Field Book of Common Gilled Mushrooms - With A Key To Their Identification and Directions For Cooking Those That Are Edible by William Sturgis Thomas MD (1928)

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PLATE
<U||
I.
FIELD
BOOK OF
COMMON
GILLED
MUSHROOMS
a }\ey to their Identification
and IDirections for Cooking
^hose that are Edible
TiOith
^y
WILLIAM STURGIS THOMAS,
liDith
52 Illustrations in color
and black and white
PUTNAM^S SONS
NEW YORK LONDON
G. P.
^ke ^nitkexbixtkex âs

1928
M.D.
cA
FIELD BOOK OF
COMMON GILLED MUSHROOMS

Copyright, 1928
by
William Sturgis
This
is
Thomas
a copy of the First Edition
XI
&y
jc^
Made
in the
United States of America
TO
MY SON
William Stephen Thomas
PREFACE
This book
in
fungi
It
is
mushrooms
designed to assist persons

in identifying
growing
found
in
some
fields,
who
are interested
of the species of gilled
woods
and
dooryards.
aims to supply the need for a means of ascertaining the
names
name
of
common
of a fungus
kinds that are

is
thing to be learned
of the
tion has occupied
key
some
is
is
it
the
it
first
with
it.
new,
of
The
to the collector.
one would wish to talk about
if
other persons and read about
The method
new
not the vital thing but
I believe,
and
its
prepara-
an amateur mycologist's spare
time during the past ten years or more.
The
reader
is
vised to read the introduction to the key before using
One portion
book comprises descriptions
of the
adit.
of the
mushrooms and they are arranged and numbered alphabetically according to their botanical names.
The numbers
The one
agree with those of the illustrations of species.
hundred and twenty-eight species keyed, described and

trated include nearly
all
of the agarics called
illus-
common
in
the writings of the late Professor Charles H. Peck, State

Botanist of
The
New
York.
directions for cooking
mushrooms have been derived
from the writings of many authorities and from
my own
experience during the past eighteen years.
In an article on the poisonous properties of fungi by William
W. Ford and
Ernest D. Clark of Johns Hopkins University
and published
in Mycologia, the following warning appears:
"Unfortunately there are mushroom 'handbooks' in this

country which are unfailing sources of misinformation and
PREFACE
they have evidently been written by people of no training
and poor judgment."
desire to state in this connection
that the descriptions and statements herein contained ad-
here strictly to the authoritative writings of Professor Peck,
Dr.
W.
A. Murrill, the late Professor G. F. Atkinson of
Cornell University and Professor C. H.
Kauffman
of the
University of Michigan.
I
consider myself fortunate in being able to offer to readers
the original colored plates which were painted by Miss
E. Eaton, Artist to the
New York
Mary
Botanical Garden.
Dr. N. L. Britton, Director of the
New York
Botanical
Garden, has given encouragement and co-operation which
Thanks are
gratefully acknowledged.
Howe, Assistant Director
also
of the Garden, for his kind assist-
ance in paving the way for the preparation of this
Acknowledgment
is
also
made
S.
Department
mitting
me
to use
Howard A. Kelly
terest
and valuable
little
book.
to George S. Godard, State
Librarian of Connecticut and to C.
U.
is
due to Dr. M. A.
J.
Galpin, Ph.D., of the
of Agriculture, for their courtesy in per-
some
of the half-tones in this book.
of Baltimore has favored

suggestions.
VI
me
with his
Dr.
in-
FOREWORD
Here
the
is
a handbook which, as the
common
gilled
the fields and woods
many
find all the species figured
pocket
size
name
indicates, treats of
mushrooms, and one would have to tramp

a day throughout the season to
and described
and therefore truly a
field
herein.
It is of
book.
Doctor Thomas has brought together in condensed and

usable form descriptions of 128 species, compiled from Peck,
Atkinson, Kauffman, and other recognized authori-
Alurrill,
many
ties, in
cases from publications
now
out of print.
Al-
though the author makes no statements not to be found in

authoritative works,
it
was only possible
for this material to
be gathered and stated clearly and concisely, because of the
many
years of first-hand experience he has had with these
fascinating plants in their native haunts.
The
analytical
and yet non-technical key, based upon the
striking, easily
observed features of the mushrooms,
and one
most valuable features
of the
sonal key
and
late
is
also unique,
months
and
of the book.
is
original
The
sea-
of especial value in the early
of the season.
extension of a good plan introduced
The key to genera

by Mcllvaine.
The beautiful colored plates by Miss Mary E. Eaton,

known artist of the New York Botanical Garden,
well
an
is
the
are
most helpful, and to find an illustration of every species treated

in the
all
book
is
a feature that
will
win the hearty gratitude of
students.
Clyde Fisher.
American Museum
New
of Natural History,
York, April, 1928
CONTENTS
... .....
Preface
PAGE
Chapter
I.
How TO Collect and Examine Mushrooms

GiLLED Mushrooms, Their Propagation and
.
II.
Structure
III.
How TO
......
.....
.....
....
.....
Use the Key. Table of Features

OF GiLLED Mushrooms Used in Their
Identification
19
IV. Key to Common Gilled Mushrooms Pictorial
Key
V.
to Genera
Descriptions of Genera and Species of Common Gilled Mushrooms
VI. Mushrooms as Food

VII. Mushrooms as Food and General Directions
FOR Preparing and Cooking Them

VIII.
X.
123
265
277
Special
Recipes for Preparing Various

Species of Edible Gilled Mushrooms
FOR THE Table
.....
IX.
29
Glossary
285
303
Names of Gilled Mushrooms in the Key with

Translations of Their Botanical Names,
Their Derivation and Pronunciation
.
Index
313
321
IX
ILLUSTRATIONS IN COLOR
FACING
PAGE
Plate
Frontispiece
Color Chart
Plate
II
Plate
III
Plate IV
Plate
......
........
.......
.
........
122
126
130
136
142
Plate VI
152
Plate VII
160
Plate VIII
166
Plate IX
174
Plate
Plate XI
Plate XII
190
........
204
214
Plate XIII
224
Plate XIV
238
Plate
XV
248
Plate XVI
The above
260
color plates depict 96 species of
mushrooms.
ILLUSTRATIONS IN BLACK
AND WHITE
PAGE
FIGURE
I.
2.
Spore Print and Magnified Representation of

THE Parts of a Gilled Mushroom Concerned
IN Spore Formation
Mushroom
3.
4.
.......
Section of a Typical Gilled IMushroom or

Agaric
Key to Pink Spored and Black"

Spored Common Gilled Mushrooms
119
Key to Genera of Rusty Spored

Common Gilled Mushrooms
120
Key to Genera of Purple and Dark

Brown Spored Common Gilled Mushrooms
121
Cantharellus cinnabarinus
140
Above, Species No. 19. Clitocybe albidula.

Below, Species No. 24. Clitocybe dealbata
149
Pictorial
Pictorial
8.
.13
Key to Genera of White Spored

.118
Common Gilled Mushrooms
7.
Pictorial
9.
10.
II.
'12.
Species No.
13.
Species No. 23.
Clitocybe cyathiforme
Species No.
Clitocybe infundibuliformis
154
154
26.
13.
Species No. 27.
Clitocybe multiceps
14.
Species No. 29.
Clitopilus abortivus
14A.
12
Pictorial
6.
io
Development of an Agaric (Amanita) from

Button Stage to Maturity
.
5.
Mycelium and Early Vegetation of a Gilled
Species No. 31.
Collybia acervata
xiii
150
.156
.158
ILLUSTRATIONS
PACK
FIGURE
15.
Âbove, Species No. 42.
Cortinariuscollinitus.
Below, Species No. 43. Cortinarius corruGATUS
16.
No. 46. Crepidotus fulvotoBelow, Species No. 48. CrepiMENTOSus.

dotus VERSUTUS
.176
Âbove, Species
Species No. 47.
18.
Above, Species No.

Below, Species No.
178
180
Above, Species No. 54. Galera hypnorum.

Below, Species No. 57. Hygrophorus cantharellus
185
53.
Hygrophorus pratensis
Species No. 61
21.
Âbove, Species No. 63,
189
Hypholoma appendi-
culatum. Below, Species No.

loma incertum
.
64.
Hypho-
-194
Above, Hypholoma sublateritium.

Below, Section of Same
.196
22.
Species 66.
23.
Species No. 68
24.
Species No.
25.
Entoloma strictius.
Flammula polychroa
51.
20.
24A.
Crepidotus malachius.
17.
19.
172
72.
Species No. 80.

Species No. 83.
Inocybe rimosa
Lactarius corrugis
Lentinus cochleatus
.199
.210
.
Lepiota morgani Growing in
"Fairy Ring"
216
26.
Species No. 84.
Lepiota naucina
27.
Species No.
Marasmius peronatus
28.
Above, Species No. 93.

Below, Species No.
88.
211
218
221
Omphalia campanella.
Panus strigosus
98.
29.
Species No. ioi. Pholiota adiposa
30.
Above, Species No. 106. Pleurotus ostreatus.

Below, Species No. 107. Pleurotus ulmarius
xiv
228
234
236
ILLUSTRATIONS
figure
31.
page
At Right, Species No. 112. Psilocybe fcenisEcii.

At Left, Species No. 64. Hypholoma
incertum
246
32.
Species No. 114.
Russula delica
33.
Species No.
Schizophyllum commune
34.
Species No. 122. Tricholoma album. Species

No. 127. Tricholoma transmutans
258-9
120.
XV
249
256
FIELD BOOK OF

CHAPTER
HOW TO COLLECT AND EXAMINE MUSHROOMS
CHAPTER
HOW
TO COLLECT AND EXAMINE MUSHROOMS
Mushrooms of one kind or another
are to be found at almost
every season but they occur in greatest abundance after
showery weather in the months of July, August and September.
The
collector will find a basket to
them and
different species
may
be a good receptacle for
be kept separate from each
other and uncrushed by having leaves or leafy twigs
them, or better yet, by being carried in paper bags.
among
Folding
paper boxes, such as are used for holding crackers are also
good
for this purpose.
The mushroom
upon which
it
is
plucked entire from the ground or wood
grows and especial care must be taken not to

Unless the whole plant
cut or break the stem.

will
be
difficult or
impossible to
know whether
is
obtained
the stem
vided with a volva or cup at the base, or whether
bulbous or hairy or attached to other stems.

ing to the stem,
is
if
there
is
any,
is
its
base
is
dirt adher-
removed before the specimen
put with others into the receptacle.
rooms
The
it
pro-
is
In collecting mush-
for the table, the stems are cut off close to the cap.
The beginner is warned

species with but one or
against attempting to identify a
two specimens at hand.
new
It is desirable
to have for this purpose several specimens of varied stages of
development, so that one or more of them

in order that the
may be
prints.
form of the
gills
noted, while yet other caps

It is
and
may
may
be cut across
interior of the
stem
be needed for spore
important to keep separate from each other the
specimens of the various species collected.
BOOK OF COMMON GILLED MUSHROOMS
FIELD
On
arriving at
home with
the collected fungi, they should
be spread out on a convenient surface, the collector remember-
many species to decay quickly.

No single feature of any mushroom is sufficient to
ing the liability of
its
identity or its edibility.
that the only certain

fied is to
know
it
determine
cannot be too often emphasized
It
way in which a mushroom may be
thoroughly. Once
its
personality
lished in the collector's mind, he will recognize
it
is
identi-
estab-
as he would
the face of a friend.
There are other characters than general shape and color

which distinguish mushrooms from each other.
These other
characters need careful scrutiny in determining the species to
which a specimen belongs as
met with
especial characters
arize
and parts
of
among many
mushrooms
will
will
will
intelligently.
To
do well to make written
by him, using as
notes of the features of gilled fungi collected
a guide the form for
soon famili-
enable him to use
any text book on mushrooms
end the student of mushrooms
things
Careful attention to the
one with their peculiarities and
this guide or
this
the case
is
in our everyday affairs.
notes which will be found on page 24.
field
Spore prints of mushrooms show the color of the spores and

are sometimes indispensable before a specimen can be unmis-
takably identified.
In
many
instances however, specimens
can be identified by means of this key in the
field
or at
home
without waiting for the making of spore prints.
Spore prints are made by laying the mature cap from which
the stem has been cut and
paper.
It is protected
gills
with a glass tumbler.
After a few hours a print of the
a wheel,
of air
piece of
by being covered
In order to get satisfactory prints,
care should be taken to have the
like the spokes of
downward upon a
from draughts
will
gills in
gills,
a vertical position.
radiating from the center
be found upon the paper. (Fig
i .)
The color of the spore print assists in determining to what family of mushrooms the specimen belongs. There are five of these
4
Fig.
I.
and magnified representation
of
'.'#,
^^=
-n^rfv
Spore-prmt
Fig.
I. Spore
print
the parts of a gilled
mushroom concerned
in spore forma-
tion.
From W. Hamilton
Gibson's Our Edible Mushrooms, by permission
of Messrs.
Harper and Bros.
HOW TO
COLLECT AND EXAMINE MUSHROOMS
families, each of
some shade
species vary
whose spores are respectively either white,
of pink,
rusty-brown, purple or black.
from these standard spore colors in having
and green hues.
Odd
lilac
CHAPTER
II
GILLED MUSHROOMS, THEIR PROPAGATION AND
STRUCTURE
CHAPTER
GILLED MUSHROOMS,
Gilled
II
THEIR PROPAGATION AND STRUCTURE
mushrooms, or agarics as they are
that belong to the botanical group

leaves, flowers, pollen or seeds are to
that
is,
perhaps,
why they are
called, are plants
known
as fungi.
No
be found on any fungi and
regarded as belonging to a lower
order of vegetation.
These plants, although rather unfamiliar to many persons,

occur in profusion in one form or another, throughout the
Among them
natural world.
are included germs or bacteria
which cause fevers and contagious diseases in
man and
in the
Other fungi that grow upon the higher plants,
lower animals.
occur in endless numbers and constitute pests that damage or
Some
destroy food crops and trees.
rusts, others as smuts, rots, scabs
of
them are known
and bunts.
molds also belong among the fungi as do

their mysterious
power
all
as
Mildews and
the yeasts with
of bringing about the process of fer-
mentation.
Among
puffballs,
the fungi
commonly known
as
mushrooms are the
club fungi, coral fungi, hedgehog fungi, truffles,
trembling fungi, morels, stinkhorns, tube-bearing fungi and

lastly,
the gilled fungi or agarics to which attention
in this book.
have
in
common an important
tinguishes
directed
characteristic feature that dis-
them from the higher
of chlorophyl.
is
All fungi, whether bacteria, yeasts or agarics,
plants,
and that
is
their lack
This remarkable substance that makes green
the leaves of trees and herbs, also enables
them
to utilize for
their nutrition the simple elements of air, watei
and
earth.
Fungi, on the other hand, possessing no chlorophyl, must, like
FIELD
animals, depend for their nourishment upon living or dead
Loam, decaying wood and dead leaves sup-
organic matter.
port the majority of mushrooms.
Propagation of gilled fungi

Herbs, trees and grasses
in fact all of the higher plants
are propagated from seeds that have been
fertilized
by contact
with dust-like particles of pollen shed by a parent plant of the
same
species.
This
fertilizing contact requires for its
plishment the union of two elements,

pollen
and ovum.
mushrooms
Since
male
accom-
and female,
are apparently devoid of
these sexual elements, so far as cross fertilization of seeds
concerned, the question arises,
how
are they propagated.
is
In
the case of mushrooms, the method of propagation, though
more simple than

no
less
in the case of seed bearing plants is
it is
wonderful.
own kind by means
Each
species of
of very
mushroom reproduces
its
minute spores that are dropped
from mature fruiting plants and that are seemingly,

cases formed without the intervention of
in
any sexual
many
process.
Single spores consist of a tiny bit of living matter or proto-
plasm enclosed within a wall or membrane, as an egg

tained in
its shell.
They
are so small that one of
is
con-
them alone
cannot be seen without the aid of a microscope but in mass

they appear as dust that
may have any one
of several colors.
Spore color affords an important means of classifying gilled

fungi into groups or genera.
is
described on page
The manner
They
4.
of collecting spores
are exceedingly light
They
be carried by the wind for long distances.
from the surfaces of the
room
may
gills in
of the cultivated variety
produce as
spores.
cast off
many
vast numbers.
commonly
and may
are dropped
A single mush-
sold in the markets,
as one billion, eight
hundred thousand
The shaggy-mane mushroom has been estimated to

five billion or more spores from a single mature plant.
The proportion
of spores that reach places suitable to their
10
Fig.
Fig.
2.
Mycelium
From W. Hamilton
and early vegetation

mushroom.
of
2.
a gilled
Gibson's Our Edible Mushrooms, by permission
of Messrs.
Harper and Bros.
PROPAGATION AND STRUCTURE

development
less of
very small; the vast majority of them are
is
This fact illustrates the saying that Nature
wasted.
is
care-
the individual, but careful of the species.
When
a cast-off spore alights upon ground or decayed wood
or on some other spot where conditions are favorable to
growth,
First,
it
its
begins to germinate.
a tiny thread grows from
or loam upon which
it
and penetrates the wood
This thread, absorbing nourish-
it rests.
ment from organic matter
in contact with
it
grows longer
and sends out branches until a network of threads or fibres,
now
easily visible,
is
This matted network of fibres
formed.
or hyphae, as they are called,
for the
market speak of
even years, in some
grow and mature
cases,
known
to botanists as the
it
Weeks, months or
as spawn.
must pass before the myceliimi
sufficiently for
fruit that will in turn
When
is
Those who cultivate mushrooms
mycelium or plant body.
it
to be ready to
will
develop
produce fresh spores.
the proper time has arrived,
little
knots or enlarge-
ments appear at one or many places on the mycelial threads.

These swellings increase
the
or
soil
wood
these knobs
room
in size until
they project outside of
which they started to grow.
Each one
of
destined to develop into a full-grown mush-
or spore-bearing structure.
The
is
in
Structure and Parts of Gilled
fully developed, typical gilled
in its gross structure.
It is
Mushrooms
mushroom
is
rather simple
formed somewhat after the man-
ner of an umbrella and consists of three main parts corresponding to the cover, ribs and handle. In the mushroom, these
parts are
known as the cap, the
gills
and the stem, or
as botan-
designate them, pileus, lamellag and stipe.
ists
If
a gilled
mushroom
in the
button stage of
its
development
be cut through in the middle from top to bottom, there

seen, in
embryo, cap
gills
and stem,
II
all
will
be
enclosed in an outer
FIELD
membrane
or veil.
The cap
folded and
is
its gills lie close
along the stem, giving somewhat the appearance of a closed

umbrella.
The outer
or universal veil usually disappears as
the plant grows larger and as the cap expands, but in some
species part of
it
persists
throughout the
life
of the plant in
PEL
THE- CAP
Fig.
3.
Section of a typical
INCLUDES
PEEL,FLESM
AND CilUS.
mushroom
gilled
or agaric.
the form of a sheath or cup enclosing the base of the stem.
may
other cases, part of the wrapper
In
be seen in the form of
patches or flakes adhering to the upper surface of the mature

cap.
or
Both
may
of these features
Amanita muscaria and they
be seen in the
afford
fly
mushroom
marks that help to iden-
tify that species.
Agarics, during the button stage of their existence are pro-
vided with another
veil or
membrane
this inner or
secondary
that extends from the
In some kinds of mushrooms
stem to the margin of the cap.
veil persists, at least in part,
and by
presence aids in identification of the species possessing
When
this inner veil
it
breaks
it.
remains after the rupture or disappear-
ance of the outer cover,

species 3).
its
Sooner or
it
hides the
later,
gills
from
sight.
(PI. IT,
during the growth of the plant,
away from the edge
of the cap as this expands or
spreads open. In the case of most of the agarics,

12
it
disappears
Fig. 4.
Development
of
an agaric (Amanita) from button
stage to maturity.
From W. Hamilton
Gibson's Our Edible Mushrooms, by permission of
Harper and Bros.
13
FIELD
entirely but in
some
mushroom.
ary
In
may
veil
still
remains as a collar or
varieties, part of it
ring around the stem as
may
common
be seen in the
field
other varieties fragments of the second-
be found, even in mature plants, hanging from
the margin of the cap.
Let us consider some of the features possessed by mush-
rooms so as to know what to look
men that we may

First, it will
manner
for in
any
collected speci-
wish to identify.
own
peculiar
solitary while others
grow in
be found that each kind has
of growth;
some are
its
groups, tufts or clusters.
The
place of growth of
mushrooms
Some
grow only
fined limits.
open spaces and

ings.
species
still
varies within well de-
in woods, others only in
others occur in both kinds of surround-
Certain species grow upon wood, some upon the ground,
and a few
species are found
on or under particular kinds of
manure heaps
trees or in such especial places as railroad ties,
and growing moss.
Time
or season of growth
kinds of mushrooms.
ticular fungi that
is
a distinguishing feature of some
In the temperate zones there are par-
may be found growing
during each month of
the year.
mushrooms present a variety
Gilled
assist in their identification, as for
clover, or in that of the fetid russula,
odor or
in
which
may
the case of the
lactarius with its fragrance really like that of sweet
camphory
The majority
kernels.
of odors
example
else
which smells of peach
of fungi possess either
a characteristic fungous odor that
is
little
or no
difficult to
describe.
Taste
The taste of many mushrooms when raw
unnoticeable.
is
mild or
Others are acrid and peppery to the tongue or
puckery, or branny
or, in
some
cases, nutty.
Cookery brings out odors and

specimens.
14
tastes entirely lacking in
raw

In addition to the foregoing general characters of gilled
fungi that aid in their identification are the character, color
and form
Each
of their separate parts.
of these receives
especial notice in the key.
Cap or
that
first
pileus
The cap
is
a skin or peel beneath which

is
mushroom
the part of a gilled
attracts the collector's attention.

is
the
It is
covered with
This flesh or trama
flesh.
of interwoven fibres called hyphae that
composed
can be
separately seen only under the microscope.

characters of the caps of mushrooms, there
Amongst the
one possessed by some varieties that
When
inexperienced collector.
moist, these particular caps
When
have a water-soaked or soggy appearance.
lighter in shade.
many
Such caps are said to be hygrophanous and
may aid
species,
is
gelatinous
These are described as being
it is
the beginner in their study
is
in
all
cases as
Certain species
apt to believe.
color
viscid.
one of their most
not so useful a clue in
is
exhibit great variability of
different
individuals.
kinds of mushrooms resemble each other in hue so
closely that they
Form
of
Cap
must be
There
is
identified
by other
qualities.
the greatest variety in the shape of
the cap of gilled mushrooms.
Some
species
caps (59 0, some are bell-shaped (86), others

yet others funnel-shaped (26).
species
rind or peel, of
rain or humidity,
While the color of mushrooms
striking characteristics,
Many
The
in identifying them.
when moist from
or sticky to the touch.
Color
dry they
and become opaque and they often become
lose this look
this feature
is
apt to confuse the
is
is
convex when
it is
The cap
and
of the majority of
young. As the plant matures the
cap usually expands and becomes

the center.
have conical
flat (116)
flat
or even depressed at
The edge may be regular, lobed
(10) or
wavy(i i).
^ Figures in parentheses refer to numbers given to

species in this
book. They direct the reader to illustrations of the various characteristics mentioned.
15
FIELD
The
surface
may
be smooth, dry, sticky or perhaps covered
with scales (38 Frontispiece).

If the
cap has a knob protruding from
umbonate
to be
that of a
cap
(umbo
(15)
little pit,
sometimes occurs
Where no mention
and
plane or nearly so
is
book
in this
assumed that the cap
it is
made
its
center
it is
said
The opposite form,
knob).
(93), in
which case the
said to be umbilicate (provided with a navel).
is
form,
to the cap of a
is
is
made
mushroom's
of a
convex form when young
of a
When
when mature.
reference
mushroom, a mature specimen
is
is
meant
unless otherwise specified.
Other features of caps are mentioned in the key under the

heading, "Cap,
Gills
The
Form
gills
of."
are thin, knife-like blades at-
(lamellse)
tached by their upper edge to the under surface of the cap and
extending like the spokes of a wheel (or ribs of an umbrella)
They always grow with
from the stem to the margin.

flat
Upon
surfaces vertical.
the spores that are cast
In form
gills
An
species.
off for
important distinction
attached broadly to
it
is
the stem are termed decurrent (15)
stem
gills
that
(adnexed), those that are
118)
but are said to be free
their edge near the
varying with different
made between
and others that do
(adnate) (95, 96)
it
their
are formed
the purpose of propagation.
may be broad or narrow,
extend to the stem (116,
not reach
these gill-surfaces
(123), are
(85).
;
Gills that
run dov/n
those that are notched in
known
as sinuate or emarg-
inate.
Not always
tharellus
are
gills
thin;
have blunt narrow
Again, the free edge of the

as
is
usually the case,
mushrooms
gills
gills,
of the type of
resembling coarse
Can-
leaf- veins.
instead of being knife-edged,
may be notched like a saw
(81) (serrate)
or wavy.
The
spore-bearing surface of the
gills is
called the
hymen-
ium, which, in some cases, extends also across the under

16

surface of the cap between them.
The hymenium is composed
of microscopic elongated cells sticking out at right angles to
the surface.
trude
little
From the free end of many of these pro-
(Fig. i.)
prongs, usually 4 in number, each bearing a spore at
The main cell
its tip.
is
called a basidium; the prongs, sterig-
Those pavement
mata.
cells
that are sterile and bear no
spores are called paraphyses.
The
spores
may
possess
any one
of several colors according
to the genus to which the specimen belongs.
often determines the hue of the

affords
gills
in
Their color
mature plants and
it
an important clue in ascertaining to what genus the
mushroom belongs. See PI. lA and figs. 5-8.

The spores vary in size and shape in different species. They
are so light that when they are cast off from the sterigmata,
and they
obedience to the law of gravity,
fall in
slowly that any breath of air propels
The stem
cap at
is
and center while
may
When
Stems
stem,
it is
for
it
is
so
a long distance.
usually attached to the under surface of the
its center,
stem attached to
solid.
them
but some kinds of mushrooms have the

their margins
still
and others between margin
others have no stems.
be long or short, thick or
thin, hollow, pithy or
the inner veil remains attached in part to the
called the annulus.
17
CHAPTER
III
USE THE KEY. TABLE OF FEATURES

OF GILLED MUSHROOMS USED IN
THEIR IDENTIFICATION
HOW TO
19
CHAPTER
HOW
Have
1.
2. Select
TO USE THE KEY
hand a number
at
whose name
is
III
of specimens of the species
desired.
some feature
of these plants
which attracts atten-
and which may be used as a clue to
tion
their identification.
Such characteristic features are mentioned
in this
key under
the order followed in the subjoined table.
Mushroom
Character of the whole plant
Manner
of its
growth
Odor
Place of growth
Season of
Taste
its
appearance
Cap
Character
Color
Form
Size
Gills
Character
Color
Form
Stem
Character
Form
Size
Spores
Color
N. B.
gilled
full
mushrooms
enumeration of the features possessed by

as they are mentioned in this
found on pages 24 to
26.
21
book
will
be
FIELD
Let us suppose that the mushrooms we desire to identify
have a milky
juice.
With milky juice as a character in mind, turn to those pages
3.
of the
where
key headed "Character of the Mushroom" (page 31)

be found in the first column the words Milky Juice.
will
The mushrooms
in
hand
will
be named somewhere in this
group unless they belong to some uncommon species not
in-
cluded in this book.

Next, observe the color of the caps of the specimens and
4.
find in the second
column
When
5.
it
headed "Color of
the key,
of
Cap," the description which
fits
them.
appears likely that the correct color description
has been found, look next at the accompanying "Remarks"

in the third
column
of the
key where
will
be found mentioned
further distinguishing characteristics which will aid in identi-
fying the specimens.
Names of species are placed in column number four,

Coming
to the left of each page of the key.
answer to the inquiry
names
will
be the
"What
is
last things to
the
of the plant?" the
be read.
Complete descriptions of the

Chapter
name
farthest
as they do in
species
will
be found in
following the key.
Let us take another example of the use of the key.
On a
winter walk in the woods, clusters of a small reddish-yellow
mushroom
are found growing upon a stump.
moist and sticky, their
gills lighter
are darker than the surface of the cap
How
Their caps are
in color but their stems
and are rather velvety.
name be found in the key?

Looking in the key under "Time of Growth" and where the
first column says " December," we find that a cap in the Color
of Cap Column is described as being reddish-yellow or tawny
and
shall their
(in
that in
the third column) that

all
other respects
its
specimen. In the last column
its size is
>^ to 2 inches broad and
description corresponds with our

its
name is given as Collybia velu-
22

HOW
Turning to the
tipes.
TO USE THE KEY
full
description of Collybia velutipes in
Chapter V(page 163) the identification
is
further corroborated.
Another example of the use of the key might be in the case
We
of Lepiota americana.
have collected specimens of a
mushroom having a prominent knob protruding from
gilled
Looking in the key under "Form of
the center of the cap.
Cap," we find eight species mentioned.

densed tabulated descriptions,
one of them
upon
is
it is
Reading
said to be colored white with reddish scales
its surface.
It is
probable therefore that our specimens
are either Lepiota americana or else that they are
common
their con-
quickly found that only
some un-
variety not mentioned in this book.
Turning the pages next to the

americana,
it is
full
description of Lepiota
seen to tally in every respect with the specimen
before us
and on the next occasion when
found,
is
it
probable that
it
will
mushroom
this
is
be at once recognized as
would be the face of an acquaintance.

It is the
assist
aim
of the key, so far as
it
may
be possible, to
the reader in identifying specimens of gilled fungi with-
out the necessity of ascertaining the color of their spores.
The reason
for this
aim
is
to learn the color of spores
that
it
often requires
by taking a spore
many
Nevertheless, a knowledge of the spore color of a
4).
room
tity,
is
one of the greatest of
all
helps in determining
waiting for the collector's recognition.

find
may
It is
not
the colored spore-dust about growing
mush-
its
and such knowledge is often indispensable. ^ Spore
however, are furnished by Nature and
hours
print (see page
iden-
prints,
be ready and
uncommon
rusty, pink, white, purplish-brown or black dust, shed
mature plants on
their stems,
on the caps of neighboring
lows or upon the wood or ground that harbors them.

indications of spore color should always be sought
lector
^
and
their presence should
Figs, s to 8
and
PI. lA.
23
be noted.
to
mushrooms
by
fel-
These
by the
col-
FIELD
by no means a
certain in-
dication of the color of the spores that are shed
by them.
The
color of a
Colored
many
gills
mushroom's
gills is
may produce white spores and, on the other hand,
white-gilled species drop
of its identity
colored spores.
mushroom
color of the spores of a
is
is facilitated.
In order to see clearly the form of the

its
Once the
known, the unravelling
of a
gills
mushroom,
cap and stem should be cut through vertically in the center.
This cut
will also reveal
whether
it is solid,
the interior of the stem and will show
stuffed or hollow.
The beginner in mycology may be aided in the study

mushrooms by referring to the subjoined table.
of
gilled
Table of Features
Used
of Gilled
Mushrooms
in Their Identification
(Figures in parenthesis refer to
numbers
of those species
illustrating the feature mentioned).
Mushroom
Jl
Mushroom, Character
-j
cent); with milky juice;
of
Glows in the dark
waxy
(phosphores-
in appearance.
[
1t
Manner
Growth
of
Solitary
(single); in
groups; in clusters
'
or tufts; in curved lines on the groimd (87).
On ground; on wood; in open places; in
Place of Growth
'
woods; in special places.
^ of OdorOf
branny
bitter
anise;
almonds (peach
pits or wild cherry bark)
(mealy or farinaceous); disagreeable; gar-
licky; of radishes; spicy; fungous.

"^
Season
was
of
Growth
Note the month in which the specimen
collected.
Taste
Acrid
(biting,
bitter); disagreeable
peppery);
astringent
but not acrid; mild; sweetish.
24
(puckery,
;;
HOW
TO USE THE KEY
dL
/^ Cap, Character of
Cap
(viscid); tough; scaly,
(81);
downy or
when moist
Brittle, coriaceous (leathery)
hairy (fioccose, tomentose) (78); fragile; sticky

i.e.,
with scales or warts on the surface
water-soaked in appearance when moist, changing to
opaque and often
of different color
when dry (hygrophanous)
silky.
While
"^
Cap, Color of
commonest
color that does not occur
some shade
color of gilled
Cap, form of
among them.
to wood by
Attached
(48, at right); bell-shaped
(95);
brown
of tan or
mushrooms, there
its
the
is
any
scarcely
is
top (resupinate)
(campanulate even when mature)
cone-shaped or conic (59); inverted cone-shaped (ob-
conic) (22); cylindrical (38, Frontispiece); with edge turned

(revolute)
(32); funnel-shaped
(infundibuliform)
up
with
(26);
edge turned downward and inward (involute) (100); fleshy

(flesh is
its
the portion between the upper surface of the cap and
lower surface to which the
(ill);
membranous
(reniform)
(47);
(umbonate)
(with
gills
little
are attached)
(2);
with a knob protruding from the center
(15); lobed at the
like elevation at the center;
edge (13); nippled (a nipple-
notched at the edge
(81);
with a
pit or small depression at the center (umbilicate) (93);
radiating marks or furrows near the edge

striate)
veil
with
(striatulate
or
(116); split at the edge (5); with fragments of the
attached to the edge of the cap (97) with a

;
smooth; scaly (squamose or squamulose)
V> Cap, Size
medium
thin
or no flesh; kidney-shaped
of
Large
(four
or
wavy edge
more inches
(one to four inches in diameter) small

;
(12)
(38, Frontispiece).
in diameter;
(less
than one
inch in diameter).
/|[
/^
Gills,
Character of
GiUs
Brittle; liquefying (deliquescing)
when
old (38, frontispiece); separable easily from the cap; with
25
FIELD
veins in the spaces between the
free
gills;
from the stem
(85);
close together, crowded; far apart, distant (13).

l<
is
C_
Gills,
Gills,
(56)
it
Mentioned in the key only when the color
Color of
different
from that of the cap.
Form
Âttached
of
broadly to the stem (adnate)
extending as far as the stem but not attached broadly to
(adnexed)
down
extending
(2);
the stem (decurrent) (13);
forked, branched or joined together (13); broad (34); narrow
notched near the stem end (emarginate, sinuate) (123);
(32);
with a sawlike edge (serrate) (81); thick (12); blunt edged

(17); equal in length to
each other (113); of different lengths
(29).
Stem
JjT
Stenii Character of
Âbsent
base (90); cartilaginous, like
tween
its
center
and
its
(46);
gristle;
"7
Stem, Form of
^ deeply
it
or hairy at the
edge (eccentric) (107); attached to
the cap at the edge (marginal) (45);

stuffed; separable easily
downy
attached to the cap be-
fragile;
hollow
(3); solid;
from the cap; tough.
Bulbous
into the ground (35)
at base (44); rooted, extending
with a ring or collar surrounding
(annular) (i); inserted into a cup (volva) at the base (8);
with ring but without cup
(i);
with both cup and ring
(6);
thick (114); thin (86).
(_
Stem, Size of
(85); short
(i.e.
Long
(i.e.
\^
P\
Spores,
Color of
(ochraceous)
longer than the breadth of the cap)
shorter than the breadth of the cap) (114).
Spores
Black;
brown; brownish-black; rusty
pink (rosy, salmon or flesh-color);
lilac;
green;
white; yellow or yellowish.
Beginners in the study of gilled fungi are advised to read

the chapter about the propagation and structure of these
plants so that they may the better understand the use of the key.
26
HOW
The
TO USE THE KEY

mind the
reader should bear in
hundreds
fact that there exist
perhaps thousandsof species of mushrooms and
that mistaken identification might result from superficial

attention to descriptions of the comparatively few kinds of
plants dealt with in this book.
No plant key can be perfect.

of identification even
fail
There are species very
by expert
specialists.
to identify a collected species after careful use of the key,
his non-success will be probably
men
and
in
difficult
Should the reader
is
not one of our
due to the fact that
common mushrooms.
willing to identify specimens sent to them,
many
his speci-
Botanists able
may
of the larger universities, at State capitals
be found
and at the
United States Department of Agriculture in Washington.
27
CHAPTER
IV
KEY TO COMMON GILLED MUSHROOMS.

PICTORIAL KEY TO GENERA
29
CHAPTER IV
KEY TO COMMON GILLED FUNGI
Figures attached to names of species refer to corresponding numbers
in the illustrations
and
descriptions.
IDENTIFICATION BY CHARACTER OF THE

Character
MUSHROOM
FIELD
IDENTIFICATION BY CHARACTER OF THE MUSHROOM

(Continued)
Character

IDENTIFICATION BY MANNER OF GROWTH
Manner
Growth
of
(Continued)
FIELD
IDENTIFICATION BY MANNER OP GROWTH

Manner
Growth
of
(Continued)

IDENTIFICATION BY MANNER OF GROWTH
Color of
Cap
White, with
Name
Remarks
brown
to 12 inches broad.
white or green.
Gills
Stem with large

Buff or
tawny
(Continued)
Lepiota Morgani
(83)
ring.
to 2 inches broad.
Shrivels when dry.
Marasmius
oreades
(87)
broad
stem
tough. In fields.
Gills
Grayishbuff, rus-
ty
brown
or yel-
to
Edge
inches
of
broad.
cap turned
down and
in;
gills
forked; decurrent.
lowish
IDENTIFICATION BY ODOR
Odor
Paxillus
involutus (100)
(seldom in
rings)
FIELD

Odor]
(Continued)

Odor
(Continued)
FIELD
IDENTIFICATION BY PLACE OF GROWTH

Place of
Growth
(Continued)

Place of
Growth
(Continued)
FIELD
BOOK OF COMMON GELLED MUSHROOMS
IDENTIFICATION BY PLACE OF
Place of
Growth
GROWTH
(Continued)

IDENTIFICATION BY PLACE OF
Place of
Growth
GROWTH
(Continued)
; ;
FIELD

Place of
Growth
(In
woods
Color of
Cap
Egg yolk
Name
Remarks
to
inches
broad;
among
gills,
special
colored alike.
Gills
thick; far apart.
kinds of
stem
(Continued)
and cap
Cantharellus
cibarius (12)
trees)
Hemlocks
Grayish-
to
inches
broad;
bufF or
rusty-
Margin curled downward and inward
brown
gills
or
yellowish
Reddish-
to
involutus (100)
forked.
inches
broad;
cup at base of stem:

no ring on stem; gills
free from stem.
white,
reddishbrown or
leaden-
Paxillus
Amanitopsis
vaginata (8)
brown
Orange or
to
inches
broad;
stem with ring; cup at

base.
No warts on
red paler
at margin
;
Amanita
caesarea (4)
cap.
(Amongst
special
Egg yolk
yellow
to
inches
broad;
cap
stem and
gills,
kinds of
same
trees)
thick and far apart.
Evergreens
Whitish
color.
1 3^ inches broad
thin; close together; attached to
stem or extending
J^ to
tinged
with
gills
brown
when
down
Cantharellus
cibarius (12)
Gills
Clitocybe
albidula (19)
it.
moist;
whitish
when dry
Grayish-
to
inches
broad.
Conic with apex down.

Stem club shaped.
brown or
sooty-
Clitocybe
clavipes (22)
brown
Orange or
grayish
orange
with
to s inches broad.
Orange milky juice of
mild taste.
Lactarius
to 4 inches broad;
odor and taste branny
gills notched at stem.
Tricholoma
transmutans
deliciosus
(73)
brighter
mottled
zones
Tawny
red,
turning
brownish
red
old
when
42
(127)

Color of
Cap
(Continued)
FIELD

IDENTIFICATION BY TASTE
Color of
Name
Remarks
Cap
Yellow
(Continued)
to
inches
and
Stem
Wrinkled
scaly.
broad.
often
with
Pholiota
caperata (102)
Gills
thick
ring.
whitish; turning rusty
when
Rosy
or
bloodred
to
old.
Fragile.
inches broad.
Sticky when
Yellowish
to
broad.
moist.
radiating
inches
Marginal
Odor
furrows.
Pa<le
yello'?
Dark brick-
On wood;
paler at
Gills
Tawny,
or
brown-
broad.
inches
red, often
margin
foetens (116)
of
almonds.
to 2 inches broad.
In woods on wood.
Gills yellow, turning
rusty when old. White
down at base of stem.
to
Russula
when
Sticky
bitter
Russula
emetica (115)
pure
white
Gills
moist.
Stem
white.
or red-tinged.
in clusters.
yellowish
or
greenish,
turning
brown when
old.
J^ to 2 3^ inches broad.
White milky juice.
Flammula
fiavida (52)
Hypholoma
sublateritium
(66)
Lactarius
subdulcis (76)
ish-red
Tawny-
to
broad.
inches
White
reddish
milky
juice,
turning yellow
exposed.
White, with
reddish
to
broad.
inches
Gills free
Lactarius
theiogalus (77)
when
from stem.
Lepiota
americana
(82)
Stem with ring especially when young.
or reddish-
brown
scales
Yellowish
or dingyrusty
to
broad.
inches
Odor of bitter almonds. Sticky when
Russula
foetens (116)
moist. Radial striations at margin.
White;
sometimes
yellowish
to
Dry.
in
broad.
Tricholoma
woods.
album
inches
On ground
in
Margin turned
when young.
notched.
44
Gills
(122)

Taste
(Continued)
FIELD

Taste
Color of
Tawnyrusty
Sweet
Cap
(Continued)
Remarks
to 2 inches broad,
knob at center.
Edge turned in. Gills
Sli
light
Name
Hebeloma
precox (56)
pallid
notched;
to
tawny. Stem cream-
colored.
IDENTIFICATION BY TIME (SEASON) OF

Time
{Season)
of Growth
GROWTH

Time
GROWTH
(Continued)
FIELD

Time
GROWTH
(Continued)

IDENTIFICATION BY TIME (SEASON)
Color of
OF,
GROWTH
Remarks
Cap
Whitish,
grayish
or grayish-brown
y2 to
Smokybrown
^ to
Name
inch broad.
In
Spores
clusters.
inch broad.
In
grass.
Gills
Cap
conic.
brown;
broad.
brown
Stem
slender; fragile.
White or
whitish
Psathyrella
dis-
seminata (iii)
black.
reddish
or
{Continued)
J^ to
3^ inches broad.
Leathery;
downy;
Psilocybe foenisecii (112)
Schizophyllum
commune
(120)
stem at edge.
Light
yellowish
inches broad
Hemispheric. Sticky
when moist.
Stem
long; slender.
Gills
yellow, turning black
3^ to
when
Stropharia semiglobata (121)
old.
Amanitopsis vaginata (8)

Cantharellus minor (18;
Clitocybe multiceps (27)
Collybia dryophila {33)
Collybia platyphylla (34)
Collybia radicata (35)
Collybia velutipes (36)
Coprinus comatus (38) Frontispiece
Coprinus micaceus (39)

Cortinarius corrugatus (43)
Crepidotus fulvotomentosus (46)

Crepidotus malachius (47)
Crepidotus versutus (48)
Galera hypnortmi (54)
Galera tenera (55)
Hygrophorus cantharellus (57)

Hygrophorus miniatus(6o)
Hypholoma incertum (64)

Laccaria laccata (69)
Lentinus lepideus (81)
Lepiota Morgani (83)
Marasmius oreades (87)
Marasmius peronatus (88)
Marasmius rotula
Mycena
(89)
galericulata (90)
Naucoria semiorbicularis (^92)

Omphalia campanella (93)
Panaeolus campanulatus (95)
Panaeolus papilionaceus (96)
Panaeolus retirugis (97)
Pholiota precox (104)
Pleurotus ostreatus (106)
Pleurotus sapidus (107)
Pleutius cervinus (no)
Psathyrella disseminata (in)
Gilled mushrooms appearing during the months of July, August,
September and October are not named in this section of this book. The
majority of common species occur during these months.
49
FIELD

Color of
Cap
GROWTH
(Continued)

Time
(Season)
of Growth
GROWTH
(Continued)
FIELD

IDENTIFICATION BY CHARACTER OF CAP
Character of
Cap

Character of
Cap
Color of
Cap
Reddish-
Remarks
(Continued)
Name
FIELD
IDENTIFICATION

Character of
Cap
Color of
Cap
Tawny
Name
Remarks
to
J^
inch
broad.
Leathery; kidneyshaped; Attached to
wood by short stem

edge of cap.
Yellow or
orange
(Continued)
at
Panus
stypticus (99)
FIELD

Character of
Cap
(Continued)

Character of
Cap
(Continued)
FIELD

Character of
Cap
{Continued)

Character of
Cap
Color of
Orange
Name
Remarks
Cap
to
inches
Milky
with
(Continued)
broad.
Lactarius deliciosus (73)
juice.
brighter
zones
Tawny-
Tawny
to 5 inches broad.
juice turning
yellow after exposure.
Milky
redaish
or
to
rusty
Tan, gray
or brown-
ish
broad.
semiorbicularis (92)
Stem
(slightly
viscid)
long.
to I
iiiches broad.
Cap conic or bellshaped, with cracks.
to
inches
broad.
Margin turned down

and in. Stem some-
brown
times off center.
or
yellowish
Yellow
Watery
Panaeolus
retirugis (97)
long.
rusty
bufif,
Naucoria
Cap hemispheric.
Gills rusty.
Stem
Grayish-
inches
Lactarius
theiogalus (77)
to 4 inches broad. On
wood. Scales on surface.
Flaky ring on
Paxillus
involutus (100)
Pholiota
adiposa (lOi)
stem.
to 2 inches broad.
cinnamon
wood.
when
ring.
moist;
pale yel-
iota."
On
Stem with
"Fading phol-
Pholiota
discolor (103)
low when
dry
Dingy
brown
rarely
whitish,
yellowish
ashy or
blackish
Red, dark
or rosy
to
inches
broad.
Gills yellow or tan.
purple,
olivaceous
or green
Blood red
to 2j^ inches broad.

