I50 



MINNESOTA MUSHROOMS 



Figure 122. Cordyceps militaris 



BLACK FUNGI PYRENOAIYCETES 



Three families of this order are 

 represented by forms sufficiently large 

 and common that the beginner should 

 know them, although none of them are 

 edible, Avith one exception. The spores 

 are borne in sacks, Avhich are found in 

 flask-shaped cellars or cavities. When 

 these are single, the fmigus is too small 

 to be seen by the beginner, but when 

 these cavities are grouped in masses, the 

 plant may attain a considerable size, 

 as in the following. The forms that 

 grow on wood are usually black, but a 

 few which have become parasites on 

 other fungi and on insect larvae are 

 bright-colored. 



KEY TO THE GEXEUA 



On living plants or insect lar\-ae 



a. Parasitic on Lactarius 



b. Parasitic on insect larvae 



On trunks, and decaying wood, rarely on the ground 



a. Plant club-shaped or cylindric 



b. Plant more or less hemispheric 



Hypomyces 

 Cordyceps 



Xylaria 

 Daldinia 



rage 



150 

 150 



151 

 151 



HYPOMYCES 



Hypomyces lactifluorum 



Cellars or perithecia imbedded thickly in the orange surface of species of L a c- 

 t a r i u s which are so changed by the parasite that they fail to develop gills or 

 other features ; the reddish mouth of each cellar alone is visible ; spores spindle- 

 shaped, clear, rough, 12-celled, pointed at the ends, 30-38 X 6-8/1. The name re- 

 fers to the host. 



Parasitic on species of Lactarius. the two fungi making an excellent com- 

 bination for the mushroom epicure. 



CORDYCEPS 



Cordyceps militaris 



Cellars or perithecia embedded in an orange club-shaped stalked mass whicli 

 arises from the body of caterpillars, often more or less buried in the soil ; club 



