116 REPORT OF THE STATE BOTANIST. 



The substance of a mushroom takes the na,me^ffe,<ik though it is 

 quite unlike animal flish in texture and appeai-ance. Most mush- 

 rooms have an expanded part called the caj) botanically known as 

 the pilei/s This is generally supported on a stem, but in the 

 absence of a stem the cap is sessile. It varies much in shape in 

 different species and even in the same species in different stages 

 of development. In some mushrooms thin vertical plates or 

 membranes radiate from the stem to the margin of the cap, or 

 in the absence of a stem, from the point of attachment of the cap 

 to its free margin These are called Id/nellcB or (/ills. Shorter 

 ones intervene toward the margin of the cap to fill the spaces 

 that would otherwise be left vacant. The gills are attached by 

 their upjjer edge to the lower surface of the cap and often by 

 their inner extremity to the stem. They are adnate when 

 attached to the stem by the whole width of their inner extremity ; 

 adnexed when attached by a part of their width only ; deaurrent 

 when they run down on the stem, gradually tapering to a point, 

 andyVre when not attached to the stem. Sometimes their lower 

 etige is notched or excavated at or near the stem, which fact is 

 designated by the words emaryinate or sinuate. 



In some, the lower surface of the cap is full of small holes or 

 cells, called jyores. These are so small iu some species that they 

 are scarcely noticeable but generally they are easily visible. 

 The}" stand like tulles in a vertical ])osition, side by side, with the 

 openings or mouths downward. Theoretically they may be sup- 

 posed to be formed by numerous gills connected by frequent par- 

 titions or transverse membranes. 



In still another group of mushrooms the lower surface of the 

 cap has neither gills nor pores, but instead there are numerous 

 spine-like or awlshaped projecting points called teeth. It is very 

 mu:h as if closely placed gills had been deeply, regularly and 

 finely notched or gashed, but the teeth are not arranged in reg- 

 ular radiating rows, as the}' would be if actually formed in this 

 way. 



The u])per surface of the cap is glahrous when it is smooth or 

 free from hairs, fibrils or scales; even when it has no pits, ridges 

 or other inetjualities; silky when adorned with soft, close-pressed 

 fibrils; fib I' illose a i\iGSii l\hrih are harsher and looser; floccose 



