7. CLITOCYBE NEBULARIS, 85

CLITO´CYBE Fr. _Gr._—sloping. (From the depression of the pileus.) =Pileus= generally fleshy, becoming thin toward the margin, flexible or tough, plane or depressed, margin involute. =Gills= adnate or decurrent, never sinuate. =Stem= confluent and homogeneous with flesh of pileus, somewhat elastic, with a spongy stuffing, frequently becoming hollow, externally fibrous. Universal veil when present conspicuous on the pileus like frost or silky dew, but commonly wanting. Growing on the ground, frequently in groups. The thinner and hygrophanous species appear late in autumn. Some are quite fragrant. Collybia, Mycena and Omphalia are separated by their stems being cartilaginous, not externally fibrous as in Clitocybe. Tricholoma by its sinuate gills. Variations in species of Clitocybe are great. A few are easily fixed in the genus, but many of them will puzzle the amateur and perplex the expert. The gills are always attached to the stem, and usually run down it. They are not notched next to the stem as in Tricholoma. Like Tricholoma, Clitocybe has many species, most of which are common, and are probably edible. I therefore give Professor Peck’s description of all Clitocybes thus far submitted to him. I know of but one species which is injurious to some persons—Clitocybe illudens. Many eat and enjoy it. It does not agree with others. A few untried species are suspicious to a like extent. Clitocybe illudens possesses the property of phosphorescence. Several species of Clitocybe have not been seen or tested by me, nor have I information that these have been tested. ANALYSIS OF TRIBES. _A._ PILEUS FLESHY, OFTEN PALLID WHEN DRY, _not hygrophanous_. Flesh firm, not watery, nor splitting into plates. Those which turn pale in drying differ from Series _B_ by their silky luster. DISCIFORMES (disk-shaped). Page 85. Pileus somewhat equally fleshy; convex then plane or depressed, obtuse, regular; gills at first adnate or regularly adnato-decurrent. Normally solitary. * Pileus gray or brownish. ** Pileus violet or reddish. *** Pileus becoming yellowish. **** Pileus greenish, becoming pale. ***** Pileus white, becoming shining white. Distinguished from white hygrophanous species and white species of Paxillus. DIFFORMES (irregularly shaped). Page 94. Pileus fleshy in the center, thin at the margin, at first umbonate, then expanded and depressed, irregular. Gills unequally decurrent, longer in some places than in others, sometimes rounded on one side of the stem or only reaching it as in Tricholoma. Stem somewhat cartilaginous externally, but fibrous. Cespitose, often grown together at base, variable in form, sometimes solitary. INFUNDIBULIFORMES (funnel-shaped). Page 98. Pileus becoming thin from the fleshy center to the margin, at length funnel-shaped or deeply umbilicately depressed in the center. Stem spongy, externally fibrous. Gills deeply and equally decurrent from the first. Pileus often becoming discolored or pallid, not hygrophanous. * Pileus colored or becoming pale, the surface (at least under a lens) innately flocculose or silky, bibulous, not moist. ** Pileus colored or pallid, smooth, moist in rainy weather. *** Pileus shining whitish, with scattered superficial flocci or becoming smooth. _B._ PILEUS FLESHY-MEMBRANACEOUS. Flesh thin, soft, watery, hygrophanous. CYATHIFORMES (cup-shaped). Page 104. Flesh of pileus thin, consisting of two separable plates, disk not compact, hygrophanous, depressed then cup-shaped; gills at first adnate then decurrent, descending, straight. Color dingy when moist. ORBIFORMES (round-shaped). Page 109. Pileus somewhat fleshy, hygrophanous, convex then flattened or depressed, polished, not squamulose nor mealy; gills plane, horizontal, thin, crowded, adnate or decurrent with a small tooth. Color dingy or becoming watery pale. * Gills becoming ash-colored. Pileus at first dark. ** Gills whitish. Pileus becoming pale. VERSIFORMES (variable in shape). Page 106. Pileus thin, convex then deformed, tough, more or less squamulose or furfuraceous; gills adnate, broad, rather thick, generally distant. Color hygrophanous. * Pileus squalid or brownish with dark squamules. None known to be edible. ** Pileus bright, of one color. _Series A._ I.