130 Guide to the Mushrooms 



Flesh. — White, rather thin. 



Gills. — Free from the stem, very crowded, broad, 

 at first tinged with pink, then turning to black and 

 dissolving into an inky fluid. 



Spores. — ElliiDtical, black. 



Stem. — Up to 6 inches long, and up to 1-2 an 

 inch thick, tapering ujDward, hollow, brittle, white. 

 Ring. — Thin, torn, sometimes movable. 

 Volva. — None. 

 Odor. — Earthy. 

 Taste. — Strong. 



Habitat. — On dumping grounds and in gardens 

 and where ashes and street sweepings have been 

 placed, growing singly and in large groups from 

 April to November. Common over all sections of 

 the United States. 



Edible. 



CORPRINUS atramentarius(Bull) from Latin 



atramentarius, ink. "Ink}^ Cap." 



Cap. — 1 to 3 inches broad, egg-shaped, expand- 

 ing, flat when mature and margin split and rolled 

 back over cap ; in some cases smooth, others tufted 

 with tinj^ scales, color mouse gray, margin striate. 



Flesh. — Thin ,soft, grayish. 



Gills. — Adnate, that is, coming up close to stem, 

 adhering to each other, broad, white then turning 

 black and dissolving into inky fluid. 



