10 MUSHROOMS, EDIBLE AND OTHERWISE 



asci are long, cylindrical sacs, standing side by side, perpendicular to the fruiting 

 surface. Figure 4 will illustrate their position together with the sterile cells on 

 the fruiting surface of one of the morels. They usually have eight spores in 

 each sac or ascus. 



The stem of the mushroom is usually in the center of the cap, yet it may be 

 eccentric or lateral : when it is wanting, the pileus is said to be sessile. The 

 stem is solid when it is fleshy throughout, or hollow when it has a central cavity. 

 or stuffed when the interior is filled with pithy substance. The stems are either 

 fleshy or cartilaginous. When the former, it is of the same consistency as the 

 pileus. If the latter, its consistency is always different from the pileus, resem- 

 bling cartilage. The stem of the Tricholoma affords a good example of the 

 fleshy stemmed mushroom, and that of the Marasmius illustrates the cartilaginous. 



If the cap or stem of a mushroom is examined with a microscope of high 

 magnifying power it will be found to be made up of a continuation of the my- 

 celial filaments, interlaced and interwoven, branching, and the tubular filaments 

 often delicately divided, giving the appearance of cells. Figure 5 represents 

 a small portion of a Morel stem highly magnified showing the cell filaments. 

 In soft fungi the mycelial threads are more loosely woven and have thin walls 

 with fewer partitions. 



The veil is a thin sheet of mycelial threads covering the gills, sometimes 

 remaining on the stem, forming a ring or annul us: This sometimes remains for 

 a time on the margin of the cap when it is said to be appendiculatc. Sometimes 

 it resembles a spider's web when it is called arachnoid. 



The voha is a universal wrapper, surrounding the entire plant when young, 

 but which is soon ruptured, leaving a trace in the form of scales on the cap and 

 a sheath around the base of the stem, or breaking up into scales or a scaly ring 

 at the base of the stem. All plants having this universal volva should be avoided, 

 further than for the purpose of study. Care should be taken that, in their young 

 state, they are not mistaken for puff-balls. Frequently when found in the egg 

 state they resemble a small puff-ball. Figure 6 represents a section of an Ama- 

 nita in the egg-state and also the Gemmed puff-ball. As soon as a section is 

 made and carefully examined the structure of the inside will reveal the plant at 

 once. There is but little danger of confusing the egg stage of an Amanita with 

 the puff-ball, for they resemble each other only in their oval shape, and not in 

 the least in their marking on the surface. 



WHAT IS A FUNGUS OR A MUSHROOM? It is a celular. flowerless 

 plant, nourished by the mycelium which permeates the soil or other substances 

 on which the fungus or mushroom grows. All fungi are either parasites or 

 saprophytes which have lost their chlorophyll, and are incapable of supporting 

 an independent existence. 



There is a vast number of genera and species, and many have the parasitic 

 habit which causes them to enter the bodies of other plants and of animals. 

 For this reason all fungi are of economic importance, especially the microscopic 

 forms classed under the head of Bacteria. Some recent writers are inclined to 

 separate the Bacteria and slime-molds from the fungus group, and call them 



