/nr^T ; T T~~^ I . ,1 JL-a & ! I From the collection of the d o Prelinger u v JJibrary t p San Francisco, California 2007 THE MUSHROOM BOOK Amanitopsis parcivolvata, Pk. See page 55. THE MUSHROOM BOOK. A POPULAR GUIDE TO THE IDENTIFICATION AND STUDY OF OUR COMMONER FUNGI, WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON THE EDIBLE VARIETIES BY NINA L. MARSHALL WITH MANY ILLUSTRATIONS IN COLOR AND BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPHED FROM NATURE BY J. A. & H. C. ANDERSON GARDEN CITY NEW YORK DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & COMPANY 1923 COPYRIGHT, 1901, 1904, 1922, BY DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & COMPANY ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, INCLUDING THAT OF TRANSLATION INTO FOREIGN LANGUAGES, INCLUDING THE SCANDINAVIAN PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES AT THE COUNTRY LIFE PRESS, GARDEN CITY, N. Y. THE ROOM MUSH- BOOK COHRINUS COMATUS Courtesy of Agricultural Experiment Station, Corne> See page 90 PREFACE THE author of this book makes no claim to the discovery of the facts presented. The ma- terial has all been drawn from monographs written by men who have made specialties of the different divisions of fungi. A list of works consulted is given at the close of this book. The plates are reproductions of photographs made by Mr. J. A. Anderson, and coloured by Miss H. C. Anderson. They are as true to nature as it is possible to make them with the best meth- ods of reproduction now known, and by them alone an acquaint- ance with many species may be acquired. Many of the cuts have been redrawn by the author from vari- ous reliable sources, and many have been drawn directly from nature. With a few exceptions, the line drawings of sections were made from the specimens photographed. It has been the aim of the author to write a book simple enough to serve as a source of knowledge for the many who, though busy with other pursuits, yet take an in- terest in science and wish to obtain information about the fungi, either for the sake of using them as food, or for the vii Coprinus comatus Courtesy of Agricultural Experiment Station, University. See page 90 Preface pleasure which an acquaintance with their habits and home life may give. A great effort has been made not to sacrifice accuracy in this attempt. The number of species of the fungi is so great that to de- scribe them all would necessitate a book of huge dimensions, so that it has seemed best simply to give a general idea of the characteristics upon which the larger groups, the classes, orders, and genera, are based, by describing some of the species in each. Seven genera of the Spore-sac Fungi are illustrated with ten species, and thirty-five genera of the Basidiomycetes with seventy-three species, making a total of eighty-three species represented by photographs in colour and half-tone. In addition a number of species are given in rough pen drawings, with sufficient accuracy for identification, and many species have been described without illustration. An effort has been made to describe the species in terms intelligible to the average reader without constant reference to an unabridged dictionary, and, whenever possible, the terms have been illustrated by line cuts. Although the technical names necessarily used are a serious hindrance to the popularization of the study of fungi, it has seemed best, in most cases, to give only the Latin form of the names of species, since, by so doing, there will be less danger of confusing harmless species with those which are harmful ; and, also, if their Latin names are adhered to, one will find it much simpler to consult the scattered literature on this subject, as this nomenclature is used by all naturalists of whatever nationality. That the pronunciation of names may be rendered as simple as possible, each vowel has been marked long or short. These vowel-marks are not necessarily indicative of the true syllabic quantity, but are rather diacritical points denoting the popular pronunciation by the English system. Each word has been divided into syllables according to the accepted rules, and an accent has been placed on the syllables to be accented. The author is under deep obligations to Professor Lucien M, Underwood, of Columbia University, for aid and encouragement in the work of this book, and for his cheerful willingness at all times to assist in the search for material and in the work of revising proof. Preface Thanks are also due to Professor Charles H. Peck, the New York State Botanist, for his kind assistance in identifying many of the specimens illustrated. A list of books consulted has been placed at the end of the book, for the benefit of those who may wish to pursue the study further. Coprinus comatus. Courtesy of Agricultural Experiment Station. Cornell University' Sae pape 90 CONTENTS PAGE CHAPTER I : THE HOMES AND HABITS OF FUNGI . . i CHAPTER II : THE RELATION OF FUNGI TO OTHER PLANTS 5 CHAPTER III : FROM SPORE TO MUSHROOM . . .11 CHAPTER IV: THE KEY 15 What a key is, and why a name is desirable . 15 How a key for fungi is made, and why it is desirable i^ The Key . . . . . . . 17 CHAPTER V : FUNGI WITH GILLS 46 I. WHITE-SPORED SERIES Genus Amanita .46 Death Cup; Poison Amanita. .' . 48 Fly Amanita 49 Orange Amanita 50 Comparison of Three Yellow Amanitas . . 52 Genus Cantharellus 53 Cantharellus floccosus 53 Genus Amanitopsis 53 The Sheathed Amanitopsis .... 54 Amanitopsis parcivolvata . . . -55 Genus Mycena 55 Mycena haematopoda 55 Genus Lentinus 56 Scaly Lentinus .56 Genus Pleurotus .57 Oyster Mushroom 57 Pleurotus sapidus . . . . . ^8 Elm Pleurotus ...... 58 Jenus Hygrophorus 59 Chanterelle Hygrophorus .... 59 Contents Vermilion Hygrophorus . . 60 Ivory Hygrophorus . . .. . .61 Genus A r mil I aria . . . . . .61 Honey-coloured Armillaria . . . .61 Genus Lepiota ....... 63 Parasol Mushroom; Tall Lepiota ... 63 Smooth Lepiota ...... 64 Lepiota Friesii 6s Genus Marasmius ...... 6s Fairy-ring Mushroom ..... 66 Genus Collybia 66 Collybia familia . . . . . -67 Genus Panus . 67 Genus Trogia . .... 67 Genus Schi^ophylluin . . . . . . 67 Genus Omphalia ....... 68 Genus Russula 68 Emetic Russula .... .68 Green Russula; Verdette .... 69 Variable Russula . . . . . -70 Genus Clitocybe 70 Clitocybe laccata . . . . . . 70 Clitocybe virens . . . . . 7' Genus Tricholoma ...... 72 Masked Tricholoma ..... 72 Craterellus cantharellus . . . . -73 2. BROWN-SPORED SERIES Genus Agaricus Comparison of Eight Agarici .... Common Mushroom Rodman's Mushroom Agaricus abruptus Genus Hypholoma ..... Perplexing Hypholoma ..... Comparison of Six Hypholomas . Uncertain Hypholoma .... Hypholoma sublateritium .... Genus Stropharia ... xii Contents PACK Genus Psathyra ... 82 Genus Psilocybe 82 Genus Pilosace 82 Genus Deconica 82 Genus Chitonia 83 ). RUSTY-SPORED SERIES Genus Pholiola 83 Fat Pholiota 83 Early Pholiota 84 Pholiota aggericola 84 Genus Cortinarius 85 Cortinarius alboviolaceus .... 86 4. PINK-SPORED SERIES Genus Pluteus 87 Fawn-coloured Pluteus 87 Genus Entoloma Genus Eccilia 88 Genus Volvaria 88 Genus Clitopilus 88 5. BLACK-SPORED SERIES Genus Coprinus 89 Ink Caps . .... 89 Shaggy-mane; Horsetail; Maned Agaric . 90 Inky Coprinus 9 1 Glistening Coprinus 9 1 Genus Gomphidius 9 2 Genus Psathyrella 9 2 Genus Pan&olus 9 a 6. FUNGI WITH MILKY JUICE Genus Lactarius 9 2 Peppery Lactarius 9 2 Lactarius ligniotus 93 CHAPTER VI : FUNGI WITH TEETH HYDNACE^ . . 94 Genus Hydnum 95 Spreading Hydnum 95 White Hydnum 95 xiii Content* PAC Hydnum imbricatum 9 Bear's-head Hydnum 9 Medusa's Head 9 Hedgehog Hydnum ..... 9 Coral Hydnum 9 CHAPTER VII : FAIRY CLUBS AND CORAL FUNGI CLA- VARIACE> 9 Genus Physalacria 9 Genus Pistillaria 9 Genus Typhula 9 Genus Sparassis 9 Genus Pterula 9 Genus Lachnocladium 9 Genus Clavaria 9 Pale Yellow Clavaria 9 Golden Clavaria 10 Red-tipped Clavaria 10 Crested Clavaria 10 Pistil Clavaria ; Large Club . . . . 101 Clavaria fellea . . . . . 101 Clavaria formosa 101 CHAPTER VIII : FUNGI WITH PORES BOLETACE/E ; POLY- PORACE/ . . . . . .IO2 Boletacece 102 Genus Fistulina 102 Genus Boletinus 105 Painted Boletinus 103 Genus Boletus 104 Boletus glabellus 104 Boletus bicolor 105 Boletus cyanescens 105 Boletus pallidus 105 Boletus mutabilis 105 Boletus speciosus 105 Golden-flesh Boletus 106 Boletus radicans 106 Boletus Peckii 106 Boletus calopus 106 xiv Contents PACK Purple Boletus 107 Boletus Satanus 107 Bitter Boletus 107 Boletus scaber . . . . . .108 Orange-cap Boletus 108 Chestnut Boletus 108 Boletus eximius 108 Edible Boletus 109 Boletus subtomentosus 109 Boletus Americanus 109 Polyporacece 109 Genus Merulius no Genus Polyporus no Polyporus applanatus . . . , , 1 10 Polyporus fomentarius 1 10 Polyporus conchatus . . . . .in Polyporus velutinus in Polyporus pergamenus 1 1 1 Polyporus perennis . . . . .ill Polyporus sulphureus . . . . . in Polyporus squamosus 112 Polyporus lucidus 112 Polyporus arcularius 112 Polyporus versicolor 112 Polyporus circinatus 113 Genus Trametes 113 Genus Lenities 113 Lenzites betulina 113 Lenzites separia 114 Genus Dcedalea 114 Daedalea unicolor . . . . .114 Daedalea confragosa 114 Daedalea quercina 114 Genus Favolus . . . . , . .115 CHAPTER IX: GELATINOUS AND OTHER PUNCH . .116 Jew's Ear, or Judas's Ear 116 Tremellodon 116 Guepina . . 116 xv Contents PACK CHAPTER X: OFFENSIVE FUNGI ORDER PHALLALES . . 117 Genus Phallus 117 Stinkhorns 117 Phallus impudicus 1 19 Genus Dictyophora 120 Dictyophora Ravenelii 120 Dictyophora duplicata 120 Mutinus caninus 120 Family Clathracece 121 Latticed Clathrus 121 Clathrus columnatus 121 Anthurus borealis 121 Simblum rubescens 122 CHAPTER XI : PUFFBALLS 123 Order Ly coper dales 123 Genus Ly coper don 124 Pear-shaped Puff ball 125 Pinkish Puffball 125 Genus Calvalia 126 Brain-shaped Calvatia 126 Giant Puffball 127 Cup-shaped Puffball 128 Genus Bovista 128 Genus Bovistella 129 Bovistella Ohiensis 129 Genus Geaster 129 Earth-stars 129 The Smallest Earth-star . . . .130 Water-measuring Earth-star . . . .130 Genus Calostoma 131 Calostoma lutescens 132 Calostoma Ravenelii 132 Calostoma cinnabarinum . . . .132 Order Nidulariales 133 Genus Sphcerobolus 133 Genus Nidularia 133 Genus Cyathus 133 Genus Crucibulum 133 xvi Contents PAGE Order Sclerodermatales 133 Genus Scleroderma 133 Scleroderma vulgare 134 CHAPTER XII : SPORE-SAC FUNGI ASCOMYCETES . . 135 Order Tuber ales TruJJles 135 Order Hypocreales 136 Genus Xylaria 136 Order Sphceriales 136 Order Females Cup-fungi 137 Peziza odorata 137 Golden Peziza 138 Order Helvellales 138 Family Geoglossacece Earth Tongues . . .138 Genus Spathularia 138 Velvety Spathularia 138 Spathularia clavata 139 Genus Geoglossum 139 Geoglossum hirsutum 139 Geoglossum glabrum 139 Genus Vibrissea 139 Vibrissea truncorum 139 Vibrissea circinans 140 Genus Mitrula 140 Irregular Mitrula 140 Family Helvellacea Morels 140 Genus Gyromitra 141 Gyromitra esculenta 141 Genus Morchella 141 Genus Helvella 142 Helvella elastica 142 Helvella lacunosa 143 CHAPTER XIII : SLIME FUNGI MYXOMYCETES . . .144 CHAPTER XIV : FUNGI FOR THE HERBARIUM . . .145 Collector's notes 145 Collector's outfit 147 Care of specimens 147 Collecting spores 147 The search for a name 149 xvii Contents PAGE The preparation of rough-dried plants for the herbarium 149 Mounting 149 Sections . . . . . . . .150 Poisoning herbarium specimens 1 50 CHAPTER XV: FUNGI FOR THE TABLE . . . .151 Cautions for the inexperienced 151 The food value of fungi 152 To keep mushrooms temporarily . . . .153 To prepare the edible agarics for cooking . . .153 To cook agarics 153 Mushrooms stewed 153 To prepare russulas 1 54 To prepare fungi with milky juice . . . .154 Lactarius deliciosus 154 Lactarius volemus -154 To prepare amanitas . . . . . .154 To prepare chanterelles 1 54 To fry chanterelles . . . . . . . 1 54 To prepare cop rini ink caps 154 To prepare boleti 1 54 To prepare Hydnum repandum . . . 1 54 To prepare morels 1 54 To prepare beefsteak fungus 155 For salad -155 Minced . 155 To prepare gyromitras 155 To prepare woody pore-bearing fungi Polyporae. . 155 To prepare clavarias and branched hydnums . .155 To cook clavarias . . . . . . .155 To prepare and cook puffballs 155 SOME USEFUL BOOKS ON MUSHROOMS . . .157 LIST OF POISONOUS OR SUSPECTED MUSHROOMS . .159 LIST OF EDIBLE MUSHROOMS ...... 161 ABBREVIATIONS OF NAMES OF BOTANISTS WITH EXPLANATIONS 165 INDEX AND GLOSSARY 167 xvm LIST OF PLATES I. Amanitopsis parcivolvata, Pk. (seep. 55) Frontispiece FACING PACE II. Death Cup; Poison Amanita (Amanita phalloides, Fr.) 46 III. Orange Amanita (Amanita Qesarea, Scop.), edible . 47 IV. Fly Amanita (Amanita muscaria, L.), poisonous . 50 V. Sheathed Amanitopsis (Amanitopsis vaginata, Roze), edible . 51 VI. Strangled Amanitopsis (Amanitopsis strangulata, Fr. Roze), edible 54 VII. Helmet Mycena (Mycena galericulata, Scop.), edible 55 VIII. Scaly Lentinus (Lentinus lepideus, Fr.), edible . 58 IX. Grainy Lepiota (Lepiota granosa, Morg.), . . 59 X. Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus, Fr.), edible (see p. 57) 62 XI. Golden-flesh Boletus (Boletus chrysenteron, Fr.) (see p. 106) 63 Vermilion Hygrophorus (Hygrophorus miniatus, Fr.), edible 63 Chantarelle Hygrophorus (Hygrophorus cantharellus, Schw.), edible (see p. 59) . . . . 63 XII. Smooth Lepiota (Lepiota naucinoides, Pk.), edible 66 Parasol Mushroom (Lepiota procera, Scop.), edible (see p. 63) .66 XIII. Spotted Collybia (Collybia maculata, A. and S.) . 66 Broad-gilled Collybia (Collybia platyphylla, Fr.) . 66 XIV. Collybia familia, Pk. (edible) 66 Clitocybe laccata, Scop., edible (see p. 70) .66 XV. Deceiving Clitocybe (Clitocybe illudens, Schw.) . 67 xix List of Plates PIATE FACING PAGE XVI. Fat Pholiota (Pholiota adiposa, Fr.), edible (see 9-83) 70 Honey-coloured Armillaria (Armillaria mellea, Vahl.), edible 70 XVII. Lepiota Friesii, Lasch . . . . .71 Cortinarius alboviolaceus, Fr. (see p. 86) . .71 XVIII. Emetic Russula (Russula emetica, Schaeff.), (dangerous) 74 XIX. Pholiota aggericola, Peck (see p. 84) ... 74 Craterellus cantharellus, Schw. (edible) . . 74 XX. Clitocybe virens, Scop, (edible) .... 75 XXI. Field Mushroom (Agaricus campestris, L.), edible (uncultivated) 75 XXII. Rodman's Mushroom (Agaricus Rodmani, Pk.), young 78 Rodman's Mushroom (mature) . . . . 