CHAPTER IV. 



THE PURPLE-BROWN-SPORED AGARICS.* 



The members of this subdivision are recognized at maturity by 

 the purple-brown, dark brown or nearly black spores when seen in 

 mass. As they ripen on the surface of the gills the large number 

 give the characteristic color to the lamellae. Even on the gills the 

 purple tinge of the brown spores can often be seen. The color is 

 more satisfactorily obtained when the spores are caught in mass by 

 placing the cap, gills downward, on white paper. 



AGARICUS Linn. (PSALLIOTA Fr.) 



In the genus Agaricus the spores at maturity are either purple- 

 brown in mass or blackish with a purple tinge. The annulus is 

 present on the stem, though disappearing soon in some species, and 

 the stem is easily separated from the substance of the pileus. The 

 gills are free from the stem, or only slightly adnexed. The genus is 

 closely related to Stropharia and the species of the two genera are 

 by some united under one genus {Psalliota, Hennings). Peck, 36th 

 Report, N. Y. State Mus., p. 41-49, describes 7 species. Lloyd 

 Mycol. Notes, No. 4, describes 8 species. C. O. Smith, Rhodora, I: 

 161-164, 1899, describes 8 species. 



Agaricus (Psalliota) campestris Linn. Edible. This plant has been 

 quite fully described in the treatment of the parts of the mushroom, 

 and a recapitulation will be sufficient here. It grows in lawns, 

 pastures, by roadsides, and even in gardens and cultivated fields. 

 A few specimens begin to appear in July, it is more plentiful in 

 August, and abundantly so in September arttJ October. It is 5-8 cm. 

 high (2-3 inches), the cap is 5-12 cm. broad, and the stem 8-12 mm. 

 in thickness. 



The pileus is first rounded, then convex and more or less 

 expanded. The surface at first is nearly smooth, presenting a soft, 

 silky appearance from numerous loose fibrils. The surface is some- 

 times more or less torn into triangular scales, especially as the plants 

 become old. The color is usually white, but varies more or less to 

 light brown, especially in the scaly forms, where the scales may be 



For analytical key to the genera see Chapter XXII. 



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