Toadstools, mushrooms, fungi, edible and poisonous; one thousand American fungi / How to select and cook the edible; how to distinguish and avoid the poisonous, with full botanic descriptions. Toadstool poisons and their treatment, instructions to students, recipes for cooking, etc., etc.

FISTULI´NA Bull.

Hymenium formed on the under surface of a fleshy hymenophore, at first warted, the warts developing into cylindrical tubes that remain distinct and free from each other, producing in their interior cellular processes each bearing four spores. Conidia are produced in cavities of the old hymenophore.

With the outward appearance of a Polyporus, but separated by the tubes being free from each other.

A small genus of which F. hepatica is the principal species. This is known and valued in Europe and wherever found in this country. Unfortunately it is rare or unknown in many localities. A new species has recently been found in the United States—Fistulina firma, by Mrs. A. M. Hadley, Manchester, N.H.—a white-flesh species whose edibility is not reported. Torrey Bull., 1899. F. pallida B. and Rav.; F. radicata, Schw.; F. spathulata B. and C., are reported from Alabama. Edible qualities not stated. The writer has not seen them or he surely would have tested them. The spread and cultivation of F. hepatica is possible. Experiments in this line are desirable.

F. hepat´ica (Huds.) Fr. Gr—resembling the liver. (Plate CXXV, fig. 1, p. 476.) Juicy-fleshy, not rooting. Pileus entire, blood-red. Flesh thick, soft, viscid above, transversed with tenacious fibers, hence variegated-red. Tubes at first pallid.

Changeable in form, sessile or extended into a lateral stem. Fries.

Spores salmon-color, nearly round with an oblique apiculus, 3µ W.G.S.; broadly elliptical, 5–6×3–4µ; conidia, 6–10×5µ Massee; yellowish, elliptical, 5–6.5µ long Peck.

West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania. August to frost. McIlvaine.

Small specimens may be confounded with F. pallida, which follows.

Fistulina hepatica is celebrated in most countries, and known usually as the Beefsteak fungus. It grows from decaying crevices in oak, chestnut and other trees and stumps, but those named are its favorites. July, August, September are its months, and after rains. In some localities and years it is rare. At Mt. Gretna, in 1898, a hundred pounds of it could be gathered almost any day.

August, 1899, at Mt. Gretna, Pa., I found several specimens in vicinity which, though evidently F. hepatica, were remarkable for their structure—2–4 in. across, irregularly cylindrical, with spore surface covering the entire fungus. Stem curt, eccentric, almost central. Specimens were sent Professor Peck, who writes:

“The sample of Fistulina which you send is a singular thing. Saccardo has noted a somewhat similar form but without pore surface. Yours has pore surface, but I do not find spores developed in it. I am inclined to think it a monstrosity, as you do, but as you say you have found several of them I think it would be well to put it on record and I will enter it in my record as Fistulina hepatica monstrosa n. var. and indicate its characters.” Letter from Professor Peck, August 28, 1899.

I have partially succeeded in transplanting the mycelium of F. hepatica. Experiments in this direction, I feel confident, will introduce this valuable fungus to localities where it is not now found, or is rare. Experiments with the spores have not been as yet successful.

F. hepatica monstrosa n. var. Pk. Subglobose, supported on a short stem or stem-like base, the external surface entirely covered with tubules 2–4 mm. long.

Pennsylvania. C. McIlvaine. In color and texture resembling the common form, but Mr. McIlvaine informs me that there is nothing in the position or place of growth of the specimens to account for their peculiar character. They are 2–4 in. in diameter. Peck, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club, 27, January, 1900.

Excellent.

F. pal´lida B. and Rav.—pallidus, pale. Pileus kidney-shaped, pallid-red, pulverulent, 1–2 in. broad, about 1 in. long, margin inflexed. Tubes more or less decurrent. Stem lateral, striate, when dry, 1½ in. long, ⅓ in. thick.

Mountains of South Carolina on the ground. Ravenel. Alabama, base of stumps of white oak. Peters. Grev., Vol. 1, No. 5. New Jersey, Ellis.

POLY´PORUS Fr.