78 XXIII. Agaricus abruptus, Pk. (edible) 79 XXIV. Masked Tricholoma (Tricholoma personatum, Fr.; var. bulbosum, Pk.), edible ... 82 XXV. Agaricus campestris, L., edible (see p. 76) . . 82 Agaricus abruptus, Pk. (edible) ... 82 'XXVI. Perplexing Hypholoma (Hypholoma perplexum, Pk.), harmless 82 XXVII. Uncertain Hypholoma (Hypholoma incertum, Pk.), edible 83 XXVIII. Brick Top (Hypholoma sublateritium, Schaeff.), edible 86 XXIX. Ivory Hygrophorus (Hygrophorus eburneus, Fr.), edible (see p. 61) 87 Early Pholiota (Pholiota praecox, Pers.), edible . 87 XXX. Dog Cortinarius (Cortinarius caninus, Fr.) . . 90 XXXI. Mycena haematopoda, Pers. (see p. 55) .90 Lactarius ligniotus, Fr. . . . , . .90 xx List of Plates PLATE FACING PAGE XXXII. Zoned Cortinarius (Cortinarius armillatus, A. and S., Fr.) 91 XXXIII. Golden Clavaria (Clavaria aurea, Schaeff.), edible 91 XXXIV. Fawn-coloured Pluteus (Pluteus cervinus, Schaeff.)* edible ..... 94 XXXV. Inky Coprinus (Coprinus atramentarius, Fr.; var. silvestris, Pk.), edible (see p. 91) . 95 XXXVI. Inky Coprinus (Coprinus atramentarius, Fr.), edible 102 XXXVII. Peppery Lactarius (Lactarius piperatus, Scop.), edible 103 XXXVIII. Bear's-head (Hydnum caput-ursi, Fr.), edible . 106 XXXIX. Cone-like Boletus (Strobilomyces strobilaceus, Berk.) 106 XL. Little Tongue Clavaria (Clavaria ligula, Fr.) . 107 XLI. Bitter Boletus (Boletus felleus, Bull. ; var. obesus, Pk.) 107 XLI I. Clavaria formosa, Pers., edible . . .no XLI 1 1. Painted Boletinus (Boletinus pictus, Pk.), edible 1 1 1 Spreading Hydnum (Hydnum repandum, L.), edible (see p. 95) 1 1 1 XLIV. Scabrous-stemmed Boletus (Boletus scaber, Fr.; var. niveus, Gill.) . . . . .114 XLV. Tinder-wood Polyporus (Elfmgia fomentaria, L., Fomes fomentarius, Gill., Polyporus fomen- tarius, Fr.) 115 XLVI. Polyporus versicolor, Fr. . . . .118 Polyporus circinatus, Fr. (see p. 113) . .118 XLVI I. Lenzites betulina, Fr. . . . . .119 XLVI 1 1. Daedalea quercina, L., Pers 112 XLIX. Phallus impudicus, L 122 L. Jew's Ear (Hirneola auricula-Judae), L., Berk. . 123 xxi List of Plates PIATE FACING PAGE LI. Xylaria (see p. 136) 123 LI I. Calostoma Ravenelli, Berk., Mass. . . .123 Calostoma lutescens, Schw., Burnap . . .123 Calostoma cinnabarinum, Desv 123 Spathularia velutipes, C. and F. (see p. 138) . . 123 LI II. Pear-shaped Puffball (Lycoperdon pyriforme, Schaeff.), edible 126 LIV. Brain Puffball (Calvatia craniformis, Schw.), edible 127 LV. Bovistella Ohiensis (Ellis and Morgan), edible (see P- 129) .... 134 Cup-shaped Calvatia (Calvatia cyathiformis, Bosc.), edible . . . . . . . .134 LV I. Least Earth-star (Geaster minimus, Schw.) . . 135 Water-measuring Earth-star (Geaster hygrometri- cus, Pers.) .135 Bird's Nest (Cyathus vernicosus, D. C.) (see p. 133) 135 LVII. Cordyceps capitala (Holmsk., Lk.), parasitic on Elaphomyces 138 Lycogola epidendron (see p. 144) . . . .138 Floccose Chanterelle (Cantharellus floccosus, Schw.), edible (see p. 53) . . . .138 Mutinus caninus, Huds. (see p. 120) . . .138 LVII I. Golden Peziza (Peziza aurantia, Pers.), edible. . 139 LIX. Peziza odorata, Pk., edible (see p. 137) . . .139 LX. Flesh - coloured Puffball (Lycoperdon subincar- natum, Pk.), edible (see p. 125) . . . 142 Young Pear-shaped Puffball (Lycoperdon pyri- forme, Schaeff.), edible (see p. 125). . . 142 Hard-skinned Puffball (Scleroderma vulgare, Fr.) . 142 LXI. Slippery Leotia (Leotia lubrica), edible . . . 143 Jelly-like Tremellodon (Tremellodon gelatinosum) . 143 xxii List of Plates PLATE FACING PACK LXII. Helvella elastica, Bull. (seep. 142) . . .146 Helvella lacunosa, Holm, (see p. 143) . . .146 Mitrula vitellina, Sacc., var. irregularis, Pk. . .146 LXII I. Delicious Morel (Morchella deliciosa, Fr.), edible . 150 Polyporus arcularius, Batsch, Fr. (seep. 112) . 150 LXIV. Bristly Panus (Panus strigosus, B. and C.) (see p. 67) 151 XXlll LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS IN TEXT PAO Coprinus comatus, Fr. (old) i Coprinus comatus, Fr. (mature) . . . . . . v Coprinus comatus, Fr. (young) viii Puffball 4, 25 Corollas and honey, attractive to insects .... 5 Ingenious stamens 5 Pistil of violet 6 Seed-box of iris 6 Pistil of St. Johns wort ....... 6 Seed-box of sacred bean ....... 6 Winged seed of the silver fir 6 Fern with spores (Polypodium vulgare) .... 6 Grass spikelet 7 Liverwort (Marchantia polymorpha) ..... 7 Bean seed to show embryo ...... 7 Indian pipe .7 Moss (Dicranum scoparium) (natural size) ... 8 White mould on dead fly ....... 8 Spores borne in delicate membranous sacs . . . . 9, 17 Bread mould 9 Spores borne on little spicules . . . . . $ 17 Spores as simple cells . . . , . . .11 Spores divided into several cells . . . ... 1 1 Mycelial threads . . . . . . . . n Mushroom buttons . . . . . . n Young mushroom . ....... n Puffball .... v .... If xxv List of Illustrations in Text PACK Mushroom to show veil .12 Mushroom to show cap, ring, gills, and stem . . .12 Mushroom to show veil on stem and cap . . .12 Section across gill (magnified) 12 A small portion of section of gill (highly magnified) . . 13 Corn smut 13, 22 Leaf rust on Hepatica triloba 13,22 Pouch-fungus, section to show spores in hollow rind . 14 Section to show gills 14 Section of a Boletus, to show pores . . . . 14, 102 Clavaria with spores on spines 14 Section of Hydnum, to show teeth 14 Section of stroma with perithecia (magnified) . . .18 Perithecium (highly magnified) 18 Outer surface of truffle 1 8 Section of truffle 18 Fleshy cup-like fungi 19, 20 Club-shaped fungus 19,21 Conic, convex, and pitted fungus .... 19-21 Fungus with gyrose furrows 19, 20 Saddle-shaped fungus 19, 20 Fungus with spore surface flat, running down the sides . 2 1 Fungus with gills ....... 22, 30 Fungus with pores ....... 23, 42 Fungus with spines 23 Calostoma 23, 29 Geaster ......... 23, 28 Nidularia 23, 24 Clathrus cancellatus . . . . . 24, 26, 121 Simblum rubescens . . . . 24, 26, 122 Anthurus borealis 24, 26, 121 Mutinus 27 Phallus impudicus 24, 27, 1 19 xxvi List of Illustrations in Text PAGE Embryo plant of Mutinus caninus . . . .24, 120 Scleroderma vulgare 25 Section of Scleroderma vulgare 25, 134 Mutinus caninus, young plant; embryo plant . . .120 Bovista 28, 128 Section of Bovista (diagrammatic) . . . . 28, 128 Calvatia 28, 126 Section of Calvatia 28, 126 Geaster 28 Lycoperdon 29 Section of Lycoperdon (diagrammatic) . . . 29,124 Bovistella 29 Section of Bovistella 29, 129 Clavaria 30 Section of Hydnum 30 Cap of Hydnum imbricatum . . . . . 30, 96 Cap with striations on the margin . . . .30, 40, 50 Bracket fungus ..'. . .31 Resupinate fungus 31 Boletus Satanus .31 Polyporus quercina 31 Pleurotus, stem central ....... 32 Pleurotus, stem eccentric ....... 32 Pleurotus, stem wanting 32 Gills toothed, Lentinus 32 Lamellae entire 33 Stem eccentric 33 Lamellae simple 33 Fungus with volva and annulus 34 Volva, but no annulus 34 Annulus, but no volva 34 Lamellae free from stem ...... 34, 39 Annulus movable . . , 34 xxvii List of Illustrations in Text PACK Lamellae united with stem 34 Lamellae decurrent 35, 37, 39, 40 Lamellae adnate .35. 37. 39 Lamellae sinuate 35 Volva wanting; annulus wanting 35 Lamellae in shallow folds 36 Volva present; annulus wanting 37 Volva none; annulus none 37 Annulus arachnoid 38 Lamellae adnate 38 Veil remaining on stem as annulus 39 Volva none 39 Veil attached to margin of pileus 39 Lamellae deliquescent 40 Spores fusiform 40 Spores globose . . . . . . . . .40 Hydnum with central stem . . . . . .41 Branched Hydnum .41 Lamellae labyrinthine, woody 43 Lamellae radial, woody 43 Pores long-hexagonal 43 Pores in the form of tubes, stem lateral . . . . 44 Pores in the form of tubes, stem central .... 44 Section of young Amanita in wrapper .... 47 Young Amanita in wrapper 47 Young Amanita in ruptured wrapper .... 47 Section of Amanita muscaria ...... 47 Cap striate, and free from warts 50 Section of Amanita Caesarea 50 Young plant of Amanita Caesarea 50 Section of Cantharellus floccosus 53 Section of Amanitopsis vaginata ..... 54 Section of Amanitopsis parci volvata 55 xxviii List of Illustrations in Text PACK Section of Lentinus lepideus 56 Section of Pleurotus ostreatus 57 Section of Pleurotus sapidus ...... 58 Section of Pleurotus ulmarius 59 Section of Hygrophorus miniatus . 60 Section of Hygrophorus eburneus ..... 61 Section of Armillaria mellea ...... 62 Section of Lepiota procera 63 Section of Lepiota naucinoides , ..... 64 Section of Collybia familia ....... 67 Section of Russula emetica 68 Section of Russula virescens 69 Section of Clitocybe laccata 71 Section of Tricholoma personatum (var. bulbosum) . . 72 Section of Craterellus cantharellus 73 Section of Agaricus Rodmani 76 Section of Agaricus abruptus 77 Section of Hypholoma perplexum 79 Section of Hypholoma incertum 80 Section of Hypholoma sublateritium . . . . .81 Section of Pholiota adiposa 83 Section of Pholiota praecox ...... 84 Section of Cortinarius violaceus ...... 86 Section of Pluteus cervinus 87 Section of Lactarius piperatus 93 Section of Hydnum repandum 95 Section of Hydnum caput-ursi 96 Boletus Satanus 107 Under surface of Lenzites betulina . . . . . 113 Favolus areolarius 115 Section of young phallus 119 Mutinus bambusinus 120 )Lycoperdon 124 xxix List of Illustrations in Text few Section of Lycoperdon (diagrammatic) . . 124 Asci and paraphyses 135 Section of truffle to show position of asci . . . . 135 Truffle, ascoma 135 Fungus growing on caterpillar 135 Section of Peziza odorata to show two layers . . . 137 Gyromitra esculenta 141 Morchella esculenta 141 Section of Morchella deliciosa 141 Helvella * 142 Helvetia lacunosa (diagrammatic) 143 XXX THE MUSHROOM BOOK CHAPTER I : THE HOMES AND HABITS OF FUNGI FOR centuries epicures have used certain fungi for food. The Greeks and Romans esteemed them highly, and gave a great deal of consideration to favourable times and places for gathering them, and to choice methods of preparing them for the table. Juvenal tells us of one old Roman enthusiast who was so carried away by his love for them as to exclaim, "Keep your corn, O Libya, unyoke your oxen, provided only you send us mush- rooms ! " Horace says that mushrooms which grow in the fields are the best, and that one can have but little faith in other kinds. Mushroom eaters of the present day would perhaps not agree with him, for they find edible species in every imaginable place where fungi grow, and are constantly adding to their list new varieties which they esteem delicious. Although for centuries it has been known that some fungi contain most virulent poisons, still, through ignorance of those points which distinguish the poisonous from the edible, frequent cases of poisoning occur in all classes of society. The mistakes resulting in death have been frequent enough to inspire the timid with an overpowering dread of all fungi, while the damp and grewsome places in which many fungi flourish have caused them to be despised by others. The following lines from Shelley very aptly express the general sentiment : " And plants, at whose names the verse feels loath, Fill'd the place with a monstrous undergrowth, Prickly and pulpous, and blistering and blue, Livid, and starr'd with a lurid dew. I The Homes and Habits of Fungi " And agarics and fungi, with mildew and mould, Started like mist from the wet ground cold ; Pale, fleshy, as if the decaying dead With a spirit of growth had been animated." SHELLEY: " The Sensitive Plant." To many people the only growths known as fungi are toad- Itools and mushrooms. They give the name mushrooms to the species known to them as edible, and regard all other similar growths as toadstools, things uncanny or poisonous. " The grisly todestool grown there mought I see, And loathed paddocks [toads] lording on the same." SPENSER'S "Faerie Queene." This distinction has no scientific basis, and in fact most of the species called toadstools are edible. Fungi are not always the grewsome things of Shelley and Spenser. In their ranks are many which delight the eye with their colouring and the sym- metry of their forms. They are the grotesques of nature; nests, hoofs, cups, umbrellas, shells, and clubs are represented, together with spheres, hemispheres, cones, and many other geomet- rical figures. The mildew on the linen, the mould on food, the rusts and smuts which blight our fields of grain, and the dry rot which crumbles our lumber to dust and which causes old wood in dark places to glow with a weird, pale, flickering light, are all forms of one group or another of these plants which prey upon living or dead organic matter. In ordinary observation, only the simpler and more noticeable fungi are taken into account, but they are in reality met with in almost every situation imagin- able. They are found in damp cellars and in rooms shut off from the light ; in fact, some form of fungus will be found in every place and on everything which is not exposed to a circula- tion of fresh air. In woods and open fields the attractive forms are found. In shady woods the beautiful white "bear's head " hangs on stately tree trunks, and the "destroying angels" gleam white in the shadows on the ground. Shelving brackets, green or red or brown, encircle old stumps, or stand out stiff and white from the crumbling trunks of fallen moss-grown monarchs of the forest, while wood-brown toadstools huddle in groups among The Homes and Habits of Fungi the fallen leaves. On the outskirts of the wood, green and red Russulas vie with the flowers in the brilliancy of their colouring. Pink or violet Clavarias, dainty corals, border the wood path, and golden Clavarias lighten up the sombre wood tints with their yellow branches. In dry pastures and along wood roads, puff- balls, large and small, send up their puffs of brown smoke, to the delight of every passing child who strikes them with a wand. On lawns and hillsides the Oreades cause fairy rings to grow. The fairy rings are circles, or parts of circles, of impoverished grass of a lighter colour and less luxuriant growth than that of the grass immediately surrounding the circle. Before the existence of fairy folk came to be doubted, it was firmly believed that these fairy rings were the dancing grounds of the fairies. " The nimble elves That do by moonshine green sour