Figure 127.Figure 127.—Lactarius torminosus. Three-fourths natural size. Caps yellowish-red or ochraceous tinged with red, margin incurved.
Figure 127.—Lactarius torminosus. Three-fourths natural size. Caps yellowish-red or ochraceous tinged with red, margin incurved.
Torminosus, full of grips, causing colic. The pileus is two to four inches broad, convex, then depressed, smooth, or nearly so, except the involute margin which is more or less shaggy, somewhat zoned, viscid when young and moist, yellowish-red or pale ochraceous, tinged with red.
The gills are thin, close, rather narrow, nearly of the same color as the pileus, but yellower and paler, slightly forked, subdecurrent.
The stem is one to two inches long, paler than the cap, equal or slightly tapering downward, stuffed or hollow, sometimes spotted, clothed with a very minute adpressed down.
The milk is white and very acrid. The spores are echinulate, subglobose, 9–1O×7–8µ.
This differs from L. cilicioides in its zoned pileus and white milk. Mostauthorities speak of it as dangerous. Captain McIlvaine speaks of the Russians as preserving it in salt and eating it seasoned with oil and vinegar. They grow in the woods, open places, and in fields. The specimens in Figure 127 were found in Michigan and photographed by Dr. Fischer.
The Peppery Lactarius. Edible.
Figure 128.Figure 128.—Lactarius piperatus. One-third natural size.
Figure 128.—Lactarius piperatus. One-third natural size.
Piperatus—having a peppery taste. The pileus is creamy-white, fleshy, firm, convex, then expanded, depressed in the center, dry, never viscid, and quite broad.
The gills are creamy-white, narrow, close, unequal, forked, decurrent, adnate, exuding a milky juice when bruised, milky-white, very acrid.
The stem is creamy white, short, thick, solid, smooth, rounded at the end, slightly tapering at the base. Spores generally with an apiculus, .0002 by .00024 inch.
The plant is found in all parts of Ohio, but most people are afraid of it on account of its very peppery taste. Although it can be eaten without harm, it will never prove a favorite.
It is found in open woods from July to October. In its season is one of the very common plants in all of our woods.
Pergamenus is frompergamena, parchment. The pileus is convex, then expanded, plane, depressed, wavy, wrinkled, without zones, often repand, smooth, white.
The gills are adnate, very narrow, tinged with straw-color, often white, branched, much crowded, horizontal.
The stem is smooth, stuffed, discolored, not long. The milk is white and acrid. Spores, 8×6. It differs from L. piperatus in its crowded, narrow gills and longer stem. Found in woods from August to October.
Deceiving Lactarius. Edible
Figure 129.Figure 129.—Lactarius deceptivus.
Figure 129.—Lactarius deceptivus.
Deceptivus means deceiving.
The pileus is three to five inches broad, compact, at first convex, and umbilicate, then expanded and centrally depressed or subinfundibuliform, obsoletely tomentose or glabrous except on the margin, white or whitish, often varied with yellowish or sordid strains, the margin at first involute and clothed with a dense, soft cottony tomentum, then spreading or elevated and more or less fibrillose.
The gills are rather broad, distant or subdistant, adnate or decurrent, some ofthem, forked, whitish, becoming cream-colored.
The stem is one to three inches long, equal or narrowed downward, solid, pruinose-pubescent, white. Spores are white, 9–12.7µ. Milk white, taste acrid.
This plant delights in woods and open groves, especially under coniferous trees. It is a large, meaty, acrid white species, with a thick, soft, cottony tomentum on the margin of the pileus of the young plant.
The specimen photographed was sent me from Massachusetts by Mrs. Blackford. It grows in July, August and September. Its sharp acridity is lost in cooking, but like all acrid Lactarius it is coarse and not very good.
Figure 130.Figure 130.—Lactarius indigo. One-third natural size. Entire plant indigo blue.
Figure 130.—Lactarius indigo. One-third natural size. Entire plant indigo blue.