—DISCIFOR´MES. * _Pileus gray or brownish._ =C. nebula´ris= Batsch.—_nebula_, a cloud. (Plate XXIV, fig. 7, p. 82.) The Clouded clitocybe, Clitocybe nebularis, takes its name from the clouded-gray appearance of its thick cap, which is at first convex, but when mature, either flat or a little depressed. Its flesh is white, thickest in the middle, and in a vertical section is seen to taper rapidly downward into the stem. The gills are close together and rather narrow for the size of the plant. They are white or yellowish-white. The stout solid stem usually tapers upward from the base and is whitish. The cap is two to four inches or more broad, the stem one to two inches long and about half an inch thick. The Clouded mushroom grows in woods, and sometimes forms large tufts or clusters among fallen leaves. It is found in autumn, but is not very common in this country. Authors differ in their estimate of the edible qualities of this mushroom, but the more recent ones generally agree in classing it as edible. “Mushrooms and Their Use,” _C.H. Peck_. =Spores= 4.5×3µ _Cooke_; elliptical 6×3.5µ _Massee_; 3×4µ _W.G.S._ There has been great diversity of opinion as to the edibility of this species on the continent. Cordier and a friend suffered from it. Paulet counseled mistrust. This fungus is quite common in the West Virginia mountains and in some parts of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, where I have found it. It is, however, limited to localities. It is one of my favorites, being of marked flavor and agreeable consistency. I have not known it to harm anyone. (Plate XXV.) [Illustration: CLITOCYBE CLAVIPES. About two-thirds natural size. ] =C. cla´vipes= Pers.—_clava_, a club; _pes_, a foot. =Pileus= 1½-2½ in. across, rather convex at first, soon plane, at length almost obconical, very obtuse, even, glabrous, dry, sometimes all one color, brown, sooty, livid-gray, etc., sometimes whitish towards the margin, very rarely entirely white. =Flesh= loose in texture, white, thin at the margin. =Gills= deeply decurrent, continued down the stem as straight lines, rather distant, flaccid, quite entire, broad, entirely and persistently white. =Stem= 2 in. long, base ½ in. and more thick, conically attenuated upward, rather fibrillose, livid, sooty, solid, spongy within. =Spores= elliptical, 6–7×4µ. In woods, especially pine. Resembling C. nebularis in color, but quite distinct. Smell pleasant, entire substance soft and elastic. _Fries._ =Spores= elliptical, 6–7×4µ _Massee_; sub-ellipsoid, 5–7×3–4µ _K._; 6×8µ _W.G.S._ Found in pine woods of New Jersey, and under spruce in West Virginia. Its substance is spongy, therefore does not stew well. Cooked in any other way it is delicate and of excellent flavor. =C. gangræno´sa= Fr.—_gangræna_, gangrene. =Pileus= fleshy, convex then plane, obtuse, whitish, at first sprinkled with white powder, then naked, variegated, streaked. =Gills= slightly decurrent, arcuate, crowded, dingy-white. =Stem= somewhat bulbous, soft, striate, spongy, solid. Stinking; large, flesh becoming blackish and variegated with black. Stem curved, sometimes excentric. Pileus whitish, here and there greenish, livid, etc. _Fries._ Var. _nigres´cens_ Lasch. Whitish; pileus thin, soft, at first convex, obtuse then plane, somewhat umbonate, and somewhat depressed; gills decurrent, very much crowded, narrow, stem solid, downy. =Pileus= 2–3 in. broad. =Stem= 1¼-1½ in. long, 2–3 lines thick. Odor rather sweet, taste unpleasant. _Cooke._ New Jersey, Haddonfield, pine woods. July to August. _McIlvaine._ This Clitocybe is in every way unattractive. It is not poisonous, but no one would care to eat it. (Plate XXVI.) [Illustration: CLITOCYBE MEDIA. One-half natural size. ] =C. me´dia= Pk.