SOME COMMON MUSHROOMS AND HOW TO KNOW TTTKM 27 



milk iiliimdiint mid dark Itluc; tlic ^'ills iiro ci-ciwdtMl, indij^o Idiif, cliaiiKing 

 to frrcciiisli ill aj;e; tiio stem is siiort, nearly e(iual, liollow. 



This muslmiom may ite very easily recojjiiized by the striking blue color of 

 the cap and milk. It oeeurs in mixed or conilerous woods, sin;;Iy or in small 

 associations, in summer and autunm. 



RUSSULA 



The <>:eniis Riissiila is similar to Lactarius in form, brittleness, 

 and oencral ai)|)earance, but dillers in tlie, absence of milk. The 

 species are very abundant in the summer, extending into the fall 

 mouths. Many s})ecies are regarded as edible, but several are known 

 to be ])oisonous; therefore it is advisable to abstain from eating any 

 members of this genus. 



BUSSITLA EMETICA. EMETIC BUSStTLA. (POISONOUS) 



In this species the cap is oval to bell-shaped, becoming flattened or depressed, 

 smooth, shining, rosy to dark red when old, fading to tawny, sometimes be- 

 coming yellow, margin finally furrowed and tuberculate; the flesh is white, 



FiouRE 27. — Russula virescen^. (Edible) 



but red<lisli under the separable pellicle ; the gills are nearly free, somewhat 

 distant, shining wliite; taste is very acrid; the stem is stout, spongy-stuffed, 

 fragile when old. white or reddish. 



Tlie cap is 3 to 4 inches broad ; the stem is 21/^ to 3 inches long. 



This is a very attractive plant but is exceedingly acrid and poisonous. It 

 occurs during the summer and autumn on the ground in woods or open spaces. 



BUSStXA VIBESCEWS. GREEX EUSStLA. (EDIBiLE) 



(Fig. 27) 



In this species the cap is at first rounded, then expanded, when old some- 

 what depressed in the center, dry, green, the surface broken ni* into quite 

 regular, more or less angular areas of deeper color, mai'gin straiglit, obtuse, 

 even; the gills are adnate, soiiiewliat ci'owded, eciual or forked; tlie stem is 

 equal, thick, solid, or spongy, rivulose, white. 



The cap is BVa to H inches broad ; the stem is about 2 inches long. 



This fungus is noticeable on account of the color and areolate character of 

 the cap. In Virginia. Maryland, and the District of Columbia it occurs 

 usually from July to September, eitlier solitary or in small patches, but not 

 in very great abundance. The species is edible and of good flavor. 



HYGROPHORUS 



In the genus Hygrophorus the cap is viscid, moist, or hygroj^ha- 

 nous, and the flesh is continuous with that of the stem. The cap 

 may be regular but is often plicate or folded and the margin irregu- 

 lar, wav}^, and lobed. The gills are generally distant, adnexed. 



