252 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



section and many of them are edible. On the other hand, our 

 most dangerous species occur in this section. The spores are 

 generally white, as the name of the section indicates, but in a 

 few cases they have a dingy or sordid-white hue, and in several 

 species they are pale-yellow. In one or two species not found 

 within the limits of our State they have a green color, but these 

 are not yet recorded as edible species. In one mushroom the 

 spores assume a pale-lilac tint after a brief exposure to the air 

 and light. Pale-yellow spores occur especially in the genera 

 Cantharellus, Lactarius and Russula. 



Our edible species are found in about a dozen genera. The 

 subjoined analytical table will serve to indicate the leading char- 

 acters of each genus and may be used as a guide or an aid in 

 tracing any species to its proper genus. 



Plant with a membranous sheath at the base of the 



stem or with superficial warts on the cap 1 



Plant destitute of such sheath and warts 2 



1 Stem furnished with a collar Amanita. 



1 Stem destitute of a collar Amanitopsis. 



2 Gills narrow, obtuse on the edge Cantharellus. 



2 Gills acute on the edge 3 



3 Gills somewhat waxy in texture Hygrophorus- 



3 Gills not waxy in texture 4 



4 Cap eccentrically or laterally attached to the stem 



or stemless Pleurotus. 



4 Cap centrally attached to the stem 5 



5 Gills free from the stem Lepiota. 



5 Gills attached to the stem 6 



6 Stem furnished with a collar Armillaria. 



6 Stem destitute of a collar V 



7 Stem brittle 8 



7 Stem not brittle 9 



8 Gills exuding a white or colored juice where 



wounded Lactarius. 



8 Gills exuding no juice where wounded Russula. 



9 Dry plant reviving on the application of moisture. . . Marasmius. 

 9 Plant putrescent, not reviving on the application of 



moisture 10 



10 Edge of the gills notched or excavated at the stem Tricholoma. 



10 Edge of the gills even Clitocybe. 