ringlets make Whereof the ewe bites not ; whose pastime 'tis To make these midnight mushrooms." Rev. GERARD SMITH. The rings on the commons increase in size until sometimes two or more rings intersect to form a labyrinth of green network. Rings appear year after year in the same place, and then disap- pear, to reappear after an interval of a few seasons. As long as the fairies existed in the imaginations of the people, it was easy to account for these strange happenings the fairies danced in the moonshine, and the grass was worn down under their feet. If they were displeased and left the neighbourhood, the rings disap- peared too. As this fancy was given up, other solutions of the mystery were sought. Some believed that the ring was caused by a thunder-bolt entering the ground at this spot, and still others were confident that it was caused by moles. The true solution is not hard to find, to one familiar with the habit of growth of the fungus plant. One fungus plant growing alone upon the lawn will soon exhaust the soil directly beneath it of all true fungus food. Of all the spores which fall from the parent plant only those will grow which fall without this impoverished spot, and so a ring of toadstools is formed. Again, only those spores which fall outside the ring will find good fungus food, and so the ring widens always outward, forming a perfect circle, unless something on one side or other interferes with its travels. The 3 The Homes and Habits of Fungi decaying ring of fungi temporarily stimulates the grass around it, so that its rich colour stands out in circles or arcs of circles against the less highly nourished grass. Such rings are conspicuous on the lawns of the White House at Washington, and are often to be seen well defined on distant hillsides. Brackets and mushrooms and puffballs grow in warm, moist places where they find decaying wood and leaves to feed upon. Old tree trunks and fallen logs, rich leaf mould, and cattle pastures are their favourite haunts. The reason for their choice of place is invariably connected with the question of food, for fungi can thrive only where they can obtain organic matter, as they have lost the power which all green plants have of feeding on inorganic or mineral matter. All plants must have food with which to form plant flesh. Green plants by means of their leaf green the only agent in the world which has the power to turn lifeless mineral matter into living matter take the element carbon from the air, and hydrogen gas and oxygen gas from water, and with their green granules, by some mysterious process, make of the elements hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon, compounds of wood and starch and sugar. Fungus plants have none of this leaf green and must therefore feed on material which has been manufactured by green plants. To define fungi simply, so as to include all the varieties, would be a difficult task ; but in general it may be said that they are plants which have no leaf green and which do not grow from true seeds, but from dustlike bodies resembling in appearance the yel- low pollen of roses or lilies. The fungi have no flowers and produce no seeds. They produce spores instead, fine dust-like particles, which are borne in special places on the mature plant, whether a mould or mildew, a toad- stool, puffball, or bracket. The cap of a mush- room placed right side up on a piece of paper under an inverted glass will print with its spores a pic- p ffb 1 * ure ^ ^ e ra diating leaves or gills beneath. A slight blow on a puffball in the pasture will cause a puff of smoke-like dust to rise from it really millions of spores that have ripened inside the puffball and are now ready to grow into new puffball plants when they fall on favourable soil. CHAPTER II : THE RELATION OF FUNGI TO OTHER PLANTS A CLASSIFICATION or orderly arrangement of material collected for study is indispensable to true pleasure and profit. The nature student must classify both his specimens and the knowledge he may obtain about them ; for, as Spen- cer has said, "When a man's knowl- edge is not in order, the more of it he has the greater will be his confu- sion of thought." As he compares his specimens he sees interesting grada- tions of resemblance, and becomes fas- cinated with the pleasure of tracing their relationships and the gradual evo- lution of higher forms from lower. Every lover of nature who haunts the fields and woods acquires a rich store of facts about plant life, and with- out, perhaps, recognising that he does so, distinguishes two great groups of plants those which have attractive flowers, and those which have no flowers at all. His flowerless plants bear no seeds, but quan- tities of fine, dust-like particles which rise in the air as he brushes his stick over their green leaves. As the powers of observa- tion develop, he distinguishes the ferns and Christmas greens among flowerless plants, and perhaps soon recognises that the soft green moss bank, too, is composed of small plants, and that the green mats, the liverworts, on stones and moist banks and logs, are plants also. His only reason, perhaps, for calling them plants is that they grow and are green. He may Corollas and honey, at- tractive to insects Ingenious stamens The Relation of Fungi to Other Plants Pistil of Pistil of Seed-box of learn with the microscope that the pond scums which he had thought disgusting frog-spittle are in truth tangles of exquisite plants, made up of chains of slender, transpar- ent cells finer than silken threads, each cell containing many tiny green par- TV uifl tides ^ lea ^ reen> or cnlor - fi) III P n yN the cause of the W till colour of all green plants. At first the most conspicu- ous plants attract the attention, and afterwards, in succession, violet St. Johns- ., , , , ^ those less and less conspicuous. They, in reality, present them- selves in great natural groups, readily distinguished by well-marked characteristics. It will be seen, as these pass in review, that they are conspicuous according as they are complex. The gorgeous flow- ering plants have complicated methods of reproduction corollas and honey, attrac- tive to insects ; ingenious sta- mens, pistils, seed-boxes, and seeds. The humble grasses, with their close relatives, dispense with gay colours and the as- sistance of insects, and trust to the breezes to carry their pollen to its goal. The pines and their allies are a step nearer simplic- ity, and do not enclose Winged seed their seeds in a seed-box Sll ~ at all, but provide them with wings for dissemi- nation, and leave them exposed to the wind. (6] Seed-box of sacred bean of the ver fir Fern with spores (Polypo- vulgare) The Relation of Fungi to Other Plants Liverwort (Marchantia polymorphd) The ferns and Christmas greens (Lycopodiums) have no flowers, and therefore no true seeds. They have a distinct stem, which grows from the apex and is strength- ened by woody fibres, which may readily be seen by breaking the stem across. The woody fibres so strengthen the tissues of these plants that they are able to stand erect and make a conspicuous appearance not pos- sible to the small moss- es and liv- erworts , which are spore-bearing plants with no woody fibre. The plants of all these Grass spikelet g u P s re ~ semble each other in descending degrees, so that they may be classed in groups under groups. Similar specimens may form groups of species. Species may form larger groups, or genera. Genera with common characteristics may form families ; and groups of families, orders ; and orders, classes ; while classes unite to form branches, or phylae. A botanist relies for the classification of his specimens mainly upon the similarity of those parts of the plant which produce the seeds or spores rather than upon those parts the roots and leaves and stems which have the work of the plant household to do. He finds that the seed and spore producing parts are Bean seed open to show embryo Indian pipe more con- stant in their forms and habits than the leaves and stems and roots, which are more exposed, and which are constantly 7 The Relation of Fungi to Other Plants Moss (Dicranum scoparium) (natural size) being forced to a change of form which will better suit their changed surroundings. The novice sees nothing in the brown, or even in the highly coloured, fungi to war- rant his calling them plants. They are to him "just toadstools ;" for green colouring matter his first criterion for plants is not there, and, moreover, there is noth- ing in their shape which suggests to him the plants with which he is familiar. The snow- white Indian pipe lacks the green of most plants, but that does not rule it for him out of the plant world ; for although it is colourless, and depends upon other plants for food, still it has a flower form and produces a seed-box with well-devel- oped seeds. Fungi, however, to any but the close student must seem quite unrelated to all normal plant forms. But the botanist, by a study of their structure, finds that they all grow from microscopic, dust- like particles, which differ from true seeds in consisting of but one or a few cells, and in having no embryo plant in them as true seeds have. He recognises their position in the kingdom of living things, and classes them as spore-bearing plants, lower than the group of mosses, those dainty plants which delight every one with their graceful- ness, and which bear their spores in tiny cap- sules or boxes set up on slender stems. By studying their life history he decides that they are degenerate members of the low- est group the algae and that they have fostered the habit of feeding on material constructed by green plants, instead of con- structing food material for themselves, and have, in consequence, 8 White mould on dead fly The Relation of Fungi to Other Plants lost their power of constructing such food, and also their green granules by which this work of construction may be carried on. The life history and structure of fungi has been studied so minutely that one is Spore cases able to arrange them in three well- marked classes: The first class, the algal-like fungi (Phy corny cetes), includes bread moulds and several of those fungi which cause diseases of plants and animals the downy mildew on the grape, the potato rot, the common white mould which fastens dead flies to the walls or window panes in the autumn, and the fungus which grows on salmon Threads Bread mould (mag- nified) ous fied) and causes them to die in great numbers. The plant of these fungi is cobwebby, sometimes growing within the cells of the plant substance on which it lives, and sometimes growing both within and on the surface. A freshly moulded piece of moist bread shows the bread covered with exquisitely fine transparent threads, which con- stitute the plant. Later, spore cases containing tiny black spores will be seen, which give a del- Spores borne in del- icate gray tint to the plant at first, but later form icate membran- a black, repulsive mass as their numbers increase. \sacs (magm- These plants are regarded as descendants of de- generate algae, which lost their power of inde- pendent existence through stealing their food instead of making it for themselves. The second class, the spore-sac fungi, produce their spores in delicate membranous sacs. The spore-sac fungi vary greatly in size, habit, and structure. Most of them are inconspicuous members of the plant world, as the yeast plant, by which our bread is raised ; the fungus which causes the peach leaves to curl and the black knots to appear on cherry and plum trees. The third class is made up of all fungi which bear their Spores borne on little spicules (magnified) The Relation of Fungi to Other Plants spores on little spicules standing up on large cells. This con- tains most of the conspicuous fungi one will care about knowing. To understand the group one must understand the method by which a spore grows to be a fungus plant, and to be able to distinguish the different members of the group one must know on just what portions of the spore receptacle the spores are borne. 10 CHAPTER III : FROM SPORE TO MUSHROOM its o O (3) THE way in which a spore grows into a fungus plant is very simple : (1) The spore is a single cell, and when it is in a warm, moist place it swells. (2) The cell absorbs food through cell wall and divides into two cells. Each new cell absorbs food and divides until long chains of cells are formed, looking to the unaided eye like threads. Each thread is a hypha, and a tangle of threads is a mycelium. (4) In the soil the mycelium nour- ishes itself on decaying vegetable matter, and grows ; then, at certain points, the threads mat together to form little balls the size of pin- heads (a). (b) The pinheads grow to the size of bird-shot. (c) The bird-shot increase to the size of shoe-buttons. (5) If the ball is to become a stemmed toadstool, a minute stem ap- pears on the button. The stem and button increase in size. The button is lifted above the soil and expands into a mushroom. (6) If the button is to become a puff- ball, no stem appears on the button ; but ii From Spore to Mushroom Puffball Gills Stem it grows, and comes out of the ground a round puffball. (See Plate opposite p. 124.) If one wishes to learn to distinguish the members of the mushroom or toadstool family, either for the pleasure he may derive from knowing them, or from a desire to distinguish the edible from the poison- ous, he must be f a m i 1 i a r with the typi- cal parts of the fungus plant, and m ust know the names of these parts. The edible mushroom of the market (Agaricus campestris) serves well for study, Veil l-f^*XBffil as it shows some of the characteristics which all the toad- stools, mushrooms, brackets, and puffballs have in common. (i) This mushroom is in shape some- thing like a parasol. (2) The handle is the stem, or stipe. (3) The open top is the cap, or pileus. (4) Under the cap, radi- ating from the stalk to Ri ng .. Spores on , , slender processes trie CUgC OI the cap, are thin P^tes-the gills, or lamellae. (5) When the mushroom is in .short ceiis the button stage, the gills are not visible, for they are covered with a thin sheet of mycelial threads, called the veil. (See coloured