13. MYCENASTRUM. Page 613.

Peridium subglobose, very thick, coriaceous, the upper part finally breaking up into irregular lobes or fragments; threads of the capillitium free, short, with a few short branches and scattered prickles. _Morgan._ GENUS IV.—=GEA´STER= Mich. _Gr_—the earth; _Gr_—star. Mycelium filamentous or fibrous, much branched and interwoven with the soil. Peridium subglobose, composed of two distinct persistent coats; outer peridium thick, fleshy-coriaceous, at first closely investing the inner, but discrete (distinct) at maturity splitting from the apex downward into several segments which become reflexed; inner peridium thin, membranaceous then papyraceous (like parchment), sessile or with a short pedicel, dehiscent at the apex by a single mouth. Capillitium taking its origin from the inner surface of the peridium and also from a distinct central columella, which arises from its base; threads simple, long, slender, thickest in the middle and tapering to each extremity, fixed at one end and free at the other. =Spores= small, globose, minutely warted, brown. _Morgan._ (Plate CLX.) [Illustration: GEASTER HYGROMETRICUS. Natural size. (After Morgan.) ] G. minimus, when found by the writer, was not tested because not found in condition. It is a plant beautiful in its oddity. Its seven to nine outer segments of skin loosen at the bottom, spring up, raising the oval body of the plant with them, turn their points down and balance on the lower points, and look, in miniature, just as would two sectional orange peels spread at their loose points if one was rested, point to point, upon the other. This hoisting of the spore-bearing part aloft, that it may better eject its spores to the wind, does not seem to have been noted by Professor Morgan. Specimens sent to Professor Peck by the writer beautifully illustrated this enterprise of the plant. =G. hygrome´tricus= Pers. (Plate CLX, 2 figs., p. 580.) Peridium depressed-globose, the cuticle deciduous with the mycelium; outer peridium deeply parted, the segments 7–20, strongly hygrometric, acute at the apex; inner peridium depressed-globose, sessile, reticulate, pitted, whitish becoming gray or brownish; the mouth an irregularly lacerate aperture. Threads of the capillitium rather thinner than the spores, hyaline. =Spores= globose, minutely warted, brown, 8–11µ in. in diameter. Growing in fields and woods in sandy soil. A very common species found everywhere in the world. Inner peridium ¾-1 in. in diameter, the segments expanding to a breadth of 2–3 in. The inner layer of the outer peridium is cartilaginous-gelatinous, hard and rigid when dry, swelling greatly and flexible when wet though constantly becoming more and more cracked and fissured, it retains its hygroscopic qualities a long time, and the outer peridium remains lying on the soil, stellate in shape, spreading out its rays in moist weather and bending them inward in dry. _Morgan._ Mr. Morgan made a new genus—Astræus, in which he placed this species. It is so widely known as Geaster hygrometricus that to avoid confusion it is placed in its old genus. This natural barometer, spreading its stellate covering on the soil about it when the air is laden with moisture, and closing it around its puffy body when humidity is absent, is odd and interesting. The entire genus is more or less gifted with this weather-wise quality. The species is very common, but seldom found in number. Once, in the West Virginia mountains, 1882, I found a large patch of it, and was able to collect from it enough young ones to test its edibility. It is difficult to find before it bursts its outer coat. When young it is, when cooked, soft and creamy inside. The outer part is tough and semi-glutinous but of pleasant texture. It has not a marked flavor, but makes a succulent dish. [Illustration] II.—=CORTICATÆ.= GENUS VII.—=TYLOS´TOMA= Pers. _Gr_—a knob. (Plate CLXI.) [Illustration: TYLOSTOMA MEYENIANUM. (After Morgan.) ] Plants growing on the ground, oftenest in dry and sandy regions. The genus is readily distinguished from all others of the Lycoperdaceæ by the entire peridium being mounted upon the apex of the stem. _Morgan._ The genus contains but few species. Those I have found were not in condition to test. There is no report upon the edibility of any. GENUS VIII.—=CALVA´TIA= Fr. Mycelium fibrous, usually thick and cord-like, rooting from the base. =Peridium= large, globose and nearly sessile, or turbinate with a well-developed base; cortex a very thin adherent layer, often smooth and continuous, sometimes composed of minute spinules or granules; inner peridium a loosely woven and very fragile covering, after maturity breaking up into fragments from above downward and gradually falling away. Subgleba cellulose, mostly definitely limited and concave above, persistent; mass of spores and capillitium dense, compact, persistent a long time and slowly dissipating after the fracture of the peridium; the threads very long, slender, much branched and interwoven. =Spores= small, globose, usually sessile or with only a minute pedicel. _Morgan._ Puffballs of the largest size, growing on the ground in fields and woods. _Morgan._ I.—SESSILES. Peridium very large, without a distinct base; subgleba nearly obsolete, the mass of spores and capillitium quite filling the interior. =C. gigantea= Batsch.—gigantic. (_L. bovista_ Linn.; _L. maximum_ Schaeff.; _L. giganteum_ Batsch.) Very large, 10–20 in. in diameter, obconic or depressed-globose, nearly or quite sessile, white or whitish, becoming discolored by age, smooth or slightly roughened by weak spinose or minute floccose warts, sometimes cracking in areas; capillitium and spores yellowish-green to dingy-olive. =Spores= smooth, 4µ in. in diameter. Edible. _Peck_, 32d Rep. N.Y. State Bot. =Spores= globose, even or sometimes minutely warted, 3.5–4.5 in. in diameter, often with a minute pedicel. _Morgan._ Common over the states. Growing on the ground in grassy places in fields and woods. August to October. As the name implies, this species is gigantic. It is the largest of all fungi. It has attained the diameter of three feet in this country, but is reported larger in Europe. I have found it in West Virginia weighing nine pounds, but one is reported as found in Gordon Park weighing forty-seven pounds. I have often followed the advice of Vittadini and sliced a meal for my family from growing individuals. The cut surface contracts and dries. The plant seems to be deprived of its power to further ripen. It can thus be cut for many days. It has other than food uses in its dry form—as a sponge, as tinder, as a color, as a styptic in hemorrhage; the Finns make a remedy of it for diarrhea in calves, and it is burned under bee-hives to stupefy bees. It, as well as L. cyathiforme, is an admirable and delicate fungus. =C. pachyder´ma= Pk. _Gr_—thick-skinned. =Peridium= very large, globose or obovoid, often irregular, with a thick cord-like root; cortex thin, smooth, whitish, persistent, drying up into polygonal areolæ which are white in the center with a brown border; inner peridium very thick but fragile, with a separable membranaceous lining, after maturity gradually breaking up into fragments and falling away. Subgleba obsolete; mass of spores and capillitium greenish-yellow then olive-brown; the threads very long, occasionally septate, branched, mostly thinner than the spores. =Spores= globose, distinctly warted, 5–6µ in diameter, sometimes with a minute pedicel. Growing on the ground. Arizona, _Pringle_; Dakota, _Miss Nellie Crouch_. =Peridium= 4–8 in. in diameter. Remarkable for its thick peridium, which becomes white spotted and areolate. _Morgan._ I have not seen this species. [Illustration: Photographed by Dr. J.R. Weist. PLATE CLXII. CALVATIA CYATHIFORMIS. (Lycoperdon Cyathiforme.) ] II.—CYATHIFORMES. Peridium large, top-shaped, with a stout thick base; subgleba limited and concave above, persistent. =C. cyathifor´mis= Bosc.—cup-shaped. (_L. cyathiforme_ Bosc.) (Plate CLXII, p. 584.) =Peridium= 3–6 in. in diameter, globose or depressed-globose, smooth or minutely floccose or scaly, whitish cinereous brown or pinkish brown, often cracking into areas in the upper part, commonly with a short, thick, stem-like base; capillitium and spores purple-brown, these and the upper part of the peridium falling away and disappearing when old, leaving a cup-shaped base with a ragged margin. =Spores= globose, rough, purple-brown, 5–6.5µ broad. _Peck_, 48th Rep. N.Y. State Bot. Common over United States. Indiana, _H.I. Miller_; West Virginia, New Jersey. On open grassy ground. July to October. _McIlvaine._ Often a queer, ragged, cup-shaped, purplish mass is noticed protruding from the ground, looking as if the upper half had been cut off horizontally. This is the mature C. cyathiformis, or rather, what is left of it. The upper half has blown away and is spreading its spores elsewhere. A first-class Lycoperdon, meaty and of excellent flavor. When it occurs, it is usually in plenty. On the great parade ground at Mt. Gretna, Pa., it annually appears in large quantities. Cows are fond of it, and it is this fungus which is currently believed among farmers to affect milk. I have watched cows pawing it to pieces and eating portions of it. =C. fra´gilis= Vitt.—fragile. =Peridium= obovoid, plicate below, with a short-pointed base and a cord-like root. Cortex a smooth continuous layer, very thin and fragile, separable, white or grayish, becoming brownish and tinged with violet and purple, commonly areolate above; inner peridium thin, violet to purple, velvety, extremely fragile, after maturity the upper part soon breaking up into fragments and falling away. Subgleba occupying but a small portion of the peridium, cup-shaped above, persistent; mass of spores and capillitium from violet to pale purple; the threads very long, mostly thinner than the spores, scarcely branched. =Spores= globose, minutely warted, 4–5.5µ in diameter, sessile. Growing on the open prairies. Wisconsin, _Brown_; Iowa, _McBride_; Nebraska, Wyoming, _Webber_; Kansas, _Cragin_; California, _Harkness_. =Peridium= 1½-3 in. in diameter. _Morgan._ Not seen by writer. Doubtless edible. =C. sigilla´ta= Cragin—adorned with figures. =Peridium= large, depressed above, narrowed below into a stem-like base. Cortex very thin and fragile, white, easily abraded; inner peridium subcoriaceous, with a fragile rust-color brown lining, marked off above into polygonal areas by lines of depression, at length breaking up into fragments and falling away. Mass of spores and capillitium violet to dark-purple. =Spores= globose, even, 3.5–4.5µ in diameter, with a long pedicel. Growing on the open prairie. Kansas, _Cragin_. =Peridium= 4–5 in. in diameter. The species is well marked by the even pedicellate spores. _Morgan._ =C. cæla´ta= Bull.—carved in relief. (_L. cæla´tum_ Bull.; _L. bovista_ Pers.) =Peridium= large, obovoid or top-shaped, depressed above, with a stout thick base and a cord-like root. Cortex a thickish floccose layer, with coarse warts or spines above, whitish then ochraceous or finally brown, at length breaking up into areola which are more or less persistent; inner peridium thick but fragile, thinner about the apex, where it finally ruptures, forming a large irregular lacerate aperture. Subgleba occupying nearly half the peridium, cup-shaped above and a long time persistent; mass of spores and capillitium compact, farinaceous, greenish-yellow or olivaceous, becoming pale to dark-brown; the threads very much branched, the primary branches two or three times as thick as the spores, very brittle, soon breaking up into fragments. =Spores= globose, even, 4–4.5µ in diameter, sessile or sometimes with a short or minute pedicel. Growing on the ground in fields and woods. =Peridium= 3–5 in. in diameter, sometimes larger. _Morgan._ Wisconsin, _Brown_; Minnesota, _Johnson_; Kansas, _Kellerman_; L. cælatum, New York, edible, _Peck_, 23d Rep.; Indiana, good, _H.I. Miller_. Common, West Virginia, wooded lanes, _McIlvaine_. An excellent species. =C. hiema´lis= Bull.—belonging to winter. =Peridium= obovoid or top-shaped, depressed above, with a stout thick base and a cord-like root. Cortex a thin furfuraceous coat, with stout convergent spines above, whitish or gray, becoming yellowish and reddish, after maturity gradually falling away from the upper part; inner peridium thin, submembranaceous, pallid or brownish, dehiscent at the apex by an irregular lacerate mouth. Subgleba occupying nearly half the peridium, cup-shaped above and a long time persistent; mass of spores and capillitium soft, lax, greenish-yellow then brownish-olivaceous; the threads very long, much branched, the primary branches about as thick as the spores, the ultimate ones long, slender and tapering. =Spores= globose, even, 3.5–4.5µ in diameter, with a short or minute pedicel. Growing on the ground in fields and pastures. =Peridium= 2–4 in. in diameter and 3–5 in. in height. I find this species referred to North America in Saccardo’s Sylloge. It is Lycoperdon cælatum of Fries S. M. Possibly the L. cælatum of Curtis’s catalogue may be this species. _Morgan._ Not seen by writer. (Plate CLXIII.) [Illustration: CALVATIA CRANIIFORMIS. (After Morgan.) ] =C. craniifor´mis= Schw.—_cranion_, a skull. =Peridium= very large, obovoid or turbinate, depressed above, the base thick and stout, with a cord-like root. Cortex a smooth continuous layer, very thin and fragile, easily peeling off, pallid or grayish, sometimes with a reddish tinge, often becoming folded in areas; the inner peridium thin, ochraceous to bright brown, velvety, extremely fragile, after maturity the upper part breaking up into fragments and falling away. Subgleba occupying about one-half of the peridium, cup-shaped above and a long time persistent; mass of spores and capillitium greenish-yellow then ochraceous or dirty olivaceous; the threads very long, about as thick as the spores, branched. =Spores= globose, even, 3–3.5µ in diameter, with a minute pedicel. Growing on the ground in woods. =Peridium= commonly 3–6 in. in diameter and 4–5 in. in height, but much larger specimens are sometimes met with. This species abounds in the woods of southern Ohio, growing in great patches of numerous individuals. I do not know that the edible qualities of this species have been tested. _Morgan._ Chester county, Pa. Springton Hills. On ground in mixed woods. August to October. _McIlvaine._ Not a frequent species with us. I have seen it only in the locality named. The substance is very like that of L. pyriforme. When white it has a strong but pleasant odor, and in this condition it is an excellent fungus. The slightest change to yellow makes it bitter. =C. rubro-fla´va= Cragin—reddish-yellow. =Peridium= obconic, tapering gradually downward to the rooting mycelium. Cortex a very thin furfuraceous or granulose coat, with a few short, scattered spinules above; inner peridium thin and fragile, at first whitish, soon becoming orange-red to orange-brown in color, after maturity the upper part breaking up into fragments and falling away. Subgleba occupying about a third part of the peridium; mass of spores and capillitium reddish-ocher then olivaceous-orange; the threads very long, rather thicker than the spores, branched. =Spores= globose, even, 3–3.5µ in diameter, sometimes with a minute pedicel. Growing on the ground. Kansas, _Cragin_, _Kellerman_. =Peridium= 1½-3 in. in height with a breach of 1–2 in. The peculiar orange or rather reddish-ocher color with which the whole plant is pervaded at maturity is very remarkable. _Morgan._ III.—STIPITATÆ. Peridium depressed, globose above, abruptly contracted below into a long stem-like base; subgleba not definitely limited above, continuous with the capillitium, persistent. =C. sacca´ta= (Vahl.) Fr.