The plants grow on the outside of wood and leaves, even on fungi, but are often rooted on the ground, and do not dry up. The gills are sometimes brightly colored.
+MYCENA = a fungus.+
In this genus also the stem is cartilaginous, the cap is sometimes bell-shaped (campanulate) and slender. The plants are generally small and fragile. The cap is from ? to 1 inch broad. The stem is sometimes filiform, and they grow on stumps and sticks, dead wood, twigs and leaves. They may be found early in the season, but oftener from August to November.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Omphalia alboflava.
Photographed by C. G. Lloyd.]
+OMPHALIA = depressed.+
The stem in this genus is cartilaginous. The gills run down the stem.
The cap is somewhat membranaceous. It is oftener depressed and funnel-shaped. The gills are often branched. The species grow in moist places. The plants are generally small. The largest only measure 2 inches, the smallest only inch across the cap.
+PLEUROTUS = side and an ear.+
In this genus the stem is sometimes wanting, or it grows on the side, or between the centre and margin (eccentric). The plants rarely grow on the ground. They are irregular and fleshy or membranaceous. The time of growth is generally in the autumn. There are a few edible species.
SECTION 2. RHODOSPORae, RED OR PINK SPORES.
In this section of Agarics the spores are red, pink, or salmon color.
+PLUTEUS = a penthouse.+
This genus has neither volva nor ring. The gills are rounded behind and free, entirely separate from stem, white, then flesh-colored, but often tinged with yellow. The cuticle is sometimes covered with fibres, or with a bloom upon it (pruinose). The apex of the stem is inserted in the cap like a peg, and in this it resembles the Lepiotas. The species grow on or near trunks, appear early, and last until late in the season.
+ENTOLOMA = within and fringe.+
This genus resembles Tricholoma, which belongs to the white-spored Agarics and Hebeloma, which is rosy-spored. The species grow on the ground, and are found chiefly after rain. The stem is fleshy or fibrous, soft, sometimes waxy. The cap has the margin incurved, the gills have a tooth (sinuate), and are adnexed to the stem. Some species smell of fresh meal.
SECTION 3. OCHROSPORae, BROWN OR OCHRACEOUS SPORES.
+CORTINARIUS = a veil.+
This genus has a veil resembling a cobweb. The gills generally become cinnamon-colored. They grow on the ground in woods, during late summer and autumn. Some of our most beautiful mushrooms belong to this group.
The veil is not persistent, and soon disappears.
+PHOLIOTA = a scale.+
This genus mostly grows on trunks. The partial or secondary veil takes the form of a ring. The cap is often covered with scales.
+INOCYBE = fibre and head.+
This genus is distinguished by the silky fibrilose covering of the cap, which never has a distinct pellicle, and by the veil which is lasting and of like nature to the fibrils of the cap. All grow upon the ground.
+HEBELOMA = youth and fringe.+
In this genus the margin of the cap is at first incurved. The gills are attached with a tooth, with the edge more or less of a different color, often whitish. The stem is fleshy, fibrous, somewhat mealy at the apex.
They grow on the ground and are strong-smelling, appear early in the autumn, and continue until late in the season.
+PAXILLUS = a small stake.+
This genus is fleshy, putrescent; at first the cap has the margin turned under (involute), then it unfolds gradually and dilates. There are some species of both Tricholoma and c.l.i.tocybe that resemble it. The gills separate easily from the cap, and in this it is similar to the Boleti, where the tubes separate also with ease.
SECTION 4. MELANOSPORae, DARK PURPLE OR BLACK SPORES.
+PSALLIOTA = a ring or collar.+
The common mushroom Agaricus campestris belongs to this group. The gills are rounded behind and free, the stem has a collar. There are many edible mushrooms in this genus. They grow in pastures, and the larger ones are called Champignons. In former times when one spoke of eating mushrooms the species A. campestris, or campester, was always the one denoted.
+STROPHARIA = a sword belt.+
This genus has a ring. The gills are generally attached to the stem; some species grow on the ground, and some grow on other fungi. They are sometimes bell-shaped and then flattened, often with a mound or umbo.
+HYPHOLOMA = web and fringe.+
The veil in this genus is woven in a web which adheres to the margin of the cap. The cap is more or less fleshy, and the margin at first incurved. The gills are attached or have a tooth. There is no ring. The plants grow in tufts on wood, or at the base of trees in the autumn.
+PSILOCYBE = naked and head.+
The cap in this genus is fleshy, smooth, and the margin at first incurved. Gills turn dusky purple. The stem is cartilaginous, hollow or stuffed. No veil is visible. They grow on the ground.
+PSATHYRA = friable.+
The cap is conical and soft, the margin at first straight, and then pressed to the stem. The plants are slender, fragile and moist. Gills become purple. They grow on the ground, or on trunks of trees.
+COPRINUS = dung.+
In this genus the spores are black. It has two distinctive features: one, that the gills cohere at first, and are not separated when young; and the other, that they dissolve into an inky fluid. The gills are also scissile, that is, they can be split, and are linear and swollen in the middle. The plants last but a short time. Some are edible.
ORDER 2. POLYPOREI, OR TUBE-BEARING FUNGI.
We now pa.s.s to the next order, the Polyporei. We will mention four genera:
+BOLETUS.+
The name is that of a fungus much prized for its delicacy by the Romans, and is derived from a Greek word meaning a clod, which denotes the round figure of the plant.
The Boleti grow on the ground, are fleshy and putrescent with central stems. The tubes are packed closely together and are easily separated.
+FISTULINA = a pipe.+
In this genus the tubes are free and distinct from one another. They are somewhat fleshy and grow upon wood.
+POLYPORUS = many pores.+
The pores or tubes in this genus are not separate from one another. They are persistent fungi, most of them growing upon wood.
+DAEDALEA = curiously wrought.+