Chapter 17

Mycena´rii.

O. campanel´laBatsch.—campana, a bell.Pileusthin, rather tough, hemispherical or convex, glabrous, umbilicate, hygrophanous, rusty yellow-color and striatulate when moist, paler when dry.Gillsmoderately close, arcuate, decurrent, yellowish, the interspaces venose.Stemfirm, rigid, hollow,brown, often paler at the top,tawny-strigose at the base.Sporeselliptical, 6–7×3–4µ.

Pileus4–8 lines broad. Stem about 1 in. long, scarcely 1 line thick.

Much decayed wood of coniferous trees. Very common. May to November.Peck, 45th Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

Sporesellipsoid, 6–8×3–4µC.B.P.; 7×3µW.P.; 6–9×3–4µB.

The quantity alone, in which this small species can be found, makes it worth mentioning as an edible species. It is common over the United States where coniferous trees abound. Its favorite habitat is upon the rotting debris of these trees. Occasionally it grows from the ground, but only from that which is heavily charged with woody material. It is social in troops, or affectionate in clusters, or maintains a single existence.

It is edible, of good substance when stewed, tender and of fair flavor.

Photographed by Dr. J.R. Weist.Plate XXXV.PLEUROTUS OSTREATUS.

Gr.—a side;Gr.—an ear.

Stemexcentric, lateral or none.Epiphytal(very rarely growing on the ground), irregular, fleshy or membranaceous.Fries.

The excentric, generally lateral stem, absent in some of the species, separates this from other genera of the white-spored series.

Pileusvarying from fleshy in the larger to membranaceous in the smaller forms, but never becoming woody.Veilgenerally wanting, when present its remains sometimes appear on the margin of the pileus, or as an evanescent ring on the stem.Gills, edge acute, generally decurrent, in some species with a well-marked tooth, rarely simply adnate.Stemfleshy, confluent and homogeneous with the pileus.

Wood, dead or alive; a few species appear on the ground.

P. ulmarius and others of the larger forms, when growing in an upright position, may have the stem central and the pileus horizontal. The stems of some species of Clitocybe and Omphalia if growing laterally are sometimes excentric and oblique.

This genus is analogous to Claudopus, pink-spored, and Crepidotus, brown-spored.

Sporeswhite, but those of P. sapidus are faintly tinged with lilac, and of P. ostreatus, var. euosmus, with purple.

ANALYSIS OF TRIBES.

Excentrici.Page137.

Pileus entire, laterally extended, excentric, not truly lateral.

*Veil fugacious, fragments adhering to stem or margin of pileus.

**Veil none, gills sinuate or obtusely adnate.

***Veil none, gills very decurrent, stem distinct, almost vertical.

****Veil none, gills very decurrent, stem proper absent, pileus lateral, extended behind into a short, stem-like oblique base.

Dimidiati.Page144.

Pileus not at first resupinate, lateral, prolonged without a definite margin behind, into a very short lateral, stem-like base.

Resupinati.Page146.

Pileus resupinate from the first, then reflexed.

If any odium attaches to the word toadstool, it should be forgotten and forever banished in presence of this cleanly, neat, handsome genus, choice in its growing places from lichen-covered stumps, or bark-clad boles, or highly perched limbs, or the scented surfaces of decaying wood. Several of its species perfume themselves throughout with pleasant spicy odors. Many are most accommodating in their constant coming.

Mr. H.I. Miller, superintendent Terre Haute and Indianapolis Railroad, writes: “Most of the mushroom books give greatest space to the A. campester. For some parts of the country this may be desirable, but for Indiana and Ohio, considering the food value, the P. ostreatus is the best fungus we have in these states, from the fact that anybody wanting a mess can nearly always obtain a basketful of this variety, whereas the others depend upon a good many weather conditions. Having located a few logs and stumps in the spring, where the P. ostreatus grows, these same stumps and logs can be used all season. The crops are successive, and while some of the spots seem to be barren for a few days at a time, the others will be bearing. It does not make much difference what the kind of log or stump, whether it be beech, oak or elm, or what the species of tree. I think I have found them on all our forest trees, and it is not necessary for the tree to be dead. If there is a decaying portion, the spores seem to be carried by the little black beetle that infests the ostreatus, from one place to another, and wherever a small spot of dead wood is found we are likely to find the P. ostreatus. This being the only edible mushroom that we can find in large quantities all through the season in this neck of the woods, it seems to me that a general knowledge of it will serve the economic purpose more than any other fungi.”