Gills pink; free from
stem.
Stem easily
detached.
to 4 inches
Gills
chalk
Taste acrid.
59
broad.
white.
Pluteus
cervinus
(lio)
(slightly
viscid)
Russula
alutacea
(113)
Russula
emetica (115)
FIELD
IDENTIFICATION

Character of
Cap
(Continued)
FIELD

Character of
{Continued)

Character of
Cap
(Continued)
FIELD
IDENTIFICATION BY COLOR OF CAP

Color of
Cap
{Continued)

IDENTIFICATION BY COLOR OF GILLS
Color of
Qllls
Color of
^ ^
Cap
Whitish or
brown-
Remarks
to
inches
Taste branny.
ish-gray
to
Name
broad.
Gills
inches broad.
grayish - white
Gills
when
young.
Cap
shiny. Flesh-brown.
Brownish-
flesh
Some shade
of
to 2 inches broad.
In tufts on wood.
Cap
thin;
tough.
Gills
with saw-like
edge.
Ji to
brown
J^ inches broad.
In clusters on
Conie.
wood.
or gray-
Entoloma
grayanum
when young.
whitish
Umberbrown
(Continued)
Stem hairy at
(so)
Entoloma
strictius (51)
Lentinus
cochleatus (80)
Mycena
galeri-
culata (90)
base.
Yellow or
J^
I
inch broad.
of furrows.
whitish or yellowish when young.
Stem downy at base.
to
Network
brown
Pluteus admirabilis (109)
Gills
Dingy-
brown
rarely
white,
yellow,
ashy or
grayish
2 to 2j^ inches broad.

Gills free from stem.
Stem
Pluteus
cervinus
easily separable
from cap.

Color of
Cap
(no)
FIELD

Color of
Cap
(Continued)

Size of
Russula.
Many
species.
Smooth
2 to 5
Name
Remarks
Cap
(Continued)
or dotted with
inches
fine scales. Gills slight-
broad
ly
notched;
Stem
Tricholoma
russula (125)
white.
thick;
short;
solid.
3^ to 3
inches
broad
Never in woods. Gills

pink when young;
turning brown and
Agaricus
campestris (2)
black when old. Stem

with ring.
On ground
2 to s
inches
broad
iMto
woods.
young,
turning
brown
or
backish brown. Stem
with ring-sometimes
a double one.
in
Gills pink when
On ground.
Gills white;
from stem.
Stem
inches
free
broad
with ring; cup at base.
2 to
4
inches
broad
Deep
striations at edge;
fragile. Gills free
stem.
Stem
from
Agaricus
silvicola (3)
Amanita
phalloides (6)
Amanitopsis
vaginata (8)
long;
with cup at base but

2 to 3
inches
broad
no
ring.
Dry,
soft,
smooth;
inches
broad
even surface.
Gills
white;
forked at base.
some
Stem
Clitocybe
albissima (20)
solid; white.
Rarely stem is at side.

Gills very thin; attached or decurrent.
Clitocybe
candicans (21)
Stem waxy; rooting;

hairy at base.
I
to 1 3^
inches
broad
Cap
glossy; tough. Gills

attached
to
stem;
white; stem mealy at
Clitocybe
dealbata (24)
top.
>^
to
inch
H to
% inches
by
to 2
inches
Kidney
- shaped.
Attached by edge or by
short hairy stem to
wood. Hygrophanous.
Kidney
- shaped.
In
groups. Hygrophan-
broad
3 to 5
inches
On ground
in
woods.
Acrid, milky juice.
broad
67
Crepidotus
applanatus
(45)
Crepidotus
malachius (47)
Lactarius piperatus (75)
;;
FIELD

Size of
Remarks
Cap
2 to 5
(Continued)
On ground
in
wooly
inches
Soft
broad
Milky
woods.
surface.
Lactarius
vellereus (78)
(slightly acrid)
juice.
2 to 4
inches
broad
Cap tough;
On wood.
hard when dry. Gills

white with saw-like
inches
broad
On
ground.
Gills white;
from stem; stem

with ring; no cup at
free
base.
4 to 12
inches
broad
2 to 3
white when young,

green when mature
from stem. Stem
with large ring.
Gills
free
free
Gills
from stem;
or
pinkish
inches
white;
broad
smoky - brown when

Stem with
no cup at base.
old.
8 inches or
more
lepideus (81)
(white with
brown
edge.
2 to S
Lentinus
scales)
Lepiota
americana (82)
(white with
reddish scales)
Lepiota
Morgani (83)
(with brown
scales)
Lepiota
naucina (84)
ring;
Cap
hairy; stem at edge;

on wood.
Panus
strigosus (98)
broad
2 to 5
inches
broad
2 to 2 J4
inches
broad
On wood
in
clusters.
Stem
at edge of cap.
Spores white (Those
of P. sapidus lilac.)
free from stem;
white when young
pink when mature.
Stem easily separable
Gills
Pleurotus
ostreatus (106)
sapidus (107)
ulmarius (108)
Pluteus
cervinus (no)
(rarely white)
from cap.
2 to
4 inches
broad
2 to 4 inches
broad
2 to 4 inches
broad
Cap sometimes stained

yellowish. Gills white
greenish
faintly
or
when old. Stem short;
thick.
On ground
in woods.
Gills
Taste acrid.
chalk white. Fragile.
Cap
in
dry; margin turned
when young.
broad
delica (114)
Russula
emetica
(rarely
(ns)
white)
Tricholoma
album
(122)
and stem white.

Taste
2 to 8 inches
Gills
Russula
Cap
bitter.
silky-white.
pink.
68
Gills
Stem with
large cup.
Volvaria
bombycina
(128)
KEY TO COMMON GULED FUNGI

IDENTIFICATION BY COLOR OP CAP
Size of
Remarks
Cap
3 to 6 inches
broad
{Continued)
On ground
Name
woods.
in
Cap smooth; radiating

at edge.
lines
Amanita
caesarea (4)
Gills
yellow free from stem.

Stem yellow; with
;
cup at base.
ring;
3 to 8 inches
broad
On
ground. Cap warty

or smooth.
Gills
white; free from stem.
Stem with
to 6 inches
broad
Cap hairy
or smooth;
tough; slightly acrid
Stem with
taste.
ring.
muscaria
(5)
ring; illat base.
defined cup
I
Amanita
Armillaria
mella (10)
(honey yellow)
attached
Gills
to stem.
I
to 3 inches
broad
Cap funnel shaped.

Margin
irregular.
turned
and
Gills
nar-
row;
broad
iHto3
broad
cibarius (12)
(egg-yolk)
Plant
forked.
all yellow.
J^ to I inch
Cantharellus
In groups.
All yellow.
Gills far apart decurStem slender.
rent.
;
Cap shiny when dry.

Sticky when moist.
Veil under cap when
Cantharellus
minor
(18)
Cortinarius
collinitus
(42)
young. Whitish gills

turn rusty when old.
2 to 4 inches
broad
Cap corrugated; sticky

when moist; convex.
Stem bulbous and
Corinarius
corrugatus (43)
sticky at base.
I
to 2 inches
broad
On wood
in
woods.
Taste bitter.
Pale
turn rusty when
Flammula
flavida
(52)
gills
old.
I
to 2 inches
broad
On wood
in
woods.
Edge curved in when

young. Sticky when
moist. Colored spots
Flammula
polychroa (53)
(orange
buff,
etc.)
at edge.
H to
inch
broad
In clusters on ground.
Cap thin; convex.
Waxy. Gills yellow;
far apart; forked.
Stem
fragile.
69
Hygrophorus
cantharellus
(57)
FIELD
ito
iH
Waxy. Cap
fragile.
yellow.
Cap
broad
Mto
thin;
Entire plant
inches
broad
inches
Name
Remarks
Cap
Size of
conic.
strikingly
Waxy. Gills
stem yellow.
Cap
Hygrophorus
chlorophanus
(58)
and
Waxy.
Color uniform.
inches
(Continued)
Hygrophorus
conicus (sp)
Hygrophorus
miniatus (6o)
thin; fragile.
broad
^ to
inch
broad
On wood
pit
in large clus-
Cap
ters.
thin; with
center.
Gills
at
narrow; yellow; connected by veins.
J^to
Cap
thin; pit at center;
inch
yellow or pale orange.
broad
Gills decurrent.
Omphalia
campanella
(93)
(dull yellow)
Omphalia
fibula (94)
Stem
long.
to 4 inches
broad
On wood
woods. All
Sticky; scaly
flaky, disap-
in
yellow.
Cap with
Pholiota
adiposa (loi)
pearing ring.
2 to
4 inches
broad
Cap
scaly
often
and
wrinkled.
Whitish
gills turn rusty when
old. Stem with thick
Pholiota
caperata (102)
ring.
to
inches
broad
Watery-cinnamon when
Gills
pallid
young;
rusty
moist.
when
when
Pholiota
discolor (103)
Stem with
old.
ring.
J^ to
inch
broad
On wood
in
woods.
Network
of
furrows.
pallid
Gills
young;
when
when
Pluteus
admirabilis
(109)
flesh-colored
old.
Gills free
from stem.
%to iH
inches
broad
Cap hemispheric;
Stem
viscid.
long; slender;
ring near top.
70

(light yellow)

IDENTIFICATION BY FORM OF CAP
Form of
Cap
FIELD

Form of
Cap
(Continued)

Form of
Cap
{Continued)
FIELD

Form
of
(Continued)

Form
of
{Continued)
FIELD
IDENTIFICATION BY FORM OP CAP

Form of
Cap
(Continued)

Form of
Cap
{Continced)
FIELD

Form of
Cap
(Continued)

Form of
Cap
{^Continued)
FIELD

Form
Cap
of
{Continued)

Form
Cap
of
(Continued)
FIELD

Form of
Cap
(Continued)

Form of
Cap
(Continued)
FIELD
{Continued)

Color of
Cap
Pale yellow
Name
Remarks
to
inches
broad.
woods on wood.
Stem downy at base.
In
Taste
Deep
red,
Flammula
flavida (52)
bitter.
J^ to
2 inches broad.
Gills like cap or paler;
vermilion
or yellow
{Continued)
Stem
waxy.
Hygrophorus
miniatus (60)
to 3
inches.
Bright red;
t9
inches broad.
yellow or red-
paler or
Gills
yellow
dish;
when
pied in color.
old
Whitish;
to
inches
broad.
On ground; open
yellowtinged
places.
when
edge.
Splitting
Stem
Hygrophorus
puniceus (62)
Stem
waxy.
Hypholoma
incertum (64)
at
splits.
moist;
paler
when dry
to 2yi inches broad.

Funnel-shaped when
old.
Milky juice;
mild or slightly bitter.
Lactarius
subdulcis (76)
t9 5 inches broad.
Gills color of cap or
duller.
Stem short;
Tricholoma
grayish
or almost
stout.
Brownishred or
tawny
Lilac or
violet,
sonatum
per(124)
white
White, yel-
2 to 5 inches
broad.
wood stem
lowish,
gray, lilac
On
Pleurotus os-
at edge in
treatus (106)
(sapidus; (107)
to 4 inches broad.
Sticky when moist.
bulbous
and
Cortinarius
corrugatus (43)
clusters.
or
brownish
Yellow or
rusty
Stem
sticky at base.
Whitish,
tinged
with yel-
brown when
low when
moist
Chestnut,
to 3 inches broad. On
ground. Gills whitish
when young, purplish-
to
incertum (64)
old.
inches
Milky
paler
Hypholoma
broad.
Lactarius
corrugis (72)
juice.
when old
Sooty-
brown
to
Milky
inches
juice,
slightly acrid.
85
broad.
mild or
Lactarius
lignyotus (74)
FIELD

Form of
Cap
(Continued)

IDENTIFICATION BY SIZE OF CAP
Gilled
Size of
Mushrooms with Broad Caps
(Continued)
(Continued)
FIELD
IDENTIFICATIOISr.
BY
SIZE OF CAP
(Continued)
Mushrooms with Small Caps (Continued)

Size of

IDENTIFICATION BY CHARACTER OF THE GILLS
Character of
Gills
(Continued)
FIELD

Character of
Gills
Color of
Cap
(Continued)

Character of
Gills
Color of
Marasmius,
Separable
easily
from
cap
Tan-colored or
brownish;
darker at
center
Name
Remarks
Cap
J^ to
species.
all
inch broad and
high
{Continued)
Stem
(conic).
fragile; hollow;
4 ^2 inches long.
Galera
tenera (55)
to
Pazillus, all species.
Waxy
Cantharellus,
all
species.
IDENTIFICATION BY COLOR OF THE GILLS
N.B. Color of gills is used for identification of species only in cases

where it differs from the color of the cap and where it is of a noticeably
clear, distinct or unusual hue.
Color of
Gills
Color of
White or
to
yellowish
Name
Remarks
Cap
Gills
inches broad.
whitish when
Agaricus
arvensis (i)
young, turning pink

and then brown and
black when old. Stem
with double ring.
White or
3^ to 3
Gills
inches broad.
when
pink
young, turning brown
and then black when
with
dingy
hues
Stem
when young.
old.
Agaricus
campestris
(2)
ringed
Black
White or
to
tinged
with
yellow or
Gills
inches broad.
turning
pink,
brown and then black

when old.
Ring
(sometimes
pink
Agaricus
silvicola (3)
double)
on stem.
Grayish-
brown
to
;
often
yellowtinged;
blackening when
old
Gills
inches broad.
whitish when
young, turning pinkish to black when old.

Cap egg-shaped.
91
Coprinus
atramentarius (37)
FIELD

Color of
Gills
(Continued)

Color of
Cap
Name
Remarks
White or
to
tinged
with
yellow or
inches
change
Gills
(Continued)
broad.
color
with age. Ring (sometimes double) on stem.
Agarisus
silvicola (3)
pink
Gray
or
grayish-
Whitish or
inches
broad.
Taste and odor slightly branny. Gills whitish when young.

to
inches
broad.
Bloom on surface.
Odor branny. Gills
whitish when young.
Stem white.
grayish
Pale tan or
to
brown
flesh-
color
when
moist;
whitish
to 2 inches broad.
In tufts; in woods.
Gills whitish or pinkish.
Stem reddishor purplish - brown;
long (2 to 3 inches).
Clitopilus
abortivus (29)
Clitopilus
prunulus (30)
CoUybia
acervata (31)
(gills
slightly
pinkish)
when dry
Whitish,
Oblong or
with yel-
low
scales
Hazel-nut
or
cylindric cap,
I /^ to 3 inches high
before expansion.
Gills
change
color
with age and liquefy
black.
Coprinus
to 2 inches broad.
Taste, odor branny.
Entoloma
umber
comatus
(38)
Frontispiece
commune
(49)
Gills notched.
Whitish or
brown-
to 3 inches broad.
Taste branny.
Gills
whitish when young.
ish-gray
Umberbrown
to I
Gills
when
shiny.
Brownish-
J^ to
In
flesh
Cap
inches broad.
grayish-white
young.
Cap
Flesh brown.
2 inches broad.
tufts
on wood.
thin; tough. Gills
Entoloma
grayanun
(50)
Entoloma
strictius (51)
Lentinus
cochleatus (80)
with saw-like edge.
Some shade
of
brown
or gray
Yellow or
brown
J<i
to 1 3^ inches broad.
Conic. In clusters on
Stem hairy at
base.
wood.
J^ to I inch broad. Network of furrows. Gills
whitish
or
yellowish
when young. Stem

downy at base.
93
Mycena
galericulata
(90)
Pluteus
admirabilis
(109)
FIELD

Color of
Gills
(Continued)

Color of
Cap
(Continued)
FIELD
IDENTIFICATION BY COLOR OP THE GILLS

Color of
Gills
(Continued)

IDENTIFICATION BY FORM OF THE GILLS
Form
of
Name
Gills
Armillaria mellea (lo)

Clitocybe, all species
Clitopilus abortivus (29)
Cortinarius, all species
Flammula flavida ^52)
(Adnate)
Attached
broadly
to the
stem
Galera hypnorum (54)

Hebeloma precox (56)
Hygrophorus miniatus (60)
Hypholoma appendiculatum (63)
Hypholoma incertum (64)
Hypholoma perplexum (65)
Hypholoma sublateritium (66)
Inocybe abundans (67)
Inocybe rimosa
(68)
Laccaria, all species

Lactarius theiogalus (77)
Lactarius vellereus (78)
Lactarius volemus (79)
Marasmius campanulatus
Marasmius rotula (89)
(86)
Mycena
galericulata (90),^
Naucoria semiorbicularis (92)]
Panaeolus campanulatus (95)

PanEeolus papilionaceus (96)
Pholiota adiposa (loi)
Pholiota caperata (102)
Pholiota discolor (103)
Pholiota squarrosa (105)
Psathyrella disseminata (ni)
Tricholoma, all species except personatum
FIELD

Color of
Cap
3^ to 5 inches broad.
Gills white; free from
yellow,
greenish,
gray,
brown or
blackish
Whitish,
yellowish
Name
Remarks
White,
(Continued)
Amanita
phalloides
(6)
stem. Stem with ring

and cup.
to
inches
broad.
Stem with cup but no
or reddish-
ring;
Gills free
Amanitopsis
volvata (8)
from
stem.
brown
Grayish-
brown
to 3 inches broad.
Cap the shape of an
inverted cone. Stem
swollen below.
or
sooty-
brown
Grayish-
to
or
blackish-
inches
broad.
fragile.
Gills
Cap
brown
Clitocybe
clavipes (22)
CoUybia platyphylla (34)
Stem white.
white.
brown
Grayish-
to 4 inches broad.
Deeply rooted stem 2
to 8 inches long above
brown or
smokybrown
Reddish
to 2 inches broad.
tufts on
velvety.
yellow or
to
when
wood.
In
Stem
inches
broad.
violet
when
Gills
cinnamon
young,
Collybia
velutipes
(36)
Cortinarius alboviolaceus (40)
Stem taper-
old.
ing upward.
olet tint
Goldenyellow or
tawnyyellow
(35)
ground.
tawny
Pale violet,
buflf, or
white
with vi-
Collybia
radicata
/^ to 3 inches broad.
Cortinarius
Stem
collinitus
Very
slimy.
(42)
scaly.
Whitish,
yellowish, or
pale
rusty
White;
3^
to
inches broad.
Stem at
On wood.
Cap
edge.
shape.
to
inch
irregular
broad.
Attached to wood by
edge or top sur-
downy
Crepidotus fulvo-
tomentosus
(46)
Crepidotus
versutus (48)
its
face.
Cinnamon,
rusty or
buff
inch broad.
to
Gills far apart. Stem
long; hollow; slender.
J^
98
Galera
hypnorum
(54)
; ;

Form
Gills
of
_ ,
,
^^^ ^f
^ ^
^^^
Name
Remarks
Bright red
to
broad.
inches
Waxy;
Stem
fragile.
sometimes vari
Pale red,
colored, red,
and white.
yellow
inches
broad.
but
to
flesh-red
Gills
buff,
flesh-
powdered white when
colored
or rusty
{Continued)
Hygrophorus
puniceus (62)
Laccaria
laccata (69)
old.
Purplish-
to
inches
broad.
Stem
fibrous:
brown,
Waxy,
grayish
or pale
solid.
Laccaria ochro-
purpurea
(70)
tan
Brownish-
to
3/^
inches broad.
saw-like
flesh-
Gills
with
color
edge.
Stem grooved.
Lentinus cochleatus (80)
when
moist;
paler
when dry
White, with
4 to
inches
12
broad.
brown
Gills green; free
scales
stem.
Stem
from
Lepiota
morgani
(83)
with
ring.
inch broad.
to
Shrivels when dry; revives
when moist.
Stem long; blackishbrown; shining.
Rusty-red
darker at
center
Buff or cafe
au
to
in
black
spot at
center
Tawny
rusty
or
broad.
inches broad.
often hemispherlong. DiflS-
to
Cap
Marasmius
oreades (87)
places.
to 14 inch broad.
Cap thin; dry. Gills
far
apart.
Stem
black; shiny.
ic.
panulatus (86)
Stem tough.
some.
Open
Brownish
inches
Large knob at center
lait
Marasmius cam-
Stem
Marasmius
rotula
(89)
Naucoria semiorbicularis (92)
cult.
Tan
or
gray
J^ to
inches broad.
of veil at
Fragments
edge of cap; network

of cracks
on
Long stem.
99
surface.
Panasolus
retirugis
(97)
FIELD

Color of
Cap
Name
Remarks
more broad.
at edge of cap.
extending down
the stem.
White
8 inches or
Stem
hairy
(Continued)
Panus
strigosus (98)
Gills
Shelf (gilled) fungi growing
on wood.
Pleurotus ostreatus (106)

sapidus (107)
ulmarius (108)
Yellow or
Dingy-
brown
to
/^
brown
inch
broad.
mirabilis (109)
to 2 1^ inches broad.
Pluteus
cervinus (no)
pinkish
free
stem.
Stem
separable easily from
cap.
Gills
from
ashy;
rarely
white or
yellow
Smokybrown
to
inch
broad.
or
reddish-
Gills brown.
fragile; slender.
brown
grass.
Red, purple
to
inches
Gills pale yellow
ceous
young;
or
when
inches
broad.
Acrid
taste.
Gills
to
Psilocybe
foenisecii (112)
In
Russula
alutacea
(113)
rusty when
Not forked.
old.
blood-red
Stem
broad.
or oliva-
Rosy
Pluteus ad-
Network of folds on
surface.
Usually
knob at center.
Russula
emetica (ns)
white; brittle.
Whitish,
yellowish
or green-
to 3 inches broad.
Gills white; notched.
stout; solid.
Tricholoma
se-
junctum (126)
Stem
ish-yel-
low;
streaked
with
brown
Silky white
to
inches
Usually
on
broad.
wood.
flesh-colored;
Gills
free from stem. Large
cup at base of stem.
ICO
Volvaria
bomby-
cina (128)
KEY TO COMMON GULED FUNGI

Form
Gills
of
{Continued)
FIELD

Form
Gills
of
(Continued)

Form
Gills
of
(Continued)
FIELD

Form
Gills
of
{Continued)

Color of
Name
Remarks
Cap
Tawny-
(^Continued)
to
broad.
inches
White
reddish
milky
juice,
Lactarius
theiogalus (77)
turning
sulphur-yellow after exposure to
White
to
milky
Grayish-
to
broad.
inches
Downy
or
whitish
surface; acrid
inches
curled
broad.
buflf,
Edge
rusty
ward and inward.
brown
Stem
or
yellowish
White,
to
down-
sometimes
Stem
center.
vellereus (78)
inches
Paxillus
involutus (100)
off
short.
broad.
Stem at edge. In tufts

on wood.
yellowish
ashy,
lilac or
brow-nish
Lactarius
juice.
Pleurotus
ostreatus (106)
& sapideus
(107)
White,
sometimes
with
to 4 inches broad.
Funnel-shaped when
old. Often pit at cen-
yellowish
Gills white, often

greenish when
old.
stains
Stem
Russula
delica (114)
ter.
Yellowish
or dingy
ochre
short: thick.
inches broad.
odor.
Radial
at edge.
Gills
whitish to yellowish.
to
Bad
Russula
fcetens (116)
marks
Cap sticky when
moist.
Green or
grayishgreen
Agaricus,
Amanita,
to
inches
broad.
Flaky patches.
Gills
Russula
virescens (119)
and stem white.
Lepiota,
all species
all species
Amanitopsis, all species

Collybia acervata (31)
Collybia confiuens (32)
Inocybe abundans
(67)
105
all
species
Marasmius campanulatus
(no)
(80)
Pluteus cervinus
Russula virescens (119)

Tricholoma transmutans (127)
Volvaria bombycina (128)
FIELD
Cantharellus.
Whitish,
All species.
inches broad.
to 3;
In tufts on ground;
open places.
grayish,
yellowish
or brown-
{Continued)
Name
Remarks
Cap
Color of
Ij
Clitocybe
multiceps (27)
ish
Tan
or
to 2 inches broad. In
dense tufts on wood.
Stem downy at base.
flesh-red
when
Collybia
acervata (31)
moist;
whitish
when dry
Reddish-
to 1^2 inches broad.

thin; shriveled
dry. Stem long;
brown
or
grayish-
Cap
when
red when
moist;
slender; tough.
Collybia confluens (32)
pallid or
grayish
when dry
I inch long; 14 to
Stem
\t% inch broad.
at edge or absent.
White
3^ to
Whitish,
yellowtinged at
Crepidotus
applanatus(45)
On wood.
to 3 inches broad.
On
ground; open places.
Hypholoma
incertum (64)
purwhitish
plish-brown when old.
Gills
center,
darker
when
moist
Yellowishrusty to
1^ to I inch
clusters
broad.
In
on wood. Pit
Omphalia campanella (93)
at center of cap.
dull
yellow
Yellow or
J^ to
K inch broad.
pale
mossy ground.
orange
thin,
with
center.
Tawny
J^
to
Tough
ed;
pit
On
Cap
Omphalia
fibula (94)
at
inch broad.
kidney-shap-
Panus
stypticus (99)
on wood. Stem at
edge or absent.
Watery-
to 2 inches broad.
cinna-
wood.
mon
ring.
when
moist;
pale
yellow
when dry
106
Stem
On
Pholiota dis-
with
color (103)
*1

Color of
Remarks
Cap
Pale or
},i
dark tan,
yellowish
or chest-
Name
to 2 inches broad.
Gills whitish or yellowish; not attached to
CoUybia
dryophila (33)
Stem brown;
stem.
sometimes bulbous;
nut
(Continued)
to 3 in.
Grayish-
to
Cap
thin;
blackish-
Gills
broad
fragile.
;
Stem white;
brown
broad.
inches
brown or
Collybia platyphylla (34)
white.
3 to 5
inches.
Dark
violet; with
to
Umber
broad.
inches
when
when
^/i
brown;
to 1% inches broad.
In clusters on ground.
Gills
whitish when
young; pink when old,
Entoloma
broad.
Flammula
to
inches
cream; brownish
orange
Gills
buff;
or purple when old.

Stem 2 to 3 inches
long.
purplish
scales
Tawny-
1 1/2
to 2 inches broad.
On ground.
rusty
notched
tawny.
White or
Cortinarius
violaceus (44)
old.
shiny
Wine-buflf,
Gills violet
young; rusty
tufts or
scales
2 to
Gills
Tough.
notched)
polychroa (53)
Hebeloma
precox (56)
or
pallid
4 inches broad.
wood.
palerusty;
strictius (51)
(slightly
On
Gills
Lentinus
lepideus (81)
with saw-teeth.
brownish
scales
Some shade
of
14 ô il4 inches broad.
Clusters on
slender;
hairy at base.
brown
Conic.
White,
3 to 5 inches broad.
On
dead elm wood. Stem
whitish
or yellowish
White, or
Stem
wood.
or gray
Mycena
galeri-
culata (90)
Pleurotus
ulmarius (108)
at edge of cap.
2
yellowish
at center
to 4 inches broad.
Taste acrid or bitter.
Gills
close
Tricholoma
albtmi (122)
together;
white.
Yellowish
to 4 inches.
some-
Taste branny.
times
pale yellow.
brownish
at center
107
Sticky.
Gills
Tricholoma
equestre
(123)
FIELD
I
J
(Continued)
||

Form
of
(Continued)
FIELD
:|j
IDENTIFICATION BY CHARACTER OF THE STEM

Character of
Stem
Name
Remarks
Cap
Color of
to 2 inches broad. In
Gills whitish;
tufts.
Stem
close together.
long; brown or brown-
Pale tan or
flesh-red
when
moist;
whitish
{Continued)
CoUybia
acervata (31)
ish.
when dry
Reddish
inch or more broad.

In tufts; on wood.
Sticky when moist.
yellow or
tawny;
some-
color
lighter
Gills
Collybia
velutipes (36)
than stem.
times
darker at
center
Umber
base
inches broad.
at center.
Elevated
Gills
Pale yellow
to
Gills
young;
Tawny
strictius (51)
color
inches broad.
when
pale
rusty when
Flammula
flavida (52)
bitter
Slight
old.
taste.
Entoloma
when
grayish
flesh
young;
when mature.
Downy
or
hairy at
the
to
(brown
shiny)
to 2 J4 inches broad.
Sweetish milky juice.
Lactarius
subdulcis (76)
to 2 inches broad.
Taste acrid. Wrinkled
Marasmius
or pale
brick-red
and
tan when
Stem 2 to 3
dry.
inches slender tough.
or
brownish-red
Yellowish
old
J4 to
Conic.
On wood.
Radial marks at edge.
brown
or gray
Rose, rosepurple or
lilac
Yellowishrusty to
J^ inches broad.
\4
to iM inches broad.
rose,
plant
Entire
purple or violet.
to
inch
broad.
Tufted on wood.
;
Pit
Mycena
galeri-
culata (90)
Mycena
pura (91)
Omphalia
campanella (93)
at center.
dull
peronatus (88)
when
leathery
;
Some shade
of
yellow
Cinnamon
when
moist;
pale
yellow
to
inches
On wood,
together,
ring.
when dry
IIO
broad.
Gills close
Stem with
Pholiota
discolor (103)

IDENTIFICATION BY CHARACTER OF THE STEM
Character of
Stem
Color of
Cap
Name
Remarks
Yellow or
/^
brown
to
On
inch broad.
wood.
Netword
furrows
on
of
surface.
Gills fiesh-pink when
old.
Orange or
saffron
to 6 inches broad.
Entire
plant
same
yellow
color.
Reddish or
to
pale tan
inches
broad.
Funnel-shaped.
Gills
whitish;
extending
down the stem.
Brownishfiesh-
to 2 inches broad.
Depressed at center.
color
Gills saw-like
!^
White or
to
inches
Pluteus
admirabilis
(109)
Clitocybe
illudens (25)
Clitocybe
infundibuliformis (26)
Lentinus
cochleatus (80)
on edge.
broad.
Tough.
Gills
like at edge.
pale-
rusty
(Continued)
saw-
Lentinus
lepideus (81)
with
brownish scales
White;
more
or
Woody when
hairy
Grayish-
buff,
rusty-
inches.
old.
to 4 inches.
Edge
turned downward and
inward.
Panus
strigosus (98)
Paxillus
involutus (100)
brown
or
yellowish
Pleurotus,
all
species sometimes.
Agaricus,
all
Amanita,
all
species
species.
Amanitopsis,
all
Coprinus,
species.
Lepiota,
Pluteus,
all
all
all
species.
species.
species.
Volvaria, all species.
Ill
FIELD
IDENTIFICATION BY FORM OF THE STEM

Form
of
Stem
Color of
Cap
White or
Name
Remarks
yellowish
to
inches broad.
whitish when
Gills
Agaricus
arvensis (i)
young; turning pink,

then brown and black
when old. Stem with
double ring.
White or
to
inches broad.
turning
pink,
tinged
Gills
with
yellow or
pink
brown and then black
when
brown
Cap
or
all
species.
inches broad.
conic with its
Clitocybe
clavipes (22)
apex downward.
sooty-
brown
to
silvicola (3)
old.
Amanita,
Grayish-
Agaricus
sometimes
darker at
center
Bulbous
at the
Pale or
2 inches broad.
In groups. Gills whitStem I to 3
J^ to
dark tan,
yellowish
or chest-
Collybia
dryophila (33)
ish.
(Sometimes
inches.
bulbous)
nut
Yellow,
reddishyellow or
rusty
Dark
violet
Yellowish-
to 4 inches broad.
Wrinkled surface.
Corrinarius
corrugatus (43)
to 4 inches broad.
Scaly. Gills violet to
rusty; notched.
Cortinarius
violaceus (44)
to
inches broad.
at
center.
brown;
Knob
silky
Radiating cracks.
Inocybe
rimosa (68)
(Slight swel-
hng
White,
with reddish-
4 inches broad.
Elevated center. Gills
free from stem.
to
at base)
Lepiota
americana (82)
brown
scales
White,
with
brown
scales
4 to
12
inches broad.
Gills
white
young, green
mature.
that
merge at
the
center
112
when
when
Lepiota
morgani (83)

Form
Stem
of
(Continued)
FIELD

Form
of
Name
Remarks
Stem
With
{Continued)
Amanita
All species except that ring is slight or

missing in the case of A. rubescens
and sometimes rudimentary in A.
ring,
and cup
(volva)
at base
muscaria.
With cup
Amanitopsis,
all
species.
(volva)
Volvaria, all species.
but
without
ring
Agaricus,
all
species.
Armillaria, all species.
With
Coprinus comatus, in the young plant only.
ring
(Frontispiece)
but
without
cup
(38)
Cortinarius, all species in
(volva)
at base
young plants
only.
Lepiota, all species.
Panaeolus, retirugis (97).
mark
Not a true
ring; a
only.
Pholiota, all species.
Stropharia, all species.
Stem
LONG
Agaricus silvicola
when compared with diameter
Amanitopsis vaginata
Armillaria mellea (10)
Marasmius, all species

Mycena, all species
Naucoria semiorbicularis (92)
Clitocybe illudens (25)

Collybia acervata (31)
Collybia confluens (32)
Collybia radicata (35)
Omphalia
Entoloma
Pholiota squarrosa (when mature)

(105)
strictius (51)
Galera tenera (55)
Stem
'
SHORT
fibula (94)
Panaeolus, all species
(39)
Cortinarius corrugatus (43)
Hygrophorus chlorophanus
Cap
Hygrophorus miniatus (60)

Laccaria laccata (69)
Lentinus cochleatus (80)
Lepiota procera (85)
(3)
(6)
(8)
Amanita phalloides
Coprinus micaceus
of the
(58)

when compared with diameter
Cantharellus cibarius (12)

Cantharellus cinnabarimus (13}
Cantharellus floccosus (14).
Lactarius piperatus (75)
Lactarius theiogalus (77)
Lactarius vellereus (78)
Lentinus lepideus (81)
of the
Cap
Russula alutacea (113)

Russula delica (114)
Russula virescens (119)
Tricholoma equestre (123)
Tricholoma personatum (124)
Tricholoma russula (125)
114

Identification
by Color
Spores
of
Black spored gilled mushrooms (Melanosporae).

Coprinus,
all
species
mentioned in
this
book excepting
Coprinus micaceus, whose spores are brown.

Panceolus,
all species.
Psathyrella, all species.
Brown
or Purplish-Brown spored
gilled
mushrooms (Por-
among
the Coprini.
phyrosporag).
Coprinus micaceus, an exception
All
other Coprini have black spores.
Hypholoma,
all species.
Psilocyhe, all species.
Stropharia,
all species.
Green spored
gilled
mushroom.
Green
Lepiota morgani
Pink spored
is
an exceptional spore color for a
Other species have white spores.
Lepiota.
gilled
mushrooms (Rhodosporae).
Clitopilus, all species.
Entoloma,
all species.
Pluteus, all species.
Volvaria homhycina.
Rusty spored
gilled
mushrooms
(Ochrosporae).
Cortinarius, all species.
Crepidotus, all species.
Flammula,
all
species.
N. B.
The
spores of
Flammula
polychroa are light brown, often with a purple tinge when

fresh.
Galera, all species.
Hebeloma,
all species.
The
spores of
rusty or clay color.

115
Hebeloma
are pale
FIELD
Inocyhe,
all species.
Naucoria,
all species.
Paxillus, all species.

Pholioia, all species.
White spored
Amanita,
gilled
mushrooms
(Leucosporae).
all species.
Amanitopsis,
Armillaria,
all species.
all species.
Cantharellus, all species
mentioned
in this
book excepting
Cantharellus ciharius which has pale yellowish spores.

Clitocyhe, all species.
Collybia, all species.
Hygrophorus,
Laccaria,
all species.
all species.
Lactarius,
mentioned
species
all
Lactarius
deliciosus
in
this
book excepting
with yellowish spores;
Lactarius
theiogalus with yellowish or pale flesh-colored spores.
Lentinus,
all species.
Lepiota,
all
species
mentioned
in
this
book excepting
Lepiota morgani whose spores are green when
first
shed
and slowly turn yellow.

Marasmius,
Mycena,
Omphalia,
Panus,
all
species
all species.
all species.
all species.
Pleurotus,
all
species excepting Pleurotus sapidus,
whose
spores are pale lilac in color.
Russula,
all
species excepting Russula alutacea, which has
yellowish spores; Russula maricB, which has pale yellow

spores.
Sciiizophyllum commune.
Tricholoma,
all species.
ii6

Yellowish spored gilled Mushrooms.
Lactarius deliciosus and Lactarius theiogalus
These Lactarii
are exceptional in the color of their spores.

Lactarii mentioned in this
book have white
Russula alutacea and Russula
tnaricB.
117
All other
spores.
Pictorial Key to Oenera
White Spored
C-ILL-t
Gilled
of
Mushrooms.
Pictorial Key to Genera
Spored
Pink
GILLS FREE
Common
STEM
FROM
of
Mushrooms.
Gilled
GILLS FREE.
FROM
iTEM
LARGE
CUP
AT
BASE
PLUTEUS
VOLVARIA
6ILLS ATTACHED
TO STEM
&ILLS
SOMETIMES
PJNK
NOTCHE.D
REMAIN
WHEN
STEM AT EDGE OF
CAP OR ABSENT
OLD
ul
STEM
^"-^^
RING
'^^^^^^
FLESMVI
CAP
DOWN TlSTEM
RING.
OFTEN ATTACHED BY
ABSENT ,TS TOP
\J
UNCOMMON
ENTOLOMA
ON
CLITOPILUS
GROUND
CLAUDOPUS
ON GROUND
ON WOOD
Pictorial Key to Genera
Common Black
SMALL
AlUSHROOMS
5i
I c
Spored
CAP EASILY DETACHED

FROM STEM
WITH THIN,
of
Giuled Mushrooms.
CAP WITHOUT
STB AT IONS
J
FRAGILE CAP^
STRIATED
MUHEN YOUNG
< o
<
-So
oui^:
"
Sis
o
O J
_ 3 -
U)
o >
PSATHYRELLA
Fig.
6.
Pictorial
COPRINUS
PANAEOLUS
II.
o
z
0<
key to pink spored and black spored

gilled mushrooms.
common
119
Pictorial Key
to
Common
Rusty Spored
Genera
of
Mu&hroom&.
Gilleo
&ILL1. ATTACHED TO STCM

AND USUALLY CHANGE
COLOR WITH AGE. RUbTY
WHEN
OLD
BROVI/N
WEBBY
VEIL IN
YOUNG.
PLANTS
CORTIIMARIUS
IN WOOO&
NEARLY
ICILL^
ALL OROwl
OM WOOD /
(ATTACHED
Ô STEM
OR exTtNOINS
DOWN
/'EDO-E
0<
IT
CAP
NCURVB.O WHEH
YOUNfr
FLAMMULA
HEBELOMA
IRREGULAFt
IN
SHAPE
CREPIDOTUS
CAP OPTEN ATTACHED

TO
SOME SHADE
OF
6Y ITS TOR
^^/ÔOD
l/SUALLY
YELLOW
SMALL AND
FRA&ILE
STEH
SOMETIMtb
WITH A
SPORE -STAINE.es
RIN&-LlKe
BANO.
STEM
FRAC-ILE
HOLLOW
oj
to
<
.30
OO
111
Ul2 *
Fig.
7.
NAUCOJÎA
RESEMBLES WHITE
SPOREO CoLLYBiA
Pictorial
GALERA
RESEMBLtS WHITE SPORED
MYCENA
key to genera of rusty spored

gilled mushrooms.
120
common
Key
Pictorial
Gene.ra
to
PuRPuE AND Dark Brown Spored
STEM
OF DlfFEKt.nr
DETACHED
op
Commoh
STRUCTURE FROM
FROM IT
CAP
Aoarics.
AND EASILY
GILLS TURN
DARK WHEN
OLD
RIN& ON STEM
AGARICUS
&ROVI/I/NO
STEM
SAME
EASILY DETACHED
CM
A^ROUND
AS CAP AND
STRUCTURE.
OF
FROM
NOT
IT.
^5i7^^
^^fi^?
PR.AGMENTS
TO THE srEM
OF WEIL AT EDGE
OP CAP IN YOUN&,
PLANT*
STEM
WITH
RIN&
U} CUP
^_y ABSENT
HYPHOLOMA
MANY SPECIES
IN
&ROMr
CLUSTERS.
STEM AND CAP

NOT
Stropharia
K^
EASILY
OF
DIFFERENT
SEPARATED FROM
CAPS
EOG-e TURNE.0
STRUCTURE BUT
EACH OTHER.
SMOOTK
IN
WHEN
&ILLS BROWN OR
PURPLISH wHEtt
OLD.
YOONC.
'////
STEM
HOLLOW oa
STUFFEa
PS LOG Y BE
I
ON OROUND
Fig.
8.
Pictorial key to genera

spored
common
121
and dark brown

mushrooms.
of purple
gilled
TABULAR VIEW OF THE GfNERA OF AGARICAE

tUCOSPORAE-RHOPO$POR/\E-OCHR05?ORAE-PORPH\'ROSPORAe-MWN(KPORA
(Wh/fe)
AM/^NITA
(pink)
(mom)
i?vR?in
f:
V*!LV4^l%
f^nôjiToPsis
LLPIOTA
I
TWTfllS
ARMILLARIA'
B4<^0TA
STAOPH^H
cmjrmmms
TRlCHOLOhA
LACTARIUS
11U55ULA
WfBtLOHA
ClfroidHA
MtPHOtdfl^l
fWOCYBE
FLAmnULA
roPitus
a(TocY&
PLEUROTUS
TANUS
CePlDOTU&
SCHi20fVLU>M|
COILYBIA
HARASniUS
'^VCEf^tA
OhPHALiA
UPTONIA NAUCORIA
iNtftAN^ GALEHft
PSftjOCY&e
(black;
CHAPTER V
DESCRIPTIONS OF GENERA AND SPECIES OF
123
GENERA AND SPECIES OF MUSHROOMS

The genus Agaricus
The genus Agaricus
species as
collar
have
includes only
their gills free
upon the stem.
All of
such brown
spored
from the stem with a ring or
them grow upon the ground
only.
Species of Agaricus
Agaricus arvensis; horse mushroom.
On ground
Species
2,
in cultivated fields, grassy pastures
i.
and waste
found under trees and even within
It is occasionally
places.
Plate
the borders of thin woods; scattered or in groups; July to
September; edible.
Cap smooth, or
its surface);
slightly flocculent (with
a few flakes upon
white or yellowish; 2 to 5 inches broad.
very slightly pinkish; turning dull
Gills at first whitish or
pink, then blackish brown; near together; free from the stem.
Stem stout hollow somewhat thicker or bulbous at the base;

;
white; with a double ring, the upper part membranous, the
lower part thicker,
Spores brown;
split radially, yellowish; 2 to
elliptic;
The horse mushroom,
much
supposed
it
to be a
mere variety
notable differences are
bulbous stem,
of the
young
also called
common mushroom
like the
its
meadow mushroom,
somewhat
and the paler
No
serious
confused with the
room.
On ground
harm could come
common mushroom.
Agaricus campestris;
Plate
2,
in
if
it
common mushroom;
Species
mushroom
Common
should be
Peck.
edible
mush-
2.
in grassy places, in pastures,
manured ground,
gills
in dried specimens is apt to
assume a yellow color which does not pertain to the
mushroom.
so
The most
of that species.
larger size, its hollow,
The cap
is
that some botanists have
peculiar veil or collar
its
plant.
4 inches long.
.0003 to .0004 inches long.
on lawns and
beds, never in thick woods;
singly or in groups; latter part of July to September; edible.
125
PLATE
II.
PLATE
II.

Cap
silky or with scales; in very
young plants the cap
almost globular or hemispheric and the

(buttons)
when
older the cap expands
from the margin revealing the
when mature the cap
is
are concealed
gills
and the
veil separates
delicate- tinted pinkish gills;
broadly expanded or nearly
flat;
margin, especially in young plants extends beyond the
gills;
is
white or with dingy hues; flesh white or with a tendency to
become pinkish when

peeled
cut; taste mild
and pleasant; may be
>^ to 3 inches wide.
Gills near together; pink
when young, turning brown and
then black with age; free from stem.
Stem smooth; white
or whitish; short; with a ring
when
young; stuffed; cylindric; 2 to 3 inches long.

Spores brown;
elliptic;
The common mushroom, sometimes

mushroom, as
if
it
the
called
edible
were the only edible species known,
is
perhaps more generally used and better known than any

other.
one commonly cultivated and the one most
It is the
often seen on the tables of the rich and of restaurants and
sought in some of our
It is so eagerly
public houses.
that
it is difficult
cities
to find the wild ones near these towns, for
they are gathered as soon as they appear, and the cultivated

ones bring prices above the reach of the poor.
Agaricus silvicola; forest mushroom.
On ground
in
Plate
woods and groves; scattered or
II,
Species
singly;
3.
August
to September; edible.
Cap convex or expanded; often with an elevation or umbo
in
the center; smooth or slightly silky; white or tinged with yellow

or pink; flesh whitish or tinged with pink; 2 to 5 inches broad.
from stem; rounded near the
Gills thin; close together; free
stem; pinkish
brown or
Stem
when young, becoming darker when
old; finally
blackish- brown.
long; with a ring which
is
127
sometimes double; smooth;
FIELD
bulbous at base; white, often yellowish below; stuffed or

hollow; 4 to 6 inches long.
Spores brown;
elliptic;
.0003 long, .00016 broad.
an attractive plant because of
It is
graceful habit
its
the delicate shades of yellow and white.
The
forest
mushroom has been regarded by some mycolo-
a variety of the
gists as
easily distinguished
by
its
and
Atkinson.
by
common mushroom, from which

its
longer, hollow bulbous
place of growth (woods).
it is
stem and
Peck.
The genus Amanita

The genus
known under
of fungi
The very young
cup.
membrane
name
this
At
acteristic peculiarities of the stem.
its
possess char-
base
is
a volva or
plants are wholly enveloped in a
or universal veil which
is
ruptured by the growth
of the plant, the portion persisting at the
above-mentioned cup or sheath.
bottom forming the
That portion
of the univer-
which in the young plant covers the cap, remains
sal veil
in
the mature plants of some of the species in the form of patches

or warts, often easily separable.
these warts are washed off
from the stem which

or ring.
The
appearance.
to this
is
It
by the
sometimes happens that

rain.
furnished with a
The
gills
are free
membranous
collar
plants are generally large and attractive in
Inasmuch as our most dangerous
genus the amateur should avoid eating
species belong
all
mushrooms
having stems with a cup at the bottom or with a ring upon the
stem in connection with any suspicion of a cup at the bottom.

