across and high, slightly fleshy, convex bell-shaped, obtuse, glabrous,
opaque, dingy-gray when moist, paler and yellowish when dry, with a
narrow brown encircling zone near the margin. =Gills= adnate, 2 lines or
more broad, gray, variegated with smoky-black. =Stem= 2–4 in. high, 1
line or more thick, equal, fragile, whitish, powdered with white meal
upward, hollow. _Fries._
=Stem= soft, fragile, obsoletely silky-striatulate, 2–4 in. long.
=Pileus= when moist commonly smoky-gray, when dry grayish clay-color,
sometimes discoid. =Gills= semi-ovate with a minute decurrent tooth.
_Fries._
West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey. Frequent. On dung and richly
manured places. June to September. _McIlvaine._
P. fimicola is neither as large nor heavy as P. solidipes, but in other
respects equals it.
=P. soli´dipes= Pk.—_solidus_, solid; _pes_, a foot. (Plate CII, fig. 3,
4, p. 372.) =Pileus= 2–3 in. across, firm, at first hemispherical, then
sub-campanulate or convex, smooth, whitish, the cuticle at length
breaking up into dingy-yellowish, rather large, angular scales. =Gills=
broad, slightly attached, whitish, becoming black. =Stem= 2–4 lines
thick, firm, smooth, white, solid, slightly striate at the top. =Spores=
very black with a bluish tint. Height of plant 5–8 in. Dung heaps. West
Albany. June.
A large species, remarkable for its solid stem. The scales on the pileus
are larger on the disk, becoming smaller toward the margin. The upper
part of the stipe is sometimes beaded with drops of moisture. _Peck_,
23d Rep. N.Y. State Bot.
West Virginia, 1881–1885. Pennsylvania, New Jersey, frequent on dung and
dung heaps. May to frost. _McIlvaine._
On mature plants, or after rains, the scales are not always present.
P. solidipes is a handsome, readily recognized species of good weight
and substance. It is one of the best of toadstools.
=P. campanula´tus= Linn.—_campanula_, a little bell. =Pileus= oval,
bell-shaped or obtusely conical, sometimes umbonate, smooth, somewhat
shining, brownish, with a peculiar gray or lead-colored tint, sometimes
becoming reddish-tinted, the margin, often scalloped or fringed with the
appendiculate veil. =Lamellæ= not broad, attached, becoming
grayish-black. =Stem= long, slender, hollow, reddish, pruinose and
slightly striate at the top, at length dusted with the spores.
=Height= 4–6 in., breadth of pileus 6–12 lines.
On horse dung and rich soil. June and July. Common.
In very wet weather the cuticle of the pileus sometimes cracks into
scales or areas. _Peck_, 23d Rep. N.Y. State Bot.
=Spores= subellipsoid, 16–18×10–13µ _K._; 8–9×6µ _Massee_.
Mr. R.K. Macadam, Boston, Mass., informs me that he has information of a
case of poisoning by this fungus. “The victim experienced dizziness,
dimness of vision, trembling and loss of power and memory. He recovered
after simple treatment and was well inside of 24 hours.”
A full account of this case is in “The London Medical and Surgical
Journal,” Vol. 36, November, 1816. The poison acts as a sedative.
I have several times eaten of this fungus in small quantities, because
larger could not be obtained, and with no other than pleasant effect.
There does not appear to be any case of poisoning reported by it since
1816, which, considering the inquisitiveness of man, is singular.
Caution is advised.
=P. papiliona´ceus= Fr.—_papilio_, a butterfly. =Pileus=
subhemispherical, sometimes subumbonate, smooth, or with the cuticle
breaking up into scales, whitish-gray, often tinged with yellow.
=Lamellæ= very broad, attached, becoming black. =Stem= slender, firm,
hollow, pruinose above, whitish, sometimes tinged with red or yellow,
slightly striate at the top and generally stained by the spores.
=Height= 3–5 in., breadth of pileus 6–18 lines.
On dung and rich soil. Common. May and June.
A small form occurs with the pileus nearly white, scarcely half an inch
in diameter, and the cuticle not cracking. _Peck_, 23d Rep. N.Y. State
Bot.
