50 



GUIDE TO THE MODELS OF FUNGI. 



shrivel in dry weather and revive with moisture, and so are much 

 less putrescent than true Agarics. The stem is more cartilaginous 

 or horny than the pilous; the gills are usually somewhat distant, 

 with an acute edge. They grow on old stumps, twigs, dead leaves, 

 etc. ; some are terrestrial. The odour of new meal so common in 

 Agarics is replaced in Marasmius by one of onions or garlic. Several 

 of the species are highly foetid. Most of them are small in size. 

 There are forty-one British species of Marasmius ; of these three 

 only are represented by models. 



112. M.rasmius porreus Fr. — Pileus opaque dull yellow, paler 

 when dry, thin but leather}', flaccid, convex, then flattened, obtuse, 

 even on the disc, striate at the margin; flesh pallid; gills free, 

 distant, somewhat thick, tough, broadly linear, at length leathery, 

 light yellowish, becoming paler; stalk stuilod, then hollow, tough, 

 juiceless, pubescent, somewhat thickened at both ends, red-brown, 

 paler at the apex. 



M. purrcus is frequent in woods, especially among oak leaves ; 

 its strong odour of garlic is characteristic, but not peculiar, as two 

 other species possess it. The odour passes away in drying. 



113. Marasmius oreades Fr. The Fairy-ring Champignon. — 

 Pileus at first pale livid buff in colour, with a darker disc, becoming 



paler when dry, hygrophanous, convex, 

 then plane, somewhat umbonate, even, 

 smooth, slightly striate at the margin 

 when moist ; gills free, very broad, distant, 

 at first soft, then firmer, pallid-whitish ; 

 stalk solid, tough, stifi" and straight, pallid, 

 entirely naked, not hairy or distinctly 

 downy. 



It grows in rings and groups during 

 spring, summer, and autumn, in poor pas- 

 tures, on lawns and downs, and by grassy 

 roadsides. The odour is weak but agree- 

 able, stronger when dried ; taste mild. 

 Esculent, delicious when fried in butter. 

 It may be pickled, or dried for winter 

 use; and a delicate, almost colourless ketchup can be made from it. 



Fig. 4J.— Marasmius ■ 

 le-half natui:il 



114. Marasmius rotula Fr. — Pileus whitish, or with a small 

 brownish umbiiuus, tiK nibranaceous, dry, convex, ])licatc at margin ; 

 gills few, distant, wiiite; stalk horny, hollow, equal, shining deep 

 brown or blackish, stri^ite when dry. 



M. rotnla is frequent; it is small in size and grows gregariously 

 on dead twigs in woods and by hedgcsides ; it may be known by 

 the peculiar attachment of tlie gills to a collar which encircles, but 

 does not t(nich, tlie top of the stem. 



