Chapter VI: Part 6

Truly autumnal, being most abundant in November. There are two forms: (_a_) on pine leaves in pine woods; (_b_) among heather. (_a_) Stem rather firm, hollow, about 2 in. long, 2 lines thick, equal or slightly thickened at the apex, at length compressed, somewhat incurved, glabrous, naked, becoming livid, white when dry, base white and downy. Flesh of pileus membranaceous, at first convex, umbilicate, margin reflexed, about 1 in. across, then funnel-shaped, often irregular and undulate, up to 2 in. broad, glabrous, even, livid when moist, whitish then becoming yellowish when dry, disk at first usually darker. Gills decurrent, at first arcuate, then descending, 1 line broad, crowded, distinct, livid then yellowish-white, smell weak, not unpleasant. (_b_) Entirely watery white; stem hollow, somewhat striate, base glabrous; pileus infundibuliform, margin deflexed, milky-white when dry. Gills less crowded, but rather broader, whitish. _Fries._

=Spores= 3µ _W.G.S._; 4–5×3–4µ _Massee_.

Edible. _Cooke._

=C. morbi´fera= Pk.—_morbus_, disease; _fero_, to bear. =Pileus= thin, fragile, glabrous, convex, becoming plane or centrally depressed, slightly hygrophanous, grayish-brown when moist, whitish or cinereous when dry, sometimes slightly umbonate. =Gills= narrow, close, adnate or slightly decurrent, whitish or pallid. =Stem= short, equal, hollow, colored like the pileus or a little paler. =Spores= minute, broadly elliptical, 4µ long, almost as broad.

=Pileus= .5–1.5 in. broad. =Stem= about 1 in. long, ⅙–¼ in. thick. Grassy ground and lawns. November. Washington, D.C. _F.J. Braendle._

The species seems related to C. expallens, but the margin of the pileus is not striate as in that fungus. The taste is very disagreeable and remains in the mouth a long time. Two persons were made ill by eating it, but their sickness lasted only about three hours. _Peck._

I have not seen this species. Its reputation is bad. Caution should be observed.

V.—VERSIFOR´MES.

_Pileus bright, of one color._

=C. trullisa´ta= Ellis. =Pileus= fleshy, plano-convex, at length depressed in the center, innate fibrous-scaly, becoming smoother on the disk, margin thin. =Gills= unequal, not crowded, coarse and thick, adnate with a decurrent tooth, at length white pulverulent, purple-violet at first, becoming dark brick-red. =Stem= stuffed, fibrillose, with a long club-shaped base penetrating deeply into the sand. =Spores= large, cylindric-oblong, 15–20µ.

In old sandy fields. September to October.

The interior of the stem in the young plant is like the gills, violet-purple, and the club-shaped base is covered with a tomentose coat, to which the sand adheres tenaciously.

Related to A. laccatus and A. ochropurpureus B.

Resembles the larger forms of A. laccatus, but it has a stouter habit, the pileus is more squamulose, the stem is bulbous or thickened at the base, the mycelium is violet-colored and the spores are oblong. Bull. Torrey Bot. Club, November, 1874.

New Jersey, _Ellis_; New York, _Peck_, Rep. 33.

Haddonfield, Watertown, N.J. Sandy soil in pine woods. _McIlvaine._

Densely cespitose. Caps and stems brown, glutinous and so incrusted with sand that it is almost impossible to clean them. Edible, but not desirable.

=C. lacca´ta= Scop.—made of lac. (Plate XXIV, fig. 10, p. 82.) =Pileus= thin, fleshy, convex, sometimes expanded, even or slightly umbilicate, smooth or minutely tomentose-scaly, hygrophanous when moist, dull reddish-yellow or reddish flesh-colored, sometimes striatulate when dry, pallid or pale dull ochraceous. =Gills= broad, rather thick and distant, attached, not decurrent, flesh-colored. =Stem= slender, firm, fibrous, stuffed, equal, concolorous.

=Height= 1–6 in., breadth of pileus 6 lines to 2 in. Common. June to October.

An extremely variable and abundant species occurring almost everywhere throughout the season. _Peck_, 23d Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

=Spores= 8–9µ _Massee_; 8–10µ _B._

Var. _pallidifo´lia_ Pk.—_pallidus_, pale; _folium_af. Gills whitish or pallid, decurrent.

Var. _stria´tula_ Pk.—_stria_, a furrow. Pileus moist, smooth, thin, showing shading radiating lines, extending from near the center to the margin. In wet or damp places.

A form occurs with a decidedly bulbous base. Gills appearing emarginate with a decurrent tooth.

Clitocybe laccata is made the type of a new genus by Berkeley and Broome. Massee accepts the genus but it is not generally accepted by the standard authors. It is a well defined genus, and a fitting place for C. laccata, C. amethystina, C. ochropurpurea, C. tortilis, which it puzzles anyone to identify as Clitocybe.

=C. amethys´tina= Bolt.—_amethystinus_, color of an amethyst. (Plate XXIV, fig. 8, p. 82.) =Pileus= 1–2½ in. across, dark-purple, umbilicate, smooth, minutely tomentose, involute. =Gills= dark-purple, decurrent, broad. =Stem= 2–3 in. high, fibrillose, purple, streaked with white fibrils, equal, densely covered with white tomentum at base.

Also written _Clitocybe laccata amethystina_ Sacc.

“In my opinion it is a good species and should be kept distinct as Bolton gave it, and not be tacked on to C. laccata as a variety. I should write it Clitocybe amethystina Bolt.” _Peck_, letter September 17, 1897.

New York, _Peck_, Rep. 41; New Jersey, _Sterling_; Mt. Gretna, Pa., on wood soil, June to frost, 1897–1898, _McIlvaine_.

Generally included in C. laccata as a variety, and has therefore been reported under that name.

Great quantities of C. amethystina grew in troops on beds made up of wood earth about the cottages at Mt. Gretna, Pa. The woods over them is dense.

The caps are tough, but they cook readily and make a pleasing dish.

=C. tor´tilis= Bolt.—_tortilis_, twisted. =Pileus= membranaceous, convexo-plane then depressed, obscurely marked with radiating striæ. =Stem= hollow, twisted, fragile. =Gills= adnate, thick, distant, fleshy-rose, cespitose, small, irregular, pileus and stem rusty in color.

Hard ground in an old road. Sandlake. August. A species closely allied to C. laccata and appearing like an irregular dwarf form of that species. Sometimes cespitose. _Peck_, 41st Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

Excepting that this fungus is frequently found with C. laccata, and might be taken for a new species if not here described, it would not be separated from C. laccata.

Its edible qualities are similar.

=C. ochropurpu´rea= Berk.—_ochra_, ocher; _purpureus_, purple. (Plate XXIV, figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, p. =82=.) =Pileus= subhemispherical, at length depressed, fleshy, compact, tough, pale yellow, slightly changing to purplish, cuticle easily separable; margin inflexed, at first tomentose. =Stem= paler, here and there becoming purplish, solid, swollen in the middle, occasionally equal. =Gills= thick, purple, broader behind, decurrent. =Spores= white or pale yellow.

=Pileus= 2 in. broad. =Stem= 2½ in. high, ¾ in. thick in the center.

August. On clayey soil in woodlands.