plate of Agaricus campestris.) (6) As the button grows the veil stretches, and finally breaks, 13 Club-shaped bodies Section across gill (magnified) Prom Spore to Mushroom A small portion of section of gill (highly magnified) feaving a ragged edge to the cap, and a ring or annulus of veil around the stem. The gills of the Agaricus are not fastened to the stem, but are rounded off at the end near the stem, while others, between the long ones, extend from the edge of the cap only far enough toward the stem to fill up the angles formed by the long gills. The surface of the gills is the fruiting portion of the mushroom. It is here that the spores are formed. The structure of the fungus plant up to this point has been similar throughout. A loose tangle of threads underground formed the myce- lium the food provider. A more closely matted tangle above ground formed the stem and cap and veil, and even the central part of the gill the fruiting parts of the plant. On the surface of the gill a difference in structure is found, which will be clearly understood from a picture of a thin section cut across a gill. (i) The central portion of the gill is made by loosely tangled mycelium threads (tr) draping themselves in thin plates from the surface of the cap. (2) Just outside of this loose mycelium, on either side, are layers of short cells (c), which bear club- shaped bodies standing out over both surfaces of the gills (b). (3) Each club bears two slen- der processes (sf) at the free end, and each process bears a spore Corn smut Leaf rust on Hepatica triloba 13 From Spore to Mushroom Section to show gills Section of a Boletus, to show pores All corn smuts, wheat smuts, leaf rusts, toadstools, puff- balls, and brackets bear their spores on club-like cells, and for this reason are put in one group, called Basidiomycetes. The fact that corn smuts and leaf rusts feed on living plants, while toad- stools, brackets, and puffballs feed on dead plants, Pouch-fungus section, to show spores in hollow rind to two groups ; the smuts and rusts forming the lower group, and the others the higher group. It is the higher Basidiomycetes which we wish to con- sider, as this group includes most of the con- spicuous fungi, most of the edi- ble, and those fungi which are dangerous because of their re- semblance to edible species. Remembering that toadstools, puffballs, and brackets all start from spores ; that all have the tangled thread - like plants, seeking the dark ; that they all have the spore recep- tacle in the light, and bear their spores on club-like cells, one can readily understand their be- ing put in one group. With a few exceptions not necessary for us to consider, all the higher fungi naturally divide into two groups pouch-fungi (Gasteromycetes), which conceal their spores in a definite rind, or peridium, as the puffballs do ; and membrane fungi (Hymenomycetes), now called Agari- cales, which bear their spores exposed on the surface of gills, pores, spines, or teeth, as the garden mushrooms, the Boleti, the Clavarias, and the Hydnums. Clavaria with spores on spines Section of Hydnum, to show teeth CHAPTER IV: THE KEY WHAT A KEY IS, AND WHY A NAME IS DESIRABLE A KEY in the study of botany is a guide by which a student may trace a specimen until he finds a name for it. Having found a name, he may learn from books or from friends what is known of its habits of growth, of its value as a food or drug, whether it is harmful or harmless, whether it is to be protected or whether war is to be waged against it. He may learn whether it has figured in history or the myths, and how the poets and artists viewed it, and may perhaps learn to see it with their eyes. He may watch similar specimens as they grow, and may add the results of his observations to the facts already recorded about his specimen. HOW A KEY FOR FUNGI IS MADE, AND WHY IT IS DESIRABLE In the first place, only such plants are considered as grow from spores and have no leaf-green. (The spore characteristic is one the amateur must decide upon either by seeing the spores or by inferring their existence from the fact that seeds do not appear.) There are some thirty-five thousand species of fungi known to botanists, so that it would be impossible to find a name for a specimen if one had to read at random until the right description for his specimen was found ; but since all of these plants may be put in one or another of three groups, on account of certain points of resemblance which they have in common, and since these three groups may each in turn be divided and subdivided, one may, by selecting groups rather than individual specimens, find a short path to the name desired. The three primary groups, called classes, are made as follows : The first contains many mould-like fungi which resemble one another in microscopic characters. The second contains other mould-like fungi and many coi* 15 The Key spicuous fungi which bear their spores in transparent sacs (see first page of Key). The third contains all fungi which bear their spores on en- larged cells called basidia (see first page of Key). To even partially understand the inconspicuous fungi is a task impossible to one who is not familiar with the use of a com- pound microscope. To acquire a knowledge sufficiently accu- rate to identify nearly all of the conspicuous fungi is within the power of any intelligent person, for the two groups or classes containing the conspicuous species may be divided, on account of easily distinguished characters, into groups called orders. The orders may be divided into groups called families, and the families into groups called genera (singular genus), and the genera into individual specimens called species; and all these groups may be arranged in such a way that the series of selec- tions may be quickly made. 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E 8 .2 4> O bo o r=r oo D, a c o -> ^ l i 1 o I 37 Key GENERA 'i * s & i t W O CU ^ C S C - 3 g -*- 1 8 I C - < ."2 *g O i_ o f i ' o. 2 s- s E +_. c * **> *^ 2 2 o o U '^ I S S Key T3 T3 00 3 P-. W 3 *u Q, C/0 3. 1 *-> I ? o -^ O C u c qj c s J a. 3 bC rt , 4) 1 , , .S O t ' E 3 U -ii "J dj OjJ 3 ii C V. c '5. *P c j= +-I CA V Iti ?t V- >- J5 O u ia -Ss 41 Key M A * d .< O M 3 Jjj e "55 "* 3 V EX qv s es bo . ^ ^ H Cu e 2 3 o i ^ ^ S 5 J u oc .52 1 (MlfiRJ '^ ^B O XK3? t= ^i ^ o bo ggjgr 0. ^2 00 ^f X 2 h H, CX i (/I ORACEJG (FUNGI 2 Substance of 1 i_ -t-j u V x: i 5 *o i i V TJ C bO CX u | C C W I C "* ^ 2 ^ 1 i I M 1 W5 C 4> 1) C . "S s 8- J CX ^. j c *- S C ^ ^3 C ^* o P ^ ^ 13 *5 a 4> JI 73 j "3 * C O c M D. 1 c 3 ~ . M O 1-, U. ^* E ^* i T3 bO 3 bo * OS rt be .~ - _c "C X o 8 > 4) ,2 M 3 ^ ~> * I 1 - O O O & * B? c3 C3 i i g ~ s = 8-lli o bo M 73 1" " ! I ^ c .52 I 43 Ke 7 v bo u. 00 3 O bo QQ W * 0> 3 3 Wi *"* O O i* .- Cu O C T3 jy c3 O S. *u C ^ S u s o i^ o , c ' f c c 2 o 4> 5 M W * - S O cu .5 cr c/> x: c M rs S O --* <*- Cu Key 00 *A g 3 O ^ c "SI 1 & 1 O cj ^J CQ OH 2 C/5 O ? 'rf 1 1 S "B <0 *" =3 0. *-> OT fe boT3 S..S ^ .^ >..2 o "0 ^2 US X) ^ C c 3 oo ^oo w Ss ife H 4> u 9 s 2 m JS 53 *" 3 1 1 D Sf^ ^~| _c P 18 ' > 2 ^ o bo g g < S 3 U 40 CHAPTER V: FUNGI WITH GILLS GENUS AMANITA (Also called Venenarius.) THE fungi with gills all have this characteristic in common that they bear their spores on radiating plates or lamellae. Their family name, Agaricacece, is derived from a typical member of the family, Agaricus campestris. The family is the largest and most widely distributed of all the families, and contains some five thousand described species, which are placed in groups or genera, more or less large, based on such characters as the colour of the spores; the position and shape of the lamellae; the colour and texture, as well as the shape, odour, taste, and appendages of the cap and stem. The colour of the spores is one of the most important char- acteristics, as the decision as to whether the plant is wholesome or not often rests upon it. The colour may be determined by placing the cap, with spore surface down, on a sheet of white or black paper, and leaving it for a time under an inverted glass, so as to cut off all drafts which may blow the spores away. A print of the radiating gills will then be made in the colour of the spores white, pink, rusty brown, or black. For external characters of the stem, one must be careful to get the entire stem from the ground ; for a most important char- acteristic, the volva, if present, will be found at the base. The volva may be membranous and attached to the base, excepting at the rim, or membranous and loose, or present only in the form of rings of scales at the base, with perhaps traces on the surface qf the cap. The surface of the stem may be smooth or rusty or mealy white. It may or may not have near the cap a ring of the membrane which covered the gills of the young plant. The character of the lamellae and the internal characters of the stem may best be determined by cutting the cap and stem from top to base with a sharp knife, for then it may be seen whether the gills are free from the stem or attached to it, or 46 DEATH CUP. DESTROYING ANGEL (Atttaniia phalloides^ Fries) Reduced. Nat. size: Cap, 3^ inches: stem. 7!^ inch' z g White-spored Series Veil whether they grow down on the stem ; and whether the stem is hollow, solid, or filled with web-like mycelium, and whether it is fleshy or has a tough and hard rind. The lamellae may be of different or of equal lengths, and their edges may be entire or toothed or thin or blunt. To know a genus of the gill-bearing fungi, one must know the cap, gills, stem, and habit of growth which characterise that genus. A very young plant of the genus Amanita is enveloped in a membranous wrapper. The relation of the young plant to the wrapper will readily be understood by cutting a young plant through its length. As the plant grows, the wrapper is ruptured, a part is left at the base to form a cup or sheath, or a part maybe carried up on the cap, to ap- pear in small patches. The cap is, as a rule, regular and broadly convex. It may be almost flat when mature. The stem has a conspicuous collar and the gills are free from the stem. No less than twelve species of Amanita are dangerous or suspected. Some are the most poison- Patches ous of fungi, while others are most highly esteemed for the table. Since Free the most dan- gerous species belong to this genus, it would be better for the amateur not to eat of specimens which have stalks with a swollen base surrounded by a cup- like or scaly envelope, especially if the gills are white. In gath- ering all white-gilled species, care should be taken to get X-man'-l-t* 47 Wrapper. Section of young plant in wrapper Young plant in wrapper Cap Stem ..Volra Wrapper raptured A. muscaria (See Plate III.) Fungi with Gills below the base of the stalk ; for it often happens that the bulb is broken off and left behind, and thus the principal charac- teristic lost which would mark it as a specimen not to be eaten. Death Cup; Poison Amanita (Poisonous) Amanita phalloides (SEE PLATE FACING PAGE 46) Cap or Pileus White or greenish or greyish brown; smooth, no striations; width, 3-5 inches. Stem or Stipe Ring present. Abruptly bulbous at the base ; bulb margined by the wrapper remains. White in white- cap forms, tinged with a paler shade than the cap in brown- cap forms. Pithy when young, hollow when old. 3-6 inches long. Veil White in white-cap forms, tinged with brown in brown- cap forms. Gills or Lamella White, free from the stem, rounded at the stem end, rather broad. Spores Globose and white. Flesh White. Ti 'me July to October. Habitat Woods, groves, open places, and pastures. The poisonous principle of the death cup is known as phal- lin, one of the tox-albumins, the poisons found in rattlesnakes and other venomous animals, and the poisons which produce death in cholera and diphtheria. The phallin acts directly upon the blood corpuscles, dissolv- ing these, so that the serum of the blood escapes from the blood- vessels into the alimentary canal and drains the whole system of its vitality. There is no known antidote by which the effects of phallin may be counteracted. If one has eaten of the Amanita phalloides, the only chance of saving life is to remove the undi- gested parts from the alimentary canal by stomach-pump and oil purgatives ; then, if the amount of phallin absorbed into the system is not too great, the remainder may wear itself out on the blood and the patient may recover. The amount of the fungus which is necessary to produce death is small; some think that even the handling of poisonous specimens and the breathing in of their spores may be somewhat injurious. 48 White-spored Series Fly Amanita (Poisonous) ' Amanita muscaria (SEE PLATE FACING PAGE 50) Cap or Pileus Orange red to pale yellow or almost white. The young plants are brighter, and fade from the margin inward as the plant matures. Floccose scales, the wrapper remains, are scattered on the cap. The margin is often striate. 3-6 inches broad. Stem or Stipe White or slightly tinged with yellow. Pithy or hollow. Base not broad and abrupt, but ovate, covered with the scaly margins of the wrapper. 