22 THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 



eter of the cap, and as the latter is usually from two to 

 four inches across, the plant seldom becomes very conspic- 

 uous. The gills are rather close together, white, and 

 narrow towiird the stem, which the}' bareh' reach. The 

 spores are also white. The surface of the cap is dry and 

 the entire plant is firm and brittle. 



This species is edible, but there is some diversity- of 

 opinion as to its qualities. The taste is mild and- most 

 American writers are inclined to consider it of no especial 

 value; but in Europe it is highly esteemed. The species is 

 apparently not ver}' abundant in America owing to its 

 somewhat solitary habit, though it is fnirly \vell distri- 

 buted. It is a summer mushroom appearing from Juh' to 

 September and should be looked for in thin grass\^ woods 

 and similar places. 



The genus Kussula to which our species belongs takes 

 its name from a word meaning red. This was doubtless 

 suggested bj^ the color of other members of the genus for 

 it is by no means committed to sober colors. On the con- 

 trar3^ purples, pinks, violets, reds, 3'ellows and even blues 

 are plentiful. The genus has neither veil, ring nor volva 

 and is easily distinguished from other genera of mush- 

 rooms. It closely resembles the genus Lactarius in size, 

 shape, structure and texture, but is readil}^ separated by 

 the fact that the Russulas are very l^rittle and do not 

 exude a milky or colored juice w^hen broken. Although 

 the genus is easily recognizable, the species are often hard 

 to identify. In closely resembling species the taste is often 

 of importance in separating them. 



It was once thought that the spores ot this genus 

 would not germinate until they had passed through the 

 digestive organs of the horse, but this is now held to be 

 erroneous. Since there is still some uncertainty as to how 

 the spores are disseminated, Capt. Mcllvaine was moved 

 to tr}^ various experiments i*i this line. Noting that a 

 certain black beetle feeds upon this species, he planted the 

 beetles and in several instances obtained a crop of the 

 fungi. 



