin, unequal, excentric, dimidiate, cinnamon then pale, becoming squamulose, - cm.; g. decur. in lines, somewhat branched, pinkish then ochre; s. - cm. unequal, base pubescent; sp. ----. rigid and the gills crisped or wavy when dry. =torulosus=, fr. p. - cm. plano-infundib. even, flesh colour then ochre; g. decur. rather distant, reddish then tan; s. - cm. stout, oblique, greyish-tomentose; sp. ----. =rudis=, fr. caespitose. p. - cm. tough, depressed, sinuate, reddish-tan, bristling with tufts of hairs; g. decur. narrow, crowded, pale buff; s. very short or obsolete, hirsute; sp. ----. [=lamyanus=, mont. p. orbicular, edge incurved, and, with the central stem, tawny umber and fasciculately hirsute; g. narrow, thick, forked, decur. [=granulatus=, berk. and mont. entirely rusty-saffron; p. semiorbicular; s. short, excentric, granular; g. sparingly connected by veins. [=schurii=, schulz. p. coriaceous, flattened, centre concave, wavy, obconic, even, glabrous, whitish; g. decur. narrow, pallid; s. central, fibrillose, short or almost absent. [=inverse-conicus=, lerchenf. and schulz. p. flattened, broadly umbil. whitish, edge incurved, inversely conical; g. decur. both ends acute; s. central, cylindrical, white then brown. ** _stem definitely lateral._ [=foetens=, fr. foetid. p. spongy, spathulate, convex then depr. yellowish white, rather silky, base continued into a long stem channelled above; g. decur. firm, crowded, reddish-yellow. [=cochlearis=, pers. caespitose, tawny. p. oval, convex, spathulate, hirsute, edge involute, entire; s. lateral; g. decur. =stipticus=, fr. taste hot and pungent. p. thin, flexible, reniform, cinnamon then pale, broken up into scurfy squamules; g. determinate, thin, reticulately joined, cinnamon; s. lateral, very short, dilated into the p.; sp. × . [=flabellulum=, a. and s. p. dimidiate, flabellate, subsquamulose, produced into a short stem-like base, white then fawn; g. decur. crowded; sp. . - . . [=tenuis=, wetts. p. thin, reniform or suborbicular, convex then exp. ochre or subfuscous, glabrous, somewhat shining; g. numerous, very thin, colour of p.; s. lateral, oblique; sp. . × . . =farinaceus=, schum. p. . - cm. flexuous, dusky cinnamon, broken up into greyish-white scurf which falls away; g. free, distinct, pale; s. lateral, short; sp. ----. var. _albido-tomentosus_, cke. and mass. p. with short, whitish velvety down, semicircular; g. honey colour; sp. subgl. . [=schultzii=, kalchb. p. spathulato-flabelliform, rigid, coriaceous, concentrically sulcate, radiately rugose, dingy brick-red; g. crowded, paler than p., edge brownish; s. expanding into pileus, apex virgate; sp. × . allied to _p. stypticus_. *** _pileus resupinate, sessile or produced to a point of attachment behind._ [=violaceofulvus=, q. p. resupinate, thin, hygr. cup-shaped then exp. and reflexed, pulverulent, violet-umber; g. pale violet. [=ringens=, fr. p. resupinate, thin, flaccid, orbicular then partly closed over and gaping, reddish-brown, edge striate; g. simple, flesh-colour. =patellaris=, fr. p. - cm. resupinate, plano-depr. orbicular, pallid scurfy or downy, edge involute; g. ochraceous; sp. × . =stevensonii=, b. and br. p. spathulate, olive yellow; s. dilated above convex, golden, slightly hispid; g. narrow, entire; flesh greenish-yellow. [=pudens=, q. p. cup-shaped then pendulous, with white pubescence, edge becoming rosy; g. tinted lilac. [=delastri=, mont. resupinate, coriaceous, urceolato-turbinate, vertex protruding as a tomentose stem, edge incurved; g. brownish purple, edge white-pruinose. [=lithophilus=, fr. p. resupinate, flattened, sessile, adnate, downy, edge free; g. radiating from a point, amethyst. xerotus, fr. =degener=, fr. p. . - . cm. thin, plano-infundib. edge entire, greyish bay, slightly zoned when moist; g. distant, decur. simple or dichot. greyish; s. - cm. brown with white down. a very uncertain sp. probably some _clitocybe_. quélet says it is an old condition of _cantharellus carbonarius_. [=romanus=, fr. p. glabrous, thin, exp. umbil. even, brownish, edge lobed; g. thick, crisped, rufescent; s. rigid, fistulose, black. lenzites, fr. * _growing on angiosperms._ [=albida=, fr. p. corky, soft, plane, zoneless, whitish, tomentose; g. thin, dichot. anastomosing, entire, whitish. effuso-reflexed. =betulina=, fr. p. - cm. firm, long, - cm. broad, broadly attached, flesh - mm. thick, pallid or tinged brown, rather zoned, tomentose; g. thin, forked, whitish; sp. × . =flaccida=, fr. p. - cm. flaccid, more or less flabelliform, thin, strigose, zoned, pallid; g. broad, crowded, unequally branched, whitish; sp. × . [=variegata=, fr. p. rigid, plane, velvety, zoned with different colour, edge whitish; g. broad, thickish, anastomosing, white, edge torn. habit and colour of _poly. versicolor_. [=trabea=, fr. p. coriaceous, flattened, rugulose, almost glabrous, brownish; g. straight, simple and forked, freely anastomosing, entire, reddish. habit of _dedaelea quercina_ but thinner. [=cinnamomea=, fr. p. coriaceous, flattened, firm, downy, concentrically sulcate, inside and out cinnamon; g. rather distant, straight, unequal, almost simple, narrow, entire, colour of p. var. _crocata_, sacc. p. strigosely velvety, sulcate, brown; g. yellow, edge unequal, paler, trama bright saffron. [=tricolor=, fr. p. corky, plane, base gibbous, scabrid, zoned and radiately rugulose, yellow then dingy; g. thin, distant, forked, anastomosing behind, citrin then umber. ** _growing on gymnosperms._ =sepiaria=, fr. p. - cm. long, hard, zoned, bay, strigose, rough; g. branched, anastomosing, yellowish; sp. × . =abietina=, fr. p. - cm. effuso-reflexed, umber-tomentose then nearly glabrous, hoary; g. decur. simple, unequal, with white meal; sp. - × . [=pinastri=, kalchb. p. coriaceous, rigid, convex, tomentose, obsoletely zoned, disc hoary, edge with broad rusty band; g. densely anastomosing, pallid. [=queletii=, schulz. p. generally reniform, corky, pale ochre becoming deep yellow when wet, closely zoned; g. thick, anastomosing and forming pores behind, whitish, edge tan; sp. - × - . var. _populina_, schulz. p. narrowed into stem-like base, tomentose, greyish or ochre; g. sometimes greyish, edge subserrulate. var. _crassior_, schulz. p. blackish grey and scabrid behind, rest hispid-tomentose; sp. × . [=bresadolae=, schulz. (= _l. tricolor_, kalch. not of fr.). p. semiorbicular, broadly adnate, gibbous, subtomentose, multizoned, interruptedly radially wrinkled, umber then tawny; edge of g. colour of p., sides paler; flesh fuscous. =reichardtii=, schulz. subimbricated. p. semiorbicular, adnate, base brownish, ochre or whitish towards edge, grey when old, imperfectly zoned; g. tan, at first white mealy, some forked. [=heteromorpha=, fr. coriaceous, thin, effuso-reflexed, gibbous, fibroso-rugose, pallid, margin incised into broad plates, crowded, somewhat branched, white, excurrent. var. _resupinata_, fr. resupinate, porose. [=labyrinthica=, q. and schulz. p. irregularly rounded, edge sinuate, produced behind into a short stem-like base, greyish white, base darker, not zoned but with scattered warts; lamellate in front underneath, behind white, glabrous and sterile; g. tan, anastomosing and forming labyrinthiform pores; sp. - × - . [=faventina=, caldesi. p. dimidiate, sessile, corky, tuberculato-scrobiculate, whitish then grey; g. radiating, irreg. porose behind, tinged yellow, edge acute, darker. [=mollis=, heufler. p. broadly exp. incurved, soft, edge brown with darker zones, centre grey; g. strongly anastomosing, greyish or wood-colour. [=septentrionalis=, karst. p. sessile, dimidiate, gibbous behind, floccose, radiately rugulose, pallid brownish with darker zones, almost glabrous, edge thin, blackish; g. simple, crowded, very broad, fuscous. [=sorbina=, karst. p. corky, effuso-reflexed, imbricate, almost glabrous, usually even, not zoned, thin, pallid, edge obtuse; g. anastomosing, dingy white, thickish. trogia, fr. =crispa=, fr. p. - cm. shallowly cup-shaped, reflexed, lobed, downy, yellowish brown, edge whitish; g. fold-like, dichotomous, crisped, greyish-white; sp. subgl. - . in the only european sp. the edge of gills not channelled. schizophyllum, fr. =commune=, fr. p. thin, more or less fan-shaped or reniform, often much lobed, narrowed behind to a point of attachment, whitish, downy then strigose; g. radiating, narrow, brownish, edge split; sp. subgl. - . var. _multifidum_, mass. (= _s. multifidum_, fr.) p. deeply incised, segments narrow. chlorosporae. =chlorospora=. gills free; veil appendiculate; volva and ring absent. [=chlorophyllum=. gills free; veil forming a persistent ring on the stem, volva absent. not european.] chlorospora. =eyrei=, mass. (= _schulzeria eyrei_, mass.) p. - cm. campan. then exp. and umb. even, glabrous, pale tan, edge appendiculate; g. free, clear pale green then deep bluish-green; s. - cm. equal, slightly wavy, pallid; sp. green, - × . the only known european representative of the chlorosporae. rhodosporae. a. _gills free._ =volvaria=. volva present; ring absent. =annularia=. volva absent; ring present, often falling away. =pluteus=. volva and ring both absent. b. _gills adnexed, rarely adnate._ =entoloma=. gills sinuate behind; edge of pileus incurved when young; stem fibrous or fleshy. =nolanea=. stem cartilaginous; pileus campanulate, edge straight and adpressed to stem when young. =leptonia=. stem cartilaginous; pileus convexo-plane, edge incurved at first; gills soon separating from stem. c. _gills decurrent._ =clitopilus=. stem central, fibrous; edge of p. incurved at first. =eccilia=. stem central, cartilaginous; pileus umbilicate. =claudopus=. stem excentric, minute, or absent. species minute, membranaceous. volvaria, fr. * _pileus dry, silky, or fibrillose._ =bombycina=, schaeff. p. - cm. campan. then exp. and subumb. white, silky-fibrillose; g. flesh-colour; s. - cm. solid, attenuated, glabrous, white, volva ample; sp. - × . [=regia=, fr. p. convex then exp. white or with a reddish tinge, glabrous, dry; g. crowded; s. white or tinged yellow, solid, glabrous; ring persistent; volva white, large. =volvacea=, bull. p. - cm. campan. then exp. obtuse, grey or greyish-yellow, virgate with adpressed black fibrils; g. flesh-colour; s. - cm. solid, subequal, white, volva large; sp. - × . - . [=arenaria=, otth. p. campan. exp. umb. silky fibrillose, whitish brown, disc darker, dry; g. crowded, near to stem, subventricose; s. rather shining, whitish, base thickened; volva mostly adherent, laciniate, brownish. =loveiana=, berk. p. - cm. convex, obtuse, white, silky; g. pinkish-salmon; s. bulbous, narrowed upwards, solid, white, volva irreg. lobed; sp. - × . parasitic on _clitocybe nebularis_. =taylori=, berk. p. - cm. conical then obtuse, livid, edge paler, striately cracked; g. narrowest behind; s. - cm. equal, solid, whitish; volva lobed, brownish; sp. × . - . differs from _v. volvacea_ by gills being narrowed behind, and small brown volva. [=grisea=, q. p. flexuous, silky-villose; g. crisped, hoary; s. short, tomentose; volva trilobed; sp. - . [=murinella=, q. p. campan. villose, grey; g. remote, ventricose; s. slightly striate, white; volva - lobed, white; sp. - × - . [=hypopithys=, fr. small. shining white. p. conical then campan. dry, silky; g. white then flesh-colour; s. solid, equal, pubescent, adpressedly silky; volva bilobed; sp. - × . ** _pileus more or less viscid and (one species excepted) glabrous._ [=rhodomela=, lasch. p. campan. then exp. somewhat sooty, squamulose, viscid; g. reddish; s. solid, attenuated, delicately floccoso-downy then almost glabrous; volva small, floccose. =speciosa=, fr. p. - cm. p. soft, campan. then exp. obtuse, glabrous, viscid edge even, white or disc greyish; g. flesh-colour; s. - cm. subbulbous, solid, attenuated, villose, white; volva lax, villose; sp. - × . [=theiodes=, saut. p. campan. then exp. citrin, mealy, with deciduous squamules, broadly umb. edge sulcate; g. free, broad; s. hollow, fuscous. =gloiocephala=, d. c. p. - cm. campan. then exp. umb. glutinous, sooty, edge striate; g. reddish; s. - cm. solid, glabrous, whitish, tinged brown below; volva adnate except a small free margin; sp. - × - . =viperina=, fr. p. persistently conical, acute, grey; g. tinged yellow then flesh-colour; s. solid, equal, closely sheathed by the thin volva. =media=, schum. p. - cm. exp. obtuse, viscid, silky when dry, white or disc tinged brown; g. rosy; s. - cm. solid, equal, glabrous, white; volva lobed; sp. × . . intermediate in size between _v. speciosa_ and _v. parvula_; differs from former in glabrous s. and volva, and from latter in solid stem. =parvula=, fr. white. p. . - . cm. campan. then plane, umb. disc often tinged brown; g. flesh-colour; s. - cm. equal, subfistulose, silky; volva lax, usually - lobed; sp. × . . var. _biloba_, cke. s. stuffed, pubescent; volva bilobed. =temperata=, berk. p. - . cm. convex then exp. and umb., disc tinged tawny, rest whitish, striate; g. pale salmon; s. . - . cm. whitish, volva rather large, lobed; sp. × . . annularia, schulz. =laevis=, krombh. p. - cm. convex subumb. whitish; g. free, narrowed behind, becoming pale flesh-colour; s. - cm. base swollen, white, ring large, free; sp. subgl. - . [=fenzlii=, schulz. p. ovate then exp. sulphur then egg-yellow; g. ventricose, rosy; s. soon hollow, subattenuated, sulphur below the median ring. [=alutacea=, pers. p. campan. obtusely umb. glabrous, tan; g. crowded; s. glabrous, ring lax. [=xanthogramma=, ces. p. convex, umb. squamulosely punctate from the umbo, milk-white with densely crowded yellow striae; g. very broad, crowded; s. stuffed, thin, obsoletely annulate below middle. =transilvanica=, schulz. p. campan. striate to vertex, whitish, apex darker, edge lobed; g. crowded, unequal; s. hollow, paler than p., flocculose, ring complete, membranous. pluteus, fr. * _cuticle of pileus fibrillose or floccose._ =cervinus=, schaeff. p. - cm. campan. exp. even, glabrous, then broken up into fibrillose squamules which fall away, smoky with a yellowish or fawn-coloured tinge; g. white then flesh-colour; s. - cm. solid, whitish with black fibrils; sp. - × - ; cystidia ventricose. var. _rigens_, pers. p. grey, blackish, virgate or squamulose; s. glabrous, somewhat shining. var. _patricius_, schulz. p. whitish then grey with umber or tan scales, then almost glabrous, silky shining, and radiately cracked; s. even, white. var. _eximius_, saund. and sm. large and showy. p. even, with a separable viscid pellicle, reddish-umber, vermilion near edge when young; s. fibrillose, at length blackish. var. _petasatus_, fr. p. umb. glabrous, greyish white, with a separable pellicle, at length striate to middle; s. fibrillosely striate, at length tawny. var. _bullii_, berk. p. convex, smooth, even, pallid, disc darker; s. pale brown. [=sororiata=, karst. p. campan. exp. floccosely scaly, yellow; g. flesh-colour; s. pallid then yellowish; sp. - × . [=montellicus=, sacc. p. flesh spongy, dry, exp. yellowish, almost glabrous; g. olive-grey; s. fibrous, rufescent, incurved; sp. × . =umbrosus=, pers. p. - cm. campan. then exp. lacunose-rugose, at first downy, umber, edge ciliato-fimbriate; g. edge smoky-fimbriate; s. - cm. solid, squamulosely downy, pale; sp. - × ; cystidia ventricose. differs from _p. cervinus_ in downy p. and dark-edged gills. =ephebius=, fr. p. - cm. exp. obtuse, covered with bluish down, edge naked; g. yellowish flesh-colour; s. - cm. stuffed, glabrous, slightly striate, whitish or tinged grey; sp. × . differs from _p. cervinus_ in minutely downy p. which is sometimes brownish-violet. var. _drepanophyllus_, schulz. p. umber; s. at length hollow. [=granulatus=, bres. (= _plautus_, q., not of fr.) p. campan. then exp. hygr. edge striate, rufescent, densely covered with minute granules of same colour; g. free, edge fimbriate; s. hyaline-white, often compressed, grooved, rather scurfy, somewhat rooting; sp. - . =violarius=, mass. p. . - . cm. hemisph. then nearly plane, minutely velvety, watery, dark purple, flesh grey; g. flesh-colour, edge serrulate; s. - cm. hollow, whitish upwards, base pale brown with black fibrils; sp. subgl. - . =salicinus=, pers. p. - cm. exp. subumb. bluish-grey, disc darker and floccosely rugose; g. rosy; s. - cm. stuffed, fibrillose, bluish-white; sp. ----. var. _beryllus_, pers. p. greenish. var. _floccosus_, karst. p. floccosely scaly. =hispidulus=, fr. p. - . cm. convexo-plane, pilose or silky, grey, edge at length slightly striate; g. flesh-colour; s. - cm. fistulose, even, glabrous, silvery-white; sp. ----. [=curtus=, karst. p. convexo-exp. obtuse, longitudinally fibrillose or cracked, with short, stout, erect, muricately squarrose scales at disc, pallid then fuscescent; g. adnexed, broad, ventricose; s. rigid, short, equal, wavy, floccosely squamulose, fuscescent, apex naked; sp. rough, × - . resembling _inocybe lacera_ but smaller and shorter. =pellitus=, fr. white. p. - cm. convexo-plane, even, dry, silky; g. flesh-colour; s. - cm. stuffed, glabrous, even, shining; sp. ----. var. _punctillifer_, q. p. exp. whitish, centre tinged fuscous, and with minute umber squamules; s. whitish, squamulose below; sp. - . var. _gracilis_, bres. p. white, becoming very faintly tinged umber at disc; s. cylindrical, glabrous; sp. - long. [=roberti=, fr. p. convex then plane, obtuse, slightly hairy, not sulcate, white tinged fuscous; g. very broad, shining white; s. apex hollow, solid below and slightly thickened. fries considers this sp. as near to _p. semibulbosus_ notwithstanding the white gills. ** _pileus atomately pruinose, subpulverulent._ [=plautus=, weinm. p. campan. exp. even, glabrous, tan when moist, smoky hoary; g. flesh-colour; s. fistulose, soft like velvet, blackish brown. var. _terrestris_, bres. p. exp. edge wavy, dry, pruinosely velvety, sooty black, rugulose; g. edge subfimbriate; s. velvety, blackish; sp. × . [=cinereus=, q. scurfy-flocculose, grey. p. with raised veins forming pits; s. springing from a white byssoid mycelium; sp. glob. - . =nanus=, pers. p. - cm. exp. obtuse, rugulose, smoky, sprinkled with floccose bloom; g. flesh-colour; - cm. solid, rigid, striate, white; sp. subgl. echin. - . var. _lutescens_, fr. stem and g. or first only, yellowish. var. _major_, cke. larger. p. even, greyish. all the forms differ from _p. cervinus_ and its vars. in having subglobose spores. [=exiguus=, pat. p. exp. reddish brown, bristling with minute squamules; g. distant from stem, ventricose; s. white, pruinose, thickened at base, solid; sp. - × . near _p. nanus_, but smaller and p. squamulose. =melanodon=, secr. p. convexo-plane, umb. pulverulent, edge slightly striate, dull yellow; g. pale flesh-colour, edge with minute black teeth; s. fistulose, slender, firm, glabrous, shining. =spilopus=, b. and br. (= _spodopileus_, sacc.) p. - cm. exp. subumb. radiately rugulose, brownish or dark fawn; g. pale salmon; s. - cm. equal, whitish or tinged fawn, with scattered black points, solid; sp. subgl. - . =semibulbosus=, lasch. white. p. - cm. hemispher. obtuse, atomately mealy, sulcate; g. pale flesh-colour; s. . - cm. pubescent, base swollen; sp. ----. [=candidus=, pat. small. p. convex, even, white, silky; g. rosy; s. white, downy, base thickened. *** _pileus naked, glabrous._ =roseoalbus=, fr. p. - cm. exp. even, glabrous, rosy, edge naked; g. rather distant, flesh-colour; s. - cm. solid, attenuated, whitish or tinged red, with white meal; sp. rough, subgl. - . =leoninus=, schaeff. p. - cm. thin, campan. then exp. glabrous, naked, yellow, or tinged tawny; g. yellowish flesh-colour; s. - cm. solid, glabrous, striate, whitish; sp. ----. var. _coccineus_, cke. p. crimson-orange or vermilion. [=luteomarginatus=, roll. p. obtuse, umb. campan. deformed then exp. yellow, but at same time covered with sooty down, striato-virgate; g. crowded, rosy, edge golden-yellow; s. silky, yellow with rosy fibrils; sp. . × . =chrysophaeus=, schaeff. p. - cm. campan. exp. naked, glabrous, virgate, cinnamon, edge striate; g. white then flesh-colour; s. imperfectly hollow, glabrous, whitish or yellowish; sp. ----. =phlebophorus=, ditm. p. - cm. convex then exp. rugosely veined, umber, edge even, naked; g. white then flesh-colour; s. - cm. subincurved, glabrous, shining, whitish; sp. ----. var. _marginatus_, q. p. rugose, granulate, clear brown; g. with sooty crenulate edge; s. pellucid, white; sp. glob. . [=godeyi=, gill. p. campan. then exp. umb. very glabrous, rugulose, striate, livid grey sometimes tinged green, rather viscid; g. broad, joined by veins; s. white or tinged grey. [=aurantio-rugosus=, trog. p. campan. then conico-exp. areolately wrinkled, reddish yellow, disc almost vermilion; g. crowded, serrulate, broad; s. yellowish, thickened below and tinged red, brown-fibrillose; sp. globose. [=cyanopus=, q. p. rugosely granular, pruinose, umber-bay; g. remote from s., white then glaucous; s. silky, blue, base cottony, white; sp. diam. =umbrinellus=, sommerf. p. convex, exp. even, edge fimbriate; g. white then flesh-colour; s. fistulose, rooting, tough, glabrous, shining. [=tenuiculus=, q. p. rather small, subglobose, striate, umber; g. semiorbicular; s. slender, pruinose, white; sp. glob. . entoloma, fr. i. genuini. _pileus glabrous, moist or viscid._ =sinuatum=, fr. p. - cm. compact, exp. and depr. wavy, even, yellowish white; g. very broad, crowded; s. - cm. solid, fibrillose, white; sp. rough, - . poisonous. =lividum=, bull. p. - cm. exp. dry, even, longitudinally fibrillose, livid tan; g. broad; s. - cm. white, glabrous, apex pruinose; sp. subgl. rough, - . var. _roseus_, cke. p. whitish ochre, disc rosy. =prunuloides=, fr. p. - cm. campan. then exp. and umb. glabrous, rather viscid, yellowish or livid then pale; g. emarginato-free, ventricose; s. - cm. solid, unequal, white; sp. subgl. rough, - . =porphyrophaeum=, fr. p. - cm. campan. then exp. umb. and wavy, smoky fuscous then pale; g. truncate behind, almost free; s. - cm. solid, narrowed from the thickened base, fibrous, naked, smoky purple; sp. rough, - . differs from _e. jubatum_ in glabrous p. and hollow s. =repandum=, bull. p. - cm. conical then exp. umb. pale ochre striate or spotted with darker colour, edge incurved, lobed; g. broadest in front; s. - cm. solid, silky, white; sp. globose, rough, . ( × sacc.) =erophilum=, fr. p. exp. obtuse, dry, pale grey, virgate or venosely striate; g. rounded-adnate, broad; s. solid, short, pruinose; sp. × . often growing in large circles. [=holophaeum=, bres. and schulz. (_ag. plebejoides_, schulz.) entirely umber outside and inside, pileus and base of stem darkest; g. at length greyish; sp. r. - . [=pyreniacum=, q. p. umb. silky-virgate, silvery grey; g. greyish; s. white, fibrillosely striate; sp. rough, long. =placenta=, fr. p. - cm. exp. umb. plane, even, regular, livid purplish; g. crowded, thickish; s. - cm. solid, fibrously striate, brown; sp. glob. . =helodes=, fr. p. - cm. exp. plane, subumb. livid purplish or smoky, often spotted; g. attenuato-adnate, white then rosy; s. - cm. hollow, pallid, fibrillose, base somewhat thickened; sp. globose, rough, . [=quisquilaris=, karst. p. convex exp. subumb. slightly pruinose, reddish or reddish-bay, disc darker, edge incurved, even; g. crowded; s. subequal, reddish then blackish-bay; sp. - × - . [=fuliginarium=, karst. p. convex then subdepr. glabrous, edge incurved at first, pellucidly striate, pitch-black then livid; g. adnate, crowded, oblong, pallid; s. paler than p., apex white pruinose; sp. ----. =bulbigenum=, b. and br. (= _e. persoonianum_, phil. and plow.) p. - cm. campan. or hemispher. obtuse, slightly tomentosely scaly, white; g. adnexed; s. - cm. fibrillose, whitish, hollow, base somewhat bulbous; sp. rough, - . =batschianum=, fr. p. - cm. umb.-convex then plane and depr. even, viscid, blackish; g. grey; s. - cm. tough, adpressedly fibrillose, grey, base narrowed; sp. subgl. rough, - . [=cudon=, fr. p. tough and cartilaginous, conical, acute, blackish umber, edge incurved; g. crowded, smoky purple; s. short; glabrous, pallid. =bloxami=, berk. p. - cm. campan. obtuse, dingy blue, purple, or slate-colour, edge inclined to be lobed; g. pale rose; s. - cm. solid, colour of p.; sp. globose, rough, - . =ardosiacum=, bull. p. - cm. campan.-convex, obtuse, deep blue with brown tinge, then greyish; g. free; s. - cm. hollow, blue, base white; sp. subgl. rough, - . [=nitidum=, q. (= _e. ardosiacum_, fr. ic. t. , f. , not of bull.) p. campan. silky-shining, dusky bluish-violet, edge lilac, flesh white; g. free, broad, white then flesh-colour; s. slender, often twisted, shining, colour of p.; sp. rough, . =madidum=, fr. smell strong. p. - cm. campan. exp. obtuse, viscid, blackish-violet, sooty when old; g. greyish white; s. - cm. hollow, violet, thickened base white; sp. rough, . =liquescens=, cke. p. - cm. exp. broadly umb. ochre, disc darker; g. free, white then dingy lilac; s. - cm. white, hollow; sp. subgl. rough, - . gills deliquesce when mature. [=excentricum=, bres. p. campan. exp. mammilate, glabrous, tinged tan; g. emarginate; s. cylindrical, colour of p. apex scurfy, always excentric; sp. rough, - . [=viridans=, fr. p. conical then exp. viscid, umb. olive-green; g. nearly free, crowded; s. hollow, glabrous. [=rubellum=, scop. p. exp. obtuse, even, viscid, reddish; g. crenulate, rosy; s. hollow, slightly downy, white; sp. × . =ameides=, b. and br. p. - cm. campan. often irreg. flocculent, soon glabrous and silky, pale reddish-grey; g. deeply rounded behind, rugulose; s. cm. whitish; sp. subgl. rough, . ii. leptonidei. _pileus flocculose, somewhat scaly, absolutely dry, not hygr._ =saundersii=, fr. p. - cm. campan. exp. wavy and lobed, adpressedly tomentose, white, tinged brown when old; g. broad, distant; s. - cm. solid, equal, white; sp. ----. =fertilé=, b. p. - cm. convex then plane, dry, pulverulently scaly, pallid reddish or reddish ochre; g. rounded behind; s. - cm. equal, base thickened, whitish, fibrilloso-squamulose, solid; sp. ----. [=rozei=, q. p. umb. grey, silky shining, edge lilac; s. slender, fibrillose, white; sp. rough. =jubatum=, fr. p. - cm. campan. exp. umb. downy-squamose or fibrillose, mouse-colour; g. crowded, smoky; s. - cm. hollow, equal, fibrillose, fuscous; sp. rough, - × . differs from _e. porphyrophaeum_ in squamulose p. and hollow s. [=scabiosum=, fr. p. campan. then plane, obtusely umb. sooty, rough with crowded, erect papillose scales; g. free, greyish-white; s. hollow, fibrillose, sooty; sp. rough, - . =resutum=, fr. p. - cm. convex, obtuse, fuscous, disc darkest, adpressedly scaly or fibrillose; g. ventricose, greyish; s. - cm. somewhat stuffed, glabrous, grey; sp. rough, - × . =griseocyaneum=, fr. p. - cm. campan.-convex, obtuse, floccosely scaly, grey tinged lilac; g. white then flesh-colour; s. - cm. hollow, floccosely fibrillose, pallid then blue; sp. rough, - . resembling _leptonia_, but soft not cartilaginous. =dichroum=, pers. p. camp. exp. umb. squamulosely fibrillose, violet then livid mouse-colour; g. sinuato-adnexed; s. blue, fibrillosely mealy; sp. reddish fuscous, rough, - × - . =sericellum=, fr. shining white. p. . - cm. exp. depr. silky; g. adnate, then seceding; s. - cm. fibrillose then polished; sp. subgl. rough, . differs from _e. speculum_ in smaller size and silky p. var. _sublutescens_, fr. p. more regular, convex, even, yellowish; g. almost adnate; s. fistulose. var. _lutescens_, henn. p. campan. more or less exp. at first white and silky-floccose, then glabrous and dingy yellow; s. white then yellowish; sp. rough, . =cookei=, c. rich. (= _pluteus phlebophorus_, var. _reticulatus_, cke.) p. convex then exp. reddish orange or pale brick-red, covered with raised veins forming a network; g. adnexed; s. - cm. solid; sp. globose, rough, . =thomsoni=, b. and br. p. - cm. exp. umb. grey, with a network of raised ribs; g. slightly adnexed; s. - cm. paler than p.; sp. × . . [=subrubens=, karst. p. conico-exp. umb. adpressedly squamulose or fibrillose, glabrous, mouse-colour; g. sinuato-adnexed, edge crenate; s. hollow, scurfy then glabrous, paler than p. reddish; sp. rough, - × - . [=indutum=, boud. small, entirely grey. p. campan. then exp. umb. coarsely fibrillose; g. broad, uncinate, powdered with the rosy spores; s. slender, fibrillose. =tortipes=, mass. p. - cm. convex then exp. umb. often depressed, dark brown then tan and shining; g. broadly adnate; s. - cm. silky-fibrillose, flexuous, white tinged tan; sp. × . differs from _e. clypeatum_ in elliptical sp. iii. nolanidei. _pileus thin, hygr. rather silky when dry. often wavy and deformed._ =clypeatum=, l. p. - cm. campan. then exp. umb. lurid then greyish; g. serrulate; s. - cm. stuffed, attenuated, fibrillose, pallid; sp. subgl. rough, - . =nigrocinnamomeum=, kalchbr. p. - cm. convex then exp. depressed round the umbo, blackish umber, even, glabrous; g. reddish cinnamon; s. - cm. hollow, somewhat twisted, fibrillose, greyish fuscous; sp. subgl. rough, × . differs from _e. clypeatum_ in hollow stem and entire edge of gills. =rhodopolium=, fr. p. - cm. campan. then exp. gibbous then subdepr. edge wavy at first incurved, brown or livid then pale and silky shining; g. adnate then sinuate; s. - cm. hollow, glabrous, shining white; sp. rough, - × - . [=pluteoides=, fr. p. splitting, convex, exp. obtuse, greyish white when moist, dingy yellowish when dry; g. emarginato-adnexed, crowded; s. hollow, rigid, cuticle fibrillose, white, usually rooting. [=elaphinum=, fr. p. convex, obtuse, glabrous, bright fawn when moist, pallid fuscous when dry, edge striate; g. somewhat truncate behind, very broad; s. hollow, naked, livid; sp. rough, × . [=turbidum=, fr. p. campan. convex, umb. margin at first straight and adpressed to stem, then split into striae, somewhat fuscous, grey when dry; g. crowded, greyish white; s. hollow, inflato-clavate, glabrous, even, silvery shining; sp. - × - . =majale=, fr. p. - cm. campan.-convex, umb. edge spreading, wavy, cinnamon, yellowish when dry; g. crenate; s. - cm. twisted, striate, whitish, base with white down; sp. rough, - × - . =wynnei=, b. and br. smell unpleasant. p. - cm. convex then exp. subumb. often wavy, smoky grey, velvety then squamulose; g. broad, transversely ribbed; s. - cm. smoky blue, base downy, white; sp. rough, - × - . smell resembling that of bugs. =costatum=, fr. p. - cm. bullate then plane, subumbil. wavy, glabrous, livid, fuscous then shining; g. nearly free, entire, transversely ribbed, pallid; s. - cm. deformed, substriate, grey, apex with white squamules; sp. rough, - × - . [=cordae=, karst. differs from _e. costatum_ in blackish umbilicate p.; smaller sp. rough, - . other points identical. =sericeum=, fr. smell strong, like meal. p. - cm. exp. greyish fawn when moist, livid and silky shining when dry; g. grey, emarginate; s. - cm. fistulose, fibrillose, paler than p.; sp. globose, rough, - . differs from _nolanea pascua_ in mealy smell, and broad distant gills cut out behind. [=mimicum=, karst. p. campan. obtuse, then exp. glabrous, fuscescent; g. adnate, whitish then dingy; s. hollow, equal, cartilaginous, glabrous, livid; sp. - . [=venosum=, gill. smell strong of meal. p. thin, convex, subumb. brownish, silky and shining when dry; g. free, broad, transversely veined, reddish-grey; s. fragile, fibrillose, rather squamulose at apex. differs from _e. sericeum_ in free g. [=praecox=, karst. p. fragile, conico-convex, at length umb. glabrous, silky-shining; g. ventricose, crowded, dingy then flesh-colour; s. fistulose, equal, compr. glabrous, striate, pallid; sp. - . =nidorosum=, fr. smell alkaline. p. - cm. convex then exp. and subdepr. greyish fawn, livid and with a silky sheen when dry; g. broad, wavy; s. - cm. stuffed, equal, glabrous, pallid, apex with white meal; sp. rough, - × - . smell sometimes very faint. =speculum=, fr. whitish. p. - cm. exp. subdepr. very glabrous, shining when dry, edge incurved, wavy; g. emarginate, broad; s. equal, very fragile, striate; sp. subgl. rough, . ( - × - sacc.) nolanea, fr. * _gills grey or somewhat fuscous. pileus dusky, hygr._ =pascua=, pers. p. - cm. conico-exp. subumb. striate, livid bistre, paler and shining when dry; g. crowded, narrowed behind, greyish; s. - cm. silky-fibrous, striate, pale; sp. rough, - . var. _umbonata_, q. p. acute, umb. bay; s. fibrilloso-striate, silvery. [=proletaria=, fr. p. campan.-exp. obtuse, somewhat umber, disc darker, villose; g. sooty grey; s. fibrous, very fragile, grey; sp. rough, - × . [=versatilis=, fr. p. convex then flattened, glabrous, shining, livid aerugineous; g. grey; s. greyish white, with a silvery sheen when dry. [=limosa=, fr. smell strong of meal. p. campan. obtuse, glabrous, sooty, hoary-silky when dry; g. adnate, grey; s. polished, base inflated, glabrous. =babingtonii=, blox. p. - . cm. conico-campan. pale grey, silky, with fasciculate fibrils, disc squamulose; g. adnate, grey; s. - cm. hollow, rather wavy, strigose and covered with brown down; sp. rough, - . =mammosa=, fr. p. . - . cm. conico-campan. papillate, striate, glabrous, fuscous, pale when dry; g. grey; s. - cm. rigid, polished, apex with white meal; sp. rough, - × - . [=papillata=, bres. p. subcampan. exp. papillate, striate, fuscous-bay then paler; g. sinuato-adnate; s. shining, glabrous, base with white down; sp. - -angled, - × - . [=bresadolae=, mass. (= _n. clandestina_, bres.). p. campan. exp. umb. or papillate, glabrous, shining, striate, umber-bay or almost black then rufescent; g. thick, umber then fuscous-purple; s. polished, blackish-bay, subequal; sp. - -angled, - × . [=clandestina=, fr. umber. p. hemispher. umb. slightly striate, glabrous, silky when dry; g. very distant, thick, umber then purplish; s. short, naked. [=bryophila=, boud. and roze. p. conico-campan. striate, apiculate, pale rufous brown, apex blackish; g. nearly free; s. cartilaginous, semipellucid, equal. =juncea=, fr. p. . - cm. conical then exp. radiately striate, sooty umber, disc subumbil. subsquamulose; g. obovate, grey then brownish purple; s. - cm. slender, fuscous; sp. rough, - . [=fumosella=, wint. (= _a. fumosus_, rab.). p. subconic, then subexp. umbil. subpellucid virgate, reddish grey, sometimes white-floccose, silky shining when dry; g. adnexed, subtriangular, closely crowded, grey then brownish; s. colour of p., base albo-floccose, rooting, slightly viscid. =fulvostrigosa=, b. and br. p. - cm. conico-campan. subumb. rugulose, ochre with olive tinge; g. adnexed; s. - cm. hollow, mealy-squamulose, base densely strigose with reddish fibrils; sp. rough, × ; cystidia conical. ** _gills yellowish or reddish._ =nigripes=, trog. smell of stinking fish. p. - cm. conico-campan. obtuse, even, fuscous with paler flecks; g. yellowish pink; s. - cm. twisted, glabrous, black; sp. ----. =pisciodora=, ces. smell of stinking fish. p. - cm. conico-campan. obsoletely umb. tawny cinnamon, soft like velvet; g. adnexed; s. - cm. chestnut then blackish, apex paler, rather velvety; sp. ----. =rufocarnea=, b. p. - cm. hemispher. umbil. reddish brown slightly fibrillose; g. ventricose, veined, salmon; s. - cm. hollow, pale reddish brown, apex paler; sp. - × . [=vinacea=, fr. p. campan.-convex, obtuse, slightly striate, rufescent; g. distant; s. even, glabrous, yellow. var. _squamulosa_, karst. p. campan. subumbil. coarsely striate, scurfy; g. edge floccosely crenulate, golden; s. glabrous, yellowish; sp. rough, - × - . [=cetrata=, fr. p. camp. then exp. glabrous, furcato-sulcate, yellow; g. pallid yellow; s. fragile, glabrous, yellow; sp. rough, - × . [=cuneata=, bres. p. conico-cuspidate, glabrous, striate, lurid yellow, cusp yellowish, g. pale yellow then brownish flesh-colour; s. yellowish, apex with white scurf, base with contorted fibres; sp. angular, - × - . [=carneovirens=, jungh. p. campan. deeply striate, greenish yellow; g. free, broad; s. solid, glabrous, dusky aerugineous; sp. - × - . =icterina=, fr. p. - cm. campan.-convex, striate, papillate, yellowish green, hygr.; g. distant, ventricose; s. - cm. rigid, floccosely mealy, colour of p. or brownish; sp. rough, - × . =subglobosa=, a. and s. p. cm. hemispher. even, viscid, yellowish; g. nearly free, rhomboid; s. - cm. striate, pale; sp. × . [=hesperidium=, brig. p. broadly campan. even, waxy yellow, disc darker; g. free, crowded; white then greyish violet, edge at length blackish; s. even, shining white. [=pleopodia=, bull. p. campan. then exp. and edge upraised, even, yellowish; g. narrowed behind, dingy flesh-colour; s. equal, yellowish white, apex pruinose; sp. - × . *** _gills white then rosy. hygroph._ =picea=, kalchbr. smell of stinking fish. p. - cm. conical then campan. papillate, even, glabrous, pitch brown then umber; g. emarginate; s. - cm. slightly pruinose, colour of p.; sp. - × . differs from _n. pisciodora_ in colour of gills and p. [=hirtipes=, fl. dan. p. conico-campan. fuscous; g. free, obovate, rosy; s. slender, glabrous, colour of p. hirsute below; sp. rough, - . =infula=, fr. very tough. p. cm. conical then exp. papillate, shining, dark grey then pale; g. narrow, closely crowded, pure white then rosy; s. - cm. rigid, glabrous, naked, fuscous; sp. ----. var. _versiformis_, fr. p. convex then depr. or even infundib. but persistently papillate. [=viridifluens=, lasch. p. campan. subumbil. dry, fibrous, fuscous olive; g. adnate, broad; s. greenish-yellow. exuding a green juice when broken. [=staurospora=, bres. p. conico-campan. hygr. brownish umber, margin striate; g. subadnexed, white then flesh-colour; s. livid, fibrilloso-striate, often twisted, tall, albo-floccose at base; sp. almost quadrangular-stellate, - . differs from _n. hirtipes_ in larger size, fibrillose stem, downy, not strigose at base. **** _gills whitish. not hygr._ =verecunda=, fr. p. - . cm. campan.-convex, disc rather fleshy, subumb. watery reddish, striate towards edge, flocculose; g. adnate; s. - cm. pallid, apex mealy; sp. - × - . =coelestina=, fr. p. . - cm. campan. obtuse, blue, disc darker, scabrid; g. adnate, very broad; s. - cm. blackish blue, apex pruinose; sp. glob. . [=cruentata=, q. p. campan. mammilate, edge exp. pruinose, bluish-lilac; g. broad; s. slender, glaucous or bluish, rufescent when touched; sp. rough, . =exilis=, fr. p. cm. conico-exp. striate, livid grey, apex darker and papillate; g. adnexed; s. - cm. filiform, bluish green, apex naked; sp. ----. [=kretzschmarii=, rab. p. ovate then exp. reddish then greyish white, umbo rather fleshy, pellucidly striate at edge; g. decur.; s. yellowish brown, base floccosely rooting. =rubida=, berk. p. up to cm. convex then exp. umbil. whitish grey then rufescent, minutely silky; g. adnate, slightly decur.; s. - mm. white; sp. - × . [=cocles=, fr. small. p. at first cucullate, furcato-sulcate, disc umbil., umber, scabrid, becoming exp.; g. adnate, broad, distant; s. glabrous, livid. [=monachella=, q. p. campan. apiculate, striate, diaphanous, white, centre spotted sooty; g. adnate, uncinate; s. bulbillose, white, hyaline; sp. rough, - × - . [=minuta=, karst. p. convex, sometimes subumbil. striate up to umbilicus, glabrous, pallid fuscous, paler when dry and shining; g. adnate, pallid; s. pallid fuscous, glabrous; sp. rough, - . leptonia, fr. * _gills whitish. pileus rather fleshy, not striate, not hygr._ [=linkii=, fr. p. convexo-plane, fibrillosely virgate, sooty black then grey, disc darker; g. white then flesh-colour, edge black; s. glabrous, smoky, base incurved; sp. long. [=forquignoni=, q. p. umbil. wavy, rugulosely striate, granulated, olive, diaphanous; g. eroded, hoary; s. slightly striate, silky; sp. rough, long. =placida=, fr. p. - cm. convex, obtuse, grey or bluish, downy disc darker, fibrillosely scaly; g. adnexed, broad, entirely whitish; s. - cm. blackish-blue, apex with white bloom and very minutely spotted black; sp. ----. differs from _l. lappula_ in p. not being umbil. =anatina=, lasch. p. - cm. campan. indistinctly umb. greyish brown, longitudinally fibrillosely squamulose; g. adnexed, broad; s. - cm. bluish, pruinose then fibrillosely squamulose, apex even (not spotted black); sp. × . ( - × - sacc.) differs from _l. placida_ and _l. lappula_ in not having black points at apex of stem. =lappula=, fr. p. - cm. exp. umbil. grey, even, the darker umbilicus with erect fibrils, giving a muricellato-punctate appearance; g. broad, crowded; s. - cm. brownish-lilac or blackish-purple, apex naked and with black points; sp. ----. =lampropoda=, fr. p. - cm. convex then exp. or subdepr. flocculose then squamulose, sooty grey then paler; g. adnate, ventricose; s. - cm. even, firm bluish violet, apex not black spotted; sp. rough, - × - . differs from _l. asprella_ in even p. not being umbilicate. var. _cyanulus_, lasch. slender. p. subumbil. floccosely villose, blackish blue; s. capillary. =aethiops=, fr. p. . - . cm. plano-depr. even, shining, black then smoky, glabrous but innately fibrillosely virgate; g. adnate, entirely whitish; s. - cm. blackish brown, black punctate upwards; sp. rough, × . differs from _l. lampropoda_ in black punctate s. =solstitialis=, fr. p. - . cm. exp. at length depr. papillate, rugulose, obsoletely innately fibrillose, fuscous; g. emarginate, broad; - cm. smoky, glabrous; sp. rough, - × . [=camelina=, lasch. p. obtuse, pallid rufous; g. arcuate, crowded; s. stuffed, fibrillose, base curved. [=turci=, bres. p. convex, umbil. then exp. brown-umber then tan, densely downy then squamulose; g. broad; s. hollow, compr. livid cinnamon; flesh white, rosy when broken; sp. angular, - × - . ** _gills at first bluish or grey._ =serrulata=, pers. p. - cm. hemispher. exp. umbil. rather scaly, blackish blue; g. broad, edge black-serrulate; s. - cm. paler than p. with black points above; sp. rough, - × - . =euchroa=, pers. p. . - cm. campan.-convex, obtuse, fibrillosely scaly, violet; g. violet, edge darker, entire; s. - cm. violet, not black punctate; sp. rough, × - . differs from _l. chalybea_ and _l. lazulina_ by growing on wood. =chalybea=, pers. p. - cm. convex, subumb. not striate, flocculose then squamulose, dark violet; g. greyish-white, edge rather paler; s. - cm. blue, not punctate; sp. × . differs from _l. lazulina_ by p. not being striate. =lazulina=, fr. p. . - cm. campan. striate, at first glabrous then cracked into squamules, sooty black; g. adnate, equally narrowed from stem to edge of p. pallid grey; s. - cm. blue, not punctate; sp. × . [=bresadolae=, schulz. p. subglobose then exp. umbil. and depr. umber, minutely squamulose; g. pale violet; s. bright blue, base bulbous with white down; sp. rough, - . [=bizzozeriana=, sacc. p. umb. exp. dusky grey with dark scurf; g. dusky vinous-purple; s. dusky purple; sp. × . [=gorteri=, weinm. p. convex, obtuse, velvety-squamulose, grey then pale, edge white-fimbriate; g. fuscous purple, shining; s. purple violet. *** _gills fuscous- or dusky-purple._ [=calimorpha=, weinm. p. conico-convex, umb. densely squamulose, sooty or black; g. nearly free, ventricose, with a purple sheen, edge black; s. blackish-purple. [=aquila=, fr. p. exp. deeply umbil. bay; g. sinuato-adnexed, very broad; s. stuffed, fuscous, thickened upwards. [=pyrenaica=, pat. and doas. p. convexo-plane, - mm. slightly umb. edge incurved, reddish brown; g. pale red, adnate with a tooth; s. solid, curved, colour of p.; sp. - . **** _gills pallid. pileus yellow or greenish then pale._ =incana=, fr. p. - cm. exp. umbil. glabrous, somewhat virgate, brownish green; g. adnate with decur. tooth, greenish white; s. - cm. shining, brownish green; sp. rough, - . [=euchlora=, lasch. p. campan. convex, not striate, yellow-green with brown fibrils, darker disc impressed; g. adnate; s. squamulosely fibrillose, greenish-yellow, base aerugineo-tomentose; sp. - × - . =formosa=, fr. p. - cm. exp. subumbil. slightly striate, yellow wax-colour with brown adpressed fibrils and scattered squamules; g. adnate, pallid yellow; s. - cm. striate, shining, yellow; sp. - × . var. _suavis_, lasch. s. becoming bluish. =chloropolius=, fr. p. - cm. exp. striate, livid, centre with black squamules; g. adnate, pallid; s. - cm. even, bluish-green; sp. rough, - × . ( - × - sacc.) [=pallens=, karst. p. convex exp. disc slightly depr. glabrous, livid, pale and shining when dry; g. adnate, seceding; s. pallid, glabrous; sp. rough, - . [=melleo-pallens=, karst. p. convex, entirely striate, glabrous, shining, brownish honey-colour then pale; g. soon free, edge darker; s. colour of p. base with white down; sp. rough, - × - . ***** _gills grey or glaucous. pileus hygr. substriate._ =asprella=, fr. p. - cm. exp. glabrous or fibrillose, striate, umbilicus downy then squamulose, sooty then livid grey; g. adnate, equally narrowed to the edge; s. - cm. slender, even, glabrous, livid, tinged green or blue; sp. - × - . [=scabrosa=, fr. p. exp. umbilic. from the first, not striate, squamulose, sooty-brown, then grey, hygr.; g. adnate, segmentoid, grey; s. even, apex with black points and white meal. =nefrens=, fr. p. - cm. exp. then infundib. hygr. rather wavy, livid sooty, depression darkest, pale when dry; g. broad, edge blackish, entire; s. - cm. glabrous, livid fuscous; sp. - × . differs from _l. serrulata_ in entire edge of g. and absence of black points at apex of s. [=sarcita=, fr. fragile. p. exp. radiato-striate, uniform, hygr. torn into fibrillose scales, smoky, hoary when dry; g. linear, thick, distant, glaucous; s. short, glabrous; sp. - × . ****** _gills white._ [=kervernii=, guern. p. fleshy-ochre or buff-yellow, dotted with flecks; g. free, ventricose; s. slightly squamulose, shining white, often compr. base cottony. [=queletii=, boud. p. white with scattered rosy-amethyst flecks; g. white then rosy; s. white then yellowish; sp. rough, . [=sericella=, bull. shining white. p. silky; g. flesh-colour; s. slender, fibrillose. [=gillotii=, q. diaphanous, becoming hyaline white. p. striate, umbil. tinged olive; s. fistulose, silky, base white-downy; sp. rough, . [=parasitica=, q. pruinose, shining white. p. orbicular; g. sinuate, white then rosy; s. arcuate, apex dilated. [=aemulans=, karst. p. convex, umbil. innately squamulose, grey, opaque; g. adnate, broad, smoky; s. glabrous, dusky livid, base whitish. resembles _clitopilus vilis_. clitopilus, fr. i. orcelli. _gills deeply decur. pileus irreg. subexcentric, wavy, scarcely hygr. edge at first flocculose._ =prunulus=, scop. smell like new meal. p. - cm. compact, convex and regular then wavy, dry, pruinose, greyish white; g. rather distant; s. - cm. ventricose, naked, striate, white; sp. - × . edible. =orcella=, bull. smell like new meal. p. - cm. soft, plano-depr. irreg. from first, silky, rather viscid when moist, yellowish-white; g. crowded; s. cm. flocculose, thickened upwards; sp. × . =mundulus=, lasch. p. - cm. plano-depr. unequal, dry, white; g. closely crowded, narrow; s. - cm. floccosely villose, white, becoming blackish inside; sp. × . [=pseudoorcella=, fr. p. exp. depr. even, somewhat fuscous, but silkily hoary; g. broad, distant, greyish white; s. solid, short, outside and inside greyish-brown. =popinalis=, fr. entirely grey. p. - cm. flaccid, rather wavy, glabrous; g. crowded, dark grey; s. - cm. equal, naked; sp. rough, - . =undatus=, fr. p. - cm. deeply umbil. wavy, fragile, sooty grey, pale and silky opaque; g. dark grey; s. - cm. hollow, colour of p.; sp. rough, - . ( - , quél.) var. _viarum_, fr. p. often excentric, greyish hoary, shining, with darker zones. [=concentricus=, gill. p. convex, umbil. edge wavy, greyish or reddish with brown broken concentric lines; g. reddish grey; s. pale reddish with abundant white down at base. =cancrinus=, fr. p. - cm. convex-umbil. then exp. unequal, flocculose, smooth, pale reddish-white; g. decur. distant; s. cm. tough, glabrous, white; sp. rough, - . =cretatus=, b. and br. p. - cm. convex then umbil. thin, dead white but shining, edge incurved; g. very decur.; s. - mm. white; sp. subgl. - . ( × phil., - long, quél.) [=lentulus=, karst. p. plano-depr. often irreg. rather silky, rather viscid when moist, whitish; g. decur. closely crowded, narrow, pallid; s. solid, equal, wavy, flocculose, pallid; sp. rough, - . ii. sericelli. _pileus regular silky or hygr.