DIEECTIONS FOE USING KEYS. 149 



which is followed by the number 3. Then fol- 

 lows, stem central or nearly so ; this agrees 

 with the plant, and leads to 4. The first line 

 reads " white spores," which is correct ; then 

 comes 5. There are four lines with descrip- 

 tions, the last one, " no ring and no volva," is 

 right, which leads to 7. There are here two 

 lines belonging to 7, the second one, " gills in 

 the form of folds, obtuse edge," is correct, and 

 points to 10. This reads, " Gills decurrent, 

 plant terrestrial, Cantharellus." The Key gives 

 the name of the genus only. In the list of de- 

 scriptions an attempt is made to mention some 

 of the commonest species. These directions 

 apply to all the keys alike. 



DIVISION I. 



Key to Hymenomycetes, Membrane Fungi. 



Hymenomycetes or membrane fungi are divided into two 

 sections : 



Section A, with cap. 



Section B, without cap. 

 Section A is divided into four classes : 



I. Mushrooms with radiating gills beneath caps, gill-bearing 

 mushrooms (Agarics). 



II. With pores or tubes beneath caps (Polyporei). 



III. With spines or teeth beneath the cap or branches (Hyd- 

 nei). 



IV. Where the spore-bearing surface beneath the cap is even, 

 smooth, or slightly wrinkled (Thelephorei). 



