Chapter 23

A name given to a tree-growing fungus by Pliny.

(Plate LIV.)Panus torulosus.About one-fourth natural size.

(Plate LIV.)

Panus torulosus.About one-fourth natural size.

Whole fungus between fleshy and leathery, tough, not woody, texture fibrous.Gillsunequal, tough, becoming leathery, edge acute and unbroken.Stempresent or absent.

Growing on wood. Various in form, lasting long. Allied to Lentinus but differing in the tough and very entire gills.

Sporeseven, white.

ANALYSIS OF SPECIES.

*Stem excentric.

**Stem lateral.

***Stem absent. Pileus resupinate or dimidiate.

Species of this genus are among our most observable fungi. Their settlements are frequent on decaying trees, stumps, branches, on fences, cut timber, etc. Most of them are small, but their coriaceous build prevents their shrinking in cooking. Most species have a pleasant farinaceous taste and odor, which they yield, together with a gummy substance, to soups and gravies.

Tasting a small piece will immediately tell, if the species is not known, whether it is edible or of the styptic kind.

*Stem excentric.

P. concha´tusFr.—Formed likeconcha, a shell-fish.Pileusabout3 in. across, tough and flexible, unequal, excentric or dimidiate, margin often lobed, cinnamon-color becoming pale, at length more or less scaly.Fleshthin.Gillsnarrow, forming decurrent lines on the stem, somewhat branched; pinkish-white then pale-ochraceous.Stemabout ⅔ in. long, 3–4 lines thick, solid, unequal, pale, base downy.Massee.

On trunks of beech, poplar, etc.

Often imbricated and more or less grown together. Allied to Panus torulosus, but distinguished by the much thinner pileus, more expanded and excentric, also dimidiate, flaccid, cinnamon becoming pale, but the form not constant.Stemabout ½ in. long, 4 lines thick, often compressed, downy at the base.Pileus2–4 in. broad, scaly when old.Gillsdecurrent in long, parallel lines, not at all resembling those of Pleurotus ostreatus, which anastomose behind, but frequently unequally branched, at first whitish or pale flesh-color, then wood-color, crisped when dry.Fries.

Always known by its shell-like form and its tough substance.

Sent to the writer by Mr. E.B. Sterling, Trenton, N.J. September, 1898.

The appearance of scales upon the pileus was scarcely noticeable. Taste pleasant. The fungus is tough when old, but yields an excellent gravy.

Photographed by Dr. J.R. Weist.Plate LV.PANUS STRIGOSUS.

P. torulo´susFr.—a tuft of hair. (PlateLIV, p. 232.)Pileus2–3 in. broad, somewhat flesh-color, but varying reddish-livid and becoming violet,entire, but very excentric, fleshy, somewhat compact when young,plano-infundibuliform, even, smooth.Fleshpallid.Stemshort, commonly 1 in., solid, oblique, tough, firm, commonly with gray, but often violaceousdown.Gillsdecurrent, somewhat distant, simple, separate behind, reddish then tan-color.

Very changeable in form, at first fleshy-pliant, at length coriaceous. In the covering of the stem it approaches Paxillus atro-tomentosus, but there is no affinity between them.Fries.

On old stumps.

Spores6×3µW.G.S.

North Carolina,Curtis; Massachusetts,Frost; Minnesota,Johnson; Kansas,Cragin; New York,Peck, Rep. 30.

Much esteemed in France,W.D.H.Edible, but tough.M.C.C.

P. lævisB. and C.—light.Pileus3 in. broad, orbicular, slightly depressed, white, clothed in the center with long, intricate, rather delicate hairs, which are shorter and more matted toward the inflected margin; substance rather thin.Stem3 in. high, ½ in. thick, attenuated upward, generally excentric, sometimes lateral, not rooting, solid, hairy below like the margin of the pileus.Gillsrather broad, entire, decurrent, but not to a great degree, the interstices even above, behind clothed with the same coat as the top of the stem.Sporeswhite.

On oak and hickory trunks.

A most distinct species, remarkable for its great lightness when dry and the long villous but not compressed or compound flocci of the pileus. Sometimes the center of the pileus becomes quite smooth when old.

