APPENDIX III. 
The natural tribes of the old genus Agaricus. 
We would arrange the various genera which formerly were included 
in the Friesian genus Agaricus under the following tribes. There is nothing 
new in this arrangement as it was proposed by W. G. Smith nearly thirty 
years ago, but no author has adopted it. It is admitted that the usual 
system where the genera are arranged primarily, by the color of the 
spores is purely artificial, corresponding to the Linnaean system in the 
flowering plants. The following arrangement is in keeping with the natural 
affinities of the genera, and it seems to us would greatly facilitate the study. 
A beginner meeting an Omphalia would be impressed with the characters 
of all the Tribe Umbilicae, and as a matter of fact will soon learn to ascribe 
to the proper tribe, on sight, any specimen he may meet. It only remains 
to determine the color of the spores (which after a little experience he will 
guess correctly almost every time from the color of the gills) to know 
the genus. 
Most of the terms used in the tables are self-explanatory, but the 
distinction between the fleshy and cartilaginous stem is very apt to puzzle 
one at first. A cartilaginous stem is usually like a tube with a smooth , even 
often polished surface and tough. A fleshy stem is more brittle, and the 
surface is dull and under a glass seems as if made of fibers. We learn to 
recognize these stems by experience but it is hard to describe them. 
The term “Pileus distinct from the stem” is explained in Note o, 
page 1 of the Volvse. In order to determine whether the margin of the 
pileus is at first straight or involute, very young specimens must be examined. 
It is important to always note this point in a plant of Series 3. Some 
plants with the general appearance of Collybias are placed in Mycena, be¬ 
cause the margins of the young pilei are straight. 
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