2t)8(i 



MISHKOOM 



MUSHROOM 



2412. Lepiota procera. 

 fungus. iX'j) 



Parasol 



Ih' prtijx'rlv referrcti to this siH-cics. Under cultivation 

 the wTiter has Inx-n iin.'iblo to find any better flavor in 

 .4. caniiHslris than in .1, ornnsis. A. Rotlmant anil .1. 

 viUalicuf are elo.sely ivlateil to .1. arirnais ami .1. 

 (TiiHi;«-,</rij.-, hut then" is'jioini" doulit as to whether either 

 of tliese should he n-gsirded as distinct species. 



.•l(7<in>»,v fabaiTiig (A. suhrufisciitx) is th<' alinond- 

 tlavored and almond-fragrant inushi'ooni, sometimes 



foun<l in {jreen- 

 hou.ses or in flower- 

 beds. This siiecies 

 is ix'adily di.-itin- 

 Ruished liy (1) the 

 ion ^-persist en t 

 iiieiuhranous veil, 

 t lie lower surface 

 of which is coven'd 

 with soft frosty 

 scales; (2) the red- 

 brown to gray- 

 brow^l (with age) 

 pileus; and the en- 

 larged lower ])art 

 of the stem. It liiis 

 been cultivated, bvit 

 requires a higher 

 temperatui-e than 

 A. campestris and 

 is said to be less 

 prolific. It deserves 

 further trial. The 

 spa\\'n grows vigor- 

 ou.sly in the usual 

 bricks. A. placoniy- 

 ces is a woodland 

 species, and it is .'sometimes found from early sum- 

 mer until late fall. The cap is large, flat, and thin, 

 appearing smoky above from the presence of numer- 

 ous small, dark scales, which are closer together near 

 the center. The veil is like that of A. anmnsis, and 

 the base of the stem is enlarged. The writer has 

 ma<le spawn of this species, and cultivated it in 

 small quantity. 



Agaricus sih'icola, also an inhabitant of woods, is 

 almost pure white except a-s to gills. It is sometimes 

 tinged with yellow, and is always a rather small species, 

 occurring in the summer. Its value in cultivation coukl 

 be only with relation to its resistance to high tempera- 

 ture. 



The question of temperature-r&sistance is an impor- 

 tant one, however, and the discovery of an acceptable 

 edible species which might be grown at from 60° to 

 70° F. would make it po.ssible to extend the mushroom- 

 growing season to ten or eleven months. 



Coj/rinus. — Aside from Agari(^us, Coprinus is the 

 only other genus of the Agaricacca- with black spores 

 which is sufficiently important 

 from an economic standpoint 

 to require consideration. The 

 genus is characterized more 

 particularly by the deliques- 

 cence of gills and other jiarts 

 of the j)ileus at maturity to an 

 inky black liquid. There are 

 three edible siXicies of com- 

 mon occurrencft, appearing 

 usually in lawns in the .spring. 

 ('. comaluss (Fig. 2413), the 

 shaggy-mane mushrfiom, is t.li(^ 

 largest, and one of the best of 

 the fungi. The whole plant is 

 often (j inches in height, with 

 a cylindrical cap frequently 

 not less than 3 inches long 

 2413. Copriinu comatus and 1}^ inches in diameter. 

 •Horsetail moshroomj. The name is derived from the 



shaggy scales on the pileus. As the plant approaches 

 niaiurity the gills are of a sahnon-color and there is a 

 free or movable ring. ('. alrtuiuntariiix, the true ink- 

 cap, is a shorter form limn ('. conidliis, and it commonly 

 occurs in dusters. The .■shorter, oval ca)) is slaty gray 

 in color, due to the background of d.ark gills showing 

 through tlie hygrophorus tis.sues. C. inicaccus is much 

 smaller than either of the jirec.eding, and occurs often 

 in solid ))halanx covering several square feet of space 

 about old .stumjis or over decaying roots. When young, 

 the tan-colored cap is covereil with temporary, glisten- 

 ing scales, like minute jiarticles of mica. The only dis- 

 agreeable featiu'e about the Coprini is their deliques- 

 cence, but they are of fine flavor and quality, if eaten 

 fresh. 



Lcpiola. — The genus Lepiota corresponds to Agaricus 

 in general charai^teristics, except that the spores in the 

 former are white. There are many species of this genus, 

 of which the more imi)ortant are Lcjn'ota procera (the 

 parasol mushroom) and L. naucinoidcs. Both are foimd 

 widely distributed in lawns, fields, or meadows. The 

 parasol mushroom is one of the most conspicuous of the 

 edible agarics, standing frequently 10 inches high 

 with a pileus often 5 to 6 inches in diameter, reddish 

 brown in color, with darker blotch-like scales. The 

 stem is delicate except for the bulbous base. The ring 

 is large and free. L. naucinoide.s in prime condition is 

 usually pure white. It is about the average size of the 

 cultivated mushroom, but with a thinner cap and a 

 stem more slender, thickening toward the base. One 

 who is not an expert should remember that the deadly 

 amanita is also white. See Amanita, below. 



2414. Amanita phalloides, poisonous. V. volva. ( X H) 



Armillaria mellea, the honey agaric, commonly brown- 

 ish yellow in general appearance, is typically an autumn 

 l)lant gi-owing in clusters about stumps and the ba.ses of 

 trees, (jr appearing through the sod over decaying roots. 

 It is one of the more abundant mushrooms in wooded 

 .sections. In form this plant difft-rs from Lepiota largely 

 in the fact that the gills are attached to the stem. The 

 s|)orcs are white but the gills become discolored with 

 age. This species is parasitic on a number of trees. The 

 mycelium develops a characteristic cord-like, or rhizo- 

 morphic stage. This plant is a(;rid and disagreeable 

 raw, but cook<^d it is said to be of good flavor. 



Amanita. — The genus Amanita is interesting for two 

 reasons: (1) because it contains some handsome species, 

 which are quite likely to attract the attention of every 

 b(^ginner in identification ; and (2) because among these 

 spc^cies there, are several which are the most deadly 

 I)oisonous of all mushrooms, l^nless one is an expert, 



