The gills are thin, close, free, white, becoming dingy with age or drying.

The stem is rather long, tapering toward the apex, generally enlarged in the middle or near the base, hollow. The ring is thin and subpersistent. The spores are subelliptical, with a single nucleus, 8-10x5-8u.

The plants often cespitose, two to four inches high. Pileus is one to two inches broad. It is found in rich ground and decomposing vegetable matter. It is also found in graperies and conservatories. Peck.

This plant derives its specific name from the resemblance of its stem to that of the seed-stalk of an onion. One form has a yellow or yellowish cap, while the other has a white or fair cap. It seems to delight to grow in well rotted sawdust piles and hot houses. The specimens represented in Figure 37 were collected in Cleveland and photographed by Prof. H. C. Beardslee.

Lepiota acutesquamosa. Wein.

THE SQUARROSE LEPIOTA. EDIBLE.



Acutesquamosa is from acutus, sharp, and squama, a scale; so called from the many bristling, erect scales on the pileus. The pileus is two to three inches broad, fleshy, convex, obtuse, or broadly umbonate; pale rusty with numerous small pointed scales, which are usually larger and more numerous at the disk.

The gills are free, crowded, simple, white or yellowish.

The stem is two to three inches or more long; stuffed or hollow, tapering upward slightly from a swollen base; below the ring rough or silky, pruinose above, ring large. The spores are 7-8x4u.

They are found in the woods, in gardens, and frequently in greenhouses. There is a slight difference between the specimens growing in the woods and those in the greenhouse. In the latter the pubescent covering is less dense and the erect scales are more numerous than in the former. In older specimens these scales fall off and leave small scars on the cap where they were attached. The specimens in Figure 38 were gathered in Michigan and were photographed by Dr. Fisher of Detroit.

Armillaria. Fr.

Armillaria, from armilla, a bracelet—referring to the ring upon the stem. This genus differs from all the foregoing white-spored species in having the gills attached to the stem by their inner extremity. The spores are white and the stem has a collar, though a somewhat evanescent one, but no wrapper at the base of the stem as in the Amanita and Amanitopsis. By the collar the genus differs from the other genera which are to follow.

The Amanita and Lepiota have the flesh of the stem and the pileus not continuous, and their stems are, therefore, easily separated from the cap, but in the Armillaria the gills and the pileus are attached to the stem.

Armillaria mellea. Vahl.

THE HONEY-COLORED ARMILLARIA. EDIBLE.



Mellea, from melleus, of the color of honey. Cap fleshy, honey colored, or ochraceous, striate on the margin, shaded with darker brown toward the center, having a central boss-like elevation and sometimes a central depression in full grown specimens, tufted with dark-brown fugitive hairs. Color of the cap varies, depending upon climatic conditions and the character of the habitat. Gills distant, ending in a decurrent tooth, pallid or dirty white, very often showing brown or rust colored spots when old. Spores white and abundant. Frequently the ground under a clump of this species will be white from the fallen spores. Stem elastic and scaly, four inches or more in length. Ring downy. Diameter of cap from two to five inches. Manner of growth is frequently in tufts, and, as with most of the Armillarias, generally parasitic on old stumps.

The veil varies greatly. It may be membranaceous and thin, or quite thick, or may be wanting entirely, as will be seen in Figure 39; in Figure 40 only a slight trace of the ring can be seen. The two plants grew under very different environment; the last grew in the woods and Figure 39 on a lawn in the city. The species is very common and grows either in thin woods or in cleared lands, on the ground or on decaying wood. Its favorite habit is about stumps. It is either solitary, gregarious, or in dense clusters. It is very abundant about Chillicothe, where I have seen stumps literally surrounded with it. It has a slight acridity while raw, which it seems to lose in cooking. Those who like it may eat it without fear, all varieties being edible.

Prof. Peck gives the following varieties:

A. mellea var. obscura—has the cap covered with numerous small black scales.

A. mellea var. flava—has a cap yellow or reddish-yellow, otherwise normal.

A. mellea var. glabra—has a smooth cap, otherwise normal.

A. mellea var. radicata—has a tapering root penetrating the soil.

A. mellea var. bulbosa—has a bulbous base.

A. mellea var. exannulata—has the cap smooth and even on the margin, and the stem tapering at the base.



Armillaria bulbigera. A. & S.

MARGINATE-BULBED ARMILLARIA.



Bulbigera is from bulbus, a bulb, and gero, to bear.

The pileus is fleshy, three to four inches across, convex, then expanded, obtuse, even, brownish, gray, sometimes reddish, dry, fibrillose near the margin.

The gills are notched at the stem, pallid, crowded at first, at length rather distant, becoming slightly colored.

The stem is distinctly bulbous, two to three inches long, stuffed, pallid, fibrillose, ring oblique, fugacious. The spores are 7-10x5u.

I have found some very fine specimens in Poke Hollow, near Chillicothe. The stems were short and very bulbous, having hardly any trace of the ring on the older specimens. The caps were obtusely convex and of a grayish rufescent color. This species can readily be distinguished by the distinctly marginate bulb at the base of the stem. The specimens in Figure 41 were found in Poke Hollow, near Chillicothe, October 2d. I have no doubt of their edibility but I have not eaten them.

Armillaria nardosmia. Ellis.

SPIKENARD-SMELLING ARMILLARIA. ELLIS.



Nardosmia is from nardosmius, the odor of nardus or spikenard.

The pileus is quite thick, firm and compact, thinner toward the margin, strongly involute when young, grayish white and beautifully variegated with brown spots, like the breast of a pheasant, rather tough, with a separable epidermis, flesh white.

The gills are crowded, slightly notched or emarginate, somewhat ventricose, white.

The stem is solid, short, fibrous, sheathed by a veil forming a ring more or less evanescent. The spores are nearly round, 6u in diameter.

This is the most beautiful species of the genus, and from its pheasant-like spotted cap, as well as its strong odor and taste of spikenard or almonds, it is easily determined. The almond taste and odor disappears in cooking. I found some very fine specimens around a pond in Mr. Shriver's woods, east of Chillicothe. In older specimens the cuticule of the caps frequently breaks into scales. Found in woods in September and October.

Armillaria appendiculata. Pk.

Appendiculata, bearing small appendages. Pileus is broadly convex, glabrous, whitish, often tinged with rust-color or brownish rust-color on the disk. Flesh white or whitish. Gills close, rounded behind, whitish. Stem equal or slightly tapering upward, solid, bulbous, whitish, the veil either membraneous or webby, white, commonly adhering in fragments to the margin of the pileus. Spores subelliptical, 8x5.

Pileus two to four inches broad. Stem 1.5-3.5 inches long; 5-10 lines thick.

The general appearance of this species is suggestive of Tricholoma album, but the appearance of a veil separates it from that fungus and places it in the genus Armillaria. The veil, however, is often slightly lacerated, or webby, and adherent to the margin of the pileus. Peck's Report.

I have found this at Salem and Chillicothe.

Tricholoma. Fr.

Tricholoma is from two Greek words meaning hair and fringe. This genus is known by its stout, fleshy stem, without any evidence of a ring, and by the gills being attached to the stem and having a notch in their edges near or at the extremity. The veil is absent, or, if present, it is downy and adherent to the margin of the cap. The cap is generally quite fleshy; the stem is homogeneous and confluent with the pileus, central and nearly fleshy, without either ring or volva, and with no distinct bark-like coat. The spores are white or grayish-white.

The distinguishing features are the fleshy stem, continuous with the flesh of the pileus, and the sinuate or notched gills. This is quite a universal genus. All the species grow on the ground, so far as I know them.

There are many edible species under this genus, there being only two, so far as I know, not edible; and no one is likely to touch those on account of their strong odor. They are T. sulphureum and T. saponaceum.

Tricholoma transmutans. Pk.

THE CHANGING TRICHOLOMA. EDIBLE.

Transmutans means changing, from changes of color in both stem and gills in different stages of the plant. This species has a cap two to four inches broad, viscid or sticky when moist. It is at first tawny-brown, especially with advancing age. The flesh is white and has a decided farinaceous odor and taste.

The gills are crowded, rather narrow, sometimes branched, becoming reddish-spotted with age.

The stem is equal or slightly tapering upward; bare, or slightly silky-fibrillose; stuffed or hollow; whitish, often marked with reddish stains or becoming reddish-brown toward the base, white within. Spores subglobose, 5u.

The species grows in woods and open places, also in clover pastures, either singly or in tufts. I have seen large tufts of them, and in that case the caps are more or less irregular on account of their crowded condition. I found it frequently about Salem, and this fall, 1905, I found it quite plentiful in a clover pasture near Chillicothe. Found in wet weather from August to September.

Tricholoma equestre. Linn.

THE KNIGHTLY TRICHOLOMA. EDIBLE.



Equestre means belonging to a horseman; so called from its distinguished appearance in the woods.

The pileus is three to five inches broad, fleshy, compact, convex, expanded, obtuse, viscid, scaly, margin incurved at first, pale yellowish, with sometimes a slight tinge of green in both cap and gills. Flesh white or tinged with yellow.

The gills are free, crowded, rounded behind, yellow.

The stem is stout, solid, pale yellow or white, white within. The spores are 7-8x5u.

It differs from T. coryphaeum in having gills entirely yellow, while the edges only of the latter are yellow. It differs from T. sejunctum in the latter having pure white gills and a more slender stem.

It is found but occasionally here, and then only a specimen or two. It is an attractive plant and no one would pass it in the woods without admiring it. Found from August to October.

Tricholoma sordidum. Fr.



Sordidum means dingy, dirty.

The pileus is two to three inches broad, rather tough, fleshy, convex, bell-shaped, then depressed, subumbonate, smooth, hygrophanous, margin slightly striate, brownish lilac, then dusky.

The gills are rounded, rather crowded, dingy violet then dusky, notched with a decurrent tooth.

The stem is colored like the pileus, fibrillose striate, usually slightly curved, stuffed, short, often thickened at the base.

The spores are 7-8x3-4, minutely rugulose.

This species differs from T. nudum in being smaller, tougher, and often hygrophanous.

It is found in richly manured gardens, about manure piles, and in hot-houses. The specimens in Figure 44 were found in a hot-house near Boston, Mass., and sent to me by Mrs. E. Blackford. They are found in September and October.

