Figure 235.Figure 235.—Cortinarius collinitus. One-half natural size. Caps purplish-brown, also showing veil.
Figure 235.—Cortinarius collinitus. One-half natural size. Caps purplish-brown, also showing veil.
Collinitus means smeared. The pileus is at first hemispherical, convex, then expanded, obtuse; smooth, even, glutinous, shining when dry; purplish when young, later brownish; at first incurved.
The gills are attached to the stem, rather broad, dingy-white or grayish-tan when young, then cinnamon.
The stem is solid, cylindrical, viscid or glutinous when moist, transversely cracking when dry, whitish or paler than the cap. The spores are elliptical, 12×6µ. I found this species in Tolerton's woods, Salem, Ohio, St. John's woods, Bowling Green, Ohio, also on Ralston's Run near Chillicothe, where the specimens in Figure 235 were found. Both cap and stem are covered with a thick gluten. They grow, with us, in woods among leaves. The young plant has a development peculiar to itself. The cap varies greatly in color. The flesh is white or whitish. The peculiar bluish-white gills of the young plant will attract attention at once. It is found from September to November.
TRIBE III. INOLOMA.
The Fall Cortinarius. Edible.
Figure 236.Figure 236.—Cortinarius autumnalis. Two-thirds natural size. Cap a dull rusty-yellow, also showing bulbous stem.
Figure 236.—Cortinarius autumnalis. Two-thirds natural size. Cap a dull rusty-yellow, also showing bulbous stem.
Autumnalis pertaining to fall. The pileus is fleshy, convex or expanded, dull rusty-yellow, variegated, or streaked with innate rust-colored fibrils.
The gills are rather broad, with a wide, shallow emargination.
The stem is equal, solid, firm, bulbous, a little paler than the pileus.
The height is three to four inches, breadth of pileus two to four inches.Peck.
The plant was named by Dr. Peck because it was found late in the fall. I found the plant on several occasions in September, 1905. It grew very sparingly in a mixed woods on a north hillside.
The Light Violet Cortinarius. Edible.
Figure 237.Figure 237.—Cortinarius alboviolaceus. The caps are violet.
Figure 237.—Cortinarius alboviolaceus. The caps are violet.
Alboviolaceus means whitish-violet.
The pileus is two to three inches broad, fleshy, rather thin, convex, then expanded, sometimes broadly subumbonate; smooth, silky, whitish, tinged with lilac or pale violet.
The gills are generally serrulate, whitish-violet, then cinnamon-color.
The stem is three to four inches long, equal or tapering upward, solid, silky, white, stained with violet, especially at the top, slightly bulbous, the bulb gradually tapering into the stem. Spores, 12×5–6µ.Peck'sReport.
Sometimes the stem has a median ring-like zone, being violet above the zone and white below. The spider-like veil shows very plainly in the specimen on the left in Figure 237. In the plant on the right is shown the tapering stem from the base to the apex. These plants were found in Poke Hollow, September 21st. They are quite abundant there and elsewhere about Chillicothe. They are very good but not equal in flavor to C. violaceus. They are found in mixed woods. September to frost.
The Lilac-Colored Cortinarius. Edible.
The pileus is two to three inches broad, firm, hemispherical, then convex, minutely silky, lilac-color.
The gills are close, lilac, then cinnamon.
The stem is four to five inches long, stout, bulbous, silky-fibrillose, solid, whitish, tinged with lilac. Spores nucleate, 10×6µ.Peck.
I have found this plant in but one place near Chillicothe. In Poke Hollow on a north hillside I have found a number of rare specimens. All were identified by Dr. Kauffman of Michigan University. All were found under beech trees within a very small radius. September and October.
The Collared Cortinarius.
The pileus is fleshy, obsoletely umbonate, growing pale, variegated with saffron-red, adpressed, innate, pilose scales.
The gills are subdecurrent, crowded, watery cinnamon.
The stem is two to three inches long, at first stuffed, then hollow, nearly equal, squamose.
Found under beech trees. Only occasionally found here.
