The species represented on the accompanying plate belong chiefly to the Boletaceae, a family of fleshy, pore-bearing fungi containing about seventy-five North American species, distributed in eleven genera. Most of the members of this family are edible, but, owing to the difficulty of distinguishing the few inedible species, they should be selected with the greatest care when collected for the table.

Pileus thick, firm, convex to expanded, 5-12 cm. broad; surface moist, glabrous, lilac or purple, fading to grayish, becoming slightly brownish on the disk; margin inrolled and frosted when young, glabrous and often irregular with age; flesh white, firm, pleasant to the taste; gills crowded, rounded behind, free or nearly so, violet or lilac, becoming dull-colored with age; spores ellipsoid, smooth, dingy-white, dull pinkish in mass, 7-10 μ long; stem short, solid, often bulbous at the base, fibrillose to glabrous, lilac or violet, 3-6 cm. long, 1.5-3 cm. thick.

This species is of good flavor and not easily confused with dangerous species. It may be found in open woods or among long grass in rich fields during the autumn months. Its large size and the violet or lilac tint of all its parts should distinguish it from most other species. In large, mature specimens, the flesh becomes soft and readily absorbs water during wet weather, [MYCOLOGIA for January, 1910 (2: 1-42), was issued Jan. 1, 1910]

which somewhat changes the appearance of the mushroom and lessens its value for edible purposes.

Ceriomyces communis (Bull.) Murrill

COMMON CERIOMYCES. GOLDEN-FLESH BOLETUS
Plate 19. Figure 2. × 3

Pileus convex to expanded, depressed at times with age, gregarious, 4-8 cm. broad, 1-2 cm. thick; surface dry, tomentose to floccose-squamulose, often rimose-areolate, variable in color, usually some shade of red or purple, fading to brown; margin entire, fertile; context yellowish-white to flavous, reddish beneath the cuticle, usually changing slowly to greenish or bluish when wounded, especially near the tubes, taste mild; tubes adnate, convex in mass, slightly decurrent, becoming much depressed at times with age, yellow or greenish-yellow, changing to greenishblue when wounded, mouths large, angular, irregular, 1-2 to a mm.; spores fusiform, smooth, olivaceous when fresh, fading to pale-brownish, 11-13 X 4-5 μ: stipe subcylindric, often contorted, tapering at the base, flavous above, red or streaked with red below, longitudinally furrowed, glabrous or minutely scurfy, solid, sometimes yellow within at the base, 3-8 cm. long, 0.3-1.5 cm. thick.

This species is, in most localities, the most common and abundant member of the family, being the first to appear on mossy banks in early summer and continuing to fruit until late autumn. It is usually rather small, with reddish cap and stem, and large, yellow tubes, which turn blue when wounded. It is sometimes difficult to secure specimens for the table on account of a whitish mould which appears to be particularly prolific on this species.

Marasmius oreades (Bolt.) Fries

FAIRY-RING MUSHROOM.

SCOTCH BONNETS

Plate 19. Figure 3. X 3

Pileus convex to expanded, often umbonate, slightly striate at times when moist, fleshy-tough, drying easily, 2-5 cm. broad; surface glabrous, buff or tawny, fading with age or on drying; flesh thin, white, of pleasant odor and taste; gills broad, distant, free or adnexed, yellowish-white; spores subellipsoid, smooth, hyaline, 7-9 long; stem cylindrical, rather slender, solid, tough, yellowish-white, villose-tomentose, 5-8 cm. long, 2-4 mm. thick.

This very excellent little species is to be looked for in pastures during spells of wet weather in late summer or autumn. Its habit of growing in circles will aid one in recognizing it. I have found it much more abundant in England and other parts of Europe than in this country. If found in sufficient quantity for table use, it should be cooked for some time, owing to its tough texture.

Pileus convex to plane or slightly depressed, gregarious or cespitose, 5-11 cm. broad, 1–3 cm. thick; surface usually glabrous, somewhat viscid, testaceous, fading to ochraceous or isabelline, rarely pulverulent or partially rimose-areolate; margin obtuse, beveled; context thick, white, firm, changing slightly to very pale-roseous when wounded, slightly harsh or bitterish at first to the taste, but becoming mild; tubes truly adnate, separating slightly in old plants, decurrent, 5-7 mm. long, pale-yellowish, becoming brownish to purplish when bruised, mouths of medium size, edges thin; spores oblong-ovoid, smooth, very pale-yellowish, 8-9 X 3.5-4.5 μ: stipe rather short, thick, tapering downward to a small radicate base, 4-7 cm. long, 1-2 cm. thick, nearly white, finely scurfy, sometimes reddish-dotted, flavous and reticulate above, solid, firm and white within.

This species is very rare, being known only from three localities, one in Pennsylvania and two in New Jersey. It grows under beech trees or in beds of moss. The conspicuous reddish or orange color of the cap soon fades, especially in bright light.

Fistulina hepatica (Huds.) Fries.

BEEFSTEAK FUNGUS. VEGETABLE BEEFSTEAK

OAK TONGUE.

CHESTNUT TONGUE. BEEF TONGUE
Plate 19. Figure 5.

Pileus large, fleshy, very juicy, dimidiate to flabelliform, 5-15 cm. broad; surface dark-red, somewhat sticky when moist, radiate-striate with age, margin entire to lobed; flesh thick, soft, tough, streaked with dark- and light-reddish lines, acid to the taste; tubes at first short, yellowish or pinkish, becoming 3 mm. long, plainly distinct from one another, and dull-ochraceous with