Figure 198.Plate XXX. Figure 198.—Entoloma subcostatum.Mature plants showing broad gills and very thin flesh, also fibrous striate stems.
Plate XXX. Figure 198.—Entoloma subcostatum.Mature plants showing broad gills and very thin flesh, also fibrous striate stems.
Subcostatum means somewhat ribbed, referring to the gills.
Plants gregarious or in troups or clusters, 6–8 cm. high; pileus 4–8 cm. broad; stems 1–1.5 cm. thick.
The pileus is dark-gray to hair-brown or olive-brown, often subvirgate with darker lines; gills light salmon-color, becoming dull; stem colored as the pileus, but paler; in drying the stems usually become as dark as the pileus.
Pileus subviscid when moist, convex to expanded, plane or subgibbous, not umbonate, irregular, repand, margin incurved; flesh white, rather thin, very thin toward the margin.
Gills are broad, 1–1.5 cm. broad, narrowed toward the margin of the pileus, deeply sinuate, the angles usually rounded, adnexed, easily becoming free, edge usually pale, sometimes connected by veins, sometimes costate, especially toward the margin of the pileus.
Basidia four-spored. Spores subglobose, about six angles, 8–10µ in diameter, some slightly longer in the direction of the apiculus, pale-rose under the microscope.
Stem even, fibrous striate, outer bark subcartilaginous, flesh white, stuffed, becoming fistulose.
Odor somewhat of old meal and nutty, not pleasant; taste similar.
Related to E. prunuloides, Fr., and E. clypeatum, Linn. Differs from the former in dark stem and uneven pileus, differs from the latter in being subviscid, with even stem, and pileus not umbonate and much more irregular, and differs from both in subcostate gills.Atkinson.
The specimens in Plate XXX grew in grassy ground on the campus of the Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. They were collected by R. A. Young and photographed by Dr. W. A. Kellerman, and through his courtesy I publish it. The plants were found the last of October, 1906.
Figure 199.Figure 199.—Entoloma salmonea.
Figure 199.—Entoloma salmonea.
Pileus thin, conical or campanulate, subacute, rarely with a minute papilla at the apex, smooth, of a peculiar soft, ochraceous color, slightly tinged with salmon or flesh color.
The gills and stem are colored like the pileus.Peck.
Dr. Peck says, "It is with some hesitation that this is proposed as a species, its resemblance to another species is so close. The only difference is found inits color and in the absence of the prominent cusp of that plant. In both species the pileus is so thin that in well dried specimens, slender, dark, radiating lines on it, mark the position of the lamellæ beneath, although in the living plant these are not visible." The plant in Figure 199 was found in Purgatory Swamp near Boston, by Mrs. Blackford. They are found in August and September.
The Buckler Entoloma.
Clypeatum, a shield or buckler.The pileus is slightly fleshy, lurid when moist, when dry gray and rather shining, streaked, spotted, campanulate, then expanded, umbonate, smooth, watery.
Gills just reaching the stem, rounded, ventricose, somewhat distant, minutely toothed, dirty flesh-color.
The stem is stuffed, then hollow, equal, round, clothed with small fibers, becoming pale, covered with a minute powdery substance. The flesh is white when dry. This plant will be distinguished usually by the amount of white mycelium at the base of the stem. Dr. Herbst remarks that it is a genuine Entoloma. It is certainly a beautiful plant when fully developed. It is found in woods and in rich grounds from May till September. Label it poisonous until its reputation is established.
Clitopilus is fromclitos, a declivity; pilos, a cap. This genus has neither volva nor ring. It is often more or less eccentric, margin at first involute; stem fleshy, diffused upward into the pileus; the gills are white at first, then pink or salmon-color as the plant matures and the spores begin to fall; decurrent, never notched. The pileus is more or less depressed, darker in the center. The spores are salmon-color, in some cases rather pale, smooth or warted. Clitopilus is closely related to Clitocybe, the latter having white gills, the former pink. It differs from Entoloma just as Clitocybe differs from Tricholoma. It can always be distinguished from Eccilia because the stem is never cartilaginous at the surface. It differs from the genus, Flammula, mainly in the color of the spores.