The presence of the P. ostreatus and its esculent companions is noted from our northern boundary to the gulf. Poplar, maple, birch, hickory, ash, apple, laburnum and oak trees are its favored residences. Deer feed upon it, and kine are attracted by its scent even when deep under snow. When properly selected andslowlycooked, the Pleuroti are toothsome.

From the fact that the spores of this fleshy and valuable genus findfostering lodgment in many trees when in decay, it is more than probable that the several species can be propagated by planting their spores upon such decaying woods, or by transplanting the mycelium.

Growths of P. ostreatus, P. sapidus, P. salignus, and probably other species of Pleurotus, can be forced, by watering the spots upon which they are known to grow. Dr. Kalchbrenner mentions that the P. sapidus is in this way cultivated in Hungary. Acting upon this mention the writer had good success with P. ostreatus. Experiments in this direction are likely to be interesting and rewarding.

No species is suspected of being noxious.

An analysis of P. ostreatus is given by Lafayette B. Mendel, Sheffield Laboratory of Physiological Chemistry, Yale University, as follows:

American Journal of Physiology, Vol. 1, No. 11, March 1, 1898.

*Veil fugacious, etc.

P. dry´inusPers.Gr.—oak.Pileus2 in. broad, whitish, variegated with spot-like scales which become dingy-brown, lateral, oblique, rather plane.Fleshthick.Stemvery curt and obese, commonly 1 in. long and thick, somewhat lateral, somewhat woody, squamulose, white, with a short, blunt root.Veilscarcely conspicuous on the stem, but appendiculate round the margin of the pileus when young.Gillsnot very decurrent, somewhat simple, not anastomosing behind, narrow, white, becoming yellow when old.

On trunks, oak, ash, willow, etc.Stevenson.

Spores10×4µMassee.

Edible.Cordier,Cooke.

When young the caps are tender; of the consistency, when cooked, ofPolyporus sulphureus. In taste and smell the species varies from other Pleuroti, in having a distinct musk-like flavor. This is agreeable, reminding one of the common mushroom—A. campester.

**Veil none, gills sinuate, etc.

P. ulma´riusBull.—ulmus, an elm.Pileus3–5 in. and more broad,becoming pale-livid, often marbled with round spots, fleshy,compact, horizontal, moderately regular although more or less excentric, convex then plane, disk-shaped, even, smooth.Fleshwhite, tough.Stem2–3 in. long, 1 in. thick, solid, firm,elastic, somewhat excentric, curved-ascending,thickenedand tomentoseat the base, not rarely villous throughout, white.Gillshorizontal,emarginateor roundedbehind, slightly adnexed, broad (broader in the middle), somewhat crowded, whitish.

The pileus is sometimes cracked in a tessellated manner.Stevenson.

Sporesnearly globose, 5µ longMorgan; 5–6.5µ broadPeck; 6µW.G.S.

Var.aceri´cola—acer, maple;colo, to inhabit. Plant smaller, cespitose.

Trunks and roots of maple trees. Adirondack mountains. September.

Var.populi´cola—populus, poplar;colo, to inhabit. Plant subcespitose, stem wholly tomentose. West Albany.Peck, Monograph, N.Y. Species of Pleurotus, Rep. 39.

The gills are sometimes torn across like those of Lentinus.

The historic elms of Boston Common have borne copious crops of this well-known and easily distinguished species from time immemorial. Every fall, about the first of September, if the season is favorable, later if not, copious crops appear decorating the trunks, and branches, sometimes at a height of thirty or forty feet. Growth takes place where branches have broken off or the trees have been wounded from other causes. They occur very generally on elms in the outlying districts of the city, but are rare in the country, seeming to be distinctly urban in their tastes. No damage is apparent from their growth.