Tricholoma grammopodium. Bull.

THE GROOVED STEM TRICHOLOMA. EDIBLE.



Grammopodium is from two Greek words meaning line and foot.

The pileus is three to six inches broad, flesh thick at the center, thin at the margin, solid yet tender; brownish, blackish-umber, almost a dingy-lavender when moist, whitish when dry; at first bell-shaped, then convex, sometimes slightly wavy, obtusely umbonate; margin at first inclined to be involute, and extending beyond the gills.

The gills are attached to the stem, broadly notched as will be seen in the specimen, closely crowded, quite entire, shorter ones numerous, a few branched, white or whitish.

The stem is three to four inches long, thickened at the base, smooth, firm, longitudinally grooved from which it gets its specific name, whitish.

The spores are nearly round, 5-6u.

It closely resembles T. fuligineum but can be distinguished by the grooved stem and crowded gills. The specimens in Figure 45 were found near Boston, and were sent to me by Mrs. Blackford. The plants keep well and are easily dried. They were found the first of June. They have an excellent flavor.

Tricholoma paedidum. Fr.

Paedidum means nasty, stinking.

The pileus is small, about one and a half inches broad, rather fleshy, tough; convex, then flattened, soon depressed around the conical umbo; fibrillose, becoming smooth; smoky gray, somewhat streaked; moist; margin involute, naked.

The gills are adnexed, crowded, narrow, white, then grayish, somewhat sinuate with a slight decurrent tooth.

The stem is short, slightly striate, dingy gray, thickened at the base. The spores are elliptical or fusiform, 10-11x5-6u.

The specific name, "nasty" or "stinking," has really no application to the plant. It is said to be very good when cooked. It is found in well manured gardens and fields, or about manure piles.

It differs from T. sordidum in having no trace of violet color. T. lixivium differs in the free truncate gills.

Tricholoma lixivium. Fr.

Lixivium means made into lye; hence, of the color of ashes and water.

The pileus is two to three inches broad; flesh thin; convex then plane; umbonate, never depressed; even; smooth; grayish-brown when moist, then umber; margin membranaceous, at length slightly striate, sometimes wavy.

The gills are rounded behind and adnexed, free, soft, distant, often crisped, gray.

The stem is about two inches long, fibrous, hollow, or stuffed, equal, at first covered with a white down, fragile, gray.

The spores are elliptical, 7x4-5u.

The umbonate pileus and the nearly free, broad, gray gills will distinguish it. They are a late grower and are found under pine trees in November.

Tricholoma sulphureum. Bull.

SULPHURY TRICHOLOMA. POISONOUS.



Sulphureum, sulphur; so called from the general color of the plant.

The pileus is one to three inches broad, fleshy, convex, then expanded, plane, slightly umbonate, sometimes depressed, or flexuous and irregular, margin at first involute, dingy or reddish-yellow, at first silky, becoming smooth and even.

The gills are rather thick, narrowed behind, emarginate or acutely adnate, sulphur-colored.

The stem is two to four inches long, somewhat bulbous, sometimes curved, frequently slightly striate; stuffed, often hollow; sulphur-yellow, yellow within; furnished at the base occasionally with many rather strong, yellow, fibrous roots. Odor strong and disagreeable. Flesh thick and yellow. Spores are 9-10x5u.

It grows in mixed woods. I find it frequently where logs have decayed. The specimen in Figure 46 was found in Haynes' Hollow and photographed by Dr. Kellerman. Found in October and November.

Tricholoma quinquepartitum. Fr.

Quinquepartitum means divided into five parts. There is no apparent reason for the name. Fries could not identify Linnaeus' Agaricus quinquepartitus and he attached the name of this species.

The pileus is three or four inches broad, slightly fleshy; convex, rather involute, then flattened, somewhat repand; viscid, smooth, even, pale yellowish.

The gills are notched at the point of attachment to the stem, broad, white.

The stem is three to four inches long, solid, striate or grooved, smooth. The spores are 5-6x3-4.

This species differs from T. portentosum in the pileus not being virgate, and from T. fucatum in the smooth, striate or grooved stem. This plant is found in thin woods where logs have decayed. I have not eaten this species but I have no doubt of its edibility. The taste is pleasant. Found in October and November.

Tricholoma laterarium. Pk.



Laterarium is from later, a brick; so called because there is nearly always a slight tinge of brick red on the disk.

The pileus is two to four inches broad, convex, then expanded, sometimes slightly depressed in the center; pruinose, whitish, the disk often tinged with red or brown, the thin margin marked with slight subdistant, short, radiating ridges.

The gills are narrow, crowded, white, prolonged in little decurrent lines on the stem. The stem is nearly equal, solid, white. The spores are globose, .00018 inch in diameter. Peck's 26th Rep.

This plant is quite widely distributed in the United States. It is found quite frequently in Ohio and is rather abundant on the hillsides about Chillicothe, where it is frequently somewhat bulbous. The tinge of brownish-red on the disk, and the short radiating ridges on the margin of the pileus will serve to identify the plant. It is edible and fairly good. Found on leaf-mold in rather damp woods from July to November.

Tricholoma panaeolum. Fr.



Panaeolum, all variegated. The pileus is from three to four inches broad, deeply depressed, dusky with a gray bloom, hygrophanous; margin at first inrolled, sometimes wavy or irregular when fully expanded.

The gills are quite crowded, adnate, arcuate, white at first, turning to a light gray tinged with an intimation of red, notched with a decurrent tooth.

The stem is short, slightly bulbous, tapering upward, solid, smooth, about the same color as the cap. The spores are subglobose, 5-6.

I found the specimens in Figure 48 under pine trees, growing on a bed of pine needles, on Cemetery Hill. They were found on the 9th of November.

Var. calceolum, Sterb., has the pileus spongy, deformed, thin, soft, expanded, edge incurved, sooty-gray; gills smoky; stem excentric, fusiform, very short.

Tricholoma columbetta. Fr.

THE DOVE-COLORED TRICHOLOMA. EDIBLE.



Columbetta is the diminutive of columba, a dove; so called from the color of the plant. The pileus is from one to four inches broad, fleshy, convex, then expanded; at first smooth, then silky; white, center sometimes a dilute mouse color shading to a white, frequently a tinge of pink will be seen on the margin, which is at first inrolled, tomentose in young plants, sometimes cracked.

The gills are notched at the junction of the stem, crowded, thin, white, brittle.

The stem is two inches or more long, solid, white, cylindrical, unequal, often compressed, smooth, crooked, silky especially in young plants, bulbous. Spores .00023 by .00018 inch. Flesh white, taste mild.

This is a beautiful plant, seeming to be quite free from insects, and will remain sound for several days on your study table. I had no end of trouble with it till Dr. Herbst suggested the species. It is quite plentiful here. Dr. Peck gives quite a number of varieties. Curtis, McIlvaine, Stevenson, and Cooke all speak of its esculent qualities. Found in the woods in September and October.

Tricholoma melaleucum. Pers.

THE CHANGEABLE TRICHOLOMA.



Melaleucum, black and white; from contrasted colors of the cap and gills.

This Tricholoma grows in abundance in northern Ohio. I have found it in the woods near Bowling Green, Ohio. The specimens in the halftone were found near Sandusky, Ohio, and were photographed by Dr. Kellerman. It is usually found in sandy soil, growing singly in shady woods.

The pileus fleshy, thin, from one to three inches broad, convex, rather broadly umbonate, smooth, moist, with variable color, usually pale, nearly white at first, later much darker, sometimes slightly wavy.

The gills are notched, adnexed, ventricose, crowded, white.

The stem is stuffed, then hollow, elastic, from two to four inches long, somewhat smooth, whitish, sprinkled with a few fibrils, usually thickened at the base. The flesh is soft and white. There is no report, so far as I know, regarding its edibility, and I have no doubt as to this, but would advise caution.

Tricholoma lascivum. Fr.

THE TARRY TRICHOLOMA.

Lascivum, playful, wanton; so called because of its many affinities, none of which are very close. The pileus is fleshy, convex, then expanded, slightly obtuse, somewhat depressed, silky at first, then smooth, even. The gills are notched, adnexed, crowded, white; the stem is solid, equal, rigid, rooting, white, tomentose at the base. Found in the woods, Haynes' Hollow near Chillicothe. September and October.

Tricholoma Russula. Schaeff.

THE REDDISH TRICHOLOMA. EDIBLE.



Russula is so named because of its likeness in color to some species of the genus Russula.

The pileus is three to four inches broad, fleshy, convex, then depressed, viscid, even or dotted with granular scales, red or flesh color, the margin somewhat paler, involute and minutely downy in the young plant.

The gills are rounded or slightly decurrent, rather distant, white, often becoming red-spotted with age.

The stem is two to three inches long, solid, firm, whitish rosy-red, nearly equal, scaly at the apex. The spores are elliptical, 10x5u.

This plant is quite variable in many of its peculiar characteristics, yet it usually has enough to readily distinguish it. The cap may be flesh-color and the stem rosy-red, the cap may be red and the stem white or whitish with stains of red. During wet weather the caps of all are viscid; when dry, all may be cracked more or less. The stems may not be scaly at the apex, often rosy when young. They are found in the woods solitary, in groups, or frequently in dense clusters. The specimens in Figure 51 were found in Michigan and photographed by Dr. Fischer.

I found this plant in Poke Hollow. The gills were quite decurrent.

Tricholoma acerbum. Bull.

THE BITTER TRICHOLOMA.

Acerbum means bitter to the taste.

The pileus is three to four inches broad, convex to expanded, obtuse, smooth, more or less spotted, margin thin, at first involute, rugose, sulcate, viscid, whitish, often tinged rufous, or yellow, quite bitter to the taste.

The gills are notched, crowded, pallid or rufescent, narrow.

The stem is solid, rather short, blunt, yellowish, squamulose above or about the apex. The spores are subglobose, 5-6u.

These plants were found growing in a thick bed of moss along with Armillaria nardosmia. They were not perfect plants but I judged them to be T. acerbum from their taste and involute margin. I sent some to Prof. Atkinson, who confirmed my classification. They grow in open woods in October and November.

Tricholoma cinerascens. Bull.

Cinerascens means becoming the color of ashes.