Figure 131.Figure 131.—Lactarius indigo. One-third natural size, showing gills.
Figure 131.—Lactarius indigo. One-third natural size, showing gills.
This is one of our most striking plants. No one can fail to recognize it, because of the deep indigo blue that pervades the whole plant. I have found it in only one place, near what is known as the Lone-Tree Hill near Chillicothe. I have found it there on several different occasions.
The pileus is from three to five inches broad, the very young plants seem to be umbilicate with the margin strongly incurved, then depressed or funnel-shaped; as the plant ages the margin is elevated and sometimes waved. The entire plant is indigo blue, and the surfaceof the cap has a silvery-gray appearance through which the indigo color is seen. The surface of the cap is marked with a series of concentric zones of darker shade, as will be seen in Figure 130 especially on the margin; sometimes spotted, becoming paler and less distinctly zonate with age or in drying.
The gills are crowded, indigo blue, becoming yellowish and sometimes greenish, with age.
The stem is one to two inches long, short, nearly equal, hollow, often spotted with blue, colored like the pileus.
It is edible but rather coarse. Found in open woods July and August.
Figure 132.Figure 132.—Lactarius regalis. Natural size. Caps white, tinged with yellow.
Figure 132.—Lactarius regalis. Natural size. Caps white, tinged with yellow.
Regalis means regal; so named from its large size. The pileus is four to six inches broad, convex, deeply depressed in the center; viscid when moist; often corrugated on the margin; white, tinged with yellow.
The gills are close, decurrent, whitish, some of them forked at the base.
The stem is two to three inches long and one inch thick, short, equal, hollow. The taste is acrid and the milk sparse, white, quickly changing to sulphur-yellow. The spores are .0003 of an inch in diameter.Peck.
This is frequently a very large plant, resembling in appearance L. piperatus but easily recognized because of its viscid cap and its spare milk changing to yellow, as in L. chrysorrhæus. It grows on the ground in the woods, in August and September. I find it here chiefly on the hillsides. The specimens in Figure 132 were found in Michigan and photographed by Dr. Fischer.
The Spotted-Stemmed Lactarius.
Figure 133.Photo by C. G. Lloyd.Figure 133.—Lactarius scrobiculatus. Natural size. Caps reddish-yellow, zoned. Margin very much incurved, stem pitted.
Photo by C. G. Lloyd.
Figure 133.—Lactarius scrobiculatus. Natural size. Caps reddish-yellow, zoned. Margin very much incurved, stem pitted.
Scrobiculatus is fromscrobis, a trench, andferro, to bear, referring to the pitted condition of the stem. The pileus is convex, centrally depressed, more or less zoned, reddish-yellow, viscid, the margin very much incurved, downy.
The gills are adnate, or slightly decurrent, whitish, and often very much curled, because of the incurved condition of the cap at first.
The stem is equal, stuffed, adorned often with pits of a darker color.
The spores are white, juice white, then yellowish.
The plant is very acrid to the taste, and solid. Too hot to be eaten. I have found it only a few times on the hills of Huntington township, near Chillicothe. The yellowish hue and markedly incurved margin will identify the plant. Found in August and September.
Figure 134.Figure 134.—Lactarius trivialis. One-half natural size. Caps light tan with a pinkish hue. Very acrid.
Figure 134.—Lactarius trivialis. One-half natural size. Caps light tan with a pinkish hue. Very acrid.
Trivialis means common.
The pileus is three to four inches broad, usually damp or watery, sometimes quite viscid, shining when dry, convex, then expanded, depressed in the center, margin at first incurved, even, smooth; warm, soft tan, rather light, and sometimes a very slight pinkish hue prevails. The flesh is solid and persistent.
The gills are rather crowded, slightly decurrent, at first whitish, then a light yellow, many not reaching to the stem, none forked. The stem is from three to four inches long, of same color as the pileus, often a much lighter shade; tapering from the cap to the base, smooth, stuffed, and finally hollow. The plant is quite full of milk, white at first, then turning yellowish.