The Plum Clitopilus. Edible.
Figure 200.Figure 200.—Clitopilus prunulus.
Figure 200.—Clitopilus prunulus.
Prunulus means a small plum; so called from the white bloom covering the plant.
The pileus is two to four inches broad, fleshy, firm; at first convex, then expanded, at length becoming slightly depressed, often eccentric, as will be seen in Figure 200; whitish, often covered with a frost-like bloom, margin often wavy, bending backward.
The gills are strongly decurrent, comparatively few of full length, white, then flesh-color.
The stem is solid, white, naked, striate, short. Spores, 7–8×5.
This is one of the most interesting plants because of the various forms it presents.
I have found it in various parts of the state and frequently about Chillicothe. It has a pleasant taste, and an odor reminding you of new meal. It is tender and its flavor is excellent.
Found in woods or open woods, especially where it is damp, and under beech trees, as well as oak. Found from June to October.
The plants in Figure 200 were collected near Ashville, N. C., and photographed by Prof. H. C. Beardslee.
The Sweet-Bread Clitopilus. Edible.
Figure 201.Figure 201.—Clitopilus orcellus.
Figure 201.—Clitopilus orcellus.
Orcellus is a diminutive meaning a small cask; fromorca, a cask.
The pileus is fleshy, soft, plane, or slightly depressed, often irregular, even when young; slightly silky, somewhat viscid when moist; white or yellowish-white, flesh white, taste and odor farinaceous.
The gills are deeply decurrent, close, whitish, then flesh-color.
The stem is short, solid, flocculose, often eccentric, thickened above. The spores are elliptical, 9–10×5µ.Peck, 42d Rep. N. Y.
This plant resembles the Plum mushroom, C. prunulus, very closely in appearance, taste and odor, but it is considerably smaller. It grows in wet weather, in open fields and lawns. It is quite widely distributed in our state, having found it in Salem, Bowling Green, Sidney, and Chillicothe. I frequently find it associated with Marasmius oreades. The specimens in Figure 201 were found near Ashville, N. C., and were photographed by Prof. H. C. Beardslee. Found from July to October.
The Abortive Clitopilus. Edible.
Figure 202.Figure 202.—Clitopilus abortivus. Two-thirds natural size, showing the grayish-brown cap and solid stem.
Figure 202.—Clitopilus abortivus. Two-thirds natural size, showing the grayish-brown cap and solid stem.
Abortivus means abortive or imperfectly developed; so called from its many irregular and undeveloped forms.
The pileus is fleshy, firm, convex, or nearly plane, regular or irregular, dry, clothed with a minute silky tomentum, becoming smoother with age, gray or grayish-brown, flesh white, taste and odor subfarinaceous.
The gills are slightly or deeply decurrent, at first whitish or pale gray, then flesh-colored. Spores irregular, 7.5–10×6.5µ.
The stem is nearly equal, solid, minutely flocculose, sometimes fibrous, striate, paler than the pileus.Peck, 42d Report N. Y.
There are often three forms of this plant; a perfect form, an imperfect form, and an abortive form as will be seen in Figure 203. The abortive forms seem to be more common, especially in this locality. They will be taken at first to besome form of puff-ball. They are found in open woods and in ravines. I found some very fine specimens under beech trees on Cemetery Hill. They are, however, widely distributed over the state and the United States. The specimens in Figure 203 were collected near Ashville and photographed by Prof. Beardslee.
Figure 203.Figure 203.—Clitopilus abortivus. Abortive forms. Edible.
Figure 203.—Clitopilus abortivus. Abortive forms. Edible.
The Silky-Capped Clitopilus. Edible.
