CHAPTER III.

Figure 13.—Lepiota naucina. Spore print. (Natural size.)

But some may enquire how we know that there is any design in the horizontal position of the cap, and that there is some cause which brings about this uniformity of position with such entire harmony among such dissimilar forms. When a mushroom with a comparatively long stem, not quite fully matured or expanded, is pulled and laid on its side, or held in a horizontal position for a time, the upper part of the stem where growth is still taking place will curve upwardso that the pileus is again brought more or less in a horizontal position.

Figure 14.—Amanita phalloides. Plant turned to one side by directive force of gravity, after having been placed in a horizontal position. (Natural size.)

In collecting these plants they are often placed on their side in the collecting basket, or on a table when in the study. In a few hours the younger, long stemmed ones have turned upward again. The plant shown in Fig.14(Amanita phalloides) was placed on its side in a basket for about an hour. At the end of the hour it had not turned. It was then stood upright in a glass, and in the course of a few hours had turned nearly at right angles. The stimulus it received while lying in a horizontal position for only an hour was sufficient to produce the change in direction of growth even after the upright position had been restored. This is often the case. Some of the more sensitive of the slender species are disturbed if they lie for only ten or fifteen minutes on the side. It is necessary, therefore, when collecting, if one wishes to keep the plants in the natural position for photographing, to support them in an upright position when they are being carried home from the woods.

The cause of this turning of the stem from the horizontal position, so that the pileus will be brought parallel with the surface of the earth, is the stimulus from the force of gravity, which has been well demonstrated in the case of the higher plants. That is, the force which causes the stems of the higher plants to grow upward also regulates the position of the cap of the pileated fungi. The reason for this is to be seen in the perfection with which the spores are shed from the surfaces of the gills by falling downward and out from the crevices between. The same is true with the shelving fungi on trees,etc., where the spores readily fall out from the pores of the honey-combed surface or from between the teeth of those sorts with a spiny under surface. If the caps were so arranged that the fruiting surface came to be on the upper side, the larger number of the spores would lodge in the crevices between the extensions of the fruiting surface. Singularly, this position of the fruiting surface does occur in the case of one genus with a few small species.

Interesting examples of the operation of this law are sometimes met with in abandoned coal mines, or more frequently in the woods. In abandoned mines the mushrooms sometimes grow from the mycelium which spreads out on the rock roof overhead. The rock roof prevents the plant from growing upright, and in growing laterally the weight of the plant together with the slight hold it can obtain on the solid rock causes it to hang downward. The end of the stem then curves upward so that the pileus is brought in a horizontal position. I have seen this in the case ofCoprinus micaceusseveral times.

Figure 15.—Polyporus applanatus. From this view the larger cap is in the normal position in which it grew on the standing tree. Turn one fourth way round to the right for position of the plant after the tree fell. (1/6 natural size.)

In the woods, especially in the case of the perennial shelving fungi, interesting cases are met with. Figure15illustrates one of these peculiar forms ofPolyporus (Fomes) applanatus. This is the species so often collected as a "curio," and on account of its very white under surface is much used for etching various figures. In the figure the larger cap which is horizontal represents the position of the plant when on the standing maple trunk. When the tree fellthe shelf was brought into a perpendicular position. The fungus continued to grow, but its substance being hard and woody it cannot turn as the mushroom can. Instead, it now grows in such a way as to form several new caps, all horizontal, i. e., parallel with the surface of the earth, but perpendicular to the old shelf. If the page is turned one-fourth way round the figure will be brought in the position of the plant when it was growing on the fallen log.

Plate 3,Figure 16.—Dædalea ambigua. Upper right-hand shows normal plant in normal position when on tree. Upper left-hand shows abnormal plant with the large cap in normal position when growing on standing tree. Lower plant shows same plant in position after the tree fell, with new caps growing out in horizontal direction. (Lower plant 1/2 natural size.)

Another very interesting case is shown in the ambiguous trametes (Trametes ambigua), a white shelving fungus which occurs in the Southern States. It is shown in Fig.16. At the upper right hand is shown the normal plant in the normal position. At the upper left hand is shown an abnormal one with the large and first formed cap also in the normal position as it grew when the tree was standing. When the tree fell the shelf was on the upper side of the log. Now numerous new caps grew out from the edge as shown in the lower figure, forming a series of steps, as it were, up one side and down the other.

