Figure 135.—Pluteus cervinus. Cap grayish brown, or sooty, smooth or sometimes scaly, rarely white, stem same color, but paler; gills first white, then flesh color (natural size, often larger). Copyright.
Figure 135.—Pluteus cervinus. Cap grayish brown, or sooty, smooth or sometimes scaly, rarely white, stem same color, but paler; gills first white, then flesh color (natural size, often larger). Copyright.
Pluteus cervinusSchaeff.Edible.—This is one of the very common species of the higher fungi, and is also very widely distributed. Itvaries considerably in size and appearance. It is 7–15 cm. high, the cap 5–10 cm. broad, and the stem 6–12 mm. in thickness. It occurs on the ground from underground roots or rotten wood, or grows on decaying stumps, logs, etc., from spring until late autumn. Sometimes it is found growing in sawdust.
Thepileusis fleshy, bell-shaped, then convex, and becoming expanded, the surface usually smooth, but showing radiating fibrils, grayish brown, or sometimes sooty, sometimes more or less scaly. Thegillsare not crowded, broad, free from the stem, white, then becoming flesh color with the maturity of the spores. One very characteristic feature of the plant is the presence ofcystidiain the hymenium on the gills. These are stout, colorless, elliptical, thick-walled, and terminate in two or three blunt, short prongs.
Thestemis nearly equal, solid, the color much the same as that of the pileus, but often paler above, smooth or sometimes scaly.
In some forms the plant is entirely white, except the gills. In addition to the white forms occurring in the woods, I have found them in an old abandoned cement mine growing on wood props.
Figure 136.—Pluteus tomentosulus. Cap and stem entirely white, gills flesh color, stem furrowed and tomentose (natural size). Copyright.
Figure 136.—Pluteus tomentosulus. Cap and stem entirely white, gills flesh color, stem furrowed and tomentose (natural size). Copyright.
Pluteus tomentosulusPk.—This plant was described by Peck in the 32d Report, N. Y. State Mus., page 28, 1879. It grows on decaying wood in the woods during July and August. The plants are 5–12 cm. high, the cap 3–7 cm. broad, and the stem 4–8 mm. in thickness. The description given by Peck is as follows: "Pileus thin, convex or expanded, subumbonate, dry, minutely squamulose-tomentose, white, sometimes pinkish on the margin; lamellæ rather broad, rounded behind, free, crowded, white then flesh colored; stem equal, solid, striate, slightly pubescent or subtomentose, white; spores subglobose, 7 µ in diameter, generally containing a large single nucleus." From the plant collected at Ithaca the following notes were made. Thepileusand stem are entirely white, the gills flesh color. The pileus is expanded, umbonate, thin except at the umbo, minutely floccose squamulose, no pinkish tinge noted; the flesh is white, but on the umbo changing to flesh color where wounded. Thegillsare free, with a clear white space between stem and rounded edges, crowded, narrow (about 3–4 mm. broad) edge finely fimbriate, probably formed by numerous bottle-shaped cystidia on the edge, and which extend up a little distance on the side of the gills, but are not distributed in numbers over the surface of the gills;cystidiathin walled, hyaline. Thesporesare flesh colored, subglobose, 5–7 µ.Stemcylindrical, even, twisted somewhat, white, striate and minutely squamulose like the pileus, but with coarser scales, especially toward the base, solid, flesh white.
The species received its name from the tomentose, striate character of the stem. The plants (No. 3219, C. U. herbarium) illustrated in Fig.136were collected in Enfield Gorge, vicinity of Ithaca, July 28, 1899.
This genus takes its name from the volva, which means a wrapper, and which, as we know from our studies ofAmanita, entirely envelops the plant at a young stage. The genus is characterized then by the rosy or reddish spores, the presence of a volva, and the annulus is wanting. The stem is easily separable from the pileus at its junction, in this respect being similar toAmanita,Amanitopsis,Lepiotaand others. The gills are usually, also, free from the stem. The species grow on rotting wood, on leaf mould and on richly manured ground, etc. They are of a very soft texture and usually soon decay.
Volvaria bombycina(Pers.) Fr.Edible.—The silky volvaria is so called because of the beautiful silky texture of the surface of the cap. It is not very common, but is world wide in its distribution, and occurson decayed wood of logs, stumps, etc., during late summer and in autumn. It is usually of a beautiful white color, large, the volva large and thick, reminding one of a bag, and the stem is ascending when the plant grows on the side of the trunk, or erect when it grows on the upper side of a log or stump. The plant is from 8–16 cm. high, the cap 6–20 cm. broad, and the stem 1–1.5 cm. thickness.
