Figure 79.Figure 79.—Collybia platyphylla. One-third natural size.
Figure 79.—Collybia platyphylla. One-third natural size.
Platyphylla is from two Greek words meaning broad and leaf, referring to the broad gills. It is a much larger and stouter plant than Collybia radicata. It is found in new ground on open pastures about stumps, also in woods, on rotten logs and about stumps.
The pileus is three to four inches broad, at first convex, then expanded, plane, margin often upturned, smoky brown to grayish, streaked with dark fibrils, watery when moist, flesh white.
The gills are adnexed, very broad, obliquely notched behind, distant, soft, white, in age more or less broken or cracked.
The stem is short, thick, often striated, whitish, soft, stuffed, sometimes slightly powdered at the apex, root blunt. The spores are white and elliptical.
It is easily distinguished from C. radicata by the blunt base of the root and the very broad gills. Like C. radicata they need to be cooked well or there is a slightly bitter taste to them. They are found from June to October.
Oak-loving Collybia. Edible.
Figure 80.Photo by C. G. Lloyd.Figure 80.—Collybia dryophila. Natural size. Caps bay-brown.
Photo by C. G. Lloyd.
Figure 80.—Collybia dryophila. Natural size. Caps bay-brown.
Dryophila is from two Greek words, oak and fond of. The pileus is bay-brown, bay red, or tan color, one or two inches broad, convex, plane, sometimes depressed and the margin elevated, flesh thin and white.
The gills are free with a decurrent tooth, crowded, narrow, white, or whitish, rarely yellow.
The stem is cartilaginous, smooth, hollow, yellow, or yellowish, equal, sometimes thickened at the base as will be seen in Figure 80. The color of the stemis usually the same as the cap. This is a very common plant about Chillicothe. They are found in woods, especially under oak trees, but are also found in open places. I found them on the High School lawn in Chillicothe. Some very fine specimens that were found growing in a well marked ring, in an old orchard, were brought to me about the first of May. Their season is from the first of May to October.
The Zoned Collybia. Edible.
Figure 81.Photo by C. G. Lloyd.Plate XIV. Figure 81.—Collybia Zonata.
Photo by C. G. Lloyd.
Plate XIV. Figure 81.—Collybia Zonata.
Zonata, zoned; referring to the concentric zones on the cap which show faintly in Figure 81.
The pileus is about one inch broad, sometimes more, sometimes less; rather fleshy, thin, convex, when expanded nearly plane, slightly umbilicate, covered with fibrous down; tawny or ochraceous tawny, sometimes marked with faintly darker zones; even in the very young specimens the umbilicate condition is usually present.
The gills are narrow, close, free, white or nearly white, usually with a pulverulent edge.
The stem is one to three inches long, rather firm, equal, hollow, covered like the cap with a fibrous down, tawny, or brownish tawny. The spores are broadly elliptical, .0002 inch long, .00016 broad.
This species closely resembles C. stipitaria, but is easily distinguished from it because of its habits of growth, different gills, and shorter spores. It is found on or near decaying wood in mixed woods. I have found it frequently on Ralston's Run but always only a few specimens in one place. It does not grow in a cespitose manner with us. Found in August.
The Spotted Collybia. Edible.
Figure 82.Figure 82.—Collybia maculata. Two-thirds natural size. Reddish-brown spots on caps and stems.
Figure 82.—Collybia maculata. Two-thirds natural size. Reddish-brown spots on caps and stems.
Maculata, spotted; referring to the reddish spots or stains both on the cap and on the stem. The pileus is two to three inches broad, at first white, then spotted (as well as the stem) with reddish brown spots or stains, fleshy, very firm, convex, sometimes nearly plane, even, smooth, truly carnose, compact, at first hemispherical and with an involute margin, often repand.
The gills are somewhat crowded, narrow, adnexed, often free, linear, white or whitish, often brownish cream, gills not reaching to the margin of the cap.
The stem is three to four inches long, nearly solid, more or less grooved, stout,unequal, sometimes ventricose, frequently partially bulbous, lighter than the gills, usually spotted in age, white at first. The spores are subglobose, 4–6µ. The plant is a hardy one. It will keep for several days. The plants in Figure 82 grew in the woods where a log had rotted down.
Var. immaculata, Cooke, differs from the typical form in not changing color or being spotted, and in the broader and serrated gills. This variety delights in fir woods. September to November.
Charcoal Collybia.