-silky, edge involute, naked. gills adnate, slightly decur._ =carneoalbus=, wither. p. . - . cm. convex then exp. and depr. edge drooping, white, polished; g. crowded; s. - cm. equal, solid, white; sp. rough, - . [=angustus=, pers. p. convexo-plane, subumb. grey, silky-shining when dry; g. tinged flesh-colour; s. glabrous, white, base incurved, downy; sp. - × . =sarnicus=, mass. p. - cm. becoming plane, subumbonate, grey, silky; g. plane then suddenly decurrent near the stem, reddish; s. - cm. flexuous, white, smooth; sp. nodulose, - × . [=nidusavis=, secr. p. plano-umb. floccosely-scurfy, greyish brown, at length wavy; g. broad, thickish, white then flesh-colour; s. flocculose, thickened at both ends, base with white down; sp. - × . [=hydroionides=, cesati. tough, violet then grey. p. convex, obsoletely umb. hygr.; g. adnato-decur. whitish; s. hollow, short, even. =vilis=, fr. p. - cm. convex, umbil. slightly striate, grey, silky-flocculose; g. crowded, white then greyish; s. hollow, fibrillosely striate, grey; sp. - × . [=ionipterus=, cesati. p. plano-depr. glabrous, violet; g. adnato-decur. bluish; s. solid, pallid, cracked into fibres outside. [=cicatrisatus=, lasch. p. convex, umbil. glabrous, not striate, rivuloso-rugulose when adult, fuscous; g. broad, pallid; s. even, base strigose, rooting. [=neglectus=, lasch. p. convex then umbil. not striate, floccosely-fibrillose, whitish ochre then pallid; g. adnato-decur.; s. solid, weak, whitish. =straminipes=, mass. p. - cm. fragile, whitish, shining, soon exp. and depr.; g. whitish then rosy; s. - cm. straw-colour below, mealy above, hollow; sp. rough, - . =stilbocephalus=, b. and br. p. - cm. campan. obtuse, edge straight, yellowish-white or greyish, sparkling with atoms; g. veined, adnate or emarginate; s. - cm. silky-fibrous, white; sp. rough, × - . =smithii=, mass. p. - cm. soon plane and orbicular, often wavy, atomate, white or tinged yellow; g. broadly adnate; s. - cm. surface undulated, pallid with a reddish tinge below; sp. glob. . eccilia, fr. [=polita=, pers. p. umbil. glabrous, hygr. livid, shining when dry; g. crowded; s. equal, livid, polished, apex subpruinose. [=apiculata=, fr. p. convex, depr. umb. even, hygr. livid, silky when dry; g. rather distant, grey; s. equal, glabrous, livid. =parkensis=, fr. p. . - cm. exp. deeply umbil. glabrous, fuscous, striate to middle; g. crowded; s. cm. colour of p. glabrous; sp. rough, - . =carneogrisea=, b. and br. p. - cm. convex, umbil. finely striate, greyish pink, edge darker, micaceous; g. subdecur. edge irreg. darker; s. - cm. colour of p. white down at base; sp. rough, × . =griseorubella=, lasch. p. - cm. deeply umbil. then plane, striate, hygr. umber then hoary; g. slightly decur.; s. - cm. glabrous, paler than p.; sp. rough, - . [=mougeotii=, fr. (= _e. atrides_, q.). p. umbil. then infundib. fibrillose then squamulose, greyish lilac, edge blue; g. lilac then pallid; s. elongated, fibrillose, apex floccose, greyish lilac; sp. - . var. _minor_, sacc. p. convex then umbil. fuscous violet; g. lilac; s. violet; sp. rough, × . =atrides=, lasch. p. plane, deeply umbil. striate, black or brown, black virgate, then pale; g. pallid, edge with black points; s. pallid with black points above; sp. ----. fries thinks this may be an abnormal form of _lept. serrulata_. =nigrella=, pers. tufted, small. p. smooth, umbil. becoming blackish, not virgate; g. flesh colour then grey, edge same colour; s. short, glaucous, not dotted black; sp. ----. united by fries with _e. atrides_, but considered distinct by berk. and broome. [=nigellus=, q. small, bay then blackish; p. striate, umbil. granulated; g. decur. narrow, grey; s. short, glabrous, base woolly; sp. rough, . =atropuncta=, pers. p. - cm. soft, hemispherical, pale grey; g. decur. arcuate, rosy-grey; s. - cm. rather tough, pallid, shining, with black dot-like squamules; sp. rough, - . [=calophylla=, pers. p. hemispher. umbil. sooty umber; g. decur. reddish-purple; s. narrowed upwards, rather thick, somewhat viscid, colour of p., at first purplish, shining. =rhodocylix=, lasch. p. - . cm. umbil.-infundib. remotely striate when moist, somewhat fuscous, flocculose and grey when dry; g. very distant, broad; s. - cm. glabrous, grey; sp. rough, . [=rusticoides=, gill. p. convex, umbil. striate, glabrous, hygr. brown, paler when dry; g. decur. thick, distant, forked, rufous-brown; s. slender, colour of p. =flosculus=, w. g. sm. p. . - cm. deeply umbil. with crystalline particles, irreg. black brown, whitish with age; g. decur. rather wavy; s. cm. reddish; sp. rough. probably introduced. =acus=, w. g. sm. p. - . cm. deeply umbil. densely pruinose, white, edge striate and incurved; g. thick, distant; s. - cm. smooth, whitish; sp. rough. probably introduced. [=tristis=, bres. smell like spirit-of-wine. p. convexo-subcampan. umbil. edge crisped, striate, moist, glabrous, brown; g. distant, thick, broad, arcuato-decur. fleshy-brown; colour of p. glabrous; sp. rough, - . claudopus, w. g. sm. [=translucens=, d. c. p. subsessile, thin, orbicular, wavy, pellucid, white tinged reddish; g. free, pallid then reddish lilac; sp. - long. =variabilis=, pers. p. - . cm. resupinate, then reflexed, tomentose, white, attached by a very short incurved downy stem which disappears when the pileus turns over; g. radiating from an excentric point, distant, white then pink; sp. × . var. _sphaerosporus_, pat. p. white, tomentose; g. paler than type; sp. globose, echinulate, tinged red. =depluens=, batsch. p. - . cm. more or less convex, edge incurved, resupinate then reflexed, white or tinged reddish, usually with a very short downy s.; g. broad, ventricose, grey then tinged rufescent; sp. glob. rough, - . ( - × - sacc.) differs from _c. variabilis_ in globose, warted s. [=inaequabilis=, sacc. entirely rusty, stipitate; p. oblique, almost glabrous; g. sinuato-free, ventricose; s. very excentric, short, base dilated, incurved; sp. × . [=macrosporus=, pat. and doas. p. exp. depressed at an excentric point corresponding to insertion of stem, reddish brown, striate up to depression; g. broad, distant, reddish; s. short, excentric, enlarged into a flat plate at base; sp. - × . =byssisedus=, pers. p. - cm. resupinate then horizontal, reniform, plane, downy, grey then pale; g. adnato-decur. greyish-white, reddish with the spores; s. incurved, downy, base surrounded with white fibrils; sp. glob. rough, - . differs from _pleurotus applicatus_ by presence of s. and pink sp. [=zahlbruckneri=, beck. p. resupinate then reflexed, sessile, reniform, shining white, downy; g. radiating, reddish, edge paler, denticulate; sp. minutely warted, subg. - . differs from _c. variabilis_ in denticulate edge of gills and sp. [=klukii=, blonski. p. shell-shaped, reniform, downy, greyish-tan; g. crowded, decur. whitish then bright rosy; s. slightly curved, base white and downy; sp. - × . allied to _c. byssisedus_ but larger. [=peteauxi=, q. p. cupulate then reniform, wavy, thin, fragile, minutely tomentose, shining white; g. free, sinuate, radiating from a central point which is continued into a very short, white tomentose stem; sp. long. ochrosporae. a. _gills separating spontaneously, or very easily from flesh of pileus._ =paxillus=. margin of pileus persistently involute; gills decurrent or adnato-decurrent. b. _gills not separating spontaneously, nor easily from flesh of pileus._ * _stem furnished with a volva, or an interwoven ring, or with both._ =locellina=. volva and ring both present. =pholiota=. ring alone present. ** _volva and ring both absent._ + _stem central._ =pluteolus=. gills free. =bolbitius=. pileus membranaceous; gills deliquescent at maturity. =inocybe=. stem fleshy, fibrous externally; pileus fibrillose or scaly; gills sinuato-adnexed. =hebeloma=. stem fleshy, fibrous externally; pileus glabrous, viscid; gills sinuato-adnexed. =naucoria=. stem cartilaginous externally; edge of pileus incurved at first; gills adnexed or adnate. =galera=. stem cartilaginous externally; edge of pileus straight at first; gills adnexed or adnate, often with a decurrent tooth. =tubaria=. stem cartilaginous externally; gills broadest behind, decurrent or adnato-decurrent. =flammula=. stem fleshy, fibrous externally; gills adnate or decurrent. =cortinarius=. universal veil cobweb-like, not forming an interwoven ring, often collapsing and forming a ring-like zone on the stem; stem fleshy, fibrous. ++ _stem excentric or absent._ =crepidotus=. paxillus, fr. a. lepista. _pileus entire, central._ [=sordarius=, fr. p. convexo-gibbous then plano-depr. dingy white, edge at length spreading and sulcate; g. adnate, crowded; s. spongy-stuffed, equal, striate, greyish white; sp. × . =alexandri=, fr. p. - cm. compact, plane then depr. dry, fawn, edge strongly incurved; g. subdecur. yellowish; s. - cm. stout; sp. - × - . =lepista=, fr. p. - cm. plano-depr. dry, dingy white, edge incurved, even, naked; g. deeply decur. rather branched, crowded, whitish; s. solid, stout, pallid; sp. × . differs from large sp. of _clitocybe_ by strongly incurved p. and dingy spores. =extenuatus=, fr. p. - cm. rigid, campan. exp. naked, glabrous, moist, brownish tan, edge incurved, downy, even; g. deeply decur. closely crowded, white then dingy; s. - cm. solid, base tuberous, rooting; sp. ----. =panaeolus=, fr. p. - cm. thin, exp. subdepr. glabrous, moist, white, edge incurved, thin; g. slightly decur. crowded, narrow, pale rusty; s. - cm. rufescent, thickened below; sp. subg. . var. _spilomaeolus_, fr. p. with drop-like spots; s. slender, yellowish white; g. pale rusty. [=nitens=, lamb. p. convex, fleshy, glutinous in damp weather, shining and velvety when dry, yellow-brown, edge incurved, paler; g. free, sinuate, closely crowded, becoming olive-brown; s. reddish-yellow, base darker. =orcelloides=, cke. and mass. p. - cm. thin, exp. snow-white then with greyish blotches, edge incurved; g. adnato-decur. white then brownish; s. - cm. tapering to base, ochre; sp. × . differs from _p. panaeolus_ in tapering stem and sp. =lividus=, cke. p. - cm. convex, disc depr. margin arched and incurved, dingy white or livid ochre; g. decur. broad, white; s. - cm. narrowed downwards, white; sp. glob. - . , whitish. probably a sp. of _clitocybe_. =revolutus=, cke. p. - cm. convex, pale ochre, edge thin, sometimes tinged lilac, a little upturned; g. deeply decur. pale tan; s. - cm. narrowed downwards, paler than p., often tinged violet at base; sp. glob. . - . differs from _p. lividus_ in deeply decur. coloured g. b. tapinia. _pileus usually excentric or resupinate._ =involutus=, fr. p. - cm. convex then depr. moist, rusty orange, incurved edge downy, flesh pallid; g. branched, broad, anastomosing behind, dingy ochre; s. solid, firm, - cm.; sp. - × - . var. _excentricus_, fr. p. excentric; s. short, growing on wood. =paradoxus=, cke. p. - cm. convex then exp. sometimes irreg. densely tomentose, rufous umber with purple tinge; g. decur. connected by veins, yellow; s. - cm. fibrillose, red and yellow; sp. - × - . =leptopus=, fr. p. - cm. excentric, gibbous then depr. yellow-brown, torn into downy squamules, flesh yellow; g. simple, very narrow, yellowish then darker; s. - cm. solid, base narrowed; sp. - × . =atrotomentosus=, fr. p. - cm. compact, excentric, gibbous then plano-infundib. dry, torn into granules, rusty; g. adnate, yellowish; s. solid, rooting, densely covered with blackish tomentum; sp. × . [=griseotomentosus=, fr. p. convexo-plane, gibbous, excentric, oblique, glabrous, tan, becoming rusty when bruised, edge incurved, downy; flesh watery; g. decur. broad, tan; s. stout, tuberous, velvety with grey down; sp. long. [=chrysophyllus=, trog. p. campan.-plane, horizontal, cracked into scales, pale cinnamon; g. decur. broad, white then citrin; s. short, ascending, pallid. =crassus=, fr. p. - cm. oblique, nearly plane and even, becoming rusty; g. rather distant, cinnamon; s. very short, excentric, ascending; sp. - × - . strongly suggests the genus _flammula_. [=ionipus=, q. p. - cm. shell-shaped, oboval or oblong, glabrous, straw-colour with a tinge of olive, narrowed into a short, bulbous, tomentose, amethyst or lilac stem; flesh soft, citrin; g. decur. transversely veined, branched, tinged olive then cinnamon; sp. - long. =panuoides=, fr. p. - cm. shell-shaped, downy then glabrous, sessile becoming resupinate, dingy yellow; g. decur. crowded, branched, crisped, yellow; sp. - × - . var. _fagi_, cke. gregarious, crisped; g. crisped, orange. [=lamellirugis=, d. c. p. - cm. resupinate, cup-shaped then shell-shaped, downy, yellow; g. decur. branched, wavy and crisped, alveolate at the base, saffron then cinnamon; sp. long. perhaps identical with _p. panuoides_. locellina, gillet. =alexandri=, gill. p. convex, umb. viscid, yellowish-tan, appendiculate; g. adnato-decur. flesh-colour; s. slender, wavy, whitish, with a fibrillose cinnamon veil, base bulbous, volva torn at free edge. =acetabulosa=, sacc. (= _acetabularia acetabulosa_, b.). p. - cm. tan, edge deeply striate; g. free, brown; s. - cm. white, hollow, volva small. pholiota, fr. a. humigeni. _terrestrial, not attached to mosses; rarely caespitose._ * _spores rusty._ =aurea=, matt. p. - cm. hemispher. exp. obtuse, somewhat velvety, pulverulent or obsoletely squamulose, golden tawny; g. adnexed, ventricose, paler than p.; s. - cm. stuffed, nearly equal, even; sp. × . var. _vahlii_, schum. p. even, glabrous; g. almost free. =caperata=, pers. p. - cm. ovate, exp. with incrusted white flecks, yellow; g. adnate, clay-colour; s. - cm. white, ring superior, thin, apex scaly; sp. × - . =terrigena=, fr. (incl. _p. cookei_, fr.). p. - cm. exp. fibrillosely silky, dingy yellow; g. adnate, pale yellow rusty olive; s. - cm. equal, variegated with rusty wart-like scales; veil forming a ring and appendiculate; sp. × . ( × - .) [=secretani=, fr. p. convex, exp. yellow with darker deciduous scales, then glabrous; g. adnate, golden then orange; s. solid, bulbous, floccosely squamulose below ring. =erebia=, fr. p. - cm. exp. glabrous, rather viscid, lurid umber then pale, edge striate; g. adnate; s. - cm. pallid, apical ring reflexed and striate; sp. ----. =ombrophila=, fr. p. - cm. exp. even, rusty, hygr.; g. ventricose; s. - cm. hollow, pallid, ring entire, distant; sp. × . . ( - × - sacc.) var. _brunneola_, fr. p. obtuse, brown; g. narrow. =togularis=, fr. p. - cm. exp. even, pale ochre; g. yellowish; s. - cm. apex pale, ring median; sp. × . . var. _filaris_, fr. p. thin, campan. exp. obtuse, even, ochre; g. adnate, ventricose, yellow then pale rusty; s. filiform, wavy, glabrous, pallid, ring entire, distant. smaller than type, and s. not so yellow. =blattaria=, fr. p. - cm. exp. subumb. rusty, hygr. edge striate; g. rounded and free, ventricose, cinnamon; s. - cm. equal, straight, rusty, ring white; sp. × . ** _spores rusty-fuscous._ =dura=, bolton. p. - cm. rather compact, exp. glabrous, at length cracked into areolae, edge even, tawny then paler; g. adnate; s. - cm. hard, pale ochre, apex mealy, ring somewhat torn; sp. - × - . var. _xanthophylla_, bres. g. sulphur yellow then umber; sp. - × - . =praecox=, pers. p. - cm. soft, exp. obtuse, even, pallid tan; g. crowded, white then fuscescent; s. - cm. cylindrical, downy then glabrous, ring white; sp. - × - . var. _minor_, fr. small; ring torn, appendiculate. [=phragmatophylla=, guern. p. convex, depr. round broad umbo, maroon-bay then paler; g. narrow, adnato-decur. connected by numerous veins; s. tinged brown, squamulose, ring persistent, whitish. =sphaleromorpha=, bull. p. - cm. yellowish, even, soon expanded; g. rather broad, slightly decur. dry, yellowish then tawny; s. - cm. silky, pale, base thickened, ring distant, membranous; sp. × . [=gibberosa=, fr. p. exp. dry, tan, umbo darker; g. quite free, closely crowded; s. slender, equal, white, ring torn. b. truncigeni. _growing on wood, or epiphytic; often clustered._ * _pileus naked, not scaly but usually rivulose; gills pallid then rufous or fuscous._ =radicosa=, bull. smell strong. p. - cm. equal, obtuse, even, glabrous, spotted, pale greyish tan; g. free, ventricose; s. - cm. solid, rooting, mealy above, squarrosely scaly below ring; sp. × . . =pudica=, fr. p. - cm. exp. even, dry, glabrous, whitish or tinged tawny; s. - cm. solid, even, whitish, ring spreading, persistent; sp. - × . . =leochroma=, cke. p. - cm. exp. glabrous, tawny; g. adnate; s. - cm. nearly equal, solid, whitish, ring sup. tawny; sp. ----. [=radicellata=, gill. p. ovoid then convex, striate, deep yellow-ochre; g. numerous, slightly adnexed, colour of p.; s. white, ring fugacious, long rooting. =capistrata=, cke. p. - cm. edge incurved, slightly striate, pale dingy yellow, rather viscid; g. subdecur.; s. - cm. equal, squamulose, whitish, ring sup. spreading; sp. ----. [=cylindracea=, d. c. p. convex-gibbous, even, glabrous, rather viscid, dingy yellow, disc darker; g. adnexed, crowded, whitish then rusty; s. equal, rigid, subsquamulose, whitish, ring persistent apical, white; sp. × . =aegerita=, fr. p. - cm. exp. rivulose, rugulose, tawny, edge pale; g. adnate, pallid then fuscous; s. - cm. equal, silky-white, ring sup. tumid; sp. × . [=brigantii=, fr. p. convex, white, reticulately sulcate then cracked into wart-like areolae, polygonal, apex truncate and fuscous; g. with decur. tooth; s. solid, equal, white with bay scales, ring apical subobsolete. =luxurians=, fr. p. - cm. convex-gibbous then exp. unequal, silky then squamulose, pale then rufo-fuscous; g. decur. greyish flesh-colour then fuscous; s. - cm. white then tawny, solid, rigid, floccose, ring apical, imperfect; sp. × . ** _pileus scaly, not hygr., gills becoming discoloured._ + _gills pallid then fuscous, olive, clay-coloured, not pure rusty._ =destruens=, brig. p. unequal, yellowish white, with paler large woolly floccose scales when dry; g. striato-decur. crenulate, broad, umber at last; s. solid, narrowed upwards, white-scaly, base swollen and rooting, ring fugacious; sp. - × - . parasitic on living trees. =comosa=, fr. p. - cm. convex, viscid, tawny with whitish deciduous scales; g. subdecur. white then brownish tan; s. - cm. solid, rather bulbous, white, ring floccose, soon disappearing; sp. × . ( . - . × - sacc.) [=magna=, schulz. p. convex-umb. wood-yellow, with broad scattered adpressed scales; g. sinuate, yellow then umber; s. cylindrical, thick, squarrosely scaly, yellowish; sp. - × - . =heteroclita=, fr. p. - cm. exp. very obtuse, subexcentric, whitish or yellowish, with scattered scales; g. very broad; s. - cm. solid, hard, bulbous, rooting, whitish, fibrillose, veil apical; sp. - × - . [=cerifera=, karst. p. convex, even, upper stratum thick, waxy-gelatinous, glabrous, yellow, edge white-squamulose at first; g. crowded, broad, pallid; s. central, solid, equal, curved, rooting, hard, white-squamulose, whitish; sp. - × - . =aurivella=, batsch. p. - cm. campan. convex, gibbous, tawny yellow, with darker scales, rather viscid; g. sinuato-adfixed; s. - cm. curved, with rusty adpressed squamules, ring rather distant; sp. × . . ( - × - sacc.) var. _filamentosa_, schaeff. p. thinner, scales adnate, concentric, ring floccoso-radiate. =squarrosa=, müll. smell strong. p. - cm. campan. convex, exp. dry, rusty saffron, with darker concentric, squarrose, revolute scales; g. narrow, pallid olive then rusty; s. - cm. squarrosely scaly up to ring; sp. × . var. _mülleri_, fr. p. obtuse, pallid, adpressedly scaly, moist; g. fuscescent. var. _reflexa_, schaeff. p. thin, cuspidately umbonate, scaly; s. partly hollow, long, equal. var. _verruculosa_, lasch. p. compact, obtuse, yellow, papillate scales crowded, cinnamon; s. villosely squamulose. [=humicola=, quel. p. campan. convex, pale yellow, spotted; g. yellow; s. slender, fistulose, yellowish, spotted; sp. - long. probably a var. of _pholiota squarrosa_. =subsquarrosa=, fr. p. - cm. convex, viscid, rusty brown with darker adpressed floccose scales; g. almost free, crowded, yellow then dingy tan; s. - cm. rusty yellow, with darker scales up to zone of ring; sp. ----. differs from _p. squarrosa_ in nearly free g. [=djakovensis=, schulz. p. pulvinate-umb. fleshy, edge for a long time bent down, golden, darker and adpressed scaly at disc, very viscid in rain; g. crowded, free, tan then purple-brown, edge entire; s. somewhat rooting, ascending, subbulbous, scaly up to ring, colour of p.; sp. - long. [=fusca=, q. p. - cm. convex, umb. viscid, brown with buff flecks near the edge; g. pale then lilac, at length brown; s. fibrous-fleshy, curved, subbulbous, yellowish-white, apex pulverulent, covered with fine flecks below the floccose annular zone; sp. long. ++ _gills yellow then pure rusty or tawny._ =spectabilis=, fr. p. - cm. compact, exp. dry, bright tawny orange then paler, broken up into fibrous scales; g. adnato-decur. crowded, narrow, yellow then rusty; s. - cm. solid, ventricose, rooting, ring inf.; sp. × . a destructive parasite on timber trees. [=villosa=, fr. p. exp. dry, everywhere floccosely villose, yellow tawny; g. narrow, yellow; s. elongated, stout, fibrillose, base thickened, yellow, ring narrow, entire. =adiposa=, fr. p. - cm. exp. yellow, glutinous, with darker, concentric, deciduous scales; g. adnate, broad; s. - cm. subbulbous, yellow, with darker glutinous squamules; sp. × - . an injurious parasite to beech and ash. =lucifera=, fr. p. - cm. exp. then umb. viscid, yellow with darker adpr. deciduous scales; g. crenulate, narrow; s. - cm. equal, rather squamulose, base rusty, ring inf.; sp. - × - . [=violacea=, vogl. p. convex, viscid, violet, disc darkest; g. arcuato-decur. brownish, edge eroded; s. dark violet, ring distant, violet. =flammans=, fr. p. - cm. exp. subumb. dry, tawny with superficial sulphur squamules; g. crowded, entire, yellow; s. - cm. equal, rather wavy, squarrosely scaly up to ring; sp. × . ( × , sacc.) =junonia=, fr. p. - cm. exp. obtuse, dry, glabrous, yellow or tawny yellow; g. yellow then tawny; s. - cm. solid, equal, incurved, scurfy above entire ring; sp. - × . - . =tuberculosa=, schaeff. p. - cm. exp. dry, tawny yellow, broken up into adpressed innate squamules; g. broad, serrulate; s. - cm. incurved, bulbous, ring deciduous; sp. × . =curvipoda=, a. and s. p. - cm. exp. tawny yellow, torn into floccose adpressed scales; g. adnate, broad; s. - cm. thin, incurved, fibrillose, ring floccosely radiating, yellow; sp. - × - . [=kolaënsis=, karst. p. convex-exp. yellow, covered with rusty or cinnamon indumentum; g. at first yellowish; s. incurved, short, rusty and fibrillosely scaly below. =muricata=, fr. p. exp. obtuse, umbil. dry, yellow with tawny fasciculate flocci forming a muricate or granular covering; g. broad, yellow; s. thin, squamulose below the fugacious ring. [=tersa=, fr. p. exp. adpressedly squamulose, entirely yellow; g. free; s. elongated, equal, rusty below. [=trichocephala=, trog. p. campan. exp. obtuse, with shining straw-coloured hair-like squamules; g. free, distant, white then rusty; s. solid, base thickened, glabrous. =cruentata=, cke. and sm. p. - cm. exp. dry, yellow, breaking up into darker adpressed scales, edge incurved; g. yellow then tan; s. curved, colour of p. - cm. curved, base dark red brown, rooting, ring superior. flesh red; sp. ----. *** _gills cinnamon_ (not yellow at first). =paxillus=, fr. entirely cinnamon. p. - cm. convexo-gibbous then exp. even, moist, rather wavy; g. decur. broad; s. - cm. solid, elongated, stout, ring narrow, spreading; sp. ----. =dissimulans=, b. and br. p. - cm. exp. edge involute, often gibbous or obtusely umb. hygr. slightly viscid, lurid then pale; g. sinuately adnate; s. - cm. thickened downwards, white, ring superior; sp. × . =confragosa=, fr. p. - cm. exp. hygr. floccosely-scurfy, edge striate, rufous cinnamon then tawny; g. adnate, closely crowded; s. - cm. fistulose, equal, fibrillose below spreading ring; sp. × . [=sublutea=, fl. dan. p. exp. umb. squamulose, moist, edge striate, yellow; g. decur.; s. stuffed, glabrous, yellow, ring spreading. =phalerata=, fr. p. exp. glabrous but with superficial deciduous pale scales, yellow; g. adnato-decur.; s. fasciculately pilose, adpressedly flocculose above distant ring. =mutabilis=, schaeff. p. . - cm. exp. subumb. glabrous, deep cinnamon then pale; g. adnato-decur. crowded; s. - cm. rigid, squarrosely scaly up to ring, base dark rusty; sp. - × - . [=gregaria=, wettst. p. convex then exp. glabrous, edge thin, striate; sometimes becoming raised, pale fuscous centre darker; g. adnato-decur. broad, crowded, pallid then cinnamon; s. erect or curved, fistulose, fibrous, tough, slender, squarrosely squamulose up to spreading rusty ring, rusty below and pale above ring; sp. - × . =marginata=, batsch. p. - cm. exp. glabrous, hygr. edge striate, honey-colour then pale; g. adnate, crowded; s. - cm. not scaly, ring fugacious, dark base with white velvety down; sp. - × . _p. mutabilis_ differs in scaly s. =sororia=, karst. p. convex, exp. slightly striate, squamulose, tawny-cinnamon; g. sinuato-adnate, crowded; s. equal, wavy, colour of p. then paler, variegated with white squamules, apex scurfy; sp. - × - . close to _pholiota marginata_. =mustelina=, fr. p. - . cm. campan.-convex, even, glabrous, dry, yellow then ochre; g. adnate, tawny cinnamon; s. - . cm. even, pallid, white-mealy above superior ring, base thickened, with white down; sp. ----. =unicolor=, fl. dan. p. - . cm. campan.-convex, subumb. hygr. bay then ochre; g. subtriangular; s. - cm. colour of p., ring slender; sp. - × . [=mellea=, karst. p. convex exp. even, glabrous, honey-colour; g. crowded, fuscescent; s. wavy, glabrous, whitish, ring persistent; sp. - × - . differs from _pholiota unicolor_ in colour. c. muscigeni. _resembling a galera with a ring; hygr._ =pumila=, fr. p. - . cm. hemispher. even, ochre; g. adnate, crowded, broad, yellow then pallid; s. - cm. slender, ring fugacious, forming a zone; sp. - × - . [=muscigena=, q. honey yellow then pale ochre. p. campan. umb. thin, striate; g. triquetrous, thin, pale then ochre; s. slender, fistulose, fibrillose, slightly striate, cottony at the base; ring membranous, narrow, saffron-ochre; sp. - long. =mycenoides=, fr. p. - cm. campan.-convex, everywhere striate, hygr. rusty then tawny or pallid; g. adnate; s. - cm. rusty, glabrous, ring white; sp. - × - . =rufidula=, kalchbr. p. exp. depr. not striate, rather rufous brick-red then pale, white-flocculose at edge; g. adnate, branched; s. watery rufescent, white-fibrillose, ring superior; sp. - × - . pluteolus, fr. =reticulatus=, fr. p. - cm. campan. exp. viscid, reticulated with raised anastomosing wrinkles, pale violet; g. free, rusty saffron; s. - cm. fragile, fibrillose; sp. × . [=dictyotus=, kalchbr. entirely pale ochraceous. p. campan. exp. umb. dry, with anastomosing raised veins; g. free; s. fragile, even, glabrous. differs from _p. reticulatus_ in colour, and in growing on the ground. =aleuriatus=, fr. p. - cm. conical then convexo-plane, viscid, striate, grey, livid, rosy, &c.; g. free, ventricose, saffron-ochre; s. thin, pulverulent, subincurved, white; sp. ----. bolbitius, fr. =grandiusculus=, cke. and mass. p. . - cm. thin, campan. exp. slightly striate, pale yellow, disc rufous; g. free, rusty ochre; s. - cm. narrowed upwards, hollow, white; sp. × - . =vitellinus=, fr. p. - cm. ovate then exp. viscid, egg-yellow, even then sulcate at the edge; g. adnexed, ochre then tan; s. - cm. equal, white, squamulose, hollow; g. × . differs from _b. flavidus_ in white stem, and from _b. boltoni_ in clear yellow p. not depressed at disc. =boltoni=, fr. p. - cm. viscid, even, edge becoming sulcate, yellow then pale, disc darker and subdepr.; g. subadnate, yellow then livid fuscous; s. - cm. narrowed upwards, yellowish, at first flocculose; sp. × . =flavidus=, bolton. p. - cm. glutinous, conical then exp. disc a little elevated, pale yellow, edge striate; g. almost free, yellow then brownish; s. - cm. slightly tapering, yellow; sp. × . =fragilis=, fr. p. . - . cm. viscid, pellucid, edge striate, subumb. yellow then pale; g. yellowish then pale cinnamon; s. - cm. narrowed upwards, naked, glabrous, yellow; sp. × . . ( - × - sacc.) [=bulbillosus=, fr. p. convex-campan. exp. not striate, pale yellowish fuscous; g. free, ventricose, rusty; s. attenuated upwards from a somewhat marginate bulb, whitish yellow, glabrous; sp. - × . =affinis=, mass. (sp. nov.) p. - cm. campan. then exp. umb. glabrous, dry, edge striate, yellowish tawny like the narrow, adnexed g.; s. - cm. attenuated upwards from a marginate bulb, white, shining; sp. × . differs from _b. bulbillosus_ in the pure white s., and umbonate, striate, tawny yellow p. which is whitish when dry. [=conocephalus=, bull. p. - cm. conico-campan. fragile, slightly striate, viscid at the apex, creamy yellow; g. free, ventricose, becoming ochre; s. slender, elongated, pruinose at the apex, white; sp. long. =titubans=, bull. p. - cm. ovoid-campan. thin, glabrous, diaphanous, yellow, becoming striate, plaited and greyish at the edge; g. free, yellow then reddish or ochre; s. hollow, slender, very fragile, - cm. mealy, white, shining; sp. - × . =apicalis=, w. g. sm. p. - cm. high, conical, not exp. striate and brown up to ochre disc; g. free, rusty; s. cm. base thickened, striate, white; sp. × - . =rivulosus=, b. and br. p. - cm. campan. striate, rivulose, dingy tan; g. cinnamon; s. - cm. narrowed upwards, smooth, white; sp. - × - . =niveus=, mass. p. - cm. campan. obtusely umb. smooth, rather viscid, edge striate, pure white; g. free, salmon-colour; s. - cm. clavato-bulbous and gradually narrowed upwards; sp. salmon-colour, × - . =tener=, berk. p. - cm. long, not exp. even, smooth, moist, yellowish-white; g. nearly free, salmon-colour; s. - cm. clavato-bulbous, white; sp. salmon-colour, - × - . =luteolus=, lasch. very thin, p. campan. plicato-sulcate, yellow; g. free, yellow then livid; s. filiform, glabrous, pallid. =pusillus=, borsz. very thin, campan. sulcato-plicate above middle, viscid; g. free, cinnamon; s. pale yellow, white-squamulose. =purifluus=, lasch. p. very thin, exp. flocculose, sulcate, yellow; g. free, narrow, subochraceous; s. narrowed, mealy, yellowish. [=ozonii=, schulz. p. thin, conico-campan. exp. disc even, cinnamon or fuscous, rest pale ochre and densely striate; g. adnexed, closely crowded, pale then colour of p.; s. - springing from a common fleshy mass, or solitary and subbulbous, white; sp. - × . inocybe, fr. a. squarrosi. _pileus at first squarrose, stem scaly, both somewhat fuscous._ =hystrix=, fr. p. - cm. convexo-plane, mouse-colour, with revolute, squarrose scales; g. grey then fuscous; s. - cm. thickened upwards, with rings of reflexed scales, pale above ring; sp. × . =relicina=, fr. p. - cm. conico-exp. with squarrose tomentose scales, sooty; g. yellow then olive; s. - cm. solid, equal, floccosely scaly; sp. ----. =calamistrata=, fr. smell strong. p. - cm. campan. obtuse, squarrose with rigid recurved scales, brown; g. white then rusty; s. - cm. solid, rigid, base blue, squarrosely scaly everywhere, fuscous; sp. - × . flesh reddish. =hirsuta=, lasch. p. . - . cm. conico-campan. acute, squarrose with scales formed of fascicles of hairs, fuscous-ochre, disc sometimes greenish; g. narrow, pallid then fuscous; s. - cm. solid, slender, floccosely scaly above, base greenish; sp. ----. =lanuginosa=, bull. p. - cm. hemispher. exp. obtuse, floccosely scaly, those of disc erect, umber then yellowish; g. toothed, pallid then clay-colour; s. - cm. thin fibrillosely scaly, apex with white meal; sp. rough, or ; × (cke.) =squarrulosa=, karst. (= _clypeus_, karst.) p. convex then plane, obtuse, fibrillose, fuscescent, disc squarrosely squamulose, fuscous; g. crowded, white-crenulate; s. equal, brownish-squamulose; sp. × - . =dulcamara=, a. and s. p. - cm. convex, umb. pilosely-scaly, fuscous-olive; g. pallid then olive; s. - cm. fibrillosely squamulose from the veil, apex mealy; sp. - × . =plumosa=, bolton. p. - cm. convexo-plane, disc with erect pilose fascicles, edge fibrillose, mouse-grey; g. quite entire, whitish then smoky; s. - cm. slender, wavy, floccosely scaly, apex naked; sp. - × - . =cincinnata=, fr. p. . - . cm. convexo-plane, squarrosely squamose, somewhat fuscous; g. fuscous violet; s. - cm. solid, slender, scaly; sp. - . ( - × sacc.) =haemacta=, b. and cke. p. - cm. campan. obtuse, floccosely fibrillose with dark fibrils, disc scaly and darker; g. dingy tan; s. - cm. scarcely fibrillose, whitish above, tinged verdigris at base; sp. × - . flesh turning blood-red when bruised. =leucocephala=, boud. p. white, convex, entirely covered with erect scales; g. free, broad, fawn; s. short, white, coarsely fibrillose throughout; sp. rough, - × - . b. laceri. _pileus torn into scales or fibrils (not cracking); stem coloured, paler than pileus, fibrillose._ =pyriodora=, pers. smell pleasant. p. - cm. umb. adpressedly fibroso-scaly, fuscous ochre then pale; g. emarginate, rather distant; s. - cm. solid, equal, fibrillose, pale, apex pruinose; sp. × . flesh with red tinge. [=corydalina=, q. strong-scented. p. whitish, umbo bluish-green; g. narrow, white then fuscous; stem white pruinose; sp. long. var. _roseolus_, pat. larger than type. p. entirely bluish green, edge white-append.; flesh tinged rosy. [=violascens=, q. p. splitting, fawn, umbo lilac; g. lilac; s. hollow, white, apex striate, lilac, ring floccose, white; sp. - long. =incarnata=, bres. p. - cm. campan. convex, broadly umb. fibrillose then squamulose, edge fimbriate, yellowish then tinged red; g. sinuate, edge fimbriate becoming spotted or tinged red; s. - cm. fibrillose, rosy, apex white and mealy; sp. × . =scaber=, fr. p. - cm. conico-convex, obtusely gibbous, with scattered adpressed fibrillose scales, smoky then pallid; g. crowded, somewhat smoky; s. - cm. thick, equal, silky fibrillose; sp. × , cke.; × - , pat. var. _firma_, fr. p. fuscous tan with fuscous scales; s. velvety. =maritima=, fr. p. - cm. convex, exp. flocculosely fibrillose, hygr. umber then grey; g. broad, grey then rusty; s. - cm. solid, floccosely fibrillose, smoky; sp. rough, - . =violaceafusca=, cke. and mass. p. - cm. convex then exp. obtusely umb. concentrically scaly, fibrillose, dry, umber, edge torn; g. violet then umber, edge paler, serrulate; s. - cm. equal, smooth, violet above; sp. - × . =lacera=, fr. p. - cm. convex, exp. obtusely umb. fibrillosely scaly, mouse-grey then pale; g. broad pale rufescent then mouse-grey; s. - cm. fuscous-fibrillose, apex naked, red inside; sp. × . distinguished from _i. scabra_ and _i. mutica_ by being reddish inside of s. [=abjecta=, karst. p. convex exp. even, fuscescent, white-fibrous, disc fibrously scaly; g. adnate, broad, ventricose in front, cinnamon tinged olive; s. pallid, white-floccose, apex white-pruinose; sp. - × - . [=trivialis=, karst. p. conico-campan. exp. usually depr. obtusely umb. rimose, disc sometimes scaly pallid or mouse-colour changing to bay; g. crowded; s. solid, equal, subrufescent, at length dusky outside and inside, not bulbous; sp. - × - . [=rhodiola=, bresad. p. conico-campan. exp. umb. fibrillosely scaly then almost glabrous, rufous-umber then pale; g. becoming rusty-olive, edge white-pruinose, becoming rufous spotted; s. fibrillose, subequal, apex glabrous tinged yellow, reddish downwards, spotted reddish when bruised; flesh whitish, base of s. red; sp. - × - . =fasciata=, cke. and mass. caespitose. p. - cm. campan.-convex, pale tan disc rufous, silky, covered with small, dark, squarrose scales; g. pallid; s. - cm. fibrillose, reddish outside and inside at base, rest pallid, solid; sp. rough, × . [=rufoalba=, pat. and doass. p. convex, mammillate, brown, silky white tomentum everywhere except umbo; g. nearly free, rusty brown; s. equal, pubescent, rusty, not bulbous; sp. rough, - × - . =flocculosa=, berk. smell strong. p. . - . cm. umb. subcampan. silkily squamulose, tawny brown; g. fawn then rusty; s. - cm. fibrillose, reddish, pulverulent above; sp. × - . =bongardii=, weinm. smell pleasant, like bergamot. p. - cm. campan. obtuse, disc scaly, fibrillose towards edge, fuscous then pale; g. broad, pale reddish then cinnamon; s. - cm. solid, rigid, pallid rufous, silky and red below, apex with white meal; sp. - × . [=merletii=, q. p. convex, hoary, virgate with brownish fibrils; g. milky white then brownish fawn; s. whitish, stuffed, fibrillosely striate, ring floccose, white; sp. - long. [=capucina=, fr. p. conico-campan. acute, everywhere fibrillosely scaly, dusky fuscous, edge paler; g. adnate, crowded, fuscous; s. solid, short, fibrillose, fuscous; sp. rough, . [=cucullata=, c. mart. smell like camphor. p. variable in form, campan. campan.-convex, sometimes irreg. scaly, tawny, disc darker; g. broad, edge white, serrulate; s. subequal, hollow, glabrous, paler than p.; sp. smooth. [=asinina=, kalchbr. p. convex then plane, rather gibbous, adpressedly fibrillose, hoary then rufescent tan; g. greyish yellow then cinnamon; s. solid, brownish tan, loosely fibrillose and cingulate from the superior veil. [=connexifolia=, gill. smell like ripe fruit. p. conical then exp. umb. with adpressed fibrillose scales especially at centre; g. arcuate, connected by veins, whitish, olive-rufous, finally cinnamon; s. fibrously squamulose, white then tinged pink, white above; sp. smooth. flesh reddish when cut. =mutica=, fr. p. - cm. convex then plane, very obtuse then depr. squamulose, whitish, fuscous-fibrillose; g. adnate, crowded; s. hollow, pale straw-colour then fuscescent; sp. × . ( × sacc.) =carpta=, fr. p. - cm. convex exp. depr. dingy fuscous, with woolly filaments; g. broad, fuscous brown; s. - cm. fibrillosely woolly, hollow, narrowed downwards; sp. - × . [=tenebrosa=, q. p. campan. cracked into squamules, umber; s. fibrillosely striate, blackish olive, apex whitish; sp. - long. =deglubens=, fr. p. - cm. convexo-plane, umb. torn into adpressed fibrils, disc rather scaly, rufous bay then yellowish; g. dingy then cinnamon; s. - cm. solid, pallid, apex with dark scurf; sp. × . differs from _i. lacera_ in dark scurfy apex of s. =obscura=, pers. p. . - . cm. campan. then plane, umb. longitudinally fibrillose, disc scaly, blue then fuscous; g. olive then brown; s. - cm. fibrillose, brownish violet; sp. - × - . var. _rufus_, pat. p. brownish rufous, g. ventricose, violet. [=gaillardii=, gill. p. convex then exp. umbo and around scurfy, margin torn, reddish rusty; g. crowded, free, broad, colour of p.; s. slender, paler than p.; sp. globose with long slender spines. [=calospora=, q. p. minutely squamulose, brownish; g. milk-white; s. slender, slightly bulbous, pruinose, whitish rufous; sp. glob. strongly aculeate, . [=hirtella=, bres. p. conico-campan. exp. umb. edge soon splitting, yellowish straw-colour, densely covered with darker pilose scales; g. adnate, whitish then fuscescent, edge white-mealy; s. white becoming tinged straw-colour with a subterranean subbulbous base; sp. - × . allied to _i. calospora_, q. =echinata=, roth. p. - cm. campan. then exp. pulverulent then scaly, silky, dingy brownish yellow; g. nearly or quite free, deep rose to blood-red; s. - cm. floccosely pulverulent up to imperfect ring, dull red, hollow; sp. × . c. rimosi. _pileus longitudinally fibrillose, soon cracked, often adpressedly scaly; stem whitish, paler than pileus, fibrillose._ =schista=, cke. and sm. p. - cm. campan. broadly subumb. cracking longitudinally, fibrillose, bay brown; g. adnate, rufous, edge pale, serrate; s. - cm. stout, equal, twisted, solid, paler than p.; sp. ----. =fibrosa=, sow. p. - cm. campan. umbo broad, silky, even then cracked, edge wavy, pallid; g. free, crowded, dingy ochre, edge uneven; s. - cm. solid, narrowed upwards, striate, flocculosely scaly above; sp. slightly rough, - × . _i. perlata_ differs in darker p. and smooth sp. =phaeocephala=, bull. p. - cm. conico-campan. umb. wavy, squamulose, bay then sooty; g. free, arcuate, umber; s. - cm. solid, somewhat bulbous; colour of p. above, below white and downy; sp. × . [=jurana=, pat. p. umb. cracked and torn, fibrillose, rather squamulose towards the edge, reddish violet, disc deep violet; g. broad, ochraceous; s. tall, fibrous, apex pruinose, violet downwards; sp. × . =fastigiata=, schaeff. p. - cm. thin, conico-campan. longitudinally fibrous and cracked, edge often lobed, yellow brown; g. free, fuscous-olive; s. - cm. solid, stout, rather twisted, silky-fibrous; sp. rough, - × - . _i. pyriodora_ differs in smell and reddish flesh. [=praetervisa=, q. p. campan. fibrillosely virgate, fawn; g. milk-white then fawn; s. pubescent, pale straw-colour; sp. warted, - × - . [=godeyi=, gillet. smell strong, unpleasant. p. campan. edge slightly incurved, scaly and fibrillosely rimose, dingy yellow then tinged reddish-ochre as is every part of fungus more or less; g. free, pale olive; s. rather floccose at apex, colour of p. flesh white, tinging red; sp. - × - . [=cookei=, bres. p. conico-campan. exp. umb. edge becoming upturned and split, fibrillose and silkily rimose, centre glabrous, straw-colour then lurid yellowish; g. crowded, attenuato-adnexed, greyish white then yellowish cinnamon; s. colour of p. silky fibrillose, base marginately subbulbous, apex naked; sp. - × . allied to _i. fastigiata_. =hiulca=, fr. p. - cm. conico-exp. umb. fibrillose, cracked into scales, fuscous or olive; g. broad, becoming olive; s. - cm. rigid, silky fibrillose, apex and flesh pinkish white, with white meal; sp. - × . =curreyi=, berk. p. - cm. convex then exp. longitudinally fibrillose, squamulose at disc rather cracked, pale yellow brown; g. yellowish then tinged olive; s. - cm. rather fibrillose, colour of p. solid, flesh dingy; sp. × . differs from _i. pyriodora_ in absence of smell, and from _i. fastigiata_ in smooth sp. =perlata=, cke. p. - cm. convex then exp. broadly umb. longitudinally fibrous with darker fibrils, fuscous, edge paler, incurved, disc very dark; g. adnexed, pale umber; s. - cm. sometimes twisted, striate, pallid; sp. - × . differs from _i. schista_ in umber gills. [=maculata=, boud. p. campan. then exp. umb. silky-fibrillose, cracked, dingy fawn-colour, and with concentric white adpr. scales; g. almost free, fawn with olive tinge; s. fibrillose, paler than p. apex scurfy; - × - . differs from _i. rimosa_ in the white scales on p. =rimosa=, bull. p. - cm. campan. silky-fibrous, longitudinally cracked when exp. yellow brown; g. free; s. - cm. solid, firm, almost glabrous; sp. smooth, - × . _i. eutheles_ differs in being umbonate, and _i. pyriodora_ in strong smell. [=albipes=, gill. p. exp. plane, mammilate, fibrillosely rivulose, edge wavy, dingy yellow disc darker; g. free, crowded; s. entirely white, squamulose; sp. rough. =asterospora=, q. p. - cm. campan. subumb. silkily fibrous, longitudinally cracked when dry, yellow brown, or umber; g. almost free; s. - cm. slightly submarginately subbulbous, solid, pallid or pinkish tinge; sp. subgl. warted, - . ( - × - sacc.) differs from _i. rimosa_ in spores. [=proximella=, karst. p. exp. umb. rimose and torn into fibres, pallid, umb. darker; g. adnate, crowded, ventricose; s. subfibrillose, pallid, flesh white, no trace of bulb; sp. warted, - × - . differs from _ino. asterospora_ in absence of bulb, curved fibrillose stem, etc. [=umbrina=, bres. p. campan.-convex, plane, umb. chestnut brown, rather viscid, woolly-fibrillose at length rimose, disc sometimes slightly warted; g. crowded, lurid citrin then reddish cinnamon, edge darker; s. fibrillose, colour of p. subbulbous; sp. substellate, - × - . close to _i. asterospora_, q. =eutheles=, b. and br. p. - cm. campan. exp. strongly umb. undulate, shining, silky, squamulose, fawn; g. broadly adnate, pallid, edge whitish, toothed; s. - cm. equal, striate, pallid; sp. - × . differs from _i. fastigiata_ in adnate gills, and from _i. curreyi_ in strong umbo and adnate g. =margaritispora=, berk. p. - cm. campan. then exp. wavy, broadly umb. silky, with adpressed fibrillose scales, fawn; g. adnexed, pallid; s. - cm. equal, fibrillose, pallid; sp. warted, . differs from _i. eutheles_ in globose, warted s., and from _i. asterospora_ in squamulose p. =destricta=, fr. p. - cm. campan.