—_saccus_, a bag or pouch. Medium size, 2–4 in. high, 1–2 in. broad. =Peridium= depressed-globose or somewhat lentiform, supported by a long stem-like base, furfuraceous with minute persistent mealy or granular warts or spinules, often plicate beneath, white or creamy-white, at maturity becoming brown or olive-brown, subshining and very thin or membranous, breaking up into irregular fragments which sometimes adhere to the capillitium for a considerable time, the stem-like base cylindrical or narrowed downward, sometimes thick; capillitium rather dense, subpersistent, and with the spores dingy-olive or dingy-brown, sometimes verging toward purplish-brown. =Spores= rough, 4–5µ in diameter. Edible. Low mossy grounds and bushy swamps, especially under alders. Sandlake, Center and Adirondack mountains. August to October. _Peck_, 32d Rep. N.Y. State Bot. West Virginia, 1881–1885; Pennsylvania, New Jersey, North Carolina. Frequent, thin moist woods. July to November. _McIlvaine._ C. saccata, the long-stemmed puff-ball, is a common and pleasing species. Shape, color, feel, combine to make it attractive. It is one of the very best we have. When white inside and otherwise in good condition it is delicious. (Plate CLXIV.) [Illustration: CALVATIA ELATA. (After Morgan.) ] =C. ela´ta= Massee. =Peridium= globose or depressed-globose above, plicate below and abruptly contracted into a long stem-like base; the base slender, cylindric or tapering downward, sometimes pitted; mycelium fibrous and filamentous. Cortex a very thin coat of minute persistent spinules or granules; inner peridium white or cream-colored, becoming brown or olivaceous, very thin and fragile, after maturity the upper part soon breaking up into fragments and falling away. Subgleba occupying the stem-like base, a long time persistent; mass of spores and capillitium brown or brownish-olivaceous; the threads very long, branched, the main stem as thick as the spores, the branches more slender. =Spores= globose, even or very minutely warted, 4–5µ in diameter with a short or minute pedicel. Growing among mosses in low grounds and bushy places. New England, _Humphrey_; New York, _Peck_. =Peridium= 1–2 in. in diameter and 3–6 in. in height, the stem-like base ½-¾ of an inch in thickness. This American form of Lycoperdon saccatum has lately been separated from it, and named, figured and described as Lycoperdon elatum by George Massee. _Morgan._ Edible. GENUS IX.—=LYCOPER´DON= Tourn. Mycelium fibrous, rooting from the base. =Peridium= small, globose, obovoid or turbinate, with a more or less thickened base; cortex a subpersistent coat of soft spines, scales, warts or granules; inner peridium thin, membranaceous becoming papyraceous, dehiscent by a regular apical mouth. _Morgan._ When the plant sits (without stem) directly upon the ground or wood it is _sessile_. The outer layer of the two parts of its covering is the _exterior peridium_ (sometimes spoken of as _cortex_). This frequently breaks up into scales, spines, bristles, minute flocculent or powdery masses, and these vary in size and in many species disappear as the plant matures. These are of determining value in several species of Lycoperdaceæ. Plants with coarse, long spines are _echinate_ because they bristle. When the spines incline together and form a point they are _stellate_. Various formations of this outside covering are also called _warts_. The inner rind or skin is the true _peridium_. The mass of thread-like filaments which fills the interior of the plant is called the _capillitium_. The filaments are deftly interlaced. At times filaments springing from the base do not interlace with the others; these are called _columellæ_. These filaments bear the spores—the dust which puffs out in such quantity and gives the common name to the plant—puff-ball—and its Mephistophelian one—The Devil’s Snuff-box. In some species the filaments at the base of the plant are _sterile_—they do not bear spores. These filaments are more contracted and form the neck, stem or _subgleba_. The _gleba_ is the upper interior of the plant, in which the spores are contained. See plate CLVI. _Dehiscent_ is said of an organ which opens of itself at maturity. A plant is dehiscent at the discharging point of its spores. If this is at the summit it is _apically dehiscent_. The descriptions herein given of American representatives of European species are in many instances those of A.P. Morgan, who has made special study of this genus, and those of Professor C.H. Peck, whose interstate experience acquaints him with every varying form. Mr. Morgan has kindly given permission to use his text and drawings. No one has yet had reason to doubt the harmlessness of any puff-ball. There are a few I have not eaten, but believing that these will be proven edible, descriptions of all species occurring in America are given. There are first and second-class puff-balls. Usually the small species are slightly strong, and if a shade of yellow appears upon breaking any puff-ball, it will be more or less bitter and will spoil a whole dish. The larger species are milder. The flavor of puff-balls appears to be issued to them as a ration. It is all there in a little fellow, and in a big one it is simply spread through more substance. Lafayette B. Mendel in Am. Jour. of Physiology, March, 1898, gives the nitrogenous compounds in L. bovista as: Nitrogen soluble in gastric juice 3.13 Digestible protein nitrogen 3.13 Indigestible protein nitrogen 2.70 Protein nitrogen 5.79 Extractive nitrogen 2.40 Total nitrogen 8.19 TABLE OF THE SPECIES OF LYCOPERDON. I.—PURPLE-SPORED SERIES. Mature spores purplish-brown. _a._ Cortex consisting of very long convergent spines. Page 591. _b._ Cortex composed of long slender convergent spines. Page 592. _c._ Cortex composed of minute spinules. Page 594. _d._ Cortex a furfuraceous persistent coat. Page 595. _e._ Cortex a smooth, continuous layer, becoming areolate. Page 597. II.—OLIVE-SPORED SERIES. Mature spores usually brownish-olivaceous. _A._ PERIDIUM OBOVOID OR TURBINATE, THE SUBGLEBA WELL DEVELOPED. _f._ Cortex of long spines mingled with shorter ones, the former at length fall away, leaving a reticulate surface to the inner peridium. Page 598. _g._ Cortex of stout spines which fall away and leave a tomentose or furfuraceous surface to the inner peridium. Page 599. _h._ Cortex of long spines, curved and convergent at the apex, which fall away and leave a smooth surface to the inner peridium. Page 600. _i._ Cortex of minute spinules and granules or furfuraceous scales. Terrestrial. Page 602. _k._ Cortex of minute spinules, scales or granules. Lignatile. Page 603. _B._ PERIDIUM VERY SMALL, GLOBOSE, THE SUBGLEBA NEARLY OBSOLETE. _l_. Cortex a thin coat of minute spinules, scales or granules. Page 604. _Morgan._ I.—PURPLE-SPORED SERIES. (_a_) _Cortex consisting of very long convergent spines; denuded peridium smooth._ =L. echina´tum= Pers.—prickly. (_L. Peck´ii_ Morg.) (Plate CLVI, fig. 2, p. 568.) =Peridium= ¾-1½ in. broad, subglobose, generally narrowed below into a short stem-like base, whitish brownish or pinkish-brown, echinate above with rather stout spines, which at length fall off and leave the surface smooth; toward the base spinulose or furfuraceous; capillitium and spores dingy-olive. =Spores= minutely rough, 4µ in diameter. Ground and decaying wood in woods. Albany, Forestburg and Adirondack mountains. August to October. The whole plant is generally obovate, pyriform or turbinate, and the spines are larger and more or less curved at and near the apex, diminishing in size toward the base where they are more persistent. In the immature condition it is difficult to distinguish it from L. pedicellatum; but when mature its smooth peridium and spores destitute of pedicels separate it. _Peck_, 32d Rep. N.Y. State Bot. L. echinatum appears to be common to all the states. August to frost. It is frequent but not abundant. Raw the taste is slight. Cooked it is tender and of good flavor. =L. pulcher´rimum= B. and C. (_L. Frost´ii_ Pk.) =Peridium= usually obovoid, sometimes subturbinate, with a short stout base; the mycelium forming a thick cord-like root. Cortex consisting of very long white spines, converging and often coherent at the apex; the spines at length fall away from the upper part of the peridium, leaving the inner peridium with a smooth purplish-brown shining surface, sometimes faintly reticulated. Subgleba occupying about a third part of the peridium; mass of spores and capillitium at first olivaceous, then brownish-purple; the threads much branched, the main stem thicker than the spores, the branches long, slender and tapering. =Spores= globose, minutely warted, 4.5–5.5µ in diameter. =Peridium= 1–2½ in. in diameter and 1–2 in. in height. The fresh specimens of this plant have a strong and not unpleasant fragrance. Growing in low grounds, in fields and woods. September, October. L. pulcherrimum is frequent, but not abundant. It ranks with second-class puff-balls. It is good when young and fresh. (Plate CLXV.) [Illustration: LYCOPERDON CONSTELLATUM. (After Peck.) ] =L. constella´tum= Fr.—grouped. =Peridium= subglobose or obovate, sometimes depressed, 10–18 lines broad, echinate with rather long stout crowded brown spines which are either straight curved or stellately united and which at length fall off and leave the surface reticulate with brown lines; capillitium and spores brown or purplish-brown, columella present. =Spores= rough, 5–6.5µ in diameter. Ground in dense shades and groves. Oneida, _Warne_. Rare. Autumn. _Peck_, 32d Rep. N.Y. State Bot. (_b_) _Cortex composed of long, slender convergent spines; denuded peridium smooth._ =L. hirtum= Mart.—hairy. =Peridium= broadly turbinate, depressed above, contracted below into a short, thick, tapering or pointed base, with a cord-like root. Cortex a dense coat of soft spines, long, slender and convergent above, becoming shorter downward, gray or brownish in color; these finally fall away, leaving the inner peridium with a brown or purplish-brown, smooth, shining surface. Subgleba occupying from one-third to one-half of the peridium; mass of spores and capillitium olivaceous, then brownish-purple; the threads branched, the main stem about as thick as the spores, with slender, tapering branches. =Spores= globose, distinctly warted, 5–6µ in diameter. Growing on the ground in woods. =Peridium= 1–2½ in. in diameter and 1½-2 in. in height. This species in this country heretofore has been included with L. atropurpureum. I have followed Mr. Massee in keeping them separate. This is perhaps L. bicolor W. and C., of the Pacific Coast Catalogue. _Morgan._ New York, _Peck_, 46th Rep.; West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania. Ground in woods. August to October. _McIlvaine._ It is edible. Good when young and fresh. =L. atropurpur´eum= Vitt.—_ater_, black; _purpureus_, purple—of the spores. =Peridium= globose depressed-globose or obovate, 6–30 lines broad, generally narrowed below into a short stem-like base, white cinereous or brownish, mealy-spinulose, hairy-spinulose, echinate or stellately echinate, when denuded smooth and subshining; capillitium and spores finally purplish-brown, columella present. =Spores= rough, 5–6µ in diameter. Sandy pastures, woods and bushy places. Common. August to October. This appears to be one of the most polymorphous species we have. It is so variable that I have been obliged to modify the usual description very much, in order to include forms which are quite diverse, yet which appear to me to run together in such a way that I am unable to draw any satisfactory line of distinction between them. There are three principal varieties which I have referred to this species. The first is usually 1–2 in. broad, sessile, or with a very short stem, nearly smooth, being mealy or pruinose, and having a few minute, weak, scattered spinules or scales. Its color is generally whitish or white slightly clouded with brown. It grows in sandy pastures and cleared lands, and is probably the nearest of the three in its resemblance to the type. I regard the second and third as worthy of a name and designate and define them as follows: Var. _hirtel´lum_. =Peridium= hairy-spinulose with erect or curved sometimes stellately united spinules, which are often of a blackish color. Ground and decaying vegetable matter in woods. Var. _stella´re_. =Peridium= echinate or stellately echinate with rather stout easily deciduous spines. Ground in woods and bushy places. In this species the capillitium and spores are at first greenish-yellow, olive-tinted or brownish; but when fully mature they are purple-tinted. Some care will, therefore, be necessary, lest the last variety be confused with the Echinate Puff-ball, L. echinatum. _Peck_, 32d Rep. N.Y. State Bot. =Spores= 6–7µ _Massee_; globose, distinctly warted, 5.5–6µ, _Morgan_. Ohio, West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania. On ground in woods. August to October. _McIlvaine._ L. atropurpureum is frequent, not abundant. It is edible, good. (_c_) _Cortex composed of minute spinules; denuded peridium smooth._ =L. cu´pricum= Bon.—coppery. =Peridium= obconic, depressed above and tapering downward, the base plicate, with a fibrous mycelium. Cortex gray or flesh-color, composed of minute spinules circularly arranged and convergent and coherent at the apex; these dry up, becoming dark purplish in color, and finally fall away from the smooth, shining, copper-colored surface of the inner peridium. Subgleba occupying nearly a third part of the peridium; mass of spores and capillitium, at length purplish-brown; the threads branched, the main stem thinner than the spores, with long, tapering branches. =Spores= globose, distinctly warted, 6–7µ in diameter. Growing in sandy soil in woods. New Jersey, _Ellis_. Peridium about 1 in. in diameter and an inch or more in height. The microscopic features are given from specimens received from Mr. Ellis. _Morgan._ Near Haddonfield, N.J., 1891–1896. Sandy woods. _McIlvaine._ Not frequent. Those found upon several occasions were eaten and found good. =L. asterosper´mum= D. and M.—_aster_, star; _sperma_, seed. =Peridium= obovoid or pyriform (pear-shaped), the base short and pointed, with a slender fibrous mycelium. Cortex a thin coat of minute spinules with intermingled granules, gray or brownish above, paler below; these dry up and are a long time persistent, but they finally fall away, leaving the inner peridium with a pale brown, smooth, shining surface. Subgleba obconical, occupying nearly a third part of the peridium; mass of spores and capillitium olivaceous, then brownish-purple; the threads about as thick as the spores, with slender tapering branches. =Spores= globose, distinctly warted, 5.5–6.5µ in diameter. =Peridium= 1–1½ in. in diameter. A very pretty species of regular form; its glossy cortex is quite persistent. _Morgan._ Growing on the ground in open woods. Ohio, _Morgan_; Nebraska, _Webber_. New York, _Peck_, 46th, 51st Rep.; Ohio, _Lloyd_. =L. delica´tum= Berk. =Peridium= subglobose, plicate underneath, with a fibrous mycelium. Cortex a thin coat of minute spinules and granules, gray or brownish above, whitish below, finally falling away from the smooth, shining, pale or brownish surface of the inner peridium. Subgleba very small or quite obsolete; mass of spores and capillitium olivaceous, then pale or brownish-purplish; the threads rather thinner than the spores, with slender tapering branches. =Spores= globose, distinctly warted, 5–6µ in diameter. =Peridium= 1–2 in. in diameter. _Morgan._ Growing on the ground. Pennsylvania, _Gentry_; Missouri, _Professor Trelease_ (_Peck_, Rep. 40); Louisiana, _Langlois_. (_d_) _Cortex a furfuraceous persistent coat._ (Plate CLXVI.) [Illustration: LYCOPERDON GLABELLUM. (After Morgan.) ] =L. glabel´lum= Pk.