Chapter 14

Grouped by F.D. Briscoe—Studies by C. McIlvaine.Plate XXIV.Fig.Page.Fig.Page.1–2–3.Clitocybe ochropurpurea,1088.Clitocybe amethystina,1074.Clitocybe ochropurpurea (section),1089.Clitocybe odora,905.Clitocybe maxima,9910.Clitocybe laccata,1076.Clitocybe maxima (section),9911.Clitocybe infundibuliformis,1007.Clitocybe nebularis,85

Grouped by F.D. Briscoe—Studies by C. McIlvaine.Plate XXIV.

Gr.—sloping. (From the depression of the pileus.)

Pileusgenerally fleshy, becoming thin toward the margin, flexible or tough, plane or depressed, margin involute.Gillsadnate or decurrent, never sinuate.Stemconfluent and homogeneous with flesh of pileus, somewhat elastic, with a spongy stuffing, frequently becoming hollow, externally fibrous. Universal veil when present conspicuous on the pileus like frost or silky dew, but commonly wanting.

Growing on the ground, frequently in groups. The thinner and hygrophanous species appear late in autumn. Some are quite fragrant. Collybia, Mycena and Omphalia are separated by their stems being cartilaginous, not externally fibrous as in Clitocybe. Tricholoma by its sinuate gills.

Variations in species of Clitocybe are great. A few are easily fixed in the genus, but many of them will puzzle the amateur and perplex the expert. The gills are always attached to the stem, and usually run down it. They are not notched next to the stem as in Tricholoma.

Like Tricholoma, Clitocybe has many species, most of which are common, and are probably edible. I therefore give Professor Peck’s description of all Clitocybes thus far submitted to him.

I know of but one species which is injurious to some persons—Clitocybe illudens. Many eat and enjoy it. It does not agree with others. A few untried species are suspicious to a like extent. Clitocybe illudens possesses the property of phosphorescence.

Several species of Clitocybe have not been seen or tested by me, nor have I information that these have been tested.

ANALYSIS OF TRIBES.

A.Pileus Fleshy, Often Pallid When Dry,not hygrophanous.

Flesh firm, not watery, nor splitting into plates. Those which turn pale in drying differ from SeriesBby their silky luster.

Disciformes(disk-shaped). Page85.

Pileus somewhat equally fleshy; convex then plane or depressed, obtuse, regular; gills at first adnate or regularly adnato-decurrent. Normally solitary.

*Pileus gray or brownish.

**Pileus violet or reddish.

***Pileus becoming yellowish.

****Pileus greenish, becoming pale.

*****Pileus white, becoming shining white.

Distinguished from white hygrophanous species and white species of Paxillus.

Difformes(irregularly shaped). Page94.

Pileus fleshy in the center, thin at the margin, at first umbonate, then expanded and depressed, irregular. Gills unequally decurrent, longer in some places than in others, sometimes rounded on one side of the stem or only reaching it as in Tricholoma. Stem somewhat cartilaginous externally, but fibrous.

Cespitose, often grown together at base, variable in form, sometimes solitary.

Infundibuliformes(funnel-shaped). Page98.

Pileus becoming thin from the fleshy center to the margin, at length funnel-shaped or deeply umbilicately depressed in the center. Stem spongy, externally fibrous. Gills deeply and equally decurrent from the first. Pileus often becoming discolored or pallid, not hygrophanous.

*Pileus colored or becoming pale, the surface (at least under a lens) innately flocculose or silky, bibulous, not moist.

**Pileus colored or pallid, smooth, moist in rainy weather.

***Pileus shining whitish, with scattered superficial flocci or becoming smooth.

B.Pileus Fleshy-Membranaceous.

Flesh thin, soft, watery, hygrophanous.

Cyathiformes(cup-shaped). Page104.

Flesh of pileus thin, consisting of two separable plates, disk not compact, hygrophanous, depressed then cup-shaped; gills at first adnate then decurrent, descending, straight. Color dingy when moist.

Orbiformes(round-shaped). Page109.