Pileus fleshy, moist, tough, becoming harder in age, internally composed of radiating fibers; the spore-bearing surface is within passages or pores which are made by the descending substance of the pileus forming the dissepiments or separating walls, hence they are not easily separable from the pileus or from one another. The pores not appearing at first, then becoming rounded, angular or torn. They form a distinct strata. Stem central, eccentric, lateral or absent.

With few exceptions growing from wood. Section Merisma contains species which are conspicuous among fungi for their size and beauty.

The majority of this genus are unedible, because of their being woody, tough or bitter. Few of the edible species are of the first class.

Excellent dishes are made by stewing the species well, serving them in patties or in croquettes. The cooking of P. intybaceus is a guide to all.

Stem single, distinct, central or eccentric; not black at the base.

Stem single, lateral or eccentric; base black.

Divided into numerous pileoli, borne on a simple or much-branched stem, or a short, thick tubercle.

Stem wanting; pileus attached by the side or spread on the matrix.

The pores being placed directly upon the wood or on the mycelium, the pileus proper is absent.

I.—Me´sopus.

P. ovi´nus Schaeff.—relating to sheep. Pileus 2–4 in. broad, fleshy, thick, fragile, irregular in shape, becoming scaly, whitish. Stem short, thick, 1 in. or more in length, white. Pores minute, equal, round, white then citron-color.

On the ground. Autumn.

North Carolina, Curtis; Massachusetts, Frost; Ohio, Morgan; New York, ground in pine woods. Bethlehem. September, Peck, 22d Rep.

Cordier says it possesses an agreeable odor of almonds and that Fries and his companions ate it raw in their mycological excursions.

Edible. Peck, Curtis.

P. leuco´melas (Pers.) Fr.—leucos, white; melas, black. Pileus 2–4 in. broad, fleshy, somewhat fragile, irregularly-shaped, silky, sooty-black. Flesh soft, reddish when broken. Stem 1–3 in. in length, stout, unequal, somewhat tomentose, sooty-black, becoming black internally. Pileus and stem becoming black in places. Pores rather large, unequal, ashy or whitish, becoming black in drying.

Spores pale brown, 10–12×4–5µ. Massee.

North Carolina, edible, Curtis; Ohio, a curious esculent. Morgan.

P. circina´tus Fr.—round. Pileus 3–4 in. broad, compact, thick round, plane, zoneless, velvety, reddish-brown. Flesh the same color. It forms duplicate strata of pilei, the inferior contiguous with the stem and corky; the superior compact, soft, floccose. Stem 1 in. thick and high, bearing a reddish-brown tomentum. Pores decurrent, entire, dusky-gray.

In fir woods.

A noble species, memorable for the stratified duplicate pilei.

Var. prolif´erus. Like the typical form but having one or more pilei developed from the upper surface of the first one. Fulton Chain. August. Peck, 46th Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

New York. On ground in borders of woods. September. Peck, 32d, 46th Rep.

On ground in oak woods, West Philadelphia. McIlvaine.

When young the soft pilei are good.

II.—Pleuropus.

P. squamo´sus Fr.—squama, a scale. (Plate CXXX, p. 480.) Pileus 3 in.-1½ ft. broad, somewhat ochraceous, variegated with a broad, adpressed, spot-like, centrifugal, darker scales, fleshy-pliant, fan-shaped, flattened. Stem excentric and lateral, obese, reticulated at the apex, blackish at the base. Pores thin, variable (at first minute), then large, angular and torn, pallid. Fries.

Handsome, commonly very large, somewhat central and umbilicate when young, at length lateral, very variable in shape.

On trunks and stumps, chiefly ash. Common. May to November. Stevenson.

Spores oval, white, 14×6µ W.G.S.; elliptical, colorless, 12×5µ Massee.

Massachusetts, Sprague; Iowa, Macbride; New York. Trunk of elm. May. Peck, 27th Rep.; West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania. On fallen trunks and on stumps. May to November. McIlvaine.

