C. pica´ceus (Bull.) Fr. Pileus 2–2½ in. across, membranaceous, ovato-bell-shaped, striate up to the disk, smoky-black, variegated with large, irregular, superficial white patches. Gills free, ½ in. or more broad, ventricose, grayish-black. Stem 5–6 in. long, base bulbous, abrupt, otherwise equal, ¼-⅔ in. thick, white, hollow, fragile, smooth. Spores elliptical, apiculate, 14×8µ; cystidia large, numerous. Massee.
Decaying trunks or branches of trees in woods. Lyndonville. June. Fairman.
The form here referred to this species differs somewhat from the description of the type in being smaller, in having no bulb to the stem and in having smaller spores. It is probably the “smaller variety growing on rotten wood” noticed by Stevenson in his British Fungi. I have seen the true form of the species from Kansas. The New York plant seems to me to be worthy of distinctive designation, at least as a variety, and I call it
Var. ebulbo´sus. Plant smaller. Stem destitute of a bulb. Spores 8–10×5µ. Peck, 44th Rep. N.Y. State Bot.
Minnesota, Johnson, 1897; Kansas, Cragin, 1884; Wisconsin, Bundy, Nebraska, Clements.
Edible. Leuba.
Large quantities grew on rotting chestnut and oak rails at Mt. Gretna, Pa., from June to August, 1899. It is strong and unpleasant.
C. fimeta´rius Fr.—fimetum, a dunghill. Pileus 1–2 in. across, membranaceous, thin, at first cylindrical, soon conical, the edge at length revolute and torn at the margin, when young everywhere covered with floccose-squarrose white scales (from the universal veil), which separate from the vertex toward the circumference, at length naked, longitudinally cracked, but not opening into furrows, the vertex which remains entire, livid. Stem about 3 in. long, 2–3 lines and more thick, hollow, fragile, thickened and solid at the base, attenuated upward, shining white and downy with squamules of the same color. Gills free, reaching the stem, at first ventricose, then linear, flexuous, black. Stem when young curt and firmer. Fries.
Spores spheroid-ellipsoid, 15–18×9–12µ K.; 15×9µ W.G.S.; 12–14×7–8µ Massee.
Sometimes there is a root as long as the stem. M.J.B. Common on dung heaps in successive crops. Spring to autumn.
Var. pulla´tus. Pileus with adpressed scales and tomentose, soon naked, brownish, then blackish. Stem equal, becoming smooth.
On dung. Clustered. Stature of the type.
Var. cine´reus. Pileus membranaceous, floccosely mealy, then naked, ashy-gray. Stem subequal, rootless, hollow to the base, often twisted. Spores 12–8µ.
On dung and rich soil.
Var. macrorhi´za. Pileus at first with feathery squamules. Stem short, hairy, rooting, sometimes more or less marginately subbulbous. Spores 13–14×8–9µ.
On dung. Pileus pale and smaller than in the typical form, stem shorter, with a more or less elongated rooting base. Berkeley.
Of this very variable species there is a small form growing on decayed wood in woods. It has the spores rather smaller than in the type, they being 10–11µ long, 8µ broad. It might be designated Var. silvi´cola. Peck, 43d Rep. N.Y. State Bot.
West Virginia, 1881–1885, May to October. McIlvaine.
Common to the United States. Of excellent flavor and tender. It must be cooked at once.
C. tomento´sus (Bull.) Fr.—tomentum, pubescence. Pileus very thin, at first oblong-oval and floccose-scaly, soon bell-shaped, naked, closely striate, grayish-brown or blackish-brown, often with a leaden hue, finally expanded, the disk smooth, reddish or ochraceous-brown, the margin turned upwards and much split or lacerated. Lamellæ closely crowded, narrow, free, white then pinkish, finally black. Stem white, tall, fragile, tapering upward, finely floccose-squamulose, hollow, sometimes with a large tap root. Plant gregarious or cespitose.
Height 3–6 in., breadth of pileus 6–18 lines.