Thepileusis globose, then bell-shaped, and finally convex and somewhat umbonate, white, according to some becoming somewhat reddish. The entire surface is silky, and numerous hairs stand out in the form of soft down, when older the surface becoming more or less scaly, or rarely becoming smooth at the apex. The flesh is white. Thegillsare crowded, very broad along the middle, flesh colored, the edge sometimes ragged. Thesporesare rosy in mass, oval to broadly elliptical, 6–9 × 5–6 µ, smooth. Thestemtapers from the base to the apex, is solid, smooth. Thevolvais large and bag-like. The plant is considered edible by some. Figure137is from a plant (No. 3096, C. U. herbarium) collected on a log of Acer rubrum in Cascadilla woods, Ithaca, on August 10th, 1898.
Figure 137.—Volvaria bombycina. Cap, stem and volva entirely white, gills flesh color (natural size). Copyright.
Figure 137.—Volvaria bombycina. Cap, stem and volva entirely white, gills flesh color (natural size). Copyright.
Volvaria speciosaFr.—This plant seems to be rare, but it has a wide distribution in Europe and the United States. It occurs on richly manured ground, on dung, etc. The plants are 10–20 cm. high, the cap 6–12 cm. broad, and the stem 1–2 cm. in thickness. The entire plant is white or whitish, sometimes grayish, especially at the center, where it is also sometimes darker and of a smoky color.
Thepileusis globose when young, then bell-shaped, and finally more or less expanded, and umbonate, smooth, very viscid, so that earth, leaves, etc., cling to it. The flesh is white and very soft. Thegillsare free, flesh colored to reddish or fulvous, from the deeply colored spores. Thesporesare broadly elliptical, or oval, 12–18 × 8–10 µ. Thestemis nearly cylindrical, or tapering evenly from the base, when young more or less hairy, becoming smooth. Thevolvais large, edge free, but fitting very close, flabby and irregularly torn.
The species is reported from California by McClatchie, and from Wisconsin by Bundy.
Specimens were received in June, 1898, from Dr. Post of Lansing, Mich., which were collected there in a potato patch. It was abundant during May and June. Plants which were sent in a fresh condition were badly decayed by the time they reached Ithaca, and the odor was very disagreeable. It is remarkable that the odor was that of rotting potatoes! In this connection might be mentioned Dr. Peck's observation (Bull. Torr. Bot. Club 26: p. 67, 1899) thatAgaricus maritimusPk., which grows near the seashore, possessed "a taste and odor suggestive of the sea."
McClatchie reports that it is common in cultivated soil, especially grain fields and along roads, and that it is "a fine edible agaric and our most abundant one in California."
In the rosy-spored agarics belonging to this genus the gills are decurrent, that is, extend for some distance down on the stem. The stem is fleshy. The gills are white at first and become pink or salmon color as the plants mature, and the spores take on their characteristic color. The plants should thus not be confused with any of the species ofAgaricusto which the common mushroom belongs, since in those species the gills become dark brown or blackish when mature. The genus corresponds withClitocybeamong the white-spored ones.
Clitopilus prunulusScop.Edible.—This species grows on the ground in the woods from mid-summer to autumn. It is not very common, but sometimes appears in considerable quantities at one place. During the autumn of 1898 quite a large number of specimens were found in a woods near Ithaca, growing on the ground around an old stump. The plants are 3–8 cm. high, the cap 5–10 cm. broad, and stem 1–2 cm. in thickness.
Plate 44, Figure 138.—Clitopilus prunulus, cap whitish or dark gray, gills flesh color (natural size). Copyright.
Plate 44, Figure 138.—Clitopilus prunulus, cap whitish or dark gray, gills flesh color (natural size). Copyright.
Thepileusis fleshy, firm, convex and becoming nearly plane, and sometimes as the plants become old the center may be slightly depressed.It is whitish in color, or dark gray, or with a leaden tint, dry, sometimes with a distinct bloom on the surface, and the margin is often wavy. The cap is sometimes produced more on one side than on the other. Thegillsare not close, at first whitish, then salmon colored as the spores mature, and they are decurrent as is characteristic of the genus. Thesporesare elliptical or nearly so, and measure 10–12 µ long.
Figure138is from plants collected near Ithaca, in the autumn of 1898. This species is considered to be one of the excellent mushrooms for food. When fresh it has a mealy odor and taste, as do several of the species of this genus. It is known as the prune mushroom.
Clitopilus orcellaBull.Edible.—This plant is sometimes spoken of as the sweet-bread mushroom. It is much like the prune mushroom just described, in odor and taste, and sometimes resembles it in form and other characters. It is white in color, and the plants are usually considerably smaller, and the pileus is, according to my observations, sometimes more irregular, lobed and wavy on the margin. The flesh is also softer, and the cap is said to be slightly viscid in wet weather. The plant grows in the woods and sometimes in open fields.