One of the prettiest of fungi. The markings upon the white margin are more precise than those of the finest bee comb. One does not tire looking at the work of Nature’s geometrician. It is not plentiful, but is of useful size. It has good flavor and cooks quite tender.

(Plate LVa.)Panus Strigosus.One-third natural size.

(Plate LVa.)

Panus Strigosus.One-third natural size.

P. strigo´susB. and C.—covered with stiff hairs.Pileuswhite, excentric, clothed with coarse strigose pubescence, margin thin.Stemstrigose like the pileus.Gillsbroad, distant, decurrent. Allied to P. lævis.

Pileus8 in. broad.Stem2–3 in. long, 1 in. or more thick.

On oak stumps.

Decaying wood of deciduous trees. September.

It is remarkable for its large size and the dense hairy covering of the pileus and stem.Peck, 26th Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

A remarkably handsome fungus. A specimen taken from a cluster growing upon an apple tree measured 10 in. across. Its creamy whiteness, and short hairy stem make it unmistakable among other tree-fungi.

When very young it is edible, but soon becomes woody. Even when aged it yields a well flavored gravy.

**Stem lateral.

P. farina´ceusSchum.—farina, meal. From the scurf on the pileus. Pileus cinnamon-umber, somewhat coriaceous, flexuous, cuticle separating into whitish-bluish-gray scurf.Stemshort, lateral, of the same color as the pileus.Gillsdeterminately free, distinct, paler.

The habit is that of P. stipticus.Stevenson.

Pennsylvania, A. pleurotus f.,Schweinitz; Ohio,Morgan.

Var. albido-tomentosus. SeePanus albido-tomentosus.

P. al´bido-tomento´susCke. Mass.—albidus, white;tomentum, down.Pileusabout ⅔ in. long, ½ in. broad, horizontal, sometimes imbricated, semi-circular, subcoriaceous, flexuous or regular, pale umber, densely clothed with a short, whitish, velvety down, which seems to be persistent, but thinner and shorter toward the shortly incurved margin.Stemlateral, very short, or entirely absent, and attached by a downy base.Gillsradiating from the point of attachment; narrowed behind, lanceolate, honey-colored, margin entire, rigid, scarcely crowded, shorter ones intermixed.Sporessubglobose, smooth, 5µ diameter.

On trunks and branches.

Pileusabout 1 in. broad, often in imbricated tufts. It is doubtful whether this is not a distinct species from the type described by Fries.Cooke and Massee.

Panus albido-tomentosus is given by Cooke and Massee as a variety of Panus farinaceus. The writer decides to give it place as a species.

It has been sent to me by Mr. H.I. Miller, from Terre Haute, Ind., by Dr. E.L. Cushing, Albion, N.Y., Miss Madeleine Le Moyne, Washington, Pa. I have found it in West Virginia, New Jersey and many parts of Pennsylvania. It is plentiful in patches upon branches and boles of deciduous trees. Long, slow cooking makes it tender. It makes a luscious gravy after thirty minutes' stewing.

***Stem absent, pileus resupinate or dimidiate.

P. betuli´nusPk.—betula, birch.Pileusthin, suborbicular or dimidiate, nearly plane, glabrous, prolonged behind into a short stem, grayish-brown, darker or blackish toward the stem.Gillsnarrow, close, decurrent,whitish. Stem adorned with a slight tawny hairiness which is more fully developed toward the base.Sporesminute, 4–5×1.5–2µ.

Decaying wood of birch. Newfoundland. October,Rev. A.C. Waghorne.Peck, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club, Vol. 23, No. 10.

Common in West Virginia mountains on birches, 1882; found at Eagle’s Mere, Pa., August, 1898. Quite plentiful on decaying birch trees, which abound there. Size from ½-1½ in. across.

Eaten raw it has a gummy quality and very pleasant nutty flavor. I did not have opportunity to cook it, but regard it as a species well worth trying.

P. stip´ticusFr.—stypticus, astringent.Pileus½-1 in. broad, cinnamon becoming pale, arid, thin, but not membranaceous, kidney-shaped, pruinose, thecuticle separating into furfuraceous scales.Stemnot reaching 1 in. long, solid,definitely lateral, compressed,dilated upward, ascending, pruinose, paler than the gills.Gillsending determinately (not decurrent), thin, very narrow, crowded,elegantly connected by veins, cinnamon.Fries.