Subvilis means very cheap, insignificant.
The pileus is thin, centrally depressed or umbilicate, with the margin decurved, hygrophanus, dark-brown, striate on the margin when moist, taste farinaceous.
The gills are subdistant, adnate, or slightly decurrent, whitish when young, then flesh-colored.
The stem is slender, brittle, rather long, stuffed or hollow, glabrous, colored like the pileus or a little paler.
The spores are angular, 7.5–10µ.Peck, 42d Rept.
This plant is distinguished from Clitopilus villis by its shining pileus, widely separated gills, and farinaceous taste. Found on Ralston's Run and in Haynes' Hollow, near Chillicothe, from July to October.
Figure 204.Figure 204.—Clitopilus Noveboracensis. Two-thirds natural size.
Figure 204.—Clitopilus Noveboracensis. Two-thirds natural size.
Noveboracensis, the New York Clitopilus. Pileus thin, convex, then expanded or slightly depressed; dingy-white, cracked in areas or concentrically rivulose, sometimes obscurely zonate; odor farinaceous, taste bitter.
Gills narrow, close, deeply decurrent, some of them forked, white, becoming dingy, tinged with yellow or flesh-color.
Stem equal, solid, colored like the pileus, the mycelium white, often forming white, branching, root-like fibers. Spores globose.
Prof. Beardslee thinks that this species is doubtless identical withC. popinalisof Europe. He has submitted specimens and photographs to European mycologists, who hold to this view.
I found this plant quite abundant on the Huntington Hills after heavy rains in August. Their season is from August to October. The specimens in Figure 204 were found growing among leaves after a heavy rain October 10th. The plants have a tendency to turn blackish if they are bruised in handling them.
Var. brevis. This is so called from its short stem. The margin of the pileus is pure white when moist. Gills attached to the stem or slightly decurrent.
Eccilia is from a Greek verb which means "I hollow out"; so called because the hollow cartilaginous stem expands upward into a membranaceous pileus, whose margin at first is incurved. Gills decurrent, attenuated behind.
This genus corresponds with Omphalia and is separated from Clitopilus by the cartilaginous, smooth stem.
The Flesh-Gray Eccilia. Edible.
Figure 205.Figure 205.—Eccilia carneo-grisea. Caps dark-gray or slate color. Gills rosy.
Figure 205.—Eccilia carneo-grisea. Caps dark-gray or slate color. Gills rosy.
Carneo-grisea means fleshy-gray.
The pileus is one inch or more broad, umbilicate, dark-gray orgrayish flesh color, finely striate, margin darkened with micaceous particles.
The gills are distant, adnate, decurrent, rosy, slightly undulate, margin irregularly darkened.
The stem is one to two inches long, slender, smooth, hollow, wavy, same color as the pileus, white tomentose at the base.
Spores irregularly oblong, rough, 7×5µ.
It is found from Nova Scotia through the Middle West. It is commonly reported in fir and pine woods but I find it on the hillsides about Chillicothe in mixed woods. It is frequently found here associated with Boletinus porosus.
Found in July, August, and September.
Polita means having been furbished.
Figure 206.Figure 206.—Eccilia polita. Natural size. Caps hair-brown to olive, umbilicate.
Figure 206.—Eccilia polita. Natural size. Caps hair-brown to olive, umbilicate.
The pileus is one inch or more broad, convex, umbilicate, somewhat membranaceous, watery, livid or hair-brown to olive, smooth, shining when dry, finely striate on the margin.
The gills are slightly decurrent, crowded, irregular or uneven, flesh color.
The stem is cartilaginous, stuffed or hollow, lighter in color than the pileus, equal or sometimes slightly enlarged at the base, polished from which the specific name is derived.
This is a larger plant than E. carneo-grisea; and it differs materially in the character of its spores, which are strongly angled and some of them square, 10–12µ in diameter, with a prominent mucro at one angle. It is found in the woods from September to frost.