The volva and annulus are absent in this genus, the spores are rosy, the gills adnate to sinuate or adnexed, easily separating from the stem in some species. The stem is fleshy or fibrous, sometimes waxy, and the pileus is fleshy with the margin incurved, especially when young. The spores are prominently angular. The genus corresponds withTricholomaof the white-spored agarics, and also withHebelomaandInocybeof the ochre-spored ones.Entoloma repandumBull., is anInocybe[I. repandum(Bull.) Bres.] and has angular spores resembling those of anEntoloma, but the spores are not rosy.
Entoloma jubatumFr.—Growing on the ground in woods. The plants are 5–10 cm. high, the cap 3–6 cm. broad, and the stem 3–6 mm. in thickness.
Thepileusis conic in some plants, to convex and umbonate, thin, minutely scaly with blackish hairy scales, dull heliotrope purple, darker on the umbo. Thegillsare vinaceous rufus to deep flesh color, strongly sinuate, and irregularly notched along the edge. Thesporesare irregularly oval to short oblong, coarsely angular, with an oil drop, 5–7 angled, 7–11 × 6–7 µ. Thestemis of the same color as the pileus, sometimes deeply rooting, hollow. Figure139is fromplants (No. 4000, C. U. herbarium) collected at Blowing Rock, N. C., during September, 1899.
Entoloma grayanumPk.—This plant grows on the ground in woods. It is from 6–8 cm. high, the cap is 3–6 cm. broad, and the stem 4–6 mm. in thickness.
Figure 139.—Entoloma jubatum. Entire plant dull heliotrope purple, gills later flesh color (natural size). Copyright.
Figure 139.—Entoloma jubatum. Entire plant dull heliotrope purple, gills later flesh color (natural size). Copyright.
Thepileusis convex to expanded, sometimes broadly umbonate, drab in color, the surface wrinkled or rugose, and watery in appearance. The flesh is thin and the margin incurved. Thegillsare first drab in color, but lighter than the pileus, becoming pinkish in age.Thesporeson paper are very light salmon color. They are globose or rounded in outline, 5–7 angled, with an oil globule, 8–10 µ in diameter. Thestemis the same color as the pileus, but lighter, striate, hollow, somewhat twisted, and enlarged below. Figure140is from plants (No. 3998, C. U. herbarium) collected at Blowing Rock, N. C., during September, 1899.
Figure 140.—Entoloma grayanum. Cap and stem drab, gills flesh color (natural size). Copyright.
Figure 140.—Entoloma grayanum. Cap and stem drab, gills flesh color (natural size). Copyright.
Entoloma strictiusPk.—The plants grow in grassy places, pastures, etc. They are clustered, sometimes two or three joined at the base of the stem. They are 7–10 cm. high, the caps 2–4 cm. broad, and the stems 3–6 mm. in thickness.
Thepileusis convex, the disk expanded, and the margin incurved and more or less wavy or repand on the extreme edge. It is umbonate at the center with usually a slight depression around the umbo, smooth, watery (hygrophanous) in appearance, not viscid, of an umber color, shining, faintly and closely striate on the margin.In drying the surface of the pileus loses some of its dark umber color and presents a silvery sheen. The flesh is fibrous and umber color also. Thegillsare grayish white, then tinged with flesh color, slightly sinuate, the longer ones somewhat broader in the middle (ventricose), rather distant, and quite thick as seen in cross section, the center of the gill (trama) presenting parallel threads. The sub-hymenium is very thin and composed of small cells; thebasidiaare clavate, 25–30 × 9–10 µ, and four-spored. Thesporesare dull rose color on paper, subgloblose, 5–8 µ in diameter, angular with 5–6 angles as seen from one side. Thestemis the same color as the pileus, but considerably lighter. It is hollow with white fibers within, fibrous striate on the surface, twisted, brittle, and somewhat cartilaginous, partly snapping, but holding by fibers in places, cylindrical, even, ascending, with delicate white fibers covering the lower end.
Figure 141.—Entoloma strictius. Cap umber or smoky, stem paler, gills grayish, then flesh color (natural size). Copyright.
Figure 141.—Entoloma strictius. Cap umber or smoky, stem paler, gills grayish, then flesh color (natural size). Copyright.
Figure141is from plants (No. 2461, C. U. herbarium) collected near Ithaca, October, 1898.
InLeptoniathe stem is cartilaginous, hollow or stuffed, smooth and somewhat shining. The pileus is thin, umbilicate or with the center darker, the surface hairy or scaly, and the margin at first incurved. The gills are adnate or adnexed at first, and easily separating from the stem in age. Many of the species are bright colored.
Figure 142.—Leptonia asprella. Cap hair brown (mouse colored), minute dark scales at center, stem same color, but sometimes reddish brown, green or blue, gills flesh color.
Figure 142.—Leptonia asprella. Cap hair brown (mouse colored), minute dark scales at center, stem same color, but sometimes reddish brown, green or blue, gills flesh color.
Leptonia asprellaFr.—This species occurs on the ground in woods or in open grassy places. The plants are 3–5 cm. high, the cap 2–4 cm. broad, and the stem 2–3 mm. in thickness.