The gill bearing fungi are known under the familyAgaricaceæ, or popularly the agarics. They are distinguished by the fruiting area being distributed over the surface of plate-like or knife-like extensions or folds, usually from the under surface of the cap. These are known as the gills, or lamellæ, and they usually radiate from a common point, as from or near the stem, when the stem is present; or from the point of attachment of the pileus when the stem is absent. The plants vary widely in form and consistency, some being very soft and soon decaying, others turning into an inky fluid, others being tough and leathery, and some more or less woody or corky. The spores when seen in mass possess certain colors, white, rosy, brown or purple brown, black or ochraceous. While a more natural division of the agarics can be made on the basis of structure and consistency, the treatment here followed is based on the color of the spores, the method in vogue with the older botanists. While this method is more artificial, it is believed to be better for the beginner, especially for a popular treatment. The sections will be treated in the following order:

FOOTNOTES:[A]For analytical keys to the families and genera see ChapterXXIV.

[A]For analytical keys to the families and genera see ChapterXXIV.

The members of this subdivision are recognized at maturity by the purple-brown, dark brown or nearly black spores when seen in mass. As they ripen on the surface of the gills the large number give the characteristic color to the lamellæ. Even on the gills the purple tinge of the brown spores can often be seen. The color is more satisfactorily obtained when the spores are caught in mass by placing the cap, gills downward, on white paper.

In the genusAgaricusthe spores at maturity are either purple-brown in mass or blackish with a purple tinge. The annulus is present on the stem, though disappearing soon in some species, and the stem is easily separated from the substance of the pileus. The gills are free from the stem, or only slightly adnexed. The genus is closely related toStrophariaand the species of the two genera are by some united under one genus (Psalliota, Hennings). Peck, 36th Report, N. Y. State Mus., p. 41–49, describes 7 species. Lloyd Mycol. Notes, No. 4, describes 8 species. C. O. Smith, Rhodora, I: 161–164, 1899, describes 8 species.

Agaricus (Psalliota) campestrisLinn.Edible.—This plant has been quite fully described in the treatment of the parts of the mushroom, and a recapitulation will be sufficient here. It grows in lawns, pastures, by roadsides, and even in gardens and cultivated fields. A few specimens begin to appear in July, it is more plentiful in August, and abundantly so in September and October. It is 5–8 cm. high (2–3 inches), the cap is 5–12 cm. broad, and the stem 8–12 mm. in thickness.

Thepileusis first rounded, then convex and more or less expanded. The surface at first is nearly smooth, presenting a soft, silky appearance from numerous loose fibrils. The surface is sometimes more or less torn into triangular scales, especially as the plants become old. The color is usually white, but varies more or less to light brown, especially in the scaly forms, where the scales may bequite prominent and dark brown in color. Sometimes the color is brownish before the scales appear. The flesh is white. Thegillsin the young button stage are white. They soon become pink in color and after the cap is expanded they quickly become purple brown, dark brown, and nearly black from the large number of spores on their surfaces. The gills are free from the stem and rounded behind (near the stem). Thestemis white, nearly cylindrical, or it tapers a little toward the lower end. The flesh is solid, though the central core is less firm. Theveilis thin, white, silky, and very frail. It is stretched as the cap expands and finally torn so that it clings either as an annulus around the stem, or fragments cling around the margin of the cap. Since theannulusis so frail it shrivels as the plant ages and becomes quite inconspicuous or disappears entirely (see Figs. 1–7).

Figure 17.—Agaricus rodmani. Entirely white, showing double veil or ring. (Natural size.) Copyright.

Variations in the surface characters of the cap and stem have led some to recognize several varieties. This is known as the common mushroom and is more widely known and collected for food than anyother. It is also cultivated in mushroom houses, cellars, caves, abandoned mines, etc.