The effects of P. papilionaceus are very uncertain. I have seen it
produce hilarity in a few instances, and other mild symptoms of
intoxication, which were soon over, and with little reaction. But I have
seen, at table, the same effects from eating preserved peaches and
preserved plums which had fermented. Many personal testings have been
without effect. Testings upon others vary with the individuals. The
fungus seems to contain a mild stimulant. It is not dangerous, but
should be eaten with caution. Being of small size, and not a prolific
species, quantities of it are difficult to obtain. Moderate quantities
of it have no effect whatever.
[Illustration]
=ANELLA´RIA= Karst.
_Anellus_, a little ring.
=Pileus= slightly fleshy, smooth and even. =Gills= adnexed, dark
slate-color, variegated with the black spores. =Stem= central, smooth,
shining, rather firm. =Ring= present at first, either persistent or
forming a zone around the stem.
The species of this genus were formerly included in Panæolus, from which
this is separated by the presence of a ring, more or less definite.
In other characters they are similar. As in Amanitopsis and Amanita.
(Plate CIX.)
[Illustration:
ANELLARIA SEPARATA.
Natural size.
]
=A. separa´ta= Karst.—_separatus_, distinct, separate. =Pileus= 1–1½ in.
across, height about the same, ovate, then bell-shaped, not expanding,
viscid, even, ochraceous, then whitish, shining, wrinkled when old.
=Flesh= rather thick. =Gills= adfixed, ascending, thin, crowded, broad,
2–3 lines, grayish-black, margin paler. =Stem= long, 3–5 in., straight,
base thickened, attenuated upward, whitish, shining, top somewhat
striate. =Ring= persistent, distant. _Massee._
On dung. Rather variable in size.
=Pileus= bell-shaped, but very obtuse at the summit, ½-1¼ in. from the
base to the apex, not expanding at the base without cracking.
=Spores= broadly elliptic-fusiform, black, opaque, 10×7µ _Massee_;
ellipsoid, 16–22×10–12µ _K._; 16×11µ _W.G.S._
West Virginia, 1881–1885. New Jersey, Mt. Gretna, Pa., July, 1898, on
dung. _McIlvaine._
A common, frequent species from May to October. It is substantial in
flesh, excellent in substance and flavor. Cook soon and not over fifteen
minutes.
=PSATHYREL´LA.=
_Gr_—fragile.
=Pileus= membranaceous, _striate_, margin straight, at first pressed to
the stem, _not extending beyond the gills_. =Veil= inconspicuous.
=Gills= sooty-black, _not variegated_. =Spores= black.
Closely resembling Psathyra in appearance, but separated by the spore
color.
In the black-spored series Panæolus and Anellaria are distinguished by
their pilei not being striate and Coprinus by its deliquescent gills.
The species are small and can seldom be gathered in quantity. But those
tested have the full mushroom flavor and are valued for the flavor they
give to less gifted species when cooked with them.
=P. gra´cilis= Fr.—slender. =Pileus= ½-1 in. broad, _sooty_, livid,
etc., when dry, tan, rosy or whitish, hygrophanous, membranaceous,
bell-shaped, obtuse, smooth, _even_, slightly and pellucidly-striate
only round the margin. =Stem= 3 in. and more long, scarcely 1 line
thick, tubular, _remarkably tense and straight_, equal, naked, smooth,
whitish, _not rooted, white-villous at the base_. =Gills= wholly adnate,
commonly _broader_ behind (rarely linear), almost _distant_, distinct,
at first whitish, then cinereous-blackish with the black spores, _edge
rose-colored_. _Fries._
When dry the pileus is soft to the touch. Gregarious, fragile. Very
similar to A. corrugis, and there is a variety corrugated. _Stevenson._
=Spores= ellipsoid, 13–14×7–8µ _K._; 5×12µ _W.G.S._; 7×3–3.5µ _Massee_;
14×8µ _Morgan_.
New York, _Peck_, Rep. 23; West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
common, rich ground, June to October. _McIlvaine._
A common and beautiful fungus, growing in patches on rich ground. It is
decidedly prim. Its conical cap is regular as an extinguisher. It pays
to gather it for flavoring other species. I have not seen the corrugated
form mentioned by Fries. P. graciloides Pk. lacks the rosy-edged gills;
gills are whitish.
