ARMILLARIA Fr.

Figure 80.—Lepiota naucina.—Section of three plants, different ages.

Since the plant occurs in the same situations as theAgaricus campestrisit might be mistaken for it, especially for white forms. But of course no harm could come by eating it by mistake for the common mushroom, for it is valued just as highly for food by some who have eaten it. If one should look at the gills, however, they would not likely mistake it for the common mushroom because the gills become pink only when the plant is well expanded and quite old. There is much more danger in mistaking it for the white amanitas,A. phalloides,A. verna, orA. virosa, since the gills of these deadly plants are white, and they do sometimes grow in lawns and other grassy places where the smooth lepiota and the common mushroom grow. For this reason one should study the descriptions and illustrations of these amanitas given on preceding pages, and especially should the suggestions given there about care in collecting plants be followed, until one is so certainly familiar with the characters that the plants would be known "on sight."

Plate 25, Figure 81.—Lepiota procera. Grayish brown to reddish brown, gills and flesh white (3/4 natural size). Copyright.

The pink color of the gills of this lepiota has led certain students of the fungi into mistakes of another kind. This pink color of the gills has led some to place the plant among the rosy spored agarics in the genusAnnularia, where it was namedAnnularia lævisby Krombholtz (vide Bresadola Funghi Mangerecci e velenosi, p. 29,1899). It fits the description of that plant exactly. The pink color of the gills, as well as the fact that the gills turn brownish when dry, has led to a confusion in some cases of theLepiota naucinawith the chalky agaric,Agaricus cretaceus. The external resemblance of the plants, as shown in various illustrations, is very striking, and in the chalky agaric the gills remain pink very late, only becoming brown when very old.

Lepiota proceraScop.Edible.—The parasol mushroom,Lepiota procera, grows in pastures, lawns, gardens, along roadsides, or in thin woods, or in gardens. It is a large and handsome plant and when expanded seems not inappropriately named. It is from 12–20 cm. or more high, the cap expands from 5–12 cm., while the stem is 4–7 mm. in thickness. It occurs during summer and in early autumn.

Thepileusis oval, then bell-shaped, convex and nearly expanded, with usually a more or less prominent elevation (umbo) at the center. Sometimes it is depressed at the center. It is grayish brown or reddish brown in color on the surface and the flesh is whitish. As the cap expands the surface layer ceases to grow and is therefore cracked, first narrow chinks appearing, showing white or grayish threads underneath. As the cap becomes more expanded the brown surface is torn into scales, which give the cap a more or less shaggy appearance except on the umbo, where the color is more uniform. The torn surface of the pileus shows numerous radiating fibres, and it is soft and yielding to the touch. Thegillsare remote from the stem, broad and crowded. Thesporesare long, elliptical, 12–17 µ long. Thestemis cylindrical, hollow, or stuffed, even, enlarged below into a prominent bulb, of the same color as the pileus, though paler, especially above the annulus. The surface is usually cracked into numerous small scales, the chinks between showing the white inner portion of the stem. Theringis stout, narrow, usually quite free from the stem, so that it can be moved up and down on the stem, and is called a movable ring.

Figure81is from plants (No. 3842, C. U. herbarium) collected in a garden at Blowing Rock, N. C., during September, 1899.

A closely related plant,Lepiota rachodesVitt., has smaller spores, 9–12 × 7–9 µ. It is also edible, and by some considered only a variety ofL. procera. It is rare in this country, but appears about Boston in considerable quantities "in or near greenhouses or in enriched soil out of doors," where it has the appearance of an introduced plant (Webster, Rhodora, 1: 226, 1899). It is a much stouter plant thanL. procera, the pileus usually depressed, much more coarsely scaly, and usually grows in dense clusters, whileL. procerausuallyoccurs singly or scattered, is more slender, often umbonate.L. rachodeshas a veil with a double edge, the edges more or less fringed. The veil is fixed to the stem until the plant is quite mature, when it becomes movable. The flesh of the plant on exposure to the air becomes a brownish orange tint.

Figure 82.—Lepiota americana. Scales and center of cap reddish or reddish brown. Entire plant turns reddish on drying (natural size). Copyright.

Lepiota morganiPk.—This plant occurs from Ohio, southward and west. It grows in grassy places, especially in wet pastures. It is one of the largest of the lepiotas, ranging from 20–40 cm. high, the cap 20–30 cm. broad, and the stem about 2 cm. in thickness. Thepileus, when fully expanded, is whitish, with large dark scales, especially toward the center. Theringis large, sometimes movable, and thegillsandsporesare greenish. Some report the plant as edible, while others say illness results from eating it.