Pileus somewhat fleshy, hygrophanous, convex then flattened or depressed,polished, not squamulose nor mealy; gills plane, horizontal, thin, crowded, adnate or decurrent with a small tooth. Color dingy or becoming watery pale.

*Gills becoming ash-colored. Pileus at first dark.

**Gills whitish. Pileus becoming pale.

Versiformes(variable in shape). Page106.

Pileus thin, convex then deformed, tough, more or less squamulose or furfuraceous; gills adnate, broad, rather thick, generally distant. Color hygrophanous.

* Pileus squalid or brownish with dark squamules. None known to be edible.

**Pileus bright, of one color.

Series A.

*Pileus gray or brownish.

C. nebula´risBatsch.—nebula, a cloud. (PlateXXIV, fig. 7, p. 82.) The Clouded clitocybe, Clitocybe nebularis, takes its name from the clouded-gray appearance of its thick cap, which is at first convex, but when mature, either flat or a little depressed. Its flesh is white, thickest in the middle, and in a vertical section is seen to taper rapidly downward into the stem. The gills are close together and rather narrow for the size of the plant. They are white or yellowish-white. The stout solid stem usually tapers upward from the base and is whitish.

The cap is two to four inches or more broad, the stem one to two inches long and about half an inch thick. The Clouded mushroom grows in woods, and sometimes forms large tufts or clusters among fallen leaves. It is found in autumn, but is not very common in this country. Authors differ in their estimate of the edible qualities of this mushroom, but the more recent ones generally agree in classing it as edible. “Mushrooms and Their Use,”C.H. Peck.

Spores4.5×3µCooke; elliptical 6×3.5µMassee; 3×4µW.G.S.

There has been great diversity of opinion as to the edibility of this species on the continent. Cordier and a friend suffered from it. Paulet counseled mistrust.

This fungus is quite common in the West Virginia mountains and in some parts of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, where I have found it. It is, however, limited to localities. It is one of my favorites, being of marked flavor and agreeable consistency. I have not known it to harm anyone.

(Plate XXV.)Clitocybe clavipes.About two-thirds natural size.

(Plate XXV.)

Clitocybe clavipes.About two-thirds natural size.

C. cla´vipesPers.—clava, a club;pes, a foot.Pileus1½-2½ in. across, rather convex at first, soon plane, at length almost obconical, very obtuse, even, glabrous, dry, sometimes all one color, brown, sooty, livid-gray, etc., sometimes whitish towards the margin, very rarely entirely white.Fleshloose in texture, white, thin at the margin.Gillsdeeply decurrent, continued down the stem as straight lines, rather distant, flaccid, quite entire, broad, entirely and persistently white.Stem2 in. long, base ½ in. and more thick, conically attenuated upward, rather fibrillose, livid, sooty, solid, spongy within.Sporeselliptical, 6–7×4µ.

In woods, especially pine. Resembling C. nebularis in color, but quite distinct. Smell pleasant, entire substance soft and elastic.Fries.

Sporeselliptical, 6–7×4µMassee; sub-ellipsoid, 5–7×3–4µK.; 6×8µW.G.S.

Found in pine woods of New Jersey, and under spruce in West Virginia. Its substance is spongy, therefore does not stew well. Cooked in any other way it is delicate and of excellent flavor.

C. gangræno´saFr.—gangræna, gangrene.Pileusfleshy, convex then plane, obtuse, whitish, at first sprinkled with white powder, then naked, variegated, streaked.Gillsslightly decurrent, arcuate, crowded, dingy-white.Stemsomewhat bulbous, soft, striate, spongy, solid.

Stinking; large, flesh becoming blackish and variegated with black. Stem curved, sometimes excentric. Pileus whitish, here and there greenish, livid, etc.Fries.

Var.nigres´censLasch. Whitish; pileus thin, soft, at first convex, obtuse then plane, somewhat umbonate, and somewhat depressed; gills decurrent, very much crowded, narrow, stem solid, downy.

Pileus2–3 in. broad.Stem1¼-1½ in. long, 2–3 lines thick.

Odor rather sweet, taste unpleasant.Cooke.

New Jersey, Haddonfield, pine woods. July to August.McIlvaine.

