Guide to the Mushrooms 83 



stem (decurrent) often cracked in mature speci- 

 mens ; colored like the cap. 



Spores. — Oblong^ pale lilac which is tlie distin- 

 guishing cliaracteristic of this mushroom and en- 

 ables one to distinguish it from P. ostreatus. 



Stem. — 1 to 2 inches long, up to 1-2 inch thick, 

 solid, firm, smooth, tough, white; attached to the 

 side of the cap, though in some specimens it grows 

 nearl}^ in the center. 



Ring. — None. 



Volva. — None. 



Odor. — Agreeable. 



Taste. — Mild. 



Habitat. — Decajang trunks, or bruised spots of 

 deciduous trees, very frequent, growing in large 

 clusters September to frost. 



Edible. 



HYGROPHORUS miniatus (Fr.) from mini- 



um, meaning red lead. 



Cap. — 1-2 to 2 inches broad, thin, fragile; at 

 first convex then nearly plane, smooth, bright red 

 in color; sometimes yellow on the margin, margin 

 wavy and, in full grown cap, cracked toward the 

 center of the cap; watery in appearance. 



Flesh. — White, thin, quite firm, tender. 



Gills. — Yellow sometimes tinged with red, dis- 

 tant, growing to the stem (adnate). 



