H. veluti´nus Pers.—vellus, a fleece. Velvety. Pileus fleshy, thin, convex or expanded, brittle, minutely tomentose-scaly, becoming smooth, hygrophanous, yellow with the disk reddish. Lamellæ rather broad, attached, tapering toward the outer extremity, dark brown tinged with red, the edge whitish-beaded. Stem equal, rather slender, hollow, fibrillose, subconcolorous, white-mealy and slightly striate at the top. Spores black.

Height about 2 in., breadth of pileus 1–1.5 in.

Roadsides. Albany Cemetery. September. The pileus sometimes cracks transversely. Peck, 23d Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

Spores 6×8µ W.G.S.; elliptical, 10×5µ Massee.

Often used in catsup. Innocent and edible. Cooke.

West Virginia. 1881–1885, Pennsylvania, West Philadelphia, Bartram’s Creek, 1887, McIlvaine.

Var. leioceph´alus B. and Br. (Gr—smooth; Gr—head, from its smooth pileus). Pileus hygrophanous, rugged, smooth except at the margin, where it is fibrillose, pallid as is the stem, whose apex is mealy.

Densely cespitose, much smaller than the common form, but apparently a mere variety, though a striking one from its smooth but very rugged disk. On old stumps. Stevenson.

New York, Peck, 23d Rep.; West Virginia, West Philadelphia, Bartram’s Creek, Haddonfield, N.J., September to November. McIlvaine.

Quantities of var. leiocephalus grow in the West Virginia forests on stumps and on the ground from decaying roots. 1½ in. is the limit of its width. Its frequent and dense clusters, its tenderness and delicacy of flavor make it a favorite.

H. aggrega´tum Pk.—aggrego, to grow together. Densely cespitose. Pileus thin, convex or subcampanulate, grayish-white, obscurely spotted with appressed brownish fibrils. Lamellæ subdistant, rounded behind, nearly free, at first whitish, then brown or blackish-brown with a whitish edge. Stem rather long, hollow, somewhat woolly or fibrillose, white. Spores brown, elliptical, 8×4–5µ.

Pileus about 1 in. broad. Stem 2–3 in. long, 1.5–2 lines thick.

At the base of trees and stumps in woods. Alcove. September.

The cespitose habit and obscurely spotted grayish-white pileus are marked features of this species. From H. silvestre the species may be distinguished by its smaller size, adnexed or nearly free lamellæ which have no rosy tint, and by its very cespitose mode of growth. Peck, 46th Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

Mt. Gretna, Pa., about trees and stumps. September to November, 1898–1899. McIlvaine. Not reported elsewhere.

The caps are oyster-color. Amateurs accustomed to the gayer colors of the autumnal Hypholomas will not suspect this of belonging to the genus, until the color of the spores is obtained.

The caps are fine.

H. lachrymabun´dum Fr.—lachryma, a tear. Pileus 2–3 in. broad, whitish when young, then dingy-brown, becoming pale around the margin, truly fleshy but not compact, convex, obtuse, scaly with hairs, the innate scales darker. Flesh white. Stem 2 in. long, 3–4 lines thick, hollow, somewhat thickened at the base, scaly with fibrils, becoming brownish-whitish. Veil separate, clothed with fibers, hanging from the pileus, white. Gills adnate, crowded, 3 lines broad, whitish then brownish-purple, edge whitish and distilling drops in wet weather.

Spores brownish-purple. From mutual pressure the caps are often irregular. Very cespitose, firm. Fries.

Spores brownish-purple, 9×4µ Massee.

On ground and on trunks. Truly cespitose. Smaller than H. velutinus, but firmer, truly fleshy, not hygrophanous. Bushy pastures. Bethlehem. October.

Our specimens do not agree in all respects with the published description of the species. The pileus is sometimes wholly destitute of scales and sometimes densely clothed with hairy, erect ones. The species is manifestly variable. Peck, 30th Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

“Like H. fascicularis in quality. Intensely irritant. It is bound with the weight of its own guilt.” Hay.

This is a good specimen of Hay’s comments. H. fascicularis is never irritant, is good eating, is innocent.