-exp. umb. cracked, fibrillose, then torn into scales, pallid then rufescent; g. uncinato-adnate; s. - cm. solid, glabrous, fibrillose, striate, reddish-white; sp. × . differs from _i. rimosa_ by adnexed g. and reddish s. _i. asterospora_ differs in warted globose sp. =perbrevis=, weinm. p. - cm. convex, obtusely umb. fibrously scaly, edge rather striate at length splitting, fuscous then yellowish rufous; g. uncinato-adnexed; s. - . cm. pallid, white-fibrillose, base rather narrowed; sp. - × . [=putilla=, bres. p. conico-campan. then exp. umb. silky-fibrillose, surface at length cracked and torn, tan or greyish-brown, or fuscous then pale, edge persistently lurid whitish; g. sinuato-adnate, white then tan, edge crenulate; s. very faintly tinged rose, white-fibrillose then glabrous, apex white-scurfy, base rather narrowed; sp. angular, - × - . =descissa=, fr. p. . - cm. conico-campan. fibrillose, splitting open, whitish fuscescent; g. almost free, crowded, whitish then fuscescent; s. - cm. partly hollow, equal, undulate, fibrillose, apex white-pulverulent; sp. × - . resembling _i. geophylla_ but slenderer; s. white outside and inside. var. _auricoma_, batsch. smaller. p. yellowish, edge striate; g. adfixed, ventricose white then fuscous. [=grammata=, q. p. campan. fibrous-striate, whitish then fawn; g. tawny; s. striate, tomentose, shining white then rosy; sp. rough, . [=brunnea=, q. p. umb. fibrillosely silky, chestnut; s. fibrilloso-striate, fuscous, apex white, pruinose; sp. long. [=grata=, weinm. p. conico-campan. fibrillose, umbonate, cracked when exp. whitish- or yellowish-rufescent, scaly disc darker; g. crowded, olive then pallid fuscescent; s. shining, fibrillose, wavy, whitish rufescent. =trinii=, weinm. smell like clove-pinks. p. - cm. hemispher. obtuse, longitudinally rufescent-fibrillose, whitish-rufescent, tawny when dry; g. rounded, ventricose, cinnamon, edge white-floccose; s. - cm. equal, slender, loosely rufous-fibrillose, powdered with white; sp. rough, - . d. velutini. _pileus not rimose, cuticle of interwoven fibrils, almost smooth, or adpressedly scaly, disc even; stem polished, glabrous, whitish, apex mealy._ =sambucina=, fr. white, smell strong. p. - cm. firm, convex, exp. obtuse, silky fibrillose, even, sometimes tinged yellow; g. crowded, whitish; s. - cm. stout, solid, glabrous, striate, white; sp. - × . =caesariata=, fr. p. . - cm. convex exp. gibbous, somewhat tawny, ochraceous-fibrillose or subsquamulose; g. entire, pale ochre; s. - cm. solid, equal, fibrillose, pale ochre; sp. × . ( - × sacc.) [=delecta=, karst. (= _i. caesariata_, var. _fibrillosa_, fr.). p. exp. even, fibrillosely scaly, dingy tawny- or rufous-honeycolour, paler when dry; g. at length fuscous, edge paler and floccoso-crenate; s. solid, dingy yellow or pallid, white-fibrillose; sp. ----. [=subgranulosa=, karst. p. convex then exp. or slightly depr. obsoletely umb. even, pale ochre, disc more especially with minute erect dark squamules; g. adnate, greenish- then brownish-cinnamon; s. hollow, curved or wavy, paler than p.; sp. - × - . =lucifuga=, fr. smell strong. p. - cm. convex-plane, subumb. adpressedly fibrilloso-squamulose, fuscous or olive then pale; g. yellowish white then olive; s. cm. solid, firm, equal, glabrous, apex rather pruinose; sp. × . [=decipiens=, bres. p. exp. umb. floccosely silky, disc smooth then broken up into scales, cinnamon ochre; g. greyish white then lurid cinnamon; s. glabrous, apex slightly pruinose, rather striate, pallid; sp. rough, - × - . [=tomentella=, fr. p. convex, obtuse, fibrillosely tomentose, brownish; g. subadnate; s. solid, equal, white, apex pruinose, with a cortinate median annular zone, otherwise glabrous. =sindonia=, fr. p. - cm. thin, conico-convex, obtusely gibbous, velvety-villose, dingy white or yellowish, edge appendiculate; g. lanceolate, whitish then fuscous; s. - cm. with a separate pith which disappears, then hollow, almost glabrous; sp. × . ( × sacc.) differs from _i. geophylla_ in larger size and hollow s. [=cortinata=, roll. p. campan. then exp. strongly umb. whitish straw-colour, umb. darker, becoming rimose, white veil at margin; g. adnato-decur. dingy ochre, edge flocculose, paler; s. white, fibrilloso-striate, curved, ring median. perhaps a cortinate form of _i. sindonia_. =clarkii=, b. and br. p. - cm. campan. obtuse, whitish, silky; g. adnexed, pallid, edge white; s. - cm. nearly equal, solid, white; sp. - × . differs from _i. sindonia_ in solid s. and pale g. =geophylla=, fr. p. - cm. conical then exp. umb. even, silky-fibrillose, white or lilac; g. adnexed, crowded, dingy white then umber; s. - cm. equal, firm, apex with white meal, veil fibrillose; sp. - × . _i. scabella_ differs in brownish squamulose p. var. _fulva_, pat. p. rufous-ochre, edge paler; sp. - × . var. _violacea_, pat. p. violet; sp. × . [=commixta=, bres. p. conico-campan. exp. umb. shining white or tinged grey; fibrillosely silky, edge often split, dry; g. closely crowded, free, white then greyish cinnamon; s. solid, white, equal, apex scurfy, base minutely turbinately bulbous; sp. angular, × . closely resembling _i. geophylla_, differing in base of s. and angular sp. [=umbratica=, q. shining white. p. umb. silky-pruinose; g. white then rosy-fawn; s. flocculose; sp. rough, - . =scabella=, fr. p. - cm. campan. then plane, dry, torn into squamulose fibrils, umbo obtuse, even, glabrous, rufescent or yellowish; g. adnexed, dingy; s. - cm. glabrous, rufescent or pallid, apex pruinose; sp. rough, × . [=debilipes=, karst. p. conico-convex, exp. pallid fuscous then rather rusty, everywhere torn into scales which become stuck down, then rimose; g. adnexed, crowded, pallid rusty, edge fuscous-crenulate; s. wavy, pallid, spotted with minute fuscescent squamules; sp. - × - . [=confusa=, karst. p. exp. umb. glabrous, cuticle cracked, fibrillose, rusty, tawny yellow or bay; g. crowded, yellowish then olive; s. solid, firm, nearly glabrous, pale; sp. - × . [=inconcina=, karst. p. exp. obtuse, even, glabrous, innately fibrillose, rusty then pale; g. sinuato-adnate, crowded, pale olive then rusty, edge paler and floccosely crenulate; s. equal, wavy, pallid, apex white-pruinose; sp. - × - . [=curvipes=, karst. p. exp. obtuse, adpressedly fibrillose or squamulose, brownish; g. adnexed, crowded; s. curved, wavy or twisted, narrowed below, fibrillose, pallid; sp. rough, - × - . [=conformata=, karst. p. exp. umb. slightly adpressedly floccosely squamulose, rusty or brownish then pale; g. adnexed, ventricose, pallid then brownish; s. equal, rather wavy, minutely fibrillosely flocculose; sp. - × - . [=pusio=, karst. p. exp. umb. fibroso-rimose, pallid fuscous; g. adnexed with decur. tooth, tan; s. apex pruinose and at first violet, usually wavy; sp. - × - . [=flavella=, karst. p. acutely conical then exp. acutely umb. innately fibrillosely rimose, glabrous, yellowish, rather shining; g. crowded, yellowish then olive, edge paler, floccosely crenulate; s. solid, equal, wavy, apex white-flocculose, yellowish white; sp. - × - . [=fulvella=, bres. p. conico-campan. exp. umb. silky-flocculose, centre glabrous, olivaceous honey-colour then brownish olive, umbo darker; g. lilac then tan, edge fimbriate; s. lilac then rufescent, glabrous, wavy. =subrimosa=, mass. (_clypeus subrimosus_, karst.). p. - cm. conico-campan. umbo prominent, edge often wavy, even, glabrous, then longitudinally fibrillose and cracked, bay or rusty ochre; g. dingy tan; s. - cm. solid, equal, polished, with a minute marginate bulb, white, mealy; sp. - , spiny. =mamillaris=, pass. p. convex, mammillate, squamulose; g. emarginato-adnexed; s. hollow, equal, flexuous; sp. smooth. =renneyi=, b. and br. p. - cm. hemispher. slightly fibrillose, disc brown, rest fawn; g. rounded behind, dingy ochre; s. - cm. slightly narrowed downwards, fibrillose, solid, paler than p.; sp. rough, × - . var. _major_, b. and br. colour of type, but larger; g. broadly adnate. e. viscidi. _pileus almost smooth, viscid._ =trechispora=, berk. p. convex then exp. umb. viscid, soon dry and silky, umbo brownish rest whitish; g. pinkish grey; s. - cm. equal; often rather wavy, whitish, mealy; sp. × - . differs from _i. geophylla_ in dark umbo and rough sp. [=viscosissima=, fr. (= _i. umbonata, q._) p. convex acutely umb. umber-brown, dripping with gluten then silky; g. rounded and free, ventricose, rufescent; s. equal, glabrous, pallid; sp. ----. allied to _i. trechispora_, differing in being very glutinous and in rounded free gills. [=imbecilis=, pass. p. glabrous, rather viscid, white then clay-colour; g. whitish then rusty-rose; s. solid, long, cylindrical, watery, with white meal above. =vatricosa=, fr. p. - . cm. convex then plane, subumb. glabrous, viscid, silky at margin, whitish; g. white then fuscescent; s. - cm. fistulose, contorted, pulverulent; sp. ----. habit of _i. geophylla_ but smaller and viscid at first. =whitei=, b. and br. p. . - . cm. convex, tawny, edge whitish, at length exp. and all tawny, fibrillose, rather viscid; g. white then pallid; s. - cm. slightly thickened at base, white then brownish; sp. × . =tricholoma=, a. and s. whitish. p. - cm. plano-depr. rather viscid, with adpr. white fibrils, edge strigosely fringed; g. decur.; s. - cm. slender, squamulose above; sp. rough, . =strigiceps=, fr. p. convex-obtuse then exp. strigosely silky with long fibrils, rufescent, edge at first involute, strigosely ciliate; g. adnato-decur.; s. stuffed, downy, white. var. _eriocephala_, fr. p. yellowish-white, silky, with appendiculate white down at edge; g. adnate; s. fistulose, becoming compressed. hebeloma, fr. a. indusiati. _veil evidently cortinate, hence the pileus is often superficially silky near the margin._ =mussivum=, fr. p. - cm. convex exp. obtuse, viscid, at length squamulose, yellow disc often brownish; g. emarginate, yellowish; s. - cm. solid, equal, entirely fibrillose, yellowish, apex rather pruinose; sp. × . =sinuosum=, fr. p. - cm. exp. wavy, viscid, even, almost glabrous, yellowish or pale brick-red then pale; g. emarginato-free, broad, pallid then rusty; s. - cm. hollow, stout, fibrous, soft, white floccosely-scaly above; sp. ----. =fastibile=, fr. smell unpleasant. p. - cm. compact, exp. wavy, viscid, glabrous, pale yellowish tan; g. emarginate, rather distant, pallid then cinnamon, lacrymose; s. - cm. subbulbous, white, fibrously scaly, veil evident; sp. × . var. _alba_, fr. s. longer, equal, partly hollow, apex fibrously scaly; g. distant. var. _elegans_, lindgr. edge of p. sulcate or rugoso-plicate. form b. pileus purple-brown. =senescens=, batsch. p. - cm. exp. rather viscid, ochre or flesh-colour with tinge of rust, rusty yellow when old, edge crisped, hoary; g. dusky rust colour; s. - cm. thinner and whitish upwards, scaly and darker below; sp. × . =glutinosum=, lindg. p. - cm. exp. glutinous, with white superficial scales, yellowish white, discoid; g. crowded, yellowish then cinnamon; s. - cm. subbulbous, whitish squamulose, apex mealy; sp. - × . =testaceum=, batsch. smells like radishes. p. - cm. campan.-convex, even, rather viscid, brick-red then pale, rather opaque; g. nearly free, crowded, rusty; s. - cm. hollow, subbulbous, floccosely fibrillose, pallid, apex mealy; sp. × - . [=rubrum=, otth. p. campan. then conico-exp. splitting into shreds, clear red, yellowish when dry; flesh reddish; g. free; s. equal, fibrous, often slightly bulbous, colour of p. =firmum=, pers. p. - cm. campan. exp. umb. viscid, brick-red, discoid; g. dry, edge white toothed; s. - cm. solid, pallid, everywhere floccosely scaly; sp. × . [=mitratum=, fr. p. campan.-gibbous, viscid, often cracked, yellowish brick-red, umbo prominent, stout, fuscous then pale, g. crowded, sinuato-adnate; s. solid or becoming hollow, equal, yellowish-white, fibrous, dusky yellow from veil. =claviceps=, fr. p. - cm. convex, exp. disc gibbous, even, naked, pallid; g. dry, pallid; s. - cm. equal, everywhere white mealy, fuscous downwards; sp. - × . differs from _h. firmum_ in dark base of s. and paler g. [=fusipes=, bres. smell like spirit of wine. p. convex-gibbous, edge broadly incurved, viscid, glabrous, tinged tan; g. broad, edge white-fimbriate; s. pallid, base fusiformly rooting; sp. - × - . [=birrum=, fr. p. exp. discoid, disc rugulose, pale tan, with superficial white squamules near edge; g. rounded then truncate and free; s. solid, fusiformly rooting, rather woolly with white imbricated squamules. =punctatum=, fr. p. - cm. exp. silky then almost glabrous, the darker disc punctate with viscid warts, tan, paler when dry; g. narrow, crowded, pallid then rusty bay; s. - cm. hollow, equal, apex white pruinose; sp. - × - . =versipelle=, fr. p. - cm. viscid with tough gluten, discoid, at length wavy, crust-colour, adglutinated and silky at edge, then glabrous; g. crowded, broad, reddish white then tan; s. - cm. silky-white, apex pruinose; sp. long. [=subtortum=, karst. p. convex then plane, obtuse, even, glabrous, irreg. at first, silky near edge from veil, viscid, pale brick-red or pallid, disc darker; g. adnato-subdecur. crowded, edge crenate; s. hollow, usually twisted, whitish, apex mealy; sp. - × - . =mesophaeum=, fr. p. - cm. conico-convex then plane, even, viscid, almost naked, gilvous, disc bay; g. emarginate, crowded, thin; s. - cm. tough, equal, slender, fibrillose, whitish then rusty, apex pruinose; sp. - × - . disc of p. sometimes umber. var. _holophaeum_, fr. p. umb. everywhere dusky fuscous; s. fuscescent, subannulate. =strophosum=, fr. p. - cm. expanded, subumbonate, viscid, disc bay, edge white with veil; g. crowded; s. - cm. hollow, silky, whitish, ring near the apex distinct but imperfect; sp. - × . [=elatellum=, sacc. (= _roumeguerites elatellus_, karst.) p. hemisph. even, glabrous, naked, pale fuscescent, sometimes spotted, yellowish livid when dry; g. adnate, much crowded, narrow, pale tan; s. tall, equal, naked, whitish, ring, inf. entire, persistent, membranous, tinged fuscous; sp. - × - . =subcollariatum=, b. and br. p. - cm. convex, exp. rather glutinous, pale ochre-tan, centre darker; g. broadly adnate, soon separating from s. and attached to a collar, pale tan, edge whitish; s. - cm. flexuous, pale, brownish below, pulverulent; sp. - × . =violascens=, otth. p. convex, umb. dry, silky shining, bright violet, disc adpressedly squamulose and brownish; g. reddish violet then brownish; s. pale violet then rufous-fibrillose, base slightly bulbous, yellowish. [=deflectens=, karst. p. exp. depr. rugulose, dry, scurfy-squamulose, bright yellow-tan; g. crowded, lanceolate; s. equal, fistulose, tough, rooting, paler than p. everywhere white-scurfy; sp. - × - . b. denudati. _pileus glabrous, veil absent from the first._ =sinapizans=, fr. smell like radishes. p. - cm. compact, exp. rather wavy, even, glabrous, rather viscid, pale tan; g. deeply emarginate, broad, dry, crowded, entire; s. - cm. stout, equal, fibrillose, white, apex white-scaly; sp. × . differs from _h. sinuosum_ in strong smell and absence of veil. =crustuliniforme=, bull. p. - cm. convex then exp. glabrous, rather viscid, often rather wavy, yellowish-red, disc darker then pale; g. sinuate, thin, narrow, whitish then brown, edge crenulate and with beads of moisture; s. - cm. solid, firm, subbulbous, whitish, with minute white recurved flecks; sp. - × . [=syrjense=, karst. p. convex, exp. obtuse, dry, even, glabrous, brick-red; g. adnexed, crowded, pallid, edge crenulate; s. equal, wavy, twisted, white, white-flocculoso-pulverulent above, at length entirely umber; sp. - × - . subcaespitose; stems cohering at base. =hiemale=, bres. (= _h. crustuliniforme_, var. _minor_, cke.) p. exp.-gibbous or depr. viscid, glabrous, edge incurved and white flocculose at first, pallid tan, centre reddish tan; g. crowded, sinuate and almost free, edge white-floccose; s. whitish, apex with white scurf; sp. - × - . near to _h. crustuliniforme_, but smaller and smell obsolete. [=subsaponaceum=, karst. smell strong, soapy. p. exp. obtuse, even, naked, dry, gilvous then pallid, darker when dry; g. adnate, dry; s. elongated, equal, rather wavy, adpressedly fibrillose, apex rather mealy, pale, umber below when touched; sp. - × - . [=stocseki=, schulz. p. convex, even, whitish then yellow, centre tawny; g. adnexed, narrow, both ends narrowed, rufescent; s. cylindrical, thickened below, whitish, often striately-twisted; sp. × - . [=quéletii=, schulz. p. umbonato-campan. then convex, white then ochre, sometimes rufous-brown, very even, subviscid in rainy weather, pellicle separable; g. subsinuato-adnexed, rounded in front, whitish then pale cinnamon; s. cylindrical, often curved at base, white base tinged brown; sp. - × . [=involuta=, lamb. (= _paxillus nitens_, lamb.) p. convex, glutinous when moist, shining as if varnished when dry, yellow brown, paler at edge which remains for a long time incurved; flesh yellowish, glabrous; g. free, cut out behind, narrow, crowded, brownish olive at last; s. reddish yellow above, darker below. =elatum=, batsch. smell strong of radishes. p. - cm. convex, umb. glabrous, viscid, pinkish ochre whitish towards the edge; g. uncinate, wavy, crowded, dry, pale flesh-colour then bistre; s. - cm. soft, cylindrical, twisted, white then bistre, apex mealy, fibrillose or downy; sp. - × . =longicaudum=, pers. p. - cm. exp. even, subumb. glabrous, viscid, rather wavy, tan then whitish; g. crowded, dry, serrulate; s. - cm. partly hollow, fragile, fibrillose, subequal, white, apex with white meal; sp. × . var. _radicatum_, cke. s. fusiform, rooting. =lugens=, jungh. smell strong. p. - cm. exp. glabrous, rather viscid, brown then yellowish; g. pale rusty, edge crenulate, darker; s. - cm. shining, fibrillosely striate, subbulbous, apex white-mealy; sp. × . =truncatum=, schaeff. p. - cm. exp. undulately wavy, almost dry, somewhat rufous, edge paler; g. crowded, dry; s. . - cm. solid, stout, equal, everywhere slightly pruinose, white; sp. - × . [=mentiens=, karst. p. convexo-plane, edge angularly bent down, even, glabrous, dry, yellowish-tan, tinged tawny when dry; g. subadnate, broad, thin, white, yellowish when dry; s. hollow, fibrous, flexuous, glabrous, white, apex thickened and rather pruinose; sp. - × - . =nudipes=, fr. p. - cm. exp. even, almost glabrous, slightly viscid, tan then pale, edge thin; g. crowded, dry; s. - cm. solid, equal, pelliculose, glabrous, naked, shining white, base fibrillose; sp. × . ( - × - sacc.) [=sacchariolens=, q. smell strong, like burnt sugar. p. campan. then convex, - cm. thin, glabrous, viscid, whitish with the centre buff; g. sinuate, crinkled, whitish then buff bordered with white; s. slender, subfistulose, slightly striate, silky, pruinose at the summit, white, streaked with fawn fibrils below; sp. long. [=circinans=, karst. p. campan.-convex, lubricous, smoky-ochre, edge revolute downy and whitish; g. sinuate, crowded, reddish, edge white, crenulate; s. slender, whitish, subbulbous, with reflexed circinate fibrils; sp. - long. =nauseosum=, cke. smell nauseous. p. - cm. convex then exp. gibbous, viscid, whitish ochre; g. very broad; s. - cm. whitish, mealy above; sp. × . differs from _h. crustuliniforme_ in glabrous s. =capnicocephalum=, bull. p. - cm. exp. even, glabrous, gilvous, disc darker, edge becoming blackish; g. broad, rusty; s. - cm. narrowed downwards, fibrillosely-striate, pale rufescent; sp. × . ( - × - , sacc.) =ischnostylum=, cke. p. - cm. exp. broadly umb. rather viscid, white or a little pallid at disc; g. edge serrulate; s. - cm. smooth, naked, whitish; sp. × . differs from _h. nudipes_ in whitish p. [=diffractum=, fr. p. convex, obtuse, glabrous, nearly dry, at length broken up into scales, tan; g. broad; s. hollow, white, narrowed below, whitish floccosely scaly above; sp. - × - . [=subzonatum=, weinm. p. campanulato-exp. viscid, with darker innately scaly zones, whitish; g. crowded, narrow; s. equal, rather bulbous, fibrillose, apex pruinose. [=spoliatum=, fr. p. exp. obtuse, viscid, even, glabrous, reddish tan; g. broad, crowded; s. equal, rooting, tough, glabrous, apex pruinose; sp. × . [=tortuosum=, karst. p. convex, exp. gibbous, even, rufous-tan then pale, glabrous; g. pallid then honey-colour; s. narrowed below, hollow, contorted, pallid, apex with white floccose scales; sp. - × - . c. pusilli. _pileus scarcely an inch broad._ =magnimamma=, fr. p. - cm. exp. umbo strongly mammiform, naked, brick-red then pale; g. obtusely adnate, crowded; s. - cm. equal, glabrous, gilvous then pallid; sp. ----. [=sterile=, jungh. p. campan.-exp. glabrous, even, dry, violet; g. free, narrow, rusty; s. solid, equal, glabrous, violet, apex floccosely pruinose. [=odini=, fr. p. exp. obtuse, naked, bay, edge tawny; g. slightly sinuate, yellow then tawny; s. fibrillose, tawny bay. =petiginosum=, fr. p. . - cm. conico-convex then exp. yellowish, gibbous disc fuscous, margin silkily hoary; g. free, yellow then olive bay; s. cm. rufescent, pulverulent; sp. × . naucoria, fr. a. gymnoti. _pileus glabrous. veil absent. spores rusty, not dingy rusty brown._ * _gills free or slightly adnexed._ =lugubris=, fr. p. - cm. campan.-exp. wavy, often viscid, even, pallid becoming rusty, opaque; g. free, very broad, crowded; s. - cm. glabrous, fusiformly rooting, pallid; sp. × . a form in pine woods has p. bullate, disc bay; s. short. =festiva=, fr. p. . cm. convex, subgibbous, even, glutinous, usually olive-brown, isabelline when dry; s. free, crowded, ventricose, rusty; s. - cm. hollow, fusiformly rooting, colour various, violet, rufous, &c.; sp. × . ( × sacc.) every part variable in colour. [=christinae=, fr. p. conico-acute, rather wavy, viscid, fiery cinnamon when moist, tawny and shining when dry, then pale; g. free, pallid then fiery saffron; s. cylindric, glabrous, rooting, dull blood-red; sp. - × - . [=medullosa=, bres. smell weak, like radishes. p. conico-campan. exp. subumb. viscid, glabrous, tawny then paler; g. crowded, almost free, edge white-pruinose; s. tinged fuscous, apex pale, pruinose, base thickened and white-downy, pith white, separable; sp. - × - . [=hilaris=, fr. p. thin, even, rather viscid, tawny orange, shining; g. yellowish rusty; s. hollow, shining yellow. [=subglobosa=, a. and s. p. hemisph. even, rather viscid, yellowish; g. nearly free, very broad, rhomboid; s. stuffed, thin, short, striate; sp. × . =hamadryas=, fr. p. - cm. convex, exp. gibbous, even, rusty bay, yellowish red when dry and old; g. attenuato-adnexed, rusty; s. - cm. hollow, equal, glabrous, pallid; sp. - × . [=nimbosa=, post. p. convex exp. umb. pruinosely velvety, rufous brown; g. broad, rusty, edge fimbriate; s. everywhere pruinosely velvety, fuscous below, pale above; sp. - × . =cidaris=, fr. p. - cm. conical then campan. even, cinnamon tan, paler when dry, edge wavy, striate; g. ventricose, honey-colour; s. . - cm. fusiform, blackish brown; sp. long. differs from _m. cucumis_ in absence of smell. [=jennyae=, karst. p. conical, exp. subumb. acute, even, glabrous, dry, orange-bay; g. crowded; s. cartilaginous, fibrous inside, tough, fusiformly narrowed below, apex thickened, reddish bay; sp. - × - . =cucumis=, pers. smell strong, like cucumber. p. . - . cm. broadly campan. brownish bay when moist, edge paler; g. pallid then saffron; s. - cm. blackish brown, apex thickened, hollow, pruinose; sp. - × - . =anguinea=, fr. p. - cm. campan. convex, gibbous, even, yellowish tan, a silky zone near the edge; g. crowded, linear, rusty; s. - cm. bay, densely coated with white fibrils; sp. ----. [=micans=, fr. p. convex, gibbous, even, rather shining, yellow; g. greenish yellow then rusty; s. rufo-fuscous, pruinate. =centuncula=, fr. p. . - . cm. convexo-plane, lurid green then yellowish, becoming pale; g. thick, broad, greyish yellow; s. . cm. base with white down, apex white-pulverulent; sp. - × . stem usually incurved, often excentric. [=laeta=, lamb. entirely clear yellow. p. convex, obtuse, glabrous; g. free, crowded, narrow; s. slender, elongated, glabrous. =horizontalis=, bull. watery cinnamon. p. - cm. exp. even; g. broad; s. cm. incurved, naked; sp. - × - . [=rimulincola=, rab. cinnamon. p. hemisph. umbil. plicate, rugulosely tomentose; g. thick, very broad, edge white, crenulate; s. subexcentric, short, curved; sp. - × . =semiflexa=, b. and br. p. cm. exp. chestnut, edge fringed with white silky veil, hygr.; g. broad and distant; s. cm. incurved, pale, solid; sp. × . [=pygmaea=, bull. p. exp. obtuse, edge striate, ochre-tan; g. ventricose, rusty; s. fistulose, thin, wavy, glabrous, white. =rubricata=, b. and br. gregarious. p. concave then exp. and depr. - mm. whitish then tinged rufous or ochre; g. adnexed, whitish then pinkish, finally brownish, rounded in front; s. slender, incurved, base scurfy or downy; sp. ----. ** _gills adnate, pileus convexo-plane._ [=enchymosa=, lund. p. exp. glabrous, disc minutely punctate, olive when moist, tan when dry; g. tawny then rusty; s. pallid then colour of p. [=hyperella=, fr. p. convex then plane, umbonate, fuscescent, hoary-rusty when dry; g. crowded, obscure rusty; s. filiform, silky fibrillose, pallid. =abstrusa=, fr. p. - cm. convex, obtuse, even, glabrous, viscid, rusty tan; g. crowded; s. - cm. rigid, glabrous, rusty; sp. × . _n. melinoides_ differs in striate p. [=flacca=, karst. p. conoid-campan. tan or yellowish-cinnamon; g. adnate, soon free, colour of p.; s. cartilaginous, equal, paler than p. umber below, white-fibrillose; sp. - × . =innocua=, lasch. p. - cm. convex, obtuse, almost glabrous, striate, rufous then pale; g. yellowish ochre; s. - cm. white-fibrillose; sp. × - . =cerodes=, fr. p. - cm. convexo-plane, orbicular, even, hygr. wax-colour then ochre; g. broad, ochre cinnamon; s. - cm. equal, naked, yellow, base rusty; sp. × . ( - × - , sacc.) [=solstitialis=, karst. p. campan. exp. depr. umb. fragile, glabrous, edge striate then torn, honey-colour then rusty cinnamon, rusty when dry; g. entire, cinnamon; s. equal, straight, pallid then greenish umber; sp. - × - . =melinoides=, fr. p. . - . cm. convexo-plane, obtusely umb. even, glabrous, tawny, ochre when dry; g. triquetrous-oblong, honey-colour, toothed; s. - cm. hollow, thickish, with yellow meal above, base white; sp. - × - . =pusiola=, fr. p. cm. hemispher. exp. obtuse, even, glabrous, rather viscid, tawny yellow; g. broad; s. cm. slender, glabrous, yellow, shining; sp. × . [=miserrima=, karst. p. plane, umb. sulcate then splitting, whitish when dry, glabrous; g. adfixed, distant, broad, ventricose, subochre; s. equal, base and apex slightly thickened, fistulose, straight, naked, whitish; sp. ----. *** _gills adnate; pileus campan. then exp._ =nucea=, bolt. p. globoso-campan. umbil. punctate, pale chestnut, edge incurved, rather lobed; g. rather crisped, cinnamon; s. - cm. silky fibrillose, white; sp. - × . =scolecina=, fr. p. - cm. campan.-convex then plane, edge slightly striate, rusty bay; g. white then rusty, edge flocculose; s. - cm. wavy, rusty rufous, white-mealy; sp. × . [=amarescens=, q. p. slightly rugulose, brown then tan; g. uncinato-ventricose, whitish then tawny; s. striate, whitish saffron then umber; sp. long. =sideroides=, bull. p. - cm. campan. exp. umb. glabrous, viscid, reddish-yellow, ochre and shining when dry; g. uncinately adfixed with a decur. tooth, narrow, crowded; s. even, glabrous, apex white-mealy, pallid, base brownish; sp. - × - . =glandiformis=, w. g. sm. p. - cm. obtusely campan. then nut-shaped, nut-brown, smooth, even; g. very broad, umber; s. - cm. equal, pallid; sp. - × - . [=stictica=, fr. p. convexo-plane, orbicular, even, rough with minute superficial granules; hygr. brownish ochre then tan; g. crowded, pale cinnamon; s. rusty brown. [=typhicola=, p. henn. p. thin, fragile, campan.-exp. subumb. flocculose then smooth, edge striate, hygr. fuscescent; g. unequal, subdistant, ventricose, flesh-colour then tawny; s. hollow, slender, mealy-squamulose then smooth, whitish, base bulbous, white tomentose; sp. - × - . =badipes=, fr. p. - cm. campan.-convex subumb. glabrous, pellucidly striate from umbo when moist, rusty yellow then pale, edge almost straight; g. adnate, ventricose; s. - cm. rusty, with white fibrillose squamules up to middle; sp. × . =hydrophila=, mass. p. - cm. campan. then slightly exp. acutely umb. glabrous, edge striate when moist, pale tan with tinge of green; g. brownish, edge pale; s. - cm. equal, flexuous, hollow, with red and green tints; sp. - × - . =striaepes=, cke. p. - cm. campan. then exp. more or less gibbous, ochre; g. broad, tawny cinnamon; s. - cm. straight or wavy, hollow, white, distinctly longitudinally striate; sp. × . [=camerina=, fr. p. campan.-convex, obtusely umb. glabrous, moist, edge striate, ochraceous tan, paler when dry, disc darker; g. crowded, yellowish cinnamon; s. wavy, adpressedly fibrillose, equal, umber. =triscopoda=, fr. p. cm. conical then hemispher. then convexo-plane, umb. bay, ochre when dry; g. obscure rusty; s. - cm. filiform, glabrous, rusty, base umber; sp. - × - . b. phaeoti. _pileus naked. gills and spores brownish-rusty._ * pediadei. _growing in fields and pastures._ [=amoena=, weinm. p. almost plane, even, rather viscid, dingy yellow disc tinged rusty, then pale; g. adnate with decur. tooth, rusty; s. fibrously stuffed, equal, fibrillose, shining white; sp. - × - . =vervacti=, fr. p. - cm. convexo-plane, umb. even, glabrous, viscid, shining when dry, yellow; g. adnate with decur. tooth, crowded; s. - cm. stuffed then hollow, attenuated, glabrous, rigid, not rooting, whitish; sp. - × - . =pediades=, fr. p. - cm. convexo-plane, obtuse or depr. dry, at length minutely rivulose, yellowish ochre then tan; g. adnexed, broad; s. - cm. with a pith, rather wavy and silky, yellowish, base slightly bulbous; sp. - × - . =semiorbicularis=, bull. p. - cm. hemispher. then exp. even, glabrous, rather viscid, at length rivulose, tawny rusty then ochre; g. adnate, very broad, crowded; s. - cm. pale rusty, shining, containing a free tube inside; sp. × - . =arvalis=, fr. p. - cm. convexo-plane, yellow brown, ochre when dry; g. adnexed; s. - cm. fistulose, thin, pulverulent, yellowish, with a long filiform root; sp. × . differs from _n. orbicularis_ in long rooting s. =tabacina=, d. c. p. . - . cm. bay brown, almost plane, very obtuse, edge involute, hygr.; g. adnate, crowded, cinnamon bay; s. - cm. hollow, glabrous, cinnamon; sp. - × - . [=tabacella=, sacc. entirely cinnamon-brown. p. convex, centre squamulose; s. terete, toughish, fibrillose, base rather thickened; sp. - × . [=undulosa=, jungh. p. convex, even, umbo fleshy, bay, shining; g. adnate, ovate, distant; s. solid, firm, wavy, naked, colour of p.; sp. × . ** scorpoidei. _growing in damp uncultivated places or in woods._ =tenax=, fr. p. . - . cm. campan. exp. glabrous, rather viscid, hygr. cinnamon then ochre; g. adnate, edge entire, whitish; s. - cm. equal, yellowish fuscous, striate with adpr. fibrils, almost glabrous, veil fugacious; sp. × . =myosotis=, fr. p. - cm. convexo-plane, subumb. with a viscid pellicle, olive or greenish brown then yellowish; g. adnato-decur. edge serrate, white; s. - cm. slender, pallid, fibrilloso-scaly-cortinate; sp. - × . ( - × - sacc.) [=tavastensis=, karst. p. convex, exp. disc, often depr. near edge with concentric large yellowish floccose scales, livid-yellow then dingy tawny tan; g. adnate, crowded; s. straight, subequal, solid, fibrillosely scaly, pallid then tinged fuscous, ring torn, yellowish; sp. - × - . [=scorpioides=, fr. p. conico-convex, exp. glabrous, scarcely viscid, depr. round umbo, somewhat reddish tan then pale; g. adnate with a decur. tooth, edge coloured like rest, entire; s. slender, wavy, dry, pallid, white-fibrillose, apex pruinose; sp. - long. =temulenta=, fr. p. . - . cm. campan. convex, glabrous, subumb. hygr. edge slightly striate, rusty then ochre; g. adnate, narrow in front, lurid then rusty umber; s. - cm. fistulose but with a loose pith, thin, tough, polished, wavy, glabrous, apex powdery; sp. × . =subtemulenta=, lamb. p. campan. then convex, slightly umb. striate, hygr. brown ochre when wet, tan when dry; g. crowded, narrow, almost free, colour of p.; s. slender, colour of p. thickened towards base and dark rusty. =latissima=, cke. p. . - cm. subglobose, edge at first incurved, deep chestnut brown; g. adnexed, very broad, tawny umber; s. - cm. narrowed downwards into a rooting base, dark brown below, pale above; sp. ----. differs from _n. glandiformis_ in tapering, rooting s. [=heliophila=, fr. p. convex, umb. convex, dry, golden tawny, shining; g. adnate, closely crowded, plane, pallid; s. not polished, with scattered black points. =reducta=, fr. p. convexo-plane, hygr. striate to middle, membranaceous, rather olive or brownish honey-colour; g. dingy yellow then rusty; s. narrowed upwards, tough amber-brown, apex paler, pruinose. c. lepidoti. (naucoria typical.) _pileus flocculose or squamulose. veil evident. spores rusty._ * _scales of pileus superficial, disappearing._ =porriginosa=, fr. p. - cm. convex, exp. obtuse, viscid, tawny then pale, with scattered superficial saffron flecks; g. adnate, yellow-cinnamon; s. - cm. equal, silky, pallid. [=lapponica=, laest. p. convex, umb. then plane, viscid, rufous brown, discoid, with scattered yellow pilose scales; g. serrulate, white then brown; s. elongated, cuticle separating. =sobria=, fr. p. - cm. convexo-plane, rather viscid and silky, yellowish, veil pruinose, fugacious; g. adnate, crowded, broad, saffron then pallid, edge pale; s. - cm. fibrillose, base brownish, white-floccose; sp. - × . var. _dispersa_, b. and br. p. . - cm. convex, ochre, punctulate, edge scurfy; s. scurfy, ring append.; g. pallid, edge white. ** _pileus innately squamulose._ =erinacea=, fr. p. - cm. dry, convex, subumbil. squamulose with fascicles of hairs, rusty-umber; g. adnate, quite entire; s. - . cm. incurved, hairy, colour of p.; sp. - × - . dry as in _marasmius_. differs from _n. siparia_ in entire edge of g. and stem squamulose throughout. =siparia=, weinm. p. - cm. plane, obtuse, woolly-scaly, reddish rusty; g. broad, edge floccose; s. . - cm. squamulose, apex glabrous; sp. - × - . =conspersa=, pers. p. - . cm. fragile, convexo-plane, obtuse, hygr. soon broken up into scurfy squamules, cinnamon bay then ochre; g. adnate, crowded; s. - cm. fibrillose, apex scurfy-squamulose, colour of p.; sp. - × . =escharoides=, fr. p. - cm. conico-convex, exp. obtuse scurfy-squamulose, whitish tan disc becoming darker; g. lax, ventricose; s. - cm. wavy, adpressedly fibrillose pale then darker; s. × . [=suavis=, bres. smell pleasant, like ripe pears. p. campan. exp. umb. brownish, centre lurid tawny then pale, squamulose; g. crowded, pallid then tawny brown; s. equal, fuscous; sp. - × . - . [=limbata=, bull. p. exp. obtuse, even then concentrically floccosely squamulose, ochraceous-tan, edge striate then split; g. free, ochre-tan; s. fistulose, glabrous, white then yellowish; sp. - × - . var. _sublimbata_. differs in solid s. which like p. is brick-red then pale; g. rusty. [=weislandri=, fr. p. exp. obtuse, glabrous, tawny, cuticle cracked into areolae, hence the surface is crowded with minute dark wart-like papillae; g. adnate, broad, dark rust; s. filiform, almost naked, blackish. *** _pileus destitute of scales, silky or atomate._ [=segestria=, fr. p. soft, convex, exp. or depr. silky, hygr. tan then pale; g. adnate, crowded, narrow; s. soft, tough, fibrillose, pallid; sp. - × . [=pannosa=, fr. p. thin, exp. fuscescent, silky with white hairs; g. ventricose, distant, pale umber; s. filiform, almost glabrous, pallid. [=hibala=, karst. p. convexo-depr. hygr. surface loose and pannose, sooty-umber or olive-brown, yellowish-grey when dry; g. adnate, narrow, crowded, edge grey-flocculose, subdentate; s. base with white down, pulverulent-velvety with yellowish particles. [=bryophila=, roze and boud. p. conico-campan. acute umbo blackish, rest reddish brown, striate; g. almost free, pale rose; s. cylindrical, almost translucent, brown, curved. =carpophila=, fr. p. - mm. thin, convex, obtuse, shining with scurfy particles, yellowish then pallid; g. broad, crenulate, ochre; s. - cm. scurfy then naked, pallid. =graminicola=, nees. p. - mm. convex, papillate, hairy-tomentose, fuscous then reddish ochre; g. rather distant, ochre then pallid; s. cm. tough, hairy, brownish; sp. × . [=pityrodes=, brig. p. dry, convex, plane, umb. very minutely downy-squamulose, whitish then rufescent, edge striate, toothed; g. ventricose, pallid; s. fistulose, tough, scabrid-squamulose, tawny, strigose below. =effugiens=, q. very minute. p. thin convexo-plane, diaphanous, ochre, at length greyish olive and covered with shining crystalline grains; g. yellowish; s. incurved, mealy. =echinospora=, w. g. s. p. at first rather scurfy, moist, hygr. citrin, greenish marginate then pallid, edge slightly striate; g. citrin; s. reddish-brown, white squamulose; sp. rough, × . galera, fr. i. conocephali. _pileus conico-campanulate, hygr. almost even, atomate when dry; stem straight, gills somewhat crowded, ascending._ [=apala=, weinm. p. campan. equal, obtuse, even, hygr. pallid livid, white when dry; g. almost free, whitish then ochre; s. tall, fragile, narrowed upwards, white-velvety; sp. - × - . var. _sphaerobasis_, post. p. campan. even; s. shorter, glabrous, base spherical. =lateritia=, fr. p. - cm. high, nut-shaped then conical, even, hygr. gilvous then ochre, edge densely striate when moist; g. very narrow, tawny-rust; s. - cm. fragile, narrowed upwards, white-pruinose; sp. - × - . differs from _g. ovalis_ by narrow, ascending g. =tenera=, schaeff. p. - cm. high, conico-campan. obtuse, hygr. pale yellowish rusty, pale and rather atomate when dry; g. adnate, crowded, rather broad, cinnamon; s. - cm. straight, fragile, rather shining, colour of p.; sp. - × . var. _pilosella_, pers. p. and s. covered with short erect pubescence when moist. [=flexipes=, karst. p. campan. obtuse, rusty and slightly pellucidly striate, ochraceous when dry; g. adnexed, crowded, pallid then rusty, edge crenulate; s. equal, fistulose, wavy, pallid then rusty, white-fibrillose, apex white-pruinose; sp. - × - . [=pubescens=, gillet. p. conical, reticulately wrinkled, atomate, very minutely pubescent, brown or ochre, hygr.; g. narrow, veined at base, rusty; s. tall, rigid, coarsely longitudinally striate above, finely pubescent, paler than p. =siliginea=, fr. p. - . cm. globose, then campan. finally exp. unequal, even, greyish, not becoming pale; g. adnate, ochre; s. - cm. rather wavy, equal, pallid, rather pruinose; sp. - × - . =campanulata=, mass. smell strong. p. - cm. persistently campan. subacute, even, hygr. deep cinnamon, whitish, atomate and rather rugulose when dry; g. adnate, tawny cinnamon; s. - cm. wavy, pallid; sp. × . =ovalis=, fr. p. - cm. thin, ovato-campan. even, hygr. dark rusty, yellowish when dry; g. nearly free, ventricose, very broad, rusty; s. - cm. straight, equal, slightly striate, colour of p. hollow; sp. × . veil sometimes subannulate. [=rabenhorstii=, fr. p. acutely conical then exp. umbil. pellucidly striate, olive; g. lanceolate, white then rufous-brown; s. fibrously striate, brownish-white, base thickened, somewhat floccosely rooting. =antipoda=, lasch. p. . - . cm. campan.-convex, even, ochre, whitish and atomate when dry; s. - cm. striate, mealy, base bulbous and fusiformly rooting; g. almost free, crowded, yellowish-ochre; sp. - × . =conferta=, bolt. p. - cm. acutely conico-campan. striate, glabrous, hygr. fuscous, fuscous ochre when dry; g. slightly adnexed, white then brownish ochre; s. - cm. silky, shining, naked, with an equal very long rooting base; sp. ----. densely crowded, very fragile. =spicula=, lasch. p. conico-campan. striate when moist, brown-ochre, flocculose when dry; g. adnate; s. straight, slender, white-floccose, base thickened, fibrillose. =spartea=, fr. p. - cm. campan.-convex, exp. obtuse, hygr. even when dry, glabrous, cinnamon then pale; g. adnate, crowded; s. - cm. rigid, flexile, glabrous; sp. ----. resembling _g. tener_ but smaller, and s. not straight. =pygmaeo-affinis=, fr. p. - cm. campan. exp. dry, not striate, slightly wrinkled, honey-tan; g. thin, crowded, very narrow, rusty-ochre; s. - cm. equal, shining white; sp. ----. fries says this is possibly a tall form of _naucoria pygmaea_. ii. bryogeni. _pileus membranaceous, campanulate, striate, glabrous, hygr. even, opaque and rather silky when dry; stem slender, lax, flexile; gills broadly and abruptly adnate, broad, somewhat denticulate._ =vittaeformis=, fr. p. . - . cm. conico-campan. papillate, striate, somewhat bay; g. adnate, ascending; s. - cm. equal, flexile, even, reddish; sp. × . =rubiginosa=, fr. p. . - cm. campan. obtuse, everywhere deeply striate, hygr. cinnamon or honey-colour, tan when dry; g. distant, broad, opaque; s. - cm. glabrous, reddish; sp. × . =hypnorum=, batsch. p. . - cm. campan. subpapillate, glabrous, striate, hygr. ochre or tawny-ochre then pale; g. broad, lax; s. - cm. wavy, colour of p. apex pruinose; sp. × . var. _bryorum_, pers. larger, watery cinnamon, papilla somewhat horny; sp. × . var. _sphagnorum_, pers. two to three times larger than type, yellowish-ochre; s. elongated, subfibrillose, tawny. [=hypnicola=, karst. p. conico-campan. obtuse, disc gibbous, deeply lineato-striate, livid fuscous, soon paler; g. crowded; s. equal, lax, flaccid, silky flocculose from veil, soon glabrous, pallid; sp. - × . =mniophila=, lasch. p. - . cm. campan. subpapillate, striate, brownish yellow; g. broad, yellowish-ochre; s. - cm. equal, flexile, yellow, apex mealy; sp. × . =minuta=, q. p. - mm. campan. striate, pale tawny bistre; g. arcuate, as broad as long; s. - cm. hair-like, tawny, shining, woolly and white at base; sp. × . [=aquatilis=, fr. p. campan.-convex, subpapillate, glabrous, watery, edge striate, pallid honey-colour or hyaline, then whitish; g. distant, triquetrous, pallid; s. very long, slender, even, very glabrous, pallid; sp. - × . [=tenuissima=, weinm. p. campan. obtuse, glabrous, slightly striate, tinged olive; g. crowded, cinnamon; s. very slender, flexile, glabrous, cinnamon; sp. - long. iii. eriodermi. _pileus submembranaceous; veil evident, superficial, deciduous; at first--especially near the edge--silky or squamulose._ =pityria=, fr. p. campan. exp. glabrous, viscid, lurid, tan when dry, fugacious veil append.; g. slightly adnexed, crowded, rusty; s. fistulose, firm, glabrous, silvery, apex with white meal. =ravida=, fr. p. . - cm. campan. then hemispher. even when moist, greyish, dingy ochre when dry, edge at first toothed with white veil; g. nearly free, gilvous; s. - cm. fibrilloso-striate, pallid, silvery; sp. - × . =mycenopsis=, fr. p. - cm. campan. exp. disc even, striate to middle, at first silky-white near edge, ochre then pale; g. white then ochre; s. - cm. attenuated, white, silky; sp. - × - . [=morchelloides=, de brond. p. conoid, obtuse, subgibbous, with anastomosing wrinkles, edge wavy, tawny ochre; g. whitish then fuscous; s. equal, squamulose, rufous. [=vestita=, fr. p. campan. striate, tawny yellow when moist, ochre when dry, edge fimbriately toothed with the veil; g. adnate, yellow then ochre; s. rigid, pulverulent, yellowish; sp. × - . [=sahleri=, q. minute. p. conical, acute, striate, chestnut tawny, honey-colour when dry, deciduous silky fibrils at margin; g. adnate, tawny ochre; s. fibrillose, shining; sp. - × - . tubaria, w. g. sm. i. genuini. _spores rusty._ =cupularis=, bull. p. - cm. plano-depr. obtuse, even, glabrous, rufescent then yellowish, hygr.; g. decur. crowded, tawny; s. - cm. fistulose, naked, narrowed upwards, whitish; sp. × . =furfuracea=, pers. p. . - cm. convex then plane and at length umbil. yellowish-cinnamon, hygr. hoary with the silky-squamulose veil, especially near edge; g. adnato-decur. rather distant, cinnamon; s. - cm. fistulose, flocculose, rigid, pallid; sp. × . var. _heterosticha_, fr. p. subumb. depr. cinnamon, ochre then pallid when dry; s. almost naked. var. _trigonophylla_, fr. small, becoming pale; g. very broad, triangular, more distant, ochre with a tawny tinge. =anthrocophila=, karst. p. convex, exp. wavy, dry, rusty-cinnamon pale when dry, with concentric white deciduous flecks near edge; g. adnate, dentate; s. wavy, often compr. pallid rusty, white-fibrillose; sp. - . × - . close to _t. furfuracea_. =paludosa=, fr. . - . cm. p. conic then convex, umb. not striate, yellowish fuscous, with silky pallid superficial flecks; g. decur. very broad behind, crowded, watery ochre; s. - cm. slender, elongated, flexuous, floccose, ochre or pale citrin; sp. × . =stagnina=, fr. p. - cm. conical then convex, obtuse, rather viscid and striate when moist, rusty bay, even and pale ochre when dry, with white concentric floccose scales near edge; g. decur. very broad, ochre then rusty; s. - cm. reddish bay; sp. × . p. sometimes depr. and umbil. [=vestita=, q. p. - cm. thin, campan. creamy ochre, edge with a white dentate fringe formed by the torn ring; g. yellow, then fawn with a cream edge; s. fistulose, slender, mealy, creamy white; ring membranous, thin, white, caducous; sp. long. =pellucida=, bull. p. - cm. conical then campan. umb. cinnamon, hygr. silky-squamulose near the striate edge; g. subdecur. very broad behind, triangular, paler than p.; s. - cm. narrowed upwards, shining, pale, apex mealy; sp. ----. =muscorum=, pers. p. . - cm. convex, centre becoming depr. striate, glabrous, yellow-fuscous; g. subdecur. paler; s. short, base thickened, colour of p.; sp. - × . =embola=, fr. p. - cm. campan. then convex, obtuse, lineato-striate, glabrous, yellowish tawny, hygr.; g. very broad behind, triangular, thick, distant; s. - cm. thickened upwards, glabrous, shining yellow when dry; sp. × - . differs from _omph. umbellifera_ in glabrous finely striate p. and s. thickened upwards. [=viscidula=, karst. p. campan. striate, viscid, somewhat ochre; g. adnate, distant, white then rusty; s. equal, rusty, paler upwards, white-flocculose; sp. - × - . =autochthona=, b. and br. p. . - cm. hemispher. obtuse, pale ochre, silky, edge flocculose; g. adnate with decur. tooth, honey-colour; s. - cm. wavy or curved, thickened above and below, base woolly; sp. × . differs from _t. furfuracea_ in the p. not becoming pale, and sp. paler. ii. phaeoti. _spores fuscous-rusty._ =crobula=, fr. p. - cm. convex then plane, obtuse, not striate, rather viscid, covered with deciduous floccose subsquarrose scales, then naked, greyish tan; g. subdecur. crowded; s. - . cm. tough, fuscous, densely covered with white floccose scales; sp. × . almost a large-sized _t. inquilina_ with the veil of _a. furfuracea_, but evidently annulate. =inquilina=, fr. p. - cm. convex then plane, glabrous, rather viscid, striate when moist, hygr. tawny or hoary-tan; g. subdecur. rather distant, triangular, tan then brownish umber; s. - cm. tough, bay, white-fibrillose; sp. × . close to _t. crobula_, differs in glabrous p., striate when moist, and nearly glabrous s. var. _ecbola_, fr. p. tan; s. rooting; g. crowded, rusty. [=caricicola=, p. henn. p. thin, convex, depr. centre brownish, even, glabrous, yellowish-brown, silky when dry; g. shortly decur. rusty; s. slender, curved, brown, base darker; sp. - × . - . . flammula, fr. i. gymnoti. _veil absent; pileus dry, often squamulose_. =gymnopodia=, bull. rusty brown. p. - cm. fleshy, campan.