4-6 inches long. Veil and Ring or Annulus The veil covers the gills of the young plant, and later is seen as a collar-like ring on the stem. Gills or Lamellae White or slightly tinged with yellow. Various in length ; short ones terminating in length with almost vertical abruptness. Spores White, broadly elliptical. Flesh White, tinged with yellow under the epidermis. Habitat Along roadsides, on borders of fields, in groves of conif- erous trees. It prefers poor soil, gravelly or scanty. It grows singly, not in groups. Time June until freezing weather. Young Plant This is at first egg-like, then dumb-bell shaped. As the parts within expand, the wrapper breaks up into scales, so that the convex, unexpanded cap is densely covered with more or less concentric fragments of the wrapper, and the bulbous stem is covered with rings of f ringy scales. As the stem expands, these scales are left on the bulbous base, while the fragments on the cap are more widely separated by the growth of the cap. The fly amanita is a very conspicuous and handsome species. There are conflicting statements concerning the properties of this fungus; some claim that it is edible, and yet it is known to have caused much sickness and many deaths. It caused the death of the Czar Alexis of Russia, and of the Count de Vecchi in Washington. It is said that it is cooked and eaten by the Russians, and still it is on record that several French soldiers ate of it in Russia and became very ill. The Siberians steep dried specimens of the fly amanita in whortleberry juice, and thus make a drink which produces an intoxication similar to that produced by the "haschisch" and "majoon" of the East. Mtis-ca'-rf-& 3 49 Fungi with Gills There is something about it particularly attractive to flies, and yet for them to sip its juices means death, as may be seen by the circle of dead flies lying on the ground under the shadow of its cap. The chief poison of this fungus is an alkaloid called musca- rine, which paralyzes the nerves controlling the action of the heart. Injections of atropine in doses of from one one-hundredth to one-fiftieth of a grain are employed as an antidote for this poison. In addition, the most powerful emetics are used. Cap striate, and free from warts Orange Amanita (Edible) Amanita Ccesarea (SEE PLATE FACING PAGE 47) Cap or Pikus Smooth, glabrous, and free from warts or scales. Red or orange, fading to yellow on the margin or all over the cap. Margin distinctly striate. When fully ex- panded, nearly flat. When moist, sticky; 2^ to 5 inches. Stem Yellow. When young, fibrous or cottony within, later hollow; 3-5 inches. Wrapper or Volva White and mem- branous, loosely sheathing the base of the stem. Veil Covers the gills of the young plant. Remains are seen on the stem only, where it hangs down like a white ruffle. Gills or Lamella Rounded at the stem end and not attached to the stem. Yellow, an exception to the rule that the col- pur of the gills in mature plants resembles the colour of the spores. Young Plant When young, the cap and stem are contained in a wrap- per not unlike a hen's egg in shape, size, and colour. As the cap and stem within develop, the wrapper ruptures in its upper part, the stem elongates, and the cap is carried up, C'-si-re-a Section of A. Caesarea () Smooth cap (c) Hollow stem (*) Free gills (r) Ruffle-like ring Young plant Sheathed Amanitopsis (edible). (Amanitopsis vaginata, Roze), Cap, 2-4 inches; stem, 3-5 inches White-spored Series while the remains of the wrapper are left at the base of the stem, an open sac. Spores White, elliptical. Flesh White stained with yellow under the separable epidermis and next the line of attachment of the gills. Taste Mild and pleasant. Habitat Thin woods, preferably pine woods and sandy soil. Abundant in southern Europe, common in the Southern States, and occasionally found in New York and Massa- chusetts. Ztme]u\y, August, September. The Amanita Ccesarea is one of the handsomest species. The Greeks and Romans esteemed it as an article of food. The names, "Food of the gods," "Cibus Deorum," " Imperial mush- room," "Caesar's mushroom," and " Kaiserling," suggest the esteem in which it was held. Fungi with Gills i ^^ 1 0> j c tj ^ gl^ v*& C t/l x-N o ^ g, as 0^ ^ Q "^ J3 "*-* _J to 1/5 (8 '5 '' o 3 ns ^ il! 1 s o O) rt 1 ^5 o & -^ 1 "to So O SVIINVV SUVQ) B^IUBUiy co 3 2 *- ft P ^"^ -^ CX *" D i^* ~v ^ M .^ 2 >. ^ *s 0) i^\ h j * w UJ Qt X U- Amanita musce (Poisonous) dp or Pileus Orange adorned with floca consisting of patcl ruptured volva. u 1/5 ^T p3 "3 Q ^ v, 'J Zs > ~ * 3 ! ^ ^ f S iJ (U -t a_j ^ ^M -i ^ ! 1 I I >, CTJ <4-> (/> CJ 4-> 1 1 co O ^ o 'I < <*_! ~ i-> 0- o "5 O CX S o &i Is S <*- '5 U M c |ns S * S o * E | +j If c?13 CQ >i , ill i r - ^ f .53 B . c "| ^ o C N^X tx* *^ ..-2 K ^ "S i rv XJ cT 'S a J (L) > | g >; S 5 d I ^-T* (/5 < UH U- f ' < I- D *^ L s J3 a*** = 4-> 1 o Q *^3 ^ ^o CO White-spored Series GENUS CANTHARELLUS The members of the genus Cantharellus differ from all other gill-bearing fungi in that the gills are in the form of shallow folds growing down the stem. The folds are generally narrow and forked or branching. The name Cantharellus, meaning little cup or goblet, refers to the shape of the fungus, some of the species being so deeply depressed that a cup not unlike a tall goblet results. Cantharellus floccosus (Edible) (SEE PLATE FACING PAGE 138) Cap or Pileus Funnel form or trumpet shaped, depressed even into the stem. The surface of the depression is woolly or scaly. The scales some- times persist and sometimes dis- appear. Reddish yellow, fading to yellow. GUIs or Lamella Blunt, narrow, close; forked branched so as to appear as a network. Yellow to yellow brown. Stem or Stipe Short, smooth, or hairy. Sometimes extending like a root among fallen leaves. Spores White. Flesh White, thin. Time July to September. Habitat In groups in woods. The specimen pictured was found grow- ing in moss by a stream among laurels and rhododendrons. Section of c. floccosus GENUS AMANITOPSIS The genus Amanitopsis has white spores, the gills free from the stem, and at the base of the stem a volva, the remains of the wrapper which enclosed the young plant. There is no annulus or ring on the stem, a feature which separates the genus Amani- topsis from the genus Amanita. This ring is easily lost, however. Amanitopsis is dangerous to beginners, because an Amanita may so easily be mistaken for it. 53 Fungi with Gills The Sheathed Amanitopsis (Edible) Amanitopsis vaginata (SEE PLATE FACING PAGE 51) Cap or Pileus Variable in colour, ranging from white to reddish brown. Thin, fragile, smooth ; or, when young, with a few fragments of the wrapper adhering to its surface. Margin distinctly and deeply striated. 2-4 inches broad. Stem or Stipe Hol- low or stuffed ; smooth, or sprinkled with minute mealy particles or woolly scales. Not bul- bous at the base. 3-5 inches long. Spores White. Ring or Annulus None. Wrapper or Volvo. Soft, flabby, white, adhering slightly to the base. Gills or Lamella Free from the stem. White or whitish, close, irregular. Flesh White, or s ometimes stained under the easily separating skin. Section of A. vaginata Time June to Oc- tober. Habitat In woods or open places, in damp vegetable mould, widely distributed. Specimen pictured was found growing in mountains of New Jersey. A. vaginata, var. alba, has the whole plant white. A. vaginata, var. fulva, has the cap tawny yellow. A. vaginata, var. livida, has the cap leaden brown, and gills and stem tinged with smoky brown. Vag-fa-a'-ta Ffilv'-i LXv'-l-da 54 STRANGLED AMANITOPSIS (EDIBLE) (Jmanitopsis strangulata, (Fr.). Roze) Cap greyish brown; wrapper fragments dark brown. See Genus, o. 53 HELMET MYCENA (EDIBLE) (Mycena galericulata, Scop.) Cap greyish; gills white; stems firm, hollow, hairy at the base. See p. 55 White-spored Series Amanitopsis parciVOlvata (SEE FRONTWPBCI) Cap or Fileus Convex, then expanded ; smooth, free from warts. Colour brilliant orange red over the whole cap; not yellow on the margin, not fading with age. Uniform in colour in young and old specimens. Margin with striations deep and long. Gills or Lamella Lemon yellow, free from stem, and rounded at the outer extremity. Stem Slightly tapering toward the cap ; hol- low. Clear lemon yellow, covered with meal-like particles. Ring or VeilNone'm old or young specimens. Volva Present; not large and loose. White; clinging closely to the stem in the form of scales. Spores White. Flesh Unpleasant raw odour. White, stained with orange red immediately under the skin. Habitat Mixed woods. New Jersey, North Carolina. Time July. (J The caps of the specimens found Section of A. in North Carolina varied in colour from parciroivata (reduced) almost white to white with a red centre, and from orange or shades of orange to brilliant red. GENUS MYCENA The members of this genus have white spores ; no volva nor annulus ; lamellae thin, with acute edges ; gills with a little bay cut out near the stem, sinuate, and the stem with a cartilaginous rind. Cap membranous and striate on the margin that is, with depressed parallel lines. Mycena haematopoda (SEE PLATE FACING PACE 90) Cap or PiUus Bell-shaped ; reddish brown, deeper shade on margin. Gills or Lamella Paler tint of colour of cap ; adnate. Pir'-c^-vSl-va'-tS My-ce'-na Hem'-a-top'-8-dI 55 Fungi with Gills Stem or Stipe Colour of cap ; hollow ; a mere tube, with thin walls. When cut quickly, it changes to a deep red brown and exudes a purple juice. Flexible, fragile. Spores White. Ring or Annulus None. Time September. Habitat Decayed wood in forest. GENUS LENTINUS The genus Lentinus has white spores, no annulus, and no volva. The stem is central or lateral, and the lamellae are nor- mally toothed on their margins. The species are leathery, fleshy, and tough ; will stand drying, and revive when moist. Lentinus lepideus is one cause of the decay of telegraph poles, railroad ties, and bridges. Scaly Lentinus (Edible r,?) Lentinus lepideus (SEE PLATE FACING PAGE 58) Section of L. lepideus Cap or Pileus Fleshy, firm, convex or expanded. Creamy white, spotted with dark brown appressed scales. 3-5 inches. Gills or Lamella Rather broad, not crowded; growing down the stem. White edges, irregularly toothed. Stem or Stipe Whitish. Sometimes ec- Len-tl'-nus Lp-M'-*-- White-spored Scries centric, straight, or curved; firm, solid, equal, or tapering at the base. 2-4 inches long. Ring or Annulus None. Spores White. j%ol White. Time June to August. Habitat On wood ; common on railroad ties. GENUS PLEUROTUS In the genus Pleurotus the stem is attached to the cap at some point to one side of the centre. The stem may be on the very margin of the cap, or may be wanting altogether. The three species to be mentioned all grow on dead wood either on dead trees or on dead branches of living trees. The name Pleurotus comes from a Greek word meaning side, and has reference to the position of the stem. Oyster Mushroom (Edible) Pleurotus ostreatus (SEE PLATE FACING PAGE 62) Cap or Pileus Fleshy, convex, smooth, and moist. White, or tinted with ash colour or brown. Three to five inches. Gills or Lamella White, or tinted with ash ; broad ; growing down the stem, and branching again and again at the base. Stem or Stipe Short or wanting. Spores White, ob- long. Flesh White, tough. Section of P. ostreatus Time September. Habitat On dead wood. The specimens pictured were found growing on a dead forest tree at Lake Placid. The largest shells measured four inches across. Plu-r5'-tfis Os-tre-a'-ttis 57 Fungi with Gills Pleurotus sapidus (Edible) (Lilac-tinged spores, only, distinguish from P. ostreatus.) Cap or Pileus Convex or depressed, smooth, often irregular. White, yellowish, ashy grey, dull lilac, or even brownish ; overlapping each other. 2-5 inches broad. Gills or Lamella Whitish, rather distant, growing down the stem, branching and connecting again at stem end. Section of P. sapidus Stem or Stipe Stems more or less united at the base, eccentric or lateral, smooth, whitish. 1-2 inches long. Spores Lilac, oblong. Time June to November. Flesh White, tough. Habitat -In clusters, often from a common stem, growing on decayed wood. Elm Pleurotus (Edible) Pleurotus ulmarius Cap or Pileus Convex or nearly flat, firm, smooth. White, tinted at the centre with reddish yellow or brownish yellow. 2-5 inches broad. Gills or Lamella Broad, not crowded, notched at the stem end, growing down the stem. White, turning yellow with age. Stem or Stipe United to the cap one side of the centre. Usually curved ; solid, smooth, or downy. White or whitish. 2-4 inches long. SSp'-l-dtts Ul-ma'-rf-iis 58 White-pored Serits Section of P. ulmarius Flesh White, not tender, agreeable flavour. Spores White, globose. Time September to November. Habitat Conspicuous on dead parts of standing elms. Large and white. Sometimes found on other than elm trees. GENUS HYGROPHORUS The members of this genus may be recognized by their moist caps and by the waxy nature of their gills, which usually grow downward on the stem (decurrent), and are not very closely placed side by side. No species is known to be dangerous. Chantarelle hygrophorus (Edible) Hygrophorusjcantbarellus (SEE PLATE FACING PAGE 63) Cap or Pileus Thin, convex at first, but later depressed. Cov- ered with minute scales. Moist, bright red, becoming orange or yellow. Y*-\ inch broad. Hf-roph'-d-rtis 59 Fungi with Gills Gills or Lamella Distant, somewhat arched, growing downward on the stem (decurrent). Yellow, sometimes tinged with vermilion. Unequal. Stem or Stipe Smooth, not truly solid, sometimes hollow. Coloured like the cap, whitish within. 2-4 inches long. Ring or Annulus None. Spores White. Flesh Disagreeable in flavour. Habitat Swamps and damp, shaded places ; in fields or woods. Common. The specimen photographed was found in dense mixed woods, Lake Placid. Var. H. rosea has the cap expanded and the margin wavy. Var. H. flaw has the cap and stem pale yellow, the gills arched and strongly decurrent. Var. H. flampes has the cap and stem red or reddish. Var. H. flamceps has the cap yellow and the stem reddish. Vermilion Hygrophorus (Edible) Hygroploms miniatus (SEE PLATE FACING PAGE 63) Cap or Pileus Thin, fragile at first, convex, becoming nearly flat. Smooth or minutely scaly. Often depressed. Red, fading to yellow or orange. 1-2 inches broad. Gills or Lamella Distant. Usually yellow, sometimes tinged with red. Notched at the stem enc *> or growing down t ^ le stem > or fastened to the stem by the entire width of the inner extremity of the gill. Stem or Stipe Slender, smooth. Coloured like the cap. Solid when young, hollow when old. 1-2 inches long. Ring or Annulus None. Spores White, elliptical. Flesh Tender, and of agreeable flavour. Time June to September. Habitat Adapts itself to varying conditions. Singly, in groups, or in clusters, in bogs or on <*ry hillocks. The specimen photographed was found in woods, among fallen leaves and decayed wood, Lake Placid. Section of H. miniatus Fliv'-I-pes Flav'-i-cSps 60 White-spored Series Ivory Hygrophorus (Edible) Hygrophorus eburneus (SEE PLATE FACING PAGE 87) Cap or Pileus White; 1-3 inches, thin, fleshy, viscid. Stem or Stipe White, unequal, long, slender, stuffed, or hollow; viscid. Gills or Lamella White, waxy, unequal, distant, growing down the stem (decur- rent), thick and firm. Volva and Annulus Wanting. Spores White. Flesh Odour and taste grateful. Time September. Habitat The speci- men photographed was found growing among moss and fallen leaves in dense wood, Lake Placid. GENUS ARMILLARIA The members of this genus have white spores, and the gills attached by the inner extremity to the stem. The stem has a collar, but no wrapper at the base. The name is derived from the Latin armilla, a bracelet, referring to the ring upon the stem. Honey-coloured Armillaria (Edible) Armillaria mellea (SEE PLATE FACING PAGE 70) Cap or Pileus Colour from almost white to dark reddish brown. Young plants have numerous minute tufts or scales of brownish or blackish hairs. Margins sometimes striated. 