The Violet Cortinarius. Edible.
Figure 238.Figure 238.—Cortinarius violaceus. Two-thirds natural size. Caps dark violet. Stems bulbous. Gills violet.
Figure 238.—Cortinarius violaceus. Two-thirds natural size. Caps dark violet. Stems bulbous. Gills violet.
Violaceus, violet color. The pileus is convex, becoming nearly plane, dry, adorned with numerous persistent hairy tufts or scales; dark violet.
The gills are rather thick, distant, rounded, or deeply notched at the inner extremity; colored like the pileus in the young plant, brownish-cinnamon in the mature plant.
The stem is solid, clothed with small fibres; bulbous, colored like the pileus. The spores are slightly elliptical.
The Violet Cortinarius is a very beautiful mushroom and one easy of recognition. At first the whole plant is uniformly colored, but with age the gills assume a dingy ochraceous or brownish-cinnamon hue. The cap is generally well formed and regular, and is beautifully adorned with little hairy scales or tufts. These are rarely shown in figures of the European plant, but they are quite noticeablein the American plant, and should not be overlooked. The flesh is more or less tinged with violet.Peck.50th Rep. N. Y. State Bot.
No one can fail to recognize this plant. The web-like veil in the young plant, the bulbous stem, and the violet tinge throughout will readily distinguish it. It grows in rich hilly country. It grows solitary, and in open woods.
TRIBE IV. DERMOCYBE.
The Cinnamon Cortinarius. Edible.
Figure 239.Figure 239.—Cortinarius cinnamoneus. Two-thirds natural size. Caps cinnamon-brown. Stems yellow.
Figure 239.—Cortinarius cinnamoneus. Two-thirds natural size. Caps cinnamon-brown. Stems yellow.
The pileus is thin, convex, nearly expanded, sometimes nearly plane, sometimes slightly umbonate, sometimes the pileus is abruptly bent downward; dry, fibrillose at least when young, often with concentric rows of scales on the margin, cinnamon-brown, flesh yellowish.
The gills are thin, close, firmly attached to the stem, slightly notched, decurrentwith a tooth, becoming easily separated from the stem, shining, yellowish, then tawny-yellow.
The stem is slender, equal, stuffed or hollow, thin, clothed with small fibres, yellow, as is also the flesh. The spores are elliptical. This plant is so called because of its color, the entire plant being of a cinnamon-color. Sometimes there are cinnabar stains on the pileus. It seems to grow best under pine trees, but I have found it in mixed woods. My attention was called to it by the little Bohemian boys picking it when they had been in this country but a few days and could not speak a word of English. It is evidently like the European species. There is also a Cortinarius that has blood-red gills. It is var. semi-sanguineus, Fr. July to October.
The plants in Figure 239 were found on Cemetery Hill, Chillicothe, O.
The Pallid Cortinaria.
Figure 240.Figure 240.—Cortinarius ochroleucus. Two-thirds natural size, showing veil and bulbous form of stem.
Figure 240.—Cortinarius ochroleucus. Two-thirds natural size, showing veil and bulbous form of stem.
Ochroleucus, meaning yellowish and white, because of the color of the cap. The pileus is an inch to two and a half inches broad, fleshy; convex, sometimes somewhat depressed in the center, often remaining convex; dry; on the center finely tomentose to minutely scaly, sometimes the scales are arranged in concentric rows around the cap; quite fleshy at the center, thinning out toward the margin; the color is a creamy to a deep-buff, considerably darker at the center.
The gills are attached to the stem, clearly notched, somewhat ventricose; in mature plants, somewhat crowded, not entire, many short ones, pale first, then clay-colored ochre.
The stem is three inches long, solid, firm, often bulbous, tapering upward, often becoming hollow, a creamy-buff.
The veil, quite beautiful and strongly persistent, forms a cortina of the same color as the cap but becoming discolored by the falling of the spores. In Figure 240 the cortina and the bulbous form of the stem will be seen.
Found along Ralston's Run. In beech woods from September to November.