The pileus is two to three inches broad, fleshy, convex to expanded, even, obtuse, smooth, white, then grayish, margin thin.

The gills are emarginate, crowded, rather undulate, dingy, reddish often yellowish, easily separating from the pileus.

The stem is stuffed, equal, smooth, elastic.

They grow in clusters in mixed wood. They are mild to the taste.

Tricholoma album. Schaeff.

THE WHITE TRICHOLOMA. EDIBLE.



Album means white.

The pileus is two to four inches broad, fleshy, entirely white, convex, then depressed, obtuse, smooth, dry, disc frequently tinged with yellow, margin at first involute, at length repand.

The gills are rounded behind, rather crowded, thin, white, broad.

The stem is two to four inches long, solid, firm, narrowed upwards, smooth.

This plant is quite plentiful in our woods, growing usually in groups. It grows upon the leaf mould and is frequently quite large. It is quite acrid to the taste when raw, but this is overcome in cooking. It is found from August to October.

These plants are quite plentiful on the wooded hillsides about Chillicothe. Those in Figure 52 were found on Ralston's Run and photographed by Dr. Kellerman.

Tricholoma imbricatum. Fr.

THE IMBRICATED TRICHOLOMA. EDIBLE.



Imbricatum means covered with tiles, imbreces, referring to the lacerated condition of the cap. This species is very closely related to T. transmutans in size, color and taste. It is, however, easily separated by its dry cap and solid stem. Its cap is reddish-brown or cinnamon-brown, and its surface often presents a somewhat scaly appearance because the epidermis becomes lacerated or torn into small irregular fragments which adhere and seem to overlap like shingles on a roof. The flesh is firm, white, and has a farinaceous taste as well as odor. The gills are white, becoming red or rusty spotted, rather close, and notched. The stem is solid, firm, nearly equal, except slightly swollen at the base, colored much like the cap but usually paler. When old it is sometimes hollow on account of the insects mining it. The spores are white and elliptical, .00025 inch long.

I found this mushroom near Salem, Ohio, Bowling Green, Ohio, and on Ralston's Run near Chillicothe. Found in mixed woods from September to November.

Tricholoma terriferum. Pk.

THE EARTH-BEARING TRICHOLOMA. EDIBLE.

Terriferum, earth-bearing, alluding to the viscid cap's holding particles of loam and pine needles to it as it breaks through the soil. This is a meaty mushroom, and when properly cleaned makes an appetizing dish.

The pileus is convex, irregular, wavy on the margin and rolled inward, smooth, viscid, pale yellow, sometimes whitish, generally covered with loam on account of the sticky surface of the cap, flesh white.

The gills are white, thin, close, slightly adnexed.

The stem is short, fleshy, solid, equal, mealy, very slightly bulbous at the base.

Found near Salem, Ohio, on Hon. J. Thwing Brooks' farm September to October.

Tricholoma fumidellum. Pk.

THE SMOKY TRICHOLOMA. EDIBLE.

Fumidellum—smoky, because of the clay-colored caps clouded with brown.

The pileus is one to two inches broad, convex, then expanded, subumbonate, bare, moist, dingy-white or clay-color clouded with brown, the disk or umbo generally smoky brown.

The gills are crowded, subventricose, whitish.

The stem is one and a half to two and a half inches long, equal, bare, solid whitish. The spores minute, subglobose, 4-5x4u. Peck, 44 Rep.

The specimens I found grew in a mixed woods in the leaf-mold. They are found only occasionally in our woods in September and October.

Tricholoma leucocephalum. Fr.

THE WHITE-CAPPED TRICHOLOMA. EDIBLE.

Leucocephalum is from two Greek words meaning white and head, referring to the white caps.

The pileus is one and a half to two inches across, convex, then plane; even, moist, smooth when the silky veil is gone, water-soaked after a rain; flesh thin, tough, smell mealy, taste mild and pleasant.

The gills are rounded behind and almost free, crowded, white.

The stem is about two inches long, hollow, solid at the base, smooth, cartilaginous, tough, rooting. The spores are 9-10x7-8u.

It differs from T. album in having the odor of new meal strongly marked. It is found in open woods during September and October.

Tricholoma fumescens. Pk.

SMOKY TRICHOLOMA. EDIBLE.



Fumescens means growing smoky.

Pileus convex or expanded, dry, clothed with a very minute appressed tomentum, whitish.

The gills are narrow, crowded, rounded behind, whitish or pale cream color, changing to smoky blue or blackish where bruised.

The stem is short, cylindrical, whitish. Spores are oblong-elliptical, 5-6x5u. Pileus is one inch broad. Stem one to one and a half inches high. Peck, 44th Rep. N. Y. State Bot.

The caps are quite a bit larger in the specimens found in Ohio than those described by Dr. Peck. So much so that I was in doubt as to the correct identification. I sent some specimens to Dr. Peck for his determination. The species will be readily identified by the fine crowded gills and the smoky blue or blackish hue they assume when bruised. The caps are frequently wavy, as will be seen in Figure 54.

I found the plants in Poke Hollow near Chillicothe, September to November.

Tricholoma terreum. Schaeff.

THE GRAY TRICHOLOMA. EDIBLE.



Terreum is from terra, the earth; so called from the color. This is quite a variable species in color and size, as well as manner of growth.

The pileus is one to three inches broad, dry, fleshy, thin, convex, expanded, nearly plane, often having a central umbo; floccose-scaly, ashy-brown, grayish-brown or mouse-color.

The gills are adnexed, subdistant, white, becoming grayish, edges more or less eroded. Spores, 5-6u.

The stem is whitish, fibrillose, equal, paler than the cap, varying from solid to stuffed or hollow, one to three inches high.

I find this plant on north hillsides, in beech woods. It is not plentiful. There are several varieties:

Var. orirubens. Q. Edge of gills reddish.

Var. atrosquamosum. Chev. Pileus gray with small black scales; g. whitish.

Var. argyraceum. Bull. Entirely pure white, or pileus grayish.

Var. chrysites. Jungh. Pileus tinged yellowish or greenish.

The plants in Figure 55 were found in Poke Hollow near Chillicothe. Their time is September to November.

Tricholoma saponaceum. Fr.



Saponaceum is from sapo, soap, so called from its peculiar odor.

The pileus is two to three inches broad, convex, then plane, involute at first as will be seen in Figure 56, smooth, moist in wet weather but not viscid, often cracked into scales or punctate, grayish or livid-brown, often with a tinge of olive, flesh firm, becoming more or less red when cut or wounded.

The gills are uncinately emarginate, thin, quite entire, not crowded, white, sometimes tinged with green. Spores subglobose, 5x4u.

The stem is solid, unequal, rooting, smooth, sometimes reticulated with black fibrils or scaly.

This species is found quite frequently about Chillicothe. It is quite variable in size and color, but can be readily recognized from its peculiar odor and the flesh's becoming reddish when wounded. It is not poisonous but its odor will prevent any one from eating it. Found in mixed woods from August to November.

Tricholoma cartilagineum. Bull.

THE CARTILAGINOUS TRICHOLOMA. EDIBLE.



Cartilagineum means gristly or cartilaginous.

The pileus is two to three inches broad, cartilaginous, elastic, fleshy, convex, soon expanded, wavy, as seen in Figure 57, margin incurved, smooth, inclined to be blackish at first, then broken up into small black spots.

The gills are slightly notched, adnexed, somewhat crowded, grayish.

The stem is one to two inches long, rather firm, stuffed, equal, smooth, white, often striate and mealy. Taste and odor pleasant.

A number of my friends ate it because of its inviting taste and odor. It grew in quantities among the clover in our city park during the wet weather of the last of May and the first of June.

Tricholoma squarrulosum. Bres.



Squarrulosum means full of scales.

The pileus is two to three inches broad, convex, then expanded, umbonate, dry; fuscous then lurid tan, center black, with black squamules; edge fibrillose, exceeding gills.

The gills are broad, crowded, whitish-gray, reddish when bruised.

The stem is of the same color as the pileus, punctato-squamulose. The spores are elliptical, 7-9x4-5u.

This is a beautiful plant, growing in mixed woods among the leaves. The stem is short and apparently the same color as the pileus. The latter is covered with black squamules which give rise to the name of the species. I have succeeded in finding the plants only in October. The specimens in Figure 58 were found in Poke Hollow, near Chillicothe.

Tricholoma maculatescens. Pk.

SPOTTED TRICHOLOMA.



Maculatescens means growing spotted; so called because when the specimen is dried the cap becomes more or less spotted.

The pileus is one and a half to three inches broad, compact, spongy, reddish-brown, convex, then expanded, obtuse, even, slightly viscid when wet, becoming rivulose and brown spotted in drying, flesh whitish, margin inflexed, exceeding the gills.

The gills are slightly emarginate, rather narrow, cinereous.

The stem is spongy-fleshy, equal, sometimes abruptly narrowed at the base, solid, stout, fibrillose, pallid or whitish. The spores are oblong or subfusiform, pointed at the ends, uninucleate, .0003 inch long, .00016 broad. Peck.

I found the plant on several occasions in the month of November, but was unable to fix it satisfactorily until Prof. Morgan helped me out. The specimens in Figure 59 were found on Thanksgiving day in the Morton woods, in Gallia County, Ohio. I had found several specimens about Chillicothe, previous to this.

This species seems to be very near T. flavobrunneum, T. graveolens, and T. Schumacheri, but may be distinguished from them by the spotting of the pileus when drying and the peculiar shape of the spores.

It is found among the leaves in mixed woods even during freezing weather. It is no doubt edible, but I should try it cautiously for the first time.

Tricholoma flavobrunneum. Fr.

THE YELLOW-BROWN TRICHOLOMA. EDIBLE.

Flavobrunneum is from flavus, yellow; brunneus, brown; so called from the brown caps and yellow flesh.

The pileus is three to four or more inches broad, fleshy, conical, then convex, expanded, subumbonate, viscid, brownish-bay, scaly-streaked, flesh yellow, then tinged with red.

The gills are pale yellow, emarginate, slightly decurrent, somewhat crowded, and often tinged with red.

The stem is three to four inches long, hollow, slightly ventricose, brownish, flesh yellow, at first viscid, sometimes reddish-brown. The spores are 6-7x4-5. Found in mixed woods among leaves.