Very variable in size and color. The covering of the pileus is easily rubbed off. It soon disappears and the plant quickly decays, seldom continuing through the day. Peck, 23d Rep. N.Y. State Bot.
Mt. Gretna, Pa., about old picketing places in camp grounds. Prof. M.W. Easton, July, 1898.
West Virginia, North Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, May to September, on dung, rich ground, gardens and in woods. McIlvaine.
Very delicate; of strong mushroom flavor. It is common, and can usually be collected in numbers. It is of little food value in itself, but yields an excellent flavor to anything it is cooked with. It must be cooked as soon as gathered.
C. ni´veus Fr.—nix, snow. Pileus white, 1–2 in. across, thin, ovate then bell-shaped, margin at length turned upward, split or covered with a dense white, mealy or downy covering, slightly pink. Gills adnexed, narrow, crowded, at first cohering, white then pinkish, then black. Stem at first short, then up to 4 in., slender, attenuated upward, covered with white down, fragile, hollow.
Spores 16×11–13µ Massee; 10×12µ W.G.S.
Common on dung and dung heaps, clustered. May to frost.
West Virginia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New Jersey. McIlvaine.
Very variable in size, but clearly distinguished by its snow-white color and adnexed gills. Like all of the thin, delicate species of this genus there is little substance left after cooking, but the savory flavor is imparted to the cooking medium.
C. mica´ceus (Bull.) Fr.—mica, grain, granular. (Plate CII, fig. 2, p. 372.) Pileus thin, ovate, then bell-shaped, with the margin more or less revolute, wavy, splitting, closely striate, with a few minute scales and sparkling atoms, or naked, varying in color from whitish-ochraceous to livid-brown, generally darker when moist or old. Gills rather narrow, crowded, white then pinkish, finally black. Stem slender, fragile, easily splitting, slightly silky, white, hollow, often twisted. Plant mostly cespitose.
Height 2–4 in., breadth of pileus, 1–2 in.
Streets, yards and fields, on or about old stumps. May to September. Peck, 23d Rep. N.Y. State Bot.
Spores elliptical, blackish, 7–8×4–5µ Massee; 7×8µ W.G.S.; 10×5µ W.P.; elliptical, brown, 6–8µ Peck.
Var. granula´ris. Pileus sprinkled with granules or furfuraceous scales. New York. August. Peck, 47th Rep.
Indiana, H.I. Miller; West Virginia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New Jersey. May to October. McIlvaine.
Common from spring until frost. This is the oval-capped toadstool found in clusters about trees, posts, along grassy sides of pavements, popping up, Brownie-like, from sodded places. Although small and thin, its clusters soon fill baskets, and its continuous growth in some places, from month to month, year to year, makes it one to be depended upon. Stewed for ten minutes it makes a rich, luscious dish. C. congregatus closely resembles it and is equally good.
C. deliques´cens (Bull.) Fr. Pileus 3–4 in. broad, livid-fuliginous, membranaceous, bell-shaped then expanded, smooth, but dotted with minute points on the disk, never downy or split, the edge turning upward and striate, the striæ broad but not deep. Stem 4 in. long, 2–4 lines thick, hollow, with a bark-like covering, equally attenuated upward, smooth, shining white. Gills free, at length remote from the stem, very crowded, flexuous, very narrow, only ½ line broad, lurid-blackish. Fries.
Frequent on stumps and among fallen leaves, sometimes in tufts. July to October.
Spores elliptical, obliquely apiculate, 8×5µ Massee.
Sometimes confounded with C. atramentarius.
West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, McIlvaine.
C. deliquescens is of good size and quality. The stems do not cook well with the caps. The flavor is the same as C. atramentarius.
C. congrega´tus (Bull.) Fr. Pileus ½-¾ in. high, cylindrical, then bell-shaped, finally expanded and split at the margin, smooth, viscid, margin slightly striate, ochraceous. Gills about 1 line broad, slightly adnexed, white, finally becoming black. Stem 1½ in. high, equal, smooth, hollow, whitish.
On the ground, also in hot-houses. Massee.
