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 OREADES. 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 1% 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 11% 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 