Lepiota americanaPk.Edible.—This plant is widely distributed in the United States. The plants occur singly or are clustered, 6–12cm. high, the cap 4–10 cm. broad, and the stem 4–10 mm. in thickness. The cap is adorned with reddish or reddish brown scales except on the center, where the color is uniform because the surface is not broken up into scales. The flesh is white, but changes to reddish when cut or bruised, and the whole plant becomes reddish on drying.

Figure82is from plants (No. 2718, C. U. herbarium) collected at Ithaca.

The European plant,L. badhami, also reported in this country, changes to a brownish red. It is believed by some to be identical withL. americana.

Figure 83.—Lepiota cristata. Entirely white, but scales grayish or pinkish brown, stem often flesh color (natural size). Copyright.

Lepiota acutesquamosaWeinm.—This is a medium or small sized plant with a floccose pileus adorned with small, acute, erect scales, and has a loose, hairy or wooly veil which is often torn irregularly. The erect scales fall away from the pileus and leave little scars where they were attached.

Lepiota cristataA. & S.Edible.—The crested lepiota,Lepiota cristata, occurs in grassy places and borders of woods, in groves, etc., from May to September, and is widely distributed. The plant is small, 3–5 cm. high, the cap 1–4 cm. broad, and the stem 2–5 mm. in thickness. It grows in clusters or is scattered.

Thepileusis ovate, bell-shaped, then convex and expanded, and thin. The surface is at first entirely dull reddish or reddish brown, but soon cracks into numerous scales of the same color arranged in a crested manner, more numerous between the margin and the center, and often arranged in a concentric manner. The center of the capoften preserves the uniform reddish brown color because the pileus at this point does not expand so much and therefore the surface does not crack, while the margin often becomes white because of the disappearance of the brown covering here. Thegillsare free from the stem, narrow, crowded, and close to the stem. Thesporesare more or less angular, elongated, more narrowed at one end, and measure 5–8 × 3–4 µ. Thestemis slender, cylindrical, hollow, whitish, smooth. Theringis small, white, and easily breaks up and disappears.

The characters of the plant are well shown in Fig.83from plants collected at Ithaca.Lepiota angustanaBritz. is identical, and according to MorganL. miamensisMorgan is a white form ofL. angustana.

Lepiota asperulaAtkinson.—This lepiota resemblesA. asperin some respects, but it is smaller and the spores are much smaller, being very minute. The plant is 5–8 cm. high, the pileus 2–4 cm. broad, and the stem 4–6 mm. in thickness. It grows in leaf mould in the woods and has been found at Ithaca, N. Y., twice during July and September, 1897.

Thepileusis convex and bell-shaped, becoming nearly or quite expanded. It is hair brown to olive brown in color. The surface is dry, made up of interwoven threads, and is adorned with numerous small, erect, pointed scales resembling in this respectA. asperFr. Thegillsare white or yellowish, free, but rather close to the stem, narrow, often eroded on the edge, sometimes forked near the stem, and some of them arranged in pairs. The spores are oblong, smooth, and very minute, measuring 5 × 2 µ. Thestemis the same color as the pileus, cylindrical, hollow, with loose threads in the cavity, enlarged into a rounded bulb below, minutely downy to pubescent. The outer portion of the bulb is formed of intricately interwoven threads, among which are entangled soil and humus particles. Theveilis white, silky, hairy, separating from the stem like a dense cortina, the threads stretched both above and below as shown in Fig.84from plants (No. 3157 C. U. herbarium), collected at Ithaca.

In some specimens, as the pileus expands, the spaces between the pointed scales are torn, thus forming quite coarse scales which are often arranged in more or less concentric rows, showing the yellow-tinged flesh in the cracks, and the coarse scales bearing the fine point at the center. A layer connecting the margin of the pileus with the base of the stem and covered with fine brown points, sometimes separates from the edge of the cap and the base of the stem, and clings partly to the cortina and partly to the stem in much the same way that portions of the volva cling to the stem of certain species ofAmanita, as seen inA. velatipes(Fig.66). Sometimesthis is left on the base of the stem and then resembles a short, free limb of a volva, and suggests a species ofAmanita. The scales, however, are concrete with the pileus, and the species appears to show a closer relationship withLepiota.

Plate 26, Figure 84.—Lepiota asperula. Cap hair-brown to olive-brown, scales minute, pointed, gills and stem white (natural size). Copyright.

