We have now arrived at a point where the amateur may become wearied at the reading of long names and the enumeration of cla.s.ses and genera.
Stevenson has said in his preface to his work on British Fungi that "there is no royal road to the knowledge of fungi," and if we become enough interested to pursue the subject we will probably discover it at this point. We will try and make this part as simple as possible, and only mention those genera which are most common.
Mushrooms may be divided into three great cla.s.ses:
I. Gasteromycetes, or "Stomach fungi," where the spores are produced within the plant.
II. Ascomycetes, or "Spore sac fungi," where the spores are produced in delicate sacs called asci.
III. Hymenomycetes, or "Membrane fungi," where the spores are produced on the lower surface of the cap.
CLa.s.s III. HYMENOMYCETES, OR MEMBRANE FUNGI.
This cla.s.s is divided into six orders:
1. Gill-bearing mushrooms, Agarics, or Agaricini.
2. Fungi with pores or tubes, Polyporei.
3. Fungi with awl-shaped teeth or spines, Hydnei.
4. Fungi with an even spore-bearing or slightly wrinkled surface, Theleph.o.r.ei.
5. Plants, club-shaped and simple, or bush-like and branched, Clavariei.
6. Gelatinous plants, irregularly expanded, Tremellinei.
The first order, the Agarics, contains most of the well-known mushrooms, as well as most of the edible ones. They have been divided into different cla.s.ses according to the color of the spores. In a great many cases the color is the same as that of the gills; but this is not always the case, especially in the young plants. The Agarics are divided into four sections:
1. White spores, Leucosporae.
2. Rosy, salmon or pinkish spores, Rhodosporae.
3. Brown or ochraceous spores, Ochrosporae.
4. Dark purplish or black spores, Melanosporae.
There are an infinite number of mushrooms we shall not mention. The study of fungi has only begun in this country, and there is an immense vista for future students. The amateur or beginner may be well satisfied if after one summer spent in studying mushrooms he can remember the distinguishing types of the various genera, and can say with certainty, "This is a Russula, or this a Cortinarius, or this a Tricholoma." He will then feel he has taken one important step in this "royal road."
DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF GENERA OF HYMENOMYCETES.
ORDER 1. AGARICS.
The names of the genera are all derived from Greek and Latin words.
Stevenson, in his book on British Fungi, has given the original words and also their meanings. We take the liberty of copying the English term only, and will place it beside the name of each genus.
SECTION 1. WHITE SPORES, OR LEUCOSPORae.
The first genus we will mention is:
+HYGROPHORUS, from a word meaning moist.+
This genus contains plants growing on the ground. They soon decay. The cap is sticky or watery, the gills often branched. It has a peculiarity in the fact that the hymenial cells, or the layer of mother cells, contained in the gills, change into a waxy ma.s.s, at length removable from the trama. The trama is that substance which extends with and is like in structure to the layer of mother cells.[1] It lies between the two layers of gills in Agarics. The gills seem full of watery juice, and they are more or less decurrent, _i. e._, extend down the stem. This genus contains many bright-colored and shining species.
[Footnote 1: In the young plant it forms the framework of the gills.]
We are obliged to refer to the hymenial layer in this place, though the beginner will scarcely understand the meaning of the term. The distinguishing peculiarity of this genus consists in the cells changing to a waxy ma.s.s. In the chapter on the structure of mushrooms we have tried to explain something about the cells and the Hymenium.
+LACTARIUS = milk.+
This genus is fleshy, growing on the ground; the cap is often depressed in the centre. The gills are adnato-decurrent, that is, partly attached and prolonged down the stem. They are waxy, rather rigid and acute at the edge. The distinctive feature is the milk that flows when the gills are cut. Sometimes the milk changes color.
+RUSSULA = red.+
This genus grows on the ground, is fleshy, and soon decays. The cap is depressed, or becomes so at a later stage of growth. The stem is polished, generally white, and is very brittle. The gills are rigid, fragile, with an acute edge, and mostly equal in length. Some species exude watery drops. It contains many species of beautiful colors.
+CANTHARELLUS = vase or cup.+
The princ.i.p.al characteristic of this genus consists in the fold-like nature of its gills. The gills are thick, with an obtuse edge, and are branched and decurrent. The genus is fleshy, soft, and putrescent, and has no veil. Some plants grow on the ground and others on mosses.
+MARASMIUS = to wither.+
The genus is tough and dry, not decaying, but shrivelling, and reviving when wet. The stem is tough (cartilaginous.) The gills are rather distant, the edge acute and entire. The plants often have a peculiar smell and taste, like garlic. They are small and thin, commonly growing on the outside of another plant (epiphytal) on the ground, on putrid leaves, or on roots of gra.s.ses.
+AMANITA.+
The origin of this name is doubtful. Galen, an ancient Greek physician, is said to have given the name to some edible fungi (Stevenson). It is distinguished as the only genus that has _both volva and ring_. The young plant is enveloped by a universal veil which bursts at maturity.
The volva around the base of the stem is formed by the splitting or bursting of the veil, and its different modes of rupture mark the several species. It is sometimes shaped very prettily, and has the appearance of a cup around the stem. It contains many poisonous as well as edible mushrooms.
+LEPIOTA = a scale.+
This genus has a universal veil. The gills are free. Sometimes the ring, or annulus, is movable on the stem. The cap is often covered with warts, or the skin torn into scales, and the stem sometimes inserted in a cup or socket.
+ARMILLARIA = ring or bracelet.+
There is no universal veil in this genus, only a partial one that forms a ring, or sometimes only indicating the ring by scales. The species usually grow on the ground.
+TRICHOLOMA = from two Greek words, hair and fringe.+
This genus is especially noted for its sinuate gills. They have a tooth next to the stem. All grow on the ground and are fleshy. There are sometimes fibrils which adhere to the margin of the cap, the remains of the veil. There are no plants in this genus that are considered poisonous.
+c.l.i.tOCYBE = a declivity.+
The gills in this genus are attenuated behind and are attached to stem (adnate) or run down it (decurrent.) The cap is generally plano depressed or funnel-shaped (infundibuliform). Some are fragrant; the odor resembles fresh apricots.
+COLLYBIA = a small coin.+
The stem in this genus is tough or stuffed with a pith, and covered with a cartilaginous rind. The margin of the cap is smooth and turned under at first (involute). The gills are soft, free, or only adnexed behind.