There is irony in the comment of Dr. Cooke: “This doubtful species is used by the smaller ketchup makers.”

I have not seen this species. When I do I shall eat it and expect to live.

Appendicula´ti. Pileus hygrophanous, smooth.

H. incer´tum Pk. (Plate XCVIIa.) Pileus fragile, convex or subcampanulate, then expanded, hygrophanous, often radiately wrinkled, whitish with the disk yellowish, the thin margin sometimes purplish-tinted, often wavy, adorned by fragments of the white flocculent fugacious veil. Lamellæ close, narrow, whitish then rosy-brown, the edge often uneven. Stem equal, straight, hollow, easily splitting, whitish with a frosty bloom or slightly scurfy at the top. Spores elliptical, purplish-brown, 8×5µ.

Plant gregarious or subcespitose, 2–3 in. high. Pileus 1–2 in. broad. Stem 1–2 lines thick.

Ground among bushes. Green Island and Sandlake. June and July.

The veil is sometimes so strongly developed as to form an imperfect ring. The color is nearly white from the first. Peck, 29th Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

As the name indicates, I was uncertain whether this was a form of H. Candolleanum, to which it is very closely related, but as Fries says of that “Gills at first violaceous,” and as our plant has them at first white or whitish, I concluded to risk the uncertainty on a new species.

I have seen Central Park, New York, well covered with it in May. It is also common in the vicinity of Boston. Of very agreeable flavor and delicate substance. The profusion of its growth compensates for its small size. Macadam.

Indiana, H.I. Miller; Mt. Gretna, Pa., in great clusters between railroad ties and beside track, McIlvaine.

Tender. One of the best.

H. appendicula´tum Bull.—a small appendage. From the veil adhering to margin of pileus. (Plate XCVII, p. 352.) Pileus 2–3 in. broad, date-brown then tawny, becoming pale yellowish when dry, fleshy-membranaceous, thin, ovate then expanded, at length flattened, obtuse, smooth, when dry slightly wrinkled, somewhat sprinkled with atoms. Stem 3 in. long, 2–3 lines thick, fistulose, equal, smooth, white, pruinate at the apex; veil fringing the margin of the pileus, fugacious, white. Gills somewhat adnate, crowded, dry, white then flesh-colored, at length dingy-brown.

Densely cespitose, very fragile and hygrophanous. Much thinner and more fragile than H. Candolleanus. It may be safely distinguished from species which are nearest to it by the gills being whitish then brownish-flesh color.

Var. lana´tum. A curious form, densely woolly when young, traces of the woolly coat remaining at the apex when the pileus is fully expanded. Sibbertoft. B. and Br., 1876. Stevenson.

Spores ellipsoid, pellucid, 6–8×3–4µ K.; 4×6µ W.G.S.; elliptical, 5×2.5µ Massee.

Angora, West Philadelphia, October, November, December, 1897; Haddonfield, N.J., Mt. Gretna, Pa., cespitose and gregarious in woods about stumps. McIlvaine.

“It is very common and edible.” Farlow.

At Mt. Gretna, Pa., October, 1898, in great abundance. When found it was gregarious in large patches and cespitose on stumps. My identification was confirmed by Professor Peck.

It dries well, and retains flavor and esculent qualities. Cooked it is among the best.

H. Candol´leanum Fr.—After De Candolle. Pileus 2–4 in. broad, date-brown then becoming white, the top somewhat yellowish, somewhat fleshy, acorn-shaped then bell-shaped, soon convex and at length flattened, obtuse and unequal, smooth, even. Flesh thin, white. Stem 3 in. long, 2–4 lines thick, fistulose, solid at the base, somewhat thickened, fibrillose, white, striate at the apex; veil in the form of a cortina, web-like, appendiculate (depending from the margin of the pileus), white, at length becoming dingy-brown. Gills rounded-adnexed, then separating, crowded, violaceous then brownish-cinnamon, the edge at first whitish.

Readily distinguished from neighboring species by the gills being at first beautifully dark violaceous, never flesh-colored. Densely cespitose, fragile, very hygrophanous. Stevenson.

Spores elliptical, 8×4µ Massee.

Edible, often used in catsup. Cooke.