Readily distinguished by the densely cespitose mode of growth, the small size, the viscid, ochraceous, glabrous pileus which remains elongato-cylindrical for some time, then becomes campanulate and finally expands and splits at the margin.
Densely cespitose, fragile, readily distinguished from C. digitalis by its much smaller size. Fries.
Spores 7×8µ W.G.S.; 10×5µ W.P.
Fries and Cooke considered this a good species.
So closely allied to neighboring species that it is difficult to determine it. Edible qualities are included in the alliance.
None edible.
C. lagopus Fr.—Gr, a hare; a foot. Pileus 1 in. broad, whitish, disk livid, very tender, cylindrical then bell-shaped, when young beautifully downy then naked, flattened and split, radiately furrowed. Stem 5 in. and more long, 1 line thick, very weak, very fragile, slightly attenuated at both ends, everywhere white-woolly. Gills at length remote, narrow, black. Fries.
Fries distinguishes two forms. A, nemorum. Stem slender, 4–6 in. long. B, viarum. Stem 2–3 in. long. Pileus broader, livid. Both forms are inodorous. The pileus of the long-stemmed form is sometimes entirely clear brown, at others grayish with a brownish disk. Stem very weak, 5 in. and more in length, 1 line thick, attenuated at both ends. Pileus thin, expanded bell-shaped, about 1 in. across, when young elegantly flocculose, then furrowed, disk livid. Gills rather distant.
New York, Peck, 38th Rep.; Mt. Gretna, Pa., July, 1898, on rubbish about abandoned camp. Prof. M.W. Easton.
A strikingly beautiful species. Both forms were found in abundance, tested and eaten with enjoyment. They are extremely delicate, and of attractive but not high flavor.
C. Virgineus Banning. Pileus ovate, bell-shaped, or cylindrical, pale ocher, the margin thin, torn, downy. Lamellæ narrow, close, forked, at first white, turning dark but never black, adnexed. Stem 3½ in. long, stout, somewhat stuffed, attenuated where it meets the pileus, flattened, downy. Spores black.
Cespitose or gregarious at the roots of trees or about old stumps. Also found in Virginia.
The plant is not rapidly deliquescent, remaining perfect for some hours. Banning MS.
Maryland. Virginia. Miss M.E. Banning MS. Peck, 44th Rep.
Chester county, Pa. New Jersey, about pear trees and stumps. McIlvaine.
This little Coprinus is a valuable species when found. A patch of it about a tree or stump is treasure trove. Patches of it appear in July and bear until October. The not-particular observer would mistake it for C. micaceus.
C. domes´ticus (Pers.) Fr.—domus, a house. Pileus 2 in. broad, fuliginous, disk date-brown, thin, ovate then bell-shaped, covered with small branny scales, then opening into furrows and flattened, undulately sulcate, disk obtuse, even. Stem 2–3 in. long, 2–3 lines thick, fistulose, slightly firm, attenuated upward, adpressedly silky, becoming even, white. Gills adnexed, at first crowded, distant when the pileus is split, linear, white then reddish, at length brownish-blackish.
A larger and more remarkable species than all the neighboring ones. Fries.
Spores 14–16×7–8µ Massee.
On much decayed wood, damp carpets, in cellars, etc. Often in clusters.
Mt. Gretna, Pa., Prof. M.W. Easton, July, 1898; West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, McIlvaine.
C. domesticus is the largest of its section and is sometimes of remarkable growth. I have seen it start from under a board in a cellar and prolong its stems for over a foot to get its caps to air and light. Under such conditions the stems are twisted in a confused mass.
It is very tender with a decided mushroom flavor. Cook at once.
C. silvat´icus Pk. Pileus membranaceous, with a thin fleshy disk, convex, striate in folds on the margin, dark-brown, the depressed striæ paler. Lamellæ subdistant, narrow, attached to the stem, brownish. Stem fragile, slender, smooth, hollow, white. Spores gibbous-ovate, 12.7µ long.
Plant 2 in. high. Pileus 6–10 lines broad. Stem .5 lines thick. Ground in woods. Greig. September.
