I20 EDIBLE MUSHROOMS 



mere skin of the pileus, a slightly fluted appearance 

 being observable from above, which indicates the lo- 

 cation of the radiating laminae below (Plate 12, fig. 6). 



The stem may be white or cream-colored, or perhaps 

 stained or mottled with the color of the cap. 



There are at least four of these edible Russulae 

 that we are certain of meeting in our walks in the 

 woods : The green Russula (-/?. virescens), with its mot- 

 tled cap of mouldy or sage green ; the various-gilled 

 Russula {R. heterophylla), varying in the 

 Principal lengths of its gill plates ; the purple 

 species Russula {R. lepida), whose cap varies 

 from bright red to dull purple ; and the 

 red Russula {R. alutacea), which presents a variety of 

 shades of red, from bright to dull. Having once 

 identified the Russula as a group, or the common 

 characteristics of the genus, we may take our pick 

 from all of these delicious species for the table ; but 

 we must avoid one other member of the genus, also 

 quite common, and which frequently masquerades in 

 the guise of some of the bright red varieties above 

 mentioned. This is the R. emetica, whose obnoxious 

 qualities are indicated by its classical surname, and 

 which will be separately considered. 



THE GREEN RUSSULA 

 Agaricus (Russula) virescens 



Our first species, the green Russula, is to be found 

 throughout the summer in hard-wood groves, and is 

 apt to frequent the same immediate locality from year 

 to year. I know one such veritable mushroom bed 

 in the woods near by, where I am almost certain of 