Immediately in the rear of Independence Hall, Philadelphia, a fine cluster appears with equal autumnal regularity.

Though the elm tree is the chosen habitat of this fungus, it is little less select in its choice than other members of its genus.

When young and small P. ulmarius is tender and of acceptable flavor. The stems and centers of older specimens should be cut away, and the tender parts of the caps, only, used.

P. tessula´tusBull.—tessela, a small cube for pavement.Pileusbecoming pale-tawny, horizontal, compactly fleshy, convex then plane, and in a form which is somewhat lateral depressed behind, irregular, even, smooth,variegatedwith round and hexagonal palerspots.Fleshthick, white.Stemshort, 1 in. or little more long, solid,compact,equalor attenuated at the base, very excentric, curved-ascending, even,smooth, white.Gillssinuate behind, uncinato-adnate, thin,crowded, white or becoming yellow.

Solitary; according to some cespitose. The pileus is not cracked in a tessellated manner, as one might easily imagine from the name, but variegated with spots. Smaller than A. ulmarius (to which it is too closely allied), but almost more compact, with a smell of new meal.

On trunks.Stevenson.

North Carolina,Schweinitz. Edible.Curtis.Edible.Cordier.

On specimens growing cespitose and singly, found at Haddonfield, N.J. September, 1895, on trunk of apple tree, and at Eagle’s Mere, Pa., singly on sugar maple, August, 1898, the margin of caps were beautifully marked, but not cracked.

In quality it is better than P. ulmarius.

P. subpalma´tusFr.—subandpalma, a palm.Pileus3–5 in. across.Fleshthick, soft, variegated; convex then more or less flattened, irregularly circular, obtuse, wrinkled, smooth, with a gelatinous cuticle, rufescent.Stemexcentric or almost lateral, but the pileus is always marginate behind, fibrillose, short, equal, flesh fibrous, soft.Gillsadnate, 3–4 lines broad, crowded, joined behind, dingy.Massee.

On old trunks, squared timber, etc.

Very remarkable for having the flesh variegated as in Fistulina hepatica. Pileus, especially when young, covered with a viscid pellicle.Fr.

Sporesminutely echinulate, nearly globose, 5.6×7µMorgan.

Ohio,Morgan; Wisconsin,Bundy.

I frequently found this species in North Carolina, growing from oak ties and standing oak timber. I did not notice distillation of rufescent drops from the cap. The soft flesh had good flavor. The gelatinouscuticle imparts its character to the dish. Mixed with Lentinus lepideus, a much tougher plant, which grows in great abundance in the same localities, it makes toothsome food.

P. lignati´lisFr.—lignum, wood. Dingy whitish.Pileus1–4 in. broad, rarely central, commonly more or less excentric, occasionally wholly lateral, often kidney-shaped, fleshy, thin, but compact and tough, fissile, convex then plane, obtuse and often umbilicate,flocculoso-pruinate, at length denuded with rain, repand, margin at first involute then expanded, undulato-lobed when luxuriant.Stemsometimes 2–3 in., sometimes 3–4 lines long (even obliterated),stuffed then hollow, alwaysthin, unequal, curved, curved or flexuous, tough and flexile, whitish, everywhere pruinato-villous, rooting and somewhat tomentose at the base.Gillsadnate, verycrowdedand narrow, unequal, divergent in the lobes, shining white.Fries.

Exceedingly variable, wholly inconstant in form; substance thin and pliant; commonly densely cespitose, but also single. Odor strong of new meal.

On wood, beech, etc.Stevenson.

Parasitic on a rotten plant of Polyporus annosus on elm.W.G.S.

White and grayish-white, margin faintly striate; white-spotted, odor distinctly farinaceous.C.M.

Spores3–4µ long,Morgan,Cooke,W.G.S.; 4–5µK.

Var.abscon´densPk.—obscure. New York,Peck, Rep. 31, 39.

On trunks, scattered, sometimes loosely clustered. Griffins, Delaware county, N.Y. September. New York,Peck, Rep. 31, 39.