Figure 83.Figure 83.—Collybia atrata. One-half natural size. Caps dull blackish-brown. Gills grayish-white.
Figure 83.—Collybia atrata. One-half natural size. Caps dull blackish-brown. Gills grayish-white.
Atrata, clothed in black; from the pileus being very black when young. The pileus is from one to two inches broad, at first regular and convex, when expanded becoming, as a rule, irregular in shape, sometimes partially lobed or wavy; in young plants the cap is a dull blackish brown, faded in older specimens to a lighter brown, umbilicate, smooth, shining.
The gills are adnate, slightly crowded, with many short ones, rather broad, grayish-white.
The stem is smooth, equal, even, hollow, or stuffed, tough, short, brown within and without, but lighter than the cap. The plant grows in pastures where stumps have been burned out, always, so far as I have noticed, on burned ground. Spores .00023×.00016.
The Scorched Collybia.
Ambusta, burned or scorched, from its being found on burned soil.
The pileus is nearly membranaceous, convex, then expanded, nearly plane, papillate, striatulate, smooth, livid brown, hygrophanous, umbonate.
The gills are adnate, crowded, lanceolate, white, then of a smoky tinge.
The stem is somewhat stuffed, tough, short, livid. Spores 5–6×3–4.
This species differs from C. atrata in having an umbonate pileus.
The Tufted Collybia. Edible.
Figure 84.Figure 84.—Collybia confluens. Natural size, showing reddish stems.
Figure 84.—Collybia confluens. Natural size, showing reddish stems.
Confluens means growing together; so called from the stems often being confluent or adhering to each other.
The pileus is from an inch to an inch and a quarter broad, reddish-brown,often densely cespitose, somewhat fleshy, convex, then plane, flaccid, smooth, often watery, margin thin, in old specimens slightly depressed and wavy.
The gills are free and in old plants remote from the stem, rather crowded, narrow, flesh colored, then whitish.
The stem is two to three inches long, hollow, pale red, sprinkled with a mealy pubescence. The spores are slightly ovate, inclined to be pointed at one end, 5–6×3–4µ.
These plants grow among leaves in the woods after warm rains, growing in tufts, sometimes in rows or lines. They are not as large as C. dryophylla, the stem is quite different and the plants seem to have the ability to revive like a Marasmius. They can be dried for winter use.
Many-leaved Collybia.
Figure 85.Figure 85.—Collybia myriadophylla.
Figure 85.—Collybia myriadophylla.
Myriadophylla is from two Greek words, meaning many leaves. It has reference to its numerous gills.
The pileus is very thin, broadly convex, then plane or centrally depressed, sometimes umbillicate, hygrophanous, brown when moist, ochraceous or tan-color when dry.
The gills are very numerous, narrow, linear, crowded, rounded behind or slightly adnexed, brownish-lilac.
The stem is slender, but commonly short, equal, glabrous, stuffed or hollow, reddish-brown. The spores are minute, broadly elliptical, .00012 to .00016-inch long, .0008-inch broad.Peck, 49th Rep.
I found only a few specimens in Haynes's Hollow. The caps were about an inch broad and the stems were an inch and a half long. It will be easily identified if one has the description of it, because of its peculiarly colored gills. I found my plants on a decayed stump in August. In the dried specimens the gills assume a more brownish-red hue, as in the next following species.
Collybia colorea. Pk. They sometimes appear to have a glaucous reflection, probably from the abundance of the spores. The stem is more or less radicated and often slightly floccose-pruinose toward the base. The basidia are very short, being only .0006 to .0008-inch long.
The Blackish Collybia.
Figure 86.Figure 86.—Collybia atratoides. Two-thirds natural size. Caps blackish to grayish-brown.
Figure 86.—Collybia atratoides. Two-thirds natural size. Caps blackish to grayish-brown.
Atratoides means like the speciesatrata, which means black; so called because the caps when fresh are quite black. Atratoides has a different habitat and is not so dark.
The pileus is thin, convex, subumbilicate, glabrous, hygrophanous, blackish-brown when moist, grayish-brown and shining when dry.
The gills are rather broad, subdistant, adnate, grayish-white, often transversely veiny above and venosely connected.
The stem is equal, hollow, smooth, grayish-brown with a whitish mycelioid tomentum at the base. The spores are nearly globose, about .0002-inch broad. The pileus is six to ten lines broad and the stem is about one inch long.Peck.