This Clitocybe is in every way unattractive. It is not poisonous, but no one would care to eat it.

(Plate XXVI.)Clitocybe media.One-half natural size.

(Plate XXVI.)

Clitocybe media.One-half natural size.

C. me´diaPk.—medius, middle. Because intermediate between C. nebularis and C. clavipes.Pileusfleshy, convex, becoming plane or slightly depressed, dry, dark grayish-brown, the margin often wavy or irregular, flesh white, taste mild.Gillsbroad, subdistant, adnate or decurrent, whitish, the interspaces somewhat venose.Stemequal or but slightly thickened at the base, solid, elastic, not polished, colored like or a little paler than the pileus.Sporeselliptical, 8×5µ.

Pileus2–4 in. broad.Stem1–2 in. long, 4–8 lines thick. Mossy ground in deep woods. North Elba. September.

This species is intermediate between C. nebularis and C. clavipes. In its general appearance, and in the character of the pileus and stem, it resembles C. nebularis, but in the character of the more distant gills and in the size of the spores it is nearer C. clavipes, of which it might perhaps be regarded as a variety. Two forms are distinguishable. In one the gills are more distant, slightly rounded behind, and adnate or abruptly terminated; in the other they are closer and more distinctly decurrent. The plant is edible.Peck, 42d Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

I have known this fungus very favorably since 1883, and regard it as one of the best. I have seen it in the West Virginia mountains only, but it will probably be found in cool, shaded, high localities all over the country. Both it and the C. nebularis are well worthy of search.

C. viles´censPk.—vilesco, of little value.Pileusconvex, then plane or depressed, often irregular, glabrous, slightly pruinose on the involute margin, brown or grayish-brown, becoming paler with age, often concentrically rivulose.Gillsclose, adnate or decurrent, cinereous, sometimes tinged with dingy-yellow.Stemshort, solid, sometimes compressed, grayish-brown, with a whitish tomentum at the base.Sporessubglobose or broadly elliptical, 5–6.5µ; flesh whitish-gray, odor slight.

Plantgregarious, 1–2 in. high.Pileus1–1.5 in. broad.Stem1–2 lines thick. Grassy pastures. Jamesville, August.Peck, 33d Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

A pale form of this species grows on sandy soil, in which the pileus is smoky white, but it becomes grayish-brown in drying. The mycelium binds together a mass of sand, so that when the plant is taken up carefully a little ball of sandy soil adheres to the base of the stem. The stem is sometimes pruinose. The flavor is mild and agreeable.Peck, 50th Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

Sometimes plentiful about Philadelphia. Edible. Caps tender, slight flavor.

C. comitia´lisFr.—belonging to an assembly.Pileusabout 1½ in. across, fleshy, convex, then plane, obtuse, even, glabrous, rather moist but not hygrophanous, every part colored alike, sooty-umber, almost black.Fleshfirm, white.Gillsvery slightly decurrent, horizontal, plane, thin, crowded, white.Stem2–3 in. long, 3–4 lines thick, equally attenuated upward from the base, glabrous, sooty, elastic, stuffed.Sporeselliptical, 7–8×4µ.

Damp places among mosses in pine woods, etc. Distinguished by the blackish color of the almost flat pileus, and the very slightly decurrent gills. Somewhat allied to C. clavipes, but firmer, smaller and inodorous.Massee.

Rather rare. Found in New Jersey among pines; in Pennsylvania in mixed woods.

Edible. Good texture and flavor.

Photographed by Dr. J.R. Weist.Plate XXVII.CLITOCYBE MONADELPHA.

**Violet or reddish.

C. cyanophæ´aFr.Gr.—blue.Pileus3–4 in. broad, becoming bluish-dusky-brown, compact, convex then plane, obtuse, smooth.Stem3 in. long, 1 in. thick at the base, attenuated upward, robust, solid, smooth,becoming azure-bluewhen young,abruptly white at the apex.Gillsdeeply decurrent, crowded, violaceous, then becoming pale.

New York, Albion. In woods. October. Edible.Dr. E.L. Cushing.

Specimens sent to me by Dr. Cushing are the first and only ones of the species I have seen. The description is accurate. The spores were cream color.

