AGARICALES 



toy 



There are four* genera in this country distinguished as follows: 



1 . Stem strictly lateral ; pores in the form of tubes whose mouths are sepa- 



rated from each other. FISTULINA. 



Stem central or rarely somewhat eccentric. 2. 



2. Pores readily separating from the pileus ; spores brownish or whitish. 



BOLETUS. 

 Pores separating with difficulty from the pileus. 3. 



3 . Fleshy ; pores in more or less radiating rows ; spores brown or yellowish. 



BOLETINUS. 



Tough ; pores uniform ; pileus floccose ; spores blackish 



STROBILOMYCES. 



Strobilomyces has a single species everywhere common which 

 is grayish or blackish and easily recognized by its floccose pileus ; 

 it is edible when young, but soon becomes tough ; a second 

 species is imperfectly known. Boletinus\\as a few species one of 

 which, B. porosus, is readily recognized by its eccentric stem and 

 lamella-like radiating pores ; B. pictus is a pinkish species with 

 a conspicuous membranous veil. Fistulijia Jicpatica is known as 

 vegetable beefsteak from the flesh-like fibre and color of the fresh 

 specimen ; it is comparatively common in autumn on chestnut 

 stumps and trunks, sometimes also growing on oak ; it is much 

 valued as a delicacy. 



The species of Boletus are quite diverse and we have over a hun- 

 dred of them, j- An entire group known as the Litridi from the 

 red mouths of the pores are suspected of being poisonous and 

 should be avoided. Very recently a case of poisoning has been 

 reported from a species outside of this group. \ Beyond these 



* Hennings (Die natiirlichen Pflanzenfamilien, I 1 ** : 188-196) separates 

 from Boletzis two additional genera which are also represented in this 

 country. 



f Fortunately descriptions of the greater number of the species of this genus 

 are easily accessible in English. Cf. Peck, Boleti of the United States. 

 Bull. N. Y. State Mus., No. 8, 1888. This can be obtained at a small 

 price of the State Librarian at Albany, N. Y. Quite a number of species 

 have been described since this publication was issued, particularly from the 

 South. 



\ Boletus miniato-olivaceus semibilh, Cf. F. S. Collins in Rhodora, I : 

 21-23. 1899. This is the species erroneously figured in Palmer's Mush- 

 rooms of America as B. subtonientosus and edible. 