—smooth, bare. Subglobose or subturbinate, 1–1.5 in. broad, sometimes narrowed below into a short stem-like base, furfuraceous with very minute nearly uniform persistent warts, which appear to the naked eye like minute granules or papillæ, yellow, opening by a small aperture; inner mass purplish-brown, capillitium with a central columella. =Spores= purplish-brown, globose, rough, 5–6.5µ in diameter. Ground in copses and in pine woods. West Albany and North Greenbush. Autumn. _Peck_, 31st Rep. N.Y. State Bot. Ohio, _Morgan_; Wisconsin, _Trelease_; West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey. Frequent. Autumn. _McIlvaine._ One of the prettiest Lycoperdons. Symmetrical, and otherwise attractive. Sweet, firm, solid. It is not high in flavor, but is delicate. =L. elonga´tum= Berk.—elongated. =Peridium= globose above, contracted below into a stout thick base, more or less elongated and cylindric or tapering downward; mycelium composed of thick fibers. Cortex a loose flocculose white or yellowish coat, drying up into a mealy or furfuraceous persistent layer, which scarcely reveals the pale shining surface of the inner peridium. Subgleba occupying more than half the interior of the peridium; mass of spores and capillitium pale olivaceous, then pale brown or finally purplish; the threads much branched, the main stem much thicker than the spores, the branches tapering. =Spores= globose, distinctly warted, 5.5–6.5µ in diameter. Growing on the ground in damp woods. Ohio, _Morgan_. =Peridium= 1–2 in. in diameter and 2–3 in. in height, the base ¾-1 in. in thickness. In form it somewhat resembles L. gemmatum, but it has a cortex like that of L. glabellum. _Morgan._ New York, _Peck_, 49th Rep. Closely allied to L. glabellum. Its stout elongated base serves as a mark of distinction. Ohio, _Morgan_; Pennsylvania, Washington, Pa., Myc. Club. Not common. Sometimes tufted, three or four together. Edible, good. =L. el´egans= Morgan—elegant. =Peridium= large, depressed globose, plicate underneath and sometimes with a narrow umboniform base, which is continuous with the thick root. Cortex at first flocculose, white or yellowish, drying up into a dense furfuraceous persistent coat, which becomes ochraceous or brownish in color, and sometimes obscurely areolate. Subgleba broad, convex above, occupying a third part or more of the peridium; mass of spores and capillitium olivaceous, then pale-brown or finally purplish-brown; the threads much branched, the main stem thicker than the spores, the branches long and tapering. =Spores= globose, distinctly warted, 5–6µ, in diameter. Growing on rich soil on the open prairie about Iowa City, Ia., _Prof. T.H. McBride_. =Peridium= 1½-3 in. in diameter. In form and size this species somewhat resembles Calvatia fragilis, but the threads are arranged in two sets as in Lycoperdon; the cortex is similar to that of L. glabellum; the mycelium forms a remarkably thick root. _Morgan._ (_e_) _Cortex a smooth, continuous layer, becoming areolate._ (Plate CLXVII.) [Illustration: LYCOPERDON RIMULATUM. With magnified spores. (After Morgan.) ] =L. rimula´tum= Pk.—_rimula_, a small chink. =Peridium= depressed—globose or broadly obovoid, plicate underneath with a slender fibrous mycelium. Cortex at first a thin, smooth, continuous fibrillose layer, gray or bluish-gray, sometimes with a purplish tinge; this at length breaks into a network of fine lines or fissures, gradually dries up into minute thin adnate scales, and finally falls away from the smooth grayish or purplish-brown surface of the inner peridium. Subgleba broad, but distinct, plane above, occupying about a fourth part of the peridium; mass of spores and capillitium purplish-gray, then brownish-purple; the threads simple or scarcely branched, variable in thickness, but always thinner than the spores. =Spores= glovose, distinctly warted, 6–7µ in diameter, often pedicellate. Growing on the ground in fields and open woods. New York, _Peck_; South Carolina, _Atkinson_; Ohio, _Morgan_; Wisconsin, _Trelease_. =Peridium= ¾-1½ in. in diameter, scarcely an inch in height. _Morgan._ New Jersey, _T.J. Collins_; Pennsylvania. Autumn. _McIlvaine._ A pretty species, generally in groups. Frequent. It is not common, but occasionally generous patches of it are found. Edible, good. =L. vela´tum= Vitt.—_velatus_, having a velum. =Peridium= globose or obovoid, with a cord-like root. Cortex white or yellowish, at first a thickish continuous layer, then breaking up into circular or irregular persistent patches with fimbriate margins. Subgleba occupying about a third part of the peridium; mass of spores and capillitium olivaceous, then purplish-brown; the threads branched, the main stem nearly as thick as the spores, the branches long and tapering. =Spores= globose, distinctly warted, 5–6µ in diameter. Growing on the ground in woods. South Carolina, _Ravenel_. =Peridium= 1–2 in. in diameter. _Morgan._ New Jersey, _T.J. Collins_; Chester county, Pa., sometimes clustered, _McIlvaine_. Good. II.—OLIVE-SPORED SERIES. _A._ PERIDIUM TOP-SHAPED, THE SUBGLEBA WELL DEVELOPED. (_f_) _Cortex of long spines, etc._ =L. gemma´tum= Batsch.—gemmed. =Peridium= turbinate, depressed above, the base short and obconic or more elongated and tapering or subcylindric, arising from a fibrous mycelium. Cortex consisting of long, thick, erect spines or warts of irregular shape, with intervening smaller ones, whitish or gray in color, sometimes with a tinge of red or brown; the larger spines first fall away, leaving pale spots on the surface, and giving it a reticulate appearance. Subgleba variable in amount, usually more than half the peridium; mass of spores and capillitium greenish-yellow, then pale-brown; threads simple or scarcely branched, about as thick as the spores. =Spores= globose, even or very minutely warted, 3.5–4.5µ in diameter. =Peridium= 1–2 in. in diameter and 1–3 in. in height. This species is distinguished from all others by the peculiar large erect terete spines or warts, the so-called gems which stud its upper surface. _Morgan._ Growing on the ground and sometimes on rotten trunks in woods, often cespitose. _Frost._ New York, _Peck_. Found in every part of the world. New York, _Peck_, Rep. 22; Indiana, _H.I. Miller_; West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania. On the ground and on logs. _McIlvaine._ Edible, but not pleasant. _Peck._ Edible, _H.I. Miller_. Professor Peck gives two varieties: Var. _hir´tum_. Turbinate, subsessile, hairy with soft, slender warts which generally become blackish. Var. _papilla´tum_. Subrotund, sessile, papillose, furfuraceous-pulverulent. Very common and known in all countries. It is, to my thinking, our prettiest puff-ball. Its beautifully studded surface, reminding of exquisite settings, is in itself worth studying for the designs. It is usually solitary or in small groups, but at times these groups contain scores of individuals. It grows in the open on the ground or from both ground and wood, in woods. I think it equal to any other puff-ball. But great care must be taken to examine each specimen before putting it into the pan. A single one, which has turned yellow in the slightest degree, will spoil a whole dish. And this is the case with any of the small puff-balls. One ageing L. pyriforme will embitter a hundred. =L. perla´tum= Pers.—_perfero_, to endure. (Enduring through winter.) =Peridium= turbinate, broad and depressed above, plicate underneath and contracted into a short and pointed or sometimes elongated and tapering base; mycelium fibrous. Cortex of long slender spines, mingled with smaller spinules and warts, gray brown or blackish in color; the longer spines first fall away, leaving a reticulate surface to the inner peridium. Subgleba occupying one-third to one-half of the peridium; mass of spores and capillitium greenish-yellow, then brownish-olivaceous; the threads mostly simple, some of them thicker than the spores. =Spores= globose, even or very minutely warted, 3.5–4.5µ in diameter. Growing on the ground in woods. =Peridium= 1–2 in. in diameter and 1–2 in. in height. This is _L. gemmatum_, var. _hirtum_, of Peck’s United States species of Lycoperdon. _Morgan._ New York, _Peck_, 46th Rep.; Maryland, _James_; West Virginia, New Jersey. Occasional. On ground and decaying wood. _McIlvaine._ Edible. Same habit and quality as L. gemmatum. (_g_) _Cortex of stout spines which fall away, etc._ =L. excipulifor´me= Scop.—_excipula_, a receptacle. =Peridium= turbinate, depressed above, plicate below and contracted into a more or less elongated base. Cortex of large stout spines, convergent above, becoming smaller downward, which at length fall away, leaving a tomentose surface to the inner peridium. Subgleba occupying one-half or more of the peridium; mass of spores and capillitium greenish-yellow, then brownish-olivaceous; the threads about as thick as the spores, scarcely branched. =Spores= globose, minutely warted, 4–5µ in diameter. =Peridium= 1–2 in. in diameter and 1–4 in. in height. _Morgan._ Growing on the ground in meadows and woods. Pennsylvania, North Carolina, _Schweinitz_; Canada, _Saccardo_. (_h_) _Cortex of long spines, etc., which fall away, etc._ (Plate CLXIX.) [Illustration: LYCOPERDON PEDICELLATUM With magnified spores. (After Morgan.) ] =L. pedicella´tum= Pk.—_pediculus_, a little foot. =Peridium= ¾-1½ in. in diameter, globose or depressed-globose, sessile or narrowed below into a stem-like base, whitish or cinereous, becoming dingy or smoky-brown with age, echinate with rather dense spines which are either straight, curved or stellately united and which at length fall off and leave impressions or obscure reticulations on the surface; capillitium and spores greenish-yellow, then dingy-olive, columella present. =Spores= smooth, pedicellate, 4–4.5µ in diameter, the pedicel three to five times as long. Ground and decaying wood in woods and bushy places. Croghan, Center, Brewerton and Catskill mountains. Autumn. Oneida. _Warne._ The pedicellate spores constitute the peculiar feature of this species. It is one which suggests the name and which enables the species to be easily distinguished from all its allies. The spore is terminally and persistently attached to the pedicel, as in some species of Bovista. The plant is sometimes sessile, but usually it is narrowed below into a stem-like base. In the immature state it has a rough, shaggy appearance, but the spines shrivel with age so that it appears less rough when old. The pitted surface of the denuded peridium affords a mark of distinction from L. echinatum. L. pulcherrimum B. and C. is evidently the same species, but the name here adopted has priority of publication. _Peck_, 32d Rep. N.Y. State Bot. Growing on the ground and on rotten wood in woods. New York, _Peck_; Alabama, _Atkinson_; Ohio, _Morgan_; Wisconsin, _Trelease_. (Plate CLXX.) [Illustration: LYCOPERDON EXIMIUM. With magnified spores. (After Morgan.) ] =L. exi´mium= Morgan—_eximius_, excellent. =Peridium= obovoid, with a fibrous mycelium. Cortex white or brownish, composed of long slender spines, often curved and convergent at the apex, which at length fall away from above downward, leaving a pale smooth surface to the inner peridium. Subgleba small, occupying scarcely more than a fourth part of the peridium; mass of spores and capillitium greenish-yellow, then brownish-olivaceous; the threads mostly thinner than the spores, much branched. =Spores= oval, even, 5–6×4–4.5µ, usually furnished with a short pedicel. =Peridium= ¾-1½ in. in diameter and about 1 in. in height. This species is readily distinguished by its large oval spores. _Morgan._ Growing on the ground in sandy soil. South Carolina, _Prof. Geo. F. Atkinson_; Alabama _U. and E._ (Plate CLXX_a_.) [Illustration: LYCOPERDON CURTISII. (After Morgan.) ] =L. Cur´tisii= Berk.—in honor of Rev. M.A. Curtis. =Peridium= globose, with a very short rooting base and a slender fibrous mycelium. Cortex consisting of a pale yellowish farinaceous layer, covered by a coat of soft, fragile white spines, curved and convergent at the apex; after maturity it soon disappears, leaving a pale smooth surface to the inner peridium. Subgleba small, but distinct, convex above and definitely limited; mass of spores and capillitium greenish-yellow, then pale olivaceous; the threads long, simple, hyaline, two to three times as thick as the spores. =Spores= globose, even, 3.5–4µ in diameter. =Peridium= ⅜-¾ of an inch in diameter. This is _L. Wrightii_, var. _typicum_, of Peck’s U.S. species of Lycoperdon. The peculiar characteristic of the species is the hyaline threads of the capillitium; although they are of large diameter, yet the walls are very thin and the threads collapse in drying. _Morgan._ General. Growing gregariously and sometimes cespitosely on the ground, in meadows, pastures and even in cultivated fields. This being L. Wrightii, var. typicum Pk., and being edible, it is hardly necessary to repeat the old axiom: Things which are equal to the same thing are equal to one another. (_i_) _Cortex of minute spinules, granules, etc._ =L. molle= Pers.—_mollis_, soft. (_L. muscorum_ Morg.) =Peridium= 6–16 lines broad, globose or depressed-globose, narrowed below into a stem-like base, furfuraceous with nearly uniform persistent minute weak spinules or granular warts, sometimes with a few larger papilliform ones toward the apex, whitish, sometimes tinged with yellow, when mature brownish or olive-brown, nearly smooth, subshining; capillitium and spores dingy-olive; columella present. =Spores= minutely rough, 4–4.5µ in diameter. Among mosses, especially Polytrichum, in old meadows and pastures. Albany, Summit and South Corinth. Autumn. _Peck_, 32d Rep. N.Y. State Bot. West Virginia, Pennsylvania. On ground in woods and grassy places in the open. _McIlvaine._ L. molle is of frequent occurrence but not abundant. Though exceedingly soft, it holds its body in cooking and is well flavored. (Plate CLXX_b_.) [Illustration: LYCOPERDON TURNERI With magnified spores. (After Morgan.) ] =L. Tur´neri= E. and E. =Peridium= obovoid, somewhat depressed above, plicate underneath, with a mycelium of rooting fibers. Cortex white, often gray or brownish above, consisting of minute spinules with intermingled granules; these after maturity dry up and are quite persistent, forming a minutely scabrous coat on the olive-brown shining surface of the inner peridium. Subgleba broad and shallow, scarcely occupying more than a fourth part of the peridium; mass of spores and capillitium greenish-yellow, then brownish-olivaceous; the threads with the main stem about as thick as the spores, and long tapering branches. =Spores= globose, minutely warted, 4–5µ in diameter, mostly with a short pedicel. =Peridium= 1–2 in. in diameter and 1–2 in. in height. A very pretty puff-ball with a silky shining coat. _Morgan._ New York, _Peck_, 49th Rep.; West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey. Ground in woods. August to October. _McIlvaine._ Not frequent though general. It is good but must be young. [Illustration: Photographed by Dr. J.R. Weist. PLATE CLXXI. LYCOPERDON PYRIFORME. ] =L. calyptrifor´me= Berk.—hood-shaped. =Peridium= about 6 lines high, 3–4 in. broad, ovate or subconical, sessile, whitish, furfuraceous with minute warts or spinules; capillitium and spores olivaceous or yellowish-olivaceous. =Spores= smooth, 4µ in diameter. Moss-covered rocks. Very rare. Adirondack mountains. August. I have met with this very small and rare species but once, and then but two specimens were found. In these the apex was compressed or laterally flattened, instead of papilliform, as required by the original description of the species; but in all other respects they agree well with the specific characters. The plant is very distinct from all our other species by its small size and ovate or conical shape. _Peck_, 32d Rep. N.Y. State Bot. (_k_) _Cortex of minute spinules, scales or granules. Lignatile._ =L. pyrifor´me= Schaeff.