CHARACTERISTICS OF AGARICUS 



timber, and even the trunks of living trees 

 are all invaded by numerous species, each 

 species having certain general habitat re- 

 quirements. 



Perhaps it is vs^ell here to emphasize a cer- 

 tain point discussed at greater length later; 

 namely, that some puff balls and representa- 

 tives of many other groups of fleshy fungi 

 may occur along w^ith the field mushroom in 

 pastures and meadow^s; that, similarly, hun- 

 dreds of w^ild mushrooms of most diverse 

 form, texture, and color may be found on the 

 ground in the w^oods; and that an equally 

 diverse flora inhabits trees or timber, pro- 

 ducing decay. When, therefore, ''spaw^n" 

 is found in any particular location it may 

 not be easy to name the species from this 

 spawn alone; that is, the ^'mushroom," or 

 sporophore, is required. True, one may 

 become expert in recognizing kinds of 

 spawn, but the important thing at first is to 

 recognize the mushrooms. 



The fresh, undried spawn of Agaricus 

 campestris has a pleasing aroma of fresh 



IS 