The plant is very acrid and peppery. It is quite plentiful along the streams of Ross county, Ohio. It is not poisonous, but it seems too hot to eat. It is found after rains from July to October, in mixed woods where it is damp.
Figure 135.Figure 135.—Lactarius insulsus. One-third natural size. Caps yellowish or straw color. Very acrid.
Figure 135.—Lactarius insulsus. One-third natural size. Caps yellowish or straw color. Very acrid.
Insulsus, insipid or tasteless. This is a very attractive plant. Quite solid and maintains its form for several days; The pileus is two to four inches broad, convex, depressed in the center, then funnel-shaped, smooth, viscid when moist, more or less zoned, the zones much narrower than L. scrobiculatus, yellowish or straw-color, margin slightly incurved and naked.
The gills are thin, rather crowded, adnate and sometimes decurrent, some of them forked at the base, whitish or pallid. Spores subglobose, rough, 10×8µ.
The stem is one to two inches long, equal or slightly tapering downward, stuffed, whitish, generally spotted. Milk, white.
Most authorities class this as an edible plant, but it is so hot and the flesh so solid that I have never tried it. I found two plants which fully answered the description of the European plants. The zones were orange-yellow and brick-red. I have visited the place many times since, but have never been able to find another. It is not an abundant plant with us. Found from July to October, in open woods.
The Sooty Lactarius. Edible.
Figure 136.Photo by C. G. Lloyd.Plate XXI. Figure, 136.—Lactarius lignyotus.Natural size. Caps a sooty umber. Flesh mild to the taste.
Photo by C. G. Lloyd.
Plate XXI. Figure, 136.—Lactarius lignyotus.Natural size. Caps a sooty umber. Flesh mild to the taste.
Lignyotus is fromlignum, wood. The pileus is one to four inches in diameter, fleshy, convex, then expanded, sometimes slightly umbonate, often in age slightly depressed, smooth or often wrinkled, pruinosely velvety, sooty umber, the margin in the old plants wavy and distinctly plaited; the flesh white and mild to the taste.
The gills are attached to the stem; unequal; snow-white or yellowish-white, slowly changing to a pinkish-red or salmon color when bruised; distant in old plants.
The stem is one to three inches long, equal, abruptly constricted at the apex, smooth, stuffed, of the same color as the pileus. Milk white, taste mild or tardily acrid. The spores are globose, yellowish, 9–11.3µ.
This is called the Sooty Lactarius and is very easily identified. It will be frequently found associated with the Smoky Lactarius which it greatly resembles. It seems to delight in wet swampy woods. It is said to be one of the best of the Lactarii. The specimens in Figure 136 were collected at Sandusky, Ohio, and photographed by Dr. Kellerman.
Figure 137.Figure 137.—Lactarius cinereus.
Figure 137.—Lactarius cinereus.
Cinereus is fromcineres, ashes; so called from the color of the plant.
The pileus is one to two and a half inches broad, zoneless, somewhat viscid, floccose-scaly, depressed in the center, margin thin, even, flesh thin and white, mild to the taste, ashy-gray.
The gills are adnate, rather close, sometimes forked (usually near the stem), uneven, white or creamy-white, milk white, not plentiful.
The stem is two to three inches long, tapering upward, loosely stuffed, finally hollow, often floccose at the base.
This plant is quite common from September to November, growing in damp weather on leaves in mixed woods. It has a mild taste. While I have not eaten it I have no doubt of its edibility. The color of the pileus is sometimes quite dark.
Gray Lactarius.
Figure 138.Figure 138.—Lactarius griseus.
Figure 138.—Lactarius griseus.
Griseus means gray.
The pileus is thin, nearly plane, broadly umbilicate or centrally depressed, sometimes infundibuliform, generally with a small umbo or papilla, minutely squamulose tomentose, gray or brownish-gray, becoming paler with age.
The gills are thin, close, adnate, or slightly decurrent, whitish or yellowish.