—pear-shape. (Plate CLXXI, p. 602.) Plant 6–15 lines broad, 10–20 lines high, generally cespitose, obovate, pyriform or turbinate, sessile or with a short stem-like base, radicating with white branching and creeping root-like fibers, subumbonate, covered with very minute subpersistent, nearly uniform warts or scales, often with a few slender scattered deciduous spinules intermingled, pallid dingy-whitish or brownish; capillitium and spores greenish-yellow, then dingy-olivaceous, columella present. =Spores= smooth, 4µ in diameter. Edible, but not well-flavored. _Decaying wood and ground_ both in woods and cleared fields. Very common. July to October. _Peck_, 32d Rep. N.Y. State Bot. Common the world over. Growing on logs, stumps, ground containing decaying woody matter. So dense in its clusters at times as to present an impervious surface. It is slightly acrid to taste and smell when raw. Edible. Tender and of second-class flavor when young; white inside; intensely bitter when slightest tinge of yellow is visible. One too old will embitter a whole dish. A little lemon juice or sherry improves it. (Plate CLXXII.) [Illustration: LYCOPERDON SUBINCARNATUM With spines and pits magnified. (After Morgan.) ] =L. subincarna´tum= Pk.—pale flesh-color. =Peridium= 6–12 lines broad, globose, rarely either depressed or obovate, gregarious or cespitose, sessile, with but little cellular tissue at the base, covered with minute nearly uniform pyramidal or subspinulose at length deciduous warts, pinkish-brown, the denuded peridium whitish or cinereous, minutely reticulate-pitted; capillitium and spores greenish-yellow, then dingy-olivaceous, columella present. =Spores= minutely roughened, 4–5µ in diameter. Prostrate trunks, old stumps, etc., in woods. Common. August to October. _Peck_, 32d Rep. N.Y. State Bot. New York, _Peck_, Rep. 24th, 32d; Pennsylvania, _Gentry_; Ohio, _Morgan_; Wisconsin, _Brown_. _B_. PERIDIUM VERY SMALL, GLOBOSE, ETC. (_l_) _Cortex a thin coat of minute spinules, etc._ (Plate CLXVIII.) [Illustration: LYCOPERDON SEPARANS With magnified spores. (After Morgan.) ] =L. Wright´ii= B. and C.—in honor of Charles Wright. =Peridium= globose, depressed-globose or lentiform, 6–24 lines in diameter, generally sessile, white or whitish, echinate with deciduous sometimes crowded stellate spines or pyramidal warts, when denuded smooth or minutely velvety; capillitium and spores dingy-olive, columella present. =Spores= smooth, 4µ in diameter. Edible. Ground in pastures and grassy places. Very common. July to October. This is another very variable species. The typical form is a small one, minutely echinate and having the denuded peridium smooth. The plant often occurs much larger and more coarsely echinate with stout angular spines or pyramidal warts, which fall off and generally leave the surface of the peridium velvety. Var. _typ´icum_. Small, 6–9 lines broad, globose, minutely echinate, the warts quickly falling off and leaving the peridium smooth. (L. Wrightii B. and C.) Var. _sep´arans_. Larger, 10–24 lines broad, subglobose or lentiform, echinate with coarse substellate spines or pyramidal warts, which at length fall off and leave the peridium smooth or velvety. (L. separans Pk.) Var. _atropunc´tum_. Larger, 10–15 lines broad, subglobose, pure white, warts or coarse spines brown or blackish at the tips. This species is generally gregarious, but sometimes it forms tufts of several individuals closely crowded together. It sometimes occurs in cultivated grounds and stubble fields. The under surface is occasionally plicate as in the long-stemmed puff-ball. In the var. separans the warts or spines are crowded at their thickened bases and slightly attached to each other, so that they come off at maturity in flakes or patches. When the denuded surface of the peridium is velvety, it is usually of a darker color than when smooth, being subcinnamon, reddish-brown or dark-brown. _Peck_, 32d Rep. N.Y. State Bot. Ground in grassy places. July to frost. _McIlvaine._ I have found var. separans in December, under snow. Edible. _Peck_, Rep. 32. The edible qualities of L. Wrightii and varieties are good. =L. calves´cens= B. and C.—_calvesco_, to become bald. Subglobose, at first rough with warts which soon disappear, leaving the surface slightly velvety, 1¼ in. broad, bearing short rootlets at the base. =Spores= globose, smooth, having at first only a slight stalk (pedicel), dingy-ochraceous, 3–4µ. Nearly related to L. Wrightii. Connecticut, _Wright_, New York, ground in open woods. Bethlehem, _Peck_, 22d Rep. N.Y. State Bot. (Plate CLXXIII.) [Illustration: LYCOPERDON PUSILLUM. (After Morgan.) ] =L. pusil´lum= (Batsch.) Fr.—small. =Peridium= ¼-1 in. broad, globose, scattered or cespitose, sessile, radicating, with but little cellular tissue at the base, white or whitish, brownish when old, rimose-squamulose or slightly roughened with minute floccose or furfuraceous persistent warts; capillitium and spores greenish-yellow, then dingy-olivaceous. =Spores= smooth, 4µ in diameter. Ground in grassy places and pastures. Common. June to October. _Peck_, 32d Rep. N.Y. State Bot. West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, North Carolina. Common. Spring to autumn on ground in grassy places. _McIlvaine._ Grows where almost nothing else will, and where I have despaired of finding a meal of fungi, I could always find the ubiquitous L. pusillum. =L. oblongi´sporum= B. and C.—oblong-spored. =Peridium= subglobose, with a slender mycelial cord. Cortex a thin, whitish, furfuraceous coat, drying up into minute persistent granules on the pale-brown surface of the inner peridium. Subgleba nearly obsolete; mass of spores and capillitium olivaceous, then brown; threads much branched, the main stem about as thick as the spores, the branches tapering. =Spores= elliptic, even, 5–6×3–4µ, sometimes with a minute pedicel. Growing on the ground in dense woods. Wisconsin, _Trelease_. =Peridium= ⅜-1 in. in diameter. This pretty species, previously known only from Cuba, is indistinguishable from L. pusillum when immature, the spores affording the only really characteristic feature. _Morgan._ (Plate CLXXIV.) [Illustration: LYCOPERDON CEPÆSFORME. (After Morgan.) ] =L. cepæsfor´me= Bull.—onion-shaped. =Peridium= globose or depressed-globose, plicate underneath, with a cordlike root. Cortex at first a thin, white, minutely furfuraceous coat, this soon becomes rimulose and at length breaks up into small scales and patches, which finally disappear from the pale or pale-brown surface of the inner peridium. Subgleba nearly obsolete; mass of spores and capillitium greenish-yellow, then pale-olivaceous; the threads very much branched, the main stem thicker than the spores, the branches long and tapering. =Spores= globose, even, 3.5–4µ in diameter, often with a minute pedicel. =Peridium= ½-1 in. in diameter. Growing on the ground in meadows and pastures. New York, _Peck_, 51st Rep. Good. (Plate CLXXV.) [Illustration: LYCOPERDON COLORATUM. (After Morgan.) ] =L. colora´tum= Pk.—colored. =Peridium= 5–10 lines broad, globose or obovate, subsessile, radicating, yellow or reddish-yellow, brownish when old, slightly roughened with minute granular or furfuraceous persistent warts; capillitium and spores at first pale, inclining to sulphur-color, then dingy-olive. =Spores= subglobose, smooth, about 4µ in diameter. Ground in thin woods and bushy places. Sandlake and Catskill mountains. July and August. _Peck_, 32d Rep. N.Y. State Bot. New York, _Peck_, 29th Rep.; New England, _Morgan_; Ohio, _Morgan_; Wisconsin, _Trelease_. (Plate CLXXVI.) [Illustration: LYCOPERDON ACUMINATUM With spores. (From Morgan.) ] =L. acumina´tum= Bosc.—pointed. =Peridium= globose, then ovoid, with a mycelium of fine white fibers. Cortex a white soft delicate continuous coat, drying up into a thin furfuraceous persistent layer on the surface of the inner peridium. Subgleba obsolete; mass of spores and capillitium pale-olivaceous then dirty-gray; threads simple, hyaline, two to three times as thick as the spores. =Spores= globose, even, 3µ in diameter. Plate II, fig. 8. =Peridium= ¼-½ of an inch in height. Growing on the mosses of old logs and about the base of living trees. New York, _Peck_; North Carolina, _Curtis_; South Carolina, _Ravenel_, _Atkinson_; Ohio, _Morgan_; Costa Rica, _Oersted_. [Illustration] GENUS X.—=BOVISTEL´LA= Morg. (Plate CLXXVI_a_.) [Illustration: SECTION BOVISTELLA OHIENSIS. ] Showing cellulose and definitely limited subgleba and the free threads of the capillitium. (From Morgan.) Mycelium cord-like, rooting from the base. Peridium subglobose, with a well-developed base; cortex a dense floccose subpersistent coat; inner peridium thin, membranaceous, dehiscent by a regular apical mouth. Subgleba cellulose, cup-shaped above and definitely limited, persistent; capillitium originating within the tissue of the gleba; the threads free, short, several times dichotomously (two-forked) branched, the main stem thicker than the diameter of the spores, the branches tapering. =Spores= small, globose or oval, even, pedicellate. A puff-ball of moderate size, growing in fields and open woods. _Morgan._ =B. Ohien´sis= Ellis and Morg. =Peridium= globose or broadly obovoid, sometimes much depressed, plicate underneath, with a thick cord-like root. Cortex a dense floccose coat, sometimes segregated into soft warts or spines, white or grayish in color; this dries up into a thick buff-colored or dirty ochraceous layer, which gradually falls away, leaving a smooth, shining, pale-brown or yellowish surface to the inner peridium. Subgleba broad, ample, occupying one-half the peridium, a long time persistent; mass of spores and capillitium lax, friable, clay-color to pale-brown; the threads .6-.8 mm. in extent, three to five times branched, the main stem 6–8µ in thickness, the branches tapering. =Spores= globose or oval, even, 4–5µ in length by 3.5–4µ in breadth, with long hyaline persistent pedicels. (Plate CLXXVII.) [Illustration: BOVISTELLA OHIENSIS. Natural size. ] Growing on the ground in old pastures, in fields and open woods. _Morgan._ This species of puff-ball is made the type of the new genus Bovistella by Mr. Morgan. GENUS XI.—=CATAS´TOMA= Morg. Puff-balls growing just beneath the surface of the ground and connected immediately with it by filamentous threads, which issue from every part of the cortex; after maturity, when the peridium breaks away, the lower part of the outer coat is held fast by the soil, while the upper portion which has attained the surface remains, covering the inner peridium like a cap or inverted cup; consequently the apparent apex at which the mouth is situated is the actual base of the plant as it grows. The capillitium threads are similar to the densely interwoven hyphæ, which form the inner peridium and are evidently branches of them radiating from the interior. It is plain that the affinities of these plants are closest with Tylostoma and Astræus, but the needs of a systematic arrangement, according to more obvious characters, causes us to place them next to Bovista. _Morgan._ (Plate CLXXVIII.) [Illustration: CATASTOMA CIRCUMSCISSUM.] Showing method of growth, breaking away and turning over. Section of same showing origin of the threads of the capillitium. (After Morgan.) =C. circumscis´sum= B. and C. (Plate CLXXVIII.) =Peridium= subglobose, more or less depressed and often quite irregular; cortex thickish, fragile, usually rough and uneven from the adhering soil, after maturity torn away, leaving the lower two-thirds or more in the ground; inner peridium depressed-globose, subcoriaceous, rather thin, pallid, becoming gray, minutely furfuraceous, with a small regular basal mouth. Mass of spores and capillitium soft, compact, then friable, olivaceous, changing to pale brown; the pieces of the threads short, unequal in length, flexuous, hyaline, 3–4µ in thickness. =Spores= globose, minutely warted, 4–5µ in diameter, often with a minute pedicel. Growing in heavy clay soil in old lanes and pastures, especially along the hard-trodden paths. Maine, _Blake_; Ohio, _Morgan_; Kansas, _Kellerman_; Nebraska, _Webber_. Inner peridium ½-¾ in. in diameter. This is Bovista circumscissa B. and C., of Berkeley’s Notices of North America Fungi. It grows in great abundance with us some seasons, right in the hard-trodden barn-yard, and along the lane to the cattle pasture. Arachnion album Schw. usually keeps it company. _Morgan._ I have not seen this acrobatic species. Study of its unique habit suggests the query: Is not the turning over of its spore-filled portion a substitute for an original but lost power of growing right side up? GENUS XII.—=BOVIS´TA= Dill. (Plate CLXXIX.) [Illustration: BOVISTA MINOR AND SECTION. (From Morgan.) ] Mycelium fibrous or sometimes filamentous. Peridium subglobose, without a thickened base; cortex a thin fragile continuous layer, shelling off or disappearing at maturity, except sometimes a small portion about the base; inner peridium thin, membranaceous, becoming papyraceous, dehiscent by an apical mouth or opening irregularly. Capillitium originating within the tissue of the gleba; the threads free, short, several times dichotomously branched, the main stem much thicker than the diameter of the spores, the branches tapering. =Spores= small, globose, or oval, even, brown. _Morgan._ Small puff-balls growing upon the ground in fields and woods. One grows underground. =B. pi´la= B. and C.—a ball. =Peridium= globose or obovoid, with a stout, cord-like root. Cortex a thin, white, smooth, continuous coat, breaking up at maturity into minute scales, which soon disappear; inner peridium thickish, tough, rigid, becoming brown or purplish-brown, smooth and shining, a long time persistent, and finally with age often fading to silvery-gray; dehiscence taking place at length by an irregular, torn aperture at or about the apex. Mass of spores and capillitium very firm, compact and persistent, at first clay-colored, pale brown or olivaceous, at length dark or purplish-brown; the threads rather small, .6-.8 mm. in extent, three to five times branched, 12–15µ thick, the ultimate branches rigid, nearly straight, tapering to a fine point. =Spores= globose, even, 4–5µ in diameter, sessile or with only a minute pedicel. Growing on the ground in woods. =Peridium= 1½-2½ in. in diameter. This Bovista is remarkably tough, it maintains its shape firmly and persists a long time; it breaks away from its root and rolls about over the old leaves before the wind, even till the following season. _Morgan_. West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, in fields and woods on ground. June to October. _McIlvaine_. Edible. _Trelease_. When young and fresh it is excellent. =B. Monta´na= Morg. Peridium subglobose with a cord-like root. Cortex a thin white continuous layer, breaking up at maturity into a mealy or furfuraceous coat, which soon falls away; inner peridium thin, flaccid, becoming brown, smooth and shining, dehiscent by an irregular torn aperture about the apex. Mass of spores and capillitium soft, lax, at first ochraceous or pale-brown, finally purplish-brown; the threads curled and flexuous, very large, with an expanse of 1.25–1.75 mm., four to seven times branched, the main stem 15–20µ in thickness, the ultimate branches long and tapering. =Spores= globose, even, 4.5–5.5µ in diameter, often with a minute pedicel. Growing on the ground. Rocky mountains. _Jones._ Peridium 1½-2 in. in diameter. This differs from B. pila in being soft, flaccid, and soon collapsing; it, no doubt, is not so persistent. Microscopically it is readily distinguished by its much larger threads. _Morgan._ =B. nigres´cens= (Vitt.) Pers.