The plant is gregarious, growing on decayed wood and on mossy sticks in mixed woods. The margin of the cap is often serrated, as you will see in Figure 86, yet this does not seem to be a constant characteristic of the species. It is closely related to C. atrata, but its habitat and the color of its pileus and gills differ very greatly. I have not eaten it, but have no doubt of its good qualities.
Found in August and September. Quite common in all our woods.
The Tufted Collybia. Edible.
Figure 87.Figure 87.—Collybia acervata. Two-thirds natural size. Caps pale, tan or dingy pink.
Figure 87.—Collybia acervata. Two-thirds natural size. Caps pale, tan or dingy pink.
Acervata, from acervus, a mass, a heap.
Pileus fleshy but thin, convex, or nearly plane, obtuse, glabrous, hygrophanous, pale, tan-color or dingy pinkish-red, and commonly striate on the margin when moist, paler or whitish when dry.
Gills narrow, close, adnexed or free, whitish or tinged with flesh-color.
The stem slender, rigid, hollow, glabrous, reddish, reddish-brown or brown, often whitish at the top, especially when young, commonly with a matted down at the base. Spores elliptical, 6×3–4µ.
The plant is cespitose. Pileus one-half inch broad. Stem two to three inches long.Peck's49th Report.
This is a beautiful plant when growing in large tufts. The entire plant is tender and has a delicate flavor. I found the plant figured here on the Frankfort pike where an old saw mill had formerly stood. It grew abundantly there, along with Lepiota Americana and Pluteus cervinus.
Found from August to October.
The Velvet-foot Collybia. Edible.
Figure 88.Photo by C. G. Lloyd.Plate XV. Figure 88.—Collybia velutipes.Natural size, showing the velvet stems, which give name to the species.
Photo by C. G. Lloyd.
Plate XV. Figure 88.—Collybia velutipes.Natural size, showing the velvet stems, which give name to the species.
Velutipes, fromvellum, velvet andpes, foot.
Pileus from one to four inches broad, tawny yellow, fleshy at the center, thick on the margin, quite sticky or viscid when moist, margin slightly striate, sometimes inclined to be excentric.
Gills rounded behind, broad, slightly adnexed, tan or pale-yellow, somewhat distant.
The stem is cartilaginous, tough, hollow, umber, then becoming blackish, with a velvety coat. Spores are elliptical, 7×3–3.5µ.
It grows on stumps, logs and roots, in the ground. It grows almost the year round. I have gathered it to eat in February. Plate XV gives a very correct notion of the plant. It is most plentiful in September, October and November, yet found throughout the winter months.
Mycena is from a Greek word, meaning a fungus. The plants of this genus are small and rather fragile.
Pileus more or less membranaceous, generally striate, with the margin almost straight, and at first pressed to the stem, never involute, expanded, campanulate, and generally umbonate.
The stem is externally cartilaginous, hollow, not stuffed when young, confluent with the cap. Gills never decurrent, though some species have a broad sinus near the stem.
Most species are small and inodorous, but some which have a strong alkaline odor are probably not good. Some are known to be edible.
A few species exude a colored or watery juice when bruised. The Mycena resembles the Collybia, but never has the incurved margin of the latter. The plants are usually smaller, and the caps are more or less conical.
This genus might be mistaken for Omphalia, in which the gills are but slightly decurrent, but in Omphalia the cap is umbilicate while in Mycena it is umbonate.
Their being so small makes the determination of species somewhat difficult. Some have characteristic odors which greatly assist in establishing their identity.
The Small Peaked-cap Mycena. Edible.
Figure 89.Plate XVI. Figure 89.—Mycena galericulata.Natural size.
Plate XVI. Figure 89.—Mycena galericulata.Natural size.
Galericulata, a small peaked-cap.
The pileus is campanulate, whitish or grayish, center of the disk darker and lighter toward the margin, smooth, dry, margin striated nearly to the peak of the umbo, sometimes slightly depressed.
The gills are adnate with a tooth, connected by veins, whitish, then gray, often flesh color, rather distant, ventricose, edge sometimes entire, sometimes serrate.
The stem is rigid, cartilaginous, hollow, tough, straight, polished, smooth, hairy at the base.
It grows on logs and stumps in the woods. It is very common and sometimes found in abundance. The plants are frequently densely clustered, the numerous stems matted together by a soft hairy down at the base. There are many forms of this plant. Found from September to frost. The plants in Figure 89 were photographed by Prof. G. D. Smith, Akron, O.
