20SS 



MUSHROOM 



MUSHROOM 



somo jxisitivoly toxic, liohtits alnUs (la i-opo, dor 

 Stoinpilz^ I)rv>bahly furiiishos moiv than any otlu-r one 

 siHH'ios of the frvsh wiKl funsii sold on tlic niarkots of 

 Lun>pt':vn citios. BoU'iis mihlotiiciilosiis (Fi;;;. 'JlUi) is 

 not ixiisonous, but is of- inferior quality. 



Figlulina hcpalica, often kno\\ni as the beefsteak 

 niushriH>in. is a juicy, He.shy siiecios with red pilous. 

 The plants are bracket i^l, ami fjrow from the stumiis 

 of several hardwoods. The fuufjus is prized b\- many, 

 and wliile widely distributed it occui-s sjiarinjily. 



The llyitnaceie ari> characterizeil by a spoix'-bearing 

 surface spn^ad over tooth or spines arisin;; either from a 

 cajvlike pilous or from a tubercuhu- or much-branched 

 struetiiro. Ainons: the e<lible species Hijdnum npdiidiun 

 ]x>ssosses a ]jileus and true stem. It is of a smoky color 

 and occurs in the autumn on the gi-ound in moist woods. 

 //. corathiiUs (coral liydnuml and //. criiiaa us (satyr's 

 bean.l'i lire both dcUcate white or creamy fungi — both 

 found in the autumn, on logs or trees. 



2418. Lycoperdon craniforme. 



In moist wooded jilacos there appear in the late .simi- 

 mer and early fall alonK with Boletus, Russula, and 

 other species, several members of the Clavariaoea; 

 (stag horn or fair>- dub fun}j;i). In this family the spores 

 are borne over the wlioU; horn or club-like body. These 

 are of various colors from buff to oranpe or sooty gray. 

 All .sjK-cies which are of suthcient size to be usabh^ are 

 consiilered edible, ('lavaria aurea (Fig. 2417), C. for- 

 mona, and C. bolryles are among the larger forms. In 

 the Thelephoracea;, which include species more or less 

 leathery in texture, the spores are on the lower or outer 

 surface, where that may be distinguished. The horn of 

 plenty, Cralerellus cornucopimiles, a smoky-blue horn- 

 shaped species, i.s practically the only edible spcc-ies of 

 interest in this family. The gelatinous fungi, includ- 

 ing the Tremellacea; and allied families, are not of suf- 

 ficient interest to refjuire special description. 



.\mong the Basidiomycetes in which the spores are 

 differf:ntiated internally, or remain long covered, the 

 puff-balls fLycoperdaf^a;; furnish a nuiriber of speci(^s 

 of economic importance. All of these plants with white 

 flf«h are edible, and .Sfjme are valuable food accessories. 

 They should I^e eaten only so long as the i\csh is white, 

 and when discolontd with age — normally dui; to the; 



2410. a, Scleroderma vulgare; 

 b, section of same. { X ' 2) 



formation of the spores — they must be discarih'd. The 

 largest species, LycoiHrdon qiiinnlium (giant. ])ulT-ball), 

 frequently attains a diameter of Iti iu(Oics, while 

 specimens over 2 feet in tliamcter have been reiiorled. 

 This species occurs in gardens and meadows. The flesh 

 is pure white until 

 Iiractically full size 

 is altaineil. Li/co- 

 pcrJon cyaUiiJoriiw, 

 the beaker-shajicd 

 pufT-ball, is common 

 in pastures in the 

 fall. In the young 

 stages the plants 

 vary in color from 

 crcamj' white to 

 ])ink-brown, with white flesh. With the formation of 

 spores it becomes purplish throughout, and leaves a 

 purjjle bleaker-shaped sterile basal i)a.rt. This is perhaps 

 the putT-ball of highest flavor, and consequently the one 

 which should be known by all persons interested in 

 edible mushrooms. Lymperdon craniforme (Fig. 2418) 

 is found in meadows or in open woods. At maturity 

 the |)lant shrinks, and may become considerably fur- 

 rowed, from which character the specific name is de- 

 rived. Resembling smaller members of the Lycoper- 

 dace.Te externally is a fungus, Scleroderma vulgare (Fig. 

 2119), which is black within, tough and inedible. 



Ancomyccles. 



While the larger part of the flesh fungi belong to the 

 Basidiomycetes, nevertheless the few families of the 

 Ascomycetes furnish some forms of special interest. 

 The family HelveUaoeoe includes the genus Morchella 

 (morels), as well as Helvella (saddle fungi) and Gyro- 

 mitra (contorted saddle fungi). There are several 

 species of morels often appropriately called sponge 

 mushrooms, the latter designation being given both 

 on account of the color of the plant and the porous 

 character of the pilous. The morels are widely distribu- 

 ted in the United States. AU appear after the warm 

 rains of the spring. They constitute, therefore, about the 

 earliest edible mushrooms. The season is often hmited 

 to one or two weeks of favorable weather. Morchella 

 esculenta (Fig. 2420) is a common species, and one which 

 appears to be M. crassipes is frequently found in the 

 Central States at least. The tuber family (Tuberaceie) 

 includes all truffles, very aromatic subterranean fungi 

 found for the most part in southern Euroiie, and there 

 constituting a considerable article of conamerce. The 

 mycelium of these plants is associated with the roots 

 of certain trees and shrubs, especially oaks. The spe- 

 cies most highly iirized are Tuber melaiiosporum, the 

 typical F>ench or black truffle, sometimes called the 

 Pcrigord truffle, which is commercially iinich more 

 im|)ortant than all other species combined; 7'. wslivwn, 

 which is the summer truflle of France; and T. maqna- 

 luiii, a large smooth species with onion-like flavor, which 

 is the commoner form in 

 Italy. The terfas, or false 

 truffles (Tcrfeziaceaj), are 

 also subterranean fungi found 

 associated with the roots of 

 certain species of Cistacea; 

 and Composita;. The regions 

 of their occurrence are pri- 

 marily semi-arid sections of 

 northern Africa and localities 

 in the Asiatic Mediterranean 

 country. They are appar- 

 ently the truffles of ancient 

 times. The plants are spheri- 

 cal or ovoidal in form, and at 

 maturity they have a general 

 resemblance in size and tex- 

 ture to a ))otato. 



2420. 

 Morchella esculenta. 



(XH) 