Leptonia means slender, thin.
The spores are salmon-color and irregular. The pileus is never truly fleshy, cuticle always torn into scales, disk umbilicate, and often darker than the margin which is at first incurved. The gills are attached to the stem and easily separated in old plants. The stem is rigid, with cartilaginous bark, hollow or stuffed, smooth, shining, often dark-blue, confluent with the cap.
The Hoary Leptonia.
Incana means hoary or grayish-white.
The pileus is about one inch broad, somewhat membranaceous, convex, then plane, depressed in the center, smooth, with a silky lustre, margin striate.
The gills are attached to the stem, broad, somewhat distant, white, then greenish.
The stem is hollow, shining, smooth, brownish-green. The spores are very irregular, dull-yellowish, pink, rough, 8–9µ.
It is frequently found in pastures after warm rains. They grow in clusters, and have the odor of mice to a marked degree.
Saw Leptonia.
Figure 207.Figure 207.—Leptonia serrulata.
Figure 207.—Leptonia serrulata.
Serrulata means saw-bearing, so named from the serrulate character of the gills.
The pileus is dark-blue, flesh thin, umbilicate, depressed, without striate, squamulose.
The gills are attached to the stem, with a dark serrulate edge.
The stem is thin, cartilaginous, paler than the pileus.
Nolanea means a little bell, so called from the shape of the pileus.
It is rosy-spored. The stem is cartilaginous and hollow. The pileus is submembranaceous, thin, bell-shaped, papillate, margin straight, pressed close to the stem. The gills are free and not decurrent. They are found growing on the ground in the woods and pastures.
The Pasture Nolanea.
Pascua means pasture.
The pileus is membranaceous, conical, then expanded, slightly umbonate, smooth, striate, watery; when dry, shining like silk.
The gills are nearly free, ventricose, crowded, dirty-grayish.
The stem is hollow, fragile, silky-fibrous, striate. The spores are irregular, 9–10. They are found in pastures in summer and fall, after a rain.
The Cone Nolanea.
The pileus is thin, membranaceous, conical, with a minute umbo or papilla, cinnamon-color, striatulate when moist.
The gills are light flesh-color, nearly free.
The stem is slender, straight, hollow.
Found in moist woods.
Claudopus is from two Greek words:claudos, lame;pus, foot.
The pileus is eccentric or lateral like the Pleuroti. The species were formerly placed in the Pleuroti and Crepidoti, which they very closely resemble, save in the color of the spores. This genus formerly included those plants which have lilac spores, but Prof. Fries limited it to those which have pink spores. The spores in some species are even and in others, rough and angular. The stem is either wanting or very short, hence its name. All are found on decayed wood.
Figure 208.Figure 208.—Claudopus nidulans. One-half natural size. Cap yellow or buff. Gills orange-yellow.
Figure 208.—Claudopus nidulans. One-half natural size. Cap yellow or buff. Gills orange-yellow.
Nidulans is fromnidus, a nest.
The pileus is sessile, sometimes narrowed behind into a short stem-like base, caps often overlapping one another, kidney-shaped, quite downy, the margin involute, hairy toward the margin, a rich yellow or buff color.
The gills are broad, moderately close, orange-yellow.
The spores are even, 3–5×1µ, elongated, somewhat curved, delicate pink in mass. It is quite common in the woods about Chillicothe. A maple log from which I secured the specimen photographed in Figure 208 was completely covered and presented a beautiful sight. It has a rather strong and disagreeable odor. It is edible, but generally tough, and must be chopped very fine and cooked well. It is found in woods, on logs and stumps, from August to November.
Variabilis, variable or changeable.The pileus is white, thin, resupinate—that is the plant seems to be on its back, the gills being turned upward toward the light, quite downy, even, being fastened in the center to a short downy stem.
The gills are at first white, then of the color of the spores.
It is found on decaying limbs and branches in the woods. It is quite common everywhere.
