Omaha daily bee., 1917-02-25
MUSHROOMS ARE
FOOD OF EPICURES
Delightful Woodland Flavor
Pleases Palates of
Fastidious.
HOW TO DISTINGUISH THEM

known as fungi, have been used Is
an article OF food for hundreds Of
years. To the epicures of all coun-
tries. these delicate plants are in de-
nand because of their delightful
woodland flavor. In China and Euro
pean countries they are gathered by
the poorer classes. Although these
people have learned by experience to
tell the difference between the COM
mon edible and poisonous forms,
deaths among them from mushroom
poisoning are frequent. Even In the
United States, it is estimated that
about 100 people die each year from
mushroom poisoning.
In order that the public may know
the distinctions between the edible
and the poisonous species, botanist
of the Smithsonian Institute makes
the following statement: -.
The popular terms, mushrooms
and "toadstools,' are valueless when
one attempts to differentiate between
these two types of fungi. There are
also a number OF so-called tests which
are absolutely unreliable. Each kind
grows on lawns, in open fields, and in
the woods. The saying that inush-
room Is edible because it is found in
an open field is therefore, not to be
relied upon; nor can reliance be placed
upon tests based on odor or taste.
Some of our most poisonous forms
have both excellent mushroom-like
odors and tastes. Color, by itself, is
no indication, for there are poisonous
and edible forms which are white or
gray or of various other shades.
Neither is peeling a test for edible
forms, as some of the most poisonous
kinds peel easily.
Destroying Angel.
Recently member OF the staff OF
the United States National Museum
came upon a group Of several people
gathering one of the most poisonous
species Of the mushroom, growing
near a summer seashorc resort in
wood, which is a popular picnic
ground. This form is very enticing
because of its beautiful symmetrical
shape and its snow white color. But
it is called the destroying angel
and ii eaten. is deadly poison. There
is no antidote for it-death is sure to
follow.
There is only one way Of dis
tinguishing between edible and pois-
onous mushrooms, and that is by
knowing and being able to recognize
the botanical characteristics which
the various forms possess. Briefly,
these characteristics may be summed
up as follows: The part OF the mush
room which we see is but the fruit"
Of plant that grows on dead organic
matter, either in the ground or in
parts OF trees. This plant which has
been growing below the surface OF
the soil for long time, in some
cases for years, consists of fine net
work of very delicate threads, having
the appearance of compact cobweb.
Ordinarily the portion of the fungus
in the earth is not observed; when
fruiting time comes, however, this
cobwebby structure sends out a small
rounded egg-like body, known as the
button. The button grows rapidly
and soon bursts, revealing small,
cap-like portion borne upon a stem.
It is this cap and stem which consti-
tute most OF the so-called mushrooms.
AS the cap and stem enlarge and grow
upward, portions of the buttons sheath
may be either borne upward on top
of the cap, giving the cap warty ap
pearance, or they may pass away. The
lower half of the sheath may disap-
pear or may remain in the form of a
cup around the base of the stem. The
presence or absence Of this cup,
known botanically as volva, Is an
important feature In Identification,
for some of the most poisonous forms
possess this structure. At first the
margin of the cap is attached to the
stem by a connecting membrane.
which readily ruptures, revealing the
gills' on the under side of the cap.
Portions OF the membrane may re-
main on the stem in the form OF ring
and the outer portions may remain at
tached to the edge Of the cap. The
presence or absence of this ring on
the stem is another important dis
tingushing feature. These character.
istics together with the color of the
spores (minute bodies which, like
seeds, propagate new plants), borne
upon the gills, make up the most I'M
portant features which enable one to
Judge with certainty the edible quail
ity. All mushrooms which possess
a volva at the base of the stem and
ring on the upper portion of the stem
should be rejected. When collecting
mushrooms it Is necessary to dig up
the base of the stem together with
the main body, otherwise the volva
may be overlooked.
Pink ellis.
The common field mushroom pos
seses pink gills, which turn black
with age and ring around the TIP
per part OF the stem, but has no
volva or cup at its base. This is
the principal mushroom grown com
mercially, and, when properly pre-
pared it is indeed delicacy It is
found in open fields from August
TO October and may be recognized
by its pink gills. the gray shiny cover
OF the cap and stem, and by the
other characteristics just mentioned.
All puff balls when young and pos
scssing white flesh are also edible.
The common morel or sponge mush-
room, possesses excellent eating
quality and may easily be recognized.
1t has much furrowed and wrinkled
conical top, which is borne on a
more or less elongated stem. There
are no true gills, the spores being
borne on the irregular pitted heads.
When fresh these tops appear yell
lowish and are borne on a white
stem. The morel is usually found
growing in the woods in the spring