Species of Amanita
Amanita caesarea;
royal agaric.
On
but
Caesar's
mushroom; orange amanita;
Plate III, Species
4.
ground, in woods; scattered; July to September; edible
EAT NOT.
Cap orange or red fading on the margin; smooth except

128
at

where
the margin
it
furrowed or
is
striate;
bell-shaped,
becoming expanded when old and then the surface

nearly
may
be
or the center elevated; 3 to 6 inches broad; flesh
flat
white or tinged with yellow.

Gills yellow; free
Stem
broad
from stem.
yellow; with a broad yellowish ring hanging like a
collar
base where
from the upper part;
it is
slightly bulbous at the
is
covered by the large sac-like white volva or
cup; hollow or stuffed; 4 to 6 inches long; yi inch or more in

thickness.
Spores white;
The
elliptical;
.0003 to .0004 inch long.
colors of the plant are generally deeper in large speci-
mens.
The
species
account of
is
not
common
in
America but
is
described on
importance and beauty.
its
The fly amanita, (Amanita muscaria) resembles this

mushroom in size, shape and color of the cap, but in other
respects they are quite distinct.
Peck.
The chief distinctive characters may be contrasted as follows:

Fly amanita. Cap warty, gills white, stem white or slightly
yellowish.
Orange amanita. Capsmooth, gills yellow, stem yellow. Peck.
Amanita muscaria;
On ground,
POISONOUS.
in
fly
amanita;
fly agaric; false
Plate III, Species
fly poison.
woods and open
places;
June to
Cap bright red or orange when young, fading

the margin
when mature;
orange;
5.
frost;
to yellow on
occasionally white throughout;
smooth, sometimes with minute furrows or striate on margin;
adorned with white or yellowish warts or

if
these have been washed off
just
by
scales, or
smooth
rain; flesh white or yellowish
imder the skin or peel; 3 to 8 inches broad; slightly viscid
when
fresh.
Murrill.
129
PLATE
III.
PLATE
III.
^^h.
^
\
î
IX

from stem; rarely tinged with yellow.
Gills white; free
Stem furnished with a
bulbous at the base;
collar or ring;
the bulb as well as the base of the stem
scaly at times from
is
the adhering fragments of the wrapper or universal
veil,
the
remains of which do not form such a well-defined cup or

sheath as
is
the case in some other amanitae, such as Amanita
phalloides; white or slightly tinged with yellow; 4 to 6 inches

long.
Spores white; broadly
The
fly
species.
amanita
It is also
have seen a
single
common
poisonous
very variable in color and in the
It is generally a
cap.
elliptic;
one of our most
is
most showy and attractive
cap surrounded by a
that had sipped the viscid juice from
size of its
plant.
circle of lifeless flies
its
moist surface and
fallen victims to its virulent properties before leaving the
place of their fatal repast.
northern Asia
steeping
it
make an
in water.
Infusions of
it
Some
of the people of
intoxicating liquor of this fungus
by
Peck.
are used as a fly poison.
handsome plant because
It is
a striking and
of the usually brilliant coloring of
the cap in contrast with the white stems and

usually white scales on the surface.
gills,
and the
Atkinson.
The poisonous properties of this fungus are due to a principle

known as muscarin which is used as a medicine and the
antidote to which
is
atropin,
an alkaloid extracted from the
belladonna plant.
Amanita phalloides; poison amanita; destroying angel;

deadly amanita.
On
Plate III, Species
ground, in woods, groves,
pastures; July to October;
6.
open places and bushy
POISONOUS.
Cap bell-shaped or almost globular when young, becoming

nearly plane
when
fresh
when mature;
surface slightly viscid (sticky)
and moist; smooth or decorated with scattered

131
FIELD
warty

margin
patches;
rarely
extremely
flesh
striated;
poisonous but not objectionable to the taste, sometimes with
a disagreeable odor; smooth; varying in color from

to
pujre
white
gray,
brown or
bellied,
sometimes
smoky-olive,
yellowish-green,
yellow,
blackish; i>^ to 5 inches broad.
white;
Gills
free
from stem; broad;
adnexed (adjacent to stem).
Stem
(Murrill.)
usually white; sharply bulbous at the base; with a
wide ring near the upper end; usually white; smooth or

slightly scaly; stuffed or hollow; 2>^ to 6 inches long; with a
volva or cup at bottom.
Spores white; smooth; globular; hyaline (glassy); 7-10

microns in diameter.
The poison amanita

and yet
most
is
is
very variable in the color of the cap
so definite in its structural characters that only the
would be
careless observer
other species.
acter about
it.
There
It is
is,
might be good enough to eat."
if
appearance
fortified
is
unpleasant odor or taste,

for probably there
is
not a more poisonous or dangerous
To
eat
The differences between Amanita

Poison amanita.
This
by the absence of any decidedly

but let him who would eat it beware,
species in our mycological flora.
common mushroom
with any
very neat and attractive in its appearance
and "looks as
it
likely to confuse it
however, a sort of deceptive char-
it is
to invite death.
phalloides
and the
are these:
Gills persistently white;
stem equal
longer than the diameter of the cap; with a hroad
to
or
distinct bulb
at the base.
Common mushroom.
stem
base.
shorter
Gills pink, becoming blackish-brown;
than the diameter of the cap, with no bulb at the
Peck.
Since the Amanita Phalloides occurs usually in woods, or
along borders of woods, there
is little
danger of confusing
it
with edible mushrooms collected in lawns distant from the

132

woods and
in
species in a
lawn distant from the woods.
open
However,
fields.
found several of this
This should cause
those not thoroughly familiar with the appearance of
the plant to be extremely cautious against eating
mushrooms
simply because they were not collected in or near the woods.
The bulb
of the deadly
in the soil or leaf-mold,
amanita
is
usually inserted quite deep
and specimens are often picked leaving
the very important character of the volva in the ground, and
then the plant might easily be taken for the
common mush-
room, or more likely for the smooth lepiota, Lepiota naucina,
which
pink
entirely white, the gills only in age showing a faint
is
tinge.
very important, therefore, that until one
It is
has such familiarity with these plants that they are easily
recognized in the absence of some of these characters, the stem
should be carefully dug from the
soil.
Poisoning by Amanita phalloides
Atkinson,
when eaten
in sufficient
quantity was invariably fatal in spite of medical treatment

until
recently.
Dr.
Pasteur Institute,
Dujarric de la Riviere, head of the
has succeeded in preparing
Paris,
serum which has saved the
antitoxic
lives of persons
apparently fatally poisoned by this so-called
He
angel."
ique).
"destroying
serum {serum antiphallin-
calls it antiphallinic
The Government
an
who were
of France has lately passed a law
requiring that each department of that nation shall keep a
supply of
it
ready for use by physicians.
Yearly deaths in
New York
City from Amanita poisoning
vary in number but have been so high as
thirty.
It is to
hoped that the new method of treatment may soon be
be
avail-
able in this country.
Amanita rubescens; Venenarius rubens; blushing venenarius.
Plate III, Species
Cap egg-shaped
at
first,
7.
then convex and later expanded;
surface adorned with thin flaky or
133
mealy warts; variable
in
FIELD
color but always tinged with reddish or with brownish-red,
changing slowly to reddish when bruised; pleasant odor and

taste;
margin smooth or with
slight furrows (striate); flesh
white, changing slowly to reddish
when
bruised 3 to 5 inches
;
broad.
Gills free
from stem or adjacent to
it
(slightly
adnexed);
close together; white; characteristically chalky white
when
dry.
Stem with a
ring or collar
upon
its
upper portion; bulbous
at the base; with small scales; whitish, but generally with dull
reddish stains especially near the base; stuffed; 3 to 6 inches

long.
Spores
to
1 1
white;
ellipsoid;
smooth;
glassy
(hyaline);
10
6 to 7 microns in diameter.
Found commonly in woods and groves from Maine to

Alabama and west to Ohio. On ground. Edible but EAT
NOT.
The genus Amanitopsis

This genus resembles the amanita family in that each
species belonging to
end of the stem.
it
The
has a cup or sheath enclosing the lower

spores are also white and the
gills free
from the stem.
The principal feature wherein the genus Amanitopsis differs

from Amanita is in the absence of a collar or ring upon the
stem.
Species of Amanitopsis
Amanitopsis vaginata; sheathed amanitopsis.
Species
On ground
in
Plate IV,
8.
or on
woods and open
much decayed wood;

places;
singly or scattered
June to October; edible but
NOT.
134
EAT

Cap rather
smooth or adorned when young with a
thin;
few adherent fragments of the
veil
(warty); bell-shaped to
expanded; sometimes umbonate; deeply (striated) furrowed

at the margin; regular in form but fragile and easily broken;
exceedingly variable in color, ranging from reddish white to
reddish-brown or leaden-brown; 2 to 4 inches broad.

Gills free
from stem; white or whitish;
Stem without a
fragile.
ring but sheathed at the base
remains of the rather long, thin, flabby volva
smooth or adorned with minute
scales;
(veil
by the torn
or wrapper)
variable in color;
hollow or stuffed; portions of the conspicuous white volva

are sometimes carried
3 to 5 inches long,
up as patches on the
cap.
Murrill.
K to ^ inch thick.
Spores white; globular; smooth; glassy (hyaline); 8-10
The sheath
or wrapper at the base of the stem adheres so
slightly to the
sheath
that
is left
it is
stem that
if
the plant
in the ground.
My
is
carelessly pulled the
own
experience indicates
a fairly good mushroom, but there are
that I like better.
many
others
Peck.
This attractive and very variable species
is
abundant
in
woods throughout Europe and North America during summer

and autumn and possesses
excellent edible qualities.
It
may
be distinguished from species of Amanita, some of which are

deadly poisonous, by the total absence of a ring on the stem,
although the conspicuous volva at the base suggests
relationship to that genus.
by
this species are often
The
its close
variations in color presented
very bewildering to the beginner.
Murrill.
Amanitopsis volvata Large-sheathed amanitopsis,

;
IV, Species
On ground
in
Plate
9.
and near woods; July
OUS.
135
to October;
POISON-
PLATE
IV.
Description on page.
Species No.
8
Amanitopsis vaginata
Amanitopsis volvata
10
Armillaria mellea
11
Cantharellus aurantiacus
^34
.135
.139
^37
PLATE
IV.
M'
'

Cap
to 3 inches broad; hemispheric
when mature.
Powdery or
when young;
flat
Dull white, yellowish or rarely reddish-brown.
flaky surface; fragile.
Gills free
from stem; white; rounded near stem; broad;
near together.
Stem
variable; 2 to 3 inches long; slender; cylindric or
tapering upward;
enlarged at the base;
downy;
whitish;
stuffed or solid; with a very large volva that
is
more or
less
lobed.
Spores white; somewhat
elliptical;
waxy; 10-12 by 6-7
From New England

most noticeable feature
of the stem.
to
Alabama and west
This
is
collar
Armillaria
a white-spored genus which has the
by
but there
easily separable
which
this
The stem
their inner extremity.

is
gills
attached
usually has a
no wrapper or cup at the base as
genera Amanita or Amanitopsis.
in
Its
Murrill.
The genus
to the stem
to Ohio.
the immense cup or volva at base
is
The stem
is
fibrous
in the
and not
from the substance of the cap, another feature

genus
differs
from Amanita and also from
Lepiota.
Species of Armillaria
Armillaria
mellea;
honey colored mushroom; honey-
colored armillaria; honey agaric. Plate IV, Species 10.
On ground or on decaying wood
in
woods or in cleared land;
solitary or in groups, tufts or clusters;
summer and autumn;
edible.
Cap convex
to expanded pale
;
honey yellow to dark reddish-
brown; very variable in color and form but once known

easily recognized;
is
adorned with minute tufts of brown or

137
FIELD
blackish hairs, but sometimes smooth;
when
old sometimes
with minute radial furrows (striate) at the margin; center
sometimes prominent (umbonate);
somewhat
flesh
white or whitish,
and unpleasant to the taste (raw);
acrid
to 6
inches broad.
Gills attached to the
stem or even extending down
it
(adnate
becoming discolored or
white or whitish,
or decurrent);
spotted with age.
Stem adorned with a

ring
is
collar or ring in its
upper portion; this
sometimes white and cottony or thin and
variable,
webby and disappearing when
(stem) honey-colored,
old;
reddish-brown, or dirty brown below, paler above; firm;
spongy within; usually having flakes or
fibrous;
it
below the ring

Spores white;
to 6 inches long
elliptic;
>^ to
scales
upon
^ inches thick.
smooth; glassy (hyaline): 7-10 m.
long.
The honey-colored armillaria is very plentiful and extremely

The stem may be of uniform thickness or thickened
variable.
at the base or even narrowed almost to a point here.
variety
it
In one
has a distinctly bulbous base, in another a tapering
base like a tap root wh^ch penetrates the earth deeply.
The
plants rarely appear plentifully before the last of September.
Peck.
Very widely distributed and very abundant on stumps and

buried roots of both deciduous trees and evergreens, on which
it
grows as a parasite, the sporophores (mushrooms) appearing
in dense clusters in
autumn and the
shining
brown cords or
rhizomorphs being often seen in dead logs and stumps.
the forester this

the
gill-fungi.
is
probably the most important species of
It is also
Europe and about

quality.
much used
New York
To
all
as an article of food in
City,
although of inferior
Murrill.
Its clustered habit, the usually
and the sharp, blackish,
prominent ring on the stem,
erect scales
138
which usually adorn the

mark
center of the cap,
most
The
cases.
so that
some
colors
it
as an easy plant to determine in
and markings however, vary
of the forms are very puzzling.
greatly,
Atkinson.
The genus Cantharellus

The genus Cantharellus
the
gills
is
distinguished
by the character of
which have an obtuse or blunt edge and are mostly
They
forked or branched.
are also generally narrow.
general appearance the species are not

of Clitocybe for the gills extend
down
much
In
unlike species
the stem (decurrent),
but their thick branching habit and blunt edge give the plant
a distinct character.
In
veins, folds or wrinkles,
many
species the gills look like
but in some species, as Cantharellus
aurantiacus, they are rather thin and broad.
grow on the ground except C.
All species
crispus.
Species of Cantharellus
Cantharellus
aurantiacus;
chantarelle.
On
orange
chantarelle;
false
Plate IV, Species ii.
ground; in woods and uncultivated places; July to
October; edible.
Cap
fleshy; soft; plane or depressed at the center
shaped)
tose)
(funnd-
covered with a fine wooly surface (minutely tomen-
yellowish-orange, sometimes tinged with smoky-brown,
or brownish in the center only; flesh whitish or yellowish;

I
to 3 inches broad.
Gills narrow; extending
down
the stem (decurrent); close
together; reddish orange; repeatedly forked.
Stem
cylindric or slightly tapering
upward; smooth;
solid;
color of cap or paler; sometimes
becoming hollow with age
(Atkinson);
to
to 3 inches long;
Spores white; slightly
The orange
elliptic;
chantarelle
is
ye
^ inch thick.
6-8 x 4-5 microns in diameter.
sharply separated from the other

139
FIELD
by
species
its
usually bright orange
and repeatedly forked.
gills
which are regularly
The extreme margin is frequently
(curved in) decurved or involute.
was formerly reputed poisonous or dangerous and credited
It
with
my own
In
with having a disagreeable flavor.
trials of eating it
have shown
it
to be perfectly harmless.
therefore have no hesitation in adding
it
to our
list
of edible
Peck.
species.
This orange cantharellus
summer
nmon and
very co
is
ground or on very rotten wood,

to very late autumn.
It is easily
and regularly forked and by the
The
depressed or funnel-shaped.
somewhat
bitterish.
occurs on the
branches,
logs,
orange or brownish pileus (cap), yellow
gills,
taste
is
etc.,
known by
from
its dull
which are thin
pileus being
more or
less
somewhat nutty,
Atkinson.
Plate V, Species 12.
Cantharellus cibarius; chantarelle.
On
experiments
the flavor has been found to be agreeable and fair
it
ground in woods and open places; commonly in groups,
but sometimes in curved
Cap
lines;
fleshy; firm; convex,
June to September;
edible.
becoming expanded or depressed
at the center (funnel-shaped); smooth; chrome (egg) yellow;
the margin
often
when young turning
wavy
little
in
but later spreading and
or irregular; flesh white; taste
pungent or acrid;
when raw
often
to 3 inches broad.
Gills far apart; thick; narrow; forked; extending
down
the
stem (decurrent) yellow.

;
Stem
variable in length; firm; smooth; solid; yellow; often
curved; sometimes tapers downward.

sidered as good as the cap for food;
By
some,
it
is
con-
to 2 inches long; J^ to
}i inch thick.
Spores pale yellowish;
The
most
chantarelle
easily
is
elliptic;
.0003 inch to .0004 inch long.
beautiful in color
recognized.
Its
color
140
is
if
not in shape and
is
a uniform rich egg-
Fig.
Fig.
9.
Species
13.
Cantharellus cinnabarinus.
Photo by author.
See Plate V.
9.

yellow, which
is
This extends to
very constant.
the plant except the inner flesh which
The orange
aurantiacus,
is
It
its gills,
may
at once be recognized
by the
which are also thinner and more close
The
and are regularly and repeatedly forked.
color of its
a paler and more dingy yellow, varied with smoky-
is
Peck.
tints.
V, Species
13, also
Figure 9.
In woods and open places; July to September;
Cap
Cantharellus
chantarelle or false chantarelle,
edible chantarelle.
brown
of
the only species liable to be mistaken for the
is
orange color of
cap
all "parts
white.
firm;
edible.
convex or slightly depressed in the center; often
irregular in shape, with a
cinnabar red; flesh white;

Gills narrow; blunt
or forked; extending
wavy
size,
on edges;
down
or lobed margin; smooth;
}4 to lyz inches in diameter.

far apart (distant);
branched
the stem (decurrent); red like the
surface of the cap.
Stem equal
or tapering
downward smooth
;
solid or stuffed
red like the cap.
Spores white;
elliptic;
.0003 to .0004 of an inch long, .00016
to .0002 broad.
The cinnabar
chantarelle
is
readily recognized
by
its color.
It is externally red in all its parts, the interior only being
white.
is
paler
The
color
even disappear
This
is
quite constant, but in
and approaches a pinkish hue.
it
in dried specimens.
mushroom sometimes
which adds to
some instances
It is apt to fade or
its
occurs in great abundance,
importance as an edible
species.
The
fresh
plant has a tardily and slightly acrid flavor, but this disappears
in cooking.
It is
a small species but often quite irregular in shape.
Small specimens are more likely to be regular than large ones.

141
PLATE
'***%
%)!
*^
d^.
^^
"X
17
^*f
J^
V.

Sometimes the cap
almost
more
is
developed on one side than
fully
This makes the stem eccentric or in some cases
on the other.
lateral.
Cantharellus crispus; Species
On wood,
trunks of trees,
No
14.
illustration.
September to November;
etc.
in tufts often.
Cap thin expanded

;
hairs,
pubescent (covered with soft
villous or
downy); yellowish brown; often lobed; 4 to 8 inches
broad.
narrow;
Gills
(forked); crisped
Stem
close
together;
(wavy or
lateral (at the
dichotomously
curled); glaucus
branched
(grayish) green.
margin) or absent.
Spores white.
Cantharellus dichotomus dichotomous chantarelle; prob;
ably identical with Cantharellus umbonatus Fr. Plate

V, Species
On ground
places
in
among
15.
woods among mosses or
grasses
and
in pastures
and bushy
fallen leaves; in groups;
July to
September.
Cap rather
when young, becoming convex, plane or

when mature; margin turned in and
conical
depressed at the center
downy when young;
fleshy; soft
and
flexible;
sometimes with
a small knob at the center; smooth; dry; color variable,

grayish-white,
grayish-brown,
brown or bluish-gray
flesh v/hite
yellowish-brown,
;
taste mild
>^ to
blackishi
^ inches
broad.
Gills narrow; close together; forked
ing
down
i,
2 or 3 times; extend-
the stem; white or whitish; sometimes tinged with
yellow.
Stem sometimes
tapering upward a
pallid or color of the cap,
little; solid;
whitish or
and when growing among mosses

143
is
FIELD
clothed below with a soft white

to the mosses,
down which binds
smooth or with minute
upon
fibrils
it
it;
closely
i
to 3
inches long.
Spores white; narrow
ellipses .0003 to .0004
long by .00016
inch broad.
The dichotomous
in our hilly
chantarelle
and mountainous
is
a small but
common
It is related so closely to Cantharellus
umbonatus that
has been sometimes regarded as a variety of
been confused with
it,
species
districts.
but the
gills
it
it
or has even
of that species
have been
described as straight, and in our plant they are constantly
repeatedly forked as in C. aurantiacus and C. albidus.
Cantharellus floccosus; floccose chantarelle.
Peck.
Plate V,
Species 16.
On ground
in
woods; in groups; July to September; edible.
Cap funnel-form or trumpet-shaped, deeply excavated;

firm; rather thin; surface somewhat scaly; yellowish inclining
to rusty; 2 to 4 inches broad at the top, 3 to 6 inches long.
Gills narrow; thick; blunt
and branched
network of them;
extending
'
on the edge; repeatedly forked
so that the lower surface of the cap has a coarse
down
gills
and interspaces rusty or yellowish;
the stem.
Stem short; smooth or hairy; sometimes elongated and bent.

Spores rusty colored; elliptic; .0005 to .0006 inch long by
.0003 inch broad with a small oblique point at one end; usually
with one nucleus.
The
floccose chantarelle
is
nothing with which
There
is
young
it is
can easily be confused.
When
narrowly club-shape or almost cylindric, but soon
becomes trumpet-shaped.
very satisfactory, and
the table.
a large and very distinct species.

it
My trial of its edible qualities was
consider
Peck.
144
it
a very good mushroom for

Cantharellus inf undibulif onnis
Plate V, Species
On
17.
damp woods
ground; in
funnel-form chantarelle.
or mossy, shaded
swamps;
in
groups, sometimes in tufts; June to October; edible.

thin; broadly convex
Cap
the center or funnel-shaped
wavy
when young becoming

when
pitted at
older; frequently lobed,
or irregular on the margin; water-soaked in appearance
(hygrophanous) when moist; sooty brown, brownish-yellow

or dingy yellow
or grayish
when
brown and
moist; sooty brown, brownish-yellow

slightly scaly
when
dry;
to 2 inches
broad.
Gills narrow; far apart; extending
rent);
down
ashy, becoming dusted
Stem
when
the stem (decur-
yellowish or slightly
irregularly forked or branched;
old or in drying.
slender; smooth; hollow; yellow or yellowish;
to 4
inches long.
elliptic or globular;
Spores white; broadly
.00035 to .00045
inch long.
more highly colored when moist and becomes
Its cap is
paler with the loss of moisture. In
some specimens the margin
becomes wavy, folded or lobed and presents a very irregular
The
appearance.
gills
appear in maturity as
if
frosted or
covered with a minute whitish dust or mealiness.
one of the characters distinguishing
this species
This
is
from the
For edible purposes the separation of
yellowish chantarelle.
the funneUform chantarelle and the yellowish chantarelle
not of
much
importance.
Cantharellus minor; small chantarelle.
On ground
in thin
is
Peck.
woods and open
Plate V, Species
places;
18.
June and July;
in groups or sparse clusters; edible.
Cap
thin;
convex or nearly plane; often depressed at center
or with pit at center
(umbilicate)
145
smooth; yellow;
flesh
FIELD
whitish or pale yellow; often

size
^ to
far
Gills
wavy
or irregular on the margin;
inch.
extending
apart;
down
the.
stem (decurrent);
seldom branched or forked; yellow.
Stem
when young, hollow when old;

down at base; size, i to ijE^ inches
slender; smooth; solid
yellow; often with whitish
long and Via to Ve inch thick.
Spores white.
The small
chantarelle
is
almost exactly like the chantarelle
(Cantharellus cibarius) in color but

smaller size and
is
easily recognized
more slender appearance,
its
by
its
stem being
proportionately longer.
Although of excellent flavor
its
small size detracts from
its
importance as an edible mushroom, but sometimes in wet
showery weather
it
appears in sufficient abundance to
available for the table.
make it
Peck.
The genus
Clitocybe
The white-spored genus Clitocybe differs from Tricholoma

They are attached to the stem
gills.
in the character of the
to their extremity as in that species but they are not notched
or excavated on the edge near the stem, and they generally
extend
down
the stem (decurrent).
with the stem and hence
None
are
known
is
The
flesh is
continuous
not easily separated from
it.
to be fatally poisonous.
Species of Clitocybe
Clitocybe albidula; Clitocybe centralis; whitish clitocybe.
Species 19; Figure
On
10.
ground; in pine or mixed woods; in groups; September
and October; Peck does not say whether
Cap
thin;
edible or not.
convex or nearly plane; with a pit or depression

146

when mature; smooth; whitish tinged with
at the center
brown; wholly or in the center only when moist, whitish when

dry; flesh whitish; taste and odor like bran (farinaceous);
]4.
to i>^ inches broad.

Gills thin; close together; attached broadly to the
extending slightly
Stem
down
short; cylindric;
or hollow
(adnate or decurrent)
it
smooth or
color of the cap
stem or
whitish.
slightly frosted; stuffed
to 2 inches long.
elliptic;
5-6 x 2.5-3 microns in
diameter.
Common.
Peck.
|
very
albissima;
Clitocybe
white
Plate V,
clitocybe.
Species 20.
On
ground; in woods; in groups or sometimes growing in
and September; Edibility doubtful.
arcs of circles; August
whether edible or not.
Cap
fleshy,
convex
or nearly plane; dry; soft;
even surface;
pure white; inodorous; 2 to 3 inches broad.

decurrent)
some
Stem smooth;
Spores white;
of
dried specimens.
them forked
solid; white;
ellipsoid;
The pure white
color
...
stem or extending down
It is
(adnate or
at the base; white.
'
iK^ to 3 inches long.
8x5
and
it
'
soft texture are retained
by the
an attractive, neat-looking
species.
Peck.
Clitocybe candicans; whitish clitocybe.
Plate V, Species
21.
On
ground;
among
September and October.
fallen
leaves in woods;
Should not be eaten.
in
groups;
It resembles
,
too closely a poisonous species, Clitocybe sudorifica.
Clitocybe dealbata.)
(See
147
FIELD
Cap
a
slightly fleshy; convex,
becoming plane or depressed;
pit at the center (umbilicate)
regular; rarely, the
stem
is
placed to one side of the center; glossy, with a superficial silky
white when moist, shining white when dry; diameter yi
film;
iX
to
inches.
very thin; close together; attached to
Gills
(adnate),
later
extending
down
it
(becoming
stem
the
decurrent);
white.
Stem even; smooth, waxy and polished
cartilaginous hollow
or nearly so; often curved; rooting and hairy at the base

(villose)
^ inch to 2 inches long.
Spores white; 4-6 x 4 microns in diameter.

Said by Cooke to be farinaceous.
tough.
Small and somewhat
Peck.
Clitocybe clavipes; club
stem clitocybe.
Plate XIII,
Species 22.
On
ground; in woods; solitary, in groups or rarely in tufts;
July to October; edible.
Cap very fleshy; generally shaped like a cone with its apex
downward, sometime? with a small knob at the center of the
convex or nearly plane upper surface;
soft;
grayish-brown,
sooty brown, sometimes darker at the center;

taste mild;
flesh white;
to 3 inches broad.
Gills extending
down
the stem (decurrent); rather broad;
cream-colored or white.
Stem tapering upward from a thickened

soft
and spongy within; smooth or with
base; solid; elastic;

slight fibrils
on the
surface; color of cap or paler; j^ to 3 inches long.
Spores
The
its
ellipsoid; 'white;
club
stemmed
peculiar shape
and
clitocybe
colors.
may
easily
be recognized by
The cap may be compared
to
a very broad and short inverted cone and the stem to a very
narrow elongated cone, the apices of the

148
tv;o being united.
Fig. 10.
Cap
Above,
Species No. 19.

Clitocybe albidula.
brown wholly or in the center when
whitish, tinged with

moist; whitish when dry.
Description on page 146.
Below (Species No. 24). Clitocybe dealbata.

almost glossy.
149
Cap
white,
FIELD
Between the brown upper surface

colored stem the white
gills
Fries says that this species
spongy texture, but
dry.
if
and the
not edible on account of
is
may not
it
After heavy rains
similarly-
to separate them.
and
I find it pleasant-flavored
and see no reason why
when
of the cap
intervene as
it is
its
digestible
be utilized
if
taken
apt to be water-soaked.
Peck.
Clitocybe cyathif ormis ; cup shaped clitocybe.

23.
On
Figure
decaying wood or on the ground; in woods or open
August and September;
places;
Cap
edibility doubtful.
fleshy but thin; depressed at the center or funnel-
shaped; water-soaked in appearance
smooth or nearly
ous);
Species
11.
furrows at the margin
when moist (hygrophan-
so; occasionally
with minute radial
when old; blackish-brown or

paler when dry; iK to 3 inches
(striate)
grayish-brown when moist,

wide.
Gills far apart; broadly attached to the
down
(adnate or decurrent)
it
stem or extending
united at the stem
dingy or
grayish brown.
Stem
^ to
upward;
color of the cap; cylindric or slightly tapering
pithy or hollow; an obscure network of
fibrils
upon the
surface;
>^ inches long.
elliptic;
Clitocybe dealbata ; ivory clitocybe. Species 24. Figure 10.
On
ground; grassy places, sometimes on (cultivated) mush-
room
beds; September and October; should
since
it
closely
resembles
NOT
a poisonous variety
be eaten
Clitocybe
dealbata, variety sudorifica.
Cap
becoming plane when mature or
with upturned and sometimes

150
wavy margin;
dry; smooth;

Fig.
Fig.
II.
From
Species 23. Clitocybe cyathiforme.

brown; I>^ to 3 inches broad.
Prof. C.
H. Kauffman's AgaricacecB of Michigan.
II.
Cap

almost glossy; tough; white; taste mild;
to
i,
broad.
Stem
stem (adnate); close together;
thin.
mealy
fibrous; cylindric; pithy (stuffed); frosted or
at the top
to
>^ inches long.
Spores white; elHptic; 4-5 x 2-2.5 microns in diameter.

This species resembles closely Clitocybe candicans and can
be distinguished from
it
only by minute observation of the
various characteristics, particularly of the stem which, in

C.
candicans,
somewhat
cartilaginous,
is
curved and hairy at
its
base.
The
rooting,
and
is
spores of C. candicans
are broadly elliptical while those of C. dealbata are narrow

ellipses.
Clitocybe illudens; deceiving clitocybe; Jack-o'-lantem.
Plate VI, Species 25.
On
or about old stumps or decaying
wood
or roots buried in
the ground; July to October; woods and open places; in tufts

or clusters;
POISONOUS.
Cap convex or nearly

center,
plane, sometimes depressed in the
sometimes with a knob at the center even when
depressed
this is
often irregular or with the stem placed aside from
the center; smooth; 3 to 6 inches broad; saffron yellow or
orange yellow;
flesh
white or yellowish; odor strong; taste
disagreeable.
Gills color of the cap; close together; extending
stem (decurrent)
Stem
long, firm;
down
the
narrow at each end.

smooth;
solid;
pithy or rarely hollow; often
tapering toward the base; color of the cap or sometimes
brownish toward the base; 3 to 6 inches long or even

longer.
Spores white; globular; 4-5 microns in diameter.
The deceiving clitocybe is an attractive

151
fungus, forming large
PLATE
I'LATE
VI,

tufts or even patches
then taking
eaten.
if
tively harmless
by heating
emit a glowing
From
it is
nausea
compara-
in butter.
It is phosphores-
when placed
in a dark place
all
parts of the plant,
strong phosphorescence, so evident in the
its
an easy plant to recognize.
While the plant
is
not a dangerously poisonous one,
occasioned serious cases of

of course should
illness,
be avoided.
among
Atkinson.
Cap convex and
funnel
fallen leaves in
tered, rarely tufted; July
funnel-shaped
has
form
clitocybe.
Figure 12.
Species 26.
ground;
it
acting as a violent emetic,
infundibulif ormis ;
Clitocybe
On
it
Peck.
light.
by
make
in salt water for a half hour,

it
the rich saffron yellow color of
especially
dark,
and
it
out and frying
it
It causes
species.
It is possible to
Large fresh specimens
cent.
and
unwholesome
beautiful but
and vomiting
on or about old stumps or decaying wood
Peck.
or buried roots.
and August;
slightly
knobbed
when mature; margin
woods; single or scatedible.
at center
thin
when young;
and minutely
silky;
dry; reddish or pale tan color, fading with age; flesh white;
Gills thin;
moderately close together; extending down the
stem (decurrent) white or whitish.

;
Stem
generally tapering upward; generally pithy or spongy;
soft; elastic; color of
cap or paler; 2 to 3 inches long.
Spores white; 5-6 x 3-4 microns in diameter.

Clitocybe laccata.
See Laccaria laccata.
Clitocybe multiceps;
clitocybe.
On
many cap
clitocybe;
many-headed
Figure
13.
ground; open ground or in grassy places; in tufts or
clusters, rarely solitary;
June to October;
153
edible.
FIELD
Cap
fleshy; firm; convex; moist in
wet weather; watery-
white, grayish, yellowish-gray or grayish brown, the center
portion
more
grayish; often irregular in shape
by other caps or stems;

disagreeable;
and
slightly
to 3>^ inches broad.
Gills attached broadly to

it
from pressure
flesh milk-white; taste oily
stem or extending a
down
little
(adnate or slightly decurrent); close together; narrow;
white or whitish.
Stem
thick; cylindric; solid or pithy (stuffed); firm; white
or whitish; frosted near the top; 2 to 4 inches long.
Spores white; globular; smooth; glassy; 5-7 microns in

diameter.
The
The
tufts
gills
may
be composed of
many
or few individuals.
are sometimes sinuate (with a bend or tooth
their edge)
on one
upon
side of the stem, therein indicating a close
relationship with the genus Tricholoma.
The
uncooked mushroom
very disagreeable,
varies.
in others but slightly so.
of
In some
it is
Some pronounce
mushrooms when cooked, others say
it
it
flavor of the
among
is
the best
unfit to eat.
Peck.
This species occurs in wet weather in dense clusters on

lawns, especially in rather long grass, and
is
great abundance
when found
slight oily flavor,
and specimens may be kept
before cooking.
It is
at
all.
usually found in
Its flesh is firm
with a
for several
days
known only from New York and a few
neighboring states, but should stand transplanting in sod
Having used it in quantity from

recommend it as a valuable edible species.
rather easily.
I can
Clitocybe odora; sweet clitocybe.
On ground
in
woods and bushy
my own lawn,
Murrill.

places;
scattered or in
groups; August.
Cap tough; fleshy; convex, becoming plane or nearly so

when mature; smooth; margin regular or sometimes wavy;
154
Fig.
Species 26.
Fig. 12.
Cap 2 to
when old.
From
Clitocybe
12.
infundibuliformis.
3 inches broad, reddish or pale tan, fading
Prof. C.
H. KauflFman's AgaricacecB of Michigan.

scription, see page 153.
For de-
Fig. 13.
Fig.
13.
Species
27.
Clitocybe
multiceps.
whitish, yellowish, grayish or brownish;
Cap
to 3>^ inches
broad.
From
Prof. C. H. Kauflfman's Agaricacece of Michigan.
See Plate VI.

moist in wet weather; green or dingy green, fading with age or
on drying;
size,
flesh whitish;
odor pleasant, Hke that of anise;
>^ to 3 inches in diameter.
Gills thin; attached to the stem;

slightly
down
(adnate) or extending
the stem (decurrent) white, pallid, or grayish-
green (glaucous).
Stem
low
cylindrical or slightly thicker at base; stuffed or hol-
elastic;
smooth; whitish or greenish; thin, Ve to y^ inches
in diameter.
Spores white; 6 to 8 microns by 4 to 5 microns in diameter.
The genus
The
gills
Clitopilus
species of this pink-spored genus
down them
extending
similar gills
and stems but white
Clitocybe.
The
may
have fleshy stems and
spores, belong to the genus
pink-gilled species of this genus, Clitopilus,
be distinguished from the pink-gilled

fact that they retain their pink
by the
ing dark
brown and
mushroom and
Mushrooms with
(decurrent).
its
finally black.
family, the
gills
common mushroom
hue when
old,
not turn-
Besides in the
common
are free from the stem while
in the genus Clitopilus they are attached, as
Many
and
species of pink-spored
in others
mentioned above.
mushrooms, both in
have white or whitish
gills
when they
turning to a pinkish hue with advancing age.
genus
this
are young,
This
is
due to
the ripening of the pink spores upon their surfaces.
Species of Clitopilus
Clitopilus
abortivus;
clitopilus.
On ground
places;
tufted;
Cap
Pleuropus
abortivus;
or on much-decayed wood; in
commonly
abortive
Plate VI, Species 29
in
groups,
August to October;
sometimes
woods or
single,
in
open
sometimes
edible.
fleshy; firm; convex, plane or slightly depressed at the
center usually regular on the margin but sometimes

;
155
wavy and
FIELD
when young, smooth when
irregular; dry; silky
old; gray or
grayish-brown; flesh white; taste and odor slightly branny

(subfarinaceous)
Gills thin, close together; attached to the
stem (adnate) or
down the stem (strongly decurrent)

gray when young, changing to salmon color
extending some distance

whitish or pale
with advancing age.
Stem
solid, slightly
downy
paler; iJE^ to 3 inches long,
or fibrous; color of the cap or
^ to
>^ inch thick.
Spores salmon pink; angular; with one nucleus; 8.5 to 10 x

6-7.5 microns in diameter.
The
ally
abortive clitopilus takes this
name because
it is
usu-
found growing with an imperfectly developed subglobose
(slightly globular)
stem or
gills.
form in which there
cellular tissue of
a whitish
always downy.
no distinction of cap,
color, originally described as
(with a pit or depression at
globose umbilicate
downy mass.
is
simply an irregularly rounded mass of
It is
not always umbilicate nor
It is
is
its
a sub-
center)
the surface
grows singly or in clusters of two or more.
It
The well developed form is generally a clean neat appearing

mushroom but one of a very modest unattractive grayish
colored cap and stem and with gills similarly colored when
young, but becoming salmon hued when mature. The farinaceous taste and odor are not always distinct unless the flesh
is
broken.
When
taken in good condition and properly cooked
excellent
mushroom.
less agreeable
The
than
abortive form
If
if
is
Common
and west
an
it is
thoroughly cooked or fried in butter.
also edible
and
even better than the ordinary form.
during late
it is
stewed gently for a short time
is
thought by some to be
Peck.
on rich earth or much-decayed wood in woods

summer and autumn, from Canada to Alabama
to Wisconsin
and Mexico.
species both in its fully developed
156
It is
an excellent edible
and aborted forms, the
Fig. 14.
Fig.
14. Species No. 29. Clitopilus
abortivus.
Modeled and photographed by Miss Eleanor C. Allen, Amer. Mus.

Nat. History. Description on page 155. See Plate VI.

market
latter being gathered for the
in
some parts
of Mexico.
Murrill.
Clitopilus prunulus;
plum
clitopilus;
prune mushroom.
On ground
in
woods
in
warm wet weather
and
in July
August; solitary or with but few individuals in a place; edible.
Cap
fleshy,
broadly convex or nearly plane, sometimes de-
pressed at center; dry; suffused with a bloom; color, whitish

or grayish; margin sometimes wavy; flesh white; odor branny
(farinaceous)
Gills
size, 2
somewhat
or 3 inches broad.
far apart
(distant); extending
down
the
stem (decurrent); whitish when young, becoming salmon

colored
Stem
when
older.
white; solid; smooth;
to 2 inches long; yi'io yi inch
thick.
Spores salmon pink (rhodosporae) oblong

;
elliptical,
pointed
at each end; .0004 to .00045 inch long.
English writers speak highly of

it
among
that
it is
it
as
an esculent and
the most delicious of edible species.
class
Gillet says
one of the best mushrooms that can be found.
This species when fresh has a mealy odor and taste.
Atkin-
son.
The genus CoUybia

In the white-spored genus Collybia the
gills
are free from
the stem or notched or curved upon their edges near the stem.
The stem
is
either entirely cartilaginous (like gristle) or has
cartilaginous rind while the central portion of the stem
a
is
fibrous or fleshy, stuffed (pithy) or hollow.
The cap
is
fleshy
and when the plants are young the margin
of the cap
is in-
curved or
inrolled,
i.e.,
it
does not
stem as in the genus Mycena.

157
lie
straight against the
FIELD
Many

of the species of Collybia are quite firm
vive somewhat
when moistened
after drying,
and
will re-
but they are not
coriaceous (leathery) as in Marasmius, nor do they revive so
thoroughly.
It is difficult,
however, to draw the line between
the two genera.
Species of Collybia
Collybia acervata; tufted collybia.
1
Species 31.
Figure
4 A.
Cap pale
Fig. 14A. Species No. 31. Collybia acervata.
tan or flesh-red when moist; whitish when dry; i to 2 inches
broad.
On wood among
decaying leaves or on half buried rotten
wood, in woods; in dense
tufts;
edible.
158
August and September;

Cap
becoming expanded or nearly
plane; smooth; water-soaked in appearance when wet; pale
tan or flesh-red when moist, whitish after the escape of the

moisture;
to 2 inches broad.
narrow; close together; thin; rounded near the stem;
Gills
adjacent but not attached to the stem (adnexed) or free from

it;
whitish.
Stem
and
slender
^
cylindric; hollow;
down
white
rigid
Spores white;
The
hilly
smooth; usually covered with a
at the base; reddish
but
brown
.00024-.0003 of an inch long.
elliptic;
tufted collybia
is
and mountainous
an inhabitant
districts.
wood
Though the
harmless.
it is
They
not
difficult to
woods of our
among decaying
by
leaves
fallen leaves.
individual plants are small they
abundance that
for cooking.
half buried
of the
grows in dense tufts on
It
decaying prostrate trunks of trees and

or on bits of rotten
or purplish brown;
brittle; 2 to 3 inches long.
grow
in
such
obtain a sufficient supply
are slightly tough but of good flavor
and
Peck.
Collybia confluens.
In woods, on ground
but sometimes in arcs of
Plate VII, Species 32.
among
fallen leaves; usually in tufts
circles or scattered;
July to October;
edible.
Cap thin; tough; shriveling when dry, reviving somewhat

when moist; flaccid; convex or nearly plane; smooth; watersoaked in appearance when wet (hygrophanous)
brown
or grayish red
when
reddish-
moist, pallid, whitish or grayish
v/hen dry; diameter >^ to i>^ inches.

Gills close together; narrow; free
from the stem; whitish or
yellowish-gray.
Stem
slender;
equal
downy; V" to Ve inch
in
diameter
throughout;
thick, 2 to 5 inches long.
Spores white; ovoid; 5-6 x 4-5 microns in diameter.

159
hollow;
PLATE
VII.
PLATE
VII.

The
plants
of moisture.
if
dry and shrunken, revive under the influence
The cap
varies
much
in color but
commonly
has a dull russety tinge when moist, sometimes approaching
bay
It fades in
red.
stem
is
drying and becomes grayish white.
long in proportion to the width of the cap.
Collybia dryophila ; Collybidium dryophilum
mushroom.
On ground
The
Peck.
oak-loving
Plate VII, Species 33.
or rarely on decayed wood; in
tures; in groups or slightly tufted;
May
woods and pas-
to October; edible
Taste nutty.
(Murrill).
Cap pale or dark
tan, yellowish or chestnut; rather tough;
convex to nearly plane, sometimes depressed at the center;

edge often wavy, turned in when young; surface smooth and
dry; flesh thin, white, >2 to 2 inches broad.
Gills
adnexed (adjacent to but not attached to stem) or
with a bend or tooth near the stem; whitish or rarely yellowish; rather
Stem
near together.
cartilaginous (like gristle); smooth; brown; hollow,
or stuffed (pithy) in lower portion; sometimes bulbous at

base;
to 3 inches long.
Spores white;
line)
An
is
egg-shaped; smooth glassy (hya-
elliptic or
5-7 X 4-5 microns in diameter.
good quality. The early spring form

more common summer and autumn form.
edible species of
smaller than the
Murrill.
The oak-loving
rooms.
and appears
when
collybia
It occurs in
there
at
is
one of our most
common mush-
any time from early spring to
late
autimin
a sufficient degree of warmth and moisture.
favorite place of
pine trees.
is
woods, groves, open places and pastures
growth
It also
is
among
fallen pine leaves or
grows on decaying wood.
When
under
it
oc-
curs in dense tufts the caps are usually very irregular on ac-
161
FIELD

The
count of mutual pressure.

is
tough but
flesh is slightly
agreeable to the taste and perfectly harmless.
Peck.
Collybia platyphylla; broad-gilled collybia.
Plate VII,
Species 34.
About stumps and old prostrate trunks or on much-decayed

wood; in thin woods or open places;
May to
November; some-
times has odor of anise.
Cap
thin; fragile;
convex to plane and even to margin up-
turned when old (Atkinson) grayish brown or blackish brown;

;
flesh white; 3 to 5 inches broad.
Gills broad; rather far apart; the edge usually toothed near
the stem; white;
when
old they are
more or
less
broken or
cracked (Atkinson).
Stem
stout
and
and
fleshy but with a fine fibrous
tough or cartilaginous
(gristly) rind;
slightly
pithy (stuffed) or hol-
low; white, contrasting with the grayish brown of the cap;

3 to 5 inches long.
Spores white; nearly globular or broadly
elliptic;
.0003-
.0004 inches long.
Sometimes
this species emits
a faint but agreeable odor
sembling that of anise, but in decay the odor

able
and the plants loathsome.
room, and
it is
is
re-
very disagree-
Insects are fond of this
mush-
not always easy to find specimens free from
their attacks.
In wet weather the caps are apt to have a moist appearance,
but they are not truly hygrophanous.

lar
forms are sometimes found.
Distorted and irregu-
Peck.
Collybia radicata; rooted collybia. Plate VII, Species 35.
On
Cap
ground, in woods; scattered; June to October; edible.

thin;
convex or nearly plane; sticky
moist; grayish-brown or smoky-brown; smooth;
broad.
162
(viscid)
i
when
to 4 inches

Gills broad; rather far apart; adjacent to but not attached
to the stem (adnexed)
white.
Stem long and ending below
in a long root-like prolongation
which penetrates the earth deeply; slender; firm; generally

tapering upward; pithy (stuffed); 2 to 8 inches long above the
surface of the ground; whitish or color of the cap.
Spores white;
elliptic
with a slight oblique spur at one end;
.0006-.0007 of an inch long, .0004-. 0005 inches broad.
The rooted
recognized
This
is
if
collybia
notice
is
common
easily
a long slender tap-root tapering downward and gener-
ally penetrating the earth to a
of the
and one
species
taken of the lower part of the stem.
is
stem above the surface.
at the surface of the ground
depth about equal to the length
The stem
and tapers
is
generally thickest
slightly
from
this point
in both directions.
After long exposure the spores sometimes assume a yellowish

color.
The caps
the species
are
is
somewhat tough but agreeable
classed as
in flavor,
an edible one without any
and
hesitation.
Peck.
Collybia velutipes; velvet-stemmed collybia.
Plate VII,
Species 36.
On
dead trunks of
trees, either prostrate or standing,
on
old stumps and decaying wood; in woods or groves; in tufts

or clusters or scattered; autumn, winter
Cap rather
thin;
and
spring; edible.
convex or plane; smooth; sticky
(viscid);
reddish yellow or tawny, sometimes yellowish on the margin
and darker
shape;
at the center; sometimes
inch or more broad, larger
crowded into irregular
when not growing
in
tufts.
Gills broad;
rather far apart; rounded near the stem;
adjacent but not attached to the stem (adnexed); white or

tinged with yellow.
163
FIELD
Stem

pithy
firm;
Spores white; narrow
brown or tawny-
or hollow;
(stuffed)
brown; velvety hairy when mature;
to 3 or 4 inches long.
.00036 inches long,
ellipses; .0003 to
.00016 broad.
The
stemmed
velvet
collybia
is
that appear late in the season.

winter
mushroom because
ing weather in winter.

