GILL BEARING FUNGI. 17 



Another very interesting case is shown in the ambiguous 

 trametes (Trametes ambigua), a white shelving fungus which occurs 

 in the Southern States. It is shown in Fig. 16. At the upper right 

 hand is shown the normal plant in the normal position. At the upper 

 left hand is shown an abnormal one with the large and first formed 

 cap also in the normal position as it grew when the tree was stand- 

 ing. When the tree fell the shelf was on the upper side of the log. 

 Now numerous new caps grew out from the edge as shown in the 

 lower figure, forming a series of steps, as it were, up one side and 

 down the other. 



CHAPTER III. 



GILL BEARING FUNGI: AGARICACEAE.* 



The gill bearing fungi are known under the family Agaricacece t 

 or popularly the agarics. They are distinguished by the fruiting 

 area being distributed over the surface of plate-like or knife-like 

 extensions or folds, usually from the under surface of the cap. 

 These are known as the gills, or lamellae, and they usually radiate 

 from a common point, as from or near the stem, when the stem is 

 present ; or from the point of attachment of the pileus when the 

 stem is absent. The plants vary widely in form and consistency, 

 some being very soft and soon decaying, others turning into an inky 

 fluid, others being tough and leathery, and some more or less woody 

 or corky. The spores when seen in mass possess certain colors, 

 white, rosy, brown or purple brown, black or ochraceous. While a 

 more natural division of the agarics can be made on the basis of 

 structure and consistency, the treatment here followed is based on 

 the color of the spores, the method in vogue with the older botanists. 

 While this method is more artificial, it is believed to be better for the 

 beginner, especially for a popular treatment. The sections will be 

 treated in the following order : 



1. The purple-brown-spored agarics. 



2. The black-spored agarics. 



3. The white-spored agarics. 



4. The rosy-spored agarics. 



5. The ochre-spored agarics. 



*For analytical keys to the families and genera see Chapter XXII. 