This species does not seem to be common in America, but is found throughout Europe. It varies in size from 3 in. to over 3 feet. It has been known to attain the circumference of 7 ft. 5 in., and the weight of 40 lbs. Dr. Badham says that it can not be masticated and that its expressed juice is very disagreeable. The fact, however, remains that it is eaten, and is recorded as edible by most authors. It is undoubtedly tough, but cut fine and stewed slowly for half an hour it is quite as tender as the muscle of an oyster and has a pleasant flavor.

P. pi´cipes Fr.—pix, pitch; pes, a foot. Pallid then chestnut, commonly pale yellowish-livid, with the disk chestnut. Pileus fleshy-coriaceous, then rigid, tough, even, smooth, depressed at the disk or behind. Flesh white. Stem excentric and lateral, equal, firm, at first velvety, then naked, dotted, black up to the pores. Pores decurrent, round, very small, rather slender, white, then slightly pale yellowish. Fries.

Imbricated, odor somewhat sweet. The pileus is depressed behind, commonly emarginate, funnel-shaped with lobes all round.

On trunks, especially willow. Frequent. July to December. Stevenson.

Many young plants, in tufts upon a decaying oak log, were found by me at Mt. Gretna, August, 1899. They were oyster-color, the very thin caps translucent, 2–6 in. across, ¹⁄₁₆ in. thick; pores not visible to the naked eye. The black dots upon the stems developed some time after gathering.

They were pleasantly crisp when stewed and of fine flavor. Older specimens were bitter and tough.

III.—Merisma.

P. umbella´tus Fr.—umbella, a sun-shade. Very much branched, fibrous-fleshy, toughish. Pileoli very numerous, ½-1½ in. broad, sooty, dull-red or pallid light-yellow, entire, umbilicate. Stems elongated, separate, united at the base, white. Pores minute, white.

The pileoli have occurred white. Fries.

Edible. Fries.

New York, Peck, Rep. 51; Richmond, Ind., Dr. J.R. Weist; Gouverneur, N.Y., Mrs. E.C. Anthony; West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania. On decaying roots in ground and on stumps. May to November. McIlvaine.

Tufts dense, branches spreading from a center. The pilei up to 2 in. across, connected at base. The dense spreading tufts, up to a foot across and half as high, are very noticeable. The flesh is soft and of good flavor. Cook like P. intybaceus.

P. a´nax Berk. Fleshy, fibrous, rather tough, dusky-gray, branching out from a thick, single stem at the base and forming a large head of branches and pileoli 10–20 lines in diameter; the branches terminate in numerous large pileoli of various forms and size, imbricating, confluent and recurved. Flesh and pores white. Stems thick, growing together, white. Pores large, unequal, angular, white. Spores white, subelliptic, 7–8µ long.

Ohio, at the base of oak trees and stumps. Autumn. Morgan.

This species has apparently been confused by some American mycologists with P. intybaceus. I have received specimens of it bearing that name. The spores of that species are described as elliptic or ovoid. The spores of Polyporus anax, as shown by our specimens, are globose. Peck, 51st Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

Ohio, Morgan; New York, Peck, 51st Rep.; New Jersey, Sterling; Angora, West Philadelphia, growing on rotting stump. September, 1897, McIlvaine.

Edible when young and fresh.

P. frondo´sus Fr.—frons, a leafy branch. (Plate CXXVIII, p. 482.) Tuft ½-1 ft. broad, very much branched, fibrous-fleshy, toughish. Pileoli very numerous, ½-2 in., sooty-gray, dimidiate, wrinkled, lobed, intricately recurved. Flesh white. Stems growing into each other, white. Pores rather tender, very small, acute, white.

Pores commonly round, but in an oblique position, gaping open and torn. Fries.

North Carolina, Curtis; Iowa, Macbride; New York, Peck, 24th Rep.; West Virginia, 1881–1885, Chester county, Angora, Philadelphia, Pa. On stumps, roots, etc. Rare. September to frost, McIlvaine.

Edible. Curtis. Sold in the Roman market.

Tufts up to 12 in. across; the branches very numerous, up to 2 in. wide. The plant is tender when young and grows tough as it matures. When young it is of good flavor and edible—older it makes a well-flavored gravy, or is edible if chopped fine and very well cooked.