Tricholoma Schumacheri. Fr.

Schumacheri in honor of C. F. Schumacher, author of "Plantarum Saellandiae." The pileus is from two to three inches broad, spongy, convex, then plane, obtuse, even, livid gray, moist, edge beyond gills incurved.

The gills are narrow, close, pure white, slightly emarginate.

The stem is three to four inches long, solid, fibrillosely-striate, white and fleshy.

This seems to be a domestic plant, found in greenhouses.

Tricholoma grande. Pk.

THE LARGE TRICHOLOMA. EDIBLE.

Grande, large, showy. This was quite abundant in Haines' Hollow and on Ralston's Run during the wet weather of the fall of 1905. It seems to be very like T. columbetta and is found in the same localities.

The pileus is thick, firm, hemispherical, becoming convex, often irregular, dry, scaly, somewhat silky-fibrillose toward the margin, white, the margin at first involute. Flesh grayish-white, taste farinaceous.

The gills are close, rounded behind, adnexed, white.

The stem is stout, solid, fibrillose, at first tapering upward, then equal or but slightly thickened at the base, pure white. The spores are elliptical, 9-11x6u.

The pileus is four to five inches broad, the stem two to four inches long, and an inch to an inch and a half thick. Peck, 44th Rep.

This is a very large and showy plant, growing among leaves after heavy rains. Both this and T. columbetta, as well as a white variety of T. personatum, were very plentiful in the same woods. They grow in groups so closely crowded that the caps are often quite irregular. The darker and scaly disk and larger sized spore will help you to distinguish it from T. columbetta. The very large specimens are too coarse to be good. Found in damp woods, among leaves, from August to November.

Tricholoma sejunctum. Sow.

THE SEPARATING TRICHOLOMA. EDIBLE.



Sejunctum means having separated. It refers to the separation of the gills from the stem. Pileus fleshy, convex, then expanded, umbonate, slightly viscid, streaked with innate brown or blackish fibrils, whitish or yellow, sometimes greenish-yellow, flesh white and fragile.

The gills are broad, subdistant, rounded behind or notched, white.

The stem is solid, stout, often irregular, white. The spores are subglobose, .00025 inch broad. The pileus is one to three inches broad; stem one to four inches long and from four to eight lines thick. Peck's Report.

This is quite common about Salem, Ohio; on the old Lake Shore line in Wood County near Bowling Green, Ohio; and I have found it frequently near Chillicothe. When cooked it has a pleasant flavor. It is always an attractive specimen. I find it under beech trees in the woods, September to November.

Tricholoma unifactum. Pk.

UNITED TRICHOLOMA. EDIBLE.

Unifactum means united or made into one, referring to the stems united in one base root or stem.

The pileus is fleshy but thin, convex; often irregular, sometimes eccentric from its mode of growth; whitish, flesh whitish, taste mild.

The gills are thin, narrow, close, rounded behind, slightly adnexed, sometimes forked near the base, white.

The stems are equal or thicker at the base, solid, fibrous, white, united at the base in a large fleshy mass.

Spores are white, subglobose, .00016 to .0002 of an inch broad. Peck.

I found a beautiful specimen in Poke Hollow, in a beech woods with some oak and chestnut. There was but one cluster growing from a large whitish fleshy mass. There were fifteen caps growing from this fleshy mass. I could not identify species until too late to photograph.

Tricholoma albellum. Fr.

THE WHITISH TRICHOLOMA. EDIBLE.

The pileus is two to three inches broad, becoming pale-white, passing into gray when dry, fleshy, thick at the disk, thinner at the sides, conical then convex, gibbous when expanded, when in vigor moist on the surface, spotted as with scales, the thin margin naked, flesh soft, floccose, white, unchangeable.

The gills are very much attenuated behind, not emarginate, becoming broad in front; very crowded, quite entire, white.

The stem is one to two inches long, solid, fleshy-compact, ovate-bulbous (conical to the middle, cylindrical above), fibrillose-striate, white. Spores elliptical, 6-7x4u.

Tricholoma personatum. Fr.

THE MASKED TRICHOLOMA. EDIBLE.



Personatum means wearing a mask; so called because of the variety of colors it undergoes. This is a beautiful mushroom, and is excellently flavored; it has a wide range and is frequently found, in great abundance. I have often seen it growing in almost a straight line for over twenty feet, the caps so thoroughly crowded that they had lost their form. When young the cap is convex and quite firm, with the margin minutely downy or adorned with mealy particles, and incurved. In the mature plant it is softer, broadly convex, or nearly plane, with the thin margin spreading and more or less turned upward and wavy. When young it is pale lilac in color, but with advancing age it changes to a tawny or rusty hue, especially in the center. Sometimes the cap is white, whitish or gray, or of a pale violaceous color.

The gills are crowded, rounded next to the stem, and nearly free but approaching close to the stem, more narrow toward the margin, with a faint tinge of lilac or violet tint when young, but often white.

The stem is short, solid, adorned with very minute fibers, downy or mealy particles when young and fresh, but becoming smooth with advancing age. The color of the stem is much like the cap but perhaps a shade lighter.

The cap is from one to five inches broad, and the stem from one to three inches high. It grows singly or in groups. It is found in thin woods and thickets. It delights to grow where an old saw mill has stood.

The finest specimens of this species that I ever saw grew on a pile of compost of what had been green cobs from the canning factory. They had lain in the pile for about three years and late in November the compost was literally covered with this species, many of whose caps exceeded five inches while the color and figuration of the plants were quite typical.

In English books this plant is spoken of as Blewits and in France as Blue-stems, but the stems in this country are inclined to be lilac or violet, and then only in the younger plants.

The spores are nearly elliptical and dingy white, but in masses on white paper they have a salmon tint. Its smooth, almost shining, unbroken epidermis and its peculiar peach-blossom tint distinguish it from all other species of the Tricholoma. There is a white variety, very plentiful in our woods, which is illustrated in Figure 62. They are found only in leaf-mould in the woods. September to freezing weather.

Tricholoma nudum. Bull.

THE NAKED TRICHOLOMA. EDIBLE.

Nudum, naked, bare; from the character of the margin. The pileus is two to three inches broad, fleshy, rather thin, convex, then expanded, slightly depressed; smooth, moist, the whole plant violet at first, changing color, margin involute, thin, naked, often wavy.

The gills are narrow, rounded behind, slightly decurrent when the plant becomes depressed, crowded, violet at first, changing to a reddish-brown without any tinge of violet.

The stem is two to three inches long, stuffed, elastic, equal, at first violaceous, then becoming pale, more or less mealy. Spores 7x3.5u

I found some very fine specimens among the leaves in the woods in Haynes' Hollow, near Chillicothe. October and November.

Tricholoma gambosum. Fr.

ST. GEORGE'S MUSHROOM. EDIBLE.

Gambosum, with a swelling of the hoof, gamba. The pileus is three to six inches broad, sometimes even larger; very thick, convex, expanded, depressed, commonly cracked here and there; smooth, suggesting soft kid leather; margin involute at first, pale ochre or yellowish white.

The gills are notched, with an adnexed tooth, densely crowded, ventricose, moist, various lengths, yellowish white.

The stem is short, solid, flocculose at apex, substance creamy white; swollen slightly at the base. The spores are white.

It is called St. George's mushroom in England because it appears about the time of St. George's day, April 23d. It frequently grows in rings or crescents. It has a very strong odor. Its season is May and June.

Tricholoma portentosum. Fr.

THE STRANGE TRICHOLOMA. EDIBLE.



Portentosum means strange or monstrous.

The pileus is three to five inches broad, fleshy, convex, then expanded, subumbonate, viscid, sooty, often with purple tinge, frequently unequal and turned up, streaked with dark lines, the thin margin naked, flesh not compact, white, fragile, and mild.

The gills are white, very broad, rounded, almost free, distant, often becoming pale-gray or yellowish.

The stem is three to six inches long, solid, quite fibrous, sometimes equal, often tapering toward the base, white, stout, striate, villous at base. The spores are subglobose, 4-5x4u.

The plants grow in pine woods and along the margins of mixed woods, frequently by roadsides. It is usually found in October and November. The plants in Figure 63 were found near Waltham, Mass., and were sent to me by Mrs. E. B. Blackford. This is said to even excel T. personatum in edible qualities.

Clitocybe. Fr.

Clitocybe is from two Greek words, a hillside, or declivity, and a head; so called from the central depression of the pileus.

The genus Clitocybe differs from Tricholoma in the character of the gills. They are attached to the stem by the whole width and usually are prolonged down the stem or decurrent. This is the first genus with decurrent gills. The genus has neither a volva nor a ring and the spores are white. The stem is elastic, spongy within, frequently hollow and extremely fibrous, continuous with the pileus.

The pileus is generally fleshy, growing thin toward the margin, plane or depressed or funnel-shaped, and with margin incurved. The universal veil, if present at all, is seen only on the margin of the pileus like frost or silky dew.

These plants usually grow on the ground and frequently in groups, though a few may be found on decayed wood.

The Collybia, Mycena, and Omphalia have cartilaginous stems, while the stem of the Clitocybe is extremely fibrous, and the Tricholoma is distinguished by its notched gills.

This genus, because of the variations in its species, will always be puzzling to the beginner, as it is to experts. We may easily decide it is a Clitocybe because of the gills squarely meeting the stem, or decurrent upon it, and its external fibrous stem, but to locate the species is quite a different matter.

Clitocybe media. Pk.

THE INTERMEDIATE CLITOCYBE. EDIBLE.



Media is from medius, middle; it is so called because it is intermediate between C. nebularis and C. clavipes. It is not as plentiful as either of the others in our woods.

The pileus is grayish-brown or blackish-brown, always darker than C. nebularis. The flesh is white and farinaceous in taste.

The gills are rather broad, not crowded, adnate and decurrent, white, with few transverse ridges or veins in the spaces between the gills.

The stem is one to two inches long, usually tapering upward, paler than the pileus, rather elastic, smooth. The spores are plainly elliptical, 8x5u.

This resembles very closely the two species mentioned above and is hard to separate. I found the specimens in Figure 64 along Ralston's Run where the ground is mossy and damp. Found in September and October.

Clitocybe infundibuliformis. Schaeff.

THE FUNNEL-FORMED CLITOCYBE. EDIBLE.