The striæ extend about half way up the pileus. Allied to C. plicatilis and C. ephemerus Peck, 24th Rep. N.Y. State Bot.
West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey. Frequent, but not common. On ground in woods, August to October. McIlvaine.
This pretty little fungus is frequently found. I have never been able to get it in quantity, but have often eaten it. Its flavor is musky, rather strong. It is edible, but is not obtainable in sufficient numbers to make it of much food value.
C. ephem´erus Fr. Gr—lasting for a day. Pileus ½-¾ in. across, very thin, ovate, then bell-shaped, finally expanded and splitting, furrowed radiately, at first slightly scurfy, disk elevated, even, reddish. Gills slightly attached, linear, white, then brownish, at length blackish. Stem 1½-2½ in. high, 1 line or more thick, equal, glabrous, pellucid, hollow, whitish. Spores 16–17×9–10µ.
On dunghills, manured ground, etc. To the naked eye appearing almost glabrous, but under a lens seen to be distinctly scurfy. Known from Coprinus plicatilis by the disk of the pileus being prominent and not depressed. Massee.
Common dung and dung heaps. May to October. New York, Peck. 23d Rep.
Of such size and delicate substance as to be of little food value. But it has a strong mushroom flavor which is choice as a flavoring. It appears during the summer months on dung and dung heaps. It must be cooked as soon as gathered.
C. semilana´tus Pk. Pileus submembranaceous, broadly conical, then expanded and strongly revolute, and the margin sometimes split, covered with mealy atoms, finely and obscurely rimose-striate, pale grayish-brown. Lamellæ narrow, close, free. Stem elongated, fragile, hollow, slightly tapering upward, white, the lower half clothed with loose cottony flocci which rub off easily, the upper half smooth or slightly farinaceous. Spores broadly elliptical, 12.7µ long.
Plant very fragile, 4–6 in. high. Pileus 8–12 lines broad. Stem 1 line thick at the base. Rich ground and dung. Sandlake. August. (Plate IV, fig. 15–18.) Allied to C. coopertus. Peck, 24th Rep. N.Y. State Bot.
West Virginia. 1881–1885, Mt. Gretna, Pa. July to October. McIlvaine.
I have seldom found it, though at times it was quite common about stables in West Virginia. It has good mushroom flavor and is edible. It is stately, attracting attention by its peculiar cap.
C. plica´tilis Fr.—plico, to fold. Pileus 1 in. broad, dusky-brown then bluish-gray-cinereous, disk darker, dusky-brown or reddish, oval-cylindrical then campanulate, soon expanded, opening into furrows, sulcate-plicate, for the most part smooth, disk broad, even, at length depressed. Stem 1–3 in. long, fistulose, thin, equal, even, smooth, pallid, somewhat pellucid. Gills remote from the stem and adnate to a collar which is formed from the dilated apex of the stem, distant, gray-blackish. Fries.
Very tender and fragile, but when scorched by the sun not melting into fluid. Very variable in stature and size. Stevenson.
Spores 12–14×8–10µ Massee; broadly elliptic, 5µ long, M.J.B.; 11–13µ long, 8–10µ broad Peck, Rep. 50.
Common in rich pastures, lawns, roadsides, etc. May to October.
West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, McIlvaine.
A neat little fungus often found in great plenty. Though small it is nevertheless edible and must be written with its edible companions.
Pileus slightly fleshy, not striate, margin exceeding the gills. Gills ascending in a conical manner, slate-gray, mottled with the black spores. Stem polished. Veil woven, often absent. Spores black.
On the ground in rich earth, and on dung.
In the black-spored series Psathyrella is separated by the striate pileus, not exceeding the gills, Anellaria by the ring and Coprinus by the deliquescent gills.
Panæolus, in its entirety, has a precise looking membership. If the gills were cut from cardboard and fixed by machinery, they could not be more correct. Some of the species are among the earliest arrivals at toadstool lawn parties, and some are the last to leave. Several are culinary favorites, notably Panæolus solidipes. P. papilionaceus possesses intoxicating properties. P. campanulatus is reported to be a sedative.