The stem is slender, equal or slightly tapering upward, rather fragile; stuffed or hollow; generally villose or tomentose at the base; paler than, or colored like, the pileus.
The spores are .0003 to .00035 inch; milk white, taste subacrid. Pileus is 6 to 18 lines broad, stem 1 to 2 inches long, 1 to 3 lines thick.Peck.
It resembles L. mammosus and L. cinereus. It differs from the former in not having ferruginous gills and pubescent stems, and from the latter by its smaller size, its densely pubescent pileus, and its habitat. It grows on mossy logs or in mossy swamps. The base of one of the plants in Figure 138 is covered with the moss in which they grew. These plants were found in Purgatory Swamp, near Boston, by Mrs. Blackford. They grow from July to September.
The Distant-Gilled Lactarius. Edible.
Distans means distant, so called because the gills are very wide apart.
The pileus is firm, broadly convex or nearly plane, umbilicate or slightly depressed in the center; with a minute, velvety pruinosity; yellowish-tawny or brownish-orange.
The gills are rather broad, distant, adnate or slightly decurrent, white or creamy yellow, interspaces veined; milk white, mild.
The stem is short, equal or tapering downward, solid, pruinose, colored like the pileus.
The spores are subglobose, 9–11µ broad.Peck, N. Y. Report, 52.
I frequently mistake this plant for L. volemus when seen growing in the ground, but the widely separated gills distinguish the plant as soon as it is gathered. The stem is short and round, tapering downward, solid, colored like the pileus. The milk is both white and mild. I find it on nearly every wooded hillside about Chillicothe. It is found from July to September.
The Dark-Green Lactarius.
Figure 139.Figure 139.—Lactarius atroviridus. Cap and stem dark green. Cap depressed in center. Gills white.
Figure 139.—Lactarius atroviridus. Cap and stem dark green. Cap depressed in center. Gills white.
Atroviridus is fromater, black;viridus, green; so called from the color of the cap and the stem of the plant.
The pileus is convex, plane, then depressed in the center, with an adherent pellicle, greenish with darker scales, margin involute.
The gills are slightly decurrent, whitish, broad, distant; milk white but not copious as in many of the Lactarii.
The stem is quite short, tapering downward, dark green, scaly.
The stem is so short that the cap seems to be right on the ground, hence it is very easily overlooked. It is found only occasionally on mossy hillsides, where there are not too many leaves. The plant in Figure 139 was found in Haynes' Hollow, near Chillicothe. I have found the plant on top of Mt. Logan. It is found from July to October. I do not know of its edibility. All specimens that I have found I have sent to my Mycological friends. It should be tasted with caution.
The Sweet Lactarius. Edible.
Figure 140.Figure 140.—Lactarius subdulcis.
Figure 140.—Lactarius subdulcis.
Subdulcis means almost sweet, or sweetish.
The pileus is two to three inches broad, rather thin, papillate, convex, then depressed, smooth, even, zoneless, cinnamon-red or tawny-red, margin sometimes wavy.
The gills are rather narrow, thin, close, whitish, often reddish or tinged with red. Spores, 9–10µ.
The stem is stuffed, then hollow, equal, slightly tapering upward, slender, smooth, sometimes villous at the base. The milk is white, sometimes rather acrid and unpleasant to the taste when raw. It needs to be cooked a long time to make it good.
It is likely to be found anywhere, but it does best in damp places. The plants found with us all seem to have red or cinnamon-red gills, especially before the spores begin to fall. They are found growing on the ground, among leaves, or on well-rotted wood and sometimes on the bare ground. Found from July to November.
Serifluus means flowing with serum, the watery part of milk.
The pileus is fleshy, depressed in the center, dry, smooth, not zoned, tawny-brown, margin thin, incurved.
The gills are crowded, light-brown, or yellowish, milk scanty and watery.
The stem is solid, equal, paler than the pileus. Spores, 7–8µ.
It differs from L. subdulcis in having a solid stem and perhaps a shade darker color. Found in woods, July to November.