Infundibuliformis means funnel-shaped. This is a beautiful plant and very abundant in woods after a heavy rain. It grows upon the leaves and especially among pine needles.

The pileus is at first convex and umbonate and as the plant advances in age the margin becomes elevated until the plant becomes funnel-shaped. The margin is frequently incurved and finally wavy. The flesh is soft and white. The color of the cap is a pale tan. If the cap is examined carefully it will be seen to be covered with a slight down or silky substance, especially on the margin. The color of the cap is apt to fade so that specimens will be found almost white.

The gills are thin, close, white or whitish, and very decurrent.

The stem is quite smooth, and generally tapers upward from the base. It is sometimes white or whitish, but more frequently like the cap. Mycelium will usually be found at the base on the leaves, forming a soft white down. I have found this species in several parts of the state. It is frequently found in clusters, when the caps will be irregular on account of the crowded condition. They are very tender and of excellent flavor. Found from August to October.

Clitocybe odora. Bull.

SWEET-SMELLING CLITOCYBE. EDIBLE.



Odora means fragrant. This is one of the easiest of the Clitocybes to identify. The collector will very readily recognize it by its olive-green color and its odor. The color in the old plant is quite variable but in young plants is well marked. The pileus is one to two and a half inches broad, flesh quite thick; at first convex, then expanded, plane, often depressed, sometimes inclined to be wavy; even, smooth, olive-green.

The gills are adnate, rather close, sometimes slightly decurrent, broad, pallid.

The stem is one to one and a half inches long, often slightly bulbous at the base.

These plants are found from August to October, in the woods, on leaves. They are quite common about Chillicothe after a rain. When cooked by themselves the flavor is a bit strong, but when mixed with other plants not so strong in flavor, they are fine.

Clitocybe illudens. Schw.

THE DECEIVING CLITOCYBE. NOT EDIBLE.



Illudens means deceiving. Pileus of a beautiful yellow, very showy and inviting. Many a basketful has been brought to me to be identified with the hope of their edibility. The cap is convex, umbonate, spreading, depressed, smooth, often irregular from its crowded condition of growth; in older and larger plants the margin of the pileus is wavy. The flesh is thick at the center but thinner toward the margin. In old plants the color is brownish.

The gills are decurrent, some much further than others; yellow; not crowded; broad.

The stem is solid, long, firm, smooth tapering towards the base, as will be seen by Figure 67, sometimes the stems are very large.

The pileus is from four to six inches broad. The stem is six to eight inches high. It occurs in large clusters and the rich saffron color of the entire plant compels our admiration and we are reminded that "not all is gold that glitters." It will be interesting to gather a large cluster to show its phosphorescence and the heat which the plant will generate. You can show the phosphorescence by putting it in a dark room and by placing a thermometer in the cluster you can show the heat. It is frequently called "Jack-o'-lantern."

I have known people to eat it without harm, but the chances are that it will make most persons sick. It ought to be good, since it is so abundant and looks so rich. Found from July to October.

Clitocybe multiceps. Pk.

THE MANY-HEADED CLITOCYBE. EDIBLE.



Multiceps means many heads; so called because many caps are found in one cluster. It is a very common plant around Chillicothe. It has been found within the city limits. It is quite a typical species, too, having all the characteristics of the genus. I have often seen over fifty caps in one cluster.

The pileus is white or gray, brownish-gray or buff; smooth, thin at the margin, convex, slightly moist in rainy weather.

The gills are white, crowded, narrow at each end, decurrent.

The stem is tough, elastic, fleshy, solid, tinged with the same color as the cap.

The pileus is one to three inches broad; grows in dense tufts. Spores are white, smooth and globose.

When found in June the plants are a shade whiter than in the fall. The fall plants are very much the oyster color. The early plant is a more tender one and better for table use, however, I do not regard it as excellent. They are found in woods, in old pastures by logs and stumps, and in lawns. June to October.

Clitocybe clavipes. Pers.



Clavipes is from clava, a club, and pes, a foot.

The pileus is one to two and a half inches broad, fleshy, rather spongy, convex to expanded, obtuse, even, smooth, gray or brownish, sometimes whitish toward the margin.

The gills are decurrent, descending, rather distant, nearly entire, rather broad, white.

The stem is two inches long, swollen at the base, attenuated upward, stuffed, spongy, fibrillose, livid sooty. Spores are elliptical, 6-7x4u.

I found specimens on Cemetery Hill underneath pine trees. I sent some to Dr. Herbst and Prof. Atkinson; both pronounced them C. clavipes. They resemble quite closely C. nebularis. I have also found this plant in mixed woods. Edible and fairly good.

Clitocybe tornata. Fr.

Tornata means turned in a lathe; so called because of its neat and regular form.

The pileus is orbicular, plane, somewhat depressed, thin, smooth, shining, white, darker on the disk, very regular.

The gills are decurrent adnate, rather crowded, white.

The stem is stuffed, firm, slender, smooth, pubescent at the base.

The spores are elliptical, 4-6x3-4u.

These are small, very regular, and inodorous plants. They are found in open fields in the grass about elm stumps. July to September. They are edible and cook readily.

Clitocybe metachroa. Fr.

THE OBCONIC CLITOCYBE. EDIBLE.



Metachroa means changing color.

The pileus is one to two and a half inches broad, somewhat fleshy, convex, then plane, depressed, smooth, hygrophanous, brownish-gray, then livid, growing pale.

The gills are attached to the stem, crowded, pale gray, slightly decurrent.

The stem is one to two inches long, stuffed, then hollow, apex mealy, equal, gray.

It differs from C. ditopa in being inodorous and having a thicker and depressed pileus.

The caps are quite smooth and are frequently concentrically cracked or wrinkled, much as in Clitopilus noveboracensis.

It is found growing on leaves in mixed woods, after a rain, in August and September. When young the margin is incurved but wavy in age. It is quite a hardy plant.

Clitocybe adirondackensis. Pk.



Adirondackensis, so called because the plant was first found in the Adirondack Mountains of New York.

The pileus is thin, submembranaceous, funnel-form, with the margin decurved, nearly smooth, hygrophanous, white, the disk often darker.

The gills are white, very narrow, scarcely broader than the thickness of the flesh of the pileus, crowded, long, decurrent, subarcuate, some of them forked.

The stem is slender, subequal, not hollow, whitish, mycelio-thickened at the base. Peck.

The pileus is one to two inches broad and the stem is one to two and a half long. This is quite a pretty mushroom and has the Clitocybe appearance in a marked degree. The long, narrow, decurrent gills, sometimes tinged with yellow, some of them forked, margin of the pileus sometimes wavy, will assist in distinguishing it. I have no doubt of its edibility. Found among leaves in woods after heavy rains. With us it is confined to the wooded hillsides. The specimens in Figure 71 were found in Michigan and photographed by Dr. Fischer. Found in July and August.

Clitocybe ochropurpurea. Berk.

THE CLAY-PURPLE CLITOCYBE. EDIBLE.



Ochropurpurea is from ochra, ocher or clay color; purpureus, purple; it is so called because the caps are clay-color and the gills are purple. The caps are convex, fleshy, quite compact, clay-colored, sometimes tinged with purple around the margin, cuticle easily separating, margin involute, often at first tomentose, old forms often repand or wavy.

The gills are purple, sometimes whitish in old specimens from the white spores, broad behind, decurrent, distant.

The stem is paler than the cap, often tinted with purple, solid, frequently long and swollen in the middle, fibrous. The spores white or pale yellow.

The first time I found this species I never dreamed that it was a Clitocybe. It was especially abundant on our wooded clay banks or hillsides, near Chillicothe, during the wet weather in July and August of 1905. It is a hardy plant and will keep for days. Insects do not seem to work in it readily. When cooked carefully it is rather tender and fairly good.

Clitocybe subditopoda. Pk.

Subditopoda is so called because it is nearly (sub) like Fries' C. ditopus, which means living in two places, perhaps referring to the stem being sometimes central and sometimes eccentric.

The pileus is thin, convex or nearly plane, umbilicate, hygrophanous, grayish-brown, striate on the margin when moist, paler when dry, flesh concolorous, odor and taste farinaceous.

The gills are broad, close, adnate, whitish or pale cinereous.

The stem is equal, smooth, hollow, colored like the pileus. The spores are elliptical, .0002 to .00025 inch long, .00012 to .00016 broad. Peck.

It is found on mossy ground in woods. I have found them under pine trees on Cemetery Hill. Dr. Peck says he separated this species from C. ditopoda because of the "striate margin of the pileus, paler gills, longer stem, and elliptical spores." The plant is edible. September and October.

Clitocybe ditopoda. Fr.

Ditopoda is from two Greek words, di-totos, living in two places, and pus or poda, foot, having reference to the stem being central at times and again eccentric.

The pileus is rather fleshy, convex, then plane, depressed, even, smooth, hygrophanous.

The gills are adnate, crowded, thin, dark, cinereous.

The stem is hollow, equal, almost naked.

This species resembles in appearance C. metachroa but can be separated by the mild taste and farinaceous odor. Its favorite habit is on pine needles. August and September. I found this species in various places about Chillicothe and on Thanksgiving day I found it in a mixed wood in Gallia County, Ohio, along with Hygrophorus laurae and Tricholoma maculatescens. I sent some specimens to Dr. Herbst, who pronounced it C. ditopoda.

Clitocybe pithyophila. Fr.

THE PINE-LOVING CLITOCYBE.



Pithyophila means pine-loving. This plant is very abundant under pine trees on Cemetery Hill. They grow on the bed of pine needles. The pileus is very variable in size, white, one to two inches broad; fleshy, thin, becoming plane, umbonate, smooth, growing pale, at length irregularly shaped, repand, wavy, sometimes slightly striate.

The stem is hollow, terete, then compressed, smooth, equal, even, downy at the base.

The gills are adnate, somewhat decurrent, crowded, plane, always white. The spores are 6-7x4u. The plants in Figure 73 are small, having been found during the cold weather in November. They are said to be good, but I have not eaten them.

Clitocybe candicans. Fr.

Candicans, whitish or shining white. Pileus is one inch broad, entirely white, somewhat fleshy, convex, then plane, or depressed, even, shining, with regularly deflexed margin.