Thepileusis convex, then more or less expanded, umbilicate, rarely umbonate, hair brown (mouse colored), with dark scales on the center and minute scales over the surface, striate.
Thegillsare sinuate to adnexed. Thesporesare strongly 5–6 angled, 10–12 × 8–10 µ. Thestemis smooth, even, usually the same color as the cap, but sometimes it is reddish brown, green, or blue. Figure142is from plants (No. 3996, C. U. herbarium) collected at Blowing Rock, N. C., during September, 1899.
Leptonia incanaFr., is a more common species, and is characterized by an odor of mice.
The genusEcciliacorresponds withOmphaliaof the white-spored agarics. The stem is cartilaginous, hollow or stuffed. The pileus is thin and somewhat membranaceous, plane or depressed at the center, and the margin at first incurved. The gills are more or less decurrent.
Eccilia politaPers.—This plant occurs on the ground in woods. It is 6–10 cm. high, the cap 2–4 cm. broad, and the stem is 3–4 mm. in thickness.
Figure 143.—Eccilia polita. Cap hair brown to olive, stem lighter, gills flesh color, notched and irregular (natural size). Copyright.
Figure 143.—Eccilia polita. Cap hair brown to olive, stem lighter, gills flesh color, notched and irregular (natural size). Copyright.
Thepileusis convex andumbilicate, somewhat membranaceous, smooth, watery in appearance, finely striate on the margin, hair brown to olive in color. Thegillsare decurrent. In the specimens illustrated in Fig. 143 the gills are very irregular and many of them appear sinuate. Thesporesare strongly 4–5 angled, some of them square, 10–12 µ in diameter, with a prominent mucro at one angle. Thestemis cartilaginous, becoming hollow, lighter in color than the pileus, and somewhat enlarged below. Figure143is from plants (No. 3999, C. U. herbarium) collected at Blowing Rock, N. C., during September, 1899.
Plate 45,Figure 144.—Claudopus nidulans, view of under side. Cap rich yellow or buff, gills flesh color (natural size). Copyright.
Plate 45,Figure 144.—Claudopus nidulans, view of under side. Cap rich yellow or buff, gills flesh color (natural size). Copyright.
In the genusClaudopus, recognized by some, the pileus is eccentric or lateral, that is, the stem is attached near the side of the cap, or the cap is sessile and attached by one side to the wood on which the plant is growing; or the plants are resupinate, that is, they may be spread over the surface of the wood.
The genus is perhaps not well separated from some of the species ofPleurotuswith lilac spores likeP. sapidus. In fact, a number of the species were formerly placed inPleurotus, while others were placed inCrepidotusamong the ochre-spored agarics. Several species are reported from America. Peck in 39th Report N. Y. State Mus., p. 67,et seq., 1886, describes five species.
Claudopus nidulans(Pers.) Pk.—This is one of the very pretty agarics growing on dead branches and trunks during the autumn, and is widely distributed. It has, however, been placed in the genusPleurotus, asP. nidulans. But because of the pink color of the spores in mass, Peck places it in the genusClaudopus, where Fries suggested it should go if removed fromPleurotus. It seems to be identical withPanus dorsalis Bosc. It is usually sessile and attached to the side of dead branches, logs, etc., in a shelving manner, or sometimes it is resupinate.
Thepileusis sessile, or sometimes narrowed at the base into a short stem, the caps often numerous and crowded together in an overlapping or imbricate manner. It is nearly orbicular, or reniform, and 1–5 cm. broad. The margin is at first involute. The surface is coarsely hairy or tomentose, or scaly toward the margin, of a rich yellow or buff color. It is soft, but rather tough in consistency. Thegillsare broad, orange yellow. Thespores, pink in mass, are smooth, elongated, somewhat curved, 6–8 µ long.
Figure144is from plants (No. 2660, C. U. herbarium) collected in woods near Ithaca.
The spores are ochre yellow, rusty, rusty-brown, or some shade of yellow. For analytical keys to the genera see ChapterXXIV.
The genusPholiotahas ferruginous or ferruginous brown spores. It lacks a volva, but has an annulus; the gills are attached to the stem. It then corresponds toArmillariaamong white-spored agarics, andStrophariaamong the purple-brown-spored ones. There is one genus in the ochre or yellow-spored plants with which it is liable to be confused on account of the veil, namelyCortinarius, but in the latter the veil is in the form of loose threads, and is called an arachnoid veil, that is, the veil is spider-web-like. Many of the species ofPholiotagrow on trunks, stumps, and branches of trees, some grow on the ground.