1-6 inches broad. Section of H. eburneus Eb-tir'-ne'-fis Xr'-mH-la'-rM " 61 MCNS4 Fungi with Gills Stem or Stipe Usually reddish brown, paler above than below. Uniform in thickness, narrowed or slightly thickened at the base. Firm externally; soft and spongy, or hollow within. i-6 inches long. Ring or Annulus Cottony to membranous, sometimes lacking in old plants. Gills or Lamella Simply joined to the stem or run- ning down it. White or whitish ; sometimes va- riegated with reddish- brown spots. Spores White, elliptical. Flesh White or whitish. Section of A. meilea Taste unpleasant or acrid. Quality inferior. Habitat Common in woods or in cleared land, on the ground or on decayed wood. Solitary or clustered. Time Abundant in September. Found in June. Var. obscura has cap covered with numerous small, blackish scales. Van flaw has cap yellow or reddish yellow. Var. glabra has cap smooth. Var. radicata has tapering stem which penetrates the earth deeply. Var. bulbosa has bulbous base. Var. exannulata has cap smooth, margin even, stem tapering, annulus slight and evanescent, or wholly wanting. The Armillaria meilea has a disagreeable taste when raw, but when cooked it is thought by some to be very good. Dr. Peck says he does not know of any unwholesome species for which it may be mistaken. The Armillaria meilea has the habit, very unusual for a member of the group of Agaracales, of producing from its my- celial threads tuber-like masses of fungal substances from which the fruiting caps arise. The fungal masses of the Armillaria, the so-called sclerotia, are ribbon or string like, and may be found between the wood and bark of cone-bearing trees. These sclerotia send out cylindrical branches, called rhizomorphs, which may penetrate the soil and attack the roots of other trees, and so continue their work of destruction in the forest. 6b-scu'-ra Gla'-bra Bfil-bo'-sa Flav'-i Rad-l-ca'-ta Ex-an'-nfi-la'-ti 62 Oyster Mushroom (edible). (Pleurotus ostreatus, Fn) (Large shells, 4 inches or more across.) Reduced. See page 57. Golden-flesh Boletus. (Boletus chrysenteron, 1-r.). Reduced. See page Vermilion Hygrophorus (edible). (1 lygrophorus miniatus, Fr.). See pa-r fii- Chanterelle Ih'grophorus (edible.) (Hygrophorus cantharellus, Schw.) Slightly reduced. See rase 59. White-spored Series It is to the luminosity of these mycelial threads, which per- meate the decaying wood, that the weird phosphorescent light in dense woods is due. GENUS LEPIOTA (SEE PLATE FAC.NG PAGE 64) The members of this genus have the gills free from the stem, and have no wrapper remains at the base of the stem. In some species the cap or pileus has the surface scaly, owing to the rup- ture of the fibres which compose it. It is this feature which has suggested the name Lepiota, from the Latin word lepis a scale. There are about thirty species represented in the United States, of which a few are commonly eaten. Some are dangerous. Parasol Mushroom; Tall Lepiota (Edi- ble but danger- ous to beginners) Lepiota procera (SEE PLATE FACING PAGE 66) Cap or Pileus Convex, like an open umbrella. Thin, umbonate, cov- ered with closely pressed scales. 3-5 inches broad. Stem or Stipe Long, hol- low, or with cottony pith; bulbous at the base; usually covered with closely pressed scales. 5-10 inches long. Veil or Ring Thick and firm; often movable on the stem. L*p-l-c?-tt Section of L. procera Pr6$'-*-ri Fungi with Gills Gills or Lamella Closely placed, side by side. Whitish, or tinged with yellow. The inner extremity remote from the stem. Spores White, elliptical. Flesh White, soft, and dry. Time July to September. Habitat Thin woods, pastures, and by roadsides. Dangerous to beginners because of its resemblance to Amanita. The specific name, Procera, from the Latin procera (tall), refers to the length of the stem. There is no poisonous species for which it can be mistaken if one bears in mind that it has a long stem with bulbous base, a brownish, spotted cap with dark apex, and a broad basin about the insertion of the stem. Smooth Lepiota Lepiota naucinoides (SEE PLATE FACING PAGE 66) Cap or Pileus Smooth, white; rarely the central part of the cap is tinged with a smoky hue. 2-4 inches broad. Stem or Stipe Coloured like the cap; thickened at the base. Hollow or webby. 2-3 inches long. Veil or Annulus White. Exter- nal edge generally thicker than the inner; often movable on the stem. Gills or Lamella White when young; when old, pinkish or smoky brown. Rounded at the inner extremity and not attached to the stem. Nar- rower toward the stem than in the middle. Spores White, sub-elliptical. Flesh Thick, white, and tender. Time August November. Dangerous to beginners because of its resemblance to Amanita. Section of L. naucinoides The smooth lepiota resembles the chalk agaric (Agaricus eretaceous), which has brown spores, and the meadow mush- 64 White-spored Series room (Agaricus campestris), which has darker gills, a persistent collar, and a stem tapering at the base. No harm can come from confusing these for edible purposes. Great care should be taken to be sure that a specimen thought to be a smooth lepiota has no volva or wrapper at the base, for the absence of a volva is the most marked difference between it and the poisonous vernal amanita (Amanita verna). The gills of the smooth lepiota turn a dingy brown or pink, and those of the vernal amanita remain white ; and the cap of the smooth lepiota has not the moist smoothness and the brilliant whiteness of the vernal amanita. Lepiota Friesii (SEE PLATE FACING PAGE 71) Cap or Pileus Rather thin, convex, or nearly plain, with soft, tawny fibres forming small patches over the surface. 1-4 inches wide. Stem or Stipe Tapering toward the cap, slightly bulbous at the base. The lower part of the stem coloured like the cap, and with similar fibrils. Hollow. Powdery white above the ring. 2-5 inches long. Ring or Annulus Present and pendulous. Gills or Lamella Narrow, crowded, free from stem ; white ; some forked. Flesh Soft, white, with a slight odour when bruised. Ring or Annulus Well developed, drooping. White above, and tawny or scaly below. Habitat Soft, loose soil in bushy places. Time July to September. GENUS MARASMIUS The genus Marasmius belongs to the white-spored series. The plants are small, and wither and shrivel in dry weather, to revive a^ain when wet. The gills are thin, and have acute, edges. M. peronatus and M. urens are poisonous or suspected. The generic name comes from the same Greek word as the word marasmus, the name applied to a disease from which the patient wastes away without any apparent cause. The signifi- cance of the name will be apparent to one who watches the fleshy little plant shrink away when the sun shines. Fre'-sM Mi.r Fungi with Gills Fairy-ring Mushroom (Edible) Marasmius oreades Cap or Pt'kus Fleshy, tough, smooth, convex, or nearly plane, often with the centre higher than the space between it and the rim. Reddish ; fading, as it ages or dries, to pale yellow or buff. 1-2 inches broad. Gills or Lamella Broad and wide apart, creamy or yellowish, rounded at the stem end, unequal. Stem or Stipe Whitish, slender, tough, solid, coated with dense woolly hairs. 1-2% inches long. Ring or Annulus None. Spores White. Flesh Thin, white, tough. Time May to October. Habitat In circles or groups. Dangerous fungi somewhat resembling the M. oreades, and found in company with it, may be distinguished by their dark- coloured spores. GENUS COLLYBIA The members of this genus have white spores, and the lamellae with thin edges attached to the stem by their inner ex- tremity. The stem has a cartilaginous rind ; that is, it is hard and of a tough texture. The genus contains fifty-four American species, some of which are regarded as edible, while others are regarded as deleterious. The velvet-stemmed collybia, or Col- lybia veltttipas, is edible, and remarkable for its habit of growing long after the frosts of winter have come. It is easily recognised by its yellowish and viscid cap, and its habit of growing in tufts, and developing on the stem a dense coat of velvety hairs. The rooted collybia, Collybia radicata, may be recognised by the char- acter of its stem, as the lower part is like a slender tap root, gener- ally penetrating the earth to a depth equal to the length of the stem above the surface. O-re'-S-des CM-l^b'-l-* 66 SMOOTH LEPIOTA (EDIBLE) (Lep:ota nancintiiries. Peck) Nat. size : Cap diam., z 1 /? inches; stem length, 4^2 inches. PARASOL MUSHROOM. TALL LEPIOTA (EDIBLE) (Lepiota procera^ Scop.) Nat. Size : Cap Diam., 3^ inches; stem length, 4% inches See page 63 SPOTTED COLLYBIA (EDIBLE, Mel.) (Cottybia maculata, A. & S.) Cap and stem white with rusty spots ; gills white. See Genus, p. 66 BSOAD-GILLED COLLYBIA (EDIBLE, Mel.) (Collybia, platyphylla, Fr.) Surface of cap brownish, fibrillose ; gills white. See Genus, p. 66 Collybia fantilia, Peck. Reduced (Edible) WAXY CLITOCYBE (EDIBLE) (.Clifocyte laccata. Scop.) Cap, J-2 inches; stem, 1-3 inches. See page 70 DECEIVING CLITOCYBE (POISONOUS) (Clitocybf illudent. Schw.) Dull orange; phosphorescent. See Genus, p. 70 White-spored Series Collybia familia (Edible) (SEE PLATE FACING PAGE 66) Cap or Pileus Greyish, with centre darker. Smooth margin, often cracked. Slightly striate. Gills or Lamella Slightly greyish, soft, un- equal, free, not crowded. Stem or Stipe Greyish, hollow. Lower part covered with white woolly sub- stance. Sports White. Flesh Greenish grey. Time September. Section of C. familia Habitat The specimen photographed was found growing upon a prostrate evergreen tree near Lake Placid. GENUS PAN US (SEE PLATE FACING PAGE 151) The members of this genus are leathery plants, with the stems lateral or wanting. The gills are simple, not forked, and the spores are white. Panus stypticus is common on rotten wood, and gives out a weird, phosphorescent light. The species of the genus Panus so much resemble species of the genus Lcntinus, which do not have toothed margins, that Panus zndLentinus are considered by some as one genus, with the name Lentinus. Some species of Panus are dangerous. i GENUS TROGIA But one American species is reported; this is small and leathery, brownish in colour, with the spore-bearing surface white. The lamellae are obtuse on their edges, and are not hairy. The spores are white. This plant is common on fallen branches of the alder. GENUS SCH1ZOPHYLLUM The members of this genus have white spores and a leathery pileus, with the lamellae hairy and grooved, or split. Schiqo- phyllum commune is common on twigs or branches. It varies from % to 2 inches across, appearing as fluted shells on the bark. Fa-mll'-T-i Pi'-ntts Trdg'-f-i SkKz-S-phyl'-ltim CQm-mu'-ne 67 Fungi with Gills GENUS OMPHALIA The members of this genus have white spores, and the gills growing down on the stem. They have a hard, tough rind to the stem, which distinguishes them from the genus Cltiocybe, which has fleshy stems. Omphalia umbellifera is a small species, with a cap about an inch broad. It is the common mushroom on the top of Mount Marcy, the highest mountain in the State of New York. GENUS RUSSULE The genus Russula may usually be recognised by its brittle character, added to its fleshy stem and the fact that the lamellae are usually joined to the stem. Bright clear reds and purplish hues prevail, but several species exhibit a green colour, or an approach to green. The spores are white or yellowish, and the flesh never exudes a milky or coloured juice. Six species are dan- gerous. Emetic Russula (Dangerous) Russula emeiica (SEE PLATE FACING PAGE 74) Cap or PtfeusR.osy tint to rich red. Flesh thin. The margin furrowed with parallel lines. Skin separable, somewhat viscid. Cap diameter of specimen photographed, 3% inches. Gills or Lamella White. Usually uniform, occa- sionally unequal ; broad and brittle. Stem or Stipe Rosy. Swol- len near the base. Specimen photo- graphed, 2> inches Section of R. emetica Spores White. Flesh White, unless just under the skin, where it may be pink. Very fragile. Peppery to the taste. 6m-pha'-H-5 Um-bgl-ll'-fg-rS Rfis'-sfi-li fi-mft'-I-cS 68 White-spored Series Taste Acrid and biting. Time July to November. Habitat In damp meadows, in woods, in grassy places, under pine trees and firs. Green Russula; Verdette (Edible) Russula virescens Cap or Pileus Greyish green. At first globose, then expanded ; convex or depressed at the centre. Firm and dry. Not viscid, but adorned with flaky greenish or yellowish patches, produced by the cracking of the skin. 2-4 inches broad. Margin marked with impressed lines. Section of R. virescens Gills or Lamella White. Moderately close ; free, or nearly so ; narrow as they approach the stem. Some forked, others not. Stem or Stipe Shorter than the diameter of the cap. Smooth, white, and solid, or somewhat softer within. 1-2 inches long. Spores White, rough, nearly globose. Flesh White mild in taste. 