SOME COMMON MUSHROOMS AND HOW TO KNOW THEM 29 



especially difficult of identification. The majority of the species of 

 Marasmius have a central stem, while the stem in Lentinus and 

 Panus is variable, being central, excentric, lateral, or absent. Maras- 

 mius species are also much smaller than those of the other genera 

 mentioned. 



Species of Marasmius are found growing on the ground, wood, or 

 rotting leaves. Several species are known to cause disease in econo- 

 mic plants such as sugarcane, banana, and cacao. 



MARASMIUS OBBADBS. FAIRY-RING FUNGUS. (EDIBLE) 



(Fig. 28) 



In the fairy-ring mushroom the cap is convex, then plane and slightly um- 

 bonate, tough, smooth, brownish buff, later cream-colored, margin when moist 

 may be striate ; the gills are broad, free, distant, unequal, creamy white ; the 

 stem is tough, solid, equal, villose in the upper part, smooth at the base. 



Figure 28. — Marasmius oreades. (Edible) 



The cap is 1 to 2 inches broad ; the stem is 2 to 3 inches long and iy 2 lines 

 thick. 



Many allusions in literature undoubtedly refer to this interesting little mush- 

 room and many fairy stories have happy association with it, Its frequent 

 occurrences on grassy places, as lawns, pastures, and golf courses, insures its 

 wide acquaintance. It is to be found from early spring until autumn. This is 

 a popular edible species and if once learned should always be recognized. It 

 may be preserved for winter use by drying, and it is also well adapted for 

 pickling. 



MARASMIUS ROTULA. THE COLLARED MUSHROOM 



In this species the cap is white or pale yellowish and darker at the disk, 

 papery, deeply furrowed, smooth, umbilicate ; margin crenate ; the gills are the 

 color of the cap, distant, attached to a collar which surrounds the stem ; the 

 stem is threadlike, smooth, shining, hollow, blackish. 



The cap is one-fourth or one-half inch broad ; the stem is 1 to iy 2 inches long. 



This species is commonly found on leaves and twigs in forests. The species 

 can be at once recognized by the gills being attached to a collar free from 

 the stem. 



LENTINUS 



In the genus Lentinus the plants are tough, leathery, corky, becom- 

 ing hard and almost woody when old. The cap is generally irregular 



