in nearly all the species the milk is white, changing to a sulphur
yellow, red, or violet, on exposure to the air.
_Lactarius torminosus. Fr._
THE WOOLLY LACTARIUS. POISONOUS.
[Illustration: 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,
9-10x7-8u.
This differs from L. cilicioides in its zoned pileus and white milk.
Most authorities 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.
_Lactarius piperatus. Fr._
THE PEPPERY LACTARIUS. EDIBLE.
[Illustration: 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.
_Lactarius pergamenus. Fr._
Pergamenus is from _pergamena_, 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, 8x6. It differs from L. piperatus in its crowded, narrow
gills and longer stem. Found in woods from August to October.
_Lactarius deceptivus. Pk._
DECEIVING LACTARIUS. EDIBLE
[Illustration: 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 of them, forked, whitish, becoming cream-colored.
The stem is one to three inches long, equal or narrowed downward, solid,
pruinose-pubescent, white. Spores are white, 9-12.7u. 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.
_Lactarius indigo. (Schw.) Fr._
[Illustration: Figure 130.--Lactarius indigo. One-third natural size.
Entire plant indigo blue.]
[Illustration: 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 surface of 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.
_Lactarius regalis. Pk._
[Illustration: 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. chrysorrhaeus. 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.
_Lactarius scrobiculatus. Fr._
THE SPOTTED-STEMMED LACTARIUS.
[Illustration: _Photo by C. G. Lloyd._
Figure 133.--Lactarius scrobiculatus. Natural size. Caps reddish-yellow,
zoned. Margin very much incurved, stem pitted.]
Scrobiculatus is from _scrobis_, a trench, and _ferro_, 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.
_Lactarius trivialis. Fr._
[Illustration: 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.
_Lactarius insulsus. Fr._
[Illustration: 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,
10x8u.
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.
_Lactarius lignyotus. Fr._
THE SOOTY LACTARIUS. EDIBLE.
[Illustration: _Photo by C. G. Lloyd._
Plate XXI. Figure, 136.--Lactarius lignyotus.
Natural size. Caps a sooty umber. Flesh mild to the taste.]
Lignyotus is from _lignum_, 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,
9-11.3u.
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.
_Lactarius cinereus. Pk._
[Illustration: Figure 137.--Lactarius cinereus.]
Cinereus is from _cineres_, 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.
_Lactarius griseus. Pk._
GRAY LACTARIUS.
[Illustration: 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.
_Lactarius distans. Pk._
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, 9-11u 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.
_Lactarius atroviridus. Pk._
THE DARK-GREEN LACTARIUS.
[Illustration: Figure 139.--Lactarius atroviridus. Cap and stem dark
green. Cap depressed in center. Gills white.]
Atroviridus is from _ater_, 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.
_Lactarius subdulcis. Fr._
THE SWEET LACTARIUS. EDIBLE.
[Illustration: 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, 9-10u.
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.
_Lactarius serifluus. Fr._
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, 7-8u.
It differs from L. subdulcis in having a solid stem and perhaps a shade
darker color. Found in woods, July to November.
_Lactarius corrugis. Pk._
THE WRINKLED LACTARIUS. EDIBLE.
[Illustration: 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, 10-13u.
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 setae, 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.
_Lactarius volemus. Fr._
THE ORANGE-BROWN LACTARIUS. EDIBLE.
[Illustration: _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.
_Lactarius deliciosus. Fr._
THE DELICIOUS LACTARIUS. EDIBLE.
[Illustration: 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, 9-10x7-8u.
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.
_Lactarius uvidus. Fr._
[Illustration: Figure 144.--Lactarius uvidus.]
Uvidus is from _uva_, 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,
sometimes slightly 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, 10u.
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.
_Lactarius chrysorrheus. Fr._
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.
_Lactarius vellereus. Fr._
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. Pers._
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.
_Russula delica. Fr._
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.
_Russula adusta. Pers._
THE SMOKY RUSSULA. EDIBLE.
[Illustration: 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
it because of the thin, crowded gills and failure to turn red when cut
or bruised. The spores are subglobose, almost smooth, 8-9u; no
cystidia. It is found in the woods during August and September. Edible
but not first class. It is a plant very widely distributed.
_Russula nigricans. Fr._
[Illustration: _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, 8-9u.
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.
_Russula foetens. Fr._
THE FETID RUSSULA. NOT EDIBLE.
[Illustration: _Photo by C. G. Lloyd._
Figure 147.--Russula foetens.]
Foetens 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.
_Russula alutacea. Fr._
THE TAN-COLORED RUSSULA. EDIBLE.
[Illustration: 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 and pleasant 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.
_Russula ochrophylla. Pk._
OCHREY GILLED RUSSULA. EDIBLE.
Ochrophylla is from two Greek words meaning _ochre_ and _leaf_, 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.
_Russula lepida. Fr._
THE NEAT RUSSULA. EDIBLE.
[Illustration: Figure 149.--Russula lepida. Two-thirds natural size.
Caps, purplish-red, with more or less brown.]
Lepida, from _lepidus_, 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.
_Russula cyanoxantha. Fr._
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
color will 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.
_Russula vesca. Fr._
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.
_Russula virescens. Fr._
THE GREEN RUSSULA. EDIBLE.
[Illustration: Figure 150.--Russula virescens. Two-thirds natural size.
Caps pale-green. Gills white.]
Virescens, being green. The Pileus is grayish-green; at first globose,
then expanded, convex, at last depressed at the center; firm, adorned
with flaky greenish or yellow patches, produced by the cracking of the
skin; two to four inches broad, margin striate, often white.
The gills are white, moderately close, free or nearly so, narrow as they
approach the stem, some being forked, others not; very brittle, breaking
to pieces at the slightest touch.
The stem is shorter than the diameter of the cap, smooth, white, and
solid or spongy. The spores are white, rough, and nearly globose.
This plant is especially sweet and nutty to the taste when young and
unwilted. All Russulas should be eaten when fresh. I have found the
plant over the state quite generally. It is a prime favorite with the
squirrels. You will often find them half eaten by these little nibblers.
Found in open woods from July to September. It is one of the best
mushrooms to eat and one that is very easily identified. It is quite
common about Chillicothe, Ohio. Its mouldy color is not as prepossessing
as the brighter hues of many far less delicious fungi, but it stands the
test of use.
_Russula variata. Ban._
VARIABLE RUSSULA. EDIBLE.
Pileus is firm, convex becoming centrally depressed or somewhat
funnel-form, viscid, even on the thin margin, reddish-purple, often
variegated with green, pea-green sometimes varied with purple, flesh
white, taste acrid or tardily acrid.
The gills are thin, narrow, close, often forked, tapering toward each
end, adnate or slightly decurrent, white.
The stem is equal or nearly so, solid, sometimes cavernous, white. The
spores are white, subglobose, .0003 to .0004 of an inch long, .0003
broad. _Peck_, Rep. State Bot., 1905.