In the genusArmillariathe inner veil which forms a ring on the stem is present. The stem is fibrous, or the outer portion cartilaginous in some species, and not easily separable from the substance of the pileus (continuous with the hymenophore), and the gills are attached to the stem, sinuate, or decurrent, spores white. Peck, 43rd Report N. Y. State Mus., p. 40–45, describes 6 species.

Some of the species resemble very closely certain species ofAmanitaorLepiota, but can be distinguished by the firm continuity of the substance of the stem and cap.

Armillaria melleaVahl.Edible.—This is one of the most common of the late summer and autumn fungi, and is widely distributed over the world. It grows about the bases of old stumps or dead trees, or from buried roots. Sometimes it is found attached to the living roots of trees. The plant occurs in tufts or clusters, several to many individuals growing together, the bases of their stems connected with a black rope-like strand from which they arise. The entire plant is often more or less honey colored, from which the plant gets its specific name. Its clustered habit, the usually prominent ring on the stems, and the sharp, blackish, erect scales which usually adorn the center of the cap, mark it as an easy plant to determine in most cases. The colors and markings, however, vary greatly, so that some of the forms are very puzzling. The plant varies in height from 10–15 cm., the cap from 5–10 cm. broad, and the stem 4–10 mm. in thickness.

Thepileusis oval to convex and expanded, sometimes with a slight umbo or elevation at the center. The color varies from honey color to nearly white, or yellowish brown to dull reddish brown, usually darker on the center. In typical forms the pileus is adorned with pointed dark brown, or blackish, erect, scales especially abundant over the center, while the margin is often free from them, but may be marked with looser floccose, brownish, or yellowish scales. Sometimes there are no blackish pointed scales anywhere on the cap, only loose floccose colored scales, or in some forms the cap is entirely smooth. The margin in old specimens is often striate. The pileus is usually dry, but Webster cites an instance in which it was viscid in wet weather.

Thegillsare attached to the stem squarely (adnate) or they aredecurrent (extend downward on the stem), are white, or whitish, becoming in age more or less dingy or stained. The spores are rounded or elliptical, 6–9 µ. Thestemis elastic, spongy within and sometimes hollow. It is smooth or often floccose scaly below the ring, sometimes with prominent transverse bands of a hairy substance. It is usually whitish near the upper end, but dull brown or reddish brown below the annulus, sometimes distinctly yellowish. Theveilvaries greatly also. It may be membranaceous and thin, or quite thick, or in other cases may be absent entirely. Theringof course varies in a corresponding manner. As shown in Fig.85it is quite thick, so that it appears double on the edge, where it broke away from the inner and outer surfaces of the margin of the cap. It is frequently fixed to the stem, that is, not movable, but when very thin and frail it often disappears.

The honey colored agaric is said by nearly all writers to be edible, though some condemn it. It is not one of the best since it is of rather tough consistency. It is a species of considerable economic importance and interest, since it is a parasite on certain coniferous trees, and perhaps also on certain of the broad-leaved trees. It attacks the roots of these trees, the mycelium making its way through the outer layer, and then it grows beneath the bark. Here it forms fan-like sheets of mycelium which advance along both away from the tree and towards the trunk. It disorganizes and breaks down the tissues of the root here, providing a space for a thicker growth of the mycelium as it becomes older. In places the mycelium forms rope-like strands, at first white in color, but later becoming dark brown and shining. These cords or strands, known asrhizomorphs, extend for long distances underneath the bark of the root. They are also found growing in the hollow trunks of trees sometimes. In time enough of the roots are injured to kill the tree, or the roots are so weakened that heavy winds will blow the trees over.

The fruiting plants always arise from these rhizomorphs, and by digging carefully around the bases of the stems one can find these cords with the stems attached, though the attachment is frail and the stems are easily separated from the cords. Often these cords grow for years without forming any fruit bodies. In this condition they are often found by stripping off the bark from dead and rotting logs in the woods. These cords were once supposed to be separate fungi, and they were known under the nameRhizomorpha subcorticalis.

Plate 27, Figure 85.—Armillaria mellea. Showing double ring present in some large specimens; cap honey colored, scales minute, more numerous at center, blackish, often floccose, and sometimes wanting (3/4 natural size, often smaller). Copyright.

Armillaria aurantiaSchaeff. (Tricholoma peckiiHowe)Suspected.—This is a very pretty species and rare in the United States. Theplants are 6–8 cm. high, the cap 4–7 cm. broad, and the stem 6–8 mm. in thickness. It occurs in woods. It is known by its viscid pileus, the orange brown or ochraceous rufus color of the pileus and stem, and the color of the stem being confined to the superficial layer, which becomes torn into concentric floccose scales, forming numerous minute floccose irregular rings of color around the stem.