Kingsessing, near Philadelphia; Mt. Gretna, Pa.McIlvaine.

This is a good species in every way. I have not found it in extended quantity, but it is probable that it will be found in plenty when closer observed and better known.

P. circina´tusFr.—to make round.Wholly white, not hygrophanous.Pileusabout 3 in. broad,orbicular, horizontal, fleshy, tough, convex then plano-disk-shaped, obtuse, even, butcovered over with a shining whitish slightly silky luster.Stem1–2 in. long, 3–4 lines thick,stuffed,elastic, equal,centralor slightly excentric, commonlystraight,smooth, bluntly rooted at the base.Gillsadnate, slightly decurrent, crowded, broad (as much as 3 lines), white.Fries.

An exceedingly distinct species. Regular, solitary, with a weak, pleasant, not mealy odor. The pileus is a little thicker than that of A. lignatilis, but less compact; the gills are twice as broad. As A. lignatilis is changeable, this is always constant in form.

On rotting birch stump.Stevenson.

California,H. and M.

Found at Eagle’s Mere, Pa., August, 1898, on birch trees. Generally solitary; sometimes six or eight on one tree, beautifully shining white, at a distance resembling young Polyporus betulinus. Large quantities of it grow in the extensive birch forests at Eagle’s Mere, yielding a ready food supply. Its flavor is pleasant, and texture, when cooked, quite tender.

P. pubes´censPk.—pubes, down or soft hair.Pileusfleshy, convex, suborbicular, pubescent, yellowish.Gillsbroad, subdistant, rounded behind, sinuate, pallid tinged with red.Stemshort, firm, curved, eccentric, colored like the pileus.Sporesglobose, 8µ broad.

Pileusabout 2 in. broad. Stem scarcely 1 in. long.

Trunks of trees. Lyndonville.C.E. Fairman.Peck, 44th Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

West Virginia, on oak trunks.McIlvaine.

High, agreeable flavor; texture about as in P. ostreatus.

***Gills decurrent; stem distinct, etc.

(Plate XXXVI.)Section of Pleurotus sapidus.One-half natural size.

(Plate XXXVI.)

Section of Pleurotus sapidus.One-half natural size.

P. sa´pidusKalchb.—savory. Cespitose, or several pilei appearing to spring from a common branched stem.Pileus1–3 in. across.Fleshthick, excentric, regular, convex or obtusely gibbous then depressed, glabrous, white or brownish.Stemstout, solid, several usually springing from a thickened knob, whitish, 1–2 in. long, expanding upward into the pileus.Gillsdecurrent, rather distant, narrow, whitish.Sporeselliptical, 10–11×4–5µ.

On elm trunks.

A very variable species; accordingto Kalchbrenner, the spores have a faint tinge of lilac, and the pileus is white, tawny, brownish, or umber on the same trunk. The white form only has been met with in this country.Massee.

Sporeswith a lilac tinge, oblong or a little curved and pointed, 8.3×3.7µMorgan; oblong, 9–11.5×4–5µPeck; 10–11×4–5µMassee.

Not observed in England until 1887.

Quite common throughout the United States, growing upon decaying wood, whether above or under ground. It has few distinct features. The only positive one distinguishing it from P. ostreatus is its lilac-tinted spores. The tint is faint but noticeable upon white background. Excepting for purposes of the student, its separation, as a species, from P. ostreatus is not necessary. When old it has more body than the latter, but is equally superior as a food fungus.

Professor Peck remarks of it: “A stew made of it is a very good substitute for an oyster stew.”

It can be cultivated by watering the places upon which it is known to appear.

P. pome´tiFr.—pometum, an orchard.Pileuswhite, fleshy, soft, sub-flaccid, irregular, involute, convex, even, smooth, disk depressed.Gillsdecurrent, crowded, separate behind.Stem2–3 in. high, 3–4 lines thick, excentric, solid, tough, ascending, rooting.

On trunks of pear and apple trees.

Especially distinguished by the rooting stem.

North Carolina, edible,Curtis; California,H. and M.