—_medius_, middle. Because intermediate between C. nebularis and C. clavipes. =Pileus= fleshy, convex, becoming plane or slightly depressed, dry, dark grayish-brown, the margin often wavy or irregular, flesh white, taste mild. =Gills= broad, subdistant, adnate or decurrent, whitish, the interspaces somewhat venose. =Stem= equal or but slightly thickened at the base, solid, elastic, not polished, colored like or a little paler than the pileus. =Spores= elliptical, 8×5µ. =Pileus= 2–4 in. broad. =Stem= 1–2 in. long, 4–8 lines thick. Mossy ground in deep woods. North Elba. September. This species is intermediate between C. nebularis and C. clavipes. In its general appearance, and in the character of the pileus and stem, it resembles C. nebularis, but in the character of the more distant gills and in the size of the spores it is nearer C. clavipes, of which it might perhaps be regarded as a variety. Two forms are distinguishable. In one the gills are more distant, slightly rounded behind, and adnate or abruptly terminated; in the other they are closer and more distinctly decurrent. The plant is edible. _Peck_, 42d Rep. N.Y. State Bot. I have known this fungus very favorably since 1883, and regard it as one of the best. I have seen it in the West Virginia mountains only, but it will probably be found in cool, shaded, high localities all over the country. Both it and the C. nebularis are well worthy of search. =C. viles´cens= Pk.—_vilesco_, of little value. =Pileus= convex, then plane or depressed, often irregular, glabrous, slightly pruinose on the involute margin, brown or grayish-brown, becoming paler with age, often concentrically rivulose. =Gills= close, adnate or decurrent, cinereous, sometimes tinged with dingy-yellow. =Stem= short, solid, sometimes compressed, grayish-brown, with a whitish tomentum at the base. =Spores= subglobose or broadly elliptical, 5–6.5µ; flesh whitish-gray, odor slight. =Plant= gregarious, 1–2 in. high. =Pileus= 1–1.5 in. broad. =Stem= 1–2 lines thick. Grassy pastures. Jamesville, August. _Peck_, 33d Rep. N.Y. State Bot. A pale form of this species grows on sandy soil, in which the pileus is smoky white, but it becomes grayish-brown in drying. The mycelium binds together a mass of sand, so that when the plant is taken up carefully a little ball of sandy soil adheres to the base of the stem. The stem is sometimes pruinose. The flavor is mild and agreeable. _Peck_, 50th Rep. N.Y. State Bot. Sometimes plentiful about Philadelphia. Edible. Caps tender, slight flavor. =C. comitia´lis= Fr.—belonging to an assembly. =Pileus= about 1½ in. across, fleshy, convex, then plane, obtuse, even, glabrous, rather moist but not hygrophanous, every part colored alike, sooty-umber, almost black. =Flesh= firm, white. =Gills= very slightly decurrent, horizontal, plane, thin, crowded, white. =Stem= 2–3 in. long, 3–4 lines thick, equally attenuated upward from the base, glabrous, sooty, elastic, stuffed. =Spores= elliptical, 7–8×4µ. Damp places among mosses in pine woods, etc. Distinguished by the blackish color of the almost flat pileus, and the very slightly decurrent gills. Somewhat allied to C. clavipes, but firmer, smaller and inodorous. _Massee._ Rather rare. Found in New Jersey among pines; in Pennsylvania in mixed woods. Edible. Good texture and flavor. [Illustration: Photographed by Dr. J.R. Weist. PLATE XXVII. CLITOCYBE MONADELPHA. ] ** _Violet or reddish._ =C. cyanophæ´a= Fr. _Gr._—blue. =Pileus= 3–4 in. broad, becoming bluish-dusky-brown, compact, convex then plane, obtuse, smooth. =Stem= 3 in. long, 1 in. thick at the base, attenuated upward, robust, solid, smooth, _becoming azure-blue_ when young, _abruptly white at the apex_. =Gills= deeply decurrent, crowded, violaceous, then becoming pale. New York, Albion. In woods. October. Edible. _Dr. E.L. Cushing._ Specimens sent to me by Dr. Cushing are the first and only ones of the species I have seen. The description is accurate. The spores were cream color. =C. monadel´pha= Morg.—_monas_, single; _adelphos_, a brother. From its cespitose habit. (Plate XXVII.) Densely cespitose. =Pileus= fleshy, convex then depressed, at first glabrous, then scaly, honey color, varying to pallid-brownish or reddish. =Stem= elongated, solid, crooked, twisted, fibrous, tapering at the base, pallid-brownish or flesh color. =Gills= short, decurrent, not crowded, pallid flesh color. =Spores= white, a little irregular, 7.5×5.5µ. On the ground in wet woods, spring to late autumn. =Pileus= 1–3 in. =Stem= 3–7 in. _Morgan._ Grassy places. Menands. Albany county. September. Edible. Resembling Armillaria mellea, but distinguished from it by the absence of a collar from the stem, by the more decidedly decurrent lamellæ and by the solid stem. It is also more agreeable in flavor. It is related to C. illudens in habit and manner of growth. _Peck_, 51st Rep. N.Y. State Bot. =Spores= 8×5µ _Peck_. October 15, 1898. Identified by Professor Peck. September until frost. Grows in great clusters about roots, etc., at Mt. Gretna. Frequently much water-soaked and uninviting. Taste variable, sometimes strong, woody. It is edible, but care should be exercised in collecting to get young, fresh groups. =C. socia´lis= Fr.