This plant grows in open beech woods, rather damp, and appears in July
and August. The caps are often dark purple, often tinged with red, and
sometimes the caps contains shades of green. I found the plants
plentifully in Woodland Park, near Newtonville, Ohio, in July, 1907. We
ate them on several occasions and found them very good. The greenish
margin and purplish center will mark the plant.
_Russula integra. Fr._
THE ENTIRE RUSSULA. EDIBLE.
Integra, whole or entire. The pileus is three or four inches in
diameter, fleshy; typically red, but changing color; expanded,
depressed, with a viscid cuticle, growing pale. Margin thin, furrowed
and tuberculate. Flesh white, sometimes yellowish above.
The stem is at first short and conical, then club-shaped or ventricose,
sometimes three inches long and up to one inch thick; spongy, stuffed,
commonly striate; even, and shining white.
The gills are somewhat free, very broad, sometimes three-fourths of an
inch; equal or bifid at the stem, rather distant and connected by veins;
pallid or white, at length light yellow, being powdered yellow with the
spores.
Although the taste is mild it is often astringent. One of the most
changeable of all species, especially in the color of the pileus, which,
though typically red, is often found inclining to azure-blue, bay-brown,
olivaceous, etc. It occasionally happens that the gills are sterile and
remain white. _Fries._
The spores are spheroid, spiny, pale ochraceous.
R. integra so closely resembles R. alutacea that to distinguish them
requires a knowledge of both plants, and even then one may not feel
quite sure; however, it matters little as they are equally good. Its
powdery gills will help to distinguish R. integra from R. alutacea.
Found from July to October.
_Russula roseipes. (secr) Bres._
THE ROSY-STEMMED RUSSULA. EDIBLE.
[Illustration: Figure 151.--Russula roseipes. Natural size.]
Roseipes is from _rosa_, a rose; _pes_, a foot; so called because of its
rose-colored or pinkish stem.
The pileus is two to three inches broad, convex, becoming nearly plane,
or slightly depressed; at first viscid, soon dry, becoming slightly
striate on the margin; rosy-red variously modified by pink, orange or
ochraceous hues, sometimes becoming paler with age; taste mild.
The gills are moderately close, nearly entire, rounded behind and
slightly adnexed, ventricose, whitish becoming yellow.
The stem is one to three inches long, slightly tapering upward, stuffed
or somewhat cavernous, white tinged with red. The spores are yellow,
round. _Peck_, 51 R.
This plant is widely distributed from Maine to the West. It grows best
in pine and hemlock woods, but sometimes found in mixed woods. It is
found in July and August.
_Russula fragilis. Fr._
THE TENDER RUSSULA.
[Illustration: Figure 152.--Russula fragilis.]
Fragilis means fragile.
The pileus is rather small, flesh-color or red, or reddish; thin, fleshy
only at the disk; at first convex and often umbonate, then plane,
depressed; cuticle thin, becoming pale, viscid in wet weather, margin
tuberculate-striate.
The gills are thin, ventricose, white, slightly adnexed, equal, crowded,
sometimes slightly eroded at the edge. The spores are minutely
echinulate, 8-10x8u.
The stem is stuffed, hollow, shining white.
Quite as acrid as R. emetica, which it resembles in many ways,
especially the smaller plants. It can be distinguished by its thinner
caps, thinner and crowded gills, more ventricose and often slightly
eroded at the edge. It is generally classed among poisonous mushrooms;
but Captain Charles McIlvaine in his book says: "Though one of the
peppery kind, I have not, after fifteen years of eating it, had reason
to question its edibility." I should advise caution. Eat of it sparingly
till sure of its effects. Found in woods from July to October.
_Russula emetica. Fr._
THE EMETIC RUSSULA.
[Illustration: Figure 153.--Russula emetica. Two-thirds natural size.
Caps rose-red to yellow-red. Gills white.]
Emetica means making sick, inciting to vomit. The pileus is fleshy,
quite viscid, expanded, polished, shining, oval, or bell-shaped when
young; its color is very variable from rose-red to a yellow-red or even
purple; margin furrowed, flesh white.
The gills are free, equal, broad, distant, white. The spores are round,
8u.
The stem is stout, solid, though sometimes spongy stuffed, even, white
or reddish. The spores are white, round, and spiny.
This species is recognized by its very acrid taste and free gills. A
distinct channel will be seen between the gills and the stem. This very
pretty mushroom is quite common in most parts of Ohio. I found it in
abundance about Salem, Bowling Green, Sidney, and Chillicothe--all in
this state.
Captain McIlvaine states that he has repeatedly eaten it and cites a
number of others who ate it without bad results, although weight of
authority would band it a reprobate. I am glad to report something in
its favor, for it is a beautiful plant, yet I should advise caution in
its use.
It is found in open woods or in pastures under trees, from July to
October. Its viscid cap will distinguish it.
_Russula furcata. Fr._
THE FORKED GILLED RUSSULA. EDIBLE.
[Illustration: Figure 154.--Russula furcata. Two-thirds natural size.
Caps greenish-umber to reddish.]
Furca, a fork, so called from the forking of the gills. This is not
peculiar, however, to this species. The pileus is two to three inches
broad; greenish, usually greenish-umber, sometimes reddish; fleshy;
compact; nearly round, then expanded, depressed in the center; even;
smooth; often sprinkled with a silky luster, pellicle separable, margin
at first inflexed, then expanded, always even, sometimes turned upward.
The flesh is firm, white, dry, somewhat cheesy.
The gills are adnate or slightly decurrent, somewhat crowded, broad,
narrowed at both ends, many forked, shining white. The spores, 7-8x9u.
The stem is two to three inches long, solid, white, rather firm, even,
equal or tapering downward. The spores are round and spiny.
I have found it frequently on the wooded hillsides of the state. The
taste when raw is mild at first, but soon develops a slight bitterness
which, however, is lost in cooking. Fried in butter they are excellent.
July to October.
_Russula rubra, Fr._
THE RED RUSSULA.
[Illustration: Figure 155.--Russula rubra. Two-thirds natural size. Caps
bright-vermilion. Gills forked and tinged with red.]
Rubra means red, so called from the cap being concolorous, bright
vermillion; showy, becoming pale with age, center of the cap usually
darker; compact, hard, fragile, convex, expanded, somewhat depressed,
dry, no pellicle, often cracked when old. The flesh is white, often
reddish under the cuticle.
The gills are adnate, rather crowded, white at first, then yellowish,
many forked and with some short ones intermixed, frequently tinged with
red at the edge. Spores 8-10u, cystidia pointed.
The stem is two to three inches long, solid, even, white, often with a
faint reddish hue. The spores are nearly round and white.
It is very acrid to the taste, and because of this acridity it is
usually thought to be poisonous, but Captain McIlvaine says he does not
hesitate to cook it either by itself or with other Russulae. It is found
very generally in the state and is quite plentiful in the woods about
Chillicothe, from July to October.
_Russula purpurina. Quel & Schulz._
THE PURPLE RUSSULA. EDIBLE.