****Gills decurrent. Stem lateral, etc.

P. ostrea´tusJacq.—ostrea, an oyster. (PlateXXXV, p. 134, XXXVa, p. 142.)Pileus3–5 in. broad, when young almost becoming black,soon becoming pale, brownish-ash color, passing into yellow when old, fleshy,soft, shell-shaped, somewhat dimidiate,ascending, smooth, moist, even, but sometimes with the cuticle torn into squamules.Stemshortened or obliterated, firm, elastic, ascending obliquely,thickening upward, white, strigoso-villous at the base.Gillsdecurrent, anastomosing behind, somewhat distant, broad, white, sometimes turning light yellow,and without glandules.

For the most part cespitose, imbricated, very variable, sometimesalmost central. The pileus is at first convex and horizontal, then expanded and ascending.Stevenson.

Spores10–12×4–5µMassee; 7.5–10×4µPeck.

General over the United States.

Var.glandulo´susAg. g. Bull.—With the habit of the typical form, but larger. Pileus dark brown, becoming pale. Gills white, with scattered small wart-like or glandular bodies.

On trunks. A very constant but somewhat rare variety; easily known by the dark-brown pileus. The gland-like bodies on the gills are due to the outward growth of the hyphæ of the trama in minute patches here and there.Massee.

Var.euos´musBerk.—strong-smelling. Strong scented, imbricate. Pileus fleshy, depressed, shining, silky when dry, at first white with a tinge of blue, then brownish. Stem short or obsolete. Gills decurrent, ventricose, dingy, white.Spores12–14×5µ, pale pinkish-lilac.

On elm trunks. Pilei very much crowded, 2 in. or more across, deeply depressed, unequal, at first white, invested with a slight blue varnish, at length of a pale brown. Stems distinct above, connate below. Gills rather broad; running down to the bottom of the free portion of the stem. Spores oblong, narrow, oblique, white, tinged with purple. The whole plant smells, when first gathered, strongly of tarragon.B. and Br.

Found at Richmond, Ind.,Dr. J.R. Weist. On hickory stump at Mt. Gretna, Pa.,McIlvaine; Haddonfield, N.J.,T.J. Collins.

This esculent fungus closely allied to P. ostreatus, and differing only in having lilac spores, has been followed from book to book by a bad reputation, probably because of its “rosy” or lilac spores—all fungi having pink spores having been, until recently, ignorantly branded by authors as poisonous. The writer has eaten meals of it many times, as have his friends. It is in every way equal to P. ostreatus.

The rare qualities of this species are stated in the descriptive heading of the genus. Its very name implies excellence. The camel is gratefully called the ship of the desert; the oyster mushroom is the shellfish of the forest. When the tender parts are dipped in egg, rolled in bread crumbs, and fried as an oyster they are not excelled by any vegetable, and are worthy of place in the daintiest menu.

P. salig´nusSchwam.—salix, willow.Pileus2–3 in. broad, sootyash-color or ochraceous, fleshy, compact,spongy, somewhat dimidiate,horizontal, at first pulvinate, even, at length depressed behind and here and there strigose, the incurved margin entire.Stemalways short, firm, more or less tomentose.Gillshorizontal, hence less manifestly decurrent, separate behind, butbranched in the middle, crowded, dingy, often eroded at the edge, not glandular.

Among the larger and firmer species. Solitary, scarcely ever cespitose. It is commonly confounded with A. ostreatus, but is certainly a different species. Although the stature is in general the same, it is easily distinguished by the pileus being more compact, and more pulverulent when young, then depressed, by the gills being thinner, more crowded, somewhat branched, but not anastomosing behind, and dingy soot-color; the spores also are dingy.Stevenson.

Sporesoblong or cylindrical-oblong, 8×4µW.G.S.; 8–10×3–4µB.

Dr. Curtis wrote of this: “Indeed I have found several persons who class this among the most palatable species. To such persons a dish of fresh mushrooms need seldom be wanting, as this one can be had every month of the year in this latitude.”

In New Jersey, in the vicinity of Philadelphia, Pa., I have found P. salignus in quantity. It has been sent to me by Dr. J.R. Weist, of Richmond, Ind., who writes, “I have eaten it with great enjoyment.”

