Mycological Bulletin 



No. 76 



IV. A. Kellernian, Ph. D., Ohio State University 



ColKitibus, April, 1907. 



KAUFFAIAN'S ARTICLE AND ILLUSTRATIONS CON- 

 CLUDED. 

 W^e devote this number to a note on Kauffman's Key to Cor- 

 tinarins and some of his ilhistrations that appeared first in the LIBRARY 

 Torrey Bulletin. NEW YOR 



BOTANICA 

 "^ A R D EN 



THE GENUS CORTTNARIUS WITH KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



BY C. H. KAUFFMAN. 



The editor of the Journal has asked me to furnish an account of the 

 genus Cortinarius with Key to the species. What follows is given in re- 

 sponse to tliis invitation. I desire to call attention to what was published 

 in the Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club, based mainly on my study 

 of the species found at Ithaca, N. Y. The cuts prepared for the illustra- 

 tions then have been kindly loaned for use here. 



I quote from the same article the following: 



"It is absolutely useless to pick up an old, dried specimen of Cor- 

 finarius, and ask any one to recognize it. Once in a while some easily 

 known plant may be recognized in that way, but in the majority of cases 

 old plants of different species look so much alike that it is mere guessing 

 to say anything about them. The first thing to remember is that young, 

 unexpanded plants must be examined as well as mature ones. Next a 

 careful description must be made, zcith sf>e(ial reference to the difference 

 in the color of tlie gills in the young and old plants. Then a similar com- 

 parison of the color of pileus and stem ; and then a search for an annulus 

 or universal veil, and its character, finally, a careful test of the pileus 

 and stem for gluten or viscidity. (One must remember that old, dry 

 plants may lose this characte^r.) These points are absohuely essential. 

 In addition to the above, the following characters are often useful: the 

 shape of tic pileus; the size of the parts; the smoothness of the surface 

 of pileus and .^tom ; the character of the c^^q of the gills: the nature of 

 the bulbous base of the stem; the appearance of the flesh. In fact, the 

 notes canrnt be too full, provided they contain the essential facts men- 

 tinred f'rsl." {Bulletin of tne Torrey Botanical Club.) 