[Illustration: Figure 156.--Russula purpurina. Two-thirds natural size.
Caps rosy-pink to light-yellow. Gills yellowish in age.]
Purpurina means purple. The pileus is fleshy, margin acute, subglobose,
then plane, at length depressed in the center, slightly viscid in wet
weather, not striate, often split, pellicle separable, rosy-pink, paling
to light-yellow.
Gills are crowded in youth, afterward subdistant, white, in age
yellowish, reaching the stem, not greatly narrowed behind, almost equal,
not forked.
The stem is stuffed, spongy, very variable, cylindrical, attenuated
above, rosy-pink, becoming paler toward the base, color obscure in age.
The flesh is fragile, white, reddish under the skin; odor slight and
taste mild. The spores white, globose, sometimes subelliptical, 4-8u
long, minutely warted. _Peck_, 42 Rept., N. Y. State Bot.
This is not a large plant, but it can be readily determined by its red
or reddish stem, mild taste and white spores. Found in open woods in
July and August.
_Russula densifolia. Gillet._
[Illustration: Figure 157.--Russula densifolia. Two-thirds natural size.
Caps whitish, becoming fuliginous gray. Flesh turning red when exposed
to the air.]
Densifolia has reference to the crowded condition of the gills.
The pileus is from three to four inches broad, fleshy, quite compact,
convex, expanded, then depressed, margin inflexed, smooth, not striate,
white or whitish, becoming fuliginous, gray, or brownish, quite black in
center, flesh red when broken.
The gills are attached to the stem, somewhat decurrent, unequal, thin,
crowded, white or whitish, with a rosy tint. Spores, 7-8u.
The stem is short, slightly mealy, white, then gray, at length blackish,
smooth, round, turning red or brown on being handled.
It differs from _R. nigricans_ in being much smaller, and in its crowded
gills. It differs from _R. adusta_ in flesh turning red when broken. The
flesh or substance is white at first, turning red when exposed to the
air, then blackish. This plant is not abundant in this state. I found a
number of plants on Cemetery Hill, where some shale had been dumped
under a large beech tree. Found in July and August.
_Cantharellus. Adanson._
Cantharellus means a diminutive drinking-cup or vase. This genus can be
distinguished from all other genera by the character of its gills which
are quite blunt on the edge, like folds, polished, and are mostly forked
or branched. In some species the gills vary in thickness and number.
They are decurrent, folded, more or less thick and swollen. The spores
are white. They grow on the ground, on rotten wood, and among moss. They
seem to delight in damp shady places.
_Cantharellus cibarius. Fr._
THE EDIBLE CANTHARELLUS.
[Illustration: Plate XXII. Figure 158.--Cantharellus cibarius.
Natural size. Entire plant egg-yellow.]
Cibarius means pertaining to food. This plant is frequently spoken of as
the Chanterelle. The entire plant is a rich egg-yellow. The pileus is
fleshy, at first convex, later flat, three to five inches broad,
depressed in the center, finally funnel-shaped; bright to deep yellow;
firm, smooth, but often irregular, its margin often wavy; flesh white,
the cap has the appearance of an inverted cone.
The gills are decurrent, shallow and fluted, resembling swollen veins,
branched, more or less interconnected and tapering downward on the stem,
color the same as the pileus.
The stem is solid, variable in length, often curved, tapering towards
the base, paler than the pileus and gills.
It grows in woods and rather open places. I found it in great abundance
in Stanley's woods, near Damascus, Ohio. I have found it very often
about Chillicothe. The plant has a strong prune-like odor; when tasted
raw they are peppery and pungent but sweet and quite delicious when
cooked. My friends and myself have eaten it and pronounced very good.
The plants in Figure 158 were gathered near Columbus, Ohio, and
photographed by Dr. Kellerman.
The species is quite common in the state, and is found from June to
September.
_Cantharellus aurantiacus. Fr._
FALSE CHANTARELLE.
[Illustration: _Photo by C. G. Lloyd._
Figure 159.--Cantharellus aurantiacus. One-third natural size. Caps
orange-yellow. Gills yellow and forked.]
Aurantiacus means orange-yellow. The pileus is fleshy, soft, depressed,
downy, the margin strongly incurved when young, in mature plants it is
wavy or lobed; color dull yellowish, usually brownish.
The gills are crowded, straight, dark-orange, branched, with a regular
bifurcation.
The stem is lighter in color than the pileus, solid at first, spongy,
stuffed, hollow, unequal, tapering upward, and somewhat curved.
It is generally labeled poisonous, but some good authorities say it is
wholesome. I have never eaten it further than in its raw state. It is
easily distinguished from the edible species by its dull orange cap and
its orange gills, which are thinner and closer and more regularly forked
than those of the Edible Chantarelle. It grows in woods and open places.
Found from July to September.
_Cantharellus floccosus. Schw._
THE WOOLLY CANTHARELLUS. EDIBLE.
[Illustration: _Photo by C. G. Lloyd._
Plate XXIII. Figure 160.--Cantharellus floccosus.]
Floccosus means floccose or woolly.
The pileus at the top is from one to two inches broad, fleshy, elongated
funnel-form or trumpet-shape, floccose-squamose, ochraceous-yellow.
The gills are vein-like, close, much anastomosing above, long decurrent
and subparallel below, concolorous.
The stem is very short, thick, rather deeply rooted. The spores are
elliptical, 12.5-15x7.6u. _Peck_, 23 Rep., N. Y.
This plant is funnel-shaped nearly to the base of the stem. It is a
small plant, never more than four inches high. I found it in Haynes's
Hollow, in rather open woods, on mossy hillsides. July and August.
_Cantharellus brevipes. Pk._
The Short-Stemmed Cantharellus. Edible.
Brevipes is from _brevis_, short; _pes_, foot; so called because of its
short stem.
The pileus is fleshy, obconic, glabrous, alutaceous, or dingy
cream-color, the thin margin erect, often irregular and lobed, tinged
with lilac in the young plant; folds numerous, nearly straight in the
margin, abundantly anastomosing below; pale umber, tinged with lilac.
The stem is short, tomentose-pubescent, ash-colored, solid, often
tapering downward. Spores yellowish, oblong-elliptical, uninucleate,
10-12x5u. _Peck_, 33d Rep., N. Y.
The plant is small; with us, not more than three inches high and the
pileus not more than two inches broad at the top. It differs somewhat in
color, in the character of the folds, and materially in the shape of the
margin of the pileus. Found occasionally on the hillsides of Huntington
Township, near Chillicothe, July to August.
_Cantharellus cinnabarinus. Schw._
THE CINNABAR CANTHARELLUS. EDIBLE.
[Illustration: Figure 161.--Cantharellus cinnabarinus. Cap and stem
cinnibar-red, flesh white. Natural size.]
Cinnabarinus means cinnabar-red, from the color of the plant.
The pileus is firm, convex, or slightly depressed in the center, often
irregular with wavy or lobed margin; glabrous, cinnabar-red, flesh
white.
The gills are narrow, distant, branched, decurrent, of the same color as
the cap, dull on the edge.
