146 MINOR PRODUCTS OF PHILIPPINE FORESTS 



the gill fungi, and the puff balls. Practically all taingang- 

 dagd or rat's-ear types are edible and a large majority of the 

 pore fungi and gill fungi can be eaten with safety. The puff 

 balls can all be safely eaten. Some of these forms while not 

 poisonous can not be used as an article of diet on account of 

 a lack in flavor and a tough texture. 



Since a few mushrooms are poisonous, the only safe way to use 

 particular forms as food is to become acquainted with the 

 individual species of fungi that can be used as an article of diet. 

 While a large number of the edible forms have been described 

 and pictured in the preceding pages, a few practical methods of 

 determining whether or not tlje fungi are poisonous may not be 

 out of place. The physiological test is advocated for persons 

 who are willing to practice upon themselves. This test consists 

 in first tasting a small piece of the fungus without swallowing 

 any of the juice. If after one-half of an hour no discomfort is 

 noticed, a larger piece, the size of a small pea, may be chewed up 

 and swallowed. If no poisoning symptoms arise after one-half 

 hour the fungus may be regarded as edible. All fungi that have 

 a disagreeable flavor would naturally be discarded in this test, 

 even though they were not poisonous. Besides the. physiological 

 test, a number of other rules should not be neglected by beginners. 



The structure and spore color of the gill mushrooms is often 

 an indication of their edibility. These mushrooms all have a cap 

 and stem. Some species may have a volva which is a mem- 

 branous envelop or sac at the base of the stem; while other 

 species may have an annulus or ring about the stem just below 

 the cap. The color of the gills in mature mushrooms depends 

 upon the color of the spores. Various colors such as white 

 yellow, brown, purplish, dark brown, or black may be found. 

 There are mushrooms which have a cup at the base and a ring 

 on the stem. Fungi having white spores, indicated by white 

 gills, and both a cup at the base and a ring about the stem should 

 be discarded as poisonous. Mushrooms with black spores or 

 gills are generally edible. They frequently have a ring around 

 the stem, but no cup at the base as is true of the agarics. The 

 Volvaria edible forms described have pinkish spores and gills, 

 no ring about thfe^,s^stem, but a distinct cup or volva at base of 

 the stem. Other precautionary measures that should be observed 

 by beginners are the following : 



Avoid fungi when in the button or unexpanded stage. 



Avoid those in which the flesh has begun to decay, even if only 

 slightly. 