A species variable in color with the weather. Its gills are cream-colored at first, then purplish, then very dark. After rain the fragile cap often turns up at the margin and splits.

It differs somewhat in texture from other Hypholomas, being more delicate in texture and substance. It is excellent.

H. suba´quilum Banning.—aquilus, brownish, tawny. Pileus brown, convex, smooth, hygrophanous, often shaded into ocher at margin, veil delicate, silk-like, encircling and covering the marginal extremities of the lamellæ but forming no ring on the stem. Flesh white, turning umber when cut. Lamellæ adnexed or nearly free, close, forked, umber. Stem cespitose, regular, hollow, silky, white, 2–3 in. long.

Spores brown, 4×5µ. Banning MS.

Druid Hill Park, Baltimore, Miss Banning; decaying wood, Adirondack mountains. August and September. New York. Peck, 45th Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

H. subaquilum is closely allied to H. appendiculatum, but is distinguished by its darker colored cap and gills.

Its edible qualities are the same. It is among the best.

PSILO´CYBE Fr.

Gr—naked; head.

Pileus more or less fleshy, smooth, margin at first incurved. Gills becoming brownish or purple. Stem somewhat cartilaginous, rigid or tough, tubular, hollow or stuffed, often rooting. Veil absent or rudimentary, never forming a membrane. Spores purple, purple-brown or slate-color.

Generally growing on the ground, gregarious, sometimes cespitose.

Psilocybe is analogous in form to Collybia, Leptonia and Naucoria, which are distinguished by their spore colors. Separated from Psathyra by the incurved margin of the pileus.

But one species of Psilocybe is herein given as edible. Of it, alone, the writer has had opportunity to eat meals. Several others of the species have been found by him and tested in small quantity. They are all of good texture, substance and flavor, though most are small. He is of the opinion that increased testing will prove the entire genus edible. Nothing can or should be prognosticated about a toadstool, but the indications are all in favor of Psilocybe.

The majority grow on richly manured ground or dung, some on rotten wood and other materials. Bolbitius, the only ally, has the same ephemeral existence, and grows in similar situations, but the gills only soften (not melting) and the spores are somewhat rust-colored.

The blackening of the gills is not a process of decay, but is due to the growth of the spores, and the plant is still (before deliquescence) perfectly edible although not so inviting in appearance as before.

Species of Coprinus are very common and are easily recognized by the deliquescent gills which, when mature, stain the fingers black.

In “Once upon a Time,” when country people made their own writing inks, the convenient Coprinus gave its juices for this purpose. A little corrosive sublimate added to the boiled and strained fluid prevented it from molding.

With few exceptions the species are small. They are tender, of real mushroom flavor and highly enjoyable. They make a thin, well flavored catsup, but are better used to give flavor to their less favored brethren.

They stew in from two to fifteen minutes, depending upon the solidity of the species.

Gills covered above with a fleshy or membranaceous skin, hence the pileus does not split along the lines of the gills, but becomes lacerated with the edges turned upward.

* Comati—coma, hair. Furnished with a ring formed from the free margin of the volva. The skin of the pileus torn into innate scales.

** Atramentarii—atramentum, ink. Ring imperfect. Volva absent. Pileus dotted with minute innate scales.

*** Picacei—pica, a magpie. Universal veil downy, at first continuous then broken up into superficial scales forming patches on the pileus.

**** Tomentosi—tomentum, down. Pileus at first covered with a loose hairy down, becoming torn into distinct scales, at length disappearing. Ring absent.

***** Micacei—mico, to glitter. Pileus at first covered with minute glistening scales, soon disappearing. Ring none.

****** Glabrati. Pileus smooth. Veil absent.

Pileus very thin without a skin, at length opening into furrows along the backs of the gills and becoming folded in furrows. Stem thin, hollow. Gills wasting away into thin lines.

* Cyclodei. Gr—a circle; appearance. Stem with a ring or volva.

** Lanatuli—lanatus, woolly. Pileus covered with superficial woolly floccules, at length disappearing. Ringless.

*** Furfurelli—furfureus, branny. Pileus mealy or scurfy. Gills generally attached to a collar at the apex of the stem. Ringless.