The stem is equal or tapering downward, glabrous, solid, sometimes
stuffed, cinnabar-red.
The spores are elliptical, 8-10u long, 4-5u broad.
No one will have any difficulty in identifying this plant, since its
color suggests the name at once. It is quite common about Chillicothe
and throughout the state. It is found frequently with Craterellus
cantharellus. It is a very pretty plant, growing in open woods or along
the roadside in woods. It will keep for some time after it is gathered.
It is found from July to October.
_Cantharellus infundibuliformis. Fr._
FUNNEL-SHAPED CANTHARELLUS.
Infundibuliformis means shaped like a funnel.
The pileus is one to two and a half inches broad, somewhat
membranaceous, umbilicate, then infundibuliform, usually perforated at
the base, and opening into the cavity of the stem, floccosely rugose on
the surface, yellowish-gray or smoky when moist, pale when dry, becoming
wavy.
The gills are decurrent, thick, distant, regularly forked, straight,
yellow or cenereous, at length pruinose.
The stem is two to three inches long, hollow, even, smooth, always
yellow, slightly thickened at the base. The spores are elliptical,
smooth, 9-10x6u.
They grow on the ground, especially where wood has decayed and become a
part of the ground. They also grow on decayed wood. They are found from
July to October.
_Nyctalis. Fr._
Nyctalis is from a Greek word meaning night.
Pileus symmetrical, in some species bearing large conidia upon its
surface.
The gills are adnate or decurrent, thick, soft, margin obtuse.
The stem is central, its substance continuous with the flesh of the
pileus. The spores are colorless, smooth, elliptical or globose.
_Fries._
_Nyctalis asterophora. Fr._
[Illustration: _Photo by C. G. Lloyd._
Figure 162.--Nyctalis asterophora.]
Asterophora means star-bearing.
The pileus is about one-half inch broad, fleshy; conical, then
hemispherical; flocculose and rather mealy, owing to the large, stellate
conidia; whitish, then tinged with fawn-color.
The gills are adnate, distant, narrow, somewhat forked, straight, dingy.
The stem is about one-half inch long, slender, twisted, stuffed, white
then brownish, rather mealy. The spores are elliptical, smooth, 3x2u.
_Fries, Hym._
I found, about the last of August, these plants growing on decaying
specimens of Russula nigricans, along Ralston's Run, near Chillicothe.
_Hygrophorus. Fr._
Hygrophorus is from two Greek words meaning bearing moisture. So called
because the members of this genus may be known from their moist caps and
the waxy nature of the gills, which distinguish them from all others. As
in the Pleurotus, the gills of some of the species are rounded or
notched at the end next to the stem, but of others they are decurrent on
it; hence, in some species they are like the gills of Tricholoma in
their attachment, in others they run down on the stem as in the
Clitocybe. In many of them both cap and stem are very viscid, a
characteristic not found in the Clitocybes; and the gills are generally
thicker and much farther apart than in that genus. A number of the
species are beautifully colored.
_Hygrophorus pratensis. Fr._
THE PASTURE HYGROPHORUS. EDIBLE.
[Illustration: Plate XXIV. Figure 163.--Hygrophorus pratensis.]
Pratensis, from pratum, a meadow. The pileus is one to two inches broad;
when young almost hemispherical, then convex, turbinate or nearly flat,
the center more or less convex, as if umbonate; margin often cracked,
frequently contracted or lobed; white or various shades of yellow,
buffish-reddish, or brownish. Flesh white, thick in the center, thin at
the margin. The stem is stuffed, attenuated downwards. The gills are
thick, distant, white or yellowish, bow-shaped, decurrent, and connected
by vein-like folds. Spores are white, broadly elliptical, .00024 to
.00028 inch long.
The pasture hygrophorus is a small but rather stout-appearing mushroom.
It grows on the ground in pastures, waste places, clearings, and thin
woods, from July to September. Sometimes all white or gray.
Var. cinereus, Fr. Pileus and gills gray. The stem whitish and slender.
Var. pallidus, B. & Br. Pileus depressed, edge wavy, entirely pale
ochre.
This species differs mainly from H. leporinus in that the latter is
quite floccose on the pileus.
_Hygrophorus eburneus. Bull._
SHINING WHITE HYGROPHORUS. EDIBLE.
[Illustration: _Photo by C. G. Lloyd._
Figure 164.--Hygrophorus eburneus.]
Eburneus is from _ebur_, ivory. The pileus is two to four inches broad,
sometimes thin, sometimes somewhat compact, white; very viscid or
glutinous in wet weather, and slippery to the touch; margin uneven,
sometimes wavy; smooth, and shining. When young, the margin is incurved.
The gills are firm, distant, straight, strongly decurrent, with
vein-like elevations near the stem. The spores are white, rather long.
The stem is unequal, sometimes long and sometimes short; stuffed, then
hollow, tapering downward, punctate above with granular scales. Odor and
taste are rather pleasant. It is found in woods and pastures in all
parts of Ohio, but it is not plentiful anywhere. I have found it only in
damp woods about Chillicothe. August to October.
_Hygrophorus cossus. Sow._
Cossus, because it smells like the caterpillar, Cossus ligniperda.
The pileus is small, quite viscid, shining when dry, white with a yellow
tinge, edge naked, very strong-scented.
The gills are somewhat decurrent, thin, distant, straight, firm.
The stem is stuffed, nearly equal, scurvy-punctate upwards. Spores 8x4.
Found in the woods. The strong smell will serve to identify the
species.
_Hygrophorus chlorophanus. Fr._
THE GREENISH-YELLOW HYGROPHORUS.
Chlorophanus is from two Greek words, meaning appearing greenish-yellow.
The pileus is one inch broad, commonly bright sulphur-yellow, sometimes
scarlet-tinted, not changing color; slightly membranaceous, very
fragile, often irregular, with the margin split or lobed, at first
convex, then expanded; smooth, viscid, margin striate.
The gills are emarginate, adnexed, quite ventricose, with a thin
decurrent tooth, thin, subdistant, distinct, pale-yellow.
The stem is two to three inches long, hollow, equal, round, viscid when
moist, shining when dry, wholly unicolorous, rich light-yellow.
The spores are slightly elliptical, 8x5u.
This species resembles in appearance H. ceraceus, but it can be
identified by its emarginate gills and somewhat larger form. The plant
has a wide distribution, having been found from the New England States
through the Middle West. It is found in damp, mossy places from August
to October. I have no doubt of its edibility. It has a mild and
agreeable taste when eaten in the raw state.
_Hygrophorus cantharellus. Schw._
[Illustration: Figure 165.--Hygrophorus cantharellus. Natural size. Caps
bright red.]
Cantharellus means a small vase.
The pileus is thin, convex, at length umbilicate, or centrally
depressed, minutely squamulose, moist, bright red, becoming orange or
yellow.
The gills are distant, subarcuate, decurrent, yellow, sometimes tinged
with vermilion.