Agaricus (Psalliota) rodmaniPk.Edible.—Rodman's mushroom,Agaricus rodmani, grows in grassy places along streets of cities, either between the curbing and the walk, or between the curbing and the pavement. It is entirely white or whitish and sometimes tinged with yellowish at the center of the pileus. The plants are 4–8 cm. high, the cap 5–8 cm. broad and the stem 1–2 cm. in thickness.

Figure 18.—Agaricus arvensis, fairy ring.

Thepileusis rounded, and then convex, very firm, compact and thick, with white flesh. Thegillsare crowded, first white, then pink, and in age blackish brown. Thestemis very short, solid, nearly cylindrical, not bulbous. Theannulusis quite characteristic, being very thick, with a short limb, and double, so that it often appears as two distinct rings on the middle or lower part of the stem as shown in Fig.17. This form of the annulus is probably due to the fact that the thick part of the margin of the pileus during the young stage rests between the lower and upper part of the annulus, i. e., the thick veil is attached both to the inner and outer surface of the margin of the cap, and when it is freed by the expansion of the pileus it remains as a double ring. It is eagerly sought and much relished by several persons at Ithaca familiar with its edible qualities.

The plant closely resembles A. campestris var., edulis, Vittad. (See Plate 54, Bresadola, I Funghi Mangerecci e Velenosi, 1899) and is probably the same.

Figure 19.—Agaricus silvicola. White to cream color, or yellow stains. (Natural size.) Copyright.

Agaricus (Psalliota) arvensisSchaeff.Edible.—The field mushroom, or horse mushroom,Agaricus arvensis, grows in fields or pastures, sometimes under trees and in borders of woods. One form is often white, or yellowish white, and often shows the yellow color when dried. The plant sometimes occurs in the form of a fairy ring as shown in Fig.18. It is 5–12 cm. high, the cap from 5–15 cm. broad and the stem 8–15 mm. in thickness.

Thepileusis smooth, quite thick and firm, convex to expanded. Thegillsare first white, then tinged with pink and finally blackish brown. Thestemis stout, nearly cylindrical, hollow, bulbous. The veil is double like that ofAgaricus placomyces, the upper or innerlayer remaining as a membrane, while the lower or outer layer is split radially and remains in large patches on the lower surface of the upper membrane.

Figure 20.—Agaricus silvicola, showing radiately torn lower part of veil. (Natural size.) Copyright.

Agaricus (Psalliota) silvicolaVittad.Edible.—TheAgaricus silvicolagrows in woods, groves, etc., on the ground, and has been found also in a newly made garden in the vicinity of trees near the woods. It is an attractive plant because of its graceful habit and the delicate shades of yellow and white. It ranges from 10–20 cm. high, the cap is 5–12 cm. broad and the stem 6–10 mm. in thickness.

Thepileusbecomes convex, and expanded or nearly flat, and often with an elevation or umbo in the center. It is thin, smooth, whitish and often tinged more or less deeply with yellow (sulfur or ochraceous) and is sometimes tinged with pink in the center. The flesh is whitish or tinged with pink. Thegillswhen very young are whitish, then pink, and finally dark brown or blackish brown, much crowded, and distant from the stem. Thestemis long, nearly cylindrical, whitish, abruptly enlarged below into a bulb. It is often yellowish below, and especially in drying becomes stained with yellow. Theringis thin, membranaceous, delicate, sometimes with broad, soft, floccose patches on the under side. The ring usually appears single, but sometimes theveilis seen to be double, and the outer or lower portion tends to split radially as inA. arvensisorA. placomyces. This is well shown in large specimens, and especially as the veil is stretched over the gills as shown in Fig.20.

From the form of the plant as well as the peculiarities of the veil in the larger specimens, it is related toA. arvensisandA. placomyces, more closely to the former. It occurs during mid-summer and early autumn.Figure 10is from plants (No. 1986 C. U. herbarium) collected in open woods at Ithaca.

Plate 4.—Agaricus placomyces. Figure 21.—Upper view of cap, side view of stem. Figure 22.—Under view of plant showing radiately torn under side of the double veil. (3/4 natural size.) Copyright.

Plate 5, Figure 23.—Agaricus placomyces. Three different views, see text for explanations. Dark scales on cap. (Natural size.) Copyright.