Pholiota præcoxPers.Edible.—Agaricus candicansBull. T. 217, 1770:Pholiota candicansSchroeter, Krypt, Flora, Schlesien, p. 608, 1889. This plant occurs during late spring and in the summer, in pastures, lawns and grassy places, roadsides, open woods, etc. Sometimes it is very common, especially during or after prolonged or heavy rains. The plants are 6–10 cm. high, the cap from 5–8 cm. broad, and the stem 3–5 mm. in thickness. The plants are scattered or a few sometimes clustered.
Thepileusis convex, then expanded, whitish to cream color or yellowish, then leather color, fleshy, the margin at first incurved, moist, not viscid. Sometimes the pileus is umbonate. The surface is sometimes uneven from numerous crowded shallow pits, giving it a frothy appearance. In age the margin often becomes upturned and fluted. Thegillsare adnate or slightly decurrent by a tooth, 3–4 mm. broad, a little broader at or near the middle, crowded, white, then ferruginous brown, edge sometimes whitish. There is often a prominent angle in the gills at their broadest diameter, not far from the stem, which gives to them, when the plants are young or middle age, a sinuate appearance. Thesporesare ferruginous brown, elliptical.Cystidiaabruptly club-shaped, with a broad apiculus. Thestemis stuffed, later fistulose, even, fragile, striate often above the annulus. The stem is whitish or sometimes flesh color. The veil is whitish, large, frail, and sometimes breaks away from the stem and clings in shreds to the margin of the cap.
Plate 46,Figure 145.—Pholiota praecox. Cap whitish, to cream, or leather color, stem white, gills white then ferruginous brown (natural size). Copyright.
Plate 46,Figure 145.—Pholiota praecox. Cap whitish, to cream, or leather color, stem white, gills white then ferruginous brown (natural size). Copyright.
Figure145is from plants (No. 2362, C. U. herbarium) collected on the campus of Cornell University, June, 1898. The taste is often slightly bitter.
Pholiota marginataBatsch.—This is one of the very common species, a small one, occurring all during the autumn, on decaying trunks, etc., in the woods. The plants are usually clustered, though appearing also singly. They are from 4–10 cm. high, the cap 3–4 cm. broad, and the stem 3–5 µ in thickness.
Plate 47, Figure 146.—Pholiota adiposa. Cap very viscid, saffron-yellow or burnt umber or wood-brown in center, scales wood-brown to nearly black, stem whitish then yellowish; gills brownish, edge yellow (natural size, sometimes larger). Copyright.
Plate 47, Figure 146.—Pholiota adiposa. Cap very viscid, saffron-yellow or burnt umber or wood-brown in center, scales wood-brown to nearly black, stem whitish then yellowish; gills brownish, edge yellow (natural size, sometimes larger). Copyright.
Thepileusis convex, then plane, tan or leather colored, darker when dry. It has a watery appearance (hygrophanous), somewhat fleshy, smooth, striate on the margin. Thegillsare joined squarely to the stem, crowded, at maturity dark reddish brown from the spores.
Figure 147.—Pholiota marginata. Cap and stem tan or leather color, gills dark reddish brown when mature (natural size). Copyright.
Figure 147.—Pholiota marginata. Cap and stem tan or leather color, gills dark reddish brown when mature (natural size). Copyright.
Thestemis cylindrical, equal, smooth, fistulose, of the same color as the pileus, becoming darker, and often with whitish fibrils at the base. Theannulusis distant from the apex of the stem, and often disappears soon after the expansion of the pileus. Figure147is from plants (No. 2743, C. U. herbarium) collected near Ithaca.
Pholiota unicolorVahl, is a smaller plant which grows in similar situations. The plants are usually clustered, 3–5 cm. high, and the caps 6–12 mm. in diameter, the annulus is thin but entire and persistent. The entire plant is bay brown, becoming ochraceous in color, and the margin of the cap in age is striate, first bell-shaped, then convex and somewhat umbonate. The gills are lightly adnexed.
Pholiota adiposaFr.—The fatty pholiota usually forms large clusters during the autumn, on the trunks of trees, stumps, etc. It is sometimes of large size, measuring up to 15 cm. and the pileus up to17 cm. broad. Specimens collected at Ithaca during October, 1899, were 8–10 cm. high, the pileus 4–8 cm. broad, and the stems 5–9 mm. in thickness. The plants grew eight to ten in a cluster and the bases of the stems were closely crowded and loosely joined.
Thepileusis convex, then expanded, the margin more or less inrolled, then incurved, prominently umbonate, very viscid when moist, the ground color a saffron yellow or in the center burnt umber to wood brown. The cuticle of the pileus is plain or torn into scales which are wood brown, or when close together they are often darker, sometimes nearly black. The flesh is saffron yellow, thick at the center of the cap, thinning out toward the margin, spongy and almost tasteless. Thegillsare adnate, and sometimes a little notched, brown (mars brown), and the edge yellow, 6–7 mm. broad. Thesporesare 8 × 5 µ. Thestemtapers downward, is compact, whitish then yellow, saffron yellow, flesh vinaceous, viscid, and clothed more or less with reflexed (pointing downward) scales. The stem is somewhat cartilaginous, tough, but snapping off in places. The veil is thin floccose and sometimes with coarse scales, soon disappearing.