It
is
easily recognized
is
flavor.
free
in mild thaw-
it
It
sometimes develops in spring
by
its
viscid (sticky)
mode
of growth.
tawny
also.
cap, its
In very young
whitish.
Its edible qualities are
collybia.
has even been called a
possible to find
it is
velvety stem and tufted

plants the stem
one of the lew mushrooms

It
Its flesh is
not inferior to those of the rooted
more tender and quite as agreeable
in
well to peel the caps before cooking in order to
It is
them from adhering
This species
is
Peck.
particles of dirt.
remarkable for
its late
appearance, being
grows on stumps and dead
often collected in the winter.
It
trunks near the ground, and
easily recognized
is
yellowish cap and velvety stem.
by
its viscid,
Murrill.
The genus Coprinus

The genus
coprinus
by the character
assume a black
is
of the gills of the
color
and slowly
dissolve into
which, in the larger plants at least,

drops.
The
thin caps of
some
waste away in this manner.

this black fluid,
from
falls
The
spores
are
others
These
an inky
fluid
to the ground in
species also partly or wholly
Because of the production of
which has sometimes been used as a poor
substitute for ink, these plants have received the

**inky fungi."
all
mature plant.
ring
is
generally
the plants literally grow
name
of
present on the stem in some species.

black,
up
Many
of the species inhabit
name
of the genus implies.
rarely
in a night
brown.
and perish
Some
of
in a day.
dung or manure heaps, as the
Most
164
of
them
are so small,

thin
and perishable that they are not valuable as food.
Even the
have thin caps, and those deemed
larger ones
young and cooked promptly
edible should be gathered
used as food.
and
The
three species described below are
if
common
edible.
Species of Coprinus
Coprinus atramentarius
cap.
inky coprinus;
common
ink-
Plate VIII, Species 37.
In clusters in rich
soil,
in gardens, waste places or in woods;
summer and autimin; edible.

Cap egg-shaped when young, becoming expanded; smooth
late
or with a few faint spot-like scales in the center; grayish-
brown, often with a yellowish
soon liquefying;
when
blackening
tint,
margin som.etimes irregularly notched or lobed;
old;
flesh white,
to 3 inches broad.
(crowded); white
Gills close together
when yoimg, soon
becoming black and liquefying.
Stem
rather slender; smooth; hollow; white or whitish;
sometimes with a
slight vestige of
a ring near the base, but
soon disappears; 2 to 4 inches long.
it
Spores
elliptical; black; .0003 to
The inky coprinus
much
is
.0004 inches long.
less attractive
than the Shaggy
coprinus (Coprinus comatus).
The form growing
in
woods
is
generally smaller
and more
beautiful than that growing in open places.
The cap
is
sometimes suffused as
It deliquesces rapidly
and
catsup than for food.
If
if
with a bloom (powder).
therefore
it is
more
available for
intended for the table
cooked as soon as brought to the house.

This excellent edible species
is
quite
it
must be
Peck.
common
in rich soil
on lawns and elsewhere during
late
summer and autumn.
As
may
be obtained in greater
it
appears in close clusters,
it
165
PLATE
VIII.
Species No.
37
39
Coprinus micaceus
40
41
Cortinarius
Cortinarius alboviolaceus
cinnamomeus
.165
.168
.170
.171
PLATE
^jf^
VIII.
^ L
i^
.îa*-, 5L-W,.,

abundance than the shaggy-mane (Coprinus comatus).
ing to
after
deUquescent character
its
it is
is
scales
entirely smooth.
Other forms present
on the top or center of the cap.
others the delicate tufts (scales) cover
more or
less
my own
common
observation goes.
In
the entire
surface, giving the plant a coarsely granular aspect.
perhaps the more
Ow-
must be cooked very soon
Murrill.
collected.
Sometimes the cap
numerous small
it
This
is
appearance, at least so far as
But not infrequently one
finds
forms which have the entire outer surface of the cap torn
into quite a large
number
mark
also
and these are
of coarse scales,
often more prominent over the upper
the entire surface of
portion.
Fine lines
the forms, especially
all
towards the margin, where the scales are not so prominent.
The marginal
half of the cap
is
also frequently furrowed.
Atkinson.
Coprinus
comatus;
shaggy-mane
mushroom;
coprinus; horse-tail m.ushroom.
Plate
I,
shaggy
Species 38.
(Frontispiece.)
On
late
ground, in pastures, waste places or dumping grounds;
summer and autumn
(in
late
spring
Âtkinson)*
in
close groups (Murrill); edible.
Cap at
first
oblong or nearly cylindrical, becoming
bell-
shaped or expanded and splitting on the margin; whitish,
adorned with scattered yellowish

liquid
scales
scales; turning to
a black
when old; iK to 3 inches long before expansion; the

make the shaggy appearance which gives it its name.
Gills
pinkish,
white and closely crow^ded together at

reddish or purplish tints appear,
turn to black; sometimes
all
these tints
may
first,
soon
which quickly
be seen at one
time on one plant; dissolving into a black liquid.
Stem
minute
white; smooth; hollow; rather long; smooth or with

fibres; in
the young plant
167
it is
furnished with a ring
FIELD
or collar which
movable or but
is
and has often disappeared
turity; 3 to 5 inches long;
Spores black;
The shaggy
called, is
to Vi inches thick.
maned
coprinus or
one of the largest and
and
Common mushroom
ma-
at
elliptic;
It is very tender
This
slightly adherent.
collar is easily destroyed
digestible
in flavor,
agaric as
it is
sometimes
finest species of the genus.
and
scarcely inferior to the
though some think
it
im-
is
proved in flavor by cooking a mushroom or two with

It is
fit
for the table only before the gills
black color, but even after that
it is
it.
have assumed their
sometimes used in making
catsup.
When young
it is
very sapid and delicate, cooked quickly
with butter, pepper and

resembles the
if
not superior;
it is
in flavor
salt, it is excellent;
common mushroom,
clearly
more
to which
it is
and
digestible
in
autumn, although
On
account of
its
specimen rarely
is
it is
not so abundant as might be desired.
and decided
to attract attention.
foreigners.
colors,
It is
one of the very best of the edible fungi, and
raw by
Peck.
a very conspicuous object on lawns
peculiar shape
fails
much
less likely to
disagree with persons of delicate constitutions.
The shaggy-mane
it
quite equal
is
a single
considered
often eaten
Murrill.
Coprinus micaceus; glistening coprinus; glistening inkcap.
On
Plate VIII, Species 39.
ground or on decaying wood; in
November;
clusters;
Cap somewhat bell-shaped or expanded;

with impressed radiating
to or
May
to
edible.
lines or striations
thin;
marked
from the margin
beyond the middle; buff -yellow or tawny yellow; center
smooth and often a
little
more highly colored than the
sometimes glistening with minute shining
particles
rest;
when
young but these are not often noticeable and when present
168

young specimens they disappear when the plant
in
the margin
when the cap expands; when

dirty, especially
if
wet;
old the color
mature;
is
and wavy and
often notched or lobed
is
splitting
brownish or
is
to 2 inches broad.
crowded together; whitish when young, soon becom-
Gills
ing pinkish tinted and later,
Stem
brown and black and
white; slender; fragile; smooth; hollow;
liquefying.
to 3 inches
long.
Spores brown, which

black spores);
The
ful
.00025 to .0003 inch long.
glistening coprinus
species.
single old
it
unusual in this genus (others have
is
elliptical;
is
a small but
common and
Several successive crops often
stump
one season.
in
It is
not
beauti-
come about a
uncommon
to find
growing from places in the margin of the sidewalks of our
cities
where shade
trees
have been cut down.
are sometimes very large and composed of very
crowded
closely together.
These tufts
many
plants
Sometimes the caps crack into
small areas, the white flesh showing
itself in
the chinks.
European writers do not record the Glistening coprinus
among the edible species, perhaps because of its small size.

But it compensates for its lack of size by its frequency and
abundance.
to be at
is
In tenderness and delicacy
all inferior
harmless.
it
to the shaggy coprinus
does not appear
and
In wet weather this coprinus melts into an inky

in quite dry weather
times
it
it
remains more or
does not deliquesce at
well preserved, though
case with
all
This genus
certainly
it
Peck.
all,
is
fluid,
but
and some-
but dries with
much shrunken
the very fleshy fungi.
less firm
all
of course, as
parts
is
the
Atkinson.
The genus
Cortinarius
distinguished
by the rusty yellowish-brown-
clay (ochraceous) color of the spores

ter of the veil which, in the
young
169
and by the webby characplants, stretches
between
FIELD
the stem and the margin of the cap.

fine
webby
ceal the
filaments are so
gills,
and leave
In
many
species these
numerous that they at
con-
first
but they mostly disappear with advancing age,
little
upon the stem.
or no trace of a collar
In the young plants of this family the color of the

generally quite unlike that of mature ones.
gills is
The mature
gills
become dusted by the spores which collect upon them and

assume their color so that the mature plants of all of the species
of this genus are colored similarly.
most importance
It is therefore of the ut-
in identifying specimens of Cortinarius to
know the color of the gills

The gills of all species
of both the
young and old
plants.
of Cortinarius are attached to the
stem at their inner end and usually
their free edges are sharply
bent or toothed near the stem (emarginate)
The
plants of this genus are usually found growing within
or at the borders of woods.
Species of Cortinarius
pale violet cortinarius.
Plate
VIII, Species 40.
On ground among
and autumn;
leaves in woods; in groups; late
summer
edible.
Cap convex with a broad
elevation at center (umbonate);
pale violet to buff, or silvery white with a violet tint; surface smooth, dry, shining; edge turned
down; diameter
to 3
inches.
Gills attached to
the stem
stem (adnate) or extending
(decurrent),
slightly
down
sometimes notched at stem; rather
broad; close together; pale violet to ashy-purplish

turning cinnamon-brown
when
old; irregular
when young,
on edge.
Stem tapering upward; thick; violaceous above; sometimes

by fallen spores; 2 to 4K inches long.
stained rusty
Spores rusty brown; variable

9 X 4-5 microns in diameter.
170
size;
slightly rough.
6,5-

This pretty, pale-violet species
temperate
is
North America and
enough to use
become
recognizable.
It
so
much
of
abundant
is
Insects are very fond of
for food.
dried specimens
common through most
Europe.
When
it.
paler that they are hardly
Murrill.
cinnamomeus cinnamon
Cortinarius
Plate
cortinarius.
VIII, Species 41,
On
ground; in woods, under trees or in mossy swamps;
summer and autumn;

Cap
edible.
convex or expanded, sometimes with a knob at
thin;
the center (umbonate); dry; smooth, silky; flesh yellowish;
cinnamon brown; brownish-rusty or tawny-brown;
Young
inches broad.
to 2
show a web between the cap and
plants
stem.
thin;
Gills
together;
close
young turning
some shade
of yellow
when
later to the rusty-ochraceous colors of the
spores; attached to the stem (adnate).
Stem
slender,
rather long; cylindric; pithy
(stuffed)
hollow; often bent; silky; yellowish or colored like the cap;
or
i
to 3 inches long.
Spores ochre;
elliptic;
The cinnamon
and
color.
Like
.0003 inch long.
quite
cortinarius
many
variable in size, shape
flowering plants which have a wide
range and are not particular as to their habitat, this mush-
room
perplexing because of
is
its variability.
The
fresh plant
often has a slight odor of radishes.

Cortinarius
collinitus; Cortinarius mucifluus;
cortinarius.
On ground
in thin
Cap
thin;
firm;
(sticky)
when
Species 42.
Figure
woods August to September

;
smeared
15.
edible.
convex to expanded; smooth; glutinous
moist, shining
when
dry; yellow to golden-
yellow or tawny yellow; flesh white or whitish; spider-web-like

171
FIELD
veil
extending in young plants from the margin of the cap to
the upper part of the stem; i>2 to 3 inches broad.

Gills
rather broad;
when
bluish-white or grayish-white
young, turning rusty-colored in mature plants; attached to

the stem (adnate).
Stem
sticky (viscid) or glutinous
verse cracks
to
when
when
moist, with trans-
dry; straight; solid; 2 to 4 inches long;
^ inch thick.
Spores rusty (ochraceous)
Slightly elliptic; .0005 to .0006
inch long.
The smeared
cortinarius but
cortinarius
more common than the Violet
is
abundant than the Cinnamon cortinarius.
is less
Both the cap and the stem are covered with a

stance which
makes
it
unpleasant to handle.
viscid sub-
The
gills
are
sometimes minutely uneven on the edge.

It is well to peel the caps before
cooking since the gluten
causes dirt to adhere tenaciously to them.

It is
known by
abundance
Peck.
the smooth, even tawny cap, the great
of slimy substance covering the entire plant
moist, and,
when
dry, the cracking of the gluten
into annular (ring-like) patches.
Atkinson.
Cortinarius comigatus; corrugated cortinarius.

43.
On ground
Figure
in
when
on the stem
Species
15.
woods and bushy
places; in groups (gregari-
ous); June to September; edible.
Cap with coarse corrugations

shaped or very convex; sticky
low, reddish-yellow,
tawny or
or furrows;
(viscid)
when
broadly
bell-
moist; bright yel-
rusty; flesh white; 2 to 4 inches
broad.
when young, turning tawTiy or

when mature; uneven on their free edges; at-
Gills close together; pallid
rusty-colored
tached to the stem (adnate).
Stem
long; cylindric; hollow; bulbous at the base; paler
172
Fig. 15
^*T^^^^
Fig. 15.
Cap i^
Above,
to 3
Species 42.
inches broad;
Cortmarius
collinitus.
yellow,
tawny or
sticky;
golden.
For description, see page
171-
Below, Species 43. Cortinarius corrugatus. Cap 2 to 5

inches broad; furrowed; yellow, tawny or rusty.
Pr^r
f^pgnrintinn.
see, -nacre
T72.

than the cap except the bulb which
the color of the cap and
is
sticky (viscid) 3 to 5 inches long.
broadly
by .0003 to .0004 inch
to .00055
The corrugated
cortinarius
is
a well-marked and easily rec-
Though the
ognized species.
rough; .00045
elliptic;
in diameter.
color of the pileus
and the
variable, its viscid, corrugated surface
(cap)
is
viscid bulb of
the stem afford easily recognized characters.
Sometimes the
way
as to give a net-
wTinkles join with each other in such a
The margin
like appearance.
The bulb
in the
young plant
young plants
in
is
which then appears to rest upon
grow
The
it.
numbers and
in considerable
is
incurved.
even broader than the cap,
as
plants sometimes
an edible species
it is
Peck.
not to be despised.
Cortinarius violaceous; violet cortinarius.
Plate IX,
Species 44.
On
ground among
August
edible
Cap convex,
fallen leaves in the
later
becoming nearly plane; dark
adorned with numerous hairy tufts or

violet; 2 to
Gills
woods; July and
scattered or solitary.
violet,
scales; flesh, tinged
with
4 inches broad.
when young,
colored like the cap, but becoming rusty
when old; attached to the stem and notched at the stem end.
Stem colored hke the cap; bulbous at the base; solid; minute
fibres
on the surface; 3 to 5 inches
Spores rusty; nearly
elliptic;
long.
.0005 inch long.
The genus Crepidotus

Mushrooms
of the genus Crepidotus are very variable in
the shape of their caps but are commonly either wedge-
shaped or spatulate.
The caps
quickly curl up on drjang
unless they ar: placed under pressure.
and the caps
are often stained
They grow
by the rusty
173
spores.
in groups
Peck.
PLATE
IX.
Species No.
.
-173
Entoloma grayanum
Galera tenera
44
Cortinarius violaceus
49
Entoloma commune
50
55
56A Hebeloma commune

56
Hebeloma precox
67
Inocybe abundans
i8o
.180
.184
.....
.....
'186
198
PLATE
IX.
if
K
'^
4^
*jy
m^
vi
4/
%%

species of this reddish-brown genus are usually of
The
small
size,
and
soft
thin,
fleshy
and are
especially distin-
guished by their having the stem attached to the margin of
In some specimens the stem
the cap.
is
attached by
v/hich
The cap
grows.
it
is
missing and the cap
margin to the decayed or dead wood upon
its
resupinate (attached
is
surface) or shelving, lying flat or nearly so,
The genus resembles
pleurotus
rooms, or Claudopus
among
by
its
top
upon the wood.
among the white-spored mush-
the rosy-spored ones.
Atkinson.
Species of Crepidotus
Crepidotus
applanatus;
flattened
agaric.
Plate
XI,
Species 45.
On
old stimips and much-decayed wood; usually growing
singly (Atkinson); July to September.
Cap very
thin; variable in shape; rounded, kidney-shaped,
wedge-shaped or spatulate (shaped
like
a spatula or spoon);
plane or convex; sometimes attached by
wood from which
it
base; smooth; water-soaked in appearance

radial lines
long,
V3
if
margin to the
when
moist; faint,
on the margin when moist; white; >^ to
inch
to }i inches broad.
Gills very narrow;
stem,
its
grows, or with a short, hairy, stemlike
any
is
crowded together; extending down the
when
present white, turning cinnamon-colored

;
old.
Stem
at edge of cap; short or absent.
Spores rusty; globular; .0002 to .00025 inch broad.

Crepidotus
f ulvotomentosus
tawny tomentose
On
agaric.
Crepidotus calolepis
Species 46.
decaying wood of poplar, maple,
etc.;
Figure
(?);
16.
Jime to October;
scattered or in groups.
Cap rounded, kidney-shaped or divided

sometimes attached by
its
into
two
parts;
margin or by a short hairy base to

175
FIELD
the
at
wood upon which

the margin;
it
grows; sometimes with a short stem
water-soaked in appearance when moist;
watery-brown and sometimes with
'
faint radial lines or stria\
Fig. 1 6. Above, Species No. 46.

Crepidotus fulvotomentosus. Watery-brown and sometimes with faint radial
lines at the margin when moist; whitish, yellowish or pale
rusty when dry; scaly.
Below, Species No. 48.
Crepidotus versutus.
Cap downy;
pure white.
tions
rusty
2/3
on the margin when moist;
when
dry;
whitish, yellowish or pale-
adorned with small tawny-hairy
to 2 inches broad.
176
scales;

Gills broad;
lateral
rounded near stem or base; radiating from a
when young, turning
(marginal) hairy spot; whitish
brownish-rusty when old.
Stem very
short or absent.
Spores rusty-colored;
by
to .0004 inch
elliptic;
often with a nucleus; .0003
.0002 to .00025 inch in diameter.
The
pretty species.
tenacious though
has a
it
cuticle
(peel)
jelly-like
is
separable and
dried in their place of growth are not rare.
is
Specimens
appearance.
Peck.
Crepidotus malachius; soft-skinned crepidotus.
Species
Figure 17.
47.
On damp,
Much
decaying wood in woods or shaded places.
decayed, mossy trunks of trees constitute a favorite habitat;

scattered; in groups or with the caps overlapping;
June to
September.
Cap
fleshy, thicker
on the margin, and at the base;
circular,
kidney-shaped or wedge-shaped; convex or nearly plane;
smooth or hairy at the base; water-soaked

moist (hygrophanous)
in appearance
watery-white and
mth
when
faint radial
on the margin when moist, white when dry;
lines (striations)
flesh white;
to 2>^ inches broad.
Gills thin; close together;
rounded near the stem or base;
white or whitish, becoming rusty when old.
Stem absent
or very short; placed at the margin of the
cap.
Spores
globular;
rusty;
.00025
to
.0003
inch in dia-
meter.
In wet weather
it
ture disappears from the thickest part of the cap
thinnest part last.
The
species
may
spores.
Peck.
177
first,
the
other white and closely resembling forms by
and globular
As the
The mois-
has a water-soaked appearance.
moisture escapes, the cap becomes a clearer white.
its
smoother cap
Fig. 17.
Species No.
47
Crepidotus malachius. White or grayish; i to

By permission of C. H.
2 inches broad.
Godard, Esq., State Librarian of Connecticut
177
Photo by Prof. E. A. White
Fig. 17.

Crepidotus versutus; evasive agaric.
ure
Species 48.
Fig-
16.
On decayed wood.
Cap
at
first
attached by
its
top surface (resupinate), later
bent or turned over; kidney-shaped or divided into two portions; stemless; white; clothed with a soft
in; V3 to
down; margin curved
inch broad.
Gills rather
broad and far apart rounded at the base of the

;
cap; radiating from a lateral point on the cap; whitish, turning
when old.
Stem absent.
rusty
Spores rusty; nearly
elliptic;
.00035 to .0004 inches long
by
.00025 to .0003 inch broad.
This
little
crepidotus has a pure white cap which
with a soft white down.
The
is
covered
plants grow usually on the
under side of rotten wood or bark and then the upper side of
the cap
lies
against the wood, and
is
Sometimes when they grow toward the

has a tendency to be shelving.
cap
is
usually attached to the
said to be resupinate.
side of the log the
cap
In the resupinate forms the
wood near one
edge.
Atkinson.
The genus Entoloma

The stems
of
mushrooms belonging
to this genus
have
The gills are attached to the stem and

sometimes extend down it and become pink when old by being
neither ring nor cup.
dusted with the rosy-colored spores.
In this respect the plants
might be confused with specimens of the genus Agaricus.
many
of the
serious consequences.
edible
mushrooms
when the
As
Entolomas are poisonous, the error might have
plant
is
The
point of difference
is
that in the
of the genus Agaricus, the gills are pink
young and grow brown and then black as
the plant ages, while in the Entolomas, on the other hand, the
gills
remain pink to the
last.
179
FIELD
Mushrooms
of the genus Pluteus
have also pinkish
but they are free from the stem and never attached to
it
gills
as are
those of Entoloma.
Species of Entoloma
common
commune;
Entoloma
entoloma.
Plate IX,
Species 49.
On ground
in woods; in groups or sparse tufts; taste
Cap rather
and
POISONOUS.
odor branny;
thin;
convex when young, plane or depressed at
center and irregular
when
old; often with a
knob or umbo at
the center; surface dry; polished; often with radiating cracks;
margin lobed or
split
nut or umber brown,

Gills rosy-pink;
Stem white
when mature.
i
Color that of a hazel
to 2 inches broad.
notched near the stem.
or pale tan; short; often twisted; polished be-
low and frosted near the top
I'jA
to 2 inches long.
Spores pink; angular; 6 to 8 microns in diameter.
Common
about
New York
City and found from
land to the mountains of Virginia.
Entoloma
grayanimi;
gray
New
Eng-
Plate
IX,
Miirrill.
entoloma.
Species 50.
Among
fallen leaves in
woods;
in clusters; July to September;
Cap
fleshy but thin
nearly
plane;
toward the margin;
smooth;
flesh white; taste
single, in groups, or, rarely
POISONOUS.
moist;
whitish
branny (farinaceous);
slightly
or
convex or
brownish-gray;
size variable,
to 3
inches.
Gills whitish
when young;
flesh-pink
when mature; extend-
ing to the stem; sometimes rounded at the stem end.
Stem
cylindrical
or'
nearly so; solid; stuffed or hollow;
silky; white or pallid; i>^ to 3 inches long, 76 to
inch thick.
180
V3 of an
Fig.
Fig.
1 8.
Above,
^/i
From
Species
51.
Entoloma
to iVa inches broad,
Prof. C.
strictius.
li
Cap
umber (brown).
H. Kauffman's Agaricacea of Michigan.
Below, Species 53.
Flammula
polychroa.
Cap
to
2 inches broad; wine-buff or orange-buff, often greentinged.
Modeled and photographed by Miss Eleanor

Nat. History.
C. Allen,
Amer. Mus.

Spores pink; angular; 7>^ microns in diameter.
The gray entoloma

The
habit and color.
is
a very variable mushroom, in
gills
turn black as do those of the
common
mushroom and
field
other species of the genus Agaricus which have pink
when young.
strictius.
In grassy places; in
Species 51.
clusters,
Figure
18.
two or three joined at the
POISONOUS.
bases of their stems; September and October;
Cap convex, the middle expanded, with a
central elevation
the margin curved in and apt to be
gills
Peck.
Entoloma
(umbo)
size,
remain pink when old and never
extreme edge.
On
wavy
at the
drying, the surface of the cap presents
a silvery sheen; color of cap umber (brown); smooth; watery

in appearance but not sticky,
flesh
brown;
^ to
i^
Gills grayish-white
when moist (hygrophanous)
inches broad.
when young,
flesh-colored
when ma-
ture; attached to the stem, with a slight notch in the edge
near the stem end (sinuate); rather far apart; rather thick.
Stem
fibers
colored like the cap but lighter; hollow with white
within
twisted; brittle;
it;
cylindric;
delicate
white
fibres at the base.
Spores dull rose color; nearly spherical; 5 to 8 microns in

diameter.
The genus Flammula

mushrooms that belong to the genus
The margin of the cap in young
plants is turned downiward and inward; when mature, this
feature disappears. The gills of these fungi are attached to
Almost
all
of the
Flammula grow upon wood.
the stem or extend

fibrous.
The
down
it.
The stems
spores are rust-colored.
181
are fleshy
and
FIELD
Species of
Flammula
Flammula
Plate XIII, Species 52.
jfiavida.
In woods on decaying wood; singly or in clusters; usually in
mountainous
summer and autumn;
districts;
edible;
taste
bitter.
Cap
fleshy
but thin; broadly convex or nearly plane;
smooth; moist; pale yellow;

diameter
whitish or pale yellow;
flesh
to 2 inches.
stem (adnate) pale or yellowish when

;
young, turning rust-color when old.
Stem even; often curved; hollow; whitish or

down at the base; length i to 3 inches.
pale yellow;
white
Spores rust-colored; broadly
6 to 8 microns in
elliptic;
diameter.
The
slight bitter taste
when raw, disappears on
Flammula polychroa.
On wood
Figure 18.
Species 53.
in woods; in clusters; late
cooking.
summer and autumn.
Cap convex; margin incurved when young; when mature,

the cap becomes expanded with a broad elevation at the
center; very sticky (viscid)
is
when
moist;
when mature the cap
covered with delicate hairs on the margin forming scales
that vary in color from wine-buff to wine-purple or lavender.
The ground-color
of the cap
often with shades of green,
Young
bruised.
is
wine-buff or orange-buff,
especially
where
plants are often purple;
it
has been
to 2 inches in
diameter.
Gills
notched (sinuate) at the stem end or attached to
the stem without a notch (adnate); close together.
Before
exposure by rupture of the veil they are cream-buff, but

later they become drab-brown or take on a purple tinge.
Stem
yellowish, often purplish at base; covered with small
scales; solid
when young,
hollo wish
182
when
old; portions of the

veil are
1/2
attached to the upper part 2 to 3 inches long, V3 to

;
an inch
of
thick.
Spores light brown, with a purple tinge when fresh; oval

or short oblong; 6-8
by 4-5 microns
in diameter.
The genus Galera

The
rusty-spored genus Galera resembles IMycena
The cap
among
and
when young the margin fits straight against the stem and is
not curved inward. The stem is often very fragile and has
the white-spored species.
is
usually bell-shaped
The genus does not contain many
neither collar nor cup.

species.
The
species of this ochraceous or rusty-spored genus are
small and mostly rather fragile.

conical or bell-shaped.
The cap when young
When young
is
or moist they have a
water-soaked appearance (hygrophanous) and then show radiating lines or minute furrows
The
show through.
colors
yellow, tan or brown,
upon the cap because the
and these are
pr.ler
gills
some shade of
are whitish or
when the cap
is
dry.
The stems
are slender,
fragile
and hollow
Gind
usually
colored like the cap.
Species of Galera
Galera hypnorum.
On
ground,
Species 54.
among mosses
ing tree trunks;
common
in
Figure
19.
woods or on prostrate, decay-
in hilly or
mountainous
districts;
June to September.
Cap
conical or bell-shaped; smooth;
thin.;
or slightly rusty
buff
when
when
watery-cinnamon
moist; often fading to yellowish or
dry; radiating lines
in diameter.
183
when moist; }i
to }4 inch
FIELD
attached to the stem; far apart (distant);
Gills broad;
tawny
cinnamon colored; often with whitish down on the
or
edge.
downy
slender; hollow; smooth;
Stem
colored like the cap;
at the top; usually
to 2 inches long; less than
V"
inch
thick.
Spores rusty;
elliptical;
by .00024-
.0004-.0005 inch long
.0003 inch broad.
Galera
Conocybe tenera;
tenera;
brownie cap.
On ground
in
open places (grassy
Atkinson) spring to autumn;
Cap conic or
water-soaked
singly
bell-shaped; surface
in
slender
conocybe;
Plate IX, Species 55.
appearance
fields or
(?)
manured
smooth or
when
places,
edible.
slightly
downy;
tan-colored
moist;
brownish, slightly darker at the center; ochre-colored

dry, 5^ to
or
when
inch broad and high.
Gills adjacent to but not adherent to the stem (adnexed);
crowded; tawny;
Stem
(easily separated
slender; cylindric;
fragile; color of
from the cap, Atkinson).
smooth or
slightly
downy; hollow;
the cap; 3 to 4^^ inches long.
Spores dark rusty; smooth, nearly
elliptical;
12-14 x 6-8
This shapely
little
fungus occurs everywhere on lawns and
manured pastures from

it
is
spring to autumn.
When once known
not easily confused with any other species.
and
edible
enough
This
for
is
well-flavored,
a meal.
our most
it
Although
would take a long time to gather
Murrill.
common
species of Galera.
grows in great abundance where
cattle
It
sometimes
have been yarded and
and pastures. It is often found growing on

company with Panseolus campanulatus. It varies
in rich lawns
dung
in
much
in size.
184
f^
^
i
O
&
u
O4
(L>
>.
W
S
a
to
>
o
t
6s
FIELD
The genus Hebeloma

Mushrooms belonging
to the genus
colored spores but are classed
Their
gills
among
extend to the stem but are not attached to

Their edge
they are sometimes notched.
and
their surface
clay-colored.
is
young stage and then
The stem
its
and
top,
of the cap
is
is
delicate
and
fleshy
is
is
fibrous
The
is
clay-
and
only in the
veil is seen
and composed
and
it
usually whitish
of fine fibres.
somewhat mealy at
is
not easily detached from the cap.
The margin
turned downward and inward in young specimens
and the surface
Most
Hebeloma have
the rusty spored genera.
smooth and
is
of the species of
autumn and some
of
slightly sticky
them are considered
Species of
Hebeloma precox;
when
moist.
Hebeloma grow on the ground
in the
to be poisonous.
Hebeloma
early hebeloma.
Plate IX, Species 56.
On ground; in groups; June; POISONOUS
(?).
Cap convex when young, expanded when mature;
slight
elevation at center (umbonate); surface smooth; dry; margin
incurved; tawny-rusty color; flesh white, taste sweet (Eat

not)
odor pleasant
>^ to 2 inches broad.
Gills close together; arched,
notched near the stem; pallid
when young; tawny (fulvous) when mature.

Stem fleshy; brittle; stuffed or hollow; cream-colored;
to 2
inches long.
Spores ovoid; smooth; pale rusty; 5-6 x 3-4 microns in

diameter.
Specimens of
named by
191
1,
he says: "This
in this locality.
found,
it
uncommon
this
Dr. Murrill.
is
plant were collected and
Writing of
the
first
Although not at
might well become
remnants of the partial
in Mycologia, July,
it
species of
all
Hebeloma
slightly so in
to appear
viscid
when
wet weather.
The
(sticky)
(inner) veil are left clinging to the
186

stipe (stem) as the expansion of the pileus (cap) progresses,
leaving none on the margin,"
The genus Hygrophorus

In the white-spored genus Hygrophorus the
mature plant have a
them from
some
all
As
others.
gills
gills
of the
texture which distinguishes
in the genus Pleurotus, the gills of
rounded or notched at the end next to
of the species are
the stem, but the
waxy
soft
of other species are decurrent, that
they extend down the stem.
Those with decurrent
gills
is,
bear
considerable external resemblance to the species of Clitocybe,
but the
gills
are generally thicker and
in that genus.
No
much farther apart than

is known to be
Hygrophorus
species of
dangerous, though two or three have been classed as suspicious.
Peck.
The waxy
...
character
The
ter of the genus.
Species with decurrent
is
gills
and
far apart.
are similar in appearance to species
of Clitocybe but such species
by the
the chief distinguishing charac-
are usually thick
gills
may
generally be distinguished
fact that their gills are far apart
stems are sticky when moist
and
their caps
and
(viscid).
Species of Hygrophorus
Hygrophorus
cantharellus;
Species 57.
On damp
soil in
Figure
chantarelle
hygrophorus.
19.
woods or open
places; in clusters;
June to
August; edible.
Cap
center;
to
thin;
convex sometimes with a
smooth or with small
pit or depression at the
scales; red,
orange or yellow; yi
inch broad.
Gills rather broad; far apart,
waxy; arched; extending down
the stem (decurrent); whitish or yellowish; sometimes tinged
with red.
187
FIELD
Stem
yellow;
slender; fragile; smooth; stuffed or hollow; orange or
to 3 inches long.
Spores white;
.0003-. 0004
elliptical;
by .0002-.00024 inch
in diameter.
The margin
of the cap
may
the
name
Other varieties of
"roseus."
caps and stems
be waved or lobed, the lobes
Peck has given to
often crowded or overlapping.
sulphury hygrophorus;
Plate
phur-colored chlorophorus.
On
damp
ground; in
or
may have
from each other.
of colors differing
Hygrophorus chlorophanus
this variety
this species
mossy places
10,
sul-
Species 58.
in woods; July to
September; edible.
Cap
thin; fragile;
with the margin
convex to nearly plane; often
split
or lobed; smooth; sticky
(viscid); radiating lines
on the margin
(striate); pale yellow,
sometimes tinged with red in the center;
^ to
irregular,
when moist
flesh thin; yellowish;
>i inches in diameter.
Gills extending to
but not attached to the stem (adnexed)
thin; rather broad; bellied; rather far apart; pale yellow.
Stem smooth;
cylindric; color of cap; hollow; sticky
when
moist (viscid); i>^ to 3 inches long; hollow; pale yellow.
Spores white; egg-shaped, waxy (hyaline); .0002 by .0003

inch in diameter.
Hygrophorus
conicus;
conic
hygrophorus.
Plate
X,
Species 59.
On
moist ground in woods and open places; singly or in
groups; August to October; edible.
Cap
thin; fragile;
waxy; sticky
(viscid)
when
moist; conical,
usually with an acute tip or apex, rarely with a blunt tip; the
margin often lobed; sometimes there are radiating cracks on

the surface of the cap.
The
color
is
variable,
it
may
be bright

red, scarlet, crimson or sulphiir yellow; size, }4 to ij4 inches
broad.
Gills
waxy, rather close together; free from the stem;
broad near the outer end but narrow near the stem; yellow.
Stem
yellow; hollow; 2 to 4 inches long.
Spores white;
This species
elliptical;
9-1 1
by 6-8 microns
usually readily distinguished
in diameter.
by
its
conic
Species No. 61. Hygrophorus pratensis.

tawny, reddish, bufT, ashy or whitish.
Cap
is
1 i.txc'h
Fig. 20.
cap with acute apex as well as by
on drying.
It is
common
its
in moist
change of color to black
woods and grassy places
from Greenland to the Bahamas and occurs
in Europe. Murrill.
Hygrophorus miniatus; vermilion mushroom.
Plate
X,
Species 60.
On ground
in
woods and swamps; among mosses and
leaves or on bare ground; scattered, in groups or in tufts;
June
to September; edible.
189
PLATE
X.
PLATE
X.

Cap deep
red, vermilion or yellow; thin; fragile;
smooth
or with minute scales; often with a pit at the center; convex,
becoming nearly plane when mature;
yi to
inches
in
diameter.
attached to the stem (adnate); yellow,
Gills far apart;
often tinged with red or, rarely, wholly red; waxy.
Stem
slender; smooth; cylindric; stuffed or hollow; polished;
color of the cap or a little paler;
Spores white;
ellipsoid;
waxy
to 3 inches long.
(hyaline); 8-9 x 4-6 microns
in diameter.
This species
growth.
The
very variable in color,
is
size
and mode
Specimens always fade to yellow on drying.
vermilion hygrophorus
Unfortunately
ful
species.
its
beauty to be
by any mushroom
lost
is
its
a very variable but beauticolors are apt to fade
in drying.
in tenderness
of
Murrill.
It
is
and
scarcely surpassed
and agreeableness
of flavor.
Peck.
Hygrophorus pratensis; meadow hygrophorus.

61.
Species
Figure 20.
On groimd in
pastures, grassy places or in
woods
scattered,
in groups or in tufts; July to September; edible.
Cap
firm;
convex to expanded or plane; often
irregular;
smooth; thin at the margin; variable in color; tawny, reddish,

buff,
ashy or whitish;
flesh
white or whitish; taste mild;
to
3 inches in diameter.
Gills
whitish
extending
down
tween the
gills
Stem
or
yellowish;
thick;
far
apart
(distant);
the stem (decurrent); waxy; the spaces be-
often veined.
short; cylindric; smooth; solid or stuffed; white or
tinged with the color of the cap; 2 to 3 inches long.
Spores white; nearly globular; waxy (hyaline);
6-8x5-6
Several varieties of this valuable species have been recog-
191
FIELD
The names given
nized.
to
them
are mostly derived from
(Whitish, ashy or rusty white.)
their color.
This variable species
common
is
in late
Peck.
summer
in
woods
and pastures throughout the United States and Europe.

Murrill.
puniceus;
Hygrophorus
red
hygrophorus.
Plate
X,
Species 62.
In
damp
or
mossy places in woods and open grounds;
July to September; edible.
Cap
thin; fragile;
(campanulate),
conical or bell-shaped
becoming expanded and often wavy or lobed at the edge when

old;
smooth (glabrous); sticky when moist
red; paler or yellow
when
old;
Gills broad; thick; far apart
close);
cylindrical or
waxy; yellow or
(distant);
reddish; their attachment to the stem
Stem
(viscid); bright
to 3 inches in diameter.
is
somewhat swollen
but
slight.
in its middle (ventri-
hollow when mature; usually yellow at the top, red
in the middle
and white
at the base; 2 to 3 inches long; V3
to yi inch thick.
Spores white;
elliptic;
The red hygrophorus
.0003 to .0004 inch long, .0002 broad.

is
a rather large but very tender,
Its bright red cap
fragile species.
conspicuous object.
It surpasses
makes
it
a beautiful and
our other bright red species
in size.
All of the species of
would come
of
Hygrophorus are edible and no harm
to the eater
the others.
if
one should be mistaken for either
The red hygrophorus
sapid and may be classed as an
abundant mushroom.
is
very tender and
excellent
though not an
Peck.
The genus Hypholoma

The fragments
young cap
is
of the veil adhering to the
a distinguishing feature of
192
this
margin of the
genus and
is

suggestive of
name.
Its
and are tufted
Many
spores are
brown or purplish-brown.
structure
the
genus
white-spored
grow on wood
mode of growth. The
The genus resembles in
of the species
in their
(cespitose)
Tricholoma,
the
there
a well-developed
is
veil
pink-
When
spored Entoloma and the rusty-spored Hebeloma.
hanging from the margin of
the cap the specimen must be carefully distinguished from

Stropharia on the one hand and from Psilocybe on the other
hand
if
the veil
scanty or missing.
is
Species of
Peck.
Hypholoma
Hypholoma appendiculatum; appendiculate hypholoma.

Figure 21.
Species 63.
On
decaying wood; chiefly in woods of hilly
districts; in
dense tufts; August to October; edible.
Cap bay-brown
or
yellow and wrinkled
tawny-brown when moist; brownish-
when
dry; egg-shaped or convex
when
young, expanded when mature; thin; fleshy; smooth; water-
soaked in appearance when moist (hygrophanous) delicate

;
fragments of the
veil
young specimens;
attached to the margin of the cap in
to 2 inches broad.
or creamy white
stem (adnate); close together; white
when young, turning purplish-brown when
old.
Stem
slender; cylindric;
smooth or frosted at the top;
white; hollow; 2 to 3 inches long.
Spores purplish-brown; egg-shaped; smooth;
7x4
microns
in diameter.
This
is
everywhere recognized as one of the best and most
dainty edible species.
It is
widely distributed and grows in
abundance throughout the season about dead wood or

soil
that
The
form
is
rich in
decayed wood.
peculiar characters of the species are
tufts,
to
grow
chiefly
in
Murrill.
its
tendency to
on decaying wood, to be very

193
Fig. 21.
Above, Species No. 63
Hypholoma appendiculatum.
Cap
to
inches broad bay-brown to yellowish.
This
specimen grows from a buried tree root (on

wood, in woods)
.193
.
Below, Species No. 64
Hypholoma incertum.
Cap
broad; whitish to yellowish.
open
places.
Reproduced from Bulletin
See Fig. 31.
to
On
inches
ground,
175. U. S. Dept. of Agriculture,
Dr. C. D. Galpin.
.195
by courtesy
of
Fig. 21.

hygrophanous, the difference between the moist cap and the
dry being well-marked, and in the lateness of
appearance.
its
Peck.
Hypholoma incertum; uncertain hypholoma.
Species 64.
Figure 21 and 31.
On ground on
lawns, pastures, bushy places
May
showery weather;
sides in
and b> road-
to September; in groups or
scanty tufts; edible.
Cap
whitish, tinged with yellow
when
moist, especially in
the center; thin; fragile; watery in appearance and darker
when moist
(hygrophanous);
surface
wrinkled; the thin margin sometimes
even
wavy
or
adorned when young with fragments of the white

white; taste mild,
Stem
radiately
or irregular
veil.
and
Flesh
cylindric; whitish; hollow; splits easily,
to 3 inches
long.
Gills whitish, turning rosy
and then purplish brown
in
maturity; attached to the stem (adnate); thin; near together;
narrow.
Spores purplish brown; 8-10 x 4-6 microns in diameter.

It differs
cap,
its
from the appendiculate hypholoma by
larger spores, its
habitat (on ground).
is,
paler
in its
Peck.
It occasionally has the cap radiately
(That
its
more gregarious habit and
and
areolately rimose.
with cracks in the direction from center and at right
angles to this.)
Peck.
Hypholoma perplexum; perplexing hypholoma.
Plate
X,
Species 65.
On
open
or about stumps
Cap convex
knob
and prostrate
places; generally tufted;
or
tree trunks in
August to November;
nearly plane;
woods or
edible.
sometimes with a
slight
at the center; reddish or brownish-red; usually yellow-
195
FIELD
Flesh white or whitish; taste mild;
the margin.
at
ish
Gills extending to
but not attached to the stem (adnexed)
thin; close together; slightly
rounded near the stem; pale
and purplish brown when
yellow, becoming tinged with green
old (from the ripening spores).
Stem
rather slender; cylindric or nearly so; firm; hollow;
slightly fibrillose
(with fine longitudinal fibres); whitish or
yellowish at upper end, reddish-brown at lower end; 2 to 3

inches long.
Spores purplish-brown; slightly oval; smooth; 6-8 x 3-4

This mushroom closely resembles hypholoma sublateritium,
its
distinguishing features being its smaller size, paler margin
of the pileus (cap); mild taste, paler
which
is
and more slender stem,
always hollow, even when young.
Peck.
This species occurs abundantly on stumps and roots of

deciduous trees in autumn, appearing in conspicuous clusters
(reddish)
of considerable size.
It
is
good in quality, being useful because of
Peck separated
ance.
in
it
it
to that species, of which
may
this
species for food,
30 minutes.
least
Hypholoma
tops.
On
very late appear-
be only a form.
young and
flavor should be selected
its
from Hypholoma sub-
lacked the bitter taste ascribed
lateritium chiefly because

it
1872
edible but not very
In collecting
fresh specimens of mild
and they should be cooked
Murrill.
sublateritium; brick-red hypholoma; brickSpecies 66.
Figure 22
or about old stumps, ^prostrate tree trunks
decaying wood covered with earth; commonly
August to November;
Cap dark
for at
in
and on
tufts;
edible.
brick-red, often paler
196
on the margin; convex or
Fig. 22.
Species 66.
Fig. 22.
tium.
margin.
Cap
Above,
Hypholoma
sublateri-
to 3 inches broad; brick-red, often paler on
Below, section of same.