Its spores darken when shed in quantity, have a granulated and light-lilac appearance. It is a solitary grower, sometimes reaching the height of six inches. The upturned, wavy pileus, showing the purple gills in contrast with the pale Naples-yellow of the cap is markedly attractive. The stem is often rough with fibers, hard and tough. The caps are tough. It grows in grassy woods and open places. The novice, even the expert, will be puzzled to place it in its genus.

Specimens were sent to me by Miss Lydia M. Patchen, Westfield, N.Y., and E.B. Sterling, Trenton, N.J. I afterward found many at Mt. Gretna, Pa. I reported their edible qualities to Prof. Peck who wrote, September 3, 1897: “I have often wished it was edible, but it has such a disagreeable flavor when fresh that I have never ventured to eat it. I have known it to be mistaken for the common mushroom, but not eaten.”

Though tough it cooks tender and is excellent. Stew and put in patties or croquettes.

VI.—ORBIFOR´MES.

* _Gills becoming ash-colored_.

=C. di´topa= Fr. _Gr._—twofold; _Gr._—a foot. Probably from stems growing two together. =Pileus= thin, submembranaceous, convex, rarely with a small umbo, smooth, hygrophanous, brown when young and moist, grayish-white when dry. =Gills= grayish, close, thin, attached, not decurrent. =Stem= slender, equal, smooth, hollow.

=Height= 1–2 in., breadth of pileus 6–18 lines. =Stem= 1–2 lines thick.

Pine woods. West Albany. October.

The plant has the odor and taste of new meal. I have seen no specimens with the pileus depressed. _Peck_, 23d Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

=C. meta´chroa= Fr. _Gr._—changing color. Separated from C. ditopa by its thicker, depressed pileus, its thicker, less close gills, and the absence of odor.

Pine woods. West Albany. October. _Peck_, 23d Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

Moderately plentiful in New Jersey pines. September to October.

Edible, tough; when well stewed of good flavor.

** _Gills whitish._

=C. compres´sipes= Pk.—_compressus_, pressed together; _pes_, a foot. =Pileus= thin, convex or expanded, umbilicate, glabrous, hygrophanous, brownish when moist, whitish or pale yellow when dry, margin thin. =Gills= close, subarcuate or horizontal, adnate or subdecurrent, whitish. =Stem= firm, hollow, generally compressed, slightly pruinose. =Spores= elliptical, 5–6.5×4–4.5µ. =Flesh= white when dry, odor slight, farinaceous.

=Plant= gregarious, 1–1.5 in. high. =Pileus= 6–16 lines broad. =Stem= 1–2 lines thick.

Grassy places. Albany. July.

The moist pileus is sometimes obscurely zonate. The odor is not always perceptible unless the pileus is moist or broken. The stem is sometimes compressed at the top only, sometimes at the base only, and rarely it is wholly top-shaped. _Peck_, 33d Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

Found on open lots in West Philadelphia. Though small it usually grows in troops which yield fair quantity. The caps are tender and of good flavor.

=C. fra´grans= Sow.—_fragrans_, fragrant. Smell strong, spicy. =Pileus= about 1 in. across. =Flesh= rather thick; convex, soon expanded and slightly depressed or umbilicate, even, glabrous, hygrophanous, uniform watery-white, disk not darker, whitish when dry. =Gills= slightly decurrent, rather crowded, 1 line broad, distinct, whitish. =Stem= about 2 in. long, equal, slightly curved, elastic, glabrous, whitish, stuffed then hollow.

In woods among moss, etc.

Distinguished from other species resembling it in color and size, by the fragrant smell resembling aniseed. _Massee._

=Spores= 6×4µ. _W.G.S._

Found in West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania. July to severe frosts. _McIlvaine._

Edible. The strong taste of anise is not lost in cooking.

=C. pino´phila=—pine loving. =Pileus= thin, convex, umbilicate or centrally depressed, glabrous, moist, pale tan-color, paler or alutaceous when dry. =Gills= moderately close, subarcuate, adnate or slightly decurrent, whitish. =Stem= equal, stuffed or hollow, glabrous or subpruinose, colored like the pileus. =Spores= nearly elliptical, 4–6µ long; odor and taste resembling that of fresh meal.

=Plant= 1–2 in. high. =Pileus= about 1 in. broad. =Stem= 1–2 lines thick.

Ground under pine trees. Albany and Ticonderoga. July and August. _Peck_, 31st Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

Quite plentiful in pine woods of New Jersey. Edible; pleasant.

=COLLY´BIA= Fr.

_Gr._—a small coin.

=Pileus= fleshy, usually thin, _margin incurved_ at first, not corrugated. =Stem= different in substance from the pileus, but confluent with it; hollow, with a cartilaginous bark, internally cartilaginous or soft, often rooting. =Gills= free or obtusely adnexed, membranaceous, soft.

Growing on the ground, wood, leaves and decaying fungi.

In Clitocybe and Tricholoma the substance of the stem and pileus is alike; they differ in the character of the stem. Tricholoma has no distinct bark-like coat, and in Clitocybe the stem is covered with minute fibers. In Mycena as in Collybia the stem is different in substance from the pileus, but is distinguished by the margin of the pileus being straight. It is most closely allied to Marasmius, which is characterized by its tough coriaceous substance, which when dried fully revives and expands on being moistened. The line between them can not always be closely drawn, and there are numerous species which it is difficult to place with certainty in either genus. This does not apply to the fleshy edible species of this genus as they are quite distinct from Marasmius.

Peck’s 49th Report contains a monograph of the New York species of Collybia, supplemented by one of those found in other states.

Several common, prolific, long-season, delicious fungi occur in this genus. They vary in size from “a small coin” to five inches across. They grow in woods, on wood, on ground, on leaves, on lawns and among moss and grass in shaded places. The writer has tested many species raw, and eaten small quantities cooked, which are not herein described for the reason that not enough of a species was found to test to full extent. So far as is reported and as his experience goes, there is not a poisonous species in Collybia. Many of them are strong in odor.

Photographed by Dr. J.R. Weist. PLATE XXIX.
COLLYBIA RADICATA.
]

ANALYSIS OF TRIBES.

_Series A._ GILLS WHITE OR BRIGHTLY COLORED, NOT GRAY. FLESH WHITE.

STRIÆPEDES (striate-stemmed). Page 113.

Stem stout, hollow or imperfectly filled with a spongy pith; grooved or striate with fibers.

* Gills broad, rather distant.

** Gills narrow, crowded.

VESTIPEDES (clothed-stemmed). Page 118.

Stem thin, equal, hollow or with a pith, even, velvety, downy or covered with a bloom.

* Gills broad, rather distant.

** Gills very narrow, closely crowded.

LÆVIPEDES (even-stemmed). Page 120.

Stem thin, equal, hollow, naked, smooth—except the base—apparently not striate, but some species are minutely striate under a lens.

* Gills broad, lax, usually more or less distant.

** Gills narrow, crowded.

_Series B._ GILLS BECOMING GRAY. HYGROPHANOUS.

TEPHROPHANÆ. Page —-.

Color brownish becoming gray. Allied to the last section of Tricholoma and Clitocybe, but distinguished from them by the cartilaginous stem.

Some are strong scented. None known to be edible.

STRIÆ´PEDES.

