GILL FUNGI 



73 



KEY TO THE GENERA 



I. Stem separating readily from the cap, with a ring 



II. Stem and cap continuous 



\. Stem usually with a distinct ring 

 2. Stem without a distinct ring, margin often cur- 

 tained by fragments of the veil 



Agaricus 



Stropharia 



Hypholoma 



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 72 



74 

 76 



AGARICUS 



Distinguished among purple-spored forms by the ring and the discrete stem. 

 It differs from Stropharia chiefly in the last respect. It corresponds with 

 L e p i t a among the white-spored forms. The plants are for the most part large 

 and fleshy, and of the highest repute for food. The name is the classical name for 

 the common mushroom. 



Key to the Species 



1. Flesh blood red when wounded 



2. Flesh not blood red when wounded 



a. Ring thick, narrow and double 



b. Ring broader, t}'pically single 



( 1 ) Cap densely covered with tiny brown scales 



(2) Cap usually smooth, or somewhat silky, rarely 



scaly 



A. haemorrhoidarius 

 A. rodmani 

 A. placomyces 

 A. campester 



Agaricus haemorrhoidarius Blood Mushroom 



Cap 10-12 cm. wide, dull red or reddish brown, with broad flat scales, margin 

 turned in at first, convex to plane; stem 8-12 cm. by 2-3 cm., white, blood red 

 where bruised, fibrous, hollow, ring large, superior ; gills free, rosy, then purple- 

 brown, crowded; spores purple-brown, elliptic, 6-8 X 4-5/i.; the flesh everywhere 

 turns red when touched, as the name indicates. 



On the ground in woods, late summer and autumn; excellent. 



Agaricus rodmani Double Ring Mushroom 



Cap 5-10 cm. wide, white or whitish, more or less yellowish toward the center, 

 smooth or with a few scales, convex to plane; stem 5-8 cm. by 1-2 cm., whitish, 

 smooth below the ring, scaly or mealy above, solid, ring thick, narrow and double, 

 appearing to be two ; gills free or just touching the stem, pink, then dark purple- 

 brown, narrow and crowded ; spores globoid, purplish, 5-6 X 4-5fi. Named after 

 the mycophagist, Rodman. 



On the ground, summer and autumn; excellent. 