C. monadel´phaMorg.—monas, single;adelphos, a brother. From its cespitose habit. (PlateXXVII.) Densely cespitose.Pileusfleshy, convex then depressed, at first glabrous, then scaly, honey color, varying to pallid-brownish or reddish.Stemelongated, solid, crooked, twisted, fibrous, tapering at the base, pallid-brownish or flesh color.Gillsshort, decurrent, not crowded, pallid flesh color.Sporeswhite, a little irregular, 7.5×5.5µ.

On the ground in wet woods, spring to late autumn.Pileus1–3 in.Stem3–7 in.Morgan.

Grassy places. Menands. Albany county. September. Edible. Resembling Armillaria mellea, but distinguished from it by the absence of a collar from the stem, by the more decidedly decurrent lamellæ and by the solid stem. It is also more agreeable in flavor. It is related to C. illudens in habit and manner of growth.Peck, 51st Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

Spores8×5µPeck.

October 15, 1898. Identified by Professor Peck. September until frost.

Grows in great clusters about roots, etc., at Mt. Gretna. Frequently much water-soaked and uninviting. Taste variable, sometimes strong, woody.

It is edible, but care should be exercised in collecting to get young, fresh groups.

C. socia´lisFr.—socius, a companion.Pileusabout 1 in. broad, pale-yellowish with a reddish tinge, fleshy, convex then expanded, acutely umbonate especially when young, even, smooth, dry.Fleshmoderately thin, white.Stem1 in. long, 2 lines or a little more thick,solid, fibrous, commonly ascending, smooth, reddish, the rooting base hairy.Gillsplano-decurrent, scarcely crowded, becoming yellow.Fries.

A very pretty species, densely gregarious, inodorous. The stem is sheathed-hairy at the base like Marasmius peronatus. Its greatest affinity is with A. vernicosus, of which it is perhaps a variety.Stevenson.

Quite common in pine woods of New Jersey. Though small, goodly messes of it may be gathered from its patches. The caps make a pleasing dish.

***Pileus becoming yellow.

None reported as tested for edibility.

****Pileus greenish or becoming pallid.

C. odo´raBull.—odorus, fragrant. (PlateXXIV, fig. 9, p. 82.) Fragrant.Pileusabout 2 in. across, flesh rather thick, tough; soon plane and wavy, even, smooth, pale dingy green, silky when dry.Gillsadnate, rather close, broad, greenish or pallid.Stemabout 1–1½ in. long, 2 lines thick, base incrassated, elastic, stuffed.Sporeselliptical, 6–8×4–5µ. In woods.Massee.

Readily distinguished by the strong, aniseed smell, dingy bluish-green pileus, and the pallid or greenish gills.

Sometimes somewhat cespitose. Tough; size variable, color varies between pale green and greenish-gray, usually all colored alike, but the gills are sometimes white; smell pleasant, spicy, especially when dry.Fries.

Spores6×5µK.; 8×4µB.

A rather delicate, even exquisite dish.Cooke.

Edible. Exceedingly spicy. The flavor is pleasant, but rather strong. A few specimens mixed with others of like texture but less flavor make a tasty dish.

C. rivulo´saPers.—rivus, a stream. (Named from rivulet-like streaks on pileus.)Pileus1–3 in. across, flesh thin, convex then plane and depressed, obtuse, often undulately lobed, dingy flesh-color or reddish, becoming pale, glabrous, then covered with a whitish down.Gillsslightly decurrent, broad, rather crowded, pinkish-white.Stemabout 2 in. long, 3–4 lines thick, rather fibrillose, tough, elastic, whitish, stuffed.Sporeselliptical, 6×3.5µ.Massee.

Among grass by road-sides, etc.

Not common, but when found it is basket-filling. I have found it in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and West Virginia.

Edible. The caps are rather tough but become glutinous and tender when well cooked. Flavor fine.

*****Pileus white, shining when dry.

C. cerussa´taFr.—cerussa, white lead.Pileus1½-3 in. across, flesh thick at the disk, becoming thin toward the margin; convex then almost plane, obtuse, even, minutely floccose then almost glabrous, white.Gillsadnate, then decurrent, very much crowded, thin, permanently white.Stemabout 2 in. long, 3–5 lines thick, smooth, tough, elastic, naked, spongy and solid, white. Among dead leaves, etc.