Gregarious, cespitose, remarkable forits astringent taste. The pileus sometimes has a funnel-shaped appearance with lobes all around.

On stumps, etc. Common. August to February.

Reckoned poisonous.Stevenson.

Sporesobovoid-spheroid, 2–3×1–2µK.; 3×4µW.G.S.

Plentiful and general. The markings upon the cap in moist weather are sometimes exquisitely regular.

The immediate and lasting unpleasantness of this fungus to mouth and throat, whether cooked or raw, will cancel all desire to eat of it forevermore. A nibble will detect it. It is reckoned poisonous, and may be. No one but a determined suicide would resort to it. Dr. Lambotte asserts that it is a violent purgative.

Gr—dry;Gr—an ear.

(Plate LVI.)Xerotus degener.

(Plate LVI.)

Xerotus degener.

Hymenophore continuous with the stem, descending into the trama which is homogeneous with thecoriaceous pileus.Gillscoriaceous, broadly plicæform, dichotomous, edge quite entire, obtuse.Rigid, persistent, analogous with the Cantharelli, but differing in the whole structure.Fries.The gills are more distant than in any species of Agaricaccæ.

None edible.

AfterTrog, a Swiss botanist.

(Plate LVIII.)Trogia crispa.Natural size.

(Plate LVIII.)

Trogia crispa.Natural size.

Gillsfold-like, edge longitudinally channelled (in the single European species only crisped). In other respects agreeing with Xerotus.Soft, flaccid, but arid and persistent, texture fibrillose.Fries.

Reviving when wet.Sporeswhite.Stevenson.

Sporeselongated or cylindrical.

American representative, Trogia crispa, var. variegata.

Pileus and gills variegated with bluish or greenish-blue stains. Sandlake. September.Peck, 38th Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

Not edible.

Gr—to split;Gr—a leaf.

(Plate LVIIIa.)Schizophyllum commune.

(Plate LVIIIa.)

Schizophyllum commune.

Pileusfleshless, arid.Gillscoriaceous, fan-wise branched, united above by the tomentose pellicle, bifid, split longitudinally at the edge.Sporessomewhat round, white.Fries.

The two lips of the split edge of the gills are commonly revolute. The farthest removed of all the Agaricini from the type.

Growing on wood.Stevenson.

Common on decayingwood. Tough.

AfterLenz, a German botanist.

Pileuscorky or coriaceous, texture arid and floccose.Gillscoriaceous, firm, sometimes simple and unequal, sometimes anastomosing and forming pores behind, trama floccose and similar to the pileus, edge somewhat acute. The European species are dimidiate, sessile, persistent, growing on wood, quite resembling Dædalea.Fries.

Allied most nearly to Trametes and Dædalea and forming as it were the transition from Agaricaceæ to Polyporaceæ. In tropical countries they are more woody in texture.Stevenson.

Very common. None edible.

(Plate LVII.)

Rhodosporae.Plate LVIIIb.Chart of genera in pink-spored series—Rhodosporae.Page239.

Rhodosporae.

Plate LVIIIb.

Chart of genera in pink-spored series—Rhodosporae.Page239.

under;rhodon, rose.

Spores pink or salmon-color.

In Volvaria, Pluteus and most of Clitopilus, the spores are regular in shape, as in the white-spored series, in the rest of the subgenera they are generally angular and irregular.

Though European writers, generally, condemn the rosy-spored series as inedible, a few of our best American edibles are found in it—notably Pluteus cervinus.

Volva, a wrapper.

Sporesregular, oval, pink, or salmon.Veiluniversal, forming a perfectvolva, distinct from the cuticle of the pileus.Stemseparating easily from the pileus.Gillsfree, rounded behind, at the very first white then pinkish, soft. Analogous with Amanita.

Growing in woods and on rich mold, rotten wood and damp ground, hence often found in hot-houses and gardens. V. Loveiana Berk. is parasitic on Clitocybe nebularis.

There are thirteen species reported from different parts of the United States. Most of them grow upon wood. Two species have previously been reported as edible, to which I have added V. Taylori, tested by myself.