The gills are adnate, crowded, thin, at length decurrent, narrow.

The stem is nearly hollow, even, waxy, shining, nearly equal, cartilaginous, smooth, incurved at the base. The spores are broadly elliptical, or subglobose, 5-6x4u. Found in damp woods on leaves.

Clitocybe obbata. Fr.

THE BEAKER-SHAPED CLITOCYBE. EDIBLE.

Obbata means shaped like an obba or beaker.

The pileus is somewhat membranaceous, umbilicate, then rather deeply depressed, smooth, inclined to be hygrophanous, sooty-brown, margin at length striate.

The gills are decurrent, distant, grayish-white, pruinose.

The stem is hollow, grayish-brown, smooth, equal, rather tough.

I found plants growing on Cemetery Hill under pine trees. I had some trouble to identify the species until Prof. Atkinson helped me out. August to September.

Clitocybe gilva. Pers.

THE YELLOW CLITOCYBE. EDIBLE.

Gilva means pale yellow or reddish yellow.

The pileus is two to four inches broad, fleshy, compact, soon depressed and wavy, smooth, moist, dingy ocher, flesh same color, sometimes spotted, margin involute.

The gills are decurrent, closely crowded, thin, sometimes branched, narrow but broader in the middle, ochraceous yellow.

The stem is two to three inches long, solid, smooth, nearly equal, somewhat paler than the cap, and inclined to be villous at the base.

The spores are nearly globose, 4-5u.

This plant is sometimes found in mixed woods, but it seems to prefer pine trees. It has a wide distribution, found in the east and south as well as the west. I have found it in several localities in Ohio. Found from July to September.

Clitocybe flaccida. Sow.

THE LIMP CLITOCYBE. EDIBLE.



Flaccida means flabby, limp.

The pileus is two to three inches broad, rather fleshy, thin, limp, umbilicate, then funnel-shaped, even, smooth, sometimes cracking into minute scales, tawny or rust-colored, margin broadly reflexed.

The gills are strongly decurrent, yellowish, to whitish, close, arcuate.

The stem is tufted, unequal, rusty, somewhat wavy, tough, naked, villous at the base. The spores are globose or nearly so, 4-5x3-4u.

This resembles the C. infundibuliformis very closely, both in its appearance and its habit. It grows among leaves in mixed woods during wet weather. It is gregarious, often many stems growing from one mass of mycelium. The plants in Figure 74 were collected in Ackerman's woods near Columbus, Ohio, and were photographed by Dr. Kellerman. They are found on all the hillsides about Chillicothe. Found from July to late in October.

Clitocybe monadelpha. Morg.

THE ONE-BROTHERHOOD CLITOCYBE. EDIBLE.



Monadelpha is from monos, one and adelphos, brother.

Prof. Morgan of Preston, Ohio, gives the following description of the One-Brotherhood Clitocybe in the Mycological Flora of the Miama Valley: "Densely cespitose. Pileus fleshy, convex, then depressed, at first glabrous, then scaly, honey-colored, varying to pallid-brown or reddish. The stem elongated, solid, crooked, twisted, fibrous, tapering at the base, pallid-brownish or flesh color. Spores white, a little irregular, .0055MM."

It might be easily taken for the ringless Armillaria mellea, but the decidedly decurrent gills and the solid stem ought to set any one right. In very wet weather it soon becomes water-soaked, and is then not good. It is found in woods about stumps, and in newly cleared fields about roots or stumps. From spring to October. See Plate XII, Figure 75, for an illustration. Bresadola of Europe has determined this to be the same as that described by Scoparius in 1772 as Agaricus (Clitocybe) tabescens. I have preferred to retain the name given by Prof. Morgan.

Clitocybe dealbata. Sow.

THE WHITE CLYTOCYBE. EDIBLE.

Dealbata means whitewashed; so called from its white color.

The pileus is about one inch broad, rather fleshy, convex, then plane, upturned and wavy, smooth, shining, even.

The gills are crowded, white, attached to the stem.

The stem is fibrous, thin, equal, stuffed. Spores are 4-5x2.5u.

This is a beautiful plant and widely distributed. Found among leaves and sometimes in the grass. It makes a delicious dish.

Clitocybe phyllophila. Fr.

THE LEAF-LOVING CLITOCYBE. EDIBLE.

Phyllophila means leaf and fond of. It is so called because it is found on leaves in the woods during wet weather.

The pileus is one and a half to three inches in diameter, whitish-tan, rather fleshy, convex, then plane, at length depressed, even, dry, noticeably white around the margin.

The gills are attached to the stem, decurrent especially after the cap is depressed, somewhat distant, rather broad, white, becoming yellowish or ocher tinged, thin.

The stem is two to three inches long, stuffed, becoming hollow, silky, rather tough, whitish. The spores are elliptical., 6x4u.

The whitish-tan cap with its white, silvery zone near the margin will serve to identify the species. August to October.

Clitocybe cyathiformis. Bull.

THE CUP-SHAPED CLITOCYBE. EDIBLE.

Cyathiformis is from cyathus, a drinking cup; formis, form or shape.

The pileus is two to three inches broad, fleshy, rather thin; at first depressed, then funnel-shaped; even, smooth, moist, hygrophanous; the margin involute, sooty or dark brown when moist, becoming pale when dry, often dingy ochraceous or tan-color, inclined to be wavy.

The gills are attached to the stem, decurrent from the depressed form of the pileus, united behind, somewhat dingy, sparingly branched.

The stem is stuffed, elastic, tapering upward, fibrillose, base villous. The spores are elliptical, 9x6u.

This plant has a wide distribution and is found in woods or wood margins. I found some very fine specimens on Ralston's Run, near Chillicothe. September to October.

Clitocybe laccata. Scop.

WAXY CLITOCYBE. EDIBLE.



Laccata means made of shellac or sealing-wax. This is a very common, variable plant. Sometimes of a bright amethyst but usually of a reddish brown. The pileus is from one to two inches broad, almost membranaceous, convex, then plane, depressed in the center, downy with short hairs, violet or reddish-brown.

The gills are broad, distant, attached to the stem by the entire width; pale fleshy-red in hue which is more constant than the color of the cap and which forms an ear-mark to tell the species; adnate with a decurrent tooth, plane, the white spores being very abundant.

The stem is tough, fibrous, stuffed, crooked, white-villous at the base, rather long and slender, dull reddish yellow or reddish-flesh-colored, sometimes pallid or dull ochraceous, slightly striate; when the season is wet it is often watery.

This waxy Clitocybe has a wide range and is frequently very abundant. It is found through almost the entire season. It will grow almost anywhere, in woods, pastures, and lawns, and sometimes on naked ground. The plants in Figure 76 were found in tall grass in a grove in August. Those in Figure 77 were found the last of November on Cemetery Hill, under pine trees.



Prof. Peck gives the following varieties:

Var. amethystina—in which the cap is much darker in color.

Var. pallidifolia—gills much paler than usual.

Var. striatula—cap smooth, thin, so that shadowy lines are seen on cap, radiating from near the center to the margin. This grows in damp places. Some authors make Clitocybe laccata a type for a new genus and call it Lacaria laccata.

Collybia. Fr.

Collybia is from a Greek word meaning a small coin or a small round cake. The ring and volva are both wanting in this genus. The pileus is fleshy, generally thin, and when the plant is young the margin of the pileus is incurved.

The gills are adnate or nearly free, soft, membranaceous. Many species of Collybia will revive to some extent when moistened, but they are not coriaceous.

The stem differs in substance from the pileus, cartilaginous or has a cartilaginous cuticle, while the inside is stuffed or hollow. This is quite a large genus, containing fifty-four American species.

Collybia radicata. Rehl.

THE ROOTING COLLYBIA. EDIBLE.



This, in its season, is one of the most common mushrooms in the woods. It grows in the ground, frequently around old stumps, sometimes on lawns.

Those in Figure 78 were found in the woods on the ground. One plant, as will be seen by the square, is a foot high.

It is easily recognized by its long root and flat cap. The root extends into the ground and will frequently break before pulling up. This root gives name to the species.

The pileus is fleshy, rather thin, convex, then plane, often with margin upturned in old plants as in Figure 78, and frequently wrinkled at and toward the umbo, smooth, viscid when moist.

The color is quite variable, from almost white to gray, grayish-brown; flesh thin, very white, elastic.

The gills are usually snow white, broad, rather distant, broad in the middle, joined to the stem by the upper angle, unequal.

The stem is frequently long, of the same color as the cap, yet sometimes paler; smooth, firm, sometimes grooved, often twisted, tapering upward, ending in a long tapering root, deeply planted in the soil.

The spores are elliptical, 15x10u.

They grow singly, but generally have many neighbors. They are found in open woods and around old stumps. I seldom have any trouble in getting enough for a large family and some for my neighbor, who may not know what to get but does know how to appreciate them. Found from June to October and from the New England states through the middle west. They differ from C. hariolarum in the densely tufted habit of the latter.

Colybia ingrata. Schum.

Ingrata means unpleasant; from its somewhat unpleasant odor.

The pileus is one to two inches broad, globose, bell-shaped, then convex, umbonate, even, brownish-tan.

The gills are free, narrow, crowded, pallid.

The stem is twisted, subcompressed, sprinkled with a mealy tomentum above, umber below, hollow, rather long, unequal.

I found this plant quite abundant on Cemetery Hill, growing under pine trees, from the mass of pine needles. Found in July and August.

Collybia platyphylla. Fr.

BROAD-GILLED COLLYBIA. EDIBLE.



Platyphylla is from two Greek words meaning broad and leaf, referring to the broad gills. It is a much larger and stouter plant than Collybia radicata. It is found in new ground on open pastures about stumps, also in woods, on rotten logs and about stumps.

The pileus is three to four inches broad, at first convex, then expanded, plane, margin often upturned, smoky brown to grayish, streaked with dark fibrils, watery when moist, flesh white.

The gills are adnexed, very broad, obliquely notched behind, distant, soft, white, in age more or less broken or cracked.

The stem is short, thick, often striated, whitish, soft, stuffed, sometimes slightly powdered at the apex, root blunt. The spores are white and elliptical.

It is easily distinguished from C. radicata by the blunt base of the root and the very broad gills. Like C. radicata they need to be cooked well or there is a slightly bitter taste to them. They are found from June to October.

