European Fungus Flora: Agaricaceae   By: George Massee (1845-1917)

AGARICACEAE

EUROPEAN FUNGUS FLORA

AGARICACEAE

GEORGE MASSEE, F.L.S.,

PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT (CRYPTOGAMS), ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW.

PRESIDENT OF THE QUEKETT MICROSCOPICAL CLUB; CHAIRMAN OF THE MYCOLOGICAL SECTION OF THE YORKSHIRE NATURALISTS' UNION; MEMBER OF THE SCOTTISH CRYPTOGAMIC SOCIETY; MEMBER OF THE NEW ZEALAND INSTITUTE; HON. MEMBER OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, WINDSOR AND ETON SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY, HERTFORDSHIRE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, ESSEX FIELD CLUB, &c.

AUTHOR OF A TEXT BOOK OF PLANT DISEASES ; BRITISH FUNGI ; BRITISH FUNGUS FLORA ; A MONOGRAPH OF THE MYXOGASTRES ; &c., &c.

[Illustration]

London DUCKWORTH & CO. 3 HENRIETTA STREET, W.C.

1902

Cambridge: PRINTED BY J. AND C. F. CLAY, AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS.

To my friend Dr M. C. Cooke, to whom in matters Mycological I cannot sufficiently express my indebtedness; I have much pleasure in dedicating this attempt to introduce to British Mycologists, the Agarics of European countries.

GEO. MASSEE.

CONTENTS.

PAGE Dedication iii Preface v Agaricaceae, definition of 1 Agaricaceae, definition of sections of 1 Leucosporae, analysis of genera 1 Abbreviations 3 Chlorosporae, analysis of genera 118 Rhodosporae, analysis of genera 118 Ochrosporae, analysis of genera 138 Melanosporae, analysis of genera 203 Addenda 241 Corrections 244 Bibliography 245 Index 248

PREFACE.

Observations extending over a period of twenty five years, made at Fungus Forays and kindred meetings where Mycologists assemble together, has led to the conviction that familiarity with the Fungi and literature pertaining thereto, of one country only, leads to a false impression as to the significance of the term 'species.'

It conveys the idea that species are much more sharply defined than proves to be the case, when the entire Fungus Flora of Europe is included.

In all large genera common to European countries, the continental species can be sandwiched between British species. Even in large genera there are as a rule not more than eight or ten primary differentiating specific characters present, and it is the constant correlation of two or three of those primary characters that constitute a species, as understood at the present day.

If two British species are characterised respectively by the marks 1, 2, and 3, 4, then we find that two continental species belonging to the same genus will be indicated by the characters 1, 3, and 2, 4, respectively.

Primary specific characters should include only those features that are constant, and not materially modified by geographical or exceptional local conditions as to environment, etc., and such alone should constitute a specific diagnosis. Trivial or local characteristics should follow the essential diagnosis as a rider.

With the introduction of characters due to local conditions, a description ceases to be a specific diagnosis in the proper sense, and is merely a description of a certain state of a species occurring under a given set of conditions. Such, however, is too frequently the nature of so called specific characters given in local Floras.

A lengthy and laboured description suggests lack of power to grip essentials on the part of the compiler, and does not as a rule facilitate the recognition of the species intended.