Figure 86.—Armillaria aurantia Schaeff. (=Tricholoma peckii Howe). Cap orange-brown or ochraceous rufus, viscid; floccose scales on stem same color (natural size). Copyright.

Thepileusis convex to expanded, with an umbo, and the edge inrolled, fleshy, thin, viscid, ochraceous rufus (in specimens collected by myself), darker on the umbo, and minutely scaly from tufts of hairs, and the viscid cuticle easily peeling off. Thegillsare narrow, crowded, slightly adnexed, or many free, white, becoming brown discolored where bruised, and in drying brownish or rufus. Thesporesare minute, globose to ovoid, or rarely sub-elliptical when a little longer, with a prominent oil globule usually, 3–3.5 × 3–5 µ, sometimes a little longer when the elliptical forms are presented. Thestemis straight or ascending, even, very floccose scaly as the pileus is unrolled from it, scales same color as the pileus, the scales runningtransversely, being separated perhaps by the elongation of the stem so that numerous floccose rings are formed, showing the white flesh of the stem between. The upper part of the stem, that above the annulus, is white, but the upper part floccose.

Figure 87.—Tricholoma personatum. Entire plant grayish brown, tinged with lilac or purple, spores light ochraceous (natural size, often larger).

This plant has been long known in Europe. There is a rather poor figure of it in Schaeffer Table 37, and a better one in Gillet Champignons de France, Hymenomycetes,1, opposite page 76, but a very good one in Bresadola Funghi Mangerecci e Velenosi, Tavel 18, 1899. A good figure is also given by Barla, Les Champignons des Alpes—Maritimes, Pl. 19, Figs. 1–6. The plant was first reported from America in the 41st Report, State Museum, N. Y., p. 82, 1888, under the nameTricholoma peckiiHowe, from the Catskill Mountains, N. Y. Figure86is from plants (No. 3991, C. U. herbarium) collected in the Blue Ridge mountains, at Blowing Rock, N. C., during September, 1899. The European and American description both ascribe a bitter taste to the flesh of the pileus, and it is regarded as suspicious.

There does not seem to be a well formed annulus, the veil only being present in a rather young stage, as the inrolled margin of the pileus is unrolling from the surface of the stem. It seems to be more in the form of a universal veil resembling the veil of some of the lepiotas. It shows a relationship withTricholomawhich possesses in typical forms a delicate veil present only in the young stage. Perhaps for this reason it was referred by Howe toTricholomaas an undescribed species when it was namedT. peckii. If its affinities should prove to be withTricholomarather than withArmillaria, it would then be known asTricholoma aurantium.

In the genusTricholomathe volva and annulus are both wanting, the spores are white, and the gills are attached to the stem, but are more or less strongly notched or sinuate at the stem. Sometimes the notch is very slight. The stem is fleshy-fibrous, attached to the center of the pileus, and is usually short and stout. In some specimens when young there is a slight cobwebby veil which very soon disappears. The genus is a very large one. Some species are said to be poisonous and a few are known to be edible. Peck, 44th Report, N. Y. State Mus., pp. 38–64, describes 46 species.

Figure 88.—Tricholoma personatum. Section (natural size).

Tricholoma personatumFr.Edible.—This plant occurs during the autumn and persists up to the winter months. It grows on the ground in open places and in woods. The stem is short, usually 3–7 cm. long × 1–2 cm. in thickness, and the cap is from 5–10 cm. or more broad. The entire plant often has a lilac or purple tint.

Thepileusis convex, expanded, moist, smooth, grayish to brownish tinged with lilac or purple, especially when young, fading out in age. When young the pileus is sometimes adorned with white mealy particles, and when old the margin may be more or less upturned and wavy. Thegillsare crowded, rounded next the stem, and nearly free but close to the stem, violet or lilac when young, changing to dull reddish brown when old. Thesporeswhen caught in mass are dull pink or salmon color. They measure 7–9 µ long. Thestemis solid, fibrous, smooth, deep lilac when young and retaining the lilac color longer than the pileus. Sometimes the base is bulbous as in Fig.87.

This plant is regarded by all writers as one of the best of the edible fungi. Sometimes the pileus is water soaked and then theflavor is not so fine. The position of the plant is regarded as doubtful by some because of the more or less russety pink color of the spores when seen in mass, and the ease with which the gills separate from the pileus, characters which show its relationship to the genusPaxillus.