Photos by author.

nearly plane; smooth; dry; flesh whitish or yellowish, taste
commonly
sometimes mild;
bitter;
stem or attached to
Gills extending to the
it
(adnexed or
adnate); close together; whitish or yellowish white, becoming
when mature, and
tinged with green
later,
purplish-brown
(from the ripened spores).
Stem
cylindric or tapering
several stems
fibrous;
toward the base; occasionally
grow from a common base; smooth or
stuffed;
some becoming
slightly
hollow when old; rust-
colored; 2 to 3>^ inches long.
Spores purplish-brown; 6-8X3-4 microns in diameter.
Hy-
Murrill considers this species to be identical with
The
pholoma perplexum.
insects
and
are
quickly
attacked
by
which leave their excrement upon portions not eaten
thus,
perhaps,
may
occasional bitter taste.

frost
gills
be found an explanation of the

Specimens that are collected after
has checked the ravages of insects, are found to be free
from any
bitter taste.
The genus Inocybe

Mushrooms belonging
to the rusty spored genus Inocybe
are generally of small or
brown
The
as their color
gills
medium
and most
of
size
with some shade of
them grow on the ground.
extend to the stem but are rarely attached to
it.
Their caps are darker in color when young than when old.
The stem
is
not easily detachable from the cap.
The
spores
are brownish-rust colored, with even, angular or rough contours.
Mushrooms
of this genus are difficult to identify.
It is
make use of the microThe resemblance of some
often necessary, even for experts, to
scope in distinguishing the species.
of the Inocybes to others of their genus or to
other rusty-spored genera
is
mushrooms
of
so close that microscopic examin-
ation of the spores cannot be safely omitted.
197
FIELD
Many
of the species of Inocybe are rare or local, having
been found but once, and in a single
None
some
locality.
of the species of this genus should be eaten because
them
of
difficult to
and the
are poisonous
make.
distinctions are very
Murrill.
Species of Inocybe
Inocybe abundans ; abundant inocybe.
Plate IX, Species
67.
On damp ground in woods;

POISONOUS.
in groups; July
and August;
probably
Cap bell-shaped or nearly plane;

center (umbilicate)
rarely with a pit at the
surface dry, with radiating cracks
and
flaky scales; color of tanned leather with rusty hues at the
center
and light-brown
fibrous lines radiating
mild odor rather strong fungous >^ to

;
stem (adnate) or
when young, rusty when
Stem
whitish at
its
from
Taste
it.
inch broad.
free
from
it;
whitish
old.
upper end, inclining to brownish at the
base; 2 inches long.
Spores pale rusty;
elliptical;
7x4 microns in diameter.
Abundant about New York City

from Inocybe
in late
summer.
infelix (Peck).
Inocybe rimosa; cracked inocybe.
Not
Murrill.
Species 68.
Fig-
ure 23.
On
ground in woods; singly or in groups;
Cap
POISONOUS.
thin; convex, bell-shaped or expanded;
sometimes with
an elevation at the center (umbonate); surface

radiating cracks; yellowish-brown;
Gills pallid or tan; attached to the
Stem
I
silky,
with
to 2 inches broad.
stem (adnate).
cylindric; firm; slightly swollen at the base; solid;
to 2 inches long; thick.
198

Spores dull-rusty; 7-9 x 3.5-5 microns in diameter.
'
Very common throughout the northern hemisphere and

usually recognizable
by
its
very conspicuous radiate splitting.
Murrill.
]
The genus Laccaria
The
species of this genus
have generally been included by
botanists in the genus Clitocybe, but they are so peculiar in
Fig. 23.
Species No. 68. Inocybe rimosa.

inches broad; yellowish-brown.
Cap
to 2
their general appearance that
The
gills
are rather thick
tached to the stem.
from the abundant

(or nearly so)
it
and
seems best to separate them.
far apart
When mature they

spores.
and rough.
The
Peck.
199
and are broadly
at-
are powdered whitish
spores are typically globular
FIELD
Species of Laccaria
waxy
Laccaria laccata; laccate laccaria;
mushroom.
On ground in
tures, in wet,
woods, groves, swamps, mossy places and pas-
dry or sandy
groups or tufts;
solitary, in
waxy
clitocybe;
Plate X, Species 69.
Cap convex or
soil
and even
May
in
sphagnum moss;
to October; edible.
plane, sometimes depressed at the center;
surface smooth; hygrophanous fleshy; rather thin; sometimes

;
with radial
lines at the
when
or flesh-red
margin
(striated); pale red, buff -red,
when
moist; pale ochre, grayish or buff
dry; margin even; >^ to 2 inches broad.
stem
Gills broad; thick; rather far apart; attached to the
down it
or extending
(adnate or decurrent) sometimes slightly

;
toothed near the stem; pale flesh-red and occasionally deep

violet;
powdered white when old by the
Stem long
spores.
or short; cylindric or nearly so; fibrous; firm;
straight or bent; smooth; stuffed; colored like the cap;
to 3
inches long.
Spores white; 8 to 10 microns in diameter; covered with
minute warts or elevations.

This
the most
is
the genus Laccaria.

or season.
autumn
It
if
common and
It is
may be
the weather
and
is
which to separate
This species
after
all,
easily
met
it
it
is
is
is
not too dry.
one of
gills is
more
As
so different
It
is
late
in other species of
persistent than that
from others.
Peck.
very variable in form, size
recognized.
habitat
the most available characters by
this species
with, both in
its
found at any time from spring to
the genus, the color of the

of the cap
the most variable species of
not particular concerning
and
color;
from other mushrooms that

one of the most
woods or
harmless, and although poor in quality,
Murrill.
200
common
All authors
fields.
it is
but
it is
species
pronounce
often eaten.

Plate X, Species 70.
Laccaria ochropurpurea.
On ground
in open,
bushy or grassy
places; solitary, rarely
grouped; July to September; edible.
Cap purplish-brown when moist, grayish or pale tan when
when moist
dry; unpolished; watery in appearance
(hygro-
phanous) convex or almost hemispheric, with decurved mar;
when mature, becoming plane
gin;
or slightly depressed at
the center; firm; fleshy; 2 to 4 inches broad.

Gills attached to or extending
down
the stem (adnate or
decurrent); purplish (color of the cap or paler); thick; broad;

far apart.
Stem long
or short variable cylindric or sometimes thicker

;
in the middle, sometimes thicker at each end; fibrous; solid;

color of cap or paler; i>^ to 3 inches long.
Spores white; globular; warty; 8 to 10 microns in diameter.

This species
size
and shape.
often very irregular and very variable in
is
The
color of the gills
moist than when dry.
is
The cap
those of Laccaria laccata.
The stem
The genus
is
generally darker than
is
much
Lactarius
In the white-spored genus Lactarius the
rooms exude a milky or colored

This character alone
broken.
genus from
all
it
is
is
juice
gills
mush-
of the
where they are cut or
is sufficient
to distinguish this
others but there are also other features which
are quite characteristic.
rooms
when
darker
very fibrous and firm.
The
texture of the milky mush-
such that while the flesh seems to be firm and rigid
nevertheless very brittle.
and not ragged or torn as

substances.
Most
The
fracture
is
quite even
more filamentous or
of the Lactarius
fleshy in appearance
clitocybe.
in
and resemble
species
like
201
and
in outline those of the
In mature plants of this genus the cap
somewhat funnel-shaped or
fibrous
are stout
is
often
a broad inverted cone.
The
BOOK OF COMMON GILLED MU^ROOMS
FIELD
gills
are
more or
and the stem
down the stem)

Some of the
decurrent (extending
less
and
generally short
is
stout.
circular zones or
bands
that are more highly colored than the adjacent parts.
This
have the cap adorned with
species
feature
The
is
is
rarely seen in the
taste of the juice
and
mushrooms
of the flesh in
very acrid or hot and burning,
of
any other genus.
many
like that of
of these species
cayenne pepper.
Unless this can be destroyed by cooking or by drying, such

species
must be considered as wholly
While the taste of the milk

in others
is
it
is
unfit for food.
very acrid in some species,
mild or but tardily acrid.
is
of great utility in distinguishing the species
sary to observe
flesh,
it
by
we would
if
This character
and
it is
neces-
but not swallowing the milk or
tasting,
satisfactorily
identify
our
specimens.
Several of the species are edible; others are affirmed
authors to be poisonous.
use of such acrid species,
stroyed or dispelled
tible,
by
It is
for,
by
most prudent to avoid the
although their acridity
is
de-
cooking, they are said to be indiges-
and are acceptable only to the strongest stomachs.
Peck.
The
spores of
nearly so
ances.
all
the species of Lactarius are globular, or
and are roughened by minute points or protuber-
Their color
may
be white or yellowish, according to
the species.
Species of Lactarius
Lactarius camphoratus; camphory lactarius.
Plate XI,
Species 71.
On
ground in wet
places,
swamps and woods; July
to
September; edible.
Cap bay-red or brownish-red;

a depression at the center, in
smooth; dry;
flesh
thin;
which
convex or plane or with

is
often a small knob;
tinged with the color of the cap; milk
white; taste mild; odor sweet;
K to
202
i>^ inches broad.

Gills dull reddish or with the color of the cap; thin; narrow;
close together; attached to the
it
(adnate or decurrent).
Stem almost
cylindric;
the color of the cap or a
smooth; stuffed or hollow; with
little paler.
Spores white; globular; 8 to 9 microns in diameter.
The camphory
lactarius
closely
but
lactarius (Lactarius subdulcis)
and by
color
present,
The
is
color
is
agreeable odor.
its
very small and
its
resembles the sweetish

differs in its
Its
margin
darker red
knob (umbo) when

is
sometimes wavy.
generally bay-red but occasionally
it
approaches
the color of the sweetish Lactarius in which case the odor
is
the most available character for the separation of these species.
The
gills
are occasionally paler than usual
tend to the confusion of these two species.

less
pronounced in the fresh plant than in the dry.
persists
the
and thereby
The odor
a long time.
name would
It
not like that of camphor, as
is
suggest, but resembles
dried melilot (sweet clover).
cooking, but the flavor
is
It is
comigis;
more the odor
of
not always dispelled by
not, in otir opinion, a serious ob-
mushroom.
jection to the edibility of this
Lactarius
is
It
Peck.
corrugated lactarius.
Species 72.
Figure 24.
On ground
Cap
fleshy;
in
woods; August and September; edible.
compact; firm; convex when young, later be-
coming expanded or depressed

a
spiral
in the center; corrugated,
with
network of wrinkles; dark reddish-brown or chestnut-
colored,
becoming paler as
it
grows older; suffused as
if
with a slight frosting or bloom; milk copious, white, with
mild taste; 3 to 5 inches broad; flesh whitish or cream-colored.

Gills dark cream-yellow or suggestive of cinnamon, turn-
ing paler
when
old; often
showing drops of moisture; becom-
ing dirty or brownish wherever bruised.
203
PLATE
PLATE
XI.
--.,'-iÎi
77
.'}
S^
rll
i/
J?
73
.SiltfÛ

Stem
than the cap; 4 to 6
cylindric; solid; firm; paler
inches long.
Spores white; large; nearly globular; .00045 to .0005 inch

in diameter; with small needle-Hke points, .0016 to .002 inch
long.
This remarkable species resembles Lactarius volemius.

is,
however, of a darker color and the surface of the cap
It
is
very uneven from the presence of folds which present an
appearance
much
like that of
of
some
species of Merulius
surface)
network of
(little
on the gills
They
corrugis.
hymenium
a hairy appearance to the edge of the
gills.
Dr. Murrill considers that this species

of the milk-bearing
Lactarius
On ground
mushrooms
deliciosus;
lactarius.
The
gills).
spicules
too, are a peculiar feature of Lactarius
numerous that under a
are so
(spore-bearing
fungus having a
(a
instead of
or pores,
pits
spikes)
the
is
lens they give
Peck.
the most
common
(Lactarius).
delicious
lactarius;
orange-milk
Plate XI, Species 73.
in woods, groves
and
in
mossy swamps; odor
not marked; taste often slightly acrid; orange-colored milk
exudes when the plant
become
is
broken.
Wounded
Cap broadly convex when the plant
is
young; centrally
funnel-shaped when mature; smooth; moist;
depressed
or
yellowish,
with
circles
flesh whitish, stained

gills;
places slowly
greenish; July to October; edible.
or
mottled zones of deeper hues;
with orange in the part nearest to the
Gills orange-colored,
the stem or extending
but clearer than the cap; attached to
down
the stem (adnate or decurrent).
Stem smooth; short if growing from the ground, longer if

growing among mosses; sometimes tapering toward the base;
with the color of the cap or paler, sometimes with a few bright
orange spots;
to 4 inches long, Vs to V3 of
205
an inch
thick.
FIELD
Spores yellowish; globular; .0003 to .0004 inch in diameter.
The
colors
delicious
and
Lactarius
lactarius
is
marked by
well
from
is
by
orange-colored juice.
its
upon the cap are
all
peculiar
its
other species of
The mottled zones
less distinct in old plants,
and
them the
in
ground-color also fades and becomes tinged with greenish
There
Such plants should not be used as food.
hues.
often a slightly acrid taste to the flesh and milk
plant
is
and raw.
fresh
The milk
or juice pervades the whole plant.
bruises slowly
is
assume a
Wounds and
dull greenish hue.
The stem
is
especially
found on pine woods and mossy swamps, though
usually hollow in mature plants.
not by any means limited to these.

in
is
when the
It
This species
may sometimes be found
swamps when dry weather prevents
its
growth elsewhere.
Lactarius lignyotus; sooty lactarius. Plate XI, Species 74.
On ground
in shaded,
swamps; most often
mossy or damp places
in hilly or
in
woods and
mountainous places; July to
September; edible.
Cap convex, plane or
slightly depressed at the center; dry;
with or without a small protuberance (umbo) at the center

often with wrinkles radiating from the center; velvety (pruinose);
even or lobed at the edge; sooty-brown;
flesh white;
exuding scanty white milk when bruised or cut; taste mild

or slightly acrid;
Gills attached to the stem (adnate) or extending slightly
down
the stem; white or creamy yellow, becoming reddish
where they are wounded.
Stem
cylindric or tapering
upward;
the cap 2 to 4 inches long, Ve to Vs

;
iiich
stuffed; colored like
thick and sometimes
thicker; colored like the cap.
Spores globular with small spines

8 to 10 microns in diameter.
206
(echinulate)
white;

The sooty
marked by
lactarius
a very noticeable
is
dark-brown
its
color,
long stem and by the fact that
turn a reddish
It is
color.
species,
well
velvety appearance,
its gills,
its
when wounded, slowly
an excellent edible
Lactarius piperatus; peppery lactarius.
species.
Peck.
Plate XI, Species
75-
On ground
acrid; edible
Cap
in
woods; summer and autumn; taste very
when properly prepared.
fleshy; thick; firm;
rough and covered with
convex when young; white, often
dirt
and
debris;
when mature,
comes depressed at the center or funnel-shaped;

broad; flesh white; exuding white milk
Gills white; very narrow; very
some
of
Stem
I
them
it
be-
3 to 5 inches
when broken.
much crowded
together;
are forked.
short; soHd; cylindric or tapering
downward;
thick;
to 3 inches long.
Spores white; smooth; oval with a small point; 5-7 x 4-5

This species
yields
is
very hot and peppery to the taste and
abundant white milk.
It resembles
Russula delica.
Atkinson.
In young plants the milk pervades the whole structure.

Lactarius subdulcis ; sweetish lactarius.
Plate XI, Species
76.
On ground in
Cap
or near woods; July to October; edible.
thin; fleshy;
knob
at center (umbonate)
when young,
tawny or brownish-red;
becoming funnel-shaped when
old;
dry; smooth; margin turned in
when young; spreading when
old and sometimes wavy; flesh firm; fragile; tinged with tan;
milk white, mild or slightly bitterish;
K to 2>^ inches broad.
Gills whitish or tinged with brownish-red;
dusted when
old; close together; sometimes forked; attached to the
207
stem
FIELD

down
or extending
it,
with a notch near the stem (adnate or
decurrent with a tooth).
Stem
colored like the cap or paler; cylindric or tapering
upward; smooth or sometimes hairy at the base; dry; pith}
when young, hollow when
old;
to 3 inches long.
Spores white; globular or nearly
elliptic,
with minute
spurs 7 to 8 microns in diameter.

;
This edible species occurs on the ground in or near woods
throughout the Eastern United States and Europe.

Lactarius theiogalus
sulphur-milk lactarius.
Murrill.
Plate XI,
Species 77,
On ground
ing to Gillet
in
it is
ous by others."
Cap
woods or groves; July to October; "Accordpronounced edible by some authors, poisonPeck.
convex when young, becoming depressed
fleshy; thin;
at the center
when mature; smooth;
sticky
when
moist;
tawny-reddish; 2 to 5 inches broad, exuding milk (see below).

it
(adnate
or decurrent); close together; pallid or reddish.
Stem pithy
cap;
(stuffed) or hollow;
smooth; colored
Spores yellowish, inclining to pale

lar; .0003 to
flesh-color; nearly globu-
.00035 inch in diameter.
Milk white, changing to sulphur-yellow

the
like the
to 3 inches long.
after exposure to
air; taste tardily acrid; bitterish.
Lactarius vellereus; fleecy lactarius. Plate XI, Species 78.
On ground
*"'
in
woods and open
Cardier states that
it is
places; July to
edible according to Leveille."
Peck.
Cap convex when young and with a

(umbilicate), later
September;
poisonous according to some authors,
pit
at the center
expanded and depressed at the center
slightly funnel-shaped;
t>r
compact; the whole surface covered
208
i
with a fine velvety wool (tomentum) that
white or whitish; exuding milk
is
white, with an acrid taste.

Gills rather distant
or extending
Stem
downy
down
it
Cap
is
soft to the touch;
or broken; this milk
from each other; attached to the stem
(adnate or decurrent) sometimes forked;

;
when young, cream
whitish
when cut
or yellowish
when
old.
white; firm; solid; cylindric or tapering
downward;
or woolly; >^ to 2 inches long.
Spores white; nearly smooth;
.0003
to
.00035
inch in
diameter.
The
soft,
downy tomentum
of this species
frosted appearance
stem
gills
is
short and
is
is
cap, gives
when viewed from a
little
sometimes broader than
characteristic
it
a downy or
The
The
distance.
it is
long.
are about equal in width to the thickness of the cap.
They become stained where

from wounds
is
or wool which
and which covers the
very acrid.
bruised.
The milk
that exudes
dries into cream-colored granules.
The
taste
Peck.
Lactarius volemus; orange-brown lactarius.
Plate XI,
Species 79.
On ground
in
woods and open
places; in groups or singly;
Cap convex or nearly plane when young, becoming

pressed at the center or even funnel-shaped
de-.
when mature-
smooth; dry; golden- tawny or brownish-orange, sometimes

darker at the center; sometimes with a knob at the center
(umbonate); the peel sometimes cracks into small angular
flesh white, sometimes tinged with yellow;
milk
patches;
white, abundant, mild to the taste.

Cap
stem or extending a
little
down
it
(adnate or decurrent); white or tinged with yeUow;

close
together; a milky fluid exudes when they are
bruised or
broken; wounds of the gills assume a brownish
hue.
209

FIELD
Stem
solid;
colored like the cap or paler; firm; smooth; generally

to 4 inches long; not often longer than the diameter
af the cap.
Spores white; globular; .00035 to .00045 inch broad.
The orange-brown
It varies
species.
recognized.
It is
many
Usually
it is
table.
It is
which
drying
is
and
color
most abundant
difficult to
in
therefore easily
is
warm, showery weather.
company
obtain a generous supply for the
remarkably free from the attacks of
a point in
it
a clean, firm and attractive
is
little in
individuals will be found growing in
not
so that
lactarius
but
its
emits an unpleasant odor which
insects,
Sometimes in
favor as an esculent.
is,
perhaps, an
indication that the specimens should not be kept too long
before being cooked.
Fig.
24.
Species
Many
No.
writers affirm that this fungus
72.
Lactarius
wrinkled, dark reddish brown, paler

210
corrugis.
when
old.
Cap

Fig.
Species No.
24A.
brownish-flesh color
80.
Lentinus
when moist
Cap
cochleatus.
paler
when
dry.
raw
is
quite as good
slightly acrid or astringent flavor in the
own
experience with
more than an
as
it
it is
cooked, but to
would scarcely lead
ordinarily good
mushroom.
be improved by better cooking than
me
raw
me
it
often has
My
state.
to class
Perhaps
it
was able to give
it
as
might
it.
There are two or three species somewhat similar to the

orange-brown mushroom in
hiirtful.
We
red lactarius for

ous.
and
color,
This
it.
have found
in the cold
this
is
reported by Fries as very poison-
on the high summits of the
mossy swamps and woods
its
It
smaller
is
easily
size,
of the
Catskills
Adirondack
company with the orange-brown lacby its more red color,

and especially by its exceedingly acrid,
region, but never in

tarius.
but none of them are
are'sometimes cautioned against mistaking the
distinguished
211
FIELD
No
burning taste.
one who had tasted
in the
it
could be induced to swallow the least particle of
This species was probably
named
broken or bruised, though
is
it
state
Peck.
" volemus " because of
the voluminous quantity of milk which exudes

is
raw
it.
when the plant
not the only species hav-
Atkinson.
ing this character.
The genus Lentinus

Mushrooms belonging
They
upon wood.
to
this
genus are found growing
are variable in form, hard or tough in
texture and have white spores.
They
by the uneven or sawlike edges
of their
are easily recognized

gills.
Species of Lentinus
Lentinus cochleatus;
Species 80.
Fig-
or about old stumps or growing from decaying
wood
shell
lentinus.
ure 24A.
On
buried in the ground; in tufts; July and August; inedible
because tough.
Cap
thin;
tough; flaccid; irregular in shape; often lobed
on the margin;
shaped; smooth;
when
depressed at the center or funnel-
plane,
brownish-flesh
color
when
moist,
paler
dry; }4 to 2 inches broad.
Gills
rather broad;
close
stem (decurrent); saw-like
together;
(serrate)
extending
down
on the edge;
the
whitish,
tinged with flesh-color.
Stem placed
in the center, to
one side or on the edge of
the cap; usually united in a tuft; solid; smooth; furrowed

or grooved; color of cap or paler; i>^ to 3 inches long.
Spores white; nearly globular; .00016 to .0002 inch in

diameter.
The
species
is
easily
recognized
212
/
by
its
tufted
mode
of

growth and
Although
account of
The
grooved stem.
its
an agreeable odor.
it is
plants sometimes emit
Peck.
not a
common
species
Lentinus lepideus; scaly lentinus.
On
decaying wood of evergreen
fence posts
ties,
and bridge timbers;
Plate XII, Species 8i.
Cap
fleshy; tough;
often on railroad
trees,
May
singly or in tufts;
to October; too tough to be eaten but
sometimes
included here on
it is
unique grooved stem.
its
makes good soup.
hard when dry; convex or nearly plane;
slightly depressed in the center; often irregular in
shape; the peel (cuticle) cracks and forms brownish, spotlike

scales;
white.
surface of cap otherwise white or pale rusty; flesh

Gills rather far apart; notched near the
stem
(sinuate);
with saw-like teeth along the free edge (serrate-dentate);

white; often torn across.
Stem
short; hard; solid; often pointed at the base; some-
times scaly; sometimes with a slight ring when young; white

or whitish;
to 2^2 inches long.
elliptical;
inch long,
.0004-.0005
.0002-.00024 broad.
This fungus
is
is
often injurious to railroad
occasionally umbonate, that
from
its center.
The stem
is
scales
may
there
is
ties.
The cap
a knob protruding
be brown or almost black.
sometimes attached between the center and the
side of the cap.
in wood, its
The
is,
stem
When
is
the
mushroom emerges from a crack
pointed at the base.
The genus Lepiota

Mushrooms belonging
of the genera
free
to the genus Lepiota resemble those
Amanita and Amanitopsis
in
having their
from the stem and in having white spores.
in having
They
gills
differ
no removable warts on the cap and no sheath or

213
PLATE
Species No.
XII.
PLATE
XII.
#-?--* f
91
\
^
c>4
^
^B
.1.

cup at the base of the stem although
There
is
a ring or collar on the stem.
may
it
be bulbous.
In some species the
epidermis (peel) of the cap breaks into scales which adhere

to the cap
which
is
and
this feature suggests the
name
of the genus
derived from the Latin word lepis^ a scale.
Species of Lepiota
Lepiota americana; American lepiota; blushing lepiota.
Plate XII, Species 82.
On
grassy ground or about old sttimps, sawdust heaps or
compost heaps; July to October; singly or
Cap white with reddish or reddish-brown

center; egg-shaped
when mature;
in tufts; edible.
scales
and elevated
when young, growing convex
or expanded
to 4 inches broad; margin striated
(with
radial marks).
Gills white; close together; free
from the stem; sometimes
forked or joined near their inner end.
Stem somewhat thickened
at or above the base; hollow;
usually with a ring or collar, but sometimes this
is
may
bruises are
disappear
when the
plant
is
old;
wounds or
thin
and
apt to assume brownish hues; 3 to 5 inches long.
elliptic;
with a nucleus; .0003 to
.0004 inch long, .0002 to .0003 inch broad.
The American
from aU other
fresh
is
lepiota has one character in which
species of this genus.
By
it
this character
On ground
its
when
central
assumes a dull reddish or smoky

it is
easily recognized
Peck.
Lepiota Morgani; green-spored mushroom.

Species 83.
differs
it
plant
white except the scales upon the cap and
portion, but in drying

color.
The whole
Plate XII,
Figiire 25.
in open places (rarely in woods)
singly or in
groups, sometimes in curved Hnes or "fairy rings"; June to
October;
POISONOUS.
215
FIELD
Cap
soft
and
fleshy; nearly spherical
when young, convex,
when
matiire; white, with
or even depressed at the center

scattered
brown
which merge together at the center.
scales
Flesh white, tirrning reddish and then yello^dsh where
Cap 4
wounded.
broad; close together; free from the stem;
Gills
it is
to 12 inches broad.
white
when young, green when mature.

Stem slightly bulbous at the base; firm; stuffed; whitish,
tinged with brown; surrounded by a large ring that is often
movable; 6 to 8 inches long.
Spores green when
shaped or
shed, slowly turning yellow; egg-
first
mostly with a single nucleus;
slightly elliptical;
10-13 X 7-8 microns in diameter.

This
It is
is
one of the largest and handsomest of the
lepiotas.
very abundant in the southern and southwestern states.

Lepiota naucina; lepiota naucinoides;
Species
On ground
84.
in
Figure
to
November;
edible.
with the center rarely yellowish or smoky;
white,
smooth and even

Gills free
lepiota.
grassy places; rarely in cultivated fields
and thin woods; August
Cap
smooth
26.
stirface; soft; 2 to
4 inches broad.
from the stem; white; slowly changing with age
to a dirty pinkish-brown or smoky-brown color; rounded
near the stem.
Stem white
or ring which
or like the cap; furnished with a white collar
is
sometimes movable and sometimes disappears
in old specimens; bulbous at the base; hollow or nearly so; 2
to 3 inches long.
elliptic;
with a nucleus; .0003 to
.0004 inch long.
Being similar to the

ris)
in size
species.
and
common mushroom
color,
But a glance
it
is
(Agaricus campest-
sometimes confused with that
at the color of the gills
216
is
sufficient
Fig. 25.
Fig. 25, Species 83.
Lepiota morgani growing in
ring."
From
Prof. C.
"fairy
See Plate XII.
H. Kauflfman's Agaricacea of Michigan.

on page 215.
Description
L/v'^'.TF,

The
to separate the two.
stem and
ter of the
my
In
estimation this species
common mushroom
the
thick
scarcely
is
if
at
all inferior
where the grass
is
and
and dense,
short
and attractive appearance.
color for a long time
Growing as
insects.
common mushroom, whose
over the
it
it
it
gills
very
It is
does often,
has a neat,
Its gills retain their
in this respect
to
Its flesh is
and white and usually tender and savory.
in places
clean
and the charac-
in its edible qualities.
from the attacks of
free
color of the spores
collar are also distinguishing differences.
white
has an advantage
soon change from
the delicate pink of youth to the repulsive blackish hue of
Peck.
age.
Since the plant occurs in the
campestris
it
could come by eating
room.
If
one
be
likely to
the
gills
mistake
gills,
for the
it
it,
by mistake
it
look at the
will
situations as the Agaricus
but of course no harm
for the
There
Amanitas,
Amanita virosa
is
will
common mushroom
much more danger
Amanita
common mush-
however, they
become pink only when the plant
quite old.
white
same
might be mistaken for
is
well
not
because
expanded and
in mistaking
it
for the
Amanita verna or
phalloides,
since the gills of these deadly plants are
white and they do sometimes grow in lawns and other grassy

places where the
grow.
For
smooth
illustrations
of
lepiota
and
the, common
Amanitas
these
until
one
familiar with their characters that the plants
"on
sight."
is
so
certainly
would be known
Atkinson.
Lepiota procera; parasol mushroom;
XII, Species
On ground
mushroom
one should study the descriptions and
this reason
tall lepiota.
in thin woods, in fields
and pastures and by
roadsides; July to September; unfortunately, not very
mon;
Cap
"Plate
85.
com-
edible.
thin, with
a knob or eminence at the center; adorned

217
FIELD
with brown, spot-like scales; when young, the cap

or reddish-brown
Its peel soon breaks
brownish
is
and somewhat resembles an egg
in shape.
up into numerous fragments and as the
cap expands, these become separated except on and near the
and white; mild
center of the cap; flesh soft, slightly tough
odor and flavor; 3 to 5 inches broad.

Gills white or yellowish- white; close together; their inner
extremity so far from the stem that there
about
a clear space
is
it.
Stem very
long in proportion to
rather thick, firm collar or ring which,
thickness;
its
when
becomes loosened and movable upon
it;
with a
matiire, generally
bulbous at or near
brownish dots below the ring at
the base; with scales or
times; hollow or pithy; 5 to 10 inches long.
Spores white; large;
The
tive species.
usually
elliptic;
mushroom
parasol
is
a very neat, graceful and attrac-
The cap sometimes becomes
maintains a convex form
it
like
expanded but
fully
an opened umbrella or
parasol.
There
fused.
no poisonous species with which
is
The very
tall,
slender stem with
the peculiarly spotted cap with
umbo
of the
this
its
it
its
can be con-
bulbous base,
prominent darker colored
(knob) and the broad space or basin about the insertion
stem and between
it
and the
gills,
easily distinguish
mushroom.
The
parasol
mushroom has been
highly
evidently a first-class edible species.
This handsome edible species
is
found in thin
ows, pastures and open woods from
and west
to Nebraska.
and Asia where

some
it is
places being
account of
its
is
soil in
New England
to
mead-
Alabama
widely distributed in Europe
highly esteemed as an article of food, in

dried in quantity for winter use.
scaly cap
fully distinguished
It is
commended and
Peck.
and bulbous stem,
from species of Amanita.

218
it
must be
Murrill.
On
care-
Fig. 26.
1
,-^-
\y.
W-;'
Fig. 26, Species 84.
Lepiota naucina.
Cap
white; 2 to 4
inches broad.
From
Prof. C.
H. Kauffman's Agaricacea of Michigan.

on page 216.
Description

The genus Marasmius
The
tough, leathery texture of the small, thin

white- spored genus
of this
They
in
mushrooms
distinguishing feature.
their
is
quickly wither or shrivel in dry weather but revive again
wet weather or when put into water and regain their fresh
The
apper ranee.
fact that they
do not decay
important feature by which they
Many
of the rarer species of
an odor
may
another
is
be distinguished.
marasmius when fresh possess
of garlic.
Mushrooms belonging
to this genus resemble others of the
genera Collybia, Lentinus and Panus.
The
mar-
species of
asmius, though, are usually smaller than those of the two

latter species.
The
from the often
lateral
central
stem of marasmius also
differs
stems of Panus and Lentinus.
Species of Marasmius
Marasmius
campanulatus
shaped marasmius.
On dead
Cap
leaves in woods; July
thin; dry;
free
siccus;
bell-
and August.
convex or bell-shaped; smooth, with radiating
furrows; rusty red; a

Gills
Marasmius
little
darker at center; }ito j4 inch broad.
few and far apart; broad; narrowed near the stem;
from the stem or
slightly attached to
Stem tough; smooth;
it
whitish.
shining; hollow; blackish brown;
to
2 inches long.
Spores white; pointed oblong; variable in
size.
Marasmius campanulatus resembles Marasmius

rarer species, but differs in the character of its gills
paler stem.
in its
Peck.
Marasmius oreades
fairy-ring
mousseron; champignon.
On ground
siccus,
and
in
mushroom Scotch bonnet

;
open places; common
in pastures, lawns
and
grassy places or by roadsides; appearing in wet weather or
219
FIELD
after
heavy
clusters;
Cap
Sometimes in arcs or
rains; usually in groups.
complete
circles or in
May
even in
circles or
fleshy; firm; tough; convex,
mature, often with a large
odor and taste;
umbo
tawny
portion; smooth; buff or

shrinking, reviving
Gills rather
lines;
sometimes in
to October; edible.
when
becoming expanded when
or elevation at the central
au hit) drying
{caje
and
easily
moist; flesh thin, white, of pleasant
to 2 inches broad.
broad and far apart; scarcely or but
slightly
attached to the stem; whitish or yellowish.
Spores white; nearly
The
fairy-ring
.0003 to .00035 inch long.
elliptic;
mushroom has
name because
received this
tendency to grow in rings or
its
of
circles.
There are two or three mushrooms which are somewhat

similar to the fairy-ring
mushroom
in size
might, by carelessness, be mistaken for
and
it.
color
One
and which
of these, the
semiorbicular naucoria, Naucoria semiorbicularis, sometimes
grows in company with
It
it.
orbicularis are rusty-brown.
paper have a dark rusty
The oak-loving
it
are
be distinguished by the
Its spores
color,
and
and
but
gills,
more narrow and placed very
the stem
is
is
smooth.
it
its
(C. dryophila's)
closely, side
very smooth and hollow.
woods, but sometimes
be mistaken
when caught on white
stem
its
collybia (CoUybia dryophila) also resembles
in the color of the cap
gills
may
mature plant of Naucoria semi-
color of the gills which, in the
by
mushroom through
for the fairy-ring
and somewhat tough substance
popularity
it
deserves.
This very excellent
carelessness.
species
is
to be looked for in
summer
or autumn.
habit of growing in circles will aid one in recognizing

it
small
its
has not gained the
it
Peck.
little
pastures during wet weather in late
have found
and
occurs in open places and then might
It has long been esteemed as edible, but owing to

size
side,
This usually grows in
much more abundant

220
in
it.
Its
England and other

parts of Europe than in this country.
quantity for table use,
owing to
its
tough texture.
found in
sufficient
IMurrill.
Marasmius peronatus.
On
If
should be cooked for some time,
it
Species 88.
Figure
2'].
grounds in woods; single or in groups; August and
September; taste acrid; edibility doubtful.
Cap
to 2 or
more inches broad;
brick-red, turning paler
light yellowish or pale
and wood-color or tan when
old.
Species No. ^%. Marasmius peronatus. Cap

Fig. 27.
yellowish or pale brick-red; wood-color or tan when old.
Shrivelled,
wrinkled and leathery
lined (striate) at margin.

Gills extending to the
when dry and
radiately
Flesh white.
stem (adnexed) whitish or pale wood;
when young, turning reddish when old.

Stem 2 to 3 inches long; slender; tough; fibrous; tapering
upward; hollow when old; somewhat curved at the base where
it is covered with downy hairs.
color
Spores white; pip-shaped; 7-10 x 4-6 microns in diameter.

221
FIELD
Marasmius
rotula;
little- wheel
marasmius.
Plate
XI,
Species 89.
On dead wood
or leaves in woods.
Cap
convex or nearly
thin; dry;
flat;
brownish with a black
spot or depression at the center; smooth, with radiating

fiirrows (striate)
>^ to >^ inch in diameter.
Gills few; far apart; broad; whitish.
Stem
slender; black; shiny; tough; paler at the top; hollow.
Spores white; narrow; 6-9 x 3-4 microns in diameter.
The genus Mycena

The
species of this white-spored genus are all small
and
slender with thin caps which are usually conic or bell-shaped
and show radiating
lines or striations
Their stems are smooth
down at
Species of
galericulata.
In woods on dead
to
autumn;
upper surfaces.
logs,
Mycena
stumps and branches;
late spring
in clusters; edible.
Cap conic or
bell-shaped; sometimes with a
knob at the
(umbonate); radial marks on the surface
center
color variable, but always

1
their
There are no rings or cups on the stems.
their bases.
Mycena
on
and hollow and often covered with
some shade
(striate);
of gray or brown; }i to
}i inches broad.
Gills with a
notch and tooth at the stem end (emarginate)
and extending down the stem
on the under
Stem
(decurrent)
connected by veins
surface of the cap; white or flesh-color;
slender; firm; whitish; hairy at the base; hollow;
2 to 4 inches long; rarely rooted.
Spores white; waxy (hyaline); 8-10 x 4-6 microns in

diameter.
It
is
a very common and widely distributed species. Atkinson.
222

Mycena
On ground
clusters; late
Cap
pura.
woods and grassy, open
in
places; single or in
summer and autumn.
thin; conic or plane,
sometimes with a small knob at
(umbonate); smooth; fine radial lines at the edge
center
(striatulate)
2 to 3 centimeters
(4/5
to
Vs) inches broad.
Entire plant of uniform color; rose, rose-purple, violet or

away from the stem; broad

veins
lilac.
stem (adnate), sometimes breaking
on the under surface
at their middle; connected
by
of the cap.
Stem sometimes white when young, turning
to color of the
cap when mature; straight; smooth; hollow; with a few threads

at the base.
Spores white; smooth; oblong; 2.5-3,5 x 6-7 microns in

diameter.
This beautiful
little
species
is
common on
the ground in
woods throughout North America and Europe.
It
varies
considerably in shape, sometimes being small and bell-shaped
with a long stem, and sometimes being quite broad and only
rounded on the top or
slightly
flat,
and having a short stem.
been condemned as being dangerous to eat but
It has
its
properties have probably not been thoroughly investigated.
Even
if
harmless
The
food.
species.
it is
too small and thin to be considered for
color varieties v/ere formerly counted as different
Murrill.
The genus Naucoria

This genus, with dark rusty spores (ferruginous) resembles
collybia
among
(cap)
is
The
the white-spored agarics.
both on the ground and upon wood.
some shade
of yellow.
The
The stem
ringed, but sometimes a slight, spore-stained
place of the obsolete ring.
223
plants
grow
color of the pileus

is
not distinctly
band marks the

The members of this genus are, with two or three exceptions,
very common. Species of the genus are among the first to
appear in the spring and well reward the enterprising mycophagist for his early tramps.
Species of Naucoria
Naucoria semiorbicularis
common
Plate XIII,
naucoria.
Species 92.
On ground
November;
in
open places; singly or in groups;
to
edible.
Cap hemispheric, convex,

cracked when
tawny or
May
or, rarely,
old; slightly gelatinous
rusty-colored;
plane; surface often
when
(viscid)
moist;
to 2 inches broad.
adjacent to or attached to the stem (adnexed or
Gills
adnate); broad; crowded (near together); rusty-colored.
Stem
rather tough; slightly enlarged at the base; smooth;
pithy (stuffed); yellowish-brown or reddish-brown; 3 to 4

inches long.
Spores rusty; smooth;
elliptical;
10-12 x 5-7 microns in
diameter.
This excellent edible species
is
common on
pastures and along roads and paths from
May
lawns and on
to
November,
The beginner
because of its homo-
usually appearing after periods of wet weather.

will
have
difficulty in distinguishing it
geneous brownish colors and

characters.
its
lack of definite structural
Murrill.
See under Marasmius oreades.
The genus Omphalia

Mushrooms
decurrent
gills
of this
and
white-spored genus have thin caps,
cartilaginous,
stuffed or hollow stems,
somewhat thickened upward.
The
species of
Omphalia are usually
small, the cap rarely
exceeding an inch and a half in diameter.
225
They
usually have
FIELD
a small pit at the center of the cap, a feature which gives the
name
to the genus, "omphalia" being derived from the
word meaning a
When mature
navel.
Greek
a few species assume
a funnel shape and then resemble some species of Clitocybe,
may
but from these Omphalia

stem.
laginous
distinguished
The
by
species of
From
be distinguished by
species
its gills
of
Mycena,
its carti-
Omphalia
is
which extend down the stem.
Omphalia grow
chiefly
on decaying wood or
Because of their small
other decaying vegetable matter.
size,
the species of Omphalia are not regarded as important for the

table.
Species of Omphalia
Omphalia campanella; Omphalopsis campanella;

shaped omphalia.
On dead
Species 93.
bell-
Figure 28.
or rotten logs, stumps, etc.; in woods; in clusters;
edible.
Cap
thin; rather tough;
convex with a pit or depression at
the center (umbilicate) often irregular in shape; with delicate

;
radiating lines on the surface (striate); with a water-soaked
appearance when moist (hygrophanous)

dull yellow color; >^ to
yellowish-rusty to
inch broad.
Gills narrow; extending
down
the stem (decurrent), arched;
connected by veins on the under surface of the cap; yellow.
Stem very
slender; polished; pale
with brown hairs at the base;
Spores white; nearly

6-7 X 3-4 microns
This
is
in
brown; hollow; adorned
to i>^ inches long.
elliptic;
smooth; glassy (hyaline);
diameter.
one of our prettiest woodland
monly and widely
distributed in
on dead coniferous wood.

conspicuous by reason of
because of
its
found com-
Its color is rather sober

its
shapely form.
growing season.
species,
Europe and North America
clustered habit
It
may
Murpll.
226
and
is
but
it is
attractive
be found throughout the

One
most common and widely distributed species of
of the
the genus Omphalia.
It is often clustered,
large
covering a considerable surface of the decaying log.

It is easily recognized
stem and the
little tuft
of
by
its
numbers
Atkinson.
yellowish-red cap, dark-brown
tawny colored
hairs at the base of the
Peck.
stem.
Omphalia
On mossy
Cap
fibula.
ground in

fields
and groves; June to October.
thin; with a pit or depression at the center (umbilicate)
smooth; with
slight radial lines at the
yellow or pale orange;

Gills
^/s
margin
(striatulate)
to }^ inch broad.
down
narrow; arched; extending well
the stem (decur-
rent); whitish.
Stem long and

cap;
slender; smooth; hollow; colored like the
to 2 inches long.
Spores white; somewhat
elliptical;
smooth; 4-6 x 2-3
The cap becomes
brighter in color on drying.
The genus Panaeolus

In the black-spored genus Panaeolus, the cap
fleshy or thin; the
The
gills
margin without radial
do not extend as far as the margin of the cap and are
often mottled or spotted with black or

edges.
stem
is
The
veil
brown and with white
extending from the margin of the cap to the
often well marked, especially in
to this genus.
It
young plants belonging
sometimes persists in the form of fragments
hanging from the margin of the cap.
Peck.
Species of this genus usually occur in

in
open
somewhat
is
lines or striations.
P. papilionaceus
places.
and
manure
or rich soil
P. retirugis are said to
produce hilarity and a mild form of intoxication

eaten in quantity.
guinea pigs.
Ford found the
in
man
if
latter species poisonous to
century ago P. campanulatus was reported
227
FIELD
poisonous, inducing sleep.
Mcllvaine has tried
quantities without harmful results.
in small
it
Murrill.
Species of Panêolus
Panaeolus campanulatus
bell-shaped Panaeolus.
Plate
XIII, Species 95.

In open spaces on horse manure or on rich
July;
soil;
June and
POISONOUS.
Cap oval
or bell-shaped, sometimes with a
knob at the
center (umbonate); brownish, with a peculiar gray or leadcolored tint, sometimes reddish-tinted; margin often scalloped
or fringed remains of the

veil;
>^ to
inch broad.
stem (adnate); reddish when young,
dusted with the black spores when old.
Stem
long; slender;
hoUow; reddish; covered with a bloom;
dusted with the black spores when old; 4 to 6 inches long.
Spores black; 16-18 x 10-18 microns in diameter.

Panaeolus papilionaceus.
In open places on dung and rich
soil;
May
and June;
POISONOUS.
Cap almost hemispheric sometimes with an elevation at the
center (umbonate); sometimes with scales on the surface;
;
whitish gray, often tinged with yellow; >^ to i>^ inches broad.
Gills very broad; gray,
becoming black when
old; attached
to the stem (adnate).
Stem
slender; whitish or stained black
by the
spores; firm;
hollow; 3 to 5 inches long.
Spores black;
elliptical;
9-10 x 6 microns in diameter.
Panaeolus retirugis; wrinkled
panaeolus.
Plate
XIII,
Species 97.
On ground
groups;
May
(heavily
manured) or dung; open places; in
to August; edible.
228
Fig. 28.
.iiii.îi^lfei..

conic or bell-shaped, with a slight elevation or
Cap
knob at
the central portion (umbonate); tan, gray or brownish; a
network of cracks, especially near the center; sticky
and
(viscid)
dull-colored in wet weather, cracking in dry weather; the
margin decorated with fragments of the
K to
veil in
mature plants;
lyi inches broad.
Gills adjacent to
but not attached to the stem (adnexed);
broad; gray or black; often unevenly colored or mottled with
black or with dark brown.
Stem
mth
slender; hollow; frosted or covered
a fine down;
usually gray or reddish-brown; darker toward the lower end;

often with a dark
band
upper portion
in the
2 to 6 inches long.
and the stem
Veil between the margin of the cap
is
white;
conspicuous in young plants does not form a ring on the stem

;
as in other genera, but hangs in fragments
from the margin of
the cap in old plants.
Spores black; rather
elliptic;
smooth; 13-16 x 9-1 1 microns
in diameter.
This attractive species
is
common and
widely' distributed in
temperate regions during spring and simimer on heavily
manured lawns and about dung in pastures.

recognized by
its
Although pronounced edible by
that hang from the margin.

all
It is rather easily
netted and wrinkled cap and the bits of veil
authorities, being of nutty flavor
and agreeable odor,
it
does
not appeal to mycophagists (mushroom eaters) as most of the

Dr.
other edible species do.

this species
W. W. Ford recently investigated
and found an extract from
it
fatal to guinea pigs;
but an extract from the famous morel (Morella esculenta) was
found to have a similar
The
most beautiful species
the general features of
Murrill.
effect.
color of this plant
is
not attractive, but
have studied,
its
development.
lawns and grassy places, especially
been heavily manured.
if
The
size of
229
it is
one of the
one regards form and

I
have found
it
on
made lawns which have

the plant varies greatly
FIELD
according to
in
its
environment, being larger in moist
wet weather and smaller in dry
soil
plants have several times been eaten
soils
and dry weather.
and
The
raw by me and while
they have a nutty flavor and odor, the taste
is
not entirely
agreeable in this condition, because of the accompanying slimy

sensation.
Atkinson.
The genus Panus

The mushrooms belonging
to this white-spored genus are
When
leathery fungi, growing on wood.
The gills extend down the stem
moist.
is
one.
matiire they are
Their caps shrivel when dry but revive when
tough and hard.
The stem
the center and in
is
when there
(decurrent)
usually attached to the cap aside from
many
species are
found at
edge or are
its
even lacking altogether.
Some
the
authorities class the
Lentinuses.
The
Panus from that genus

entire, that
is,
mushrooms
principal
is
of this genus
feature
that
among
distinguishes
the fact that the edges of
its gills
are
they are not serrate or saw-toothed.
Species of Panus
Panus
On
strigosus.
Figure 28.
Species 98.
stumps, especially oak; in clusters or singly; September;
harmless.
Cap white; covered with
hairs;
margin thin 8 inches broad
or larger.
Gills broad; far apart; extending
Stem attached
down
the stem (decurrent).
to the edge of the cap; hairy like the cap.
Spores white; elongated-oblong; 11-13 x 3.5-4-5 rnicron in

diameter.
A remarkably handsome fungus.

short, hairy
fungi.
stem make
It is edible
it
Its
creamy whiteness and
unmistakable among
when young but

230
it
other
tree
soon becomes woody.