One species, V. gloiocephala, is upon the authority of Letellier, given as poisonous. It is found in several parts of the United States, but no comment has been made upon its edibility. I have not seen it. A careful study of its botanic characters is urged. It should be regarded as poisonous until its reputation is cleared up, as it probably will be.

ANALYSIS OF SPECIES.

*Pileus dry, silky or fibrillose.

**Pileus more or less viscid, smooth.

Photographed by Dr. J.R. Weist.Plate LIX.VOLVARIA BOMBYCINA.

*Pileus dry, silky or fibrillose.

(Plate LIXa.)Volvaria bombycina.Natural size.

(Plate LIXa.)

Volvaria bombycina.Natural size.

V. bombyci´naSchaeff.—bombyx, silk.Pileus3–8 in. broad,wholly white, fleshy, soft, at first globose, soon bell-shaped, at length convex, somewhat umbonate,everywhere silkyor,when older, hairy-scaled, more rarely becoming smooth at the vertex.Fleshnot thick, white.Stem3–6 in. long, ½ in. thick or more at the base, solid, equally attenuated from the base to the apex, even, smooth, white.Volva, soon torn asunder, ample, 2–3 in. broad, membranaceous, lax, slashed, somewhat viscid, persistent.Gillsfree, very crowded when young, almost cohering, ventricose, in groups of 2–4, then toothed, flesh-colored.

Ovate when young. According to some becoming brownish. The stem is curved-ascending on vertical trunks and straight on prostrate ones. Commonly solitary, sometimes however cespitose.Stevenson.

Sporeselliptic, smooth, 6–7×4µMassee; 6–8µLloyd.

Considered edible.Stevenson.Edible.Curtis.

Very general but not common over the United States. It is a large plant, from 3 in. upward across cap. Growing from wood, oaks, maples, beech, etc.

The writer has not been successful in finding it. Drawing, spore-print and description received fromH.I. Miller, Terre Haute, Ind.

Upon such an authority as the late Dr. Curtis there is no doubt of its edibility.

(Plate LX.)Volvaria volvacea.Two-fifths natural size.

(Plate LX.)

Volvaria volvacea.Two-fifths natural size.

V. volva´ceaBull.—volva, a wrapper.Pileus2–3 in. across.Fleshwhite, thick at the disk, very thin elsewhere, soft, bell-shaped then expanded, obtuse, grayish-yellow, virgate or streaked with adpressed blackish fibrils.Gillsfree, about 2 lines broad, pale flesh-color.Stem2–4 in. long, about 4 lines thick, almost equal, white, solid.Volva large, loose, whitish.Sporessmooth, elliptical, 6–8×3.5–4µ; no cystidia.Massee.

On the ground by roadsides, etc., also in stoves.

Allied to V. bombycina, but constantly different in the less ample and less persistent, brownish volva.Pileus3 in. across, rarely more, gray, elegantly virgate with blackish fibrils; flesh-color of the gills not so pure.Fries.

Once found in woods at roots of a tree. It occurs every year in the cellar of our drug store.Lloyd“Volvæ.”

North Carolina,Schweinitz; Minnesota,Johnson; Ohio,Morgan.

Probably edible, should be carefully tested.

V. Tay´loriBerk.Pileus1¾ in. high and broad, livid, conico-campanulate, obtuse, striately cracked from the apex, thin, margin lobed and sinuated.Stem2½ in. long, ¼ in. thick, pallid, solid, nearly equal, slightly bulbous at the base.Volvadate-brown, lobed, somewhat lax, small.Gillsuneven, broad in front, very much attenuated behind, rose-color.

Pileus beautifully penciled and cracked. The dark volva, bell-shaped pileus, and uneven, attenuated gills are marked characters. The habit is rather that of some Entoloma than of its more immediate allies.Fries.

Spores6×9µW.G.S.; broadly elliptical, smooth, 5×3.5–4µMassee.

Indiana,Mrs. L.H. Cox; West Philadelphia, in much decayed stump of maple.McIlvaine.

Caps1½-2 in. across and beautifully penciled and cracked.Stem1½-3 in. long.Gillsup to ⅓ in. wide. The spores when shed in body are a beautiful maroon. Resembling V. volvacea, but lighter in color, and having a brown volva. Specimens sent me by J.J. Newbaker, Steelton, Pa., had snow-white caps and when young were velvety to the touch. Gills tinged with pink; volva dark brown.

