MUSHROOMS 



or stump. Sometimes the stems are of solid flesh all the 

 way through. Others are hollow, like a piece of rubber 

 tubing. The stem is often brittle and breaks easily. 

 In other plants it is impossible to divide it evenly in 

 breaking. 



When the plant is young, the edge of the cap lies 



close to the stem. 

 ~' 1 In some mush- 

 rooms, the cap 

 spreads out with- 

 out ever being fas- 

 tened to the stipe. 

 In others, threads 

 grow from the 

 edge of the cap 

 and from the outer 

 layer of the stem. 

 These interlace 

 and form a deli- 

 cate veil which 

 closes the space 

 between the cap 

 and stipe. The 

 veil remains firm for a while but is finally torn by the 

 opening cap. Its remnants are left for a time as a 

 ring on the upper part of the stem, or else parts of it 

 hang in flakes from the edge of the cap. 



Examine a mushroom of this kind, and you will see 



66 



Parts of a Mushroom. 1, The Cap or Pileus; 

 2, The Gills Where Veil is Torn; 3, The 

 Veil; 4, Part of Veil _ Remaining on Stem. 

 This Forms the Ring or Annulus; 5, The 

 Stem, or Stipe; 6, The Volva or Cup. 



