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GUIDE
TO THE
MUSHROOMS
BY
EMMA L. TAYLOR COLE
With illustrations from photographs by
A. W. Cole
CHAS. K. REED
WORCESTER, MASS.
1910
,cc.
COPYRIGHT
CHAS. K. REED
1910
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
Illustrations 7
Abbeeviations of Names of Authors
OF Species 11
What are Mushrooms 13
Parts of a Mushroom 15
"When and Where Mushrooms Grow 23
How TO Collect Mushrooms and Pre-
pare Them for the Table 37
Descriptions of Species 43
Glossary 186
Index of Scientific Names: Genera. . 195
Index of Scientific Names: Species. . 198
Index of Common Names 201
Guide to the Mushrooms 7
INDEX OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Agakicus campester 118
'' silvaticus 120
Amanita Caesaria 120
crenulata 52
excelsa 4i
muscaria 46
phalloides 44
rubescens 48
Amanitopsis vaginata 54
Aemillakia mellea 60
BoLETiNus porosus
Boletus f elleus 150
' ' scaber 146
Calavatia cariniformus 182
' ' gigantea 180
Canthaeellus cibarius 98
Clavaeia cristata 166
'' flava 166
Clitocybe gilva 70
' ' illudens 68
' ' laccata 66
CoLLYBiA confluens 74
* * dryophila 76
* * radicata 70
" velutipes 72
8 Guide to the Mushrooms
CoPRiNus atramentarius . 134
' ' micaceus 136
•CoRTiNAEius ciunabarinus 114
" corrngatus 117
FisTULiNA liepatica 154
Geaster hygrometricus 178
Geoglossum glntinosmii 172
Hygrophorus miniatns 82
Hypholoma appendiciilatum 124
" sublaterithim 130
Hypomyces lactifluoriim 162
Lactarius piperatiis 86
siibdnlcis 88
' ' volemiis 84
Lepiota naueinoides 58
' ' procera 56
Lycoperdon pyrif orme Frontispiece
Marasmius oreades 100
MoRCHELLA deliciosa 170
'' semilibera 1.69
Mycena galericulata 76
Naucoria semiorbicularis 110
Phallus Eavenelii 176
Pholiota adiposa 41
Pleueotus ostreatiis 78
' ' sapidus 80
Guide to the Mushrooms 9
Pluteus cerviniis 106
PoLYPORus betulinus 1()0
'' brumalis 156
' ^ sulpliureus 158
PoLYSTicTus perennis 162
RussuLA emetica 91
" foetens 92
" fragilis 96
'^ purpurina 90
Scleroderma vulgare 185
Sparassis erispa 164
Strop HARiA seniiglo])ata 122
Tricholoma personatum 62
' ' sejmietum ()4:
VoLVARiA speciosa 102
Guide to the Mushrooms . 11
Abbreviations of Names of Authors
OF Species.
Batseli. — Batsoh.
Berk. — Berkeley.
Bull.— BulliarcL
Curt.— Curtis.
Fl. Dan. — Flora Danica.
Fr. — Fries.
Jacq. — Jacquin.
Kalclib. — Kalchbrenuer.
Linn. — Linnaeus.
Miill.— Miiller.
Pers. — Persoon.
Pk.— Peck.
Relh. — Rellian.
Roze — Roze.
Scliaeff. — Scliaeffer.
Scliulz — Schulz.
Scliw. — Schweinitz.
Scop. — Scopoli.
Sec. — Secretan.
■ Sow. — Sowerby.
Swartz — Swartz.
Vitt. — Vittadini.
Wabl. — Wahlenberg.
A
Guide to the Mushrooms 13
WHAT ARE MLTSHROUMS?
From early .si)rLiig until late fall, every-
where a))oiit us may be seen the so-called
toadstool. The name toadstool has been so
long ap])lied by people, to whom all mush-
rooms are a "hidden tongue," that it has
come to be generally accepted as meaning-
something poisonous. The first (piestion
generally asked concerning mushrooms is,
"How do you tell a mushroom from a toad-
stool?" in reality meaning how can edible
mushrooms be determined from the poison-
ous species. Toadstool is simply the com-
mon name for mushroom as daisv is the
common name for Chrysanthemum leucan-
themum. There are eclil)le mushrooms and
poisonous mushrooms, and in order to de-
termine the various species, one must study
them as carefully as the birds and flowers
are studied.
The mushroom springs up in such unex-
pected places and to all appearances in
such a short time that the term "mushroom
growth", has become a saying for an act
done in an incrediblv short time. As a mat-
14 Guide to the Mushrooms
ter of fact the growth of a mushroom is as
slow as the majority of plants; the final
blossom, if we may so term the cap, ap-
pears no more quickly than does the blos-
som of the buttercup and countless other
flowers.
If the g-round about a mushroom be ex-
amined, tiny white threads or roots called
the mycelium are seen spreading in all di-
rections. This is the mushroom spawn of
the gardeners. During the development of
the root, the cell-like structures, of which
it is composed, gather together at intervals
and form tiny knobs, which in turn grow
gradually, all the time pushing upward to-
ward the light. The knob is now somewhat
egg-shaped and soon emerges from the
ground, and is then called the ''button
stage. ' ' The little button develops rapidly,
spreading out into a flat cap or parasol.
Guide to the Mushrooms 15
PARTS OF A MUSHROOM.
There are as many varieties of mush-
rooms as there are of flowers, each one pos-
sessing certain characteristics by which
they are grouped into genera and species.
To enable one to identify these, certain
terms are employed with which it is neces-
sary to become familiar in order to recog-
nize individual mushrooms.
The Pileus oe Cap. — This is the part of
the mushroom which first attracts atten-
tion. It is quite thick, composed of inter-
woven threads called liyphae which form
the fesh or trama of the pileus. The outer
threads are thick and contain coloring mat-
ter which gives to the pileus its character-
istic color; this is called the cortex or cuti-
cle. Outside of this cuticle, there is often
another layer, of glutinous or viscid na-
ture, called the pellicle. In some instances
this layer ceases to grow as the pileus ex-
pands and is torn or split as the rest of the
pileus enlarges, remaining on the surface
l6 Guide to the Mushrooms
in the form of luilrs, scales or granular
dots. The edge of the cap is known as the
margin.
When the cap first emerges, it is egg-
shaped, then it expands, 1)ecoming convex
in shape, and is finally almost flat or plane.
If the pilens is convex at matnrity, it is
said to l)e campanidate ; when there, is a
sharp depression at the center, it is umhili-
cate; if irregularly sunken, depressed; if
funnel shaped, Infundihidlform ; if there is
a sharp knol) at the center of the cap, it is
uuihonate; if the umbo is broad and rath-
er indistinct, the cap is called gibbous.
Lamellae or Gills. — These are thin
blades on the underside of the pileus rad-
iating from the stem to the outer edge of
the cap. The tissue of which they are
composed is the liymenium, which is the
spore bearing cell. The color of this spore
bearing cell is not always indicative of the
color of the spores. The general shape of
the gill may be seen by cutting the pileus
in halves. The gills may be broad, narroiv,
lance-shaped (lanceolate). When the end
Guide to the Mushrooms 17
gradually narrows to a point, they are at-
tenuate; Avlien they end in a sharp angle,
acute; when the ends are rounded, obtuse;
when the gills are connected bv veins, they
are said to be anasto)nosecl; when of the
same length, equal or rer/ular; when of
V a r y i n g lengths, irref/ular or u)ie([ual;
when one short one is interspersed be-
tween two or more longer ones regularly,
they are said to be forked. If the gills are
placed closely together, they are said to l)e
crouded; if at some distance a])ai-t, dis-
taiit. The relation of the gills to the stem
is also of the greatest im])ortance as many
types are identified l)y this characteristic.
Gills are free, when they are rounded off
without reaching the sitem ;ad)iexed, when
they reach the stem and are attached by
the upper end; adnate when they reach and
set squarely against the stem; decurrent
when they extend down the stem; sinuate
when thev are wavy near the stem. In cer-
tain families of mushrooms, the edge of the
gills is shari) like the blade of a knife; in
others blunt, obtuse; in others toothed like
a saw; others scalloped, crenulate. Again
2
18 Guide to the Mushrooms
certain varieties of gills melt (deliquesce)
at maturity to a black, inky fluid.
Pores oe Tubes. — The spores in some va-
rieties are contained in pores or tubes sit-
uated underneath the flesh of the jDileus.
These tubes are described in different spe-
cies as round (rotund) angular , minute y
large, short, long. Like the gill with rela-
tion to the stem, they are free, adnate, ad-
nexed, deciirrent; sometimes they extend
beyond the margin of the cap, and are call-
ed emarginate. AYhen the pores curve out-
ward from the margin to the stem, the}^
are said to be convex, if flat, plane.
SpiNEs.^Again the spores are borne on
tooth-like projections called spines, which
are found beneath the pileus, and in cer-
tain other species on the upper end of
branches.
The above form of spore-bearing sur-
faces belong to one great family. There
are other groups, some of which bear
spores on the whole surface of the cap,
while others, known as the ''pouch fungi,"
contain the spores within a skin in a sac-
like receptacle.
Guide to the Mushrooms 19
Spores^ or the seeds of the mushrooms,
are of various sizes, shapes and colors, and
form very im^Dortant characteristics by
which divisions of genera are made. In
general, the colors are ivhite, the division
of genera known as the leucosporae; pink,
rJiodosporae; hroivn, ochrosporae; and
black, melanosporae. The shape of the
spores is as varied as the color, being el-
liptlcal, globose, oblong, spindle-shaped:
in appearance, smooth, granular, ivarted.
To obtain spores from the gilled fungi, re-
move the stem, place the cap gills down
upon a piece of paper, white, if the appear-
ance of the mushroom seems to indicate
any color of spores but white, black or dark
colored paper, if the spores seem to be
white, cover with a tumbler to prevent
draughts of air, and in a short time the
spores will be found upon the paper in
fine radiating lines in appearance much
like powder. If a permanent print is de-
sired, gum the i3aper slightly (white of egg
will answer if no other fixative is at hand),
and the moisture of the fungus will soften
the surface so that the spores will adhere
to the paper.
To determine the various characteristics
20 Guide to the Mushrooms
of the sjDore other than the color, micro-
scopical examination is necessary.
Stipe ok Stem. — The stem is usually
fastened to the center of the cap, but spe-
cies growing on wood frequently have the
stem at one side of the center, eccentric, or
at one side of the cap, lateral. When the
stem is wholly wanting, the plant is said to
be sessile. AYitli regard to shape, the
stem may be equals tapering upivard, bul-
bous at base, rooting.
In texture, it may be fesliy, cartilagin-
ous; if the former it is brittle, if the latter,
tough. The interior of the stem may be
solid, that is fleshy throughout; liollow,
when there is a cavity in the center; if tuh-
ular, in the center, it is known as fistulose;
if filled with a pithy substance, it is stuffed.
On the outside, the stem may be smooth,
shiny, scaly, dotted with granules (granu-
lar), may have a twisted ai:>pearance or be
covered with a networl' (reticulated.) or be
wrinkled (rugose).
Veil. — In the early stage of the develop-
ment of a mushroom the edge of the mar-
Guide to the Mushruoms 21
gin of the pileus lies very close to the stem.
In some si)eeies the cap simi)ly expands
without having the margin of the cap unit-
ed to the stem, but in a great many spe-
cies the distance between the stem and
cap is bridged by interlacing threads which
form a veil covering the gills. As the cap
exi)ands, the veil is torn and remains in
some form on the cap or stem or on both.
When the veil is verv delicate resenblina: a
spider's web, it is said to be arachnoid and
is also known as the cortina; if the veil
tears away from the stem but hangs in
flaky scales about the edge of the cap, it
is appendiculate; whenever the texture of
the veil is firm, it remains al)out the stem
forming the
Annulus ok King which is sometimes
movable or free; fastened to the upper half
of the stem, superior; lower half, inferior.
Again the veil may he so delicate that it
quickly vanishes as the cap expands or is
evident only by a few fibres about the stem.
VoLVA. — In addition to the cap, gills,
stem and ring, some mushrooms are enclos^
ed in a cup-like receptacle attached to the
lower end of the stem known as the volva
22 Guide to the Mushrooms
and from which the mushroom emerges.
This characteristic is very important as the
most poisonous varieties have the volva.
In appearance the volva may be entire like
a small cup in which the stem is set, and is
spoken of as free, or it may consist of con-
centric scales, very regularly arranged;
again the scales may be irregularly concen-
tric; or friable, crumbling at touch, or in
floccose scales, almost wanting.
In gathering specimens, it is of the ut-
most importance, that the whole of the
stem is obtained, that the base may be ex-
amined for any trace of a volva.
Guide to the Mushrooms 2tS
When and Wheee Mushrooms Grow,
when and where mushrooms grow.
Name Place
March
Collybia veliitipes .... on stumps and trunks of trees
Coprinus micaceus , . . about elm stumps and trees
April
Naucoria s e m i-orbicu-
laris on lawns and grassy spots
Volvaria speciosa " " grassy spots, gardens
Collybia velutipes " stumps and trunks of trees
Coprinus micaceus .... about elms stumps and trees
Morchella deliciosa moist woods, orchards
Coprinus comatus .... dumping grounds
May
Marasmius oreades . . . lawns and grassy spots
Pholiota praecox " " " "
Naucoria s e m i-orbicu-
laris "
Coprinus atramentarius " grassy spots, gardens
Collybia velutipes .... on stumps and trunks of trees
Pluteus cervinus " " and ground in woods
Coprinus micaceus . . . about elm trees and stumps
Coprinus comatus .... dumping grounds
24 Guide to the Mushrooms
Morchella deliciosa. . . . moist woods, in orchards
Volvaria speciosa rich garden soil
June
Marasmiiis oreades . . . lawns and grassy spots
Pholiota praecox " " " "
Hypholoma appendicu-
latum " " gardens
Panaeolus returigis ... " (newly made) dnng
Naucoria s e m i-orhicu-
laris " and grassy spots
Amanitopsis vaginata . pastures and open woods
Clitocybe laccata
Lactarius volemus .... " " " "
Entoloma clypeatum. . . " " " "
Stropharia semiglobata " about dung
Coprinus comatus dumping grounds
Amanita strobiliformisopen woods and borders
Collybia radicata "
dryophila .... "
Clitopilus prunulus ... "
Cortinarius corrugatus
Coprinus micaceus .... about elm stumps and trees
Collybia velutipes .... on trees and stumps
Omphalia campanella. . " " " "
Pluteus cervinus " stumps and ground in
woods
Fistulina hepatica .... " decaying chestnut trees
Polyporus betulinus . . " " birch trees
brumalis . . . . " " trunks
H <( <(
(( (( ((
u a a
Guide to the MusJiJ'ooms
25
July
Lepiota naucinoides . .
" procera lawns, grassy spots, pastures
Marasmiiis oreades ... " "
Pholiota praecox " "
Hypholoma appendicu- " " " "
latum
Panaeolus returigis ...
Amanita muscaria .... "
Frostiana ..."
crenulata .. . . "
Clitocybe laccata pastures and woods
Hygrophorus miniatus moist pastures and woods
Lactarius volemus .... pastures and woods
Entoloma clypeatum ..gardens and woods
Agaricus campester . . pastures
" " gardens
(newly made) dung-
pastures, open woods
Stropharia semi-globoti
Panaeolus solidipes . . .
Naucoria s e m i-orbicu-
laris
Calvatia cyathiforme. . .
Gyromitra hygrometri-
cus
Coprinus comatus . .
Amanita phalloides .
Amanita rubescens .
Scleroderma vulgare
Amanita excelsa ....
about dung
and lawns
" on sandy soil
dumping grounds
open woods, occasionally in
pasture
open woods
" " borders
26
Guide to the Mushrooms
Amanitopsis vaginata open woods, borders
Strobilomyces s t r o b i-
laceous "
Amanita Caesaria .... "
Tricholoma personatum "
Collybia radicata "
dryophila .... "
Lactarius piperatus . .. "
Riissula foetens "
fragilis "
emetica "
purpurina ... "
" virescens .... "
" roseipes "
Cantherellus cibarius . "
Clitopilus prunuliis ... "
Cortinarius corrugatus "
Boletus castaneus .... "
Polystictus perennis . .
Calvaria flava
" cinerea "
" cristata "
Leotia lubrica "
Agaricus silvaticus ... "
Hypomyces lactifluo- woods where Lactarii are
rum found
Peziza badia along woody roads
Craterellus c o r n u c o-
poides pine woods, gravel banks
Guide to the Mushrooms 27
Hydniim repandiim . . . woods about stumps
Collybia velutipes .... on stumps and trunks of trees
Omphalia campanella.. "
Pluteus cervinus " " and ground, open
woods
Coprinus micaceus . . . about elm stumps and trees
Fistulina hepatica .... on decaying chestnut trees
Polyporus betulinus . . " " birch trees
brumalis . . . . " " trees
August
Lepiota naucinoides . . lawns and pastures
Marasmius oreades.... " " "
Hypholoma appendicu-
latum " gardens
Panaeolus returigis ... " (newly made) dung
Lepiota procera pastures
Lycoperdon pyriforme " along roadsides
Calvatia gigantea "
" cyathiforme . " along roadsides
Gyromitra hygrometri-
cus " on sandy soil
Peziza badia along roads and woody paths
Naucoria s e m i-orbicu-
laris grassy spots
Agaricus campester . . pastures
Stropharia semi-globata " about dung
Panaeolus solidipes. . . . " " "
Coprinus comatus .... dumping grounds
Amanita phalloides ...pa s t u r e s, occasionally, in
woods
28
Guide to the Mushrooms
Amanita miiscaria . . .
Frostiana . .
" rubescens . .
" Caesaria . . .
excelsa
Amanitopsis vaginata.
Armillaria mellea . . .
Tricholoma personatiim
" riissula ....
Clitocybe laccata ....
Collybia radicata ....
dryophila . . .
" confliiens . .
Mycena galericiilata .
HygTophoriis miniatus
Lactarius volemiis .
" piperatiis
Riissula foetens . . .
" fragilis . .
" emetica . .
" purpurina
" virescens .
" roseipes . .
Cantharellus cibarius
Pliiteiis cerviniis ....
Entoloma clypeatum .
