CLASSIFICATION 69 



tlie genus, are not so obvious, or may i:)ractically disappear in 

 species receding from tlie type forms, but which are yet obviously 

 more closely allied to Lcpiota than to any other genus. In Lcpiota 

 procera, which may be considered as the type of the genus, the 

 ring is well developed, and after breaking awa}^ from- the edge of the 

 cap, also becomes quite free from the stem, which it surrounds as a 

 loose ring which can be moved up and down. In other species the 

 ring is said to be fixed, that is, it remains attached to ,the stem, and 

 cannot be moved up and down like a loose ring. In other species 

 the ring, although quite obvious when the fungus is ^'oung, becomes 

 very rudimentary or may entireh- disappear before the fungus 

 reaches maturity. In the larger and more perfect species the gills 

 are separated from the stem by a distinct space, whereas in many 

 of the smaller kinds the gills approach so near to the stem that it is 

 only by courtesy that they can be called free. The cap is generally 

 more or less scaly or granular, rarely almost smooth and \'iscid or 

 sticky. The stem is almost invariably more or less hollow. 



Some of the species are amongst the largest of our agarics, others 

 are quite small. Several are edible, none are known to be poisonous. 



Sdiulzeria 

 This genus is characterized by having free gills, and no trace of a 

 ring or a volva. It is very closely allied to Lepiota, perhaps too 

 closely to be a good genus, as in many of the simpler forms of 

 Lcpiota the ring is very evanescent, and after it has disappeared 

 the fungus is technically a Sclinlzcria, and it is only by finding the 

 fungus in quite a yovmg state that it can be determined as a Lepiota. 



Armillaria 

 The marked features of this genus are the presence of a ring on 

 the stem, and the gills alw'ays being more or less attached to the 

 stem. Armillaria is a somewhat difficult genus to grasp by the 

 beginner ; in some species the ring remains intact when the fungus 

 is mature, and in such cases there is no difficulty in locating the 

 species ; in others, however, the ring disappears at an early stage 

 of development, and if an adult specimen of such species is met with, 

 it proves a difficult matter to decide its genus. In those species 

 where the ring disappears from the stem at an early stage of growth, 

 the resemblance to species of Triclwloma is considerable ; but such 

 are readity distinguished b}' the gills not being sinuate, a charac- 

 teristic feature of Triclwloma. On the other hand, curiously 

 enough, those species of Armillaria in which the ring is permanent 

 have the giUs sinuate as in the genus Triclwloma. Taking altogether 

 the sum of characters constituting the genus Armillaria, it may be 

 said that so far as the attachment of the gills is concerned, but for 

 the presence of a ring, the species would fall naturall}', depending 