—_socius_, a companion. =Pileus= about 1 in. broad, pale-yellowish with a reddish tinge, fleshy, convex then expanded, acutely umbonate especially when young, even, smooth, dry. =Flesh= moderately thin, white. =Stem= 1 in. long, 2 lines or a little more thick, solid, fibrous, commonly ascending, smooth, reddish, the rooting base hairy. =Gills= plano-decurrent, scarcely crowded, becoming yellow. _Fries._ A very pretty species, densely gregarious, inodorous. The stem is sheathed-hairy at the base like Marasmius peronatus. Its greatest affinity is with A. vernicosus, of which it is perhaps a variety. _Stevenson._ Quite common in pine woods of New Jersey. Though small, goodly messes of it may be gathered from its patches. The caps make a pleasing dish. *** _Pileus becoming yellow._ None reported as tested for edibility. **** _Pileus greenish or becoming pallid._ =C. odo´ra= Bull.—_odorus_, fragrant. (Plate XXIV, fig. 9, p. 82.) Fragrant. =Pileus= about 2 in. across, flesh rather thick, tough; soon plane and wavy, even, smooth, pale dingy green, silky when dry. =Gills= adnate, rather close, broad, greenish or pallid. =Stem= about 1–1½ in. long, 2 lines thick, base incrassated, elastic, stuffed. =Spores= elliptical, 6–8×4–5µ. In woods. _Massee._ Readily distinguished by the strong, aniseed smell, dingy bluish-green pileus, and the pallid or greenish gills. Sometimes somewhat cespitose. Tough; size variable, color varies between pale green and greenish-gray, usually all colored alike, but the gills are sometimes white; smell pleasant, spicy, especially when dry. _Fries._ =Spores= 6×5µ _K._; 8×4µ _B._ A rather delicate, even exquisite dish. _Cooke._ Edible. Exceedingly spicy. The flavor is pleasant, but rather strong. A few specimens mixed with others of like texture but less flavor make a tasty dish. =C. rivulo´sa= Pers.—_rivus_, a stream. (Named from rivulet-like streaks on pileus.) =Pileus= 1–3 in. across, flesh thin, convex then plane and depressed, obtuse, often undulately lobed, dingy flesh-color or reddish, becoming pale, glabrous, then covered with a whitish down. =Gills= slightly decurrent, broad, rather crowded, pinkish-white. =Stem= about 2 in. long, 3–4 lines thick, rather fibrillose, tough, elastic, whitish, stuffed. =Spores= elliptical, 6×3.5µ. _Massee._ Among grass by road-sides, etc. Not common, but when found it is basket-filling. I have found it in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and West Virginia. Edible. The caps are rather tough but become glutinous and tender when well cooked. Flavor fine. ***** _Pileus white, shining when dry._ =C. cerussa´ta= Fr.—_cerussa_, white lead. =Pileus= 1½-3 in. across, flesh thick at the disk, becoming thin toward the margin; convex then almost plane, obtuse, even, minutely floccose then almost glabrous, white. =Gills= adnate, then decurrent, very much crowded, thin, permanently white. =Stem= about 2 in. long, 3–5 lines thick, smooth, tough, elastic, naked, spongy and solid, white. Among dead leaves, etc. Taste mild, smell almost obsolete. Stem rather thickened at the base and often tomentose. Pileus said to be gibbous, but not umbonate nor becoming rufescent. Gills not changing to yellowish. _Fries._ =Spores= 3µ _W.G.S._ Edible. Good. =C. phylloph´ila= Fr. _Gr._—leaf-loving. Whitish-tan. =Pileus= 1–3 in. across, rather fleshy, convex then plane, becoming umbilicate and depressed, sometimes wavy, smooth and even. =Gills= thin, subdistant, white then tinged with ocher, rather broad, very slightly decurrent. =Stem= 2–3 in. long, equal, stuffed then hollow, whitish, tough, silky-fibrillose. =Spores= 6×4µ. Among leaves in woods, etc. =Spores= 6×4µ _Massee_; 6×3µ _W.G.S._; 5.5×2.8µ _Morgan_. Found