Taste mild, smell almost obsolete. Stem rather thickened at the base and often tomentose. Pileus said to be gibbous, but not umbonate nor becoming rufescent. Gills not changing to yellowish.Fries.

Spores3µW.G.S.

Edible. Good.

C. phylloph´ilaFr.Gr.—leaf-loving. Whitish-tan.Pileus1–3 in. across, rather fleshy, convex then plane, becoming umbilicate and depressed, sometimes wavy, smooth and even.Gillsthin, subdistant, white then tinged with ocher, rather broad, very slightly decurrent.Stem2–3 in. long, equal, stuffed then hollow, whitish, tough, silky-fibrillose.Spores6×4µ.

Among leaves in woods, etc.

Spores6×4µMassee; 6×3µW.G.S.; 5.5×2.8µMorgan.

Found at Devon, Pa., 1888; Angora, West Philadelphia, 1897. It is equal to the Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster mushroom) in texture, but not so high in flavor. Well cooked it is an agreeable and valuable food.

C. pithyoph´ilaSecr.Gr.—pine-loving.Pileus2–3 in. broad, dead-white when moist, shining whitish when dry, fleshy butthin, rather plane,umbilicate, at length irregularly shaped, repand and undulato-lobed, even,smooth, flaccid, the margin slightly striate when old.Stemsomewhat hollow, rounded then compressed, equal, even, smooth, obsoletely or scarcely pruinose at the apex, white tomentose at the (notbulbous) base.Gillsadnate, somewhat decurrent,very crowded, plane, 2–3 lines broad, distinct, quite entire, white.

Odor not remarkable, but pleasant. Gregarious, somewhat cespitose;whiteindeed, but when moist watery andsomewhat hygrophanous, in which it evidently differs from A. phyllophila. A. tuba, which appears in the same places, is very like it.Stevenson.

Spores6–7×4µB.

Massachusetts,Sprague; New York,Peck, Bull. 1887.

Albion, Orleans county, N.Y., October, 1898,Dr. Cushing.

Several specimens received were clearly referable to C. pithyophila, though varying in having caps deeply depressed but not umbilicate. The white tomentosity at base was present but indistinct.

Four specimens were eaten and found good. Eaten enjoyably by Dr. Cushing.

C. fus´cipesPk.—fuscus, dirty;pes, a foot.Pileusthin, broadly convex or plane, umbilicate, glabrous, whitish and striatulate when moist, pure white when dry, odor and taste farinaceous.Gillsnearly plane, subdistant, adnate or slightly decurrent, white.Stemequal, glabrous or slightly mealy at the top, hollow, dingy brown when moist, paler when dry.Sporesglobose, 5–6µ.

Pileus4–8 lines broad.Stemabout 1 in. long. Under pine trees. Carrollton. September.Peck, 44th Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

Edible. Its small size gives it minor importance, but a quantity of it makes an excellent meal.

C. can´dicansPers.—candico, to be shining white. Entirely white.Pileusabout 1 in. across, flesh thin, convex then plane or slightly depressed, umbilicate, regular or slightly excentric, even, with an adpressed silkiness, shining, shining white when dry.Gillsadnate then slightly decurrent, crowded, very thin, narrow, straight.Stem1–2 in. long, 1–2 lines thick, even, glabrous, cartilaginous, polished, equal, hollow, base incurved, rooting, downy.Sporesbroadly elliptical or subglobose, 5–6×4µ.Massee.

Among damp fallen leaves, etc.

Entirely white, small, rather tough; approaching Omphalia in the structure of the stem. The following form is described by Fries as occurring in pine woods: Stem thin, flexuous, base glabrous; pileusplane, not umbilicate, naked (without silky down). Gills scarcely decurrent.

A remarkable form but scarcely to be separated as a species.Fries.

Quite common in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey. The caps are excellent when well cooked.