Figure 241.Figure 241.—Cortinarius ochroleucus. Two-thirds natural size, showing the developed plant.
Figure 241.—Cortinarius ochroleucus. Two-thirds natural size, showing the developed plant.
TRIBE V. TELAMONIA.
Figure 242.Figure 242.—Cortinarius Morrisii.
Figure 242.—Cortinarius Morrisii.
Morrisii is named in honor of George E. Morris, Ellis, Mass.
Pileus fleshy, except the thin and at length reflexed margin; convex, irregular, hygrophanous, ochraceous or tawny-ochraceous; flesh thin, colored like the pileus; odor weak, like that of radishes.
The gills are broad, subdistant, eroded or uneven on the edge; rounded behind, adnexed, pale-yellow when young, becoming darker with age.
The stem is nearly equal, fibrillose, solid, whitish or pale-yellow and silky at the top, colored like the pileus below and fibrillose; irregularly striate and subreticulate, the double veil whitish or yellowish-white and sometimes forming an imperfect annulus.
The spores are tawny-ochraceous, subglobose or broadly elliptic, nucleate, 8–10µ long, 6–7µ broad.Peck.
Pileus 3–10 cm. broad; stem 7–10 cm. long, 1–2 cm. thick.
They require moist and shady places and the presence of hemlock trees. They are found from August to October. The plants in Figure 242 were found near Boston by Mrs. E. B. Blackford.
The Red-Zoned Cortinarius. Edible.
Figure 243.Figure 243.—Cortinarius armillatus. Two-thirds natural size, showing the rings on the stem.
Figure 243.—Cortinarius armillatus. Two-thirds natural size, showing the rings on the stem.
Armillatus means ringed; so called because the stem is banded with one or more rings, or red bands. The pileus is two to four inches broad, fleshy, not compact, bell-shaped, then expanded, soon innately fibrillose and torn into scales, smooth when young, reddish-brick-color, margin thin, flesh dingy-pallid.
The gills are very broad, distant, adnate, slightly rounded, pallid, then dark-cinnamon.
The stem is fairly long, solid, bulbous, whitish, with two or three red zones, somewhat fibrillose. The spores 10×6µ.
This is a very large and beautiful Cortinarius and it has such a number of striking ear marks that it can be easily recognized. The thin and generally uneven margin of the pileus and the one to four red bands around the stem, the upper one being the brightest, will distinguish this species from all others. It is found in the woods in September and October. In quite young specimens the collector willnotice two well defined arachnoid veils, the lower one being much more dense. Prof. Fries speaks of them as follows: "Exterior veil woven, red, arranged in 2–4 distant cinnabar zones encircling the stem; partial veil continuous with the upper zone, arachnoid, reddish-white." The specimens in Figure 243 were collected in Michigan and photographed by Dr. Fischer of Detroit. A number of this species form a prize for the table.
Figure 244.Figure 244.—Cortinarius Atkinsonianus. Caps waxy-yellow, bulbous stem, spider-like veil.
Figure 244.—Cortinarius Atkinsonianus. Caps waxy-yellow, bulbous stem, spider-like veil.
Atkinsonianus is named in honor of Prof. Geo. F. Atkinson.
The pileus is 8 cm. broad, expanded,wax-yelloworgallstone-yellowtoclay-colored and tawny(Ridg.), colors very striking and sometimes several present at once; viscid, smooth, even, somewhat shining when dry. Flesh thick, except at margin, bluish-white like the stem, or paler, scarcely or not at all changing when bruised.
The gills are comparatively narrow, 6–8 mm., width uniform except near outer end, adnate, becoming slightly sinuate,purplishto yellow, then cinnamon.
The stem isviolaceus-blue, 8 cm. long, 12–15 mm. thick, equal or slightly tapering upward, bulbous by a rather thick, marginate bulb 3 cm. thick, hung with fibrillose threads of the universal veil, which is a beautiful pale-yellow and clothes the bulb even at maturity; violaceous-blue within, solid. Spores 13–15µ×7–8.5µ,very tubercular.Kauff.