" rhodopoliiim
shady lawns^ pastures
open woods, pastures
(moist spots)
Guide io fhe Mushroonis
29
oods
lawns, pastures
Clitopiliis pruniiliis . . . open woods
Cortinarius violaceus .
" cinnabariniis
" cinnamomeiis
" eorriigatiis . .
Agaricus silvaticiis ...
Boletiniis pictiis mixed w
" porosiis
Boletus flavidus
" Americanus . "
" granulatus . .
" badius pine woods
" bicolor woods and open spots
Boletus variegatus .... pine woods
ornatipes .... open woods
scaber woods, open spots
" chrysentereon " ,
edulis
chromapes ..." " "
felleus " about stumps
castaneus ... " open si^ots
Strcbilomyces s t r o b i-open woods
laceous
Hydnum imbricatum . pine woods
" repandum . . . woods and pastures
Pclystictus perennis . . pine woods
Craterellus cor nu co-pine w'cods, gravel banI\S
poides
30 Guide to the Mushrooms
Clavaria flava open woods
" cinerea " "
cristata "
Leotia lubrica " "
Clitocybe gilva " "
Hypomyces lactifluo-
rum woods where Lactarii grow
Scleroderma vulgare . . open woods
Collybia velutipes .... stumps and trunks of trees
Omphalia campanella . " " "
Pleurotus ostreatus . . on elm and maple trees
Plioliota squarrosa . . . stumps and trunks of trees
Coprinus micaceus . . . about elm stumps and trees
Fistulina hepatica .... on chestnut trees
Polyporus sulphureus . " trees and stumps
" betulinus ... " birch trees
brumalis " decaying trees
<(
September
Hypholoma appendicu-
latum lawns and gardens
Coprinus atramentarius " " "
Lepiota naucinoides . . " " grassy spots
Marasmius oreades ... " " pastures
Naucoria s e m i-orbicu-
laris pastures, grassy spots
Agaricus campester . .
Stropharia semi-globat£ " about dung
Lepiota procera "
Guide to the Mushrooms
31
along woody roads
on open ground
pastures, , occasionally woods
shady lawns, open woods
open woods, pastures
Calvatia gigantea pastures, alond roadsides
" cyathiformis,
" craniifc.rmis.
Peziza badia
" aurantia . . .
Amanita phalloides .
" muscaria . . .
" Frostiana
" rubescens . .
" Caesaria . . .
" excelsa ....
Amanitopsis vaginata
Cortinarius violaceus
" cinnabarinus
" cinnamomeus
" corrugatus . .
Lycoperdon pyriforme
Hypholoma perplexum
" sublateritium
Clitocybe illudens ....
" laccata
Sparassis crispa
Armillaria mellea ....
Tricholoma personatum
" russula
ground and stumps
on stumps
\9
Guide to the Mushrooms
Tricholoma sejimctiim open woods
Collybia radicata ....
" confliiens ... "
" dryophila .... "
Mycena galericiilata . .
Boletiniis pictiis mixed woods
(generally pine)
and open spots
porosus
Boletus flavidiis
" Americanus . "
" graniilatus . . "
badius "
" bicolor
" variegatus . .
" ornatipes ... "
" scaber
" chrysentereon
" edulis
" chromapes . . "
felleus "
" castaneus ...
Strobilomyces s t r o b i-
laceous
Hydnum imbricatum . .
" repandiim . . . woods and pastures
Polystictiis perennis . . mixed woods
on wood and leaves
lawns, pastures
about stumps
Guide to the MusJirooms 33
Hygrophorus miniatiis woods in moist spots
Lactarioiis volemus . . woods
piperatus ...
Russiila foetens "
fragilis
emetica
" purpiirina ... "
" roseipes "
Entcloma rhodopoliiim
" clypeatum ... "
Clitopoliis prunuliis ...
Craterellus c o r n ii c o-
poides •' (pine) gravel banks...
Clavaria flava "
" cinerea
" cristata "
Leotia lubrica "
Hypomyces lactifluo-
rnm " where Lactarii grow
Schleroderma vulgare.. "
Omphalia campanella . on stumps and trunks of trees
Pleurotiis ostreatus .... " elm and maple trees
" sapidus " decaying deciduous tress
Pluteus cervinus " stumps
Pholiota squarrosa ... " " and trunks of trees
Coprinus micaceus.... about elm trees and stumps
Polyporus sulphurous . on stumps and trunks of trees
" betulinus .... " birch trees
" brumalis .... " decaying trees
3
34
Guide to the Mushrooms
October
Marasmius oreades . . . lawns and pastures
Hypholoma appendicu-
latiim " " gardens
Copriniis atramentarius " "
Naiicoria s e m i-orbicu-
laris grassy spots
Agaricus campester . . pastures
Stropharia semi-globata " about dung
Lycoperdon pyriforme
Calvatia cyathiformis.
" gigantea . . .
Peziza aurantia
Coprinus comatus . . .
Amanita phalloides . .
" muscaria . .
" excelsa ....
Armillaria mellea . . .
Tricholoma personatum
" russula . . .
" sejunctum
Clitocybe laccata . . .
Lactarius volemus . .
" piperatus .
Entoloma clypeatum
Cortinarius violaceus
" cinnabarinus.
Calvatia craniformis
Hydnum repandum .
along roadsides
on open ground
dumping grounds
pastures, occasionally, open
woods
lawns
open woods
woods, pastures
woods
Guide to the Mushrooms
35
Polystictus perennis
Scleroderma vulgare
Coprinus micaceiis .
Collybia veliitipes . .
" confluens .
Mycena galericiilata
Pholiota adiposa
about elm stumps and trees
on stumps and trunks of trees
in open woods
" " " on stumps and
leaves
in open woods on leaves and
stumps
on stumps and trunks of trees
" elm and maple trees
" decaying deciduous trees
" stumps and ground in open
woods
" sublateritium on stumps and ground in open
woods
Sparassis crispa on stumps in open woods
Clitocybe illudens .... " " and ground in woods
Omphalia campanella ,
Pleurotus ostreatus . . .
Hypholoma perplexum
November
Coprinus atramentarius lawns and gardens
Hypholoma perplexum in woods on ground
stumps
" sublateritium in woods on ground
stumps
on stumps
elm and maple trees
and
and
Collybia velutipes . ,
Pleurotus ostreatus ,
" sapidus . . .
Polyporus sulphureus
betulinus .
brumalis . .
«
decaying cediduous trees
trees and stumps
birch trees
decaying trees
Guide to the Mushrooms 37
How TO Collect Mushrooms and How to
Prepare Them for the Table.
The equipment for a mushroom liunt is
simple, consisting of two splint baskets
which may be obtained at a grocers for five
or ten cents ; one basket to be used for spe-
cimens selected for analvsis, the other for
the mushrooms desired for the table; sev-
eral small tin or paper l)oxes for fragile
specimens ; an ordinary kitchen knife ; sev-
eral sheets of tissue paper with which to
wrap delicate specimens. Ferns and brakes
make one of the best material to pack about
the specimens. Place a generous layer on
the bottom of the basket, then when a layer
of mushrooms is completed, cover them
with ferns, and continue till the basket is
filled; the ferns are so light that the mush-
rooms are never crushed, and the moisture
tends to keep the mushrooms fresh. It is a
good plan to carry a note-book and several
loose sheets for data. In the note book, re-
cord the date, name of species, under the
head of the locality, which gives one an ex-
cellent guide book to mushroom haunts.
38 Guide to the Mushrooms
A copy of the sheets provided by the Bos-
ton Mycological Club follows. These can
be purchased from the Club at a nominal
sum.
Toadstools — Field Notes*
Date No
Collected at after,
during, dry, wet, weather by
Habitat; on ground, high, low, wet, rich,
poor, loamy, clayey, sandy, gravelly; on
fallen leaves, twigs, branches, logs, dead,
living wood ; in open, sparsely-wooded, pas-
ture, field, lawn, roadside, swamp, dense,
open, evergreen, deciduous, mixed woods,
under trees.
Plant; solitary, gregarious, caespitose, not
rooting; taste ; odor
Cap; dry, moist, hygrophanous, viscid;
color, young old at first
pruinose — pulverulent — farinaceous — fur-
f uraceous, above, below, then naked.
Gills; color young old
concolorous, staining when bruised.
Milk; color not changing; to ;
Guide to the Mushroonis 39
taste, mild, acrid.
Veil; none, evanescent, appendicnlate, ar-
achnoid, thin, thick, not viscid; cok)r
Ring ; none, trace, evanescent, fragile, firm,
persistent, not viscid, glntinons, not mov-
able, superior, inferior, medial.
Volva; none, evanescent, fragile, not form-
ing warts, tough, membrane, persistent,
free, attached.
Spores; color
Additional Notes
#
Check with an oblique line each term used.
In gathering specimens for identification
and analysis, great care must be employed
to obtain the whole specimen. If the spe-
cimen is to be carried home for analysis,
it is well to number the blank, filling out the
data as far as possible on the spot, then
slip a corresponding number on the stem of
the mushroom to avoid confusion.
Mushrooms, like flowers, are found in
various places ; some prefer sandy soil,
others moist shady spots ; some are found
in the early spring time, others not until
summer or fall.
40 Guide to the Mushrooms
To gather mushrooms for the table, se-
lect only the fresh specimens, remove the
cap from the stem thus avoiding the eartii
that is liable to cling to the base of the
stem. If possible, never wash a mushroom,
wijDe it with a dry flannel cloth. If it is
necessary to wash them, place in a colland-
er so that thev will drain well. The mush-
room itself contains such a large percent-
age of water that any addition serves to
dilute the flaA^or.
Never eat mushrooms until vou are cer-
tain of their identity. The simplest andmost
satisfactory method to cook Coprini Agari-
ci, Russulae, Clavariae, is as follows : Place
a piece of butter in a sauce pan and after
it is melted add the mushrooms, season
with salt and pepper, cover closely and let
cook eight to ten minutes ; serve hot on
toast or l)eef steak. If the caps are very
large, break in pieces. The large caps are,
however, more satisfactory broiled. But
ter the broiler before placing the mush-
rooms on it then broil for live to eight min-
utes* season and serve very hot.
The Chanterelles and Lactarii demand
longer cooking than the above species.
Guide to the Mushrooms 41
Tliey may be cooked as above or stewed
gently for twenty minutes, then turn off
tlie surplus water and cover them with a
rich cream sauce.
Mushrooms having a strong flavor such
as Coprinus comatus, Lepiota naucinoides,
make a more pakitable dish if served as a
scallop, using a layer of cracker crumbs, a
hxyer of small pieces of mushrooms, season-
ed with butter, pepper and salt, until the
baking dish is full. Pour over this sweet
milk and bake in a moderate oven about
three-quarters of an hour.
Baked mushrooms are prepared as in the
first receipt and the result is much the
same. Always cover a mushroom while it
is cooking as the flavor escapes otherwise.
To cook morels, split them open, fill the
center with minced chicken veal or beef,
press together and bake for three-fourths
of an hour.
To cook puff balls, pare, slice in thick
slices, dip in beaten egg and fry in butter.
The result is a delicious omelet.
To dry Marasmius oreades and Boleti,
remove the stems from the first, the stems
and pores from the latter; place them
42 Guide to the Mushrooms
where the sun will shine on them and in a
few days they may be packed in tin cans.
To use the dried mushrooms, soak in water
about twenty minutes then cook as if they
were fresh.
GUIDE
TO THE
MUSHROOMS
ILLUSTRATED
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Guide to the Mushrooms 45
AMANITA phalloides. (Fr.) 'Thallus-like."
Cap. — 3 to 1 inches broad, commonly white or
lemon yellow_, oval, bell-shaped, later expanded, cov-
ered with thin viscid skin, rarely sprinkled with one
or two wartlike fragments of the volva, margin
even.
Flesh. — White.
Gills. — Rather broad, free, rounded behind,
white.
Spores. — Globular, white.
Stem. — 3 to 5 inches long, 1-2 inch or more thick,
lower part solid and bulbous, upper part hollow
and tapering, white.
Ring. — On upper part of stem (superior) gen-
crallv whole and white.
Volva. — ]\rore or less buried, bulbous, bursting
open in a torn manner about the stem and partially
free from it.
Odor. — Somewhat foetid.
Habitat. — In woods, occasionally in pastures,
growing singly, frequent from July to November.
Very frequent in all sections of the United States.
Very poisonous.
AMANITA excelsa. (Fr.) excdsus, tall.
Cap. — 4 to 5 inches broad, brownish gray, disc
46 Guide to the Mushrooms
darker^ globose^ then plane, skin thin, separating,
sprinkled with unequal whitish warts the remains
of the volva. Margin even, at first, later furrowed.
Flesh.— Soft, white, unchangeable.
Gills. — Free broad, ventricose, rounded behind,
white.
Spores. — Elliptical, white.
Stem. — 4 to 6 inches long up to 1 inch thick; at
first stuffed, later hollow ; bulbous at base, covered
generally as far as ring with concentric scales
formed from the torn skin of stem.
Ring. — Superior, large, at length torn.
J'olva. — Marginate, buried in the soil, somewhat
rooting. Odor. — Not strong.
Habitat. — In woods, growing singly July to No-
vember, quite frequent in all sections of U. S.
Poisonous.
AMANITA muscaria. (Linn.) from musca
meaning a fly. Common Name "Fly Amanita."
Cap. — 4 inches or more broad, deep orange in
centre, lighter near margin, fading as it grows
older; globe shaped, then convex and at last flat;
covered with a skin which is viscid in moist weath-
er and sprinkled witli thick white, fragments of
the volva, margin slightly striate.
Flesh. — White, tinged with yellow just below
the skin.
Gills. — Free, crowded, broader in front, white
or tinged with yellow.
Guide to the Mushrooms 47
Scores. — Elliptical, white.
Stem. — 5 to 8 inches long, one half inch thick,
lower part bulbous, stuffed, then hollow, shining
white.
Ring. — On apex of the stem, very soft, torn,
white.
Jolva. — Forms a margin to the bulb on the stem
in concentric scales. Odor. — Not noticeable.
Habitat. — In pine woods, or on lawns under pine
trees, growing singly, frequent, from July to No-
vember. Verv common. Very poisonous.
AMANITA Frostiana (Pk.) Named for C. C.
Frost.
Cap. — 1 to 2 inches broad, orange yellow, fading
to white at margin ; convex then flat ; dry, sprinkled
with flakes of white volva, called warts ; margui
striate.
Flesh. — White.
Gills. — Free, white or barely tinged with yel-
low. Spores. — Globular, white.
Stem. — 2-3 inches long, 1-i inch thick, bulbous,
stuffed, vellowish.
Ring. — On upper part of stem (superior), dis-
appearing in mature specimens, yellowish white.
Jolva. — Very indistinct, appearing in yellowish,
wooly scales at base of stem.
Odor. — Not strong.
Habitat. — In open woods, occasionally in pas-
tures, growing singly, July-September. Found in
all sections of United States.
Poisonous. — Distinguished from A. muscaria by
its size, which is much smaller than A. muscaria.
V2
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Guide to the Mushrooms 49
AMANITA rubescens (Pers.) from rubesco to
become red. "Blushing Amanita."
Cap. — 4 inches and more broad^ dingy reddish,
convex at first then flat; fleshy, moist but not vis-
cid in wet weather, covered with soft mealy, whit-
tish warts, sometimes perfectly smooth, margin
even.
Flesh. — Soft, streaked with red and turning red
wherever bruised.
Gills. — Very broad, reaching to the stem with a
slight decurrent tooth; thin, crowded, soft, whitish
streaked with red. Spores. — Elliptical white.
Stem. — 4-5 inches long, and up to one inch thick;
base solid, somewhat bulbous; upper part stufl'ed,
streaked with red.
Ring. — On upper part of the stem (superior),
large, soft, white.
Volva. — Rather indistinct, apearing in reddish
scales at the base of the stem.
Odor. — Scarcely any. Taste. — Mild, agreeable.
Habitat. — Pine woods, also pastures; generally
growing singly, but in large patches; frequent
from July to September. Very common in New
England.
Edible. — Very delicious.
AMANITA Caesaria (Scop.) "King-like."
"Orange Amanita."
Cap. — 3-8 inches broad, brilliant red in centre,
yellow toward edge in mature plants; young speci-
mens generally red to margin; hemispherical, then
4
50 Guide to the Mushrooms
flat, smooth, shiny; generally dry; margin very
striate.
Flesh. — Delicate yellow.
Gills. — Free, yellow,
SpoJ'es. — Elliptical, white.
Stem. — 4-6 inches long, base up to 3-4- inch thick,
tapering upward; stuffed, yellowish.
Riug. — On upper part of stem (superior), large
white, sometimes tinged with yellow.
Volva. — Very distinct, large, shining, white.
Or/or.— Mild.
Taste. — Agreeable, mild.
Habitat. — Open woods, generally growing sing-
ly, not frequent, from July-September. Found in
all sections of United States but not common.
Edible. — One of the most highly prized. Care
should be taken, however not to confuse this with
A. muscaria or A. Frostiana which are jDoisonous.
The two latter closely resemble A. Caesaria in the
yellow tinge of the stem and gills; the differences
are, — A. muscaria and A. Frostiana have wart-like
patches on the cap, a smaller ring which breaks
up as the mushroom matures and the volva is nev-
er distinct and is of a yellowish tinge of color.
AMANITA crenulata. (Pk.)
Cap. — 1-4 inches broad, ovate, then convex, at
lengtli plane with slight depression in center; thin
skin, slightly viscid at first with patches of volva
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Guide to the Mushrooms 53
adhering, which soon disappear leaving the skin
smooth and dry; margin striate. Color delicate
buff inclining to yellowish white.
Flesh. — Wliite^ tliin^ soft.
Gills. — FreCj white, notched on the edges (crcn-
ulate) .
Spores. — Broadly elliptic, white.
Stem. — 2-4 inches long up to 1-2 inch thick, equ-
al, stuffed, then holow, smooth, bulbous.
Ring. — Very slight, soon wholly wanting.
Volva.—Verj slight.
O^or.— Mild.
Habitat. — Open pine wods, lawns, pastures, fre-
quently growing singly, July to October. Reported
in Xew England.
Not tried for edibility.
It might easily be taken for a species of Amani-
topsis on account of the very slight ring, which is
often wanting in mature specimens.