Tricholoma sejunctumSowerb.Edible.—This plant occurs on the ground in rather open woods during late summer and in the autumn. It is 8–12 cm. high, the cap 5–8 cm. broad, and the stem 10–15 mm. in thickness.

Figure 89.—Tricholoma sejunctum. Cap light yellow, streaked with dark threads on the surface, viscid. Stem and gills white (natural size, often larger). Copyright.

Thepileusis convex to expanded, umbonate, viscid when moist, light yellow in color and streaked with dark threads in the surface. The flesh is white, and very fragile, differing in this respect fromT. equestre, which it resembles in general form. Thegillsare broad, rather distant, broadly notched near the stem, and easily separating from the stem. Thestemis solid, smooth and shining white. Figure89is from plants collected at Ithaca. It is said to be edible.

Plate 28, Figure 90.—Clitocybe candida. Entirely white (natural size). Copyright.

Plate 29, Figure 91.—Clitocybe candida. Under view of nearly lateral stemmed individual (natural size). Copyright.

The volva and annulus are wanting in this genus, and the spores are white. The stem is elastic, spongy within, the outside being elastic or fibrous, so that the fibres hold together well when the stem is twisted or broken, as inTricholoma. The stem does not separate readily from the pileus, but the rather strong fibres are continuous with the substance of the pileus. The gills are narrowed toward the stem, joined squarely or decurrent (running down on the stem), very rarely some of them notched at the stem while others of the same plant are decurrent. In one species at least (C. laccata, by some placed in the genusLaccaria) the gills are often strongly notched or sinuate. The cap is usually plane, depressed, or funnel-shaped, many of the species having the latter form. The plants grow chiefly on the ground, though a number of species occur on dead wood. The genus contains a very large number of species. Peck describes ten species in the 23rd Report, N. Y. State Mus., p. 76, et. seq., also 48th Report, p. 172, several species. Morgan, Jour. Cinn. Soc. Nat. Hist.6: 70–73, describes 12 species.

Clitocybe candidaBres.Edible.—This is one of the large species of the genus. It occurs in late autumn in Europe. It has been found on several occasions during late autumn at Ithaca, N. Y., on the ground in open woods, during wet weather. It occurs in clusters, though the specimens are usually not crowded. The stem is usually very short, 2–4 cm. long, and 2–3 cm. in thickness, while the cap is up to 10–18 cm. broad.

Thepileusis sometimes regular, but often very irregular, and produced much more strongly on one side than on the other. It is convex, then expanded, the margin first incurved and finally wavy and often somewhat lobed. The color is white or light buff in age. The flesh is thick and white. Thegillsare white, stout, broad, somewhat decurrent, some adnate.

The taste is not unpleasant when raw, and when cooked it is agreeable. I have eaten it on several occasions. Figures 90, 91 are from plants (No. 4612 C. U. herbarium) collected at Ithaca.

Clitocybe laccataScop.Edible.—This plant is a very common and widely distributed one, growing in woods, fields, roadsides and other waste places. It is usually quite easily recognized from the whitish scurfy cap, the pink or purplish gills, though the spores are white, from the gills being either decurrent, adnate, or more or less strongly notched, and the stem fibrous and whitish or of a pale pink color. When the plants are mature the pale red or pink gills appearmealy from being covered with the numerous white spores.

Thepileusis thin, convex or later expanded, of a watery appearance, nearly smooth or scurfy or slightly squamulose. Thesporesare rounded, and possess spine-like processes, or are prominently roughened. In the warty character of the spores this species differs from most of the species of the genusClitocybe, and some writers place it in a different genus erected to accommodate the species ofClitocybewhich have warty or spiny spores. The species with spiny spores are few. The genus in which this plant is placed by some isLaccaria, and then the plant is calledLaccaria laccata. There are several other species ofClitocybewhich are common and which one is apt to run across often, especially in the woods. These are of the funnel form type, the cap being more or less funnel-shaped.Clitocybe infundibuliformisSchaeffer is one of these. The cap, when mature, is pale red or tan color, fading out in age. It is 5–7 cm. high, and the cap 2–4 cm. broad. It is considered delicious.Clitocybe cyathiformis, as its name indicates, is similar in form, and occurs in woods. The pileus is of a darker color, dark brown or smoky in color.

Clitocybe illudensSchw.Not Edible.—This species is distributed through the Eastern United States and sometimes is very abundant. It occurs from July to October about the bases of old stumps, dead trees, or from underground roots. It is one of the large species, the cap being 15–20 cm. broad, the stem 12–20 cm. long, and 8–12 mm. in thickness. It occurs in large clusters, several or many joined at their bases. From the rich saffron yellow color of all parts of the plant, and especially by its strong phosphorescence, so evident in the dark, it is an easy plant to recognize. Because of its phosphorescence it is sometimes called "Jack-my-lantern."