* _Gills broad, rather distant._

=C. radica´ta= Relh.—_radix_, a root. (Plate XXIX, p. 112.) =Pileus= 1½-4 in. across, from convex to nearly plane, broadly umbonate, frequently wrinkled toward and at the umbo, glutinous when moist. Color variable, usually brown in grayish shades, from dark to almost white. =Flesh= thin, white, elastic. =Gills= white, thick, tough, distant, ventricose, adnexed, rounded or notched behind like Tricholoma, sometimes with a decurrent tooth. =Stem= 4–8 in. long, 3–5 lines thick, smooth, firm, same color as pileus, tapering upward, becoming vertically striate or grooved, often twisted, ending in a long, tapering, pointed root deeply planted in the earth.

=Spores= elliptical, 14–15×8–9µ _Massee_; 11×17µ _W.G.S._; 11×9µ _W.P._; 16–17×10–11µ _B._

Often sombre, but erect, neat and handsome. Growing solitary and in troops in woods, usually near stumps, if much decayed, sometimes on them, or on shaded lawns and grassy places. June to October.

Var. _furfu´racea_ Pk. =Stem= furfuraceous, less distinctly striate.

Var. _pusil´la_ Pk. Plant small. =Pileus= about 1 in. broad, passing gradually into the typical form. =Stem= slender.

Professor Peck says: “The variety furfuracea is common and connects this species with C. longipes, which has a villose stem and dry velvety pileus.” 49th Rep.

Common to the United States. Edible. _Curtis_, according to Dr. F. Peyre Porcher of Charleston, S.C., was the first to declare this edible.

A very attractive species. The purity of its gills is especially noticeable. I began eating it in 1881, and it has continued to be a favorite. The caps should be broiled or fried. They are sweet, pleasing in texture, and delicately flavored.

=C. platyphyl´la= Fr. _Gr._—broad; a leaf. (Plate XXVIII, fig. 1, p. 114.) =Pileus= 3–4 in. broad, dusky and gray then whitish, fleshy-membranaceous, _thin, fragile_, soon flattened, obtuse, watery when moist, _streaked with fibrils_. =Stem= 3–4 in. long, ½ in. thick, stuffed, soft, equal, fibrilloso-striate, otherwise smooth, naked or obsoletely powdered at the apex, whitish, shortly and bluntly rooted at the base. =Gills= obliquely cut off behind, _slightly_ adnexed, ½ in. and more _broad, distant_, soft, white.

Odor not remarkable. It inclines toward the Tricholomata in the _somewhat membranaceous cuticle of the soft stem_. _Fries._ =Spores= 13×19µ _W.G.S._

Solitary, gregarious, rarely clustered. On rotten wood, roots, ground near stumps, among leaves, etc. June to October.

FIG. PAGE. FIG. PAGE.

1. COLLYBIA PLATYPHYLLA, 114 3. COLLYBIA DRYOPHILA, 120

2. COLLYBIA PLATYPHYLLA 114 4. COLLYBIA FUSIPES, 116 (AFTER RAIN),

Distinguished by the very broad and deeply emarginate gills, which frequently slope up behind to near the cap then with a short turn downward connect with the stem which is either stuffed or hollow, and by the abundant, cord-like rooting mycelium. The gills are very broad. Professor Peck says: “The species is quite variable. The pileus is sometimes irregular and even eccentric, the thin margin may be slightly striate, is often split and in wet weather may be upturned or revolute. The lamellæ are sometimes ½ in. broad or more and transversely split. They may be obscurely striated transversely and even veiny above with venose interspaces. Occasionally a slight anise-like odor is perceptible, but in decay the plants have a very disagreeable odor and disgusting appearance.” 49th Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

West Virginia, 1880–1885; Haddonfield, N.J., 1896. Gregarious, and in large bunches. Mt. Gretna and Eagle’s Mere, Pa., 1897, _McIlvaine_.

When fresh, in good condition, the caps are good, but they are not nearly equal in substance or flavor to C. radicata and C. longipes. They are best broiled or fried.

Var. _re´pens_ Fr. =Pileus= more fleshy, depressed. =Stem= hollow, compressed, pruinate at the apex, with a _creeping, string-like mycelium_.

It is best distinguished by its white, villous, anastomosing, very much branched mycelium which creeps a long distance in a rooting string-like manner. The so-called roots are quite different from the stem, not a prolongation of the stem itself. _Fries._

Clearly a variety of C. platyphylla. C. platyphylla is quite variable, even puzzling. Edible qualities the same.

=C. long´ipes= Bull.—_longus_, long; _pes_, a foot. =Pileus= 1–2 in. across, conical then expanded, umbonate, dry, minutely, beautifully velvety. =Color= from pale to date-brown, sometimes umber. =Flesh= white, thin, elastic. =Gills= white, broad, tough, thick, adnexed, distant, ventricose, rounded behind, emarginate. =Stem= 4–6 in. long, 2–4 lines thick, tapering upward, usually densely and minutely velvety like the cap, nearly same color, with a long, tapering root.

On much decayed stumps and logs. July to October. Closely resembles C. radicata. It is readily distinguished by its velvety cap and stem. It is more glutinous.

=Spores= spheroid, 12µ _Q._

California. Edible. _H. and M._

West Virginia mountains, 1880–1885; Cheltenham, Pa., 1889. _McIlvaine._

Excepting from California, C. longipes has not previously been reported as found in the United States. It is not plentiful in the forests of West Virginia, yet I often found it upon rotting stumps and logs, solitary, but up to a dozen in the same vicinity. It is unmistakable. Its rich yet dull velvety cap and stem and the purity of its gills hold the finder’s admiration.

The caps fried or broiled are delicious, resembling in every way those of C. radicata.

=C. fu´sipes= Bull.—_fusus_, a spindle; _pes_, a foot. (Plate XXVIII, fig. 4, p. 112.) =Pileus= 1–3 in. broad, _reddish-brown_, becoming pale and also dingy-tan, fleshy, convex then flattened, umbonate (the umbo at length vanishing), even, smooth, dry, here and there broken up in cracks when dry. =Stem= 3 in. and more long, commonly ½ in., but here and there as much as 1 in. broad, _fibrous-stuffed then hollow_, remarkably cartilaginous externally, _swollen, ventricose in the middle, attenuated at both ends_, often twisted, longitudinally _furrowed_, red or reddish-brown, _rooted in a spindle-shaped manner at the base_. =Gills= _annulato-adnexed_ (joined into a ring), soon separating, free, broad, distant, firm, connected by veins, crisped, white then becoming somewhat of the same color as the pileus, often spotted. _Stevenson._

=Spores= 6×3µ _W.G.S._; 4–5×2–4µ _B._

Solitary, gregarious, usually densely clustered on decaying wood, roots, etc. August until after heavy frosts.

West Virginia, 1882, _McIlvaine_.

In the West Virginia mountains C. fusipes is frequent. Caps in the clusters rarely exceed 1½ in. across. They show an auburn or burgundy shade of brown in their color. When young they are smooth and appear to remain so unless rained upon or moistened, when they crack more or less finely in drying. At first the connection of the gills with the stem is peculiar—they join in a collar-like ring at the top of the stem. As the cap expands the gills part more or less and separate from the stem. The stem is markedly spindle-shaped, though variously flattened by compression in dense clusters; the outside often splitting, breaking and turning out from the stem.

The caps, alone, are good, the stem being hard and refractory. The caps are very fine, cooked in any way.