The Wrinkled Mycena. Edible.
Rugosa means wrinkled. The pileus is somewhat fleshy, darker and smaller than the galericulata, quite tough, bell-shaped, then expanded, with unequal elevated wrinkles, always dry, striate on the margin.
The gills are adnate, with a tooth, united behind, connected by veins, somewhat distant, whitish, then gray, edge sometimes entire, sometimes serrate.
The stem is short, tough, rooted with a hairy base, strongly cartilaginous, hollow, rigid, smooth. It is found on stumps or decayed logs during September and October.
The Proliferous Mycena. Edible.
Prolifera is fromproles, offspring, andfero, to bear. The pileus is somewhat fleshy, campanulate, then expanded, dry, with a broad, dark umbo; margin at length sulcate or furrowed and sometimes split, pale-yellowish or becoming brownish-tan.
The gills are adnexed, subdistant, white, then pallid.
The stem is firm, rigid, smooth, shining, minutely striate, rooting.Fries.
This species, as well as M. galericulata, is closely related to M. cohærens. I have found it in dense tufts or clusters, sometimes on lawns, on the bare ground, and in the woods. It is one of the plants in which the stems may be cooked with the caps.
Capillaris means hair-like. This is a very small but beautiful white plant.
The pileus is bell-shaped, at length umbilicate, smooth.
The gills are attached to the stem, ascending, rather distant.
The stem is thread-like, smooth, short.
The spores are 7–8×4.Fries.
These plants are very small and easily overlooked. They grow on leaves in the woods after a rain. July and August. Quite common.
Setosa means full of setæ or hairs.
The pileus is very delicate, hemispherical, obtuse, smooth.
The gills are distant, white, almost free.
The stem is short, slender, and covered with spreading hairs which gives rise to its specific name.
Commonly found on dead leaves in the woods after a rain. Found in July and August.
The Blood-Foot Mycena. Edible.
Figure 90.Figure 90.—Mycena hæmatopa. Brownish-red or flesh-color. A dull red juice exudes from the stem. Margin dentate by sterile flap.
Figure 90.—Mycena hæmatopa. Brownish-red or flesh-color. A dull red juice exudes from the stem. Margin dentate by sterile flap.
Hæmatopa is from two Greek words, meaning blood and foot.
The pileus is fleshy, one inch broad, conic, or bell-shaped, somewhat umbonate, obtuse, whitish to flesh-color, with more or less dull red, even, or slightly striate at the margin, the margin extending beyond the gills and is toothed.
The gills are attached to the stem, often with a decurrent tooth, whitish. Spores, 10×6–7.
The stem is two to four inches long, firm, hollow, sometimes smooth, sometimes powdered with whitish, soft hairy down, in color the same as the pileus, yielding a dark red juice which gives name to the species.
The color varies quite a little in these plants, owing to some having more of the red juice than others. The genus is readily identified by the dull blood-redjuice, hollow stem, the crenate margin of the cap, and its dense cespitose habits. It is found on decayed logs in damp places from August to October. The plants in Figure 90 were found in Haynes' Hollow, September 8. The plant is widely distributed over the United States. No one will have the slightest difficulty in recognizing this species after seeing the plants in the figure above.
The Stump Mycena.
Figure 91.Figure 91.—Mycena alkalina. Two-thirds natural size, often larger. Young specimens.
Figure 91.—Mycena alkalina. Two-thirds natural size, often larger. Young specimens.
Solitary or cespitose; pileus one-half to two inches broad, rather membranaceous, campanulate, obtuse, naked, deeply striate, moist, shining when dry, when old expanded or depressed, but little changed in color, though occasionally with a pink or yellow hue, whitish or grayish, the center of the disk darker.
The gills are adnate, rather distant, slightly ventricose, at first pale, then glaucous, pinkish, or yellow, more or less connected by veins.
The stem is smooth, slightly sticky, shining, villous at the base with a sometimes tawny-down, sometimes firm and tenacious, hollow, attenuated upward. The plant is rigid, but brittle, and strong-scented. Found on decayed stumps and logs, you will meet it frequently. August to November.
Thready-Stemmed Mycena.
Pileus membranaceous, obtuse, campanulate, then expanded, striate, brown or umber, tinged with pink.
The gills are free or minutely adnexed, slightly ventricose, white or paler than the pileus, crowded.
