MUSHROOMS AND TOADSTOOLS. 



591 



Example: Craterellus cornucopioides. Horn- 

 like edible craterelle. 



EDIBLE CRATERELLE (Craterellus cornucopioides). 



Order V. Clavariei, or club-bearing fungi; 

 the spore-bearing surface not limited to any 

 particular space, and the whole plant resem- 

 bling a mass of coral. Example: Clavaria 

 i. Amethyst clavaria (edible). 



CLAVARIA (Clavaria amethystina). 



Order IX. Trichogastres, the most important 

 subdivision of the lycoperdacaa, or puff-ball 

 fungi, the spores being inclosed in the peridi- 

 um or cuticle of the globular mushroom. At 

 maturity this skin bursts and allows them to 

 escape in fine dust. Example : Lycoperdon py- 

 riformis. Small edible puff-ball. 



Order XXV. El vellacei, or cabbage-like fungi ; 

 the fructifying surface is exposed, and the spores 

 themselves are inclosed, generally to the num- 

 ber of eight, in little sacks or cases. Example : 

 Morchella esculenta. Edible morel. 



Order XXVI. Tuberaceior subterraneous fun- 

 gi ; bearing in their wrinkled surface the sacks 

 or cases containing the spores, to the num- 



ber of eight, often fewer. Example : Tuber ces- 

 tivum, or black, esculent truffle of France. 



Mushrooms may be noxious as food in three 

 ways : 1. They may disagree with the system 

 by their toughness, indigestibility, or use in a 

 state of decay. 2. They may be slimy, acrid, 

 or otherwise nauseous. 3. They may contain 

 a subtile poison without taste, smell, or other 

 indication of its presence. 



SMALL EDIBLE PUFF-BALL (Lycoperdon pyriformis). 



The family of the Agaricini, or those bearing 

 gills, is the largest order here noticed. It con- 

 tains examples of noxious mushrooms of the 

 three classes above mentioned. But no well- 

 defined cases of fatal poisoning are known ex- 

 cept from the use of mushrooms belonging to 

 one of its genera. This is the genus Amanita, 

 having pure white gills and spores. The fol- 

 lowing are its distinguishing marks : a. Warts 

 or scales on the skin that covers the cap or 





EDIBLE MOREL (Morchella esculenta). 



pileus. These fall off naturally, or may be 

 easily removed, leaving an unbroken cuticle. 

 &. A ring around the stem. c. A volva or 

 wrapper inclosing the young plant and remain- 



