GENERA AND SPECIES OF MUSHROOMS 



Cap conic or bell-shaped, with a slight elevation or knob at 

 the central portion (umbonate); tan, gray or brownish; a 

 network of cracks, especially near the center; sticky (viscid) 

 and dull-colored in wet weather, cracking in dry weather; the 

 margin decorated with fragments of the veil in mature plants; 

 K to lyi inches broad. 



Gills adjacent to but not attached to the stem (adnexed); 

 broad; gray or black; often unevenly colored or mottled with 

 black or with dark brown. 



Stem slender; hollow; frosted or covered mth a fine down; 

 usually gray or reddish-brown; darker toward the lower end; 

 often with a dark band in the upper portion ; 2 to 6 inches long. 



Veil between the margin of the cap and the stem is white; 

 conspicuous in young plants ; does not form a ring on the stem 

 as in other genera, but hangs in fragments from the margin of 

 the cap in old plants. 



Spores black; rather elliptic; smooth; 13-16 x 9-1 1 microns 

 in diameter. 



This attractive species is common and widely' distributed in 

 temperate regions during spring and simimer on heavily 

 manured lawns and about dung in pastures. It is rather easily 

 recognized by its netted and wrinkled cap and the bits of veil 

 that hang from the margin. Although pronounced edible by 

 all authorities, being of nutty flavor and agreeable odor, it does 

 not appeal to mycophagists (mushroom eaters) as most of the 

 other edible species do. Dr. W. W. Ford recently investigated 

 this species and found an extract from it fatal to guinea pigs; 

 but an extract from the famous morel (Morella esculenta) was 

 found to have a similar effect. Murrill. 



The color of this plant is not attractive, but it is one of the 

 most beautiful species I have studied, if one regards form and 

 the general features of its development. I have found it on 

 lawns and grassy places, especially made lawns which have 

 been heavily manured. The size of the plant varies greatly 



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