AMANITOPSIS vaginata (Roze) from
vagina — a shield.
Cap. — 2-5 inches broad, convex, then plane,
sometimes with a knob at the center, (umbonate),
thin, fragile, glossy, smooth; color variable, gen-
erally mouse gray, sometimes tawny yellow and
also date-brown; deeply and distinctly striate.
Flesh. — White, but in the dark forms, grayish
under the skin.
Gills. — Free and white .
Amanitopsis vaginata
(partially grown.)
Guide to the Mushrooms 55
. Spores. — Globular and white.
Stem. — 3-5 inches long, white, sometimes smooth
l)ut generally mealy, hollow, or stuffed with a cot-
tony pith, not bulbous.
Ring.— y one.
Jolva. — Long, thin, fragile^ closely sheathing
the stem yet free from it.
Odor.— MM.
Taste. — Mild.
Habitat. — Woods and pastures, frequent, grow-
ing singly from June to frost.. Very frequent in
all sections of the U. S. Reported edible, ])ut be-
cause of the similarity of several species of Amani-
tas, the ring of which soon vanishes leaving it the
appearance of the Amanitopsis, it should be avoided.
LEPIOTA procera (Scop.) from procerus, tall
"Parasol Mushroom."
Cap. — 3 to 7 inches broad; color brownish, egg
shaped then flat; rough, with brown scales except
in the center which has a dark brown umbo margin,
very thin, to which fragments of the veil adhere.
Flesh. — Rather thin, white.
Gills. — Free^ very distant from stem, broad,
brownish white in hue.
Spores. — Elliptical, white.
Stem. — 5 to 8 inches long, up to 1-2 inch thick,
slightly bulbous at base, tubular; flesh distinct
from that of cap, white, covered with brownish
scales.
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Guide to the Mushrooms 57
Ring. — On upper part of stem (superior), niova-
ble, remaining whole, white.
Volva. — None.
Odor. — Agreeable.
Taste. — Agreeable, nutty.
Habitat. — Pastures, growing singly, quite com-
mon. July-September . Frequent in New England.
Edible. — Very delicious. Dries readily, reviv-
ing when soaked in water.
LEPIOTA naucinoides. (Pk.) "Smooth
Lepiota."
Cap. — 1 to 3 inches broad, hemispherical then ex-
panding, smooth, soft, snowy wdiite; margin, crack-
ing and tr.jned ujd over the cap.
Flesh. — Firm, white, thick.
Gills. — Free, white, slowdy changing with age to
a dirty pinkish brown.
Spores. — Sub-elliptical, white.
Stem. — 2 to 3 inches long, 1-4 to 1-2 inch thick
at the base ; white, stuffed with fibres, and later hol-
low; tapering upward, distinctly bulbous.
Ring. — About the center of the stem, attached to
stem, outer edge thicker ; as the plant ages, the ring
is often missing but traces of it are always discern-
ible, white.
Volva. — None.
Odor. — Strong.
Taste. — Strong.
Habitat. — Lawns and pastures from July till
32
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Guide to the Mushrooms 59
frost. Very coiiunoii in central sections of United
States in earlv fall.
Edible. — Great care must be taken not to con-
fuse this mushroom with A. phalloides. In the Lep-
iota the bulb and stem are continuous, rino; smaller,
ii'ills turn brownish with age. In the Amanita the
junction of the bulb and stem is abrupt, bulb more
or less enclosed in a volva, ring larger, gills always
white. The Amanita is very rarely found in pas-
tures or grassy spots, the Lepiota is rarely found in
woods.
ARMILLARIA mellea (Vahl.) from melleus,
color of honey. "Honey jNlushroom."
Cap. — 1 to 4 inches, broad, convex, dry, varying
from smooth to tufted with blackish scales or hairs,
varying in color from light yellow to a reddish
brown; margin at first slightly curevd under, some-
times striate and split along the edges. One of
the most variable mushrooms, yet when once deter-
mined, easy of recognition.
Flesh. — Rather tough, thin, whitish.
Gills. — Extending down the stem (decurrent),
rather crowded, thin, creamy white, streaked with
brown when mature.
Spores. — Elliptical, white.
Stem. — 1 to 4 inches long, up to 3-4 inch thick^
Armillaria mellea
(Honey Mushroom)
Guide to the Mushrooms 6l
variable in shape from bulbous to even ; colored like
cap^ some shade of brown, becoming hollow.
Ring. — Very slight, vanishing as the plant ma-
tures.
Volve. — None.
Odor. — Nutty.
Taste. — Nutty.
Habitat. — In open woods, in large clusters, fre-
quent from August till frost. Common all over
the United States.
Edible. — In spite of its toughness, it cooks read-
ily and has an especially good flavor. Dries readily
reviving when soaked in water.
TRICHOLOMA personatum (Fr.) "wear-
ing a mask," from its many colors.
Cap. — 2 to 4 inches broad, thick, convex or plane,
moist, smooth, variable in color from a pale ash to
a violet ; margin at first turned under over the gills,
later rounded in the opposite direction.
Flesh . — Whitish.
Gills. — Free, rounded behind, broad, crowded,
violet in color, becoming dingy brown with age.
Spores. — Sub-elliptical, regular in shape, dingy
white.
Stem. — 1 to 3 inches long, 1-2 inch thick at the
base; generally thick bulbous, solid; frosted with
fine hairs and colored like the cap.
Ring. — None.
Volva. — None.
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Guide to the Mushrooms QS
Odor. — Not strong.
Taste.— UM.
Habitat. — \^'o()ds and open places, growing from
old rotten, stable straw, singly or in clusters; com-
mon from July to October^ all over the United
States.
Edible. —
TRICHOLOMA russula (SchaefF.) from
Latin meaning reddish.
Cap. — 2 to 4 inches broad, thick, convex then ex-
panded, finally depressed ; viscid, streaked with
red, paler toward margin which is thick at first,
splitting as it ages.
Flesh. — White, tinged with red, quite thick, solid.
Gills.- — ^Extending down the stem (decurrent)
not crowded, whitish, tinged with red.
Stem. — 1 to 3 inches long, up to 3-4 inch thick,
slightly bulbous, solid, ver}^ fibrous; colored like
the cap, white, streaked with red.
Ring. — None.
Volva. — None.
Odor.— UilA.
Taste. — Mild.
Habitat. — Open woods, generally growing sing-
ly, frequent, from August till frost. Very common
in New England.
Edible. — Of good flavor.
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Guide to the Mushrooms 65
TRICHOLOMA sejunctum (Sow.)
Cap. — 4 inches broad^ convex^ then expanded^
slightly umbonate;, viscid when moist, yellowish
white^ streaked with dark threadlike fibrils; ir-
regular in shape; margin, thin, uneven.
Flesh. — White, very fragile.
Gills. — Notched near stem from which they are
easily separated, their distinguishing characteristic,
hence the name sejunctum, broad, rather distant,
white.
Spore. — Subglobose, white.
Ste}}}. — 1 to 3 inches long 3-4 inches thick, solid,
smooth, irregular in shape, white.
Ring. — None.
Volva. — None.
O^or.— Mild.
Taste.— MildL.
Habitat. — Open woods, September and October,
not very common, growing singly, in eastern and
central sections of United States.
Edible. —
CLITOCYBE laccata (Scop.)
Cap. — 1-2 to 2 inches broad, thin, convex, later
expanded and wavy, sometimes with a slight umbo
or knob in the center; smooth or minutely scaley,
of a watery appearance when moist; varying in
E< W
Clitocybe laccata
Guide to the Mushrooms 67
color from a delicate tan to a dark brown and from
a light violet to a dark purple. Cap and gills pow-
dered with minute whitish scales^ resembling some-
what the threads of a spider's web. Margin wavy
in the cap of full growth.
Flesh. — Whitish.
Gills. — Broad, rather thick and distant, attached
to the stem, (adnexed) and flesh colored.
Spores. — -White.
Stem. — 1 to 3 inches, long, slender, firm, fibrous,
stuffed with fibres equal and of the same color as
the cap.
Rins.- — ^None.
lolva.— None.
Odor.— MM.
Habitat. — Woods and pastures; a ver}- variable
and very abundant species, growing singly or in
clumps, from June to October. Common every-
where.
Edible. —
CLITOCYBE illudens (Schw.) mocking, de-
ceiving.
Cap. — 3 to 5 inches broad, convex then expanded,
slightly depressed with a small umbo in the center,
smooth, dry, margin revolute, wavy, thin; bright
yellow in color.
Flesh. — Quite thick, firm, yellow.
Gills. — Distant, decurrent, branched, yellow like
cap.
COLLYBIA RADICATA
Clitocybe ILLUDENS
Guide to the Mushrooms 69
Spores. — Spores nearly rounds white.
Page 69.—
Stem. — 5 to 8 inches long, up to 1-2 inch thick,
firm^ smooth, tapering at base, colored like cap.
Ring. — None.
Volva. — None.
Odor. — Rather Strong.
Taste.— Mi\dL.
Habitat. — In open woods, also in pastures about
stumps, growing in large clusters, very showy, com-
mon in September and October. In central and
eastern sections of the United States.
CLITOCYBE gilva — (Pers.) gilvus, pale
brownish yellow.
Not edible. —
Cap. — 2 to 4 inches broad, convex, then nearly
plane, even, smooth, brownish yellow; margin in-
volute, rather thick even.
Flesh. — Rather firm, colored somewliat like cap.
Gills. — Decurrent, then crowded, branched, nar-
row, paler than cap.
Spores.- — Elliptical, white.
Stem. — 1 to 3 inches long up to 1-2 inch thick,
solid, smooth, villous at base, attenuated at base,
colored like cap.
Ring. — None.
Volva. — None.
Or/or.— Mild.
Taste.— Mild.
Habitat.— In open woods, growing singly, Aug-
ust. Not frequent.
Edible. —
Guide to the Mushrooms 71
COLLYBIA radicata. (Relh.) from radix, a
root. "Hooted Colly bia."
Cap. — 1 1-2 to 4 inches broad, from convex to
plane, with a broad knob in the center, (gibbous),
frequently wrinkled toward the knob, glutinous
when moist; color variable from light brown to
dark brown when growing in the shade; margin in-
curved.
Flesh. — Thin, white and elastic.
Gills. — White, thick, tough, distant, witli veins
between, attached to the stem with a rounded notch
like a tooth.
Spores. — Elliptical and white.
Stem. — i to 6 inches long 1-1 to 1-2 inch thick at
thick at tlie base, smooth, firm, tapering upward,
twisted, witli a long tapering root, same color
as the cap.
Ring. — None.
Volva. — None.
Of/o;-.— Mild.
Taste. — Mild.
Habitat. — In woods, sometimes in grassy places
growing singly, quite common from June to Octo-
ber. Frequent in central and eastern United States.
Edible. —
COLLYBIA velutipeS (Curt.) "Velvet Foot-
ed."
Cap. — 1 to 3 inches broad, convex, soon becom-
ing plane, often bent backward; color varying
from a yellowish to a dark yellowish brown, the
center being darker than the margin; sticky when
moist; margin sometimes slightly lined.
H
Guide to the Mushroo7ns 73
Flesh. — Watery^ soft, yellowish white.
Gills. — Broad and rounded behind, slightly at-
tached to the stem (adnexed), distant, unequal
in length; faint buff color, growing deeper with
age.
Spores.- — White, elliptical.
Stem. — 1 to 3 inches long and up to 3-8 inch
thick at the base, very tough, twisted, equal,
stuffed with fibres and later hollow, upper part yel-
lowish, lower part black, densely velvety.
Ring. — None.
J^olva. — None.
Odor.—WM.
Taste. — Mild.
Habitat. — On stumps and roots, growing in cl is-
ters from May to November, with heavier caps in
the fall. Very common in all sections of the
country.
Edible.
COLLYBIA confluens (Pers.)
Cap. — 1-2 to 2 inches broad nearly plane, smooth,
tough, flaccid, reddish brown in center, lighter to-
ward margin, fading in wet weather to grayish
white; margin somewhat striate, thin, even.
Flesh. — Thin, white, dries much like Marasmius,
reviving in water.
Gills. — Free, narrow, crowded, grajash-yellow.
Spores. — White, minute, ovate.
Stem. — 1 to 4 inches long, up to 1-3 inch thick.
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Guide to the Mushrooms 75
equals hollow, often flattened at top or tliroughoiit
its entire length, darker in color than cap and cloth-
ed M'ith a fine white down.
Riiio;. — None.
T^olva. — None.
O^or.— Mild.
Taste.— MM.
Habitat. — In tufts, hence its name; on ground in
woods August to October in eastern and central
secitons of United States, quite common.
Edible.
COLLYBIA dryophila (Bull.)
"Oak-Loving Mushroom."
Cap. — ItoS inches broad, plane, slightly depress-
ed in the center, smooth, flexible, tough; margin at
flrst turned in over the gills, then flattened; color
dark brown becoming paler with age. Several
varieties vary in form of stem being inflated, gills
sulphur yellow, cap buft' color, but the type charac-
teristics are alike in all the species.
Flesh. — Thin, white.
Gills. — Crowded, narrow, slightly attached to,
stem, white.
Spores. — Spindle shaped, white.
Stem. — 1 to 3 inches long and up to 1-4 inch thick
at base, even, smooth, tube-like, with a small root
of a reddish yellow color; base of stem sometimes
enlarged.
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Guide io the M iishrooms 77
Ring. — None.
Volva. — None.
Odor.— Wild.
Taste.— ^lUd.
Habitat. — In pine and mixed woods, also open
spots, very common, growing in clusters from June
to September. Found in all sections of the United
States.
MYCENA galericulata (Scop.) small peaked
cap.
Cap. — Up to 2 inches broad, bell shaped cam-
panulate then expanded, striate to the center, dry,
smooth, dingy brown, becoming paler with age,
margin thin wavy.
Flesh. — Thin, whitish, tough.
Gills. — Adnexed, attached to the stem by a tooth-
like notch, crowded, connected with veins, whitish,
then flesh yellow.
Spores. — White and globular.
Stem. — 2-3 inches long, stiff, polished, even, with
a spindle-shaped root at the base; colored like the
cap.
Ring. — None.
Volva. — None.
Odor.—UM.
Taste. — Mild.
Habitat. — On trunks and fallen leaves, very com-
mon, very variable, growing in clusters, the stems
joined together with soft hairy down at the base.
August to November. Found in all sections of the
United States.
Edible.
Pleurotus ostreatus
(Oyster Mushroom)
Guide to the Mushrooms 79
OMPHALIA campanella (Batch), bell-
shajDed.
Cap. — Up to 3-8 of an inch broad, very tliin and
ratlier tough, convex then depressed in the center,
smooth, water-soaked in ap])carance, when moist ;
of a rusty yellow color ; margin lined when moist.
Flesh. — Very thin and colored like the skin of
the cap, tough.
Gills. — Close, runing down on the stem (decur
rent), with veins between, yellow in color.
Spores. — White and elliptical.
Stern. — 1 inch long, firm, hollow, brown at the
base with rough hairs, yellowish at the top.
Ring. — None.
Volva. — None.
Of/or.— Mild.
Taste. — Mild.
Habitat. — On rotten stumps of trees, in clusters;
verv common in pine woods from June to Novem-
ber. Common over United States.
Edible.
PLEUROTUS ostreatus (Jack.)
"Ovster ^fushroom."
Cap. — 3 to 5 inches broad, shell-shaped, pale gray
in color, growing yellowish-white with age, margin
very thin and turned in at first over the gills, later
wavy.
Flesh. — Thick, soft, white.
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Guide to the Mushrooms 81
Gills. — Running down on the stem, decurrent,
somewhat distant, veined, broad, white, yellowish
when aged.
Spores. — White.
Stem. — Short, growing from the side of the cap
(lateral), firm elastic, smooth, thickening toward
cap, whitish.
Ring. — None,
J^olva. — None.
Odor. — Quite mild.
Taste. — Rather strong, when cooked resembling
the flavor of oysters.
Habitat. — On decaying trunks of oaks, maples,
elms and poplar trees. Growing in large clusters.
Very common from August to November. Found
in all sections of the United States.
Edible. — Requires slow gentle cooking. Dries
well, reviving when soaked in water.
PLEUROTUS Sapidus (Kalchb.), from the
Latin, savor3^
Cap. — 1 to o inches broad, convex, sometimes de-
pressed in mature specimens, smooth, variable in
form from its mode of growth in crowded clusters,
varying in color from white to yellowish, ashy-gray,
lilac, and brownish. Margin is incurved when
young, often wavy in age.
Flesh. — Rather thin, solid, white, tough.
Gills. — Rather broad, distant, running down the
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Guide to the Mushrooms 83
stem (decurrent) often cracked in mature speci-
mens ; colored like the cap.
Spores. — Oblong^ pale lilac which is tlie distin-
guishing cliaracteristic of this mushroom and en-
ables one to distinguish it from P. ostreatus.
Stem. — 1 to 2 inches long, up to 1-2 inch thick,
solid, firm, smooth, tough, white; attached to the
side of the cap, though in some specimens it grows
nearl}^ in the center.
Ring. — None.
Volva. — None.
Odor. — Agreeable.
Taste. — Mild.
Habitat. — Decajang trunks, or bruised spots of
deciduous trees, very frequent, growing in large
clusters September to frost.
Edible.
HYGROPHORUS miniatus (Fr.) from mini-
um, meaning red lead.
Cap. — 1-2 to 2 inches broad, thin, fragile; at
first convex then nearly plane, smooth, bright red
in color; sometimes yellow on the margin, margin
wavy and, in full grown cap, cracked toward the
center of the cap; watery in appearance.
Flesh. — White, thin, quite firm, tender.
Gills. — Yellow sometimes tinged with red, dis-
tant, growing to the stem (adnate).
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Guide to the Mitshrooiiis 85
Spores. — Elliptical, white.
Stem. — 1 to 2 inches long, slender, smooth, fra-
gile and of the same color as the cap.
Ring. — None.
Volva. — None.
Odor. — Not noticeable.
Taste. — Delicate.
Habitat. — In moist woods, growing in groups
from July to October. Found in all sections of the
United States.
Edible. — One of the most delicately flavored.
