CLASSIFICATION OP AGARICS 



.... 



genus corresponds to Tricholoma of the white-spored group, in the 

 lack of a true annulus and by the attached gills. Many of the 

 Hypholomas are, however, much thinner and more Fragile than the 

 Tricholoma s. li differs from Stropharia and Psalliota in thai the 

 veil which is cortinate remains as a fringe on the margin of the pileus 

 instead of forming an annulus "ii the stem, li is more difficult to 

 separate the thin-capped species from Psilocybe. The latter differs 

 in some cases only in n relative sense. The cortina like veil in 

 Psilocybe is onlj verj slightly develope<l and leaves do shreds on 

 tin' margin of the pileus or on the surface as In the hygrophanous 

 species of Hypholoma. An account of the development of //. §t*6- 

 In/, ritiuni \>\ Miss Allen (Ann. Myc, Vol. i,p. 387, 1906) Bhows thai 

 the young button is surrounded bj a universal veil. This is probably 

 also true of the hygrophanous species where iliis outer veil often 

 leaves flocculenl particles <>n the surface of the young cap. 



The genus is divided Into two sections whose species are ootably 

 different In their general appearance and the texture of the flesh. 

 In the first section the PILEUS is thick, compact and firm; in the 

 second, ii is rather tliin. sbmewhal fragile and soft. The former 

 have usually brighter colors, while the latter are brownish, gray or 

 while. The GILLS vary much in color during the ionise of their 

 develo] ment. Tliis character is often used to separate the species, 

 but is less reliable for tlic purpose than in the genus Cortinarius. 

 The STEM is fleshy, and in the fragile forms ii is soon hollow. 

 The SPORES are elliptical excepl in //. populitia Britz. var., where 

 they are variously shaped. In //. velutinum and //. rugocephalum 

 they are more or less tuberculate. Many species have CYSTIDIA 

 on the sides of the uills. or sac shaped sterile cells on the edge. The 

 Large fleshj ones are edible, although ;it times they develop ;i dis- 

 agreeable hiiier taste. This is thought !>> some to be due to the 

 passage of the larvae of insects through the flesh; needless to say, 

 such hi iter plants should not be eaten. Of the thin ones, //. vncertum 

 and allied forms arc much songhl after. 



Key to the Spt ' " s 



i A i Pileus tirm, compact, not hygrophanous, dull reddish or yellow; 

 caespitose. 

 (a) Pileus dark brick-red, especially on disk. 

 (b) Gills at first whitish. 245. H. suolateritium Pr. 

 1 1,1, i Gills at lirst yellow. 246. //. suhbih ritium var. perplesum 

 Pk. 

 (aa) Pileus yellow or yellowish; DO red. 



(In Gills at first sulphur-yellow, soon green. //. fascicular* Pr 

 Gills at firsl pallid, never with green shades. 



i ci Gills gray or smoky gray. //. capnoides Ft. 



