i8 BRITISH FUNGI 



we notice that a thin membrane, shown as a line in the section at d, 

 connects the edge of the cap with the stem. This is the secondary 

 veil, which hides and protects the gills in the young condition. As 

 the fungus expands this secondary veil breaks away from the edge of 

 the cap, and forms a ring or anmdiis round the stem, as shown in 

 d (Fig. I, Plate A). In some instances, when the secondary veil 

 is very thin and imperfect, it is torn, and hangs in shreds round the 

 edge of the cap, instead of forming a ring round the stem. In many 

 agarics the secondary veil is entirel}' absent. 



W'c may next proceed to enumerate the various terms used in 

 describing generally the parts constituting an agaric. These can 

 be understood from an examination of Fig. i (Plate A). Fig. 2 

 is a median section through Fig. i, and the lettering refers to the 

 same structures in each figure ; a is the cap or pileus ; /, the patches 

 of universal veil on its surface ; b, tlie gills of lamellce ; c, the stem ; 

 d, the annulus or ring ; e, the volva ; /, patches of volva on the cap. 



The principal terms that are used in describing the various parts of 

 an agaric in detail follow : — 



The cap or pileus 

 The general contour of the cap, as shown in a section, is practically 

 constant for each species, and is a point of great importance in 

 determining species. When the pileus is practically fiat it is 

 described as plane ; in Figs. 7 and i (Plate A) it is convex ; in Fig. 3 

 (Plate A), the cap is described as nmbonate ; this term applies only 

 to the central boss or umbo, and not to the general contour of the 

 cap, which may be convex, depressed, etc. When tlie boss or umbo 

 is very broad and flattisli, as in Fig. 4 (Plate A), the cap is said 

 to be gibbous. When there is a slight central depression the cap is 

 said to be timbilicate, as in Fig. 13 (Plate A). In tliis case again, the 

 general contour of the cap may be anything. If the central depression 

 is deep and narrowed downwards to a point, the cap is infundibuli- 

 forni, or funnel-shaped. W'hen the cap shows parallel depressions 

 from tlie edge for some distance towards the centre, it is said to be 

 striate, as in Fig. i (Plate A). If the striations or grooves are coarse 

 and deep, it is described as grooved or fluted. When no markings 

 of any kind exist, the edge of the cap is described as even. Tlie 

 texture of the cap may be scaly or silky, self-explanatory terms, 

 or it may be smooth, that is when the general surface is not broken 

 up in any way into scales, silkiness, etc. This term applies entirely 

 to the texture of the surface of the cap, and must not be confused 

 with the term even, which applies to the absence of grooves, warts, 

 etc. In some fungi the surface of the cap is more or less sticky, 

 when it is termed viscid ; sometimes the viscid substance is so 

 abundant that it is inclined to drip from the cap ; it is then said to 

 be glutinous. In dry weather this gluten becomes quite dry, but 

 a little experience in the field will soon enable the student to 



