FIELD BOOK OF COMMON GILLED MUSHROOMS 



The color of a mushroom's gills is by no means a certain in- 

 dication of the color of the spores that are shed by them. 

 Colored gills may produce white spores and, on the other hand, 

 many white-gilled species drop colored spores. Once the 

 color of the spores of a mushroom is known, the unravelling 

 of its identity is facilitated. 



In order to see clearly the form of the gills of a mushroom, 

 its cap and stem should be cut through vertically in the center. 

 This cut will also reveal the interior of the stem and will show 

 whether it is solid, stuffed or hollow. 



The beginner in mycology may be aided in the study of 

 gilled mushrooms by referring to the subjoined table. 



Table of Features of Gilled Mushrooms 

 Used in Their Identification 



(Figures in parenthesis refer to numbers of those species I 

 illustrating the feature mentioned). -j 



Jl Mushroom 



j Mushroom, Character of — Glows in the dark (phosphores- | 



cent); with milky juice; waxy in appearance. [ 



1t Manner of Growth — Solitary (single); in groups; in clusters ) 



or tufts; in curved lines on the groimd (87). ' 



^ Place of Growth — On ground; on wood; in open places; in ' 



woods; in special places. 



Odor — Of bitter almonds (peach pits or wild cherry bark) ; ] 

 of anise; branny (mealy or farinaceous); disagreeable; gar- \ 

 licky; of radishes; spicy; fungous. ! 



"^ Season of Growth — Note the month in which the specimen \ 

 was collected. ; 



^ Taste — Acrid (biting, peppery); astringent (puckery, i 

 bitter); disagreeable but not acrid; mild; sweetish. i 



24 j 



^ 



