Chapter I: Preface

The books which have been consulted in the preparation of this work are, “British Fungi,” by Rev. John Stevenson; “British Fungus-Flora,” by George Massee; “Mushrooms and their Uses,” and “Boleti of the United States,” by Professor Charles H. Peck, State Botanist of New York; “Moulds, Mildew and Mushrooms,” by Professor L. M. Underwood; and a pamphlet by Mr. C. G. Lloyd, entitled “The Volvæ of the United States.”

No attempt has been made to do more than to put in popular language the statements of experienced botanists, and so to arrange the matter as to aid beginners in their work.

Thanks are due to Mr. Harold Wingate for his suggestions and corrections of the manuscript; to Mr. C. G. Lloyd for permission to print from his photographs; to Miss Laura C. Detwiller for her paintings from nature, which have been here reproduced; and also to Mrs. Harrison Streeter and Miss Mary W. Nichols for their encouragement of the undertaking and suggestions in furtherance of its success.

CONTENTS.

[Transcriber’s Note:
The structure of the Table of Contents does not correspond perfectly
to the book itself, but all page numbers are correct.]

Page

Introduction, 13
Mushrooms, 23
Antiquity of Fungi, 23
Manner of Growth, 24
Odor, 26
Duration, 27
Uses, 27
Habitat, 28
Structure and growth, 29
Mycelium, 31
The Stem, 34
The Gills, 34
The Spores, 36
The Volva and Veil, 37
The Tubes or Pores, 38

Classification of Fungi,
Distinctive Characteristics of Genera. 39
Hymenomycetes, 41
Gasteromycetes, 59
Ascomycetes, 64
By Color of the Spores, 72

General Helps to the Memory, 68

Descriptions of Fungi arranged
According to Color of Cap only, 77
Red or Pink, 77
Yellow or Orange, 88
Gray, 100
Green, 106
White, 107
Brown, 115
Purple or Violet, 129

Description of Some Familiar Mushrooms,
without regard to color, 131

Direction for Using Keys, 147
Key to Hymenomycetes, 149
Key to Polyporei, 152
Key to Hydnei, 152
Key to Thelephorei, 152
Key to Clavariei, 153
Key to Gasteromycetes and Ascomycetes, 153

Glossary, 155

Index to Descriptions of Fungi, 161

Guide for Determining Genera of Agarics
in four Tables, 165

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
FACING PAGE

Craterellus cornucopioides-- Cortinarius armillatus-- Clitocybe laccata-- Tremellodon gelatinosum. _Frontispiece._ Coprinus atramentarius, 26 Amanita vaginata, 37 Omphalia alboflava, 47 Russula pectinata, 76 Lactarius insulsus, 92 Amanita vaginata, 101 Psathyrella disseminata, 116 Lepiota procera, 120 Boletus edulis-- Hypholoma perplexum-- Marasmius rotula-- Calostoma cinnebarinus, 129 Cortinarius distans, 147