-convex, squamulose; g. deeply decur. arcuate, crowded, rusty; s. - cm. solid, almost glabrous, equal; sp. ----. =aldridgei=, mass. p. - cm. convex then infundib. edge incurved, dry, orange brick-red, minutely velvety; g. deeply decur. rusty orange; s. - cm. wavy, smooth, colour of p.; sp. × . =vinosa=, bull. p. - cm. exp. then depr. rusty fawn-colour; g. decur. crowded, narrow, rusty; s. - cm. solid, firm, base rather thickened, minutely flocculose; sp. × . [=tamii=, fr. p. convex, dry, floccosely silky, dusky yellow, with tinge of brown; g. adnate, orange tawny; s. solid, silky fibrillose, equal, yellowish rufous. [=abrupta=, fr. p. convexo-plane, disc becoming depr. obsoletely umb. glabrous, shining tawny; g. adnate with decur. tooth, pallid then tawny; s. fibrillose, tawny yellow; sp. - × - . =floccifera=, b. and br. caespitose. p. - cm. convex, exp. tawny, white-fibrillose, somewhat zoned when dry; g. adnate, wrinkled, rusty, edge white; s. cm. narrowed downwards, scurfy at apex, white and silky-squamulose below; sp. ----. [=muricella=, fr. p. convex then plane, tawny, covered everywhere with suberect darker erect innate squamules; g. adnate, crowded, dingy yellow; s. solid, equal, glabrous, pallid. =decipiens=, w. g. sm. p. - cm. deep clear brown then pale, convex, obtuse or umb. dry, minutely scaly, flesh yellow; g. decur. orange-brown; s. - cm. narrowed downwards, tawny, striate; sp. - × . differs from _f. carbonaria_ in decur. bright g. =clitopila=, cke. and sm. p. - cm. convex then exp. depr. and umbil. smooth, dry, purplish brown; g. dingy yellowish; s. - cm. ventricose, smoky brown, hollow; sp. × - . ii. lubrici. _pileus covered with a viscid, continuous, partly separable cuticle; veil evident, fibrillose._ =lenta=, pers. p. - cm. convexo-plane, even, viscid, livid or tan, at first with scattered scales; g. adnate, whitish then tan; s. - cm. equal, scaly; sp. × . ( - × - sacc.) sometimes entirely whitish; p. glutinous when moist. stevenson considers the present and _hebeloma glutinosum_ to be identical. =lubrica=, fr. p. - cm. exp. plane, even, viscid, cinnamon or tawny or pallid and disc tawny and spotted with squamules; g. adnate, broad, tan; s. - cm. somewhat narrowed, fibrillose, whitish, apex striate; sp. × . =lupina=, fr. p. - cm. exp. and depr. even, viscid; g. adnato-decur. broad, pallid tan; s. - cm. short, firm, unequal, with rusty tinged adpressed fibrils, apex white; sp. × . there are two forms: a. smell strong, pungent, p. fuscous then tan; s. becoming rusty. b. milder, p. tawny; s. and g. yellowish. =mixta=, fr. p. - cm. convexo-plane, viscid, crust-colour, disc darker, rugulose; g. subdecur. crowded; s. - cm. hollow, pallid, fusco-fibrillose, rufous-scaly below; sp. × . =juncina=, w. g. sm. p. - cm. hemispher. exp. even, glabrous, sulphur, disc brown; g. decur. sulphur then reddish brown; s. - cm. tapering downwards, sulphur, base tawny; sp. ----. =decussata=, fr. p. plane, obscurely umb. viscid, virgate with innate radiating fibrils, crust-colour; g. adnate, crowded, narrow, yellowish then tan; s. tawny. =gummosa=, lasch. p. - cm. plane, floccosely scaly then even, viscid, yellow or greenish; g. adnate, crowded, yellow then cinnamon; s. - cm. silky fibrillose, base reddish; sp. ----. =spumosa=, fr. p. - cm. exp. even, viscid, yellowish; g. adnate, yellow then rusty; s. - cm. equal, slender, fibrillose, yellowish; sp. × . [=henningsii=, bres. p. convex, exp. greenish-yellow or citrin, centre tinged fuscous, with disappearing brownish squamules; g. sinuato-adnate, crowded, yellow then tawny cinnamon; s. fibrillosely squamulose then almost glabrous, tawny-yellow; sp. - × . . [=carbonaria=, fr. p. - cm. almost plane, even, viscid, somewhat tawny, flesh yellow; g. adnate, tan becoming fuscescent; s. - cm. rigid, squamulose, pallid; sp. - × - . iii. udi. _cuticle of pileus continuous, not distinct or separable, glabrous_ (frequently with superficial down), _moist or slightly viscid in rainy weather. veil evident, appendiculate._ spores not tawny nor ochre. allied to _pholiota_, caespitose, growing on wood. =fusus=, batsch. p. - cm. compact, convexo-exp. even, rather viscid, reddish tan, flesh yellowish, veil append.; g. subdecur. yellowish then rusty; s. - cm. fibrillosely striate, base narrowed, colour of p. rooting; sp. × . var. _superba_, mass. p. - cm. deep orange; s. pale orange; g. narrow, bright yellow. =filia=, fr. p. - cm. exp. glabrous, moist in rainy weather but not viscid, pale reddish yellow; g. adnate, arcuate, tawny yellow; s. - cm. glabrous, pale yellow, hollow; sp. × . [=cortinata=, d. c. caespitose. p. convex, glabrous, discoid, veil append.; g. adnate, rusty; s. hollow, unequal, squamulose, white. var. _cortinella_, dub. p. ovoid-convex, yellow or greyish-yellow; g. whitish then rufous-lilac, at length vinous. =astragalina=, fr. p. - cm. exp. discoid, at first superficially silky near edge, saffron blood-red, flesh same; g. adnate, crowded, pale yellow then rusty; s. - cm. wavy, fibrillosely scaly, pallid; sp. long. =alnicola=, fr. p. - cm. exp. moist, even, at first subfibrillosely scaly then nearly glabrous, yellow then rusty, rarely greenish; g. broad, pallid then rusty; s. - cm. partly hollow, narrowed to a rooting base, fibrillose, yellow then rusty; sp. × . =flavida=, schaeff. p. - cm. exp. equal; glabrous, moist, yellow; g. yellow then rusty; s. - cm. yellow then rusty; - × . =inaurata=, w. g. sm. sulphur yellow. p. - cm. moist, smooth, with a distinct veil; g. adnate with a decur. tooth; s. - cm. with innate scales; sp. ----. =conissans=, fr. p. - cm. thin, exp. equal, moist, glabrous, yellowish tan; g. crowded, pallid then dingy tan; s. - cm. hollow, silky fibrillose, pallid; sp. × . habit of _hypholoma fasciculare_. =inopoda=, fr. p. - cm. exp. moist, glabrous, honey-coloured tan; g. linear, yellowish white then pallid; s. - cm. slender, wavy, adpressedly fibrillose, at length reddish below; sp. × . =apicrea=, fr. - cm. exp. even, glabrous, moist, tan or dingy orange, disc tawny; g. crowded, shining rusty; s. - cm. hollow, equal, not rooting, pallid, base with rusty fibrils; sp. × . differs from _f. alnicola_ in unchangeable gills, flesh hygr.; p. clay-colour, disc tawny becoming pale, smell sweet. [=austera=, fr. p. campan.-convex exp. obtuse, moist, discoid, fibrillose then glabrous, hygr. honey-colour, disc tawny; g. subdecur. always cinnamon; s. hollow, equal, not rooting, silky fibrillose, whitish. [=azyma=, bull. p. convex-exp. obtuse, moist, even, hygr. pale rusty, flocculose and rimosely squamulose when dry; g. adnate, gilvous, edge whitish; s. fibrillosely cortinate, pallid; sp. long. iv. sapinei. pileus hardly pelliculose (flesh cracking or torn into squamules towards disc), not viscid. _veil_ adpressedly fibrillose to the stem, _not appendiculato-cortinate, almost none, or forming a zone on stem_. known more especially by yellowish or tawny yellow gills and ochre or tawny spores. subcaespitose, always growing on pines or on pine branches etc. on the ground. [=stabilis=, weinm. p. compact, exp. even, glabrous, ochre, gibbous disc darker; g. whitish then tawny cinnamon; s. stout, rigid, whitish with ochre fibrils. =penetrans=, fr. p. exp. dry, almost glabrous, golden or orange tawny; g. yellowish-white spotted tawny; s. silky then striate, pallid, very fugacious flocculose veil white; sp. - × - . =hybrida=, fr. p. - cm. hemispher. exp. obtuse, glabrous, even, moist, tawny cinnamon then tawny orange; g. adnate, pale yellow then tawny; s. - cm. narrowed upwards, tawny, whitish cortinate and cingulate; sp. - × - . [=harmoge=, fr. p. campan. adpressedly squamulose, rather viscid, disc fleshy, verdigris green, rest lilac or pinkish; g. adnate, broad, sulphur then tawny-saffron; s. colour of p. veil floccosely radiating. =sapinea=, fr. p. - cm. exp. very obtuse, minutely flocculosely squamulose then rimosely broken up, golden tawny; g. adnate, broad, golden then tawny cinnamon; s. - cm. deformed, thick, grooved, rooting, yellowish; sp. × . [=studeriana=, fayod. p. convex then exp. edge acute, deep orange, covered with deciduous, purple-brown radiating silky fibrils; g. adnexed, brownish-tan, not spotted; s. cylindrical, fibrillose and coloured like p.; sp. rough, × - . =liquiritiae=, pers. p. - cm. splitting, convexo-plane, subumb. glabrous, moist, edge at length slightly striate, tawny orange; g. broad, golden then tawny cinnamon; s. - cm. hollow, fibrous, striate, silky and white then tawny-rusty; sp. ----. =picrea=, fr. p. - cm. cracking, convexo-exp. even, glabrous, rufous- or bay-cinnamon then tawny; g. crowded, narrow, yellow then rusty; s. - cm. fistulose, thin, somewhat umber, narrowed upwards, pulverulent at first; sp. - × - . =nitens=, cke. and mass. caespitose. p. - cm. hemispher. obtuse, shining, persistently purple brown; g. pallid then umber; s. - cm. fibrillose, pale pinkish brown, solid; sp. × - . [=limulata=, fr. p. convex then irreg. densely papillosely-rivulose with innate flecks, tawny; g. crowded, yellow then cinnamon; s. thin, fibrillose, rather downy, fuscescent; sp. - × - . v. sericelli. _cortinate, cuticle of pileus rather silky, dry or viscid at first._ [=agardhii=, fr. p. convex then exp. obtuse, dry, fibrillosely silky, almost even, tawny-rusty; g. adnato-decur. crowded, tan then brown-rusty, edge paler, crenulate; s. equal, wavy, fibrillosely cortinate. =ochrochlora=, fr. caespitose. p. - cm. convexo-exp. obtusely umb. dry, rather silky, subsquamulose, greenish straw-colour; g. adnate, crowded, greenish-white then olive; s. - cm. hollow, scaly and white-floccose, wavy, base and inside rusty; sp. × . resembling _hypholoma fasciculare_, differing in rusty sp. =helomorpha=, fr. white. p. . - . cm. exp. gibbous, unequal, viscid, silky when dry, edge naked; g. adnato-decur. crowded, white then tan; s. - cm. solid, unequal, curved, even, almost glabrous; sp. × . =scamba=, fr. p. - cm. exp. subdepr. floccosely downy, viscid in damp weather, white then tinged tan; g. subdecur. yellowish tan; s. - cm. short, incurved, flocculosely cortinate, white, base narrowed; sp. - × - . _introduced species._ =filicea=, cke. p. - cm. convexo-exp. or slightly depr. squamulosely fibrillose, deep yellow disc tawny, veil reddish, append.; g. adnate, sulphur then tawny; s. - cm. hollow, sulphur, base tawny; sp. × . =purpurata=, cke. and mass. p. - cm. exp. obtusely umb. purple or purple-brown, squamulose, dry; g. adnate, yellow then rusty; s. - cm. incurved, purplish and granulose below; sp. × . cortinarius, fr. _key to the subgenera._ i. =phlegmacium=. partial veil cobwebby. pileus equally fleshy, viscid; stem firm, dry. p. . ii. =myxacium=. universal veil glutinous, hence the pileus and scarcely bulbous stem are viscid. pileus rather thin; gills adnate or decurrent. p. . iii. =inoloma=. pileus equally fleshy, dry, at first scaly, fibrillose or innately silky, not hygrophanous. veil simple. stem fleshy, subbulbous. p. . iv. =dermocybe=. flesh of pileus thin, everywhere equal, at first downy or subinnately silky, but glabrous when adult, dry, not hygrophanous. p. . v. =telamonia=. pileus hygrophanous, at first glabrous or with whitish superficial fibrils. flesh entirely thin or the margin abruptly so, splitting. universal veil peronate, or forming a ring low down on the stem, apex somewhat cortinate, hence the veil is double. p. . vi. =hydrocybe=. pileus glabrous or covered with superficial white fibrils, not viscid but moist when growing, losing the deep colour and becoming pale when dry, flesh very thin, splitting, disc rarely thicker. stem rather rigid, not peronate; veil thin, fibrillose, rarely collapsing and forming an irregular zone round the stem. p. . i. phlegmacium. _partial veil cobwebby. pileus equally fleshy, viscid. stem firm, dry._ * cliduchii. _partial veil superior, forming a pendulous ring round the apex of the subequal or clavate stem._ + _gills pallid then tan._ =triumphans=, fr. p. - cm. convex then exp. even, yellow, at first with a few adpr. darker scales; g. emarginate, crowded, quite entire; s. - cm. solid, clavate, with several concentric squamulose tawny rings; sp. - × - . [=crocolitus=, q. p. disc, with saffron squamules; g. white, lilac, then tan; s. squamulose, ring thin, yellowish-white. =claricolor=, fr. p. - cm. firm, exp. glabrous, shining when dry, yellow, often cracked into scales; g. subadnexed, crowded, serrate, greyish white then pallid; s. solid, at first floccoso-squamulose from white veil; sp. - × - . =turmalis=, fr. p. - cm. convexo-plane, even, glabrous, discoid, dingy yellow; g. emarginato-decur. crowded, subserrate, tan; s. - cm. cylindric, white, at first woolly-peronate; sp. - × . =crassus=, fr. p. - cm. flesh thick, plano-depr. dingy yellow, disc glabrous, rest fibrilloso-strigose; g. crowded, quite entire, tan; s. - cm. stout, fibrillose, white, apex mealy; sp. × . =balteatus=, fr. p. - cm. exp. compact, soon dry and broken up into flecks, tawny, edge violet or bluish; g. emarginato-decur. crowded, entire, whitish; s. at first peronato-tomentose, white, apex velvety; sp. ----. =sebaceus=, fr. p. - cm. incurved then exp. rather wavy, pallid, white-pruinose; g. emarg. not crowded, tan; s. - cm. solid, equal, fibrillose, pallid; sp. × . =lustratus=, fr. wholly whitish. p. - cm. exp. even, glabrous, edge fibrillose, cortinate; g. closely crowded; s. - cm. solid, nearly equal; sp. ----. resembling _entol. prunuloides_, but sp. ochre. ++ _gills violet or purplish, then cinnamon._ =varius=, fr. p. - cm. compact, discoid, edge glabrous, flesh white, rusty; g. crowded, entire, purplish then cinnamon; s. - cm. conical, adpr. flocculose, whitish; sp. ----. =cyanopus=, fr. p. - cm. exp. even, glabrous, bay or tawny, flesh whitish; g. adnato-emarg. broad, violet then pale; s. - cm. violet then whitish, bulb depressed, oblique; sp. ----. =variicolor=, fr. p. - cm. compact, discoid, tomentose edge violet, rest bay; g. decur.-emarginate, bluish then tan; s. - cm. villose at first blue then whitish; sp. - × . flesh bluish then pallid. var. _nemorensis_, fr. p. - cm. yellowish-bay, edge at first bluish; s. clavate, cm. apex hollow, mealy; g. rotundato-subdecur. =largus=, fr. p. - cm. exp. wavy, subgibbous, tan or reddish, flesh grey then white; g. broad, crowded, entire, grey then cinnamon; s. - cm. solid, fibrillose, curved, violet then white; sp. - × . [=spadiceus=, fr. p. exp. smoky bay, pellicle separable; g. blue then brownish-tan; s. fibrilloso-striate, pallid. [=pelmatosporus=, c. mart. p. subglobose then campan. or convex, brown or chestnut, centre darker, edge sulcate, incurved then exp. white fibrillose veil persistent; s. stuffed, stout, apex white, violet below, bulb submarginate, yellow; g. sinuate, adnexed; sp. very large. =riederi=, fr. p. - cm. campan. then exp. glutinous, ochre, shining when dry; g. adnate, eroded, violet then cinnamon; s. clavate, silky lilac, tawny fibrillose, - cm.; sp. × . +++ _gills yellow, cinnamon, or ferruginous (not whitish violet at first)._ [=percomis=, fr. p. convexo-plane, even, very glabrous, gilvous; g. sulphur yellow then tan, broad; s. clavate, sulphur inside. [=vitellinopes=, secr. p. exp. depr. edge of margin upturned, discoid, glabrous, egg-yellow; g. rusty cinnamon; s. solid, rather wavy, white above ring, fibrillose and yellow below. =saginus=, fr. p. - cm. plano-convex, unequal, glabrous, yellow; g. decur. broad, eroded, pallid then cinnamon; s. cm. somewhat bulbous, yellowish, apex naked; sp. ----. [=cliduchus=, fr. p. depr. shining, discoid, bright yellow; g. serrate, rusty-cinnamon; s. slightly curved, fibrillose, yellow. =russus=, fr. p. - cm. convexo-plane, silky fibrillose near edge, coppery; g. adnate, broad, connected by veins, rusty; s. - cm. attenuated, pallid, fibrillose; sp. - × . ++++ _gills olive._ [=cephalixus=, fr. p. plane, rather wavy, olive, edge yellowish, disc with brown granules; g. adnexed, thin, eroded, white then rusty olive; s. clavate, brownish squamulose below. =infractus=, fr. p. - cm. exp. virgate, edge thin, incurved, olive or yellowish; g. broad, crowded, olive-umber; s. - cm. ovately bulbous, tinged olive; sp. × . =anfractus=, fr. p. - cm. unequal, bent inwards, wavy, olive then tawny fuliginous; g. crisped, rather distant, sooty-olive then tan; s. - cm. unequal, apex violet; sp. ----. =berkeleyi=, cke. p. - cm. convex then exp. edge incurved, rugulose, pale, rest brown; g. narrow, cinnamon with olive tinge; s. - cm. base bulbous, solid, white; sp. - × - . whole young fungus enclosed in a white volva, patches of which often remain on p. ** scauri. _bulb depressed or turbinate, marginate, stem fleshy, fibrous; veil inferior, springing from margin of bulb; pileus equally fleshy; gills subsinuate._ + _gills whitish then tan or pale cinnamon._ =multiformis=, fr. p. - cm. exp. equal, glabrous, yellow or tawny all over, flesh white; g. serrate, white then tan; s. - cm. yellowish white; sp. - × , rough. var. _flavescens_, cke. flesh and gills yellow. [=rapaceus=, fr. p. convexo-plane, even, whitish-tan, not becoming paler; flesh white; g. crowded, entire, white then tan; s. stuffed, short, white, bulb depr. marginate. =napus=, fr. p. - cm. exp. glutinous, edge incurved, tawny; g. rather distant, crisped, smoky; s. - cm. equal, white, bulb obconic and oblique; sp. × . =allutus=, fr. p. - cm. conico-convex, orange yellow, intense yellow when dry, then pale, edge darker, flesh rufescent; g. adnate, crenulate, white then rufous; s. - cm. viscid, white, rufous striate below, marginately bulbous; sp. ----. =talus=, fr. p. - cm. convex, even, dingy yellow then pale, edge yellowish olive; g. pale ochre; s. - cm. cylindric, glabrous, marginately bulbous, pallid; sp. - × - . ++ _gills violet, blue, purplish, becoming cinnamon._ =glaucopus=, fr. p. - cm. compact, incurved then expanded, rather wavy, viscid then floccoso-squamulose or fibrillose, olive-bay then tawny yellow; g. broad; s. - cm. striate, bluish then yellowish, base marginate; sp. × - . [=pansa=, fr. p. compact, incurved, wavy, glabrous, spotted with innate scales, shining, tawny orange, flesh white; g. entire, blue; s. marginate, yellow. [=variegatus=, bres. p. convex then exp. and umb. edge incurved, rufous brick-red, white fibrillose then glabrous and yellowish tan; g. closely crowded; s. fibrillose, whitish then tinged rusty, base narrowed and somewhat rooting, or marginately bulbous with a clear violet silky basal zone; sp. - × . - . =calochrous=, fr. p. - cm. exp. flesh compact, white; tawny yellow; g. serrate, bluish-purple; s. - cm. fibrillose, yellowish (never blue), bulb abruptly marginate; sp. - × . =caerulescens=, fr. p. - cm. convex then exp. dingy yellow or tan, flesh blue then pale; g. entire, at first pure deep blue; s. - cm. solid, attenuated, naked, bulb marginate blue or violet becoming whitish; sp. - × . =purpurascens=, fr. p. - cm. exp. rather wavy, glutinous, bay or reddish, then tawny olive, spotted, flesh everywhere blue; g. blue then tan, purple when bruised; s. - cm. fibrillose, deep blue, darker when bruised, marginate bulb disappearing; sp. - × - . var. _subpurpurascens_, fr. p. thinner, subvirgate, becoming pale; s. stuffed, bluish white. +++ _gills rusty, tawny, or yellowish._ =dibaphus=, fr. p. - cm. convex then exp. purplish, disc yellowish, variegated with lilac; flesh yellow, violet under the cuticle; g. rusty purple; s. - cm. yellow, apex purplish, bulb marginate; sp. × . var. _xanthophyllus_, cke. g. for a long time yellow. =turbinatus=, fr. p. - cm. exp. orbicular, dingy yellow or greenish, all one colour, glabrous, becoming pale; g. crowded, entire; s. - cm. cylindrical, bulb turbinate, marginate, whitish or tinged yellow; sp. - × , rough. =corrosus=, fr. p. - cm. exp. umbil. glabrous, viscid, ferruginous then pale tan, at length rivulose or subfloccose, opaque when dry, flesh firm, white; g. closely crowded, narrow; s. - cm. white, cortina fibrillose, apex naked, bulb depr. marginate; sp. ----. =fulgens=, fr. p. - cm. exp. silky-fibrillose, viscid, tawny orange, flesh becoming spongy and tan; g. emarginate, tawny; s. - cm. colour of p. fibrillose and woolly, bulb large, depr. marginate; sp. × . stem viscid when young in damp weather. [=sulfurinus=, q. p. convex, sulphur yellow, edge white, disc with saffron points; g. sulphur then tawny; s. silky, yellowish white. =fulmineus=, fr. p. - cm. exp. tawny, edge orange, with adpressed tawny scales; g. at first pure yellow; s. - cm. yellow, naked, apex with a white veil, bulb ample, rooting; sp. × - . stem slightly viscid at first. _c. fulgens_ differs in tan-coloured flesh. =elegantior=, fr. p. exp. even, glabrous, edge at first incurved, tawny, flesh yellowish; g. egg-yellow then olive; s. yellowish, marginately bulbous. =orichalceus=, fr. p. - cm. exp. with a viscid pellicle, disc reddish tawny cracked into patches, edge livid; g. sulphur then greenish; s. - cm. fibrillose, yellowish, marginately bulbous; sp. ----. =testaceus=, cke. p. - cm. exp. obtusely umb. or depr. brick-red then paler; g. adnate; s. - cm. whitish above, tinged rufous below, bulb submarginate, flesh tinged reddish; sp. × , rough. ++++ _gills olivaceous._ [=rufoolivaceus=, pers. p. exp. rufous then paler; g. crowded, olive; s. green then yellowish, bulb submarginate. =prasinus=, fr. p. - cm. exp. dingy bluish-green, spotted as if scaly, edge incurved; g. rather distant, olive-yellow; s. - cm. marginately bulbous, pale olive-green; sp. × . =atrovirens=, kalchbr. p. - cm. convex, dusky-green or dusky-olive, flesh yellowish green; g. yellow-green then tan; s. - cm. bulb marginate, subturbinate, flesh tinged greenish; sp. × . =scaurus=, fr. p. - cm. equal, exp. smoky-tawny then pale, spotted, edge thin becoming striate; g. crowded, purplish-olive; s. - cm. greenish or bluish, never yellow, narrowed upwards from marginate bulb; sp. × . =herpeticus=, fr. p. - cm. exp. olive then dingy tan, flesh violet then whitish; g. violet-umber then sooty-olive; s. - cm. fibrillose, pallid, bulb napiform, marginate; sp. × . *** elastici. _veil simple, thin, fugacious, median or inferior. stem never marginately bulbous or peronate, but elastic, rigid, externally polished, shining, cartilaginous._ + _gills white then tan or dingy cinnamon._ =cumatilis=, fr. p. - cm. obtuse, with bluish-violet gluten, disc brownish; g. adnexed, serrate; s. - cm. subbulbous, white, veil forming a volva at base; sp. ----. =serarius=, fr. p. - cm. gibbous, not polished, viscid, opaque, reddish-tan; g. arcuato-adfixed; s. - cm. fibrillose, shining, and like the flesh white; sp. ----. =emollitus=, fr. p. - cm. exp. wavy, slightly fibrillose-virgate, tawny then ochre and shining; g. white then ochre; s. - cm. scarcely bulbous, fibrillose, white as is also the flesh; sp. ----. =cristallinus=, fr. p. - cm. exp. very glabrous, viscid, shining, hygr. pallid, edge whitish; g. crowded, tan; s. - cm. hollow, nearly equal, white; sp. × . =decoloratus=, fr. p. - cm. exp. soon dry and flocculose, tan then pale, often corrugated when old; g. greyish-tan; s. - cm. base thickened, fibrillosely-striate, silvery; sp. × . ++ _gills violet, purplish or flesh-colour._ =decolorans=, fr. p. - cm. exp. all one colour, yellow; g. dry, purplish then tan; s. - cm. narrowed upwards, and like the flesh, white; sp. × . =porphyropus=, fr. p. - cm. exp. thin, virgate, ochre, often spotted; g. rather crowded, thin; s. - cm. somewhat attenuated, lilac, purplish when bruised as is also the flesh; sp. - × . [=rubropunctatus=, karst. p. thin, convexo-plane, even, glabrous, glutinous, yellow; g. adnexed, crowded, white then ochre; s. wavy, fibrillose, white, apex pruinose red-punctate; sp. - × - . =croceocoeruleus=, fr. p. - cm. exp. lilac; g. lilac then orange-tan; s. - cm. hollow, fragile, white; sp. × . [=maculosus=, fr. p. conico-convex then exp. and wavy, whitish spotted with umber scales; g. pinkish-white, grey then tan; s. squamosely fibrillose, white. +++ _gills pure ochre, tawny, or rusty._ =corruscans=, fr. p. - cm. plane, even, glabrous, yellowish ochre often spotted; g. plano-decur. closely crowded, ochre; s. - cm. solid, elastic, white; sp. ----. =papulosus=, fr. p. - cm. discoid, soon rivulose, granulato-punctate, honey-tan, disc darker; g. adnato-decur.; s. - cm. fibrillose, white; sp. ----. [=intentus=, fr. p. exp. soft, ochre or tawny; g. adnate, closely crowded, bright saffron; s. hollow, rigid, fragile, yellowish. [=compar=, fr. p. exp. even, yellowish, edge thin; g. adnate, rusty-cinnamon; s. fibrillose, apex lilac. [=subsimilis=, fr. p. exp. sooty brown, flesh white; g. adnate, smoky then tan; s. solid, equal, fibrillose, tawny. ++++ _gills olive or smoky._ [=olivascens=, fr. p. exp. olive then sooty at length pale; g. tan tinged olive; s. silvery-pallid. taste very acrid. ii. myxacium. _universal veil glutinous, hence pileus and scarcely bulbous stem viscid. pileus rather thin. gills adnate or decurrent._ * colliniti. _stem floccosely peronate, flocci at first covered with gluten._ [=alutipes=, lasch. p. exp. obtuse, even, yellow-brown or bay; g. adnate, rather distant, tawny cinnamon; s. solid, stout, peronato-annulate, glutinous. =arvinaceus=, fr. p. - cm. exp. edge patent, golden-tawny or reddish-tan; g. adnato-decur. straw-colour then ochre; s. - cm. cylindric, yellowish-white, silky-viscid; sp. ----. =collinitus=, fr. p. - cm. fleshy, convex and incurved then exp. even, shining, tawny-orange; g. adnate, greyish tan then cinnamon; s. - cm. cylindric, floccosely glutinous broken up into transverse squamules; sp. × . var. _mucosus_, fr. firmer. s. even, silky; g. whitish then rusty. [=alpinus=, boud. p. convex camp. firm, viscid, tawny yellow; s. white, apex sulcate, ring and below glutinous; g. adnate, broad, cinnamon, edge paler. flesh pale ochraceous. differs from _c. collinitus_ and _c. livido-ochraceus_ in very convex p. and permanently white s. grooved at apex. =mucifluus=, fr. p. - cm. campan.-exp. smeared with hyaline gluten that disappears, edge striate livid-tan or yellowish; g. adnate, tan; s. - cm. narrowed downwards, viscid and floccosely squamulose, white or tinged violet; sp. × . =elatior=, fr. p. - cm. cylindrical then exp. thin except disc, plicato-rugose, livid yellow then dingy ochre; g. adnate, very broad, connected by veins; s. - cm. narrowed to both ends, whitish or tinged lilac; sp. × . =grallipes=, fr. p. - cm. thin, campan. then exp. umb. even, hygr. rusty then ochre; g. adnato-decur. very broad; s. - cm. stuffed then hollow, rather wavy, yellowish; sp. ----. habit of _c. hinnuleus_, but viscid. =livido-ochraceus=, b. p. - cm. very thin, exp. ochre; g. rounded behind and slightly adnexed, cinnamon; s. - cm. narrowed at both ends, whitish; sp. - × - . [=suratus=, fr. p. convex, equal, yellow, shining, disc depr. brownish, cracked; g. adnate, violet then dingy flesh-colour; s. solid, rather bulbous, flexuous, with yellowish scales, apex naked, tinged violet. ** delibuti. _veil entirely viscid, stem not floccosely peronate but only viscid, shining when dry._ + _gills whitish then tan._ =nitidus=, fr. p. - cm. exp. or depr. discoid, honey-coloured tan then pale, disc tan; g. truly and equally attenuato-decur. crowded; s. - cm. clavate, white, apex with white meal; sp. - × . [=emunctus=, trog. p. campan. convex, pale violet then grey; g. adnate, subdistant; s. glutinous, pallid, apex naked, white. [=liquidus=, fr. p. exp. even, glutinous, yellowish, silky and whitish when dry; g. truly decur. distant; s. attenuated, glutinous, white. ++ _gills at first violet, bluish or reddish._ =salor=, fr. p. - cm. exp. gibbous, innately fibrillose, violet; g. adnate, tan, edge violet; s. - cm. solid, conically attenuated, bulbous, glabrous, covered at the apex with the blue glutinous veil; sp. - × . [=naevosus=, fr. p. exp. subdepr. reddish yellow, crowded with minute spot-like scales; g. emarginate, broad, blue then tan; s. solid, pallid grey, with yellowish hyaline gluten. =delibutus=, fr. p. - cm. exp. obtuse, yellowish with viscid hyaline gluten; g. adnate, serrulate, pallid blue then rusty; s. - cm. thin, attenuated, with whitish gluten; sp. × . var. _elegans_, fr. p. and s. quite glabrous, with yellow viscidity, shining when dry; flesh yellowish white. =illibatus=, fr. p. - cm. campan.-convex, then exp. and subumb. yellow disc darker; g. adnato-decur. crowded, rosy then tan; s. - cm. white, glabrous, often with reddish spots above; sp. - × - . +++ _gills at first ochraceous or cinnamon._ [=epipoleus=, fr. p. exp. gibbous, hoary-shining; g. decur. edge wavy, rather distant, tan; s. bulbous, clavate, obsoletely violet, viscid. =stillatitius=, fr. p. - cm. exp. subumb. even, smeared at first with blue gluten, then livid fuscous, finally greyish-white; g. emarginate, broad; s. - cm. hollow, very soft, with blue mucus; sp. × . somewhat resembling _c. elatior_ but smaller, and veil not floccose. =vibratilis=, fr. p. - cm. thin, almost plane, subgibbous, hygr. yellow or tawny, golden and shining when dry; g. adnato-decur. crowded; s. soft, conical, snow-white, glutinous veil fugacious; sp. × . habit of _c. armeniacus_ and _c. causticus_. differs from both in very soft, snow-white stem, and glutinous veil. =pluvius=, fr. p. . - . cm. globose, then convex, viscid, hygr. yellowish tawny, tan and opaque when dry; g. decur. then seceding, white then ochre; s. - cm. slender, subequal, soft, white then pallid; sp. × . [=oliveus=, q. p. fibrilloso-virgate, viscid, olive green, flesh yellowish-olive; s. silky, citrin, base clavate; g. reddish amethyst. iii. inoloma. _pileus equally fleshy, dry, at first scaly, fibrillose or innately silky, not hygrophanous. veil simple. stem fleshy, subbulbous._ * _gills at first white or pallid._ =opimus=, fr. p. - cm. hard, exp. unequal, dry, with adpressed tan tomentum, rimoso-rivulose; g. emarginate, white then tan; s. . - cm. hard, stout, pallid, with white fibrils; sp. ----. var. _fulvobrunneus_, fr. p. glabrous then rivulose; g. very broad. [=argutus=, fr. p. conical then exp. subgibbous, silky-fibrillose, ochraceous; g. adnate; s. solid, ventricose, fibroso-squamose, yellowish white. =turgidus=, fr. p. - cm. exp. atomate then glabrous, whitish tan, shining, edge at first silky; g. emarginate, crowded, edge entire; s. - cm. bulbous, rimosely-striate, glabrous, silvery shining; sp. ----. differs from _c. argentatus_ in very obtuse p. and entire edge of gills. [=praestans=, cord. p. convex, orbicular, silky-shining, brownish violet; g. hyaline then grey; s. fibrous inside, solid, whitish, cylindrical, sometimes wavy, rather bulbous. esculent. =argentatus=, krombh. p. - cm. convex, almost glabrous, silvery grey, shining, disc subgibbous, pallid, near the edge at first silky-lilac; g. emarginate, crowded, serrate; s. - cm. stout, white; sp. × . var. _pinetorum_, fr. smaller. at first lilac and silky. ** _gills with veil and stem more or less violet._ =violaceus=, l. p. - cm. very fleshy, dark violet, with downy scales; g. broad, thick, distant, dark; s. - cm. bulbous, spongy, downy, greyish violet; sp. - × - . dark violet both outside and inside. =cyanites=, fr. p. - cm. obtuse silky, even, pale blue; g. at first clear blue; s. - cm. blue, bulbous, with red juice; sp. × - . var. _major_, fr. p. and s. slowly becoming reddish; g. dark blue-grey. [=calopus=, karst. p. convex, exp. even, hoary, silky-lilac near edge at first, then more or less rusty; g. adnate, at first pale cinnamon, entire; s. solid, equal, base thickened, usually curved, purple-lilac then pale, floccosely-scaly then pale; sp. - × - . =muricinus=, fr. p. - cm. obtuse, rufous violet, edge fibrillose; g. rather crowded; s. - cm. bulbous, juiceless, downy, purplish violet; sp. - × - . flesh sky-blue then whitish. [=cinereo-violaceus=, fr. p. obtuse, violet then umber, squamulosely punctate; g. adnate, purple-umber; s. clavato-bulbous, firm, juiceless, reddish violet then pallid. =albo-violaceus=, fr. p. - cm. convex, silky, at length broadly gibbous, whitish violet; g. serrulate, greyish violet; s. - cm. clavate, whitish violet, with a median ring-like zone; sp. × - . =malachius=, fr. p. - cm. pale lilac then brownish, tan when dry, white-fibrillose at first; g. crowded, pale purple then rusty; s. - cm. bulbous, bluish-peronate; sp. - × - . =camphoratus=, fr. smell strong. p. - cm. obtuse, lilac, silky, then whitish or yellowish, flesh blue; g. clear blue then purplish; s. - cm. bulbous, juiceless, bluish from the cortina, inside the base white; sp. × . =hircinus=, fr. smell strong, foetid. p. - cm. obtuse or gibbous, with adpr. silky violet fibrils then pale, disc glabrous becoming rusty; g. broad, violet then cinnamon; s. - cm. bulbous, juiceless, violet then pallid, base yellowish inside; sp. ----. *** _gills and veil cinnamon, red or ochre._ =traganus=, fr. smell strong, foetid. p. - cm. obtuse, lilac-fibrillose then pale; g. thick, crenate, at first saffron-ochre; s. - cm. bulbous, spongy, tinged violet, inside saffron; sp. - × . var. _finitimus_, weinm. smell not so foetid as in type; s. yellowish and mottled inside. =tophaceus=, fr. p. - cm. obtuse, tawny-ochre, villosely scaly, flesh white; g. emarginate, tawny cinnamon; s. - cm. villoso-scaly, yellowish; sp. × . entirely ochraceous or yellow. var. _redemitus_, fr. p. slender, at length broadly gibbous, golden-yellow, with darker adpressed fibrils; s. fibrillosely striate, base slightly thickened. =suillus=, fr. p. - cm. obtuse, brick-red then paler, margin silky then innately squamulose; g. adnate, broad, opaque, tan; s. - cm. clavate, spongy, adpressedly woolly below, middle fibrillose, apex silky, even, violet; sp. ----. gills fragile, connected by veins at base. =callisteus=, fr. p. - cm. convexo-plane, tawny-yellow, nearly glabrous, even, innately squamulose, flesh yellowish; g. adnate, floccosely connected behind; s. - cm. bulbous, tawny fibrillose; sp. ----. =bulliardi=, fr. smell strong. p. - cm. campan.-convex, subgibbous, even, or squamulose, rufescent; g. adnexed, broad, rusty-purplish; s. - cm. bulbous, short, firm, vermilion fibrillose below, apex whitish; sp. - × . =vinosus=, cke. p. - cm. subgl. then exp. vinous red, smooth, even, shining; g. adnexed, ventricose, rusty tan; s. - cm. thickened abruptly into a reddish marginate bulb, pale violet above; sp. - × . [=pavonius=, fr. p. convex, obtuse, broken up into broad vermilion scales; g. violet then cinnamon; s. solid, short, bulbous, with rufous fibrils. =bolaris=, fr. p. - cm. exp. obsoletely umb. reddish-yellow, variegated with saffron-red, innate, pilose adpressed scales, then pale; g. subdecur. crowded; s. - cm. stuffed then hollow, nearly equal, scaly, colour of p.; sp. × . [=craticus=, fr. p. fleshy, campan.-exp. obtusely umb. covered with reddish brick-coloured, innate interwoven fibrils; g. crowded; s. solid, narrowed upwards, glabrous, reddish below, becoming pale, base tomentose. **** _gills and veil dusky, fuscous, or olive._ =pholideus=, fr. p. - cm. exp. obtusely umb. fawn, densely squamulose with blackish fascicles of hairs; g. violet then tan; s. - cm. with dusky squarrose squamules up to ring, apex even, violet; sp. × - . =sublanatus=, fr. smell resembling radishes. p. - cm. campan.-exp. umb. brownish tan, with innate pilose squamules; g. olive then yellowish; s. - cm. attenuated from a bulbous base, glabrous and pallid above, squamulose with fuscous down below; sp. - × - . =phrygianus=, fr. smell like radishes. p. - cm. obtuse, honey colour, hispid with crowded simple black fibrils; g. dingy yellow; s. bulbous, with a lax reticulation of black fibrils; sp. ----. =arenatus=, fr. p. - cm. convex, gibbous at first, reddish tawny, granular with floccose squamules; g. yellowish tan; s. - cm. brownish squamulose above the middle, apex even, pallid; sp. × . _c. phrygianus_ differs in blackish squamules of p. and s. and strong smell of radishes. both are often tinged olive when young. [=melanotus=, kalchbr. p. convex, yellow, covered with minute, adpressed, blackish-olive scales, flesh olive-yellow; g. yellowish cinnamon; s. solid, narrowed upwards, yellowish, with small umber scales up to ring. =penicillatus=, fr. p. - cm. convex, umb. rusty-brown, densely floccose with innate scales; g. dusky brown; s. - cm. slender, equal, with adpressed rusty-brown scales; sp. - × . iv. dermocybe. _flesh of pileus thin, everywhere equal, at first downy or subinnately silky, but glabrous when adult, dry, not hygr._ * _gills at first whitish or pallid._ =ochroleucus=, fr. p. - cm. gibbous then obtuse, even, pallid white; g. crowded becoming ochre-tan; s. - cm. solid, firm, ventricose, white; sp. × - . =decumbens=, fr. p. - cm. exp. even, white then yellowish, shining; g. tan from first; s. - cm. hollow, clavato-bulbous, ascending, pallid; sp. ----. =riculatus=, fr. p. - cm. exp. gibbous, yellowish, with adpressed silky bloom, becoming whitish, disc naked; g. adnate; s. - cm. hollow, pallid, base thickened. =tabularis=, fr. p. - cm. soon plane, flocculose then almost glabrous, brownish tan then pale; g. emarginate; s. - cm. white, adpressedly fibrilloso-scaly then almost glabrous; sp. ----. [=ochrophyllus=, fr. p. exp. dry, glabrous, brownish olive then pale; g. ochre then tan; s. solid, pallid, variegated with darker adpressed scales. =camarus=, fr. fragile. p. - cm. gibbous, hoary brown then pale; g. subadnate; s. - cm. partly hollow, equal, curved, inside and outside white, apex silvery shining; sp. - × - . =diabolicus=, fr. p. - cm. hemispher. obtuse then gibbous, fuscescent with a grey bloom, then glabrous and tawny yellow; g. subemarginately adnexed; s. - cm. glabrous, pallid, apex grey; sp. - × . ** _gills at first violet then purplish._ =caninus=, fr. p. - cm. exp. nearly glabrous, rufous-brick-red, tawny when dry; g. broad, purple then cinnamon; s. - cm. clavately bulbous, subperonate, pallid, apex violet; sp. × - . =myrtillinus=, fr. p. - cm. gibbous then flattened, sooty, hoary with white fibrils; g. rather distant, amethyst-blue then bluish tan; s. - cm. bulbous silky, not zoned, whitish; sp. × . apex of stem violet; no purple in g. =azureus=, fr. p. - cm. silky or atomate shining, hoary lilac; g. clear blue-violet; s. - cm. glabrous, slightly striate, base thickened, downy, whitish; sp. × . =albocyaneus=, fr. p. - cm. exp. hoary silky then glabrous, white then yellowish; g. broad, crowded, bluish purple then subochre; s. - cm. subclavate, naked, whitish; sp. - × - . differs from _c. anomalus_ in clavate s. and flattened p. =anomalus=, fr. p. . - cm. obtuse then gibbous, sooty-rufous, hoary fibrillose then glabrous and tawny; g. crowded, bluish-purple then cinnamon; s. - cm. thin, attenuated, fibrillose, somewhat scaly, violet then pallid; sp. - × . =spilomeus=, fr. p. - cm. exp. gibbous, dry, fuscous then tan; g. crowded, narrow; s. - cm. whitish lilac variegated with tawny rufous scales; sp. ----. differs from _c. anomalus_ in scaly stem. =lepidopus=, cke. p. - cm. exp. gibbous, umber with a tinge of violet at edge, becoming rufescent; g. adnate, violet then cinnamon; s. - cm. narrowed upwards, rather wavy, whitish or tinged lilac, with concentric darker zones; sp. × . [=lebretonii=, q. p. lilac then fawn; s. lilac, dotted with saffron flecks. *** _gills shining cinnamon, red, or yellow. stem and fibrillose cortina coloured._ =miltinus=, fr. p. - cm. convex, bay-cinnamon, soon very glabrous and shining; g. adnate, narrow, crowded, rusty; s. - cm. equally narrowed upwards, cinnamon, reddish-fibrillose; sp. × . =cinnabarinus=, fr. smell strong, like radishes. every part crimson-lake. p. - cm. obtuse, silky then almost glabrous, shining; g. adnate, broad, rather distant, darker; s. - cm. fibrillose; sp. × . differs from _c. sanguineus_ in stuffed s., radishy smell, and broad gills with an olive tinge. =sanguineus=, fr. entirely blood-red. p. - cm. obtuse, innately silky or squamulose; g. crowded, broadish; s. - cm. stuffed then hollow, thin, equal; sp. - × . =anthracinus=, fr. p. . - cm. convex exp. umb. somewhat chestnut; g. adnate, crowded, scarlet, blood-red when bruised; s. - cm. fibrillose, deep blood-red; sp. × . =cinnamomeus=, fr. p. . - cm. obtuse, umb. somewhat cinnamon with yellowish innate fibrils; g. adnate, broad, crowded, shining, yellowish; s. - cm. equal, with flesh and veil yellowish; sp. - × - . var. _croceus_, fr. smaller. p. subsquamulose, sometimes tinged olive; g. less crowded, yellowish and sometimes olive, as is also the s. var. _semisanguineus_, fr. g. blood-red or orange-red. =uliginosus=, b. p. - cm. conico-campan. then exp. strongly umb. bright red-brown or brick-red, flesh olive-yellow; g. adnate, yellow, olive, tan; s. - cm. flexuous, paler than p.; sp. × - . =croceoconus=, fr. p. - cm. conico-campan. persistently acute, tawny cinnamon; g. linear, crowded; s. - cm. slender, flexuous, hollow; sp. ----. =orellanus=, fr. p. - cm. obtusely umb. villosely squamulose or fibrillose orange-tawny, flesh reddish; g. adfixed, broad; s. - cm. solid, fibrillosely striate, tawny; sp. - × - . differs from _c. cinnamomeus_ in solid stem and reddish flesh. =malicorius=, fr. p. - cm. exp. obtuse, velvety-fibrillose, tawny-golden, flesh splitting, yellow then olive-green; g. crowded, tawny orange, edge becoming flocculose; s. - cm. hollow, fibrillose, golden; sp. ----. differs from _c. cinnamomeus_ in persistently hollow s. golden then olive-brown; flesh yellow then greenish- or golden-olive. =infucatus=, fr. p. - cm. convex, obtuse, bright yellow; g. adnate, crowded, tawny then cinnamon; s. - cm. narrowed from clavate base, fibrillose, whitish or yellowish; sp. × . [=fucatophyllus=, lasch. p. acutely umb. fibrillosely scaly, brownish; g. broad, yellow with crimson spots, denticulate; s. fibrillose, yellowish, veil reddish. =colymbadinus=, fr. p. subgibbous, with seceding yellow fibrils, yellowish; flesh splitting, yellowish; g. rather distant, broad, thick, rusty, edge white-floccose; s. equal, fibrillosely striate, naked, pallid. **** _becoming olivaceous. veil dingy, pallid or tinged fuscous. pileus not broken up into scales._ =cotoneus=, fr. p. - cm. olivaceous, campan. exp. bullate, wavy, innately velvety; g. olive then brownish tan; s. - cm. solid, base thickened, pale olive, veil forming a fuscous zone; sp. - × . =subnotatus=, fr. p. - cm. campan. then exp. olive then fuscous, at first clothed with superficial hoary squamules, soon glabrous; g. yellowish then olive tan; s. - cm. conical, squamulose with yellowish fragments of veil, apex glabrous, shining; sp. × . =valgus=, fr. fragile. p. - cm. convex, subgibbous, almost glabrous, olive then brick-red, edge submembranaceous; g. dingy yellow red then brick-red; s. - cm. twisted, naked, pallid, shining, apex striate, tinged violet, bulb with white down, rooting; sp. ----. =raphanoides=, fr. smell strong, like radishes. p. - cm. campan. then exp. gibbous, silky with innate fibrils, olive then tawny; g. olive then cinnamon; s. - cm. firm, fibrillose, paler; sp. × . [=depexus=, fr. p. thin, convex then plane, brick-red becoming pale; g. adnate, yellowish then cinnamon, opaque; s. equal, fibrillosely striate, pallid. =venetus=, fr. p. - cm. thin, convex then exp. silky-villose, olive then yellowish, opaque; g. broad, veined, yellowish-olive then olive-cinnamon; s. - cm. fibrilloso-striate, with the veil colour of p.; sp. × . p. obtusely umb. sea-green or clear yellow-green as is the flesh. [=olivascens=, karst. p. thin, edge submembr. firm, equal, convex then plane, even, glabrous, olive; s. pallid, fibrillose, ring fugacious; g. adnexed, very broad tawny rusty; sp. - × - . v. telamonia. _pileus hygr. at first glabrous or with whitish superficial fibrils. flesh entirely thin or the margin abruptly so, splitting. universal veil peronate or forming a ring low on the stem; apex somewhat cortinate, hence the veil is somewhat duplex._ * platyphilli. _gills very broad, thickish, more or less distant. stem spongy or entirely fibrous._ (colour when dry given in brackets.) + _stem and veil white or whitish._ =macropus=, fr. p. - cm. convex, incurved, then exp. hoary with minute squamules, brick-red then rusty; g. distant, very broad; s. - cm. equal, fibrillose, whitish, ring distant; sp. × . [=testaceo-canescens=, f. p. convex, brick-red, with greyish