EUMYCETES 23 



Plate 4. 



A. Morchella conica Persoon (Discomycetes). The edible morel. 



B. Psalliota campestris (L.) Fries (Jgaricus campestris (Basidiomycetes-Agaricaceae). 

 The common field mushroom (edible). Champignon, Kampernoelie. 



C. Amanita muscaria (L.) Persoon (Agaricaceae). The fly-mushroom or fly- 

 agaric. A young specimen. Very poisonous. Vergiftige Paddestoel. 



D. Boletus edulis Bulliard (Basidiomycetes-Polyporaceae). The stone-mushroom. 

 Edible. Eetbarezwam. 



All from the Cape Peninsula. 



Description. 



Morchella conica. The pointed morel, which is one of the most highly 

 esteemed mushrooms in Central Europe, occurs here in oak-woods or among 

 shrubs of the Western Province in spring (September, October). About 

 25 years ago the author found only a few specimens among the oaks at the 

 Round House near Capetown, but gradually the plant has spread and occurs 

 now in various localities on the Cape Peninsula and probably elsewhere. It 

 imparts a delicious flavour to roast meat, but may be also prepared like the 

 common field mushroom or the boletus. 



Psalliota campestris (Champignon, locally pronounced " zampion "). The 

 common field mushroom appears in autumn in meadows and on grassy slopes, 

 especially where cattle graze. It can always be distinguished from the deadly 

 Amanita phalloides [See Plate 3] by its gills, which are pink or salmon coloured 

 on young plants, turning dark brown or even black on older ones. The gills 

 are free from the stalk, and the base of the stalk is not surrounded by a 

 membrane. 



Amanita muscaria. This is a very young plant of the fly-agaric, adult 

 specimens having an expanded cap 3—5 inches in diam. It appears in autumn, 

 especially in pine and poplar woods. In some countries, e.g. Siberia, it is eaten 

 in order to produce a state of intoxication. 



The name fly-mushroom or fly-agaric has been given to it because it is or 

 was employed for preparing fly-poison by boiling some slices of it with milk. 



Boletus edulis. This is one of the most common mushrooms used in 

 Northern and Central Europe, growing often in profusion in pine- and fir-forests 

 at the end of summer. Twenty years ago it was a great rarity in South 

 Africa, occurring only under some oaks on the Orangezicht estate, but now it 

 is found in almost all the oak woods around Table Mountain as well as at the 

 Paarl, Stellenbosch and Wellington, appearing in April and May according to 

 the autumnal rains. It attains much larger dimensions here than in Europe, 

 weighing not rarely two and occasionally three pounds, the cap being 8 or 10 

 and even 12 inches in diameter, and yet quite firm and sound. 



The squirrels (introduced from Canada) are also fond of it, but do not 

 touch the Amanita phalloides, although both kinds of fungus grow often 

 intermingled. 



A near ally, Boletus bovinus, also edible although not quite so tasty, is 

 somewhat moist and shining on the upper side, while the lower side of the cap 

 is yellow or greenish yellow. This occurs more frequently in pine woods. 

 Any one not well acquainted with mushrooms is advised to use none but the 

 common field mushroom and that only in the fresh state. 