Panus stypticus astnngent panus. Plate XIII,
;
On stumps
Species 99.
of deciduous trees in woods; in groups;
and winter; astringent and puckery

cent in the dark;
autumn
to the taste; phosphores-
POISONOUS.
Cap tough; resembHng a
shell;
kidney-shaped;
tawny;
attached by a short lateral stem; small scales on the surface;
margin even or lobed; curved in when young;
flesh
watery-
white; yi to y^ inch broad.

Gills narrow; thin; close together;
veins
tawny; connected by
on the under surface of the cap.
Stem
short marginal solid pale buff or dull- white near the

;
cap, darker near the base.
Spores white; 1-3 by 2-4 microns in diameter.

This small, inconspicuous species
the temperate regions.
even
food,
toughness.
It
well-flavored,
if
is
common throughout
would hardly be collected for

because of
its
small size and
Murrill.
The genus
Paxillus
Fungi belonging to the genus Paxillus are characterized by
and smoothly separable from the cap.
gills
which are
The
spores are rusty-brown (ochraceous)
easily
Species of Paxillus
Paxillus involutus; involute paxillus
with the margin of

ward).
On ground
its
(that
is,
paxillus
cap turned downward and
in-
or decaying
wood
in
open places or
in
damp
woods; August to October; edible.
Cap compact;
flesh tinged
with gray; convex when young,
expanded and depressed at the center when mature; margin

curled
downward and inward; nearly smooth;
rusty-brown or yellowish; 2 to 4 inches broad.

231
grayish-buff or
FIELD
down the stem
Gills close together; extending
(decurrent);
branched or forked; connected by veins on the under surface
when young,
of the cap; whitish
yellowish or rusty
when
old,
turning reddish-brown where cut or bruised.
Stem
central, or
cap (eccentric);
inches long;
^/j
sometimes away from the center of the

smooth; colored
solid;
like the cap;
to 3
to yi inch thick; shorter than the diameter of
the cap.
Spores rusty;
It is
elliptic;
sometimes called the brown chantarelle but
Most
rival of the true chantarelle.
edible but they do not praise
damp
The genus
Pholiota
is
highly.
With us
high estimation in Russia.

except to people living near
it
it is
It is said to
it
as
be in
scarcely available
it is
woods.
Peck.
Pholiota
a rusty or ochraceous-spored genus.
for the color of the spores,
scarcely
authorities record
many
Except
of the species belonging to
this genus resemble closely those fungi of other genera so that
the spore color must be observed before identification can be

certainly
among
made.
plants
Its
resemble those of Armillaria
the white-spored mushrooms and Stropharia in the
brown-spored
series.
In some of the species of Pholiota grow-
ing upon the ground, the spores are brown, enough to cause
some
difficulty in deciding
whether a given species should be
regarded as a Pholiota or a Stropharia.
Other resemblances
make the species of this genus a difficult one for the beginner.
The stem and cap are continuous with each other and cannot be easily separated. The stem has a ring or collar.
Species of Pholiota
Pholiota adiposa; fat pholiota.
On stumps and dead
Plate
XIV, Species
loi.
trunks of trees in or near woods; singly
or in tufts; September to November; edible.
232

Cap
fleshy; firm; hemispheric or broadly conic; spreading or
expanding when mature; sticky

scales
upon the
(viscid or glutinous);
surface; yellow; flesh whitish;
with
to 4 inches
broad.
stem (adnate); close together; yellow
or yellowish, becoming darker or rusty
Stem
when
old.
cylindric or slightly thickened at the base; with a
slight flaky ring
which often disappears; yellow and sometimes
reddish or tawny toward the base; 2 to 4 inches long.
elliptic;
.0003 inch long; .0002
inch broad.
The
from the cap and sometimes
scales are easily separable
disappear
when the plant grows
The
highly colored than the cap.
mature specimens and
is
old.
They
ring
is
are usually
more
often absent in
by no means conspicuous
in
young
ones.
This species
but
is
not classed as edible by European authors
I find its flavor
agreeable and
It is well to peel
harmless.
its
substance digestible and
the caps before cooking them.
Peck.
Pholiota caperata; wrinkled phoHota; the gypsy.
Plate
XIII, Species 102.
On ground
in woods,
mossy swamps and open
to October; edible; scattered or
Cap egg
or bell-shaped,
places; July
somewhat grouped.
becoming expanded when mature;
smooth; often whitened in the center by whitish flakes or

scales; generally
more
or less wrinkled; thin towards the edge;
yellow; flesh white; 2 to 4 inches broad.

stem (adnate); often uneven on the
edge; whitish, turning rusty-colored
Stem
when
old.
stout solid sometimes bulbous at the base

;
smooth or
slightly flaky; white or whitish; with a thick ring; 2 to 5
inches long.
233
Fig. 29.
Species No.
loi
Description on page
Pholiota adiposa.
I
On
to 4 inches broad
....
wood.
Cap
Modeled and photographed by Miss Eleanor C. Allen
Museum
Nat. History.
yellow;
of the
232
Amer.
Fig. 29.

Spores rusty; slightly
elliptic;
.0005 to .0006 inch long
This
is
pholiota easily recognized
fine, large
by
its
peculiar
wrinkled cap and the white frosting or flaky covering of the

center of the
may
Sometimes, however, specimens
cap.
occur in which neither the wrinkles nor the flakes are present.
Occasionally there
is
the semblance of a sheath or cup (volva)
The
enclosing the base of the stem.
well-developed, white
It is
and
ring (annulus)
is
usually
Peck.
persistent.
much esteemed in Germany and is eagerly sought as

common people who call it familiarly "Zigeuner,"
food by the
Bost. Mycological Club Bull. 1896.
the gypsy.
Pholiota discolor; fading pholiota.
Plate XIII, Species
103.
On
decaying wood and prostrate trunks of trees in woods;
singly or in tufts; July to October; edible.
Cap
thin;
convex when young, becoming nearly plane when
mature; viscid or sticky and water-soaked in appearance when

moist (hygrophanous)
faint radiating lines
watery-cinnamon colored and with
on the margin
fading to pale yellow
when
(striatulate)
when moist;
dry; flesh white; taste mild;
to 2
inches broad.
Gills narrow; close together; attached to the
stem (adnate)
when young, becoming pale-rusty when old.

Stem cylindric or slightly tapering upward; with a
pallid
distinct,
persistent ring; slightly fibrous; palHd or brownish; often
with a white
down
at the base;
Spores rusty or brown; nearly
to 2>^ inches long.

elliptic;
6-8 by 5-6 microns
broad.
The
in
fading pholiota
is
a small but
woods on decaying wood or
guished by
its viscid
(sticky) cap.
the cap by the escape of
its
moisture
235
common
raches.
species growing
It is easily distin-
The change
is
of color in
very noticeable and
is
BOOK OF COMMON GILLEB MUSHROOMS
FIELD
suggestive of the specific name.
and very rarely
gregariously
It
grows singly or somewhat
in small tufts.
caps are apt to be smaller than usual.
Pholiota
precox;
Plate
On
XIV,
early
In this case, the
Peck.
pholiota;
pholiota
candicans.
Species 104.
ground; lawns and other grassy places; solitary or in
May
groups;
to July; edible.
Cap convex or nearly plane;
peels readily; soft; smooth;
becoming tinged with tan or with rusty-brown;
whitish,
flesh white;
sometimes with a knob or elevation at the center
(umbonate); sometimes with cracks in the peel; sometimes

with fragments of the
I
veil
attached to the margin of the cap;
to 2 inches broad.
Gills adjacent to
but not attached to the stem (adnexed);
close together; whitish, turning
brownish or rusty-brown when
old.
Stem
whitish or nearly of the color of the cap; slender;
pithy or hollow
when mature; smooth; with a
ring near the
top; stem easily separable from the cap; i>^ to 3 inches long.
Spores rusty-brown;
elliptic;
.0004 to
.0005 inch long,
The
early pholiota
is
a small but variable
species.
From
other similarly colored species that appear in grassy places

early in the season, the collar
it.
Sometimes the
collar
is
on the stem
slight
and sometimes the fragments
will easily distinguish
and disappears with
of the veil remain
to the cap, leaving nothing for a collar.
This
is
Peck.
one of our best edible species and
it
abundantly during spring and early summer
open places throughout temperate regions.

Pholiota squarrosa.
On
Plate
XIV,
age,
attached
occurs quite
in grassy
and
Murrill.
Species 105.
or near wood; in clusters; August to December; edible.
236
Fig. 30.
Fig. 30.
Above, Species 106. 'Pleurotus ostreatus.
2 to 5 inches broad; white,
Photo by author.
Cap
ashy or yellowish.
Below, Species io8. Pleurotus ulmarius. Cap 3 to 5

inches broad; white, whitish or yellowish.
From
Prof. C. H.
Kauffman's Agaricacece
on page 240.
of Michigan.
Description

Cap saffron-rust color; covered with darker, turned up
fleshy; convex; dry.
Flesh light yellow.
stem with a tooth; close together
when young, turning rusty
(crowded); narrow; pale olive
when
scales;
old.
Stem
when young, but long when mature; tapering
short
dowTiward scaly below the ring that surrounds the upper part^
;
Spores rusty;
A
tufts.
The
elliptical;
and showy
variable
.0003 inch
species,
cap a very rough appearance,
scales give the
especially in the
young
by .00016 inch broad.
growing chiefly in dense
Peck.
plant.
The genus Pleurotus

The genus
Pleurotus scarcely differs from Tricholoma and
Clitocybe except for the fact that the stems of plants are
attached to the cap at some point to one side of the center.
In some species the stem

others,
it is
is
scarcely developed
at
attached to the very margin of the cap.
the species of Pleurotus have the
gills
in
all;
Some
of
rounded or notched at
their inner extremity, near the stem, as in the genus Tricho-
loma, while some others have them decurrent, that
tending
down
tinctive
character that
Pleurotus,
is
the stem, as in the genus Clitocybe.

is
worthy of notice in
that the plants are found growing on
Generally their flesh
is
more tough than
rooms growing upon the ground.

dead spots or dead branches of
it is
is,
ex-
dis-
genus
this
wood
in those
only.
mush-
Sometimes they grow from
living trees
and are often out
of reach, being high above the ground.
Species of Pleurotus
Pleurotus
ostreatus;
oyster
mushroom.
Species 106.
Figure 30.
The
oyster
cause of
mushroom, or oyster fungus, so named be-
its flavor,
is
very similar to the sapid mushroom.
237
PLATE XIV.
PLATE XIV.
11^
I^JujKIM
^-%M.

According to the descriptions of the European plant,
it
is
there quite variable in color, but in the United States, the

prevailing colors are white or ashy-gray, changing to yellow-
The stem, when
ish in the old or dried state.
and
usually shorter than in the sapid pleurotus
is
sometimes hairy at the base and
present,
often
is
more
sometimes
lateral.
It is
absent.
But the caps are clustered and overlapped very
much
as in that species
and the
For table purposes there

species distinct.
with insects than
is
are the
gills
same
in both.
need of keeping the two
little
Both are much more

is
is
liable to
be infested
Both grow on de-
the elm pleurotus.
caying wood and at the same season and under similar conditions.
The
oyster
frequently found in
room.
It
mushroom
New York
is
apparently
State than
is
much
less
the sapid mush-
has long been classed amongst the esculent species
but in consequence of the toughness of
rank as a mushroom of the
first
its flesh it
Its spores are white; oblong; 7 to lo
does not
Peck.
quality.
microns in length.
Pleurotus sapidus; sapid pleurotus.
Plate
XIV, Species
107.
On dead
clusters
trunks or limbs of trees, in tufts or crowded
whose stems are more or
less
united at the base and
whose caps crowd and overlap each other;

places;
June to November;
in
woods and open
edible.
Cap convex or concave (depressed on the
top); smooth;
often irregular in shape; moist in wet weather; variable in

color
white, yellowish, ashy gray, dull
lilac
or even brownish;
Gills
broad and rather far apart; extending down on the
stem (decurrent); branching and connected with each other
on the stem; whitish or yellowish; ^sometimes ragged or

torn.
Stem
usually tufted, several growing from a
239
common
base;
FIELD

and smooth;
usually white
one side of the center or at

Spores pale
The
available for separating
is
cases from Pleurotus ostreatus
all
the
to 2 inches long.
character which distinguishes this species
and about the only one that
is
margin;
its
oblong; .00035 to .00045 iiich long.
lilac;
peculiar
attached to the cap to
solid; firm;
lilac tint of
(the oyster
When
the spores.
it
in
mushroom)
these are collected on
black or brown paper they have a sordid, whitish appearance,
but
if
caught on white paper, the color of the mass
pale dull
lilac.
It
me
has seemed to
even when collected on white paper, when
down, but
the
lilac
classed
among
thrown
a greater
appears.
Notwith-
its spores,
the species
tint
standing this peculiarity in the color of

is
first
after a short exposiire to the air, or after
accumulation of them,
a very
is
that they are whitish,
the white-spored mushrooms and
perhaps, a question whether
it
is,
after
it
is,
anything more
all,
than a variety of Pleurotus ostreatus.

It is quite
Sometimes
common and
it
is
more abundant
in wet weather.
appears to grow from the ground, but a careful
investigation would
show that
root or buried piece of wood.
stewed and consider
it
starts
from some decaying
have eaten
to be about the
as the oyster mushroom.
Pleurotus
it
same
it
both
fried
and
in edible qualities
Peck.
ulmarius;
elm pleurotus.
Species
108.
Figure 30.
On stumps
November;
or cut branches of elm trees; September tc
in groups or clusters; edible.
Cap convex
or nearly flat; firm; smooth; white, whitish or
tinged near the center with a yellowish hue; the peel
is
some-
times cracked in small areas, making the cap look scaly;

GUIs broad and rather
far apart;
240
notched at the end near

the stem; white or tinged with yellow
when
old; adjacent to,
but not attached to the stem (adnexed.)
Stem
and
firm
downy
attached to the cap a
solid;
side of the center;
to one
little
usually curved; smooth or sometimes
or hairy at the base; 2 to 4 inches long.
The elm pleurotus
elm tree mushroom
or
spicuous object, growing as

places in or
By
elms.
it
is
con-
generally does, from dead
on the stumps of cut branches of standing

large size
its
and white
color
easily attracts
it
attention.
It is
not
uncommon
to see this
mushroom
late in
autumn
growing on the elms that have been planted as shade trees

along the streets of our
cities
and
in our public parks.
It
grows especially on those trees that have been severely
trimmed or have had

ance
is
insects.
their tops cut
so late in the season that

It therefore persists
it
many
of the
fore
Its
time of appear-
not often infested by
Its flesh is
will
keep two
not as tender as
mushrooms that grow on the ground but
has an agreeable flavor and
tree-inhabiting
it is
a long time and
or three days without harm.
that of
away.
is
quite harmless.
mushrooms grow more slowly and are
Most
there-
more tough and more slow to decay than are those grow-
ing on the ground.
They
are also less easily collected since
they often grow high up on standing
trees.
In consequence
of their persistent character they are easily dried
and
pre-
served for winter use.
The elm
pleurotus sometimes grows on other than elm
trees, as, for instance,
the maple and poplar.
when growing from the
Occasionally
cut surface of an upright
from the upper side of a branch,

attached to the center of the cap.
its
stem
When
is
stump or
straight
and
dried specimens are
soaked several hours in water they restmie their original

size
and are nearly as good as
if
241
fresh.
Peck.
FIELD

The genus Pluteus
Mushrooms
of the genus Pluteus
They
have pink spores.
resemble the white-spored Lepiotas but have no ring upon

the stem.
Neither have the Plutei a sheath or cup (volva)
They
enveloping the base of the
stem.
pink-spored mushrooms whose
gills
The stem can be detached

The gills turn pink or flesh
rather easily from the cap.
are
the
only
are free from the stem.
colored as the plant
grows
older.
Species of Pluteus
Species 109.
Pluteus admirabilis.
In woods on decaying wood;
No
common
illustration.
in hilly districts;
Cap
thin;
convex or expanded; usually with a broad eleva-
tion at the center (umbonate); with a network of folds or
furrows; radiate markings at the margin (striate); yellow or
brown; >^ to
Gills
inch broad.
near together; broad; rounded at the stem end;
when young,
whitish or yellowish
Stem
flesh-colored
when
old.
slender; hollow; cylindrical or slightly thickened at
the base; yellow or yellowish- white with white
down
at the
base.
Spores pink; 6.5-8 microns in diameter.

Small young specimens sometimes have the stem
This character, with
Pluteus leoninus.
its
small
size,
distinguishes
it
solid.
from
Peck.
Pluteus cervinus;
fawn-colored pluteus.
Plate
XIV.
Species iio.
On wood and about stumps

groups; edible;
May
in woods; solitary or in sparse
to October.
242

Cap bell-shaped when young, later becoming expanded;
slightly fibrous on the surface; dingy brown,
smooth or
adorned with blackish
fibrils,
but specimens sometimes occur
with the cap white, yellow, ashy, grayish-brown or blackish-
brown;
wet weather; 2 to 2>^ inches
slightly sticky (viscid) in
in diameter; flesh white; almost tasteless.

Gills free
from the stem; broad; white when young, turning
pink or flesh-colored when mature.
Stem
cylindric
or enlarged at the base;
upper portion
white, the lower portion colored like the cap; usually smooth;
nearly soHd; brittle; easily separated from the cap; 2 to 6

inches long.
Spores flesh-colored; broadly
elliptic;
smooth; 6-8 by 5-6
This species
able, yet
mens
it is
very
is
common
are found at a time.
old stumps
is
New York and
very vari-
It
grows especially on or about
and prostrate trunks and may be found
May
weather from
to liquefy
in
Usually but one or two speci-
not abundant.
often
to October.
shown by
The tendency
in
wet
of the gills
their wetting the paper
on which
the cap has been placed for the purpose of catching the
spores.
Peck.
Peck wrote
that, in spite of its
name, he had never seen
it
fawn-colored.
The genus Psathyrella

Plants of this genus of black-spored
mushrooms have fragile,
thin caps with striations or radial lines
young, the edge
lies
upon them and when
straight against the stem.
The
gills
are
black to sooty and are of a uniform color and not spotted as

in
mushrooms
of the genus Panaeolus.
and can seldom be gathered

the
mushroom
flavor
and are valued
part to less gifted species
The
in quantity.
species are small
Those tested have
for the savor they im-
when cooked with them.

243
FIELD
Species of Psathyrella
On
XIV,
Plate
Psathyrella disseminata.
Species iii.
decaying wood and on the ground, especially about
much-decayed stumps, but
on lawns,
also
where buried
etc.,
roots are decaying; crowded together in large

late
until
sometimes
autumn,
occurring
tiifts;
spring
greenhouses
in
throughout the year, edible.
Cap very thin and
fragile; oval,
mature; marked with radiating
becoming bell-shaped when

furrows at the edge;
lines or
whitish, grayish or grayish-brown; small; }i lo }4 inch broad.

Gills few;
and
apart; attached to the stem
far
whitish, turning
when
(Atkinson);
old to pinkish piirple (gray, Atkinson)
finally black.
Stem
slender; fragile; hollow; white;
to i>^ inches long.
Spores black; oblong; 8 by 6 microns in diameter.

This
is
a very
common and
widely distributed species,
They
appearing from late spring until late autumn.
semble small species of Coprinus (and
when
It
like
become
it,
re-
soft
Atkinson.
old).
resembles the small sulcate-striate (with radial furrows
or lines) Coprini but the
gills
do not
dissolve.
Peek.
The genus Psilocybe

Almost
all
of small size
of the species of this brown-spored genus are
and grow upon the ground.
Their caps are
smooth, with the edge turned in when young.
When
old,
The stem
is rigid
and
the
gills
become brown or purpHsh.
tough, hollow or stuffed.
The
veil is
not to be seen.
Species of Psilocybe
Psilocybe fcenisecii; mowers' mushroom; harvest mush-
room.
Cap
conic,
Plate
XIV,
Species 112.
Fig. 31.
convex or bell-shaped; surface smooth; water-
soaked in appearance when moist (hygrophanous)
244
smoky-

brown
when dry than when moist;
or reddish-brown; paler
often of several shades; >^ to

inch broad.
stem (adnate); broad; not crowded
together; brown.
Stem
pallid or brownish; slender; cylindric; hollow; fragile;
smooth or
slightly
powdered (pruinose); 2 to 3 inches

smooth; slightly
Spores brown;
elliptic;
12-15
long.
by 6-7
The harvest mushroom
may
therefore
small but very abundant and
is
be considered as of use for food, although
it
can not be classed among the best species.
It occurs every-
where on lawns and in
throughout the
after
fields
rains
season and should be carefully distinguished from certain
poisonous species of Panseolus and other genera which grow

in similar localities.
The haymakers'
Murrill.
psilocybe
is
a small but regular, neat and
attractive species which gets its
growth, where
is
it is
name from
often destroyed
its
usual place of
by the mower while he
cutting grass.
When fresh and moist it is dark brown or reddish-brown and

is
marked on the margin by darker
usually
lines.
the
By
parallel radiating
the escape of moisture these lines disappear and
cap becomes paler,
moisture generally escapes
though the
assuming a grayish
first
flesh is thicker there
color.
The
from the center of the cap

than on the margin.
This
gives a somewhat variegated appearance to the cap while the
moisture
is
the color
is
escaping, but after the evaporation
nearly uniform.
is
completed
Sometimes the center of the
cap has a reddish or tan-colored hue, in which case this

color
is
generally retained for a time after escape of the
moisture.
Sometimes the mowers' mushrooms appear

bers
and
in successive crops, otherwise
tant as an edible
mushroom on account
245
it
in great
num-
would be unimpor-
of its small size.
Pig. 31.
Two
species illustrated.
Species No.
1^
112
At
of
right
picture.
Psilocybe
Cap smoky-brown
inch broad.
64
At
of
left
Cap
From
or reddish-brown;
See Plate XIV
.
Prof. C.
X to
.
.244
Hypholoma incertum.
picture,
whitish to yellowish;
See Fig. 21
foenisecii.
to 3 inches broad.
.
H. Kauff man's Agaricacece of Michigan.
195
Fig, 31.
X"

has not a very high flavor but
It
when
fried in butter
it is
harmless and reHshable
and may therefore be
classed as
an
edible
species,
though some authors say that there are no
edible
species
of
Psilocybe.
strong and disagreeable.
When
uncooked
taste
its
is
Peck.
The genus Russula

genus
white-spored
This
mushroom genus
resembles
closely
but
(Lactarii)
The
the absence of a milky juice.
gills
young are adorned with small drops

or colored juice issues from
milky mushrooms.
The red
in this species are rarely
flavor ^f the flesh there
many
species
have an
is
if
is
some
of
as
no milky
the case in the
is
which are so conspicuous
ever seen in Lactarius.
In the
In both genera
great similarity.
have a mild or agreeable flavor and many others
acrid,
hot or peppery taste.
This disagreeable flavor
generally destroyed in cooking so that nearly
the species
all
that have been tried have been found to be edible.

is
no
by
when
species
of water, but
wounds
colors
milky
the
is
veil or collar
on the stem and no cup at
species resemble each other closely.
its
There
Many
base.
Peck.
Species of Russula
Russula alutacea tan-colored russula.

;
Plate
XV,
Species
113.
On ground
and August;
Cap
in
woods and groves; singly or
in groups; July
edible.
fleshy; fragile;
convex when young, growing plane or
even depressed at the center when mature; covered with a

sticky peel;
marked with marginal
old; variable in color
flesh white; taste mild; 2 to
when
striations or lines
red, dark purple, olivaceous
or green;
4 inches broad.
Gills pale yellow, turning rusty or tan-colored
247
when
old;
PLATE XV.
Species No.
113
Russula alutacea
247
Russula emetica
250
116
Russula f oetens
251
Russula mariae
117
252
115
119
Russula virescens
121
Stropharia semiglobata
254
255
PLATE XV.
^^^'i% ^
'^
119
lit
-*
'W*^

thick; broad; all of equal length; rather far apart;
rounded
near the stem.
Stem
stout; solid or
spongy within; white or red;
to 2>^
inches long.
Spores yellow (ochraceous or rusty-yellow) although the

plant
is
placed in the white-spored genus; nearly globular;
Fig. 32.
(Species No. 114).
Russula delica.
sometimes with yellowish stains.
Cap
white,
A
The
fine species
considered edible but
color of the cap
is
always readily recognized.
The
taste
is
have not
tried
is
it.
not
Peck.
mild and the plant
very good ones for food.
so variable that the species
is
Atkinson.
249
regarded as one of the
FIELD
Russula delica; weaned russula; short-stemmed russula.

Species 114.
(Line drawing.)
singly or in groups; Maine to Alabama

summer and autumn; edible.
broadly convex when young; flat-topped,
On ground in woods;
and west
Cap
to Colorado;
firm, fleshy;
with a pit at the center (umbilicate), cup or funnel-shaped
when
old.
Surface even; white, sometimes with yellowish
stains
when
soil
has been brought up from the ground upon
it.
The cap has a tendency to become yellowish when old or

The edge of the cap is often turned downward and
dried.
Flesh firm; white; taste sHghtly peppery (acrid).
inward.
Cap
Gills thin; far apart; white, or faintly greenish
extending
when
old;
the stem; some of them branched; rather
down
narrow.
Stem
short; thick; white; smooth;
to 2 inches long.
Spores white; nearly spherical; .0003 to .0004 inch long
by .00024 to .0003 inch broad.

This mushroom resembles closely the peppery-milk mushroom, Lactarius piperatus, but
its gill-siirfaces
more compact and

of russula.
is
devoid of milky juice and
are often tinged with glaucus-green.

lasts longer
It is
than do most other species
Murrill.
Russula emetica; emetic russula. Plate XV, Species 115.
On ground
Jiily to
Cap
in
woods and swamps; singly or in groups;
September; generally considered to be

fleshy; firm
when young, becoming
POISONOUS.
fragile
when
old;
convex when young, growing plane or depressed at the center
when mature; marked with

the margin; sticky (viscid)
radiating striations or furrows
when
on
moist; rosy or blood-red,
sometimes white, or fading to white when old; easily peeled;

flesh
white except next to the peel when
acrid (hot, peppery); 2 to
it is
4 inches broad.
250
reddish; taste very

broad; rather far apart; rounded near the stem;
Gills
from the stem, or nearly
free
Stem
solid or
so; white.
spongy within; white or tinged with red;
i/^ to 3 inches long.

This russula has a very hot peppery taste and
considered poisonous
by
and harmless
edible
some
American
Thorough cooking probably destroys

I
have not
tried
(1906).
it
and
emetic.
It is
is
very
fragile.
generally
is
deemed
mycophagists.
harmful properties.
its
Peck.
This Russula has a very wide distribution,

species
is
by European mycologists but
The
plant
is
is
a beautiful
said to act as
common
woods throughout Europe and the eastern
in
United States, often growing where logs have decayed.

is
distinguished
by
its
ating cuticle (peel)

acrid
quality
it
and very acrid

definitely
is
It is
taken in any quantity,
them
it
its
containing small
and probably muscarine.
promptly acts as an emetic.
of Russula should
species, that
be tasted before selecting
Murrill.
as food.
Russula foetens;
On ground
in
fetid russula.
woods and bushy
July to September;
Cap
In addition to
taste.
poisonous,
mainly because of the existence of this
most specimens
It
red color, viscid surface, readily separ-
quantities of choline, pilzatropine
When
an
Atkinson.
Plate
XV,
Species 116.
places; usually in groups;
POISONOUS.
fleshy; fragile; nearly globular or
convex when young,
becoming plane or depressed at the center when mature;

sticky (viscid)
when
moist; the very thin margin has notice-
able radiating furrows or striations;
yellowish,
or dingy-
ochraceous; flesh pallid; taste acrid; odor of bitter almonds;
Gills rather close together; adjacent to
251
but not attached to
FIELD
the stem (adnexed)
unequal in length, some of them are
forked whitish and often studded with drops of moisture

;
when
young, becoming 3êllowish when old; dingy where bruised;

connected by veins on the under surface of the cap.
Stem
short; stout; pithy, or hollow in places; white or
whitish; ij^ to 2>^ inches long.
Spores white; nearly globular; .0003 to .0004 inch long
and nearly or quite
as broad.
Readily recognized by
widely striate margin.
groups) and
is
its
somewhat variable
This conspicuous species
and the United
Eiirope
peculiar odor, acrid taste
It is gregarious in habit
Its
odor
peach-kernels and in some specimens

it
of
sometimes occurring in
States,
pleasant, although at times
Peck.
in color.
common throughout most
is
great quantity in one spot.
and
(grows in
may
is
it
similar to that of
is
strong and un-
be scarcely noticeable.
This unpleasant odor and the very slimy character of the

surface render the plant unattractive
collect
it
for food.
It is
known
and one would hardly
to be definitely poisonous to
a certain extent and should always be avoided by mycophagists (mushroom-eaters).
Murrill.
Russula marise; Mary russula.
On
Plate
XV,
Species T17.
ground; in woods and open places; July and August;
edible.
Cap nearly hemispheric when young, becoming broadly

convex,
flat,
or even depressed at the center
when mature;
dry; surface powdery in appearance; dark crimson or purplish,
sometimes darker at the center.

the peel where
I
it is
Flesh white except close to
pinkish; taste mild or slightly peppery.
to 3 inches broad.
Gills white
when young, becoming
yellowish
when
old;
close together; attached to the stem.
Stem
short; stout; solid or slightly
252
spongy at the center;

colored like the cap or a
usually white at each
little paler;
end; rarely entirely white,
to 2 inches long.
Spores pale yellow; globular; .0003 inch broad.
Mary's russula
is
easily identified
appearance of the surface of
rubbed on white paper

the
gills
its
is
few of
grow
old, especially at
the
a beautiful and easily recognizable species,
crimson to purple.
The
in its colors, varying
center
colored than the margin
and
is
from deep
sometimes more highly
in old purple specimens the
apt to fade to a whitish color and to acquire radial
marks or furrows.
The
Murrill.
This russula
is
moistened and
Those caps that are
are forked near the stem.
though somewhat variable
edge
When
leaves a reddish stain.
it
purplish sometimes fade as they
margin.
by the pruinose (powdery)
cap.
The
spaces between the
taste of the flesh
are found in which
is
slightly peppery.
it is
stem tapers downward or

seen in which the stem
colored like the cap or a
is
is
gills
are veiny.
mild but occasionally specimens

Occasionally the
Forms are
pointed at the base.

entirely white, but
little
it
is
usually
paler than the cap, with white
Peck.
ends.
Russula purpurina; purpurine russula. Plate XV, Species

118.
On ground
woods and open
in
June to September;
Cap
fleshy;
places; solitary or in groups;
edible; taste mild.
convex when young,
flat (plane)
or depressed at center; slightly sticky

split
when
when mature
moist; edge often
skin peels rosy-pink, paling even to light yellow.

;
2 to
4 inches broad.
Gills
crowded when young; white, turning yellowish when
old; extending to
but not attached to the stem; almost
equal length; not forked.
253
all
of
FIELD
Stem spongy;
I
stuffed; rosy pink, paler
toward the base;
to 2 inches long.
Spores white; spherical; 4 to 8 microns in diameter.

This
its
a distinct and beautiful species, easily known by
is
red stem, mild taste and white spores.
The
gills
have
a few short ones intermingled and the edge often appears

woolly (floccose) under a lens, and red near the margin of the
Peck.
cap.
Russula virescens; greenish russula.
Plate
XV,
Species
119.
On ground in thin woods and open places;
July and August;
edible.
Cap
it
fleshy; at first nearly spherical,
grows older and
becoming convex as
later nearly plane or depressed at the
center; dry; adorned with small flaky patches or warts

surface;
margin smooth and without
striations;
on the
green or
grayish-green; flesh white; taste mild; 2 to 4 inches broad.

Gills free
from the stem or nearly
so;
narrow near the stem;
a few of them forked and a few shorter ones sometimes
inter-
mingled with the full-length ones; white.
Stem
short; stout; firm; white;
to 2 inches long.
Spores white; nearly globular; .00024 to .0003 inch long.
The margin
old specimens
The
plant
is
of the cap
it
may
well
is
usually even but occasionally in
be partly
striate.
known by the green
Peck.
color of the cap
by its surface being separated into numerous

somewhat angular patches where the green
and
quite regular,
color
is
more
pronounced.
It has long
and
been recommended for food both in Europe
in this country.
the cap
is
There are several of the russulas
green, but this species
them by the greenish

cap.
Russula furcata
is
in
which
readily distinguished from
flaky patches on the surface of the

is
common
254
species in similar situa-

and has forked
tions
and a cap very variable
gills
in color,
sometimes reddish, purple, purple-brown, or in one form,

green.
know
of the Russula furcata having been eaten
in rather small quantities,
and while
in
was not agreeable.
resulted, the taste
this case
no harm
Atkinson.
Schizophyllum
commune Schizophyllum alneum.
Schizophyllum
cies
On dead
Spe-
Figure 33.
20.
and branches
sticks
woods;
in
all
the year; in-
edible.
Cap tough;
leathery; dry; white or whitish; margin lobed;
surface
downy; >^ to i>2 inches broad.
revives
when
Shrivels
when
dry,
moist.
Gills colored like the cap; their free edges split lengthwise
(this splitting
can best be seen with the aid of a magnifying
lens); woolly.
Stem absent the cap is attached

;
at
its
margin or top surface.
Spores white.
Very common
in
New York
State.
The genus Stropharia

The mushrooms belonging
purple-brown spores; the
to the genus Stropharia possess
gills
are attached to the stem
the veil forms a ring on the stem, but there
is
and
no sheath or
cup (volva) at the base of the stem.

Species of Stropharia
Stropharia semiglobata; hemispheric stropharia.
XV,
On ground
in groups;
or on
May
to
dung
(viscid)
in grassy
open places; scattered or
Autumn; poisonous.
Cap hemispheric,
very sticky
Plate
Species 121.
or nearly so; light yellowish; smooth;
when
moist; fleshy;
255
yiXoiyi inches broad.
FIELD
stem (adnate); broad; purple-
Gills yellow; attached to the
brown to blackish, darker in color when old than when young,

clouded with the ripening spores.
Stem light yellow;
sticky (viscid) slender; smooth; cylindric

;
or with a bulb at the base; hollow; ring or collar near the top,
but this
is
sometimes incomplete; 2 to 5 inches long.
Spores brownish
smooth; 15-18 by 9-10
piu-ple; ellipsoid;
Common and
widely distributed but rarely abundant.

considered poisonous, but later authors
Stevenson says
it is
claim that
edible, although its favorite habitat
it is
and
name
is
exceedingly well chosen as the shape of the cap
an exact hemisphere as one
as near
its
The
slimy character are objectionable to most persons.
living things.
is
is
among
able to find
Murrill.
The genus Tricholoma

The
Tricholoma have no
species of
In this white-spored genus the
and are excavated

It often
stem.
tremity of the
narrow than the

the
This
gills
is
one.
The
or notched
happens that
gill
gills
collar
on the stem.
are attached to the stem
on the edge at or near the
this
notch
is
so near the ex-
that the part attached to the stem
gill
to appear as
is
more
beyond the excavation and causes
just
if
rounded at the inner extremity.
an important character though not a very conspicuous
The stem
is
fleshy
and usually short and
species of Tricholoma are
stout.
numerous and are mostly
rather large, having a fleshy cap and a stout fleshy stem and
white spores.
The
veil is usually
often noticeable except in the
very slight and
young
it is
not
plant.
The genus is distinguished from Armillaria on one hand

by the absence of a ring on the stem and from Clitocybe on
the other by the notched gills and the fleshy or fibrousfleshy stem.
It is
distinguished from the genus Collybia
256

Fig. 33.
Fig. 33.
Species 120.
Photo by the author.
Schizophyllum commune.

(in
which the
gills
are similar)
stem and by the fact that
Some
ground.
by
more
its
fleshy cap
and
nearly always grows upon the
of the species of
be edible and probably
known
it
many
Tricholoma are known to
None
others are also.
are
to be absolutely poisonous.
Species of Tricholoma
Tricholoma album ; white tricholoma. Species 122.
Fig-
ure 34.
On
ground in woods;
singly, in
and unpleasant; August
bitter
probably
Cap
October;
inedible
fleshy; convex;
becoming plane or depressed at the
old; very dry;
ish about the center
smooth; white; sometimes yellow-
and rarely wholly yellowish; the margin
ttimed downward and inward in young plants;

taste acrid or bitter;
Gills
and
POISONOUS.
when
center
groups or in tufts; taste
to
no decided odor;
flesh white;
4 inches broad.
2 to
notched near the stem (emarginate)
close together;
white.
Stem
solid; elastic; cylindric or tapering
fibrous; white; 2 to 4 inches long, 3^ to
Spores white;
This species
elliptic;
is
.0002 to .00025 inch long.
variable in color
robust, sometimes slender.
and
size,
It departs
of others of its tribe in having a dry cap.
Tricholoma
equestre;
mushroom.
On
upward; surface
^ inch thick.
Plate
equestrian
XVI,
being sometimes
from the character

Peck.
tricholoma;
canary
Species 123.
ground in woods or in or near pine woods or groves;
autunm
and, in southern States, through December; edible.
Odor not marked;
Cap smooth;
taste branny.
sticky (viscid); yellowish, sometimes tinged
at the center with reddish-brown
257
the yellow
is
more
distinct

FIELD
at the margin; flesh white; size, 2 to 4 inches broad; sometimes

irregular in shape.
Gills beautiful pale yellow; close together; deeply
notched
at the stem end.
Stem
short; stout; solid; white or yellowish.
Spores white; .00025
.0003 inch long; .00016 to
iiich to
.0002 inch broad.

It is easily recognized
bright sulphur-colored
by
its
sticky yellowish cap
and
its
Peck.
gills.
Tricholoma personatum; masked tricholoma; blewits.

Plate
XVI, Species
124.
On ground
in thin
woods and open
places; singly or in
groups, occasionally in tufts; September to frost; edible
Fig. 34.
Species No. 122.
Tricholoma album.
rarely yellowish.
258
Cap
white,
Species No. 127.
Tricholoma transmutans.
when young, reddish-brown when
Cap tawny-red
old.
Cap
lilac
or violet, occasionally pale grayish or almost
white, becoming (when old) slightly brownish

thick;
on the
disc;
convex or expanded; surface smooth; moist;
firm;
margin frosted and rolled in when young, sometimes wavy or

irregular
when
wet weather;
old; apt to
flesh firm,
be water-soaked in appearance in
white and pleasant to the taste; 2 to
5 inches broad.
Gills close together;
stem or nearly
dull in color
Stem
so;
when
short
and
rounded near the stem;
free
from the
resembling the cap in color; becoming
old.
stout; color of the cap or nearly so; some-
times bulbous at the base;
downy when young, smooth when
old; I to 3 inches long.
Spores dingy white;
ellipsoid;
diameter.
259
smooth; 7 by 10 microns in
PLATE XVI.
Species No.
123
Tricholoma equestre
257
124
Tricholoma personatum
258
125
Tricholoma russula
261
128
Volvaria bombycina
263
I'LATE XVI.
.*>
--^
^^fv^

This species
is
of
good flavor and
becomes
not easily confused with
and readily absorbs water
soft
which lessens
In Europe
is
In large, mature specimens the flesh
dangerous species.
its
value for edible piirposes.
it is
in
wet weather
Murrill.
have been sometimes confused with
said to
tricholoma nudimi, a very closely allied species, and also with

Cortinarius violaceus, but such mistakes could result in
harm
both of these are
for
no
Peck.
edible.
Tricholoma russula; reddish tricholoma.
Plate
XVI,
Species 125.
On ground
in woods; solitary or in groups or in clusters;
edible.
Cap
2 to 5 inches broad; fleshy; firm; pale pink, rosy red or
sticky
flesh color;
when
(viscid)
moist; smooth or dotted
with small scales; edge covered with fine
Gills
rounded and
ing slightly
when old
Stem
down
in
young
Flesh white; taste mild.
plants.
slightly
down the stem;
notched near the stem; extend-
white, often becoming red spotted
or where wounded.
solid;
at the top;
thick; firm; whitish or reddish; often scaly
to 2 inches long.
Spores white; .00025-. 0003
The reddish tricholoma

seen in this country
the European plant

brighter color
The reddish
suggested
is
is
iiich long,
is
Its
cap as
usually pale pink or rosy red though
is
sometimes pictured with a
and the typical form

color
.00016 inch broad.
a pretty mushroom.
is
similar to that of
by the name.
russulas of a similar color
It
may
much
described as pale purple.
some russulas as
is
by the downy appearance
of the
edge of young caps, by the different texture of the flesh and
by the
The
different
shape of the spores under the microscope.
cap, being sticky
is
often soiled
of dirt or twigs or fallen leaves.
261
by adhering
particles
FIELD

an
It is
excellent fungus,
meaty, easily cooked and of
Peck.
fine flavor.
Tricholoma
sejunctum;
separating
Plate
tricholoma.
XIII, Species, 126.
On ground
Cap
mature
mixed woods; September;
in
fleshy;
edible.
convex when young, becoming expanded when
with a boss or knob at the center (umbonate)
slightly sticky
(viscid)
when
moist; whitish or yellowish,
sometimes greenish yellow; streaked with brown or blackish

fibrils; flesh
white, fragile;
to 3 inches broad.
rounded or notched near the
Gills broad; rather far apart;
stem; white.
Stem
solid; stout; often irregular- white; i to 3 inches long.
Spores white; nearly spherical; .00025 inch broad.
The
They
sandy
soil
in
woods
are usually irregular in shape
fragile.
ing a
uncommon on Long
plants of this species are not
Island, growing in
They are
of
oak and
is
quite variable in color, sometimes approachwhite.
Peck.
Tricholoma transmutans changing tricholoma.
Species
On ground
Figure 34.
in thin
in groups or clusters;
Cap sticky
woods and open places

August to October;
in wet weather;
edible.
when moist and when young and

when young, becoming reddish-brown when
(viscid)
fresh; tawny red
old;
The
said to be bitter, but those I have tasted can
scarcely be said to be bitter.
127.
pine.
and the cap becomes
smoky-brown hue and again being nearly
typical taste
sometimes darker at the center;
mealy or farinaceous odor
especially
flesh
when
white,
with a
cut; taste also
farinaceous; 2 to 4 inches broad.

Gills close together; whitish or pale yellowish
262
becoming

dingy or reddish-spotted when old; notched at the inner
extremity where they are attached to the stem.
Stem
becoming reddish-brown toward the
whitish, usually
base; about as long as the diameter of the cap; often pithy
when young and hollow when
old; 2 to
4 inches long.
Spores white; nearly globular; .0002 inch broad.

This plant seems to prefer a light sandy or gravelly
It
soil.
sometimes grows in company with Tricholoma imbricatum
young spruce, balsam-fir and tamarack
in groves of
Its edible qualities are similar to those of
bricatum, from which
it
easily
is
known when
reason of the viscidity (stickiness) of
The genus
its
trees.
Tricholoma immoist,
by
Peck.
cap.
Volvaria
Volvaria, a rather rare genus, takes
its
name from
the
volva or sheath or cup surrounding the base of the stem, but
which entirely envelops the plant when

genus
by
characterized
is
its
it
is
young.
The
rosy or reddish spores, the
presence of the volva or cup and the absence of any ring on
the stem.
Species of Volvaria
Volvaria bombycina; silky volvaria.
Plate XVI, Species
128.
On
rotting wood, leaf
mould and
richly
manured ground;
world-wide in distribution; not common; singly or rarely in

tufts;
June to October;
Cap more
edible.
or less globular
when young,
bell-shaped
and
later
convex when mature; beautiful white, covered with a
silky
down.
Old specimens
and not very

Gills free
may
appear scaly.
Flesh white
thick; 2 to 8 inches broad.
from the stem;
close together; very
broad at the
middle; flesh-colored; edge sometimes ragged.
Stem
tapering upward; smooth; solid; white; with a large
263
FIELD
thick cup (volva) at the base; separates easily from the cap;
3 to 6 inches long.
Spores rosy pink or flesh-colored; somewhat
elliptical;
8-10 by 5-6 microns in diameter.
There
is
the base.
no ring on the stem but there
the genus Amanitopsis, but

color of its spores.
is
usually
which
is
a volva or cup at
In this respect the genus Volvaria corresponds with
somewhat
signifies
that
it differs
The volva
it
sticky.
is
from that genus in the
very large and thick and
The
generic
name
Volvaria,
has a wrapper, was given to this plant
because of the large baglike cup.
264
McDougall.
CHAPTER
MUSHROOMS
265
VI
AS FOOD
CHAPTER
VI
MUSHROOMS AS FOOD
From
the Forty-eighth Annual Report of the
New York
State Botanist, C. H. Peck.
According to the authority of those who have especially

investigated this subject, the dangerously poisonous species
found in
country
all
belong to a single genus, Amanita.
have been found
in our
two are known to be harmless and
edible,
a dozen species of this genus
About
State,
this
and
of these,
three or four only are
commonly
probably a single one of these
classed as poisonous,
and
is
responsible for a vast majority
of the fatal accidents resulting
from "mushroom poisoning,"
There
however, some species in other genera that are
are,
capable of causing nausea, vomiting and derangement of the

digestive organs.
They
are unwholesome because of their
persistently bitter, acrid or otherwise disagreeable flavor, or
because of toughness of texture or the possession of some

quality repungent to the stomach.
sickness
and vomiting, but the
They may indeed cause
irritation
they induce
is
soon
apparent and quickly causes the rejection from the system of

the offending substance and then the normal condition of the
system
may
is
soon restored.
Sometimes recovery
in such cases
be hastened by the administration of some simple emetic
which mil
assist
the stomach in
its efforts
to expel the un-
wholesome material.
For two thousand years or more people have made use of
mushrooms
from their
for food
and from time to time death has resulted
use, either
men persist
through ignorance or carelessness.
in their use,
dared frequently ask
and those who would use them
how they may

267
distinguish
if
Still
they
mushrooms
FIELD
from toadstools, the word "toadstools" indicating to them

poisonous or harmful species. Many attempts have been
made
to answer this question
formulated by
all difficulty
and many
the observance of which,
it
and danger would be avoided.
and
rules are entirely unreliable
have been
rules
has been claimed,
Some
of these
to others there are so
many
exceptions that they are misleading and practically worthless.
The
rules
vary according to the standpoint of the one pro-
One who
posing them.
says "avoid
which have white
all
This rule precludes the use of

just as
good as the one
it
common mushroom
considers the
the only edible species seeks to separate
it
gills
from
all
others,
many mushrooms which
sustains,
and
and a hollow stem."
and at the same time,
are
it is
not definite enough to limit the selection to the one intended.

