but I liavo not tried it. It is Oiusily known l)y the root-like pro- 

 longation of the stem which ])enetrates the earth deeply like a 

 tap-root, and which suii-gests the name of the fun*j;us. The cap 

 is thin, viscid when moist, grayish-hrown, and often ;i little 

 Avrinklcd or corrugated on its surface. Its pills are white, i)road, 

 not close and have the edge e.xeavated near the stxMu as in Trirho- 

 loma. The stem is slender, taiK'ring n])ward, and hollow. The 

 plant is common in thin woods ;ind nmh-r trees in summer and 

 autumn. 



XIV. rLKL'iiurrs— iivdUupjioKL'S— 



LACTAKIUS. 



The genus Pleurotus differs from all tliat have preceded in 

 lia\ ing the cap attached to the stem eccentrically or laterally, or 

 in being entirely destitute of a stem. In the other genera no- 

 ticed, the cap is attached to the stem by the central part of the 

 lower surface. In this genus the gills in some species are notched 

 as in Trichohma, in others they are adnate or decurrent as in 

 Clitocybe. Besides, nearly all the species (all here discussed) 

 grow on dead or decaying wood. They are more tough in tex- 

 ture than those growing on the gTound. and are therefore less 

 desirable for food. Still they may be utilized in making soups, 

 or in giving flavor to other more tender but less sapid species. 



The Elm pleurotus, Pleurotus idmarius, takes its name from 

 its habit of growing on elm trees. It appears in autumn, and 

 often may be found, even in the beginning of winter, standing 



out as a conspicuous white olv 

 ject from dead places in the 

 trunks of elm trees or from 

 the cut surface of their 

 branches. Even the shade 

 trees of the streetsof ourcities 

 sometimes produce a crop of 

 the elm-tree mushroom. Its 

 cap is large, thick and firm, 

 smooth, broadlv convex or 



I', sapidiis in i ' i • ^ • 



nearly flat, and white or whit- 

 ish with the centre generally stained with rusty or dull yellowish 

 hues. Sometimes the ej)idermis <-racks in areas, giving the sur- 



59 



Pleurotus uluiarius 