The few specimens eaten were of good flavor, somewhat resembling Pluteus cervinus.

**Pileus more or less viscid, smooth.

V. specio´saFr.—speciosus, handsome.Pileus3–5 in. broad, whitish,grayor umberat the disk, fleshy, globose when young, then bell-shaped, at length plane and somewhat umbonate, even,smooth, gluey.Fleshsoft, floccose, white.Stem4–8 in. long, as much as 1 in. thick, solid, firm, slightly attenuated from the base as far as the apex, when young,white-villousand tomentose at the base, then becoming smooth, white.Volvabulbous rather than lax, free however, variously torn into loops, membranaceous, ½-1 in. broad, externally tomentose, white.Gillsfree, flesh-colored.

The gills are wholly the same as those of A. bombycinus. It occurs also thinner, with the pileus wholly gray.Fries.

Spores12–18×8–10µK.; elliptical or subglobose, smooth, 14–16×8µMassee.

Distinguished by the whitish, viscid pileus, and the downy volva and stem.Massee.

“Common in cultivated soil, especially grain fields and along roads. A fine edible agaric and our most abundant one in California.”McClatchie.Volvæ, U.S., Lloyd.

V. gloioceph´alaDec. Fl.Gr—sticking; head.Pileusdark opaque brown, fleshy, bell-shaped then expanded, umbonate, smooth,glutinous, striate at the margin.Stemsolid,smooth, becoming brownish or tawny; thevolva, which iscircularly split, pressed close.Gillsfree, reddish.

Fragments of the volva are sometimes seen on the pileus. The stem is commonly more slender than that of A. speciosus.Fries.

On the ground. Uncommon. June to October.Stevenson.

Pileus about 3 in. across, with a strong regular, obtuse umbo in the center, of a delicate mouse-gray, viscid when moist, but when dry shining, quite smooth, margin striate in consequence of the thinness of the flesh.Stem6 in. or more high, about ½ in. thick in the center, attenuated upward, bulbous at the base, clothed with a few slight fibers, easily splitting, solid, rather dingy, ringless.Volvaloose, villous like the base of the stem, splitting into several unequal lobes; the gills are broad, especially in front, narrower behind and quite free, so as to leave a space round the top of the stem, white, tinged with grayish-pink;margin slightly toothed. Smell strong and unpleasant, and taste disagreeable.M.J.B.Very poisonousaccording to Letellier.Stevenson.

Spores19×9µW.G.S.; elliptical, smooth, 10–12×6–7µMassee.

Distinguished by the smoky, glutinous pileus. The measurement of the spores as given by Saccardo (19×9µ) is certainly too large, and is probably an uncorrected error.Massee.

North Carolina,Curtis; South Carolina,Ravenel; Ontario,Dearness; California,Harkness and Moore; Ohio,Morgan; Mississippi, Minnesota,Johnson.

Grouped by F.D. Briscoe—Studies by C. McIlvaine.Plate LXI.Fig.Page.Fig.Page.1.Pluteus cervinus,2432.Pluteus cervinus, var.,245

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

(Pluteus, a shed. From the conical shape of the pileus.)

Stemfleshy, distinct from the pileus.Gillsfree, rounded behind (never emarginate), at first cohering, white, then colored by the spores.

Generally growing on or near trunks of trees.

Resembling Volvaria in all respects but the volva.Sporesrosy.

Several of the genus are edible. Pluteus cervinus is one of our earliest, persistent, plentiful, delicious food species. The caps of those tested are tender, easily cooked and best fried.

ANALYSIS OF SPECIES.

*Cuticle of the pileus separating into fibrils or down, which at length disappear.

**Pileus frosted with atoms, somewhat powdery.

***Pileus naked, smooth.

*Cuticle of pileus fibrillose, etc.

P. cervi´nusSchaeff.—cervus, a deer. (PlateLXI, fig. 1, p. 242.)Pileusfleshy, at first campanulate, then convex or expanded,even, glabrous, generally becoming fibrillose or slightly floccose-villoseon the disk, occasionally cracked, variable in color.Lamellæbroad, somewhat ventricose, at first whitish, then flesh-colored.Stemequal or slightly tapering upward, firm, solid, fibrillose or subglabrous, variable in color.Sporesbroadly elliptical, 6.5–8×5–6.5µ.