Thepileusis convex, then expanded, and depressed, sometimes with a small umbo, smooth, often irregular or eccentric from its crowded habit, and in age the margin of the pileus is wavy. The flesh is thick at the center and thin toward the margin. In old plants the color becomes sordid or brownish. Thegillsare broad, not crowded, decurrent, some extending for a considerable distance down on the stem while others for a less distance. Thestemis solid, firm, smooth, and tapers toward the base.

While the plant is not a dangerously poisonous one, it has occasioned serious cases of illness, acting as a violent emetic, and of course should be avoided. Its phosphorescence has often been observed. Another and much smaller plant, widely distributed in this country as well as Europe, and belonging to another genus, is also phosphorescent. It isPanus stipticus, a small white plant witha short lateral stem, growing on branches, stumps, trunks, etc. When freshly developed the phosphorescence is marked, but when the plants become old they often fail to show it.

Figure 92.—Clitocybe illudens. Entire plant rich saffron yellow, old plants become sordid brown sometimes; when fresh shows phosphorescence at night (2/3 natural size, often much larger). Copyright.

Clitocybe multicepsPeck.Edible.—This plant is not uncommon during late summer and autumn. It usually grows in large tufts of 10 to 30 or more individuals. The caps in such large clusters are often irregular from pressure. The plants are 6–12 cm. high, the caps 5–10 cm. broad, and the stems 8–15 mm. in thickness. Thepileusis white or gray, brownish gray or buff, smooth, dry, the fleshwhite. Thegillsare white, crowded, narrow at each end. Thesporesare smooth, globose, 5–7 µ in diameter. The stems are tough, fibrous, solid, tinged with the same color as cap. Fig.93is from plants (No. 5467, C. U. herbarium) collected at Ithaca, October 14, 1900.

In the genusCollybiathe annulus and volva are both wanting, the spores are white, the gills are free or notched, or sinuate. The stem is either entirely cartilaginous or has a cartilaginous rind, while the central portion of the stem is fibrous, or fleshy, stuffed or fistulose. The pileus is fleshy and when the plants are young the margin of the pileus is incurved or inrolled, i. e., it does not lie straight against the stem as inMycena.

Many of the species ofCollybiaare quite firm and will revive somewhat after drying when moistened, but they are not coriaceous as inMarasmius, nor do they revive so thoroughly. It is difficult, however, to draw the line between the two genera. Twenty-five of the New York species of Collybia are described by Peck in the 49th Report N. Y. State Mus., p. 32 et seq. Morgan describes twelve species in Jour. Cinn. Soc. Nat. Hist., 6: 70–73.

Collybia radicataRehl.Edible.—This is one of the common and widely distributed species of the genus. It occurs on the ground in the woods or groves or borders of woods. It is quite easily recognized by the more or less flattened cap, the long striate stem somewhat enlarged below and then tapering off into a long, slender root-like process in the ground. It is from this "rooting" character that the plant gets its specific name. It is 10–20 cm. high, the cap 3–7 cm. broad, and the stem 4–8 mm. in thickness.

Thepileusis fleshy, thin, convex to nearly plane, or even with the margin upturned in old plants, and the center sometimes umbonate. It is smooth, viscid when moist, and often with wrinkles on the surface which extend radially. The color varies from nearly white in some small specimens to grayish, grayish brown or umber. The flesh is white. Thegillsare white, broad, rather distant, adnexed, i. e., joined to the stem by the upper angle. Thesporesare elliptical and about 15 × 10 µ. Thestemis the same color as the pileus though paler, and usually white above, tapers gradually above, is often striate or grooved, or sometimes only mealy. The long tapering "root" is often attached to some underground dead root. Fig.94is from plants (No. 5641, C. U. herbarium) collected at Ithaca, August, 1900.

Plate 30, Figure 93.—Clitocybe multiceps. Plants white or gray to buff or grayish brown. (Three-fourths natural size.) Copyright.

Plate 31, Fig. 94.—Collybia radicata. Caps grayish-brown to grayish and white in some small forms. (Natural size.) Copyright.

Plate 32, Fig. 95.—Collybia velutipes. Cap yellowish or reddish yellow, viscid, gills white, stem dark brown, velvety hairy (natural size). Copyright.