The Wrinkled Lactarius. Edible.
Figure 141.Figure 141.—Lactarius corrugis. Caps wrinkled, tawny-brown. Gills orange-brown.
Figure 141.—Lactarius corrugis. Caps wrinkled, tawny-brown. Gills orange-brown.
Corrugis means wrinkled.
The pileus is convex, plane, expanded, slightly depressed in the center; surface of the cap wrinkled, dry, bay-brown; margin at first involute.
The gills are adnexed, broad, yellowish or brownish-yellow, growing paler with age. The stem is rather short, equal, solid, pruinose, of the same color as the pileus. The spores are subglobose, 10–13µ.
This species looks very much like L. volemus, and its only essential difference is in the wrinkled form, and color of the pileus. The milk when dry is very sticky and becomes rather black. It has just a touch of acridity.
Any one determining this species will not fail to note the number of brown cystidia or setæ, in the hymenium, which project above the surface of the gills. They are so numerous and so near the edge of the gills that they give these a downy appearance. The quality of this species is even better than L. volemus, though it is not as abundant here as the latter. Found in thin woods from August to September. The photograph, Figure 141, was made by Prof. H. C. Beardslee.
The Orange-Brown Lactarius. Edible.
Figure 142.Photo by Prof. Atkinson.Figure 142.—Lactarius volemus. Natural size. Caps golden-tawny. Milk copious, as will be seen where the plant has been pricked.
Photo by Prof. Atkinson.
Figure 142.—Lactarius volemus. Natural size. Caps golden-tawny. Milk copious, as will be seen where the plant has been pricked.
Volemus from volema pira, a kind of a pear, so called from the shape of the stem. The pileus is broad, flesh thick, compact, rigid, plane, then expanded, obtuse, dry, golden-tawny, at length somewhat wrinkly.
The gills are crowded, adnate or slightly decurrent, white, then yellowish; milk copious, sweet.
The stem is solid, hard, blunt, generally curved like a pear-stem; its color is that of the pileus but a shade lighter. Spores globose, white.
The milk in this species is very abundant and rather pleasant to the taste. It becomes quite sticky as it dries on your hands. This plant has a good record among mushroom eaters, both in this country and Europe.
There is no danger of mistaking it. The plants grow in damp woods from July to September. They are found singly or in patches. They were found quite plentifully about Salem, Ohio, and also about Chillicothe.
The Delicious Lactarius. Edible.
Figure 143.Figure 143.—Lactarius deliciosus. One-third natural size. Caps light reddish-yellow. Milk orange color.
Figure 143.—Lactarius deliciosus. One-third natural size. Caps light reddish-yellow. Milk orange color.
Deliciosus, delicious. The pileus is three to five inches broad; color varying from yellow to dull orange or even brownish-yellow with mottled concentric zones of deeper color, especially in younger plants, sometimes a light reddish-yellow, without apparent zones (as is the case of those in Figure 143); convex, when expanded becoming very much depressed; funnel-shaped; smooth, moist, sometimes irregular, wavy; flesh brittle, creamy, more or less stained with orange.
The gills are slightly decurrent in the depressed specimens, somewhat crowded, forked at the stem, short ones beginning at the margin; when bruised exuding a copious supply of milky juice of an orange color; a pale tan-color, turning green in age or in drying. Spores are echinulate, 9–10×7–8µ.
The stem is two to three inches or more, equal, smooth, hollow, slightly pruinose, paler than the cap, occasionally spotted with orange, tinged with green in old plants.
The taste of the raw plant is slightly peppery. It grows in damp woods and is sometimes quite common. Its name suggests the estimation in which it is held by all who have eaten it. Like all Lactarii it must be well cooked. The specimens in Figure 143 were gathered on Cemetery Hill close to the pine trees and in company with Boletus Americanus. Found from July to November. I found the plant in a more typical form about Salem, Ohio.
Figure 144.Figure 144.—Lactarius uvidus.
