SOME COMMON MUSHROOMS ANI) HOW TO KNOW THEM 



29 



especially difficult of identification. The majority of the species of 

 Maiasniiiis liave a central stem, while the stem in Lentiniis and 

 I'anus is variable, being central, excenti'ic, lateral, or absent. Maras- 

 niius sj)ecies are also much smaller than those of the other genera 

 mentioned. 



Species of Marasmius are found growing on the ground, wood, or 

 rotting leaves. Several species are known to cause disease in econo- 

 mic plants such as sugarcane, banana, and cacao. 



MAKASMIUS 0REUDE8. FAIKY-KING FUNGUS. (EDIBLE) 



(Fig. 28) 



In tlie fiiiry-rinir imisliroom tlio cap is convex, then piano and sliglitly um- 

 bonate, tonsil, smooth, brownish l)uff. hitor crcani-colorcd, niai^in wlicn moist 

 may be striate; the gills are broad, free, distant, unequal, creamy white; the 

 stem i.s tough, solid, equal, villose in the upper part, smooth at the base. 



FkjL'ke 28. — ildramiiius orcudis. (Kclible) 



The cap is 1 to 2 inches broad ; the stem is 2 to 3 inches long and II/2 lines 

 thick. 



IMany allusions in literature undoubtedly refer to this interesting little mush- 

 room and many fairy stories have happy associatiim with it. Its frequent 

 occurrence's on grassy ])laces, as lawns, pastures, and golf courses, insures it.s 

 wide acciuaintanee. It is to be found from early spring until autumn. This is 

 a popular e(lil)le species and if once learned siiould always be recogniz(>d. It 

 may be preserved for winter use by drying, and it is also well adapted for 

 pickling. 



MARASMIUS ROTULA. THE' COLLARED MUSHROOM 



In this species the cap is white or pale yellowish and dark( r at the disk, 

 papery, ileeply furrowed, smooth, unibilicate; margin crenate; the gills are the 

 color of the cap, distant, attached to a collar which surrounds the stem; the 

 stem is threadlike, smooth, shining, hollow, blackish. 



The cap is one-fonrth or one-half inch broad ; the stem is 1 to l^A inches long. 



This species is connnonly found on leaves and twigs in forests." The siiecies 

 can be at once recognized by the gills being attached to u collar free fl-oni 

 the stem. 



LENTINUS 



In the genus Lentinus the plants are tough, leathery, corky, becom- 

 ing hard and almost woody when old. The cap is generally irregular 



