SOME TERMS USED IN DESCRIBING FUNOI 23 



the stem is prolonged downwards, when it is said to be rooting, 

 or to have a rooting base. The texture of the surface of the stem is a 

 point of importance. When it is rigid and somewhat pohshed it 

 is described as corticated. When the surface shows an open texture, 

 consisting of longitudinally arranged fibrils or strands, it is said to 

 be fibrous. In many instances tlie lower portion of the stem 

 appears to be surrounded by a sheath, which often reaches up to 

 the ring, when it is said to be peronate. This sheath may be more 

 or less scaly or hairy, or may appear like a smooth stocking. 

 Finally, the stem may be hollow, solid, or stuffed, that is when the 

 central portion contains a very loose, cottony substance 



Riiig ov aiDiiilus 



When the secondary veil breaks away from the edge or margin 

 of the cap, it forms a ring round the stem if its substance is suffi- 

 ciently firm. In some instances the ring is fairly rigid, and it 

 remains in an expanded condition, when it is described as spreading. 

 When the substance is limp, it collapses more or less round the stem, 

 when it is drooping. In a few instances the ring is movable, when it 

 can be moved up and down the stem, as in the Parasol mushroom. 

 The relative position of the ring on the stem is fairly constant, and 

 is a point to be noticed. If quite near to the apex, it is apical ; 

 if situated about half-way down the stem, it is said to be central, 

 or sometimes the term distant is used instead, meaning distant from 

 the apex. 



Volva 



When there is a free upper portion of the volva loosely surroundmg 

 the stem, it is said to be slieatliing. \Mien the entire substance of 

 the volva is grown to the stem, or with the extreme edge only free, 

 it is adnate. W'hen there are only indistinct traces of a volva 

 present on an agaric belonging to a genus, where a volva is normally 

 present, it becomes obsolete, partly obsolete, etc. 



