AG4RICALES 



117 



tions of the species have not been well defined. Some of the 

 more common species may be distinguished as follows : 



A. Species with a red pileus. 



R. cmetica varying in color from pink to scarlet, with broad 

 mostly continuous lamellae and a strong peppery taste. Its name 

 indicates its effect and it is to be regarded among the poisonous 

 species. 



R. hpida, bright or dull red, lamellae somewhat crowded, often 

 forked ; stem white or streaked with pink ; taste mild ; edible. 



A'. 7'itbra, cinnabar red or vermilion, becoming paler with age ; 

 lamellae crowded, forked and with shorter ones intermixed ; taste 

 acrid ; poisonous. 



R. a/ufacea, from bright to deep red, with buff-yellow lamellae 

 and nutty taste ; edible. 



B. Species with a greenish pileus. 



R. virescens, an edible species with the grayish-green pileus 

 adorned with small, flocculent scales, and lamellae narrowed as 

 they approach the stem, occasionally with a few short ones inter- 

 mixed ; edible. 



R. heteropJiylla, greenish or pinkish gray, with milk-white 

 crowded lamellae, often forked, with short ones intermixed ; edible. 



Besides these there arc others with a pileus of the same colors 

 and some in which the pileus is a clear white. Taste is of special 

 importance in separating the species of this genus ; those with a 

 distinct peppery taste should not be used for food. 



The species of Lactaritis are very easily recognized by their milk, 

 which exudes from the plants at every point when broken or in- 

 jured. Nearly fifty species are already known from this country.^ 

 Some of the more common species are the following : 



A. Species with white milk, which does not change color. 



L. piperattts is white and smooth with a depressed or funnel- 

 shaped pileus, with narrow crowded lamellae and a solid stem ; 



*Peck (Reg. Rep. 38: 111-133), gives a synopsis of forty of these 

 found in Nqw York with rather full descriptions and notes. 



