Uni-versity Bulletin, Series 7, No. 12. Botanical Series No. IJ 



Ohio Mycological "Bulletin No. i 



YORK ^- '^- Kellcrman, Ph.D., Ohio State Uni'Z'ersity, 



\L 



Columbus. Ohio, March 7, 1903. 



INTRODUCTORY. — Many of the Mushrooms, Toadstools, Morels, 

 Puffballs, Coral-fungi, etc., are conspicuous objects. Others are 

 more retiring, often very small, and seen only when search is made. It 

 is not until one heeds the various forms, seeks out and enumerates the 

 kinds, that it is realized what a large number may occur in a small area 

 of favorable country. 



Not the least interesting fact in connection with these curious, often 

 beautiful plants, is that they are mostly edible, palatable, even delicious. 

 A few kinds however are poisonous. It is interesting to study these 

 attractive plants; it is really necessary to do so if one wishes to use the 

 edible and avoid the poisonous kinds. To introduce this study and to 

 aid those who have already begun is the purpose of the Ohio Mycological 

 Bulletin. 



Those who are willing to join in this work, who have sufficient interest 

 in the Toadstools and Mushrooms to wish to know more about them, 

 who may desire perhaps now and then to send specimens, or who wish 

 the Bulletin — which will be issued from time to time — will be enrolled 

 as members of the Ohio Mycological Club. Fee, 10 cents. 



WORDS EXPLAINED. — The word fun'-gus (pronounce the second 

 syllable as in the word "bo-gus") is used to indicate any of the kinds 

 mentioned above; in fact fungi (pronounced fun'-ji, the / is long) include 

 all these and other species also, as the Moulds, Mildews, Rusts, Smuts, 

 Peach-curl, Apple-scab, Bacteria, etc. We will generally use the word 

 fun-gus (pi. fun-gi) but the reader may say, if preferred, Mushrooms 

 and Toadstools. Do not imagine that only the kinds good to eat are 

 Mushrooms, and the bad species Toadstools — though some people try to 

 use the words in this way only; the two words may be used interchangeably 

 and properly signify one and the same thing. The Mushrooms or Toad- 

 stools with various other conspicuous species are called the Higher Fungi; 

 this is by way of contrast to the less conspicuous, often microscopic forms, 

 as Moulds, Bacteria, Leaf-spot fungi, etc. 



KINDS OR GROUPS OF FUNGI. — Collect some fun-gi (or Mush- 

 rooms) and after carefully inspecting them decide to which of the 

 following group each belongs; (take several similar lessons for practice). 



1. GILL-FUNGI (the botanical name is A-gar-i-ca'-ce-ae) — having flat 



plates called la-mel-lae or gills, as in figure 1. 



2. PORE-FUNGI (or Pol-y-po-ra'-ce-ae ) — with pores in place of gills, 



as shown in figure 2. 



3. SPINE-FUNGI (or Hyd-na'-ce-ae) — having soft spines instead of 



gills or pores ; figure 3. 



4. CORAL-FUNGI (Cla-var-i-a'-ce-ae) — branching or shrub-like in 



form, as shown in figure 4. 



Entered as Second Class Matter, Post-office at CoUinibiis, O. 