Figure 144.—Lactarius uvidus.
Uvidus is fromuva, grape, so called because when exposed to the air changes to the color of a grape.
The pileus is two to four inches broad, flesh rather thin, convex, sometimesslightly umbonate, then depressed in the center, not zoned, viscid, dingy pale ochraceous-tan, margin at first involute, naked, milk mild at first then becoming acrid, white changing to lilac.
The gills are thin, slightly decurrent, crowded, shorter ones very obtuse and truncate behind, connected by veins, white, when wounded becoming lilac.
The stem is soon hollow, two to three inches long, viscid, pallid.
The spores are round, 10µ.
Not only the milk changes to a lilac when cut, but the flesh itself. They are found in damp woods during August and September. The plants in Figure 144 were found near Boston, by Mrs. Blackford. These plants grew in Purgatory Swamp. The Sphagnum moss will be seen at the base of the upright plant.
Yellow-Juiced Lactarius.
Chrysorrheus from two Greek words;chrysos, yellow or golden;reo, I flow, because the juice soon turns to a golden yellow.
The pileus is rather fleshy, depressed, then funnel-shaped, yellowish-flesh colored, marked with dark zones or spots.
The stem is stuffed, then hollow, equal, or tapering below, paler than the pileus, sometimes pitted.
The gills are decurrent, thin, crowded, yellowish, milk white, then golden-yellow, very acrid.
The milk is white, quite acrid, has a peculiar taste, and changes at once on exposure to a beautiful yellow. This is a common species about Salem, Ohio, and is quite variable in size. Found in woods and groves from July to October. I do not know whether its edible quality has ever been tested. When I found it some years ago I had less faith in mushrooms than I have now.
The Wooly-White Lactarius. Edible.
Vellereus from vellus, a fleece. The pileus is white, compact, fleshy, depressed or convex, tomentose, zoneless, margin at first involute, milk white and acrid.
The gills are white or whitish, distant, forked, adnate or decurrent, connected by veins, bow-shaped, milk scanty.
The stem is solid, blunt, pubescent, white, tapering downward. Spores white and nearly smooth, .00019 by .00034 inch.
This species is quite common; and though very acrid to the taste, this acridity is entirely lost in cooking. It will be readily known by the downy covering of the cap. Found in thin woods and wood margins. July to October.
Russula, red or reddish. The beginner will have little difficulty in determining this genus. There is such a strong family likeness that, finding one, he will say at once it is a Russula. The contour of the cap, the brittleness of its flesh and of its stem, the fragile gills, and the failure of any part of the plant to exude a milky or colored juice, the many gay colors—will all help in determining the genus.
Many species of Russula strongly resemble those of the genus Lactarius, in size, shape, and texture. The spores, too, are quite similar, but the absence of the milky juice will mark the difference at once.
The cap may be red, purple, violet, pink, blue, yellow, or green. The colored zones often seen in the Lactarii do not appear here. The beginner will possibly find trouble in identifying species, because of variation of size and color. The spores are white to very pale yellow, generally spiny. The pileus is fleshy, convex, then expanded, and at length depressed. The stem is brittle, stout, and smooth, generally spongy within, and confluent with the cap. The gills are milkless, with acute edge, and very tender.
Captain McIlvaine, in his very valuable book, One Thousand American Fungi, says: "To this genus authors have done special injustice; there is not a single species among them known to be poisonous, and where they are not too strong of cherry bark and other highly flavored substances, they are all edible; most of them favorites." I can testify to the fact that many of them are favorites, though a few are very peppery and it requires some courage to attack them.
They are all found on the ground in open woods, from early summer to late fall.
The Weaned Russula. Edible.
Delica means weaned, so called because, though it resembles Lactarius vellereus in appearance, it is void of milk.
The pileus is quite large, fleshy, firm, depressed, even, shining, margin involute, smooth, not striated.
The gills are decurrent, thin, distant, unequal, white.
The stem is solid, compact, white, short.