In 1881 I found it frequently on water beeches and willows, and thoroughly tested its edible qualities.R.K. Macadam, Boston.

When young or fresh, it is quite equal to any Pleurotus. When old, as with others of the Pleuroti, it is tough. Nevertheless their margins are always edible unless decaying.

P. petaloi´desBull.—petal of a flower.Pileus1–2 in. long,dingy-brown, becoming pale, dimidiate, fleshy, but in no wise compact, rather plane,somewhat spathulate, continuous with the stem anddepressed behind, hence the villous down of the stem ascends to this point (the disk) of the pileus, otherwise smooth, even, margin at first involute then expanded.Stemabout ½ in. long, sometimes however very short, solid, firm,compressed, channeledwhen larger, more or less villous, whitish.Gillsdecurrent, very crowded, very narrow (scarcely beyond 2 mm. broad), linear, very unequal, white then ash-color.

Taste bitter. The form on wood is somewhat horizontal, gregarious here and there imbricated.Stevenson.

Spores9–10×4µMassee; 8×4µW.G.S.; minutely globose, 3–4µPeck.

Edible.Cooke,Cordier.

P. spathula´tusPers.—shaped like a spathula.Pileusrather thin, 1–2 in. broad, ascending, spathulate, tapering behind into the stem, glabrous, convex or depressed on the disk and there sometimes pubescent, alutaceous or brownish tinged with gray, red or yellow.Gillscrowded, linear, decurrent, whitish or yellowish.Stemcompressed, sometimes channeled above, grayish-tomentose.Sporeselliptical, 7.6×4–5µ broad; odor and taste farinaceous.

Ground. Sandlake. June. Edible.

It grows singly or in tufts and is an inch or more in height. The margin is thin and sometimes striatulate and reflexed. Toward the base the flesh is thicker than the breadth of the gills. The cuticle is tough and separable. The flesh is said by Gillet to be tender and delicate. Persoon describes the disk as spongy-squamulose, but in our specimens it is merely pubescent or tomentose.Peck, 39th Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

Recorded as edible by Professor Peck. At Eagle’s Mere, Pa., I found many specimens agreeing with this description. They grew from decaying wood under ground, yet had the appearance of growing from the earth. It is probable that others have been deceived. In quality I found this to be one of the best.

P. sero´tinusFr.—late.Pileusfleshy, 1–3 in. broad, compact, convex or nearly plane, viscid when young and moist, dimidiate kidney-shaped or suborbicular, solitary or cespitose and imbricated, variously colored, dingy-yellow, reddish-brown, greenish-brown or olivaceous, the margin at first involute.Gillsclose, determinate, whitish or yellowish.Stemvery short, lateral, thick, yellowish beneath and minutely tomentose or squamulose with blackish points.Sporesminute, elliptical, 5µ long, 2.5µ broad.

Dead trunks of deciduous trees.Peck, 39th Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

Mt. Gretna, Pa., 1887, and at Mt. Moriah, near Philadelphia, from August until November, 1898. Upon these findings the pileus was tomentose at base, as was the short stem.

The species is not noticeably viscid after its youth. The viscidity can be detected in old specimens by moistening the pileus. Its flavor is not marked, nor is its texture as pleasing as most others of its genus, but being a late species it satisfies the longing of the mycophagist for his accustomed food.

P. pulmona´riusFr.—pulmo, lung, from texture.Pileus2–3 in. broad,ash-colored, continuous with the stem, fleshy, soft, but tough,flaccid,obovateor kidney-shaped, plane or reflexo-conchate at the margin, even,smooth.Fleshthin, soft, white.Stemvery short, solid, exactly lateral,horizontalor ascending,round,villous, expanded into the pileus.Gillsdecurrent butending determinately,moderately broad, distinct, not branched or anastomosing at the base, livid orash-color.

The primary form is solitary. The pileus is ashy-tan when dried. It differs from A. salignus alike in the definitely lateral stem and in the thin flaccid pileus.Fries.

Not previously reported.

Found by Miss Madeleine Le Moyne, Washington, Pa., September, 1898, and sent to writer. Gills 3 lines broad, not narrow in proportion to flesh.