Collybia velutipesCurt.Edible.—This is very common in woods orgroves during the autumn, on dead limbs or trunks, or from dead places in living ones. The plants are very viscid, and the stem, except in young plants, is velvety hairy with dark hairs. Figure95is from plants (No. 5430, C. U. herbarium) collected at Ithaca, October, 1900.

Collybia longipesBull., is a closely related plant. It is much larger, has a velvety, to hairy, stem, and a much longer root-like process to the stem. It has been sometimes considered to be merely a variety ofC. radicata, and may be only a large form of that species. I have found a few specimens in the Adirondack mountains, and one in the Blue Ridge mountains, which seem to belong to this species.

Collybia platyphyllaFr.Edible.—This is a much larger and stouter plant thanCollybia radicata, though it is not so tall as the larger specimens of that species. It occurs on rotten logs or on the ground about rotten logs and stumps in the woods from June to September. It is 8–12 cm. high, the cap 10–15 cm. broad, and the stem about 2 cm. in thickness.

Thepileusis convex becoming expanded, plane, and even the margin upturned in age. It is whitish, varying to grayish brown or dark brown, the center sometimes darker than the margin, as is usual in many plants. The surface of the pileus is often marked in radiating streaks by fine dark hairs. Thegillsare white, very broad, adnexed, and usually deeply and broadly notched next the stem. In age they are more or less broken and cracked. Thesporesare white, elliptical, 7–10 × 6–7 µ.

The plant resembles somewhat certain species ofTricholomaand care should be used in selecting it in order to avoid the suspected species ofTricholoma.

The genusMycenais closely related toCollybia. The plants are usually smaller, many of them being of small size, the cap is usually bell-shaped, rarely umbilicate, but what is a more important character the margin of the cap in the young stage is straight as it is applied against the stem, and not at first incurved as it is inCollybia, when the gills and margin of the pileus lie against the stem. The stem is cartilaginous as inCollybia, and is usually hollow or fistulose. The gills are not decurrent, or only slightly so by a tooth-like process. Some of the species are apt to be confused with certain species ofOmphaliain which the gills are but slightly decurrent, but inOmphaliathe pileus is umbilicate in such species, while inMycenait is blunt or umbonate. The spores are white. A large number of the plants grow on leaves and wood, few on the ground. Some of those which grow on leaves might be mistaken for species ofMarasmius, but inMarasmiusthe plants are of a tough consistency, and when dried will revive again if moistened with water.

Some of the plants have distinct odors, as alkaline, or the odor of radishes, and in collecting them notes should be made on all these characters which usually disappear in drying. A few of the plants exude a colored or watery juice when bruised, and should not be confounded with species ofLactarius.

Mycena galericulataScop.Edible.—Mycena galericulatagrows on dead logs, stumps, branches, etc., in woods. It is a very common and very widely distributed species. It occurs from late spring to autumn. The plants are clustered, many growing in a compact group, the hairy bases closely joined and the stems usually ascending. The plants are from 5–12 cm. high, the caps from 1–3 cm. broad, and the slender stems 2–3 mm. in thickness.

Thepileusis conic to bell-shaped, sometimes umbonate, striate to near the center, and in color some shade of brown or gray, but variable. Thegillsare decurrent by a tooth, not crowded, connected by veins over the interspaces, white or flesh colored. The slenderstemsare firm, hollow, and hairy at the base.

Figure 96.—Mycena polygramma, long-stemmed form growing on ground (= M. prælonga Pk.). Cap dark brown with a leaden tint, striate on margin; stem finely and beautifully longitudinally striate (natural size). Copyright.

Mycena polygrammaBull.—This plant is very closely related toM. galericulata, and has the same habit. It might be easily mistakenfor it. It is easily distinguished by its peculiar bright, shining, longitudinally striate to sulcate stem. It usually grows on wood, but does occur on the ground, when it often has a very long stem. In this condition it was described by Peck in the 23rd Report, N. Y. State Mus., p. 81, asMycena prælonga, from plants collected in a sphagnum moor during the month of June. This form was also collected at Ithaca several times during late autumn in a woods near Ithaca, in 1898. The plants are from 12–20 cm. high, the cap 1–2 cm. broad, and the stem 2–3 mm. in thickness.