P. sulphu´reus Fr.—sulphur, brimstone. (Plate CXXV, fig. 2, p. 476.) In many cespitose layers, 1–2 ft. and more, juicy-cheesy. Pilei 8 in. or more broad, reddish-yellow, imbricated, undulated, rather smooth. Flesh light yellowish, then white, splitting open and not hardened when old. Pores minute, plane, sulphur-yellow. Fries.

Soon becoming pale. Commonly sessile, but varying with a stem, lateral on standing trees, but expanded on all sides on fallen ones; also club-shaped, porous throughout. Sow. In its fullest vigor it is filled with sulphur-yellow milk.

On living trees and stumps. Frequent. August to October. Stevenson.

Spores oval, white, minutely papillose, 8×5µ W.G.S.; elliptical, hyaline, slightly papillose, 7–8×4–5µ Massee.

Edible. Stevenson, Curtis.

Maryland, Miss Banning; Indiana, H.I. Miller; West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania. On willow, apple, cherry, maple, hickory, etc. Frequent. August to November. McIlvaine.

Frequently in large masses. Commonly broadly attached, but sometimes with a short stem. Very occasionally a single pileus will protrude from a tree like a giant yellow tongue shaded with reddish-orange. Usually the pilei are in clusters united in a solid base, white-fleshed and rich in color. I have seen clusters two feet across. On an old willow at Mt. Gretna, a cluster 18 in. across afforded a dozen meals. Whenever a meal was wanted a pound or two was broken off. It lasted until January. If P. sulphureus is cooked properly it is a delicious fungus. Cut fine, stew slowly and well, season, add butter, milk with a little thickening.

P. macula´tus Pk.—having maculæ-spots. Pileus of a cheesy consistence, broad, flattened, sometimes confluent, sessile or narrowed into a short stem, slightly uneven, white or yellowish-white, marked with darker zones and watery spots. Pores minute, subangular, short, whitish, sometimes tinged with brown. Flesh white.

Pileus 4–6 in. broad, 6–8 lines thick.

Prostrate trunks of trees in woods. Worcester. July.

In texture and shape this species is related to P. sulphureus, but the pores are smaller than in that species. The plants are sometimes cespitose, sometimes single. The spots in the dried specimens have a smooth depressed appearance. Peck, 26th Rep.

Angora, West Philadelphia. September, 1896. Mt. Gretna, Pa., September, 1897–1898. On white oak trunks. McIlvaine.

Several specimens of different ages proved good eating. Like P. sulphureus it must be well cooked.

P. hetero´clitus Fr. Gr—one of two; Gr, to lean. In many cespitose layers, coriaceous. Pilei 2½ in. broad, orange, sessile, expanded on all sides from a radical tubercle, lobed, villous, zoneless. Pores irregularly shaped and elongated, golden-yellow. Fries.

On the ground under oak. Rare.

The flat pilei extend horizontally from the tubercle. Irregular, eccentric. Stevenson.

Minnesota, Johnson.

Haddonfield, N.J., Hopkin’s woods. June to July, 1890–1896. McIlvaine.

Of all fungoid growth this is the most showy. Its clusters, often a foot and a half in diameter and spread like mammoth dahlias, are gorgeous in color and conspicuous in design. Resting upon the ground or reared against the base of tree or stump, they deceive by their likeness to gaudy bouquets, left by foreign picnickers. In quality it is the same as P. sulphureus. It does not, however, retain its edibility. As it ages it becomes offensive.

P. por´ipes Fr.—porous-stemmed. Pileus 1.5–3 in. broad, rather fleshy, sinuately repand, smooth, grayish-brown. Stem central or excentric, firm, smooth, 1.5–3 in. long, 4–6 lines thick, punctuated by the whitish decurrent pores.

On earth in hilly regions.

Cap 2 in. across, light drab, smooth, slightly furfuraceous toward center, broken into minute appressed squamules, zoned. Flesh fibrous, white-pliable. Tubes very shallow, round mouths with obtuse divisions, china-white, running down to base of stem. Stem eccentric, almost lateral, entirely surrounded by pores, connate at base, ½ in. thick.