(Plate CX.)
[Illustration: PSATHYRELLA GRACILOIDES.]
=P. graciloi´des= Pk.—slender. =Pileus= thin, conical or bell-shaped,
glabrous, hygrophanous, brown and striatulate when moist, whitish and
subrugulose when dry. =Lamellæ= ascending, rather broad, subdistant,
brown, becoming blackish-brown, the edge whitish. =Stem= long, straight,
fragile, hollow, smooth, white. =Spores= blackish, elliptical,
15–16.5×8–8.5µ.
=Plant= gregarious, 4–6 in. high. =Pileus= 1 in. broad. =Stem= 1 line
thick.
Ground in an old dooryard. Maryland. September.
This is allied to A. gracilis Fr., but the edge of the gills is not
rosy. When drying the moisture leaves the disk of the pileus first, the
margin last. When dry the plant bears some resemblance to large forms of
A. tener. Under a lens the texture of the surface of the pileus is seen
to be composed of matted fibrils. _Peck_, 30th Rep. N.Y. State Bot.
Pennsylvania and New Jersey, on ground about houses and stables, often
in barn yards, after they have been cleaned out and are empty for the
summer. _McIlvaine._
The whitish-edged gills with entire absence of rosiness on gill edges
distinguish this species from P. gracilis Fr. It is frequent but not
plentiful. Often a pint can be gathered. It has a fine mushroom flavor,
resembling the delicate forms of Coprinus.
=P. atoma´ta= Fr.—_atomatus_, atomate. =Pileus= ½-1 in. broad, livid,
when dry becoming pale tan or pale flesh-color, sometimes reddish,
hygrophanous, membranaceous, bell-shaped, obtuse, _slightly striate_,
when dry without striæ, slightly wrinkled, _sprinkled with shining
atoms_. =Stem= 2 in. long, almost 1 line thick, tubular, equal, not
rooted, _lax_, slightly bent (not tense and straight), _white and white
pulverulent at the apex_. =Gills= adnate, broad, _ventricose, slightly
distinct_, whitish, but cinereous-blackish with the black spores.
_Fries._
Solitary or gregarious. Pileus changing like A. gracilis from livid to
whitish and rose-color, but more fragile. _Stevenson._
=Spores= elliptical, 10×4µ _Massee_; 14×9µ _W.G.S_.; 11×8µ _Morgan_.
Chester county, Pa., June to September. _McIlvaine._
Several specimens were eaten. In flavor they could not be distinguished
from C. micaceus. The scarcity and small size of the species make it of
little value, save as a flavoring.
(Plate CXI.)
[Illustration: PSATHYRELLA DISSEMINATA.]
=P. dissemina´ta= Pers.—_dissemino_, to scatter. Found everywhere.
Densely tufted. =Pileus= about ½ in. across, membranaceous, ovate,
bell-shaped, at first scurfy, then naked, coarsely striate, margin
entire, yellowish then gray. =Gills= adnate, narrow, whitish, then gray,
finally blackish. =Stem= 1–1½ in. long, rather curved, mealy then
smooth, fragile, hollow. _Massee._
Crowded. =Pileus= ovate, conical, at length bell-shaped, ⅓-½ in. from
the base to the apex, striate and plicate, membranaceous, pale buff or
reddish-brown, at length gray, becoming flaccid and dissolving. =Gills=
distant, narrow, pale brown. =Stipes= 1–3 in. long, slender, weak,
brittle, crooked, hollow, pale yellowish, whitish or grayish.
Particularly partial to old willow trees, and when growing on a stump of
a felled tree often covering nearly a square yard. _Grev._
=Spores= 8×6µ _W.G.S_.; 7.6×5µ _Morgan._
West Virginia, New Jersey, Mt. Gretna, Pa., about abandoned camp.
Densely tufted. May to frost. _McIlvaine._
Patches of it are very common on old trunks, about decaying trees, on
ground. The caps rarely reach 1 in. in diameter. The plants cook away to
almost nothing, but they are of fine flavor, which they impart to the
cooking medium.