The specimens in Figure 244 were found in Poke Hollow near Chillicothe. I have found them on several occasions. They are edible and of very good flavor. Found from September to frost. The specimens illustrate the spider-like veil that gives rise to the genus.
Figure 245.Figure 245.—Cortinarius umidicola. One-half natural size. Caps pinkish-buff.
Figure 245.—Cortinarius umidicola. One-half natural size. Caps pinkish-buff.
Umidicola means dwelling in moist places. Pileus as much as 16 cm. broad (generally 6–7 cm. when expanded), hemispherical, then convex and expanded, with the margin for a long time markedly incurved; young cap heliotrope-purplish with umber on disk, or somewhat fawn-colored, fading very quickly to pinkish-buff, in which condition it is usually found; margin when young with narrow strips of silky fibrils from the universal veil; pileus when old covered with innate, whitish, silky fibrils, hygrophanous; surface punctuate, even when young. Flesh of stem and pileus lavender when young but soon fading to a sordid white, thick on disk, abruptly thin towards margin, soon cavernous from grubs. The gills are very broad, as much as 2 cm.; at first lavender, soon very pale-tan to cinnamon; rather distant, thick, emarginate with a tooth; at first plane, then ventricose; edge slightly serratulate, concolorous. Stem as much as 13 cm. long (usually 8 to 10 cm.), 1–2 cm. thick, usually thickened below and tapering slightly upwards, mostly thicker also at apex, rarely attenuate at the base, sometimes curved, always stout, solid, lavender above the woven, sordid white, universal veil, which at first covers the lower part as a sheath, but soon breaks up so as to leavea band-like annulus half way or lower down on the stem. The annulus is soon rubbed off, leaving a bare stem. Cortina violaceous-white. Spores 7–9×5–6, almost smooth.Kauffman.
The specimens in Figure 245 were gathered at Detroit, Michigan, and photographed by Dr. Fischer. They grow in groups in damp places, preferring hemlock trees.
Saffron-Colored Cortinarius. (Telamonia.)
Croceocolor means saffron-colored.
Pileus 3–7 cm. broad, convex then expanded, saffron-yellow, with dense, dark-brown, erect squamules on disk; whole surface has a velvety appearance and feel, scarcely hygrophanous, even; flesh of pileus yellowish-white, rather thin except on disk, slightly hygrophanous, scissile.
Gills cadmium-yellow (Ridg.), moderately distant, rather thick, emarginate, rather broad, 8–9 mm., width uniform except in front where they taper quickly to a point.
Stem 4–8 cm. long, tapering upwards from a thickened base,i.e., clavate-bulbous, 9–15 mm. thick below, peronate three-fourths of its length by the crome-yellow to saffron veil, paler above the veil, solid, saffron-colored within, hygrophanous, soon dingy; attached to strands of yellowish mycelium. Spores subspheroid to short elliptical, 6.5–8×5.5–6.5µ, echinulate when mature.
Found under beech trees in Poke Hollow near Chillicothe. Found in October.
Figure 246.Figure 246.—Cortinarius evernius.
Figure 246.—Cortinarius evernius.
Evernius comes from a Greek word meaning sprouting well, flourishing.
The pileus is one to three inches broad, rather thin, between membranaceous and fleshy, at first conical, becoming bell-shaped, and finally expanded, very slightly umbonate, everywhere covered with silky, adpressed veil, usually purplish-bay when smooth, brick-red when dry, then pale ochraceous when old, at length cracked and torn into fibrils, very fragile, flesh thin and colored like the pileus.
The gills are attached to the stem, quite broad, ventricose, somewhat distant, purplish-violet, becoming pale, finally cinnamon.
The stem is three to five inches long, equal or attenuated downwards, oftenslightly striate, soft, violaceous, scaly from the remains of the white veil. The spores are elliptical, granular, 10×7µ.
They grow in damp pine woods. The specimens in the photograph were gathered in Purgatory Swamp near Boston, and sent to me by Mrs. Blackford. They are found in August and September.
TRIBE VI. HYDROCYBE.