Specimens will be found that resemble Lactarius piperatus and L. vellereus, but they may be easily distinguished because they have no milk in their gills and the taste is mild. They are not equal to most of the Russulas. Found in woods from August to October.
The Smoky Russula. Edible.
Figure 145.Figure 145.—Russula adusta.
Figure 145.—Russula adusta.
Adusta means burned.
The pileus is fuliginous, cinereous, flesh compact, margin even and inflexed, depressed in the center.
The gills are attached to the stem, decurrent, thin, crowded, unequal, white, not reddening when bruised.
The stem is obese, solid, of the same color as the pileus, not turning red when bruised.
The plant resembles R. nigricans, but can readily be distinguished from itbecause of the thin, crowded gills and failure to turn red when cut or bruised. The spores are subglobose, almost smooth, 8–9µ; no cystidia. It is found in the woods during August and September. Edible but not first class. It is a plant very widely distributed.
Figure 146.Photo by C. G. Lloyd.Figure 146.—Russula nigricans.
Photo by C. G. Lloyd.
Figure 146.—Russula nigricans.
Nigricans means blackish.
The pileus is two to four inches broad, dark grayish-brown, black with advancing age, fleshy, compact, flesh turning red when bruised or convex, flattened, then depressed, at length funnel-shaped, margin entire, without striate, margin at first incurved, young specimens are slightly viscid when moist, even, without a separable pellicle; whitish at first, soon sooty olive, at length becoming broken up into scales and black; flesh firm and white, becoming reddish when broken.
The gills are rounded behind, slightly adnexed, thick, distant, broad, unequal, the shorter ones sometimes very scanty, forked, reddening when touched.
The stem is rather short, thick, solid, equal, pallid when young, then black. The spores are subglobose, rough, 8–9µ.
The plant is quite compact, inodorous, becoming entirely black with age. It is easily distinguished from R. adusta by the flesh becoming reddish when bruised, and by the much thicker, and more distant gills. It is very close to R. densifolia but differs from it in that its gills are more distant and because of its mild taste.
I am pleased to present to my readers, in Figure 146, a photograph of a plant which grew in Sweden in the locality where Prof. Fries did his great work in fungal study and research. It is a typical specimen of this species. It was gathered and photographed by Mr. C. G. Lloyd.
It is found from June to October. Not poisonous, but not good.
The Fetid Russula. Not Edible.
Figure 147.Photo by C. G. Lloyd.Figure 147.—Russula fœtens.
Photo by C. G. Lloyd.
Figure 147.—Russula fœtens.
Fœtens means stinking.
The pileus is four to six inches broad, dirty white or yellowish; flesh thin; at first hemispherical, then expanded, almost plane, often depressed in the center; covered with a pellicle which is adnate; viscid in wet weather; widely striate-tuberculate on the margin, which is at first incurved.
The gills are adnexed, connected by veins, crowded, irregular, many forked, rather broad, whitish, becoming dingy when bruised, exuding watery drops at first.
The stem is stout, stuffed, then hollow, concolor, two to four inches long. The spores are small, echinulate, almost round.
I have found the plants very generally diffused over the state. It is very coarse and uninviting. Its smell and taste are bad. Found from July to October. These plants are widely distributed and usually rather abundant.
The Tan-Colored Russula. Edible.
Figure 148.Figure 148.—Russula alutacea. Two-thirds natural size. Caps flesh color. Gills broad and yellowish.
Figure 148.—Russula alutacea. Two-thirds natural size. Caps flesh color. Gills broad and yellowish.
Alutacea, tanned leather. The pileus is flesh-color, sometimes red; flesh white; bell-shaped, then convex; expanded, with a viscid covering, growing pale; slightly depressed; even; margin inclined to be thin, striate.
The gills are broad, ventricose, free, thick, somewhat distant, equal, yellow, then ochraceous.
The stem is stout, solid, even; white, though parts of the stem are red, sometimes purple; wrinkled lengthwise; spongy. The spores are yellow.