The caps dry well, and are a pleasant addition to gravies, soups and other dishes. They make a choice pickle.

** _Gills narrow, crowded._

=C. macula´ta= A. and S.—_macula_, a spot. =Pileus= fleshy, firm, convex or nearly plane, even, glabrous, white or whitish, sometimes varied with reddish spots or stains. =Flesh= white. =Gills= narrow, crowded, adnexed, sometimes nearly or quite free, white or whitish. =Stem= generally stout, firm, equal or slightly swollen in the middle, striate, white, stuffed or sometimes hollow, commonly narrowed at the base, rooting, often curved at the base, rarely slightly thickened and blunt. =Spores= subglobose, 4–6µ broad, sometimes showing a slight point at one end.

=Pileus= 2–4 in. broad. =Stem= 2–4 in. long, 3–6 lines thick.

Var. _immacula´ta_ Cke. This differs from the type in having no reddish spots or stains.

This species is easily recognized by its large size, firm or compact substance and white color. It grows in soil filled with decaying vegetable matter or on much decayed wood. _Peck_, 49th Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

West Philadelphia, Pa. Weed grown lot near University of Pennsylvania. September to frost. Grew gregariously over a large lot. The plants varied greatly in size and appearance. The gills of most were crenulate (scalloped). Assorted specimens were sent Professor Peck who wrote: “They are all forms of C. maculata.”

The caps were stewed and eaten in abundance by many, and pronounced “Fine.”

(Plate XXX.)

=C. butyra´cea= Bull.—_butyrum_, butter; buttery to the touch. =Pileus= 2–3 in. broad, normally _reddish-brown_, but becoming pale, fleshy, convex then expanded, more or less _umbonate_, dry, _even_, smooth. =Flesh= buttery, soft, somewhat hygrophanous, flesh-color then white. =Stem= 2–3 in. long, _attenuated_ upward from the thickened white downy base, hence much thinner at the apex, 2–3 lines only, but at the base ½-1 in. thick, externally covered over with a _rigid cartilaginous cuticle_, internally stuffed with soft _spongy pith_, or hollow only when old, _striate, reddish_, commonly smooth, but varying with white deciduous scales, and occasionally wholly downy with soft hairs. =Gills= slightly adnexed, _somewhat free_, thin, _crowded_, notched at the edge, white, _never spotted-reddish_. _Stevenson._

=Spores= 6–10×3–5µ _B._; elliptical, 7–9×4–5µ.

=Cap= greasy looking. =Umbo= dark.

The color of the cap is variable. The species differs from C. dryophila in having an umbonate pileus, slightly uneven gill-edges and stem which tapers upward.

Solitary and in troops under coniferous trees. Spring, autumn.

West Virginia, Chester county and Eagle’s Mere, Pa., _McIlvaine_.

The caps cook quickly, are tender and have a good flavor.

VESTI´PEDES.

* _Gills broad, rather distant._

(Plate XXIX_b_.)

COLLYBIA VELUTIPES.
Natural size.
]

=C. velu´tipes= Curt.—_velutum_, velvet; _pes_, a foot. =Pileus= 1–4 in. broad in the same cluster, _tawny_, sometimes paler at the margin, moderately fleshy at the disk, but thin at the circumference, convex then soon becoming plane, often eccentric, irregular and bent backward, smooth, _viscous_; margin spreading and at length slightly striate. =Flesh= watery, soft, slightly tawny-hyaline. =Stem= 1–3 in. long, 1–4 lines thick, tough, externally cartilaginous, _umber then becoming black, densely, minutely velvety_, commonly ascending or twisted, commonly equal, even, internally fibrous-stuffed and hollow. =Gills= broader and rounded behind, slightly adnexed, so as at first sight to appear free, _somewhat distant_, very unequal, _becoming pallid-yellow or tawny_. _Fr._

=Spores= ellipsoid, 7µ _W.G.S._; 6×4µ _B._; elliptical, 7×3–3.5µ _Massee_.

Our American plant, common to the states, is rarely found attaining such dimensions. Its usual size is from 1–2 in. across, more frequently at 1–1¼. It is generally found in clusters more or less dense. The color varies from yellowish to a dark yellowish-brown. The center is darker than the margin. The cap viscid when moist, often irregular from crowding. Gills may be rounded or notched at their attachment to the stem, whitish or yellowish. Stem usually hollow, 1–4 in. long, 1–3 lines thick, whitish when young becoming colored with the dense brownish velvety hairs.

It grows on stumps, roots in the ground, trunks and earth heavily charged with wood matter. I have found it in every month of the year. The heavier crop appears in September, October and November, and lasts until long after heavy frosts. Then sporadic clusters spring up wherever the winter sun gives them encouragement.

It sometimes does considerable damage to the tree so unfortunate as to be its host. It begins its growth upon some injured or decayed spot and by continually insinuating itself under the surrounding bark it, by its mycelium and growth, pries the bark away from the wood until the tree is entirely denuded.

It is a valuable species, not only on account of its continuous growth, but because of its plentifulness and excellent substance.

** _Gills very narrow, closely crowded._

=C. con´fluens= Pers.—=Pileus= ¾-1½ in. broad, thin, tough, flaccid, convex or nearly plane, obtuse, rarely somewhat umbonate, glabrous, hygrophanous, reddish grayish-red or reddish-brown and often striatulate on the margin when moist, pallid, whitish or grayish when dry. =Lamellæ= narrow, crowded, free, whitish or yellowish-gray. =Stem= 2–5 in. long, 1–2 lines thick, equal, cartilaginous, hollow, clothed with a short dense somewhat pulverulent whitish pubescence or down. =Spores= minute ovate or subelliptical, slightly pointed at one end, 5–6×3–4µ.

Among fallen leaves in woods. Common. July to October.

The plants commonly grow in tufts, but sometimes in lines or arcs of circles or scattered. They revive under the influence of moisture and thereby indicate an intimate relationship to the genus Marasmius. The pileus varies much in color, but commonly has a dull reddish or russety tinge when moist, sometimes approaching bay-red. It fades in drying and becomes almost white or grayish-white, but sometimes the center remains more deeply colored than the margin. The stem is commonly rather long in proportion to the width of the pileus. Occasionally it is somewhat flattened either at the top or throughout its entire length. Sometimes the stems become united at the base which union is suggestive of the specific name. _Peck_, 49th Rep.

West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, _McIlvaine_. July to frost.

The caps of C. confluens are of excellent substance and flavor. Their quantity makes up for their small size. I have gathered them 2 in. across, but their average size is about 1 in. They dry well.

LÆVI´PEDES.

* _Gills broad, more or less distant._

=C. esculen´ta= Wulf.—_esculent._ =Pileus= ½ in. and more broad, _ochraceous-clay_, often becoming dusky, _slightly fleshy_, convex then plane, orbicular, _obtuse_, smooth, even or when old slightly striate. =Flesh= tough, white, savory. =Stem= 1 in. and more long, scarcely 1 line thick, or thread-like and wholly equal, _obsoletely tubed_, tough, _stiff and straight_, even, smooth, slightly shining, _clay-yellow_, with a _long perpendicular_, commonly _smooth_, tail-like _root_. =Gills= adnexed, even decurrent with a very thin small tooth, then separating, _very broad_, limber, _somewhat distant, whitish,_ sometimes clay-color.