—blackish. Peridium subglobose, with a fibrous mycelium. Cortex a thin, smooth, white continuous layer, at maturity breaking up into scales, which soon disappear; inner peridium thin, flaccid, becoming dark-brown, smooth and shining, dehiscent at the apex by a lacerate mouth. Mass of spores and capillitium soft, lax, at first ochraceous or olivaceous, at length purplish-brown; the threads flexuous, about 1 mm. in extent, three to five times branched, the main stem 12–18µ thick, the ultimate branches tapering. =Spores= globose or oval, even, 5–6µ in diameter, with long hyaline pedicels. Growing in old pastures, in fields and woods. Canada, _Saccardo_; Pennsylvania, _Schweinitz_; North Carolina, _Curtis_; Ohio, _Lea_; California, _Harkness_. Peridium 1–2 in. in diameter. I have never succeeded in obtaining an American specimen of this species; my description is drawn up from European specimens. _Morgan._ Pennsylvania, _McIlvaine_. B. nigrescens is a first-class puff-ball. =B. plum´bea= Pers.—lead-colored. Peridium ¾-1¼ in. in diameter, depressed-globose, with a fibrous mycelium. Cortex a thin, smooth, white continuous coat, loosening at maturity and shelling off, except sometimes a small portion about the base; inner peridium thin, tough, smooth, lead-colored, dehiscent at the apex by a round or oblong aperture. Mass of spores and capillitium soft, lax, ochraceous or olivaceous, then purplish-brown, the threads .8–1.0 mm. in extent, three to five times branched, the main stem 12–16µ thick, the ultimate branches long, straight and tapering to a fine point. =Spores= oval, even, 6–7×5–6µ, with long hyaline pedicels. Growing on the ground in meadows and pastures. _Morgan._ Indiana, in abandoned brick-yard, _H.I. Miller_; West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania. Common on ground in open places. Solitary or in groups. Spring to autumn; after rains, _McIlvaine_. Edible. _Trelease_, _Badham_. The botanic difference between a Lycoperdon and a Bovista does not affect the Mycophagist. He can not distinguish the difference when cooked. B. plumbea is given in Cooke and in Massee as Lycoperdon plumbeum. Bovista plumbea is a first-class edible. =B. mi´nor= Morg. (Plate CLXXIX, p. 610.) =Peridium= subglobose, deeply sunk in the soil and connected with it by a filamentous mycelium, which issues from every part of the surface. Cortex thickish, rough and irregular from the adherent soil, fragile, falling away at maturity, except sometimes a small portion about the base; inner peridium thin, smooth, flaccid, reddish-brown, dehiscent by a regular apical mouth. Mass of spores and capillitium olivaceous, then reddish-brown; the threads curled and flexuous, with an expanse of 1.0–1.5 mm., two to four times branched, the main stem 10–15µ thick, the ultimate branches very long and tapering to a fine point. =Spores= globose or slightly oval, even, 3.5–4.5µ in diameter, with long hyaline pedicels. Growing in damp shaded situations. Ohio, _Morgan_; Nebraska, _Webber_. Peridium ½-¾ of an inch in diameter. A species well marked by its peculiar habit. The curled and flexuous threads are interesting microscopic objects. _Morgan._ GENUS XIII.—=MYCENAS´TRUM= Desv. (Plate CLXXXII.) [Illustration: MYCENASTRUM SPINULOSUM PK. (After Morgan.) ] Mycelium funicular, rooting from the base. =Peridium= subglobose, without a thickened base; cortex a smooth continuous layer, at first closely adnate to the inner peridium, after maturity gradually breaking up and falling away; inner peridium thick, tough, coriaceous, becoming hard, rigid and corky, the upper part finally breaking up into irregular lobes or fragments. Capillitium originating within the tissue of the gleba; the threads free, short, thick, with a few short branches, acutely pointed and with scattered prickles. =Spores= large, globose, sessile, brown. Puff-balls of considerable size, growing in the sandy soil of dry regions. A very distinct genus, in no way related to Scleroderma, and resembling it only in its thick, corky, inner peridium. The threads of the capillitium originate within the tissue of the gleba, along with the spores, and are set free by deliquescence, the same as in Bovista. _Morgan._ =M. spinulo´sum= Pk. =Peridium= globose, depressed globose, sometimes elongated and often irregular, with a thick, cord-like root. Cortex at first a thickish, white, smooth, continuous layer; after maturity it cracks or becomes furrowed into large polygonal areas, and at length falls away in large flakes or scales; inner peridium very thick, at first white and coriaceous, becoming hard, dry, brown and rigid, the upper part finally breaking up into irregular lobes or fragments. Mass of spores and capillitium compact then friable, at first olivaceous, then dark purplish-brown; the threads bent, curved and flexuous, subhyaline, .2-.7 mm. in length, about the same thickness as the spores, with a few short branches, and with scattered prickles, which are most abundant toward the acute extremities. =Spores= globose, very minutely warted, opaque, 9–12µ in. diameter, often with a minute or slender hyaline pedicel. Growing on the sandy soil of the western prairies. Wisconsin, _Brown_; Dakota, _Ellis_; Nebraska, _Webber_; Colorado, _Trelease_; Kansas, _Kellerman_, _Cragin_; New Mexico, _Irish_. =Peridium= 2–4 in. in diameter. The plants are said to grow together in groups, sometimes of many individuals; after maturity they are easily loosened from their place of growth and are then rolled about by the wind. _Morgan._ No report upon edibility. Probably good. FAMILY III.—=SCLERODERMA´CEÆ=. =Peridium= discrete from the gleba, often with a columella; cells of the gleba subpersistent. _Morgan._ GENUS I.—=SCLERODER´MA= Pers. _Scleros_, hard; _derma_, skin. Skin firm with an innate bark, bursting irregularly; woolly threads adhering on all sides to the bark and forming distinct veins in the central mass. Base sterile, usually becoming elongated into a stem-like structure. =Spores= large, granulated. Scleroderma vulgare and verrucosum are general and very common over the United States. S. bovista and S. geaster have the same range but are not so common. They much resemble puff-balls, but are more pudgy, solid-looking. All are edible. Their qualities are noted under their descriptions. (Plate CLXXX.) [Illustration: SCLERODERMA VULGARE.] A-B. Firm when young and remain nearly so when mature. =S. vulga´re= Fr.—_vulgaris_, common. (Plate CLXXX.) Subsessile, irregular; bark corky, hard, opening indefinitely; inner mass in which the spores are collected into little heaps separated by a few grayish woolly threads, bluish-black. =Spores= dingy; in the mass blackish with purple tinge, globose, warted, 9–11µ _Massee_. The larger form is generally of a yellowish or brownish hue, surface warty or covered with rough scales; the smaller, stemless minutely warty, bright brown. Under trees, etc. Often cespitose, 1–3 in. across. =Peridium= variable, white or pale-brown, often becoming pink when cut. Dehiscing by decay of upper portion of peridium. _Massee._ Scleroderma vulgare is one of our most common and plentiful toadstools. Its hard, rough, warty, light brown knobs, single or clustered, growing along brook-banks or under trees, generally choosing hard ground, are known to all who observe Nature’s curiosities. When quite young they are white inside. As they enlarge the center darkens and this purplish color finally develops into a grayish-purplish-black which extends throughout the interior and gives it a granular appearance. The fungus is solid, cutting like a potato. Its smell is strong; also its taste when raw. Sliced and well-cooked the species is good, even after it has become purplish, but if a single one is wilted it will embitter a whole dish. Or if it is not very well stewed or fried it remains strong. In no condition is it injurious. Specimens must be pared, and the base well cut away. =S. bovis´ta= Fr. Subsessile, often irregular, peridium thin, pliant, almost smooth; tramal walls floccose, _yellow_, mass of spores olive-brown, spores globose, warted, 10–13µ. Sandy soil under trees, etc. From 1–2 in. across. Distinguished by the thin, almost smooth peridium, and the yellow tramal walls. _Massee._ West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania. On ground under trees. June to November. _McIlvaine._ Not rough like S. vulgare and S. verrucosum, nor as solid. Same habit, same edible qualities when young. It is not good after it begins to change color. =S. verruco´sum= Pers.—_verrucosus_, covered with warts (_verruc[oe]_). Peridium thin above, ochraceous or dingy brown, covered with minute warts, subglobose, continued downward as a more or less elongated stem-like base. =Spores= umber in the mass; trama whitish. =Spores= globose, warted, 10–13µ. On the ground, under trees, etc. Peridium 1–3 in. across. =Stem= ½-2 in. long, thick, flatly pitted, sometimes almost sessile, when it approaches S. vulgare, but is distinguished by the thin peridium and absence of purple tinge in the immature spore mass. _Massee._ West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania. June to October. On ground under trees. Same habit as S. vulgare. _McIlvaine._ S. verrucosum closely resembles S. vulgare. The distinctions are noted in the description. It must be young, fresh and white inside, or it is bitter. It is not of as good quality as S. vulgare. =S. geas´ter= Fr.—resembling genus Geaster in its manner of opening. Subglobose, sessile, peridium thick, rigid, almost smooth, splitting in an irregularly stellate manner at the apex. =Spores= warted, 12–16µ. Sandy places. Known by the peridium dehiscing in a stellate manner; from 1–2 in. across. _Massee._ New Jersey, August. In sandy woods. _McIlvaine._ I have found but few specimens. Those were edible and good. GENUS II.—=POLYSAC´CUM= De C. _Polus_, many; _saccus_, a sack. (Plate CLXXXI.) [Illustration: POLYSACCUM PISOCARPIUM. Natural size. ] Peridium irregularly globose, thick, attenuated downward into a stem-like base, opening by disintegration of its upper portion; internal mass (gleba) divided into distinct sack-like cells. Allied to Scleroderma and distinguished by the cavities of the gleba containing distinct peridiola. _Massee._ =P. pisocar´pium= Fr. _Gr_—a pea; _Gr_—fruited. =Peridium= irregularly globose, indistinctly nodulose, passing downward into a stout stem-like base; peridiola irregularly angular, 4–5×2–3µ, yellow. =Spores= globose, warted, coffee-color, 9–13µ _Massee_. P. pisocarpium was quite common at Mt. Gretna, Pa., from August to October, 1898, in open pine and mixed woods, growing from sandy ground. The height reached 5 in. and diameter 2 in. The shapes were usually those of inverted pears, more or less flattened along their lengths. Skin hard, polished, olivaceous-black with dull yellow mottlings, not unlike rattlesnake skin. When broken the peridiola (small ovate cylinders which bear the spores within) are very distinct, often over ⅛ in. long. The entire interior is dark when mature, and the rupture of the plant is irregular and by disintegration of the upper part. They often dry without rupturing. Search as I would, I could not find a young one, or one in edible condition. The plant is here given because interesting and one the student will wish to identify. It is so odd that it is not surprising to find it employed as a medicine in China. [Illustration] TOADSTOOL POISONING AND ITS TREATMENT BY W.S. CARTER, M.D. Professor of Physiology and Hygiene, University of Texas, Galveston, Texas. The poisonous mushrooms, or so-called toadstools, may be grouped in two classes: (1) Those containing minor or irritant poisons, which act locally on the gastro-intestinal tract, such as the Clitocybe illudens, Lepiota Morgani and others, and (2) those containing major poisons which act on the nerve centers after absorption, causing symptoms to appear a long time after the poison has been taken and very often terminating fatally. This group includes the Amanita muscaria, the Amanita bulbosa or Am. verna and the Amanita phalloides. From the prompt way in which vomiting and purging begin after eating the toadstools of the first group there seems to be no doubt of the local irritant action on the alimentary canal. Grave symptoms from any constitutional effect or any serious disturbances of the circulation do not occur. Although intensely disagreeable, such poisoning terminates in recovery and may not be regarded as dangerous unless the poison be taken in enormous quantity or by one in poor health. In poisoning by the deadly toxic Amanitæ vomiting and purging may also occur as prominent symptoms, but generally only occur late—ten to fifteen hours after eating the toadstool—and are due to the action of the poison on the nerve centers. This is clear from the fact that these symptoms appear when the poison is given either hypodermatically or intravenously to animals. It is exceedingly unfortunate that these deadly poisonous toadstools do not give some warning either in an unpleasant taste or contain an irritant which would act locally to cause emesis and purgation, for in that case the patient would get rid of the poison before such large quantities were absorbed and fatal poisoning would be less frequent. They are not at all unpalatable and sometimes large quantities are eaten by mistake. Formerly frequent allusion was made to the possibility of poisoning by decomposition products from putrefactive changes in mushrooms. Not a single case has come to the writer’s notice where this form of poisoning has _actually_ occurred. In many reported cases of poisoning it is distinctly stated they were eaten soon after gathering; in none does the reporter mention any suspicion of poisoning of this nature. At one time very many mushrooms were supposed to be poisonous. We now know that there are only a few dangerous ones, and where serious poisoning occurs it seems clearly to be due to some definite and constant poisons contained in certain fungi. We shall not deal here with the irritant poisons, as they are not dangerous and usually Nature gets rid of them easily, but shall consider the poisons of the Amanita muscaria or “Fly mushroom,” the A. bulbosus vernus Bull. or A. verna, and the A. phalloides or “death cup.” The writer has not had any personal experience with poisoning by these in man, but bases his observations upon over one hundred experiments made upon lower animals.