MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 121 
(with tooth-like fruiting surfaces), the Clavariaceae (fairy 
clubs often much branched), and the Lycoperdaceae (pufi- 
balls). However, these rather formidable names need not 
discourage one, since in the vicinity of St. Louis there are 
not more than from one to a half dozen mushrooms in 
each group worth considering. In fact, the single family 
of gill fungi, or Agaricaceae, contains by far the greatest 
number of edible forms which are most apt to be collected. 
AGARICACEAE 
The agarics, or gill fungi, constitute the majority of 
familiar mushrooms. Although the forms and habits of 
these plants are diverse, it is possible to speak of a typical 
agaric, and this would be a plant of the parasol form, with 
central stalk and conspicuous cap. The under surface of 
the cap or pileus is studded with vertically placed radiating 
lamellae, or gills. They are the spore-bearing surfaces, 
and are usually more or less the color of the spores, which 
may be black (brown or purple-black), ochraceous, pink, 
or white, in the various genera or species. 
The only satisfactory method of determining the color of 
the spores—which 1s important in the identification of tie 
species—is to prepare a spore print. This may be done by 
breaking off the stem, placing the mature cap overnight 
on a sheet of white or black paper, and protecting from 
air currents; or the plant may be simply wrapped in paper 
which it is suspected will contrast with the color of the 
spores. Reference to any mushroom book used as a guide 
in determining species will show the importance of spore 
color. In addition, the identification of genera and species, 
in some detail, requires a close study of the method of 
attachment of the gills to the stem, the nature of the veil 
(or annulus) if any, the presence of a cup (volva), and 
many minor characteristics of stem, cap, gills, ete. 
It will be possible here to consider only a few repre- 
sentatives of agarics with black spores and of those with 
white spores. if, however, the forms mentioned are care- 
fully studied, one will have progressed far towards acquir- 
ing the confidence needed in using mushrooms as food. 
Agaries with Black Spores 
For St. Louis and its vicinity three species of Coprinus 
(ink caps) are probably the most common wild mush- 
rooms which are likely to be found from now until heavy 
frosts. Coprinus has gills which are whitish at first, 
then pinkish along the edge, then become gradually 
coal-black as the spores mature, and finally liquefy, be- 
ginning on the thin edges, so that an inky black fluid 