The stem is one to three inches long, smooth, equal, sub-solid,
sometimes becoming hollow, concolorous, whitish within. _Peck._
I have found about Chillicothe a number of the varieties given by Dr.
Peck.
Var. flava. Pileus and stem pale yellow. Gills arcuate, strongly
decurrent.
Var. flavipes. Pileus red or reddish. Stem yellow.
Var. flaviceps. Pileus yellow. Stem reddish or red.
Var. rosea. Has the pileus expanded and margin wavy scalloped.
Found from July to September.
_Hygrophorus coccineus. Fr._
THE SCARLET HYGROPHORUS. EDIBLE.
Coccineus, pertaining to scarlet. The pileus is thin, convex, obtuse,
viscid, scarlet, growing pale, smooth, fragile.
The gills are attached to the stem, with a decurrent tooth, connected by
veins, variously shaded.
The stem is hollow and compressed, rather even, not slippery, scarlet
near the cap, yellow at the base.
This plant when young is of a bright scarlet, but it soon shades into a
light-yellow with advancing age. It is quite fragile and varies very
greatly in size in different localities. Found in woods and pastures
from July to October.
_Hygrophorus conicus. Fr._
THE CONICAL HYGROPHORUS. EDIBLE.
[Illustration: Figure 166.--Hygrophorus conicus.]
The pileus is one to two inches broad, acutely conical,
submembranaceous, smooth, somewhat lobed, at length expanded, and
rimose; turning black, as does the whole plant when broken or bruised;
orange, yellow, scarlet, brown, dusky.
The gills are free or adnexed, thick, attenuated, ventricose, yellowish
with frequently a cinereous tinge, wavy, rather crowded.
The stem is three to four inches long, hollow, cylindrical, fibrillose,
striated, colored like the pileus, turning black when handled.
This plant is quite fragile. It can be identified by its turning black
when bruised. It sometimes appears early in the spring and continues
till late in the fall. It is not abundant but is only occasionally found
on the ground in woods and open places.
_Hygrophorus flavodiscus. Frost._
YELLOW-DISKED HYGROPHORUS. EDIBLE.
[Illustration: Figure 167.--Hygrophorus flavodiscus. Natural size. The
gluten is shown connecting the margin of the cap to their stem.]
Flavodiscus means yellow-disked.
The pileus is one-half to three inches broad, fleshy, convex or nearly
plane, glabrous, very viscid or glutinous, white, pale-yellow or
reddish-yellow in the center, flesh white.
The gills are adnate or decurrent, subdistant, white, sometimes with a
slight flesh-colored tint, the interspaces sometimes venose.
The stem is one to three inches long, solid, subequal, very viscid, or
glutinous, white at the top, white or yellowish elsewhere. The spores
are elliptical, white, .00025 to .0003 of an inch long, .00016 to .0002
broad.
These mushrooms make a delicious dish. The specimens in the photograph
were gathered at West Gloucester, Mass., by Mrs. E. B. Blackford, of
Boston. I have found them about Chillicothe. They are very viscid, as
the plants in Figure 167 will show. The caps are thick and the margin
inrolled. They are found in October and November.
_Hygrophorus speciosus. Pk._
SHOWY HYGROPHORUS. EDIBLE.
[Illustration: Figure 168.--Hygrophorus speciosus.]
Speciosus means beautiful, showy; so called from the scarlet color of
the umbo. The pileus is one to two inches in diameter, broadly convex,
often with small central umbo; glabrous, very viscid or glutinous when
moist; yellow, usually bright red or scarlet in the center; flesh white,
yellow under the thin, separable pellicle.
The gills are distant, decurrent, white, or slightly tinged with yellow.
The stem is two to four inches long, nearly equal, solid, viscid,
slightly fibrillose, whitish or yellowish. The spores are elliptic,
.0003 of an inch long, .0002 broad. _Peck._
This is a very beautiful and showy plant. It grows in swampy places and
under tamarack trees. The specimens in Figure 168 were found in
Massachusetts by Mrs. Blackford, and were photographed by Dr. Kellerman.
It is found in September and August.
_Hygrophorus fuligineus. Frost._
SOOTY HYGROPHORUS. EDIBLE.
[Illustration: Figure 169.--Hygrophorus fuligineus. Natural size.
Specimen on the right is H. caprinus.]
Fuligineus means sooty or smoky.
The pileus is one to four inches broad, convex or nearly plane,
glabrous, very viscid or glutinous, grayish-brown or fuliginous, the
disk often darker or almost black.
The gills are subdistant, adnate or decurrent, white.
The stem is two to four inches long, solid, viscid or glutinous, white
or whitish. The spores are elliptic, .0003 to .00035 of an inch long,
.0002 broad. _Peck_, No. 4, Vol. 3.
This species is found frequently associated with H. flavodiscus, which
it resembles very closely, save in color. When moist, the cap and stems
are covered with a thick coating of gluten, and when the caps are dry
this gives them a varnished appearance. I do not find them abundant
here. The plants in Figure 169 were found by Mrs. Blackford near West
Gloucester, Mass. They are found October and November.
_Hygrophorus caprinus. Scop._
THE GOAT HYGROPHORUS. EDIBLE.
Caprinus means belonging to a goat; it is so called from the fibrils
resembling goat's hair.
The pileus is two to three inches broad, fleshy, fragile, conical, then
flattened and umbonate, rather wavy, sooty, fibrillose.
The gills are very broad, quite distant, deeply decurrent, white, then
glaucous.
The stem is two to four inches long, solid, fibrillose, sooty, often
streaked or striate, as will be seen in Figure 169, page 212.
The spores are 10x7-8u.
These plants grow in pine woods in company with H. fuligineus and H.
flavodiscus. The specimen on the right in Figure 169 was found near West
Gloucester, Mass., by Mrs. Blackford. It is found from September till
hard frost.
_Hygrophorus Laurae. Morg._
[Illustration: Figure 170.--Hygrophorus Laurae.]
This is a beautiful plant, found among leaves, and so completely covered
with particles of leaves and soil that it is hard to clean them off.
They are very viscid, both stem and cap. They are only occasionally
found in our state.
The pileus is two to three inches broad; reddish-brown in the center,
shading to a very light tan on the edges; very viscid; convex; margin at
first slightly incurved, then expanded.
The gills are adnate, slightly decurrent, not crowded, unequal,
yellowish.
The stem is stuffed, tapering downward, whitish, furfuraceous near the
cap.
I have found this plant in Poke Hollow, near Chillicothe, on several
occasions, also in Gallia county, Ohio. I have not found it elsewhere in
this vicinity. While I have not found it in sufficient quantity to try
it I have no doubt of its edible qualities. I have found it only about
the last of September and the first of October. It grows in rather dense
woods on the north sides of the hills, where it is constantly shaded and
damp. Named in honor of Prof. Morgan's wife.
_Hygrophorus micropus. Pk._
SHORT-STEMMED HYGROPHORUS. EDIBLE.