C. dealba´taSow.—dealbo, to whitewash.Pileusabout 1 in. or a little more broad, white,slightly fleshy, tough, convex then plane and at length revolute and undulated, always dry (not watery in rainy weather), even, smooth,somewhat shining, but as if innately pruinose under a lens.Fleshthin, arid, white.Stem1 in. long, 2 lines thick,stuffed, wholly fibrous, at length also tubed, equal, but often ascending, whitish, mealy at the apex.Gillsadnate, scarcely decurrent, thin,crowded, white.

Pileussometimes orbicular, sometimes upturned and wavy.Odor weak, pleasant, but not very remarkable. Most distinct from A. candicans in the nature of the stem.

Edible. Its top isexceedingly like ivory. Its charming flavor is exceeded by very few other fungi.Stevenson.

Among leaves and grass. Woodland Cemetery, Philadelphia.

This charming fungus is common over the land. I have known it since 1881, and found it from North Carolina to West Virginia.

C. robus´taPk.—robustus, stout.Pileusthick, firm, at first convex, soon plane or slightly depressed in the center, glabrous, white, the margin at first involute or decurved, naked.Fleshwhite.Gillsnarrow, close, decurrent, whitish.Stemstout, rather short, solid, glabrous, equal or slightly tapering upward, often with a bulbous base, white.Sporeselliptical, 8×4–5µ.

Pileus3–4 in. broad.Stem1–2 in. long, 8–12 lines thick.

Woods among fallen leaves. Catskill mountains. September to November.

This large and robust fungus is closely allied to C. candida Bres., from which it differs in the naked margin of the pileus, the absence of any marked odor and especially in the more elliptical shape of its spores. The same plant has been collected in Maryland by Mr. L.J. Atwater, who considers it edible, having eaten it with satisfaction and safety.Peck, 49th Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

This fungus is quite plentiful in Pennsylvania and in open oak woods in New Jersey. Its size and sometimes gregarious growth give it a permanent food value. Its texture is coarse, but when cooked it is highly satisfactory.

C. gallina´ceaScop.—gallina, a hen. Application not apparent. White; acrid.Pileus1–1½ in. across, rather fleshy at the disk, margin thin; convex then depressed, but not funnel-shaped, even, dry, opaque.Gillsslightly decurrent, narrow, crowded, thin.Stemabout 1½ in. long, 2 lines thick, equal, even, solid. Among grass, moss, etc.

Resembling C. dealbata in form, but smaller, opaque, dingy-white, taste somewhat acrid. Stem solid, but not cartilaginous, about 2 in. long, equal, ascending or flexuous, excentric, at first floccosely mealy, always opaque, white. Pileus slightly fleshy, convex then plane, not depressed, obtuse, ½-1 in. broad, unequal, dry, pruinosely hoary; flesh white, compact, but thin. Gills adnato-decurrent, thin, crowded, plane.Fries.

It loses its acridity in cooking and is quite equal to C. dealbata.

C. trunci´colaPk.—truncus, trunk of a tree.Pileusthin, firm, expanded or slightly depressed in the center, smooth, dry, white.Gillsnarrow, thin, crowded, adnate-decurrent.Stemequal, stuffed, smooth, often excentric and curved, whitish.

Plant1 in. high.Pileus1 in. broad.Stem1 line thick.

Trunks of frondose trees, especially maples.Croghan.September.Peck, 26th Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

Spores5×3.5µMorgan.

Found on maple trees in West Philadelphia, Pa. Edible. Good quality.

Grouped by F.D. Briscoe—Studies by C. McIlvaine.PlateXXVIIa.Fig.Page.Fig.Page.1.Clitocybe multiceps,952.Clitocybe multiceps, var.95

Grouped by F.D. Briscoe—Studies by C. McIlvaine.PlateXXVIIa.

II.—Diffor´mes.