The spores are of various shades of ochre yellow, rusty, rusty-brown, brown, yellowish-brown. The hymenophore is never free from the stem in the rusty-spored series, nor is there a volva.
Pholiota, a scale. The members of this genus have rusty spores. These may be sepia-brown, bright yellowish-brown or light red. There is no volva, but there is a ring which is sometimes persistent, friable, and fugacious. In this respect it corresponds with the Armillaria among the white spored agarics. The pileus is fleshy. The gills are attached to the stem and sometimes notched with a decurrent tooth, tawny or rusty in color on account of the falling of the spores. Many species grow on wood, logs, stumps, and branches of trees, although others grow on the ground.
The Early Pholiota. Edible.
Figure 209.Figure 209.—Pholiota precox. Two-thirds natural size. Caps whitish, often tinged with yellow.
Figure 209.—Pholiota precox. Two-thirds natural size. Caps whitish, often tinged with yellow.
Precox, early.Pileus is fleshy, soft, convex, then expanded, at length smooth, even, margin at first incurved; moist but not sticky, whitish, often with slight tinge of yellow or tan-color; when the plant is fully matured it is often upturned and fluted.
The gills are attached to the stem and slightly decurrent by a tooth, moderately broad, crowded, unequal, creamy white, then rusty-brown. Spores brownish, 8–13×6–7µ.
The stem is stuffed, then hollow, often striate above the ring, rather slender, sometimes mealy, skin peeling readily, whitish. The spores are rusty-brown and elliptical. The caps are from one to two inches broad, and the stem is from two to three inches long. The veil is stretched like a drumhead from the stem to the margin of the cap. It varies in manner of breaking; sometimes it separates fromthe margin of the cap and forms a ring around the stem; again, but little remains on the stem and much on the rim of the cap.
It appears every year on the Chillicothe high school lawn. The gills are creamy-white when the cap first opens, but they soon turn to a rusty-brown. It comes in May. I have never found it after June. I am always delighted to find it for it is always appetizing at that season. Look for them on lawns and pastures and in grain fields.
The Hard Pholiota. Edible.
Figure 210.Figure 210.—Pholiota dura. One-half natural size. Caps tawny tan-color.
Figure 210.—Pholiota dura. One-half natural size. Caps tawny tan-color.
Dura, hard; so called because the surface of the cap becomes quite hard and cracked. The pileus is from three to four inches or more broad, very compact, convex, then plane, cuticle often very much cracked, margin even, tawny, tan-color, sometimes quite brown.
The gills are firmly attached to the stem, somewhat decurrent with a tooth, ventricose, livid, then a brown rusty color. Spores elliptical, 8–9×5–6µ.
The stem is stuffed, hard, externally fibrous, thickened toward the apex, sometimes ventricose, often irregularly shaped.
On June 6th, 1904, I found Mr. Dillman's garden on Hickory street, Chillicothe, white with this plant. Some were very large and beautiful and I had an excellent opportunity to observe the irregularity in the form of the stem. Someyears previous I found a garden in Sidney, Ohio, equally filled. In the fall of 1905 I was asked to drive out about seven miles from Chillicothe to see a wheat-field, the last of October, that was white with mushrooms. I found them to be of this species.
Only the young plants should be used, as the older ones are a bit tough.
The Fat Or Pineapple Pholiota. Edible.
Figure 211.Figure 211.—Pholiota adiposa. Two-thirds natural size. Caps saffron-yellow.
Figure 211.—Pholiota adiposa. Two-thirds natural size. Caps saffron-yellow.
Adiposa is fromadeps, fat. The pileus is showy, deep-yellow, compact, convex, obtuse, slightly umbonate, quite viscid when moist, shining when dry; cuticle plain or broken into scales which are dark-brown, the margin incurved; the flesh is saffron-yellow, thick at the center and thinning out toward the margin.
