VLATE XIII 



POISONOUS OR EMETIC MUSHROOIVI 



Russula emetica 



Pileus: Expansion two to four inches; color varying from 

 pale bright pink to deep scarlet; very smooth. 



Gills: Broad (in section), mostly equal in length, and contin- 

 uous from edge of cap to stem; not crowded; white. 



Stem: White or pinkish. 



Spores: White, like all Russulse. 



Taste : Hot and peppery. 



Habitat: Woods, with other Russulse. 



Season: July-September. 



Note. — While, for conservative reasons, the poisonous reputation of this 

 species is here perpetuated, it is quite probable that such condemnation is un- 

 warranted, except as to the raw mushroom. The peppery tang and demoral- 

 izing powers are now claimed to be dissipated in cooking, and the B/itetica will 

 doubtless soon be more generally included with its congeners among the es- 

 culents, thus bringing the entire genus Ritssula into the friendly group. 



Captain Charles Mcllvaine is largely responsible for this conversion in favor 

 of Emetica. His individual experiments warrant him in pronouncing this species 

 " as good as the rest " when cooked. Others of the writer's acquaintance, fol- 

 lowing his example, echo his opinion. 