C. decas´tesFr.Gr.—a decade; a number of ten. From the stems being often joined in bundles of about ten. Densely cespitose.Pileus5–12 in. across, soon almost plane, disk gibbous or obtuse; margin at first shortly incurved, then expanded, very much waved and often lobed, even, glabrous, dingy-brown or livid when moist, pale clay-color when dry.Fleshexceedingly thin except at the disk, whitish.Stem4–7 in. long, ½-1½ in. thick, usually slightly thinner upward, rather soft,entirely fibrous, solid, white, usually curved and ascending, coalescent into a solid mass at the base.Gillsadnato-decurrent, or often more or less adnexed, up to ½ in. broad, rather narrowed towards the margin, often wavy.Sporesglobose, smooth, 4µ diameter.

On the ground and on sawdust.

Albion, Orleans county, N.Y.,Dr. Cushing. October, 1898.

On ground in grassy places (Woodland Cemetery, May 22, 1897).McIlvaine.

Particularly welcome to toadstool lovers are the early comers. The present species is among the first. It is rich in quantity, substance and flavor.

C. mul´ticepsPk.—multus, many;caput, a head. (PlateXXVIIa, p. 94.)Pileusfleshy, thin except on the disk, firm, convex, slightly moist in wet weather, whitish, grayish or yellowish-gray.Fleshwhite, taste mild.Gillsclose, adnate and slightly decurrent, whitish.Stemsdensely cespitose, equal or slightly thickened at the base, solid or stuffed, firm, elastic, slightly pruinose at the apex, whitish.Sporesglobose, 5–8µ.

Pileus1–3 in. broad.Stem2–4 in. long, 3–6 lines thick.

Open places, grassy ground, etc. Albany and Sandlake. June and October. This species forms dense tufts, often composed of many individuals. In this respect it is related to such species as C. tumulosa, C. aggregata and C. illudens. From the crowding together of many individuals the pileus is often irregular. Sometimes the disk is brownish and occasionally slightly silky. The gills are sometimes slightly sinuate, thus indicating a relationship to the species of Tricholoma. The taste, though mild, is somewhat oily and unpleasant. The plants appear in wet, rainy weather, either early in the season or in autumn. Specimens have been sent to me from Massachusetts by R.K. Macadam and Professor Farlow, and from Pennsylvania by Dr. W. Herbst.Peck, 43d Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

West Virginia, New Jersey, Mt. Gretna, Pa. In May, and in autumn months. Very variable in size, color, shape of gills, texture and taste.McIlvaine.

The early spring clusters are remarkable for their tenderness and excellence. Clusters of hundreds of individuals grew abundantly at Mt. Gretna in May, 1899. When the fungus was young the gills weresometimes adnate, almost free, often decurrent. The varying color of oysters is well seen in C. multiceps.

Edible. They should be well cooked. The addition of a little lemon juice or sherry conceals a slight raw taste sometimes present.

Photographed by Dr. J.R. Weist—Painted by C. McIlvaine.PlateXXIXa.Page.Clitocybe illudens96

Photographed by Dr. J.R. Weist—Painted by C. McIlvaine.PlateXXIXa.

C. illu´densSchw.—mocking, deceiving. (PlateXXIXa, p. 96.)Pileusfleshy, convex or expanded, smooth, generally with a small umbo.Gillsnot crowded, unequally decurrent, some of them branched, narrowed toward each end, the edge, in dry specimens, discolored.Stemfirm, solid, long, smooth, tapering at the base.

Height5–8 in., breadth of pileus 4–6 in.Stem6–8 lines thick.

Spores4–5µPeck.

Grows in clumps or large masses about stumps or decaying trees from August to October. Its bright, deep yellow is attractive from a distance. As many as fifty plants may form a cluster. Cap from 2–6 in., fleshy, convex or expanded, often with a raised center directly over the stem; flesh juicy and yellow; gills yellow, widely separated, running down stem unequally; stem long, firm, solid, smooth, tapering toward base. When cooked the taste is rather saponaceous. Strong stomachs can retain a meal of them, but the fungus generally sickens the eater. Many testings show it to contain a minor poison. It is not deadly, but should not be eaten. Bull. No. 2, Phila. Myc. Center.

New York,Peck, Rep. 23–49. Well known in southern states. Indiana,H.I. Miller.

