Among the Mushrooms A Guide For Beginners   By: Caroline A. Burgin

1. Craterellus cornucopioides. 2. Cortinarius armillatus. 3. Clitocybe laccata. 4. Tremellodon gelatinosum.]

AMONG THE MUSHROOMS A Guide for Beginners

by

ELLEN M. DALLAS and CAROLINE A. BURGIN

[Illustration]

Toronto / London Drexel Biddle, Publisher

NEW YORK 67 Fifth Avenue PHILADELPHIA 228 South Fourth St. SAN FRANCISCO 319 325 Sansome St.

1900

Copyright, 1900 By A. J. DREXEL BIDDLE

Press of DREXEL BIDDLE, PHILADELPHIA

" Have you not seen in the woods on a late autumn morning a poor fungus or mushroom a plant without any solidity, nay, that seemed nothing but a soft mush or jelly by its constant total and inconceivably gentle pushing, manage to break its way up through the frosty ground, and actually to lift a hard crust on its head? It is the symbol of the power of kindness. "

Emerson.

PREFACE.

The books which have been consulted in the preparation of this work are, "British Fungi," by Rev. John Stevenson; "British Fungus Flora," by George Massee; "Mushrooms and their Uses," and "Boleti of the United States," by Professor Charles H. Peck, State Botanist of New York; "Moulds, Mildew and Mushrooms," by Professor L. M. Underwood; and a pamphlet by Mr. C. G. Lloyd, entitled "The Volvæ of the United States."

No attempt has been made to do more than to put in popular language the statements of experienced botanists, and so to arrange the matter as to aid beginners in their work.

Thanks are due to Mr. Harold Wingate for his suggestions and corrections of the manuscript; to Mr. C. G. Lloyd for permission to print from his photographs; to Miss Laura C. Detwiller for her paintings from nature, which have been here reproduced; and also to Mrs. Harrison Streeter and Miss Mary W. Nichols for their encouragement of the undertaking and suggestions in furtherance of its success.

CONTENTS.

[Transcriber's Note: The structure of the Table of Contents does not correspond perfectly to the book itself, but all page numbers are correct.]

Page

Introduction, 13 Mushrooms, 23 Antiquity of Fungi, 23 Manner of Growth, 24 Odor, 26 Duration, 27 Uses, 27 Habitat, 28 Structure and growth, 29 Mycelium, 31 The Stem, 34 The Gills, 34 The Spores, 36 The Volva and Veil, 37 The Tubes or Pores, 38

Classification of Fungi, Distinctive Characteristics of Genera. 39 Hymenomycetes, 41 Gasteromycetes, 59 Ascomycetes, 64 By Color of the Spores, 72

General Helps to the Memory, 68

Descriptions of Fungi arranged According to Color of Cap only, 77 Red or Pink, 77 Yellow or Orange, 88 Gray, 100 Green, 106 White, 107 Brown, 115 Purple or Violet, 129

Description of Some Familiar Mushrooms, without regard to color, 131

Direction for Using Keys, 147 Key to Hymenomycetes, 149 Key to Polyporei, 152 Key to Hydnei, 152 Key to Thelephorei, 152 Key to Clavariei, 153 Key to Gasteromycetes and Ascomycetes, 153

Glossary, 155

Index to Descriptions of Fungi, 161

Guide for Determining Genera of Agarics in four Tables, 165