The edible species are easily cooked and are exceptionally delicate and well flavored.
P. retiru´gis Fr.—rete, a net; ruga, a wrinkle. Pileus about 1 in. across, at first almost globose, then hemispherical, subumbonate, minutely mealy, opaque, moist, furnished with uniting raised ribs, pinkish tan-color; margin with irregular fragments of the veil attached. Flesh rather thick. Gills adnexed, ascending, 2 lines or more broad, grayish-black. Stem 2–4 in. long, about 2 lines thick, equal, pruinose, purplish flesh-color, hollow. Fries.
Spores elliptic-fusiform, 11–13×7µ Massee.
On dung. Distinguished among the species of Panæolus by the raised ribs on the pileus and its appendiculate margin. The pileus is sometimes grayish. Closely resembling, superficially, Psathyra corrugis, which is, however, distinguished by the violet-black gills.
Spores elliptical, shortly fusiform, 20µ Q.; 16×11µ W.G.S.
New York, Peck, 23d Rep. West Virginia, 1881–1885. Pennsylvania, New Jersey, frequent on dung. June to frost. McIlvaine.
P. retirugis is not a common species, and is a sparse grower, but is frequently found. It is seldom that a mess can be had at one time. It is an excellent species by itself and imparts a good flavor to others.
P. fimi´cola Fr.—fimus, dung; cola, to inhabit. Pileus ½-¾ in. across and high, slightly fleshy, convex bell-shaped, obtuse, glabrous, opaque, dingy-gray when moist, paler and yellowish when dry, with a narrow brown encircling zone near the margin. Gills adnate, 2 lines or more broad, gray, variegated with smoky-black. Stem 2–4 in. high, 1 line or more thick, equal, fragile, whitish, powdered with white meal upward, hollow. Fries.
Stem soft, fragile, obsoletely silky-striatulate, 2–4 in. long. Pileus when moist commonly smoky-gray, when dry grayish clay-color, sometimes discoid. Gills semi-ovate with a minute decurrent tooth. Fries.
West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey. Frequent. On dung and richly manured places. June to September. McIlvaine.
P. fimicola is neither as large nor heavy as P. solidipes, but in other respects equals it.
P. soli´dipes Pk.—solidus, solid; pes, a foot. (Plate CII, fig. 3, 4, p. 372.) Pileus 2–3 in. across, firm, at first hemispherical, then sub-campanulate or convex, smooth, whitish, the cuticle at length breaking up into dingy-yellowish, rather large, angular scales. Gills broad, slightly attached, whitish, becoming black. Stem 2–4 lines thick, firm, smooth, white, solid, slightly striate at the top. Spores very black with a bluish tint. Height of plant 5–8 in. Dung heaps. West Albany. June.
A large species, remarkable for its solid stem. The scales on the pileus are larger on the disk, becoming smaller toward the margin. The upper part of the stipe is sometimes beaded with drops of moisture. Peck, 23d Rep. N.Y. State Bot.
West Virginia, 1881–1885. Pennsylvania, New Jersey, frequent on dung and dung heaps. May to frost. McIlvaine.
On mature plants, or after rains, the scales are not always present.
P. solidipes is a handsome, readily recognized species of good weight and substance. It is one of the best of toadstools.
P. campanula´tus Linn.—campanula, a little bell. Pileus oval, bell-shaped or obtusely conical, sometimes umbonate, smooth, somewhat shining, brownish, with a peculiar gray or lead-colored tint, sometimes becoming reddish-tinted, the margin, often scalloped or fringed with the appendiculate veil. Lamellæ not broad, attached, becoming grayish-black. Stem long, slender, hollow, reddish, pruinose and slightly striate at the top, at length dusted with the spores.
Height 4–6 in., breadth of pileus 6–12 lines.
On horse dung and rich soil. June and July. Common.
In very wet weather the cuticle of the pileus sometimes cracks into scales or areas. Peck, 23d Rep. N.Y. State Bot.