Agaricus (Psalliota) subrufescensPk.Edible.—TheAgaricus subrufescenswas described by Dr. Peck from specimens collected on a compost heap composed chiefly of leaves, at Glen Cove, Long Island. It occurs sometimes in greenhouses. In one case reported by Peck it appeared in soil prepared for forcing cucumbers in a greenhouse in Washington, D. C.

According to the description thepileusbecomes convex or broadly expanded, is covered with silky hairs and numerous minute scales. The color is whitish, grayish or dull reddish brown, the center being usually smooth and darker, while the flesh is white. Thegillschange from white to pinkish and blackish brown in age. Thestemis long, nearly cylindrical or somewhat enlarged or bulbous at the base, first stuffed, then hollow, white. Theannulusis thick, and the under side marked by loose threads or scales.

This plant is said to differ from the common mushroom (A. campestris) in the more deeply hemispherical cap of the young plant, the hollow and somewhat bulbous stem, and in the scales on the under side of the annulus. In fresh plants the flesh has also a flavor of almonds. It is closely related toA. silvaticusSchaeff., p. 62, T. 242, Icones Fung. Bav. etc., 1770, if not identical with it.A. silvaticushas light ochraceous or subrufescent scales on the cap, a strong odor, and occurs in gardens as well as in the woods.

Agaricus (Psalliota) fabaceusBerk., was described in Hooker's London Journal of Botany,6: 314, 1847, from specimens collected in Ohio. The plant is white and is said to have a strong but not unpleasant odor.Agaricus amygdalinusCurt., from North Carolina, and of which no description was published, was so named on account of the almond-like flavor of the plant. Dr. Farlow suggests (Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist.26: 356–358, 1894) thatA. fabaceus,amygdalinus, andsubrufescensare identical.

Agaricus (Psalliota) placomycesPk.Edible.—The flat-cap mushroom,Agaricus placomycesPk., occurs in borders of woods or under trees from June to September. According to Peck it occurs in borders of hemlock woods, or under hemlock trees. At Ithaca it is not always associated with hemlock trees. The largest specimens found here were in the border of mixed woods where hemlock was a constituent. It has been found near and under white pine trees in lawns, around the Norway spruce and under the Norway spruce. The plants are from 5–15 cm. high, the cap from 5–12 cm. in diameter, and the stem 6–8 mm. in thickness.

Thepileuswhen young is broadly ovate, then becomes convex or fully expanded and flat in age, and is quite thin. The ground color is whitish, often with a yellowish tinge, while the surface is ornamented with numerous minute brownish scales which are scattered over a large part of the cap, but crowded or conjoined at the center into a large circular patch. This gives to the plant with its shapely form a beautiful appearance. In the young stage the entire surface of the pileus is quite evenly brown. As it expands the outer brown portion is torn asunder into numerous scales because the surface threads composing this brown layer cease to grow. These scales are farther apart toward the margin of the cap, because this portion of the cap always expands more than the center, in all mushrooms. Thegillsare at first white, or very soon pink in color, and in age are blackish brown. Spores 5–8 × 3–4 µ.

Thestemis nearly cylindrical, hollow or stuffed, white or whitish, smooth, bulbous, and the bulb is sometimes tinged with yellow. Theveilis very handsome, and the way in which the annulus is formed from it is very interesting. The veil is quite broad, and it is double, that is, it consists of two layers which are loosely joined by threads. In the young stage the veil lies between the gills and the lower two-thirds of the stem. As the pileus expands the lower (outer part) layer of the veil is torn, often in quite regular radiating portions, as shown in Fig.22. An interesting condition of the veil is shown in the middle plant in Fig. 23. Here the outer or lower layer of the veil did not split radially, but remained as a tube surrounding the stem, while the two layers were separated, the inner one being still stretched over the gills. It is customary to speak of the lower part of the veil as the outer part when the cap is expanded and the veil is still stretched across over the gills, while the upper portion is spoken of as the inner layer or part. It is closely related toA. arvensis, and may represent a wood inhabiting variety of that species.