LACTARIUS VOlemuS (Fr.) from volema
and pira meaning a kind of large pear.
Cap. — 2 to 5 inches broad, convex, then nearly
plane, with the center slightly depressed, moist
later, dry; firm, brownish orange, in the full grown
cap the skin is often cracked into patches, margin
even, later wrinkled and mottled.
Flesh. — White, thick, and containing a sticky
white milk with a mild taste.
Gills. — Growing to the stem and slightly attach-
ed by a small tooth-like notch, close, whitish, be-
coming stained with brown when bruised, broad,
crowded, thin.
Spores. — Globular, white.
Stem. — 1 to 4 inches long, nearly 1 inch thick,
solid, slightly tapering upward, smooth, colored
like the cap.
Ring. — None.
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Guide to the Mushrooms 87
Volva. — None.
Odor.—^IM.
Taste. — Mild.
Habitat. — Woods and pastures, growing singly,
verv common from June to Nov. in all sections of
the^U. S.
Edible. — Requires slow, gentle cooking.
LACTARIUS piperatus (Fr.) from piper a
pepper.
Cap. — 4 to 9 inches broad, wlien young convex,
when fully grown funnel-shaped, iirm, dry, white,
and smooth; margin at first curved in over the gills,
later wavy.
Flesh. — Thick, white. The flesh of the genus
lactarius contains a milky fluid wliich exudes, when-
ever the fungus is bruised or broken. The milk of
the piperatus is white, changing very slowly to a
yellow and is very plentiful and pepjDer^^ to the
taste.
Gills. — Crowded, narrow, thicker at the edge,
white, with here and there yellow spots, where the
milk has stained the gills.
Spores. — Nearly globular, white.
Stem. — I to 2 inches long, 1 to 2 inches thick,
solid, generally equal, white.
Ring. — None. Volva. — None.
Odor. — None. Taste. — Acrid.
Habitat. — In woods from July to Oct., growing
singly; common in New Eng.
Edible. — With cooking the acrid taste disappears.
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Guide to the Mushrooms 89
LACTARIUS Subdulcis (Fr.) from the Latin,
somewhat sweet.
Cap. — 1-2 to 2 inches broad, sliglitly convex
with tiny umbo, at length ])lane and slightly de-
pressed, zoneless, smootii, dry, brownish-red; mar-
gin even.
Flesh. — Thin, fragile, pinkish-gray.
Milk. — White, not very })lentiful, mild in taste,
tardily acrid.
Gills. — Narrow, thin crowded, siib-deciirrent, col-
ored like cap but lighter tinge.
Spores. — White, oblong.
Stem. — Up to 1-1- inch tiiick, hollow, colored like
pileus, equal, smooth, slightly downy at base.
Or/or.— J\lild.
rrt*^^.— Mild.
Habitat. — In swanij)s and damp ground July to
October, very common.
Edible.
RUSSULA purpurina (Schulz.), meaning
purple.
Cap. — 1 1-2 to 2 1-2 inches broad, hemispheri-
cal, later plane and at last depressed in the center,
slightly glutinous in wet weather, skin easily sep-
arating from the cap, dark reddish purple paling
a little with age; margin thin and even.
Flesh. — Thick, white, reddish under the skin,
very brittle, mild taste.
-^
RUSSULA PURPURINA
Guide to the Mushrooms 91
Gills. — Growing to the stem, crowded, at first
white, later yellowish, rather broad, almost equal,
thick.
Spores.- — White, globose, minutely warted.
Stem. — 1 to 1 1-2 inches long and up to 1-2
inch thick, spongy, slightly tapering toward the
base and apex, rose-pink in color which fades with
age.
Ring. — None.
Volva. — None.
.Odor.- — None.
Habitat. — In woods from July to October grow-
ing singly ; quite common in New England.
Edible.
RUSSULA foetens. (Fr.) from foetens, mean-
ing stinking.
Cap. — 4 to 5 inches broad or more, globular,
there expanded and depressed ; covered with a glut-
inous, separating, brownish-yellow skin ; margin at
first bent in over the gills, then very striate.
Flesh. — Thin, soft, pale yellow.
Gills. — Attached to the stem (adnexed) crowded,
with veins, forked at first white, exuding watery
drops, later colored like the cap.
Spores. — White, globular. .,
Stem. — 2 to 4 inches long and up to 1 inch thick
at the base; color like the cap.
RUSSULA FOETENS
Guide to the Mushrooms 9^
Ring. — None.
Volva. — None.
Odor. — Foetid, very disagreeable.
Taste. — Very bitter.
Habitat. — In woods and open places, very com-
mon in New England from Jul}' to October grow-
ing singly.
yot edible.
RUSSULA emetica (Fr.) an emetic.
Cap. — 3 to 4 inches broad, at first bell-shaped,
then plane and depressed in the center, smooth, at
first rose color, fading to yellow wlien old; m-irgin
lined and warty.
Flesh. — Brittle, white, reddish underneath the
separating skin.
Gills. — Nearly free, broad, somewhat distant,
white.
Spores. — Spherical, white.
Stem. — 1 to 3 inches long, stout, stuffed witii
fibres, white, with sometimes a tinge of red.
Ring. — None.
Volva. — None.
Odor.— MM.
Taste. — Very acrid.
Habitat. — In open woods, common all over the
United States, growing singly from July to Octo-
ber.
Edible. — Reported in recent years as edible.
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Guide to the Mushrooms 95
RUSSULA fragiliS (Fr.) fragile.
Cap. — 1 to 2 inches broad^ convex^ with a slight
knob, (umbonate), at the center, then plane and
later depressed ; skin thin, slightly glutinous in wet
weather, bright red; margin very thin, slightly lin-
ed and w^art3^
Flesh. — Very fragile, thin, flesh color, changing
to red spots.
Spots. — Slightly attached to the stem, very thin,
crowded, rather broad, veined, white.
Spores.- — White.
Stem. — 1 to 2 inches long, spongy, then hollow,
often slightly lined, white.
Ring. — None.
lolva. — None.
Or/or.— Mild.
Taste. — Acrid.
Habitat. — In open woods, growing singly, com-
mon from July to October. Frequent in New Eng-
land.
Edible.
RUSSULA virescens. (Fr.) from viresco, to
be green.
Cap — 2 to 4- inches broad, globular, then expand-
ed, later depressed in the center, always dry, the
greenish skin breaking up into patches on the sur-
face; margin straight, thick, even.
Flesh — Thick, brittle, white.
Gills — Free, somewhat crowded, sometimes fork-
ed, white.
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Guide to the Mushrooms 97
Spores — Nearly globular, white.
Stem — 2 to i inches long and up to 1-2 an inch
tliick at the base; solid, later, spongy.
Ring. — None.
Jolva. — None.
Odor.—^IM.
Taste. — Mild.
Habitat. — In woods from July to October, grow-
ing singly; very common in New England.
Edible. — Good raw.
RUSSULA roseipes (Sec.) from the Latin
rosa, a rose ; j^es, a foot.
Cap. — 1 to 3 inches broad, convex, then flat or
slightly depressed; viscid, later dry, rosv red; mar-
gin slightly striate, very thin.
Flesh. — Soft, thin, fragile, wliite.
Gills. — Quite close, slightly joined to stem (ad-
nexed), whitish turning to yellow.
Spores. — ^Globular, yellowish-white.
Stein. — 1 to 3 inches long up to 1-2 inch thick,
tapering, stuffed, becoming hollow; white tinged
with red at base.
Ring. — None.
Jolva. — None.
Odor. — Slight.
Taste. — ]\Iild.
Habitat. — Under evergreen trees, common, grow-
ing singly from June to Sej^tember. Found com-
mon in New England.
Edible.
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Guide to tJw Mu.sluoonis 99
CANTHARELLUS cibarius (Fr.) from
cibaria, food. "Egg-Yellow Cliantarelle."
Cap. — 2 to 4 inches broad convex, then expanded,
center often depressed, smooth, egg-yellow; margin
rolled under at first, rather thick, wa\ v when full
grown; irregular in size and form.
Flesh. — Solid, thick, white.
Gills. — Thick, narrow, more like large veins,
branching irregularly, decurrent; yellow like ca]).
Spores. — Elliptical, yellowish, white.
Stem. — 1 to 2 inches high l-i to \-2 inch thick,
solid, blunt in appearance, yellow like cap.
Ring. — None.
Volva. — None.
Odor. — Not noticeable, though some claim a faint
odor like that of apricots.
Taste. — A trifle pungent.
Habitat. — Open woods, also among evergreens,
quite frequent, commonly singly ; often in curved
lines as if trying to form a ring; July and August,
found common all over the United States.
Edible. — Stewed gently and served with a cream
sauce, it is very delicious.
MARASMIUS OreadeS (Fr.) from the Greek
meaning mountain nymphs. "Fairy Rings."
Cap. — 1 to 2 inches broad, convex then plane,
with a knob in the center; smooth, dr}^, tan color
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Guide to the Mushrooms 101
becoming pale witli age, absorbing moisture, tough;
drying, but reviving when soiked in water; margin
even, slightly lined in full growth, sometimes turn-
ing back over the cap. and wavy.
Flesh. — Thin, white, firm, and tough.
Gills. — Free, broad, distint, cream v- white.
Spores. — White, elliptical.
Stem. — -2 to 3 inches long, solid, very tough,
equal, straight, covered with a velvety skin, color-
ed like the cap.
Ring. — None.
Volva. — None.
Odor. — Marked, jileasant. ^
Taste. — Nutty.
Habitat. — In pastures, lawns, growing in circles
or in small clusters from May to November. Com-
mon in all sections of the United States.
Edihh. — One of the most delicately flavored, and
because of its abundance, one of the most valuable
of our mushrooms. Stroplnria semi-globata, Nau-
coria pediades and Naucoria semi-orbicularis grow
often in company with ]\Iarasmius oreades and are
also edible. They may be readily distinguished by
their spores which in the first named are black and
in the second and third^ brown.
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VOLVARIA SPECIOSA
Guide to the Mushrooms 103
VOLVARIA Speci0Sa(Fr.) speciosus, liandsomc.
Cap. — 3 to 5 inches brond, globular, at lengthy
flat, soinewliat gibbous, suiootli, viscid when young,
later dry and silky, slightly tinged with gray in
center, all other parts white; margin ])ressed to
stem when young, striate when cap ex])ands, uneven
and thin.
Flesh. — Rather thick, firm, tender, white.
Gills. — P'ree, pressed together closely at first
later expanding but crowded, forked, rather broad,
rounded at margin; white at first then ])ink.
Spores. — Brownish-pink. elli))tical. smooth.
Stem. — 1 to 1 inches long, u]) to 1-2 inch thick,
solid, smooth, moist at first, later dr^^ and silky,
colored like cap.
Ring. — None,
Tolva. — Free, persistent, hanging in rather
thick folds about the base of stem, white.
Odor.— Mild..
Taste.— Mild.
Habitat. — Rich garden soil, in clusters and sing-
ly, spring months, rather rare in all sections of th>e
United States except on the Pacific slope.
Edible.
104 Guide to the Mushrooms
CLITOPILUS prunulus (Scop.) from prunus,
plum.
Cap. — 2 to 3 inches broad^ fleshy, at first con-
vex, then bent backward, dry, gre^^ish white,
smooth ; margin at first regular then wavy.
Flesh. — Firm, white.
GUIs. — Extended far downward on the stem (de-
current), thin, somewhat distant, flesh colored.
Spores. — Pointed at each end, pink.
Stem. — 1 to 2 inches long, and up to 1-2 inch
thick at the base, white, lined,- solid, smooth, equal.
Ring. — None.
Volva. — None.
Odor. — That of fresh meal.
Taste. — ]\Iild.
Habitat. — In woods growing singly, sometimes
in small clusters of two or three, not very abund-
ant, from June to October. Quite frequent in
New England.
Edible.
ENTOLOMA rhodopolium (Fr.) from the
Greek meaning rose-grey.
Cap. — 2 to o inches broad, fragile, bell-shaped,
then expanded with a slight knob in the center, at
length plane and slightly depressed, covered with
small fibres when young, smooth when full grown,
dingy brown when moist and water soaked, pale
Guide to the Mushrooms 105
silky shilling grey when dry; margin at first turn-
ed inward^ when larger wavy.
Flesh. — White.
Gills. — Growing to the stem, (adnate,)^ some-
what waved, (sinuate), slightly distant, rather
broad, white and then rose colored.
Spores. — Pink, regular in shape and size.
Stem. — :2 to 4- inches high, hollow, equal at first
and then tapering upward, powdered with a white
meal at the apex, otherwise smooth, slightly lined,
white.
Riuo'. — None.
J'olva. — None.
Odor. — Scarcely noticeable.
Taste. — Mild.
Habitat. — In woods from August to October,
growing singly. Quite common in all sections of
the United States.
ENTOLOMA Clypeatum (Linn.) resembling
a shield.
Cap. — 2 to 4> inches broad, fleshy, bell shaped,
then flattened, with a slight knob in the center,
smooth, fragile, greyish in color, streaked with
darker spots or lines, often seeming water soaked;
margin even.
Flesh. — White, thin.
Gills. — Attached to stem (adnexed) somewhat
waved (sinuate), broad, veined, sometimes toothed
on the edges, dingy grey, then reddish.
Spores. — Pink.
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Guide to the Mushrooms 107
Stem. — 2 to 3 inclics long, stuffed with fibres,
then hollow, fibrous throughout, equal, fragile,
greyish.
Ring. — Xone.
J'olva. — Xone.
Odor. — Mealy.
Taste. — Mild.
Habitat. — In woods and gardens, common from
June to November. Common in eastern and cen-
tral United States.
Poisonous. — All Entolomas should be avoided.
The gills attached to the stem in the Entolomas dis-
tinguishes them from the Plutei which in other re
spects they closelv resemble.
PLUTEUS CervinuS (Schaeff.) from cervus,
a deer.
Cap. — 2 to i inches broad, bell shaped, then con-
vex, later expanded, smooth, sometimes with slight
fibres, in the center, color of the fibres
brown, color of the skin brownish gre}' fading to
nearly white on the margin, often date brown in
color, surface very wrinkled ; margin even and in
full growth, sometimes cracked.
Flesh. — Quite thick, firm, white.
Gills. — Free, broad, somewhat veined, at first
whitish, then pink.
108 Guide to the Mushrooms
Spores. — Elliptical, pink.
Stem. — 1 to 3 inches long, solid, slighth^ tapering
upward, colored like the cap with a few fibres sim-
ilar to those in the center of the cap. When this
miTshroom grows from the sides of stumps the stem
is generally curved. When the stem is removed it
leiv es a cup shajDcd place in the flesh of the cap.
Rin^. — Xone.
Jolva. — None.
Odor. — Slightlv mealy.
raste.—Mild. *
Taste. — Mild,
Habitat. — On the ground in open places or on
stumps growing singly, sometimes in clusters; quite
frequent from May to October, in the United
States.
Edil)le. — Distinguished from the poisonous En-
tolomas by its free gills.
PHOLIOTA SquarrOSa (Mull) from squirro-
sus m.eaning scurfy.
Cap. — 3 to 5 inches broad, bell-shaped then con-
vex, fleshy, iron rust color, covered with dark brown
scales, dry ; margin at first curved in over the gills.
Fringed with scales and remnants of the veil.
Flesh. — Thin, light yellow.
Gills. — Growing into the stem (adnate), crowd-
ed, narrow, greyish, thin, rust color.
Spores. — ElliiDtical, dropping in heaps, rust col-
ored.
Guide to the Mushroorus 109
Sfe?n. — i to 6 inches long^ up to 1 incli thick at
tlu' apex^ tapering downward, stuffed witli fibres,
scaly as far as tlie ring, the remainder smooth.
Rino: — Onl}- slightly distant from the apex,
(superior), of same color as the scales.
J'olva. — None.
Odor. — Often indistinct in young caps, but later
disagreeable.
Taste. — -When young sweet, later disagreeable.
Habitat. — On trunks of trees or stumps, growing
in clusters, common from August to November.
\"er3^ common in New England.
Edible.
PHOLIOTA adipOSa (Fr.) "The Fat Pholiota."
Cap. — 2 to 4 inches broad, at first hemispherical
then convex, umbonate, very viscid when moist,
vellowish in color, with the skin torn into rustv-
brown scales ; margin incurved, even, thin.
Flesh. — Yellowish, thick at center, very thin at
margin, soft.
Gills. — Adnate, close, yellow, becoming rusty
brown.
Spores. — Elliptical, rusty-brown.
Stem. — 2 to i inches long, up to 3-4< inch thick.
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Guide to the Mushrooms 111
equal or slightly ta])ering at base, stuffed, eolored
like cap and clotlied with scales to ring.
Ring. — Formed from thin veil is seen at u})})cr
portion of stem, often wanting in mature specimens,
Volva. — None.
Or/or.— Mild.
Taste. — Insipid.
Habitat. — On stumps or dead trunks growing in
clusters, September and October; quite common in
eastern and central sections of United States.
EdiJjle.
NAUCORIAsemi-orbicuIaris(Bull.) from the
two Latin words meaning half round.
Cap. — 1 to 2 inches broad, dry, slightly glutin-
ous when moist and fresh, then even, smooth, wrin-
kled in age, yellowish rust color, then brownish;
margin curved in over the gills, blunt.
Flesh. — Whitish.
Gills. — Growing up to the stem (adnate), rath-
er broad, crowded, yellowish, then rust color.
Spores. — Elliptical^ brown.
112 Guide to the Mushrooms
Stem. — 3 to 1 inclies long, very tough, slender
straight, equal, smooth, brownish, often darker at
the base, with a narrow tube within.
Ring. — None, except for fragments of the veil
attached to the stem, but these are often absent.
Volva. — None.
Of/or.— Mild.
Taste.— ^IM.
Habitat. — Lawns and pastures, growing singly
and in small groups, from Apri] to November.
Common in eastern and central sections of the
CJnited States.
Edible
CORTINARIUS violaceus (Fr.)
"Violet Cortinarius."
Cap. — 2 to 4 inches broad, then convex, finally
nearly plane, fleshy, dry, covered witii hairy scales,
dark violet in color; margin even with fragments
of the cortina or veil attached to it.
Flesh. — Violet in color, thick, crisp.