**** Hemerobii. Gr.—living a day. Pileus always smooth.

None known to be edible.

A. Pelliculo´si. Cap becoming torn, edge turning upward, etc.

C. coma´tus Fr.—coma, hair. (Plate CIII.) Pileus 2–7 in. high, white, fleshy, at first oblong, becoming bell-shaped, seldom expanded, when in mature deliquescing state, splitting at the margin along the line of the gills, the cuticle, except upon the apex, separating into shaggy, often concentric scales, at times yellowish, at others tinged with purplish-black. Gills free from the stem, crowded and at first cohering, broad, white then tinged with pink or salmon color, then purple to black and dissolving into ink. Stem up to 10 in. long, up to ⅝ in. thick, attenuated upward, most part concealed within the cap, hollow, but with spider-web threads within, smooth or fibrillose, white or lilac-white, easily pulling out of cap, brittle. Ring thin, torn, sometimes entire and movable.

On rich soil, lawns, gardens, roads, dumps, especially where ashes have been placed. Solitary or in large dense clusters. August until after frost, but it is occasionally found during the spring months.

Spores elliptical, black, 13–18µ long Peck. Almost black, elliptical, 13–18×7–8µ Massee; 11–13×6–8µ K.; 15×8µ W.G.S. Var. brev´iceps Pk. Pileus before expansion subovate, shorter and broader than in the typical form, 1.5–2.5 in. high. Dumping ground. Albany. November. H. Neiman. Peck, 49th Rep.

Coprinus comatus is common to the United States. In its perfection it is a stately and beautiful plant. I have seen it with the oblong cap eight inches long, but its usual height is from 2–4 in. It occurs after hard rain and often in the most unexpected places. It is a rather domestic species, usually in troops, but often in clusters of from five to fifty individuals. I have seen it lift firmly sodded ground about railroad stations, and again, bulging the surface of gardens like mole-hills.

There are toadstools of higher flavor, but not one of greater delicacy. In this C. comatus is not excelled from its earliest stage until fully ripened. It is everywhere commended.

Lafayette B. Mendel, in American Journal of Physiology, gives the following analysis:

The specimens were freshly gathered and had not yet turned “inky.” They varied very widely in size, thirty-six mushrooms weighing 1485 grams, of which 980 grams belonged to the caps (pileus) and 505 grams to the stems. The average weight of a fresh specimen was thus:

A specimen which had attained the average growth weighed:

An analysis yielded the following results:

The dry substance contained:

C. soboli´ferus Fr. Pileus 1½-2½ in. across, subcylindrical, then oval bell-shaped, lower half of pileus usually undulate but not furrowed or striate, disk obtuse, usually depressed, distinctly scaly, dingy white, toward the apex tinged with pale brown, scales darker. Flesh very thin. Gills free, tapering toward each end, ¼ in. or more broad, crowded, pale then blackish. Stem 5–8 in. long, ¾ in. thick at the base, slightly attenuated upward, silky-white, stuffed; toward the base there is a depressed zone caused by the edge of the pileus when young. Ring fugacious. Spores elliptical, 15×7µ.

Amongst grass near to trunks, buried wood, etc. A very large and beautiful species, distinguished from Coprinus atramentarius, its nearest ally, by the larger size of every part, the costate (ribbed) or waved lower portion of the pileus, the truncate, depressed disk, with distinct squamules, the whitish color of the pileus, and the imperfectly hollow or stuffed stem.

Spores elliptical, 15×7µ Massee.

Almshouse grounds, Philadelphia. On maple roots in grass-grown places, May, 1897–1898. McIlvaine. Not previously noted in United States.

C. soboliferus is a substantial food-giving species, very heavy for its size. It grows singly and in clusters and will immediately attract attention, wherever found. It is of fine flavor and substance. Cook at once.

C. ova´tus (Schaeff.) Fr.—ovum, an egg. Pileus white, somewhat membranaceous, at the first egg-shaped and densely imbricated with thick spreading concentric scales, covered with an even hood at the apex, then expanded, striate. Stem 3–4 in. long, solid at the base, rooting, otherwise hollow, with spider-web threads within, attenuated upward, downy, shining white. Ring not very conspicuous and soon vanishing. Gills free, remote, slightly ventricose, at the first somewhat naked and remaining long shining white, at length umber-blackish, never becoming purple.

