The Mushroom, Edible and Otherwise Part 64

Manville's yard in Bowling Green, Ohio. I ate them frequently and gave them to my friends, who all voted them delicious.

When the stem is first cut there exudes from the wound a yellowish liquid which is quite a sure ear mark of this species.

There is a tradition that the spores will not germinate unless they pa.s.s through the alimentary ca.n.a.l of the horse or some animal. However this may be, it is found frequently where no trace of the horse can be found.

It appears from July to September. I have found it in Fayette County, Ohio, in large rings, resembling the Fairy-Ring Mushroom, only the ring is very large, as well as the mushrooms.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Plate x.x.xIV. Figure 253.--Agaricus arvensis.]

_Agaricus abruptus. Pk._

EDIBLE.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Figure 254.--Agaricus abruptus.]

Abruptus means to break away, referring to the breaking of the veil from the margin of the cap.

The pileus is creamy-white, dry and silky, quite irregular in shape when young, turning yellow when bruised or when the stem is cut.

The gills are slightly pinkish when the veil first breaks, gradually growing a deeper pink, in mature specimens becoming brownish, soft, free from the stem, quite close, unequal.

The stem is creamy-white, much darker toward the base, hollow, rather stiff, quite brittle, frequently found to be split lengthwise, ventricose, tapering toward the cap.

The veil is rather frail, one portion of it often adhering to the cap and another portion forming a ring on the stem.

Through the courtesy of Captain McIlvaine I am able to present an excellent picture of this species. The beginner will have some trouble to distinguish it from A. silvicola. This species, like the A.

silvicola, is closely related to the meadow mushroom, but can be readily separated from it. This, too, like the A. silvicola, when seen in the woods at a distance, resembles the Amanita, but a careful glance at the gills will detect the difference.

The gills of the very young plant may appear white, but they will soon develop a pinkish tinge which will distinguish it from the Amanita. It is found in thin woods from July to October.

_Agaricus comptulus. Fr._

Comptulus means beautified or luxuriously decked; so called from the silky l.u.s.tre of its cap.

The pileus is at first convex, then expanded, rather fleshy, thinner at the margin and incurved, usually with an adpressed silky finish to the surface of the cap which gives rise to its specific name.

The gills are free, much rounded toward the margin and the stem, white at first, then grayish, pinkish, purple-brown in old plants.

The stem is hollow, tapering from the base to the cap, slight bulbous, white, then yellowish, fleshy, fibrous. The veil is more delicate than in A. silvaticus, parts of it often found in young plants on the margin of the cap, forming a ring on the stem which soon almost disappears.

Spores small, 4-52-3.

The surface of the cap, the rounding of the gills both in front and behind, also the tendency to turn white paper blue or bluish when the flesh of the cap comes in contact with it, will a.s.sist in determining this species.

It is found in gra.s.sy places in open woods, especially in the vicinity of pine trees, October and November.

_Agaricus placomyces. Pk._

THE FLAT-CAP MUSHROOM. EDIBLE.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Plate x.x.xV. Figure 255.--Agaricus placomyces.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Figure 256.--Agaricus placomyces. Two-thirds natural size.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Figure 257.--Agaricus placomyces. Two-thirds natural size.]

Placomyces means a flat mushroom. This is one of our prettiest plants.

The pileus is broadly ovate, rather thin, at first convex, but when it is fully expanded it is quite flat, whitish, brown in the center, as will be seen in Figure 256, but it is covered with a persistent brown scale.

The gills are white at first, then pink, turning blackish brown, quite crowded.

The stem is rather long, and slender, cylindrical stuffed, somewhat bulbous at the base, commonly whitish but at times bears yellow stains toward the base, tapering toward the cap. The veil is quite interesting.

It is broad and double, loosely joined together by threads, the lower or outer veil breaking first into regular radiating portions. The spores are elliptical, 5-6.5 long. The caps are two to four inches broad and the stem is three to five inches long.

They are found in lawns or in thin woods. They are much more abundant in hemlock woods though they are frequently found in mixed woods in which there are hemlock trees. The behavior of the veil is very similar to A.

arvensis and A. silvicola and indeed this plant seems to be very closely related to these species. It is found from July to September.

_Agaricus cretaceus. Fr._

THE CHALK AGARIC. EDIBLE.

Cretaceus, relating to chalk.

The pileus is entirely white, fleshy, obtuse, dry; sometimes even, sometimes marked with fine lines around the margin.

The gills are free, remote, quite ventricose, narrowed toward the stem, crowded, white, and only in mature plants do they become brownish.

Spores, 5-63.5.

The stem is two to three inches long, even, smooth, firm, tapering toward the cap, hollow, or stuffed with a fine pith, white.

It is found on lawns and in rich places. I find it more frequently in rich stubble fields. It makes a rare dish. Found in August and September.

_Agaricus subrufescens. Pk._

THE SLIGHTLY RED MUSHROOM. EDIBLE.

Subrufescens, sub, under; rufescens, becoming red. The pileus is at first inclined to be hemispherical, becoming convex or broadly expanded; silky fibrillose and minutely or obscurely scaly, whitish, grayish, or dull reddish-brown, usually smooth and darker on the disk. Flesh white and unchangeable.

The gills are at first white or whitish, then pink, finally blackish-brown.

The stem is rather long, often somewhat thickened or bulbous at the base, at first stuffed, then hollow, white, the ring is scaly on the under side, mycelium whitish, forming slender branching root-like strings. The spores are elliptical. _Peck_, 48th Rep. N. Y. State Bot.

The reddish-brown color is due to the coating of fibrils that covers the cap. In the center it does not separate into scales, hence it is smoother and more distinctly reddish-brown than the rest. Its veil resembles that of the A. placomyces, but instead of the lower surface breaking into radial portions it breaks into small floccose flakes or scales.

This species is found about greenhouses, and is frequently found in large cl.u.s.ters.