squamules; g. emarginato-adnate; s. rigid, equal, silky-shining. =laniger=, fr. p. - cm. exp. woolly with white superficial scales, then glabrous and bright or dusky tawny; g. saffron-tawny; s. white, peronate up to distinct ring, veil shining white; sp. ----. =bivelus=, fr. p. - cm. convexo-exp. glabrous, tawny brick-red; g. adnate, bright tawny cinnamon; s. - cm. subbulbous, dingy white, peronate, ring spurious, fugacious; sp. × - . =bulbosus=, fr. p. - cm. campan. exp. glabrous, bay (dusky brick-red) disc subgibbous; g. adnate, opaque; s. - cm. stout, bulbous, pallid, peronate with white veil up to ring; sp. × - . =urbicus=, fr. p. - cm. convexo-plane, glabrous, silvery white; g. emarginate, broad; s. - cm. equal, peronate, white and downy above ring; sp. ----. =licinipes=, fr. p. - cm. convex then exp. umb. glabrous, yellowish red; g. adnate, very broad; s. - cm. pallid floccose with white scales; sp. ----. =microcyclus=, fr. p. - cm. thin, plano-convex, fuscous brick-red then pale; g. adnate, very broad, lilac then cinnamon; s. - cm. narrowed from base, pallid, white annular zone evident; sp. ----. differs from _c. decipiens_ in somewhat bulbous stem and white annular zone. ++ _stem and gills violet._ cortina usually white with a violet tinge, but universal veil white. =torvus=, fr. p. - cm. convex-exp. obtuse, bay or tinged violet at first then brick-red, hoary with fibrillose squamules then almost glabrous; g. thick, distant, very broad, purplish umber then cinnamon; s. - cm. bulbous then elongated and equal, vaginate with the white persistent veil, apex violet cortinate; sp. × - . flesh usually bored by larvae. =impennis=, fr. p. - cm. fleshy, convex, obtuse, rigid, glabrous, somewhat brick-red then pale; g. thick, distant, violet, purplish, then cinnamon; s. - cm. rather bulbous, pallid, imperfect ring and apex violet, whitish cortinate, solid; sp. - × . =lucorum=, fr. p. - cm. even bay brick-red when moist; g. emarginate, cinnamon with a fugacious tinge of flesh-colour violet; s. - cm. clavate, very fibrillose, one colour, becoming pale; sp. × . =plumiger=, fr. p. - cm. conico-campan. gibbous, brownish-olive, densely covered with white feathery flecks; g. crowded, broad, edge entire, coloured like rest; s. - cm. clavato-bulbous, floccose, pale; sp. × . =scutulatus=, fr. p. - cm. ovate, exp. obtuse, purplish umber (brick-red) silky white round edge at first, then broken up into squamules; g. adnate, violet purple; s. - cm. solid, rigid, rather bulbous, outside and inside dusky violet, peronate and more or less ringed white; sp. × . =evernius=, fr. p. - cm. conico-campan. exp. glabrous, purplish bay (brick-red and hoary) at length torn into fibrils; g. adnate, very broad, violet purple; s. - cm. cylindrical, soft, violet, obsoletely ringed from the veil; sp. × . =quadricolor=, fr. p. - cm. conical then exp. whitish yellow (becoming tawny) edge radiato-striate; g. adnate, broad, serrate, purplish then cinnamon; s. - cm. stuffed then hollow, equal, thin, whitish violet, veil forming an oblique white zone; sp. - × - . +++ _stem and veil reddish or yellowish. gills tawny or cinnamon, not violet nor becoming brown._ =armillatus=, fr. p. - cm. campan. exp. soon innately fibrillose and torn into squamules, reddish brick-colour; g. very broad, distant; s. - cm. solid, bulbous, rufescent, with two or three red zones; sp. × . differs from _c. hematochelis_ in distant gills, and more than one red zone on stem. =haematochelis=, bull. p. - cm. gibbous, silky fibrillose, brownish brick-red (pallid); g. adnate, crowded, rather narrow; s. - cm. solid, narrowed upwards, with one red zone; sp. × - . [=paragaudis=, fr. p. campan. exp. umb. bay (tawny tan); g. adnexed, ventricose; s. elongated, twisted, pale red, peronate with adpressed fibrillose reddish squamules. var. _praestigiosus_, fr. p. thin, striate, silky-fibrous towards edge; s. hollow, equal, slender; g. thin, distant, tawny cinnamon. =croceofulvus=, fr. p. - cm. exp. umb. even, tawny orange; g. adnate, rusty; s. - cm. solid, equal, reddish-yellow, with a narrow orange zone; sp. - × . flesh yellow. =limonius=, fr. p. - cm. convexo-plane, obtuse, glabrous, tawny (yellowish ochre), at length squamulose; g. rather distant, yellow then tawny cinnamon; s. - cm. solid, firm, floccosely squamulose, colour of p.; sp. ----. base of s. becoming deep saffron. [=arenarius=, q. p. pruinose, ochraceous-fawn; g. pale fuscescent; s. rooting, fibrillosely floccose, sulphur. =helvolus=, fr. p. - cm. incurved then exp. glabrous, hygr. tawny-rusty then cracked umbo obtuse, vanishing; g. very broad, thick; s. - cm. attenuated, veil silky, almost smooth, peronate, terminated by a rusty edged annular zone; sp. × . =hinnuleus=, fr. p. - cm. thin, conico-campan. exp. subumb. glabrous, pallid tawny-cinnamon (somewhat tawny); g. distant, broad, quite entire, tawny cinnamon; s. - cm. rigid, somewhat tawny, narrowed below, white silky veil almost smooth forming a pallid zone at apex; sp. - × - . =gentilis=, fr. p. . - . , conico-exp. acutely umb. even, glabrous then cracked, tawny cinnamon (yellow); g. adnate, thick, very distant, entire, edge coloured like rest; s. - cm. slender, equal, scaly, tawny cinnamon, scales and oblique ring, yellow; sp. - × . =helvelloides=, fr. p. . - . , thin, subconvex, obsoletely umb. rusty (tawny then pale), then cracked; g. adnate, violet-umber then cinnamon, edge floccose, white; s. - cm. slender, undulate, silky fibrillose, with the imperfect ring and veil yellowish; sp. × . =rubellus=, cke. p. - cm. campan. then exp. rufous orange umbo darkest, flesh reddish-ochre; g. adnate, sinuate, bright rusty-red; s. - cm. pale above, dark below, with darker concentric bands; sp. × . ++++ _stem fuscescent, veil fuscous or dingy, gills dusky._ [species of _inoloma_ and _dermocybe_ are often peronately ringed, but the pileus is not hygr. and scaly or silky at first.] =bovinus=, fr. p. - cm. convexo-plane, even, glabrous, watery cinnamon (somewhat tawny); g. very broad; s. - cm. stout, spongily bulbous, greyish then fuscous-cinnamon, whitish above fuscous zone; sp. ----. =nitrosus=, cke. stinking. p. - cm. obtuse, exp. edge wavy, fawn or tawny, disc darker, soon breaking up into darker, minute concentric scales; g. violet then dilute cinnamon; s. - cm. equal, ochre, base darker, with dark concentric squamules; sp. × . =brunneus=, fr. p. - cm. campan. exp. umber (reddish tan dingy), naked, broken up into innate fibrils near edge, umbo fleshy, obtuse; g. adnate, thick, distant, purplish then umber-cinnamon; s. - cm. narrowed upwards, elastic, fuscescent, white-striate, veil forming a brownish white zone; sp. - × . [=disjungendus=, karst. p. convex, gibbous, even, glabrous, tawny umber, white-striate; g. adnate at first, distant; s. solid, equal, base thickened and radiating, dingy, curved; sp. - × - . =injucundus=, weinm. p. - cm. compact, convexo-plane, obtuse, fuscous-cinnamon, fibrillose; g. very broad, lilac then tan; s. - cm. solid, clavate, colour of p. then tawny-yellow, fibrils and veil fuscous; sp. × . =brunneofulvus=, fr. p. - cm. thin, campan. exp. subumb. even, innately fibrillose, virgate, tawny cinnamon, edge at first white-fibrillose; g. adnate, very broad, opaque; s. - cm. narrowed from base, fibrillosely striate, fuscescent, at length pale tawny outside and inside; sp. ----. =glandicolor=, fr. entirely umber. p. . - . cm. exp. umb. hoary-fuscous when dry; g. adnate, broad, distant, entire; s. - cm. equal, slender, straight, veil forming a distant white zone; sp. ----. var. _curta_, fr. s. - cm. long, wavy, peronate with white veil, cingulate, umbo blackish. =punctatus=, fr. p. . - . cm. thin, conico-convex, glabrous, hoary-umber (tan), at length even; g. adnate, very distant, entire, brownish-cinnamon; s. - cm. slender, undulate, fibrillosely striate, brownish-yellow, a zone formed by the fugacious pale fuscous veil; sp. × . ** leptophylli. _gills narrow, thin, more or less crowded. pileus thin. stem somewhat cartilaginous and rigid outside, stuffed or hollow, often narrowed below._ + _stem whitish or pallid, floccosely scaly._ =triformis=, fr. p. - cm. convexo-plane, subumb. hygr. opaque, almost glabrous, yellow-brown; g. subadnate; s. - cm. clavate, almost glabrous, pallid, ring white; sp. × . var. _melleopallens_, fr. p. dingy honey-colour; s. yellowish then pallid, becoming hollow, ring interwoven. var. _fuscopallens_, fr. p. umb. fuscescent then pallid; g. narrow, watery white. =biformis=, fr. p. - cm. conico-campan. exp. glabrous, shining, rusty bay, umbo fleshy, prominent; g. adnate, crenulate; s. - cm. base narrowed, fibrillosely striate, pale, ring oblique, white; sp. ----. [=fallax=, q. p. thin, becoming pallid; g. pallid then ochre; s. wavy, slender, pallid, apex blue, ring white, fugacious. [=lindgrenii=, fr. p. exp. obtuse, glabrous, rusty (ochre-tan), then wavy; g. crowded, watery cinnamon; s. short, adpressedly silky, whitish, ring subapical, reflexed. ++ _stem violet._ =periscelis=, fr. p. - cm. campan. then convex, lilac, white-silky, umbo fleshy, rest very thin; g. adnate, crowded, narrow; s. - cm. fibrillose, colour of p. interwoven brownish veil subannulate; sp. - × - . usually several imperfect brownish rings on s. [=bibulus=, q. greyish-lilac; p. ellipsoid, moist, fibrillosely silky; g. dusky violet; s. slender, covered with curled white flecks. =flexipes=, fr. p. . - . cm. conical then exp. acutely umb. violet then brownish cinnamon (reddish tan) fibrillosely hoary; g. adnate, broad, umber-violet then tan; s. - cm. wavy, subundulate, fibrillosely scaly, apex violet, veil white, subannulate; sp. ----. =flabellus=, fr. smell strong, like radishes. p. - cm. conical, exp. obtusely umb. fuscous-olive (tan) hoary fibrillose; g. adnate, connected by veins, linear, olive then rusty; s. - cm. wavy, floccosely scaly pallid, scales and ring white; sp. ----. +++ _stem and pileus tawny or rusty._ =psammocephalus=, fr. every part tawny cinnamon, inside also; p. - cm. convexo-exp. then umb. scurfily-scaly; g. adnate, arcuate, crowded; s. - cm. narrowed, squamulosely peronate from the contiguous veil; sp. × . =incisus=, fr. p. - cm. conico-convex, exp. umb. naked but soon innately fibrillosely scaly, hygr. rusty (tawny); g. adnate; s. - cm. equal, fibroso-fibrillose, rusty, ring of white veil almost obsolete; sp. × . =iliopodius=, fr. p. - cm. convex, subumb. silkily hoary then almost glabrous, reddish yellow (tan), at length rimose; g. adnate; s. - cm. equal, thin tawny (inside and outside), peronate with even pallid veil, naked and fibrillose above ring; sp. - × . ++++ _stem floccosely scaly, and like pileus fuscescent._ =hemitrichus=, fr. p. - cm. convex then plane, umb. fuscous (fuscous tan), silky towards the margin with white curled fibrils; g. adnate, crowded; s. - cm. hollow, subequal, pale fuscous, veil white, floccose, as also is ring; sp. - × - . =stemmatus=, fr. p. - cm. convex, exp. obtuse, bay, hoary-silky near the edge, fibrillose and pale when dry; g. adnate, crowded, bay; s. - cm. floccosely scaly, subannulate, rusty-bay; sp. ----. differs from _c. uraceus_ in squamulose s. =rigidus=, fr. strong scented. p. - cm. conico-convex, umb. glabrous, shining, bay (reddish); g. adnate, broad; s. - cm. equal, wavy, paler than p., veil white-squamulose, cingulate; sp. ----. =paleaceus=, fr. p. - cm. conico-exp. umb. rather fuscous (tan), silky with white downy squamules; g. adnate, truly crowded, whitish then tan; s. - cm. wavy, undulate, whitish-squamulose, apex with whitish ring; sp. - × . =iris=, massee. p. - cm. hemispher. then exp. acutely umb. pale brown-ochre, silky, white-fibrillose; g. much cut out behind, orange-brown, edge entire; s. - cm. conical, solid, orange-brown and squamulose below ring, smooth and violet at first above ring; sp. × . vi. hydrocybe. _pileus glabrous or covered with superficial white fibrils, not viscid but moist when growing, discoloured when dry; flesh very thin, splitting, disc rarely compact. stem rather rigid, not peronate; veil thin, fibrillose, rarely collapsing and forming an irreg. zone._ * firmiores. _pileus rather fleshy, convex then campan.-convex, expanded, obtuse or at length gibbous, edge at first incurved. stem generally narrowed upwards._ (colour when dry given in brackets.) + _stem and veil white._ =firmus=, fr. p. - cm. exp. obtuse, glabrous, rusty ochre, flesh compact, white; g. crowded; s. - cm. solid, stout, rather bulbous, white, veil rusty; sp. ----. differs from _c. subferrugineus_ by clear colour of p. and white s. =subferrugineus=, fr. p. - cm. exp. yellowish brick-red becoming rusty, subhygr.; g. scarcely crowded, broad, opaque, rusty; s. - cm. solid, spongy, rigid outside, subbulbous, white then dingy; sp. - × - . =armeniacus=, fr. p. - cm. exp. gibbous, glabrous, tawny cinnamon (yellowish tan), shining; g. adnate, crowded; s. - cm. conical, rigid, subperonate, white; sp. - × . var. _falsarius_, fr. p. yellow, white when dry. [=umbilicatus=, karst. p. convexo-plane, minutely umbil. undulate, obtuse, even, glabrous, brown-bay; g. very broad, cinnamon; s. equal, base thickened, whitish; sp. - . × - . . =damascenus=, fr. p. - cm. thin, exp. bay-cinnamon (brick-red, rivulose); g. adnate, crowded; s. - cm. solid, firm, cylindrical, whitish; × . =privignus=, fr. p. - cm. exp. gibbous, glabrous, pallid fuscous, silvery-hoary (tan then pallid); g. adnate, serrate; s. - cm. fragile, silvery white; sp. × . =duracinus=, fr. p. - cm. rigid, exp. gibbous, watery brick-red (tan, opaque), edge strongly incurved, silky; g. adnate, thin; s. - cm. rigid, unequal, rooting, glabrous, white; sp. × . [=candelaris=, fr. p. conico-campan. obtuse, glabrous, reddish dun (tawny, shining) edge slightly incurved white-silky; g. adnato-decur.; s. rigid, yellowish white, rooting. =illuminus=, fr. p. - cm. exp. gibbous, glabrous, tawny brick-red (brick-red, tan) edge thin; g. adnate; s. - cm. partly hollow, pallid becoming rusty; sp. - × - . =tortuosus=, fr. p. - cm. exp. glabrous, even, shining, rusty bay (brick-red); g. adnate, tawny blood-red or purplish when touched; s. somewhat twisted, silvery; sp. - × . =dilutus=, fr. p. - cm. exp. subumb. glabrous, even, opaque, reddish dun (tan); g. broad, crowded; s. - cm. soft, pallid, base thickened; sp. × . [=erugatus=, weinm. p. exp. subumb. even, nearly glabrous, shining, ochraceous, brick-red; g. subadnate, crowded; s. elongated, thinner upwards, fibrillosely striate, pallid. [=hoeftii=, fr. p. exp. obtuse, watery brick-red (tan, opaque), with a silky bloom; g. adnate, crowded, connected by veins; s. subfistulose, equal, silvery. ++ _stem and gills usually violet._ in certain sp. of preceding section there is an ephemeral tinge of violet at apex of stem. [=livor=, fr. p. exp. obtuse, glabrous, dusky olive then tan; g. emarginate, crowded, broad, semicircular, watery cinnamon; s. narrowed from subbulbous base, short, violet; sp. ----. =saturninus=, fr. p. - cm. campan. exp. glabrous, moist, dusky bay (brick-red), with white silky veil round edge; g. adnexed, crowded, purplish then rusty; s. - cm. violet, base thickened; sp. ----. =imbutus=, fr. p. - cm. convex, obtuse, glabrous, gilvous becoming pale, edge subfibrillose; g. adnate, rather distant, broad, greyish-violet then cinnamon; s. - cm. whitish, apex violet; sp. - × - . [=cypriacus=, fr. p. almost membranaceous, campan. exp. gibbous, glabrous, cinnamon (tawny); g. crowded; s. colour of p., striate with adpr. fibrils. [=plumbosus=, fr. p. convex, plane, umb. moist, blackish lead-colour, then paler and with satiny sheen near edge; g. olive-violet then cinnamon; s. hollow, attenuated upwards, violet then pallid. [=sciophyllus=, fr. p. thin, convex, exp. deep bluish fuscous (bluish), silky-white round edge at first; g. adnate, dusky umber; s. solid, violet, narrowed from thickened base. =castaneus=, bull. p. - cm. campan. exp. gibbous, even, chestnut (shining); g. violet then rusty; s. - cm. cartilaginous, violet or pallid reddish, stuffed then hollow; sp. ----. =bicolor=, cke. p. - cm. campan. exp. umb. dingy white or tinged lilac; g. adnate, purplish violet then tan; s. - cm. pale violet then pale, solid; sp. - × - . =balaustinus=, fr. p. - cm. exp. obtuse, virgate, rusty rufous (tawny brick-red, shining); g. adnate, broad rusty rufous; s. - cm. conical, pallid, then rusty outside and in; sp. × - . =colus=, fr. p. - cm. convex, subgibbous, glabrous, rufous brown (paler and shining); g. adnate, dusky cinnamon; s. - cm. fibrillosely striate with fiery-saffron mycelium; sp. × . =isabellinus=, fr. p. - cm. subumb. honey-colour, glabrous (yellowish and shining); g. adnate, yellow then tan; s. - cm. rigid, striate, yellowish; sp. × . =renidens=, fr. p. - cm. exp. even, glabrous, shining, tawny (ochre); g. crowded, tawny; s. - cm. equal and with fibrous veil, yellow; sp. - × . =angulosus=, fr. p. - cm. exp. wavy, hygr. reddish tawny (ochre, opaque); g. adnate, thickish, distant, tawny; s. - cm. equal, twisted, rather tawny; sp. ----. var. _gracilescens_, fr. s. hollow, slender, tortuous, base rather narrowed. [=zinziberatus=, fr. p. exp. umb. tawny honey-colour (yellowish), edge silky-fibrillose; g. adnate, quite entire, crisped; s. outside and base also inside, yellowish. +++ _stem fuscescent, veil pallid-dingy or white_ (_not yellow_); _gills dusky._ =uraceus=, fr. p. - cm. campan.-convex, subgibbous, even, glabrous, umber (tan, torn into fibres); g. adnate, bay brown; s. - cm. blackish fuscous, apex becoming olive; sp. - × . =jubarinus=, fr. p. - cm. campan. exp. glabrous, bright tawny cinnamon (shining); g. adnate, tawny cinnamon; s. - cm. fibrillosely striate, tawny, veil fugacious, white; sp. × . closely resembling _c. cinnamomeus_, differing in white fibrillose fugacious veil. [=rubricosus=, fr. p. exp. umb. brownish bay (brick-red, shining); g. obtusely adnate, bright rusty; s. narrowed downwards, brownish, white veil collapsing and forming a silky zone. [=nitens=, karst. p. exp. umb. white-silky from veil then glabrous and shining, brownish bay; g. tawny cinnamon; s. subequal, fuscous, white veil forming oblique bands; sp. × . . [=irregularis=, fr. p. exp. umb. wavy, fuscous brown (tawny rusty, shining); g. decur. closely crowded, rusty; s. naked, brick-red with white striae. =pateriformis=, fr. p. - cm. plano-depr. obtuse, orbicular, chestnut brown with white deciduous fibrils; g. brick-red; s. hollow, equal, tinged fuscous; sp. ----. [=phaeophyllus=, karst. p. convex exp. umb. entirely even, edge silky, glabrous, watery cinnamon, ochre and shining when dry; g. adnate, brown-tan, edge honey-colour; s. equal, usually wavy, silky-fibrillose, pallid-white; sp. - × - . =unimodus=, britz. p. - cm. campan. then exp. usually depr. round umbo, shining, rufous brown; g. adnexed, brown; s. - cm. fibrous, brown below; sp. - × . ** tenuiores. _pileus submembranaceous, conical then exp. umbo acute, rarely obtuse or nearly obsolete, edge at first straight._ + _stem white._ =dolabratus=, fr. p. - cm. campan. exp. obtuse, glabrous, brick-red (even and tan), silky near the edge; g. adnate, very broad, distant, tan; s. - cm. stout, cylindrical, shining white; sp. - × - . smell very disagreeable. =rigens=, fr. p. - cm. conical then convex, obtuse, glabrous, opaque, tan (whitish tan); g. adnato-subdecur.; s. - cm. cartilaginous, rigid, rooting, white; sp. - × . [=fulvescens=, fr. p. exp. shining, cinnamon (brick-red), at length fibrillose, umbo persistent rather acute; g. adnate; s. attenuated, soft, rather wavy, becoming pale. =krombholzii=, fr. p. - cm. conico-campan. then gibbous, even, glabrous, tan, edge append.; g. nearly free, broad, rusty edge yellowish; s. - cm. equal, naked, white; sp. × - . =reedii=, berk. p. - cm. conical then exp. and strongly umb. shining, persistently brown; g. free; s. - cm. equal, rather bulbous, white, solid; sp. - × . =leucopus=, bull. p. . - . cm. conical then exp. and umb. even, glabrous, yellowish red (clay-colour, shining); g. subadnexed, crowded; s. - cm. equal, shining white; sp. × - . differs from _c. pluvius_ in not being viscid. =scandens=, fr. p. - cm. conical, exp. tawny rusty to watery honey-colour (clay-colour), umbo fleshy, edge striate; g. adnate, tawny cinnamon, edge same colour; s. - cm. wavy, even, apex thickened, base attenuated, whitish; sp. × . ++ _stem somewhat violet or reddish._ =erythrinus=, fr. p. - cm. conical, exp. rufous bay, prominent umbo darker; g. adnexed; s. - cm. equal, somewhat curved, violet above; sp. ----. var. _argyropus_. slenderer than type; stem silvery, apex mealy. =decipiens=, fr. p. - cm. conical, glabrous, shining, fuscous-bay, depr. round darker umbo (brick-red); g. adnate; s. equal, slender, with a pale separable cuticle; sp. × . s. usually without any violet, pale red inside. var. _insignis_, fr. p. paler; s. flexuous, glabrous. =germanus=, fr. smell strong. p. - cm. conico-exp. obtusely umb. rather silky, fragile, fuscescent (clay-colour); g. adnate, broad; s. thin, equal, glabrous, lilac then pallid; sp. ----. =ianthipes=, secr. p. conical then exp. umb. fibrillose, shining, brown, edge yellowish; g. white then greyish olive; s. shining, violet, rufous below. +++ _stem yellowish, usually becoming pale._ =detonsus=, fr. p. - cm. conical, exp. subumb. glabrous, brick-red or yellowish (tan and silky); g. adnate, yellowish then brick-red, quite entire; s. - cm. glabrous, tinged yellow then pallid; sp. × . =saniosus=, fr. p. conical then convex and umb. not striate, glabrous, tawny fuscous (tawny, shining), edge fibrillosely torn; g. adnate, quite entire; s. curved, yellowish, veil fibrillose, yellow. =obtusus=, fr. p. - cm. conico-campan. striate to middle, shining, reddish yellow (ochre then pallid, opaque, fibrillosely torn); g. adnato-ventricose, edge white-fimbriate; s. hollow, soft, ventricose, becoming pale, - cm.; sp. × . =acutus=, fr. p. . - cm. conical, acutely umb. entirely striate, yellowish red (clay-colour, silky then even); g. adnate, ochre, entire; s. - cm. equal, slender, wavy, pale; sp. × . ++++ _stem becoming fuscescent._ =junghuhnii=, fr. p. - cm. conical, exp. papillate, persistently minutely velvety with thin innate white fibrils, shining cinnamon (somewhat tawny); g. adnate, orange brick-red; s. - cm. shining, adpressedly fuscous-fibrillose; sp. × - . =depressus=, fr. p. - cm. conico-convex, umb. glabrous, at first superficially silky near striate edge, fuscous then rusty; g. adnate, saffron then yellowish; s. hollow, reddish, base fuscous, white-silky; sp. ----. =milvinus=, fr. strong scented. p. conico-exp. subumb. striate to disc, somewhat olive (tan then pallid), edge crowned with white innate squamules; g. adnate, rusty olive, base veined; s. - cm. equal, curved, fuscous then pallid, spotted with the white silky veil; sp. - × . =fasciatus=, fr. p. - cm. conico-exp. glabrous, fuscescent (brick-red then pallid and silky) umbo acute, blackish; g. adnate, distant; s. - cm. rather wavy, glabrous, fibrously splitting, pallid fuscous; sp. × . differs from _c. acutus_ in very distant g. crepidotus, fr. =palmatus=, bull. p. - cm. compact, convex then exp. irreg. glabrous, pelliculose, rusty; g. fixed to a collar, colour of p.; s. excentric or lateral, incurved, glabrous, whitish; sp. subg. . differs from _pleurotus subpalmatus_ in rusty sp. a form with a central s. occurs. [=hypsophilus=, r. fries. subcaespitose. p. fleshy, compact, irreg. laterally produced, entire, convex then plane, edge becoming upturned, glabrous, fuscous tan; g. emarginate, crowded, dingy yellow; s. very excentric, short, curved whitish. [=nidulans=, mass. (= _pleurotus nidulans_, fr., _crepidotus junquillea_ (paulet) lucand.) p. fleshy, at first resupinate then expanded, sessile, subreniform, tomentose, yellow; g. broad, rather distant, tawny-orange; sp. tawny. =alveolus=, lasch. p. - cm. soft, lateral, obovate, wavy, plane, glabrous, ochre-fuscous, sessile or produced behind into a short stem-like downy base; g. broad; sp. - long. [=stiriacus=, wetts. p. fleshy-fibrous, ovate-shell-shaped, semiorbicular, or cuneiform, simple, lobed or partite, tomentose; g. dense, ochre-fuscous; s. lateral, very short; sp. - × . =mollis=, fr. p. - cm. gelatinously fleshy, soft, obovate or reniform, flaccid, subsessile, glabrous, pallid then greyish; g. decur. from base, crowded, linear, whitish then watery cinnamon; sp. - × - . =putrigenus=, b. and c. imbricate, sessile; p. - cm. subreniform, whitish, tomentose; g. broad, rusty-brown; sp. subglobose, - , rusty. =applanatus=, fr. p. - cm. soft, fragile, plane, reniform or cuneate, whitish, produced behind into a very short white-downy base; g. determinate, crowded, whitish then pale cinnamon; sp. × . [=scalaris=, fr. imbricated. p. submembranaceous, very soft, effuso-reflexed, even, glabrous, clear dilute ochre, pellucid when fresh; g. decur. from base, distant, thin, whitish then cinnamon. =calolepis=, fr. p. - cm. dimidiate, sessile and fixed by a downy nodule, white, marginate behind, variegated with minute rufescent scales; g. radiating from base, at length brownish rusty; sp. ----. =haustellaris=, fr. p. - cm. flaccid, exactly lateral, reniform, plane, even, very slightly downy, tan; g. rounded behind, pallid then fuscous-cinnamon; s. distinct, narrowed upwards, downy, white; sp. ----. [=peteauxii=, q. p. resupinate then cup-shaped, lateral, reniform, tomentose, snow-white; g. free, whitish then ochre. =rubi=, berk. (= _naucoria effugiens_, q.) p. . - cm. convexo-plane, edge incurved, pale yellowish tan, sprinkled with glistening particles; g. adnato-decur. rather broad, greyish then umber; s. - mm. incurved; sp. - long. =chimnophilus=, b. and br. p. - mm. convex, edge incurved, downy, whitish; g. attenuated behind, distant, narrow, pale tan; s. very short or obsolete; sp. × µ. =epibryus=, fr. white. p. - mm. resupinate, sessile, adnate by the vertex, silky then smooth; g. radiating from the centre, thin, crowded, whitish then reddish-yellow; sp. ----. [=inhonestus=, karst. p. resupinate, sessile, adnate laterally or by the vertex, rather silky, orbicular or subreniform, whitish; g. broad, thin, white then brownish; sp. - × . =phillipsii=, b. and br. p. - cm. rather fleshy, oblique, striate, smooth, pale umber; g. narrow, ventricose, slightly adnate, pale tan; s. short, solid, incurved; sp. - × . µ. =pezizoides=, nees. p. - mm. sessile, thin, cup-shaped then recurved, mealy, subtomentose, whitish; g. radiating from the centre, rather distant, brownish-olive then tawny. =luteolus=, lamb. p. thin, stipitate at first then resupinate and stem disappearing, tomentose, clear yellow then pale; g. crowded, orange-yellow then cinnamon; sp. rusty. =ralfsii=, b. and br. p. - cm. convex, edge incurved, delicately hispid or scurfy, yellow, fixed by cottony mycelium, stem obsolete; g. rather broad, ventricose, pale tan, edge whitish; sp. ----. =parisotii=, pat. minute. p. sessile, minutely velvety, bright citrin, stem almost obsolete, white, downy, edge incurved; g. very distant, reddish; sp. - × . only appears to differ from _c. luteolus_ in being somewhat smaller. [=subintiger=, schulz. p. thin, cylindrical then cyphelliform, fixed by centre, orbicular-reniform, whitish, slightly tomentose; g. radiating from centre, free, distant, ventricose, yellowish brown, edge wavy and fimbriate; sp. - long. [=pallescens=, q. p. umbil. downy, yellowish white; g. adnate, white then pallid; s. short incurved, downy, white; sp. long. [=scutellinus=, q. p. convexo-plane, vertex minutely mucronate, pellucid, rivulosely striate, whitish then ochre; s. filiform, arcuate, short, downy, colour of p.; g. narrow, adnate, denticulate, white then pale ochre; sp. long. [=cesatii=, rab. p. sessile, resupinate, rather tough, soft, whitish or pallid gilvous; g. broad, pallid; sp. pale yellow; sp. - × - . habit of _claudopus variabilis_, but p. not tomentose, g. not reddish, and pale sp. [=proboscideus=, fr. p. resupinate, campan. vertex prominent, pedunculate, even, pubescent, ochraceous; g. radiating from an excentric point, thin, straight, colour of p. must be carefully distinguished from _pax. panuoides_. =epigaeus=, pers. p. - cm. thin, reniform or flabellate, reddish-grey, base downy, whitish; g. distinct, narrow, diverging, watery rufescent; sp. × . entire fungus soft and watery; growing on naked damp earth. melanosporae. a. _gills free from stem._ =chitonia=. volva present, ring absent. =agaricus=. (= _psalliota_, fr.) ring present, volva absent. =pilosace=. volva and ring both absent. b. _gills attached to stem._ (quite free from stem in some species of _coprinus_.) + _stem with a distinct membranous ring._ =stropharia=. gills adnate dark brown or purplish. =anellaria=. gills adnexed, grey and clouded with the black spores. ++ _ring very imperfect or absent; gills decurrent._ =gomphidius=. gills subgelatinous. +++ _gills not decurrent, not adhering laterally when young, not deliquescent._ =hypholoma=. gills sinuate, dark brown or blackish-purple; veil often hanging in fragments from edge of pileus. =panaeolus=. edge of pileus extending beyond the gills, pileus not striate. =psathyrella=. pileus sulcate or striate. =psathyra=. stem fragile; edge of pileus straight when young. =psilocybe=. stem tough; edge of pileus incurved when young. ++++ _gills adhering laterally when young, deliquescing at maturity._ =coprinus=. ring and volva present in some species, ring alone others, both absent in others; gills adnate, adnexed or free. +++++ _flesh of pileus entirely absent, the gills radiating from the stem free and unconnected by flesh above._ =montagnites=. volva present, buried in the ground. chitonia, fr. =rubriceps=, cke. and mass. p. - cm. campan. then exp. umb. reddish-brown; g. free, purplish-brown; s. - cm. hollow, paler than p., volva large, free edge torn; sp. × . introduced along with living plants into kew gardens. [=coprinus=, fr. (= _ag. involucratus_, mont.) p. fleshy, convex, viscid, yellowish, sometimes floccosely scaly from fragments of volva; g. free, smoky-black; s. fistulose, naked, whitish, volva very small. unless the small volva is noticed, this fungus will be considered as a sp. of _coprinus_. agaricus, l. a. edules. _large, fleshy._ =augustus=, fr. p. - cm. globose then exp. very obtuse, disc even, rest fibrillosely-scaly, pale yellow-brown; g. crowded, narrow, fuscous, remote from stem; s. - cm. solid, ring superior, large, areolately squamulose below; sp. × . . edible. =peronatus=, mass. p. hemispher. then exp. dull ochre, densely scaly; g. distant from stem, crowded, purple-brown; s. - cm. equal, marginately bulbous, hollow, with large spreading white scales up to broad spreading ring; sp. × . edible. differs from _a. augustus_ in hollow, peronate stem. =elvensis=, b. and br. p. - cm. subglobose then exp. fibrillose, broken up into large persistent brown scales, edge warted; g. crowded; s. - cm. narrowed at base, fibrillose, ring large, thick, warted below; sp. × . edible. [=praenitens=, beck. p. hemispher. exp. white, with densely imbricated chestnut scales which become smaller and denser at disc; g. remote, purple-brown, edge white; s. clavato-bulbous, concentrically scaly up to large ring, white; sp. - × . =arvensis=, schaeff. p. - cm. conico-campan. then exp. smooth, even, white often stained yellow, flesh white, unchangeable; g. close to stem, narrow; s. - cm. hollow, whitish, floccosely stuffed, ring pendulous, double, exterior radiately split; sp. × . ( - × sacc.) edible. var. _purpurascens_, cke. smaller than type. p. tinged purple. differs from _ag. xanthodermus_ in the persistently white flesh. =xanthodermus=, genev. (= _ag. flavescens_, roze.) p. - cm. fleshy, convex, even, glabrous, greyish-white, cuticle becoming yellowish when touched, and the white flesh changing to yellow when broken; g. free, sinuate, pale rose then grey, finally purple-brown; s. cylindrical, stuffed, ring thin, flesh deep yellow at base, rest white; sp. ----. differs from _a. arvensis_ in flesh becoming yellow, and in yellow base of stem. [=ammophilus=, ménier. p. convex, exp. thick, whitish; g. free, crowded, rosy; s. stout, solid, base more or less thickened, whitish, ring membranous, strongly adherent to apex of s. slightly striate, with a circular canal; sp. - . × - . =cretaceus=, fr. p. - cm. globose then convex, shining white, at first smooth and silky, then fibrillosely squamulose; g. for a long time white, then blackish-brown; s. - cm. white, hollow, ring large, superior, fixed; sp. × . edible. =pratensis=, schaeff. p. - cm. ovoid then exp. even or squamulose, greyish-white; g. rounded behind, grey then brown; s. - cm. stuffed, base thickened, naked, ring median, simple, deciduous; sp. × . . var. _fulveolus_, lasch. p. squamuloso-fibrillose, yellowish or reddish; s. hollow, yellowish; g. tawny-denticulate. [=bernardii=, q. compact, white, tomentose under a lens. p. - cm. convex then exp. cracked into areolae, greyish-white; s. solid, stout, ovate, striate at the apex, ring membranous, striate above; g. free, greyish-pink then bay-brown; flesh white, becoming purplish then brownish when broken; sp. subgl. . foetid. edible. =campestris=, l. - cm. convex then plane, floccosely silky or fibrillose, whitish, flesh reddish-brown when cut; g. close to stem, subliquescent, fleshy then umber; s. stuffed, even, white, ring median, torn; sp. - × - . edible. var. _alba_, berk. p. rather silky white; s. short. var. _praticola_, vitt. p. with rufous scales, flesh reddish. var. _rufescens_, berk. p. rufous, minutely scaly; s. elongated. var. _umbrina_, vitt. p. even, umber; s. stout, squamulose. var. _fulvaster_, viv. p. even, ochraceous-tawny; s. solid; g. rosy then blackish. var. _villaticus_, brond. p. cortex breaking up into scales; s. peronately scaly up to inf. ring. var. _silvicola_, vitt. p. almost smooth, white, shining; s. stuffed, elongated, subbulbous, ring simple, flesh not changing colour. var. _robustissimus_, pen. p. equal, large, cm.; g. very broad, up to cm.; s. tall, cm. high, cm. thick. var. _exsertus_, viv. p. fleshy, almost even, glabrous, white, flesh red; s. hollow, slender, rather wavy, smooth ring small and torn, appendiculate. var. _hortensis_, cke. p. fibrillose or squamulose, brownish. the variety commonly cultivated in england. var. _costatus_, viv. p. sulcate, wavy. var. _vaporarius_, otto. p. and s. with a brown pilose covering. var. _exannulatus_, cke. p. squamulose; s. elongated, equal, solid, ring evanescent or obsolete. =perrera=, schulz. (= _psal. bresadolae_, schulz.) p. - cm. hemispher. then exp. yellowish, centre tawny, covered with concentrically arranged tawny scales; g. remote, crowded, joined in a ring behind, rosy then fuscous; s. equal, - cm. stuffed then hollow, base submarginately bulbous, with evanescent tawny scales below the large superior ring; sp. - × . [=bitorquis=, q. p. - cm. globose then exp. almost glabrous, milk-white then cream or ochre at the edge; g. remote from s. becoming deep brown; s. solid, ovoid, glabrous, white, with a membranous ring near the apex and a volva-like ring near the base, separated by a concave notch; sp. - long. edible. [=flavescens=, gillet. p. globose then convex, dry, satiny, white, soon tinged yellow or reddish-yellow; g. broad, brown; stem with a turbinate bulb, white, suffused with reddish-yellow; flesh white, ring fugacious; sp. × . =silvaticus=, schaeff. p. - cm. thin, campan. then exp. gibbous, fibrillose or squamulose, centre brownish becoming paler at edge; g. crowded, dry; s. - cm. hollow, equal, whitish, ring simple, distant; sp. × . =haemorrhoidarius=, kalchbr. p. - cm. ovate then exp. rufous-brown, covered with broad adpressed scales, edge at first incurved, flesh deep red when broken; g. crowded, purple-umber; s. - cm. white, soon hollow, fibrillose base solid, subbulbous, stains red when bruised, ring superior, large; sp. - × . edible. [=sanguinarius=, karst. flesh blood-red when broken. p. campan. exp. obtuse, usually wavy, even, pale fuscous, broken up into squamules; g. free, crowded, white, rosy-umber; s. elongated, subequal, curved, silky-flocculose then almost glabrous, white, ring superior, pendulous, fixed, persistent, areolately-scaly outside near edge; sp. - × - . [=niveorubens=, q. floccose, shining white, everywhere becoming red. quélet now considers this to be a form of _ag. sylvatica_, schaeff., to which sp. he also refers _ag. setigera_, paul., _ag. haemorrhoidaria_, kalchb., _ag. rubella_, gill., and _ag. vaillantii_, roze and rich. =setiger=, fr. p. exp. obtuse, smooth and silky, pale umber; g. umber; s. stuffed, elongated, equal, squamuloso-fibrillose, colour of p., ring thin, fugacious. [=rubellus=, gillet. p. exp. obtusely umb. with reddish scales, especially at the disc, which is deep red-brown, paler towards edge; g. crowded; s. hollow, cartilaginous, base swollen; ring fugacious; flesh white. [=lecensis=, harz. smells like aniseed. p. convex then almost plane, yellowish-white, often broken up into brown polygonal pyramidal patches; g. white, rosy-violet, then brown, both ends narrowed; s. solid, coarsely scaly above, white becoming tinted rosy or yellow; ring conspicuous, radiately striate, outside scaly; sp. - × . - . [=caldarius=, wettst. p. convex then exp. white, disc even, brownish squamulose towards edge; g. remote, narrow; s. glabrous, whitish; sp. - × - . b. minores. _flesh of pileus thin._ =comptulus=. p. - cm. convexo-plane, adpressedly silky, white; g. flesh-colour then rosy; s. - cm. hollow, yellowish-white, ring median; sp. - × - . =sagatus=, fr. p. - cm. convexo-plane, tawny, glabrous; g. ventricose, umber; s. - cm. hollow, equal, pale, ring distant, spreading; sp. × - . [=amethystinus=, q. p. - cm. convex then plane, umb. downy or fibrillose, white with the centre rose, lilac or amethyst; g. free, ventricose, clear grey then bay-brown; s. slender, with a silky pith, somewhat bulbous, fragile, glabrous, white, with a satiny, white ring; sp. - long. [=semotus=, fr. p. exp. even, glabrous, brick-red, disc darker; g. rather distant from stem, pallid; s. fistulose, reddish and more or less peronate up to spreading ring, pale above; sp. - × - . [=dulcidulus=, kalchbr. p. plane, subgibbous, almost glabrous, dry, lurid white or ochre; g. crowded, grey then blackish; s. subbulbous, colour of p., ring median, persistent. umbo often tinged fuscous or violet. =rusiophyllus=, lasch. p. - cm. soon plane, umbonate, silky, ruddy, becoming pale; g. crowded, rosy then brown; s. - cm. thickened downwards, white, ring persistent; sp. × . [=zonarius=, brond. p. cm. convex, with pellucid brown-violet zones; g. free, rosy then bay-bistre; s. solid, elongated, ring membranous, white. [=geniculatus=, brig. p. campan. exp. tumid, glabrous, pale bay, edge split here and there; g. free, remote from stem; s. bent, base thickened, ring inf. remarkable in this genus for growing on wood. [=haematospermus=, bull. p. campan. then exp. then umb. and scaly, brownish tan then blackish; g. rosy-blood-red then fuscous; s. fistulose, equal, glabrous, colour of p., ring median, erect; sp. - × . =subgibbosus=, fr. p. - cm. convexo-plane, umb. even, glabrous but silky towards edge, yellowish; g. remote from stem, white then greyish-fuscous; s. - cm. fistulose, slender, ring fugacious. pilosace, fr. =algeriensis=, fr. p. - cm. convex then exp. even, glabrous, white then disc tinged brownish; flesh very thick, white; g. very narrow, rosy then umber; s. - cm. very stout, white, base thickened, solid; sp. subgl. µ. [=bresadolae=, schulz. p. very thin and very fragile, irreg. campan. then exp. and edge wavy, margin split, pale yellow-fuscous, glabrous, even; g. free, blackish-brown, edge white-mealy; s. often slightly wavy, apex abruptly contracted, white; sp. × - . many plants spring from a subterranean fleshy mass. [=phoenix=, fr. p. thin, campan. exp. even, glabrous, hygr. fuscous then pale; g. free, ventricose, pallid then umber; s. stuffed, striate, subbulbous, rooting, pallid. stropharia, fr. a. viscipelles. _pellicle of pileus even or scaly, often viscid._ * mundi. _not growing on dung._ [=depilata=, pers. p. exp. even, glabrous, viscid, yellowish-livid then tan; g. adnato-decur. broad, white then blackish; s. solid, with white revolute squarrose white scales below the ample ring; sp. - × - . =percevali=, b. and br. p. - cm. rather viscid, umb. then exp. ochre, scaly at first near edge; g. adnexed, broad distant; s. - cm. squamulose up to ring, dark inside; sp. - × . _s. squamosa_ differs in adnate, crowded g. =versicolor=, with. p. - cm. convexo-plane, scaly, edge incurved; g. decur. pallid then reddish-brown; s. cm. whitish then brownish, ring persistent. a species about which little is known. =aeruginosa=, curt. p. - cm. convex then exp. subumb. or quite plane, at first with bluish-green mucus and sometimes with white squamules, then yellowish; g. adnate, purplish; s. - cm. viscid, squamulose below ring, tinged green, often quite glabrous; sp. × . very variable within certain limits. often stout and deep coloured in shady woods. slender and soon dry in open pastures. =squamulosa=, massee (= _s. aeruginosa_; var. _squamulosa_, mass.). p. - cm. soon plane, deep verdigris-green, dry, squamulose; g. crowded, brown; s. - cm. stout, fibrilloso-squamulose, green, ring fragmentary; sp. - × . superficially like _s. aeruginosa_, but dry and silky, innately squamulose, and brown g. =albocyanea=, desm. . - cm. exp. umb. viscid, greenish-blue then whitish; g. purplish; s. - cm. slender, flexuous, pallid or tinged green, ring incomplete; sp. - × - . differs from _s. worthingtoni_ in greenish p. [=tavastense=, karst. p. convex then flat, disc often depr. sometimes umb. glabrous, with concentric yellowish-white squamules near edge, yellowish livid then dingy tawny tan; g. adnexed, crowded; s. straight, fragile, almost equal, solid, pale then fuscescent, ring torn, fugacious. [=consentiens=, karst. p. convex, exp. umb. then depr. even, glabrous, rather viscid, yellowish-livid, tinged olive, edge involute; g. adnate, paler than p.; s. subequal, stuffed, wavy, apex pruinose, yellowish rusty. [=coprinifacies=, roll. p. hygr. conico-campan. then exp. viscid, umber brown then pallid, with blue mucus; g. ventricose, both ends narrowed, dusky purple, edge white; s. dingy white tinged blue, ring median; sp. × . =inuncta=, fr. p. - cm. exp. subumb. with livid purple gluten that disappears, then pale; g. adnate, pale brown; s. - cm. flexuous, white, fibrillose below distant imperfect ring; sp. × . =coronilla=, bull. p. - cm. plane, tawny-ochre then pale, edge white flocculose; g. sinuato-adnate, violet, edge white; s. - cm. white, ring median, violet-striate; sp. × . =ventricosa=, mass. p. . - cm. exp. broadly gibbous, slightly viscid, tawny-ochre then paler; g. almost free, purplish; s. - cm. ventricose below middle, base rooting, pale, ring large, striate, apical; sp. × . [=fusoidea=, pat. p. - . cm. campan. then exp. and umb. edge striate, ochre; g. adnate, purplish; s. elongated, slender, smooth, strongly ventricose near the base, whitish, ring distant; sp. - × - . differs from _s. ventricosa_ in being smaller, and in the small, distant ring. =obturata=, fr. p. - cm. exp. becoming cracked into squamules, almost dry, yellow; g. adnate, purplish-umber; s. - cm. stuffed, short, narrowed downwards, white, ring tumid; sp. × . [=capillacea=, gillet. p. conico-campan. very finely wrinkled, reddish brown with whitish flecks near margin more especially; g. blackish brown, edge toothed; s. whitish, squamulose, ring fugacious. =melasperma=, bull. p. - cm. convexo-plane, rather viscid, white or yellowish; g. ventricose, blackish violet; s. - cm. hollow, equal, white, ring superior, deciduous; sp. × . =squamosa=, fr. p. - cm. exp. subviscid, yellowish-tan with evanescent concentric scales; g. adnate, blackish, edge white; s. - cm. pallid, rusty near base, squamulose up to distant ring; sp. × . var. _thrausta_ (_ag. thrausta_, kalchbr.). slender, fragile, hygr. not scaly; sp. - × . var. _aurantiaca_, cke. p. orange or brick-red. [=albonitens=, fr. p. thin, exp. gibbous, viscid, glabrous, hyaline-white, shining white when dry; g. adnate, crowded, pale fuscous; s. stuffed with pith, everywhere floccosely villose, pale straw when dry; sp. - × - . =worthingtoni=, fr. p. - cm. campan. viscid, yellow; g. adnate, broad, brown; s. - cm. slender, flexuous, dark blue, ring incomplete; sp. × . differs from _s. albocyanea_ in the yellow p. [=palustris=, q. p. hemispher. umb. rather viscid, hygr. greyish-tawny, disc brown; g. adnate, very broad; s. slender, white, covered with transverse tawny scales, ring distant. ** merdarii. _ring often incomplete._ =luteonitens=, fl. dan. p. - cm. conico-campan. umb. viscid, yellow, edge squamulose; g. adnexed, ventricose; s. - cm. fistulose, even, pruinose above distant ring, whitish; sp. - × . ( × - sacc.) intermediate between _s. squamosa_ and _psilocybe coprophila_, having scaly p. and ring of former, and stature of latter. =merdaria=, fr. p. . - . cm. exp. obtuse, glabrous, moist, hygr. dingy yellow-brown or pale bay; g. adnate, broad; s. - cm. flocculose, dry, pallid, ring fugacious; sp. × . ( - × - sacc.) [=mammilata=, kalchbr. p. thin, exp. conico-papillate, even, viscid, pale ochre; g. rotundato-adnate, blackish brown; s. glabrous, white then yellowish, ring fugacious. =stercoraria=, fr. p. - cm. hemispher. then discoid, rather viscid, glabrous, yellow; g. adnate, broad, olive-black; s. - cm. stuffed with free pith, elongated, flocculose below the distant ring, rather viscid, white tinged yellow; sp. - × - . =semiglobata=, batsch. p. - cm. persistently hemispher. even, glutinous, yellow; g. adnate, broad, clouded black; s. - cm. glabrous, glutinous, yellowish, ring imperfect, inferior; sp. × . differs from _p. stercoraria_ in persistently hemispher. p. and glabrous s. [=siccipes=, karst. p. hemispher. exp. obtuse, orbicular, naked, even or edge slightly pellucidly striate, viscid, whitish clay-colour; g. adnato-subdecur. clay-colour then fuscous and clouded; s. pallid, dry, straight or wavy, flocculose, pruinose above the distant, dry ring; sp. - × - . intermediate between _s. stercoraria_ and _s. semiglobata_. [=paradoxa=, p. henn. p. campan. papillately umb. viscid, centre brown, edge broadly revolute, even, glabrous; g. adnato-decur. wavy, veined, dusky brown; s. wavy, striate, fibrous, yellow, base white-downy, ring black, floccose, deciduous; sp. - × - . b. spintrigeri. _pileus without a pellicle, but innately fibrous, not viscid._ [=calceata=, schaeff. p. exp. adpressedly fibrillose, moist, stoutly umb. even, dingy yellow then pale; g. nearly free; s. solid, glabrous, white, base marginately bulbous, limb free like a volva. [=ocreata=, holmsk. p. globoso-campan.