Studies and Illustrations of Mushrooms: I. 



21 



determine by making a spore-print as shown in figure 105. The 

 color of the spores is one of the most constant characters which the 

 members of the mushroom family possess, and in studying these 

 e plants some of the spores should be caught on white paper for the pur- 

 pose of determining their color. Figure 102 represents four different 

 sizes and stages of this Lepiota, In the plant at the left the veil still 

 covers the gills. In the next one it has broken away from the margin 

 of the pileus, and forms a collar around the stem. In the third the 



103. — Lepiota naiicina. Scclijn of three plants of different ages. 



pileus is still more expanded. In figure 103 are shown sections ot 

 three plants of different ages. We see here that the gills are free 

 from the stem. The general character, then, with the exception of 

 the color of the spores, are the same as those of the Agaricus 

 canipesiris. 



This distinguishing feature, the different color of the spores, is 

 regarded as such an important one that it is used to separate genera, 



