GENERA AND SPECIES OF MUSHROOMS 



Cap deep red, vermilion or yellow; thin; fragile; smooth 

 or with minute scales; often with a pit at the center; convex, 

 becoming nearly plane when mature; yi to 2 inches in 

 diameter. 



Gills far apart; attached to the stem (adnate); yellow, 

 often tinged with red or, rarely, wholly red; waxy. 



Stem slender; smooth; cylindric; stuffed or hollow; polished; 

 color of the cap or a little paler; i to 3 inches long. 



Spores white; ellipsoid; waxy (hyaline); 8-9 x 4-6 microns 

 in diameter. 



This species is very variable in color, size and mode of 

 growth. Specimens always fade to yellow on drying. Murrill. 



The vermilion hygrophorus is a very variable but beauti- 

 ful species. Unfortunately its colors are apt to fade and 

 its beauty to be lost in drying. It is scarcely surpassed 

 by any mushroom in tenderness and agreeableness of flavor. 

 Peck. 



Hygrophorus pratensis; meadow hygrophorus. Species 

 61. Figure 20. 



On groimd in pastures, grassy places or in woods ; scattered, 

 in groups or in tufts; July to September; edible. 



Cap firm; convex to expanded or plane; often irregular; 

 smooth; thin at the margin; variable in color; tawny, reddish, 

 buff, ashy or whitish; flesh white or whitish; taste mild; i to 

 3 inches in diameter. 



Gills whitish or yellowish; thick; far apart (distant); 

 extending down the stem (decurrent); waxy; the spaces be- 

 tween the gills often veined. 



Stem short; cylindric; smooth; solid or stuffed; white or 

 tinged with the color of the cap; 2 to 3 inches long. 



Spores white; nearly globular; waxy (hyaline); 6-8x5-6 

 microns in diameter. 



Several varieties of this valuable species have been recog- 

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