From Spore to Mushroom 
it grows, and comes out of the ground around puffball. (See 
Plate opposite p. 124.) 
If one wishes to learn to distinguish the members of the 
mushroom or toadstool family, either 
for the pleasure he may derive from 
:, Knowing them, or from a desire to 
s. distinguish the edible from the poison- 
ous, he must 
be familiar 
with the typi- 
cal parts of the 
fungus _ plant, 
and must 
know the names of these parts. 
The edible mushroom of the market 
(Agaricus campestris) 
serves well for study, 
as it shows some of 
the characteristics 
which all the toad- 
stools, mushrooms, brackets, and puffballs 
have in common. 
(1) This mushroom is in shape some- 
thing like a parasol. 
(2) The handle is the stem, or stipe. 
(3) The open topis the cap, or pileus. 4: 
om (4) Under 26% 
Lai \) the cap, radi- 
ating from 
; the stalk to ring.. &% 
 uieais wemees the edge of 
the cap, are 
thin plates—the gills, or lamelle. 
(5) When the mushroom is in 
t cisiaislaibigt galesamielan Short cells the button stage, the gills are not 
Se. Gibied Bats visible, for they are covered with 
iS a thin sheet of mycelial threads, 
Section across gill (magnified) called the veil. (See coloured plate 
of Agaricus campestris.) 
(6) As the button grows the veil stretches, and finally breaks, 
12 
Lanne .-Mycelial threads 
