ill possibly find trouble in identifying species, because of
variation of size and color. The spores are white to very pale yellow,
generally spiny. The pileus is fleshy, convex, then expanded, and at
length depressed. The stem is brittle, stout, and smooth, generally
spongy within, and confluent with the cap. The gills are milkless, with
acute edge, and very tender.

Captain McIlvaine, in his very valuable book, One Thousand American
Fungi, says: "To this genus authors have done special injustice; there
is not a single species among them known to be poisonous, and where they
are not too strong of cherry bark and other highly flavored substances,
they are all edible; most of them favorites." I can testify to the fact
that many of them are favorites, though a few are very peppery and it
requires some courage to attack them.

They are all found on the ground in open woods, from early summer to
late fall.

_Russula delica. Fr._

THE WEANED RUSSULA. EDIBLE.

Delica means weaned, so called because, though it resembles Lactarius
vellereus in appearance, it is void of milk.

The pileus is quite large, fleshy, firm, depressed, even, shining,
margin involute, smooth, not striated.

The gills are decurrent, thin, distant, unequal, white.

The stem is solid, compact, white, short.

Specimens will be found that resemble Lactarius piperatus and L.
vellereus, but they may be easily distinguished because they have no
milk in their gills and the taste is mild. They are not equal to most of
the Russulas. Found in woods from August to October.

_Russula adusta. Pers._

THE SMOKY RUSSULA. EDIBLE.

[Illustration: Figure 145.--Russula adusta.]

Adusta means burned.

The pileus is fuliginous, cinereous, flesh compact, margin even and
inflexed, depressed in the center.

The gills are attached to the stem, decurrent, thin, crowded, unequal,
white, not reddening when bruised.

The stem is obese, solid, of the same color as the pileus, not turning
red when bruised.

The plant resembles R. nigricans, but can readily be distinguished from
it because of the thin, crowded gills and failure to turn red when cut
or bruised. The spores are subglobose, almost smooth, 8-9u; no
cystidia. It is found in the woods during August and September. Edible
but not first class. It is a plant very widely distributed.

_Russula nigricans. Fr._

[Illustration: _Photo by C. G. Lloyd._

Figure 146.--Russula nigricans.]

Nigricans means