Spores subellipsoid, 16–18×10–13µ K.; 8–9×6µ Massee.
Mr. R.K. Macadam, Boston, Mass., informs me that he has information of a case of poisoning by this fungus. “The victim experienced dizziness, dimness of vision, trembling and loss of power and memory. He recovered after simple treatment and was well inside of 24 hours.”
A full account of this case is in “The London Medical and Surgical Journal,” Vol. 36, November, 1816. The poison acts as a sedative.
I have several times eaten of this fungus in small quantities, because larger could not be obtained, and with no other than pleasant effect. There does not appear to be any case of poisoning reported by it since 1816, which, considering the inquisitiveness of man, is singular. Caution is advised.
P. papiliona´ceus Fr.—papilio, a butterfly. Pileus subhemispherical, sometimes subumbonate, smooth, or with the cuticle breaking up into scales, whitish-gray, often tinged with yellow. Lamellæ very broad, attached, becoming black. Stem slender, firm, hollow, pruinose above, whitish, sometimes tinged with red or yellow, slightly striate at the top and generally stained by the spores.
Height 3–5 in., breadth of pileus 6–18 lines.
On dung and rich soil. Common. May and June.
A small form occurs with the pileus nearly white, scarcely half an inch in diameter, and the cuticle not cracking. Peck, 23d Rep. N.Y. State Bot.
The effects of P. papilionaceus are very uncertain. I have seen it produce hilarity in a few instances, and other mild symptoms of intoxication, which were soon over, and with little reaction. But I have seen, at table, the same effects from eating preserved peaches and preserved plums which had fermented. Many personal testings have been without effect. Testings upon others vary with the individuals. The fungus seems to contain a mild stimulant. It is not dangerous, but should be eaten with caution. Being of small size, and not a prolific species, quantities of it are difficult to obtain. Moderate quantities of it have no effect whatever.
Pileus slightly fleshy, smooth and even. Gills adnexed, dark slate-color, variegated with the black spores. Stem central, smooth, shining, rather firm. Ring present at first, either persistent or forming a zone around the stem.
The species of this genus were formerly included in Panæolus, from which this is separated by the presence of a ring, more or less definite.
In other characters they are similar. As in Amanitopsis and Amanita.
A. separa´ta Karst.—separatus, distinct, separate. Pileus 1–1½ in. across, height about the same, ovate, then bell-shaped, not expanding, viscid, even, ochraceous, then whitish, shining, wrinkled when old. Flesh rather thick. Gills adfixed, ascending, thin, crowded, broad, 2–3 lines, grayish-black, margin paler. Stem long, 3–5 in., straight, base thickened, attenuated upward, whitish, shining, top somewhat striate. Ring persistent, distant. Massee.
On dung. Rather variable in size.
Pileus bell-shaped, but very obtuse at the summit, ½-1¼ in. from the base to the apex, not expanding at the base without cracking.
Spores broadly elliptic-fusiform, black, opaque, 10×7µ Massee; ellipsoid, 16–22×10–12µ K.; 16×11µ W.G.S.
West Virginia, 1881–1885. New Jersey, Mt. Gretna, Pa., July, 1898, on dung. McIlvaine.
A common, frequent species from May to October. It is substantial in flesh, excellent in substance and flavor. Cook soon and not over fifteen minutes.
Pileus membranaceous, striate, margin straight, at first pressed to the stem, not extending beyond the gills. Veil inconspicuous. Gills sooty-black, not variegated. Spores black.
Closely resembling Psathyra in appearance, but separated by the spore color.
In the black-spored series Panæolus and Anellaria are distinguished by their pilei not being striate and Coprinus by its deliquescent gills.
The species are small and can seldom be gathered in quantity. But those tested have the full mushroom flavor and are valued for the flavor they give to less gifted species when cooked with them.