Collybia dryophila. Bull.

OAK-LOVING COLLYBIA. EDIBLE.



Dryophila is from two Greek words, oak and fond of. The pileus is bay-brown, bay red, or tan color, one or two inches broad, convex, plane, sometimes depressed and the margin elevated, flesh thin and white.

The gills are free with a decurrent tooth, crowded, narrow, white, or whitish, rarely yellow.

The stem is cartilaginous, smooth, hollow, yellow, or yellowish, equal, sometimes thickened at the base as will be seen in Figure 80. The color of the stem is usually the same as the cap. This is a very common plant about Chillicothe. They are found in woods, especially under oak trees, but are also found in open places. I found them on the High School lawn in Chillicothe. Some very fine specimens that were found growing in a well marked ring, in an old orchard, were brought to me about the first of May. Their season is from the first of May to October.

Collybia zonata. Pk.

THE ZONED COLLYBIA. EDIBLE.



Zonata, zoned; referring to the concentric zones on the cap which show faintly in Figure 81.

The pileus is about one inch broad, sometimes more, sometimes less; rather fleshy, thin, convex, when expanded nearly plane, slightly umbilicate, covered with fibrous down; tawny or ochraceous tawny, sometimes marked with faintly darker zones; even in the very young specimens the umbilicate condition is usually present.

The gills are narrow, close, free, white or nearly white, usually with a pulverulent edge.

The stem is one to three inches long, rather firm, equal, hollow, covered like the cap with a fibrous down, tawny, or brownish tawny. The spores are broadly elliptical, .0002 inch long, .00016 broad.

This species closely resembles C. stipitaria, but is easily distinguished from it because of its habits of growth, different gills, and shorter spores. It is found on or near decaying wood in mixed woods. I have found it frequently on Ralston's Run but always only a few specimens in one place. It does not grow in a cespitose manner with us. Found in August.

Collybia maculata. Alb. & Schw.

THE SPOTTED COLLYBIA. EDIBLE.



Maculata, spotted; referring to the reddish spots or stains both on the cap and on the stem. The pileus is two to three inches broad, at first white, then spotted (as well as the stem) with reddish brown spots or stains, fleshy, very firm, convex, sometimes nearly plane, even, smooth, truly carnose, compact, at first hemispherical and with an involute margin, often repand.

The gills are somewhat crowded, narrow, adnexed, often free, linear, white or whitish, often brownish cream, gills not reaching to the margin of the cap.

The stem is three to four inches long, nearly solid, more or less grooved, stout, unequal, sometimes ventricose, frequently partially bulbous, lighter than the gills, usually spotted in age, white at first. The spores are subglobose, 4-6u. The plant is a hardy one. It will keep for several days. The plants in Figure 82 grew in the woods where a log had rotted down.

Var. immaculata, Cooke, differs from the typical form in not changing color or being spotted, and in the broader and serrated gills. This variety delights in fir woods. September to November.

Collybia atrata. Fr.

CHARCOAL COLLYBIA.



Atrata, clothed in black; from the pileus being very black when young. The pileus is from one to two inches broad, at first regular and convex, when expanded becoming, as a rule, irregular in shape, sometimes partially lobed or wavy; in young plants the cap is a dull blackish brown, faded in older specimens to a lighter brown, umbilicate, smooth, shining.

The gills are adnate, slightly crowded, with many short ones, rather broad, grayish-white.

The stem is smooth, equal, even, hollow, or stuffed, tough, short, brown within and without, but lighter than the cap. The plant grows in pastures where stumps have been burned out, always, so far as I have noticed, on burned ground. Spores .00023x.00016.

Collybia ambusta. Fr.

THE SCORCHED COLLYBIA.

Ambusta, burned or scorched, from its being found on burned soil.

The pileus is nearly membranaceous, convex, then expanded, nearly plane, papillate, striatulate, smooth, livid brown, hygrophanous, umbonate.

The gills are adnate, crowded, lanceolate, white, then of a smoky tinge.

The stem is somewhat stuffed, tough, short, livid. Spores 5-6x3-4.

This species differs from C. atrata in having an umbonate pileus.

Collybia confluens. Pers.

THE TUFTED COLLYBIA. EDIBLE.



Confluens means growing together; so called from the stems often being confluent or adhering to each other.

The pileus is from an inch to an inch and a quarter broad, reddish-brown, often densely cespitose, somewhat fleshy, convex, then plane, flaccid, smooth, often watery, margin thin, in old specimens slightly depressed and wavy.

The gills are free and in old plants remote from the stem, rather crowded, narrow, flesh colored, then whitish.

The stem is two to three inches long, hollow, pale red, sprinkled with a mealy pubescence. The spores are slightly ovate, inclined to be pointed at one end, 5-6x3-4u.

These plants grow among leaves in the woods after warm rains, growing in tufts, sometimes in rows or lines. They are not as large as C. dryophylla, the stem is quite different and the plants seem to have the ability to revive like a Marasmius. They can be dried for winter use.

Collybia myriadophylla. Pk.

MANY-LEAVED COLLYBIA.



Myriadophylla is from two Greek words, meaning many leaves. It has reference to its numerous gills.

The pileus is very thin, broadly convex, then plane or centrally depressed, sometimes umbillicate, hygrophanous, brown when moist, ochraceous or tan-color when dry.

The gills are very numerous, narrow, linear, crowded, rounded behind or slightly adnexed, brownish-lilac.

The stem is slender, but commonly short, equal, glabrous, stuffed or hollow, reddish-brown. The spores are minute, broadly elliptical, .00012 to .00016-inch long, .0008-inch broad. Peck, 49th Rep.

I found only a few specimens in Haynes's Hollow. The caps were about an inch broad and the stems were an inch and a half long. It will be easily identified if one has the description of it, because of its peculiarly colored gills. I found my plants on a decayed stump in August. In the dried specimens the gills assume a more brownish-red hue, as in the next following species.

Collybia colorea. Pk. They sometimes appear to have a glaucous reflection, probably from the abundance of the spores. The stem is more or less radicated and often slightly floccose-pruinose toward the base. The basidia are very short, being only .0006 to .0008-inch long.

Collybia atratoides. Pk.

THE BLACKISH COLLYBIA.



Atratoides means like the species atrata, which means black; so called because the caps when fresh are quite black. Atratoides has a different habitat and is not so dark.

The pileus is thin, convex, subumbilicate, glabrous, hygrophanous, blackish-brown when moist, grayish-brown and shining when dry.

The gills are rather broad, subdistant, adnate, grayish-white, often transversely veiny above and venosely connected.

The stem is equal, hollow, smooth, grayish-brown with a whitish mycelioid tomentum at the base. The spores are nearly globose, about .0002-inch broad. The pileus is six to ten lines broad and the stem is about one inch long. Peck.

The plant is gregarious, growing on decayed wood and on mossy sticks in mixed woods. The margin of the cap is often serrated, as you will see in Figure 86, yet this does not seem to be a constant characteristic of the species. It is closely related to C. atrata, but its habitat and the color of its pileus and gills differ very greatly. I have not eaten it, but have no doubt of its good qualities.

Found in August and September. Quite common in all our woods.

Collybia acervata. Fr.

THE TUFTED COLLYBIA. EDIBLE.



Acervata, from acervus, a mass, a heap.

Pileus fleshy but thin, convex, or nearly plane, obtuse, glabrous, hygrophanous, pale, tan-color or dingy pinkish-red, and commonly striate on the margin when moist, paler or whitish when dry.

Gills narrow, close, adnexed or free, whitish or tinged with flesh-color.

The stem slender, rigid, hollow, glabrous, reddish, reddish-brown or brown, often whitish at the top, especially when young, commonly with a matted down at the base. Spores elliptical, 6x3-4u.

The plant is cespitose. Pileus one-half inch broad. Stem two to three inches long. Peck's 49th Report.

This is a beautiful plant when growing in large tufts. The entire plant is tender and has a delicate flavor. I found the plant figured here on the Frankfort pike where an old saw mill had formerly stood. It grew abundantly there, along with Lepiota Americana and Pluteus cervinus.

Found from August to October.

Collybia velutipes. Curtis.

THE VELVET-FOOT COLLYBIA. EDIBLE.



Velutipes, from vellum, velvet and pes, foot.

Pileus from one to four inches broad, tawny yellow, fleshy at the center, thick on the margin, quite sticky or viscid when moist, margin slightly striate, sometimes inclined to be excentric.

Gills rounded behind, broad, slightly adnexed, tan or pale-yellow, somewhat distant.

The stem is cartilaginous, tough, hollow, umber, then becoming blackish, with a velvety coat. Spores are elliptical, 7x3-3.5u.

It grows on stumps, logs and roots, in the ground. It grows almost the year round. I have gathered it to eat in February. Plate XV gives a very correct notion of the plant. It is most plentiful in September, October and November, yet found throughout the winter months.

Mycena. Fr.

Mycena is from a Greek word, meaning a fungus. The plants of this genus are small and rather fragile.

Pileus more or less membranaceous, generally striate, with the margin almost straight, and at first pressed to the stem, never involute, expanded, campanulate, and generally umbonate.

The stem is externally cartilaginous, hollow, not stuffed when young, confluent with the cap. Gills never decurrent, though some species have a broad sinus near the stem.

Most species are small and inodorous, but some which have a strong alkaline odor are probably not good. Some are known to be edible.

A few species exude a colored or watery juice when bruised. The Mycena resembles the Collybia, but never has the incurved margin of the latter. The plants are usually smaller, and the caps are more or less conical.

This genus might be mistaken for Omphalia, in which the gills are but slightly decurrent, but in Omphalia the cap is umbilicate while in Mycena it is umbonate.

Their being so small makes the determination of species somewhat difficult. Some have characteristic odors which greatly assist in establishing their identity.

Mycena galericulata. Scop.

THE SMALL PEAKED-CAP MYCENA. EDIBLE.



Galericulata, a small peaked-cap.

The pileus is campanulate, whitish or grayish, center of the disk darker and lighter toward the margin, smooth, dry, margin striated nearly to the peak of the umbo, sometimes slightly depressed.

The gills are adnate with a tooth, connected by veins, whitish, then gray, often flesh color, rather distant, ventricose, edge sometimes entire, sometimes serrate.