The gills are firmly attached to the stem, sometimes slightly notched, close, yellow, then rust-color with age. Spores elliptical, 7×3µ.
The stem is equal, stuffed, tough, thickening at the base, brown below and yellow above, quite scaly.
The beautiful appearance of the tufts or clusters in which the Pineapple Pholiotas grow will attract the attention of an ordinarily unobservant beholder. The scales on the cap seem to contract and rise from the surface and sometimesdisappear with age. The caps of mushrooms should not ordinarily be peeled before cooking, but it is better to peel this one.
The ring is slight and the specimens represented here were found on a stump in Miss Effie Mace's yard, on Paint Street, Chillicothe.
The Wrinkled Pholiota. Edible.
Figure 212.Plate XXXI. Figure 212.—Pholiota caperata.
Plate XXXI. Figure 212.—Pholiota caperata.
Caperata means wrinkled.
The pileus is three to four inches broad, fleshy, varying from a clay to a yellowish color, at first somewhat egg-shaped, then expanded, obtuse, wrinkled at the sides, the entire cap and especially at the center is covered with a white superficial flocci.
The gills are adnate or attached to the stem, rather crowded, this, somewhat toothed on their edges, clay-cinnamon color. Spores elliptical, 12×4.5µ.
The stem is four to five inches long, solid, stout, round, somewhat bulbous atthe base, white, scaly above the ring, which is often very slight, often only a trace, as will be seen on the left hand plant in Figure 212.
The spores are dark ferruginous when caught on white paper, but paler on dark paper.
The white superficial flocci will mark the plant. It has a wide distribution throughout the states. I found it in a number of places in Ohio and it is quite plentiful about Chillicothe. It is a favorite in Germany and it is called by the common people "Zigeuner," a Gypsy.
It is found in September and October.
Figure 213.Figure213.—Pholiota unicolor. Natural size.
Figure213.—Pholiota unicolor. Natural size.
Unicolor means of one color.
The pileus is campanulate to convex, subumbonate, hygrophanous, bay, then ochre, nearly even, never fully expanded.
The gills are subtriangular, adnate, seceding, broad, ochraceous-cinnamon. Spores 9–10×5µ.
The stem is stuffed, then hollow, colored as the pileus, nearly smooth, ring thin but entire.
They are a late grower and found on well-decayed logs. They are quite common in our woods. Found in November. The plants in Figure 213 were found on the 24th of November, in Haynes' Hollow.
The Changeable Pholiota. Edible.
Mutablis means changeable, variable. The pileus two to three inches broad, fleshy; deep cinnamon when moist, paler when dry; margin rather thin, transparent; convex, then expanded, sometimes obtusely umbonate, and sometimes slightly depressed; even, quite smooth, flesh whitish and taste mild.
The gills are broad, adnate, slightly decurrent, close, pale umber, then cinnamon-color.
The stem is two to three inches long, slender, stuffed, becoming hollow, smooth above or minutely pulverulent, and pale, below slightly scaly up to the ring, and darker at the base, ring membranaceous, externally scaly. The spores are ellipsoid, 9–11×5–6µ.
I find this specimen growing in a cæspitose manner on decayed wood. It is quite common here late in the season. I found some very large specimens on Thanksgiving day, 1905, in Gallia County, Ohio. It is one of the latest edible plants.
Bulbous-stemmed Pholiota.
Figure 214.Figure214.—Pholiota heteroclita. Natural size. Caps whitish or yellowish.
Figure214.—Pholiota heteroclita. Natural size. Caps whitish or yellowish.
Heteroclitus means leaning to one side, out of the center.
The pileus is three to six inches broad, compact, convex, expanded, very obtuse, rather eccentric, marked with scattered, innate, adpressed scales, whitish or yellowish, sometimes smooth when dry, viscid if moist.
The gills are very broad, at first pallid, then ferruginous, rounded, adnexed.
