Mushrooms and Toadstools (Third Edition) — Red-fleshed Mushroom to Candle Clavaria

(_Agaricus_ [_Amanita_] _rubescens.

_) 7. This species is generally abundant in all _woody_ places, making its first appearance in early summer and continuing till late in the autumn.

It is known by its brown warty top, its white gills, and perfect ring encircling the bulbous stem.

It frequently attains a large size, and its whole substance, when touched, bruised, or broken, _becomes sienna-red_.

This species is one of the most beautiful as well as valuable of all the British Agarics.

If care be taken to select young and fresh specimens only, when prepared for the table, it will prove a very light and delicate addition to any meal.

Mr. Berkeley does not subscribe to the excellence of this species; but as far as my own experience and that of many friends go, I _well know it to be delicious and perfectly wholesome_.

Mr. Penrose writes me: “_Old specimens_ are very indigestible.

” This I imagine contains the whole secret of its questionable name amongst some who have (or have not) tried it.

=Edible Tube-Mushroom.

= Fig. 2. (_Boletus edulis.

_) 610. Frequently attaining enormous dimensions, and first appearing during the summer or early autumn rains, this fungus is one of our commonest and most delicious species.

Like the last, it grows in woods and forests, and may be at once known by the following characters: it is generally very stout, with a smooth, umber, cushion-shaped top, tubes at first white and ultimately pale yellowish-green; stem whitish-brown, marked with a _minute_ white and very elegant reticulated network, principally near the top of the ringless stem; when cut or broken, the fleshy body of the plant continues pure white.

In this, as in every other species, sound young specimens should be selected, and it is perhaps as well to scrape away the tubes before preparation for the table.

Whether boiled, stewed with salt, pepper, and butter, fried, or roasted with onions and butter, this species proves itself one of the most delicious and tender objects of food ever submitted to the operation of cooking.

It is not the plant referred to by the ancient Roman satiric poets; but at Rome (in the present day) this species, in company with peaches and _Agaricus cæsareus_, is sold at every street corner, our common meadow mushroom, though abundant enough there, being disregarded.

_B.

scaber_ (615) is sometimes eaten.

From personal experience, Mr. Penrose says: “Young specimens are good—old, very flat.

” _B.

æstivalis_ (612) is of rare excellence; it appears in the early summer, sometimes in abundance, at Highgate.

Before I properly knew _B.

edulis_, I ate all sorts of _Boleti_ in mistake for it, notably _B.

chrysenteron_.

=Variable Mushroom.

= Fig. 3. (_Russula heterophylla.

_) 522. This is a very common species in woods, known by its sweet nutty taste; white, rigid, sometimes branched, gills; white flesh; white, solid, fleshy, ringless stem; and firm top, variable in colour, which is at first convex, at last concave.

The colour of the thin viscid skin covering the top of the fungus is commonly subdued green, but (as its name indicates) the colour is variable: at one time it approaches greenish-yellow, or lilac, and at another grey or obscure purple;

but it is so common and well marked that, with the assistance of the figure, there is no fear of mistaking it for anything else.

There is a _stouter_, more rigid plant, with forked gills and a bitter taste (_R.

furcata_), that had better be avoided.

A third green Russula (_R.

virescens_), immediately known by its rigid substance, its top broken up into large rough emerald-green patches, and with no viscid skin, is an excellent addition to the table.

_Russula heterophylla_ is highly esteemed by many, and is certainly one of the sweetest and mildest species we have.

It is excellent stewed in an oven, with salt, pepper, and butter, between two dishes.

=Candle Clavaria.

= Fig. 4. (_Clavaria vermiculata.

_) 843. This species is frequently very common in pastures and meadows, on lawns and by roadsides, in the wet weather of autumn.

It grows in bundles; is brittle; the clubs are pointed and very _white_.

If a few bundles be gathered, cleaned, and stewed or broiled, they will form a novel and tasty adjunct to any dish, and when once tried will be eagerly sought for in future.

Coloured _Clavarias_ had better remain where found growing, as their gastronomic qualities are doubtful.

=Meadow Mushroom.

= Fig. 5.