Gills. — Rather thick, distant, rounded at the
stem, violet color at first, then cinnamon brown
when they become dusted with the spores.
Spores. — Almost globular, cinnamon brown.
Stem. — 3 to 5 inches long, about 1-2 inch thick,
solid, bulbous, colored like cap.
Guide to the Mushrooms 113
Ring. — In the young stage of the Cortinarii,
the gills are covered with a thick web-like struc-
ture known as the cortina ; in tliis family as the cap
expands this web is broken and hangs in fragments
about the margin of the cap and about the stem
forming a ver}' imperfect and very slight ring.
Volva. — None
Odor. — Somewhat nutty.
Taste.— ^IWd.
Habitat.^^^lixed woods, singly and in clusters,
frequent from August to October. Found in New
England and Central United States.
Edible.
CORTINARIUS cinnabarinus (Fr.) from the
Latin meaning dragon's blood, so named from its
color.
Cap. — 1 to 2 inches broad, convex with a slight
knob in the center, then plane, smooth, silky, scar-
let red, sometimes orange, or yellow brown; margin
curved in over the gills.
Flesh. — Thick in the center, solid, white, tinged
with brown.
Gills. — Running down on the stem (decurrent),
rather broad, somewhat distant, connected by veins,
8
CORTINARIUS CINNABARINUS
Guide to the Mushrooms 11;)
unequal, reddish in color, when bruised becoming
dark red.
Spores. — Nearly round, rusty brown.
Stem. — 1 to 2 inches long, up to 1-4 inch thick,
solid, equal with a small bulb at base, striate, blood
red inside and outside.
Ring. — Very slight, formed from the web or
cortina which is stretched over the gills in the young
mushrooms, which later breaks and adheres in frag-
ments to the margin of the cap and to the stem in
the form of a ring.
Volva. — None.
Odor. — Like radishes.
Taste. — That of radishes.
Habitat. — In pine and chestnut woods, growing
singly and in clusters, rather common from August
to November. Found frequently in New England.
Edible.
CORTINARUS cinnamomeus (Fr.) "Cinna-
mon colored."
Cap. — 1 to 2 inches broad, convex, with a slight
knob in the center, covered with yellowish fibres,
later almost smooth, cinnamon color; margin even,
but later splitting.
Flesh. — Thin, yellowish.
1 1 6 Guide to the Mushrooms
Gills. — Growing to the stem( adnate), thin^ rath-
er broad^ crowded^ varying in color, through a
blood red, reddish brown to a shining yellow.
Spores. — Elliptical, dark rust color.
Stem. — 2 to 4 inches long, slender, equal, stuff-
ed with fibres but later hollow, yellow, covered
with fibres from the yellow veil.
»
Ring.^None, except for the yellow fibres of the
veil.
Jolva. — None.
Odor. — Mildly of radishes.
Taste.- — Mildly of radishes.
Habitat. — In mossy places in woods, growing
singly from August to October. Common all over
the United States.
Edible.
CORTINARIUS COrrugatuS (Pk.) "Corrugat-
ed Cortinarius."
Cap. — 2 to 4 inches broad, bell-shaped and later
convex, glutinous when moist, corrugated or wrinkl-
ed, varying in color from bright yellow to a red-
dish or brownish yellow ; margin at first curved in
over the gills and later even.
Flesh. — White.
Gills. — Close, slightly narrowed toward the stem,
growing up to the stem (adnate), slightly uneven
CORTINARIUS CORRUGATUS
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Guide to the Mushrooms 119
on the edge, pale yellow at first then brownish.
Spores. — Elliptical, rough, brownish.
Stem. — 3 to 5 inches long and up to 1-2 inch
thick, equal,, hollow, with a glutinous bulb being-
colored Hive the cap, while the stem is sligiitly paler.
Rinfi;. — None except for the brownish fibres from
the veil.
Volva. — None.
Odor. — Slightly pungent.
Ta^te.—MM.
Habitat. — In woods, rather common growing
singly from June to September. Common in New
England.
Edible.
AGARICUS campester (Einn.) from Latin
campus, a field; "Common mushroom."
Cap. — 1 to 5 inches broad, hemispherical, convex"
finally nearly plane, smooth, dry, of a delicate buff
color, leathery in appearance; margin at first curv-
ed under and extending beyond the gills, later some-
what split, not striate. Very variable in appear-
ance often covered with reddish brown scales.
Flesh. — Firm, thick, white.
Gills. — Free, close, veined, at first flesh color
then pink, changing to brown and finally blackish-
brown, somewhat moist in mature specimens.
Agaricus silvaticus
Guide to the MiisJiJ'ooins 121
Spores. — Elliptical, purplish-black.
Stem. — Up to 3 inches long, thick, stuffed, whit-
ish, smooth, sometimes slightly thickened at base.
Ring. — About middle of the stem, generally torn,
rather large, white.
Volva. — None.
Odor. — Agreeable.
Taste. — Mild, nutty.
Habitat. — Pastures, growing singly, quite com-
mon from July to October.
Edible. — This is the most widely known of all
mushrooms. Tliere are many species of this family,
all edible and all having the same characteristics
relative to the gills, whicli is the characteristic
mark of these mushrooms. This is the mushroom most
wideh^ sought for by lovers of edible fungi and if
the following facts are observed no mistakes will
occur in gathering them. They do not grow in
woods, the gills are always light pink at first,
changing as the plant grows to brown and then
blackish brown ; they jDossess no volva.
AGARICUS Silvaticus (Schaeif.) from the
Latin, belonging to the wood.
Cap. — 2 to 6 inches broad, convex, then plane,
with a slight umbo, filbrillose with brown scales,
white beneath these; margin fairly even, thin.
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Guide to the Mushrooms 12S
Flesh. — Wliite^ thin, firm.
Gills. — Free, tliiii^ close^ narrow at each end,
flesh color, then pink^ later brown and at last
brownish-black.
Spores. — Elliptical^ brownish-black.
Ste7)7. — 1- to 6 inches hioh. slender, stuffed then
hollow^ bulbous M'hite.
Ring. — Rather thick, sometimes entire, but more
often torn.
J^olva. — None.
Habitat. — Mixed woods, quite common, growing
singly, July and August.
Edible. — This mushroom must be gathered with
care as there is danger of confusing it with Aman-
itae which grow in the woods. The color of the
gills is the key to this mushroom. Amanitae have
white gills which never change in color. The stem
of the Agaricus silvaticus is bulbous but there is
no volva as in the Amanitae which sheathes the
stem.
STROPHARIA semi-globata (Batsch), semi,
half; globus, ball.
Cap. — 1-2 to 2 inches broad, viscous later dry
and wrinkled, some specimens smooth, others slight-
ly scaly, hemispherical, later expanded; margin
even.
Flesh. — Thin, white.
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Guide to the Mushrooms 125
Gills. — Broad, adnate, yellowish, clouded or
spotted wtih black the distinguishing characteristic
of this mushroom.
Spores. — Elliptical, blackish-purple.
Stem. — 1-3 inches long, 1-4 inch thick, equal,
})owdered with spores, smooth, young specimens
stuffed, mature, showing the hollow tube.
King. — About center of stem, viscid, blackish,
often appearing incomplete as tiny fibres.
J olva. — None.
Odor. — Strong.
Taste.— MM.
Habitat. — On dung in pastures, growing singly
or in clusters of two or three. Common after rains
from June till November. Found frequently in
New England.
Edible.
HYPHOLOMA appendiculatum (Bull.) be-
cause i^arts of the veil adhere to the margin of
the cap.
Cap. — 1 to 2 inches broad, conical then nearly
plane, brownish in the center fading to a grayish
white on the edge, watery, lined; margin even with
fragments of the white veil adhering to it.
Flesh. — Thin, very fragile, whitish.
126 Guide to the Mushrooms
Gills. — Growing to the stem (adnate), crowded^
white then flesh colored,, then grayish brown and at
last black.
Spores. — Elliptical, transparent, purplish black.
Stem. — 3 inches long, slender, equal, hollow,
smooth, white, with a white powder at the apex, fra-
gile.
Ring. — None.
Volva. — None.
Of/or.— Mild.
Taste. — Mild.
Habitat. — In gardens or rich soil about stumps
and on lawns, growing in large groups very com-
mon, from June to November in New England.
Edible. — One of the best mushrooms.
HYPHOLOMA perplexum (Pk.) from Latin
perplexus. "Uncertain or perplexing Hypholma."
Cap. — 1 to 3 inches broad, convex, smooth, dry,
brownish-red fading to brownish-yellow on margin,
which is regular.
Flesh. — Rather thin, spongy, white.
Gills. — Thin, close, set closely to stem (adnate),
first yellow then with greenish tinge, finally brown.
Spores. — Elliptical blackish-brown.
Stem. — 2 to 3 inches long, 1-4 to 1-2 inch thick,
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128 Guide to the Mushrooms
firm^ hollow, yellow above rusty-black below.
Ring. — The veil is delicate^ yellowish-white,
soon vanishing, occasionally slight traces of it may
be seen on the stem in the form of brown threads.
Volva. — None.
Odor.— MM.
Taste. — Nutt}^, with sometimes a slight tinge of
bitterness.
Habitat. — On ground in woods or on decayed
stumps. Common, growing in crowded clusters
September to midwinter. Found in all sections of
the United States.
Edible.
HYPHOLOMA sublateritium (S c h a e f f .)
"Bricktop Mushroom."
Cap. — 2 to 3 inches broad, convex, smooth, dry,
brick red, except on margin which is of paler hue,
covered with white silky fibres from veil; margin
regular.
Flesh. — Rather ,thin, firm, white, in mature
growth yellow.
Gills. — Narrow, crowded, extending close to stem
(adnate), dull yellow then turning to a greenish
hue, at length olivaceous.
Spores. — Elliptical^ sooty-brown.
Stem. — 2 to 4 inches high, up to 1-3 inch thick,
stuffed, smaller at base, scaly, fibrils of yellowish
brown, stem brownish in color.
"Eccentric-stemmed Boletinus."
Cap. — 2 to 5 inches broad, viscid when moist,
shining when dry, reddish brown ; margin very thin,
tapering downwards, firm, stuffed, covered with
Guide to the Mushrooms 129
Ring. — The veil is very slight^ composed of fibres
forming a net which is white at first then brown and
is found adhering in threads about the upper part
of the stem, forming an imperfect circle, often
wholh^ vanished in mature specimens,
Volva. — None.
Or/or.— Mild.
Taste. — Rather bitter.
Habitat. — On ground where there are decayed
stumps and on decayed w^ood, growing in clusters,
common, September to midwinter.
Edible. — There are many varieties of this mush-
room, distinguished by the greenish 3^ellow gills
and brick-red cajDS. All are edible and when cook-
ed have no tinge of bitterness.
CORPRINUS COmatuS (Fr.) from coma
meanmg hair. "Shaggy-Mane."
Cap. — 2 to 5 inches broad, bell-shaped or egg-
shaped, later expanding and becoming plane, the
center is purplish-black, the remainder covered
with concentric scales of a whitish color tipped with
black; margin lined and splitting along the lines
of the gills, rolling back over the cap in mature age.
130 Guide to the Mushrooms
Flesh. — White, rather thin.
Gills. — Free from the stem, very crowded, broad,
at first tinged with pink, then turning to black and
dissolving into an inky fluid.
Spores. — ElliiDtical, black.
Stem. — Up to 6 inches long, and up to 1-2 an
inch thick, tapering ujDward, hollow, brittle, white.
Ring. — Thin, torn, sometimes movable.
Volva. — None.
Odor. — Earthy.
Taste. — Strong.
Habitat. — On dumping grounds and in gardens
and where ashes and street sweepings have been
placed, growing singly and in large groups from
April to November. Common over all sections of
the United States.
Edible.
CORPRINUS atramentarius(Bull) from Latin
atramentarius, ink. "Ink}^ Cap."
Cap. — 1 to 3 inches broad, egg-shaped, expand-
ing, flat when mature and margin split and rolled
back over cap ; in some cases smooth, others tufted
with tinj^ scales, color mouse gray, margin striate.
Flesh. — Thin ,soft, grayish.
Gills. — Adnate, that is, coming up close to stem,
adhering to each other, broad, white then turning
black and dissolving into inky fluid.
132 Guide to the Mushrooms
Spores. — Somewhat cylindrical^ black.
Stem. — Up to 5 inches high and 1-2 inch thick^
smooth white hollow^ tapering upwards.
Ring. — Near the base (inferior) formed by the
separation of the cap from the stem.
Volva. — None.
Odor. — Earthy.
Taste. — Mild.
Habitat. — On lawns and gardens^ rich ground,
not on dung, growing in large clumps, with here
and there a solitary specimen which will attain a
large growth. Common. Often aj^pears in spring
but is more common in the fall. A cluster found
in spring is . generally the forerunner of a good
crop in the same sj3ot in the fall. Common in all
section of the United States.
Elihle. — One of the best Coprini, as it has more
substance than the other varieties and a more deli-
cate flavor than C. comatus.
COPRINUS micaceus (Bull.) from Latin mica,
granular.
Cap. — 1 to 2 inches broad, cylindrical, finally
expanded and sjolit at margin which is wavy, stri-
ate; date brown at center, tan color to margin, at
first covered with glistening white granules from
which characteristic it derives its name; later these
disappear and the cap appears dry and cracked.
Guide to the Mushrooms 133
Flesh. — Thin^ white.
Gills. — Adnata^ adhering together, white, then
flesh color, at last black ; in dry weather they some-
times remain more or less firm, but in moist weather
they melt or deliquesce into a black fluid.
Spores. — Cylindrical, black.
Stem. — ] to 2 inches to 1-3 inch thick, equal,
smooth, hollow, white, fragile.
Ring. — Very slight near base (inferior) formed
by cap adhering to stem, often wholly wanting.
Volva. — None.
Odor. — Earthy.
Taste. — Mild, nutty.
Habitat. — On rich soil, about elm trees or de-
cayed stumps of elms, in large clumps, very fre-
quent from very early spring until late in fall.
Found in all sections of the United States.
Edible. — Because of its frequency, length of sea-
son and delicate flavor, it forms what should be one
of the most highly prized mushrooms. One that
the amateur can readily determine and easily gath-
er a dish from almost any street where elm or pop-
lar trees are used for purposes of shade.
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Guide to the Mushrooms 135
PANAEOLUS retirugis (Fr.) from Latin rete,
net and ruga_, wrinkle.
Cap. — Up to 1 inch broad, at first almost glob-
ose then expanding; never plane, slightly umbonate,
in wet weather has a water-soaked appearance and
is viscid ; in dry weather, dry and the surface crack-
ed and wrinkled which feature gives the mushroom
its name. Color dark smoky gray, becoming light-
er and shining. Sometimes tawny yellow. Center
much darker, often zoned wlien moist. Margin ev-
en, extending beyond gills, not striate, containing
V shaped particles of veil which is another charact-
eristic of this species.
Flesh. — Rather thick, white.
Gills. — Coming up to stem (adnate), quite broad
in middle, very regular, crowded, grayish black.
Spores. — Elliptical-fusiform black.
Stem. — 2 to 4 inches long about 1-4- inch thick,
equal, smoky gray in color, hollow, darker at base,
granular, bulbous.
Ring. — The veil is very prominent in young
plants white arid quite stout, adheres to margin nev-
er to stem the spores at times fall and float against
stem forming a black ring but this is not to be mis-
taken for a true ring.
Volva. — None.
Odor. — Earthy.
Taste.— UiU.
136 Guide to the Mushrooms
Habitat. — On newly made lawns, and dung,
quite frequent singly and in loose clusters June to
frost. Very common in New England.
The edibility of this mushroom is questioned
some re23ort nausea after eating it. It should be
partaken very carefully if used at all.
PANAEO'LUS solidipes (Pk.) solidus, solid;
pes, foot.
Cap. — I to 3 inches across, globular, then hemis-
pherical, at length convex and nearly plane, lead-
white in color; moist, when young, somewhat cor-
rugated, later breaking up into yellowish areas ;
margin thin even.
Flesh. — White, compact, thin.
Gills. — Slightly attached to stem, broad, whitish
at first, then black.
Spores. — Elli23tical, black.
St 6771. — 2 to 6 inches tall up to 3-4- inch thick,
smooth with dro23S of moisture on upper part, col-
ored like cap, solid at first, later tubular.
Ring. — Veil very slight, scarcelj^ noticeable on
stem in form of a few blackish fibres.
Volva. — None.
Odor.— MM.
Taste.— Mild.
Habitat. — On dung in j^astures, growing singly,
common in New England; July and August.
Edible.
Guide to the Mushrooms 137
BOLETINUS prctus (Pk.)
"Painted Boletinus."
Cap. — 2 to 4 inches broad^ convex then nearly
plane^ covered with red fibres which soon divide
into scales, showing the yellow cap below. Margin
even, extending a little beyond tubes with patches
of veil adhering to edge.
Flesh. — Solid yellow slowly turning to pinkish
hue when bruised.
Tubes. — Joined to stem (adnexed), branching,
forming angular pores, clinging closely to flesh of
cap, which is the distinguishing characteristic of
this genus ; yellow at first, dingy when older, chang-
ing to pinkish when bruised.
Spores. — Ellij3tical, brown.
Stem. — 1 to 3 inches long, 3-4 to 1 1-2 inches
thick, equal, solid covered like the cap with red-
dish scales, 3^ellow at top.
Ring. — Slight traces are found on young speci-
mens before the white webby veil has wholly vanish-
ed.
Volva. — None.
Odor. — Slight.
Taste. — Mild.
Habitat. — In mixed woods and damp evergreen
woods, growing singly August and September.
Very common in New England.
Edible.
138 Guide to the Mushrooms
BOLETINUS porosus (Berk.)
"Eccentric-stemmed Boletinus."
Cap. — 2 to 5 inches broad^ viscid when moist^
shining when dry, reddish borwn ; margin very thin,
tapering downwards, firm, stuffed, covered with
remnants of veil which give it a scaly ap23earance.
Flesh. — Thick in middle, thin at edge, yellow-
ish.
Tubes. — Extending down the stem (deciirrent),
arranged in radiating lines connected by irregular
veins forming large angular pores, pale yellow then
dingy, sometimes turning slightl}^ blue when bruis-
ed, adhering closely to flesh of cap.