Micropus means short-stemmed. The pileus is thin, fragile, convex or
centrally depressed, umbilicate; silky, gray, often with one or two
narrow zones on the margin; taste and odor farinaceous.
The gills are narrow, close, adnate or slightly decurrent, gray,
becoming salmon color with age.
The stem is short, solid or with a slight cavity, often slightly
thickened at the top, pruinose, gray, with a white, mycelioid tomentum
at the base. The spores are angular, uninucleate, salmon color,
.0003--.0004 of an inch long, .00025--.0003 broad. _Peck._
This is a very small plant and not frequently found, but widely
distributed. I have always found it in open grassy places during damp
weather. The caps are thin, often markedly depressed. Its silky
appearance and narrow zones on the margin of the cap, together with its
rather close gills, broadly attached to the stem, gray at first, then
salmon color, will identify the species. July to September.
_Hygrophorus miniatus. Fr._
THE VERMILION HYGROPHORUS. EDIBLE.
[Illustration: Figure 171.--Hygrophorus miniatus. Cap and stems
vermilion-red. Gills yellowish and tinged with bright-red.]
Miniatus is from minium, red lead.
This is a small but a very common species, highly colored and very
attractive. The pileus and the stem are bright red and often vermilion.
The pileus is at first convex, but, when fully expanded, it is nearly or
quite flat, and in wet weather it is even concave by the elevation of
the margin, smooth or minutely scaly, often umbilicate. Its color varies
from a bright red or vermilion or blood-red to pale orange hues.
The gills are yellow and frequently strongly tinged with red, distant,
attached to the stem, and sometimes notched.
The stem is usually short and slender, colored like, or a little paler,
than the cap; solid, when young, but becoming stuffed or hollow with
age. The spores are elliptical, white, 8u long.
The Vermilion mushroom grows in woods and in open fields. It is more
plentiful in wet weather. It seems to grow best where chestnut logs have
decayed. It can be found in such places in sufficient quantities to eat.
Few mushrooms are more tender or have a more delicate flavor. There are
two other species having red caps, Hygrophorus coccineus and H.
puniceus, but both are edible and no harm could come from any mistake.
They are found from June to October. Those in Figure 171 were found in
Poke Hollow September 29.
_Hygrophorus miniatus sphagnophilus. Pk._
[Illustration: Plate XXV. Figure 172.--Hygrophorus miniatus
sphagnophilus.
Natural size.]
Sphagnophilus means sphagnum-loving, so called because it is found
growing on sphagnum.
The pileus is broadly convex, subumbilicate, red.
The gills are adnate, whitish, becoming yellowish or sometimes tinged
with red, occasionally red on the edge.
The stem is colored like the pileus, whitish at the base, both it and
the pileus are very fragile.
This is more fragile than the typical form and retains its color better
in drying. _Peck_, 43d Rep.
This is a beautiful plant growing, as Figure 172 shows, on the lower
dead portion of the stems of bog moss or sphagnum. It grows very
abundantly in Buckeye Lake. The photograph was made by Dr. Kellerman. It
is found from July to October. These plants cook readily, have an
excellent flavor and because of their color make an inviting dish. I
have eaten heartily of them several times.
_Hygrophorus marginatus. Pk._
MARGINED HYGROPHORUS. EDIBLE.
[Illustration: Figure 173.--Hygrophorus marginatus.]
Marginatus, so called from the frequent vermilion edged gills.
The pileus is thin, fragile, convex, subcampanulate or nearly plane,
often irregular, sometimes broadly umbonate, glabrous, shining,
striatulate on the margin, bright golden-yellow.
The gills are rather broad, subdistant, ventricose, emarginate, adnexed,
yellow, sometimes becoming orange or vermilion on the edge, interspaces
venose.
The stem is fragile, glabrous, often flexous, compressed or irregular,
hollow, pale-yellow; spores broadly elliptic, .00024--.0003 of an inch
long, .00024--.0002 broad. _Peck_, N. Y., 1906.
This plant has the most beautiful yellow I have ever seen in a mushroom.
This bright golden yellow and the orange or vermilion color on the
margin or edge of the gills will always characterize the plant.
The specimen in Figure 173 were sent to me by Mrs. Blackford, of Boston,
Mass., the last of August. They were not in the best condition when
photographed.
_Hygrophorus ceraceus. Fr._
THE WAX-LIKE HYGROPHORUS. EDIBLE.
[Illustration: Figure 174.--Hygrophorus ceraceus. Caps waxy yellow.]
Ceraceus is from _cera_, wax. The pileus is one inch and less broad,
waxy-yellow, shining, fragile, thin, occasionally subumbonate, slightly
fleshy, slightly striate.
The gills are firmly attached to the stem, subdecurrent, distant, broad,
ventricose often connected with veins, almost triangular, yellow.
The stem is one to two inches long, hollow, often unequal, flexuous,
sometimes compressed, yellow, occasionally orange at the base, waxy. The
spores 8x6u.
This is a very beautiful, fragile plant, usually found growing in the
grass. It is easily distinguished by its waxy yellow color. The plants
photographed were found on the Cemetery Hill. They are found from August
to October.
_Hygrophorus virgineus. Wulf._
THE IVORY-CAPPED HYGROPHORUS. EDIBLE.
[Illustration: Figure 175.--Hygrophorus virgineus. Two-thirds natural
size. Entire plant white.]
Virgineus, virgin; so called from its whiteness. The pileus is fleshy,
convex, then plane, obtuse, at length depressed; moist, sometimes
cracked into patches, floccose when dry.
The gills are decurrent, distant, rather thick, often forked.
The stem is curt, stuffed, firm, attenuated at the base, externally
becoming even and naked. Spores 12x5-6u. _Fries._
The plant is wholly white and never large. It is easily confounded with
H. niveus and sometimes difficult to distinguish from the white forms of
H. pratensis. This plant is quite common in pastures, both in the spring
and in the fall. I found the specimens in Figure 175 on Cemetery Hill
under the pine trees on November 11. They were photographed by Dr.
Kellerman.
_Hygrophorus niveus._
THE SNOW-WHITE HYGROPHORUS. EDIBLE.
Niveus, snow-white. The plant is wholly white. The pileus is scarcely
one inch broad, somewhat membranaceous, bell-shaped, convex, then
umbilicate, smooth, striate, viscid when moist, not cracked when dry,
flesh thin, everywhere equal.
The gills are decurrent, thin, distant, acute, quite entire.
The stem is hollow, thin, equal, smooth. Spores 7x4u. Found in pastures.
_Hygrophorus sordidus. Pk._
THE DINGY HYGROPHORUS. EDIBLE.
[Illustration: Figure 176.--Hygrophorus sordidus.]
Sordidus means a dirty white, or dingy, referring to the color of the
caps, so made by adhering earth.
The pileus is broadly convex or nearly plane, glabrous, slightly viscid,
white, but usually defiled by adhering dirt; the margin at first
strongly involute, then spreading or reflexed; flesh firm when young,
tough when old.
The gills are subdistant, adnate, or decurrent, white or creamy-white.