The Chestnut-Colored Cortinarius. Edible.
Figure 247.Figure 247.—Cortinarius castaneus. Two-thirds natural size.
Figure 247.—Cortinarius castaneus. Two-thirds natural size.
Castaneus, a chestnut. The pileus one inch or more broad, at first quite small and globose, with a delicate fibrillose veil, which makes the margin appear silvery; dark-bay or dirty-violet, often with a tawny tint; soon expanded, broadly umbonate, pileus often cracked on the margin and slightly upturned.
The gills are fixed, rather broad, somewhat crowded, violet-tinged, then cinnamon-brown, ventricose. Spores, 8×5µ.
The stem is one to three inches high, inclined to be cartilaginous, stuffed,then hollow, even, lilac-tinged at the top, white or whitish below the veil, the whole stem beautifully fibrillose, veil white.
This plant is very abundant on Cemetery Hill, growing under pine trees. The caps are small, but they grow in such profusion that it would not be difficult to secure enough for a meal. They compare very favorably with the Fairy Ring mushroom in flavor. They have little or no odor. Found in October and November.
The pileus is fleshy, but the flesh of the stem is of different texture from that of the pileus, veil universal, concrete with the cuticle of the pileus, and fixed to the stem, forming a ring which soon disappears in some species; the stem is readily separated from the cap and the gills are free from the stem or slightly adnexed, white at first, then pink, afterwards purple-brown.
All the species grow in rich ground, and it includes many of our valuable food mushrooms.
The Meadow Mushroom. Edible.
Figure 248.Figure 248.—Agaricus campestris. Two-thirds natural size.
Figure 248.—Agaricus campestris. Two-thirds natural size.
Campestris, from campus, a field.This is perhaps the widest known of all mushrooms, familiarly known as the "Pink-gilled mushroom." It is the species found in the markets. It is the only species which is sure to respond to the methods of cultivation.
It is the same species which is bought in cans at the store.
In very young plants the pileus is somewhat globular, as will be seen in the small plants in the front row in Figure 248. The edge is connected with the stem by the veil; then round convex, then expanding, becoming almost flat; surface dry, downy, even, quite scaly, varying in color from creamy-white to alight-brown; margin extending beyond the gills, as will be seen in Figure 249 in the one on the extreme right.
The gills, when first revealed by the separation of the veil, are of a delicate pink hue, but with advancing age this generally deepens to a dark-brown or blackish-brown color.
The stem is rather short, nearly equal, white or whitish; the substance in the center is more spongy than the exterior, hence it is said to be stuffed. Sometimes the collar shrivels so much that it is scarcely perceptible, and may disappear altogether in old plants. The spores are brown in mass. The cap of this mushroom is from three to four inches in diameter and the stem from one to three inches long.
This is the first mushroom that yielded to cultivation. It is raised in large quantities, not only in this country, but especially in France, Japan, and China. No doubt other species and genera will be produced in time.
This species grows in grassy places, in pastures, and richly manured grounds, never in the woods. I found it in great abundance in Wood County, in fields which had never been plowed and where the ground was unusually rich. There it seemed to grow in groups or large clusters. Usually it is found singly. Found from August to October. The plants figured here were found near Chillicothe.
Figure 249.Figure 249.—Agaricus campestris. Two-thirds natural size.
Figure 249.—Agaricus campestris. Two-thirds natural size.
Rodman's Mushroom. Edible.
Figure 250.Figure 250.—Agaricus rodmani. Two-thirds natural size.
Figure 250.—Agaricus rodmani. Two-thirds natural size.
The pileus is creamy, with brownish spots, firm, surface dry. The mature specimens frequently have the surface of the cap broken into large, brownish scales.
The gills are whitish, then pink, becoming dark-brown; narrow, close and unequal.
The stem is fleshy, solid, short, thick, about two inches long. The collar when well developed exhibits a striking characteristic. It appears as if there were two collars with a space between them. Its spores are broadly elliptical, .0002 to .00025 inch long.