Spores. — Elliptical, brown.
Stem. — 1 1-2 inches to i inches long, 1 to 1 1-2
inches thick, eccentric which is its distinguishing
characteristic, tough colored like cap.
Ring. — None.
Volva. — None.
Odor. — Disagreeable at certain age, in other
stages of growth not noticeable.
Taste. — Mild.
Habitat. — Damp ground in woods and open
spots, often on lawns, quite frequent, growing
singly or in small clusters during August and Sep-
tember. Common in New England and the Central
sections of the United States.
Edible^
Guide to the Mushrooms 139
BOLETUS flavidus (Fr.)
"Pale Yellow Boletus."
Cap. — 1 to 2 inches broad, gibbous, then plane,
viscid, yellow, dingy later; margin even, with par-
ticles of white veil often adhering,
Fesh. — Pale yellow, thin.
Tubes. — Extending down the stem (dccurrent),
large angular mouths, dingy yellow, separating eas-
ily from flesh of cap.
Spores. — Oblong.
Stem. — Slender, solid, colored like cap sprinkl-
ed with dingy dots above the sticky ring.
Ri7ig. — Entire, white, sticky.
Volva. — None.
Or/or.— Mild.
Taste.— M\\dL.
Habitat. — Pine woods and swampy ground, quite
frequent, August and September. Common in
Eastern United States.
Edible.
BOLETUS americanus ( Pk. )
"American Boletus."
Cap. — 1 to 3 inches broad, nearly plane, some-
times with slight umbo, viscid when moist, then
smooth, yellow becoming streaked with red in age;
margin even, thin, with remnants of webby veil ad-
hering to young specimens.
140 Guide to the Mushrooms
Flesh. — Yellow^ turning to pinkish-gray when
exposed to air^ thin, soft.
Tubes. — Adnate, rather large, angular, yellow
becoming dingy.
Spoj'es. — Oblong, rusty-brown.
Stem. — 1 1-2 to 2 1-2 inches long, up to 1 inch
thick slender, equal, yellow throughout marked
with brownish dots.
Ring. — None.
Volva. — None.
Odor. — Slightly acid.
Taste.— Mild.
Habitat. — Woods, swampy ground and open
spots, also pine woods, quite frequent, singly or in
small clusters, August and September. Frequent
in Eastern United States.
Edible.
BOLETUS bicolor (Pk.) from Latin, two,
color.
Cap. — 2 to 4 inches broad convex, smooth, dark
red later spotted or sometimes cracked in areas,
showing yellow underneath margin even.
Flesh. — Rather thick, firm then soft, yellow,
changing slightly and slowly to blue when wounded.
Tubes. — Coming ujd to stem (adnate) mouths
small, angular, bright yellow then dingy, slowly
changing to blue when wounded.
Spores. — Oblong, rusty-brown.
Stem. — 1 to 3 inches long up to 1 1-2 inches
thick firm solid red, yellow at top.
Guide to the Mushrooms 141
Ring. — None.
Volva. — None.
O^or.— Mild.
Taste.— ^Vi\di.
Habitat. — Woods and open places quite frequent,
singly, August and September. Common in New
England.
Edible.
BOLETUS granulatus (Linn.) from Latin
granula, granule.
Cap. — 1 to 4 inches broad, convex then nearly-
plane, very viscid, reddish brown when moist, yel-
lowish when dry, very variable however in color
from pinkish-gray through all shades of reddish
or yellowish brown. Margin even.
Flesh. — Thick, white, yellow near tubes.
Tubes. — Joined squarely to stem (adnexed),
small, short, yellowish, dotted with granules at
mouth.
Spores. — Spindle-shaped, yellowish.
Stem. — 1 to 2 inches long, up to 1 1-2 inches
thick, firm, white, sometimes yellowish dotted with
brownish granules on upper part.
Ring. — None. Volva. — -None.
Odor. — INIild. Taste. — Agreeable.
Habitat. — Pine woods generally, often in open
woods, very common, in small clusters, sometimes
in circles. August and September. Very common
in New England.
Edible.
142 Guide to the Mushrooms
BOLETUS variegatus ( S wartz ) .
Cap. — 2 to 5 inches broad^ convex^ then plane,
moist, sprinkled with hairy reddish-brown scales,
dark yellow; margin even, thin, at first flocculose.
Flesh. — Quite thick, firm, yellowish white becom-
ing blue on exj^osure to air.
Tubes. — Extending close to stem (adnate), un-
equal, very small, brown then cinnamon.
Spores. — Oblong, pale yellow.
Stem.- — 2 to 3 inches long, 1 1-2 inches thick,
firm, equal, even, dark yellow sometimes reddish.
Ring. — None.
Volva. — jS' one.
Or/or.— Mild.
Taste. — Nutty.
Habitat. — Pine woods, quite common singly.
August and September. Found quite common in
all sections of the United States.
Edible.
BOLETUS ornatipes (Pk.) from the Latin
ornate and foot.
Cap. — 2 to 5 inches broad, convex, dry, smooth,
3^ellowish-brown ; margin even.
Flesh. — Firm, pale yellow.
Tubes. — Coming up to stem (adnate), depress-
922B>a33«3isa»ri>te
Boletus scaber
144 Guide to the Mushrooms
ed about stem^ small^ clear j^ellow turning darker
with age but not from bruises.
Spores. — Oblongs yellow-brown.
Stem. — 2 to 4 inches long^ up to 1 1-2 inches
thick, firm, subequal, beautifully covered with net-
work (reticulated), yellow without and within.
Ring. — None. Volva. — None.
Odor.— MM. Taste.— Ui\d.
Habitat. — Open woods, quite frequent, single.
August and September. Quite common in New
England.
Edible.
BOLETUS SCaber from the Latin scaber, rough.
"Rough-stemmed Boletus."
Cap. — 1 to 4 inches broad convex, smooth, vis-
cid when moist, smoky white, sometimes orange
brown in color, very variable.
Flesh. — White, sometimes reddish-white, when
bruised.
Tubes. — Free from stem, rather long, convex
from margin of stem where they are somewhat de-
jjressed, small, dingy white.
Spores. — Oblong to spindle-shajDcd, snuif -brown.
Stem. — 3 to 5 inches long, up to 2 inches thick,
solid, tapering upward, white, covered with black,
hairy scales which is the distinguishing character-
istic of this otherwise very variable mushroom,
Bing. — None. Volva, — None.
Guide to the Mushrooms 145
Or/or.— Mild.
Taste. — Mild.
Habitat. — In proves or edges of woods, common-
ly growing singly. August and September. Of
common occurrence in all sections of the United
States.
Edible.
BOLETUS chrysenterion (Fr.) golden within.
"Red-cracked Boletus."
Cap. — 1 to 2 inches broad^ convex, then plane^
covered with woolly scales, reddish-brown or olive-
brown cracking into areas, the chinks between show-
ing deep reddish tints just below; the distinguish-
ing feature of the mushroom.
Flesh. — Soft, quite thick, yellow, red below skin
slightly changing to blue when wounded.
Tubes. — Depressed about stem, rather large, an-
gular, unequal, greenish yellow turning to blue
when wounded.
Spores. — Spindle-shajDcd, pale brown.
Stem. — 1 to 3 inches long, up to 1 1-2 inches
thick, subequal^ firm, fibrous, striate, yellow below,
reddish above.
Ring. — None. Volva. — None.
Or/or.— Mild. Taste.— Mild.
Habitat. — Woods, common, singly, August and
September ; of common occurrence in all sections
of the United States.
Edible.
10
146 Guide to the Mushrooms
BOLETUS edulis (Bull) from the Latin edible.
Cap. — 4 to 6 inches broad, convex then plane,
smooth, moist, varying in color from grayish-red,
brownish red to yellowish brown, jDaler on margin;
very variable in color and size.
Flesh. — Thick, firm at first then soft, wliite, red
beneath skin of cap.
Tubes. — Convex from margin of cap to stem
where they are depressed and partially free from
stem, white when young, mouth closed at first (stuf-
fed), later greenish yellow.
Spores. — Oblong to spindle-sha23ed, greenish-yel-
low.
Stem. — 2 to 6 inches long 1 1-2 to 3 inches thick,
bulbous, more or less netted (reticulated), pale
brown.
Ring. — None. J^olva. — Xone.
Of/or.— Mild. Taste.— ^hld.
Habitat. — Woods and open places, very fre-
quent, August and September. Of common occur-
rence in all sections of the United States.
Edible.
BOLETUS Chromapes (Fr.) from the Latin
yellow and foot.
Cap. — 2 to 4 inches broad, convex, or nearly
plane, pale grayish pink.
Flesh . — White, unchangeable.
Tubes. — Convex, attached slightly to stem,
though often free ; white turning brownish.
Spores. — Oblong.
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148 Guide to the Mushrooms
Stein. — 2 to 4 inches long up to 1 1-2 inches
thick slightly tapering upward^ whitish above, dot-
ted with reddish dots; yellow at base without and
within, the distinguishing characteristic.
Ring. — None.
Volva. — None.
Or/or.— Mild.
Taste. — Mild.
Habitat. — Open woods, quite frequent, growing
singly, August and September. Very frequent in
New England.
Edible.
BOLETUS felleUS (Bull) from Latin gall.
"Bitter Boletus."
Cap. — 3 to 8 inches broad, nearly plane, smooth,
even, varying in color from pale 3-ellow to chest-
nut brown.
Flesh. — Thick, firm, tlien soft, white sometimes
changing to flesh color when wounded.
Tubes. — Coming up to stem (adnate), convex
from margin, depressed about stem, long, angular,
white tinged with flesh color.
Spores. — Oblong-spindle-shaped, flesh-colored.
Stem. — 2 to 4 inches long up to 3 inches thick,
variable in size and shape. Sometimes bulbous,
generally covered with net work; (reticulated) at
upper part of stem, colored but a trifle paler than
cap.
Guide to the Mushrooms 1 i9
Ring. — None.
Volva. — None.
Odor. — Mild.
Taste. — Very bitter^ its distinguishing character-
istic.
Habitat.- — About or on decayed stumps of open
and grassy spots quite common^ singly. August
to September. Very frequent in New England;
found also in central sections of United States.
Not poisonous but its bitterness renders it unfit
to eat.
BOLETUS castaneus (Bull.) from Latin
chestnut. "Chestnut Boletus."
Cap. — 1 to 3 inches broad, convex^ plane^ even;,
dry, velvety, chestnut-brown.
Flesh. — Brittle, white unchangeable.
Tubes. — Free, short, small, white, stuffed at first.
Spores. — Oblong.
Stem. — 1 to 2 inches long, up to 1 inch thick,
slender, tapering upward, solid, then hollow, color-
ed and velvety like cap, generally paler at top of
stem.
Ring. — None.
Volva. — None.
Oc/or.— Mild.
Taste. — Nutty.
150 Guide to the Mushrooms
Habitat. — Open woods, grassy spots under trees,
quite common singly and in small clusters. June
to September. Quite common over all the United
States.
Edible. — Good, either raw or cooked.
STROBILOMYCES strobilaceous (Berk.)
from the Greek, cone-like.
Caj). — 2 to 4 inches broad, hemispherical, dry,
dingy white, covered with thick black woolly scales ;
margin thin, to which adheres fragments of the
woolly veil.
Flesh. — Thin, firm, white changing to reddish,
then black when bruised.
Tubes. — Coming up to stem (adnate) adhering
to flesh, long, large angular, turning like flesh from
dingy white to red then black.
Spores. — Nearly round, blackish-brown.
Stem. — 3 to 0 inches long, up to 2 inches thick,
equal slightly tapering upward, clothed like the
pileus, with black woolly scales.
Ring. — None, white veil adheres to margin of
cap.
J^olva. — None.
O^or.— Mild.
Taste.— M\\d.
Habitat. — In woods and open places common,
singly and in groups. July to September. Very com-
mon in New England; also found in central sec-
tion of the United States.
Edible.,
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152 Guide to the Mushrooms
FISTULINA hepatica (Fr.) from the Greek,
resembling liver. "Beefsteak mushroom."
Cap. — 4- to 8 inches broad, dark red, streaked
with lighter shades of red; at first having little
glands that have the apjDearance of a tongue_, these
disappear in mature growth.
Flesh.— Soft, jelly-like, thick, viscid.
Tubes. — Pale reddish yellow, verj^ short at first
tlien longer.
Spores. — Elliptical, yellowish.
Stem. — Very short, at one side (eccentric), ex-
panding into the cap which in reality forms but m
continuation of the stumiD like stem.
Ring. — None.
Volva. — None.
Odor. — Slightly acid
Taste. — Acid; dissappears in cooking.
Habitat. — On decayed stumps and trunks of
trees, principally chestnut. Frequent June to Sept.
Common in most parts of the U. S.
Edible.
POLYPORUSI'brumalis (Pers.)
"The Winter Poly2Dorus."
Cap. — 1 to 3 inches broad, convex, then plane,
somewhat depressed at center, surface very hairy,
ranging in color from a smoky-brown to nearly
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154 Wild Flowers East of the Rockies
black; margin very thin, fringed with coarse hairs.
Flesh. — First pliant, later tough, hard and dry,
thin, brownish.
Tubes. — Growing very close to stem, minute, reg-
ularly arranged, at first white then yellowish.
Spores. — None obtained from specimen.
Stem. — 1 to 3 inches long to 1-4 inch thick, even,
hairy, lighter in color than cap.
Ring;. — None.
Volva. — None.
Odor. — Not noticeable
Taste. — Woody.
Habitat. — On dead limbs in clusters of two or
three found throughout the year, common all over
United States.
Too tough to be edible.
POLYPORUS SulphureuS (I r.) from the
Latin sulphur.
Cap. ^8 inches or more broad, wavy, red in cen-
ter, yellow on margin.
Flesh. — Yellow, firm, splitting, not growing
woody.
Pores. — ]\Iinute, even, yellow, in full vigor filled
with sulpliur yellow milk.
Stem. — Generally wanting, sometimes a very
slight one fastens the cap, shelf-like to the trunk
of the tree or side of the stump.
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156 Wild Flowers East of the Rockies
Ring. — None.
Volva. — None
Odor.— Mild.
Taste. — Mild,
Habitat. — On decaying trunks and stumps of
many varieties of trees in large overlaying clus-
ters. August to frost. Common in New England
and central sections of the United States.
Edible,
POLYPORUS betulinus (Fr.) from the Latin
betula^ a birch. "Birch tree Polyporus."
Cav. — 3 to 6 inches broad^ smooth, white, then
tinged with brown, margin thick.
Flesh. — Thick, soft, white.
Pores. — Very small, short, of slow growth, un-
equal, white.
/Spore*.— Have never been able to procure sj^ores
from a specimen for examination.
Stem . — Wanting.
Ring. — None.
Volva. — None
Odor. — Woody.
Taste.— Woody.
Habitat. — On birch trees, very common; growth
begins in early summer but specimens may be found
POLYPORUS BETULINUS
(Birch-Tree Polyporus)
158 Wild Flowers East of the Rockies
at any time during the year. Common wherever
birch trees grow.
Edible. — When young; when dry burns readily,
excellent kindling for a camp fire.
CLPOLYSTICTUS perennis.
Cap. — 1 to 1 1-^2 inches bro<id, pliant, tough, de-
pressed in center (infundibuliform) velvety, zon-
ed in shades of brown varying from snuff color to
deep seal; margin tliin. tn-n.
Flesh. — Thin, colored like cap.
Pores. — Very small, angular, grayish brown.
Ring.- — None.
J'olva. — None
Odor. — Woody.
Taste. — Woody.
Habitat. — In pine woods, common, growing sing-
ly and in clusters from July to October. Found
very common in New England.
Xot Edible owing to its woody character, but not
poisonous.
HYDNUM imbricatum. (Linn.) from the
Latin, a tile.
Cap. — 2 to 5 inches broad, depressed in center,
often funnel-shaped, smoky-brown in color, covered
with brownish scales, often cracked; margin even,
irregular in shape and size.
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160 Wild Flowers East of the Rockies
Flesh. — Thick^ firm^ dingy white.
Spines — 1 to 1 1-2 inches long^ equal, extending
down the stem (decurrent) grayish white.
Spores. — Rough, oblong, jDale, yellow brown.
Ste77i. — 1 to 3 inches long, 1 to 2 inches thick,
central, even, grayish-brown.
Ring. — None.
J^olva. — None
O^or.— Mild.
Taste. — Slightly bitter.
Habitat.- — In jDine woods, singly and in clusters
quite frequent August to October. Found common
in New England.
Edible. — Should be stewed gently for a few min-
utes, then the water drained off to remove the bit-
terness, after which they may be further stewed or
broiled.
HYDNUM repandum (Linn.) from Latin re-
pandus, bent backward. "Hedgehog Mushroom."
Cap. — 2 to 6 inches broad, smooth, depressed
in center, pale flesh color ; margin often wavy, roll-
ed back over spines.
Flesh. — Thick, brittle, white.
Spines. — Long, conical, unequal, flesh-color.
Spores. — Pointed, yellowish.
Stem. — 2 to 5 inches long up to 1 1-2 inches
thick, irregular, central, colored like cap, pale
flesh-color.
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162 TVild Flowers East of the Rockies
Ring. — None.
J'olva. — None
Or/or.— Mild.
Taste. — Mild.
Habitat. — In woods about decayed stumps^ July
to November. Common in all sections of United
States.
Edible. — When 3^oung^ bitter when mature.
SPARASSIS Crispa(Fr.) from crispus, curly.
Tuft. — 3 to 9 inches high, up to 12 inches broad,
variable in size and shape, oyster gray, pale yel-
low or leaf brown in color. Tuft is composed"^ of
many leaf-like branches giving it the appearance of
a huge rosette. Flesh of branches soft and some-
what gelatinous in appearance. Dries readily.
Spores. — Spore surface on both sides of the leaf-
like branches in four-sjjored cases, pale brown in
color, elliptical.
Stem. — None, tuft rests upon a rooted base.
Habitat. — On stumps and on ground, September
and October, rare, but when found once in a local-
^^J} generally found succeeding season.
Edible.
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164 Wild Flowers East of the Rockies
CLAVARIA flava (Schaeff.) from the Latin,
yellow. "Coral Mushroom. "
ft-
No Cap but a large mass, 2 to 6 inches across
and 2 to i inches high, composed of even, round
branches developed from the main trunk or stem.