The stem is three to four inches long, solid, hard, bulbous at the base, fibrillose, white or whitish; veil apical, ring fugacious, appendiculate. The spores are subelliptical, 8–10×5–6µ.
This species has a strong and pungent odor very much like horse-radish. It grows on wood and its favorite hosts are the poplar and the birch. It is found at almost any time in the fall. The specimens in the Figure 214 were found in Michigan and photographed by Dr. Fischer, of Detroit.
Golden Pholiota.
Aurevella is fromauri-vellus, a golden fleece.
The pileus is two to three inches in diameter, bell-shaped, convex, gibbous, tawny-yellow, with darker scales, rather viscid.
The gills are crowded, notched behind, fixed, very broad, plane, pallid olive, at length ferruginous.
The stem is stuffed, nearly equal, hard, various in length, curved, with rusty adpressed squamules, ring rather distant. On trunks of trees in the fall, generally solitary. Not very common.
Curvipes, with a curved foot or stem. Pileus is rather fleshy, convex, then expanded, torn into adpressed floccose scales.
The gills are adnate, broad, white, then yellowish, at length tawny.
The stem is somewhat hollow, thin, incurved (from which it derives its name), fibrillose, yellow, as well as is the floccose ring. Spores 6–7×3–4.Cooke.
I found several specimens of this species at different times on one well rotted beech log on Ralston's Run, but was unable to find it on any other log in any woods near Chillicothe. I had trouble to place it till Prof. Atkinson helped me out. I found it from August to November.
The Showy Pholiota.
Spectabilis, of notable appearance, worth seeing. The pileus is compact, convex, then plane, dry, torn into silky scales disappearing toward the margin, golden orange color, flesh yellow.
The gills are adnexed, rounded near the stem, slightly decurrent, crowded, narrow, yellow, then ferruginous.
The stem is solid, three to four inches high, quite thick, tough, spongy, thickened toward the base, even, bulbous, somewhat rooting. Ring inferior. I found the specimens in October and November. It may grow earlier. Found on decayed oak stumps.
The Marginate Pholiota. Edible.
Figure 215.Figure215.—Pholiota marginata. Two-thirds natural size. Caps honey-colored and tan-colored.
Figure215.—Pholiota marginata. Two-thirds natural size. Caps honey-colored and tan-colored.
Marginata means edged, margined; so called from the peripheral striæ of the pileus.
The pileus is rather fleshy, convex, then plane, smooth, moist, watery, striate on the margin, honey-colored when moist, tan-colored when dry.
The gills are firmly attached to the stem, crowded, unequal; when mature, of a dark reddish-brown from the shedding of the spores. Spores 7–8×4µ.
The stem is cylindrical, smooth, hollow, of the same color as the pileus, covered with a frost-like bloom above the ring, which is distant from the apex of the stem and frequently disappears entirely.
It is quite common, being found on nearly every rotten log in our woods. It comes early and lasts till late in the fall. The caps are excellent when well prepared.
Ægerita is the Greek name for the black poplar; so called because it grows on decayed poplar logs. The pileus is fleshy, convex, then plane, more or less checked or rivulose, wrinkled, tawny, edge of the cap rather pale.
The gills are adnate, with a decurrent tooth, rather close, pallid, then growing darker.
The stem is stuffed, equal, silky-white, ring superior, fibrillose, tumid. Spores 10×5µ.
Found in October and November, in the woods wherever there are decayed poplar logs.
Like the Scaly Pholiota. Edible.
Figure 216.Figure216.—Pholiota squarrosoides. Two-thirds natural size. Caps yellow or yellowish.
Figure216.—Pholiota squarrosoides. Two-thirds natural size. Caps yellow or yellowish.
Squarrosoides means like Squarrosa. The pileus is quite firm, convex, viscid, especially when moist; at first densely covered with erect papillose or subspinose tawny scales, which soon separate from each other, revealing the whitish or yellowish color of the cap and its viscid character.