Smell pleasant.

New York. Ground. August, Peck, Rep. 24; Mt. Gretna, Pa., August to November, McIlvaine. A large tufted species growing on the ground in woods, August to November, McIlvaine.

When raw tastes like the best chestnuts or filberts, but rather too dry cooked. Curtis.

It must be chopped fine and slowly cooked.

P. immi´tis Pk.—wide, rude. Pilei cespitose-imbricated, broad, slightly convex or flattened, more or less rough or uneven, radiately-wrinkled, tuberculose or fibrous-bristled, zoneless, white, becoming tinged with yellow or alutaceous in drying. Flesh white, slightly fibrous, soft and moist when fresh, cheesy when dry, with a subacid odor. Pores minute, angular or even subflexuous, about equal in length to the thickness of the pileus, the dissepiments thin, white, often at length dentate or lacerate on the edge. Spores minute, white, elliptical, 3–4×18–20µ.

Pilei 2–4 in. broad, the flesh commonly 3–4 lines thick.

Decaying ash trunks. East Berne. August.

The species is apparently related to P. cæsareus, but the character of the pores is quite different in the two species. Peck, 35th Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

Mt. Gretna, Pa. On dead black oak. August to November, 1898.

Several clusters grew on dead black oaks. The pilei overlap and the wrinkled corrugated margins curve downward, giving them the semblance of shells. From a distance a group looks like Pleurotus ostreatus. The substance is juicy; while cooking it is at first bitter, but this disappears. It becomes tender and well flavored.

P. alliga´tus Fr.—alligo, to bind to. In many cespitose layers, fibrous-fleshy, rigid-fragile. Pilei tan-isabelline, imbricated, unequal, zoneless, villous. Pores minute, soft, white, readily becoming stopped up with flocci.

Often clavate when young. Commonly wrapping round stipules and grasses. Fries.

Spores elliptical, pale, 6×7µ Massee.

Woodland Cemetery, Philadelphia. Among oak trees on grassy ground. July, August, September. McIlvaine.

Tufts frequently weigh two pounds. When young the plant cooks well, is tender and of sweet, pleasant flavor. When old it has a sour unpleasant odor.

IV.—Apus.

P. chio´neus Fr. Gr—snow. White pileus 1 in. and more broad, fleshy, soft, becoming even, smooth, zoneless, often extended behind, margin inflexed. Pores curt, very small, round, equal, quite entire. Fries.

Always soft, fragile, hyaline-white when moist, shining white when dry. Odor acid. Without a cuticle. Stevenson.

Spores white, oval, 21×3µ W.G.S.

New York. Decaying wood of frondose trees. Peck, 33d Rep.

Angora, Philadelphia, Mt. Gretna, Pa. On standing and fallen timber. June to September. McIlvaine.

This snow-white Polyporus is too conspicuous to be passed unseen. One does not expect to find snow-balls stuck against trees in August. At a distance it resembles one. When young and fresh it is good.

P. betuli´nus Fr.—betula, birch. Pileus fleshy, then corky, hoof-shaped, obtuse, zoneless, smooth, the oblique vertex in the form of an umbo, pellicle thin, separating. Pores late of being developed, curt, minute, unequal, at length separating. Fries.

On living and dead birch. Common. May to December.

Pileus 3–6 in. broad. The pileus is at first pale, then acquiring a brownish tinge. The edge is always very obtuse. Stevenson.

The lower surface or hymenium is frequently rough with numerous acicular projections, making the plant look like a Hydnum when viewed horizontally. Peck, 24th Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

Massachusetts, Kansas, New York. Peck, Rep. 24.

Wherever the birch grows this neat, white-fleshed Polyporus abounds.

When young it is eaten by deer. Dried it burns with a white flame, or holds fire as well as the best punk. It is a valuable fuel, already prepared for the stove. In the birch forests near Eagle’s Mere, Pa., tons of it can be seen protruding from tree and log.

When very young it is fair. Unpleasant when old.

V.—Resupinati.

