\vtJiii:-si'< )Ri;i) A(]ARi(:s. 



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center. Tlu' spccit-s art- very numerous. Peck, 23rd Report, N. V. 

 State Mus., p. 124-126, describes 8 species. Morgan Jour. Cinn. 

 Soc. Nat. Hist. 6: 189 194, describes 17 species. 



Marasmius oreades Fr. Edible. — This is the well known " fairy ring " 

 mushroom, it grow.s during the summer and autumn in grassy 

 places, as in lawns, by roadsides, in pastures, etc. It appears most 

 abundantly during wet weather or following heavy rains. It is found 

 usually in circles, or in the arc of a circle, though few scattered 

 plants not arranged in this way often occur. The plants are 7-10 

 cm. high, the cap 2-4 cm. broad, and the stem 3-4 mm. in thickness, 



rhi^ pileus is conve.x to expanded, sometimes the center elevated, 

 fleshy, rather thin, tough, smooth, buff color, or tawny or reddish, 

 in age, or in drying, paler. When moist the pileus may be striate 



FiGiRK 126. — Marasmius oreades. Caps buff, tawny, or reddish. 



on the margin. Tlie gills are broad, free or adnexed, rounded near 

 the stem, white or dull yellowish. The spores are elliptical, 7-8 /< 

 long. The stem is tough, solid, whitish. 



This widely distributed fungus is much prized everywhere by 

 those who know it. It is not the only fungus which appears in rings, 

 so that this habit is not peculiar to this plant. Sevt-ral different 

 kinds are known to appear in rings at times. The appearance of the 

 fungus in rings is due to the mode of growth of the mycelium or 

 spawn in the soil. 



Having started at a given spot thf mwelium consumes the food 

 material in the soil suitable for it, and the plants for the tlrst year 

 appear in a group. In the center of this spot the mycelium, having 

 consumed all the available food, probably dies after producing the 