Gregarious but never cespitose. The tube of the stem is very narrow. _Stevenson._

The smallest edible Collybia. _Cooke._ Edible. In dense woods. _Curtis._ It is dried and preserved. _Cordier._

In pastures and grassy places. Spring and early summer.

Edible, but rather bitter flavor. In Austria, where it is in great plenty in April, large baskets are brought to market under the name of Nagelschwämme—nail mushrooms.

Professor Peck describes C. esculentoides Pk., 49th Rep. N.Y. State Bot., which he states: “Differs from the type in its paler and more ochraceous color and in its farinaceous flavor, and is related to the European C. esculenta from which it differs essentially in the umbilicate pileus and in the absence of any radicating base to the stem.”

** _Gills narrow, crowded._

=C. dryophil´a= Bull. _Gr._—oak-loving. (Plate XXVIII, fig. 3, p. 112.) =Pileus= 1–3 in. across, bay-brown-rufous, etc., _becoming pale_, but not hygrophanous, slightly fleshy, tough, convexo-plane, _obtuse, commonly depressed in the center_, even, smooth; margin at first inflexed then flattened. =Flesh= thin, white. =Stem= 1–3 in. long, 1–3 lines thick, cartilaginous, _remarkably tubed_, thin, even, smooth, somewhat rooting, commonly _becoming yellow or reddish_. =Gills= _somewhat free_, with a small decurrent tooth, but appearing adnexed when the pileus is depressed, _crowded, narrow_, distinct, plane, _white_ or becoming pale.

There are numerous monstrous forms which are very deceiving: _a._ =Stem= elongated, waved, decumbent, inflated at the base; =pileus= broader, _lobed_; =gills= white. _b._ _Funicularis_, larger, cespitose, the lax and decumbent =stem= equal and hairy at the base, =gills= sulphur-yellow. These forms, analagous with A. repens Bull., occur on heaps of leaves. _c._ Countless specimens growing together in a large cluster; =stems= thick, inflated, irregularly shaped, _sulcate_, brown, the mycelium collecting the soil in the form of a ball; =pileus= very irregularly shaped, full of angles, undulated, blackish then bay-brown. In gardens. _Stevenson._

=Spores= elliptic-fusiform, 7–8×4µ; 6µ _W.G.S._

Professor Peck, 49th Rep. N.Y. State Bot., gives the following: =Pileus= thin, convex or nearly plane, sometimes with the margin elevated, irregular, obtuse, glabrous, varying in color, commonly some shade of bay-red or tan-color. =Flesh= white. =Lamellæ= narrow, crowded, adnexed or almost free, white or whitish, rarely yellowish. =Stem= equal or sometimes thickened at the base, cartilaginous, glabrous, hollow, yellowish or rufescent, commonly similar in color to the pileus. =Spores=, 6–8×3–4µ.

=Pileus= 1–2 in. broad. =Stem= 1–2 in. long, 1–2 lines thick.

Woods, groves and open places. Common. June to October.

West Virginia, North Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania. _McIlvaine._

C. dryophila is so common and variable that descriptions would fail to cover it in its eccentricities. The writer has eaten it in all the forms obtained since 1881. A very pretty form grew in large quantities among pine needles at Eagle’s Mere, Pa., in August, 1897. It was cooked and served at the hotel table. Many ate it and were delighted.

Dr. Badham refers to a case in which illness was caused by eating it. In my eighteen years' experience with it, knowing it to have been enjoyably eaten by scores of persons, I have not heard of the slightest discomfort from it.

=C. spinulif´era= Pk.—_spinula_, a little thorn. =Pileus= fleshy, thin, convex or nearly plane, glabrous, hygrophanous reddish tan-color tinged with pink and slightly striatulate on the margin when moist, paler when dry, adorned with minute colored spinules or setæ. =Gills= narrow, close, rounded behind and free, pale cinnamon-color, becoming somewhat darker with age, spinuliferous. =Stem= slender, tough, glabrous, shining, hollow, reddish-brown, often paler or whitish at the top, especially in young plants, with a whitish myceloid tomentum at the base. =Spores= elliptical or nearly so, 4µ.

=Plant= cespitose. =Pileus= 8–16 lines broad. =Stem= 2–3 in. long, about 1 line thick.

Prostrate trunks and ground among leaves in woods. Lewis county. September.

In this species the lamellæ, under a lens, appear to be minutely pubescent or velvety. This is due to the colored spinules or setæ which clothe them. _Peck_, 49th Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

Angora, Pa. September, 1897. Among moss in mixed woods. September to frost. _McIlvaine._

Specimens identified by Professor Peck. Stems of some tapered at base.

Excepting the extreme base of stems the whole plant is tender and of good flavor.

(Plate XXXI.)

=C. acerva´ta= Fr.—_acervus_, a heap. =Pileus= fleshy but thin, convex or nearly plane, obtuse, glabrous, hygrophanous, pale tan-color or dingy pinkish-red and commonly striatulate on the margin when moist, paler or whitish when dry. =Gills= narrow, close, adnexed or free, whitish or tinged with flesh-color. =Stem= slender, rigid, hollow, glabrous, reddish, reddish-brown or brown, often whitish at the top, especially when young, commonly with a white matted down at the base. =Spores= elliptical, 6×3–4µ.

=Plant= cespitose. =Pileus= 1–2 in. broad. =Stem= 2–3 in. long, about 1 line thick.

Decaying wood and ground among fallen leaves in woods. Adirondack mountains. August and September. _Peck_, 49th Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

This very pretty plant resembles forms of C. dryophila. The coloring of the stems is often extremely delicate, like paintings upon rice paper.

West Virginia mountains; Eagle’s Mere, Pa. August to frost. _McIlvaine._

The entire plant is tender, delicate and of fine flavor. In these qualities it is not distinguishable when cooked from the smaller forms of C. dryophila.

MYCE´NA Fr.

_Gr._—a fungus.

(Plate XXXII.)

=Pileus= regular, rarely depressed in the center, thin, usually streaked with longitudinal lines, at first conico-cylindrical, _margin at the first straight_, closely embracing the stem which is attenuated upward. =Stem= hollow, slender, cartilaginous. =Gills= adnate or adnexed, sometimes with a small tooth, never decurrent. =Spores= white.

Generally small and slender, growing on branches, twigs, heaps of leaves, sometimes on the ground, some minute species on single dead leaves. Long, rooting stems are not uncommon. Clitocybe and Omphalia are separated by their decurrent gills and in Collybia the margin is at first incurved.

In this genus the species of the various sections are not always distinguished by single sharply defined characteristics, so that it will sometimes be necessary to pay attention to all the features. Species with a thread-like stem are found in other sections than Filipedes and some of the Lactipedes are slippery when moist, but not truly viscous.

ANALYSIS OF TRIBES.

CALODONTES (_kalos_, beautiful; _odontes_, teeth). Page 126.

Stem juiceless, not dilated into a disk at the base. Edges of gills darker, minutely toothed.

ADONIDEÆ (_Adonis_, referring to beauty). Page 126.

Stem juiceless, not dilated at the base. Gills of one color, not changing color. Color pure-colored, bright, not becoming brownish or gray. On the ground.

RIGIPEDES (rigid-stemmed). Page 126.

Stem firm, rigid, rather tough, juiceless, more or less rooting. Gills changing color, white, then gray or reddish, generally at length connected by veins.