The gills are close, emarginate, at first whitish, then pallid or dull cinnamon color.
The stem is equal, firm, stuffed, rough, with thick squarrose scales, white above the thick floccose annulus, pallid or tawny below. The spores are minute, elliptical, .0002 inch long, .00015 inch broad.
They grow in tufts on dead trunks and old stumps, especially of the sugar maple. They closely resemble P. squarrosa. Found late in the fall. Its favorite haunt is the inside of a stump or within the protection of a log.
The Scaly Pholiota. Edible.
Figure 217.Photo by C. G. Lloyd.Plate XXXII. Figure 217.—Pholiota squarrosa.
Photo by C. G. Lloyd.
Plate XXXII. Figure 217.—Pholiota squarrosa.
Squarrosa means scaly. The pileus is three to four inches broad, fleshy, bell-shaped, convex, then expanded; obtusely umbonate, tawny-yellow, clothed with rich brown scales; flesh yellow near the surface.
The gills are attached to the stem, with a decurrent tooth, at first yellowish, then of a pale olive, changing to rusty-brown in color, crowded, and narrow. The spores are elliptical, 8×4µ.
The stem is three to six inches high, saffron yellow, stuffed, clothed with small fibers, scaly like the pileus, attenuated at the base from the manner of its growth. The ring is close to the apex, downy, rich brown, inclining to orange in color.
This is quite a common and showy mushroom. It is found on rotten wood, on or near stumps, growing out from a root underground, and is often found at the foot of trees. Only the caps of the young specimens should be eaten. It is found from August to late frost.
Inocybe is from two Greek words meaning fiber and head; so called from the fibrillose veil, concrete with the cuticle of the pileus, often free at the margin, in the form of a cortina. The gills are somewhat sinuate, though they are sometimes adnate, and in two species are decurrent; changing color but not powdered with cinnamon. Spores are often rough but in other specimens are even, more or less brownish rust-color.Stevenson.
Rough Inocybe. Not Edible.
Scaber means rough. The pileus is fleshy, conical, convex, obtusely gibbous, sprinkled with fibrous adpressed scales; margin entire, grayish-brown.
The gills are rounded near the stem, quite crowded, pale dingy-brown.
The stem is solid, whitish or paler than the pileus, clothed with small fibers, equal, veiled. The spores are elliptical, smooth, 11×5µ.
It is found on the ground in damp woods. Not good.
The Torn Inocybe.
Lacera means torn. The pileus is somewhat fleshy, convex, then expanded, obtuse, umbonate, clothed with fibrous scales.
The gills are free, broad, ventricose, white, tinged with red, light-gray. Spores are obliquely elliptical, smooth, 12×6µ.
The stem is slender, short, stuffed, clothed with small fibers, naked above, reddish within.
Found on the ground where the soil is clayish or poor. Not good.
Figure 218.Figure 218.—Inocybe subochracea Burtii. Natural size.
Figure 218.—Inocybe subochracea Burtii. Natural size.
This is a very interesting species. It is thus described by Dr. Peck: "Veil conspicuous, webby fibrillose, margin of the pileus more fibrillose; stem longer and more conspicuously fibrillose. The well developed veil, and the longer stem, are the distinguishing characters of this variety."
The plants are found in mossy patches on the north hillsides about Chillicothe. The pale ochraceous yellow and the very fibrillose caps and stem will attract the attention of the collector at once. The caps are one to two and a half inches broad and the stem is two to three inches long.
Pileus thin, conical or convex, sometimes expanded, generally umbonate, fibrillose squamulose, pale ochraceous-yellow.
The gills are rather broad, attached, emarginate, whitish, becoming brownish-yellow.
The stem is equal, whitish, slightly fibrillose, solid.Peck.
This is a small plant from one to two inches high whose cap is scarcely over an inch broad. It grows in open groves where the soil is sandy. It is found on Cemetery Hill from June to October.