Agaricus (Psalliota) comtulusFr.—This pretty little agaric seems to be rather rare. It was found sparingly on several occasions in open woods under pines at Ithaca, N. Y., during October, 1898. Lloyd reports it from Ohio (Mycolog. Notes, No. 56, Nov. 1899), and Smith from Vermont (Rhodora I, 1899). Fries' description (Epicrisis, No. 877) runs as follows: "Pileus slightly fleshy, convex, plane, obtuse, nearly smooth, with appressed silky hairs, stem hollow, sub-attenuate, smooth, white to yellowish, annulus fugacious; gills free, crowded, broad in front, from flesh to rose color. In damp grassy places. Stem 2 inches by 2 lines, at first floccose stuffed. Pileus 1–1-1/2 inch diameter. Color from white to yellowish."

Figure 24.—Agaricus comtulus (natural size, sometimes larger). Cap creamy white with egg-yellow stains, smoky when older. Stem same color; gills grayish, then rose, then purple brown. Copyright.

The plants collected at Ithaca are illustrated in Fig.24from a photograph of plants (No. 2879 C. U. herbarium). My notes on these specimens run as follows: Plant 3–6 cm. high, pileus 1.5–3 cm. broad, stem 3–4 mm. in thickness.Pileusconvex to expanded, fleshy, thin on the margin, margin at first incurved, creamy white with egg yellow stains, darker on the center, in age somewhat darker to umber or fuliginous, moist when fresh, surface soon dry, flesh tinged with yellow. Thegillsare white when young, then grayish to pale rose, and finally light purple brown, rounded in front, tapering behind (next the stem) and rounded, free from the stem, 4–5 mm. broad.Basidiaclavate, 25–30 × 5–6 µ.Sporessmall, oval, 3–4 × 2–3 µ, in mass light purple brown. Thestemtapers above, is sub-bulbous below, yellowish and stained with darker yellowish threads below the annulus, hollow, fibrous, fleshy. Theveilwhitish stained with yellow, delicate, rupturing irregularly, portions of it clinging to margin of the pileus and portions forming a delicate ring. When parts of the plant come in contact with white paper a blue stain is apt to be imparted to the paper, resembling the reaction of iodine on starch. This peculiarity has been observed also in the case of another species ofAgaricus. The species is regarded with suspicion by some. I collected the plant also at Blowing Rock, N. C.,in September, 1899. The caps of these specimens measure 4 cm. in diameter.

Agaricus diminutivusPk., is a closely related species. It is distinguished chiefly by its somewhat larger size, and purplish to reddish brown hairs on the surface of the pileus, and by the somewhat larger spores, which, however, are small. I have found it at Ithaca, the surface of the pileus hairy, with beautiful, triangular, soft, appressed, purplish scales.

In the genusHypholomathe spores are purple brown, the gills attached to the stem, and the veil when ruptured clings to the margin of the cap instead of to the stem, so that a ring is not formed, or only rarely in some specimens. The stem is said to be continuous with the substance of the cap, that is, it is not easily separated from it. The genus is closely related toAgaricus (Psalliota)andStropharia, from both of which it differs in the veil not forming a ring, but clinging to the margin of the cap. It further differs fromAgaricusin the stem being continuous with the substance of the cap, whileStrophariaseems to differ in this respect in different species. The plants grow both on the ground and on wood. There are several species which are edible and are very common. Peck gives a synopsis of six species in the 49th Report New York State Mus., page 61, 1896, and Morgan describes 7 species in Jour. Cinn. Soc. Nat. Hist.6: 113–115.

Hypholoma sublateritiumSchaeff.Edible,bitter sometimes. The name of this species is derived from the color of the cap, which is nearly a brick red color, sometimes tawny. The margin is lighter in color. The plants grow usually in large clusters on old stumps or frequently appearing on the ground from buried portions of stumps or from roots. There are from six to ten, or twenty or more plants in a single cluster. A single plant is from 8–12 cm. high, the cap is 5–8 cm. broad, and the stem 6–8 mm. in thickness.

