CLASSIFICATION 251 



Several of the larger species grow on wood, and some are de- 

 structive parasites on forest trees. 



Very closely allied to Pholiota, differing mostly in the imperfectly 

 formed ring. 



CORTINARIUS 



One of the most natural of genera included in the Agaricaceae, 

 and at the same time, perhaps the most difficult genus to define. 

 The most marked, and constant combination of characters are 

 the cobweb-like secondary veil, which never forms a definite, 

 interwoven ring round the stem, but when collapsed, forms one or 

 more white or coloured zones round the stem. The veil can be best 

 seen when the cap is just commencing to expand, when the veil 

 stretches in exceedingly fine, cobweb-like threads from the stem 

 to the edge of the cap. The second constant character is the bright 

 rusty or ferruginous spores. 



Very many of the species are large fungi, with a fieshy, usually 

 convex cap, which may be viscid or even sufficiently glutinous for 

 the gluten to run off in drops. The cap is generally smooth and 

 even, no truly striate cap being present in the genus. The cap 

 in a few instances is covered with very minute, fibrillose fibres. 

 The stem is fairly stout, always central, and in one section is viscid 

 or glutinous, like the cap. The gills are dry, and usually become 

 powdered with the rusty spores. The colours are often bright and 

 clear, such as some of the pure amethyst and blue species ; others 

 are blood-red throughout. Green-coloured species are also in 

 evidence. In very many species there is a violet or lilac tint present 

 on the cap, gills, or stem, which is very evident when the plant is 

 moist and growing, but which disappears entirely when the plant is 

 dry. This feature must be carefully noted at once, as it is a point of 

 importance in the discrimination of species, and it often disappears 

 before the plants reach home, and certainly will not be present on 

 the following day. In all known species the cap is regular, and the 

 stem central ; no oblique, sessile, or resupinate species being known 

 from any part of the world. 



The genus Cortinarius requires to be carefully studied in the 

 field and in the laboratory ; anyone with a taste for specializing 

 would find ample return for time spent on this, the largest genus 

 included in the Agaricaceae. 



All the species grow on the ground, mostly in mixed woods. The 

 majority appear late in the season, and come up under the fallen 

 leaves, and are thus apt to be overlooked. None of the species are 

 included in the list of edible fungi in this country. 



Crepidotus 



A genus characterized by the resupinate, sessile, or excentrically 

 stemmed cap. Several of the species are very minute. In some 