Another, thinking of the delicious lactarius which has an
orange-colored juice, says "reject
all
such as have a white
This rule forbids the use of several species of
milky juice."
lactarius that are
than the delicious
no more harmful and scarcely

lactarius.
less
sapid
Again we are told by some one
who has in mind the poisonous amanitas,
to "discard
all
mush-
rooms that have a warty cap or a membranous sheath at the

bottom of the stem." This would be a very good rule if we
might add to
edible
and
it
know the species to be

The orange mushroom, which is deemed an
first quality has a membranous sheath at the
the sentence, unless you
safe.
edible species of
base of the stem, and the reddish amanita has a warty cap
and yet
is
not only harmless but very good, so that the rule
which would forbid the use of these species excludes more than
The same may be said of those directions which
is necessary.
mushrooms having a
require the rejection of
all
an acrid taste or whose
flesh
to a blue color.
And
viscid cap or
on being broken quickly changes
as to the old-fashioned silver spoon test
silver spoon thrust among

by which it
quickly
tarnished if they were
be
would
mushrooms
cooking
was thought that a

268
MUSHROOMS AS FOOD
poisonous and remain bright
they were edible, that was long
if
ago proved to be most unreliable by a fatal experiment in
which several persons

confidence in
every case
because the cook put
are, therefore, forced to
is
at present
its
own
we
recognize the useful and esculent species
plants,
conclude that
known by which the good can in

be separated from the bad. The only safe and
way to do is to learn to recognize each species by
no abstract rule
reasonable
lost their lives
We
it.
peculiar specific characters.
and
it
must be
mushrooms.
little
way
in this
way
It is in this
that
among
we
our edible
select
more care may be necessary
that
flowering
in one case
than in the other, because of a closer resemblance in some cases
between good and bad mushrooms than between good and
bad flowering
matter
is
The
plants.
principle that
the same in both cases.
edible species clearly recognizable

field
from which he may draw his
is
to govern in this
The greater the number of

by any one the greater the
supplies.
If
he is acquainted
with but one species he should limit his use of mushrooms

to that one species, unless he can avail himself of the
tensive knowledge of
some one
else or unless
he
is
more
ex-
willing to
take the risk of eating some poisonous or unwholesome species.
In a few instances
it is
possible to affirm of certain groups of
species or of certain genera, that
He who can
no deleterious species are
known
in them.
and
other fungi does not incur very
all
puff ball of
good
flavor,
discriminate between puff balls
though he
much risk in eating any
may
tinguish the species from each other.
that he will suffer no

lute safety.
harm by
It is possible that
deleterious qualities
not be able to
The
so doing, but there
some
dis-
probability
is
is
not abso-
rare species exists having
which have not yet been ascertained by
experiment, hence the lack of absolute certainty; for
by experience among the amanitas that
we know
excellent edible species
may exist in the same genus with and be closely related botanically to dangerously poisonous species.
269
FIELD
Many mushrooms
have
farinaceous or branny taste or
a*
Some have
odor, or both taste and odor are of this character.
thought that
species having this meal-like flavor are edible,
all
and indeed many

species
is
known
of
them
to have
and no dangerously poisonous
are,
But occasionally a
it.
combined with or followed by a
this flavor
species has
bitter or otherwise
disagreeable flavor which would at least render the
undesirable
mushroom
So that rules designed to
nor unwholesome.
if
aid in the selection of edible species have their exceptions

their
weak
There
against the poisonous species.
from the necessity
we would
it
from
all
is
of others,
may
therefore,
no escape
and exact to enable us to
Whatever value investigators
others.
and experimenters, who are

good
is,
a knowledge of each species
of acquiring
utilize, sufficiently clear
distinguish
and
points as well as the rules designed to protect us
willing to take
some
risks for the
find in such rules or general principles, it
evident that they are not sufficiently definite, exact and
reliable for general use.
To any one
of the experience of others
and
willing to avail himself
to apply himself sufficiently to
learn to recognize the species they have found to be edible,
nature opens a
field
tious food, which
But some
species
good
care
known
productive of
much
palatable and nutri-
decay where
grew.
is
too often
is
necessary in the selection of specimens of
to be edible.
left to
The
it
plants selected should be in
Well grown, sound, fresh specimens only
condition.
should be chosen.
wormEven young
Old, partly decayed, water-soaked,
eaten or withered plants should be discarded.
and sound ones should not be kept too long before they are
cooked. They are in some cases very perishable and deteriorate rapidly.
If
more have been
are needed for a single meal
them
all
at once
it will
and keep them
rather than in the raw state.
them the same day they
collected at one time than
generally be better to cook
in a refrigerator in the
As a
rule
are collected.
270
it is
cooked
better to cook
In the case of the
MUSHROOMS AS FOOD
inky fungi this
will
be absolutely necessary, for they
keep in good condition from one day
till
will
not
Some
the next.
of
the species literally grow up in a night and perish in a day.
These also should be cooked with great promptness,
young and before the
are only desirable while
Puff balls should only be
to change to a black inky liquid.
used while the inner
flesh is
they
for
have begun
gills
When
pure and white.
the yel-
lowish stains of maturity begin to appear they are no longer

fit
No
for food.
flesh
IMany
insects are fond of
room may appear
may
larvae,
full of
and perhaps a colony
cut or broken
its
by
but
It is needless to
unfit for food.
Strange as
may be
say that such specimens are
may
seem, a colony of larvae in
mushroom
the lower part of the stem of a
affect disastrously the flavor of the
they have not yet invaded.
if it is
of the larvae themselves
found within.
it
their
A mush-
them.
live in
holes or galleries excavated
fair externally,
be seen to be
Both they and
mushrooms.
on them and the latter often
larvse feed
flesh
one would think of eating them after the
has changed to the cottony dusty mass of maturity.
will
sometimes
cap or upper part which
may
This fact
explain in part
the varying opinions of different writers concerning the flavor
and
mushrooms.
edible qualities of certain
ences in flavor
character of the
may
also
soil in
Slight
differ-
be attributed to differences in the
which they grow, the amount of mois-
ture in the atmosphere, degree of temperature, age
and rapid-
growth and exposure to the sun and wind.
Old and
ity of
slowly-developed individuals are likely to be
young and rapidly growing
ones.
less
tender than
Differences in individual
tastes will also account in part for differences of opinion

this point.
have given
There are
also peculiarities of constitution
origin to the saying,
another man's poison."
"What
is
on
which
one man's meat is
One person can
eat
no
egg, nor
anything into which egg enters as an ingredient, without

suffering or sickness.
Another
is
271
made
sick
by
eating straw-
FIELD

egg and strawberries are not classed as
berries, nevertheless
poisonous.
Still it is
egg and strawberries

qualities
some fungi
possible that
may have
as harmless as
been charged with poisonous
from some such accidental circumstance or individual
peculiarity.
In collecting mushrooms for the table
it is
well, in all cases
in which the stems are too tough for food, to cut the caps from
left
much
In this way
the stems.
be
where
to ascertain
it
and
belongs,
and
dirt
it will
useless material will
be possible in
many
the caps have been attacked by insects.
if
often the larvas mine their
way up from
cases
Most
the groimd through
the central part of the stem to the cap, and by cutting the cap
from the stem
their holes or galleries are exposed to view.
but few species are the stems
sufficiently tender to
In
be used.
Some have recommended that the caps be placed in the collecting basket in an inverted position, for
position with gills
downward they
their flavor will be impaired.
It is
loss of spores affects the flavor in
more than one

sion
it
species should
placed in their natural
drop their spores and
very doubtful
if
this partial
any appreciable degree.
If
be taken during the same excur-
would be well to keep them separate from each other,
by wrapping each
precaution
color,
if
will
is
species in a piece of paper
not necessary
shape or
size that
each other at home, or

ture that they
may
if
if
by
This
itself.
the species are so distinct in
they can readily be separated from

they are so similar in flavor and tex-
be treated alike in cooking without any
detriment to their esculent qualities.
Should a doubt arise at any time, concerning the identity

of a supposed edible species,
all
doubt on
desirable to
this point
do not use such a mushroom
has been banished.
If it is
compare the plant with the published
until
thought
figure
and
descriptions for the purpose of identifying the species, select

for this purpose
sound specimens which represent both the
young and the mature forms, that

272
all
the specific characters
MUSHROOMS AS FOOD
may
Take the specimens up
be shown.
place of growth, removing
Wrap
of the stem.
all
carefully
from
their
the loose dirt from the base
the specimens carefully in soft paper or
may be kept as fresh as possible

On reaching home, lose no tim.e
large green leaves that they

till
the time of examination.
in
making the examination
some
for in
species there are
evanescent characters which will not be available after a few
In one family of fungi the color of the spores
hours' delay.
is
an important character and a great aid in the identification of
The
species.
color of the spores in
as or similar to the color of the
many
many
mature
species
gills,
is
the
same
but there are so
exceptions that explicit directions for ascertaining their
color will be given in another place.
In the preparation of mushrooms for cooking, the utmost

cleanliness should be observed.
Some have
the upper sur-
face of the cap covered with a sticky, viscid or glutinous sub-
stance
when
This often causes bits of
fresh.
sticks to adhere to the cap tenaciously.
generally best to
remove
washed
by
may be wiped away
other cases the dirt

towel, or
this rubbish
off
dirt,
leaves or
In such cases
it is
peeling the caps.
In
with a
damp
cloth or
and then the surface dried with a towel.
It is also well to peel those
The proper method
having a thick tough skin.
of cooking will
depend somewhat on
the kind of mushroom, the tastes of those that are to eat them
and the conveniences
at hand.
in the
same manner
them
in a very simple
Many
as a beefsteak.
They may
will devise
will
them can be cooked

customary to cook
manner, either by frying
broiling gently with a little butter

taste.
of
It is
also be stewed or baked.
many ways
of cooking
in butter or
added and seasoning to
The
skillful
them and various
be found in cook books and in works on edible fungi.
much
cooking
may
a tender beefsteak.
spoil
My
cook
recipes
Too
a mushroom as well as an oyster or

efforts to
make a tough mushroom
tender by steaming have been successful, but the experiments
273
FIELD
have not been numerous nor long continued.
Species too
tough to be eaten with pleasure or digested with comfort have

sometimes been utilized by making of them a kind of soup or
broth which could be eaten with relish and comfort.
Some-
times mushrooms are used in small quantity to give flavor to
meats and other
dishes.
made more
times
mens of some more highly
may
Those
agreeable
of inferior flavor are some-
by cooking with them a few
speci-
The same species

the method of cooking and
flavored species.
vary in flavor according to
the kind of seasoning used as well as by reason of the circumstances previously mentioned.
Mushrooms may be
best
method
warm
air.
of drying
Dry them
and kept
dried
them
is
them
in a current of
as quickly as possible without burning
them, and keep the drying process in operation
A common fruit
ment
facilitated
The drying
of thick
by cutting them
vegetables, they are largely
composed
much
Like other
which
of water,
they shrink greatly in drying and lose
presence of so
completed.
and moist ones
in slices.
eighty to ninety per cent of the whole.

this
till
evaporator would doubtless be a good instru-
for drying them.
would be
The
for future use.
to place
is
from
In consequence of
much
The
weight.
nitrogenous material induces rapid decay
and loathsome decomposition
in them.
moderation in their use as food.
It should also teach
hearty meal on mush-
rooms alone would be about as reasonable as a dinner on

nothing but beefsteak, and might be expected to be followed
by
similar
able under
ill
Gormandizing
consequences.
especially should
it
But
small quantities of the nitro-
genous elements which enter into
amount
quantity
not commend-
be avoided in mushroom eating, for the
human system demands but

sive
is
any circumstances nor with any kind of food.
it is
is
its
composition.
An
exces-
sure to be hurtful, but eaten in moderate
easily digestible, acceptable
and
digestive organs of the writer are not strong
274
beneficial.
The
by nature and
MUSHROOMS AS FOOD
by unfavorable treatment or
are easily affected
substances, yet he has never experienced
He
eating mushrooms.
of
many
has eaten them frequently, partaken
different species,
able
number
tion
is
The explana-
They have always been eaten
my
In
quantity.
and experimented with a consider-
of species not classified as edible.
simple.
indigestible
any discomfort from
opinion, cases of sickness
in
moderate
and digestive
derangement that have been attributed to poisonous properties of
mushrooms
are sometimes really due to the excessive
use of species that otherwise are perfectly harmless.
In some countries where edible fungi are commonly and

extensively employed as food, even species which
unwholesome are
utilized.
They
we regard
as
are soaked in vinegar or in
water for the purpose of destroying or rendering inert
salt
their noxious properties.
and thrown
They
This practice
are treated in the usual way.
washed
is
not recom-
Aside from the danger arising from the inefficiency
mended.
of the treatment in
mushrooms
flavor.
are then carefully
into hot water for a short time, after which they
some
so treated
There
is,
cases,
it is
very improbable that any
would
still
retain a very agreeable
besides,
no need of running any
doubtful or suspected species, for the

to be good
and
demands.
safe
is
number
risks
of those
with
known
sufficiently great to satisfy all reasonable
may
Possibly the time
properties of poisonous
yet
come when the noxious
mushrooms may be
utilized with ad-
vantage in medicine, but such species should not be used as

food.
He who
the species
is
known
too ignorant to recognize with confidence

to be good, would better abstain from
such food entirely unless he can avail himself of the knowledge

of
some one who can recognize them.
A
July,
few edible fungi appear early in the season, but with us

August and September are the months when the great-
est variety
is
to be found.
glistening coprinus
The
fairy-ring
mushroom and the
sometimes appear in June, and successive

275
FIELD
crops follow from time to time whenever the weather
is
favor-
The
latter
able.
few of the species continue in September.
part of August and the
first
common mushroom and
half of
September
will bring
the
the horse mushroom, the weather
Excessively dry weather and prevail-
conditions being right.
ing cold weather are unfavorable to
mushroom growth.
Heat
and moisture combined are favorable. It sometimes happens when the fields and open country are too dry for mush-
room growth, a scanty supply may be found

and shady swamps.
for the
for they
It
would be
common mushroom and
in deep
woods
useless to look in such places
the fairy-ring mushroom,
do not grow in woods; but the delicious
lactarius,
may be found there.

pleurotus may be found
the Involute paxillus and the Chantarelle
The
in
oyster pleurotus and the sapid
woods or
clearings at
provided there
is
any time between June and October,
suflEicient
honey-colored armillaria,
rain to induce growth, but the
the
imbricated
masked tricholoma and the elm pleurotus

before the last
These hints
mushroom
may
week
in
August or the
tricholoma,
will rarely
first
the
be found
of September.
be something of a guide to the inexperienced
hunter.
The
dates and habitat given under the
description of each species will furnish
information on this subject.
276
more
full
and
definite
CHAPTER
VII
MUSHROOMS AS FOOD
277
CHAPTER
VII
MUSHROOMS AS FOOD
GENERAL DIRECTIONS FOR PREPARING AND COOKING THEM
A generation ago edible mushrooms were believed to possess

high nutritive value on account of the nitrogen contained in
as substitutes for meat.
show
that, in the cases of several of the
is
to be of service
Later investigations have seemed to
species, a part of the nitrogenous
that
them
Authorities in dietetics considered
them.
element
is
commonly eaten
present in a form
not available for alimentary use in the
human
body.
Starch and other substances useful as food are present in the

fleshy fungi in such small quantities as to
nutritive value.
Their vitamin content
however, and this
fact, together
possess
and that
add but little to their

is
apparently high
with what fuel value they do
of the materials in
company with which they

employment as
are usually cooked, give ample reason for their
Moreover, mushrooms have great value as condiments
food.
or food accessories
and "their value
as such
computation of the chemist or physiologist.
is
the most appetizing of table delicacies and they

to the palatability of
It is
many
foods
are
among
add greatly
when cooked with them."
not always possible by laboratory analysis to duplicate
conditions that exist in natural digestion
and
assimilation of
Statements as to the food value of mushrooms, com-
foods.
monly met with
in books
plete investigations.
direction.
of using
them
beyond the
They
on
There
dietetics are
is
Lastly, their savory taste
mushrooms
as articles of
based upon incom-
need of careful research in
as food, insure a continued
human
diet.
279
this
and the age-long custom
demand
for
FIELD
Preparation of
The
what
the best
way
in
for Eating
mushrooms determine
characters of the various kinds of
is
Tough
Mushrooms
which each of them should be cooked.
species require long, slow boiling, while fragile, tender
sorts are quickly cooked.
The
others mild.
a guide in
Some kinds
are strong in taste and
preference of the eater
cooking mushrooms
quite as important
is
person prefers fried dishes, another wishes his
them prepared
stewed, another would select
One
as are their qualities.
in
mushrooms
some other
way.
The
following recipes are compiled from the writings
of
many authorities and are supplemented by some based on my

own experience of twenty years.
Some General Recipes

In the following recipes one
silvicola,
arvensis,
may
use Agaricus campestris,
Pleurotus ostreatus,
or
or
sapidus,
or
The Agaricus
Goprinus comatus, or any kindred mushrooms.

campestris, however, are to be preferred.
To Serve Mushrooms with a Boiled Leg
Wash and
saucepan have ready a
mushrooms
side,
of
it
on the
oil;
flour,
In a
drop the
down; dust them
After they have browned on
and pepper.
turn them quickly and brown the
pint of soup stock and
gill side.
hot butter or olive
little
into this, with their skin sides
lightly with salt
one
much
Mutton
Dip each one into
dry the mushrooms.
being careful not to get too
of
let all
simmer
for
gills;
add a
fifteen
half-
minutes.
Take them up with a skimmer and put them on the platter

Boil the sauce down until it is of the
around the mutton.
proper consistency; pour
Mushrooms prepared
it
over the meat and serve at once.
in this
manner are
with roast beef.
280
also
good to serve
MUSHROOMS AS FOOD
Mushroom Sauce
Wash
pound
well one
them very
of fresh
mushrooms; dry and chop
Put them into a saucepan with one and a
fine.
half tablespoonfuls of butter; cover
Then add a
minutes.
Game
for
half -cup
crumbs, a half teaspoonful of
and cook slowly
of
salt,
freshly
for eight
rubbed bread-
a salt-spoonful of white
pepper; cover and cook again for five minutes;

tablespoonful of chopped parsley, and,
if
you
stir
like,
and add a
two
table-
spoonfuls of sherry; turn out into a sauceboat.
Mushrooms with
Wash and dry

and pepper.
hot,
Fricassee of Chicken
the mushrooms and sprinkle them with salt
Put some
oil
when
or butter into a shallow pan;
throw in the mushrooms, skin side down; cover the pan
and put
it
in the
oven
during the baking.
heated dish.
of finely
Add
for fifteen minutes; baste
Lift
them
carefully
to the fat in the
them once
and put them on a
pan two tablespoonfuls
chopped mushrooms and a half-cup of soup stock.
make a separate sauce.
This is boiled for five minutes to
Have
ready pieces of bread toasted and dish the mushrooms on to

these.
Put on top a good-sized piece
row; season the sauce with
mushroom-covered bread.
salt
of carefully boiled
and pour
Use these
it
mar-
(strained) over the
pieces of toast with the
mushrooms on them as a garnish around the platter of chicken,

or you
may simply dish and serve them

Oysters and
Wash and remove
separately.
Mushrooms
the stems from a half pound of fresh
mushrooms; chop them
finely;
put them into a saucepan with
a tablespoonful of butter, a half-teaspoonful of

little
pepper; cover closely and cook over a slow
and a
ten
Have ready twenty-five oysters and put them, perdry, into this mushroom mixture. Cook over a bright
minutes.
fectly
salt
fire for
281
FIELD
fire
and
boil, stirring carefully, for
on squares
about
five minutes.
Serve
of toasted bread.
Tomatoes
Mushrooms
StufiEed with
Wash the tomatoes, cut a slice from the stem end and remove carefully the seeds and core. To each tomato allow
them
three good sized mushrooms; wash, dry and chop
and
salt
of
stuff
them
and a dusting
on the top
of pepper
it
of
Put a cupful
of each.
breadcrumbs into a bowl, season them with
and pour upon
fine,
Put half a saltspoon
into the tomatoes.
and pepper
salt
a tablespoonful of melted butter.
Heap
the
breadcrumbs, thus treated, over the top of each tomato,
forming a pyramid, and packing
it
in with the
Stand the tomatoes in a baking pan and bake
oven
for
one hour.
Serve at once,
lifting
mushrooms.
in a
moderate
the tomatoes care-
fully to prevent their breaking.
Another way.
The mushrooms may be chopped
into a saucepan with a tablespoonful of butter

five
fine,
and cooked
for
minutes before they are put into the tomatoes then the
;
breadcrumbs are packed over the top and the whole

for
put
twenty minutes.
Each
of the
is
baked
above recipes gives a dis-
tinct flavor.
Beefsteak Smothered with Mushrooms
Wash
Agarici,
a dozen good-sized mushrooms, either Lactariior
and put them
into a baking pan.
Sprinkle salt over
them, add a tablespoonful of butter and bake in a moderately

hot oven for three-quarters of an hour.
it is
nearly done, then put
allowing some of
them
it
Broil the steak until
pan with the mushrooms,
to remain under the steak
with the remaining portion.
oven
into the
for ten minutes; dish
and cover
it
Return the whole dish to the
and serve at once.

282
MUSHROOMS AS FOOD
Mushroom
Cut
fresh
mushrooms
Pie
into small pieces cover the

;
bottom
of
a pie dish with small, thin fragments of sliced bacon and place
the mushrooms upon them adding salt and pepper.
these place a layer of
Over
mashed potatoes following again with
other similar layers of bacon, mushrooms and potatoes, until

the dish
Bake
the last layer of potato serving as a crust.
is filled,
in the
oven
for half
an hour and brown before a brisk
fire.
Fried
Mushrooms on Toast
Place a pint of mushrooms in a pan with a piece of butter
about the
half as
size of
much
an egg sprinkle
;
When
pepper.
in
a teaspoonful of
the butter
is
salt
and
nearly absorbed
by
the cooking thicken with fresh butter and flour and pour the
whole upon hot toast, which should be served upon hot

plates.
Mushrooms with Bacon

Fry
slices of
bacon in the usual manner and when nearly
done add a dozen or so of mushrooms and fry them slowly

until they are cooked.
fat and,
when
In this process they absorb the bacon
seasoned, form an appetizing breakfast relish.
Mushrooms En Caisse
Cut the mushrooms
them
into cases
of buttered paper, each with a bit of butter, parsley
and green
onions,
and enough
into small pieces; put
salt
and pepper to season.
on a gridiron over a gentle

cases
may be made of pastry

Pickled
Use mushrooms
in the
and serve
fire
if
Cook them
in the cases.
The
desired.
Mushrooms
round or button
stage, before they
expand; immerse them in cold water for a few moments and

283
FIELD

Remove
drain them.
each quart of
it
the stems.
two ounces of
mace and an ounce
dram of
mushrooms
into the vinegar
Boil vinegar, adding to
a grated nutmeg, a
salt, half
of white pepper corns.
and cook
Put the
for ten minutes,
then
jars,
taking care that the spices are
equally divided between them.
Let them stand for a day and
pour the whole into small
seal.
Mushroom Catsup
Place large mushrooms, layer by layer, in a deep pan;
sprinkle each layer with a
as to
mash them and
strain off the liquor
of liquor,
add
half
little salt.
day
extract their juice.
and
boil for ten minutes.
an ounce
later stir well so
On
of black pepper,
the third day
To every
of bruised ginger root, a blade of mace, a clove or
teaspoonful of mustard seed.
pint
a quarter-oimce
Boil again for half
two and a
an hour, add
two or three bay leaves and set aside until cold. Pass the
liquor through a strainer and bottle it. Cork well and dip
the ends of the bottles into melted rosin or beeswax or paraffine.
Care should be taken that the
spices are not so
to overpower the true flavor of the
284
mushrooms.
abundant as
CHAPTER
VIII
;
SPECIAL RECIPES FOR PREPARING VARIOUS

SPECIES OF EDIBLE GILLED MUSHROOMS
FOR THE TABLE
285
CHAPTER
VIII
METHODS OF PREPARING THE VARIOUS SPECIES OF EDIBLE

GILLED MUSHROOMS FOR BATING
Agaricus
The wild or uncultivated Agaricus campestris or field mushroom which is gathered in the open fields, will cook in less
time than
it
takes to cook the cultivated variety (Agaricus
campestris hortensis) which

stems, cut off close to the
is
to be
gills
flavoring for sauces or soups.

fully,
keeping the
gills
the water has drained
had
may be
Wash
in the markets.
mushrooms
the
down; throw them into a colander

off
The
put aside and used as

careuntil
from them.
Stewed Field Mushrooms

Allow two ounces of butter to each pound of mushrooms.
Put the butter into a saucepan and when melted, but not
brown, throw in the mushrooms, either whole or cut into
slices;
sprinkle over
them a teaspoonful
of salt; cover the
saucepan in order to keep in the flavor and cook slowly for
twenty minutes or until they are tender.

ing tablespoonful of flour with a
perfectly
smooth add a
little
Moisten a round-
cold milk;
white pepper;
little
when mixed
stir
carefully
Then take off of the stove and serve at once.

Less flour is required when the mushrooms are to be served as
a sauce over chicken, steak or other made dishes.
until boiling.
Broiled
Select those
unopened ones
Mushrooms
mushrooms that
are spread open, keeping the
for other styles of cooking.
287
Cut
off
the stems
FIELD
Baste well with melted butter and sprinkle
close to the tops.
the caps upon

clear
mushrooms
slices of
with the
it
gills
broiler very hot, lay
uppermost and
turning the broiler over frequently.
fire,
open the
Heat a
and pepper.
lightly with salt
broil over
As soon
as the
are tender, which will be in about five minutes,
remove the caps with care and place them on
broiler,
Pour over
previously prepared, well-buttered toast.
the whole a sauce
made of drawn butter,
or hot water thickened
with flour to the consistency of cream.
Mushrooms Creamed on Toast

Cut
off
into a
them with
salt
little
melted butter, dust
and pepper and cook them
twenty minutes.
in a hot
While they are cooking, toast
bread to hold them; put
it
careful not to use too much, as

soft.
oven
for
sufficient
on a hot platter and, as soon as the
mushrooms are done, cover the bread with hot

and too
Put them
the stems and wash and dry the caps.
pan and pour over them a
milk, being
would make the bread pasty
it
Dish the mushrooms on the
toast, putting
each
of them with the skin side uppermost; pour over them the
juice
from the pan and serve at once.
Mushrooms
Wash and dry

slices.
the
in the Chafing
mushrooms,
Dish
and cut them into
Allow two ounces of butter for each pound of mush-
Put the butter into the chafing dish and when it is

add the mushrooms and sprinkle over them a teaspoonCook slowly for five minutes, stirring the mushof salt.
rooms.
hot,
ful
rooms frequently; then add one
gill
of milk.
Cover the
dish,
cook for three minutes longer; add the beaten yolks of two
the most convenient form of thickening
The yolk of
when mush-
in the chafing dish, but they
must not be
eggs and a dash of pepper and serve at once.

eggs
is
rooms are cooked

cooked too hard.
288
SPECIAL RECIPES
Mushrooms Under
the Glass Cover or "Bell" with
Cream
With a small biscuit cutter, cut round pieces from slices

They should be about two and a half inches
in
Cut the stems
of
bread.
diameter and about half an inch thick.

fresh
mushrooms
Put a tablespoonful
to drain.
When
close to the caps
wash them and allow them
of butter into a saucepan.
throw in the mushrooms,
hot,
uppermost and
gills
cook them for a minute or two and sprinkle them with
and pepper.
salt
Arrange the round pieces of bread, which have
been slightly toasted, in the bottom of the

the mushrooms on these; put a
center of each; cover over the
glass,
of
china or
silver,
little
bell,
bell-dish.
Heap
piece of butter in the
which
maybe
either of
stand them in a baking pan and then
cook in an oven for twenty minutes. While these are cooking,
mix a tablespoonful
of butter
add a
half pint of milk (or a
stock)
and
of salt
baked
little of
of milk
flour in
and a
a saucepan;
gill
of chicken
the mixture boils; then add a teaspoonful
stir imtil
and a dash
for
and one of
gill
of pepper.
When the mushrooms have
twenty minutes, remove them,
lift
the cover, pour a
the sauce over them, cover them again and send
them
at once to the table.
Cream
Wash and chop

them
if
of
Mushroom Soup
a half pound of mushrooms and put
into a saucepan with a tablespoonful of butter and,
you have
water.
finely
it,
a cup of chicken stock;
Cover the
vessel
if
not, use a cupful of
and cook slowly
for thirty minutes.
Next, put a quart of milk into a double boiler and add to
it
tablespoonful of butter and two tablespoonfuls of flour rubbed
together until smooth. Stir all and cook imtil thick; then
add the mushrooms and season to taste with salt and pepper.
Agaricus arvensis
common mushroom.
people prefer
it
may
be cooked
like its close ally
English epicures shun
to that species as a dish.
289
it
the
but the French
FIELD
Amanita
eat
it
ccBsarea is edible
on account
but the reader
advised not to
is
of the danger of confusing other kinds that
are poisonous, with
it.
Amanitopsis vaginata, though edible,
very likely to be
is
confused with poisonous Amanitas as the resemblance
is close.
Dr. Murrill's dictum should be followed in this case.
He
says, "edible, but eat not!"
Armillaria
Authorities differ
mellea.
as
Peck considered
qualities of this species.
safe species, but not of the best quality."
but do not care for
be selected for the

been boiled for
Young and
it.
It is best
table.
five
to
it
the edible
"a
perfectly
have eaten
it
small specimens should
when
fried after
having
minutes in salted water.
Kate Sargeant gives the following
directions for stewing
the honey-colored mushroom: Soak the caps for half an hour

in water to which vinegar has been
in
some
and
are tender.
hot.
and put
flour
sufficient
it
added in the proportion of
Roll a tablespoonful of butter
one tablespoon to the quart.
in a saucepan;
add the mushrooms
water to cover them; stew until the caps
Season with
salt
and pepper and serve while
Cantharellus cibarius; the chantarelle.
Light
and
soft
specimens should be discarded as they become leathery when

cooked; crisp and heavy plants should be chosen for the table.
All those that have been partly eaten
also be rejected.
If,
when the
by
slugs or
worms should
chantarelles are brought into
the kitchen, they are scalded in milk and are
left to
soak in
it
until the next day, they will be very tender.
Cut the chantarelles across into slices and remove the stems;
put the caps into a covered saucepan with a little fresh butter
and sweat them; then stew in gravy or fricassee until they
are tender, at the lowest possible cooking temperature; a
great heat destroys their flavor.
290
SPECIAL RECIPES
Another
Put the prepared chantarelles
recipe.
into boiling
water for a few minutes; then stew them in fresh butter to
which has been added a
little
over a slow
fire for
olive
oil,
chopped tarragon,
Allow them to simmer gently
pepper, salt and lemon peel.
twenty minutes, moisten in them from time
When
to time with a little beef gravy or cream.
about to
be served, thicken the stew with yolk of egg.
A more simple dish may be made by frying the chantarelles

in butter or olive oil
pepper and
salt
and laying them on toasted bread, adding
may
as required or they
be minced and
stewed alone or with minced meat.
N.B. The chantarelle may be prepared like the common

mushroom if care is taken not to cook it too hot. If boiled
too violently
it will
become as tough as
leather.
Cantharellus aurantiacus; orange chantarelle; false chantarelle.
Contradictory statements exist as to the edibility of this
mushroom.
ill
effects.
to let
it
have eaten
Since
it is
alone as far as eating
Cantharellus
cinnabarinus
which, although of small

It is
it
is
advised
concerned.
is
a desirable edible species

often occurs in abundance.
fried.
The stems should be
re-
before cooking.
Cantharellus
species
is
size,
good either stewed or
moved
with enjoyment and with no
under suspicion, the reader
is
As an
dichotomus.
edible
not as tender as some others nor
flavored but
it is
satisfactory
mushroom
is it
this
as highly
and agreeable.
Cantharellus fioccosus, although often growing to a rather

large size,
easily
is
not tough but, when cut into small pieces
cooked in any of the usual methods.
is
Its quality is good.
Cantharellus minor, although not considered as equal in
quality to the best mushrooms,
291
may be cooked
with other
FIELD
species
and
without
The
Clitocyhe dealbata.
is
eke out what would be a scanty mess
will help to
it.
Care must
stewing.
mode
best
of cooking this species
be taken to select
young plants as
old ones become tough and leathery when heated.
Young
specimens are quickly cooked, are of a firmer texture than

that of the popular
resembles
common mushroom.
poisonous
Clitocybe
This species closely
and hence
(sudorifica)
should not be eaten unless positively identified.

Clitocybe
muUiceps, according to Mclllvaine, should be
well cooked.
The
conceals a slight
addition of a
raw
taste that
Clitocyhe odor a is said to

is
is
little
lemon
juice or sherry
sometimes present.
make a
tasty
Mcllvaine.
Clitopilus
ahortivus
edible
is
in
either its
(abortive) condition or in the perfect

quality.
I prefer it
Clitopilus
writers.
Dr.
with a sauce
when
prunulus
is
fried,
form but
undeveloped
of inferior
is
with onion.
highly praised as food by some
Badham recommended
made as follows:
it
stewed or fricasseed,
Bruise in a mortar some almonds with a

salt
flavor
few specimens mixed with
other species of like texture but with less flavor

dish.
The
be exceedingly spicy.
pleasant but rather strong.
and pepper and some lemon
juice;
little
water; add
rub the whole together
until it is of the consistency of table mustard.
Collybia acervata
flavor.
said to be tender, delicate
is
It should not
Collybia confiuens
is
Collybia platyphylla.
and of
fine
be cooked too long.

of
good substance and

Although
flavor.
edible, its taste is
not
es-
good plan to mix it with other

more savory species when the collected mess happens to be
pecially attractive.
It is a
292
SPECUL RECIPES
scanty.
Then
it
absorbs the taste of
its
companions
in the
dish and suppHes bulk.

Collyhia radicata
The caps should be

CoUybia
is
one of the best tasting of mushrooms.
broiled or fried.
velutipes.
valuable species because of
its
ex-
tended season and good eating quality.

Coprinus comatus
Coprinus micaceus
As these
species are not dissimilar in texture, recipes for
cooking them are alike.
Being
and
soft
juicy,
they must be
handled with care and are better when cooked with dry
heat.
To
bake:
Remove
the stems, wash and drain in a colander;
arrange the caps in a baking pan; dot here and there with
small bits of butter, allowing a tablespoonful to each half-
pound
them
of
mushrooms.
Dust them with
into a very hot oven
salt
and bake them
and pepper, put
for thirty minutes.
Serve in a heated vegetable dish, pouring over them the

sauce from the pan.
To cook
colander.
with
salt
Coprinus.
Wash and
(Mrs. Rorer.)
drain in a
Spread out in a long bakingr pan; dust lightly
and pepper and put on them a few
Cover with another pan and bake

twenty-five minutes.
Add
in a
bits of butter.
moderate oven for
four tablespoonfuls of cream,
bring to the boiling point and dish on toast.
Coprinus micaceus; another method.
Wash and dry
the
mushrooms; put them into a deep saucepan with a tablespoonful of butter to each quart.
fire,
Hold them over a quick
keeping the saucepan in motion but not stirring with a
spoon for fear of breaking the caps.
As soon
as they
have
reached the boiling point, push them to the back part of the
293
FIELD
stove for five minutes and then serve on toast.
be dark in color but are very palatable and
most
They
will
are, perhaps,
the
easily digested of all fleshy fungi.
Cortinarius.
The caps
While they
are edible.
most of the species of
of
may
this
genus
not be of the very best, young
specimens are of good texture and they stew and dry well.
No
poisonous variety
known
is
it
and usually stew
with a sauce upon vegetables.
Cortinarius
it
are said
in butter
and
Mcllvaine.
The caps should be
collinitus.
necessary, before cooking, in order to
may
among them but
The German people
Cortinarius cinnamomeus.
to be fond of this species
serve
to exist
and uninviting.
several are strong
peeled
remove any
if
dirt that
adhere.
Cortinarius violaceus
These are perfectly wholesome and

gravy or prepared
like
may
be stewed in
They
sweetbreads with a white sauce.
are, perhaps, the best-tasting of the Cortinarii.
Flammula flavida
ing to Mcllvaine.
is
good in texture and substance, accordslightly
Its
removed by cooking.
bitter taste
The stems
are
too
when raw
tough
to
is
be
eaten.
Hygrophorus cantharellus requires long cooking.

liar taste is
Its pecu-
acceptable to some persons.
Hygrophorus miniatus, in Dr. Peck's opionion,

surpassed by any mushroom
in tenderness
is
scarcely
and agreeableness
of flavor.
Hygrophorus pratensis requires careful cooking as

liable to
it is
it
is
be condemned as tough unless treated slowly, but
a great favorite, says
M.
C. Cooke.
294
SPECIAL RECIPES
Hypholoma appendiculatum
mushrooms when stewed or
one of the best tasting of
is
The tough stems must be
fried.
removed.
Hypholoma incertum
a well-flavored and tender-capped
is
species, quite similar in quality to
Hypholoma
suhlateritium
These two species are practically
Hypholoma perplexum.
The
identical.
is
occasional bitter taste encountered in
believed to be due to the
infested.
Great care
specimens.
H. appendiculatum.
is
larvae,
them
with which they are apt to be
necessary in selecting uncontaminated
Considerable cooking
is
required for these species.
Their abundance late in the autumn makes them an important species to the mycophagist.
To stew them, put a

Take them
for half
tablespoonful of vinegar into a quart
and soak the caps
of water
out,
in this
add water
an hour or
is
cover them and stew
until they are tender, in a covered vessel,
adding butter, pepper and

of onion
mixture for twenty minutes.
sufficient to
salt to taste.
small quantity
thought by some to improve their flavor and a
thickening of cornstarch and milk added just before serving

is
an improvement.
Laccaria laccata, while edible,
Laccaria ochropurpurea
is
is
not especially well-flavored.
said to lose its toughness
when
cooked and to make a good dish.

Lactarii.
In Mcllvaine's opinion the juice of the milky
mushrooms and
their flavor are best retained when they

They become hard and granular if cooked at
too high a temperature. The edible species are good eating
when carefully cooked in any manner.
are baked.
Lactarius camphoratus has a strong taste that
proved by the addition to
it
of
some specimens
species.
295
may
be im-
of other milder
BOOK OF COMMON GULED MUSHROOMS
FIELD
The
Lactarius deliciosus.
juicy and nutritious.
flesh of this
may
It
mushroom
is firm,
be cooked in the following
maimer: Take sound, young specimens and cut them to a

uniform
butter tie
little
them
place
size;
in a pie dish, with salt,
Serve them in the same hot dish.
three-quarters of an hour.
This mushroom
minutes.
It
pepper and
a paper over the dish and bake gently for
requires to be stewed for about forty
may be
fried in considerably less time.
Lentinus cochleatus must be eaten when yoimg as old
specimens are tough and dry.

that
has a peculiar spicy taste
It
Soup may be made of
agreeable to some palates.
is
it.
Mcllvaine recommends that the caps be grated before they

are cooked.
Lentinus lepideus.
tough
species,
but when the stem
has been removed, the caps finely sliced and fried in butter,
or stewed for thirty minutes,
it
Yoimg
good eating.
is
specimens are equal to the oyster mushroom.
good soup
can be made from older specimens.

In flavor this species
Lepiota americana.
is
not
much
mushroom (Lepiota procera) but when

imparts its own reddish color to the material
inferior to the parasol
cooked in milk
in
which
the
it is
it
cooked.
Nevertheless
it is
fine addition to
Peck.
of edible species.
list
Lepiota procera; parasol mushroom.
This
one of the best of mushrooms for preservation by
is
In this condition
drying.
add much
The
flavor to
your hand,
tops,
is
easily preserved
and
parasol mushroom, having thin flesh and broad
must be cooked quickly.

in
it
gill
side
Remove
as they
lie
broiler.
scales.
gills,
the stems, take the caps
down, and with a
removing the brown
pan or on a
will
an ordinary meat sauce.
soft rag
wash the
Put them into a baking
Lightly baste them with melted butter
with their
gills
uppermost and dust them with

296
SPECIAL RECIPES
and pepper.
salt
When
most
it
and serve them
down
skin sides
fire,
moment, then turn them and

gill sides
them
broil
at once
for
mushrooms but
delicious of all
if
becomes tough and unpalatable.
becomes dry and leather>^
It
for just a
an instant on the
on the heated
plate.
cooked in this way Lepiota procera
eaten at once.
Put the
Place the serving dish to heat.
mushrooms over a quick
is
one of the
cooked in moist heat
If
baked too
long, it
must be cooked quickly and
may
All the edible lepiota
be cooked in this
manner.
Lepiota procera omelette.
Mince some young,
season them with pepper and

in the
Then put two ounces
six eggs.
it
set
them
beaten the
brown.
eggs,
add three tablespoonfuls
little
milk.
butter; stir in one direction

five or six
of butter into the frying
until it begins to turn
mushrooms and a
itself
fresh caps;
add butter and
oven while you beat well the whites and yolks of
pan and heat

again
salt,
Pour
into
all
and fry on one
minutes; drain the fat
off,
Having
the
of
the boiling
side for only
fold the omelette
and serve quickty on a hot, covered dish.
on
Kate Sargeant.
Marasmius arcades has long been esteemed as edible but

owing to
its
small size and
somewhat tough substance
has not gained the general popularity that

following recorded opinions of
It is
It
very good and
it
may
deserves.
it
The
be of interest
be eaten in an omelette.
has a very agreeable taste and odor and gives a delicious
flavor to sauces but

It is
It
may
it
may
Its
it
needs long cooking.
deHcious when broiled with butter.
be pickled or dried for future use.
tendency to toughness
may
be overcome by proper
cooking.
An
esteemed correspondent gives the following method of
cooking this mushroom:
297
A
FIELD
Throw the
clean caps into sufficient boiUng water to
make
a nice gravy when done and cook them for half an hour.
Then rub together a
small quantity of butter, flour and water
and pepper and add them to the mushrooms,
with
salt
for a
moment.
Pour on hot toast and serve on a hot
Another method
stirring
dish.
to put the caps in water with butter
is
let them simmer slowly for ten or fifteen

Then thicken with flour and serve alone or pour
and seasoning and

minutes.
over cooked meat.
As a condiment, chop the caps

them
into small pieces
time of serving them.
Peck.
Marasmius oreades
pickles.
the fairy-ring
mushroom and
them on a soft cloth to
young caps
Collect fresh
of
cut the stems quite close and
Drain them and
throw the caps into a basin of salted water.

lay
and add
to cooking hash, stews, broths or meats just before the
For each quart of mushrooms
dry.
take nearly a quart of pale white wine vinegar and add to

it
a heaping teaspoonful of
salt,
an ounce of whole
half
peppers, an ounce of bruised ginger, two large blades of
and one-quarter
of a teaspoonful of
a piece of muslin.
mushrooms and
When
When
boil
this liquid is boiHng,
them
in it for
mace
cayenne pepper tied in
from
six to
throw in the
nine minutes.
the caps have become tolerably tender put them into
warm, wide-mouthed
among them.
where they
Mycena
When
will
dividing the spices equally
bottles,
cold cork well
and stand
in a
dry place
not freeze.
galericulata,
found in quantity
although a small mushroom, often
sufficient to
make a
the caps, when stewed,
is
good.
Omphalia campanella
is
so small that
although large clusters of
it
meal.
it is
are often found.
The
is
flavor of
not often eaten,

Its flavor is fair.
Panus strigosus, when mature, is of woody texture but

when specimens are young, they may be used for making soup.
298
SPECIAL RECIPES
Pholiota adiposa
not classed as edible by European
is
Peck found
authorities but Dr.
agreeable and
its flavor
substance digestible and harmless.
its
It is well to peel the
caps before cooking them.