Figure146is from plants (No. 3295, C. U. herbarium) collected on the Ithaca flats from a willow trunk, Oct. 10, 1899.
Pholiota aurivellaBatsch, which has been found in the United States, is closely related toP. adiposa.
Pholiota squarrosaMüll., widely distributed and common in the autumn, both in Europe and America, on stumps and trunks, is a large, clustered, scaly plant, the scales "squarrose", and abundant over the pileus and on the stem below the annulus. It is brownish or ferruginous in color.
Pholiota squarrosoidesPk., as its name indicates, is closely related toP. squarrosa. It has erect, pointed, persistent scales, especially when young, and has a similar habit tosquarrosa, but differs chiefly in the pileus being viscid, while that ofP. squarrosais dry.P. subsquarrosaFr., occurring in Europe, and also closely related toP. squarrosa, is viscid, the scales are closely appressed to the surface of the cap, while insquarrosathey are prominent and revolute.
Pholiota cerasinaPk., occurs on decaying trunks of trees during late summer. The plants grow in tufts. They are 5–12 cm. high, the caps 5–10 cm. in diameter, and the stems 4–8 mm. in thickness. The pileus is smooth, watery when damp, cinnamon in color when fresh, becoming yellowish in drying, and the flesh is yellowish. The stem is solid, and equal, the apex mealy. The annulus is not persistent, and the gills are crowded and notched. The spores are elliptical, and rugose, 5 × 8 µ.
Plate 48, Figure 148.—Pholiota squarrosoides. Entire plant brownish or reddish brown; pileus viscid (three-fourths natural size). Copyright.
Plate 48, Figure 148.—Pholiota squarrosoides. Entire plant brownish or reddish brown; pileus viscid (three-fourths natural size). Copyright.
Plate 49, Figure 149.—Pholiota johnsoniana. Cap yellowish to yellowish brown, stem whitish, gills grayish then rust-brown (natural size). Copyright.
Plate 49, Figure 149.—Pholiota johnsoniana. Cap yellowish to yellowish brown, stem whitish, gills grayish then rust-brown (natural size). Copyright.
Pholiota johnsonianaPk.Edible.—This species was described from specimens collected at Knowersville, N. Y., in 1889, by Peck, in the 23rd Report N. Y. State Mus., p. 98, asAgaricus johnsonianus. I found it at Ithaca, N. Y., for the first time during the summer of 1899, and it was rather common during September, 1899, in the Blue Ridge Mountains at Blowing Rock, N. C. It grows in woods or in pastures on the ground. The larger and handsomer specimens I have found in rather damp but well drained woods. The plants are 7–15 cm. high, the cap 5–10 cm. broad, and the stem 6–12 mm. in thickness.
Thepileusis fleshy, very thick at the center, convex, then expanded and plane, smooth, sometimes finely striate on the thin margin when moist, yellowish, or fulvous, the margin whitish. Thegillsare attached to the stem by the upper angle (adnexed), rounded, or some of them angled, some nearly free. In color they are first gray, then rusty brown. They appear ascending because of the somewhat top-shaped pileus. Thesporesare irregularly ovoid, 4–6 × 3–3.5 µ. Thestemis cylindrical or slightly tapering upward, smooth, slightly striate above the annulus, whitish, solid, with a tendency to become hollow. Theveilis thick, and the annulus narrow and very thick or "tumid," easily breaking up and disappearing. The plant is quite readily distinguished by the form of the pileus with the ascending gills and the tumid annulus. Peck says it has a "somewhat nutty flavor."
Figure149is from plants (No. 4014, C. U. herbarium) collected at Blowing Rock, N. C., during September, 1899.
This genus, with ferruginous spores, corresponds withCollybiaamong the white-spored agarics. The gills are free or attached, but not decurrent, and the stem is cartilaginous. The plants grow both on the ground and on wood. Peck, 23rd Report N. Y. State Mus., p. 91,et seq., gives a synopsis of seven species.
Naucoria semi-orbicularisBull.Edible.—This is one of the common and widely distributed species. It occurs in lawns, pastures, roadsides, etc., in waste places, from June to autumn, being more abundant in rainy weather. The plants are 7–10 cm. high, the cap 3–5 cm. broad, and the stem 2–3 mm. in thickness. Thepileusis convex to expanded, and is remarkably hemispherical, from which the species takes the name ofsemi-orbicularis. It is smooth, viscid when moist, tawny, and in age ochraceous, sometimes the surface is cracked into areas. Thegillsare attached, sometimes notched, crowded,much broader than the thickness of the pileus, pale, then reddish brown. Thestemis tough, slender, smooth, even, pale reddish brown, shining, stuffed with a whitish pith. Peck says that the plants have an oily flavor resembling beechnuts.