The stem is hollow, juicy, smooth, filiform, rather brittle, whitish or brownish. Found in woods on leaves, after a rain, from July to October.
The Tin-Colored Mycena.
Figure 92.Figure 92.—Mycena stannea. Natural size. Caps white, sometimes smoky.
Figure 92.—Mycena stannea. Natural size. Caps white, sometimes smoky.
Stannea pertaining to the color of tin. This is a delicate species that grows in the woods in tufts on rotten wood in damp places. The general character is shown in the illustration, being nearly white but many of the pilei are somewhat smoky.
The pileus is firm, membranaceous, bell-shaped, then expanded, smooth, very slightly striate, hygrophanous, quite silky, tin-color.
The gills are firmly attached to the stem, with a decurrent tooth, connected by veins, grayish-white.
The stem is smooth, even, shining, becoming pale, at length compressed. This species differs from Mycena vitrea in having a tooth to the gills. May, June, and July.
Vitrea, glassy. This plant is quite fragile. The pileus is membranaceous, bell-shaped, livid-brown, finely striate, no trace of umbo.
The gills are firmly attached to the stem, not connected by veins, distinct, linear, whitish.
The stem is slender, slightly striate, polished, pale, base fibrillose. This species differs from M. ætites and M. stannea in gills not having a decurrent tooth and not being connected by veins.
Figure 93.Figure 93.—Mycena corticola.
Figure 93.—Mycena corticola.
Corticola means dwelling on bark.
It is one of the smallest of the Mycenas, the pileus being about two to four lines across, thin, hemispherical, obtuse, becoming slightly umbilicate, deeply striate, glabrous or flocculosely pruinose, gray, tan, or brownish.
The gills are attached to the stem, with slight decurrent tooth, broad, rather ovate, pallid.
The stem, is short, slender, incurved, glabrous or minutely scurfy, somewhatpaler than the pileus. The spores are elliptical, 5–6×3µ; cystidia obtusely fusiform, 50–60×8–10µ.
These plants are found on the bark of living trees. After rains I have seen the bark on the shade trees along the walks in Chillicothe, literally covered with these beautiful little plants. The plants in Figure 93 were taken from a maple tree the 4th of December. They are very close allied to M. hiemalis but can be distinguished by the broad, ovate gills bearing cystidia, and smaller spores.
The Winter Mycena.
Hiemalis, of, or belonging to, winter. The pileus quite thin, bell-shaped, very slightly umbonate, margin striate; pinkish, rufescent, white, sometimes pruinose.
The gills are adnate, linear, white or whitish.
The stem is slender, curved, base downy, whitish, pinkish-red. The spores are 7–8×3.
This is a more delicate species than M. corticola and differs from it in its narrow gills, and striate, not sulcate, pileus, also in the color of the stem. Found on stumps and logs. October and November.
Figure 94.Figure 94.—Mycena leaiana. Natural size. Caps bright orange and very viscid.
Figure 94.—Mycena leaiana. Natural size. Caps bright orange and very viscid.
Leaiana named in honor of Mr. Thomas G. Lea, who was the first man to study mycology in the Miami Valley. This is a very beautiful plant growing on decayed beech logs in rainy weather. The pileus is fleshy, very viscid, bright orange, the margin slightly striate as will be seen in the one whose cap shows.
The gills are distant, not entire, broad, notched at the stem, attached, the edge a dusky orange, or vermilion, the short gills beginning at the margin.
The stem is in most cases curved, attenuated toward the cap, smooth, hollow, rather firm, quite hirsute or strigose at the base. The spores are elliptical, apiculate, .0090×.0056 mm.
They are cæspitose, growing in dense tufts on logs somewhat decayed. It is extremely viscid, so much so that your hands will be stained yellow if you handle it much. It grows from spring to fall but is usually more abundant in August and September. Very common.
Pileus is small, convex, expanded, obtuse, slightly viscid, striate, quitebluewhen young, growing brownish with blue fibrils.
The gills are free, tinged with gray.
The stem is short, bluish below, tinged with brown above, somewhat pruinose. Found in damp woods after a rain, in August.
Figure 95.Photo by Prof. G. D. Smith.Figure 95.—Mycena pura.
Photo by Prof. G. D. Smith.
Figure 95.—Mycena pura.
Pura means unstained, pure.
The pileus is fleshy, thin, bell-shaped, expanded, obtusely umbonate, finely striate on the margin, sometimes having margin upturned, violet to rose.