Pleurotus ostreatus
Pleurotus sapidus
Pleurotus ulmarius
To make
salt
and pepper; then
delicious;
into small pieces
until they are tender, seasoning with butter,
tough to be eaten
is
them
soup, clean the caps, cut
and stew them
but
if
may
one
Mushrooms that are too

The clear broth
strain.
be used in this way.
prefers,
milk or
still
better,
cream
may
be added.
Pleurotus sauce.
may
oyster
salt
any meat stew
desirable addition to
be made by chopping up young, tender caps of the
mushroom and stewing them
and pepper.
Stewed,
This
is
Wash and dry
the Pleuroti and cut them into
strips crosswise with the gills,
portion near the stems.
meat stock with
in the
poured over the veal or other meat.
trimming
off all
the tough
Put the mushrooms into a saucepan,
adding a tablespoonful of butter to each pint of them. Sprinklp

lightly with salt, cover
and cook slowly
Moisten a tablespoonful of
for
twenty minutes.
flour in a half -cup of milk
and
when this is smooth, add another half-cup; pour this into

the mushroom mixture; add a little grated nutmeg, a few
drops of onion juice and a dash of pepper as
boiling point.
you would
Mock
if
the pan from the
it
comes to the
fire
and serve as
the dish were of stewed oysters.
oysters.
of oysters.
Remove
Cut the caps into
Dip each
pieces of the size
into the beaten yolk of
a tablespoonful of water has been added
crumbs or corn-meal; season with

299
salt
roll
and shape
an egg to which
them
in cracker
and pepper and fry in
FIELD
smoking hot
fat,
butter or olive
oil,
as oysters are treated,
and serve at once.

Oyster mushrooms with cheese
au
caps into medium-sized pieces.

for fifteen minutes.
later.
Pour
off
Cut the washed
gratin.
Stew
slowly,
rather dry,
the liquor and save
it
for use
Place the caps in a baking dish (or in individual
dishes or clam-shells) in a layer, buttering
and seasoning
it.
Sprinkle this layer with breadcrumbs and grated cheese.
On
this layer place another similar
dish
is filled
and has a layer
one and repeat until the
Pour the saved liquor over the whole.

slow oven and bake until the top
This manner of cooking
may
much
The caps
is
its top.
Place the dish in a
well browned.
Any mushroom
a favorite.
be cooked in this manner.
Pluteus cervinus.
are
is
on
of grated cheese
Mcllvaine.
only, are tender.
The stems
tougher than the caps and hence they should not
be cooked together.
The caps may be cooked as described

The stems, when fried in butter or
under "General recipes."

broiled, are very
good eating.
Psathyrella disseminata.
away
Mcllvaine.
These
cook
fragile little plants
to almost nothing but they are of fine flavor and im-
part this flavor to any
medium with which they
are cooked.
Mcllvaine.
Russula.
The
edible
cooked after the same
members
recipes.
washing and draining them, they
They
are also attractive
of this genus
may
all
be
After removing the stems and
may
when chopped
be broiled or baked.
into small pieces
and
served with mayonnaise dressing or stuffed into peeled
tomatoes or with the same dressing on lettuce leaves.
While russulas apparently do not contain less water than

species, their flesh is rather dense and they do not
do other
so quickly melt
The green
upon being exposed
to heat.
russula (Russula virescens)
300
may
be cut into
SPECIAL RECIPES
thin
slices,
mixed with the leaves
French dressing and served on

to peel
of water cress, covered with
slices of
mushrooms when they are

Fry
Russula fried with bacon.
bacon and lay them on a
platter,
them
fry
It is well
crisp four thin slices of
then fry in the bacon fat a
quart of russulas, carefully selected;
and
tomato.
to be served raw.
and pepper them
salt
until they are tender.
Serve on the platter
Peck remarks that
this species is excellent
with bacon.
Russula
when
delica.
fried in butter.
This species
Tricholoma equestre.
also
when creamed and served
a soup with water, pepper and

After straining
the
is
excellent
salt, it
when
When
as patties.
fried;
cooked as
resembles turkey broth.
soup should be clear
small
amount
of butter should be added.
Tricholoma personatum
To
bake.
Cleanse and peel the caps, cut
lay the mushrooms,
gills
up,
ofif
upon a baking
stuffing of chicken, veal or beef,
fill
the stems and
dish; prepare a
the caps with
this,
cover
the dish and bake for twenty minutes.
To
broil.
clear fire
Clean and remove the stems and broil over a
on both
on a dish over
sides for a
freshly
made
few minutes; arrange the caps

toast; sprinkle with salt
and
pepper, put a small piece of butter on each and set in the
Then
oven to melt the butter.
serve
quickly.
cooked over the mushrooms in place of butter
some
To
to
improve their
stew.
Stew them
Wash
Bacon
thought by
flavor.
the caps and cut them into small pieces.
in water for thirty minutes.
and add milk,
is
Pour
off
the water
slightly thickened with flour, seasoning with
pepper, salt and a
little
chopped parsley.
301
Heat and
serve.
CHAPTER IX
GLOSSARY
303
CHAPTER IX
GLOSSARY
Abortive, imperfect or wanting.
Acrid, sharp or biting to the tongue.
Adnate, growing into or fast to said of

;
gills
that are attached
broadly to the stem.
Adnexed, said of
gills
which are adjacent to the stem but not
broadly attached to
Agaric, a
it.
mushroom having a
which are
fleshy cap,
on the under
side of
gills.
Alutaceous, of the color of tanned leather; brownish-yellow.
Annulus, the collar or ring on the stem of a mushroom formed
by the separation
of the veil
from the margin of the cap.
Appendiculate, hanging in small fragments.
Appressed, applied closely to the surface; said of the margin

of a cap
which
lies closely
against the stem.
Arcuate, arched; shaped like a bow.

Argillaceous, see Clay-colored.
Astringent, puckery to the taste.
Aurantiaceous, orange-colored.
Basidia, mother cells
and
on the spore-bearing surface of agarics

from which the spores are cast off.
certain other fungi,
Bay, a rich dark-reddish chestnut color; badious.

Buff, a light, dull, brownish yellow, like the color of
chamois
skin.
Bulbous, said of the stem of a mushroom when

like swelling at the base.
Caespitose, growing in tufts or clumps.
Campanulate, bell-shaped.
305
it
has a bulb-
FIELD
Cap, pileus; the expanded, umbrella-like top portion of a com-
mon
gilled
mushroom.
and tough;
Cartilaginous, firm
Cell, (a)
a small cavity;
microscopic in
(b)
size;
gristly.
a mass of protoplasm, generally
the fundamental form element of
every organized body.

Centimeter, a measure of length; the one-hundredth part of a
meter, equal to 0.3937 of an inch.
Cinnabarine, cinnabar-colored; bright red; vermilion.

Clay-color, a dull, light brownish-yellow, intermediate be-
tween yellow ochre and

Close, packed closely, side
Isabelle-color; argillaceous.
by
side; said of gills
when they are
close together; crowded.
Comate, hairy.
Context, texture; substance.
Convex, elevated and regularly rounded; forming the segment

of a sphere or nearly so.
Coriaceous, of leathery texture.
Corrugated, puckered; wrinkled.

Cortina, a web-like veil; the partial veil under the gills of
rooms
mush-
of the genus Cortinarius.
Cryptogam, a plant having an obscure method of
fertilization;
in botany, in the Linnean system of classification, the
great series and final class, including
stamens and
pistils,
all
plants having no
and therefore no proper
flowers.
Cyathiform, cup-shaped.
Decurrent, said of
gills
which extend down the stem of a
mushroom.
Deliquescent, said of mushrooms that liquefy or melt
Dichotomous, dividing in two; said of
gills
when old.
that are regularly
forked.
Dimidiate, said of
gills
that extend half
way from
of the cap to the stem, also of caps that are

less semicircular in outline.
306
the edge
more or
GLOSSARY
Disc, the central portion of the upper stirface of a
mush-
room's cap.
Distant, said of
Eccentric,
gills
that are far apart.
away from the
between the center and
center;
the edge of a cap.

Elliptical, parallel-sided
and rounded at the ends.

whose lower
Emarginate, notched at the end; said of gills
edge
is
scooped out at a point near the inner end.
Epidermis, the peel or skin.

Farinaceous, mealy; bran-like; said of taste or odor.
Fibrous, provided with fibers.
Flesh,
the
inner
substance
the
of
cap or body of a
fungus.
Flesh-color, a color like that of healthy
human
skin.
Floccose, downy; woolly; flaky.
Free, said of
gills
that do not reach the stem.
Fulvous, a yellowish-brown tint like that of tanned leather;
tawny.
Fungus, a cryptogamous plant characterized by absence of
chlorophyl and getting its nourishment from organic
matter.
Gelatinous, jelly-like.
Genus, a group of species that possess characteristics in
common.
Gills,
the plates attached to the lower surface of an agaric,
and on which the spores are formed.

Glabrous, smooth; without
down
or hairs.
Glaucous, dull-green, passing to grayish-blue.

Globular, globose, nearly spherical.
Gregarious, in groups (not tufts).

Habitat, natural abode.
Hyaline, transparent; clear, like glass.
Hygrophanous, of a water-soaked appearance when moist

but opaque when dry.
307
I'
FIELD
Hymenium,
the
the spore-bearing surface covering each side of
of a mushroom.
Hymenomycetes, mushrooms that have an exposed spore
bearing surface and in which the spores are borne on
gills
basidia.
Hymenophore, the under surface

gills
Hypha
of the cap, to
which the
are attached,
(ph hyphae), a cylindrical thread of the
myceHum.
Branched threads from the spawn from which mushrooms grow.

Infundibuliform, funnel-shaped.
Isabelline,
light
buff-brown color.
Involute, rolled inwards.
Laccate, appearing as
Lamella, a
lacquered or varnished.
if
gill.
Leucosporae, a group of
Lignatile,
mushrooms having white
spores.
growing on wood.
Lobed, having rounded
divisions.
Micron, a unit of measure; the one- thousandth part of a

millimeter; .000039 inch.
To
convert microns to inches,
multiply them by (approximately) .00004.
Mold, Mould,
(i) fine, soft
earth rich in organic matter;
(2)
kind of minute fungus.
Mushroom, a cryptogamic plant

in a general sense to almost
of the class fungi; applied
any
of the larger, conspicuous
fungi, such as toadstools, puff balls, hydnei, etc., but
particularly to the agaricoid fungi
and
more
especially to the
edible forms.
Mycelium, the spawn of fungi; rootlike threads resulting

from the germination of spores, from the masses of which
the
mushroom
arises.
Mycology, the science of fungi.

Mycophagist, one who eats fungi.
Ochraceous, color of ochre, a natural earth used as pigment,
308
GLOSSARY
commonly understood
mean
to
the
color
of
iron-
rust.
Olivaceous, a greenish-brown color like that of olives.

Pallid, pale, deficient in color.
Papilionaceous, resembling the butterfly; mottled, as the

gills of
some
species of Panasolus that are mottled with
black spots.
Parasite, a plant growing on or in another living
which
it
body from
derives nourishment.
Partial, said of a veil that surroimds the
and extends to the edge
stem of a mushroom
of the cap.
Peronate, said of the stem of a
mushroom when
it
has a
boot-like or stocking-like covering.
Personate, masked or disguised.

Pileus, cap; the head of a
mushroom.
PorphyrcsporaB, a group of
mushrooms that have purple or
purplish-brown spores.
Pruinate, covered with a frost-like bloom.
Radiate, Radiating, arranged like the spokes of a wheel.
Resupinate, said of a
on which
mushroom
grows by
it
that
is
attached to the
wood
back and without a stem.
its
Revolute, turned upwards or backwards; the opposite of

involute.
Rhodosporae, a group of mushrooms that have pink or rosy

spores.
Rimose, cracked.
Ring, a part of the partial veil adhering to the stem of a
mushroom
like
collar; annulus.
Rubescent, blushing; reddish.

Rufus, a brownish-red color.
Sapid, savory; agreeable to the taste.
Separable, capable of being detached.

Sessile,
seated;
attached
by the base and
stem.
309
without^ a
FIELD
Sinuate, waved; said of the edge of
gills
that are notched
near the stem.

Species, an individual or individuals that differ from
members
own
all
and that propagate others
of a genus
other
of their
kind.
Spore, a minute
cell
that
the reproductive body of crypto-
is
gams.
Squamose,
Stipe,
scaly; scale-like.
stem of a mushroom.
Striate,
having parallel or radiating
Sub, as a prefix
Tawny,
signifies slightly,
lines or furrows.
almost or somewhat.
color of tanned leather.
The name
Toadstool, any umbrella-shaped fungus.

restricted to gilled fungi
fungus that
is
large
but
is
usually
also applied to almost
is
any
enough to attract general attention
such
as
name
toadstool is applied only to those fungi that are
hydnei,
boleti,
morels, etc.
Popvilarly,
the
supposed to be poisonous, as distinguished from mush-
As a matter
rooms or edible forms.

toadstools
are
really
of fact all true
and may or may
mushrooms,
not be poisonous.
Tomentose, covered with dense wool or
hair.
Umbilicate, provided with a pit or central depression; having
a navel-like depression at the center.
Umbo,
the
central
or
elevation
knob
of
some mush-
rooms.
Umbonate, with a central knob or

Universal
veil,
the outer
boss-like elevation.
wrapper or membrane
which envelops a mushroom in
its
(volva)
youngest stage.
Vaginate, contained within a sheath or volva.

Veil,
a covering or membrane enveloping a fungus, occurring

chiefly
among the
agarics.
See partial veil and universal
veil.
Veins, swollen wrinkles on the sides of
310
gills
and on the under
GLOSSARY
surface of a cap of a
mushroom between the
gills,
often
connected and forming cross partitions.

Ventricosej bellied; swollen in the middle.
Villose,
downy; with
Viscid, moist
and
soft hairs.
sticky; glutinous.
Volva, the universal veil (q.v.); sometimes applied to that

portion remaining in the form of warts on the surface of
the cap (as in Amanita muscaria) or in the form of a
cap at the base of the stem.
Wart, a scale on the surface of the cap of a mushroom, the
remains of the volva.

Zones, circular zones of color on the surface of the cap of a
mushroom,
as seen in Lactarius deliciosus.
3"
CHAPTER X
NAMES OF GILLED MUSHROOMS IN THE KEY;
TRANSLATIONS OF THEIR BOTANICAL NAMES.
THEIR DERIVATION AND PRONUNCIATION
313
CHAPTER X
NAMES OF GILLED MUSHROOMS IN THE KEY WITH TRANSLATIONS
OF THEIR BOTANICAL NAMES, THEIR DERIVATION
AND PRONUNCIATION
Botanical
Name
FIELD
NAMES OF GILLED MUSHROOMS

Botanical
Name
IN
THE KEY (Continued)
NAMES: DERIVATION, PRONUNCUTION, ETC.

Botanical
Name
Entolo'ma
IN
THE KEY (^Continued)

Common Name
Translation
Or.
Enclosed within a
Lat,
Lat.
Lat.
Of Gray
fringe
commu'ne
grayan'um
stric'tius
Common
Common
(a botanist)
to-
drawn
Close;
entoloma
Gray's entoloma
Strict
entoloma
gether
Flam'mula
flav'ida
polychro'a
Gal'era _
hypno'rum
Lat.
Lat.
Or.
Lat.
Lat.
little
flame
Yellow
Many
colored
peaked cap
Relating
to
hyp-
num, a kind
Hypnum
galera
of
moss; referring to
its place of growth
ten'era
Lat.
Tender
Slender galera;
Brownie cap
Youth and
Loma, a fringe
Hebelo'ma
Gr.
Hebe,
praecox
Lat.
Early
Gr.
Lat.
minia'tus
Gr.
Lat.
Lat.
small vase or
goblet
Greenish-yellow
Conical
Red lead
Chantarelle hygrophorus
Sulphur hygrophorus
Conic hygrophorus
Vermilion hygropho-
praten'sis
Lat.
Of the meadow
Meadow
Purple red (a mis-
hygrophorus buffcap
Red hygrophorus
Hygroph'orus
cantharel'lus
chloroph'anus
con'icus
Water
carrier
rus
or
pasture
;
punic'eus
Lat.
nomer)
Hypholo'ma
appendicula'tum
Gr.
Lat.
A
A
web-like fringe
small appendage.
(Refers to frag-
ments
of
veil
hanging from
edge of cap)
incer'tum
Lat.
Uncertain. (Refers
to difficulty in
Uncertain hypholoma
identification)
perplex'um
Lat.
Perplexing
Perplexing hypho-
sublaterft'ium
Lat.
Nearly
Brick-top
loma
brick-like
(in color)
Inoc'ybe
Gr.
Sinewy, fibrous and
Lat.
Abundant
Abundant inocybe
Lat.
Lat.
Gr.
Lacquered
Lacquer; waxy
Ochre and purple
Purplish-ochre lacca-
head (cap)
abun'dans
Laccar'ia
lacca'ta
ochropurpure'i
Waxy mushroom
ria
317
FIELD

Botanical
Name
Lacta'rius
camphora'tus
IN
THE KEY (Continued)

Common Name
Translation
Lat.
Lat.
Milky
Camphoraceous
(odor).
A mis-
Camphory
lactarius
nomer
corrug'is
delicio'sus
lignyo'tus
Lat.
Lat.
Gr.
Wrinkled lactarius
Corrugated
Delicious
Smokv; sooty
Delicious lactarius
Sooty lactarius
(color)
pipera'tus
subdul'cis
theiog'alus
Lat.
Lat.
Gr.
Peppery
Peppery lactarius
Slightly sweet
Sweetish lactarius
Sulphur-milk lactar-
Sulphur-colored
milk
vellSr'eus
vo'lemus
ius
Lat. Fleecy
Lat. (Doubtful.
fer to
Fleecy lactarius
May re-
voluminous
Orange-brown
lac-
tarius
quantity of milk)
Lenti'nus
Lat. Tough; pliant; flexible
cochlea'tus
Gr.
Resembling a
snail
Shell lentinus
shell
lepltd'eus
Lepio'ta
america'na
Lat.
Scaly lentinus
Scaly
Lat. Scaly
Lat. American
American or blushing
Lat. Morgan's
No translation applicable
Lat. Tall
Smooth lepiota
lepiota
morgani
naucinoi'des
pro'cera
Mar&s'mius
Morgan's lepiot?
Tall lepiota;
lepiota
parasol
Gr. Wasting; withering;

shriveling
Resembling a small
campanula'tus
Lat.
ore'ades
Gr.
bell
J
perona'tus
plSn'cus
ro'tula
MycSn'a
galericula'ta
pu'ra
Nauco'ria
semiorbicula'ris
OmphSl'ia
campanSl'la
fib'ula
Mountain nymphs
Fairy-ring
mushroom
Scotch bonnets;
champignon
Lat. Booted (refers to
hairy base of stem)
Lat. Flat; plane
Lat. A little wheel
Gr.
Lat.
A mushroom
Lat.
Lat.
A
A
Gr.
Lat.
Lat.
A
A
Resembling a small
peaked cap
Lat. Pure
nutshell
half sphere
Navel; umbilicus
small bell
clasp or buckle
318
Comm-on naucoria
NAMES: DERIVATION, PRONUNCUTION, ETC.

NAMES OF GILLED MUSHROOMS IN THE KEY (Continued)
Botanical
Name
Common Name
Translation
Gr.
Variegated
campanula'tus
Lat.
Resembling a small
papiliona'ceus
Lat.
Resembling a but-
Panas'olus
spark-
ling
bell
terfly
retiru'gis
Lat.
A network
of
Wrinkled panaeolus
wrinkles
Lat.
A name
strigd'sus
Lat.
growing fungus
Covered with stiff
styp'ticus
Lat.
Astringent puckery
Paxil'lus
involu'tus
Lat.
Lat.
Pan'us
given by
Pliny to a treehairs
;
Astringent panus
small stake
Rolled
inward
Involute paxillus
(Refers to margin
of cap)
Pholio'ta
adipo'sa
capera'ta
Gr.
Scaly
Lat. Fat.
Lat. Wrinkled
Fat pholiota
Wrinkled pholiota
the gypsy
Fading pholiota
dis'color
Lat.
Of different color;
changing color
prse'cox
Lat.
Lat.
Early
Early pholiota
Scurfy; scaly
Scaly pholiota
squarr5'sa
Pleuro'tus
(Refers to
Lat. Side.
the marginal insertion of stem)
ostrea'tus
sap'idus
ulmar'ius
Plu'teus
admirab'ilis
cervi'iius
Lat. Oyster-like
Lat. Sapid; savory
Lat. Relating to the elm.
A shed. (Refers to
shape of cap)
Lat. Admirable
Lat. A deer. (Refers to
color.
A mis-
Oyster mushroom
Sapid mushroom
Elm
pleurotus
Lat.
Fawn-colored pluteus
nomer)
Psathyrel'la
dissemina'ta
grac'ilis
Psil5'cybe
fcenisec'ii
Rus'sula
aluta'cea
Gr.
Lat.
Lat.
Fragile
Scattered or spread
Slender
Gr.
Lat.
naked head
Of the mower
Mower's
Lat.
Date-brown
mushroom
Bay psilocybe
Lat. Red
Lat. Like tanned leather
Tan
or
harvest
colored
(color)
emet'ica
foe'tens
Lat.
Lat.
Emetic; nauseating
Emetic russula
Fetid; evil-smelling
Fetid russula
russula
FIELD
NAMES OF GILLED MUSHROOMS IN THE KEY (Continued)
Riis'sula (cont.)
mariae
purpuri'na
vires'cens
Lat.
Lat.
Lat.
Mary's
Purple
Becoming
green-
Mary's russula
Purpurine russula
Greenish russula
greenish
Schizophyl'lum
commu'ne
Strophar'ia
Gr.
Lat.
Split leaf (or gill)
Lat.
A chaplet or wreath
Lat.
Hemisphere
Gr.
Lat.
Lat.
Lat.
Common
(Refers to ring on
stem)
setnigloba'ta
Hemispheric
stroph-
aria
Tricholo'ma
S.l'bum
eques'tre
persona'tum
hairy fringe
White
horseman
Masked
White tricholoma
Equestriantricholoma
Masked tricholoma
Lat.
Lat.
Lat.
Red
Red tricholoma
Lat.
With a sheath
blewits
rus'sula
sejun'ctum
transmu'tans
Volvar'ia
Separated
Changing
wrapper
bombyci^na
Lat. Silky
320
Changing tricholoma
or
"N^^
GENERAL INDEX
Abortive
clitopilus,
155
Absent stem, Key, 109
Boxes, folding, 3
paper, 3
Abundant inocybe, 198

Adnate gills, 16; Key, 97
Adnexed gills, 16; Key, 97
Branched
Agaric, flattened, 175

royal, 128
Agarics, 9, 12
Agriculture, Dept. 27
Broad
Air, 9
Brownie cap, 184

Bulbous stem. Key,
Brittle
Broad-gilled collybia, 162
Brown
16;
Key, 98-
(purplish) spore
Key,
115, 121
Bunts, 9
Button-stage,
orange, 128
poison, 131
lepiota,
gills,
100
Amanita, deadly, 131
American
Key, 103-105
Key, 88-89
gills.
gills,
11 3-1 14
11, 12
215
mushroom, 128
Angel, destroying, 131
Caesar's
Annulus,
Camphory
13, 17
lactarius, 14, 201
Antiphallinic serum, 133

Appendiculate, 193, 195
Canary mushroom, 257
Astringent panus, 231

Atropin, 131
Attachment of stem, 17
August, 3
Aurantiacus, 139
Basidium, 17
character, 24; Key, 52-63

color, 24; Key, 63-70
form, 24; Key, 71-85
size, 24; Key, 86-88
Capitals, State, 27
Carelessness, 267
Cells, pavement, 17
sterile, 17
Basket, 3
Bell shape, 15
Champignon, 219
Changing tricholoma, 263
Bell shaped marasmius, 219
Black spore, Key, 115

Blewits, 258
Blunt gills, 16
Blushing amanita, 133
lepiota, 215
Chantarelle, 140, 146

cinnabar, 141
false, 139, 141
floccose, 144
funnel-form, 145
hygrophorus, 187
orange, 139, 141
small, 145
Character of cap, 24; Key,
venenarius, 133
Botanical terms defined, 305311
Botanists, 27
of gills, 25; Key, 88-91

of stem; Key, 1 09-1 11
Characteristics, 3, 14, 24-26
Cap,
Bacteria, 9
omphalia, 226
panaeolus, 228
Belladonna, 131
II, 12, 14, 15, 16,
24
52-63
321
GENERAL INDEX
Characters,
3,
24-26
of mushroom; Key, 31-32

of parts, 15, 25-26
chlorophyl, 3
Cinnamon
cortinarius,
171,
172
Club
fungi, 9
stemmed chtocybe, 148

Collar, 13; Key, 114
Collecting, 3, 270-273
Color, 15, 17, 26
deceptive, 15, 23
Key to caps, 63-70
Key to gills, 91-96
21-27
Disappearance of veil, 12
Distant gills, Key, 1 01-103
Downy stem, Kev, 1 09-1 11
Dry, 15
Drymg, 274
spore Key, 11 5-1 17

variability, 15, 23
Color, spore, 10, 23, 24;
Early phoHota, 236
Key,
115-117
Common entoloma, 180
ink cap, 165
mushroom,
14,
125,
132,
216
naucoria, 225
Conic hygrophorus, 188
7
Delicious lactarius, 205

Deliquescent gills. Key, 89
Depression at center, 15
Derivation of names, 3 1 5-320
Destroying angel, 131
Difficulties, 27
Digestibihty, 267, 275
Directions for using Key,
Earth, 9
Eccentric stem. Key,
1 1
Edge, 15
Edible mushrooms, 125
selection of, 268-270
Egg, 10
Elm pleurotus, 240
Emarginate
gills,
16;
Key,
107-108
Conical, 15
'I'ôntagious diseases, 9
<i:fonvex, 15, 16
Cooking recipes, general,
Embryo, 11
Emetic russula, 250
280-
special, 285-301
Coral fungi, 9
Emetics, 267
Equestrian tricholoma, 257
Error in identifying, 27
Evasive agaric, 179
Corrugated cortinarius, 172

lactarius, 203
Cracked inocybe, 198
Cross fertilization, 10
Examining, 3
Examining mushrooms, 272273
Examples of use of Key, 22-
284
Cultivated mushroom, 10
Expansion, 15
Expert identification, 27
Cultivators, 11
Cup, 12; Key, 114

shaped clitocybe, 150
Cut, vertical, 11, 24
Fading pholiota, 235

Fairy ring, 215
mushroom, 219
False chantarelle, 139, 141
orange, 129
Far apart gills. Key, 101-103
Fat pholiota, 232
Fawn-colored pluteus, 242
Features, table of, 24-26
Fermentation, 9
Damage, 9
Deadly amanita, 131
Deaths, 133
Decay, 274
Deceiving clitocybe, 151
Decomposition, 274
Decurrent gills, 16; Key, loi
Definition
of
gilled
mush-
rooms, 9
terms, 305-311
Fertilization, 10
Fetid russula, 251
322
GENERAL INDEX
Fevers, 9
broad, 16; Key, 98-100
Fibers, 11, 15
Field mushroom, 14
Flakes, 12
Flat, 15
Flattened agaric, 175
Flavor, 267, 270
character, 25; Key, 88-91

color, 17, 26; Key, 91-96
decurrent, 16; Key, loi
defined, 16
deliquescent. Key, loi, 103
distant.
Fleecy lactarius, 208
emarginate, 16
Flesh, 15
far apart.
Floccose chantarelle, 144

Fly agaric, 129
amanita, 129
mushroom, 12, 129
poison, 129
Folding boxes, 3
Food crops, 9
Food, mushrooms as, 267-
forked, Ke}^ 103-105

form, 16, 24; Key, 97-109
Forester, 138
Forked gills, Key, 103-105

Form, 15
change of, 15
of cap, 15; Key, 71-85
of gills, 16, 24; Key, 97-109
of stem. Key, 11 2-1 14
Fragments of inner veil, 14
16; Key, 105
Fruiting plants, 10
gills,
Funnel-form chantarelle, 145
Funnel shape, 15
thin, 16
veined, 26; Key, 108-109
wavy, 16, 14A

waxy, 187 Jf
Glistening ink cap, 168
Glossary, 305-311
Grasses, 10
species, 115
Group, botanical, 9
Groups, 10
Growth, manner of, 14, 24;
Key, 32-35
place of, 14, 24; Key, 37-43
Gathering, 3
Gelatinous, 15
Genera, 10
pictorial Key, 118-121
General recipes, 280-284
Germany, 235
Germination, 11
Germs, 9
Gilled fungi, 9
season (time) of,

276; Key, 46-51
Gypsy, 233
14,
24,
Hairy stem. Key, 1 09-1 11

Harvest mushroom, 244
Hedgehog
propagation, 10
fungi, 9
Hemispheric stopharia, 255

Higher plants, 10
defined, 9
Gills, II, 12, 16
Honey
adnate, 16; Key, 97

adnexed, 16; Key, 97
blunt, 16
branched, Kev, 103-105
brittle,
Key, 105
liquefying. Key, 89
narrow, 16; Key, 106
notched, 16; Key, 107-108
serrate, 16; Key, 108
sinuate, 16; Key, 107-108
surface, 16
thick, 16; Key, 108
Grooved stem, 213
clitocybe, 153
mushrooms
Key, 101-103
Green leaves, 9
Green spored mushroom, 215
Fungi, 9
Gilled
loi, 103
Gray's entoloma, 180

Greenish russula, 254
France, 133
Free
free, 16;
Key,
agaric, 137
colored mushroom, 137
colored armillaria, 137
Horse mushroom, 125
Horse tail mushroom, 167
Key, 88-89
32:
GEI^RAL INDEX
How
to use Key, 21-27

Humidity, 15
Hygrophanous, 15
Many
Mary
Hymenium,
Masked
cap clitocybe, 153

headed clitocybe, 153
16
Hyphae, 11, 15
russula, 252
tricholoma, 258
Mature, 16
Meadow mushroom,
Identifying, 3, 4, 12, 14, 17,
27, 268
examples of, 22-23
mistakes in, 27
Ignorance, 267
Indigestibility, 275
125
hygrophorus, 191
Medicine, 275
Melanosporae, 115, 119
Membrane,
10, 12, 14, 16
inner, 12, 14, 17

outer, 12
M'icroscope, 10, 15
Microscopic, 17
Mildews, 9
Infusion, 131
Ink cap, common, 165
glistening, 168
Inky coprinus, 165
Milky mushrooms, 201-212
Inner
Mistakes, 27
Moist, 15
Morels, 9
veil, 12, 14, 17

Institute, Pasteur, 133
Interior of stem, 24
Intoxicating liquor, 131
Involute paxillus, 231
Ivory clitocybe, 150
Moulds, 9
Mousseron, 219
Muscarin, 131
Mushroom,
Jack-o'-lantern, 151
January, 46
Key,
pictorial, to genera, 118-
121
to species, 31-114
explained, 21-27
spore color, 11 5-1 17
Knob,
II, 16,
23
Large-sheathed amanitopsis,
135
Leucosphorae, 116, 118
Lilac spored species, 116
Liquefying gills, Key, 89
Liquor, intoxicating, 131
structure, 11
as food, 267
collecting, 3-5, 272
Mycelium, 11
Mushrooms
Narrow
wheel marasmius, 222
gills,
Key^ 106
gills,
16;
Key, 107-
108
Note
Long stem, Key, 114

Lower order, 9
Male and
female, 10
of growth,
16;
Nature, 11, 23
Navel, 16
Notched
II
Lobed, 15
Manner
12
harvest, 244
fly,
mowers', 244
oyster, 237
preparation for cooking,
272
shaggy-mane, 10
Lamellae, 11
Loam,
Caesar's, 128
canary, 257
common, 14
cultivated, 10
elm, 240
meadow, 125
Laccate laccaria, 200
Little
14,
24;
taking, 4
Oak-loving mushroom, 161

Ochrosparae, 115, 120
Odor, 14, 24, 270; Key, 35, 37
Opaque, 15
Key, 32-35
324
GENERAL INDEX
Orange amanita, 128
brown lactarius, 209
Purplish-brown spored species,
false, 129
Organic matter, 10
Outer membrane, 12
veil, 12
Ovum,
10
Oyster mushroom, 237

Pale violet cortinarius, 170
Paper bags, 3
boxes, 3
Paraphyses, 17
Parasol mushroom, 217
Parent plant, 10
Pasteur Institute, 133
Patches, 12
Peach kernels, 252
Peel, 15
Peppery
lactarius, 207,
Perplexing hypholoma,
197
250
195,
Railroad ties, 213

Rain, 15
Recipes, general, 280-284
special, 285-301
Red hygrophorus, 192
Reddish tricholoma, 261
Regular, 15
Resemblance of species, 15
Rhizomorphs, 138
Rhodosporae, 115, 119
Ribs, 16
Rind, 15
Ring, 13
on stem. Key, 114
Riviere, Dr. Dujarric de la,
133
Rooted stem. Key, 113
Rots, 9
Royal agaric, 128
Rules for distinguishing, 268
Personality, 4
Persistent veil, 12
Pests, 9
Pictorial
115
Purpurine russula, 253
chantarelle, 139, 141
Rusts, 9
Rusty spore key, 115, 120
key to genera, 118Sapid pleurotus, 239

Scabs, 9
121
Pileus, II, 15
Pink spore. Key, 115, 119
Pit, 16
Scales, 12
Scaly, 16
lentinus,
Place of growth, 24, 276; Key,

37-43
Plane, 15, 16
Plant body, 1
Plucking, 3
Plum clitopilus, 157
Poison amanita, 131
Poisoning, 133, 275
Poisonous, 267, 269
Seed-bearing, 10
Selection for eating, 270
Separable stem. Key, 1 1
Pollen, 10
September, 3
Porphyrosporae, 115, 121

Preparation for cooking, 270272
Serrate gills, 16; Key, 108

Serum, antiphallinic, 133
eating, 280-301
Pronunciation of names,
Shaggy coprinus, 10, 167

Shaggy-mane, 10, 167
315-
213
Scotch bonnet, 219
Season of growth, 3,
276; Key, 46-51
Secondary veil, 12, 14
Section, 11, 24
14, 24,
Sex, ID
Sheath, 12, 114

Sheathed amanitopsis, 134
Shell lentinus, 212
Short stem. Key, 114
320
Propagation, 10, 16
Protoplasm, 10
Prune mushroom, 157
Puff balls, 9, 269
stem russula, 250

325
GENERAL INDEX
Key, 114
with ring and cup. Key, 114
with cup; without ring,
Key, 114
with ring; without cup,
Key, 114
short.
Shrinking, 274
Sickness, 267
Silver spoon test, 268
Sinuate gills, 16; Key, 107-8
Size of cap, Key, 86-88
Slender conocybe, 184

Small chantarelle, 145
Sterigmata, 17
Smeared
Sterile cells, 17
cortinarius, 171
Sticky, 15, 16
Smooth, 16
lepiota, 133,
Stinkhoms, 9
216
Smuts, 9
Soft skinned crepidotus, 177
Soggy, 15
Sooty lactarius, 206
Spawn, II
Special recipes, 2 85-30
Spokes, 16
test, 268
Spore bearing, 1
Spore color, 17, 23, 24; Key,
115-117
Spore print, 3, 4
natural, 23
Stinking russula, 251

Stipe, II
Structure, gross,
Sulphur milk lactarius, 208

Surface of
gills,
16
Sweet clitocybe, 154

Sweetish lactarius, 207
Spoon
Spores, color of, 17

facing 122
dispersal of, 10
fate of, 10
flavor,
and plate
gills,
Time
of growth, 14, 24;
Key,
Toadstools, 267-268
Trama, 15
Translations of names, 315-
320
Treatment, 133
17
Sporophores, 138
State capitals, 27
Stem, II, 12, 13, 17
absent. Key, 109
at edge of cap. Key, 113
attachment, 17
bulbous. Key, 113-114
character. Key, 1 09-1 11
at base.
Key, log-
in
eccentric.
16
46-51
of, 10
place formed, 16
propulsion, 17
shape, 17
downy
Thin
272
number
size,
Table of features, 24-26

Tall lepiota, 217
Taste, 14, 24, 270; Key, 4346
Tawny tomentose agaric, 175
Tests, 268, 269
Thick gills; Key, 107-108
Key,
in
Trees, 9, 10
destroyer of, 138
Trembling fungi, 9
Truflfles, 9
Tube-bearing fungi, 9
Tufted collybia, 158
Umbilicate, 16
Umbo, 16, 23
Umbonate, 16
Umbrella, 11, 12, 16
form, Key, 11 2-1 14

hairy. Key, 109-111
Uncertain hypholoma, 195
interior of, 24
long. Key, 114
United States Dept. Agricul-
rooted, Key, 113
Universal
Uncommon
species, 22
ture, 27
veil, 12
Universities, 27
Unwholesome, 267, 275
separable from cap. Key,

III
326
GENERAL INDEX
disappearance of, 12
inner, 12, 14, 17 fragments
Veil,
of,
14
Wavy,
gills, 15,
Waxy
clitocybe,
gills,
143
200
187
mushroom, 200
outer, 12
persistent, 12
rupture of, 12
Weaned
secondary, 12-14
universal, 12
Veined gills, 26; Key, 108-109
Velvet stem collybia, 23, 163
Vermilion hygrophorus, 189

Vertical, 16
cut, II, 24
Very white clitocybe, 147
Violet cortinarius, 172, 173
Viscid, 15, 16
russula, 250
Weather, 3
Wheel, 16
little marasmius, 222
White spore, Key, 116, 18
White tricholoma, 257
Whitish clitocybe, 146, 147
Wrapper, 12
Wrinkled pholiota, 232
Yeasts, 9
Yellowish spored species, 117
Young specimens, 16
Volva, Key, 114
Washington, D. C, 27
Water-soaked, 15
Zigeuner, 235
327
INDEX TO BOTANICAL NAMES OF GENERA AND SPECIES

candicans
(Clitocybe), 147,
151
(Pholiota), 236
cantharellus (Hygrophorus),
abortivus, 155
abundans, 198
acervata, 158
adiposa, 232
admirabilis, 242
Agaricus, 125
arvensis, 125
campestris, 14, 125, 216
silvicola, 127
albidula, 146
albissima, 147
alboviolacens, 170
187
Cantharellus, 139
aurantiacus, 139
cibarius, 140, 146
cinnabarinus, 141
crispus, 143
dichotomus, 143
floccasus, 144
album, 257
alneum, 255
Amanita, 128, 217
infundibuliformis, 145
minor, 145
umbonatus, 143
csesarea, 12, 128
caperata, 233
muscaria, 129
centralis,
phalloides, 131
cervinus, 242
chlorophanus, 188
rubescens, 133
Amanitopsis, 134, 264
vaginata, 134
volvata, 135
americana, 23
applanatus, 175
Amiillaria, 137
mellea, 137
arvensis, 125
atramentarius, 165
aurantiacus, 139
cibarius, 140, 146
cinnabarinus, 141
cinnamomeus, 171
clavipes, 148
Clitocybe, 146
albidula, 146
albissima, 147
candicans, 147, 151
centralis, 146
clavipes, 148
cyathiformis, 150
dealbata, 150
illideus, 151
infundibuliformis, 153
laccata, 153
multiceps, 153
odora, 154
Clitopilus, 155
abortivus, 155
prunulus, 157
cochleatus, 212
bombj^'cina, 263
csesarea, 128
calolepis, 175
campanella, 226
campanulatus
146
(Marasmius)
219
(Panaeolus), 184, 228
campestris, 114
camphoratus, 14
329
INDEX OF BOTANICAL NAMES

Flammula, 181
coUinitus, 171
Colly bia, 157

acervata, 158
confluens, 159
flavida, 182
polychroa, 182
flavida, 182
floccosus, 144
dryophila, 161, 220

platyphylla, 162
radicata, 162
velutipes, 23, 163
foenisecii,
244
foetens, 251
fulvotomentosus, 175
Collybidium dryophilum, 161

comatus, 167
commune (Entoloma), 180
(Schizopiiyllum;, 255
confluens, 159
conicus, 188
Conocybe tenera, 184
Galera, 183
hypnorum, 183
tenera, 184
galericulata, 222
Hebeloma, 186
Coprinus, 164, 244

atramentarius, 165
comatus, 167
micaceus, 168
corrugatus, 172
corrugis, 203
Cortinarius, 169
alboviolaceus, 170
precox, 186
Hygrophorus, 187
cantharellus, 187
chlorophanus, 188
conicus, 188
miniatus, 189
pratensis, 191
puniceus, 192
Hypholoma, 192
cinnamomeus, 171
coUinitus, 171
corrugatus, 172
mucufluus, 171
appendiculatum, 193, 195

incertum, 195
perplexum, 195
sublateritium, 196
hypnorum, 183
violaceus, 173, 261

Crepidotus, 173
applanatus, 175
calolepis, 175
fulvotomentosus, 175
malachius, 177
versutus, 179
crispus, 143
cyathiformis, 150
illudens, 151
imbricatum, 263
delica, 251
deliciosus,
incertum, 195
infelix, 198
infundibuliformis
(Cantharellus), 145
(Clitocybe), 153
Inocybe, 197
abundans, 198
infelix, 198
rimosa, 198
injects, 271
involutus, 231
Entoloma, 179
laccata, 153, 199
205
dichotomus, 143
discolor, 235
disseminata, 244
dryophila, 161, 220
dryophilum, 161
Laccaria, 199
commune, 180
Lactarius, 201
grayanum, 180
camphoratus, 14, 202

corrugis, 203
deliciosus, 205
strictius, 181
equestre, 257
330

Lactarius
Continued
Omphalopsis campanella, 226
lignyotus, 206
piperatus, 207, 250
subdulcis, 207
theiogalus, 208
oreades, 219
ostreatus, 237
Panaeolus, 227
campanulatus, 184
208
volemus, 209
Lentinus, 212
cochleatus, 212
lepideus, 213
leoninus, 242
lepideus, 213
Lepiota, 213
americana, 23, 215
morgani, 213
vellereus,
papilionaceus, 228
retirugis,
strigosus, 230
stypticus. 231
papilionaceus, 228
Paxillus, 231
involutus, 231
personatum, 258
naucinaj 133
naucinoides, 216
procera, 217
phalloides, 131
Pholiota, 232
adiposa, 232
candicans, 236
caperata, 233
lignyotus, 206
malachius, 177
discolor,
Marasmius, 219
campanulatus, 219
oreades, 219
peronatus, 221
mellea, 137
micaceus, 168
miniatus, 189
mucufiuus, 171
muscaria, 12
Mycena, 222
galericulata, 222
pura, 223
of
mushrooms
235
precox, 236
squarrosa, 236
piperatus, 162
platyphylla, 162
Pleuropus abortivus, 155
Pleurotus, 237
ostreatus, 237
sapidus, 239
ulmarius, 240
Pluteus, 242
admirabilis, 242
cervinus, 242
leoninus, 242
polychroa, 182
rotula, 222
siccus, 219
marise, 252
Names
228
Panus, 230
315-
320
derivation, 315-320
pronunciation, 315-320
translation, 315-320
Naucoria, 223
precox (Hebeloma), 186

(Pholiota), 236
prunulus, 157
Psathyrella, 243
disseminata, 244
Psilocybe, 244
foenisecii, 244
puniceus, 192
purpurina, 253
semiorbicularis, 220, 225
nudum. 261
radicata, 162
ochropurpurea, 201
odora, T54
Omphalia. 225
campanella, 226
fibula, 227
retirugis,
228
rimosa, iq8
roseus fHygrophorus,
188
rubens, 133
331
var.),

album, 257
equestre, 257
imbricatum, 263
rubescens, 133
Russula, 247
alutacea, 247
delica,
nudum, 261
250
emetica, 250
foetens, 251
personatum, 258
marias, 252
sejunctum, 262
transmutans, 262
russula, 261
purpurina, 253
virescens,
russula, 261
254
sapidus, 239
Schizophyllum, 255
semiorbicularis, 223
siccus, 219
strictius, 181
strigosus, 230
vStropharia, 255
semiglobata, 255
stypticus, 231
subdulcis, 207
tenera, 184
theiogalus, 208
Tricholoma, 256
ulmarius, 240
umbonatus, 143
vaginata, 134
vellereus, 208
velutipes, 23, 163
venenarius, 133
rubens, 133
versutus, 173
violaceus, 173, 261
virescens, 254
volemus, 209
Volvaria, 263
bombycina, 263
volvata, 134
332

Field Book of Common Gilled Mushrooms - With A Key To Their Identification and Directions For Cooking Those That Are Edible by William Sturgis Thomas MD (1928)

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Field Book of Common Gilled Mushrooms - With A Key To Their Identification and Directions For Cooking Those That Are Edible by William Sturgis Thomas MD (1928)

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^c^te^Qs^

American Wild Flowers

Rocks and Minerals

Birds of the Pacific Coast

Western Wild Flowers

Marine Fishes of Atlantic Coast

Panama Canal Zone

WILLIAM STURGIS THOMAS,

and black and white

^ke ^nitkexbixtkex ^as

COMMON GILLED MUSHROOMS

a copy of the First Edition

United States of America

William Stephen Thomas

designed to assist persons

of the species of gilled

aims to supply the need for a means of ascertaining the

kinds that are

tion has occupied

one would wish to talk about

other persons and read about

not the vital thing but

an amateur mycologist's spare

time during the past ten years or more.

vised to read the introduction to the key before using

book comprises descriptions

agree with those of the illustrations of species.

hundred and twenty-eight species keyed, described and

of the agarics called

the writings of the late Professor Charles H. Peck, State

directions for cooking

mushrooms have been derived

from the writings of many authorities and from

experience during the past eighteen years.

In an article on the poisonous properties of fungi by William

Ernest D. Clark of Johns Hopkins University

in Mycologia, the following warning appears:

"Unfortunately there are mushroom 'handbooks' in this

and poor judgment."

desire to state in this connection

that the descriptions and statements herein contained ad-

here strictly to the authoritative writings of Professor Peck,

A. Murrill, the late Professor G. F. Atkinson of

Cornell University and Professor C. H.

consider myself fortunate in being able to offer to readers

the original colored plates which were painted by Miss

E. Eaton, Artist to the

Dr. N. L. Britton, Director of the

Garden, has given encouragement and co-operation which

Howe, Assistant Director

of the Garden, for his kind assist-

ance in paving the way for the preparation of this

to George S. Godard, State

Librarian of Connecticut and to C.

Galpin, Ph.D., of the

of Agriculture, for their courtesy in per-

of the half-tones in this book.

of Baltimore has favored

a handbook which, as the

the fields and woods

find all the species figured

mushrooms, and one would have to tramp

and therefore truly a