Agaricaceaa 



HELIOMYCES Lev. 



Helios, the sun; myces, a fungus. 



Heiiomyces. PileuS membranaceous, between leathery and gelatinous, radiately 

 sulcate. Gills equal, edge acute. Stem somewhat woody, cylindrical, 

 central. 



Allied to Marasmius, but differing in its sub-gelatinous substance. 



None reported edible. 



(Plate LII.) 



LENTI'NUS Fr. 

 Lentus, tough or pliant. 



Lentinus. PileuS fleshy-coriaceous, pliant, tough and hard when old, persistent. 



Gills becoming dry, tough, simple, 

 unequal, thin, margin acute, toothed, 

 more or less decurrent. Stem when 

 present central, excentric or lateral, 

 hard and firm, continuous with the 

 flesh of the pileus. 

 Growing on wood. 

 Spores somewhat round, even, 

 white. 



Distinguished from other coriace- 

 ous genera by its serrated and torn 

 gills. 



"The genera Lentinus and Len- 

 zites are found in every region of the 

 world ; their principal center, how- 

 ever, is in hot countries, where they 

 attain a splendid development. On 



the contrary, toward the north they rapidly decrease in number." 

 Fungi. Cooke and Berkeley. 



In habitat and mode of growth Lentinus closely resembles Pleurotus, 

 and parallel genera with colored spores. When young the species are 

 inviting, and when well cooked are meal-giving. They are not delica- 

 cies, but substantials. They dry well. Grated they make soups, and 

 give their pleasant flavor to any dish. 



228 



SECTION OF LENTINUS. 