[Illustration]
=GOMPHI´DIUS= Fr.
A wooden bolt or nail.
=Hymenophore= decurrent. =Gills= distant, composed of a mucilaginous
membrane, which can be readily separated into two plates, continuous at
the edge which is acute and powdered with the blackish fusiform spores.
=Veil= viscoso-floccose. Fleshy, putrescent, pileus at length the shape
of an inverted cone.
A small genus with great difference among the species. Intermediate in
habit between Cortinarius and Hygrophorus.
Universal =Veil= glutinous, at first terminating on the stem in a
floccose ring soon disappearing. The =Gills= frequently admit of being
detached and stretched out into a continuous membrane. _Fries._
A genus possessing several well-marked characters. The very decurrent
gills differ from all others in their soft mucilaginous consistency. The
spores are larger than usual in the Agaricaceæ and have the elongated
spindle-shape found in Boleti. The stem and pileus are of the same
substance, and the pileus and veil are both glutinous when moist. The
spores have been described as greenish-gray becoming black, and as
dingy-olive.
I have had opportunity to see but two species of this small genus—G.
rhodoxanthus and G. viscidus. Of these the spores are decidedly
olivaceous. If the six other species recorded as found in the United
States are as creditable, they are well worth hunting for. G.
Oregonensis Pk. is reported as edible and as a valuable food species in
Oregon. The glutinous coatings to pileus and stem do not appear on the
American form of G. rhodoxanthus in the localities I have found it in
during fifteen years.
=G. glutino´sus= (Schaeff.) Fr.—_glutin_, glue. =Pileus= 2–5 in. broad,
purple-brown, often mottled with black spots, fleshy, convex, obtuse, at
length plane, even depressed, even, smooth, very glutinous. =Flesh=
thick, about ½ in., soft, white. =Stem= 2–3 in. and more long, about ½
in. thick, solid, whitish, thickened and externally and internally
yellow at the base, viscid with the veil, fibrillose or varying with
black scales. =Cortina= often woven in the form of a ring, but soon
fugacious. =Gills= deeply decurrent, distant, distinct, branched, quite
entire, mucilaginous, 3–4 lines broad, _at first whitish, then
cinereous_, clouded with the spores.
Trama none, wherefore the gills easily separate from the pileus. Taste
watery, moldy. Odor not marked. _Stevenson._
=Spores= 20µ _Cooke_; 18–23×6–8µ _K._; 16–17×6µ _W.G.S._; 18–20×6µ
_Massee_.
Distinguished by the bright yellow base of stem.
Pine woods. July to November. Nova Scotia. _Somers._
Edible. _Leuba._ Chiefly used for catsup. _Cooke._
Var. _ro´seus_. =Pileus= rose-color. =Stem= white, attenuated and rosy
flesh-color internally at the base. Very distinguished, always smaller.
=Spores= 20–22×6µ _K._
Nova Scotia. Massachusetts. _Frost._
I have not seen this species or its variety. Eminent authorities vouch
for its edibility.
=G. Oregonen´sis= Pk. =Pileus= at first convex, becoming nearly plane or
somewhat centrally depressed, viscid, brown or dark-brown, becoming
black in drying, taste sweet and pleasant. =Lamellæ= numerous, rather
close, adnate or slightly decurrent, blackish in the dried plant. =Stem=
short, solid, equal or slightly tapering upward, colored like the
pileus. =Spores= oblong, 10–12.5µ long, 4–5µ broad.
=Pileus= 5–10 cm. broad. =Stem= 2.5–5 cm. long, 4–10 mm. thick.
Fir woods. Oregon. September to December. _Lane._
Dr. Lane writes that this species is edible and grows so abundantly in
fir woods that it might be gathered by wagon loads and might be made a
source of an abundant food supply. _Peck_. Torrey Bulletin, Vol. 25, No.
6, June, 1898.
(Plate CXII.)
[Illustration:
GOMPHIDIUS VISCIDUS.
One-half natural size.