-exp. obtuse, granulose then imbricately scaly, red then gilvous; g. nearly free; s. peronate up to imperfect ring. [=medusa=, brig. p. globose then convex, even, subrimosely squamulose when dry, yellowish white, edge lobed; g. nearly free, sooty, edge crenulate; s. solid, subtuberous, fibrillose, white, ring fugacious. =caput-medusae=, fr. p. - cm. ovate, exp. lacunose, squamulose, discoid, umber-brown, edge ochre; g. adfixed; s. - cm. peronate with squarrose scales up to superior ring, scales at length falling away; sp. × . ( - × sacc.) =scobinacea=, fr. p. - cm. exp. gibbous, somewhat sulcate, at first covered with crowded, blackish adpressed squamules; g. adnate, crenulate, purplish; s. - cm. hollow, fibrillose, white, apex mealy, ring superior, fugacious; sp. ----. [=sulcata=, gill. p. conico-campan. umb. covered except at summit with branched ridges, reddish; g. distant; s. white, striate below and mealy above the ring. [=sulcatula=, gill. p. convex, rugosely ridged, when young with reddish superficial scales, then naked and whitish or tinged red at disc; sooty-brown, edge whitish, denticulate; s. elongated, squamulose up to ring, striate above, white, base rooting very cottony. [=cotonea=, q. at first entirely white. p. - cm. spherical then convex, snow-white, covered with floccose squamules; g. sinuate, white, then purple, at length brownish-purple, edge white; s. - cm. fistulose, curved, floccosely scaly, apex glabrous, ring floccose; sp. long. quélet considers this species to be identical with _hyph. lacrymabundum_, fries. =battarrae=, fr. p. hemispher. then exp., more or less olive, covered with adpressed squamules most crowded at the disc; g. sinuate, white then rosy, finally purple-brown, edge white; s. fistulose, whitish, with brownish or olive squamules up to ring, apex pruinose, ring thin, white, partly appendiculate; sp. long. [=punctulata=, kalchbr. p. thin, convex, dry, pallid, squamulosely punctate from the veil, then naked; g. sinuato-adnate with a decur. tooth, pale umber; s. stuffed, pallid, squamulose from the veil above. =jerdoni=, b. and br. p. - cm. exp. umbo fleshy, broad, ochraceous with snow-white evanescent flecks; g. adnate with a decur. line, transversely striate; s. - cm. snow-white and pulverulent above, brownish squamulose below, ring superior; sp. × . =spintrigera=, fr. p. - cm. ovate then exp. obtuse, even, glabrous, brownish or pinkish tan then pale; g. adnate, crowded; s. - cm. hollow, floccosely-fibrillose, white, ring distant, fugacious; sp. ----. =hypsipoda=, fr. p. - cm. convexo-plane, even, glabrous, hygr. brownish yellow; g. white then fuscous; s. - cm. hollow, equal, glabrous, whitish, ring median, persistent; sp. - × - . =cothurnata=, fr. p. exp. obtuse, even, thin, white, not hygr.; g. adnexed, crowded; s. floccosely villose up to median ring, white. anellaria, karst. =separata=, karst. p. - cm. campan. obtuse, not exp. viscid, dull ochre then pale and often rugulose; g. adfixed, greyish black; s. - cm. straight, white, base thickened, ring distant; sp. × . ( - × - sacc.) =scitula=, mass. p. - . cm. campan. obtuse, smooth, viscid, drab or dingy ochre; g. almost free, grey; s. - cm. peronate up to inferior ring; sp. - × . =fimiputris=, karst. p. . - cm. conico-exp. thin, subgibbous, viscid, dusky grey; paler when dry; g. adfixed, livid blackish; s. - cm. pallid, slender, equal, pallid, with ring reduced to a zone; sp. - × . gomphidius, fr. =glutinosus=, schaeff. p. - cm. obtuse, glutinous, purplish-brown; g. slightly decur. whitish then grey; s. - cm. whitish, ring indistinct, solid, flesh white, yellow at base; sp. - × - . var. _roseus_, fr. smaller. p. rosy; s. white, base rosy outside and inside. =viscidus=, sow. p. - cm. fleshy, at length umb. edge acute, viscid, reddish-brown; g. decur. purple-umber, branched; s. - cm. yellow-brown, flesh yellow-brown, deepest at base; sp. - × . var. _testaceus_, fr. p. and base of s. outside and in brick-red; g. plano-decur. =maculatus=, scop. p. - cm. convex, viscid, whitish, spotted with black when old; g. decur. branched, umber; s. - cm. cylindrical, yellow, flesh reddish. var. _cookei_, mass. p. - cm. convex then either subdepr. or gibbous, viscid, whitish with black stains; g. decur. whitish then brownish; s. cm. narrowed downwards, pale then blackish, flesh dark at base; sp. × - . =gracilis=, b. p. - cm. conical then hemispher. sometimes depr. and subumb. vinous brown, or tan with gluten that leaves blackish spots; g. decur. whitish then bistre; s. - cm. flexuous, pallid, base yellow; sp. - × . hypholoma, fr. * fasciculares. _pileus tough, glabrous, bright coloured when dry, not hygr._ =silaceum=, pers. p. - cm. convex, orange-rufous, edge whitish and silky; g. adnate, grey then olive; s. - cm. bulbous, shining; sp. ----. fries says it is solitary, secretan says caespitose from a common base. =sublateritium=, schaeff. p. - cm. convexo-plane, discoid, dry, becoming glabrous, orange brick-red, edge pale, flesh compact, whitish; g. adnate, white then smoky olive; s. - cm. fibrillose, rusty; sp. × . var. _schaefferi_, fr. p. yellow; s. hollow, equal. var. _squamosa_, fr. p. brick-red, edge yellow with superficial scales, flesh thick, yellowish. [=transversum=, gill. p. exp. obtusely umb. glabrous, brick-red, disc darker; g. yellowish, narrowed at both ends, connected by strong veins; s. solid, glabrous, pale above, base rusty. =capnoides=, fr. p. - cm. convexo-plane, obtuse, very glabrous, yellow or tinged tawny; g. adnate, grey then purplish; s. - cm. pallid, slightly silky; sp. × . =epixanthum=, fr. p. - cm. exp. subgibbous, silky then glabrous, pale yellow, disc often tawny, flesh yellow; g. yellowish white then grey; s. - cm. floccosely fibrillose, whitish, apex mealy; sp. × . =elaeodes=, fr. p. - cm. exp. subumb. dry, glabrous, brick-red, flesh yellow; g. green then pure olive; s. - cm. fibrillose, rusty; sp. - × - . =fasciculare=, huds. fasciculate, taste bitter. p. - cm. exp. subumb. tawny, edge pale; g. adnate, closely crowded, yellow then greenish, subliquescent; s. - cm. hollow, fibrillose, flesh like that of p. yellow; sp. × . said to be a parasite on the roots of raspberry. =instratum=, britz. p. - cm. convex, broadly umb. dark brown, radially rugose; g. adnate; s. - cm. squamulose and brownish downwards; sp. × . [=aelopodium=, fr. p. fleshy, convex then plane, obtuse, glabrous, rufescent; g. adnate, yellowish then brownish-olive; s. fistulose with a free tube inside, variegated with minute red squamules. =dispersum=, fr. p. . - . cm. p. fleshy, exp. obtuse, tawny, honey-colour near the edge and silky; s. - cm. tough, silky-fibrillose, base brownish; g. subventricose, crowded, then clouded; sp. × - . ( × sacc.) [=irroratum=, karst. p. convex, plane, gibbous, even, tawny honey-colour, edge silky pruinose; g. adnate, crowded, edge dentate, straw-colour then darker and tinged green; s. tough, fibrillosely-silky, pallid, equal, wavy below and with dense rusty down, rooting; sp. - × . smell and taste very sour. differs from _h. dispersum_ in stem and silky silvery edge of p. ** viscidi. _pileus naked, viscid._ [=gilletii=, alex. p. exp. glutinous, rusty or ochre, edge lilac; g. adnate, reddish-violet; s. solid, curved, strigosely-squamose, colour of p. =incomptum=, mass. p. - cm. campan. then exp. broadly umb. viscid when moist, deep bay-brown, tawny-orange when dry, edge wavy; g. olive clouded purple; s. - cm. rusty squamulose; sp. × . . =oedipus=, cke. p. . - . cm. hemispher. edge ragged, glutinous, umber edge paler; g. adnate; s. - cm. enlarged downwards to the bulbous base, ring median; sp. ----. [=buxbaumii=, weinm. p. exp. even, glabrous, viscid, yellowish-white; g. adnate, greyish-black; s. solid, long, equal, shining-white; sp. ----. [=prescotii=, weinm. p. exp. glabrous, viscid, rufescent; g. adnate, crowded, grey then fuscous-violet; s. stuffed, equal, elastic, white, with pale rufescent squamules. *** velutini. _pileus innately fibrillose, silky or virgate._ =storea=, fr. p. - cm. convexo-plane, umb. dry, fibrillose with longitudinal fibrils, pale fuscous then pallid; g. adnate, dry, edge white-serrulate; s. - cm. solid, pallid; sp. ----. =lacrymabundum=, fr. p. - cm. convex, obtuse, piloso-squamose, scales innate darker, whitish then darker; g. adnate, crowded, brownish-purple; s. hollow, fibrillosely-squamulose, whitish, flesh whitish; sp. × - . var. _hypoxanthum_ (= _ag. hypoxanthus_, phil. and plow.). base of s. and mycelium yellow; sp. - × . quélet considers this species to be identical with his _stroph. cotonea_. =pyrotrichum=, holmsk. p. - cm. hemispher. densely covered with tawny-red squamules of fasciculate hairs; flesh and veil tawny; g. adnate; s. - cm. fibrillose, tawny; sp. × . var. _egregius_, mass. s. with spreading whitish squamules largest near ring. =velutinum=, pers. p. - cm. campan. then exp. at length obtusely umb. hygr. at first tomentose with adpr. fibrils then glabrous, livid then paler, flesh very thin; g. seceding, brownish-bay, spotted black; s. hollow, silky, pallid; sp. - × - . var. _leiocephalum_, b. and br. smaller; disc rugged, smooth except margin. quélet considers this species to represent the true _ag. lachrymabundus_ of bulliard, tab. . [=melantinum=, fr. p. campan. then exp. umber then pale, variegated with black innate pilose squamules; g. adnexed, ventricose, pale umber; s. fistulose, pallid, fibrillosely hispid; sp. - × - . [=lepidotum=, bres. p. convex, exp. subgibbous, chestnut, centre fuscous, with black fibrils which are here and there compacted into squamules, densely striate; g. crowded, almost free, purple-brown, edge fimbriate, white; s. white, apex white-scurfy, veil evanescent; sp. - × - . **** floccolusi. _pileus with superficial, floccose scales which fall away._ =cascum=, fr. p. - cm. oval then exp. rugulose, becoming glabrous, greyish ochre then pale; g. ventricose, dry, very broad, grey then blackish brown; s. - cm. hollow, fibrillose, white; sp. ----. [=sylvestre=, gill. p. conical then exp. obtuse, white at first, soon covered with large, adpressed brown or blackish, fibrillose scales, margin appendiculate at first; g. crowded; s. cylindrical, wavy, white. =punctulatum=, kalchbr. caespitose. p. - cm. convex, edge incurved, pallid, minutely squamulose; g. sinuato-adnate; s. - cm. squamuloso-fibrillose up to ring; sp. ----. [=coriarium=, vitt. p. convex then depr. discoid, floccosely scaly then almost glabrous, clay-colour, disc darker; g. pinkish then ochre; s. hollow, clavate, apex dilated. [=intonsum=, pass. p. flocculosely tomentose, veil membranaceous, appendiculate spreading; g. adnate, rosy then bay, edge white crenulate; s. hollow, white, striate, apex flocculose. [=artemisiae=, passer. p. thin, exp. flocculose, edge incurved, white veil evident; g. adnate, crowded, white then fuscescent, edge white, entire; s. thick, white, apex narrowed and striate, base floccose. ***** appendiculati. _pileus glabrous, hygrophanous._ =lanaripes=, cke. p. - cm. exp. edge upturned, centre conical, pallid, squamose, veil attached to margin; g. adnexed; s. - cm. fibrillose, white; sp. ----. [=coronatum=, fr. p. exp. obtuse, glabrous, subisabelline centre darker and variegated with darker spots, edge with tooth-like fragments of veil; g. adnate, closely crowded, very narrow; s. glabrous, even, white. =candolleanum=, fr. p. - cm. campan. then exp. bay then whitish, apex tinged ochre, pruinose; g. sinuate, lilac then purple-brown, edge white; s. - cm. fistulose, slender, fibrillose, apex striate, veil membranous, forming a ring or appendiculate, white; sp. - × - . differs from _h. appendiculatum_ in the gills being lilac or violet when young. [=violaceo-atrum=, letell. caespitose. p. conical then exp. umb. dusky violet; g. brownish violet; s. fistulose, even, whitish. =appendiculatum=, bull. p. - cm. ovate then exp. bay then whitish, rugulose, and atomate; g. white then fleshy brown; s. - cm. glabrous, white; sp. × . . ( - × - sacc.) differs from _h. candolleanum_ by absence of violet in gills when young. =hydrophilum=, bull. (_bolbitius_, fr.). tufted. p. - cm. convex then exp. often rather wavy and rugulose, glabrous, bay then ochre; g. adnexed, crowded, with beads of moisture, fuscous-cinnamon; s. - cm. pallid; sp. × , rusty cinnamon. differs from _psil. spadicea_ in the rusty cinnamon gills and spores. [=sublentum=, karst. p. tough, campan.-convex, exp. obtuse, wavy, rugulose towards the edge which is silky from veil, glabrous, hygr. smoky rufous or brown then pale; g. adnate, purplish brown, edge white, flocculosely crenate; s. fibrous, hollow, white, veil append.; sp. - × - . [=subpapillatum=, karst. caespitose. p. exp. wavy, glabrous, rough with minute crowded warts, bay or rufous-cinnamon then pale ochre and wrinkled; g. dry; s. equal, silky-shining, apex striate and pruinose, becoming pale; sp. × . - . differs from _hypholoma appendiculatum_ in granulose p. =catarium=, fr. p. . - cm. hemispher. exp. ochraceous then pale; g. adnate, white then fuscous; s. - cm. white, rather shining, base thickened and white-floccose; sp. × . =leucotephrum=, b. and br. tufted. p. - cm. campan. exp. whitish, rugose, append.; g. grey then blackish; s. - cm. apex coarsely striate, ring ample; sp. × . [=felinum=, pass. p. hemispher. exp. glabrous, hygr.; g. adnate, white, then fuscous; s. fistulose, short, slender, somewhat shining, base thickened and white floccose, apex striate. =egenulum=, b. and br. solitary. p. - cm. exp. umb. watery white, smooth, edge appendiculate; g. purplish umber, edge white; s. - cm. fistulose; sp. ----. =pilulaeforme=, bull. p. . - cm. globose then exp. even, fuscous then ochre; g. white then brownish; s. - cm. white, at first with a ring; sp. ----. panaeolus, fr. * _pileus viscid, shining when dry._ =leucophanes=, b. and br. p. cm. campan. obtuse, whitish, satiny, edge with fragments of veil; g. adnate, edge white; s. - cm. white, slightly wavy; sp. - × - . =egregius=, mass. p. - cm. ovate-campan. even, orange-brown; g. adnexed, broad, edge paler; s. - cm. pale brown; sp. - × - . =phalenarum=, fr. p. - cm. campan.-convex, obtuse, greyish then yellowish, veil append.; g. broad, greyish then black; s. - cm. equal, pruinose, pale rufescent; sp. × . differs from _p. papilionaceus_ in viscid p. ** _pileus not viscid, moist, subflocculose when dry._ =retirugis=, fr. p. - cm. globose then hemisph. subumb. pinkish tan, atomate, opaque, with anastomosing raised ribs; g. greyish black; s. - cm. equal, pruinose, purplish; sp. - × . ( - × - sacc.) margin often appendiculate. [=remotus=, schaeff. p. campan.-convex, subumb. flocculosely-rugulose when dry, smoky-tawny; g. free, at length remote, ventricose, black; s. fistulose, slender, fuscescent; sp. - × - . =sphinctrinus=, fr. p. . - cm. parabolic, obtuse, even, moist, grey or smoky-black, livid and rather silky when dry, veil append.; g. adnate, grey or olive then blackish with a very narrow white edge; s. - cm. sooty grey, apex even; sp. - × - . *** _pileus not viscid, smooth, rather polished, zoneless._ =campanulatus=, l. p. - cm. campan. slightly viscid, sooty grey, paler and the cuticle often cracking or peeling when dry; g. adfixed, crowded, grey spotted with black, often with beads of moisture; s. fistulose, rufescent or reddish-grey, everywhere pruinose, summit striate; sp. - × . ( - × - , sacc.) =papilionaceus=, fr. p. - cm. hemispher. pruinose, greyish, cracked into squamules when dry; g. broadly adnate, very broad, grey spotted with black; s. - cm. whitish, apex with white meal; sp. - × . ( long, quélet.) [=subfirmus=, karst. p. convex then plane, centre subdepr. but also subumb. even, glabrous, shining, disc subrugulose, dry, pale, smoky line often present near edge; g. adnexed with decur. tooth, lanceolate, black; s. wavy, glabrous, pale, apex flocculosely scaly; sp. - × - . =caliginosus=, jungh. p. cm. campan. obtuse, even, brown; g. adnexed, lanceolate; s. - cm. equal, even, naked, colour of p.; sp. × - . ( - × sacc.) [=quéletii=, schulz. solitary, hygr. p. conical, even, pale umber disc fuscescent; g. free, ventricose, blackish, edge white; s. straight, thinner upwards, tinged reddish; sp. - long. **** _pileus dry, with a dark marginal zone._ =subbalteatus=, b. and br. caespitose. p. - cm. convex, hygr. fawn-colour, rugose when dry; g. adnate, edge white, serrulate; s. - cm. red-brown, fibrous, white-fibrillose; sp. - × - . =acuminatus=, fr. p. conico-campan. . - . cm. thin, glabrous, shining, pinkish-buff, with a dark line near the edge; g. adnexed, very broad, whitish then grey, finally dusky bistre; s. - cm. slender, fistulose, whitish, shining, base brownish, thickened, white and downy; sp. long. [=guttulatus=, bres. p. convexo-exp. often subumb. edge involute then spreading, black, then disc tawny, at first with grey bloom; g. colour of p. edge white pruinose then fringed with drops; s. equal, fistulose, tinged fuscous then greyish-scurfy; sp. × . =fimicola=, fr. p. cm. campan.-convex, obtuse, grey then yellowish; g. adnate, broad; s. - cm. pallid, with white meal upwards; sp. × - . var. _cinctulus_, bolton. p. reddish-cinnamon; s. dingy brown. [=hypomelas=, batt. p. exp. rufous-tomentose, disc blackish; g. crowded, intensely black; s. stuffed, narrowed downwards, greyish-white. [=gomphodes=, batt. p. campan.-convex, gibbous, dusky rufous, pannose when dry; g. free, blackish; s. stout, rigid, ascending, flocculose, rufescent, veil arachnoid. [=larchenfeldii=, schulz. p. subgl. silvery, silky shining, subumbil. deeply sulcate, edge grey, wavy; g. irreg. plicate; s. hollow, with brown fibrils. psathyrella, fr. * _stem straight, glabrous._ =subatrata=, fr. p. - cm. campan. obtuse, rufous-umber, paler when dry, edge striate; g. adnate, crowded; s. - cm. fistulose, white then pallid; sp. - × - . =gracilis=, fr. p. - cm. campan. smoky or greyish then rosy, slightly striate only when moist; g. broadly adnate, edge rosy; s. - cm. fragile, straight, pallid; sp. × . . ( - × - sacc.) pileus tinged rose and rugulose when dry. [=longicauda=, karst. p. convex, glabrous, pellucidly striate to umbo, smoky yellow, hygr.; g. adnate, crowded, blackish purple, edge white; s. fistulose, equal, subglabrous, apex white-mealy, remarkably rooting; sp. - × - . differs from _p. gracilis_ in larger sp., white edge to g., and rooting stem. [=squamifera=, karst. p. campan. obtuse, pellucidly striate to middle, rugulose, livid fuscous, pale tan when dry, with scattered, white fibrillose scales; g. adnate, entirely grey then fuscescent; s. equal, silky, apex pruinoso-flocculose then almost glabrous, pallid, base oblique, strigosely rooting; sp. - × . differs from _p. gracilis_ in silky s., gills all one colour, &c. [=impatiens=, fr. p. thin, campan. obtuse, livid yellow, furcato-sulcate; g. adnate; s. straight, weak, white; sp. - × - . [=biformis=, schulz. p. conic, even, glabrous, white then tinged flesh-colour; g. sinuato-adnexed, ventricose; s. filiform, glabrous, even, whitish; sp. - × . =hiascens=, fr. p. - cm. campan. brownish, fisso-sulcate; g. adnato-linear; s. - cm. straight, glabrous, white; sp. × . . ( - × - sacc.) [=gracilipes=, pat. p. persistently campan. sulcate up to disc, reddish-brown; g. nearly free, broad, blackish, subdeliquescent; s. slender, tall, rigid, hollow, whitish, ring median, very distinct, fugacious; sp. × . =arata=, b. p. - cm. campan.-conic, rather acute, brown then paler, coarsely sulcate; g. free; s. - cm. white; sp. ----. =trepida=, fr. p. - cm. campan. obtuse, fragile, densely and finely striate, dusky; g. ventricose, crowded; s. - cm. pellucid, hyaline; sp. diam. =hydrophora=, bull. p. - cm. campan. then exp. and striate, edge revolute, disc rufous; g. adnate, crowded, narrow; s. - cm. straight from a curved base, white, beaded with drops of water; sp. - × - . [=graveolens=, sacc. smell strong. p. convex, exp. obtusely umb. blackish fuscous, silky-atomate; g. rather crowded, broadish, black; s. slender, cylindrical, glabrous, fuscous; sp. - × . [=ampelina=, foex and viala. p. conical then exp. almost smooth, pale brown, thin, slightly pilose; g. crowded, narrow, rosy violet then greyish brown; s. white, shining, springing from a copious creeping mycelium; sp. - long. ** _stem more or less flexuous, apex mealy._ =caudata=, fr. p. - cm. conico-campan. striate, hygr. dry, disc even, pinkish tan; g. adnate, very broad; s. - cm. slightly narrowed to rooting base, whitish; sp. - × - . [=circellatipes=, ben. caespitose, hygr. p. conico-campan. pilose then glabrous, rufous-brown then tawny ochre, at last pale ochre; g. blackish, edge white, denticulate; s. long, white or pallid, apex mealy, base with several delicate, narrow, tawny ochre rings; sp. - × - . [=sulcata=, dun. p. campan. umb. bay then blackish; g. broad, subliquescent; s. stuffed, equal. [=asperella=, q. p. cinnamon, apex darker, becoming pale, whitish and transparent, squamulose when young; g. distant, narrowed at both ends, whitish then powdered with the black spores; s. short, thick, cylindrical then elongated, wavy, white, base often swollen; sp. - × . =prona=, fr. p. . - cm. hemispher. striate, hygr. smoky, opaque and silky-atomate when dry; g. adnate, grey then dusky-violet, edge often rosy; s. - cm. equal, flexuous, whitish; sp. × - . ( - × - sacc.) =empyreumatica=, b. and br. strong scented. p. - cm. exp. hygr. rufous then pale and atomate; g. adnate, broad, connected by veins, edge pale; s. - cm. silkily-scurfy, pale; sp. ----. closely resembling _pholiota confragosa_. [=infida=, q. p. conical, cm. very thin, floccosely downy, greyish bistre; g. adnate, triangular, distant, creamy then flesh-colour, finally bay with a white edge; s. fistulose, filiform, wavy, somewhat pruinose, pinkish bistre; sp. long. =atomata=, fr. p. - cm. campan. obtuse, slightly striate, hygr., rugulose, atomate, pale ochre, whitish, or tinged rose when dry; g. adnate, broad; s. - cm. slightly flexuous, white, apex scurfy; sp. × . ( - × - sacc.) differs from _p. gracile_ in flexuous and scurfy s. and not rose-edged gills. var. _expolita_, fr. smaller. p. conical, edge striate; s. undulating, glabrous; sp. - × . [=subatomata=, karst. p. campan. obtuse, fragile, deeply striate, hygr. rugose when dry, grey or livid, centre more or less bay, tinged rosy when dry; g. adnexed, ventricose, greyish then black, edge rosy; hyaline, pallid, white when dry, apex pruinose, base fibrously rooting; sp. - × - . [=subrosea=, karst. p. campan.-convex, obtuse, entirely striate, naked, livid fuscous, rosy in dry weather; g. adnate, segmentoid, grey, edge rosy; s. wavy, naked, whitish; sp. - × - . [=expolita=, fr. small. p. conical, edge striate, and with the wavy stem, glabrous; g. not crowded, greyish-brown; s. - × . =crenata=, lasch. p. . - cm. hemispher. sulcate, edge crenate, yellowish and atomate when dry; g. adnate; s. - cm. whitish, striate and mealy upwards; sp. - × - . =disseminata=, pers. densely tufted. p. - . cm. ovate-campan. furfuraceous then naked, sulcate, yellowish then grey; g. adnate; s. - cm. lax, scurfy then glabrous; sp. - × - . [=consimilis=, bres. and henn. p. conico-campan. exp. hyaline yellowish at first then centre yellowish, edge greyish-fuscous, striate, glabrous; g. rotundato-adnate, white then flesh-colour, then blackish-brown, edge white fimbriate; s. hyaline white, fibrillose then almost glabrous; sp. - × . - , cystidia fusoideo-ventricose. [=subtilis=, fr. p. campan. obtuse, almost glabrous, hygr. pellucidly striate when moist, ochre then pale; g. adnate, edge whitish; s. filiform, lax, glabrous; sp. - × - . with a scurfy veil when young? psathyra, fr. i. conopilei. _pileus conico-campanulate; gills ascending, adnexed, often free._ =elata=, mass. p. - cm. high, obtusely campan. even, glabrous, dark brown then pale and atomate; g. adnate; s. - cm. straight, slightly narrowed upwards, white, shining; sp. × - . =conopilea=, fr. p. - cm. campan. even, glabrous, bay then pale; g. slightly adnexed; s. - cm. narrowed upwards, white, shining; sp. × . =mastigera=, b. and br. p. - cm. nearly cylindrical obtuse then conico-campan. with a strong umbo, usually wavy, brown then pale; g. affixed, umber, edge pale; s. - cm. whitish or tinged purple; sp. - × - . =glareosa=, b. and br. p. . cm. campan. grey, striate, minutely tomentose; g. broadly adnate; s. - cm. brown with white fibrils; sp. ----. [=griseobadia=, pat. p. hemispher. striate, pruinosely pulverulent, dry, tough, reddish-fuscous; g. numerous, unequal, entire, adnate, fuscous; s. slender, glabrous, reddish, dry, tough; sp. × . [=loscosii=, rab. p. thin, campan.-exp. greyish fuscous, sulcate, folds at length granulato-crenate, edge incurved; g. adnate; s. long, tough, equal, pallid fuscescent. =corrugis=, pers. p. - cm. campan. umb. rather rugose, pale ochre often tinged pink; g. sinuate, adnexed; s. - cm. equal, glabrous, white; sp. - × . var. _vinosus_, corda. p. with rosy tinge; s. short. var. _gracilis_, bull. (= _p. pellosperma_, cke.). slenderer than type. [=barlae=, bresad. p. campan. exp. purplish brown then reddish umber, centre tawny, reticulately rugulose; g. purplish then fuscous, edge white; s. tall, stout, hollow, purplish upwards inside and out, pale below, base strigose, veil white; sp. - × - . [=torpens=, weinm. p. campan. obtuse, even, becoming pale; g. dry, brown, edge white; s. slender, glabrous, white. var. _astrospora_, q. subhygr. very fragile, blackish grey then fuscescent, glabrous; g. adnato-decur. dusky brown-purple then blackish; s. straight, rigid, hollow, white, striate and white-mealy above; sp. black, - × . =tenuicula=, karst. p. very thin, campan. subexp. everywhere striate, whitish, then livid or smoky, pale when dry; g. adnate, pallid then grey; s. usually wavy, hyaline, pellucid, glabrous; sp. - × . [=subliquescens=, schum. p. conico-exp. brown-striate, viscid; g. nearly free, subliquescent; s. elongated, attenuated, straight, pale brown. [=typhae=, kalchb. small. p. thin, convex, striate, glabrous, pallid ochre then pale umber; g. nearly free, whitish then fuscous; s. naked, whitish, seated on an orbicular membranaceous arachnoid mycelium. var. _iridis_, boud. p. fuscous, striate, umbo rugulose, semipellucid; s. with a median ring; sp. - × - . [=stricta=, trog. p. campan. silky-even, dry, pallid; g. adnexed, subdeliquescent, purplish umber; s. tall, straight, glabrous, white. =gyroflexa=, fr. p. - cm. conico-campan. striate, atomate, grey, disc rufescent when dry; g. adnexed; s. - cm. flexuous, silky, white; sp. - × - . ii. obtusati. _pileus campanulato-convex, expanding, glabrous or atomate, gills plano- or arcuato-adfixed._ =spadiceo-grisea=, schaeff. p. - cm. conico-campan. then exp. subumb. glabrous, striate to middle, hygr. bay then greyish; g. narrow; sp. - long. =obtusata=, fr. p. - cm. campan. then exp. obtuse, glabrous, corrugated, hygr. rather shining, umber then pale; g. adnate; s. - cm. pallid, base incurved; sp. - × . [=ombrophila=, karst. p. plane, orbicular, subgibbous, even, granular; g. adnexed, blackish; s. reddish, base subtuberous; sp. yellowish, - × - . =neglecta=, mass. p. - mm. convex then exp. even, glabrous, pale ochre, atomate and whitish when dry; g. purple-brown; s. - cm. rather wavy, white, pellucid; sp. × ; cystidia abundant, fusiform. differs from _p. urticaecola_ in glabrous p. [=fagicola=, lasch. p. thin, campan. obtuse, striate, viscid, greenish-blue, sublivid, fuscescent; g. adnexed then separating, subliquescent, brown. [=falkii=, weinm. p. thin, hemispher.-exp. pellucid, moist, hygr. mealy grey when dry; g. laxly adfixed, ventricose, umber then fuscous-purple. [=solitaria=, k. fragile. p. campan.-exp. glabrous, umber, pallid tan when dry; s. fistulose, equal, whitish, fibrillose, base with white down; sp. - × , cystidia ventricose-fusoid. [=pallens=, karst. p. convex, even, often rugulose when dry, atomate, naked, whitish when dry; g. subadnate, ascending, grey, edge rosy; s. equal, straight, naked, pallid; sp. - × - ; cystidia fusoid. iii. fibrillosi. _pileus and stem floccose or fibrillose at first from the universal veil._ =frustulenta=, fr. p. - cm. hemisph. obtuse, slightly striate, albo-floccose at edge, pallid brown, hygr.; g. adnate, cinnamon; s. - cm. rather wavy, flocculose, white; sp. × , pale rusty brown. ( - × - sacc.) much like a _galera_ in colour of sp. [=bipellis=, q. p. campan. then exp. - cm. hygr. purple-bay then micaceous and rosy, edge with white silky flecks; g. adnate, rosy then dusky violet with a narrow white edge; s. fistulose, fragile, mealy at the apex, downy then satiny, white, often tinged violet; sp. long. [=subunda=, karst. p. conico-convex, exp. umb. atomate, pellucidly striate, even, glabrous, pale tan or pale livid, whitish when dry, with scattered fibrils; g. adnate, crowded, grey then tinged violet, finally brown; s. cylindrical, shining, white; sp. - × . [=schulzeri=, q. (= _ag. flavescens_, q.) p. conoid-hemisph. then exp. white, apex yellow or brown, even; g. purple-brown, edge whitish; s. cartilaginous, glabrous, white; sp. - long. =bifrons=, b. and br. p. - cm. campan. obtuse, rugulose, brownish-ochre, at first fibrillose; g. adnate, edge toothed; s. - cm. naked, shining, white; sp. × . var. _semitincta_, phil. p. pinkish; sp. × . =semivestita=, b. and br. p. . - cm. ovate-campan. obtuse, even, bay then pale ochre, when young lower half white-fibrillose; g. broad; s. - cm. white, fibrillose below; sp. - × . =fatuus=, fr. p. - cm. ovato-campan. then exp. rugose, fibrillose then glabrous, dingy ochre then pale; g. adnate, brown; s. - cm. white, apex striate, mealy; sp. - × - . =fibrillosa=, pers. p. - cm. campan. then exp. slightly striate, fibrillose, livid then pale; g. adnate, very broad behind; s. - cm. white, fibrilloso-squamulose; sp. × - . =gordoni=, b. and br. densely tufted. p. - cm. campan. pale grey then white, floccose, edge sulcate; g. grey; s. - cm. white, floccose below; sp. - long. =helobia=, kalchbr. p. - cm. campan. then plane with concentric ridges; radiately rugose, subumb. sooty brown, pale when dry; g. adnate, sooty brown; s. - cm. reddish umber with white squamules; sp. × . =pennata=, fr. p. - cm. campan. obtuse, even, with feathery white squamules, pale ochre; g. adnexed, broad; s. - cm. villose, silvery; sp. - × . var. _fimicola_, bern. p. rusty ochre; g. black, with a decur. tooth. var. _squamosa_, karst. stem everywhere with squarrose white floccose scales; sp. - × . =gossypina=, bull. p. . - . cm. campan. then exp. tomentose, soon glabrous, edge striate, pale ochre; g. adnexed; s. - cm. tomentose, whitish; sp. × . [=squamosa=, karst. p. campan. exp. tawny-fuscous, tan and scaly when dry; g. adnate, crowded; s. equal, wavy, undulate, apex mealy then glabrous, shining; sp. - × - . differs from _p. gossypina_ and _p. pennata_ in colour of p. and smaller sp. =noli-tangere=, fr. very fragile. p. - cm. campan.-exp. everywhere striate, hygr. squamulose near edge, pale umber then pale; g. adnate, broad; s. brownish, apex smooth; sp. × . [=laureata=, q. p. convex, mammilate, glabrous, slightly viscid, greyish bistre, edge with a double row of snow-white flecks; g. subdecur. broad, triangular, greyish lilac; s. pruinose at summit, minutely velvety, clear grey; sp. long. resembles _p. noli-tangere_ in appearance. =microrhiza=, lasch. p. - cm. campan. even, dry, atomate, at first yellow-pilose; g. crowded, narrow; s. - cm. silky, white, rooting; sp. - × . =urticaecola=, b. and br. p. - mm. campan. flocculent, edge becoming striate, white; g. chocolate; s. - cm. flocculent, white; sp. × . psilocybe, fr. i. tenaces. _veil accidental, rarely conspicuous. stem callous, flexile, often coloured. pileus pelliculose, often viscid in damp weather, becoming somewhat pale, clear coloured._ * _gills ventricose, not decurrent._ =sarcocephala=, fr. p. - cm. compact, exp. mealy then glabrous, pallid rusty; g. adnate, very broad, grey then purplish bistre; s. - cm. whitish, apex mealy; sp. × . . [=pertinax=, fr. p. convexo-plane, obtuse, reticulately rugose, dusky-brown, disc even; g. adnate, crowded, rusty-brown; s. hollow, fibrillosely striate, pallid. =nemophila=, alex. p. exp. brick-red, even; g. deeply decur. very narrow, edge crisped-dentate; s. solid, pale, fusiformly narrowed. =helvola=, schaeff. p. - cm. conical then convex, yellow-brown, disc darkest; g. broadly adnate, broad, purple-umber, edge whitish; s. - cm. flexuous, pale, hollow; sp. obliquely elliptical, warted, - × - . =atrobrunnea=, lasch. p. campan.-convex, umb. even, brownish; g. adnexed then seceding, rather distant, brownish; s. stuffed, long, fibrillose, apex white-mealy; sp. - × - . =ericaea=, pers. p. - cm. exp. viscid when moist, tawny or bay then yellowish and shining; g. adnate, broad, pruinose, at length black, edge white; s. - cm. tough, pallid; sp. - × . =subericaea=, fr. p. - cm. convex, obtuse, becoming plane, even, smooth, tawny then pale; g. sinuate, adnexed, broad; s. - cm. equal, smooth, yellowish, hollow; sp. × . differs from _p. ericaea_ in short s. and attachment of broad g. [=dichroa=, karst. p. campan. subumb. edge slightly striate, bay then tan; g. adfixed, broad, brownish-purple, edge whitish; s. pallid, then fuscescent, silky. var. _minor_, karst. smaller. p. striate to middle; g. umber. [=lipophila=, oud. p. convex, exp. obtuse, glabrous, viscid when moist, pale rusty; g. adnexed then decur. broad; s. whitish, apex white, base with white down; sp. - × . [=mutabilis=, karst. p. tough, convex, obtuse, watery umber when moist, tawny when dry, glabrous; g. adnate, crowded, broad; s. hollow, rigid, equal, whitish-silky, tinged rusty especially downwards; sp. - × - . =uda=, pers. p. . - . cm. exp. dry, rugulose, tawny then yellowish; g. adfixed, purplish; s. - cm. pale, thin, tough, fibrillose base rusty; sp. × . ( - × - karst.) var. _polytrichi_, fr. p. campan.-convex then plano-depr. even, glabrous, dry, pale yellow then whitish, edge pale; g. becoming decur.; s. elongated, wavy, glabrous, pale tawny. var. _elongatus_, pers. p. campan.-convex, striate when moist, livid- or greenish-yellow, even and yellowish when dry. [=corneipes=, fr. p. campan.-convex, glabrous, bay, edge striate; g. adnate, very broad behind; s. horny, rigid, shining, blackish bay. =canofaciens=, cke. p. - cm. campan. then exp. disc fleshy, bay, with white fibrils; g. adnate, umber; s. - cm. colour of p.; sp. × , some much larger. =areolata=, klotzsch. p. - cm. exp. brownish ochre, cracked up into patches; g. adnate; s. - cm. dingy white, fibrillose; sp. - × . =virescens=, mass. p. - cm. exp. brown then greenish yellow, cracked into patches; g. adnexed, dingy purple, edge pale; s. - cm. apex striate, greenish, base white; sp. × . =agraria=, fr. p. cm. exp. white, not hygr.; g. adnate, white then brown; s. - cm. glabrous, white; sp. ----. =chondroderma=, b. and br. p. - cm. campan. bright dark brown, very smooth, sometimes cracked, edge thin, append.; g. adfixed, brown, edge white; s. - cm. subequal, paler than p., fibrillose, base squamulose; sp. × . . =scobicola=, b. and br. p. - cm. convex, umbil. white, glabrous; g. adnexed, broad, reddish-brown; s. - cm. whitish, fibrillose, hollow; sp. × , pale. ** _gills plane, very broad behind, subdecur._ =ammophila=, mont. p. - cm. exp. umb. yellow-rufous, fibrillose; =coprophila=, bull. p. . - cm. slightly viscid, hemispher. then exp. umb. yellowish rufous; g. arcuato-subdecur. broad; s. - cm. narrowed upwards, white, floccose then almost glabrous; sp. - × . differs from _p. bullacea_ in absence of striae on p. =bullacea=, bull. p. - cm. hemispher. then exp. umb. finely striate to middle, rather viscid, bay or brownish brick-red, then pale, often with a white fringe at the edge, cuticle separable; g. adnate, almost triangular, grey then brownish purple; s. - cm. slender, apex pruinose, fawn, fibrillose, base rusty; sp. - × - . =physaloides=, bull. p. . - cm. campan. then exp. umb. striate, rather viscid, purple brown or bay then pale; g. subdecur. rather rusty then purplish brown; s. - cm. fibrillose, base bay; sp. × . [=ferrugineo-lateritia=, vogl. p. convex, subumbil. edge substriate, glabrous, subhygr. rusty brick-red; g. adnato-decur. purple-black; s. cylindrical, colour of p. base white; sp. - × . [=libertata=, fr. p. obconic, umbo hemispher. prominent, at first hoarily silky then glabrous, dusky umber then pale; g. deeply decur.; s. flexile. =atrorufa=, schaeff. p. - . cm. convex, obtuse, glabrous, edge striate, purple-brown then pale; g. subdecur. broad, brown-violet with a white edge; s. - cm. pale bay or fawn, pruinose, fibrillose at base; sp. - × . ( - × - karst.) =nuciseda=, fr. p. . - cm. convex, obsoletely umb. rather silky when dry and yellowish, dusky brown at first; g. adnate, broad; s. - cm. brownish with white down, base narrowed; sp. × . *** _gills sublinear, ascending._ =tegularis=, schum. p. campan. glabrous, tan, areolately cracked; g. attenuato-adnexed; s. stuffed, narrowed upwards from a thickened base, pallid. =compta=, b. and br. p. - cm. conico-campan. then exp. subumb. edge striate, pale ochre and atomate when dry; g. broad, adnate; s. - cm. pale rufous; sp. ----. [=callosa=, fr. p. conico-campan. obtuse, even, glabrous, dry, white or yellowish; g. adnate, ascending, ventricose, sooty black; s. tough, equal, glabrous, pallid. =semilanceata=, fr. p. - cm. exp. acutely conical, slightly viscid and striate when moist, pallid, often tinged yellow or green; g. adnexed; s. - cm. flexuous, pallid; sp. - × . var. _caerulescens_, cke. p. rather obtuse; s. bluish at base. ii. rigidi. _veil absent. stem rigid. gills adnexed, very rarely adnate._ [=phoenix=, secr. p. campan. then exp. even, glabrous, hygr. fuscous then pale and shining; g. free; s. stuffed, striate, pallid, subbulbous. =canobrunnea=, fr. p. - cm. exp. obtuse, subviscid when moist, hygr. fleshy-brown then pale; g. nearly free, brownish purple; s. - cm. hollow, short, squamulose, whitish or greyish pink, rooting; sp. ----. [=gilletii=, karst. p. campan.-convex, often obliquely umb. glabrous, livid grey with olive tinge, umb. tawny, then pale ochre; g. subadnate soon free, grey- then livid-purple; s. fistulose, straight, equal, glabrous, bay, apex paler and pruinose; sp. - × - . [=simulans=, karst. p. conico-convex, exp. usually obtusely umb. glabrous, pale rusty with honey-colour tinge, pellucidly striate, edge at first incurved, yellow tawny when dry; g. greyish with honey or olive tinge; s. wavy, ascending, rather lubricous, shining, bay, apex paler; sp. - × . =spadicea=, fr. subcaespitose. p. - cm. glabrous, humid, convex then exp. edge at first incurved, dark bay or bistre-brown then pale; g. adnate with decur. tooth, crowded, whitish then pinkish, at last purple-brown; s. fistulose, equal, rigid, silky, whitish; sp. × . var. _hygrophila_, fr. larger. p. fuscous then tan; s. subfusiformly rooting; g. emarginate with a long decur. line. var. _polycephala_, fr. very densely tufted. p. rigid; s. slender, slightly flexuous; g. nearly free, fuscous-umber. this is the commonest form in britain. _hypholoma hydrophilum_ differs in having fuscous-cinnamon, lachrymose gills. =cernua=, fl. dan. p. . - cm. campan.-convex then exp. glabrous, micaceous, hygr. rugulose and pallid when dry; g. adnate; s. - cm. white, apex even, pruinose; sp. × . =squalens=, fr. p. - cm. exp. depr. even, glabrous, hygr. lurid then pale; g. adnato-decur. tan then brown; s. - cm. not rooting, apex striate, colour of p.; sp. ----. [=murcida=, fr. p. convex, obtuse, slightly striate, hygr. even when dry, bay then tan or rosy; g. adnate, segmentoid, umber; s. slender, fragile, straight, naked. [=hebes=, fr. p. exp. obtuse, glabrous, hygr. edge striate, lurid then pale; g. adnate, triangular; s. glabrous, pallid. =foenisecii=, fr. p. . - cm. campan.