Family I — Phalloideæ
Receptacle and gleba at first enclosed in a universal volva composed of three distinct layers, the central one being gelatinous at maturity. Spores minute, elliptic-oblong, smooth, when mature involved in mucus. Massee.
Spores 3–5µ in length. Morgan.
There are but few edible species within the family, and those edible only when very young. The family embraces the very offensive fungi known as stink-horns.
TABLE OF GENERA.
I.—PHALLEÆ.
Receptacle consisting of an elongated stipe bearing the gleba on a conical pileus at its apex.
1. Phallus. Page 571.
Pileus attached only to the apex of the stipe, dependent free all around below.
2. Mutinus. Page 575.
Pileus wholly adnate to the summit of the stipe.
II.—CLATHREÆ.
Receptacle a hollow clathrate body, with the gleba attached to the upper part of the inner surface.
3. Clathrus.
Receptacle composed of obliquely anastomosing bars and sessile.
4. Simblum.
Receptacle composed of obliquely anastomosing bars and stipitate.
5. Laternea.
Receptacle composed of a few vertical columns and sessile.
Morgan.
I — Phal´leæ
Receptacle consisting of an elongated stem bearing the gleba on a conical pileus at its apex. Stem cylindric, hollow, composed of one to several layers of round-celled tissue; the gleba occupying the outer surface of the pileus.
Genus I — Phal´lus Mich
Stem hollow within, the wall composed of several layers of round-celled tissue. Pileus attached only to the apex of the stipe, dependent free all around below, the gleba occupying its outer surface. Morgan.
The following synoptical tables will exhibit the prominent distinctive features of the species of Phallus of this state (New York) and the United States, so far as I am able to get them from the published descriptions and the specimens at my command.
NEW YORK SPECIES OF PHALLUS.
| Denuded pileus reticulate with coarse deep pits or cells | |
| Veil exposed, reticulate with small perforations | P. Dæmonum Rumph. |
| Veil none | P. impudicus L. |
| Denuded pileus porous, veil not perforate, concealed | P. Ravenelii B. and C. |
UNITED STATES SPECIES OF PHALLUS.
| Denuded pileus reticulate with coarse deep pits or cells. | |
| Veil exposed. | |
| Large and reticulate with large perforations. | P. indusiatus Vent. |
| Smaller and reticulate with small perforations. | P. Dæmonum Rumph. |
| Smaller and plicate. | P. duplicatus Bosc. |
| Veil none. | P. impudicus L. |
| Denuded pileus even or merely porous. | |
| Veil short, concealed beneath the pileus. | P. Ravenelii B. and C. |
| Veil none. | P. rubicundus Bosc. |
| Peck, 32d Rep. N.Y. State Bot. |
I — Hymenophal´lus
An indusium or veil surrounding the stipe and dependent from its apex beneath the pileus.
a. Veil reticulate, hanging below the pileus.
P. Dæ´monum Rumph. Volva globose, not very thick, pinkish; segments 3 or 4, irregular. Stem cylindric, tapering at each end, cellulose; the veil reticulate, somewhat expanded and bell-shaped, hanging nearly to the middle of the stem. Pileus bell-shaped, somewhat oblique; the surface reticulate-pitted after deliquescence; the apex truncate, smooth, perforate. Spores elliptic-oblong, 4×2µ.
Plant 9 in. high. Volva 2 in. in diameter. Stem 1⅛ in. thick at the middle. Pileus 2 in. in height; the lower edge of the veil hangs about 4 in. from the apex of the stem. The short veil and the smooth ring at the apex will distinguish this species from the next. Morgan.
Growing on the ground in woods.
Ohio, Morgan, Lea; Maryland, Miss Banning; New York, Peck.
Mt. Gretna, ground in mixed woods, August, 1899. McIlvaine.
Several specimens were found; but two in the early or ovum stage. In this condition the species is edible. Quality same as P. impudicus.
P. duplica´tus Bosc. Volva depressed globose, thick, flabby white; segments 3–5, acute. Stipe fusiform-cylindric cellulose; the veil reticulate, hanging down to the volva, sometimes much expanded, often torn and shreddy with pieces adherent to the stipe. Pileus campanulate, reticulate-pitted after deliquescence; the apex acute, not regularly perforate. Spores elliptic-oblong, 4×2µ.
Plant 6–8 in. high. Volva 2½ in. in diameter. Stipe 1¼ in. thick in the middle. Pileus 2 in. in height. The long veil usually clings close to the stipe though sometimes swinging free and much expanded. In this species the gleba extends over the apex and there is no thick smooth ring encircling the perforation as in the preceding species (P. Dæmonum). Morgan.
Growing in woods about old stumps and rotten logs. West Virginia, in woods, along mountain trails; Mt. Gretna, Pa., in mixed woods, summer. McIlvaine.
In the forests of the West Virginia mountains, P. duplicatus is frequent. Before rupture of the volva the plant is a semi-gelatinous mass, tenacious and elastic. It has little taste or smell. Cut in slices and fried, or stewed, it is a tender, agreeable food.
b. Veil not reticulate, concealed beneath the pileus.
