These charts are prepared for popular use, rather than for students ofbotanical science; all technical terms are, therefore, as far aspossible, avoided.
The names "mushroom" and "toadstool" are indefinite, are both appliedwith equal reason to any fleshy fungus, and are here used assynonymes, like the corresponding term "plant" and "vegetable," or"shrub" and "bush," in common conversation.
No general test can be given by which a poisonous mushroom may bedistinguished from an edible mushroom. But each species of fungus hascertain marks of identity, either in appearance, quality, or conditionof growth, which are its own, and never radically varied; none cancontain a venomous element at one time, and yet be harmless underother conditions. Like other food, animal or vegetable, however,mushrooms may, by decay or conditions of growth, be unfit for tableuse; yet in this state no fatality would attend such use.
Therefore the identification of species is a safe guide, and is theonly means of knowing what mushrooms should be eaten, and whatvarieties of fungus should be rejected. Having once learned todistinguish any species of mushrooms as esculent, perfect security maybe felt in the use of that species wherever and whenever found; butany specimen varying from the type in the slightest degree should berejected by an amateur.
There are about one thousand varieties of mushrooms (exclusive ofsmall or microscopic fungi) native to the United States; many willtherefore be found which are not represented on either of theseplates. Those here depicted are of three classes, namely, theLycoperdaceæ, or Puff-ball fungi; the Agaricini, or Gill-bearingfungi; and the Boleti, which last is one division of the Polyporei, orPore-bearing fungi.
The following definitions are here given, and will be foundnecessary:—
PILEUS. The expanded disk or cap of the mushroom or toadstool.
GILLS. The thin plates set on their edges under the pileus,running to a common centre at the stem.
TUBES. The spongy collection of pores which take the place ofgills under the pileus of a Boletus.
VEIL. A web or membrane which extends from the margin of thepileus to the stem when the mushroom is young, and thus enclosesthe gills.
RING. A part of the veil adherent to the stem, and forming acollar around it.
VOLVA. The sheath or wrapper enclosing the young mushroom, whenbelow or just above the ground; the remains of which are found inthe ring, the veil, at the base of the stem, and in the warty orscurfy top of some varieties of mushrooms.
SPORES. The reproductive bodies, analogous to seeds in some otherplants, found under the caps of the Agaricini and Boleti, andappearing like fine dust when the cap is left for a time lyingunder-side downward.
There are as many different flavors and tastes among esculent fungi asare found in any other varieties of diet, and the very generalignorance of this fact is a sufficient reason for the issue of thiswork. Many persons claim to know a mushroom from a toadstool. Thismeans that there is one variety out of a thousand of which they eatwith safety, and it means nothing more. A person might as well selectone fish from the sea, and avoid all other members of the finny tribeon the ground that there are poisonous fishes. It is strange that thisge