8 



subgenera, printed in the above table in italics, were included in this 

 genus. The genera are printed in capitals. In the Saccardian system, 

 all the subgenera of Agaricus having been elevated to generic rank, the 

 term Agaricus is limited to a very small group which includes the sub- 

 genus Fsalliota of Fries, the si^ecies being characterized by fleshy caps, 

 free gills, ringed stem, and dark brown or purplish brown spore-s. As 

 restricted, it naturally falls into the spore series Melanosporece. 



In the white-spored section, Leucospori, the recorded edible species 

 occur in the following genera : Marasmius, Cantharellus, Lactarius, 

 Russula, Hygrophorus, Collybia, Pleurotus, Clitocybe, Tricholoma 

 Armillaria, Lepiota, and Amanita. The plants of Marasmius are usually 

 thin and dry, reviving with moisture. Cantharellus is characterized by 

 the obtuseness of the edges of the lamellse, Lactarius by the copious 

 milky or sticky fluid which exudes from the plants when cut or bruised. 

 Russula is closely allied to Lactarius, and the plants bear some re- 

 semblance in external appearance to those of that genus, but they are 

 never milky, and the gills are usually rigid and brittle. In Hygrophorus 

 the plants are moist, not very large, often bright colored, and the gills 

 have a waxy appearance. The Collybias are usually csespitoso, the stems 

 exteriorly cartilaginous, in some species swelling and splitting open in 

 the centre. 



In Pleurotus the stem is lateral or absent. The plants are epiphytal, 

 usually springing from the decaying bark of trees and old stumps. 



In Clitocybe the plants are characterized by a deeply depressed, often 

 narrow cap, with the gills acutely adnate, or running far down the stem, 

 which is elastic, with a fibrous outer coat covered with minute fibres. 

 Many of the species have a fragrant odor. The Tricholomas are stout 

 and fleshy, somewhat resembling the Russulas, but distinguished from 

 them by the sinuate character of the gills, which show a slight notched 

 or toothed depression just before reaching the stem (represented in Fig. 

 ■1, Plate IV). Typical species of Armillaria show a well-defined ring and 

 scales upon the stem, the remains of the partial veil, and the plants 

 are usually large, and csespitose. The Lepiotas are recognized by the 

 soft, thready character of the fleshy portion of the cap, and the fringed 

 scales formed by the breaking of the cuticle. The ease with which the 

 ringed stem is removed from its socket in the cap is another character- 

 istic which distinguishes the plants from those of other genera. 



The Amanitas are distinguished by the volva, which sheathes the 

 somewhat bulbous stem at its base and the ring and veil which in the 

 young plant are very distinct features, the whole plant in embryo being 

 enveloped in the volva. 



The Amanita group, besides containing some very good edible species, 

 is also credited with containing the most dangerous species of all the 

 mushroom family, and some which are undoubtedly fatal in their effects.* 



"A more detailed description of this group will appear in No. 5 of this series. 