P. Ravenel´ii B. and C. Volva subglobose or ovoid, pinkish; with an inner membrane, the lower half of the veil surrounding the base of the stem; segments 2 or 3. Stem cylindric, tapering at each end, cellulose; the veil membranous, scarcely half as long as the pileus and concealed beneath it. Pileus conico-bell-shaped; the surface not reticulate-pitted after deliquescence; the apex smooth and closed or finally perforate. Spores elliptic-oblong, 4–5×2µ.
Plant 5–7 in. high. Volva 1½-2 in. in diameter. Stem nearly 1 in. thick. Pileus 1½ in. in height. This species vitiates the genus Dictyophora and it can not very well be placed in Ithyphallus.
Growing in woods and fields about rotting stumps and logs. Morgan.
South Carolina, Ravenel; Ohio, Morgan; New York, Peck.
II — Ithyphal´lus Fischer. (Gr — Erect; Gr — Phallus.)
Stipe without an indusium or veil dependent from its apex. Morgan.
P. impudi´cus Linn. (Plate CLVIII.) Volva globose or ovoid, white or pinkish; segments 2 or 3. Stem cylindric, tapering at each end, cellulose, without a veil. Pileus conic-campanulate; the surface reticulate pitted after deliquescence, the apex smooth, at first closed, at length perforate. Spores elliptic-oblong, 4–5×2µ.
Growing on the ground in woods.
Plant 6–8 in. high. Volva 2 in. in diameter. Stem 1¼ in. thick. Pileus 2 in. in height.
By the elongation of the stem the thin membrane which separates the stipe from the pileus is torn into shreds and the pileus is thus liberated from the stipe except at the apex. Morgan.
West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania. Summer and autumn. McIlvaine.
P. impudicus makes itself known wherever it grows. The stench of the full-grown plant is aggravatingly offensive, attracting blow-flies in quantities, and the carrion beetle Necrophorus Americanus. It is common over the United States, in woods, open fence corners, along road-sides, but a favorite abode is in kitchen yards and under wooden steps, where, when mature, it will compel the household to seek it in self-defense. It is a beautiful plant.
When in the egg-shape it is white or light dull-green, semi-gelatinous, tenacious and elastic. As many as a dozen sometimes grow in a bunch, each from a peculiar white, cord-like root or mycelium. They look, when young, like bubbles of some thick substance. In this condition they are very good when fried. They demand to be eaten at this time, if at any.
Genus II — Muti´nus Fr
Stipe hollow within, the wall composed of a single layer of round-celled tissue. Pileus wholly adnate to the summit of the stipe, the gleba occupying its outer surface. Morgan.
Distinguished from Ithyphallus by the cap being adnate to the receptacle.
M. cani´nus Fr. (Phallus caninus Berk.; Phallus inodorus Sow.) Receptacle elongato-fusiform, cellular, white or rosy. Pileus short, subacute, rugulose, red. Spores cylindrical, involved in green mucus, 3–5×2µ.
In woods and bushy places. Sporophore from ½-¾ in. before the volva is ruptured. When fully evolved 3–4 in. high. Sometimes scentless, at others with a distinct odor, but never so strong and disagreeable as in Ithyphallus impudicus. Massee.
Spores elliptic, 6×4µ Morgan; 3–5×2µ Massee.
New England, Frost; New York, Warne; West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, McIlvaine.
This species is common. Few old woods are without it. It is conspicuous in color among the brown of the forest carpet. The plant has not the mal-odor of its relations, but is not pleasant. In the egg shape it is gelatinous, tenacious, rather firm, edible and good when sliced and fried.
M. bovi´nus Morg. Volva oblong-ovoid, pinkish, segments 2 or 3. Stem cylindric, tapering gradually to the apex, white or pinkish below, bright red above. Pileus indeterminate, conic-acuminate, perforate at the apex. Spores elliptic-oblong, 4–5×2µ.
Plant 4–7 in. in height, the stem ¾ of an in. in thickness, the volva not much thicker and 1–1½ in. in height; the pileus occupies 1–2 in. of the pointed apex, but is not definitely limited below. This plant has the strong disagreeable odor of other Phalloids.
Growing in rich soil in cultivated grounds and in woods. Morgan.
Common in mixed woods, West Virginia, Pennsylvania. Smell strong, but not so offensive as P. impudicus. Edible in the egg-shape.
M. brevis B. and C.—short. Volva globose or ovoid, segments 2 or 3. Stem bright red, coarsely cribrose, attenuated below. Pileus somewhat broadly clavate, sometimes conical, but always more or less obtuse, perforate at the apex.
Plant 2–3 in. high. Stem 4–5 lines thick, the volva ¾ of an in. in diameter, the pileus sometimes half as long as the stem.
Growing on the ground in fields and gardens. Morgan.
North Carolina, Curtis; South Carolina, Ravenel; New England, Wright; New York, Howe, Gerard, Peck.
In the remaining genera, Clathrus, Simblum, Laternea, no species have been reported as tested.
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