Guide to the MiisJiJ'ooins 121 



Spores. — Elliptical, purplish-black. 



Stem. — Up to 3 inches long, thick, stuffed, whit- 

 ish, smooth, sometimes slightly thickened at base. 



Ring. — About middle of the stem, generally torn, 

 rather large, white. 



Volva. — None. 



Odor. — Agreeable. 



Taste. — Mild, nutty. 



Habitat. — Pastures, growing singly, quite com- 

 mon from July to October. 



Edible. — This is the most widely known of all 

 mushrooms. Tliere are many species of this family, 

 all edible and all having the same characteristics 

 relative to the gills, whicli is the characteristic 

 mark of these mushrooms. This is the mushroom most 

 wideh^ sought for by lovers of edible fungi and if 

 the following facts are observed no mistakes will 

 occur in gathering them. They do not grow in 

 woods, the gills are always light pink at first, 

 changing as the plant grows to brown and then 

 blackish brown ; they jDossess no volva. 



AGARICUS Silvaticus (Schaeif.) from the 

 Latin, belonging to the wood. 



Cap. — 2 to 6 inches broad, convex, then plane, 

 with a slight umbo, filbrillose with brown scales, 

 white beneath these; margin fairly even, thin. 



