No. 3.] HYMENIALES OF CONNECTICUT. 1 5 



center of the cap, giving these species an umbrella-like shape ; 

 but in some species the stem is attached at the side of the cap, 

 when it is said to be eccentric. If the stem is entirely absent, 

 the cap is sessile. 



In some genera, the stem is fleshy and in others it is carti- 

 laginous. The fleshy stems are usually more or less fibrous 

 and somewhat spongy when broken, while the cartilaginous 

 stems snap readily when bent, resembling somewhat the break- 

 ing of a pipestem. The outer surface of the stem is often 

 covered with hairs or scales which arise from similar causes 

 as those on the surface of the cap. The interior of stems va- 

 ries much, being often solid throughout, but frequently hol- 

 low or stuffed with pithy substances. In shape, the stems vary 

 in the different species ; often they are large and bulbous at the 

 base as in many species of Amanita and Cortinarius; some- 

 times they are cylindrical throughout, and again they taper 

 decidedly, either toward the apex or toward the base. All of 

 these characteristics need to be carefully considered in noting 

 the distinct features in each specimen collected, for no two 

 specimens are alike in every respect, even of the same species. 



The veil and the resulting volva, or cup, and the annulus, 

 or ring, are peculiar to certain Agarics, and need to be care- 

 fully observed, for the nature and location of these parts indi- 

 cate frequently the edibility or non-edibility of the species. 



In the young stage, the mushrooms exist as small knobs, 

 or " buttons," of mycelium on the substratum. At this stage, 

 the margin of the cap lies closely against the stem, and in some 

 genera, as Collybia and Myccua, the margins simply expand, 

 never having been united to the stem by any special structure. 

 In other genera, like Agaricus or Amanita, the margins of the 

 cap are closely united to the outer layer of the stem by a more 

 or less compact net-work of fibers, termed the veil. This veil 

 remains firm for a time, but after a while the expansion of the 

 cap causes it to rupture. After the veil is ruptured, a part per- 

 sists for a time on the cap, giving it various margins, and a 

 part remains on the stem in the form of a ring, or, as it is 

 technically termed, the annulus. The remnants on the cap 

 and stem vary as to the length of time they remain. The more 

 delicate the veil the more quickly it disappears, and it is 