Plant2–6 in. high.Pileus2–4 in. broad.Stem3–6 lines thick.

The typical form has the pileus and stem of a dingy or brown color and adorned with blackish fibrils, but specimens occur with the pileus white, yellowish, cinereous, grayish-brown or blackish-brown. I have never seen it of a true cervine color. It is sometimes quite glabrous and smooth to the touch and in wet weather it is even slightly viscid. It also occurs somewhat floccose-villose on the disk, and the disk, though usually plane or obtuse, is occasionally slightly prominent or subumbonate. The form with the surface of the pileus longitudinally rimose or chinky is probably due to meteorological conditions. The gills, though at first crowded, become more lax with the expansion of the pileus. They are generally a little broader toward the marginal than toward the inner extremity. Their tendency to deliquesce is often shown by their wetting the paper on which the pileus has been placed for the purpose of catching the spores. The stem is usually somewhat fibrous and striated but forms occur in which it is even and glabrous. When growing from the sides of stumps and prostrate trunks it is apt to be curved. Two forms deserve varietal distinction.

Var.al´bus. Pileus and stem white or whitish.

Var.al´bipes. Pileus cinereous yellowish or brown. Stem white or whitish, destitute of blackish fibrils.

In Europe there are three or four forms which have been designated as species under the names of A. rigens, A. patricius, A. eximius and A. petasatus, but Fries gives them as varieties or subspecies of A. cervinus, though admitting that they are easily distinguished. None of these have occurred in our state.Peck, 38th Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

Var.visco´sus. The normal character of the cuticle of the species is slightly viscid in wet weather, but the specimens we collected and photographed were exceedingly viscid. They also differed from the normal form in their lighter color, flesh much thicker at the disk and thin at the margins, and cuticle not appearing fibrillose. It is close to petasatus, but differs, however, in its narrower gills and in having no striæ. It is a good variety if it is not a good species.Lloyd, Myc. Notes.

Spores7–8×5–6µK.; 6–8×4–5µB.; 4×5µW.G.S.; 5.8×4.6µMorgan.

Frequent on decaying stumps, roots and wood, May to frost.McIlvaine.

Its free gills should distinguish it from any Entoloma, though both have pink spores and eventually pink gills. Among the earliest oflarge species. The sight of it is stimulating to the mycophagist. He then knows the toadstool season to be truly opened.

Caps only are tender. The stems are edible, but they are not of the same consistency as the caps, therefore will not cook with them. Fried in a buttered pan or broiled, they are exceedingly toothsome.

In October, 1898, a beautiful variety (see PlateLXI, fig. 2, p.—), occurred which I had not previously seen. It was sent by me to Professor Peck. The plants grew in large clusters from rotting, refuse straw in the ruin of a stable; the white, cottony mycelium running upon and through the straw. The solid stems of some were straight, others curved, ranging from 2–6 in. long, the taller ones tapering from base to spindling apex, the shorter ones decidedly bulbous and ending abruptly. They were twisted and delicately marked. These markings break up into dark thread-like fibrils, leaving the stem striate and satin-glossy.Pileusfrom 2–4 in. across, dark Vandyke-brown when young, lighter in age, streaked, glossy.Gillsat first white, tardily changing to light salmon color, broad, ventricose, free.

Taste and smell pleasant of almonds. Good, delicious.

Professor Peck wrote of it: “It has the general appearance of Pluteus cervinus, but these specimens seem to depart from the usual form of growing in clusters from the ground, and in having an almond flavor. Without knowing more about it I would scarcely feel justified in separating it from such a variable species. As Fries sometimes remarks concerning variable species: Perhaps several species are concealed under the one name, but a pretty full and accurate knowledge of them is desirable if one is to split them up.”

This is excellent judgment. While I believe the above to be a distinct species, the disposition to make new species of varieties is regrettable in many botanists.

Var.Bul´liiBerk., MS.Pileus4–6 in. across, flesh thick, convex then expanded, smooth, even, pallid, the disk darker.Gillsfree, rounded behind, rather distant from the stem, crowded, ½ in. broad, pale salmon-color.Stem3–4 in. long, 1 in. and more thick, slightly swollen at the base, fibrillose, pale brown, darkest at the base, solid.Massee.