P. gra´cilis Fr.—slender. Pileus ½-1 in. broad, sooty, livid, etc., when dry, tan, rosy or whitish, hygrophanous, membranaceous, bell-shaped, obtuse, smooth, even, slightly and pellucidly-striate only round the margin. Stem 3 in. and more long, scarcely 1 line thick, tubular, remarkably tense and straight, equal, naked, smooth, whitish, not rooted, white-villous at the base. Gills wholly adnate, commonly broader behind (rarely linear), almost distant, distinct, at first whitish, then cinereous-blackish with the black spores, edge rose-colored. Fries.
When dry the pileus is soft to the touch. Gregarious, fragile. Very similar to A. corrugis, and there is a variety corrugated. Stevenson.
Spores ellipsoid, 13–14×7–8µ K.; 5×12µ W.G.S.; 7×3–3.5µ Massee; 14×8µ Morgan.
New York, Peck, Rep. 23; West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, common, rich ground, June to October. McIlvaine.
A common and beautiful fungus, growing in patches on rich ground. It is decidedly prim. Its conical cap is regular as an extinguisher. It pays to gather it for flavoring other species. I have not seen the corrugated form mentioned by Fries. P. graciloides Pk. lacks the rosy-edged gills; gills are whitish.
P. graciloi´des Pk.—slender. Pileus thin, conical or bell-shaped, glabrous, hygrophanous, brown and striatulate when moist, whitish and subrugulose when dry. Lamellæ ascending, rather broad, subdistant, brown, becoming blackish-brown, the edge whitish. Stem long, straight, fragile, hollow, smooth, white. Spores blackish, elliptical, 15–16.5×8–8.5µ.
Plant gregarious, 4–6 in. high. Pileus 1 in. broad. Stem 1 line thick.
Ground in an old dooryard. Maryland. September.
This is allied to A. gracilis Fr., but the edge of the gills is not rosy. When drying the moisture leaves the disk of the pileus first, the margin last. When dry the plant bears some resemblance to large forms of A. tener. Under a lens the texture of the surface of the pileus is seen to be composed of matted fibrils. Peck, 30th Rep. N.Y. State Bot.
Pennsylvania and New Jersey, on ground about houses and stables, often in barn yards, after they have been cleaned out and are empty for the summer. McIlvaine.
The whitish-edged gills with entire absence of rosiness on gill edges distinguish this species from P. gracilis Fr. It is frequent but not plentiful. Often a pint can be gathered. It has a fine mushroom flavor, resembling the delicate forms of Coprinus.
P. atoma´ta Fr.—atomatus, atomate. Pileus ½-1 in. broad, livid, when dry becoming pale tan or pale flesh-color, sometimes reddish, hygrophanous, membranaceous, bell-shaped, obtuse, slightly striate, when dry without striæ, slightly wrinkled, sprinkled with shining atoms. Stem 2 in. long, almost 1 line thick, tubular, equal, not rooted, lax, slightly bent (not tense and straight), white and white pulverulent at the apex. Gills adnate, broad, ventricose, slightly distinct, whitish, but cinereous-blackish with the black spores. Fries.
Solitary or gregarious. Pileus changing like A. gracilis from livid to whitish and rose-color, but more fragile. Stevenson.
Spores elliptical, 10×4µ Massee; 14×9µ W.G.S.; 11×8µ Morgan.
Chester county, Pa., June to September. McIlvaine.
Several specimens were eaten. In flavor they could not be distinguished from C. micaceus. The scarcity and small size of the species make it of little value, save as a flavoring.
P. dissemina´ta Pers.—dissemino, to scatter. Found everywhere. Densely tufted. Pileus about ½ in. across, membranaceous, ovate, bell-shaped, at first scurfy, then naked, coarsely striate, margin entire, yellowish then gray. Gills adnate, narrow, whitish, then gray, finally blackish. Stem 1–1½ in. long, rather curved, mealy then smooth, fragile, hollow. Massee.
Crowded. Pileus ovate, conical, at length bell-shaped, ⅓-½ in. from the base to the apex, striate and plicate, membranaceous, pale buff or reddish-brown, at length gray, becoming flaccid and dissolving. Gills distant, narrow, pale brown. Stipes 1–3 in. long, slender, weak, brittle, crooked, hollow, pale yellowish, whitish or grayish. Particularly partial to old willow trees, and when growing on a stump of a felled tree often covering nearly a square yard. Grev.