[C] This is a distinct advantage in reaching any conclusion, as the facts are definite without any doubt as to the _kind_ or _quantity_ of the poison taken. In many of the reports of poisoning by mushrooms in man no mention of the species is made. In all these cases many kinds have been mixed together in preparing them for the table and it has never been known how many of the poisonous and how many of the edible ones have been eaten by any one individual partaking of the dish. Of course the fluid in which they are cooked contains some of the poison. This explains why some patients recover after having eaten several mushrooms while others die from a part of one only. (See report of six cases by Dr. G.E. Caglieri, New York Med. Record, August 28, 1897; also Dr. Berry’s cases reported by Prentiss, Philadelphia Med. Journal, September 24, 1898.) Then, too, different poisonous species may be mixed together. The symptoms produced by the different Amanitæ poisons are quite different. Those containing irritant poisons may be taken with those containing deadly poisons. This accounts for the great variety of symptoms presented in cases reported. Footnote C: All of the toadstools used have been very kindly furnished and identified by Capt. Chas. McIlvaine. Unfortunately only fifteen experiments could be made with the fresh fungi while the writer was at the University of Pennsylvania. Since leaving there it has been impossible to get any in a fresh state, and the other experiments have been made either with dried fungi or alcoholic or glycerine extracts of the fresh. POISONING BY AMANITA MUSCARIA. The symptoms of poisoning by this fungus usually appear from eight to twelve hours after it has been eaten, unless it has been taken in enormous quantities, as in the cases reported by Prentiss (Phila. Med. Jour., September 24, 1898), where they came on in half an hour. These begin with cramp-like pains in the extremities, colicky pains in the abdomen, burning thirst, vomiting and purging. The pulse may be very slow and strong at first, but later becomes rapid, small and feeble. The blood pressure is low and, as a result of this disturbance of the circulation, faintness is a common early symptom. Extreme pallor is often noticed. The secretions are increased, and the sweat and the saliva may be secreted in abnormal quantities. The pupils are strongly contracted and dullness of the vision or double vision may be noticed early. The respirations are slow and become shallow and stertorous when the poisoning is severe. The mental state may be clear at first, but becomes dull, deepening into unconsciousness and deep coma if a large quantity has been taken. Convulsions are reported to have occurred in some cases from poisoning by this toadstool in man. The dried Amanita muscaria or extracts of the fresh fail to produce convulsions in the lower animals, even in frogs, which are very susceptible. Either there is a considerable difference in the susceptibility to this poison or there is some poison present in the fresh fungus which is lost by drying. Small amounts of the dried Amanita muscaria are said to be used by inhabitants of northern Asia for the stimulating effect upon the nervous system, producing, like other narcotic poisons, a dreamy state of intoxication, deepening into sleep (Von Boeck in Ziemssen’s Cyclopedia of Medicine, Vol. VII). In animals the most striking effect is upon the circulation. When injected intravenously it causes tremendous inhibition of the heart’s action—a moderate amount causing the heart to beat slowly and powerfully; a large amount causing complete arrest. Even with the partial inhibition there is an enormous fall of pressure. The slowing of the heart soon passes off, and when a moderate amount has been injected, the circulation quickly returns to normal. In one of my experiments on a dog, the heart stopped for 1¾ minutes and then began beating again, the circulation soon recovering. Late in the poisoning the heart beats may be rapid and feeble and the blood pressure low. The lowered blood pressure is largely due to dilatation of the small blood vessels resulting from a loss of control over them by the nerve center which normally keeps the arterioles in a state of partial contraction. The inhibition of the heart is due to the action of the well-known alkaloid _muscarine_ upon nerve ganglia in the heart. The contraction of the pupil and the increased secretory activity of the glands are also due to this substance which was discovered by Schmideberg and Koppe in 1869. It was soon found that although dogs recovered from the _immediate_ or _early effects_ (_i. e._, from the muscarine) of enormous quantities of toadstools, they succumbed from the _late effects of much smaller quantities_. Atropine fails to avert this result from the late effect, whether given before the poison, with it, or after it. The inhibition of the heart passes off long before death occurs. Late death does not appear to be due to muscarine. All these facts put together point to the existence of some other poison or poisons in the Amanita muscaria to which atropine is _not_ an antidote. This peculiar poisoning causing death so late will be discussed again after considering the other poisonous mushrooms as they act similarly. Gastro-intestinal symptoms were not as common in my experiments with Amanita muscaria as with the Amanita phalloides. Vomiting and purging occasionally occurred early, but much more frequently late in the poisoning and often not at all. Convulsions did not occur in any of the animals poisoned by this fungus. Convulsions are recorded in some cases of poisoning in man, but not so constantly as with the A. phalloides and A. verna. Where they occurred either a large amount had been taken (as in Prentiss' case) or there is some doubt about the Amanita muscaria having been the only toadstool eaten (as in Caglieri’s cases). Frogs are very easily thrown into spasms, but no spasms were observed, even in fatal poisoning of them by this toadstool. Regarding cerebral symptoms, little can be said except that unconsciousness and coma may come on early and persist till death. In cases terminating fatally the animal seemed to be conscious, but so depressed that it was unable to stand or even move when called. Concerning differences in the susceptibility of different animals to the poisons of Amanita muscaria, cats seemed to be more susceptible than dogs in the earlier experiments with extracts of the fresh fungus, but more numerous experiments with the dried fungus failed to show any greater difference than can be observed between different animals of the same kind. As to the nature of the poisons very little can be stated from the experiments, as they were undertaken as a preliminary step to chemical studies to be carried on later. The alkaloid muscarine is one of our best known poisons and nothing can be added to what is already known about it. The poisons are extracted by distilled water as well as by a solution of sodium chloride; they are soluble in glycerine and in alcohol and very little difference can be seen in the action of these extracts, unless the alcoholic extract contains more of the muscarine, while the glycerine extract contains more of the other poisons. It is stated that muscarine is not poisonous to flies; that the Amanita muscaria contains a volatile poison which is poisonous to flies (hence the name “Fly mushroom”), and which is lost by drying; that inhabitants of northern Asia use the _dried_ fungus (after the volatile poison has been lost) for producing intoxication (Von Boeck in Ziemssen’s Cyclopedia, Vol. VII, p. 927). My experiments have been entirely with mammals and frogs, and unfortunately those performed with the fresh toadstools were not numerous enough to enable me to draw positive conclusions as to any loss of toxicity by drying. A single experiment with a cat seemed to indicate that boiling of the fungus lessened the toxicity but subsequent experiments indicated that a boiled solution was no less toxic than one not boiled. One thing we can state definitely; that boiling the dried A. muscaria does not destroy its toxicity. This indicates that the poison is not of an albuminous nature, which would be coagulated by heat. Whether or not any volatile poison is lost by boiling a solution of the fresh fungus or by drying at 40° C. can not be stated definitely as the experiments made with the fresh fungus were few in number on account of the extreme difficulty in getting them perfectly fresh. The average of six observations in which it was possible to weigh the toadstools before and after drying at 40° C. showed a loss of 84.4 per cent. of water. In other words, 1 gram of the dried equals 6.4 grams of the fresh. Comparing the lethal doses of the _dried_ with the lethal doses of the _fresh_ extracted by glycerine and alcohol, it does not appear that there is any great loss of the toxicity by drying as is shown by the following: Lethal dose of dried in Experiment 31 was .085 gram. per kilo of body weight; in Experiment 55, .033 gram. per kilo caused _early_ death, while .223 gram. of dried per kilo and .120 gram. per kilo caused death from _late_ effects (Exps. 32 and 57). The lethal doses of the _fresh_ were .91 gram. per kilo (Exp. 29) and 1.055 gram. per kilo (Exp. 36) when a glycerine extract of the fresh growth was used, while 1.222 gram. per kilo (Exp. 16) made from an alcoholic extract failed to kill. It may be well to introduce here the results of an experiment which shows there is no highly poisonous volatile material given off from the A. phalloides. This is rather an important fact to determine, as the opinion is held by some that there is a volatile poison, and most of my experiments were made with the dried fungus. A 1 per cent. solution of fresh A. phalloides was distilled until three-fourths of the fluid had passed over as distillate. The latter was injected into the vein of a dog and found not at all toxic. The opportunity has not been afforded me of repeating this experiment personally, but Dr. J.P. Arnold has kindly repeated it for me, injecting the distillate into rabbits and frogs and failed to find it toxic. Certainly if there is any volatile poison in the A. phalloides it must be either in very minute quantity or very slightly toxic. ANTIDOTAL VALUE OF ATROPINE. In arriving at any conclusion we must bear in mind the variation of different animals in their susceptibility to poisons. Thus, to give the greatest difference observed, .085 gram. dried Amanita muscaria per kilo of body weight killed one dog in an hour, while in another dog .223 grams. of the same preparation per kilo only killed after 24 hours, the cardiac inhibition having disappeared one-half hour after the poison was injected. However, an average of six (6) experiments on cats and dogs with dried A. muscaria in which no antidote was given shows the lethal dose to be .103 gram. per kilo of body weight. The average of four (4) experiments, in which the fungus, dried in the same way, was used but _atropine was given as an antidote_, gives the lethal dose of .335 gram. per kilo and death only occurred _late_ in each case. There can be no doubt, therefore, of the antidotal value of atropine for poisoning by Amanita muscaria. It should be borne in mind, however, that it is not an infallible antidote even when given early, and that it does not prevent death from the _late effects_ in severe cases, although given in large doses. In some experiments atropine was administered at the same time the poison was given and in others before it. The important practical lesson is that too much reliance should not be placed upon atropine. It will be shown later that it has little value as an antidote to A. verna and A. phalloides. Probably these fungi contain less muscarine than A. muscaria. Although there is no drug so antagonistic in its physiological action to the poison of the A. muscaria as atropine, the use of other remedies should not be neglected. The symptoms have to be treated as they arise. Strychnia, alcohol in moderate amounts and suprarenal extract could all be used to advantage in restoring the circulation, especially late in the poisoning. Atropine merely removes the inhibition of the heart which occurs as an early symptom. External heat should be applied if the body temperature is subnormal. The treatment of gastro-intestinal symptoms will depend upon the conditions of each individual case. The injection of a large amount of warm physiological salt solution (.6-.7 per cent. sodium chloride) into the subcutaneous tissues should also be tried in severe cases seen late in the poisoning. POISONING BY AMANITA VERNA OR A. BULBOSUS VERNA BULL. The symptoms appear from six to fifteen hours after the ingestion of the poison and may be largely choleraic in nature, _i. e._, vomiting and purging, the discharges from the bowel being watery with small flakes suspended and sometimes containing blood. The disturbance of the circulation is somewhat similar to that caused by A. muscaria, viz., slow, strong pulse early, but rapid and weak later. Dizziness and faintness may be early symptoms. Sometimes the skin is pale and covered with cold, clammy sweat; at others there is great cyanosis. The body temperature is subnormal, unless nervous symptoms are very severe. Very prominent among the symptoms are tetanic convulsions, which may appear comparatively early and persist until the end. In animals the effect of this toadstool is entirely different from that of A. muscaria. Perhaps the most striking difference is the frequency with which convulsions appear. Convulsions occurred repeatedly in mammals and in nearly every frog to which the toadstool was given. This fungus seems to contain some poison that acts upon the spinal cord very much as strychnia does, though less powerfully, of course. The circulatory conditions are also different. The inhibition of the heart may be pronounced as an early condition, but the pressure does not return to the normal after this disappears, either from giving atropine or from cutting the pneumogastric nerves. Section of these nerves removes the cardiac inhibition much more completely than after poisoning by the A. muscaria. There is often a fall of pressure without cardiac inhibition. In other words, there is a much greater permanent fall of blood-pressure due to paralysis of the nerve center controlling the blood vessels (vaso-motor center). This condition will last a long time and does not show the same tendency to disappear as after A. muscaria. Moreover it is produced by comparatively small amounts of the A. verna. The respirations are very slow. The blood is poorly oxygenated and this probably causes the cyanosis sometimes observed in men poisoned by this fungus. Bloody fluid is sometimes vomited or comes from the nose. It may also occur in the discharge from the bowel. Retching and purging occurred more frequently as early symptoms than in animals poisoned by A. muscaria. Coma appeared early and continued until death. The administration of atropine soon after giving the poison when cardiac inhibition was present, caused a slight temporary rise of blood pressure but did not affect the dilated condition of the blood vessels. The pressure continued low notwithstanding the atropine. Although the experiments with this fungus were not as numerous as with the A. muscaria because of difficulty in obtaining it, yet it seems clear that atropine is of very little value as an antidote. Death very rarely resulted from the cardiac inhibition occurring early but usually came on late after that condition had disappeared. The lethal dose was no larger when atropine was given than when no antidote was used. Amanita verna is very much more toxic than A. muscaria, the average of four experiments in which the former was given without an antidote being .034 gram. (dried) per kilo of body weight, while .103 gram. (dried) per kilo, was the average for the latter fungus. POISONING BY AMANITA PHALLOIDES. The symptoms described in man are very similar to those caused by the A. verna, except that the convulsions are less constant and cyanosis is not mentioned. In some cases vomiting and purging are prominent symptoms. There is dizziness and fainting, extreme ashy pallor, cold skin covered with sweat, subnormal temperature, muscular twitchings and occasional convulsions and somnolence which deepens into coma and lasts until death, which usually occurs two or three days after eating the poison. Sometimes the gastro-intestinal symptoms are less severe or may be absent, though they are usually present; in that case the nervous symptoms are more prominent, particularly the convulsions and circulatory disturbance. In experiments upon animals the convulsions were not observed so constantly as with the A. verna. Out of twenty-five dogs poisoned by the Amanita phalloides, convulsions only occurred twice, while twelve frogs injected with different preparations (dried toadstool and glycerine and alcoholic extracts of the fresh) failed to show a convulsive seizure in a single instance. It seems to be difficult for mycologists to draw a sharp line between the A. verna and the A. phalloides and say to which of these two certain fungi belong. This may explain why convulsions are recorded more frequently in persons poisoned by this toadstool than in animals poisoned by it. Frogs are very susceptible to poisons acting upon the spinal cord, and all of those poisoned by lethal doses of A. verna had convulsions, while none of those poisoned by the A. phalloides