Taste and smell similar to P. ostreatus. Cooked it is tender, and more succulent than P. ostreatus.

P. mastruca´tusFr.—mastruca, a sheepskin.Pileusup to 2 in. long and 1 in. broad, sessile, at first resupinate then expanded and horizontal, often lobed, upper stratum of pileus gelatinous, brown, bristling with squarrose or erect squamules.Fleshthickish.Gillsradiating from the point of attachment, broad, rather distant, grayish-white.

On old trunks. Imbricated. Readily distinguished by the brown, squarrosely scaly pileus.Massee.

Sporesoblong, oblique, 8×5µMorgan.

In June, 1886, the writer found this species in oak woods near Philadelphia. It grew on fallen trunks and on decaying spots of living timber.

It is edible, and of good flavor, but is rough in the mouth. If found in quantity, the extract of it would make a delicate soup.

Grouped by F.D. Briscoe—Studies by C. McIlvaine.Plate XXXVII.Fig.Page.Fig.Page.1.Hygrophorus pratensis (white var.),1525.Hygrophorus cantharellus,1562.Hygrophorus pratensis (colored var.),1526.Hygrophorus virgineus,1533.Hygrophorus pratensis (after rain),1527.Hygrophorus niveus,1534.Hygrophorus miniatus,159

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

Gr.—moist;Gr.—to bear.

(Plate XXXVIII.)Hygrophorus pratensis.

(Plate XXXVIII.)

Hygrophorus pratensis.

Pileusregular or undulated and wavy, often viscid or moist.Fleshof the pileus continuous with that of the stem and descending as a trama into the gills.Gillsadnate or adnexed, more or less decurrent,waxy, often thick and forked,edge always thin and sharp, often branched.

On the ground. Many species are brightly colored.Sporeswhite.

This genus differs from the preceding genera in the manifest trama, the substance of which is similar to that of the pileus; from Lactarius and Russula by the trama not being vesicular, but somewhat floccose with granules intermixed; from Cantharellus, its nearest ally, by the sharp edge of the gills. The Cortinarii, Paxilli and Gomphidii are at once distinguished from it by their colored spores and the changing color of their gills, as well as by other marks. From all the other genera of Agaricini it is distinguished by a mark peculiar to itself, viz., by the hymeneal stratum of the gills changing into a waxy mass, which is at length removable from the trama. This altogether singular character is specially remarkable in H. caprinus, coccineus, murinaceus, etc. Hence the gills seem full of watery juice, but they do not become milky like those of the Lactarii.Fries.

From the description by Fries, the author of the genus, it is manifest that one has to wait the ripening of the fungus before the peculiar characteristic mark of the genus,i. e.—gills turning into a waxy mass, easily removable from the cap—can be observed. Many of the species are difficult to determine when fresh. Nevertheless, there is an indescribable, watery, waxy, translucent appearance about the gills which catches the eye of the expert, and is soon learned by the novice. The white spores readily separate the genus from kindred shapes in the colored-spored genera.

So far as tested none of the species is poisonous. One English speciesis fetid. It is probable that they are all edible, varying in quality only. Fries well, and is superior in croquettes and patties.

ANALYSIS OF TRIBES.

Limacium(limax, a slug). Page148.

Universal veil viscid, with occasionally a floccose partial one, which is annular or marginal.

*White or becoming yellowish.

**Reddish.

***Tawny or yellow.

****Olivaceous-umber.

***** Dingy cinereous or livid.

None known to be edible.

Camarophyllus(Gr.—a vault; a leaf). Page152.(From the arched shape of the gills.)

Camarophyllus(Gr.—a vault; a leaf). Page152.

(From the arched shape of the gills.)

Veil none. Stem even, smooth or fibrillose, not rough with points. Pileus firm, opaque, moist after rain, not viscid. Gills distant, arcuate.

*Gills deeply and at length obconically decurrent.

**Gills ventricose, sinuately arcuate or plano-adnate.

Hygrocybe(Gr—moist;Gr—the head). Page 155.