The stem is rigid, cartilaginous, hollow, tough, straight, polished, smooth, hairy at the base.

It grows on logs and stumps in the woods. It is very common and sometimes found in abundance. The plants are frequently densely clustered, the numerous stems matted together by a soft hairy down at the base. There are many forms of this plant. Found from September to frost. The plants in Figure 89 were photographed by Prof. G. D. Smith, Akron, O.

Mycena rugosa. Fr.

THE WRINKLED MYCENA. EDIBLE.

Rugosa means wrinkled. The pileus is somewhat fleshy, darker and smaller than the galericulata, quite tough, bell-shaped, then expanded, with unequal elevated wrinkles, always dry, striate on the margin.

The gills are adnate, with a tooth, united behind, connected by veins, somewhat distant, whitish, then gray, edge sometimes entire, sometimes serrate.

The stem is short, tough, rooted with a hairy base, strongly cartilaginous, hollow, rigid, smooth. It is found on stumps or decayed logs during September and October.

Mycena prolifera. Sow.

THE PROLIFEROUS MYCENA. EDIBLE.

Prolifera is from proles, offspring, and fero, to bear. The pileus is somewhat fleshy, campanulate, then expanded, dry, with a broad, dark umbo; margin at length sulcate or furrowed and sometimes split, pale-yellowish or becoming brownish-tan.

The gills are adnexed, subdistant, white, then pallid.

The stem is firm, rigid, smooth, shining, minutely striate, rooting. Fries.

This species, as well as M. galericulata, is closely related to M. cohaerens. I have found it in dense tufts or clusters, sometimes on lawns, on the bare ground, and in the woods. It is one of the plants in which the stems may be cooked with the caps.

Mycena capillaris. Schum.

Capillaris means hair-like. This is a very small but beautiful white plant.

The pileus is bell-shaped, at length umbilicate, smooth.

The gills are attached to the stem, ascending, rather distant.

The stem is thread-like, smooth, short.

The spores are 7-8x4. Fries.

These plants are very small and easily overlooked. They grow on leaves in the woods after a rain. July and August. Quite common.

Mycena setosa. Sow.

Setosa means full of setae or hairs.

The pileus is very delicate, hemispherical, obtuse, smooth.

The gills are distant, white, almost free.

The stem is short, slender, and covered with spreading hairs which gives rise to its specific name.

Commonly found on dead leaves in the woods after a rain. Found in July and August.

Mycena haematopa. Pers.

THE BLOOD-FOOT MYCENA. EDIBLE.



Haematopa is from two Greek words, meaning blood and foot.

The pileus is fleshy, one inch broad, conic, or bell-shaped, somewhat umbonate, obtuse, whitish to flesh-color, with more or less dull red, even, or slightly striate at the margin, the margin extending beyond the gills and is toothed.

The gills are attached to the stem, often with a decurrent tooth, whitish. Spores, 10x6-7.

The stem is two to four inches long, firm, hollow, sometimes smooth, sometimes powdered with whitish, soft hairy down, in color the same as the pileus, yielding a dark red juice which gives name to the species.

The color varies quite a little in these plants, owing to some having more of the red juice than others. The genus is readily identified by the dull blood-red juice, hollow stem, the crenate margin of the cap, and its dense cespitose habits. It is found on decayed logs in damp places from August to October. The plants in Figure 90 were found in Haynes' Hollow, September 8. The plant is widely distributed over the United States. No one will have the slightest difficulty in recognizing this species after seeing the plants in the figure above.

Mycena alkalina. Fr.

THE STUMP MYCENA.



Solitary or cespitose; pileus one-half to two inches broad, rather membranaceous, campanulate, obtuse, naked, deeply striate, moist, shining when dry, when old expanded or depressed, but little changed in color, though occasionally with a pink or yellow hue, whitish or grayish, the center of the disk darker.

The gills are adnate, rather distant, slightly ventricose, at first pale, then glaucous, pinkish, or yellow, more or less connected by veins.

The stem is smooth, slightly sticky, shining, villous at the base with a sometimes tawny-down, sometimes firm and tenacious, hollow, attenuated upward. The plant is rigid, but brittle, and strong-scented. Found on decayed stumps and logs, you will meet it frequently. August to November.

Mycena filopes. Bull.

THREADY-STEMMED MYCENA.

Pileus membranaceous, obtuse, campanulate, then expanded, striate, brown or umber, tinged with pink.

The gills are free or minutely adnexed, slightly ventricose, white or paler than the pileus, crowded.

The stem is hollow, juicy, smooth, filiform, rather brittle, whitish or brownish. Found in woods on leaves, after a rain, from July to October.

Mycena stannea. Fr.

THE TIN-COLORED MYCENA.



Stannea pertaining to the color of tin. This is a delicate species that grows in the woods in tufts on rotten wood in damp places. The general character is shown in the illustration, being nearly white but many of the pilei are somewhat smoky.

The pileus is firm, membranaceous, bell-shaped, then expanded, smooth, very slightly striate, hygrophanous, quite silky, tin-color.

The gills are firmly attached to the stem, with a decurrent tooth, connected by veins, grayish-white.

The stem is smooth, even, shining, becoming pale, at length compressed. This species differs from Mycena vitrea in having a tooth to the gills. May, June, and July.

Mycena vitrea. Fr.

Vitrea, glassy. This plant is quite fragile. The pileus is membranaceous, bell-shaped, livid-brown, finely striate, no trace of umbo.

The gills are firmly attached to the stem, not connected by veins, distinct, linear, whitish.

The stem is slender, slightly striate, polished, pale, base fibrillose. This species differs from M. aetites and M. stannea in gills not having a decurrent tooth and not being connected by veins.

Mycena corticola. Fr.



Corticola means dwelling on bark.

It is one of the smallest of the Mycenas, the pileus being about two to four lines across, thin, hemispherical, obtuse, becoming slightly umbilicate, deeply striate, glabrous or flocculosely pruinose, gray, tan, or brownish.

The gills are attached to the stem, with slight decurrent tooth, broad, rather ovate, pallid.

The stem, is short, slender, incurved, glabrous or minutely scurfy, somewhat paler than the pileus. The spores are elliptical, 5-6x3u; cystidia obtusely fusiform, 50-60x8-10u.

These plants are found on the bark of living trees. After rains I have seen the bark on the shade trees along the walks in Chillicothe, literally covered with these beautiful little plants. The plants in Figure 93 were taken from a maple tree the 4th of December. They are very close allied to M. hiemalis but can be distinguished by the broad, ovate gills bearing cystidia, and smaller spores.

Mycena hiemalis. Osbeck.

THE WINTER MYCENA.

Hiemalis, of, or belonging to, winter. The pileus quite thin, bell-shaped, very slightly umbonate, margin striate; pinkish, rufescent, white, sometimes pruinose.

The gills are adnate, linear, white or whitish.

The stem is slender, curved, base downy, whitish, pinkish-red. The spores are 7-8x3.

This is a more delicate species than M. corticola and differs from it in its narrow gills, and striate, not sulcate, pileus, also in the color of the stem. Found on stumps and logs. October and November.

Mycena Leaiana. Berk.



Leaiana named in honor of Mr. Thomas G. Lea, who was the first man to study mycology in the Miami Valley. This is a very beautiful plant growing on decayed beech logs in rainy weather. The pileus is fleshy, very viscid, bright orange, the margin slightly striate as will be seen in the one whose cap shows.

The gills are distant, not entire, broad, notched at the stem, attached, the edge a dusky orange, or vermilion, the short gills beginning at the margin.

The stem is in most cases curved, attenuated toward the cap, smooth, hollow, rather firm, quite hirsute or strigose at the base. The spores are elliptical, apiculate, .0090x.0056 mm.

They are caespitose, growing in dense tufts on logs somewhat decayed. It is extremely viscid, so much so that your hands will be stained yellow if you handle it much. It grows from spring to fall but is usually more abundant in August and September. Very common.

Mycena iris. B.

Pileus is small, convex, expanded, obtuse, slightly viscid, striate, quite [blue?] when young, growing brownish with blue fibrils.

The gills are free, tinged with gray.

The stem is short, bluish below, tinged with brown above, somewhat pruinose. Found in damp woods after a rain, in August.

Mycena pura. Pers.



Pura means unstained, pure.

The pileus is fleshy, thin, bell-shaped, expanded, obtusely umbonate, finely striate on the margin, sometimes having margin upturned, violet to rose.

The gills are broad, adnate to sinuate, in older plants sometimes free by breaking away from the stem, connected by veins, sometimes wavy and crenate on the edge, the edge of the gills sometimes almost or quite white, violet, rose.

The stem is even, nearly naked, somewhat villous at the base, sometimes almost white when young, later assuming the color of the cap, hollow, smooth.

The spores are white and oblong, 6-8x3-3.5. M. Pelianthina differs from this in having dark-edged gills. It differs from M. pseudopura and M. zephira in having a strong smell. M. ianthina differs in having a conical cap.

This plant is quite widely distributed. Our plants are light-violet in color, and the color seems constant. I have found it in mixed woods. It is found in September and October.

Mycena vulgaris. Pers.

Vulgaris means common.

The pileus is small, convex, then depressed, papillate, viscid, brownish-gray, finely striate on the margin.

The gills are subdecurrent, thin, white; the depressed cap and decurrent gills make the plant resemble an Omphalia. Spores, 5x2.5u.

The stem is viscid, pale, tough, fibrillose at the base, rooting, becoming hollow. It differs from M. pelliculosa in not having a separable cuticule and the fold-like gills.

This plant will be recognized by its smoky or grayish color, umbilicate pileus, and viscid stem. It is found in woods on leaves and decayed sticks. August and September.

Mycena epipterygia. Scop.



Epipterygia is Epi, upon, and Pterygion, a small wing.

These are small, the pileus being one-half to one inch broad, membranaceous, bell-shaped, then expanded, rather obtuse, not depressed, striate, the cuticule separable in every condition and viscid in damp weather, gray, often pale yellowish-green near the margin often minutely notched when young.

The gills are attached to the stem with a decurrent tooth, thin, whitish or tinged with gray.

The stem is two to four inches long, hollow, tough, rooting, viscid, yellowish, sometimes gray or even whitish. The spores are elliptical, 8-10x4-5u.