It may be easily distinguished from the common Agaric by the time when found, its thick firm flesh, its narrow gills, which are almost white at first, and its double collar. I have found people eating it, supposing they were eating the common mushroom.
It is found in grassy places and especially between the cobble stones along the gutters in the cities. The specimens in Figure 250 were found in Chillicothe in the gutters. It is a meaty plant and one can soon tell it from its weight alone. It is found through May and June. It is fully as good to eat as the common mushroom. Macadam speaks of finding it in the fall, but I have never succeeded in finding it later than June.
The Silvan Agaric. Edible.
Figure 251.Figure 251.—Agaricus silvicola. One-half natural size.
Figure 251.—Agaricus silvicola. One-half natural size.
Silvicola, from silva, woods and colo, to inhabit. The pileus is convex, sometimes expanded or nearly plane, smooth, shining, white or yellowish.
The gills are crowded, thin, free, rounded behind, generally narrowed toward each end, at first white, then pinkish, finally blackish-brown.
The stem is long, cylindrical, stuffed or hollow, white, bulbous; ring eitherthick or thin, entire or lacerated. Spores elliptical, 6–8×4–5. The plant is four to six inches high. Pileus three to six inches broad.Peck.36th N. Y. State Bot.
A. silvicola is very closely related to the common mushroom. Its chief differences are in its place of growth, its being slender, and its hollow stem somewhat bulbous at the base. I have found it many times in the woods about Chillicothe, although I have never succeeded in finding more than one or two at a time. I have always put them with edible species and have eaten them when thus cooked with others.
Because of the resemblance which it bears, in its earlier stages, to the deadly Amanita, one can not exercise too great care in identifying it. It grows in the woods and is found from July to October.
The Field or Horse Mushroom. Edible.
Figure 252.Figure 252.—Agaricus arvensis. Two-thirds natural size, showing veil.
Figure 252.—Agaricus arvensis. Two-thirds natural size, showing veil.
Arvensis, pertaining to a field.Pileus is smooth, white or yellowish, convex or conical, bell-shaped, then expanded, more or less mealy. The gills are crowded, free, generally broader toward the stem; at first whitish, then pinkish, finally black-brown.
The stem is stout, equal, slightly thickened at the base, smooth, hollow or stuffed, ring rather large and thick, the upper part membranaceous and white, while the lower or exterior surface is thicker, downy, radically split and yellowish.
The spores are elliptical, .0003 to .0004 inch long.
This plant grows much larger than the common mushroom, and may be distinguished by the collar being composed of two parts closely allied to each other making a double membrane, the lower part being much thicker, softer in texture and split in a stellate manner into broad and yellow rays, as will be seen in Figure 252.
I found it very plentiful in Wood County, Ohio, and in quantities in Dr. Manville's yard in Bowling Green, Ohio. I ate them frequently and gave them to my friends, who all voted them delicious.
When the stem is first cut there exudes from the wound a yellowish liquid which is quite a sure ear mark of this species.
There is a tradition that the spores will not germinate unless they pass through the alimentary canal of the horse or some animal. However this may be, it is found frequently where no trace of the horse can be found. It appears from July to September. I have found it in Fayette County, Ohio, in large rings, resembling the Fairy-Ring Mushroom, only the ring is very large, as well as the mushrooms.
Figure 253.Plate XXXIV. Figure 253.—Agaricus arvensis.
Plate XXXIV. Figure 253.—Agaricus arvensis.
Edible.
Figure 254.Figure 254.—Agaricus abruptus.
Figure 254.—Agaricus abruptus.
Abruptus means to break away, referring to the breaking of the veil from the margin of the cap.
The pileus is creamy-white, dry and silky, quite irregular in shape when young, turning yellow when bruised or when the stem is cut.
The gills are slightly pinkish when the veil first breaks, gradually growing a deeper pink, in mature specimens becoming brownish, soft, free from the stem, quite close, unequal.
The stem is creamy-white, much darker toward the base, hollow, rather stiff, quite brittle, frequently found to be split lengthwise, ventricose, tapering toward the cap.