Veil none. Whole fungus thin, watery, succulent, fragile. Pileus when moist viscid, shining when dry, rarely floccoso-scaly. Stem hollow, soft, without dots. Gills soft. Most of the species are brightly colored and shining. This tribe is the type of the genus.

*Gills decurrent.

**Gills adnexed, somewhat separating.

Lima´cium.

*White or yellowish-white.

H. chry´sodonFr.Gr—gold; a tooth. From tooth-like squamules.Pileus2–3 in. broad,white, shining when dry, but commonly yellowish with minute adpressed squamules at the disk, light yellow-flocculose at the involute margin, fleshy, convex then plane, obtuse, viscid.Fleshwhite, sometimes reddish.Stem2–3 in. long, about ½ in. thick, stuffed, soft, somewhat equal (sometimes, however, irregularly shaped or thickened at the base), white, with minutelight yellow squamules, which are more crowded and arranged in the form of a ringtoward the apex.Gillsdecurrent, distant, 3 lines broad, thin, white, somewhat yellowish at the edge, sometimes crisped.

Odor not unpleasant. There is a manifestveil, not woven into a continuous ring, butcollected in the form of floccose squamules at the apex of the stem and the margin of the pileus. Var. leucodon with white squamules.Fries.

In woods.

The lamellæ are said to be crisped, and when young, to have the edge yellow-floccose; but I have seen no such specimens.Peck, 23d Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

Spores8×4µCooke.

West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania.McIlvaine.

A pleasant, excellent species, whose rarity is regrettable.

H. ebur´neusBull. Fr.—ebur, ivory. Whollyshining white.Pileusfleshy, sometimes thin, sometimes somewhat compact, convexo-plane, somewhat repand, even,very glutinousin rainy weather,margin soon naked.Stemsometimes short, sometimes elongated, stuffed then hollow, unequal,glutinouslike the pileus,rough at the apex with dots in the form of squamules.Gillsdecurrent, distant, veined at the base, 3–4 lines broad, tense and straight, quite entire.Fries.

Odor mild, not unpleasant. Very changeable. The veil is absent, unless thevery plentiful glutenwhich envelops the stem be regarded as a universal veil;margin of the young pileusinvolute, only at the firstpubescent,soon naked. The stem is soft internally, at length hollow, attenuated toward the base.

In woods and pastures. Frequent. September to October.Stevenson.

The whole plant is pure white when fresh, but in drying the gills assume a cinnamon-brown hue.Peck, Rep. 26.

Spores6×5µCooke; 4×5µW.G.S.; 5–6µK.; 6×4µC.B.P.

A common and wide-spread species frequenting woods and pastures.

Edible.Curtis.

The author ate it in West Virginia, in 1882; at Devon, Pa., 1887;Haddonfield, N.J., 1890. It is well flavored but in texture is not of first quality.

H. pena´riusFr.—penus, food.Pileustan-color, opaque, fleshy, especially when young, at first umbonate, then very obtuse, hemispherical then flattened, even, smooth,commonly dry, margin at first involute, exceeding the gills, undulated when flattened.Fleshthick, hard, whitish, unchangeable.Stemcurt, 1½ in. or more long, about ½ in. thick at the apex,solid, compact, hard,attenuated at the base into a spindle-shaped root, ventricose to the neck, again attenuated upward or wholly fusiform-attenuated, pale-white, smeared with tenacious, easily dried slime,warty.Fleshfirm, butexternally more rigid, cuticle somewhat fragile.Veilnot conspicuous.Gillsadnato-decurrent, acute behind,distant, thick, 3–4 lines broad, veined, tan inclining to pale.Fries.

Odor pleasant, taste sweet. The fusiform root is as long as the stem.

In mixed woods.Stevenson.

Spores7–8×4–5µ.

Edible.Cooke.

Large specimens occurred in mixed woods, in November, 1898, at Mt. Gretna. The caps varied from 1½-5 in. across. The color was white, tinged with yellow, much lighter than described. The caps look coarse and the stems are not inviting; but the caps have a pleasant odor. When stewed for twenty minutes they are meaty and tasty.

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