Tough, persistent, inodorous, usually on wood, very cespitose, but individuals of the same species sometimes grow singly on the ground.

FRAGILIPEDES (fragile-stemmed). Page 130.

Stem fragile, juiceless, fibrillose at the base, scarcely rooting. Pileus hygrophanous. Gills becoming discolored, at length somewhat connected by veins.

Thin, fragile, often soft, normally growing singly on the ground. A few strong smelling, cespitose on wood.

FILIPEDES (thread-stemmed). Page 130.

Stem thread-like, flaccid, somewhat tough, rooting, juiceless, generally extremely long in proportion to the pileus. Gills becoming discolored, paler at the edge.

Straight, growing singly on the ground; inodorous. Pileus dingy-brown, becoming paler.

LACTIPEDES (milky-stemmed). Page 130.

Gills and rooting stem milky when broken.

GLUTINIPEDES (glutinous-stemmed). Page 131.

Stem juiceless but externally sticky with gluten. Gills at length decurrent with a tooth.

BASIPEDES (base-stemmed). Page 131.

Stem dry, rootless, the base naked and dilated into a disk or small hairy bulb. Growing singly, slender, soon becoming flaccid.

INSITITIÆ (_insero_, to insert or graft). Page 131.

Stem very thin, dry, growing as if inserted in the supporting surface, not downy, not disk-like at the base.

Gills adnate with a small decurrent tooth. Small, very tender, becoming flaccid with the first touch of the sun.

Mycena is a large genus composed of small species. About sixty members have been found in America. They are from ½ to 1 in. across the cap, with thin stems and altogether delicate appearance. Yet the flesh of most of them has a gummy consistency in the mouth, and they shrink but little in stewing. Heretofore not any appear to have been reported as edible, probably because the size of the species has not attracted experimenters. While some have a strong odor and taste of radishes, and one species is bitter, it is probable that all are edible. The writer has eaten, raw and cooked, small quantities (all he has found) of many species not here reported as edible, which will, when further tested, be reported upon.

The substance and flavor of those here given is remarkably pleasant. Their late coming, hardiness and abundance are commendable qualities.

I.—CALODON´TES. Stem juiceless. Gills minutely toothed.
None tested.

II.—ADONI´DEÆ. Stem juiceless. Gills of one color, etc.
None tested.

III.—RIGIDI´PEDES. Stem rigid. Gills at first white, changing
color, etc.

=M. prolif´era= Sow.—_proles_, offspring; _fero_, to bear. (Plate X, figs. 6, 7, p. 28.) =Pileus= ⅔-1¼ in. across, slightly fleshy, expanded bell-shape, dry, the broad umbo darker (dingy-brown), slightly striate, and at length furrowed or rimosely split at the margin (pale yellowish or becoming brownish-tan). =Stem= 2½-3 in. long, firm, rigid, _smooth, shining, slightly striate_, rooted. Gills adnexed, somewhat distinct, becoming pale white.

Inodorous, only at length nauseous. Very closely allied to M. galericulata, in habit approaching nearest to M. cohærens. The stems are pallid at the apex, but slightly tawny-bay-brown below, and glued together by hairy down at the base. There is a _white_ form with transparent stem—on trunks. _Fries._

Mt. Gretna, Pa. On ground in grass. Mycelium spreading on leaves. _McIlvaine._

Found in great plenty. Base of stems is sometimes white when in dense tufts.

The whole plant is tender, cooking in fifteen minutes, and is of fine flavor. No one will want a better fungus.

=M. rugo´sa= Fr.—_ruga_, a wrinkle. =Pileus= ash-color but becoming pale, very tough, slightly fleshy at the disk, otherwise membranaceous, bell-shaped then expanded, at length rather plane, somewhat obtuse, more or less corrugated (unequal with elevated wrinkles), always dry, not moist even in rainy weather, striate at the circumference. =Stem= commonly short, remarkably cartilaginous, tubed, rigid, tough, straight, at length compressed, even, smooth, pallid, with a short oblique hairy root. =Gills= _arcuato-adnate_, with a decurrent tooth, united behind in a collar, somewhat distant, connected by veins, broad, ventricose, white then gray, edge sometimes quite entire, sometimes with saw-like teeth.

Always inodorous. Formerly connected with M. galericulata. M. rugosa is arid, very tough, more rarely cespitose, the pileus firm, somewhat obtuse, wrinkled but without striæ, the gills arcuato-adnate with a hooked tooth, _white then ash-color_. The genuine M. galericulata is fasciculato-cespitose, somewhat fragile, the pileus thinner, at first conical and umbonate, striate without wrinkles, the gills adnate, with a decurrent tooth, white then _flesh-color_. Between these there is a long series of intermediate forms. _Fries._

California, _H. and M._; Kansas, _Cragin_; Wisconsin, _Bundy_; New York, September, _Peck_, 46th Rep.; West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania. On decaying wood and ground near stumps. August to November. _McIlvaine._

The tenacity frequently occurring in Mycena is well shown in this species. The caps and stem cook tender, but it is better to discard the stems, as the two do not become tender at the same time.

=M. galericula´ta= Scop.—_galericulum_, a small peaked cap. (Plate Plate X, fig. 5, p. 28.) =Pileus= somewhat membranaceous, conical bell-shaped then expanded, striate to the umbo, dry, smooth, becoming brownish-livid or changeable in color. =Stem= rigid, _polished, even, smooth_, with a spindle-shaped root at the base. =Gills= _adnate, decurrent with a tooth_, connected by veins, whitish and flesh-colored.

Very protean. Normally growing in bunches, the numerous stems (never sticky) glued together with soft hairy down at the base. But it occurs also solitary, larger, pileus as much as 2 in. broad, wrinkled-striate. The essential marks by which it is distinguished from A. rugosa are these: =Stem= in general thinner, less tense and straight, often curved, more fragile. =Pileus= membranaceous, conico bell-shaped, umbonate, striate but not corrugated, moist in rainy weather. =Gills= adnate, with a decurrent tooth, more crowded, _whitish then flesh-colored_. The color both of the pileus (normally dingy-brownish then livid) and of the stem (normally becoming livid-brownish) is much more changeable than that of A. rugosa, becoming yellow, rust colored, etc. It is not so tough and pliant as A. rugosa. Forms departing from the type are very numerous; the most beautiful is var. _calopus_ (_Gr._, beautiful; _Gr._, a foot) with chestnut-colored stems, united in a spindle-shaped tail. _Fries._

=Spores= spheroid or subspheroid, 9–10×6–8µ _K._; 8–11×4–6µ _B._; 6–7×4µ _Massee._

Common. Autumnal. Very variable. On trunks, fallen leaves.

Two well-marked varieties of this very variable species were observed the past season. One grows on the ground among fallen leaves. It has a dark brown pileus, close lamellæ and a very long stem, generally of a delicate pink color toward the top. It might be called var. _longipes_. The other grows under pine trees, has a broadly convex or expanded grayish-brown pileus and a short stem. It might be called var. _expansus_. _Peck_, 26th Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

“_M. alcalina_ is closely allied to it (M. galericulata), but has a stronger alkaline odor and a rather more fragile stem. In one of your specimens I detect a slight incarnate tint to the gills, and this is pretty conclusive evidence that it belongs to M. galericulata. Species of Mycena are not generally reckoned among edible fungi or even promising fungi; I suppose on account of the thin flesh of the cap, but of course it is possible to make up in numbers what is lacking in size. I am glad to know you have found this to be an esculent one.” Letter Professor Peck to C. McIlvaine, October 5, 1893.