Thepileusis convex to expanded, smooth, or sometimes with loose threads from the veil, especially when young, even, dry. The flesh is firm, whitish, and in age becoming somewhat yellowish. Thegillsare adnate, sometimes decurrent by a little tooth, rather crowded, narrow, whitish, then dull yellow, and becoming dark from the spores, purplish to olivaceous. Thestemusually tapers downward, is firm, stuffed, smooth, or with remnants of the veil giving it a floccose scaly appearance, usually ascending because of the crowded growth. Theveilis thin and only manifested in the young stage of the plant as a loose weft of threads. As the cap expands the veil is torn and adheres to the margin, but soon disappears.

Plate 6, Figure 25.—Hypholoma sublateritium. Cap brick-red or tawny. (Natural size, often larger.) Copyright.

Plate 7, Figure 26.—Hypholoma appendiculatum (natural size, often larger). White floccose scales on cap (var. coroniferum) and appendiculate veil; caps whitish or brown, tawny, or tinge of ochre. Gills white, then purple-brown. Copyright.

The flesh of this plant is said by European writers to be bitter to the taste, and it is regarded there as poisonous. This character seems to be the only distinguishing one between theHypholoma sublateritiumSchaeff., of Europe, and theHypholoma perplexumPk., of this country which is edible, and probably is identical withH. sublateritium. If the plant in hand agrees with this description in other respects, and is not bitter, there should be no danger in its use. According to Bresadola, the bitter taste is not pronounced inH. sublateritium. The taste probably varies as it does in other plants. For example, inPholiota præcox, an edible species, I detected a decided bitter taste in plants collected in June, 1900. Four other persons were requested to taste the plants. Two of them pronounced them bitter, while two did not detect the bitter taste.

There is a variety ofHypholoma sublateritium, with delicate floccose scales in concentric rows near the margin of the cap, calledvar. squamosumCooke. This is the plant illustrated in Fig.25, from specimens collected on rotting wood in the Cascadilla woods, Ithaca, N. Y. It occurs from spring to autumn.

Hypholoma epixanthumFr., is near the former species, but has a yellow pileus, and the light yellow gills become gray, not purple.

Hypholoma appendiculatumBull.Edible.—This species is common during late spring and in the summer. It grows on old stumps and logs, and often on the ground, especially where there are dead roots. It is scattered or clustered, but large tufts are not formed as inH. sublateritium. The plants are 6–8 cm. high, the cap 5–7 cm. broad, and the stem 4–6 mm. in thickness.

Thepileusis ovate, convex to expanded, and often the margin elevated, and then the cap appears depressed. It is fleshy, thin, whitish or brown, tawny, or with a tinge of ochre, and becoming pale in age and when dry. As the plant becomes old the pileus often cracks in various ways, sometimes splitting radially into several lobes, and then in other cases cracking into irregular areas, showing the white flesh underneath. The surface of the pileus when young is sometimes sprinkled with whitish particles giving it a mealy appearance. Thegillsare attached to the stem, crowded, becoming more or less free by breaking away from the stem, especially in old plants. They are white, then flesh colored, brownish with a slight purple tinge. Thestemis white, smooth, or with numerous smallwhite particles at the apex, becoming hollow. Theveilis very delicate, white, and only seen in quite young plants when they are fresh. It clings to the margin of the cap for a short period, and then soon disappears.

Figure 27.—Hypholoma appendiculatum (natural size), showing appendiculate veil. Copyright.

Sometimes the pileus is covered with numerous white, delicate floccose scales, which give it a beautiful appearance, as in Fig.26, from specimens (No. 3185 C. U. herbarium), collected on the campus of Cornell University among grass. The entire plant is very brittle, and easily broken. It is tender and excellent for food. I often eat the caps raw.

Hypholoma candolleanumFr., occurs in woods on the ground, or on very rotten wood. It is not so fragile asH. appendiculatumand the gills are dark violaceous, not flesh color as they are inH. appendiculatumwhen they begin to turn, and nearly free from the stem.

Hypholoma lacrymabundumFr.—This plant was found during September and October in wet grassy places in a shallow ditch by the roadside, and in borders of woods, Ithaca, N. Y., 1898. The plants are scattered or clustered, several often joined at the base of the stem. They are 4–8 cm. high, the cap 2–5 cm. broad, and the stem 4–8 mm. in thickness.

