I 
OBSERVATION OF COMMON FUNGI. 24/ 
fungi. It is better at first to submit the mushrooms to some one 
who knows them. 
Lepiotas. 
The lepiotas are closely related to the amanitas but lack the 
envelope or volva. The spores are white, the gills are mostly 
free from the stem, which in the true lepiotas separates easily 
from the pileus. A veil and ring are present. The two follow¬ 
ing species are edible. 
The smooth lepiota (Lepiota naucina) This is entirely white, 
or sometimes the cap is very pale gray. It occurs in lawns, pas¬ 
tures and even in cultivated fields, in late summer and autumn. 
Note the form of the plant in different stages of growth, the 
shape of the pileus, of the gills and their relation to the stem, 
character of the veil on the young plant and in the old plant. 
Note that as the plant dries the gills become brownish. What 
genus does it then resemble ? 
The parasol mushroom (Lepiota procera ).—This occurs in 
pastures and open woods or groves. Compare it with the smooth 
lepiota, and describe form, surface and color of the cap, char¬ 
acter of the gills, stem, and ring. Is the ring movable on the 
stem? 
Other Agarics. 
There are a great many other agarics not only in the genera 
described above but in other genera. It will be interesting for 
the pupil to compare those found with the ones described above, 
and the teacher can if possible supply the names. One should 
always note the habitat, i. e., where the plant grows, and whether 
on the ground or on leaves, humus, twigs, logs, stumps, standing 
dead trees or from wounds of living trees. Interesting ones to 
study are the “ milk ” bearing agarics of the genus Lactarius 
which bleed a white or colored juice when the gills or cap is cut 
or broken. 
The delicious lactarius (Lactarius deliciosus) has an orange 
juice and is edible; the peppery lactarius ( Lactarius piperatus ) 
and many others have a white and peppery or acrid juice, the in¬ 
digo lactarius ( Lactarius indigo) has an indigo blue juice, while 