Naucoria vernalisPk.—Naucoria vernaliswas described by Peck in 23rd Report N. Y. State Mus., p. 91, from plants collected in May. The plants described here appeared in woods in late autumn. The specimens from which this description is drawn were found growing from the under side of a very rotten beech log, usually from deep crevices in the log, so that only the pileus is visible or exposed well to the view. The plants are 4–8 cm. high, the cap 2–3 cm. broad, and the stem 4–5 mm. in thickness. The taste is bitter.
Figure 150.—Naucoria vernalis. Cap hair brown to clay color; gills grayish brown to wood brown; stem clay color (natural size). Copyright.
Figure 150.—Naucoria vernalis. Cap hair brown to clay color; gills grayish brown to wood brown; stem clay color (natural size). Copyright.
Thepileusis convex, then the center is nearly or quite expanded, the margin at first inrolled and never fully expanded, hygrophanous, smooth (not striate nor rugose), flesh about 5–6 mm. thick at center, thin toward the margin. The color changes during growth, it is from ochraceous rufus when young (1–2 mm. broad), then clove brown to hair brown and clay color in age. Thegillsare grayish brown to wood brown, at first adnate to slightly sinuate, then easily breaking away and appearing adnexed. Thesporesare wood brown in color, oval to short elliptical and inequilateral 6–8 × 4–5 µ.Cystidiahyaline, bottle shaped, 40–50 × 8–12 µ. Thestemis somewhat hollow and stuffed, rather cartilaginous, though somewhat brittle, especiallywhen very damp, breaking out from the pileus easily though with fragments of the gills remaining attached, not strongly continuous with the substance of the pileus. The color is buff to pale clay color; the stem being even, not bulbous but somewhat enlarged below, mealy over the entire length, which may be washed off by rains, striate at apex either from marks left by the gills or remnants of the gills as they become freed from the stem. Base of stem sometimes with white cottony threads, especially in damp situations. In the original description the stem is said to be "striate sulcate." Figure150is from plants (No. 3242, C. U. herbarium) collected in woods near Ithaca, October 1, 1899.
Galerawith ochraceous (ochraceous ferruginous) spores corresponds toMycenaamong the white-spored agarics. The pileus is usually bell-shaped, and when young the margin fits straight against the stem. The stem is somewhat cartilaginous, but often very fragile. The genus does not contain many species. Peck gives a synopsis of five American species in the 23rd Report N. Y. State Mus., p. 93,et seq., and of twelve species in the 46th Report, p. 61,et seq.One of the common species isGalera teneraSchaeff. It occurs in grassy fields or in manured places. The plants are 5–8 cm. high, the cap 8–16 mm. broad, and the stem 2–3 mm. in thickness. Thepileusis oval to bell-shaped, and tawny in color, thin, smooth, finely striate, becoming paler when dry. Thegillsare crowded, reddish-brown, adnexed and easily separating. Thestemis smooth, colored like the pileus but a little paler, sometimes striate, and with mealy whitish particles above.Galera lateritiais a related species, somewhat larger, and growing on dung heaps and in fields and lawns.Galera ovalisFr., is also a larger plant, somewhat shorter than the latter, and with a prominent ovate cap when young.Galera antipodaLasch., similar in general appearance to G.tenera, has a rooting base by which it is easily known.Galera flavaPk., occurs among vegetable mold in woods. The pileus is membraneous, ovate orcampanulate, moist or somewhat watery, obtuse, plicate, striate on the margin, yellow. The plants are 5–8 cm. high, the caps 12–25 mm. broad, and the stem 2–3 mm. in thickness. The plant is recognized by the pale yellow color of the caps and the plicate striate character of the margin. The plicate striate character of the cap is singular among the species of this genus, and is shared by another species,G. coprinoidesPk.
In the genusFlammula, the pileus is fleshy, stem fleshy-fibrous, and the gills adnate to decurrent.
Figure 151.—Flammula polychroa, under view. Cap vinaceous buff to orange buff, scales lilac, purple or lavender; gills drab to hair brown (natural size). Copyright.
Figure 151.—Flammula polychroa, under view. Cap vinaceous buff to orange buff, scales lilac, purple or lavender; gills drab to hair brown (natural size). Copyright.
Flammula polychroaBerk.—This is a beautiful plant with tints of violet, lavender, lilac and purple, especially on the scales of the pileus, on the veil and on the stem. It occurs in clusters during late summer and autumn, on logs, branches, etc., in the woods. The plants occur singly, but more often in clusters of three to eight or more. The plants are 4–7 cm. high, the cap 3–5 cm. broad, and the stem 4–6 mm. in thickness.