Spores 8×6µ W.G.S.; 7.6×5µ Morgan.
West Virginia, New Jersey, Mt. Gretna, Pa., about abandoned camp. Densely tufted. May to frost. McIlvaine.
Patches of it are very common on old trunks, about decaying trees, on ground. The caps rarely reach 1 in. in diameter. The plants cook away to almost nothing, but they are of fine flavor, which they impart to the cooking medium.
Hymenophore decurrent. Gills distant, composed of a mucilaginous membrane, which can be readily separated into two plates, continuous at the edge which is acute and powdered with the blackish fusiform spores. Veil viscoso-floccose. Fleshy, putrescent, pileus at length the shape of an inverted cone.
A small genus with great difference among the species. Intermediate in habit between Cortinarius and Hygrophorus.
Universal Veil glutinous, at first terminating on the stem in a floccose ring soon disappearing. The Gills frequently admit of being detached and stretched out into a continuous membrane. Fries.
A genus possessing several well-marked characters. The very decurrent gills differ from all others in their soft mucilaginous consistency. The spores are larger than usual in the Agaricaceæ and have the elongated spindle-shape found in Boleti. The stem and pileus are of the same substance, and the pileus and veil are both glutinous when moist. The spores have been described as greenish-gray becoming black, and as dingy-olive.
I have had opportunity to see but two species of this small genus—G. rhodoxanthus and G. viscidus. Of these the spores are decidedly olivaceous. If the six other species recorded as found in the United States are as creditable, they are well worth hunting for. G. Oregonensis Pk. is reported as edible and as a valuable food species in Oregon. The glutinous coatings to pileus and stem do not appear on the American form of G. rhodoxanthus in the localities I have found it in during fifteen years.
G. glutino´sus (Schaeff.) Fr.—glutin, glue. Pileus 2–5 in. broad, purple-brown, often mottled with black spots, fleshy, convex, obtuse, at length plane, even depressed, even, smooth, very glutinous. Flesh thick, about ½ in., soft, white. Stem 2–3 in. and more long, about ½ in. thick, solid, whitish, thickened and externally and internally yellow at the base, viscid with the veil, fibrillose or varying with black scales. Cortina often woven in the form of a ring, but soon fugacious. Gills deeply decurrent, distant, distinct, branched, quite entire, mucilaginous, 3–4 lines broad, at first whitish, then cinereous, clouded with the spores.
Trama none, wherefore the gills easily separate from the pileus. Taste watery, moldy. Odor not marked. Stevenson.
Spores 20µ Cooke; 18–23×6–8µ K.; 16–17×6µ W.G.S.; 18–20×6µ Massee.
Distinguished by the bright yellow base of stem.
Pine woods. July to November. Nova Scotia. Somers.
Edible. Leuba. Chiefly used for catsup. Cooke.
Var. ro´seus. Pileus rose-color. Stem white, attenuated and rosy flesh-color internally at the base. Very distinguished, always smaller.
Spores 20–22×6µ K.
Nova Scotia. Massachusetts. Frost.
I have not seen this species or its variety. Eminent authorities vouch for its edibility.
G. Oregonen´sis Pk. Pileus at first convex, becoming nearly plane or somewhat centrally depressed, viscid, brown or dark-brown, becoming black in drying, taste sweet and pleasant. Lamellæ numerous, rather close, adnate or slightly decurrent, blackish in the dried plant. Stem short, solid, equal or slightly tapering upward, colored like the pileus. Spores oblong, 10–12.5µ long, 4–5µ broad.
Pileus 5–10 cm. broad. Stem 2.5–5 cm. long, 4–10 mm. thick.
Fir woods. Oregon. September to December. Lane.
Dr. Lane writes that this species is edible and grows so abundantly in fir woods that it might be gathered by wagon loads and might be made a source of an abundant food supply. Peck. Torrey Bulletin, Vol. 25, No. 6, June, 1898.