The veil is rather frail, one portion of it often adhering to the cap and another portion forming a ring on the stem.
Through the courtesy of Captain McIlvaine I am able to present an excellentpicture of this species. The beginner will have some trouble to distinguish it from A. silvicola. This species, like the A. silvicola, is closely related to the meadow mushroom, but can be readily separated from it. This, too, like the A. silvicola, when seen in the woods at a distance, resembles the Amanita, but a careful glance at the gills will detect the difference.
The gills of the very young plant may appear white, but they will soon develop a pinkish tinge which will distinguish it from the Amanita. It is found in thin woods from July to October.
Comptulus means beautified or luxuriously decked; so called from the silky lustre of its cap.
The pileus is at first convex, then expanded, rather fleshy, thinner at the margin and incurved, usually with an adpressed silky finish to the surface of the cap which gives rise to its specific name.
The gills are free, much rounded toward the margin and the stem, white at first, then grayish, pinkish, purple-brown in old plants.
The stem is hollow, tapering from the base to the cap, slight bulbous, white, then yellowish, fleshy, fibrous. The veil is more delicate than in A. silvaticus, parts of it often found in young plants on the margin of the cap, forming a ring on the stem which soon almost disappears. Spores small, 4–5×2–3µ.
The surface of the cap, the rounding of the gills both in front and behind, also the tendency to turn white paper blue or bluish when the flesh of the cap comes in contact with it, will assist in determining this species.
It is found in grassy places in open woods, especially in the vicinity of pine trees, October and November.
The Flat-cap Mushroom. Edible.
Figure 255.Plate XXXV. Figure 255.—Agaricus placomyces.
Plate XXXV. Figure 255.—Agaricus placomyces.
Figure 256.Figure 256.—Agaricus placomyces. Two-thirds natural size.
Figure 256.—Agaricus placomyces. Two-thirds natural size.
Figure 257.Figure257.—Agaricus placomyces. Two-thirds natural size.
Figure257.—Agaricus placomyces. Two-thirds natural size.
Placomyces means a flat mushroom. This is one of our prettiest plants.
The pileus is broadly ovate, rather thin, at first convex, but when it is fully expanded it is quite flat, whitish, brown in the center, as will be seen in Figure 256, but it is covered with a persistent brown scale.
The gills are white at first, then pink, turning blackish brown, quite crowded.
The stem is rather long, and slender, cylindrical stuffed, somewhat bulbous at the base, commonly whitish but at times bears yellow stains toward the base, tapering toward the cap. The veil is quite interesting. It is broad and double, loosely joined together by threads, the lower or outer veil breaking first into regular radiating portions. The spores are elliptical, 5–6.5µ long. The caps are two to four inches broad and the stem is three to five inches long.
They are found in lawns or in thin woods. They are much more abundant in hemlock woods though they are frequently found in mixed woods in which there are hemlock trees. The behavior of the veil is very similar to A. arvensis and A. silvicola and indeed this plant seems to be very closely related to these species. It is found from July to September.
The Chalk Agaric. Edible.
Cretaceus, relating to chalk.
The pileus is entirely white, fleshy, obtuse, dry; sometimes even, sometimes marked with fine lines around the margin.
The gills are free, remote, quite ventricose, narrowed toward the stem, crowded, white, and only in mature plants do they become brownish. Spores, 5–6×3.5µ.
The stem is two to three inches long, even, smooth, firm, tapering toward the cap, hollow, or stuffed with a fine pith, white.
It is found on lawns and in rich places. I find it more frequently in rich stubble fields. It makes a rare dish. Found in August and September.
The Slightly Red Mushroom. Edible.
Subrufescens, sub, under; rufescens, becoming red. The pileus is at first inclined to be hemispherical, becoming convex or broadly expanded; silky fibrillose and minutely or obscurely scaly, whitish, grayish, or dull reddish-brown, usually smooth and darker on the disk. Flesh white and unchangeable.
The gills are at first white or whitish, then pink, finally blackish-brown.
