The Mushroom, Edible and Otherwise Part 71

VISCID GOMPHIDIUS.

The pileus is two to three inches broad, viscid, convex, then depressed round the disk, obtusely umbonate, margin acute, reddish-brown to yellowish-brown in the center, the margin liver-color, flesh yellowish-brown.

The gills are decurrent, distant, somewhat branched, firm, elastic, rather thick, purple-brown with an olive tinge.

The stem is two to three inches high, subequal or slightly ventricose; pale yellowish-brown, fibrillose, firm, solid, slimy from the remains of the veil, which form an obsolete filamentose ring.

The spores are elongato-fusiform, 18-206.

Its favorite habitat is under pine and fir trees. Its taste is sweet and it has the mushroom smell. It is edible, but not first-cla.s.s.

Found in September and October.

CHAPTER VII.

POLYPORACEAE. TUBE-BEARING FUNGI.

In this family the cap has no gills on the upper surface, but, instead, there are small tubes or pores. This cla.s.s of plants may be naturally divided into two groups: The perishable fungi with the pores easily separating from the cap and from each other, which may be called Boletaceae; and the leathery, corky, and woody fungi, with pores permanently united to the cap and with each other, making the family Polyporaceae.

In each group the spores are borne on the lining of the pore. A spore print may be made in the same manner as from mushrooms having gills. The color of the spores does not enter into the cla.s.sification as in the case of the Agaricini.

The distinctive characteristics of these genera may be stated as follows:

Pores compacted together and forming a continuous stratum 1 Pores each a distinct tube, standing closely side by side Fistulina 1. Stem central, and stratum of spores easily separable from the cap Boletus 1. Stratum of tubes not separating easily, cap covered with coa.r.s.e scales Strobilomyces Stratum of tubes separating, but not easily; tubes arranged in distinct, radiating lines. In Boletinus porosus the tubes do not separate from the cap Boletinus Stratum of pores not separable from cap; plant soft when young, but becoming hard, corky, stipitate, shelving Polyporus

_Boletus. Dill._

_Boletus, a clod_. There are very many species under this genus and the beginner will experience much trouble in separating the species with any degree of a.s.surance. The Boletus is distinguished from the other pore-bearing fungi by the fact that the stratum of tubes is easily separable from the cap. In the Polyporus the stratum of tubes cannot be separated.

Nearly all Boleti are terrestrial and have central stems. They grow in warm and rainy weather. Many are very large and ponderous; fleshy and putrescent, decaying soon after maturity. It is important to note whether the flesh changes color when bruised and whether the taste is pleasant or otherwise. When I first began to study the Boleti there were but few species that were thought to be edible, but the ban has been removed from very many, even from the most wicked, Boletus Sata.n.u.s.

_Boletus scaber. Fr._

THE ROUGH-STEMMED BOLETUS. EDIBLE.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Figure 282.--Boletus scaber. Two-thirds natural size.]

The pileus is from two to five inches in diameter, rounded convex, smooth, viscid when moist, minutely woolly, velvety or scaly, color from nearly white to almost black, the flesh white.

The tubes are free from the stem, white, long, mouths minute and round.

The stem is solid, tapering slightly upward, long, dingy-white; roughened with blackish-brown or reddish dots or scales, this being the most p.r.o.nounced characteristic by which to distinguish the species; three to five inches long. The spores are oblong fusiform and brown.

Prof. Peck has described a number of varieties under this species, most of which depend on the color of the cap. All are edible and good.

This is a common plant, usually found in woods and shady waste places, from June to October. Photographed by Prof. H. C. Beardslee.

_Boletus granulatus. L._

THE GRANULATED BOLETUS. EDIBLE.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Figure 283.--Boletus granulatus. One-half natural size.]

The pileus is two to three inches broad, hemispherical, then convex; at first covered with a brownish gluten, then turning yellowish; flesh thick, yellowish, does not turn blue; margin involute at first.

The tubes are adnate; at first white, then light yellow; the margin distilling a pale watery fluid which when dry gives the granulated appearance.

The stem is short, one to two inches high, thick, solid, pale yellow above, white below, granulated. The spores are spindle-shaped, rusty-yellow.

This plant grows abundantly in pine regions, but I have found it where only a part of the trees were pine. The brownish gluten, always constant on the pileus, and the gummy juice drying upon the stem, like granules of sugar, will be strong features by which to identify the species.

They are found from July to October.

_Boletus bicolor. Pk._

THE TWO-COLORED BOLETUS. EDIBLE.

The pileus is convex, smooth or merely downy, dark red, fading when old, often marked with yellow; flesh yellow, slowly changing to blue when bruised.

The tubes are bright yellow, attached to the stem, the color changing to blue when bruised.

The stem is solid, red, generally red at the top, one to three inches long.

The spores are pale, rusty-brown color.

Found in woods and open places, from July to October.

_Boletus subtomentosus. L._

THE YELLOW-CRACKED BOLETUS. EDIBLE.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Figure 284.--Boletus subtomentosus. One-half natural size.]

Subtomentosus, slightly downy. The pileus is from three to six inches broad, convex, plane; yellowish-brown, olive or subdued tan color; cuticle soft and dry, with a fine p.u.b.escence; the cracks in the surface become yellow. The flesh is creamy white in mature specimens, changing to blue, and at length leaden, on being bruised.

The tube surface is yellow or yellowish green, becoming bluish when bruised; opening of tubes large and angular.

The stem is stout, yellowish, minutely roughened with scurvy dots or faintly striped with brown. The spores are a rusty-brown.