69 Fungi with Gills Time July and August. Habitat Grassy grounds, groves, and open woods. No milky nor coloured juice, no coloured circular zones. Variable Russula (Edible) Russula heterophylla Cap or Pileus Variable in colour. Greenish or pinkish grey, but fleshy, firm ; slightly convex, then depressed ; smooth, and polished, the very thin skin disappearing. Margin thin, smooth, or with slightly depressed lines closely placed. Stem or Stipe Solid, firm, smooth, shining white, the apex oc- casionally dilated in the form of a cup. Annulus or Volva None. Gills or Lamella Narrow, crowded, forked ; white ; of different lengths. Spores White. Flesh White ; mild in taste. Habitat Woods. Common. Time]u\y to October. The specific name refers to the difference in the lengths of the gills. GENUS CLITOCYBE The members of the genus Clitocybe have the spores white, no volva or annulus, the gills with thin edges not notched on the edge near the stem, and generally decurrent. ClitOCybe laCCata (Edible) (SEE PLATE FACING PAGE 66) Must not be confused with the poisonous C. illudens. Cap or Pileus When moist, pale red, buff red, or flesh red; when dry, greyish to pale yellowish brown. Surface cov- ered with tiny tufts of hair. Convex when young, flattened with wavy margin when old ; often depressed. %-2 inches broad. Gills or Lamella Broad, distant, unequal. Flesh colour. Slightly decurrent. Veil and Annulus None. Stem or Stipe Slender, stiff, fibrous, stuffed, or hollow. Colour like cap. Often twisted. 1-3 inches long. Spores White, rough, globose. Flesh Thin, pale flesh colour, leathery, tasteless. H*t'r-6-ph?l'-la. Cll-tS^y'-be LSc-ca'-t* 70 Fat Pholiota, (edible). Pholiota adiposa, Fr.) Cap, 2-4 inches broad. See page 83 Honey-coloured Armillaria (edible). (Armillaria mellea, Vahl). Cap, 1-6 inches; stem, 1-6 inches. See page 61. Lepiota Friesii, Lasch. (edible). Cap, 1-4 inches; stem, 2-5 inches. See page 65. Cortinarius alboviolaceus, Fr. Cap, 2J4 inches; stem, 3 inches. See page 86. White-spored Series Sections of C. laccata Time Spring to autumn. Habitat Wood, swamps, or open fields, naked ground, mossy or grassy places. Var. amethystina has cap darker, gills amethyst, quite decurrent. Var. pallidifolia, gills paler than laccata. Var. striatula, plants small, gills showing as lines through the thin cap. ClitOCybe virens (SEE PLATE FACING PAGE 75) Cap or Pileus Fleshy, convex, expanded, obtuse. Pale greenish blue. Gills or Lamella White, crowded, thin, slightly decurrent. Stem or Stipe White, with occasional rusty spots ; stiff, solid. Sometimes two stems are found growing together at the base. Spores White. /%^ White. Time Autumn. Habitat The specimen photographed was found growing in mixed woods in Pennsylvania. Am-*-th?s'-tf-na PU-H-dMo'-lM StrUt'-t-l* W-rens 71 Fungi with Gills GENUS TRICHOLOMA The members of genus Tricholoma have white spores, and no collar on the stem. The gills are attached to the stem, and are notched on the edge at or near the stem. Masked Tricholoma (Edible) Tricholoma personatum (var. bulbosum) (SEE PLATE FACING PAGE 82) Cap or Pileus Variable in colour; pale lilac, with yellowish tint; brighter in young specimens ; sometimes whitish or pale greyish. Thick, fleshy, convex when young, with margin rolled in, and slight bloom or mealiness on the surface. When mature, smooth ; mar- gin wavy or turned upward. Gills or Lamella Faint lilac col- our, with tint of violet. Nar- row, unequal, free, close, and rounded at the stem end. Stem Faint lilac tint. Surface rather fibrous ; short, stout, solid, bulbous. Spores S o r d i d Section of T. personatum (var. lulbosunf) white ellinti-i cal. Flesh Firm. Habitat Thin woods, open grassy places. Time September to freezing weather. Pr-son-a'-ttim Brown-spored Series Craterellus cantharellus (Edible) (SEE PLATE FACING PAGE 74) or Pileus Margin wavy. Yellow or pinkish yellow. Fleshy, firm, convex, then centrally depressed. Gills or Lamella Blunt, running down the stem, forking many times. Stem Solid, yellow, and smooth. Spores Yellowish. Flesh White, slightly stained in places. Taste slightly peppery ; no odour. Time Summer and autumn. Habitat Specimen photographed was found grow- ing in moss and earth on an old wood road in Section of c. mixed woods, New Jersey. cantharellus l) Craterellus is at present classified as one of the family Thelephoracece. For convenience we have placed it under " Fungi with Gills." It is interesting, as it forms a connecting link between fam. Thelephoracex and fam. Agaricacece. GENUS AGARICUS The genus Agaricus includes all brown-spored species which have free gills and a stem with a collar. The distinctive features of several edible species may be quite satisfactorily seen by refer- ence to the table with parallel columns. Mushroom-growing is becoming quite an important industry in this country ; both professional horticulturists and amateurs successfully engage in it. It is not a difficult matter to raise the common mushroom, as the conditions necessary are easily ob- tained. Mushrooms will grow almost anywhere out of doors, and also in cellars, caves, and tunnels where a uniform and mod- erate temperature of from 50 to 60 Fahr. can be maintained. The part of a cellar devoted to mushrooms must be darkened some- what, must have a dry floor, and must be protected from wet overhead and from winds. These conditions are common in cel- lars which are rather dark, but sufficiently well ventilated not to be musty. The bed for the mushrooms is prepared in a manner Cra'-ter-el'-ltis Thel-e-pho-ra'-je-ae X-g&r'-I-ciis 73 Fungi with Gills similar to that employed in making a hot-bed, care being taken that the conditions are such that too great heat is not generated. Any one desiring to experiment will find it helpful to have the "Farmers' Bulletin," No. 53, "How to Grow Mushrooms," which may be obtained from the United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. ?4 Pholiota agger icola^ Peck Reduced slightly See page 84 Craterellus cantharellus, Schw. (Edible.) Reduced slightly a .1 a Brown-spored Series c i 41 4> 3 S a ~ s c o II 1 3 T3 "O ? O n "~ "S . ..g I u o "> |f CO UJ u < k A 3 (0 3 ^ ~ ^ i 11 i i H CO < O U 10 1^ I IH i i _J a. to S ^ ^ W < ?S ^ -5J "-3 Ib **9 Ul UJ ^ c ' ti > CO T3 UJ J: ^li ^ J> u cu r. 1^1 O "3 .ti fti O uo CO . arvensis S % !r Ou O.g J> >\ i> -2 *3 O...C od O co" UJ sylvatlcus s 1 f. Jf. 1 n sg t ^: c <- 3 5 * 3 -Oivrhoi-da'-rMla S'-my-ces co" UJ < lie Ij|* _ C/5 ^ ^ tjj O O < II i! 1 E? a iS ii D co trt o *rt c ^ i> - > c o 2 -S CO a 1 1 s ^ S "2 ^^ "^ 1H >2 o CD a J; cu 5 "c cd o a 1 | fi 12 ;E -o .-^ 2 omyce t ? c . 2 "Sro g i GROWING o oc o fe 5 P u ^3 -*- tr .} r- OJ (/) O ^5 *- i S *' "* 2 -> S O S u wp < j a. I o E J> i r 8 . i > 'o fQ 4 i i a $ S. ^5 r^o 1 ^^!/) uu ROWING u rt Q < *C C c *^ u a c3 *"Q *"" 1 o "^ |*>* % s? ii Ml O , CO 4) c - J: ^ co - c ^_* 3 > KJ ^^^ to fc * "^ r* * " o"o ^ o g c z 0) 3 JQ I +> _S S (0 ^ " * c O _j^> O t > ta Agaricu II JM Ii 11 llll 1 -JT3 1 " 2 g 3 V -1 ^ ^Jj 15 5 < ti ?j i2 ^ ^J 'O W 75 Fungi with Gills' Common Mushroom (Edible) Agaricus campestris (SEE PLATES FACING PAGE 82) Cap or Pileus Silky, or with fine fibres. The young plants "buttons" are hemispherical or almost globose. The mature plants are convex or nearly flat. White, or tinged with dingy browns. Skin separable. Margin extending beyond the gills. Gills or Lamella Delicate pink, then dark brown, covered by a veil in young plants. Crowded, rounded at the inner ex- tremity. Not attached to stem Stem or Stipe White, smooth ; stuffed ; that is, softer within than without. Shorter than the diameter of the cap. Ring or Annulus Delicate, often disappearing with age. Flesh White. Much esteemed. Spores Brownish, elliptical. Time Late summer and autumn. Habitat In pastures, lawns, and open places. Agaricus campestris is the mushroom ordinarily seen in the markets, either fresh from the growers or preserved in cans. Rodman's Mushroom (Edible) Agaricus Rodmani (SEE PLATE FACING PAGE 78) Sections of A. Rodmani Cfcn-ps'-trfs R6d-m*n'-I 76 Brown-spored Series Cap or Pileus Creamy, with brownish spots. Firm, surface dry. Mature specimens frequently have the surface or the cap broken into large, brownish scales. 3^ inches broad. Gills or Lamella Whitish, then pink, becoming dark brown. Narrow, close, unequal. Stem or Stipe Fleshy, solid, short, thick. 2 inches long. Ring or Annulus Double. Spores Brown. Flesh Firm, whito, assuming a pinkish or salmon tint. When cut, agreeable nutty flavour. Time May to July. Habitat Grassy grounds, crevices of unused pavements. The specimen photo- graphed was found growing in a cluster between broken stone in the gutter of a village street in New Jersey. Agaricus ab- ruptus (Edible) (SEE PLATE FACING P. 79) Cap or Pileus Creamy white, dry, and silky. Irregular in shape when young. Yellow when bruised. Gills or Lamellae Slightly pinkish when the veil first breaks; deeper pink in mature speci- mens, becoming brownish. Soft, free from the stem, crowded, unequal. Stem or Stipe Creamy white, deeper cream, or brown- ish near the base. Hollow, stiff, brittle, sometimes Section of A. abmptut Xb-rtip'-tSs 77 Fungi with Gills splitting lengthwise. Abruptly bulbous at the base, tapering toward cap. 3 inches long. Spores Brown. Veil and Annulus Frail, part adhering to the margin of the cap, part forming a ring on the stem. Flesh White, solid. Decided taste of pistachio-nut Time September. Habitat The specimen photographed grew by the trail along Lake Placid. GENUS HYPHOLOMA This genus has brown spores, and no volva at the base of the stem. The veil remains as a fringe attached to the margin of the pileus, but is not always apparent in old specimens ; no portion remains as a ring on the stem. The gills are attached or grown fast to the stem at their inner extremity. In this respect, and also in having the stem destitute of a collar, the genus differs from the genus Agaricus. Perplexing Hypholoma (Edible) lexum (SEE PLATE FACING PAGE 82) Cap or Pileus Convex or nearly plane, smooth, sometimes slightly umbonate. Reddish or brownish-red, fading to yel- low on the margins. One to three inches broad. Stem or Stipe Firm and hollow, slightly covered with fine threads. Whitish or yellowish to rusty red or red brown. 2-3 inches long. Veil or Ring Veil remains attached to the margin. No ring on the stem. Gills or Lamella Thin, crowded, slightly rounded at the stem end. At first pale yellow, then tinged with green or purplish brown. Spores Purplish brown, elliptical. Flesh Mild, not clearly bitter, white. Time Autumn to freezing weather. Habitat Grows in clusters, sometimes singly, on stumps, in the woods or in the open. Six allied species of Hypholoma may be readily distinguished by reference to the table. 78 RODMAN'S MUSHROOM, YOUNG (EDIBLE) (Agaricus Rodmani^ Peck. Reduced) RODMAN'S MUSHROOM, MATURE (EDIBLE) (Agaricus Rodmani, Peck) Nat. size : Cap diam., 3^ inches ; stem length, 2 inches Brown-spored Series Section of H. perplexum I TASTE MILD OR NOT CLEARLY BITTER H. epixanthus Cray-gllled Mush- room H. capnoides H. perplexum Perplexing: Mush- room GY//.T Yellow, be- coming grey ; neither green nor purplish. Gills Grey to purple- brown. Gills Yellow, green, or purple brown. Cap Yellow or slightly tawny on disk only. Cap Yellow or slightly tawny on the disk only. Cap Brick red, yel- low on the margin. Taste Mild. Taste Mild. Taste Mild or not clearly bitter. Regarded as edible. '-pl-xiln'-thiis CXp-noi'-des 79 Fungi with Gills II TASTE BITTER H. eleeodes H. fasciculare Tufted Yellow Mush- room H. sublateritium Brick-red Mush- room Gills Green to olive. Gills Yellow to green. Gills Whitish to sooty olive. Cap Brick red. Cap Yellow tinged with tawny. Cap Brick red. Stem Hollow, rusty. Stem Hollow, yel- low. Stem S olid or 1 stuffed. Flesh -Yellow. Flesh Yellow. Flesh Whitish. Taste Bitter. Taste Bitter. Taste Bitter. Reputed poisonous. Formerly reputed poi- sonous; now consid- ered edible by some. Uncertain Hypholoma (Edible) Hypholoma incertum (SEE PLATE FACING PAGE 83) (Same as H. appendiculatum) Cap or Pileus Thin, and adorned with the frag- ments of the woolly white veil. Opaque when dry, transparent when moist. Ovate at first, then broadly spreading. 1-2^ inches wide. Gills or Lamella Thin, narrow, close ; fastened to the stem at their inner extremity. White at first, then purplish brown. fel'-se-o'-des fragile, whitish. Margin often wavy Fasc'-Ic-fi-la'-r* Section of H. incertum Sito-la-ler-I'-shl-iim In-cgr'-ttim 80 Brown-spored Series Stem or Stipe Hollow, white, and slender. 1-3 inches long. Spores Purplish brown, elliptical. Flesh Tender. Time Throughout a moist season. HabitatIn clusters, in lawns, gardens, thin woods, and pastures. Brick Top (Edible) Hypholoma sublateritium (SEE PLATE FACING PAGE 86) Cap or Pileus Brick red, with pale yellowish border. Surface covered with fine silky fibres. Fleshy, firm, moist. 2^-4 inches broad. Stem or Stipe Creamy when young, lower part slightly tinged with red. Hollow or stuffed. Silky fibres on the surface. 2>- 4 inches long. Gills or Lamella Creamy when young, olive when old. Attached to stem at inner extrem- ity. Rather n arrow, crowded, un- equal. Ring or Annulus None. Rem- nants of veil often seen on edge of cap. Spores Brown. Flesh Creamy, firm, bitter. Time Septem- ber. Habitat The s p eci me n photo- graphed grew in clus- ters on a mossy stump Section of H. sublateritium in the Open. Si Fungi with Gills GENUS STROPHARIA There are about seven species of this genus in America. The spores are brown, there is no volva, the stem has a collar, and the lamellae are united with the stem. They have no special economic importance. Two species are dangerous. GENUS PSATHYRA Two American species are reported for this genus. The spores are dark brown, there is no volva, the veil is inconspicu- ous or wanting, and the lamellae attached to the stem or notched at the inner extremity. The margin of the cap in the young plant and mature plant is always sh aight. GENUS PSILOCYBE Eleven American species are reported for this genus. The spores are dark brown. There is no volva, the veil is incon- spicuous or wanting, and the lamellae are attached to the stem or notched at the inner extremity. In the young plant the cap curves in at the margin. GENUS PILOSACE This genus has but one American species recorded. The spores are dark brown. There is no volva, and the veil is incon- spicuous or wanting. The lamellae are free from the stem. GENUS DECONICA But one American species is reported. This has dark brown spores, and the lamellae growing down on the stem. The veil is inconspicuous or wanting, and there is no volva. Str6ph-i'-rf-i Psa-thy'-rit PsM5-#'-be e De-cfin'-l-ci 82 Agancus campestri, L. (edible). Reduced. See page 76. Agaricus abruptus, Pk. (edible). Reduced. Stem, 3 inches. See page 77. Perplexing Hypholoma (edible). (Hypholoma perplexum, Pk.)