CHAPTER XI 



The Classification of Mushrooms 



The scope of this volume will permit of 

 only the briefest survey of some of the 

 greater groups of fleshy fungi. It is a well- 

 known fact that in this country mushrooms 

 are not known and appreciated as they are 

 in Europe. Among the thousands of per- 

 sons who spend their vacations in regions 

 abounding in these interesting plants, it is 

 the exceptional person who can speak in- 

 telligently of mushrooms, or point out the 

 commonest edible and poisonous species of 

 the region. It is hoped that these refer- 

 ences will at least serve to indicate how 

 diverse and interesting the mushrooms are; 

 suggesting the advisability of knowing some 

 of the technical characters used to distin- 

 guish families, genera, and species; and 

 perhaps also stimulating confidence to take 



142 



