TREE MUSHROOMS 



and have little or no stem. If there is a stem, it is 

 fastened to the side of the cap. The upper surface of 

 the fungus is light brown or buff. The gills are a dirty 

 white and they bear white spores. 



These plants are found from June to November. 

 They are more abundant when the weather is wet. For 

 a long time they have been known to be good to eat, but 

 the flesh is rather tough. 



Another fungus which grows on trees is the elm 

 mushroom. It is called by this name because it is 

 found mostly upon the elm tree. 

 Sometimes there is . a single 

 plant; again a dense mass is 

 seen covering several feet of the 

 trimk or branches. The stem of 

 the plant is generally longer than 

 that of the oyster mushroom, 

 and it is attached to the cap be- 

 tween the center and the edge. 

 The upper surface is yellow or 

 buff. ^Tien young it is smooth, but it becomes 

 broken and spotted with age. The flesh and spores 

 are white. 



On account of its pecuHar flavor this fungus is some- 

 times called the fish mushroom. It looks somewhat 

 hke fish, too, when cooked. Some people have called 

 it the tree fish. 



There is a third member of the family of tree fungi 



83 



Elm Mushroom. 