The taste is mild andpleasant when young, but quite acrid when old. Alutacea will be known mostly by its mild taste, broad, and yellow gills. It is quite common, but does not grow in groups. It is sweet and nutty.
From July to October.
Ochrey Gilled Russula. Edible.
Ochrophylla is from two Greek words meaningochreandleaf, because of its ochre-colored gills.
The pileus is two to four inches broad, firm, convex, becoming nearly plane or slightly depressed in the center; even, or rarely very slightly striate on the margin when old; purple or dark purplish-red; flesh white, purplish under the adnate cuticle; taste mild.
The gills are entire, a few of them forked at the base, subdistant, adnate at first yellowish, becoming bright, ochraceous-buff when mature and dusted by the spores, the interspaces somewhat venose.
The stem is equal or nearly so, solid or spongy within, reddish or rosy tinted, paler than the pileus. The spores are bright, ochraceous-buff, globose, verruculose, .0004 of an inch broad.Peck.
This is one of the easiest Russulas to determine because of its purple or purplish-red cap, entire gills, at first yellowish, then a bright, ochraceous-buff when mature. The taste is mild and the flavor fairly good.
There is also a plant which has a purplish cap and a white stem, called Russula ochrophylla albipes. Pk. It quite agrees in its edible qualities with the former.
R. ochrophylla is found in the woods, especially under oak trees, in July and August.
The Neat Russula. Edible.
Figure 149.Figure 149.—Russula lepida. Two-thirds natural size. Caps, purplish-red, with more or less brown.
Figure 149.—Russula lepida. Two-thirds natural size. Caps, purplish-red, with more or less brown.
Lepida, fromlepidus, neat.
The pileus firm, solid; varying in color from bright red to dull, subdued purplish with a distinct brown; compact; convex, then depressed, dry unpolished; margin even, sometimes cracked and scaly, not striated.
The gills are white, broad, principally even, occasionally forked, very brittle, rounded, somewhat crowded, connected by veins, sometimes red on the edge, especially near the margin.
The stem is solid, white, usually stained and streaked with pink, compact, even.
The surface is dull, as with a fine dust or plum-like bloom, and thus without polish. Often times the surface will appear almost velvety. The tints of the flesh and the gills will be found uniform. The plant when raw is sweet and nut-like to the taste. This is a beautiful species, the color being averaged under the general hue of dark, subdued red, inclining to maroon. It is simply delicious when properly cooked. Found in woods from July to September.
The Blue and Yellow Russula. Edible.
Cyanoxantha, from two Greek words, blue and yellow, referring to color of the plant.
The pileus is quite variable as to color, ranging from lilac or purplish to greenish; disk yellowish, margin bluish or livid-purple; convex, then plane, depressed in center; margin faintly striate, sometimes wrinkled.
The gills are rounded behind, connected by veins, forked, white, slightly crowded.
The stem is solid, spongy, stuffed, hollow when old, equal, smooth and white.
The color of the cap is quite variable but the peculiar combination of colorwill assist the student in distinguishing it. It is a beautiful plant and one of the best of the Russulas to eat. The mushroom-eater counts himself lucky indeed when he can find a basketful of this species after "the joiner squirrel" has satisfied his love of this special good thing. It is quite common in woods from August to October.
The Edible Russula. Edible.
Vesca from vesco, to feed. The pileus is from two to three inches broad; red-flesh-color, disk darker; fleshy; firm; convex, with a slight depression in the center, then funnel-shaped; slightly wrinkled; margin even, or remotely striate.
Gills adnate, rather crowded, unequal, forked, and white.
The stem is firm, solid, sometimes peculiarly reticulated, tapering at the base. The spores are globose, spiny, and white. I frequently found it near Salem, O., in thin chestnut woods and in pastures under such trees. A mushroom lover will be amply paid for the long tramps if he finds a basket full of these dainties. It is mild and sweet when raw. It is found in thin woods and in wood margins, sometimes under trees in pastures, from August to October.
The Green Russula. Edible.