]
=G. vis´cidus= Fr.—viscid. =Pileus= 2–3 in. and more broad,
brownish-red, compact, at first bell-shaped, then expanded, umbonate,
slightly viscous, shining when dry. =Flesh= yellowish. =Stem= 3–4 in.
and more long, ½ in. thick, solid, equal or attenuated at the base which
is rhubarb-colored internally, scaly-fibrillose, not very viscous,
yellowish. =Cortina= very evidently floccose, not glutinous, woven in
the form of a ring, but readily falling off. =Gills= deeply decurrent,
distant, the shorter ones adnexed to the longer, not truly branched, at
first paler, somewhat olive, at length brownish-purple, clouded with the
spores. _Fries._
Hymenophore descending between the gill plates. Odor not unpleasant.
_Stevenson._
Chiefly used in catsup. _Cooke._ Edible. _Leuba._ _Cooke._
North Carolina, Massachusetts, _Frost_. Minnesota, California,
Pennsylvania.
Many grew under pines at Mt. Gretna, Pa., September to November. The
gills seemed branched, but were grown together. Taste and smell
pleasant. The caps are good, but not equal to G. rhodoxanthus.
=G. rhodoxan´thus= Schw. (Plate XCVII, fig. 4, 5, p. 352.) Solitary.
=Pileus= 1–2 in. broad, cushion-shaped, reddish-yellow, sometimes with
dusky hues. =Gills= arched, decurrent, orange-yellow. =Stem= attenuated,
short, firm.
=Spores= oblong, 10–12.5µ in length. _Peck._ Olivaceous. _McIlvaine._
Solitary, gregarious or cespitose.
Among leaves and grass in shady places. August to October.
When the student has mastered the name and memorized the description,
Gomphidius rhodoxanthus can not be mistaken for any other species.
It is not common in localities I have frequented, but its presence is
pretty general in the United States, specimens having been sent to me
from Georgia, Iowa, New York, New Jersey, etc., and I have found it in
West Virginia, North Carolina, Woodland Cemetery, Philadelphia, and
other places in Pennsylvania, from July to September, 1898, inclusive.
Having enjoyed it in West Virginia in 1882, I was delighted to find it
in generous quantity at Mt. Gretna, Pa., and to eat many meals of it.
Its caps are not excelled by any edible fungus. They have solid,
delicious substance and rich full flavor.
The plant is often cespitose. I have never found its cap viscid or
glutinous. The cooked flesh has the latter consistency.
[Illustration]
=MONTAGNITES= Fr.
After Montagne. (Plate CI, fig. 6, p. 368.)
The universal veil forming a volva, persistent. =Stem= dilated at the
apex into a plane round disk, even on both sides, _to the margin_ of
which are _adfixed the gills which are free, not joined by any
membrane_, radiating, razor-shaped, persistent, obtuse at the edge.
=Trama= cellulose. =Spores= oblong, even, black fuscous. _Fries._
A single species is reported from Texas.
FAMILY II.—=POLYPORACEÆ.=
Hymenophore inferior, facing the ground. Hymenium consisting of tubes
with poriform mouths which are round or angular, sometimes sinuous or
torn, lined with 4-spored sporophores and cystidia.
Fleshy, coriaceous or woody fungi, most abundant and luxuriant in warm
countries. Intermediate between the Agaricaceæ and the Hydnaceæ,
connected with the former by Dædalea and Lenzites, and with the latter
by Fistulina and Irpex. _Fries._
Within this large family are famed edible species, notably in Boletinus,
Boletus and Fistulina. In the woody species the razor-strop man finds
material for his strops (Polyporus celulinus); the surgeon styptics; the
peasant punk to catch sparks from his flint, and the 4th of July urchin
a fire-holder to light his pyrotechnics. The Chinese have placed some
species in their fathomless materia medica, while the Polyporus of the
locust tree is used in America as a medicine for horses. No fungoid
growth is more universal. They are the ever active pruners of our trees
and converters of forest debris. They begin the task in Nature’s
laboratory of changing decaying wood into assimilable shape as food to
feed the very trees that dropped it. Some are of annual growth, others
add to their substance year after year, often attaining enormous size.
In summer and in winter they are ever present objects for interesting
study.