The stem is five to ten Cm. long, firm, solid, white.
The spores are elliptical, 6.5-7.5x4-5u. _Peck._
The specimens I found were clear white, growing among leaves and were
especially free from soil. The stems were short and were inclined to be
slightly ventricose. Dr. Peck says that this "species is distinguished
from H. penarius by its clear white color, though this is commonly
obscured by the adhering dirt that is carried up in the growth of the
fungus." The young, growing plants were strongly involute but the older
plants were reflexed, giving the plants a funnel-shaped appearance and
giving the gills a much stronger decurrent appearance. Found October
26th.
_Hygrophorus serotinus. Pk._
LATE HYGROPHORUS.
[Illustration: Figure 177.--Hygrophorus serotinus.]
Serotinus means late. So called because it is late in the season.
Pileus is fleshy but thin, convex or nearly plane, often with the thin
margin curved upward, glabrous or with a few obscure innate fibrils,
reddish in the center, whitish on the margin, flesh white, taste mild.
The gills are thin, subdistant, adnate or decurrent, white, the
interspaces slightly venose.
The stem is equal, stuffed or hollow, glabrous, whitish. The spores are
white, elliptic, .0003 of an inch long, .0002 broad.
Pileus is 8-15 lines broad; stem about 1 inch long, 1.5-2.5 lines
thick. _Peck._
Some specimens of this species were sent to me from Boston by Mrs.
Blackford, but after a careful study of them I was unable to place them.
She then sent them to Dr. Peck, who gave them their very appropriate
name. Those in Figure 177 were sent me in December, 1907.
They grow a number in the same locality and frequently in close groups
or tufts. They seem to delight in oak and pine woods. Dr. Peck observes
that this species is similar to Hygrophorus queletii, Bres., both in
size and color, but the general characteristics of the plants do not
agree. He also says it is similar in size and color to H. subrufescens,
Pk., but differs materially in the specific description.
_Panus. Fr._
Panus means swelling. The species under this genus are leathery plants,
having the stems lateral and sometimes wanting. They dry up but revive
with moisture. The gills are simple and thinner than the Lentinus, but
with an entire, acute edge. There are a few species which give a
phosphorescent light when growing on decayed logs. The genus closely
resembles Lentinus but can be readily recognized on account of the
smooth edged gills. A number of good authorities do not separate them
but give both under the name Lentinus. This genus abounds wherever there
are stumps and fallen timber.
_Panus stypticus. Fr._
THE STYPTIC PANUS. POISONOUS.
[Illustration: _Photo by C. G. Lloyd._
Figure 178.--Panus stypticus. Two-thirds natural size. Cinnamon color.]
Stypticus means astringent, styptic. The pileus is coriaceous,
kidney-shaped, cinnamon-color, growing pale, cuticle breaking up into
scales, margin entire or lobed, surface nearly even, sometimes zoned.
The gills are thin, crowded, connected by veins, of same color as cap,
determinate, quite narrow.
The stem is lateral, quite short, swollen above, solid, compressed,
pruinose, paler than the gills.
It is found very plentifully on decayed logs and stumps, and at times it
is quite phosphorescent in its manifestations. It has an extremely
unpleasant astringent taste. One might as well eat an Indian turnip as
this species. Just a taste will betray it. Found from fall to winter.
_Panus strigosus. B. & C._
THE HAIRY PANUS. EDIBLE.
Strigosus, covered with stiff hairs. The pileus is sometimes quite
large, eccentric, covered with stiff hairs, margin thin, white.
The gills are broad, distant, decurrent, straw-color.
The stem is stout, two to four inches long, hairy like the pileus.
The favorite host of this species is an apple tree. I found a beautiful
cluster on an apple tree in Chillicothe. Its creamy whiteness and hairy
cap and short hairy stem will distinguish it from all other tree fungi.
It is edible when young, but soon becomes woody.
_Panus conchatus. Fr._
THE SHELL PANUS.
Conchatus means shell-shaped. The pileus is thin, unequal, tough,
fleshy, eccentric, dimidiate; cinnamon, then pale; becoming scaly;
flaccid; margin often lobed.
The gills are narrow, forming decurrent lines on the stem, often
branched, pinkish, then ochre.
The stem is short, unequal, solid, rather pale, base downy.
This species will frequently be found imbricated and very generally
confluent. Its shell-like form, its tough substance, and its thin pileus
are its distinguishing marks. The taste is pleasant but its substance
very tough. Found from September to frost.
_Panus rudis. Fr._
[Illustration: Figure 179.--Panus rudis.]
This is a very plentiful plant about Chillicothe and is found throughout
the United States, although it is a rare plant in Europe. It is
generally given in American Mycology under the name Lentinus Lecomtei.
It grows on logs and stumps. The form of the plant is quite different
when growing on the top of a log or a stump, from those springing from
the side. Those in the extreme left of Figure 179 grew on the side of
the log, while those in the center grew on the top, in which case the
plant has usually a funnel-shaped appearance.
The pileus is tough, reddish or reddish-brown, depressed, sinuate,
bristling with tufts of hair, the margin quite strongly incurved,
caespitose.
The gills are narrow and crowded, decurrent, considerably paler than the
cap.
The stem is short, hairy, tawny; sometimes the stem is almost obsolete.
There is a slight tinge of bitterness in the plant when raw, but in
cooking this disappears. When prepared for food it should be chopped
fine and well cooked. It can be dried for winter use. It is found from
spring to late fall.
_Panus torulosus. Fr._
THE TWISTED PANUS. EDIBLE.
[Illustration: _Photo by C. G. Lloyd._
Figure 180.--Panus torulosus.]
Torulosus means a tuft of hair. The pileus is two to three inches broad,
fleshy, then tough, coriaceous; plane, then funnel-shaped, or dimidiate;
even; smooth; almost flesh color, varying to reddish-livid, sometimes
violet tinted.
The gills are decurrent, rather distant, distinct behind, separate,
simple, ruddy, then tan-colored.
The stem is short, stout, oblique, gray, covered with a violaceous down.
The spores are 6x3u.
The plant is variable both in form and color. Sometimes shaded very
slightly with pink. It is not very common here. I found some very fine
specimens growing on a log near Spider Bridge, Chillicothe.
It is edible but quite tough.
_Panus levis. B. & C._
THE LIGHT PANUS. EDIBLE.
Levis, light. Pileus two to three inches broad, orbicular, somewhat
depressed, white, covered with a dense mat of hair; margin inflexed and
marked by triangular ridges.
The gills are broad, entire, decurrent.
The stem is two to three inches long, attenuated upward, eccentric,
lateral, solid, hairy below like the pileus. The spores are white.
This certainly is a very beautiful plant and will hold the attention of
the collector. It is not common with us. I have found it only on hickory
logs. It is said to be of good flavor and to cook readily.
_Lentinus. Fr._
Lentinus means tough. The pileus is fleshy, corky, tough, hard and dry,
reviving when moist.
The stem is central or lateral and often wanting, but when present is
continuous with the cap.
