EUTHALLEPHYTA EUMYCETES BOLETUS 235 



Boletus satanus. Lenz 



Pileus large, yellowish-brown on its upper surface; lower surface blood- 

 red at first, later becoming orange red; stalk yellow to reddish-purple with red 

 reticulate markings ; spores brownish ovate. Rank and unpleasant taste. 



Distribution. In Europe and North America. 



Poisonous properties. Said to be extremely poisonous. The B. luridus 

 along with several poisonous species is eaten in Northern Russia. Ford states 

 that these species may occasionally be the cause of transient disturbances in 

 man and may occasionally cause fatal intoxication. 



AGARICACEAE 



Pileus generally expanded, stipe generally with central attachment, or 

 nearly so, lateral, or sessile ; gills simple or branched or anastomosing usually 

 on the lower surface; lamellae folded or veined, radiating from the point of 

 attachment; lamellae bear the basidia which in turn bear the four spores or 

 rarely two, cystidia often present. A large order separated chiefly by the color 

 of the spores. The Melanosporeae have their spores brown, purplish brown 

 or black ; in the Ochrosporeae spores are yellowish brown or rusty brown ; in 

 the Rhodosporeae, spores are rosy pink ; in the Leucosporeae, spores are white, 

 whitish or pale yellow. Many species of the family, like the cultivated mush- 

 room, (Agaricus campestris), the field mushroom, (Agaricus arvensis}, the 

 shaggy-mane (Coprinus comatus, Fr.), Lepiota procera, and others, are edible. 

 The Rozites gongylophora of Southern Brazil, is cultivated by the leaf cutting 

 ants for food. No invariable rule can be laid down for the poisonous species. 

 Many of the Leucosporeae are edible, but many are deadly poisonous. A few 

 of the poisonous species are described later. 



Amanita. Pers. Amanita 



The young plants covered by a membrane which in the button stage is 

 more or less free with the surface of the pileus ; later when the stem elongates 



Fig. 70. Part of the hymenium of one of the 

 Agaricaceae. sh. Sub hymenial layer. b. Basidi- 

 um. i. Sterigmata. sp. Spores from basidium. p. 

 Paraphyses. c. Cystid. After Bonn text book. 