had any. It would therefore appear from this striking difference in the physiological actions that the two are separate and distinct. The circulatory and gastro-intestinal symptoms were quite similar to those caused by the A. verna. A. phalloides is less toxic than the A. verna, but more so than the A. muscaria, the average lethal dose of the dried fungus (eight experiments) for dogs, where no antidote was used, being .117 gram. per kilo. The antidotal value of atropine is very slight, if indeed it has any action other than removing the temporary cardiac inhibition. The animals very seldom died from this, but mostly from the late effects after the inhibition had disappeared. In four experiments on dogs in which atropine was given either at the same time as the poison or before it, the average lethal dose was .198 gram. of the dried fungus per kilo. Two dogs were killed by .1 gram. per kilo without atropine; another was given the same amount and was given atropine hypodermatically a number of times and recovered, though very ill for two days. Transfusion of physiological salt solution (.6 per cent. table salt) was practiced in three dogs. Although death occurred in all of these and the lethal dose was not unusually high, the pressure was restored for a time at least. It should be employed in treating poisoning in man, and not be depended upon as the _only_ procedure, but used in conjunction with other remedies. This will be referred to again in describing treatment. It will be seen from the above that poisoning by the A. verna and A. phalloides present symptoms in the lower animals which are quite different from those caused by the A. muscaria, and that in either case poisoning is far more serious than by the latter fungus. This is not only because they are so much more toxic, but also because there is no decidedly antagonistic action by atropine, and hence its value as an antidote is much less. In treating a case of poisoning by either A. verna or A. phalloides the only thing that can be done is to meet the indications in the individual case. If the heart is beating slowly, atropine should be given in liberal doses. This will not overcome the chief disturbance of the circulation, viz., the tremendous dilation of the blood vessels. Strychnia will do this to a certain extent, but its use may be contra-indicated by twitchings or convulsions from the toadstools. If it can be used it is exceedingly valuable, as it stimulates not only the vaso-motor center but the respiration and heart as well. Caffein or strong coffee may also be used to this end if the stomach will retain it. Suprarenal extract should also be given hypodermatically, as it will restore the blood pressure more nearly to normal than any other drug, according to our experiments. It has the advantage of not increasing the excitability of the spinal cord as strychnia does, and hence would not be contra-indicated by nervous symptoms. Perhaps the most rational treatment to meet the most serious condition of the poisoning by these toadstools is the transfusion of normal saline solution (.6-.7 per cent. solution of table salt) into the subcutaneous tissues. This should, of course, only be given by a physician, as great care is required in sterilizing the syringe. It can be given with a fountain syringe and aspirating needle beneath the skin of the thigh. Large quantities should be used—at least a quart (1000 cc.) or more. The fluid is rapidly absorbed by the lymphatics and gets into the blood vessels. It restores the blood pressure by increasing the fluid in the vessels and also doubtless aids the organs of excretion in eliminating the poison; at the same time it would relieve the intense thirst patients complain of. Clinicians who have observed cases of poisoning by the A. phalloides in man have suggested this procedure as the most rational one to meet the symptoms presented. From the condition produced in animals poisoned by this toadstool the writer was led to the same conclusion. In two experiments upon dogs, when transfusion of warm physiological salt solution was made directly into the vein after poisoning by the A. phalloides, death occurred in both cases and the lethal dose was not unusually large, although the amount transferred was equal to the estimated volume of the blood of the animal in one case and half that amount in another. In another animal atropine was given before the poison and the pressure had been reduced by the latter to one-fifth of the normal, the transfusion of an amount of normal salt solution equivalent to two-thirds of the bulk of blood restored the pressure to three-fourths of normal in about 15 minutes, but further injection of the poison caused late death. Although the rise of pressure is not so great from transfusion as from suprarenal extract in large doses, it is more _permanent_. Transfusion (or transfusion into the subcutaneous tissues by hypodermoclysis which amounts to the same thing) has the additional advantage of increasing the flow of urine, which is often suppressed in these cases. Even if it does no good it can do no harm if done antiseptically and should be tried but _always in conjunction with other remedies_. A remarkable case of recovery after the injection of a large amount of normal saline solution has been reported by Delobel (Presse medicale September 30, 1899). A man aged fifty-two ate some A. phalloides; he was seen four hours afterward. The skin was covered with cold, clammy sweat; body temperature was sub-normal; shivering and tremors present; had not vomited or purged; urine suppressed; respiration stertorous; pulse 28 per minute and so feeble that it was almost imperceptible. Two full doses of atropine were given hypodermatically as well as 10 cc. of ether and 200 cc. of strong coffee with 20 cc. of rum were given by the mouth and hot bottles applied externally. In spite of all this the symptoms became worse and the patient sank into a condition of profound collapse, the pulse dropping to 24 per minute and the tremors ceased. One liter (1 quart) of normal saline solution was injected hypodermatically and improvement began in 15 minutes after the injection. The respiration lost the Cheyne-Stokes character; the pulse improved in tension and in an hour was 60 per minute; the skin improved and the temperature returned to normal and the patient went to work next day. The circulatory symptoms are most prominent and demand most attention. Vomiting and purging have to be treated according to the conditions in the individual case and no rule can be followed. As the peripheral vessels are dilated the body temperature is usually subnormal. This should be overcome by applying hot bottles externally. The suppression of urine should receive attention, and the activity of the kidneys be stimulated as much as possible. It is probable the suppression is largely due to the tremendous fall of blood pressure. If the urine is secreted but retained in the bladder it should be drawn off. Just as there is no simple way of detecting the presence of poisonous mushrooms in a mixture of mushrooms, so there is no simple way of destroying or removing the poisons. Pouchet stated that boiling destroyed the poison and Chestnut has stated the poison of A. phalloides is a toxic albumen. If this were the case boiling would destroy it. In our experiments, however, boiling has not diminished the toxicity at all and it can be definitely stated that the poison is _not_ an albumen. There is also a popular impression that vinegar will remove the poison and numerous observers claim to have removed the poison of A. muscaria completely by soaking the fungus in vinegar. We have not had the opportunity of trying this with fresh A. muscaria, but in one experiment in which the A. verna was soaked over night in vinegar it failed to get rid of the poison—any more than would have dissolved in that amount of water. Toadstool poisoning differs from most poisonings in the long time elapsing before death in fatal cases. The only inorganic poisons causing death after such a long interval produce profound tissue changes. Husemann believed death from poisonous mushrooms to be due to fatty degeneration of the various organs. We have examined microscopically the tissue of dogs and cats dying from the _late_ effects of the A. muscaria and A. phalloides and found them to be perfectly normal. Mr. V.K. Chestnut, in a bulletin published by the United States Department of Agriculture (Circular No. 13, p. 23), states that death from the A. phalloides is due to a destruction of the red-blood corpuscles. Upon what authority this assertion is made is not stated. The conclusion has probably been based upon the venosity of the blood in cases of poisoning resulting from the disturbance of the respiration and circulation. The blood corpuscles of animals poisoned by all three of the Amanitæ studied have been counted repeatedly in our experiments and in _none of them has there been any appreciable reduction_. It can be positively stated that death is not due to a destruction of the red blood cells. Further, the coloring matter of the blood (hæmoglobin), which carries oxygen to the tissues, has been examined with the spectroscope to see if any new compound had been formed which would prevent it from carrying oxygen. No such compound has been found—no alteration could be detected in the hæmoglobin. It is quite evident that these toadstools do not kill by their action on the blood, for in a number of experiments the blood was examined a very short time before death. Thinking that they might act upon the nerve cells of the brain and spinal cord very much as certain toxins of infectious diseases do, those structures were examined by special staining methods (silver impregnation), but no greater variation than is normal could be detected in any of those examined. No statement can be made as to the cause of this late death, but it would appear to be due to some disturbance of nutrition. Late death occurs not only in animals, but in most of the cases of poisoning in man recorded in medical literature. The contrast between the early and late symptoms is not so great in poisoning by A. phalloides and A. verna as in the case of poisoning by A. muscaria. In the first two the serious symptoms appear early and continue till the end; in the last the early effects of the muscarine soon passes off or can be removed by atropine, but the late symptoms, strikingly in contrast with the early ones, still appear, and continue till death. [Illustration] RECIPES FOR COOKING AND PREPARING FOR THE TABLE Preparing toadstools for the table should begin while collecting them. Have a soft brush, a knife, half a dozen one or two-pound paper bags and an open-topped, roomy, shallow basket. [Sidenote: Collecting. Cleansing.]As edible species are found, cut them loose well above their attachment. Keep the spore surface down until the top is brushed clean and every particle of dirt removed from the stem. This prevents dirt from getting upon the spore surface, from which it is very hard to dislodge. Never clean a toadstool over other toadstools. If the stem is hard, tough or wormy, remove it. Having cleaned the plant, place it in one of the paper bags, spore surface down. Write its name on the bag. Place but one kind in the same bag, unless species of about the same texture and flavor are found and mixing is not objectionable. Where another species is found, give it a bag to itself. Select fresh, inviting plants only. Do all possible cleaning in the field. [Sidenote: Selection]Plants keep clean, pack better, and more of them can be carried. A careless jumble is gritty, bruised and disappointing. If not ready to cook the find, place the bags in the ice chest. It is best to cook fungi as soon as possible. Cooked, they can be kept much longer than when uncooked. When ready to cook, wash the plants by throwing them into a deep pan of water. [Sidenote: Washing.]Pass the fingers quietly through them upward; let stand a moment for the dirt to settle, then gather them from the water with the fingers as a drain. Remove any scurf or adhering dirt with a coarse flannel or a cloth. Wash in this way through two or three waters. Lay to drain. By experience in draining, exactly the amount of water necessary to cook a particular species can be allowed to remain within its spore surface, if it is a gilled species. To other kinds, water must usually be added. The removal of the skin of any toadstool is seldom justifiable. As with the apple and most fruits, the largest amount of flavor is in the skin. By the consistency of the species in hand, decide upon the best method of cooking it and the time and medium required. If it is thin, juicy, tender, from five to ten minutes' slow stewing will be ample; if it is thick, dry, tough, from thirty to forty minutes will be required. After any species is cooked tender, it may be seasoned to one’s liking and served as one chooses. Many species, which absolutely refuse to become tender after prolonged stewing, quickly succumb in the frying pan and make crisp, delicate morsels. Edible kinds which dry well, or are hard when found, often grate or powder easily, and are excellent (after soaking) made into soups, fritters or pâtés. Hundreds upon hundreds of recipes for cooking the common mushroom and the few other fungi heretofore eaten, are at hand. The simpler methods—those which retain the natural flavor of the species cooked—are the best. When a species has good body, and but little flavor, it may be made delicious by cooking with it another species of higher flavor. The most concise instruction is: Cook in any way you can cook an oyster. The writer’s best and long-tried recipes are here given. Mrs. Sarah Tyson Rorer has kindly contributed some of her own choice methods; Mrs. Emma P. Ewing, of culinary celebrity, is represented; and that every recipe needed may be found herein, the most sensible of English and French recipes are given. TO COOK MUSHROOMS. Gather mushrooms whenever they can be found. That is the best time of the day to collect them. The gills grow darker and the flavor improves as the spores ripen. They are in good condition up to the time the gills begin to grow moist and to soften. Cut off the extreme butt of the stem, holding the gills downward. Rub off the cap and stem with a rough towel or flannel. Do not peel. Wash in cold water. Drain well, gills downward. The English method is to scald them, but there is more of custom than use in it. Mushrooms may be preserved temporarily by boiling them in salt and water for five minutes, draining and wiping dry. A better way is to cook them, place in ice-chest, and reheat when wanted. _McIlvaine._ TO BROIL.