The gills are tough, unequal, thin, normally toothed, decurrent more or
less, margin acute. The spores are smooth, white, orbicular.
All the species, so far as I know, grow on wood. They assume a great
variety of forms. This genus is very closely related to Panus in the
dry, coriaceous nature of the pileus and the gills, but it can be
readily recognized by the toothed margin of the gills.
_Lentinus vulpinus. Fr._
STRONG-SCENTED VULPINUS.
[Illustration: Plate XXVI. Figure 181.--Lentinus vulpinus.
One-third natural size.]
Vulpinus is from _vulpes_, a fox.
This is quite a large, massive plant, growing in a sessile and
imbricated manner. It has appeared in large quantities for the past four
years on an elm, very slightly decayed, but in quite a damp and dark
place. The reader will get some idea of the size of the whole plant in
Figure 181 if he will consider each pileus to be five to six inches
broad. They are built up one on top of another, overlapping each other
like shingles on a roof.
The pileus is fleshy but tough, shell-shaped, connate behind,
longitudinally rough, costate, corrugate, tan-colored, and the margin is
strongly incurved.
The gills are broad, nearly white, flesh-colored near the base, coarsely
toothed.
The stem is usually obsolete, yet in some cases it is apparent.
The spores are almost round and very small, .00006 inch in diameter. In
all plants which I have found the odor is somewhat strong and the taste
is pungent. It grows in the woods in September and October.
_Lentinus lepideus. Fr._
THE SCALY LENTINUS. EDIBLE.
[Illustration: Figure 182.--Lentinus lepideus.]
Lepideus is from _lepis_, a scale.
The pileus is fleshy, compact, convex, then depressed, unequal, broken
up in dark scales, flesh white, tough.
The gills are sinuate, decurrent, broad, torn, transversely striate,
whitish, or with white edges, irregularly toothed.
The stem is stout, central or lateral, tomentose or scaly, often
crooked, rooting, whitish, solid, equal or tapering at the base.
This is a peculiar plant, growing sometimes to immense forms. It grows
on wood, seemingly to be partial to railroad ties to which its mycelium
is very injurious. I found the plant frequently about Salem, Ohio. The
specimens in the halftone were found near Akron, Ohio, and photographed
by Prof. Smith. As an esculent it almost rivals the Pleuroti. It is
found from spring to autumn. I found a beautiful cluster on an oak stump
near Chillicothe, while looking for Morels, about the last of April.
_Lentinus cochleatus. Fr._
THE SPIRAL-FORMED LENTINUS. EDIBLE.
[Illustration: _Photo by C. G. Lloyd._
Figure 183.--Lentinus cochleatus.]
Cochleatus is from _cochlea_, a snail, from resembling its shell.
The pileus is two to three inches broad, tough, flaccid, irregular,
depressed, sometimes funnel-shaped, sometimes lobed or contorted,
flesh-color, becoming pale.
The gills are crowded, beautifully serrated, pinkish-white.
The stem is solid, length variable, sometimes central, frequently
eccentric, often lateral, smooth. The spores are nearly round, 4u.
This is a beautiful plant but sparingly found with us. I found a
pretty cluster at the foot of a maple stump in Poke Hollow. The serrated
form of the gills will attract attention at once. It is found in August
and September.
_Lenzites. Fr._
Lenzites, named after Lenz, a German botanist. The pileus is corky,
dimidiate, sessile. The gills are corky, firm, unequal, branched, edge
obtuse. It is very common in the woods, sometimes almost covering stumps
and logs.
_Lenzites betulina. Fr._
[Illustration: _Photo by C. G. Lloyd._
Plate XXVII. Figure 184.--Lenzites betulina.]
[Illustration: Figure 185.--Lenzites betulina.]
Betulina, from _betula_, a birch. This has a somewhat corky, leathery
cap, firm and without zones, woolly, sessile, deeply grooved
concentrically, margin of the same color.
The gills are radial, somewhat branching, and coming together again,
sordid white or tan-color.
This species is wide-spread and is quite variable. It grows in the form
of brackets. Figure 185 was photographed by Dr. Kellerman.
_Lenzites separia. Fr._
THE CHOCOLATE LENZITES.
The pileus is corky, leathery shells, with the upper surface marked with
rough zones of various shades of brown; margin yellowish.
The gills are rather thick, branched, one running into another;
yellowish. Stem obsolete. Growing on limbs and branches, especially of
the fir tree.
_Lenzites flaccida. Fr._
FLACCID LENZITES.
[Illustration: Figure 186.--Lenzites flaccida. Two-thirds natural size.]
Flaccida means limp, flaccid. Pileus is coriaceous, thin, flaccid,
unequal, hairy, zoned, pallid, more or less flabelliform, imbricated.
The gills are broad, crowded, straight, unequal, branched, white,
becoming pallid. Spores are 5x7.
This is a very attractive plant and quite common. It runs almost
imperceptibly into Lenzites betulina. It is found on stumps and trunks.
_Lenzites vialis. Pk._
Pileus is corky, almost woody, firm, zoned.
Gills are thick, firm, serpentine.
Stem, none.
_Schizophyllum. Fr._
Schizophyllum is from two Greek words, meaning to split, and a leaf.
The pileus is fleshy and arid. The gills are corky, fan-like, branched,
united above by the tomentose pellicle, bifid, split longitudinally at
the edge. The spores somewhat round and white.
The two lips of the split edge of the gills are commonly revolute. This
genus is far removed from the type of Agaricini. It grows on wood and is
very common. _Stevenson._
_Schizophyllum commune. Fr._
[Illustration: Figure 187.--Schizophyllum commune.]
This is a very common plant, growing in the woods on branches and
decayed wood, where it can be found in both winter and summer.
The pileus is thin, adnate behind, somewhat extended, more or less
fan-shaped or kidney-shaped, simple, often much lobed, narrowed behind
to the point of attachment; whitish, downy, then strigose.
The gills are radiating, gray, then brownish-purple, and sometimes
white, branched, split along the edges and rather deeply rolled
backwards. The spores are nearly round, 5-6u.
This is a very common species all over the world. I found it in the
winter of 1907 on decayed shade-trees along the streets of Chillicothe.
It seems to be partial to maple timber. Some call this S. alneum. It is
very easily identified from its purple gills being split.
_Trogia. Fr._
Trogia is so called in honor of the Swiss botanist, Trog.
The pileus is nearly membranaceous, soft, quite tough, flaccid, dry,
flexible, fibrillose, reviving when moist.
The gills are fold-like, venose, narrow, irregular, crisped.
_Trogia crispa. Fr._
Crispa means crisp or curled. The pileus tough, cup-shaped, reflexed,
lobed, villous, whitish or reddish toward the attachment, often
tan-colored.
The gills are quite narrow, vein-like, irregular, more or less branched,
blunt on the edge, white or bluish-gray, quite crisped, edge not
channeled.
The caps are usually very much crowded and imbricated. It revives during
wet weather and is found throughout the year, generally on beech limbs
in our woods.