These branches are very fragile, the tops toothed,
erect, pale yellow on the tips fading in the lower
part of the branches.
Flesh. — White.
Spores. — Developed on the upper part of the up-
right branches ; oblong, yellow-white.
Stem. — Short, thick, colored like branches.
Odor. — Nutty.
Taste. — Xutty.
Habitat. — Open woods July to frost in Kirge
clusters, very common in New England; found also
in Central United States. '
Edible. — One of the most delicate favored of
mushrooms and because of the ease with which all
"coral mushrooms" may be identified one of the
most valuable to the amateur.
CLAVARIA Cinerea (Bull.) from the Latin
cinis, ashes.
Clusters 1 to 3 inches across, branches very num-
erous, irregular, flattened, sub-divided at top into
Guide to the Mushrooms l65
many slender points, gray in color ; its distinguish-
ing characteristic^ variable in mode of growth and
size.
Stem. — Variable in size, short, lighter in color
than the branches.
Spores. — Not obtainable from specimens gath-
ered.
Or/or.— Mild.
Taste. — Mild.
Habitat. — In open woods, in clusters. June to
frost. Common in all sections of the United States.
CLAVARIA cristata (Pers.) from the Latin
crista^ crest.
Clusters. — 2 to 4 inches across and 2 1-2 inches
high; clusters smaller tlian C. flava, branches num-
erous, irregular, flattened at top and divided like
horns, rather tough, stuffed white, variable in color,
sometimes having a pinkish hue, tips often turning
black with age. .
Steni. — Short, stout.
Spores. — Pointed, pale brown.
O^or.— Mild.
Taste.— MM.
Habitat. — Open woods, common, July to frost.
P'ound in all sections of the United States.
Edible.
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MORCHELLA DELICIOSA
168 Guide to the Mushrooms
LEOTIA lubrica (Pers.) from the Latin, slip-
pery.
Cap. — Up to 1 inch across, very irregular in
shape, viscid, olive brown ; margin thick and wavy.
Flesh. — Thick, soft jelly-like, same color as cap.
Spore. — Bearing surface covers the upper sur-
face of cap.
Spores. — Elliptical, narrow, transparent, con-
taining ting glands or sacs arranged in rows.
Stem. — 1 to 2 inches high, equal, flat, pulpy, then
hollow, yellow-brown, covered with minute white
granules.
Odor. — Earthy.
Taste. — Mild.
Habitat. — On ground in woods, common, July to
frost, growing singly and in clusters. Found fre-
quently in New England and in Central sections of
the United States.
Edible.
MORCHELLA deliciosa (Fr.) 'Sponge Mush-
room." "Delicious Morel."
Cap. — 1 to S inches high, about 1 1-2 inches
broad, cylindrical in shape ; its distinguishing char-
acteristic, adnate to stem, hollow, composed of
stout ribs which are deejjly pitted, giving it the ap-
pearance of honey comb; color, buff to light brown.
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170 TVild Flowers East of the Rockies
Flesh. — Thin_, white.
Spores. — Elliptical, eight to an ascus (spore
case).
Stem. — 1 to 3 inches high up to 1 1-2 inches
thick, smooth, hollow, white.
0 dor. — E arthy .
Taste.— UilA
Habitat. — In moist woods, in orchards under
tree where ashes have been strewn, often beneath
verandas, growling singly or in clusters of two or
three ; frequent. April and May. Found very f re-
quentl}^ in New Eng. and Central sections of U. S.
Edible. — Highly prized for its delicate flavor.
GEOGLOSSUM glutinosum (Pers.)
Entire plant 1 to 3 inches high, upper part
clavate, entirely covered with the hymenium, slight-
ly viscid and hairy, black, tapering down to the
stem which is also viscid and black in color.
Spores.- — Contained in sac-like cells, eight in each
cell, dark brown in color, cylindrical with obtuse
ends, having three partitions. The shape and color
of the spores are the important features of this
species.
Guide to the Mushrooms 171
Odor. — Woody.
Taste.— "SIM
Habitat. — On wet ground, in swamps^ growing
on moss; frequent during July and August. Found
common in eastern and central United States.
Edible.
PEZIZA badia from the Latin^ bay color.
Cap. — 1 to !2 inches across, cup-shaped, granu-
lar, dark brown, margin entire, wavy.
Flesh. — In two layers, the inner firm, outer
spongy. Spore-bearing surface situated on upper
surface of cups.
Spores. — Elliptical, transparent, minutely wart-
ed, arranged in rows, the spores are ejected with
such force when the mushroom is touched that they
appear like a smoke issuing from the cap.
Stem. — Wanting.
Odor. — Earthy.
Taste. — Gelatinous.
Habitat. — On ground along woody roads, singly
and in clusters, frequent, July to October. Found
common in New England and central United States.
172 Guide to the Mushrooms
PEZIZA aurantia (Pers.) from the Latin
golden. "The Golden Peziza."
Cap. — 1-2 to 2 inches broad^ cup-shaped becom-
ing expanded to almost plane, deep orange on in-
side of cup, light yellow on outside, which is cov-
ered with delicate filaments^ that give it a frosted
appearance.
Flesh. — Thin^ brittle.
Spores. — Elliptical, covered with a network of
raised lines at maturity.
Stej}i. — Wanting.
Odor.—^lild.
Taste. — Mild
Habitat. — On ground, singly and in clusters,
September and October. P'ound in eastern and cen-
tral United States.
Edible.
HYPOMYCES lactifluorum (Schw.) from
the Latin milk, and to flow.
A parasite which attacks various mushrooms,
but more particularly the species of Lactarius.
The parasite alters the structure and appearance
of the plant so that it is difficult to recognize the
original.
Phallus Ravenellu
174 Wild Flotvers East of the Rockies
The attack is made when the plant is very young.
The gills are obliterated^ milk cells so changed
that they yield no fluid; in the case of L. piperatus
the peppery taste is wholly destroyed. The cap
23resents a granular^ orange-colored surface through-
out its entirety.
Spores. — Are arranged in rows over the surface;
spindle shaped^ rough, transparent.
Flesh. — White and firm.
Oc/or.— Mild.
Taste.— Uildi
Habitat. — In woods wherever Lactarii are found.
Edible.
PHALLUS Ravenelii (Bull.)
Cap. — 1 to 2 inches high^ conical-shaped;, sur-
face smooth;, deliquescing, blackish-green in color;
ajDcx white, smooth, finally with opening in center.
Gills. — None.
Spores. — Enclosed in jelly-like substance on
outer surface of cap ; oblong.
Stem. — 2 to 4 inches high, up to 2 inches thick,
tapering at each end, hollow, composed of cellular
tissue which resembles the mantle of a Welsbach
burner^ white.
Ring. — None.
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Veil. — Concealed beneath the cap.
J^olva. — Ovoid, gleatinous, remaining at lower
part of stem when plant has burst through.
Odor. — Very disagreeable, like carrion.
Habitat. — About decaying wood, under piazzas,
on lawns, in woods.
Not edible.
GEASTER hygrometricus (Pers.)
"Water Measuring Earth Star."
Pouch. — Globose, depressed.
Outer case or skin. — Dividing into 7 to 20 seg-
ments, tough, drawn closely together when dry,
swelling, becoming flexible and spreading out flat,
star shaped upon the ground when moist, dingy
white in color.
Inner case or skin. — Globose, pointed slightly at
moiith which is irregular, pitted, grayish ; w^hen
young, soft and creamy white, containing the spores
which are emitted in a brown powder when the fun-
gus is touched.
Spores. — Globose, minutely warted, brown.
Ste77i. — Wanting.
Odor. — Not noticeable.
Taste. — Not strong.
Habitat. — In sandv fields, verv common July
and August. Found all over the United States.
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178 TVild Flowers East of the Rockies
CALVATIA gigantea (Batch.)
"Giant piifF-ball."
Plant. — 10 to 20 inches in diameter^ globose^ with
a root-like base^ opening at upper part^ rather reg-
ularly.
Outer skin. — Smooth, sometimes cracked in areas,
whitish.
Inner skin. — Fragile, thread-like, white then
greenish-yellow, finally black, adhering to outer
skin.
Spores and threads fill the inside of the globe-
shaped mushroom. Spores very numerous, globose,
even, but sometimes minutely warted ; greenish-yel-
low then brown, emitted from the opening in the
plant in "smoke."
Odor. — Earthy.
Taste. — Mild when white through, bitter when of
any other color.
Habitat. — On ground in pastures, along road-
sides, common, August to October. Common in all
sections of the United States.
Edible. — When white throughout. One of the
very best mushrooms.
CALVATIA cyathiformis (Bosc.)
Plant 3 to 6 inches in diameter, pear-shaped
with a cup-shaped, rooting base that remains af-
Calvatia craniiformis
180 Wild Flowers East of the Rockies
ter the spores have been disseminated, the dis-
tinguishing feature of this species.
Outer skin. — Thick, brownish, cracking into
large areas.
Inner skin. — Pale to dark purple, fragile.
Spores and threads. — Violet to j)urple, spores
rough, globose, threads long.
Odor. — Earthy.
Taste. — ]\Iild when white, bitter when of any
other color.
Habitat. — On ground in pastures, common, July
to October. Common all over the United States.
Edible.
CALVATIA craniiformis (Schw.)
"Brain-shaped Puff-ball."
Plant or Pouch. — 3 to 6 inches in diameter, 4 to
5 inches in height, top shaped, depressed above.
Outer skin or corteoc. — Very thin and fragile,
grayish-white often folded in areas resembling the
folds of a brain, hence the name.
Inner skin. — Thin, very fragile, yellowish-
brown, upper part breaking away first.
Stem-like base or Subgleba.- -Very thick, with a
cordlike root. Occupies abou!; one-half the entire
plannt, cup-shaped, remaining after the upper part
of pouch has disappeared.
Guide to the Mushrooms 181
Spores and threads. — Greenish-yellow, then
brown ; spores globose intermingled with the branch
like threads.
Odor.— Mild.
Taste. — Mild while puff-ball is white; when
tinged even slightly with yellow, very bitter.
Habitat. — On ground in woods in central Unit-
ed States ; September and October ; growing sing-
ly, not common.
Edible.
CALVATIA Saccata (Fr.) from saccus a bag,
"Long-stemmed puff-ball."
Plant. — 2 to 4 inches high 1 to 2 inches broad,
globose, supported on a long stem-like base, scaly,
often folded in plaits beneath; white becoming
brownish at maturity.
Stem. — Narrowed downward, rather thick, col-
ored like top.
Spores. — Rough, dingy brown.
O^or.— Mild.
Taste. — Mild.
Habitat. — Woods swamps quite frequent July
to November.
Edible.
LYCOPERDON pyriforme (Schaeff.) Tear-
shaped."
Plant. — 1-2 to 1 1-2 inches across,, up to 1 1-2
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Guide to the Mushrooms 183
inclics liigh. sessile, with tiny roots at base, cov-
ered with minute scales which give a roughened ap-
pearance to the skin, growing in clusters; cream-
white, then dingy brown.
Spores. — Smooth, round, contained witliin the
"pear-shaped" sac of the plant and emitted at ma-
turity in a powder or "smoke from the moutli of the
sac.
Odor. — Slightly acrid.
Taste. — Slightly acrid.
Habitat. — On stumps and decaying wood, very
common evervwhere, Julv to November. Found in
all sections of the United States.
Edible.
SCLERODERMA vulgare (Fr.) from the
Latin vulgaris, common.
Plant. — Somewhat globose, but inclined to be ir-
regular in shape.
Outer skin. — Hard, composed of brownish yel-
low warts.
Inner 77iass. — In which the spores are collected
in heaps, separated by white thread-like fibres ;
whole appearance of inner mass black and solid;
cuts like a potato.
Spores. — Black, globose, warted.
Stem. — Wanting.
Odor. — Earthy.
184 Guide to the Mushrooms
Taste. — Mild.
Habitat. — On ground in open woods^ very com-
mon, growing singly July to October. Found in all
sections of the United States.
Edible.
GLOSSARY.
ABORTIVE. Imperfect, wanting.
ABRUPT. Terminating suddenly.
ACICULAR. Needle-shaped, as shape of spine.
ACUTE. Sharp; applied to gills having sharp edges
or to those pointed at both ends.
ADHERING. Sticking together.
ADNATE. Growing into; as gills broadly attached
to stem.
ADNEXED. Applied to gills attached to stem but
not adnate.
AGARIC. Any gill-bearing fungus.
AGGLOMERATE, (a) Clustered together but not
connected; (b) gathered into a heap or pile.
ALUTACEOUS. Having the color of leather.
ALVEOLATE. Bitted, resembling honey-comb.
ANASTOMOSING. Interlacing of branched veins or
lines, said of gills that are united by fine lines or
partitions.
ANNULAR. Ring-shaped.
ANNULUS. The ring on the stem of the mushroom
formed by the separation of the veil from the
margin of the cap.
ANTERIOR. In front, the end of a gill next the mar-
gin is called the anterior end.
APEX. The summit, in mushrooms, the end of the
stem nearest the gill.
APICULATE. Terminating in an abrupt point.
186 Guide to the Mushrooms
APPENDICULATE. Hanging in small fragments, as
the remnants of the veil sometimes hang from
the margin of the pileus.
APPROXIMATE. Said of gills which approach but
do not reach the stem.
ARACHNOID. Like a cobweb.
ARCUATE. Bow-shaped.
AREOLATE. Divided into little areas or patches.
ARTICULATE. Jointed.
ASCENDING, (a) Apphed to a gill where its edge
forms an ascending line from the margin of the
cap to the apex of the stem, as in conical shaped
pilei; (b) applied to the partial veil in the young
stage of the mushroom when its attachment to
the stem is below its attachment to the margin of
the cap, in this case the ring formed from this
veil is called inferior,
ASCOMYCETES. A group of fungi in which the
spores are produced in tiny sack-like cells called
asci.
ASCOPHORE. Sporophore bearing an ascus.
ASCUS. Microscopic, cask-like cell in which spores,
generally eight in number, are developed.
ATROPURPUREOUS. Dark purple.
ATROSANGINUEOUS. Dark blood color.
ATTENUATE. Becoming gradually narrow or small-
er.
AURANTIACUS. Orange-colored.
AURICULATE. Ear-shaped.
BADIOUS. Bay; reddish-brown; chestnut color.
BASE. Opposite extremity of apex.
BASIDIOMYCETES. A group of fungi which has its
spores produced on basidia.
Guide to the Mushrooms 187
BASIDIUM. Mother-cell in the hymenium of basidi-
omycetes formed on the end of a hyphal branch
and abstricting spores; the spores are generally
four in number each on a sterigma, but some-
times more, sometimes fewer and sometimes
sessile.
BULBOUS. Said of a stem when it has a bulb-like
swelling at the base.
CAESPITOSE. Growing in clumps.
CAMPAXULATE. Bell-shaped.
CAP. Pileus; the umbrella-like expansion of the
mushroom.
CAPILLARY. Resembling hair.
CASTAXEOUS. Chestnut-colored.
CELL. A little cavity or hollow place; a mass of
protoplasm of various size and shape, generally
microscopic with or without a nucleus and en-
closing wall, the fundamental form-element of
every organized body,
CELLULAR. Composed of cells.
CERACEOUS. Waxy.
CERVIXE. Pawn-colored.
CHLOROPHYL. The green coloring matter of
plants.
CHLOROSIS. Blanching, whitening.
CILIA. Short parallel hairs, fringing the margin.
CIXEREOUS. Ash-colored.
CIXXABARIXE. Brilliant red.
CIXXAMOMEOUS. Cinnamon-colored.
CLATHRATE. Latticed.
CLAVATE. Club-shaped.
CLOSE. Said of gills when they are close together.
188 Guide to the Mushrooms
COALESCENT. Growing together of similar parts.
COCHLEATE. Sliaped like a snail-shell.
COHERENT. Sticking together.
COMOSE. Hairy.
CONCOLOROUS. Of one color.
CONVEXO-PLANE. Between convex and plane.
CONVOLUTE. Covered with irregular depressions
like the convolutions of a brain.
CORRUGATE. Wrinkled, puckered.
CORTEX. The rind or bark; the rind-like layers of
some fungi.
CORTINA. Marginal veil of spider-web structure
rupturing at or near the stem.
CRENATE. Scalloped.
CRETACEOUS. Chalky.
CRISP. Having the surface, especially near the mar-
gin wavy.
CRYPTOGAMIA. Flowerless plants propogated by
spores.
CURT. Short.
CUTICLE. A distinct skin-like layer used to describe
the skin-like layer, separable or unseparable, pre-
sent upon the pileus,
CYANEOUS. Bright-blue.
CYATHIFORM. Cup-shaped.
DECUMBENT. Applied to a stem having the base
resting upon the ground.
DECURRENT. Applied to gills which are prolonged
down the stem.
DELIQUESCENT. Becoming liquid at maturity.
DENTATE. Tooth-shaped.
DENUDATE. Naked; exposed.
Guide to the Mushrooms 189
DEPRESSED. Sunk below the level of the surround-
ing margin.
DESCENDING. Applied to a marginal veil when in
the young stage its marginal-attachment is below
the level of the stem-attachment; a ring formed
from it is called superior.
DICHOTOMOUS. Regularly divided by pairs from
below upwards.
DIFFORMED. Irregular in form.
DISCIFORM. Disc-shaped.
DISCOMYCETES. A group of ascomycetous fungi in
which the hymenium is exposed.
DORSAL. Pertaining to the back; in fungi to the
upper surface of the pileus.
DOWN. Fine, soft hair.
EBENEOUS. Black like ebony.
EBURNEOUS. Ivory white.
ECCENTRIC. Not central, said of a stem which is
attached to the pileus at some point between the
center and the margin.
ECHINATE. Furnished with stiff bristles.
ELLIPTIC. More than twice as long as broad.
EMARGINATE. Notched at the end, applied to gills
which have a notch close to the stem.
ENTIRE. Having the edge without toothing division.
EQUAL. Applied to a stei i of uniform thickness; to
gills of equal length.
ESCULENT. Edible.
EVEN. Having no depressions, no pits or striations,
different from smooth tnd glabrous, which see.