The stem is rather long, often somewhat thickened or bulbous at the base, at first stuffed, then hollow, white, the ring is scaly on the under side, mycelium whitish, forming slender branching root-like strings. The spores are elliptical.Peck, 48th Rep. N. Y. State Bot.
The reddish-brown color is due to the coating of fibrils that covers the cap. In the center it does not separate into scales, hence it is smoother and more distinctly reddish-brown than the rest. Its veil resembles that of the A. placomyces, but instead of the lower surface breaking into radial portions it breaks into small floccose flakes or scales.
This species is found about greenhouses, and is frequently found in large clusters.
Dr. McIlvaine says: "This species is now cultivated and has manifest advantages over the market species—it is easier to cultivate, very productive, produces in less time after planting the spawn, is free from attacks of insects, carries better and keeps longer."
Mushroom beds in cellars are becoming quite popular and many are having very good results.
Sea-loving Agaricus Edible.
Figure 258.Plate XXXVI. Figure 258.—Agaricus halophilus.Showing the globose caps, narrow gills, solid stem, and the peculiar incurved margin. Natural size.
Plate XXXVI. Figure 258.—Agaricus halophilus.Showing the globose caps, narrow gills, solid stem, and the peculiar incurved margin. Natural size.
Halophilus is from two Greek words meaning sea and loving, or fond of.
This is a large fleshy plant and does not readily decay. At first it is quite round, then becomes broadly convex. All specimens that I have examined were covered with adpressed scales of a reddish-brown color, becoming grayish-brown when old. The flesh is white, becoming pink or reddish when cut. The margin has a peculiar angular turn, often retaining portions of the rather fragile veil.
The taste is pleasant, and the odor is distinctly that of the seashore.
The gills are quite narrow, as will be seen in Figure 258, much crowded, free, pinkish at first, becoming purplish-brown as the plant matures. The edge of the gills is whitish.
The stem is short, stout, solid, firm, equal, or occasionally slightly bulbous. The ring is rather delicate and in older specimens it is frequently wanting. The spores are broadly elliptical and purplish-brown, 7–8×5–6µ.
The specimens in figure 258 were sent to me from Boston, Mass., by Mrs.Blackford, and on opening the box the odor of the seashore was plainly noticed. The flesh when cut quickly turned to a pinkish or reddish hue and the water in which the plants were prepared for cooking was changed to a faintly pink tinge. These plants were sent me the first of June, but the stems were free from worms and were as easily cooked as the caps. I regard it as one of the very best mushrooms for table use, while also easy to distinguish.
It seems to delight in sandy soil near salt water. This was formerly called Agaricus maritimus.
Pilosace is from two Greek words,pilos, felt;sakos, garment.
Hymenophore is distinct from the stem. Gills are free, and at first remote, from the stem. The general and partial veil are both absent, hence it is without ring or volva. This genus seems to have the habit of Agaricus but no ring.
Figure 259.Figure 259.—Pilosace eximia.
Figure 259.—Pilosace eximia.
Eximia means choice, distinguished.
The pileus is fleshy, thin, convex or broadly campanulate, at length expanded and subumbonate, smooth, dark sooty-brown.
The gills are close, broad, ventricose, rounded behind, free, dull-red, or brownish-pink, then brown.
The stem is slender, hollow, a little thicker at the base, dull-red. The spores are elliptical, .004 inch long.
These plants are small and quite rare, yet I have found the plants in Haynes' Hollow on three different occasions. Dr. Peck writes that it is a very rare plant. It grows on old stumps and decayed logs. The plants in figure259were found in Haynes' Hollow and photographed by Dr. Kellerman.
Stropharia is from the Greek, strophos, a sword belt. The spores are bright purple-brown, brown or slate color. The flesh of the stem and the pileus is continuous. The veil, when ruptured, forms a ring on the stem. The gills are rounded and are not free.
The genus can be distinguished from all the genera of the purple-spored plants except the Agarics by the presence of a ring and by the united flesh of the stem and the cap and by the attachment of the gills. They grow on the ground or are elliptical.
The Semiglobose Stropharia. Edible.