Figure 28.—Hypholoma lacrymabundum (natural size). Cap and stem tawny or light yellowish, with intermediate shades or shades of umber, surface with soft floccose scales. Copyright.

Thepileusis convex to expanded, sometimes broadly umbonate in age, and usually with radiating wrinkles extending irregularly. On the surface are silky or tomentose threads not much elevated from the surface, and as the plant ages these are drawn into triangular scales which are easily washed apart by the rains. The color is tawny or light yellowish with intermediate shades, darker on the umbo and becoming darker in age, sometimes umber colored, and stained with black, especially after rains where the spores are washed on the pileus. The flesh is tinged with light yellow, or tawny, or brown, soft, and easily broken. Thegillsare sinuate, adnate, somewhat ventricose, very rarely in abnormal specimens anastomosing near the margin of the pileus, at first light yellowish, then shading to umber and spotted with black and rusty brown as the spores mature, easily breaking away from the stipe, whitish on the edge. Drops of moisture sometimes are formed on the gills.Basidiaabruptly clavate, 30–35 × 10–12 µ.Cystidiahyaline, thin walled, projecting above the hymenium 40 µ, and 14–15 µ broad. Spores black, purple tinged, broadly elliptical and somewhat curved, 9–11 × 7–8 µ.

Thestemis fleshy to fibrous, the same color as the pileus, floccose scaly more or less up to the veil, smooth or white pruinose above the veil, straight or curved, somewhat striate below.

Theveilin young plants is hairy, of the same texture as the surface of the pileus, torn and mostly clinging to the margin of the pileus, and disappearing with age.

The general habit and different stages of development as well as some of the characters of the plant are shown in Fig.28(No. 4620 Cornell University herbarium). The edible qualities of this plant have not been tested.

Hypholoma rugocephalumAtkinson.—This interesting species grows in damp places in woods. The plants are tufted or occur singly. They are 8–12 cm. high, the cap 6–10 cm. broad, and the stem 6–10 mm. in thickness.

Thepileusis convex to expanded, and the margin at last revolute (upturned). The surface is marked by strong wrinkles (rugæ), which radiate irregularly from the center toward the margin. The pileus is broadly umbonate, fleshy at the center and thinner toward the margin, the flesh tinged with yellow, the surface slightly viscid, but not markedly so even when moist, smooth, not hairy or scaly, the thin margin extending little beyond ends of the gills. The color is tawny (near fulvus). Thegillsare adnate, slightly sinuate, 5–7 mm. broad, in age easily breaking away from the stem and then rounded at this end, spotted with the black spores, lighter on the edge. Thesporesare black in mass (with a suggestion of a purple tinge), oval to broadly elliptical, inequilateral, pointed at each end, echinulate, or minutely tuberculate, 8–11 × 6–8 µ. Thebasidiaare short, cylindrical;cystidiacylindrical, somewhat enlarged at the free end, hyaline, delicate, thin-walled, in groups of two to six or more (perhaps this is partly responsible for the black spotted condition of the gills). Thestemis cylindrical, even, somewhat bulbous, of the same color as the pileus, but lighter above the annulus, irregular, smooth, fleshy, hollow, continuous with the substance of the pileus. Theannulusis formed of a few threads, remnants of the veil, which are stained black by the spores. Figure29is from plants (No. 3202 C. U. herbarium) collected near Ithaca, July 18, 1899.

Plate 8, Figure29.—Hypholoma rugocephalum (7/8 natural size). Cap tawny, gills purple black, spotted. Copyright.

The genusStrophariahas purple-brown spores, the gills are attached to the stem, and the veil forms a ring on the stem.

Figure30.—Stropharia semiglobata (natural size). Cap and stem light yellow, viscid, gills brownish purple. Copyright.

Stropharia semiglobataBatsch.—This species is rather common and widely distributed, occurring in grassy places recently manured, or on dung. The plants are scattered or clustered, rarely two or three joined at the base. They are 5–12 cm. high, the cap 1–3 cm. broad, and the stems 2–4 mm. in thickness. The entire plant is light yellow, and viscid when moist, the gills becoming purplish brown, or nearly black. Stevenson says it is regarded as poisonous.