Thepileusis first nearly cylindrical, then conic, becoming bell-shaped and finally nearly expanded, when it is umbonate. It is smooth, striate on the margin, of a dark brown color with a leaden tint. Thegillsare narrow, white, adnate and slightly decurrent on the stem by a tooth. The very longstemis smooth, but marked with parallel grooves too fine to show in the photograph, firm, hollow, somewhat paler than the pileus, usually tinged with red, and hairy at the base. Figure96is from plants (No. 3113 C. U. herbarium), collected in a woods near Ithaca in damp places among leaves. A number of the specimens collected were attacked by a parasitic mucor of the genusSpinellus. Two species,S. fusiger(Link.) van Tiegh., andS. macrocarpus(Corda) Karst., were found, sometimes both on the same plant. The long-stalked sporangia bristle in all directions from the cap.

Figure 97.—Mycena pura. Entire plant rose, rose purple, violet, or lilac. Striate on margin of pileus (natural size, often much larger).

Mycena puraPers.—This plant is quite common and very widely distributed, and occurs in woods and grassy open places, during late summer and in the autumn. The entire plant is nearly of a uniform color, and the color varies from rose, to rose purple, violet, or lilac. Plants from the Blue Ridge mountains of North Carolina were chiefly rose purple, very young plants of a much deeper color (auricula purple ofRidgeway), while those collected at Ithaca were violet. The plants vary from 5–8 cm. high, the cap 2–3 cm. broad, and the stem 2–4 mm. stout. The plants are scattered or somewhat clustered, sometimes occurring singly, and again many covering a small area of ground.

Thepileusis thin, conic, bell-shaped to convex and nearly expanded, sometimes with a small umbo, smooth, and finely striate on the margin, in age the striæ sometimes rugulose from the upturning of the margin. Sometimes the pileus is rugose on the center. Thegillsvary from white to violet, rose, etc., they are adnate to sinuate, and in age sometimes become free by breaking away from the stem. They are broad in the middle, connected by vein-like elevations over the surface, and sometimes wavy and crenate on the edge, the edge of the gills sometimes white. Thesporesare white, oblong, 2.5–3.5 × 6–7 µ, smooth. Thebasidiaare cylindrical, 20–25 × 3–4 µ, four-spored. There are a fewcystidiain the hymenium, colorless, thin walled, clavate, the portion above the hymenium cylindrical, and 30–40 × 10–12 µ.

Thestemis sometimes white when young, but later becomes of the same color as the pileus, often a lighter shade above. It is straight, or ascending, cylindrical, even, smooth, hollow, with a few white threads at the base.

Sometimes on drying the pileus becomes deeper in color than when fresh. The gills also become deeper in color in drying, though the edge remains white if white when fresh. Figure97is from plants (No. 3946, C. U. herbarium) collected at Blowing Rock, N. C., in August, 1899. The plants are often considerably larger than shown in the figure.

Figure 98.—Mycena epipterygia. Cap viscid, grayish, often tinged with yellowish or reddish in age, gills white, sometimes tinged with blue or red, stem yellowish, or same color as cap (natural size). Copyright.

Mycena epipterygiaScop.—This pretty little species is quite readily distinguished by the gray, conic or bell-shaped cap, the long, hollow, slender stem, and the viscid pellicle or skin which is quite easily peeled off from the stem or cap when moist. It grows in woods orgrassy places, or among moss, etc., on the ground or on very rotten wood. The plants are from 5–10 cm. high, the cap 1–2 cm. broad, and the stem about 2 mm. in thickness. It is widely distributed in Europe, America, and other North temperate countries.

Thepileusis viscid when moist, ovate to conic or campanulate, and later more or less expanded, obtuse, the margin striate, and sometimes minutely toothed. The usual color is grayish, but in age it often becomes reddish. Thegillsare decurrent by a small tooth, and quite variable in color, whitish, then gray, or tinged with blue or red.

Thestemis very slender, flexuous, or straight, fistulose, tough, with soft hairs at the base, usually yellowish, sometimes the same color as the cap, and viscid like the cap when moist. Figure98is from plants (No. 4547, C. U. herbarium) collected at Ithaca in August, 1899.

Mycena vulgarisPers.—This common and pretty species is easily recognized by its smoky or grayish color, the umbilicate pileus and very slimy stem. It grows on decaying leaves, sticks, etc., in woods. It occurs in clusters. The plants are small, 3–5 cm. high, the cap 4–7 mm. broad, and the stem about 1.5 mm. in thickness.

Thepileusis thin, bell-shaped, then convex, and depressed at the center, with a papilla usually in the center, finely striate on the margin, and slightly viscid. Thegillsare white, thin, and finally decurrent, so that from the form of the cap and the decurrent gills the plant has much the appearance of anOmphalia. Thestemis very viscid, grayish in color, often rooting at the base, and with white fibrils at the base, becoming hollow.

Figure99is from plants collected in woods near Ithaca, during August, 1899.

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