The mysterious property of phosphorescence is possessed by this fungus. As heat is known to develop in masses of the fungus it is of interest to know whether it is from the phosphorescence or a ferment. Its radiance by night surpasses its splendor by day. Mr. H.I. Miller, of Terre Haute, Ind., first drew the writer’s attention to this quality. A large box of specimens sent by him retained their luminous quality after three days of travel to such an extent that the print of a newspaper could be read when held close to the mass.

Mr. Miller writes: “There is something about this fungus which generates heat. When I bring in a basketful of it, for the pleasure its phosphorescence affords my friends, I find that after having been in the basket for two or three hours, and while piled one bunch upon top of another, that to insert one’s hand among the different clusters is like putting it close to a hot stove.”

This fungus is so inviting in quantity and beauty that one turns from it with a regret that lingers. Eaten in quantity it acts upon some persons as an emetic. I have several times eaten of it without other than pleasurable sensations, but persons partaking of the same cooking have been sickened.

C. fumo´saPers.—fumus, smoke.Pileus1–3 in. across, fleshy, margin thin; convex, often gibbous when young, regular or wavy, even, pellicle not separable, glabrous, sooty-brown, soon livid or gray when dry.Gillsadnate in regular forms, but often decurrent when the pileus is irregular, crowded, distinct, grayish-white from the first.Stem2–3 in. long, 3–6 lines thick, almost equal, often twisted or curved, glabrous, dingy-white, apex mealy, solid, fibrous.Sporessubglobose, 5–6µ diam.

In woods. Autumn.

Gregarious, somewhat cespitose, tough, rather cartilaginous. Pileus truly obtuse, never streaked, often regular. Smell none.Fries.

Var.po´lius. Densely and connately cespitose.Pileusconvex, then plane, obtuse, smooth, gray.Stemflexuous, smooth.Gillscrowded, whitish. Edible.Cooke, 1891.

Var. polius found growing in large quantities in Boston navy yard in stone barn. Determined by Professor Peck. A fair edible.R.K. Macadam.

This woods-growing Clitocybe has been many times found by me in a hot-house in Haddonfield, N.J. Professor Peck confirmed my identification. Either its spores or mycelium had evidently been carried thither in the wood-earth used by florists. The hot-house crops appeared in March, and continued until June.

Several of the plants showed an effort to comply with some condition unusual to them, by producing gills upon the upper side of the pileus. Those below were venose and crisped.

This wild species had thus been brought into cultivation. The cultivated plants were much more tender than the wild. Both are excellent.

C. connex´aPk.—connexus, joined. From its relation to Tricholoma.Pileusthin, convex or expanded, subumbonate, clothed with a minute appressed silkiness, white, the margin sometimes faintly tinged withblue.Gillscrowded, narrow, white inclining to yellowish.Stemequal or tapering downward, solid, whitish.

Plant2–3 in. high.Pileus2–3 in. broad.Stem2 lines thick.

Ground in woods. Croghan. September.

The gills sometimes terminate rather abruptly and are not strongly decurrent, hence it might easily be mistaken for a Tricholoma. The margin of the pileus is sometimes marked with slight ridges as in Ag. laterarius. The odor is weak but aromatic and agreeable.Peck, 26th Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

Found in plenty in oak woods near Philadelphia, and in West Virginia; a few specimens in southern New Jersey. Autumn.

Edible, and quite equal to most of the Clitocybes.

C. tumulo´saKalchbr.—tumulus, a mound. Cespitose.Pileus1–2 in. across, disk fleshy, margin thin; conico-convex then expanded, obtusely umbonate or obtuse, even, glabrous, brownish-umber, becoming pale, margin drooping.Gillsmore or less decurrent or slightly emarginate, crowded narrow, white, then grayish.Stem3–5 in. long, unequal, usually thicker below, minutely downy, pallid, solid.

On the ground in woods. Spring and autumnal months. Readily distinguished by the densely clustered habit, and the umber pileus. The gills are very variable, sometimes distinctly decurrent, at others rounded behind, and almost resembling a Tricholoma.Sporessubglobose, 5–6µ.Massee.

California,H. and M.; New York,Peck, Rep. 42.

Sent to me by Mrs. Mary Fuller, Washington, D.C. The specimens eaten were of good consistency and flavor.

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