SOME COMMON MUSHROOMS AXD HOW TO KNOW THEM 



27 



milk abundant and dark blue; the gills are crowded, indigo blue, changing 

 to greenish in age ; the stem is short, nearly equal, hollow. 



This mushroom may be very easily recognized by the striking blue color of 

 the cap and milk. It occurs in mixed or coniferous woods, singly or in small 

 associations, in summer and autumn. 



RUSSULA 



The genus Russula is similar to Lactarius in form, brittleness, 

 and general appearance, but differs in the absence of milk. The 

 species are very abundant in the summer, extending into the fall 

 months. Many species are regarded as edible, but several are known 

 to be poisonous ; therefore it is advisable to abstain from eating any 

 members of this genus. 



RUSSULA EMETICA. EMETIC RUSSULA. (POISONOUS) 



In this species the cap is oval to bell-shaped, becoming flattened or depressed, 

 smooth, shining, rosy to dark red when old, fading to tawny, sometimes be- 

 coming yellow, margin finally furrowed and tuberculate ; the flesh is white, 





Figure 27. — Russula virescens. (Edible) 



but reddish under the separable pellicle ; the gills are nearly free, somewhat 

 distant, shining white; taste is very acrid; the stem is stout, spongy-stuffed, 

 fragile when old. white or reddish. 



The cap is 3 to 4 inches broad ; the stem is 2% to 3 inches long. 



This is a very attractive plant but is exceedingly acrid and poisonous. It 

 occurs during the summer and autumn on the ground in woods or open spaces. 



RUSSULA VIRESCEXS. GREEX RUSSULA. (EDIBLE) 

 (Fig. 27) 



In this species the cap is at first rounded, then expanded, when old some- 

 what depressed in the center, dry, green, the surface broken up into quite 

 regular, more or less angular areas of deeper color, margin straight, obtuse, 

 even ; the gills are adnate, somewhat crowded, equal or forked ; the stem is 

 equal, thick, solid, or spongy, rivulose, white. 



The cap is 3% to o inches broad; the stem is about 2 inches long. 



This fungus is noticeable on account of the color and areolate character of 

 the cap. In Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia it occurs 

 usually from July to September, either solitary or in small patches, but not 

 in very great abundance. The species is edible and of good flavor. 



HYGROPHORUS 



In the genus Hygrophorus the cap is viscid, moist, or hygropha- 

 nous, and the flesh is continuous with that of the stem. The cap 

 may be regular but is often plicate or folded and the margin irregu- 



lar, 



and lobed. The 



gills 



are generally distant, aclnexed, 