P. sinuo´sus Fr.—full of folds. Broadly effused, adnate, dry, the evanescent mycelium somewhat rooting, white then yellowish. Pores large, surface flexuous, acute, lacerated. Odor of licorice.

New York. Decaying wood of maple. Peck, 40th Rep.

Mt. Gretna, Pa. McIlvaine.

Of but little food value. Collected carefully and boiled, it yields a pleasantly flavored liquor.

MERU´LIUS Hall.

Hymenophore resting on a loose mold-like mycelium, covered with the soft, waxy, continuous hymenium, having its surface variously plicate or wrinkled, the folds forming irregular pores, sometimes obsoletely toothed.

Generally on wood.

I have tasted, raw, every species I have found. They are all more or less woody in flavor, and I believe them to be edible. At the best Merulius would be an emergency genus. M. tremellosus is substantial, as is M. rubellus Pk.

M. tremello´sus Schrad.—tremellosus, trembling. Resupinate; margin becoming free and more or less reflexed, usually radiately-toothed, gelatinoso-cartilaginous; hymenium variously wrinkled and porous; whitish and subtranslucent looking, becoming tinged brown in the center. Spores cylindrical, curved, about 4×1µ.

On wood. From 1–3 in. across, remaining pale when growing in dark places. Margin sometimes tinged rose, radiating when well developed. Massee.

Spores cylindrical, curved, hyaline, 4×1µ K.

New York. Old logs, stumps, Catskill mountains. Peck, 22d Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

Mt. Gretna, Pa. Common, both rose-colored and translucent brown species, numerous on decaying wood. October to November, 1898–1899. McIlvaine.

M. tremellosus is a common species and rather attractive looking. In substance it approaches Tremella and Peziza. The spore-bearing surface is superior (turned upward) and then sometimes turned in at the margin which frequently is bright rose color, sometimes yellowish-rose. It is rather tasteless—slightly woody in flavor, rather tough. An emergency species.

M. rubel´lus Pk.—rubellus, dim. of ruber, reddish. Generally cespitose, imbricated, sessile, dimidiate, soft, tenacious, tomentose, evenly red, pale when dry; margin mostly undulately inflexed; hymenium white or flesh-color; folds branching, forming anastomosing pores. Spores elliptical, hyaline, minute, 4–5×2.5–3µ.

Pileus 2–3 in. long, 1.5 in. broad.

Somewhat related to M. tremellosus.

On trunks of beech in woods.

Ohio, Morgan; Indiana, Dr. J.R. Weist; Mt. Gretna, Pa., November. McIlvaine. Specimens identified by Professor Peck.

Tough, but edible.

Hymenium inferior or amphigenous (not confined to one surface), from the first definitely protuberant, spread over persistent spines, bristles, teeth, tubercles or papilla. Fries.

While the highest members of this family possess the general form of the mushroom, others, lacking a stem, recline on the back (resupinate); the lowest, without even the appearance of a distinct pileus, seem to be simply spread over the supporting body (effused). In the highest class the spines or other spore-bearing surface are inferior, i. e., below the pileus; in the others they are of course superior, i. e., above the pileus.

Of the eleven genera but two contain species of food value. Hydnum, characterized by its acute spines, embraces species which are eaten as delicacies, and Irpex, distinguished by its somewhat acute teeth growing from a ridgy hymenium, contains those which may furnish sustenance in time of need. In Caldesia, bearing spines, the texture is floccose not fleshy. Sistotrema has a pileus and a central stem, but instead of spines bears irregular flattened teeth. The remaining genera are separated by the tubercles, granules, folds, etc., which take the place of spines or teeth.

Several species of Hydnum are common to earth and wood, others are distinct in their habitats.

Sporophore fleshy, with a central stem or entirely resupinate, texture compact, spines acute, distinct at the base.

Resupinate; texture floccose, spines acute; spores muriculate. (No edible species reported.)

Pileate; fleshy, central-stemmed, teeth flattened, irregular, inferior. (No edible species reported.)

Resupinate; teeth rather acute, springing from folds or ridges that often anastomose irregularly.

Resupinate; tubercles coarse, deformed, subcylindrical, obtuse. (No edible species reported.)