Thelephoracese 



CRATEREL'LUS Fr. 



Crater, a bowl. 



Cratereiius. Hymenium waxy-membranaceous, distinct but adnate to the hymeno- 

 phore, inferior, continuous, smooth, even or wrinkled. Spores white. 

 Fries. 



This, the only genus of Thelephoraceae containing edible fungi, has 

 the form and general appearance of Cantharellus to which it is allied, 

 but it is distinguished by its nearly even hymenium, which in Canthar- 

 ellus has the form of gills, fold-like and thick but still distinctly gills. 

 The species vary from fleshy to membranaceous, all having a funnel- 

 shaped pileus and stem merging into it. On the ground. Autumn. 

 The slightly veined surface where the spores are borne, and the spores 

 themselves, when a microscope is brought to bear upon them, distin- 

 guish this genus from Cantharellus ; and its thin flesh and funnel-shape 

 from the large forms of Pistillaria. Several of the species are edible. 

 It is probable that all are. 



Toadstools, despite their name, are more popularly associated with 

 fairies than with toads. "Fairy rings," "Fairy Bread" and "Fairy 

 Clubs" are titles belonging to them, and these link us to the pretty be- 

 lief of childhood a belief we often do not outgrow. A group of C. 

 lutescens or C. cornucopoides may well be likened to fairy trumpets, 

 or to a tiny orchestrion thrusting its horns through wood earth where 

 roots of stumps abound. 



C. cantharel'lus Schw. (Plate XLVI, fig. 3.). Cap 1-3 in. 

 across, convex, often becoming depressed and funnel-shaped, glabrous, 

 yellowish or pinkish-yellow. Flesh white, tough, elastic. Hymenium 

 slightly wrinkled, yellow or faint salmon color. Stem 1-3 in. high, 

 3-5 lines thick, glabrous, solid, yellow. Spores on white paper yel- 

 lowish or pale salmon. 



Spores 7.5-10x5-6/4 Peck. 



West Virginia, Mcllvaine. 



No one not looking for minute botanic details would separate this 

 species from Cantharellus cibarius, especially if found growing near or 

 with it. The pinkish tinge sometimes present in C. Cantharellus I have 

 never observed in C. cibarius. The present species is of equal excel- 

 lence. 



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