- Cap, 1-3 inches; ^tem, 2-3 inches. Rusty-spored Series GENUS CH1TONIA One American species is reported in this genus, Clarheinde plana, from Nebraska. The spores are brown, and the stem has a volva at the base, but no ring. . GENUS PHOLIOTA The members of this genus have rusty spores, and an annulus on the stem. There are about twenty known species, and some of these are edible. Fat Pholiota (Edible) Pholiota adipOSa($EE PLATE FACING PAGE 70) Cap orPileus Showy, deep yellow, with little scales of reddish brown. Fleshy, firm. At first hemispherical, then convex. Sticky when moist, shiny when dry. 2-4 inches broad. Stem or Stipe Stem yellow, gener- ally rusty at the base. Equal in diameter, or slightly thickened at the base. Stuffed or solid. Sectin of P. adiposa Tough. Two to four inches. Gills or Lamella Yellowish, becoming rusty ; close, and at- tached to the stem. King or Annulus Slightly radiating, woolly. Spores Rusty brown. Time September to November. Habitat In tufts, on stumps or dead trunks of trees. Pholiota limonella, lemon-yellow pholiota, has a smaller, thinner, and more expanded cap, of a lighter yellow, with white gills. CM-to'-nl-a Pho-H-o'-ta Ad-t-p6'-sl Fungi with Gills Early Pholiota Edible (SEE PLATE FACING PAGE 87) Pholiota prcecox Section of P. praecox Cap or PileusCre&my white, smooth, not shining. Very thin skin. 1-2 inches. Stem or Stipe Creamy white, rather scaly. Skin peels readily. Stuffed or hollow. 1-5 inches long. Gills or Lamella Creamy white when young, brown when mature. Soft, close, un- equal, notched at the inner extremity, and attached to the stem. Veil and Ring Stretched like a drumhead from stem to mar- gin of cap. Variable in manner of parting. It some- times separates from cap margin, and forms a distinct ring about the stem ; again, but little remains on the stem, and much on the rim of the cap. Spores Rusty brown. Flesh White, solid though soft, moist. Taste slightly bitter. Time May to July. Habitat Grassy ground. The specimen pictured grew about the roots of a poplar tree in New Jersey. Pholiota aggericola (SEE PLATE FACING PAGE 74) Cap or Pileus Brown, shining when moist. Margin in older specimens finely and closely impressed with parallel lines. Cap diameter of specimen photographed, 2 inches. Gills or Lamella Pale brownish when young, darker brown Pre'.cox Ag-ggr-fc'-o-li Rusty-spore d Series mature. Attached to stem when young, free when when older. Veil Pale brown, colour of stem. Stem or Stipe Pale orown- ish, darker at base. Softer texture with- in than with- out. Stem length of specimen p h o t o - graphed, 2 inches. Spores R u s ty brown. Flesh Pale brownish; brittle. No taste or marked odour. Time October. Section of P. aggericola Habitat Specimen photographed grew among grass and leaves in a New Jersey garden. GENUS CORTINARIUS This genus contains many species which are distinguished by the rusty yellow colour of their spores and by the webby character of the veil. It is of the utmost importance in identify- ing species of Cortinarius to know the colour of the gills of the young plant, as the gills of the old plants are almost uniform in colour, owing to their being dusted with the rusty yellow spores. In addition, one should carefully note the colour of the young plant compared with the old; the surface, whether sticky or dry, smooth or hairy ; the taste ; and the markings left on the stem by the retreating veil. All species have their gills attached to the stem, and some have them notched at the stem end. They may be looked for along the borders of woods and groves in hilly regions, during the latter part of the summer. Cor-tf-na'-rf-fis 85 Fungi with Gills albOViolaCGUS (SEE PLATE FACING PAGE 71) Cap or Pileus Lavender, paler in the centre. Surface with rusty spots. 2j4 inches broad. Gills or Lamella Crowded, unequal, attached to the stem. B C. violaceus Stem or Stipe Pale lavender, assuming a deeper shade when cut or bruised. Spongy in the centre, swollen toward the base. 3 inches long. Veil Filmy, stretching from stem to the margin of the cap in young plant. Spores Rusty brown. 86 s: * c IVORY HYGROPHORUS (EDIBLE) (tfygropkortts e&urneus. Fries) Reduced. Cap diam. I inch; stem length, 2% inches See page 6l EARLY PHQLIQTA (EDIBLE) IPkoliota jrtrcox, Pers.) Reduced. Nat. size: Cap, 1-2 inches; stem, 1-5 Inches Pink-spored Series Flesh Tinged with violet Time Autumn. Habitat Thick, damp woods. C. violaceus differs from c. alboviolaceus in having the cap dark violet and usually covered with fibres. GENUS PLUTEUS The members of the genus Pluteus are fleshy fungi with pink spores, and gills free from the stem. They have no volva or wrapper about the young plant, and no ring or annulus on the stem. Eleven species are known from the United States, of which Pluteus cervinus, the fawn-coloured mushroom, is the commonest. The generic name Pluteus means all that is joined together to make a cover for besiegers at their work, that they may be screened from the missiles of the enemy. The arrangement of the caps in the group pictured is suggestive of the meaning. Fawn-coloured Pluteus (Edible) Pluteus cervinus (SEE PLATE FACING PAGE 94) Cap or Pileus Light brown or fawn coloured, streaked with lines of darker brown. Sur- face dry and shining. Skin thin and papery. 3> inches broad. Gills or Lamella Almost white when young, flesh colour when mature. Broad, unequal in length, free from the stem. Stem or Stipe Creamy white, P. cervinus Fungi with Gills streaked with pale brown. Brittle, pithy in the centre when mature. 3-6 inches long. Spores Pink, with suggestions of yellow; salmon colour. Flesh White, tasteless. Time Early in the season, May. Habitat Mixed woods, on and around old stumps. New Jersey. GENUS ENTOLOMA The members of this genus have pink spores, and the lamellae attached to the stem, or with a notch near the junction of gill and stem. The stem is fleshy, and not tough and hard as in Leptonia and Nolanea, genera with pink spores and adnate or sinuate lamellae. There are some twelve species in this genus, none of which have any economic interest, while at least four are dangerous. GENUS ECCILIA The members of the genus Eccilia have neither volva nor annulus. The gills grow downward on the stem, the spores are pink, and the stems have a hard, tough rind, not fleshy as in Clitopilus. There are three species known in America. GENUS YOLVARIA The members of the genus Volvaria are fleshy fungi, soon becoming putrescent. The spores are salmon colour. A volva is present, but no annulus. Distinguished from Amanitopsis by having salmon-coloured spores instead of white. GENUS CLITOPILUS The members of this group have neither volva nor annu- lus. The gills grow downward on the stem, the spores are pink, and the stem is fleshy, without a hard and tough rind as in Eccilia. There are fourteen American species, of which at least two species are edible. n-tS-16'-mi N6-li'-n-4 fec^Il'-l-i Lp-to-nI-4 V61-va'-!Ml CH-t8-plMtts 88 Black-spored Series GENUS COPRINUS Ink Caps (Edible) The genus Coprinus may be readily recognised from the fact that the spore-bearing plates dissolve to an inky fluid soon after the spores mature. An amateur mushroom hunter may feel perfectly safe in col- lecting ink caps for his table, as all the species large enough to tempt the collector are not only edible, but are generally conceded to be of the best. Their general appearance is such that even the most un- trained observer should not mistake them for species of other groups. The oblong or nearly cylindrical cap, which does not expand until ready to dissolve in inky drops, is too striking a character- istic to permit of any one making a mistake in identifying it as a specimen safe to eat. These plants literally grow up in a night and perish in a day, as their period of growth is spent underground, and it is not until all the parts of the fruiting portions of the plants are fully developed that they push themselves above ground. Then they push and crowd from the ground in such numbers, where but a few hours before no evidence of them was seen, that each one is compressed from its cylindrical form to that of a many- sided prism, so that there would be no chance for the expansion of those within the group if it were not that those on the outer rim so rapidly expand and dissolve away. Specimens to be eaten should be gathered in the young stage and should be cooked promptly; for though not poisonous in the black stage, they are surely not attractive. Shelley must have had the ink caps in mind when he wrote of the fungi in the garden of "The Sensitive Plant": 1 Their mass rotted off them flake by flake, Till the thick stalk stuck like a murderer's stake, Where rags of loose flesh yet tremble on high, Infecting th winds that wander by." Co-pri'-ntis 89 Fungi with Gills Shaggy-mane; Horsetail; Maned Agaric (Edible) Coprinus COmatuS (SEE PAGES iii, v, viii) Cap or Pileus Cylindrical or barrel-shaped ; becoming bell-shaped or expanded, with split margins, when old. Colour of the buttons or young plants dark ; but that of the older forms white, flecked with dark patches or scales. Surface shaggy. i YZ-J inches long before expansion. Stem or Stipe White, smooth, hollow. 3-4 inches long. Ring or Annulus Slightly adherent, or movable in the young plant ; later lying on the ground at the base of the stem, or wholly disappearing. Gills or Lamella Crowded. White, then tinged with pink ; finally black, and dripping an inky fluid. Spores Black, elliptical. Flesh Fragile, tender, digestible, with nutty flavour. Time Autumn. Habitat Loose, rich earth. By roadsides, in pastures, and in dumping grounds. If one study the specimens of the shaggy-mane from the time it pushes its little brown head above the ground until, as a tall black umbrella, it melts away into inky blackness, he will find much that is beautiful and interesting. A little brown button may be cut with a sharp knife through- out its length to show the unexpanded gills lying close to the part which is afterwards to become the stem. An older button cut in the same way will show the gills separated from the stem and the outer cover of the cap at the lower end of the gills joined to the stem. A still older specimen will show the connection of the outer cover broken loose from the base of the gill and the torn part still remaining on the stem as a temporary collar. The outer layer of brown threads which covers the button will be found to break as the threads within expand, and to re- main in the older specimens on the surface as patches of brown threads. Underlying these are broken white threads which in a younger stage, unbroken, formed a white cover under the brown. It is these loosely hanging threads which give the shaggy ap- pearance to the cap of the mature plants and which have suggested the names of shaggy-mane, horsetails, and comatus (comatus, in Latin, meaning hairy). Co-ma' -tus Mycena haematopoda, Pers. See' page 55. fc a ZONED CORTINARIUS (Cortinarius armillalus, A. & S., Fr.) Cap cinnamon-brown; gills paler than cap; stem light brown with fibrous zones of red. See Genus, p. 85 Black-spored Series Inky Coprinus (Edible) Coprinus atramentarius Cap or Pileus Cylindrical at first, broadening by degrees until it is cone-shaped. Colour greyish or greyish brown, with sug- gestions of lead colour. Smooth or with a few obscure scales on the disk. Often suffused with bloom. The mar- gin sometimes notched or lobed. Deliquescing. 1-3 inches in diameter. Stem or Stipe Slender, smooth, whitish, hollow; 2-4 inches. Ring or Annulus A slight vestige of one may be seen to extend around the stem near the base as an irregular zigzag ele- vated line of threads. Gills or Lamella Crowded. At first whitish and flpcculose on the edges, then black, moist, dropping away in inky fluid. Spores Black, elliptical. Flesh White, quickly deliquescing. Time Autumn. Habitat Rich soil, waste places, woods. The form growing in the woods is much more beautiful and is known as C. atramentarius, var. silvestris. See plate facing page 95; Glistening Coprinus (Edible) Coprinus micaceus Cap or Pileus Ovate, then bell-shaped. Striations radiating from near the centre of the disk to the margin. Glistening mica-like scales cover undisturbed young specimens. 1-2 inches broad. Colour tan, light buff, or tawny yellow. Stem or Stipe Slender, smooth, fragile, white, hollow. 1-3 inches long. Ring or Annulus Rarely seen except in very young specimens. Gills or Lamellae Not as crowded as in the ink cap and shaggy- mane. Colour white, then tinged with pinkish or purplish brown, finally black. Spores Brown, elliptical. Flesh A nutty flavour when raw. In wet weather it melts to an inky fluid. In dry weather it may dry with all parts well preserved. Time Common during spring and early autumn. The glistening coprinus is small and beautiful, and grows in clusters on decaying woods, stumps, or buried roots. Xt'-riUmen-ta'-rf-fls Ml-ca'-ye-iis 9 Fungi with Gills GENUS GOMPHIDIUS This genus has black spores. The lamellae are waxy, and grow downward on the stem. GENUS PSATHYRELLA The members of this genus are fleshy fungi, with black spores. They have no annulus, and the lamellae are not waxy or decurrent. The cap is striate, and the stem has a hard, tough rind. GENUS PAN&OLUS There are six or more species of this genus in America. They have black ovoid spores, a cap smooth and not striate, a fleshy stem. Some species are very dangerous. GENUS LACTARIUS A milky or coloured juice exuding from the broken gills of a fungus marks it as a Ladarius. The species are mostly stout and fleshy, the cap resembling an inverted cone; the gills are more or less decurrent, and the stem short and stout. Many of the species have a hot, acrid taste, and some have zones of colour on the surface of the cap. The spores are white or yellow. The juice exuded may be white or orange or blue. No less than eight species are dangerous. Peppery Lactarius (Dangerous) Ladarius piperatus (SEE PLATE FACING PAGE 103) Cap or Pileus Creamy white, fleshy, firm, depressed in the cen- tre. Dry, never viscid, and uncommonly broad. 3-8 inches in diameter. Gills or Lamella Creamy white, narr