-exp. obtuse, dingy brown then pale; g. adnate, ventricose, umber; s. - cm. not rooting, pale reddish, glabrous; sp. × - . =clivensis=, b. and br. p. - cm. hemispher. pale brown then pale ochre or whitish; g. broad, adnate, emarginate, edge pale; s. cm. silky, base subclavate; sp. × . [=vicina=, fr. p. convex then plane, obtuse, glabrous, umber then pale; g. slightly adnexed, grey then blackish; s. stuffed, wavy, grey, apex pruinose. =catervata=, mass. densely fasciculate. p. - cm. campan. obtuse, white; g. slightly adnexed, crowded, edge entire, white; s. - cm. white; sp. × ; cystidia fusiform. coprinus, fr. _key to the sections._ i. volva distinct with a free edge; ring present or absent. p. . ii. volva absent; ring present on stem. p. . iii. volva and ring absent. veil practically absent. pileus either glabrous or with minute innate squamules, especially near the apex, not splitting along the lines of the gills. p. . iv. volva and ring absent. veil very evident--at least in a young state--as a felty coating, which breaks up during expansion of the pileus into patches, cottony, squamulose, fibrillose or mealy. not glistening nor micaceous. p. . v. volva and ring absent. pileus covered with glistening micaceous particles when young. p. . vi. volva, ring, and veil absent. flesh very thin, pileus soon splitting along the lines of the gills, scurfy or glabrous. p. . i. _volva distinct, with a free margin; ring present or absent._ * _large; pileus more than cm. high and wide._ + _stem white._ =sterquilinus=, fr. p. - cm. high, coarsely sulcate, silvery grey, disc tawny with squarrose squamules; g. free; s. - cm. white, dark when bruised; volva with free margin, sometimes a ring on stem; sp. - × - . [=solstitialis=, sacc. p. cylindric-ovate, whitish with concentric over-lapping scales, expanding and blackish, grooved; g. free; s. white, base volvate, ring imperfect. smaller than _c. sterquilinus_, and stem not blackish when bruised. =oblectus=, bolton. p. - cm. coarsely striate, whitish, glabrous, then pale tawny and sprinkled with rose-coloured powder; g. free; s. - cm. white; volva with recurved edge; sp. × - . ++ _stem coloured._ =umbrinus=, mass. at first entirely enclosed in a white volva, which leaves patches on p. p. - cm. umber, sulcate up to disc; g. free; s. - cm. umber, margin of volva recurved; sp. - × . differs from _c. stenocoleus_ in sulcate pileus and umber stem. [=stenocoleus=, lindbl. p. - cm. umb. even, blackish with white squamules; g. free; s. - cm. pale tawny; margin of volva free; sp. ----. ** _small; pileus less than cm. high and wide._ + _volva entire._ [=cyclodes=, fr. p. . - cm. high, campan. striate, glabrous, bay; g. soon black; s. - cm. white, rather flexuous; edge of volva recurved; sp. ----. [=equinus=, chelch. p. ovate then campan. greyish white, disc darkest, covered with darker scurf or flecks; g. free; s. long, glabrous, base rather swollen, volva with a free edge which sometimes breaks away as a ring; sp. - . [=trappenii=, oud. p. campan. - . cm. apex with fragments of volva, then glabrous; g. purplish then black; s. - . cm. white, volva entire; sp. ----. =volvaceo-minimus=, crossl. p. - mm. striate, grey with white squamules; g. slightly adnexed; s. - . cm. glabrous, hyaline, base bulbous, volva with broad free edge; sp. - . differs from _c. hendersonii_ in distinct volva and subglobose sp. _c. bulbillosus_ differs in absence of a marginate volva. ++ _volva torn into shreds._ =dilectus=, fr. p. . - cm. very thin, campan., obtuse, finely striate, rosy white then tawny, furfuraceo-floccose with rosy meal, at length splitting, revolute and naked; g. free, sublanceolate, crowded; s. - cm. whitish and powdered with rosy meal, base thickened, volva reduced to squamules; sp. ----. differs from _c. oblectus_ in very rudimentary volva, and generally smaller size. =roseotinctus=, rea. p. - × - mm. cylindr. then revolute, umb. brown with rosy meal; g. adnexed, broad; s. up to cm. bulbous, white, with rosy meal when young; sp. - × - . perhaps too closely allied to _c. dilectus_. ii. _volva absent, ring present on stem._ * _large; pileus - cm. high._ =comatus=, fr. p. cylindr. then campan. - cm. high, whitish or tinged ochre, becoming broken up into large reflexed scales; g. very slightly adnexed; s. - cm. white, base bulbous, rooting, ring loose; sp. - × - . edible. var. _clavatus_, q. p. ovate, g. free, white then black, no intermediate pink colour; s. without a ring. =ovatus=, schaeff. p. - cm. high, ovate then exp. striate, soon broken up into broad adpressed scales; g. free; s. white, base bulbous, rooting, ring deciduous; sp. × . edible. differs from _c. comatus_ in smaller size, and ovate form when young. =atramentarius=, fr. p. rather fleshy, - cm. high, ovate then campan. fluted, edge uneven, silvery grey, apex squamulose; g. free; s. - cm. white, hollow, ring basal, evanescent; sp. × . edible. =soboliferus=, fr. p. thin, ovate then exp. plicate below, disc truncate, brownish with darker squamules, rest greyish white; g. free; s. - cm. white, stuffed, ring fugacious; sp. × . edible. differs from _c. atramentarius_ in squamulose truncate disc, stuffed stem, and larger spores. [=pyrenaeus=, q. p. narrowly ellipt. up to cm. long, striate, pearl grey, with a dense veil of free white fibrils; g. free; s. - cm. hollow, white, ring basal, fugacious; sp. subgl. - . differs from _c. atramentarius_ in white veil. [=praegnans=, fr. p. campan. - cm. high, not striate, grey, crowded with white squamules; g. free, umber from first; s. solid, fusiform, rooting, squamulose, ring free; sp. ----. differs from _c. atramentarius_ in solid s. ** _small; pileus never exceeding cm. high._ =hendersonii=, fr. p. subcylindrical then exp. up to cm. apex tawny rest grey, fluted, minutely pruinose; g. free; s. - cm. with a permanent ring below middle; sp. - × . [=bulbillosus=, pat. p. - mm. grey disc yellow, striate, covered with white meal; g. grey; s. - cm. white, base bulbous, ring loose, median; sp. - × - . differs from _c. hendersonii_ in bulbous stem. [=ephemeroides=, fr. p. campan. plicato-sulcate, whitish, disc tinged yellow, up to cm. sprinkled with superficial flecks; g. free; s. - cm. whitish, ring free, base with a pilose bulb; sp. - × - . differs from _c. bulbillosus_ in squamulose pileus and strigose bulb. var. _muscorum_, sp. - × - . [=scauroides=, godey. p. ovate then campan. striate, white then purplish, floccosely squamulose; g. free; s. white, with a marginate bulb and ring. [=bresadolae=, schulz. p. subcylindrical, greyish-white, apex tinged brown; g. black, edge white; s. tapering upwards, white, glabrous, ring deciduous. iii. _volva and ring absent. veil practically absent; p. either glabrous or with minute innate squamules, especially near the apex, not splitting along the lines of the gills._ * _gills attached to the stem._ =fuscescens=, fr. p. - cm. ovate then exp. not lobed, disc fuscous, rest greyish brown, powdered with meal at first; g. narrow towards the front; s. white, hollow, somewhat fibrillose; sp. - × - . differs from _c. atramentarius_ in rufous p. not lobed. [=tergiversans=, fr. p. conical then exp. - cm. rusty brown, grooved, cracked into squamules; g. broadly adnate; s. white, apex sulcate. allied to _c. micaceus_; differs in squamulose and not micaceous p. [=lerchenfeldii=, schulz. p. hemispher. apex elevated, brownish grey, edge wavy silvery grey then violet; g. violet, shining; s. fibrillose or squamulose. ** _gills free._ [=cylindricus=, fr. p. cylindrical then exp. - cm. across, rimosely striate, a few adpr. squamules, whitish brown; g. narrow; s. - cm. equal, fibrillose. [=mayrii=, allesch. p. campan. exp. white, striate, small yellow-brown squamules near edge, disc sparingly scaly; g. free; s. white, striate, base globose, marginate, hollow to swollen base; sp. - × - . allied to _c. atramentarius_. =flocculosus=, fr. p. ovate then exp. - cm. across, dingy white, striate, squamules innate; g. narrow; s. - cm. white, silky, hollow; sp. × - . differs from _c. aratus_ in white p., and from _c. lagopus_ in glabrous stem. =squamosus=, morgan. p. - cm. sulcate, grey, with persistent spreading brown scales; g. free; s. - cm. with brown spreading scales up to ring; sp. - × . iv. _volva and ring absent. veil very evident--at least in young state--as a felty coating, which breaks up during expansion of p. into patches; cottony, squamulose, fibrillose or mealy. not glistening or micaceous._ * _veil thick and felty, breaking into patches._ + _gills attached to stem._ =aphthosus=, fr. p. campan. even, livid, - cm. white veil at first continuous then broken into floccose patches; g. adnate; s. cm. white, hollow, fibrillose; sp. - × . differs from _c. varicus_ in hollow stem. [=phaeosporus=, karst. p. conico-cylindrical then flattened, everywhere delicately striate, at first enclosed in a rufescent veil which breaks up into patches, soon naked and white; g. adnexed; s. glabrous, white, hollow; sp. - × - . differs from _c. albus_ by glabrous s. ++ _gills free._ =picaceus=, fr. p. campan. glutinous, striate up to disc, blackish with white patches; g. free; s. - cm. white, hollow, base swollen; sp. × . =tomentosus=, fr. p. cylindr. then narrowly conical, at length exp. - cm.; pallid yellow, covered with a greyish felt which breaks into scales; g. free; s. cm. hollow, greyish, velvety; sp. ----. [=velatus=, q. p. cylind. then exp. - cm. yellowish, sulcate, veil white, thin; g. free but close to s.; s. - cm. white, villose, coarsely striate; sp. × . [=forquignoni=, mass. (_c. quéletii_, forq.). p. conico-campan. veil thick, ochraceous, then broken up into persistent patches, whitish, - cm. high; g. remote; s. white, floccosely fibrillose, ending in a tawny bulb; sp. × . [=varicus=, fr. p. white or livid towards the split edge, with patches of white veil; g. free; s. - cm. often incurved, white, glabrous, solid, tough. differs from _c. picaceus_ in white p. and solid s. ** _veil breaking up into superficial scales, cottony or fibrillose._ + _gills attached to stem._ § _pileus white or grey._ =niveus=, fr. all pure white. p. - . cm. campan. floccose; g. slightly adnexed; s. - cm. hollow, villose; sp. × - . var. _astroideus_, fr. p. squamose, naked, grey, cm.; s. up to cm. slender, glabrous. [=albus=, q. snow white. p. ovoid then exp. . - cm. floccosely mealy then pearl grey and grooved, with tawny flecks at disc; g. adnate, seceding; s. coarsely striate upwards; sp. - long. [=rostrupianus=, hansen. white. p. thin campan. then exp. tomentose, squamulose; g. free, grey then blackish; s. narrowed upwards, glabrous above, downy below, base with white tomentum. medium sized, allied to _c. niveus_. [=pilosus=, beck. p. cylindr. apex rounded, white, densely covered with septate acute white hairs, then exp. and centre almost glabrous and yellowish, edge slightly striate; s. slender, pubescent, base floccose; sp. - × - . =exstinctorius=, fr. p. - cm. across, campan. whitish, apex tinged brown, at first with evanescent floccose scales; g. reaching stem; s. - cm. smooth, white, hollow, swollen at base and rooting; sp. - × - . differs from _c. fimetarius_ in pileus becoming bald from disc to margin. [=roris=, q. p. soon convex and centre depr. pearl grey, transparent, covered at first with a thin tawny-white veil, - . cm.; g. adnate; s. - cm. greyish, villosely floccose; sp. - long. differs from _c. plicatilis_ in adnate g. and from _c. diaphanus_ in villose stem. =similis=, b. and br. p. ovate then campan. pallid disc darker, striate, studded with brown tipped pointed warts, . cm.; g. adnate; s. white, hollow. [=brunandi=, q. p. campan. - mm. high, very delicate, striate, greyish lilac, at first with crystalline interwoven filaments; g. adnate then free; s. white, floccose, bulbous; sp. long. allied to _c. lagopus_. §§ _pileus tawny or brownish._ =domesticus=, fr. p. campan. obtuse, sulcate, disc even, bay, rest paler, scurfy-floccose, - cm.; g. adnexed; s. - cm. white, silky; sp. - × . [=alopecia=, fr. p. - . cm. campan. obtuse, sulcate, pale brown or ochre, at first with adpr. fibrils; g. adnexed; s. - cm. densely scaly, hollow. [=boudieri=, q. p. - cm. campan. coarsely striate, pale tawny apex darker, covered with fine white down; g. adnate; s. - cm. white, pruinose and pubescent; sp. angularly globose, - . [=subcoeruleo-griseus=, schulzer. p. acutely conical then plane, slightly striate, disc pale yellowish-pink, rest greyish blue, with minute fugacious scales; g. adnexed; s. white, floccosely pruinose, then glabrous, hollow; sp. - × - . ++ _gills free._ § _stem glabrous._ =nycthemerus=, fr. p. conico-cylindr. then exp. . - cm. plicate, ribs forked near edge, mealy then naked, grey, disc tawny; g. free; s. - cm. white, glabrous, flaccid, hollow; sp. ----. [=gonophyllus=, q. p. . cm. hemisph. striate, blackish grey, shining, veil floccose, whitish, soon disappearing; g. free, triangular, edge serrate; s. cm. glabrous, slightly striate, white; sp. × . =spraguei=, b. and curt. p. conical then campan. . - cm. tomentose, striate, greyish, disc tawny; g. few, distant; s. - cm. pale reddish ochre; sp. × . =spegazzinii=, karst. p. cylindr. or oval, then exp. and splitting up to disc, greyish, soon naked and grooved; g. free; s. white, hollow, thickened below and rooting; sp. - × - . =platypus=, b. and cke. p. white then yellowish, flocculose, - mm.; g. free; s. . - cm. base discoid; sp. × . §§ _stem floccose or pulverulent at first._ =narcoticus=, fr. foetid. p. cylindric-clavate then exp. . - cm. hyaline, striate, at first with white floccose squamules; g. free; s. - cm. white, downy at first, hollow; sp. × - . [=muralis=, allesch. smell strong, ammoniacal. p. cylindr. then campan. white then grey, covered with white floccose squamules; g. free, narrow; s. equal, hollow, floccosely scaly then glabrous, white, shining, base densely fibrous; sp. subg. . =lagopus=, fr. p. cylindr. then campan. coarsely striate up to brown disc, at first with white flocci; g. free; s. - cm. everywhere with white floccose down; sp. - × - . differs from _c. narcoticus_ in absence of smell. _c. lagopoides_ differs in tomentum breaking up into scales, and g. very distant from stem. [=lagopoides=, karst. p. campan. sulcate, disc livid, with free white scales, - cm.; g. distant from stem; s. up to cm. white, floccose; sp. - × - . =macrocephalus=, b. p. cylindr. then campan. striate, ashy grey, disc brownish, sprinkled with pointed scales, cm.; g. free; s. - cm. dingy white, fibrillose below; sp. - × - . differs from _c. lagopus_ in dark grey p. [=tigrinellus=, boud. p. elliptic-oblong then campan. striate, snow-white edge becoming rosy, pulverulent, with tawny flecks; g. free; s. cm. white, base rather bulbous and often with blackish flecks; sp. × . differs from _c. friesii_ in being at first covered with brown tomentum which breaks up into flecks. [=friesii=, q. p. elliptic-oblong then exp. - cm. finely striate, white apex tinged yellow, edge rosy; g. free, reddish then black; s. cm. white, pulverulent, base swollen and floccose; sp. angularly glob. . differs from _c. tigrinellus_ in not having a brown veil. [=cupulatus=, e. jacob. p. subcampan. greyish yellow, with a floccose greyish white veil then pubescent, sulcate, - mm.; g. free; s. - cm. white, downy, striate, base swollen; sp. - × - . =fimetarius=, fr. p. - . cm. clavate then conico-exp. soon splitting, disc even brownish, at first covered with squarrose floccose scales, then naked; g. free; s. - cm. white, squamulose, base solid; sp. - × - . var. _pullatus_, fr. p. with adpressed squamules, soon naked, dark; s. soon smooth. var. _cinereus_, fr. p. floccosely mealy then naked, grey; s. rootless, hollow to base. var. _macrorhiza_, fr. p. at first with feathery squamules; s. short, rooting. [=queletii=, schulzer. p. ellipsoid-conical then exp. deeply sulcate, whitish, apex glabrous tinged cinnamon, with fugacious flecks; g. free; s. white, flocculose then glabrous, ventricose below, rooting with long brown fibres; sp. - × - . [=laxus=, bres. and schulz. p. subglobose, grey, disc yellowish cinnamon, granularly floccose; g. free; s. white, tinged brown at base, with white flecks, bending over as it dries; sp. - × - . [=albertinii=, karst. p. campan. sulcate, greyish-white, disc brownish, with fine network of fibrils; g. free; s. white, silky-floccose; sp. - × . [=strossmayeri=, schulzer. p. digitaliform, then conico-campan. whitish then grey, apex darker, finally pale ochre, with deciduous squarrose scales; g. free; s. white, pruinose, springing from a compact, branching blackish-brown mycelium; sp. - long. *** _veil formed of white meal, or hyaline vesicles. not glistening or micaceous._ =tuberosus=, q. p. campan. - mm. finely striate, white then greyish, veil of hyaline vesicles; g. blackish violet; s. - cm. slender, wavy, white, downy, springing from a small black sclerotium; sp. long. smaller than _c. niveus_, and springing from a sclerotium. [=cineratus=, q. p. campan. - cm. striate, white then greyish violet, veil of dusky hyaline vesicles; g. free, close to stem; s. - cm. white, base rather swollen and sheathed by remains of a volva; sp. × . =filiformis=, b. and br. p. - mm. cylindrical, striate, grey, mealy; g. linear; s. - . cm. slender, hyaline, sprinkled with hairs; sp. subg. × . [=luxoviensis=, mont. p. ovoid then campan. striate, mealy then naked and grey, disc tawny; g. distant; s. with spreading fibrils, soon naked, white, springing from a spreading mycelium; sp. ----. [=caducus=, harz. p. oval then cylindrical, striate, grey then blackish brown, at first densely covered with white meal which becomes grey; g. from a collar; s. greyish brown above, whitish below; sp. - × - . [=britzelmayri=, sacc. and cub. (= _c. macrosporus_, brit.) p. and s. covered with snow-white meal; g. adnexed; s. tall; sp. × - . [=albulus=, q. p. almost hemispherical, mm. pellucid, striate, pulverulent; g. arcuately adnate; s. cm. filiform, pulverulent, lower half with white flecks; sp. long. [=divergens=, brit. p. parabolic, brownish then dark grey, deeply striate; g. blackish-grey; s. pellucid, whitish; sp. - × - . intermediate between _c. tomentosus_ and _c. niveus_. v. _volva and ring absent. pileus covered with glistening particles when young._ =micaceus=, fr. p. - cm. oval then campan. glistening then naked, sulcate, tawny ochre; g. adnexed; s. - cm. white, silky, hollow. [=marcescens=, karst. p. campan. sulcate, whitish at first, soon dingy ochre, then pale sooty grey, disc brownish yellow, micaceous; g. adnexed; s. white, silky; sp. - × - . differs from _c. micaceus_ in p. becoming sooty grey. =aratus=, b. p. - cm. narrowly elliptical then campan.-umber, grooved up to disc; g. slightly adnexed; s. - cm. snow-white, silky, hollow; sp. × - . =stercorarius=, fr. p. . - cm. ovate then campan. edge striate, densely covered with white glistening meal; g. adnexed; s. - cm. white, hollow, minutely mealy at first; sp. - × . _c. niveus_ differs in tomentose p., and _c. albus_ in sulcate p. =radians=, fr. p. ovate then campan. . - cm. edge striate, disc granuloso-squamulose, tawny ochre then pale, glistening; g. slightly adnexed; s. - cm. white, smooth, base with dense radiating strands of mycelium; sp. × . =truncorum=, fr. p. globose at first then campan. glistening then naked, tawny ochre, striate, - cm.; g. free, rosy then black; s. - cm. slender, white, glabrous, hollow; sp. - × . differs from _c. micaceus_ in p. being globose at first, and not sulcate, and in free, rosy g. [=inamoenus=, karst. foetid. p. subcylindrical then exp. blackish with white micaceous scurf; g. fixed to a remote collar; s. hyaline, at first downy, often rather wavy, several stems springing at intervals from a prostrate mycelium; sp. - × - . [=intermedius=, penzig. p. campan. pallid, even, with dense reddish micaceous scurf near apex; g. free; s. glabrous, tinged pink; sp. . - × . [=frustulosum=, sacc. p. campan. rather acute, even, covered with reddish micaceous meal; g. free; s. conical then cylindrical, white; sp. × . vi. _volva, ring, and veil absent; flesh very thin, pileus soon splitting along the lines of the gills, scurfy or glabrous._ * _pileus more or less scurfy._ + _gills attached to stem._ § _pileus white._ [=conditus=, godey. p. globose then ovoid, striate, sometimes tinged yellow; g. adnate; s. - mm. shining, scurfy; sp. ----. [=stellaris=, q. p. ovoid then campan. - mm. striate, snow-white then greyish, crowned with pellucid vesicles; g. adnate; s. - cm. long, filiform, hyaline, velvety; sp. long. §§ _pileus coloured._ [=coöpertus=, fr. p. conico-campan. . cm. striate, lurid, densely micaceous, yellowish grey when dry; g. adnate, broad; s. - cm. pallid, apex with white flecks; sp. ----. [=pseudo-plicatilis=, vogl. p. campan. umb. soon exp. and sulcate, yellowish grey, umbo yellowish, scurfy; g. adnate; s. white, woolly, thickened and floccose below; sp. - × . =velox=, godey. p. obovate, striate then grooved, scurfy between the ribs, disc also greyish and scurfy, - mm.; g. close to stem; s. . - cm. with white floccose down; sp. ----. =ephemerus=, fr. p. very delicate, ovate then campan. sulcate, slightly scurfy, disc elevated, even, rufescent, - cm.; g. slightly adnexed; s. - cm. glabrous, whitish, pellucid; sp. - × - . [=mycenopsis=, karst. p. campan. then exp. sulcate, sooty-grey, livid disc prominent, scurfy, soon naked; g. adnate; s. tall, glabrous, white, striate upwards; sp. - × . ++ _gills free._ § _stem fibrillose or downy._ =cothurnatus=, godey. p. conico-campan. then exp. and umb. densely scurfy, whitish, yellowish or reddish, - cm.; g. free; s. - cm. white, squamulose below; sp. ----. [=evanidus=, godey. p. obovate then campan. striate, whitish, rather scurfy, disc prominent, tinged brown; - mm.; g. free, distant; s. . - . , pellucid, white, downy; sp. ----. §§ _stem glabrous._ =sociatus=, fr. p. ovate then campan. plicate, subsquamulose or scurfy, disc umber and becoming depr. cm.; g. narrowed behind, attached to a collar; s. - cm. white, glabrous, not pellucid; sp. ----. gills much nearer s. than in _c. plicatilis_, much narrowed behind, black. [=sulcato-crenatus=, steinh. p. cylindrical then campan. soon plane, sulcato-crenate, almost glabrous, yellow, disc brown, even, becoming depr.; g. remote from stem, distant; s. yellow, apex brown; sp. obtusely triangular, compressed. differs from _c. plicatilis_ in yellow p. and s. [=patouillardii=, q. p. conico-campan. then plane, coarsely striate up to disc, grey, disc rough with minute reddish granules; g. attached to collar distant from s.; s. - cm. white, glabrous, fragile; sp. angularly globose, - . differs from _c. nycthemerus_ in white s.; and from _c. velaris_ in rough disc. =papillatus=, fr. p. elliptical then campan. becoming plane and upturned; disc prominent and rough with minute warts, dark, striate, covered with greyish scurf, . - cm.; g. free; s. . cm. white, hyaline, hollow; sp. × . [=affinis=, karst. p. conico-cylindr. then exp. greyish white, disc pale rufous, plicate, scurfy; g. free; s. flaccid, glabrous, pallid; sp. - × - . =radiatus=, fr. p. cylindrical, soon plane and splitting, yellowish, disc darker, then whitish, minutely pilose when young; g. almost free; s. - cm. hyaline, pilose; sp. - × . =gibbsii=, mass. and crossl. very minute, p. . mm. hemispher. then exp. striate, glabrous, pale ochre; g. adnate, few; s. - mm. white, glabrous; sp. subcircular, compressed, - diam.; cystidia piriform. [=lanatus=, boud. p. soon campan. plicately striate, greyish rufous disc darker; g. free; s. glabrous, white, slightly bulbous. ** _pileus glabrous._ + _gills attached to stem._ § _stem downy or pulverulent._ =tardus=, karst. p. ovoid then campan. . - cm. coarsely striate, bay then ochre, glabrous; g. adnate; s. - cm. white, slightly flexuous, equal; sp. angularly ellipt. - × - . differs from _c. deliquescens_ in smooth disc and adnate g. [=gilletii=, jacobasch. (= _cop. intermedius_ gill.). p. ovato-campan. grey, disc yellow; pulverulent then glabrous, edge striate; g. ovato-elongate, blackish; s. slender, glabrous, hollow, with a membranaceous, distant, fixed erect ring. [=attenuatus=, gill. p. conico-campan. even, glabrous, edge sulcate, upturned when dry, apex yellowish; g. broad, ventricose, reddish-brown; s. long, slender, hollow, narrowed towards base. §§ _stem glabrous._ [=auricomus=, pat. p. elliptic-oblong then campan. finely striate, pale greyish red disc darker, glabrous, . - cm.; g. adnate; s. - cm. white, glabrous; sp. ----. young plant enveloped in a golden yellow weft (= ozonium). =congregatus=, fr. p. cylindrical then campan. edge slightly striate, glabrous, viscid, ochre, . - cm.; g. slightly adnexed; s. - cm. smooth, hollow, white; sp. ----. =alternatus=, fr. p. hemisph. then discoid, even, glabrous, chalk-white disc pale umber, cm.; g. adnate; s. whitish, hollow, - cm.; sp. × - . =digitalis=, fr. p. ovate then campan. whitish disc darker, glabrous, striate up to disc, . cm.; g. slightly adnexed; s. - cm. whitish, equal; sp. ----. when mature the p. is sometimes livid olive or yellowish grey, and g. appear to be adnate. [=diaphanus=, q. every part translucent and glabrous. p. grooved, edge crenulate, silvery with a central tawny spot, - mm.; g. adnate; s. capillary, glabrous, - cm.; sp. long. differs from _c. plicatilis_ in adnate g. [=sceptrum=, fr. p. campan. papillately umb. deeply sulcate, pellucid, tinged grey; g. adnate to a collar; s. pellucid. =erythrocephalus=, fr. p. cylindrical then campan. reddish vermilion becoming grey, silky, edge very finely striate, cm.; g. slightly adnexed; s. - cm. paler than p. ++ _gills free, sometimes attached to a collar._ § _stem downy or pulverulent._ [=godeyi=, gillet. p. subglobose, distantly grooved, glabrous, pellucid, disc ochre, grey between the ribs, - mm.; g. free; s. cm. pellucid, sprinkled with white flecks below. [=semistriatus=, pat. p. ovate then campan. glabrous, disc even, yellowish, striate and grey up to disc, cm.; g. attached to a collar; s. - cm. white, pruinose; sp. subcircular, compressed, - broad, thick. §§ _stem glabrous._ =plicatilis=, fr. p. thin, cylindric ovate then plane, glabrous, coarsely grooved, pale brown then greyish, disc broad, even, at length depr. darker, - cm.; g. attached to a distant collar; s. - cm. white, smooth, hollow; sp. - × - . =deliquescens=, fr. p. ovate then campan. at length exp. livid grey, disc rufescent, papillose, otherwise glabrous, - cm.; g. free; s. - cm. white, glabrous, hollow; sp. × . differs from _c. atramentarius_ in free gills. [=miser=, karst. p. subglobose then exp. pellucid, tinged grey, plicate, glabrous; g. distant from stem, few in number; s. hyaline, glabrous; sp. - × - . =eburneus=, q. entirely white, shining; elliptic-campan. firm, striate, rarely with a few flecks, - cm.; g. free; s. firm, glabrous; sp. long. =hemerobius=, fr. p. ovate then campan. . - . cm. coarsely grooved, disc even, bay, not depr.; g. attached to an imperfect collar; s. - cm. fragile, pallid; sp. - × . differs from _c. velaris_ in imperfect collar, and from _c. plicatilis_ in disc not being depressed. [=rapidus=, fr. p. cylindrical then plane, coarsely grooved, pale drab, glabrous, often slightly wavy, . - . cm.; g. free, close to stem, brown; s. - cm. white, glabrous. [=phyllophilus=, karst. p. campan. then exp. glabrous, sulcate, dingy ochre becoming sooty; g. close to stem; s. pellucid, pruinose then naked; sp. angularly ovate, - × . [=velaris=, fr. p. . cm. at first globose, then hemisph. coarsely striate, lurid, disc brownish, not depr.; g. black, edge white; s. - cm. pellucid, base downy; sp. - × . [=pellucidus=, karst. p. obovate then hemispher. obtuse, sulcate, glabrous, whitish or yellowish then hyaline and greyish with a darker central spot; g. crowded; s. wavy, glabrous, pellucid; sp. - × . =schroteri=, karst. p. elliptical then exp. sulcate, glabrous, dingy ochre then pale, at length sooty-grey; g. brown; s. slightly pulverulent at first, slightly striate upwards; sp. angularly globose, - × - . var. _proximellus_, massee (= _c. proximellus_, karst.) spores elliptical, - × - , otherwise as type. montagnites, fr. [=candollei=, fr. p. - cm.; g. narrowed behind, broad, dark grey then blackish; s. elongated fibroso-striate, hollow, tawny, volva fleshy, persistent. [=pallassii=, fr. p. thin, plane; g. smooth, black; s. very long rooting, volva absent; sp. × . addenda. _species accidentally omitted, or published during the progress of this work._ =lepiota bresadolae=, schulz. (= _l. cupreus_, schulz.). p. - cm. umb. subcylindrical then broadly campan. at first glabrous and entirely coppery, then broken up into broad, fibrillose subimbricate scales; g. remote, narrowed at both ends, crowded, white then pallid; s. clavate at base which is coppery, pale above, ring white then coppery; sp. - long. (next _l. mastoidea_, p. .) =lepiota minuta=, vogl. p. - mm. slightly fleshy, even, campanulate then exp. brick-red, viscid; g. free, white, densely crowded; s. equal, even, dry, brownish, with a very narrow ring; sp. globose, - . (near _lepiota delicata_, p. .) schulzeria, bresad. flesh of stem distinct from that of pileus; gills free and remote from the stem; spores hyaline; ring and volva absent. this genus follows _lepiota_, from which it differs in the absence of a ring. =schulzeria squamigera=, schulz. and bres. p. about cm. rather fleshy, convex then exp. dry, umber at first then whitish, surface broken up into fibrous brownish-umber scales; g. crowded, subventricose, white, free, somewhat remote from stem, mm. broad; s. equal, whitish, with lax umber scales which soon disappear; flesh white, compact; sp. - × . =schulzeria rimulosa=, schulz. and bres. p. - cm. fleshy, hemispher. then exp. rather irreg. even, glabrous, dry, lurid white, epidermis falling away then becoming areolately cracked; g. rather distant, - mm. broad, white then straw-colour, rounded at both ends, sometimes subsinuate behind, free, remote; s. equal, subexcentric, glabrous, colour of p.; sp. - × . =schulzeria septentrionalis=, karst. p. about cm. fleshy, soft, convex then exp. subumb. even, glabrous, dry, whitish; g. free, remote, broad, whitish, somewhat crowded; s. central, equal, base slightly bulbous, distinct from flesh of p. glabrous, whitish. =tricholoma czarnii=, roum. (= _ag. prasinus_, lasch. in part). p. - cm. very fleshy, convex then convex-plane, rather viscid, yellowish, disc darker, glabrous, edge slightly fibrillose; g. crowded; arcuate, broad, emarginate, pallid, rosy in section; s. solid, straight, clavate, slightly striate, colour of p., not longer than thick; sp. ----. allied to _t. coryphaeum_, differing in general aspect of p., g. never yellow-edged, less viscid, and no smell. (next _t. coryphaeum_, p. .) =tricholoma bresadolae=, schulz. taste very acrid. p. - cm. entirely fleshy, irreg. edge sinuous, sometimes depressed at the centre, rather viscid when young, then dry, even, edge sometimes tuberculoso-sulcate, umber; g. distant, very thick, rounded in front, narrowed behind but not decur., cm. and more broad, whitish; s. cylindrical, obconic or cuspidate towards base, whitish, sometimes tinged umber, glabrous; sp. - × . (next to _t. spermaticum_, p. .) =tricholoma fallaciosum=, quel. and schulz. (= _ag. platyrhizus_, schulz.) p. - cm. irreg. subglobose; vertex elevated but not umb. fleshy, brown, at first very dark then paler at edge, not shining, glabrous, even; g. partly free, rounded behind and cuspidate in front, brownish then pale, edge clear cinnamon; s. somewhat conoid, base pale sulphur yellow with copious strands and plates of white mycelium, central portion pale cinnamon, apex white and pulverulent; sp. - long. (next _t. scalpturatum_, p. .) =tricholoma gauteraudii=, roum. p. - cm. convex then plane, mammillate, centre pale yellowish, somewhat silky, rest glabrous, even, dry, whitish; g. broad, emarginate, whitish; s. white, base yellowish, solid, equal; flesh white, insipid and inodorous. (next _t. inamoenum_, p. .) =clitocybe subviscifera=, karst. p. - cm. thin, convex then plane, sometimes becoming depr. orbicular or somewhat wavy, even, glabrous, viscid, whitish, disc usually become stained with rufous, then discoloured; g. deeply decur. distant, branched or connected by veins, pallid white; s. hollow, equal, flocculosely-scurfy, pallid; sp. - × - . (next to _c. pithyophila_, p. .) =cortinarius= (phleg.) =centrifugus=, fr. p. plano-depr. glabrous, viscid, discoid, yellowish brown-violet then yellow, margin verdigris green; g. emarginate, rather crowded, crenulate, pinkish violet then cinnamon; s. solid, stout, clavato-bulbous, almost glabrous, white; flesh white; sp. ----. (follows _c. riederi_, p. .) =cortinarius= (phleg.) =latus=, fr. p. - cm. exp. almost glabrous, moist, scarcely viscid, tan, disc darker; g. emarginate, subentire, crowded, clay-colour cinnamon; s. solid, fibrillose, pallid white, apex flocculose, cortina forming a superior persistent annulus, bulbous then subequal; flesh white; sp. ----. (next _c. percomis_, p. .) =cortinarius= (phleg.) =subtortus=, fr. p. - cm. convex, exp. obtuse, soft, glabrous, not striate, viscid, tan then pale, becoming rugulose; g. rounded, adnate, connected by veins, very broad, rather distant, greyish olive; s. unequal, rather twisted, becoming pale, apex partly hollow, scarcely tinged blue; sp. ----. (before _c. anfractus_, p. .) =cortinarius= (phleg.) =jasmineus=, fr. p. exp. gibbous, wavy, lacunose, rugose, viscid, dingy olive, disc at first fuscous then yellowish, opaque; flesh yellowish ochre; g. subadnate, very broad, rather crowded, pallid olive; s. stuffed, subequal, bluish, violet punctate, apex white; sp. ----. (next _c. anfractus_, p. .) =cortinarius= (phleg.) =elotus=, fr. acrid. p. subpulvinate, unequal, glabrous, slightly viscid, sooty then tawny tan, edge darker and at length striate; g. emarginate, rather distant, pallid then olive tan; s. short, fibrillose, pallid, marginate bulb obsolete; sp. ----. (next _c. talus_, p. .) =cortinarius= (phleg.) =arquatus=, fr. p. equal, even, very glabrous, viscid, discoid, disc bay, edge yellowish, polished and shining when dry; g. subadnate, crowded, purplish then cinnamon; s. solid, pallid, except the obconic marginate bulb, apex tinged blue inside and out; sp. ----. (next _c. purpurascens_, p. .) =cortinarius= (phleg.) =causticus=, fr. smell strong. p. convexo-plane, obtuse, glabrous, punctate, hygrophanous, very viscid, tawny when moist, then pale; g. ventricoso-emarginate, scarcely crowded, broad, whitish yellow; s. firm, elastic, glabrous, shining white; sp. ----. (next _c. emollitius_, p. .) =cortinarius= (phleg.) =vespertinus=, fr. p. convexo-plane, soft, glabrous, obsoletely viscid, subrugose, yellow, sometimes pale; g. emarginate, very broad, crowded, tawny cinnamon, transversely veined, edge whitish; s. solid, elongated, rather slender, fibrillose, shining white, base thickened; sp. ----. (next _c. intentus_, p. .) =cortinarius= (phleg.) =liratus=, fr. p. - cm. thin, convexo-plane, very glabrous, hygrophanous, viscid, radiately lacunose near the edge, honey-colour then somewhat ochre; g. emarginate, crowded, pale rusty; s. filled with pith limited by a dark horny line, equal, fibrillose, yellowish, base thickened; sp. ----. (before _c. intentus_, p. .) =cortinarius= (phleg.) =amurceus=, fr. p. convexo-plane, squamulosely papillose, viscid, sometimes gibbous, honey-tan; g. entirely adnate, distant, yellowish olive; s. solid, pallid, somewhat attenuated; sp. ----. (next _c. olivascens_, p. .) =coprinus purpureophyllus=, jacobasch. p. - . cm. conico-campan. torn, diaphanous, pale greyish-yellow, sulcate up to apex, covered with grey squamules which soon disappear; g. white then intense purplish violet, finally blackish, linear, ascending, crowded, adnexed, deliquescent; s. white, silky, generally curved, narrowed upwards from the subbulbous strigose base, apex white-mealy, remainder glabrous, fragile; sp. . - . × . . growing on birch branches. (next to _coprinus roris_, p. .) corrections. =armillaria focalis=, fr. (p. ), should be placed in the genus _lepiota_, following _l. naucina_, fr., p. . =cortinarius subsimilis=, fr. (p. ), should be placed under the section "_gills olive or smoky_," p. . =cortinarius karstenii=, sacc. and syd. this name should replace _cort. olivascens_, karsten, p. . there is an earlier _cort. olivascens_, fries, p. . bibliography. _the following short list of comparatively recent works indicates where more detailed descriptions and illustrations of european agarics may be consulted._ general works, containing descriptions of the agarics of more than one country. hymenomycetes europaei, sive epicriseos systematis mycologici; elias fries. ed. ii. upsala, . (although not of recent date, this work cannot be omitted, inasmuch as it embodies the experience of over fifty years of continuous observation on the part of the author, and is the sheet-anchor of the present generation of mycologists. written in latin.) sylloge fungorum omnium hucusque cognitorum; p. a. saccardo. vol. v. padua, . (contains descriptions of all european agarics up to date of publication. later discoveries are contained in various supplements. written in latin.) rysslands, finlands och den skandinaviska halföns hattsvampar; p. a. karsten. helsingfors, . (descriptions of russian, finnish and scandinavian agarics, in swedish. it is in this work where fries' subgenera, as amanita, etc. are first raised to specific rank. written in swedish.) die pilze deutschlands, oesterreichs und der schweiz; georg winter. leipzig, . (this forms the first volume of rabenhorst's 'kryptogamen-flora von deutschland, oesterreich und der schweiz,' and contains along with other fungi, descriptions of the agarics of germany, austria and switzerland, in german.) flore mycologique de la france et des pays limitrophes; lucien quélet. paris, . (this is undoubtedly the best and latest work containing detailed descriptions of the basidiomycetes of central and western europe. the systematic arrangement is new and somewhat perplexing, and the index is a terror. written in french.) great britain. illustrations of british fungi; m. c. cooke. london, - . (this is by far the most important, and at the same time the most comprehensive series of coloured figures of agarics ever published in any country, including plates.) handbook of british fungi; m. c. cooke. london, . (this work is a second edition of cooke's 'handbook of british fungi,' london, , and contains descriptions of all the figures given in the 'illustrations of british fungi.') british fungus-flora; geo. massee. vols. london, - . (the first three volumes include all the british agarics up to date of publication. in addition to a diagnosis of each species, critical notes by fries, berkeley, cooke and other mycologists are appended.) france. les hyménomycètes, ou description de tous les champignons (fungi) qui croissent en france; c. c. gillet. alençon, - . (contains descriptions of all known french hymenomycetes, illustrated by coloured plates, vo. in french.) figures peintes de champignons de la france; l. lucand, - . (a series of beautifully executed figures, mostly agarics, on plates to size. the number of copies was in the first instance very limited, and prepared only for subscribers. no descriptive text; names and synonyms given on the plates.) germany. die pilze schlesiens; j. schroeter. breslau, . (this work constitutes vol. iii. part i. of cohn's kryptogamen-flora von schlesien, and contains full descriptions of all agarics indigenous to silesia. in german.) sweden. icones selectae hymenomycetum nondum delineatorum; elias fries. stockholm, . (an indispensable work to the student of the agaricaceae, containing descriptions and coloured figures of numerous species on to. plates. written in latin.) austria. fungi tridentini novi, vel nondum delineati, descripti, et iconibus illustrati; j. bresadola. tridenti, -. (this work contains very full descriptions of new or critical species, mostly agarics, which are illustrated in colour on plates, vo. written in latin. this work appears in parts at irregular intervals, and is still going on.) italy. flore mycologique illustrée. les champignons des alpes-maritimes; j. b. barla. nice, - . (an excellent work, to size, containing coloured illustrations of new, rare, or critical agarics on plates. in french.) holland. révision des champignons tant supérieurs qu'inférieurs trouvés jusqu'à ce jour dans les pays-bas; c. a. j. a. oudemans. amsterdam, . (vol. i. of this work contains descriptions and valuable original comments of all the hymenomycetes, gasteromycetes, and hypodermei met with in holland. written in french.) index. abhorrens (omp.), abietina (lenz.), abjecta (ino.), abrupta (flam.), abstrusa (nau.), acerbum (trich.), acerinus (pleu.), acerosus (pleu.), acervata (col.), acetabulosa (loc.), acicula (myc.), acris (lac.), actinophorus (mar.), acuminatus (paneo.), acutesquamosa (lepi.), acutus (cort.), acuus (ecc.), adhaerens (lent.), adiposa (phol.), adnata (amtop.), adonis (myc.), adsentiens (cli.), adunata (cli.), adusta (rus.), aegerita (phol.), aelopodium (hyp.), aemulans (lep.), aerina (col.), aeruginea (rus.), aeruginosa (stro.), aestuans (trich.), aethiops (lep.), aetites (myc.), affinis (bolb.), affinis (copr.), affricata (omp.), =agaricus=, agathosmus (hyg.), aghardhii (flam.), aggregata (cli.), agraria (bil.), albellum (trich.), albertinii (copr.), albertinii (pleu.), albida (lenz.), albidus (can.), albidus (hyg.), albidopallens (omp.), albipes (ino.), albobrunneum (trich.), albocyanea (stro.), albocyaneus (cort.), albofimbriatum (trich.), albonitens (stro.), albosericea (arm.), alboviolaceus (cort.), albula (omp.), albulus (copr.), album (trich.), albus (copr.), albus (hyg.), alcalina (myc.), aldridgei (flam.), aleuriatus (pluteo.), alexandri (loc.), alexandri (pax.), algeriensis (pilo.), algidus (pleu.), alliaceus (mar.), allutus (cort.), almeni (pleu.), alnicola (flam.), alopecia (copr.), alpinus (cort.), alternatus (copr.), alumna (col.), alutacea (cli.), alutacea (ann.), alutacea (rus.), alutaceorubens (hyg.), alutipes (cort.), alveolus (crep.), amadelphus (mar.), =amanita=, =amanitopsis=, amara (cli.), amarella (cli.), amarescens (nau.), ambigua (cli.), ambiguus (pleu.), ambrosii (arm.), ambusta (col.), ameides (ent.), amethystinum (trich.), amethystinus (agar.), amethystinus (can.), amianthina (lepi.), amici (aman.), amicta (myc.), amicus (trich.), ammoniaca (myc.), ammophila (psil.), ammophilus (agar.), amoena (nau.), ampelina (psath'lla), ampla (cli.), amurceus (cort.), anapacta (cli.), anatina (lep.), androsaceus (mar.), =anellaria=, anfractus (cort.), anguinea (nau.), angulatus (mar.), angulosus (cort.), angustissima (cli.), angustus (agar.), angustus (clitop.), anisatus (lent.), =annularia=, anomalus (cort.), anthracinus (cort.), anthrocophila (tub.), antipoda (gal.), apala (gal.), aphthosus (copr.), apicalis (bolb.), apicrea (flam.), apiculata (ecc.), appendiculatum (hyp.), applicatus (can.), applicatus (pleu.), applanata (cli.), applanatus (crep.), aquatilis (gal.), aquifolii (pleu.), aquila (lep.), aquosa (col.), arata (psath'lla), aratus (copr.), arbustivus (hyg.), archyropus (mar.), arcuatum (trich.), ardosiacum (ent.), arenaria (vol.), arenarius (cort.), arenarius (pleu.), arenatus (cort.), arenicola (omp.), areolata (psil.), argematus (lac.), argentatus (cort.), argutus (cort.), arida (aman.), armeniaca (rus.), armeniacus (cort.), =armillaria=, armillatus (cort.), arnoldii (cli.), aromaticus (hyg.), arquatus (cort.), =arrhenia=, artemisiae (hyp.), arvalis (nau.), arvensis (agar.), arvinaceus (cort.), asema (col.), asinina (ino.), aspera (aman.), asperella (psath'lla), aspideus (lac.), asprellus (lep.), asterophora (nyc.), asterospora (ino.), astragalina (flam.), atomata (psath'lla), atramentarius (copr.), atramentosa (col.), atrata (col.), atrides (ecc.), atripes (omp.), atroalba (myc.), atrobrunnea (psil.), atrocinereum (trich.), atrocoeruleus (pleu.), atrocrocea (lepi.), atrocyanea (myc.), atromarginata (myc.), atropuncta (ecc.), atropurpurea (rus.), atrorufa (psil.), atrotomentosus (pax.), atrovirens (cort.), attenuatus (copr.), aurantia (arm.), aurantiacus (can.), aurantiacus (lac.), aurantiomarginata (myc.), aurantiorugosus (plut.), aurata (rus.), aurata (rus.), aurata (trich.), aurea (phol.), aureola (aman.), aureus (hyg.), auricolor (lent.), auricomus (copr.), auricula (cli.), auricula (lent.), auriscalpium (arrh.), aurivella (phol.), austera (flam.), autochthona (tub.), avenacea (myc.), azurea (rus.), azureus (cort.), azyma (flam.), babingtonii (nol.), baccata (amtop.), badhami (lepi.), badipes (nau.), badius (lent.), balanina (myc.), balaustinus (cort.), balteatus (cort.), barlae (psath.), batschianum (ent.), battarrae (pleu.), battarrae (stro.), bella (cli.), belliae (omp.), benoistii (col.), benzoinii (myc.), berkeleyi (myc.), bernardii (agar.), betulina (lenz.), bibula (omp.), bibulus (cort.), bicolor (cort.), bicolor (hyg.), biformis (cort.), biformis (psath'lla), bifrons (psath.), bifurcata (cli.), biornata (lepi.), bipellis (psath.), birrum (heb.), bisontinum (trich.), bisus (lent.), bitorquis (agar.), bivelus (cort.), bizzozerianum (lep.), blattaria (phol.), blennius (lac.), bloxami (ent.), bolaris (cort.), =bolbitius=, boltoni (bolb.), bombycina (vol.), bona (rus.), bongardii (ino.), boreale (trich.), boudieri (amtop.), boudieri (copr.), boudieri (lepi.), boudieri (trich.), bovinus (cort.), brachypodes (can.), brebissoni (lepi.), bresadolae (amtop.), bresadolae (copr.), bresadolae (hyg.), bresadolae (lent.), bresadolae (lenz.), bresadolae (lepi.), bresadolae (lep.), bresadolae (nol.), bresadolae (pilo.), bresadolae (trich.), brevipes (trich.), brigantii (phol.), britzelmayri (copr.), brownii (can.), brumalis (cli.), brunandi (copr.), brunnea (ino.), brunneofulvus (cort.), brunneoincarnata (lepi.), brunneola (omp.), brunneus (cort.), bryophila (nau.), bryophila (nol.), bryophilus (can.), buccinalis (omp.), bucknallii (lepi.), bufonium (trich.), bulbigera (arm.), bulbigenum (ent.), bulbillosus (bolb.), bulbillosus (copr.), bulbosus (cort.), bullacea (psil.), bulliardii (cort.), bulliardii (mar.), bullula (omp.), butyracea (col.), buxbaumii (hyp.), buxi (mar.), byssisedus (claud.), cacaba (cli.), caducus (copr.), caelatum (trich.), caerulescens (cort.), caesarea (aman.), caesariata (ino.), caesiolivida (myc.), caesiozonatus (pleu.), caespitosa (omp.), calamistrata (ino.), calatha (cli.), calceata (stro.), caldarii (col.), caldarius (agar.), caligata (arm.), caliginosa (nyc.), caliginosus (paneo.), calimorpha (lep.), callisteus (cort.), callosa (psil.), calochrous (cort.), calolepis (crep.), calophylla (ecc.), calophyllus (hyg.), calopus (cort.), calopus (mar.), calospora (ino.), calyptraeformis (hyg.), calyptratus (pleu.), camarus (cort.), camelina (lep.), camerina (nau.), campanella (omp.), campanulata (gal.), campanulatus (paneo.), campestris (agar.), campestris (omp.), camphoratus (cort.), camphoratus (lac.), camptophylla (omp.), canaliculata (nyc.), cancrinus (clitop.), candelaris (cort.), candicans (cli.), candida (cli.), candida (omp.), candidus (mar.), candidus (plut.), candolleanum (hyp.), candollei (mont.), canescens (myc.), caninus (cort.), canobrunnea (psil.), canofaciens (psil.), =cantharellus=, canus (pleu.), caperata (phol.), capillacea (stro.), capillaris (myc.), capistrata (phol.), capniocephalum (heb.), capnoides (hyp.), capreolarius (hyg.), capsicoides (lac.), capsicum (lac.), capucina (ino.), caput-medusae (stro.), carbonaria (flam.), carbonarius (can.), carcharias (lepi.), cardarella (cli.), caricicola (tub.), cariosa (aman.), carneifolia (lepi.), carneoalbus (clitop.), carneogrisea (ecc.), carneolum (trich.), carneovirens (nol.), carneosanguinea (myc.), carneum (trich.), carpathicus (mar.), carpinus (hyg.), carpophila (nau.), carpta (ino.), cartilagineum (trich.), cascum (hyp.), castanea (lepi.), castaneus (cort.), castoreus (lent.), catarium (hyp.), catervata (psil.), catina (cli.), caudata (psath'lla), caussetta (arm.), causticus (cort.), cauticinalis (mar.), centrifugus (trich.), centunculus (nau.), centurio (trich.), cepaestipes (lepi.), cephalixus (cort.), ceraceus (hyg.), cerasina (rus.), cerasinus (hyg.), cerifera (phol.), cerinum (trich.), cernua (psil.), cerodes (nau.), cerussata (cli.), cervina (cli.), cervinus (plut.), cesatii (crep.), cessans (col.), cetrata (nol.), chalybea (lep.), chamaelontina (rus.), chelidonia (myc.), chimnophilus (crep.), chioneus (pleu.), =chitonia=, chlorantha (myc.), chlorocyanea (omp.), chloroides (rus.), chlorophanus (hyg.), chloropolius (lep.), chondroderma (psil.), chordalis (mar.), christinae (nau.), chrysenterum (trich.), chrysodon (hyg.), chrysoleuca (omp.), chrysophaeus (plut.), chrysophylla (omp.), chrysophyllus (pax.), chrysorrheus (lac.), cibarius (can.), cicatrisatus (clitop.), cidaris (nau.), cilicioides (lac.), cimicarius (lac.), cimmeria (myc.), cincinnata (ino.), cinerascens (trich.), cineratus (copr.), cinerea (aman.), cinerea (myc.), cinerella (myc.), cinereoviolascens (cort.), cinereus (can.), cinereus (plut.), cingulata (arm.), cinnabarina (lepi.), cinnamomaeifolia (col.), cinnamomea (lenz.), cinnamomeus (cort.), circellatus (lac.), circellatipes (psath'lla), circinans (heb.), circinatus (pleu.), circumtectum (trich.), cirrhata (col.), citri (arm.), citrina (aman.), citrina (rus.), citrinella (myc.), citrinocroceus (hyg.), citrinomarginata (myc.), citriophylla (lepi.), civile (trich.), cladophylla (myc.), clandestina (nol.), claricolor (cort.), clarkii (hyg.), clarkii (ino.), claroflava (rus.), =claudopus=, claviceps (heb.), clavicularis (myc.), clavipes (cli.), clavus (col.), cliduchus (cort.), =clitocybe=, clitopila (flam.), =clitopilus=, clivalis (hyg.), clivensis (psil.), clusilis (col.), clypeatum (ent.), clypeolaria (lepi.), cnista (trich.), coccineus (hyg.), coccola (aman.), cochlearis (panus), cochleatus (lent.), cocles (nol.), codoniceps (myc.), coelestina (nol.), coemansii (can.), coerulea (rus.), coffeata (cli.), cohaerens (myc.), colemannianus (hyg.), collariata (myc.), collina (col.), collinitus (cort.), =collybia=, colossus (trich.), colubrina (lepi.), colus (cort.), colymbadinus (cort.), comatus (copr.), comitalis (cli.), committa (ino.), commune (schiz.), comosa (phol.), compactum (trich.), compar (cort.), compta (psil.), comptulus (agar.), concava (cli.), concentricus (clitop.), conchatus (panus), concolor (col.), conditus (copr.), conferta (gal.), confluens (col.), conformata (ino.), confragosa (phol.), confusa (ino.), conglobatum (trich.), congregatus (copr.), conicus (hyg.), conigena (col.), conissans (flam.), connata (cli.), connatus (hyg.), connexifolia (ino.), conocephalus (bolb.), conopilea (psath.), consentiens (stro.), consimilis (myc.), consimilis (psath'lla), consobrina (rus.), conspersa (nau.), constricta (arm.), contortus (lent.), controversus (lac.), cookei (ent.), cookei (ino.), coöpertus (copr.), coprinifacies (stro.), =coprinus=, coprinus (chit.), coprophila (psil.), coracina (col.), cordae (ent.), coriaceus (can.), coriarium (hyp.), coripellis (pleu.), corneipes (psil.), cornucopoides (pleu.), cornui (omp.), coronatum (hyp.), coronilla (stro.), corrosus (cort.), corrugis (psath.), corruscans (cort.), corticatus (pleu.), corticola (myc.), =cortinarius=, cortinata (flam.), cortinata (ino.), cortiseda (omp.), corydalina (ino.), coryphaeum (trich.), cossus (hyg.), costatula (omp.), costatum (ent.), cothurnata (stro.), cothurnatus (copr.), cotonea (stro.), cotoneus (cort.), crampylus (lac.), craspedius (pleu.), crassifolium (trich.), crassus (cort.), crassus (pax.), craterellus (pleu.), craticus (cort.), cremor (lac.), crenata (psath'lla), crenulata (myc.), =crepidotus=, cretaceus (agar.), cretatus (clitop.), crispa (trog.), crispula (omp.), cristata (lepi.), cristallinus (cort.), crobula (tub.), crocata (myc.), croceocoeruleus (cort.), croceoconus (cort.), croceofulvis (cort.), crocolitus (cort.), cruenta (myc.), cruentata (nol.), cruentata (phol.), crucibulum (can.), crustuliniforme (heb.), cryptarum (cli.), cryptarum (nyc.), cucullata (ino.), cucumis (nau.), cudon (ent.), cumatilis (cort.), cuneata (nol.), cuneifolia (omp.), cuneifolium (trich.), _cupreus_ (lepi.), cupularis (arrh.), cupularis (tub.), cupulatus (can.), cupulatus (copr.), curreyi (ino.), curreyi (mar.), curtipes (cli.), curtus (plut.), curvipes (ino.), curvipoda (phol.), cuspidata (omp.), cutefracta (rus.), cyanites (cort.), cyanophaea (cli.), cyanophylla (omp.), cyanopus (cort.), cyanopus (plut.), cyanorhiza (myc.), cyanoxantha (rus.), cyathicula (lac.), cyathiformis (cli.), cyathiformis (panus), cyclodes (copr.), cygnea (amtop.), cylindracea (phol.), cylindricus (copr.), cyphellaeformis (pleu.), cypriacus (cort.), czarnii (trich.), daemonica (col.), damascenus (cort.), dealbata (cli.), debilipes (ino.), debilis (myc.), decastes (cli.), decipiens (cort.), decipiens (flam.), decipiens (ino.), decipiens (lac.), declinis (col.), decolorans (cort.), decolorans (rus.), decoloratus (cort.), decorus (pleu.), decumbens (cort.), decussata (flam.), deflectens (heb.), deflexa (omp.), degener (lent.), degener (xer.), deglubens (ino.), dehiscens (arm.), delastri (panus), delecta (ino.), delibutus (cort.), delica (rus.), delicata (lepi.), deliciosus (lac.), deliquescens (copr.), demisannulata (lepi.), demissa (omp.), denigrata (arm.), densifolia (lepi.), densifolia (rus.), denudata (lepi.), depallens (rus.), depexus (cort.), depilata (stro.), depluens (claud.), depressus (cort.), descissa (ino.), destricta (ino.), destruens (phol.), detonsus (cort.), detrusa (omp.), diabolicus (cort.), diaphanus (copr.), diatreta (cli.), dibaphus (cort.), dichroa (psil.), dichroum (ent.), dictyorhizus (pleu.), dictyotus (pluteo.), difformis (cli.), diffractum (heb.), digitalis (copr.), dilatata (myc.), dilectus (copr.), dilutus (cort.), directa (omp.), discoideus (hyg.), discopoda (myc.), disjungendus (cort.), dispar (mar.), dispersum (hyp.), disseminata (psath'lla), dissiliens (myc.), dissimulans (phol.), dissultans (trich.), distans (hyg.), distorta (col.), ditopa (cli.), divergens (copr.), djakovensis (phol.), dolabratus (cort.), domesticus (copr.), domesticus (lent.), dorotheae (col.), dothiophora (cli.), drimeia (rus.), dryinus (pleu.), dryophila (col.), dulcamara (ino.), dulcidulus (agar.), dumosa (omp.), dunalii (lent.), dura (phol.), duracinum (trich.), duracinus (cort.), eburneus (copr.), eburneus (hyg.), =eccilia=, echinata (ino.), echinella (lepi.), echinipes (myc.), echinocephala (aman.), echinospora (nau.), ectypa (cli.), effocatella (cli.), effugiens (nau.), _effugiens_ (nauc.), egenulum (hyp.), egregius (paneo.), elaeodes (hyp.), elaphinum (ent.), elata (psath.), elatellum (heb.), elatior (cort.), elatum (heb.), elegans (myc.), elegans (rus.), elegantior (cort.), elephantina (rus.), elevata (col.), eliae (aman.), elixa (cli.), elotus (cort.), elvensis (agar.), elytroides (trich.), embola (tub.), emetica (rus.), emollitius (cort.), emplastra (lepi.), empyreumatica (psath'lla), emunctus (cort.), enchymosa (nau.), =entoloma=, ephebius (plut.), ephemeroides (copr.), ephemerus (copr.), epibryus (crep.), epichloe (mar.), epichysia (omp.), epigaeus (crep.), epiphloea (myc.), epiphyllus (mar.), epipoleus (cort.), epipphia (col.), epipterygia (myc.), epixanthum (hyp.), epodius (mar.), equestre (trich.), equinus (copr.), erebia (phol.), ericaea (psil.), ericetorum (cli.), erinacea (nau.), erminea (lepi.), erophilum (ent.), erosa (col.), erubescens (hyg.), erugatus (cort.), eryngii (pleu.), erythrinus (cort.), erythrocephalus (copr.), erythropus (mar.), escharoides (nau.), esculenta (col.), euchlora (lep.), euchroa (lep.), eustygia (col.), eutheles (ino.), evanidus (copr.), evernius (cort.), excelsa (aman.), excentricum (ent.), excisa (myc.), _excisa_ (myc.), excoriata (lepi.), exiguus (plut.), exilis (nol.), expallens (cli.), expolita (psath'lla), exsculpta (col.), exscissum (trich.), exstinctorius (copr.), extenuatus (pax.), extuberans (col.), eyrei (chlor.), fagicola (psath.), falkii (psath.), fallaciosum (trich.), fallax (cort.), fallax (trich.), farinaceus (panus), farneus (panus), farrea (myc.), fasciata (ino.), fasciatus (cort.), fasciculare (hyp.), fascicularis (can.), fascinans (lac.), fastibile (heb.), fastigiata (ino.), fatuus (psath.), faventina (lenz.), faveolaris (mar.), favillarum (trich.), felina (lepi.), felinum (hyp.), fellea (rus.), fenzlii (ann.), ferrugineo-lateritia (psil.), fertile (ent.), festiva (nau.), fibrillosa (psath.), fibrosa (ino.), fibula (omp.), filia (flam.), filicea (flam.), filiformis (copr.), filopes (myc.), fimbriatus (lent.), fimbriatus (pleu.), fimetarius (copr.), fimicola (arrh.), fimicola (myc.), fimicola (paneo.), fimiputris (anel.), fingibilis (rus.), firmum (heb.), firmus (cort.), flabelliformis (lent.), flabellum (panus), flabellus (cort.), flacca (nau.), flaccida (cli.), flaccida (lenz.), flammans (phol.), flammeolus (lac.), =flammula=, flavella (ino.), flavescens (agar.), flavescens (agar.), flavescens (agar.), flavida (flam.), flavidus (bolb.), flavidus (lac.), flavipes (myc.), flavoalba (myc.), flavobrunneum (trich.), flavus (hyg.), flexipes (cort.), flexipes (gal.), flexuosus (lac.), floccifera (flam.), floccipes (col.), flocculosa (ino.), flocculosus (copr.), floridula (col.), flosculus (ecc.), flosculus (mar.), fluens (lac.), fluxilis (pleu.), focalis (arm.), foeniculaceus (mar.), foenisecii (psil.), foetida (rus.), foetidissima (col.), foetidus (mar.), foetens (hyg.), foetens (panus), foetens (rus.), formosa (lep.), fornicatus (hyg.), forquignoni (copr.), forquignoni (lepi.), forquignoni (lep.), fracida (arm.), fragilis (bolb.), fragilis (rus.), fragrans (cli.), friabilis (amtop.), friabilis (lent.), friesii (can.), friesii (copr.), friesii (hyg.), friesii (lepi.), fritilliformis (cli.), frumentaceum (trich.), frustulenta (psath.), frustulosum (copr.), fucatophyllus (cort.), fucatum (trich.), fulgens (cort.), fuliginaria (col.), fuliginarium (ent.), fuliginosus (lac.), fulmineus (cort.), fulvella (ino.), fulvellum (trich.), fulvescens (cort.), fulvidus (panus), fulvostrigosa (nol.), fumosa (cli.), fumosella (nol.), funicularis (col.), furcata (rus.), furfuracea (tub.), furnacea (lepi.), furvellus (pleu.), furvum (trich.), fusca (phol.), fuscescens (copr.), fuscoalbus (hyg.), fuscomarginata (myc.), fuscopurpureus (mar.), fuscus (lac.), fusipes (col.), fusipes (heb.), fusoidea (stro.), fusus (flam.), gadinoides (pleu.), gaillardii (ino.), =galera=, galericulata (myc.), galeropsis (myc.), gallicus (lent.), gallinacea (cli.), galopoda (myc.), gambosum (trich.), garidelli (cli.), gangraenosa (cli.), gausapatum (trich.), gauteraudii (trich.), gelidus (mar.), geminum (trich.), gemmata (amtop.), gemmellari (pleur.), geniculatus (agar.), geoginus (pleu.), geophylla (ino.), georgii (trich.), georginae (lepi.), geotropa (cli.), germanus (cort.), gentilis (cort.), gibba (omp.), gibberosa (phol.), gibbsii (copr.), gigantea (cli.), gilletii (copr.), gilletii (hyp.), gilletii (psil.), gillotii (lep.), gilva (cli.), giovanellae (omp.), glacialis (col.), glandicolor (cort.), glandiformis (nau.), glareosa (psath.), glaucescens (lac.), glaucocanum (trich.), glauconitens (hyg.), glaucophylla (omp.), glaucopus (cort.), glaucus (can.), glaucus (hyg.), glioderma (lepi.), gliocyclus (hyg.), globularis (col.), globularis (mar.), gloiocephala (vol.), glutinifer (hyg.), glutinosum (heb.), glutinosus (gomp.), glyciosmus (lac.), godeyi (amtop.), godeyi (copr.), godeyi (ino.), godeyi (plut.), =gomphidius=, gomphodes (paneo.), goniosperma (trich.), gonophyllus (copr.), gordoni (psath.), gorteri (lep.), gossypina (psath.), gracilenta (lepi.), gracilipes (psath'lla), gracilis (gomp.), gracilis (psath'lla), gracillima (omp.), grallipes (cort.), graminicola (nau.), graminum (mar.), grammata (ino.), grammopodium (trich.), grandiusculus (bolb.), granulatus (panus), granulatus (plut.), granulosa (lepi.), granulosa (rus.), grata (ino.), graveolens (psath'lla), graveolens (trich.), gregaria (phol.), grisea (omp.), grisea (rus.), grisea (vol.), grisella (omp.), griseobadia (psath.), griseocyaneum (ent.), griseofusca (arm.), griseolilacina (omp.), griseopallida (omp.), griseorubella (ecc.), griseotomentosus (pax.), grumata (cli.), gummosa (flam.), gussonei (col.), guttatum (trich.), guttulatus (paneo.), gymnopodia (flam.), gypsea (myc.), gyrans (cli.), gyroflexa (psath.), haemacta (ino.), haematites (arm.), haematochelis (cort.), haematospermus (agar.), haematopoda (myc.), haemorrhoidarius (agar.), hamadryas (nau.), hariolorum (col.), harmoge (flam.), haustellaris (crep.), =hebeloma=, hebepodia (cli.), hebes (psil.), heliophila (nau.), helobia (psath.), helodes (ent.), helomorpha (flam.), helvella (hyg.), helvelloides (cort.), helveola (lepi.), helvola (psil.), helvolus (cort.), helvus (lac.), hemerobius (copr.), hemitrichus (cort.), hendersonii (copr.), henningsii (flam.), hepatica (omp.), herpeticus (cort.), hesperidium (nol.), heteroclita (phol.), heteromorpha (lenz.), heterophylla (rus.), hiascens (psath'lla), =hiatula=, hibala (nau.), hiemale (heb.), hiemalis (myc.), hilaris (nau.), hinnuleus (cort.), hircinus (cort.), hirneola (cli.), hirsuta (omp.), hirsuta (ino.), hirtella (ino.), hirtipes (nol.), hispida (lepi.), hispidosus (lent.), hispidulus (plut.), hiulca (ino.), hobsoni (pleu.), hoeftii (cort.), holophaeum (ent.), holosericea (lepi.), hometi (lac.), hordum (trich.), horizontalis (nau.), hornotinus (lent.), hortensis (cli.), hospitans (trich.), houghtoni (can.), _houghtoni_ (hyg.), hudsoni (mar.), humicola (phol.), humile (trich.), humosa (cli.), hyacinthinus (hyg.), hybrida (flam.), hydrionides (clitop.), hydrogramma (omp.), hydrophila (nau.), hydrophilum (hyp.), hydrophora (psath'lla), hygrophanus (can.), hygrophanus (lent.), =hygrophorus=, hyperborea (amtop.), hyperella (nau.), =hypholoma=, hypnicola (gal.), hypnophilus (pleu.), hypnorum (can.), hypnorum (gal.), hypomelas (paneo.), hypopithys (vol.), hyporrhodius (hyg.), hypothejus (hyg.), hypsipoda (stro.), hypsophilus (crep.), hysginus (lac.), hystrix (ino.), ianthina (lepi.), ianthina (myc.), ianthipes (cort.), ichoratus (lac.), icterina (nol.), ignicolor (lepi.), ignobilis (col.), iliopodius (cort.), illibatus (cort.), illinita (lepi.), illuminus (cort.), imbecilis (ino.), imbricatum (trich.), imbutus (cort.), immundum (trich.), impatiens (psath'lla), impennis (cort.), imperialis (arm.), impolitum (trich.), impolitus (lac.), impudicus (mar.), inaequabilis (claud.), inamoenum (trich.), inamoenus (copr.), inaurata (flam.), incana (lep.), incarnata (ino.), incilis (cli.), incisus (cort.), inclinata (myc.), incomis (omp.), incompta (cli.), incomptum (hyp.), inconcinna (ino.), indutum (ent.), infida (psath'lla), infractus (cort.), infucatus (cort.), infula (nol.), infumata (omp.), infundibiliformis (cli.), infundibuliformis (can.), _infundibuliformis_ (cyph.), ingrata (col.), inhonestus (crep.), injucundus (cort.), innocua (nau.), inoculata (lepi.), =inocybe=, inodermeum (trich.), inodorus (mar.), inolens (col.), inopoda (flam.), inornata (cli.), inquilina (tub.), insidiosa (amtop.), insignis (cli.), insititius (mar.), instratum (hyp.), insulsus (lac.), integra (rus.), integrella (omp.), intentus (cort.), intermedia (rus.), intermedius (copr.), _intermedius_ (copr.), intermedius (hyg.), intermedius (lac.), interveniens (trich.), inuncta (stro.), inversa (cli.), inverseconicus (panus), invita (omp.), _involucratus_ (agar.), involuta (heb.), involutus (lac.), involutus (pax.), ionides (trich.), ionipterus (clitop.), ionipus (pax.), irinum (trich.), iris (cort.), iris (myc.), irregularis (cort.), irrigatus (hyg.), irroratum (hyp.), isabellina (cli.), isabellinus (cort.), ischnostylum (heb.), jasmineus (cort.), jasonis (arm.), jecorinus (lac.), jennyae (nau.), jerdoni (stro.), jubarinus (cort.), jubatum (ent.), jugis (lent.), juglandinus (pleu.), juncea (nol.), juncicola (myc.), juncina (flam.), junghuhnii (cort.), junonia (phol.), junquillea (aman.), _junquillea_ (crep.), jurana (col.), jurana (ino.), juranum (trich.), juranus (can.), kalchbrenneri (omp.), karstenii (hyg.), kerneri (pleu.), kervernii (lep.), kirchneri (mar.), klukii (claud.), kolaensis (phol.), kretschmarii (nol.), krombholzii (cort.), labyrinthica (lenz.), laccata (cli.), lacera (ino.), lacerata (col.), lacrymabundum (hyp.), =lactarius=, lactea (myc.), lactea (rus.), laestadii (omp.), laeta (nau.), laetus (hyg.), laevigata (myc.), laevis (ann.), lagopoides (copr.), lagopus (copr.), lamellirugis (pax.), lampropoda (lep.), lamyanus (panus), lanaripes (hyp.), lanatus (copr.), lancipes (col.), laniger (cort.), languidus (mar.), lanuginosa (ino.), lapponica (nau.), lappula (lep.), laqueata (arm.), larchenfeldii (paneo.), largus (cort.), laschii (arm.), lascivum (trich.), lasiosperma (myc.), lasiosperma (myc.), latebricola (myc.), lateritioroseus (lac.), lateripes (lac.), lateritia (gal.), latissima (nau.), latus (cort.), laureata (psath.), laurocerasi (pleu.), laxipes (col.), laxus (copr.), lazulina (lep.), lebretonii (cort.), leccina (amtop.), lecensis (agar.), leightoni (pleu.), leiocephala (amtop.), lenta (flam.), lenticularis (lepi.), lenticulosa (cli.), lentiginosa (cli.), lentiniformis (col.), =lentinus=, lentulus (clitop.), lentum (trich.), =lenzites=, leochroma (phol.), leoninus (plut.), leontopodius (lent.), lepida (rus.), lepideus (lent.), lepidopus (cort.), lepidotum (hyp.), =lepiota=, lepiotoides (aman.), lepiphylla (cli.), lepista (pax.), leporinus (hyg.), leptocephala (myc.), =leptonia=, leptopus (pax.), lerchenfeldii (copr.), leucocephala (ino.), leucocephalum (trich.), leucogala (myc.), leucomyosotis (col.), leucophaeus (can.), leucophaeus (hyg.), leucophanes (paneo.), leucopheatum (trich.), leucophylla (omp.), leucopus (cort.), leucotephrum (hyp.), leucothites (lepi.), libertata (psil.), licinipes (cort.), licmophora (lepi.), ligatus (hyg.), lignatilis (pleu.), lignicola (lepi.), lignicola (pleu.), ligniotus (lac.), lilacea (col.), lilacea (lepi.), lilacea (rus.), lilacina (omp.), lilacinus (lac.), limacinus (hyg.), limbata (nau.), limonius (cort.), limosa (nol.), limosus (mar.), limpidoides (pleu.), limpidus (pleu.), limulata (flam.), lindgrenii (cort.), lineata (myc.), lingulatus (pleu.), linkii (lep.), linnaei (rus.), lipophila (psil.), liquescens (ent.), liquidus (cort.), liquiritiae (flam.), liratus (cort.), lithophilus (panus), littoralis (mar.), lituua (omp.), livido-albus (hyg.), livido-ochraceus (cort.), lividum (ent.), lividus (lac.), lividus (pax.), livor (cort.), lixivium (trich.), lobatus (can.), =locellina=, longicauda (psath'lla), longicaudum (heb.), longipes (can.), longipes (col.), loricatum (trich.), loripes (col.), loscosii (psath.), loveiana (vol.), lubrica (flam.), lucifera (phol.), lucifuga (ino.), lucorum (cort.), lucorum (hyg.), ludia (col.), luffii (omp.), lugens (heb.), lugubris (nau.), lupina (flam.), lupuletora (col.), luridum (trich.), luridus (lac.), luscina (cli.), lusitanicus (lent.), lustratus (cort.), lutea (aman.), lutea (rus.), luteifolia (col.), luteoalba (myc.), luteocaesius (pleu.), luteolus (bolb.), luteolus (crep.), luteomarginatus (plut.), luteonitens (stro.), luteorufescens (myc.), luteovirens (arm.), luteoviridans (rus.), lutincola (pleu.), luxoviensis (copr.), luxurians (phol.), macelenta (col.), macrocephalus (copr.), macrophylla (cli.), macropus (cort.), macropus (pleu.), macrorhizum (trich.), macrosporus (claud.), maculata (col.), maculata (ino.), maculata (rus.), maculatus (gomp.), maculosus (cort.), madidum (ent.), magna (phol.), magnifica (aman.), magnimamma (heb.), magnusiana (lepi.), majale (ent.), malachius (cort.), malicorius (cort.), maliodorus (lac.), maluvium (trich.), mamillaris (ino.), mammillata (myc.), mammillata (stro.), mammosa (nol.), mammosus (lac.), mappa (aman.), =marasmius=, marcescens (copr.), margaritispora (ino.), marginata (phol.), maritima (ino.), martialis (lepi.), marzuola (cli.), marzuolus (hyg.), mastigera (psath.), mastoidea (lepi.), mastrucatus (pleu.), maura (omp.), maxima (cli.), mayrii (copr.), media (vol.), medioflava (lepi.), medullata (lepi.), medullosa (nau.), medusa (stro.), megalodactyla (aman.), megalopus (arm.), melaleucum (trich.), melanodon (plut.), melanops (myc.), melanopus (pleu.), melanotus (cort.), melantinum (hyp.), melasperma (stro.), meleagris (lepi.), melinoides (nau.), melizeus (hyg.), mellea (arm.), mellea (phol.), melleopallens (lep.), menieri (mar.), mephitica (col.), merdaria (stro.), merletii (ino.), mesomorpha (lepi.), mesophaeum (heb.), mesotephrus (hyg.), metachroa (cli.), metapodius (hyg.), metata (myc.), metulaespora (lepi.), micaceus (copr.), micaceus (hyg.), micans (nau.), micheliana (col.), microcephalum (trich.), microcyclus (cort.), micropholis (lepi.), microphylla (nyc.), microrhiza (psath.), microscopica (omp.), miculatum (trich.), militare (trich.), miltinus (cort.), milvinus (cort.), mimica (col.), mimicum (ent.), miniaceus (hyg.), miniatus (hyg.), minimus (lac.), minuta (gal.), minuta (lep.), minuta (nol.), mirabilis (myc.), miser (col.), miser (copr.), miserrima (nau.), mitis (pleu.), mitissimus (lac.), mitratum (heb.), mixta (flam.), mniophila (gal.), mollis (crep.), mollis (lenz.), molybdina (cli.), molybdites (lepi.), molyoides (mar.), monachella (nol.), monstrosa (cli.), =montagnites=, montellicus (plut.), morchelloides (gal.), morieri (lepi.), morio (arm.), mortuosa (cli.), mougeotii (ecc.), mucida (arm.), mucifluus (cort.), mucor (myc.), mucronellus (hyg.), mulleus (mar.), _multifidum_ (schiz.), multiformis (cort.), mundulus (clitop.), muralis (copr.), muralis (omp.), murcida (psil.), muricata (phol.), muricella (flam.), muricinus (cort.), murina (col.), murinaceum (trich.), murinella (vol.), muscaria (aman.), muscigena (phol.), muscigenus (can.), muscorum (can.), muscorum (tub.), mussivum (heb.), mustelina (phol.), mustelina (rus.), musteus (lac.), mustialensis (pleu.), mutabilis (phol.), mutabilis (psil.), mutica (ino.), mutilus (pleu.), =mycena=, mycenoides (phol.), mycenopsis (copr.), myosotis (nau.), myosurus (col.), myrtillinus (cort.), myxotrichus (pleu.), naevosus (cort.), nanus (plut.), napus (cort.), narcoticus (copr.), naucina (lepi.), =naucoria=, nauseosa (nyc.), nauseosa (rus.), nauseosodulcis (cli.), nauseosodulcis (pleu.), nauseosum (heb.), nebrodensis (pleu.), nebularis (cli.), nefrens (lep.), neglecta (psath.), neglectus (clitop.), nemophila (psil.), nemoreus (hyg.), nevillae (omp.), nictitans (trich.), nidulans (crep.), nidulans (pleu.), _nidulans_ (pleur.), nidorosum (ent.), nidusavis (clitop.), nigellus (ecc.), nigrella (ecc.), nigricans (rus.), nigripes (nol.), nigrocinnamomeum (ent.), nigromarginata (lepi.), nigropunctata (cli.), nimbata (cli.), nimbosa (nau.), nivea (myc.), niveorubens (agar.), niveus (bolb.), niveus (copr.), niveus (hyg.), nivosus (pleu.), nitellina (col.), nitens (cort.), nitens (flam.), nitens (pax.), nitida (aman.), nitida (rus.), nitidum (ent.), nitidus (cort.), nitidus (hyg.), nitratus (hyg.), nitrosus (cort.), =nolanea=, noli-tangere (psath.), nubila (cli.), nucea (nau.), nucida (myc.), nuciseda (psil.), nudipes (heb.), nudum (trich.), nummularia (col.), =nyctalis=, nycthemerus (copr.), nympharum (lepi.), obbata (cli.), oblectus (copr.), obliquus (lac.), obnubilus (lac.), obola (cli.), obrusseus (hyg.), obscura (ino.), obscuratus (hyg.), obsoleta (cli.), obturata (stro.), obtusata (psath.), obtusus (cort.), occulta (cli.), ocellata (col.), ochracea (cli.), ochracea (rus.), ochraceus (can.), ochrochlora (flam.), ochroleuca (rus.), ochroleucus (cort.), ochrophyllus (cort.), ocreata (stro.), odini (heb.), odora (cli.), odorus (can.), oedipus (hyp.), olearius (pleu.), olida (myc.), olidus (can.), olivacea (rus.), olivaceoalbus (hyg.), olivaceomarginata (myc.), olivascens (cort.), olivascens (cort.), olivascens (rus.), oliveus (cort.), olivieri (lepi.), olorina (cli.), ombrophila (phol.), ombrophila (psath.), =omphalia=, omphalodes (lent.), oniscoides (omp.), oniscus (omp.), onychinum (trich.), opaca (cli.), opicum (trich.), opimus (cort.), opiparia (cli.), orbicularis (col.), orbiformis (cli.), orcella (clitop.), orcelloides (pax.), oreades (mar.), oreinum (trich.), orellanus (cort.), orichalceus (cort.), ornatus (pleu.), ostreatus (pleu.), ovalis (gal.), ovatus (copr.), ovinus (hyg.), ovoidea (aman.), ozes (col.), ozonii (bolb.), pachyphylla (cli.), paedidum (trich.), paleaceus (cort.), pallassii (mont.), pallens (lep.), pallens (psath.), pallescens (crep.), pallida (rus.), pallidus (lac.), palmatus (crep.), paludosa (tub.), palustris (stro.), panaeolum (trich.), =panaeolus=, panaeolus (pax.), pannizii (cli.), pannosa (nau.), pannucius (lac.), pansa (cort.), pantherina (aman.), pantoleucus (pleu.), panuoides (pax.), =panus=, papilionaceus (paneo.), papillata (cli.), papillata (nol.), papillatus (copr.), papulosus (cort.), parabolica (myc.), paradoxa (stro.), paradoxus (pax.), paragaudis (cort.), parasitica (lep.), parasitica (nyc.), pardalis (pleu.), parilis (cli.), parisotii (crep.), parkensis (ecc.), paropsis (cli.), parvannulata (lepi.), parvula (vol.), parvus (can.), pascua (nol.), patellaris (panus), pateriformis (cort.), pathenopejus (pleu.), patouillardii (copr.), patulum (trich.), pauletii (lepi.), paupercula (myc.), pausiaca (cli.), pavonius (cort.), =paxillus=, paxillus (phol.), pectinata (omp.), pectinata (rus.), pediades (nau.), pelianthina (myc.), pelliculosa (myc.), pellitus (plut.), pellucida (tub.), pellucidus (copr.), pelmatosporus (cort.), peltata (myc.), penarius (hyg.), penetrans (flam.), penicillatus (cort.), pennata (psath.), perbrevis (ino.), percevali (stro.), percomis (cort.), perforans (mar.), pergamena (cli.), pergamenus (lac.), periscelis (cort.), perlata (ino.), permixta (lepi.), peronatus (agar.), peronatus (mar.), perpusillus (pleu.), perrera (agar.), persicinum (trich.), persicinus (hyg.), personatum (trich.), persoonii (aman.), pertinax (psil.), pes-caprae (trich.), pessundatum (trich.), petaloides (pleu.), peteauxii (claud.), peteauxii (crep.), petiginosum (heb.), pezizoides (crep.), phaeocephala (ino.), phaeophyllus (cort.), phaeopodia (col.), phaeosporus (copr.), phalenarum (paneo.), phalerata (phol.), phalliodorus (col.), phalloides (aman.), phillipsii (crep.), philonitis (omp.), phlebophorus (plut.), phoenicea (arm.), phoenix (pilo.), phoenix (psil.), pholideus (cort.), =pholiota=, phragmatophylla (phol.), phrygianus (cort.), phyllophila (cli.), phyllophilus (copr.), physaloides (psil.), picaceus (copr.), picea (nol.), picinus (lac.), picrea (flam.), picta (omp.), =pilosace=, pilosus (copr.), pilulaeforme (hyp.), pinastri (lenz.), pinetorum (arm.), pingua (lepi.), pinsitus (pleu.), piperatus (lac.), pisciodora (nol.), pithyophila (cli.), pityria (gal.), pityrodes (nau.), placenta (ent.), placida (lep.), plancus (mar.), planipes (col.), planus (pleu.), platyphylla (col.), platypus (copr.), plautus (plut.), pleopodia (nol.), pleurotoides (arm.), =pleurotus=, plexipes (col.), plicatilis (copr.), plicatocrenata (myc.), plicosa (myc.), plumbea (myc.), plumbeus (lac.), plumbosus (cort.), plumiger (cort.), plumipes (col.), plumosa (ino.), pluteoides (ent.), =pluteolus=, =pluteus=, pluvius (cort.), polita (ecc.), polius (cli.), polyadelpha (omp.), polycephalus (can.), polygramma (myc.), polyphyllum (trich.), polysticta (lepi.), pometi (pleu.), popinalis (clitop.), porinae (lac.), porphyria (aman.), porphyrophaeum (ent.), porphyropus (cort.), porreus (mar.), porrigens (pleu.), porriginosa (nau.), portentosum (trich.), postii (omp.), praecox (ent.), praecox (phol.), praegnans (copr.), praenitens (agar.), praestans (cort.), praetervisa (ino.), praetoria (amtop.), prasinus (cort.), prasiosmus (mar.), pratensis (agar.), pratensis (hyg.), prescottii (hyp.), privignus (cort.), proboscideus (crep.), procera (lepi.), prominens (lepi.), proletaria (nol.), prolifera (myc.), prolixa (col.), prona (psath'lla), properatus (pleu.), protracta (col.), proxima (cli.), proximella (ino.), pruinata (myc.), pruinosa (cli.), prunuloides (ent.), prunulus (clitop.), psammicola (myc.), psammocephalus (cort.), psammopodium (trich.), =psathyra=, =psathyrella=, psathyroides (col.), pseudoandrosacea (omp.), pseudoorcella (clitop.), pseudoplicatilis (copr.), pseudopura (myc.), =psilocybe=, psilocyboides (omp.), psittacinus (hyg.), pterigena (myc.), pubescens (gal.), pubescens (lac.), pudens (panus), pudens (pleu.), pudica (phol.), pudorinus (hyg.), puellaris (rus.), puellula (cli.), pulla (cli.), pulla (col.), pullata (myc.), pulmonariellus (pleu.), pulmonarius (pleu.), pulverulentus (scop.), pulvinatus (pleu.), pumila (phol.), punctata (rus.), punctatum (heb.), punctatus (cort.), punctulata (stro.), punctulatum (hyp.), punicella (myc.), puniceus (hyg.), pura (myc.), purifluus (bolb.), purpurascens (cort.), purpurascens (hyg.), purpurata (flam.), _purpurea_ (rus.), purpureophyllus (cort.), pusillus (bolb.), pusio (ino.), pusiola (nau.), pustulatus (hyg.), putidum (trich.), putilla (ino.), putillus (mar.), putrigenus (crep.), pygmaea (nau.), pygmaeo-affinis (gal.), pyramidalis (mar.), pyrenaeus (copr.), pyrenaica (lep.), pyreniacum (ent.), pyriodora (ino.), pyrogalus (lac.), pyrotrichum (hyp.), pyxidata (omp.), quadricolor (cort.), queletii (cli.), queletii (copr.), queletii (heb.), queletii (hyg.), queletii (lent.), queletii (lenz.), queletii (lep.), queletii (mar.), queletii (paneo.), queletii (rus.), quietus (lac.), quinquepartitum (trich.), quisquilaris (ent.), rabenhorstii (gal.), racemosa (col.), rachodes (lepi.), radians (copr.), radiatus (copr.), radicata (col.), radicellata (cli.), radicellata (phol.), radicosa (phol.), raeborhiza (myc.), ralfsii (crep.), ramealis (mar.), ramentacea (arm.), ramosa (col.), ramosus (can.), rancida (col.), rapaceus (cort.), raphanicum (trich.), raphanoides (cort.), rapidus (copr.), rasile (trich.), ravida (gal.), ravida (rus.), reclina (omp.), recubans (mar.), reducta (nau.), reedii (cort.), regia (vol.), reichardtii (lenz.), relicina (ino.), remotus (paneo.), renati (myc.), renidens (cort.), reniformis (pleu.), renneyi (ino.), repandum (ent.), replexus (can.), resimus (lac.), resinaceus (lent.), resplendens (trich.), resutum (ent.), reticulatus (pluteo.), retigera (col.), retirugis (paneo.), retirugus (can.), retisporus (lac.), retosta (omp.), revolutus (pax.), revolutus (pleu.), rhadigiosa (arm.), rhodella (col.), rhodiola (ino.), rhodocylix (ecc.), rhodoleuca (cli.), rhodomela (vol.), rhodopolium (ent.), rhytipes (rus.), riculatus (cort.), riederi (cort.), rigens (cort.), rigidata (cli.), rigidus (cort.), rimosa (ino.), rimulincola (nau.), rimulosa (schulz.), ringens (panus), rivulorum (pleu.), rivulosa (cli.), rivulosus (bolb.), roberti (plut.), robusta (arm.), romanus (xer.), rorida (myc.), roris (copr.), rorulenta (lepi.), rosacea (rus.), rosella (myc.), roseoalbus (plut.), roseocinereus (pleu.), roseola (aman.), roseolus (pleu.), roseotinctus (copr.), rostrupianus (copr.), rotula (mar.), rozei (ent.), rubella (myc.), rubellum (ent.), rubellus (agar.), rubellus (cort.), rubescens (aman.), rubescens (hyg.), rubescens (lac.), rubi (crep.), rubida (nol.), rubiginosa (gal.), rubra (rus.), rubricata (nau.), rubricatus (mar.), rubriceps (chit.), rubricosus (cort.), rubrocinctus (lac.), rubromarginata (myc.), rubropunctatus (cort.), rubrum (heb.), rudis (panus), rufescens (can.), rufidula (phol.), rufoalba (ino.), rufocarnea (nol.), rufoolivaceus (cort.), rufus (lac.), rugosa (myc.), russiophyllus (agar.), russocoriaceus (hyg.), =russula=, russula (trich.), russus (cort.), rustica (omp.), rusticoides (ecc.), rutaceus (lac.), ruthae (pleu.), rutilans (trich.), saccardianus (pleu.), saccharifera (myc.), saccharinus (mar.), sacchariolens (nau.), sadleri (cli.), saevum (trich.), sagatus (agar.), saginus (cort.), sahleri (gal.), salero (trich.), salicinus (plut.), salignus (pleu.), salor (cort.), sambucina (ino.), sandicina (cli.), sangifluus (lac.), sanguinarius (agar.), sanguinea (rus.), sanguineus (cort.), sanguinolenta (myc.), saniosus (cort.), sapidus (pleu.), sapinea (flam.), saponaceum (trich.), sarcita (lep.), sarcocephala (psil.), sardonia (rus.), sarnicus (clitop.), saturninus (cort.), saundersii (ent.), saxatilis (mar.), scabella (ino.), scaber (ino.), scabiosum (ent.), scabrosa (lep.), scalaris (crep.), scalpturatum (trich.), scamba (flam.), scandens (cort.), scauroides (copr.), scaurus (cort.), sceptrum (copr.), schista (ino.), =schizophyllum=, schizopus (mar.), schizoxylon (omp.), schroteri (copr.), schultzii (panus), schulzeri (hyg.), schulzeri (lepi.), schulzeri (psath.), =schulzeria=, , schumacheri (trich.), schurii (panus), sciophanus (hyg.), sciophyllus (cort.), sciopoda (omp.), scitula (anel.), sclerotipes (mar.), scobicola (psil.), scobinacea (stro.), scobinella (amtop.), scolecina (nau.), scorodonius (mar.), scorpioides (nau.), scorteus (mar.), scoticus (lac.), scoticus (lent.), scrobiculatus (lac.), scruposa (arm.), scutellinus (crep.), scutulatus (cort.), scyphiformis (omp.), scyphoides (omp.), sebaceus (cort.), secretani (hyg.), secretani (phol.), segestria (nau.), sejunctum (trich.), semibulbosus (plut.), semicrema (rus.), semiflexa (nau.), semiglobata (stro.), semiinfundibuliformis (pleu.), semilanceata (psil.), seminuda (lepi.), semiorbicularis (nau.), semistriatus (copr.), semitalis (col.), semivestita (psath.), semotus (agar.), senescens (heb.), senilis (cli.), separata (anel.), sepiaria (lenz.), septentrionalis (lenz.), septentrionalis (schulz.), septicus (pleu.), serarius (cort.), serena (lepi.), sericellum (ent.), sericeum (ent.), serifluus (lac.), serotina (rus.), serotinus (pleu.), serpentina (col.), serrulata (lep.), setiger (agar.), setipes (omp.), setosa (myc.), seynii (myc.), severinii (pleu.), siccipes (stro.), sideroides (nau.), silaceum (hyp.), siliginea (gal.), silvanus (pleu.), silvaticus (agar.), similis (copr.), simillima (myc.), simulans (psil.), sinapizans (heb.), sindonia (ino.), sinopica (cli.), sinuatum (ent.), sinuosum (heb.), siparia (nau.), sistrata (lepi.), sitaneus (lent.), smaragdina (rus.), smithii (clitop.), sobolewski (col.), soboliferus (copr.), sobria (nau.), socialis (cli.), sociatus (copr.), solitaria (aman.), solitaria (psath.), solstitialis (copr.), solstitialis (lep.), solstitialis (nau.), sorbina (lenz.), sordarius (pax.), sordidum (trich.), sororia (phol.), sororiata (plut.), spadicea (psil.), spadiceo-grisea (psath.), spadiceus (cort.), spadiceus (hyg.), spartea (gal.), spathulatus (can.), speciosa (vol.), spectabilis (phol.), speculum (ent.), spegazzinii (copr.), speira (myc.), spermaticum (trich.), sphagnicola (omp.), sphaleromorpha (phol.), sphinctrinus (paneo.), spicula (gal.), spilomeus (cort.), spilopus (plut.), spintrigera (stro.), spinulosa (cli.), spinulosus (lac.), spissa (aman.), splachnoides (mar.), splendens (cli.), spodoleucus (mar.), spodoleucus (pleu.), spoliatum (heb.), spongiosus (pleu.), spraguei (copr.), spumosa (flam.), squalens (psil.), squalidus (hyg.), squalidus (lac.), squamea (arm.), squamifera (psath'lla), squamigera (schulz.), squamosa (psath.), squamosa (stro.), squamosus (copr.), squamulosa (cli.), squamulosa (stro.), squarrosa (phol.), squarrulosa (ino.), squarrulosum (trich.), stabilis (flam.), stagnina (tub.), stannea (myc.), stans (trich.), staringii (pleu.), staurospora (nol.), stellaris (copr.), stellata (omp.), stemmatus (cort.), stenocoleus (copr.), stercoraria (stro.), stercorarius (copr.), sterile (heb.), sterquilinus (copr.), stevensoni (can.), stevensoni (col.), stevensonii (panus), stictica (nau.), stilbocephalus (clitop.), stillatitius (cort.), stiparophyllum (trich.), stipitaria (col.), stipticus (panus), stipularis (myc.), stiriacus (crep.), stocseki (heb.), storea (hyp.), straminella (lepi.), straminipes (clitop.), strangulata (amtop.), streptopus (hyg.), striaepes (nau.), striaepileus (amp.), striatulus (pleu.), stricta (psath.), strictipes (trich.), stridula (col.), strigiceps (ino.), strobiliformis (aman.), strobiliformis (lepi.), strobilina (myc.), =stropharia=, strophosum (heb.), strossmayeri (copr.), strumosa (col.), studeriana (flam.), stylobates (myc.), suaveolens (cli.), suavis (nau.), suavissimis (lent.), subalutacea (cli.), subannulatus (mar.), subatomata (psath'lla), subatrata (psath'lla), subbalteatus (paneo.), subcava (arm.), subcoeruleo-griseus (copr.), subcollariatum (heb.), subdecastes (cli.), subdenticulatus (can.), subdulcis (lac.), subericaea (psil.), suberosus (hyg.), subferrugineus (cort.), subfirmus (paneo.), subgibbosus (agar.), subglobosa (nol.), subglobosa (nau.), subgranulosa (ino.), subintiger (crep.), subinvoluta (cli.), sublanatus (cort.), sublateritium (hyp.), sublentum (hyp.), subliquescens (psath.), sublutea (phol.), subnotatus (cort.), subnuda (psath.), subpalmatus (pleu.), subpapillatum (hyp.), subplicatus (pleu.), subplicosa (myc.), subpulverulentum (trich.), subpurpurascens (hyg.), subradiatus (hyg.), subrimosa (ino.), subrosea (psath'lla), subrubens (ent.), subrufulus (pleu.), subsaponaceum (heb.), subsimilis (cort.), subsquarrosa (phol.), subtemulenta (nau.), subtilis (psath'lla), subtortum (heb.), subtortus (cort.), subumbonatus (lac.), subviscifera (clito.), subzonatum (heb.), succinea (col.), sudora (myc.), sudum (trich.), suffrutescens (lent.), suillus (cort.), sulcata (psath'lla), sulcata (stro.), sulcato-crenatus (copr.), sulcatula (stro.), sulcatus (hyg.), sulfurinus (cort.), sulphureum (trich.), supina (myc.), suratus (cort.), sylvestre (hyp.), syrjense (heb.), syrjensis (hyg.), tabacella (nau.), tabacina (nau.), tabescens (cli.), _tabescens_ (coll.), tabidus (lac.), tabularis (cort.), talus (cort.), tamii (flam.), tardus (copr.), tavastense (stro.), tavastensis (nau.), taylori (vol.), tegularis (psil.), telmatiaea (omp.), temperata (vol.), temulenta (nau.), tenacella (col.), tenax (nau.), tenebrosa (ino.), tenella (arrh.), tenella (myc.), tener (bolb.), tenera (gal.), tenerrima (myc.), tenuiceps (trich.), tenuicula (psath.), tenuiculus (plut.), tenuis (myc.), tenuis (panus), tenuissima (gal.), tephroleucus (hyg.), terginus (mar.), tergiversans (copr.), terrei (lac.), terreum (trich.), terrigena (phol.), tersa (phol.), tesquorum (col.), tessulatus (pleu.), testaceocanescens (cort.), testaceum (heb.), testaceus (cort.), theiodes (vol.), theiogalus (lac.), thelephora (col.), thomsoni (ent.), tigrinellus (copr.), tigrinum (trich.), tigrinus (lent.), tintinabulum (myc.), tithymalinus (lac.), titubans (bolb.), togularis (phol.), tomentella (ino.), tomentellus (lent.), tomentosus (copr.), tomentosus (lac.), tophaceus (cort.), torminosus (lac.), tornata (cli.), torpens (psath.), torquatus (mar.), torquescens (mar.), tortipes (ent.), tortuosum (heb.), tortuosus (cort.), torulosus (panus), torvus (cort.), trabea (lenz.), trachelina (myc.), traganus (cort.), transilvanica (ann.), translucens (claud.), transversum (hyp.), trappenii (copr.), trechispora (ino.), tremens (pleu.), tremulus (pleu.), trepida (psath'lla), trichocephala (phol.), =tricholoma=, tricholoma (ino.), tricolor (lenz.), tricolor (omp.), triformis (cort.), trinii (ino.), triscopoda (nau.), triste (trich.), tristis (ecc.), triumphans (cort.), trivialis (ino.), trivialis (lac.), trochila (col.), =trogia=, trogii (cli.), trullaeformis (cli.), truncatum (heb.), truncorum (copr.), tuba (cli.), tubaeformis (can.), =tubaria=, tuberculata (lepi.), tuberculosa (phol.), tuberosa (col.), tuberosus (copr.), tumescens (arm.), tumidum (trich.), tumulosa (cli.), turbidum (ent.), turbinatus (cort.), turci (lep.), turgidus (cort.), turmalis (cort.), turpis (lac.), turrissi (can.), turritum (trich.), turundus (hyg.), tylicolor (col.), typhae (psath.), typhicola (nau.), tyrianthina (cli.), uda (psil.), uliginosus (cort.), ulmarius (pleu.), umbellatus (lent.), umbellifera (omp.), umbilicata (omp.), umbilicatus (cort.), umbonatus (can.), umbratica (ino.), umbratila (omp.), umbrina (ino.), umbrinellus (plut.), umbrinus (copr.), umbrinus (lac.), umbrosus (plut.), undatus (clitop.), undulosa (nau.), unguentatum (trich.), unguicularis (pleu.), unguinosus (hyg.), unicolor (phol.), unimodus (cort.), uraceus (cort.), urania (myc.), urbicus (cort.), urbum (trich.), urceolata (amtop.), urens (mar.), urnula (panus), ursinus (lent.), urticaecola (psath.), ustale (trich.), utilis (lac.), uvidus (lac.), vaccinum (trich.), vaginata (amtop.), vaillantii (mar.), valgus (cort.), valida (aman.), vaporarius (panus), variabilis (claud.), varicosus (mar.), varicus (copr.), variegata (lenz.), variegatum (trich.), variegatus (cort.), variicolor (cort.), varius (cort.), vatricosa (ino.), velaris (copr.), velatus (copr.), vellereus (lac.), velox (copr.), veluticeps (col.), velutina (omp.), velutinum (hyp.), velutinus (hyg.), velutipes (col.), veneris (cli.), venetus (cort.), venosum (ent.), ventosa (omp.), ventricosa (col.), ventricosa (stro.), ventricosus (hyg.), venusta (lepi.), venustissima (cli.), venustula (myc.), verecunda (nol.), vermicularis (cli.), vernalis (aman.), vernicosa (cli.), verpoides (nyc.), verrucipes (arm.), versatilis (nol.), versicolor (stro.), versipelle (heb.), vertiruga (col.), vervacti (nau.), vesca (rus.), vespertinus (cort.), vestita (tub.), vesuviana (omp.), veternosa (rus.), vibecina (cli.), vibratilis (cort.), vicina (psil.), vietus (lac.), vignolius (hyg.), vilis (cli.), vilis (clitop.), villosa (phol.), violaceafusca (ino.), violaceo-atrum (hyp.), violaceofulvus (panus), violaceonitens (trich.), violarius (plut.), violascens (heb.), violascens (ino.), violascens (lac.), vinacea (nol.), vinosa (flam.), vinosus (cort.), viperina (vol.), virescens (psil.), virescens (rus.), virgatum (trich.), virginea (rus.), virgineus (hyg.), viridans (ent.), viridifluens (nol.), viridimarginata (myc.), viridis (lac.), virosa (aman.), viscidula (tub.), viscidus (gomp.), viscosus (cort.), vitellina (rus.), vitellinopes (cort.), vitellinus (bolb.), vitellinus (hyg.), vitilis (myc.), vitrea (myc.), vittadinii (lepi.), vittaeformis (gal.), viviani (arm.), volemus (lac.), volvacea (vol.), volvaceo-minimus (copr.), =volvaria=, vopiscus (nyc.), vulgaris (myc.), vulpecula (cli.), vulpinus (lent.), weislandri (nau.), whitei (ino.), worthingtoni (stro.), wynnei (ent.), wynnei (mar.), wynniae (hiat.), wynniae (hyg.), xanthodermus (agar.), xanthogramma (ann.), xanthophaea (rus.), xanthophylla (cli.), xanthopoda (col.), xerampelina (rus.), xerotoides (mar.), =xerotus=, xylophila (col.), zahlbruckneri (claud.), zephira (myc.), zinziberatus (cort.), zizyphana (cli.), zonarius (agar.), zonarius (lac.), zygophylla (cli.), */ cambridge: printed by j. and c. f. clay, at the university press. _duckworth & co._ =important botanical works.= _jackson, b. daydon._ =a glossary of botanic terms=, with their derivation and accent. by benjamin daydon jackson, secretary of the linnean society of london. crown vo. _s._ net. _athenæum._--"every botanist will praise this work." _gardeners' chronicle._--"a much needed glossary. should find a place in every garden library." _journal of botany._--"mr jackson has supplied what was wanting." _nature._--"exceedingly valuable." _science gossip._--"no botanist can afford to dispense with this work." _percival, john._ =agricultural botany: theoretical and practical.= by john percival, m.a., f.l.s., professor of botany at the south-eastern agricultural college, wye. crown vo, with illustrations by the author. _s._ _d._ net. _second edition. ready now._ incorporated in the text are illustrations, and over three hundred experiments, which specially enhance the value of the book for schools and colleges where botany, agriculture, and horticulture are taught. _nature._--"we have no hesitation in recommending it as _the_ elementary handbook for the agricultural student. the chapters on weeds and on diseases of farm-plants are distinctly better than those in any previous english works dealing with agricultural botany." _journal of education._--"a book which supplies what has for a long time been felt as a serious want in the literature of agricultural textbooks.... the book could hardly have been better." _massee, george._ =a text-book of plant diseases=, caused by cryptogamic parasites. by george massee, f.l.s., mycologist and principal assistant, royal herbarium, kew. with illustrations, drawn from nature by the author. crown vo. _s._ net. _literature._--"the book deserves to become the leading english textbook on the subject." _farmers' gazette._--"the manual which messrs duckworth have so attractively brought out for mr massee is one of the best of its kind that has yet appeared." _moyle rogers, the rev. w._ =a hand-book of british rubi.= by the rev. w. moyle rogers, f.l.s. demy vo. _s._ net. duckworth & co. henrietta street, covent garden. transcriber's notes. the printer used raised dots for the decimal point; they were changed to periods. the dagger symbol was used in the keys; i changed them to the plus sign. there are many inconsistencies in the way words are abbreviated, the hyphenation, the latin word endings and the capitalization of names, as well as the spelling in general; except where noted below, i left them as is. changed "subq." to "subg." on page : "sp. subg. - ." changed comma to period after "rufous" on page : "p. tinged rufous." changed "peristently" to "persistently" on page : "persistently reddish flesh colour." added missing period after "g" on page : "g. deep ochraceous." sometimes the abbreviation "sp." is missing when the spores are described, such as page ; i left them as is. similarly, the abbreviation "p." is sometimes missing when the pileus is described as on page . i also left this as is. added period after "var" on page : "var. violacea." changed "striata" to "striate" on page : "striate at paler margin." changed comma to period in entry for haematopoda on page : "caespitose." changed "mik" to "milk" on page : "giving out milk when broken." changed period to comma after "lax" on page : "lax, campan. then exp." changed "hariolarum" to "hariolorum" on page : "differs from c. hariolorum." although it appears that "p." should be after "acrid.", i left it as is on page in the entry for m. urens. changed "palllid" to "pallid" on page : "pallid then rufescent." the upper limit on the size of the pileus for m. plancus is missing on page . i inserted an ellipsis as a placeholder. added a period after "p" on page : (varicosus) "p. . - cm." changed "sub-umb." to "subumb." on page : "subumb. lilac-brown." the spore size for m. fuscopurpureus on page was left as " - " even though that must be in error. changed semi-colon to comma on page : "with white points upwards, - cm." the authority for m. xerotoides was left as "tr.", although "fr." might have been intended. replaced "]" with ")" on page : "(= _clitocybe marzuolus_, bres.)." the authority for c. hirneola var. undulata was missing on page ; i inserted "----." as a placeholder. inserted period after "s" on page : "s. - cm." changed "floccossly" to "floccosely" on page : "floccosely villose." changed "yelllow" to "yellow" on page : "white then livid yellow." there are two entries for cantharellus tubaeformis var. lutescens on page . although these are almost identical, i kept them both. changed comma to period on page : "plano-infundib." changed "p." to "p." on page : "p. thin, subdimidiate." changed "quelet" to "quélet" on page : "quélet says." removed extra period after "then" on page : "p. campan. then exp." changed "d.c." to "d. c." on page : "lamellirugis, d. c." changed "verdegris" to "verdigris" on page : "tinged verdigris at base." also on page : "verdigris green." removed replaced hyphen with space on page : "apex naked." change "squarrosula" to "squarrulosa" on page : "squarrulosa, karst." inserted period after "var" on page : "var. major, b. and br." removed extra period after "campanulato" on page : "p. campanulato-exp." inserted period after "g" on page : "g. slightly sinuate." changed "hypholama" to "hypholoma" on page : "habit of hypholoma fasciculare." changed "sub-genera" to "subgenera" on page : "key to the subgenera." changed "sub-bulbous" to "subbulbous" on page for consistency: "subbulbous base." also on page : "subbulbous base." changed "fucescent" to "fuscescent" on page : "fuscescent with a grey bloom." sometimes, as on page , the micro character is included with the spore size. i left these where they occurred in the original. inserted comma after "free" on page : "g. free, white then black." removed extra period after "in" on page : "in p. being globose." inserted periods after "jacobasch" and ")" on page for consistency: "jacobasch. (= _cop. intermedius_ gill.)." changed "+" to "×" on page : (pallassii) "sp. × ." added missing ")" to close paragraph on page : "british fungi.')" changed "caeseriata" to "caesariata" on page : "caesariata (ino.), ." changed "cöopertus" to "coöpertus" on page : "coöpertus (copr.), ." changed " " to " " on page : "flaccida (cli.), ." moved period inside parentheses on page : "ephemerus (copr.), ." inserted missing page number in index: "macrocephalus (copr.), ." changed "amv." to "ann." on page : "laevis (ann.), ." left inconsistent capitalization of "var." and "var."