Pileus6 in. across, expanded from bell-shape, ashy-white (oyster color), glossy, like floss silk, silky fibrillose, irregularly corrugated.Skinseparable.Fleshspongy, pure white, like shreds of cotton, separableinto plates, very brittle, ½ in. thick at stem, immediately thinning to ⅛ in., very thin toward margin.Gillsthin, elastic, rounded behind, close to stem, free, ½ in. wide, close, alternate short and long, white, then tinged and spotted pink with spores which when cast in mass are a pinkish-brown with slight lavender shade.Stem5 in. long, ½-¾ in. thick, subequal, spreading at top, white, silky-fibrillose, changing to very light yellowish brown from center to base, exterior hard, skin thin, tough, interior filled with continuous, cottony fibers, snow-white, brittle, watery, slightly swollen at base. Taste pleasant.

Mt. Gretna, Pa., July, 1898, on chestnut stump and in woods on ground among leaves. Leaves adhere to base of stem which is powdery-white.McIlvaine.

Cooked, it is as good as P. cervinus.

Var.petasa´tusFr.Pileus3–4 in. across, flesh rather thick, campanulate then expanded, umbonate, grayish-white, very smooth, with a viscid cuticle, at length striate to the middle.Gillsfree, ½ in. and more broad, crowded, becoming dry, white then reddish.Stem4–5 in. long, ½-⅔ in. thick, rigid, very slightly and equally attenuated from the base, whitish, fibrillosely striate, solid.

On heaps of straw and dung, sawdust, etc.

Color verging on bay when old. Stem and margin of gills at length with a tawny tinge.Fries.

Haddonfield, New Jersey, Bell’s Mill, sawdust, 1890; Mt. Gretna, Pa., August, 1898, among sawdust from ice-house.Caps6 in. across.Stemeasily split, exterior hard, fibrillose, streaked, whitish, shining, stuffed with cottony fibers.Sporesdark pink.McIlvaine.

Equal to P. cervinus.

P. umbro´susPers.—shady, from its dark color.Pileusfleshy, at first bell-shaped, then convex or expanded,roughly wrinkledand more or less villose on the disk, fimbriate on the margin,blackish-brown.Gillsbroad, somewhat ventricose, at first whitish, then flesh-colored,blackish-brown and fringed or toothed on the edge.Stemsolid, colored like or paler than the pileus, fibrillose or villose-squamose.Sporeselliptical, 8×5µ.

Decaying woods and swamps, especially of pine, both in shaded and open places. Not rare.Peck, 38th Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

Sporesbroadly elliptical, smooth, 6–7×5µ; cystidia ventricose, 65–75×18–20µMassee.

New York,Peck, Rep. 32, 38; West Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, New Jersey, frequent on decaying logs, stumps, pine and other woods.McIlvaine.

At times the caps are a deep sepia-brown. It is readily distinguished from P. cervinus by the wrinkled, downy disk of the cap and the gills having dark-brown edges. Smell rather strong. Professor Peck says he has not seen it with the margin fimbriate. Neither have I, though this is prominent in the European species.

P. umbrosus is a fine species, equal in every way to P. cervinus, which is seldom excelled. Caps only are tender.

P. pelli´tusFr.Pileus1–2 in. across.Fleshthin, soft, white, convex then plane, somewhat umbonate, regular, silky-fibrous, dry, white.Gillsfree, rounded behind, crowded, 1½ line broad, ventricose, white then flesh-color, margin slightly toothed.Stemabout 2 in. long, 2–3 lines thick, slightly thickened at the base, even, glabrous, shining, white, stuffed.Sporeselliptical, smooth, 10×6µ.

Among grass at the roots of trees, etc.

Our only Pluteus with a pure white, even pileus and stem. Superficially resembling Entoloma prunuloides, which differs in the broadly emarginate—not free—gills, and in the strong smell of new meal.Massee.

Mt. Gretna, Pa., October, 1898.McIlvaine.

Pileusup to 3 in. across.Gills¼ in. broad, free, moist, imbricated.Stemup to 5 in. long, easily detachable from cap, solid, juicy, solitary and cespitose. On very old sawdust, upon which grass was growing.

Tender, excellent.

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