CIRCULAR NO. 143 



Issued March 1931 



Slightly revised August 1946 



UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

 WASHINGTON, D. C. 



SOME COMMON MUSHROOMS AND HOW 

 TO KNOW THEM 1 



By Vera K. Chaeles,. Associate Pathologist, Office of Mycology and Disease 

 Survey, Bureau of Plant Industry 



CONTENTS 



Page 



Introduction 1 



Danger from poisonous fungi 3 



Agaricaceae (gill fungi) 4 



Polyporaceae (pore fungi) 43 



Hydnaceae (tooth fungi) 51 



Clavariaceae (coral fungi) 51 



Page 



Phallaceae (stinkhorn fungi) 52 



Lycoperdaceae (puff balls) 53 



Asconiycetes (sac fungi) 56 



Collateral reading 5§ 



Glossary 59 



Index of species 60 



INTRODUCTION 



A study of the wild mushrooms of the fields and woods makes its 

 appeal to the amateur collector and the lover of nature as well as to 

 the scientist. The beautiful colors and delicate textures exhibited 

 by many of these plants offer a great attraction to the artistic, while 

 the more practical are reminded of the gastronomic possibilities 2 

 offered by many of the wild species. To the more advanced student, 

 the great variety in form and the detailed microscopic characters 

 provide an unlimited field for investigation. The hope of finding 

 something new continually urges one on, and the thrill of possible 

 discovery is ever present. 



The principal object of this circular is to provide the amateur 

 collector or nature student with a convenient, safe, and practical 

 means for the determination of some of the more common mushrooms 

 and certain other interesting or conspicuous forms of fungi. It is 

 hoped and confidently believed that an acquaintance with these 

 humble dwellers of the woods and fields will add a real and vital 

 interest to a walk or a clay spent in the open. 



In order that this circular may be of service to the largest number 

 of people, species of common occurrence and wide geographic range 

 have been selected for discussion. 



1 In this circular the term " mushroom " is not restricted to the Agaricaceae (gill 

 fungi), but is used in a general sense to cover the larger fungi, in accordance with 

 popular usage. This circular is in part a revision of and supersedes United States 

 Department of Agriculture Bulletin 175, Mushrooms and Other Common Fungi, and 

 Farmers' Bulletin 796, Some Common Edible and Poisonous Mushrooms. 



2 Requests for information about cooling mushrooms should be addressed to the Bureau 

 of Home Economics, U. S. Department of Agriculture. 



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