FARINACEOUS. Mealy.
FARINOSE. Covered with a meal-like powder.
190 Guide to the Mushrooms
FASCICLE. A small bundle.
FASTIGIATE. (a) With branches erect and close
together; (b) sloping upward to a summit.
FERRUGINOUS. Iron-rust-colored.
FIBRILLOSE. Covered with minute fibres.
FIGURATE. Applied to a hymenium borne upon
gills, spines.
FILAMENT. A separate fibre.
FISSILE. Capable of being divided into layers.
FISSURED. Split.
FISTULOSE. Tubular, hollow.
FIXED, Said of gills or spines not readily detached
from the underlying tissue.
FLACCID. Soft and limber, flabby.
FLAVOUS. Yellow.
FLESH. Inner substance of a fungus body as dis-
tinguished from the cortical layers.
FLOCCOSE. Woolly.
FREE. Said of gills which are not attached to the
stem.
FUGACIOUS. Fading early.
FULIGINOUS. Smoky; sooty.
FULVESCENT. Somewhat tawny.
FULVOUS. Reddish-yellow.
FUMOSE. Smoke-colored.
FUNGUS. A thallophyte characterized by the ab-
sence of chlorophyll and deriving its substance
from living or dead organic matter.
FUNICULAR. Having the character of small cords.
FURCATE. Forked.
FURFURACEOUS. Covered with bran-like parti-
cles.
Guide to the Mushrooms IQl
FUSCOUS. Brown tinged with gray.
FUSIFOR]\r. Spindle-shaped tapering from middle
to both ends.
GASTEROMYCETES. A group of Basidiomycetes in
which the hymenium is enclosed in a sack-like
envelope called the peridium.
GELATINOUS. Jelly-like.
GENUS (pi. GENERA). A classified group ranking
next above a species, containing one or more
species.
GIBBOUS. In the form of a swelling; applied to a
pileus which is more convex one side than the
other.
GILL. Vertical plates radiating from the stem on
the under side of the pileus on which the hyme-
nium is situated: lamella.
GLABROUS. Smooth; applied to a surface devoid
of down or hair; a surface may be glabrous and
not even or vice versa.
GLANDS. Moist or sticky dots.
GLAUCOUS. Covered with fine whitish-green pow-
der, easily rubbed off.
GLEBA. In Gastromycetes, spore-bearing tissue com-
posed of chambers lined with the hymenium and
enclosed by the sack-like peridium, as in puff-
balls; in phalloids the peridium or volva ruptures
and the gleba is carried up on a stipe-like recep-
tacle.
GLOBOSE, GLOBULAR. Nearly spherical.
GLUTINOUS. Covered with a sticky exudation.
GRANULAR. Covered with tiny grain-like particles.
GREGARIOUS. Growing in groups but not in a tuft-
ed manner.
192 Guide to the Mushrooms
GUTTATE. Spotted with drops.
GYRATE. Having folds resembling those of a brain.
HABITAT. The natural place of growth of a species.
HIRSUTE. Covered with long stiff hairs.
HOARY. Covered with short grayish-white hairs.
HYALINE. Transparent.
HYGROPHANOUS. Looking watery when moist,
opaque when dry.
HYMENIUM. The spore-bearing surface covering
each side of the gill of an Agaric.
HYMEXOMYCETES. A group of BASIDIOMYCE-
TES having the hymenium on the free exposed
surface of the sporophore.
HYPHA. The elementary thread of a fungus.
IMBRICATE. Overlapping like shingles on a roof.
INFERIOR. Below, applied to a ring formed from
a veil, which in its young state has its stem at-
tachment below the level of its marginal attach-
ment.
INFUNDIBULIFORM. Funnel-shaped.
LACCATE. As if varnished or covered with shellac.
LAMELLA. See gills.
LANATE. Covered with a wool-like pubescence.
LANCEOLATE. Lance-shaped many times longer
than broad.
LATERAL. Attached to, or by. one side.
LIVID. Bluish-black like the color of a bruise
LURID. Sordid, dirty brownish.
LUTEOUS. Egg-yellow.
MARGINATE. Having a well defined border.
Guide to the Mushrooms 19^
MYCELIUM!. Si^awn of fungi resulting from the ger-
mination of tile spores forming root-like threa.ls
(the hyphae).
MYCOLOGY. The science of fungi.
NAKED. Bare without covering of any kind.
NODULE. A little lump.
NUCLEATE. A little nucleus.
OPAQUE. Mostly used in the sense of dull not shin-
ing.
PAPILONACEOUS. Variegated; mottled as the gills
of Panaeolous mottled with black spores.
PARASITE. A plant growing on another living body.
PERIDIUM. The outer coat of the sporophore as in
puff-balls.
PERSISTENT. Enduring, continuing without decay-
ing or falling off.
PILEUS. The umbrella-like cap or similar receptacle
of fungi; it may be regular or irregular in form.
PLICATE. Plaited.
POSTERIOR. Denotes a position on under side of
pileus adjacent to the stem, the end of the gills
next the stem is the posterior end.
PRUINATE. Covered with a bloom or powder.
PUBESCENCE. General term to describe hairiness.
PUNCTATE. Having dots scattered over the surface.
RETICULATE. Marked with crossed lines like a
net.
RING, ANNULUS. Part of the veil adhering to the
stem.
RUFOUS. Dull-red.
RUGOSE. Wrinkled.
SACCATE. In the form of a pouch.
13
19i Guide to the Mushrooms
SANGUINEOUS. Blood-colored.
SCABROUS. Rough to the touch.
SCISSILE. Capable of being split; said of gills
which can be split into two plates.
SEPTATE. Having partitions.
SERIATE. Arranged in rows.
SERICEOUS. Silky.
SERRATE. Having marginal teeth like a saw.
SESSILE. Having no stem or stalk.
SINUATE. Winding in and out, said of gills that are
alternately convex and concave.
SMOOTH. Glabrous, destitute of pubescence; a sur-
face may be uneven and yet smooth.
SOLITARY. Growing singly.
SORDID. Of a dirty tinge.
SPATHULATE. Having a flat, round top with a long
narrow base.
SPORE. The reproductive body of cryptograms anal-
agous to seeds.
SQUAMULOSE. Covered with minute scales.
SQUARROSE. Rough with scales.
STIPE. Stalk or stem of a mushroom.
STRIATE. Marked with lines.
STROBILIFORM. Resembling a pine cone.
STUFFED. Said of a stem filled with a cottony pith.
SULCATE. Grooved.
SUPERFICIAL. Situated close to the surface.
SUPERIOR. Upper surface, applied to a ring formed
from a partial veil which in the young state has
its stem attachment above the level of the mar-
ginal attachment.
Guide to the M u.sJirooms l9'>
TESFALATED. Arranged in small squares; check-
ered.
TOMSXTOSE. Wcclly.
TOMEXTUM. Long soft hairs pressed close to the
surface.
TORTUOUS. Bending or turning in various direc-
tions.
TRAM A. The substance extending from the hymen-
cphore between the plates of the gills in Agarics
and between the double membranes, of which
the partitions of the pores are composed, in the
POLYPOREI; the plates forming the walls of
the chamber of the gleba in GASTEROMYCE-
TES.
TREMELLOID. Jelly-like.
TRUNCATE. Ending abruptly as if cut off.
TUBAEFORM. Trumpet-shaped.
TUBE. In polyphores tube lined with hymenium;
pore.
TUBERCLE. A small knob or swelling.
TUMID. Inflated swollen.
TURBINATE. Top-shaped.
UMBILICATE. Having a navel-like or central de-
pression.
UMBO. A knob in the center of the pileus.
UNDULATE. Having the surface near the margin
wavy.
UNEQUAL. Applied to gills of varying lengths, to
a stem of not uniform thickness.
VAGINATE. Furnished with a sheath.
VASCULAR. Furnished with ducts.
196 Guide to ihe Mushrooms
VEIL, (a) Partial or marginal veil, a special covering
extending from the margin of the pileus to the
stem enclosing the gills; (b) universal veil or
volva a covering enclosing the entire plant when
in young state either joined to the cuticle of the
pileus, as in Lepiota, or separated, as in Aman-
ita, ultimately ruptured by the expanding pileus;
(c) a fibrous or granulose coating stretched over
the mouth of a cup soon breaking up into frag-
ments.
VEINS. Swollen wrinkles at the base and on the
sides of gills often connected to form cross par-
titions.
VENOSE. Veined.
VENTRICOSE. Swelling out in the middle.
VERMICULAR. Worm-shaped.
VERNAL. Pertaining to spring.
VILLOUS. Covered with soft hair.
VISCID. Sticky.
VISCOUS. Gluey.
VOLVA (a) Same as universal veil the name is often
applied to that part of a separate volva which
is left after rupturing attached to the base of the
stem in the form of a sheath; (b) the peridium
in phalloids is similar to the volva in Amanitae.
WART. Any wart-like excrescence found on the pil-
eus of fungi name applied to the wart-like re-
mains of the volva which adhere to the pileus
of some Amanitae.
ZONES. Circular bands of color.
INDEX OF GENERA.
AGARICUS campester ( Linn.) 119
silvaticus ( Schoeff ) 121
AMANITA Caesaria ( Scop.) 49
crenulata ( Pk. ) 50
excelsa ( Fr.) 45
Frostiana ( Pk. ) 47
muscaria ( Linn. ) 46
phalloides ( Fr. ) 45
rubescens (Pers.) 49
AMAXITOPSIS vaginata ( Roze) Sa
AMILLARIA mellea ( Wahl. ) 59
BOLETINUS pictus ( Pk. ) 138
porosus ( Berk. ) 139
BOLETUS Americanus (Pk.) 140
bicolor (Pk.) 141
" castaneus (Bull. ) 150
" chromapes ( Fr. ) 147
" chrysentereon (Fr.) 146
ediilis (Bull) 147
felleus (Bull) 149
flavidus (Fr.) 140
" granulatus (Linn.) 142
ornatipes (Pk. ) 143
scaber (Fr.) 145
" variegatus (Swartz) 143
CALVATIA craniiformis (Schw.) 181
" cyathiformis (Bosc.) 179
" gigantea (Batsch) 179
saccata (Fr. ( 182
198 Guide to the Mushrooms
CANTHARBLLUS cibarius (Fr.) 99
CLAVARIA cinerea (Bull) 165
cristata (Pers.) . 166
flava (Schaeff) 165
CLITOCYBE gilva (Pers.) 69
illudens (Schw.) 67
laccata (Scop.) 65
CLITOPILUS prunulus (Scop.) 104
COLLYBIA confluens (Pers.) 73
dryophila (Bull) 75
radlcata (Relh.) 71
yelutipes (Curt.) 71
COPRINUS atramentarius (Bull) 131
comatus (Fr.) 130
micaceus (Bull) 133
CORTIXARIUS cinnabarinus (Fr.) 113
cinuamomeus (Fr.) 115
corrugatus (Pk.) 116
" violaceus (Fr.) 112
ENTOLOMA clypeatum (Linn.) 105
rhodopollum (Fr.) 1U4
FISTULINA hepatica (Fr.) 153
GE ASTER hygrometricus (Pers.) 177
GEOGLOSSUM glutinosum (Pers.) 171
HYDNUM imbricatum (Linn.) 159
repandum (Linn.) 161
HYGROPHORUS miniatus (Fr.) 83
HYPHOLOMA appendiculatum (Bull) 125
" perplexum (Pk.) 127
sublateritium (Schaeff) 129
HYPOMYCES lactifluorum (Schw.) 173
LACTARIUS piperatus (Fr.) 87
subdulcis (Fr.) 89
volemus (Fr.) 85
((
(<
Guide to the Mushrooms 199
LEOTIA liibrica (Pers.) 169
LEPIOTA naucinoides (Pk.) 57
procera (Scop.) 55
LYCOPERDON pyriforme (Schaeff) 182
MARASMIUS oreades (Fr.) 99
MORCHELLA deliciosa (Fr.) 169
MYCENA galericiilata (Scop.) 77
NAUCORIA semi-orbicularis (Bull) Ill
OMPHALIA campanella (Batch) 79
PAXAEOLUS retiriigis (Fr.) 139
solidipes (Pk.) 137
PEZIZA aurantia (Pers.) 173
badia (Pers.) 172
PHALLUS Ravenelii (Bull) 175
PHOLIOTA adiposa (Fr.) 109
squarrosa (Mill.) 108
PLEUROTUS ostreatiis ( Jacq.) 79
sapidiis (Kalchb.) 81
PLUTEUS cervinus (Schaeff) 107
POLYPORUS betuliniis (Fr.) 157
brumalis (Fr.) 153
sulphiireus (Fi\) 155
POLYSTICTUS perennis (Fr.) 159
RUSSULA emetica (Fr.) 93
foetens (Fr.) 91
fragilis (Fr.) 95
purpurina (Schiilz.) 89
roseipes (Seer.) 97
virescens. (Fr.) 95
SCLERODERMA vulgare (Fl. Dan.) 184
SPARASSIS crispa (Fr.) 163
STROBILOMYCES strobilaceus (Berk.) 151
n
(<
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<<
200 Guide to the Mushrooms
STROPHARIA semiglobata (Batsch.) 123
TRICHOLOMA personatiim (Fr.) 61
russiila ( Schaeff . ) 63
sejimctum ( Sow. ) 65
VOLVARIA speciosa (Fr.) 103
INDEX OF SPECIES.
Page
adiposa (Pholiota) 109
Americaniis ( Boletus ) 140
appendiculatiim (Hypholoma) • 125
atramentariiis (Copriniis) 131
aurantia ( Feziza ) 173
badia ( Feziza ) 172
betiiliniis ( Polyporiis ) 157
bicolor (Boletus) 141
brumalis ( Folyporus ) 153
Caesaria (Amanita) 49
eampanella ( Omphalia ) 79
campester (Agaricus) 119
castaneus (Boletus) 150
cervinus (Fluteus) 107
chromapes ( Boletus) 147
chrysentereon (Boletus) 146
cibarius (Cantharellus) 99
cinnabarinus (Cortinarius) 113
cinnamomeus (Cortinarius) 115
cinerea (Clavaria) 165
clypeatum ( Entoloma) 105
comatus (Coprinus) 130
confluens (Collybia) 73
corrugatus (Cortinarius) 116
craniiformis (Calvatia) 181
202 Guide to the Mushrooms
crenulata (Amanita) 50
crispa (Sparassis) 163
cristata (Clavaria) 166
cyathiformis (Calvatia) 179
deliciosa (Morchella) 169
dryophila (Collybia) 75
edulis (Boletus) 147
emetica (Russiila) 93
excelsa (Amanita) .". 45
felleus (Bcletus) 149
flava (Clavaria) 165
flavidus (Boletus) 140
foetens (Russula) 91
fragilis (Russula) 95
Prostiana (Amanita) 47
galericulata (Mycena) 77
^igantea (Calvatia) 179
gilva (Clitocybe) 69
glutinosum (Geoglossum) 171
granulatus (Boletus) 142
hepatica (Fistulina) 153
hygrometricus (Geaster) 177
illudens (Clitocybe) 67
imbricatum (Hydnum) 159
laccata (Clitocybe) 65
lactifluorum (Hypomyces) 173
lubrica (Leotia) 169
mellea (Armillaria) 59
micaceus (Coprinus) 133
miniatus (Hygrophorus) 24-83
Guide to the Mushrooms 203
muscaria (Amanita) 46
naucinoicles (Lepiota) 57
oreades (Marasmius) 99
ornatipes (Boletus) 143
ostreatus (Pleiirotus) 79
perennis (Polystictiis) 159
perplexum (Hypholoma) 127
personatiim (Tricholoma) 61
phalloides (Amanita) 45
pictus (Boletinns) 138
piperatus (Lactarins) 87
porosus (Boletinns) 139
procera (Lepiota) 55
prunnlns (Clitopilus) 104
pnrpnrina (Rnssnla) 89
pyriforme (Lycoperdon) 182
radicata (Collybia) 71
Ravenelii (Phallus) 175
repandum (Hydnum) 159
retirugis (Panaeolus) 136
rhodopolium (Entoloma) 104
roseipes (Russula) 97
rubescens (Amanita) 49
russula (Tricholoma) 63
saccata (Calvatia) 182
sapidus (Pleurotus) 81
scaber (Boletus) 145
sejunctum (Tricholoma) 65
semiglobata (Stropharia) 123
semi-orbicularis (Xancoria) Ill
204 Guide to the Mushrooiyis
silvaticiis ( Agariciis) 121
solidipes (Panaeoliis) 137
speciosa (Volvaria) 103
squarrosa ( Plioliota) 108
strobilaceiis ( Strobilomyces) 151
subdulcis (Lactarius) 89
siiblateritium (Hypholoma) 129
siilphiireiis ( Polyporus) 155
vaginata (Amanitopsis) 53
variegatus (Boletus) 143
velutipes (Collybia) 71
violaceus (Cortinarius) 112
virescens (Riissiila) 95
volemus (Lactarius) 85
vulgare (Scleroderma) 184
INDEX OF COMMON NAMES.
Page
American Boletus 14U
Beefsteak Mushroom 153
Birch-tree Polyporus 157
Bitter Boletus 149
Blushing Amanita 49
Brain-Shaped Puff-ball 181
Brick Top 129
Chestnut Boletus 150
Cinnamon-colored Cortinarius 118
Common Field Mushroom 119
Coral Mushroom 165
Corrugated Cortinarius 116
Delicious Morel 169
Eccentric Stemmed Boletinus 139
Egg-yellow Chanterelle 99
Fairy Ring 99
Fat Pholiota 109
Fly Amanita 46
Giant Puff-ball 179
Golden Peziza 173
Hedge Mushroom 161
Honey Mushroom 59
Inky Cap 131
Long Stemmed Puff-ball 182
j
206 Guide to the Mushrooms
Oak-loving Mushroom 75
Orange Amanita 49
Oyster jNIushroom 30-79
Painted Boletinus lo'S
Pale Yellow Boletus 140
Parasol Mushroom 55
Perplexing Hypholoma 127
Red-Cracked Boletus 146
Rooted Collybia 71
Shaggy Mane 130
Smooth Lepiota 57
Sponge mushroom 169
Violet Cortinarius 112
Water Measuring Earth-Star 177
Winter Polyporus 153
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