BASIDIOMYCETES. 



171 



About 4,600 species belonging to this order have been described. 



On account of the large number of species the order is divided into several 

 sections : 



1. Agaricinei ; fruit-body fleshy ; lamellae membranous, knife-like, with 

 sharp edge ; basidia crowded together. The FOLLOWING HAVE WHITE SPORES : 

 Amanita (Fly Mushroom), with volva, and generally also the upper ring on the 

 stalk; many are poisonous, such as A. muscaria (Fig. 178) which has bright 

 red pileus with white spots, A. pantherina and A.plialloides; A. ccesarea is edible. 

 Lepiota procera (Parasol Fungus) is one of the largest Mushrooms ; it has a 

 scaly pileus and moveable ring (edible). Armillaria mellea has been mentioned 

 above (Figs. 176, 177). Tricholoma, lamellae indented near the stalk; T. gam- 

 bosum (Pomona Fungus) belongs to the best of edible Fungi ; T. personatum 

 often forms fairy rings 



(see above). Clitocybe, 

 lamella decurrent ; G. 

 nebularis is edible. 

 Pleurotus, stalk eccen- 

 tric ; P. ostreatus (Oyster 

 Mushroom) grows in 

 clusters on tree-stems 

 (edible). Collybia and 

 Mycena, species numer- 

 ous, small. SPORES 

 ROSE-RED : Volvaria and 

 Hyporhodius. SPORES 

 BROWN : Cortinarius, 

 with cob web -like veil ; 

 Pholiota, membranous 

 veil and ring ; P. squar- 

 rosa in clusters on tree- 

 stems ; P. mutabilis, on 

 tree-stumps (edible). 

 SPORES VIOLET-PUBPLE : 

 Hyphcloma,Psalliota; to 

 this section the common 

 edible Mushroom (Fig. 

 172-174) belongs, with annulus and chocolate-coloured lamellas ; it is cultivated" 

 for the sake of the fine flavour. SPORES BLACK: Coprinarius. 



2. Marasmiei. Fruit-body tough, almost leathery, and persistent ; spores 

 white. Marasmius oreades forms large, regular fairy-rings on pastures and 

 commons ; it is used as seasoning in food. Panus stipticus with eccentrically- 

 placed stalk, in clusters on tree-stumps. Schizophyllum has the edge of the 

 lamellas divided longitudinally, and the split portions revolute. Lentinus 

 affords a transition to Dadalea among the Polyporaceee. 



3. Russulei. Fruit-body fleshy and fragile, in which two different systems 

 of hyphae may be distinguished ; spores thorny, white, or pale-yellow. Many are 

 poisonous. Russula has generally fragile and thick lamellae reaching from 

 stalk to edge of pileus ; pileus frequently red. Lactarius has white or yellow 



FIG. 178. Fly Mushroom (Amanita muscaria). 