Smaller, thinner, less handsome than C. comatus. For the most part solitary. Fries.

Spores 11–12×7–8µ Massee.

On rich ground, dumps, etc. Same habitat as C. comatus.

West Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, New Jersey. McIlvaine.

So closely allied to C. comatus that it is with difficulty distinguished from it. However, its edible qualities are the same, and into these the name does not enter.

C. sterquili´nus Fr.—sterquilinium, a dunghill. Pileus about 2 in. across when expanded, conical, then expanded, sulcate more than half way from margin to disk, at first villous or silky, disk rather fleshy with rough scales, silvery-gray, tinged with brown at the apex. Flesh thin. Gills free, ventricose, about 2 lines broad, pale then umber-purple. Stem 4–6 in. high, slightly attenuated upward, white, fibrillose, hollow, thickened base solid, and booted for about an inch from the base, margin of sheath ending in a free border or ring.

On dung. A fine large species known by the scaly apex of the pileus, the basal portion of the stem surrounded by a volva-like, adnate structure with a free upper margin. The stem soon becomes black when bruised. Base of stem not rooting but abrupt, and furnished with a few white fibers. Massee.

Edible, Cooke, 1891; also Leuba.

Nova Scotia, Dr. Somers.

This species is not reported as found in the United States.

C. atramenta´rius (Bull.) Fr.—atramentum, ink. (Plate CII, fig. 1, p. 372.) Pileus 1½-4 in. across, ovate, expanding, grayish, lead-color or grayish-brown, with occasionally a few obscure scales on disk, often covered with bloom; margin ribbed, sometimes notched, soft, tender. Gills free, ventricose, up to ½ in. broad, crowded and at first cohering and white with white floccose edges, then becoming black and dissolving into ink. Stem up to 5 in. long, up to ½ in. thick, smooth, whitish, hollow, at first spindle-shaped, then attenuated upward, with more or less distinct ring near base.

Spores subcylindrical, large cystidia numerous, 12×6µ Massee; 9–10×6µ K.; 9×5µ W.G.S.; 8–10µ long Peck.

Indiana, H.I. Miller; Harrisburg, Pa., Dr. J.H. Fager; West Virginia, McIlvaine.

The stem is obscurely banded within, by which it may be recognized with certainty.

It grows singly or in clusters of many individuals on rich ground, whether lawns, gardens, gutter sides, or in woods, but not on dung. I know of a fine cluster growing year after year on a much-decayed pear-stump. Occasionally it appears in the spring months, but is common during the summer and autumn after rains, and from its first appearance it occurs in successive crops until stopped by severe frost. It is common in Europe and over the United States.

The flavor is higher than that of C. comatus. It should be cooked as soon as gathered, and kept in a cool place until needed.

Analysis shows the following:

Two separate, freshly-gathered lots of this species were examined. The one (a) contained six young small specimens weighing 5.5 grams, or .9 gram each; the other (b) contained eight mushrooms weighing 12 grams, or 1.5 grams each. An analysis gave:

C. fusces´cens (Schaeff.) Fr.—fuscus, dark or swarthy. Pileus 1–1¼ in. across, submembranaceous, ovate, expanded, dull, disk rather fleshy, even or cracked into squamules, grayish-brown, disk reddish. Gills adfixed, blackish-umber. Stem 4–5 in. long, about ¼ in. thick, equal, fragile, hollow, subfibrillose. Ring indistinct or absent, whitish. Massee.

Smaller and more slender than Coprinus atramentarius. Pileus brownish-gray, disk becoming reddish, not sprinkled with micaceous particles, but at first covered with a mealy bloom. Gills adnexed, attenuated from the stem to the margin, deliquescent. Fries.

Spores elliptical, pointed at the ends, 10x6µ Massee; 10x5µ W.G.S.

Solitary and in tufts. On stumps, trunks, etc. May to October.

West Philadelphia, Pa., McIlvaine.

C. fuscescens is tender, delicate and of excellent flavor. In this it ranks with C. atramentarius.