The gills are broad, adnate to sinuate, in older plants sometimes free by breaking away from the stem, connected by veins, sometimes wavy and crenate on the edge, the edge of the gills sometimes almost or quite white, violet, rose.
The stem is even, nearly naked, somewhat villous at the base, sometimes almost white when young, later assuming the color of the cap, hollow, smooth.
The spores are white and oblong, 6–8×3–3.5. M. Pelianthina differs fromthis in having dark-edged gills. It differs from M. pseudopura and M. zephira in having a strong smell. M. ianthina differs in having a conical cap.
This plant is quite widely distributed. Our plants are light-violet in color, and the color seems constant. I have found it in mixed woods. It is found in September and October.
Vulgaris means common.
The pileus is small, convex, then depressed, papillate, viscid, brownish-gray, finely striate on the margin.
The gills are subdecurrent, thin, white; the depressed cap and decurrent gills make the plant resemble an Omphalia. Spores, 5×2.5µ.
The stem is viscid, pale, tough, fibrillose at the base, rooting, becoming hollow. It differs from M. pelliculosa in not having a separable cuticule and the fold-like gills.
This plant will be recognized by its smoky or grayish color, umbilicate pileus, and viscid stem. It is found in woods on leaves and decayed sticks. August and September.
Figure 96.Figure 96.—Mycena epipterygia.
Figure 96.—Mycena epipterygia.
Epipterygia isEpi, upon, andPterygion, a small wing.
These are small, the pileus being one-half to one inch broad, membranaceous, bell-shaped, then expanded, rather obtuse, not depressed, striate, the cuticule separable in every condition and viscid in damp weather, gray, often pale yellowish-green near the margin often minutely notched when young.
The gills are attached to the stem with a decurrent tooth, thin, whitish or tinged with gray.
The stem is two to four inches long, hollow, tough, rooting, viscid, yellowish, sometimes gray or even whitish. The spores are elliptical, 8–10×4–5µ.
These plants have a wide distribution andarefound on branches, among moss and dead leaves. They are found in clusters and solitary. They resemble in many ways M. alcalina but do not have the peculiar smell.
The plants in Figure 96 were photographed by Prof. G. D. Smith of Akron.
Omphalia is from a Greek word meaning the navel; referring here to the central depression in the cap.
The pileus from the first is centrally depressed, then funnel-shaped, almost membranaceous, and watery when moist; margin incurved or straight. Stem cartilaginous and hollow, often stuffed when young, continuous with the cap but different in character. Gills decurrent and sometimes branched.
They are generally found on wood, preferring a damp woody situation and a wet season. It is easily distinguished from Collybia and Mycena by its decurrent gills. In some of the species of the Mycena where the gills are slightly decurrent, the pileus is not centrally depressed as it is in corresponding species of Omphalia. There are a few species of Omphalia whose pileus is not centrally depressed but whose gills are plainly decurrent.
The Bell Omphalia. Edible.
Figure 97.Photo by C. G. Lloyd.Plate XVII. Figure 97.—Omphalia campanella.
Photo by C. G. Lloyd.
Plate XVII. Figure 97.—Omphalia campanella.
Campanella means a little bell.
The pileus is membranaceous, convex to extended, centrally depressed, striate, watery, rusty-yellow in color.
The gills are moderately close, decurrent, bow-shaped, connected by veins, rigid, firm, yellowish. The spores elliptical, 6–7×3–4µ.
The stem is hollow, clothed with down, and paler above.
This plant is very common and plentiful in our woods and is widely distributed in the states. It grows on wood or on ground very heavily charged with decaying wood. It is found through the summer and fall. It is delicious if you have the patience to gather them.
The pileus is thin, convex to expanded, depressed in the center, sooty-gray with a watery appearance, pallid to nearly white when dry.
The gills are slightly decurrent, whitish then gray, somewhat crowded.
The stem is slender, hollow, gray. The spores are elliptical, 8–10×4–5µ.
It grows in decayed wood. Its smoky color, funnel-shaped pileus, and gray short stem will distinguish it. I have some plants sent me from Massachusetts which seem to be much smaller than our plants.
The Umbel Omphalia. Edible.
Umbellifera—umbella, a small shade;ferro, to bear. Pileus one-half inch broad, membranaceous, whitish, convex, then plane, broadly obconic, slightly umbilicate even in the smallest plants, hygrophanous in wet weather, rayed with darker striæ.
