CLAVIS AGARICINOKUM. 



219 



Agaricus this genus differs in the tramn, the substance of which is 

 similar to that of the pileus ; from Laclarius and Rnssiila by the trama 

 not being vesicular, but subfloccose, and intermixed with granules; 

 and from its nearest ally, Cantharelhis, by the sharp-edged gills. 

 This genus is also distinguished by the hymenophorum being changed 

 into a waxy mass, and at length detached from the trama. Many 

 species are sapid and edible. In Cortinarius, Paxillus, and GompM- 

 dius, the spores are coloured, and the gills lose their colour. 



Genus VIII. GoMPHiDius,Fr.Epicr. p. 319. —Spores large, fusiform 

 (often spuriously uniseptate, according to Fries), greenish-grey, becom- 

 ing black ; veil universal, glutinous, terminated on the stem by a floc- 

 cose annulus; pileus continuous with the stem, fleshy, convex, at 

 length top-shaped ; stem confluent with the bymenophoram ; gills 

 strongly decurrent, somewhat branched, soft, mucilaginous, often 

 spreading in a continuous membrane.— Hab. Growing on the ground, 

 chiefly in Pine woods, solitary, subpersistent. 



Principally distinguished by the mucilaginous nature of the gills. 

 Nearly aUied to Coriinarius, but at once distinguished by the shape 

 and colour of the spores, and from all the dark-purple and black- 

 spored Agarics by the compact pileus, etc. Properties unknown; 



none edible. 



Genus IX. Lactarius, Pr. Epicr. p. 333.— Spores white or very 

 pale yellow, generally echinate ; veil none, but in some species the 

 margin of pileus is bearded or pubescent ; pileus fleshy, of a floccose 

 or vesiculose (not fibrous) texture, at length depressed in the disk, 

 mari^in at first involute ; stem fleshy, not corticate, often hollow when 

 old, confluent with tlie hymenophorum ; gills milky, in nearly all the 

 species at fii-st white, often changing to sulphur- colour, red, or violet 

 on exposure to the air, subdecurrent, unequal, with an acute edge, 

 trama subvesiculose.— Hab. All grow on the ground. 



This genus is nearly allied to Rimula, but easily distinguished by 

 the milky gills. Tliey vary greatly in taste, being mild, aromatic, 

 bitter or acrid and burning. Lactarius includes delicate and exces- 

 sively poisonous species. 



Genus X. Eussula, Fr. Gen. Hymen. — Spores white or very 

 pale yellow, generally echinate ; veil entirely obsolete ; pileus fleshy, 

 convex, then expanded, and at length depressed ; stem stout, po- 

 lished, not corticate, generally spongy within, confluent with the 