—Use well-spread caps only. Use double iron broiler. Place the caps on it, gills down, and broil two minutes, turn and broil two minutes more. While hot, season with salt and pepper, and butter well, especially upon the gill side. Serve upon toast. _Mrs. S.T. Rorer._ BAKED MUSHROOMS ON TOAST. Bake under a glass or basin, on toast along with scalded or clotted cream or a little melted butter, and salt and pepper to taste. They take about a quarter of an hour in a gentle oven or before a fire; when they are taken up, do not remove glass for a few minutes; by that time the vapor will have condensed and gone into the toast. _Stevens._ CRUSTS OF MUSHROOMS. Cut into small, even-sized squares a pint of the selected toadstool; stew in a little water until done; add two ounces butter and one teaspoonful of salt, one-half teaspoonful of pepper. Wet a teaspoonful of flour with two gills of cream and mix with the beaten yolks of two eggs. Add, and mix well with the toadstool. Cut the upper crust from some small French rolls. Scoop out the inside of both upper and lower part, brush them with melted butter and brown in the oven; fill them, put on the top. Serve. Or, when cooked as directed, serve in paper cases, or pastry shells. TO DRY MUSHROOMS. (English method.) Take those neither very young nor very old. Remove the butts only. Then slice, string or skewer the slices lightly, and expose to a current of warm dry air. A warm oven, with the door open, is a good place. When quite dry and shrivelled, pack in tins, with spice at top and bottom. When wanted for use, soak the slices in tepid water for some hours. Then cook. _Hay._ STEWED MUSHROOMS ON TOAST. Cut the mushrooms—caps and stems—into pieces of equal size. Place in a covered saucepan. To each pint add one ounce (two level tablespoonfuls) of butter. Enough water will have been retained by the gills after washing to make sufficient liquor. Stew slowly twenty minutes; season to taste with pepper and salt. Place upon toast. _McIlvaine._ TO FRY MUSHROOMS. Lay them in a frying pan in which butter has been heated boiling hot. After frying five minutes serve on a hot dish—pouring over them the sauce made by thickening the butter with a little flour. This is as delicious as more elaborate ways of cooking and retains the mushroom’s distinctive flavor in full perfection. FRICASSE OF MUSHROOMS. Wash, put them into a chafing dish, sprinkle over a teaspoonful of salt, a quarter of a teaspoonful of black pepper, cover and cook slowly for five minutes. Moisten a tablespoonful of flour in a gill of milk, strain this into the mushrooms, bring to boiling point, add the yolks of two eggs slightly beaten, a tablespoonful of chopped parsley, and serve at once. _Mrs. S.T. Rorer._ MUSHROOM PICKLES. One-half peck of either Agaricus campester, Lepiota procera, Hypholoma fascicularis, Hypholoma perplexum, Clitocybe multiceps, Russula virescens. Select sound specimens, cut off ends of stems (entire stem of fascicularis or procerus), rub the tops with flannel dipped in salt. Throw them into milk and water (one-fourth milk). Drain and put them into a stew pan. Sprinkle the layers with salt—one-half gill to one-half peck mushrooms. Cover them close and put them over a gentle fire for five minutes to draw out the water. Then put them on a coarse cloth and drain until cold (or put on mosquito netting in a colander). To prepare a pickle for them: Take one-half gallon vinegar (if strong dilute with water), two ounces mace, one-fourth ounce cloves, one-half pound salt (Worcester), one teaspoonful red pepper, one nutmeg cut in slices. Put in a jar covered with a wet cloth and keep the cloth wet. Place over a very slow fire, cook as long as the acid is prominent _and no longer_. Take small wide-mouthed bottles, fill with the mushrooms, pour on the pickle until the bottle is filled. Tie down tight. (To slice a nutmeg, boil it in vinegar—slice while hot. Makes of salt vary in strength; the “Worcester” is a strong salt.) N.B.—When H. fascicularis is used, wipe the tops with a wet cloth. _McIlvaine._ TO PICKLE MUSHROOMS. (English style.) Take buttons and remove butts only. Put into jars and cover with cold, spiced pickling vinegar. Add a few peppercorns and mustard seeds and seal hermetically. _Hay._ MUSHROOM CATCHUP. Take the opened toadstools, clean carefully, bruise them. Put a layer on the bottom of an earthen pan, strew salt over them (two tablespoonfuls to one-fourth peck), another layer, more salt and so on. One-half ounce cloves, one-half ounce mace, one-half ounce allspice, one-half ounce whole pepper. Let stand six days. Stir every day. Then put in gentle oven, cover pan with wet cloth, keep wet, and heat for four hours. Strain through a fine cloth or sieve. To every gallon of liquor add one quart red wine. Salt to taste. Add a race or two of ginger cut small. Strain; let catchup get cold. Pour it from the settlings. Bottle. Cork tight. _McIlvaine._ MUSHROOM CATCHUP. A catchup superior to that sold in the stores may be made at home. Break the toadstools into bits and place in a stone jar, with an ounce and a half of salt for every quart of plants. Let stand in a cool place for three days, stirring several times a day. On the third day put over the fire, in a porcelain kettle, and heat slowly. In about half an hour the juice will flow freely, when strain through a hair sieve, return to the fire and boil twenty minutes. Measure the liquid and to each quart allow an ounce of ginger root, a blade of mace, a bay leaf, a pinch of cayenne, and an ounce each of allspice and black pepper; boil down to one-half the quantity, add a teaspoonful of the best brandy to each half-pint. Bottle. Cork and seal with wax or rosin. _Anon._ MUSHROOM CATCHUP. (English style.) Remove the butts. Sprinkle all with salt. Pile in a bowl. Let them remain so for three days, stirring occasionally. Then squeeze out all the liquor. To each gallon of it add cloves and mustard seed, crushed, of each half an ounce; allspice, peppercorns and ginger, crushed, of each one ounce. Heat slowly up to boiling point in a covered vessel. Set aside in a warm place for a fortnight. Then strain and bottle. If the catchup shows signs of not keeping, add more salt and spice, heat and proceed as before. _Hay._ CANNED MUSHROOM SAUCE. Cook together, until a light brown color, two tablespoonfuls each of butter and flour, add a can of button mushrooms, with the water it contains, and a cupful of water or broth. Simmer five minutes, stirring meanwhile, season and serve. The flavor of the mushroom is more distinct and pronounced if the sauce is seasoned only with salt and mixed pepper. If broth is used in the preparation of mushroom sauce instead of water, it should be the broth of such meat as the sauce is to be served with—for instance, chicken broth when to be served with chicken, beef broth when to be served with beef, etc. _Mrs. Emma P. Ewing._ FRESH MUSHROOM SAUCE. Put in a graniteware or porcelain-lined saucepan two tablespoonfuls of butter. When hot add two cups of fresh, prepared mushrooms, cover closely, and cook briskly two or three minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and serve with broiled beefsteak, birds, or sweetbreads. _Mrs. E.P. Ewing._ TO COOK BOLETI. Remove the stems, and the tubes unless they are compact and young, or the dish will be slimy from the tubes. Wipe the caps clean. TO BROIL.—Put on wire broiler or in a hot buttered pan. Cook well. Add butter, pepper and salt. TO STEW.—After cutting the caps in pieces of similar size, stew in a covered saucepan for twenty minutes. Do not use much water. When done, add butter, or cream, pepper and salt. Some persons may prefer to add a little lemon juice or sherry. TO BAKE.—Bake for half an hour in covered dish, add oil or butter, a little parsley, and garlic if liked, pepper and salt. TO FRY.—Remove the tubes from all the caps, excepting of very young or very short-tubed species. Slice the caps as you would eggplant. Fry in butter, oil or fat, or dip in batter or in egg crumbs. _McIlvaine._ B. EDULIS SOUP (as made in Hungary).—Having dried some Boleti in an oven, soak them in tepid water, thickening with toast bread, till the whole be of the consistency of a puree, then rub them through a sieve, throw in some stewed Boleti, boil together, and serve with the usual condiments. _Paulet._ TO DRY BOLETI (English method).—Gather in dry weather. Remove stems and tubes. Wipe clean with a damp cloth. Slice. String the slices. Hang up in a warm place for two days. Then give them a minute in a moderately warm oven. Pack in tins with spice. When wanted steep the slices in tepid water for some hours, till they swell. Then proceed to dress as for fresh Bolets. The Russians retain the stems and dry their Bolets whole, stringing them up the stem and through the center of the cap. _Hay._ TO COOK CANTHARELLUS CIBARIUS. Cut the mushrooms across and remove the stems; put them into a closely-covered saucepan with a little fresh butter, and sweat them until tender, at the lowest possible temperature. A great heat always destroys the flavor. _Mrs. Hussey._ Wash, cut into pieces and put into boiling water; then stew with fresh butter, a little olive oil, chopped tarragon, pepper, salt and a little lemon peel; when cooked simmer over a slow fire for twenty minutes, moistening from time to time with beef gravy or cream. When ready to serve thicken with the yolk of egg. _M.C. Cooke._ TO FRY.—Dip caps in egg and bread crumbs, season with pepper and salt and fry in hot butter or oil. TO STEW.—Cut the whole plant into small pieces across the grain, stew slowly in a covered saucepan for forty minutes. Add thickened cream or milk. Use freely of butter and season to taste. TO ROAST.—Place in a hot dry pan over a slow fire, shake and turn until the plants are crisp. Butter and season with pepper and salt. A fine camp dish. TO PRESERVE FOR WINTER USE.—Pull into strips one-half inch wide, spread on a piece of mosquito netting and place in the sun or current of warm air. When dry hang up in small bags or mosquito netting in a dry place. _McIlvaine._ TO COOK CLAVARIA. Fry in hot butter, oil or fat until well done; or stew, covered with a little water, over a slow fire for half an hour. When done add cream or milk, a little flour, plenty of butter and season with pepper and salt. Salt last, always, or it will harden the plants. _McIlvaine._ TO PICKLE (English recipe).—Put the tender parts into jars with peppercorns, mustard seeds and nasturtium seeds. Pour on them cold white wine vinegar. Fill up and cork hermetically. _Hay._ TO COOK CLITOCYBE MULTICEPS. TO BAKE.—Wash caps, remove stems, let drain for a few minutes; place gills upward in a pan; place on gills a small-sized lump of butter; season with pepper and salt; grate cheese over each layer, cover pan, and place in hot oven to bake for one-half hour. An exceptionally fine dish. They are excellent fried. Other species of similar consistency may be cooked in the same way. See Toadstools with Cheese. _McIlvaine._ TO COOK COPRINUS. “In regard to the C. micaceus I find that they are better cooked after the following recipe: “Trim the stems, wash the toadstools carefully through several waters, then drain them in a colander. Spread them out in a long baking pan, dust lightly with salt, pepper, put over a few bits of butter, cover with another pan and bake in a moderate oven for twenty-five minutes. Add four tablespoonfuls of cream, bring to boiling point; dish on toast. “The C. atramentarius may be cooked in precisely the same manner. I find that all these inky mushrooms are better cooked in a very slow heat in the oven, and they must be covered or they lose their flavor.” _Mrs. S.T. Rorer._ C. comatus, or any other Coprinus, may be treated in the same manner; or they may be stewed slowly in a covered dish for from five to ten minutes. _McIlvaine._ CROQUETTES. To one pint of any well-cooked toadstool of meaty species, add two hard-boiled eggs, a sprig of parsley; pepper and salt to taste; chop all very fine, then take two level tablespoonfuls of butter and one of flour, put over the fire with the toadstools and eggs; mix thoroughly together, set aside to cool. When cold, shape, dip in egg and bread crumbs, and fry in hot oil, butter or fat. _McIlvaine._ DEVILED TOADSTOOLS. For deviled toadstools prepare the meat as for patties, adding the yolks of two hard-boiled eggs to each pint of meat, a pinch of red pepper and a little chopped parsley. Serve hot or cold in halves of egg shells, nested among green. _McIlvaine._ TO COOK FISTULINA HEPATICA. Mrs. Hussey says of it: “If it is not beef itself, it is sauce for it.” It can be sliced thin and dressed as a salad with mayonnaise dressing or otherwise. The simplest and best way is to cut the fungus into slices as one would egg-plant. If it is small, slice it into two parts, fry in hot butter, season with pepper and salt. Another favorite way is to slice the plant across the grain, cut into squares of one-half inch and cook very slowly in a covered pan for twenty minutes. Add a little water, and plenty of butter. Season with pepper and salt. The F. hepatica always has a slightly acid taste, which is very acceptable to most persons, but objectionable to a few. _McIlvaine._ SALAD.—Cut in thin slices and rub them with garlic. Mingle with lettuce or other green salad. Dress with oil, vinegar, pepper, mustard and salt. Serve. _Hay._ TO BROIL ANY CAPPED FUNGUS. Select those that are spread open and keep the unopened for other styles of serving. Cut off the stems close to the tops. Baste well with melted butter and sprinkle lightly with pepper and salt. Heat the broiler very hot, lay the caps upon it with the gills up and broil over a clear fire, turning the broiler first on one side and then on the other. As soon as tender, which will be in about five minutes, open the broiler, remove the caps with care, and place on well-buttered slices of the toast which have been previously prepared. Pour over the whole a sauce made of drawn butter, or hot water thickened with flour to the consistency of cream. FRIED TOADSTOOLS. Take the caps only—one pint—well drained and carefully seasoned with one teaspoonful of salt, one-half teaspoonful black pepper. Place in a pan with one ounce of butter (a lump the size of a small egg). Fry slowly for ten minutes. Add a little milk or cream thickened with flour. Serve on hot toast. TO COOK HYDNUM. In cooking Hydnei care must be taken to cook slowly and well. Use the tender parts only of stems and caps of the capped species, and soft, fresh parts of the maned species; cut into small pieces of similar size, stew slowly in covered saucepan for from thirty to forty minutes, season with butter, pepper and salt. Serve. Or, after stewing for forty minutes as above, drain off the water, chop fine, make into croquettes or into pâtés. A HUNTER'S TOAST. Carry a vial of olive oil or a small can of butter, some pepper and salt mixed. An edible toadstool found, collect a few dry twigs, fire them. Split a green stick (sassafras, birch or spice-wood best) at one end; put the toadstool in the cleft, hold it over the fire; oil or butter, season. Eat from the stick. _McIlvaine._ TO COOK HYPHOLOMAS. TO STEW.—Wash the caps, stew slowly in the water which the gills retain, for half an hour, keeping dish covered. Add plenty of butter, pepper and salt to taste, add cream or milk with a little thickening. The Hypholomas have a slightly bitter taste, of which most persons become very fond; if it is objectionable, add a small amount of lemon juice or sherry. _McIlvaine._ H. PERPLEXUM.—Put one dessertspoonful of vinegar in a quart of water. Soak the caps in this mixture twenty minutes. Then take them out and stew slowly for half an hour in a covered vessel, adding butter, pepper and salt to suit the taste. A small quantity of onion is thought by some to improve the flavor, and a thickening of flour and milk just before serving is an improvement. _Prof. C.H. Peck._ The above is given as recipe for cooking H. perplexum. It answers equally well for the many Hypholomas resembling it. _McIlvaine._ TO BAKE.—Wash caps, remove stems, let drain for a few minutes, place gills upward in a pan, place on gills a small-sized lump of butter, season with pepper and salt, cover pan, and place in oven to bake for one-half hour. _McIlvaine._ TO COOK LACTARII. The rich juices of the Lactarii are best retained by baking. The species grow hard and granular if cooked rapidly. Baked they are excellent. This method is preferable to stewing, but no one will despise a properly made stew of them. TO COOK MARASMIUS OREADES. Remove the stems, wash the caps, place in a covered saucepan and simmer for thirty minutes, adding sufficient water to prevent scorching; add a little milk or cream, butter and season with salt and pepper to taste. Or, simply fry in butter, make a gravy and season to taste. TO DRY.—String the caps on threads and loop up in a dry place, and when thoroughly dry place in tight glass jars or tin cases. TO COOK THE MORELL—MORCHELLA (from Persoon).