Thepileusis convex, and in the young stage the margin strongly incurved, later the cap becomes expanded and has a very broad umbo. It is very viscid. The surface is covered with delicate hairs which form scales, more prominent during mid-age of the plant, and on the margin of the cap. These scales are very delicate and vary in color from vinaceous-buff, lilac, wine-purple, or lavender. The ground color of the pileus is vinaceous-buff or orange-buff, and toward the margin often with shades of beryl-green, especially where it has beentouched. In the young plants the color of the delicate hairy surface is deeper, often phlox-purple, the color becoming thinner as the cap expands.
Thegillsare notched (sinuate) at the stem, or adnate, sometimes slightly decurrent, crowded. Before exposure by the rupture of the veil they are cream-buff in color, then taking on darker shades, drab to hair brown or sepia with a purple tinge. Thestemis yellowish, nearly or quite the color of the cap, often with a purplish tinge at the base. It is covered with numerous small punctate scales of the same color, or sulphur yellow above where they are more crowded and larger. The scales do not extend on the stem above the point where the veil is attached. The stem is slightly striate above the attachment of the veil. It is somewhat tough and cartilaginous, solid, or in age stuffed, or nearly hollow. Theveilis floccose and quite thick when the plant is young. It is scaly on the under side, clinging to the margin of the pileus in triangular remnants, appearing like a crown. The color of the veil and of its remnants is the same as the color of the scales of the cap.
The spores in mass are light brown, and when fresh with a slight purple tinge. (The color of the spores on white paper is near walnut brown or hair brown of Ridgeway's colors.) Under the microscope they are yellowish, oval or short oblong, often inequilateral, 6–8 × 4–5 µ.
Figure151is from plants (No. 4016, C. U. herbarium) collected at Blowing Rock, N. C., September, 1899, on a fallen maple log. The plants sometimes occur singly. It has been collected at Ithaca, N. Y., and was first described from plants collected at Waynesville, Ohio.
Flammula sapineaFr., is a common plant growing on dead coniferous wood. It is dull yellow, the pileus 1–4 cm. in diameter, and with numerous small scales.
InHebelomathe gills are either squarely set against the stem (adnate) or they are notched (sinuate), and the spores are clay-colored. The edge of the gills is usually whitish, the surface clay-colored. The veil is only seen in the young stage, and then is very delicate and fibrillose. The stem is fleshy and fibrous, and somewhat mealy at the apex. The genus corresponds withTricholomaof the white-spored agarics. All the species are regarded as unwholesome, and some are considered poisonous. The species largely occur during the autumn. Few have been studied in America.
Hebeloma crustuliniformeBull.—This plant is usually common in some of the lawns, during the autumn, at Ithaca, N. Y. It often forms rings as it grows on the ground. It is from 5–7 cm. high, the cap 4–8 cm. in diameter, and the stem is 4–6 mm. in thickness.
Figure 152.—Hebeloma crustuliniforme, var. minor. Cap whitish or tan color, or reddish-brown at center; gills clay color (natural size). Copyright.
Figure 152.—Hebeloma crustuliniforme, var. minor. Cap whitish or tan color, or reddish-brown at center; gills clay color (natural size). Copyright.
Thepileusis convex and expanded, somewhat umbonate, viscid when moist, whitish or tan color, darker over the center, where it is often reddish-brown. Thegillsare adnexed and rounded near the stem, crowded, whitish, then clay color and reddish-brown, the edge whitish and irregular. Thegillsare said to exude watery drops in wet weather. Thestemis stuffed, later hollow, somewhat enlarged at the base, white, and mealy at the apex. Figure152is from plants (No. 2713, C. U. herbarium) collected in lawns on the Cornell University campus. The plants in this figure seem to represent the varietyminor.
In the genusInocybethere is a universal veil which is fibrillose in character, and more or less closely joined with the cuticle of the pileus, and the surface of the pileus is therefore marked with fibrils or is more or less scaly. Sometimes the margin of the pileus possesses remnants of a veil which is quite prominent in a few species. The gills are adnate, or sinuate, rarely decurrent, and in one species they are free. It is thus seen that the species vary widely, and there may be, after a careful study of the species, grounds for the separation of the species into several genera. One of the most remarkable species isInocybe echinataRoth. This plant is covered with a universal veil of a sooty color and powdery in nature. The gills are reddish purple, and the stem is of the same color, the spores on white paper of a faint purplish red color. Some place in itPsalliota. Collected at Ithaca in August, 1900.
In the genusTubariathe spores are rust-red, or rusty brown (ferruginous or fuscous-ferruginous), the stem is somewhat cartilaginous, hollow, and, what is more important, the gills are more or less decurrent, broad next to the stem, and thus more or less triangular in outline. It is related toNaucoriaandGalera, but differs in the decurrent gills. The pileus is convex, or with an umbilicus.
Tubaria pellucidaBull.—This species grows by roadsides in grassy places. The plants are from 3–4 cm. high, and the cap 1–2 cm. in diameter, and the stem 2–3 mm. in thickness.