SYNOPSIS OF GENERA.
BOLETINUS. Page 398.
Hymenium composed of broader radiating gills connected by very numerous
more narrow anastomosing branches or partitions and forming large
angular pores. Tubes somewhat tenacious, not easily separable from the
hymenophore and from each other, adnate or subdecurrent, yellowish.
_Peck._
BOLETUS. Page 404.
Stratum of tubes easily separable from the hymenophore. Stem central.
STROBILOMYCES. Page 475.
Tubes like Boletus, but pileus with large scales. Stem central.
FISTULINA. Page 477.
Fleshy, lateral, tubes crowded but distinct.
POLYPORUS. Page 479.
Stratum of tubes distinct from hymenophore, but not separable, not
stratose; fleshy and tough, stipitate or sessile.
FOMES.
Tubes as in Polyporus, often stratose; woody, sessile; dimidiate. (No
edible species reported.)
POLYSTICTUS.
Tubes as in Polyporus, not stratose, generally developing from the
center to the margin, at first shallow and punctiform, coriaceous or
membranaceous. (No edible species reported.)
PORIA.
Tubes as in Polyporus, not stratose; entirely resupinate. (No edible
species reported.)
MUCRONOPORUS.
Tubes studded with reddish-brown spines, intermingled with the basidia,
otherwise as in Polystictus (and also as in Polyporus and Fomes).
_Atkinson._ (No edible species reported.)
TRAMETES.
Tubes immersed in flesh of pileus, of various depths, hence not forming
a heterogeneous stratum, subcylindrical, not stratose; corky; sessile.
DÆDALEA.
Tubes as in Trametes, but sinuous and labyrinthiform; corky; not
stratose; sessile. (No edible species reported.)
HEXAGONIA.
Tubes from the first dilated in hexagonal channels, not stratose; plants
corky, sessile. _Atkinson._ (No edible species reported.)
FAVOLUS.
Tubes large at first, radiating from a central stem, or from a lateral
attachment in sessile or dimidiate forms; plants tough and fleshy.
_Atkinson._ (No edible species reported.)
CYCLOMYCES.
Gills or tubes in concentric circles. Stem central, subcentral or none.
_Atkinson._ (No edible species reported.)
MERULIUS. Page 490.
Subgelatinous. Tubes very shallow, formed by anastomosing wrinkles;
resupinate.
=BOLETI´NUS= Kalchb.
(Plate CXIII, p. 402.)
=Hymenophore= not even (as in Boletus), but extended in blunt points
descending like a trama among the tubes. =Tubes= not easily separable
from the hymenophore and from each other. =Stem= ringed, hollow.
=Spores= pale yellowish. Sylloge, Vol. VI, p. 51.
Professor Peck has for excellent reasons, given in his Boleti of the
United States, emended the generic diagnosis of Fries thus: _Hymenium
composed of broader radiating lamellæ connected by very numerous more
narrow anastomosing branches or partitions and forming large angular
pores. Tubes somewhat tenacious, not easily separable from the
hymenophore and from each other, adnate or subdecurrent, yellowish._
Professor Peck classifies Boletinus as follows:
Stem hollow B. cavipes
Stem solid 1
1. Stem lateral or eccentric B. porosus
1. Stem central 2
2. Pileus pale yellow, silky B. decipiens
2. Pileus red or adorned with red scales 3
3. Pileus red B. paluster
3. Pileus soon red-squamose B. pictus
Boleti of the United States, p. 76.
There are six species given as found in the United States—B. cavipes
Kalchb., B. pictus Pk., B. paluster Pk., B. decipiens Pk., B. porosus
Pk., B. appendiculatus Pk.—of these I have found and eaten four. B.
decipiens has, at this writing, not been seen by Professor Peck, but
Professor Farlow, of Harvard, has informed him of authentic specimens.
There is every probability of its being as edible as the others; a
description of it is, therefore, given.
In consistency Boletinus is of the best, being rather like that of
marshmallows, and the same as Boletus subaureus. The flavor is mild and
pleasant.
Professor Peck mentions that the smell of B. porosus is sometimes
unpleasant. I have been fortunate in not having had this experience.