The caps and stems when young make as good a dish as one cares to eat. The substance is pleasant, and the flavor delicate. They are best stewed slowly in their own fluids, after washing, for ten minutes and seasoned with pepper, salt and butter.

=M. parabo´lica= Fr.—shaped like a parabola. =Pileus= becoming black at the disk, inclining to violaceous, otherwise becoming pale, whitish, somewhat membranaceous, at first erect and oval, then parabolic, obtuse, never expanded, moist, somewhat shining when dry, smooth, even, striate toward the entire margin. =Stem= 2–3 in. long, 1 line thick, tubed, tense and straight but not very rigid, thickened and bearded-rooted at the base, pale below, dark violaceous above, when young white-mealy, otherwise even, smooth, dry. =Gills= simply adnate, ascending, somewhat distant, rarely connected by veins, quite entire, white, somewhat gray at the base.

=Stem= less rigid than that of A. galericulatus. Truly gregarious or cespitose. _Fries._

=Spores= 12×6µ _B._; elliptical, 11–12×6µ _Massee_.

Trenton, N.J. June. _E.B. Sterling_; West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, on decaying stumps, trunks of oak, chestnut, poplar, pine. June until far into the winter. _McIlvaine._

=Plant= up to 2½ in. high. =Caps= usually about ½ in., but reaching ¾ in.

A neat, attractive plant, whether single or in dense tufts. Its smell is strong of fresh meal, and taste of that delicate flavor one finds in the succulent base of the round, swamp rush, when pulled from its sheath—one that every country school boy and girl knows. It is pleasant raw, and delicious when cooked.

=M. latifo´lia= Pk.—_latus_, broad; _folium_, a leaf. =Pileus= convex, rarely somewhat umbonate, striatulate, grayish-brown. =Gills= white, broad, hooked, decurrent-toothed. =Stem= slender, smooth, hollow, subconcolorous, white-villous at the base.

=Height= 1–1.5 in., breadth of pileus 4–6 lines. =Stem= .5 lines thick.

Under pine trees. Center. October.

A small species with quite broad gills, growing among the fallen leaves of pine trees. Gregarious. _Peck_, 23d Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

Mt. Gretna, Pa. Among pine needles, scattered, sometimes four or five in a cluster. September to October. _McIlvaine._

Autumnal. Not rare. The caps though small are tenacious in the mouth and lose little in cooking. The substance is agreeable and flavor fine.

IV.— FRAGILI´PEDES. Stem fragile, juiceless, etc. None tested.

V.—FILI´PEDES. Stem thread-like, etc.

=M. collaria´ta= Fr.—_collare_, a collar. =Pileus= ½ in. and more broad, typically dingy-brown, but becoming pale, commonly gray-whitish, becoming brownish only at the disk, membranaceous, bell-shaped then _convex_, somewhat umbonate, striate, when dry rigid, smooth, _not soft nor slightly silky_. =Stem= about 2 in. long, tubed, _thread-like_ but almost 1 line thick, _tough_, dry, smooth, even or slightly striate under a lens, becoming pale. =Gills= adnate, _joined in a collar_ behind, thin, crowded, _hoary-whitish or obsoletely flesh-colored_.

The gills are somewhat distant when the pileus is expanded. There is not a separate collar as in Marasmius rotula; the gills are only joined in the form of a collar, and remain _cohering_ when they separate from the stem. _Fries._

Spores 8–10×4–6µ _B._

New York. Old stumps and rotten logs. June. _Peck_, 23d Rep. Mt. Gretna, Pa. Cespitose on decaying wood. July, September and October. _McIlvaine._

Very much like M. galericulata, but gills not connected by veins. The caps usually have a pinkish hue, often brownish. The stems are not as tender as the caps. The flavor is excellent.

VI.—LACTI´PEDES. Stem and gills milky, etc.

=M. hæma´topa= Pers. _Gr._—blood; _Gr._—a foot. =Pileus= about 1 in. broad, white flesh-color, fleshy-membranaceous, _slightly fleshy_ chiefly _at the disk_, conical then bell-shaped, _obtuse_, nay convex and spuriously umbonate, naked, even or slightly striate at the margin, which is _at the first elegantly toothed_. =Stem= 2–4 in. long, 1 line and more thick, remarkably tubed, rigid, normally everywhere _powdered with whitish, delicate, soft hairy down_, sometimes, however, denuded of it. =Gills= adnate, often with a small decurrent tooth, the alternate ones shorter, in front disappearing short of the slight margin of the pileus, whitish and wholly of the same color at the edge.

Cespitose (very many of the stems conjoined and hairy at the base), firm, stature almost that of M. galericulata, wholly abounding with dark blood-colored juice.

On stumps. Frequent. September. _Stevenson._

=Spores= spheroid-ellipsoid, 10×6–7µ _K._

I find a non-cespitose form of this species with red-margined gills. Its red juice, however, will serve to distinguish it and show its true relations. _Peck_, 31st Rep.

Common in tufts like M. galericulata and of about the same size, but is readily distinguished by its red juice. This pretty plant can often be gathered in considerable quantity, and well repays the collector.

VII.—GLUTINI´PEDES. Stems gelatinous, etc.

None tested.

VIII.—BASI´PEDES. Stem dilated at base, etc.

None tested.

IX.—INSITI´TIÆ. Stem inserted.

None tested.

HIA´TULA Fr.

(Plate XXXIII.)

_Hio_, to gape.

=Pileus= symmetrical, very thin, without a distinct pellicle, formed by the union of the backs of the gills, splitting when expanded. =Gills= almost or quite free, white. =Stem= central. =Spores= white.

Allied to Lepiota in the thin pileus and free gills, but differing in the entire absence of a ring. Not at all deliquescent as in the genus Coprinus, near to which it was at one time placed by Fries. _Massee._ Reported from North Carolina.

OMPHA´LIA Fr.

_Gr._—belonging to an umbilicus.

(Plate XXXIV.)

OMPHALIA UMBELLIFERA.
Enlarged about two sizes.
]

=Pileus= generally _thin_, usually umbilicate at first, then funnel-shaped, often hygrophanous, margin incurved or straight. =Gills= _truly decurrent_ from the first, sometimes branched. =Stem= distinctly cartilaginous, polished, tubular, often stuffed when young. =Flesh= continuous with that of the pileus but differing in character. =Spores= white, somewhat elliptical, smooth.

Generally on wood, preferring hilly woods and a damp climate.

Resembling Collybia and Mycena in the flesh of stem and pileus being different in texture and in the externally cartilaginous stem. It is perfectly separated by the gills being markedly decurrent from the first.

The American species of Omphalia number between thirty-five and forty. Many of them are common. Few woods are free from them. Several of them are beautiful. They are usually small and lacking in substance. Raw, the writer has not found one that is objectionable in any way; a few have a woody taste. But two species have been found by him in sufficient quantity to make a dish. It is probable that all are edible. At best the species of Omphalia are valuable in emergency only.

ANALYSIS OF TRIBES.

COLLYBARII.

* Pileus dilated from the first, margin incurved.

MYCENARII.