Thepileusis rounded, then hemispherical (semi-globate), smooth, fleshy at the center, thinner toward the margin, even, very viscid or viscous when moist, light yellow. Thegillsare squarely set against the stem (adnate), broad, smooth, in age purplish brown to blackish, the color more or less clouded. Thesporesin mass, are brownish purple. Thestemis slender, cylindrical, becoming hollow, straight, even or bulbous below, yellowish, but paler at the apex where there are often parallel striæ, marks from the gills in the young stage. The stem is often viscid and smeared with the glutinous substance which envelopes the plant when young, and from the more or less glutinous veil. Theringis glutinous when moist.

Figure30is from plants (No. 4613 C. U. herbarium) collected on one of the streets of Ithaca.

Stropharia stercorariaFr., is a closely related plant, about the same size, but the pileus, first hemispherical, then becoming expanded and sometimes striate on the margin, while the stem is stuffed. The gills are said to be of one color and the ring floccose, viscose, and evanescent in drying. It occurs on dung, or in grassy places recently manured.

Stropharia æruginosaCurt., the greenishStropharia, is from 6–8 cm. high, and the pileus 5–7 cm. broad. The ground color is yellowish, but the plant is covered with a greenish slime which tends to disappear with age. It is found in woods and open places during late summer and in autumn. According to Stevenson it is poisonous.

FOOTNOTES:[B]For analytical key to the genera see ChapterXXIV.

[B]For analytical key to the genera see ChapterXXIV.

The spores are black in mass, not purple tinged. For analytical keys to the genera see ChapterXXIV.

The species ofCoprinusare readily recognised from the black spores in addition to the fact that the gills, at maturity, dissolve into a black or inky fluid. The larger species especially form in this way an abundance of the black fluid, so that it drops from the pileus and blackens the grass, etc., underneath the plant. In some of thesmaller species the gills do not wholly deliquesce, but the cap splits on top along the line of the longer gills, this split passing down through the gill, dividing it into two thin laminæ, which, however, remain united at the lower edge. This gives a fluted appearance to the margin of the pileus, which is very thin and membranaceous.

Figure 31.—Coprinus comatus, "shaggy-mane," in lawn.

The plants vary in size, from tiny ones to those which are several inches high and more than an inch broad. Their habitat (that is, the place where they grow) is peculiar. A number of the species grow on dung or recently manured ground. From this peculiarity the genus received the nameCoprinusfrom the Greek wordκοπρὁς, meaning dung. Some of the species, however, grow on decaying logs, on the ground, on leaves, etc.

Coprinus comatusFr.Edible.—One of the finest species in this genus is the shaggy-mane, or horse-tail mushroom, as it is popularly called. It occurs in lawns and other grassy places, especially in richly manured ground. The plants sometimes occur singly, or a few together, but often quite large numbers of them appear in a small area. They occur most abundantly during quite wet weather,or after heavy rains, in late spring or during the autumn, and also in the summer. From the rapid growth of many of the mushrooms we are apt to be taken by surprise to see them all up some day, when the day before there were none. The shaggy-mane often furnishes a surprise of this kind. In our lawns we are accustomed to a pretty bit of greensward with clumps of shrubbery, and here and there the overhanging branches of some shade tree. On some fine morning when we find a whole flock of these shaggy-manes, which have sprung up during the night, we can imagine that some such kind of a surprise must have come to Browning when he wrote these words:

"By the rose flesh mushroom undivulgedLast evening. Nay, in to-day's first dewYon sudden coral nipple bulged,Where a freaked, fawn colored, flaky crewOf toadstools peep indulged."

"By the rose flesh mushroom undivulged

Last evening. Nay, in to-day's first dew

Yon sudden coral nipple bulged,

Where a freaked, fawn colored, flaky crew

Of toadstools peep indulged."

Figure32.—Coprinus comatus. "Buttons," some in section showing gill slits and hollow stem; colors white and black. (Natural size.)

The plant is called shaggy-mane because of the very shaggy appearance of the cap, due to the surface being torn up into long locks. The illustrations of the shaggy mane shown here represent the different stages of development, and the account here given is largely taken from the account written by me in Bulletin 168 of the Cornell University Agr. Exp. Station.

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