The gills are decurrent, very distant, quite broad behind, triangular, with straight edges.
The stem is short, not more than one inch long, dilated at the apex, of same color as the pileus, at first stuffed, then hollow, firm, white, villous at the base.
It is a common plant in our woods, growing on decayed wood or ground largely made up of rotten wood. Decayed beech bark is a favorite habitat. Found from July till October.
Figure 98.Figure 98.—Omphalia cæspitosa. Natural size.
Figure 98.—Omphalia cæspitosa. Natural size.
Cæspitosa means growing in tufts;cæspes, turf. The pileus is submembranaceous, very small, convex, nearly hemispherical, umbilicate, thin, sulcate, light-ochre, margin crenate, smooth.
The gills are distant, rather broad, shortly decurrent, whitish.
The stem is curved, hollow, colored like the pileus, slightly bulbous at the base. The spores are 6×5.
This species is very much like Omphalia oniscus and they can only be distinguished by their habitats and color. It is found in August and September. It delights in well rotted wood. I have seen millions in one place.
Bolton's Omphalia. Edible.
Oniscus, a name given to a species of codfish by the Greeks, so named because of their gray color. The pileus is flaccid, irregular, about one inch broad, convex, plane, or depressed, slightly fleshy, wavy, sometimes lobed, margin striate, dark cinereous, paler when dry.
The gills are adnate, decurrent, livid or whitish, arranged in groups of four, somewhat distant.
The stem is about one inch long, rather firm, straight or curved, sometimes unequal, nearly hollow. The spores are 12×7–8µ.
This is found in damp places from August to November.
The Box Omphalia.
Pyxidata means made like a box, frompyxis, a box.
The pileus is somewhat membranaceous, clearly umbilicate, then funnel-shaped, smooth when moist, margin often striate, brick-red.
The gills are decurrent, rather distant, triangular, narrow, reddish gray, often yellowish.
The stem is stuffed, then hollow, even, tough, pale-tawny. The spores are 7–8×5–6µ.
The plants are usually hygrophanous, but when dry, floccose or slightly silky. This is a small plant growing usually on lawns, nearly hidden in the grass. I found some very fine specimens on Dr. Sulzbacher's lawn on Second Street, Chillicothe. The plant is, however, widely distributed. I found many specimens on the 3d of November.
Figure 99.Photo by C. G. Lloyd.Figure 99.—Omphalia fibula.
Photo by C. G. Lloyd.
Figure 99.—Omphalia fibula.
Fibula means a buckle or pin, from the pin-like stem.
The pileus is membranaceous, at first top-shaped, expanded, slightly umbilicate, striate, margin inclined to be inflexed, yellow or tawny, with a dusky center, minutely pilose.
The gills are deeply decurrent, paler, distinct.
The stem is slender, nearly orange color with a violet-brown apex, the whole minutely pilose. The spores are elliptical, 4–5×2µ.
They are found on mossy banks where it is more or less damp. I have only found it in October.
The Golden-Gilled Omphalia.
Figure 100.Figure 100.—Omphalia alboflava. Cap yellowish-brown, sometimes a greenish tinge. Gills golden yellow.
Figure 100.—Omphalia alboflava. Cap yellowish-brown, sometimes a greenish tinge. Gills golden yellow.
Alboflava is from two Greek words meaning whitish-yellow, from the yellow gills.
The pileus is one to two inches broad, thin, somewhat membranaceous, umbilicate, flaccid, covered with fine woolly material, yellow-brown, lighter when dry, margin reflexed.
The gills are distant, deep golden-yellow, occasionally forked.
The stem is hollow, equal, smooth, shining, egg-yellow.
The spores are elliptical, 8×4µ.
This plant, is found quite frequently on decayed branches and logs about Chillicothe. I have never had the opportunity to test its edibility but I have no doubt of its being good.
The plants in Figure 100 were found in Haynes' Hollow and were photographed by Dr. Kellerman. Found from July to October.
Marasmius is a Greek participle meaning withered or shriveled; it is so called because the plant will wither and dry up, but revive with the coming of rain.
The spores are white and subelliptical. The pileus is tough and fleshy or membranaceous.
The stem is cartilaginous and continuous with the pileus, but of a different texture. The gills are thick, rather tough and distant, sometimes unequal, variously attached or free, rarely decurrent, with a sharp entire edge. It is quite a large genus and many of its species will be of great interest to the student.
The Fairy-Ring Mushroom. Edible.