agaric aceæ

pl. [AGARIC US.] An order of plants belonging to the Alliance Fungales. It contains the most highly organised species belonging to the Alliance. It is called also HYMENOMYCETES (q.v.). ag-ar-iç'-i-a, 8. [Named from its resemblance to the Agaric us genus of mushrooms.] [AGARIC US.] Zool. The name given by Lamouroux to a genus of Zoophytes containing what are called the Mushroom Madrepores . Lamarck enumerates five species, and Parkins on seven. ag-ar-ic-us, s.; pl. ag-ar-i-çi. [Gr. ἀγαρικόν (agarikon).] [AGARIC.] A genus of plants, the typical one of the Fungus or Mushroom family, consisting of the species which po e a fleshy pileus or cap, with a number of nearly parallel or radiating plates or gills on its lower side, bearing spores, the whole being supported upon a more MUSHROOMS. (AGARICI.) or le lengthened stalk. More than one you sand species are known. They may be separated into five natural divisions, according as the colour of the spores is white, pink, ferruginous, purple-brown, or black. There are many sub-genera. Some species are poisonous. It is difficult to identify these with the accuracy which the importance of the subject demands; but the following marks have been given: An agaric is poisonous, or at least suspicious, if it has a very thin cap compared with the thickne of the gills, if the stalk grows from one side of the cap, if the gills are of equal length, if the juice is milky, if it speedily decays into a dark watery fluid, if the collar round it is like a spider's web. All these characteristics do not meet in the same individual, but the presence of one or more of them is enough to inspire caution. The eatable agarics, British and foreign, are the A. campestris, or Common Mushroom that often cultivated in gardens; the A. Georgii; the A. pratensis , or Fairy-ring Mushroom; the A. person at us, . The A. canthurellus, piper at us , ., contain sugary matter, considered by Liebig to be mannite. The agaric of the olive is poisonous, but pickling and subsequent washing render it harmle , as has been ascertained by experience in the Cévennes. Similarly, the application of vinegar and salt deprives the poisonous A. bulbosus of its noxious qualities; but too much caution cannot be used in experimenting upon such dangerous articles of food. A curious circumstance about some agarics, such as the A. Gardneri of Brazil and the A. olearius of the south of Europe, is that they are luminous. * a-gā'sed, * a-gast', * a-găste, * agăst'-ěd, pa. par. & a. [AGHAST.]