Pileus campanulate at first, margin straight and pressed to the stem.

COLLYBA´RII.
* _Pileus dilated from the first; margin incurved._

=O. onis´cus= Fr. _Gr._—a wood-louse. From the ashy color. =Pileus= scarcely 1 in. broad, dark _ashy_ becoming pale, gray-hoary when dry, somewhat membranaceous, or slightly fleshy, _flaccid_, fragile when old, _convexo-umbilicate_ or funnel-shaped, often irregular, undulato-flexuous, even-lobed, _smooth, even_, margin striate. =Stem= 1 in. long, 1 line and more thick, stuffed then tubed, _slightly firm_, moderately tough, sometimes round, curved, sometimes unequal, compressed, ascending, undulated, _gray_. Gills shortly _decurrent_, somewhat distant, quaternate, _ash-color_. Not cespitose. _Fries._

=Spores= 12×7–8µ _B._

Massachusetts, _Sprague_; California, _H. and M._, who record it as edible.

=O. umbellif´era=—_umbella_, a little shade; _fero_, to bear. From its umbrella-like shape. (Plate XXXIV, p. 132.) =Pileus= about ½ in. broad, commonly whitish, _slightly fleshy-membranaceous_, convex then plane, _broadly obconic_ with the decurrent gills, not at all or only slightly umbilicate, hygrophanous, when moist watery, _rayed with darker striæ_, when dry even, changeable in appearance, silky, flocculose, rarely squamulose, _the margin, which is at first inflexed, crenate_ (scalloped). =Stem= _short_, not exceeding 1 in. long, almost 1 line thick, stuffed then soon tubed, slightly firm, equal or dilated toward the apex into the pileus, of the same color as the pileus, commonly _smooth_, but varying pubescent, white villous at the base. =Gills= _very broad behind, triangular_, decurrent, _very distant_, edge of the gills straight.

Cosmopolitan. The common form is to be found everywhere from the sea level to 4,000 feet. _Stevenson._

=Spores= 3×4µ _W.G.S._; 10×4µ _W.P._; green variety 10×6µ _W.P._; broadly elliptical, 8–10×5–6µ _Peck_.

O. umbellifera is known the world over. It is very variable in size and color. With us it is seldom over ¾ in. broad. =Stem= ½-1 line thick. It grows on decaying wood and ground full of decaying material. There are several varieties. All are edible, but not worth describing. This description is given that the student may recognize one of our common plants, and eat it, if very hungry.

MYCENA´RII.

=O. campanel´la= Batsch.—_campana_, a bell. =Pileus= thin, rather tough, hemispherical or convex, glabrous, umbilicate, hygrophanous, rusty yellow-color and striatulate when moist, paler when dry. =Gills= moderately close, arcuate, decurrent, yellowish, the interspaces venose. =Stem= firm, rigid, hollow, _brown_, often paler at the top, _tawny-strigose at the base_. =Spores= elliptical, 6–7×3–4µ.

=Pileus= 4–8 lines broad. Stem about 1 in. long, scarcely 1 line thick.

Much decayed wood of coniferous trees. Very common. May to November. _Peck_, 45th Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

=Spores= ellipsoid, 6–8×3–4µ _C.B.P._; 7×3µ _W.P._; 6–9×3–4µ _B._

The quantity alone, in which this small species can be found, makes it worth mentioning as an edible species. It is common over the United States where coniferous trees abound. Its favorite habitat is upon the rotting debris of these trees. Occasionally it grows from the ground, but only from that which is heavily charged with woody material. It is social in troops, or affectionate in clusters, or maintains a single existence.

It is edible, of good substance when stewed, tender and of fair flavor.

Photographed by Dr. J.R. Weist. PLATE XXXV.
PLEUROTUS OSTREATUS.
]

PLEURO´TUS.

_Gr._—a side; _Gr._—an ear.

=Stem= excentric, lateral or none. _Epiphytal_ (_very rarely growing on the ground_), irregular, fleshy or membranaceous. _Fries._

The excentric, generally lateral stem, absent in some of the species, separates this from other genera of the white-spored series.

=Pileus= varying from fleshy in the larger to membranaceous in the smaller forms, but never becoming woody. =Veil= generally wanting, when present its remains sometimes appear on the margin of the pileus, or as an evanescent ring on the stem. =Gills=, edge acute, generally decurrent, in some species with a well-marked tooth, rarely simply adnate. =Stem= fleshy, confluent and homogeneous with the pileus.

Wood, dead or alive; a few species appear on the ground.

P. ulmarius and others of the larger forms, when growing in an upright position, may have the stem central and the pileus horizontal. The stems of some species of Clitocybe and Omphalia if growing laterally are sometimes excentric and oblique.

This genus is analogous to Claudopus, pink-spored, and Crepidotus, brown-spored.

=Spores= white, but those of P. sapidus are faintly tinged with lilac, and of P. ostreatus, var. euosmus, with purple.

ANALYSIS OF TRIBES.

EXCENTRICI. Page 137.

Pileus entire, laterally extended, excentric, not truly lateral.

* Veil fugacious, fragments adhering to stem or margin of pileus.

** Veil none, gills sinuate or obtusely adnate.

*** Veil none, gills very decurrent, stem distinct, almost vertical.

**** Veil none, gills very decurrent, stem proper absent, pileus lateral, extended behind into a short, stem-like oblique base.

DIMIDIATI. Page 144.

Pileus not at first resupinate, lateral, prolonged without a definite margin behind, into a very short lateral, stem-like base.

RESUPINATI. Page 146.

Pileus resupinate from the first, then reflexed.

If any odium attaches to the word toadstool, it should be forgotten and forever banished in presence of this cleanly, neat, handsome genus, choice in its growing places from lichen-covered stumps, or bark-clad boles, or highly perched limbs, or the scented surfaces of decaying wood. Several of its species perfume themselves throughout with pleasant spicy odors. Many are most accommodating in their constant coming.

Mr. H.I. Miller, superintendent Terre Haute and Indianapolis Railroad, writes: “Most of the mushroom books give greatest space to the A. campester. For some parts of the country this may be desirable, but for Indiana and Ohio, considering the food value, the P. ostreatus is the best fungus we have in these states, from the fact that anybody wanting a mess can nearly always obtain a basketful of this variety, whereas the others depend upon a good many weather conditions. Having located a few logs and stumps in the spring, where the P. ostreatus grows, these same stumps and logs can be used all season. The crops are successive, and while some of the spots seem to be barren for a few days at a time, the others will be bearing. It does not make much difference what the kind of log or stump, whether it be beech, oak or elm, or what the species of tree. I think I have found them on all our forest trees, and it is not necessary for the tree to be dead. If there is a decaying portion, the spores seem to be carried by the little black beetle that infests the ostreatus, from one place to another, and wherever a small spot of dead wood is found we are likely to find the P. ostreatus. This being the only edible mushroom that we can find in large quantities all through the season in this neck of the woods, it seems to me that a general knowledge of it will serve the economic purpose more than any other fungi.”

The presence of the P. ostreatus and its esculent companions is noted from our northern boundary to the gulf. Poplar, maple, birch, hickory, ash, apple, laburnum and oak trees are its favored residences. Deer feed upon it, and kine are attracted by its scent even when deep under snow. When properly selected and _slowly_ cooked, the Pleuroti are toothsome.