at Devon, Pa., 1888; Angora, West Philadelphia, 1897. It is equal to the Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster mushroom) in texture, but not so high in flavor. Well cooked it is an agreeable and valuable food. =C. pithyoph´ila= Secr. _Gr._—pine-loving. =Pileus= 2–3 in. broad, dead-white when moist, shining whitish when dry, fleshy but _thin_, rather plane, _umbilicate_, at length irregularly shaped, repand and undulato-lobed, even, _smooth, flaccid_, the margin slightly striate when old. =Stem= _somewhat hollow_, rounded then compressed, equal, even, smooth, obsoletely or scarcely pruinose at the apex, white tomentose at the (not bulbous) base. =Gills= adnate, somewhat decurrent, _very crowded_, plane, 2–3 lines broad, distinct, quite entire, white. Odor not remarkable, but pleasant. Gregarious, somewhat cespitose; _white_ indeed, but when moist watery and _somewhat hygrophanous_, in which it evidently differs from A. phyllophila. A. tuba, which appears in the same places, is very like it. _Stevenson._ =Spores= 6–7×4µ _B._ Massachusetts, _Sprague_; New York, _Peck_, Bull. 1887. Albion, Orleans county, N.Y., October, 1898, _Dr. Cushing_. Several specimens received were clearly referable to C. pithyophila, though varying in having caps deeply depressed but not umbilicate. The white tomentosity at base was present but indistinct. Four specimens were eaten and found good. Eaten enjoyably by Dr. Cushing. =C. fus´cipes= Pk.—_fuscus_, dirty; _pes_, a foot. =Pileus= thin, broadly convex or plane, umbilicate, glabrous, whitish and striatulate when moist, pure white when dry, odor and taste farinaceous. =Gills= nearly plane, subdistant, adnate or slightly decurrent, white. =Stem= equal, glabrous or slightly mealy at the top, hollow, dingy brown when moist, paler when dry. =Spores= globose, 5–6µ. =Pileus= 4–8 lines broad. =Stem= about 1 in. long. Under pine trees. Carrollton. September. _Peck_, 44th Rep. N.Y. State Bot. Edible. Its small size gives it minor importance, but a quantity of it makes an excellent meal. =C. can´dicans= Pers.—_candico_, to be shining white. Entirely white. =Pileus= about 1 in. across, flesh thin, convex then plane or slightly depressed, umbilicate, regular or slightly excentric, even, with an adpressed silkiness, shining, shining white when dry. =Gills= adnate then slightly decurrent, crowded, very thin, narrow, straight. =Stem= 1–2 in. long, 1–2 lines thick, even, glabrous, cartilaginous, polished, equal, hollow, base incurved, rooting, downy. =Spores= broadly elliptical or subglobose, 5–6×4µ. _Massee._ Among damp fallen leaves, etc. Entirely white, small, rather tough; approaching Omphalia in the structure of the stem. The following form is described by Fries as occurring in pine woods: Stem thin, flexuous, base glabrous; pileus plane, not umbilicate, naked (without silky down). Gills scarcely decurrent. A remarkable form but scarcely to be separated as a species. _Fries._ Quite common in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey. The caps are excellent when well cooked. =C. dealba´ta= Sow.—_dealbo_, to whitewash. =Pileus= about 1 in. or a little more broad, white, _slightly fleshy, tough_, convex then plane and at length revolute and undulated, always dry (not watery in rainy weather), even, smooth, _somewhat shining_, but as if innately pruinose under a lens. =Flesh= thin, arid, white. =Stem= 1 in. long, 2 lines thick, _stuffed, wholly fibrous_, at length also tubed, equal, but often ascending, whitish, mealy at the apex. =Gills= _adnate_, scarcely decurrent, thin, _crowded_, white. =Pileus= sometimes orbicular, sometimes upturned and wavy. _Odor weak, pleasant_, but not very remarkable. Most distinct from A. candicans in the nature of the stem. Edible. Its top is _exceedingly like ivory_. Its charming flavor is exceeded by very few other fungi. _Stevenson._ Among leaves and grass. Woodland Cemetery, Philadelphia. This charming fungus is common over the land. I have known it since 1881, and found it from North Carolina to West Virginia. =C. robus´ta= Pk.—_robustus_, stout. =Pileus= thick, firm, at first convex, soon plane or slightly depressed in the center, glabrous, white, the margin at first involute or decurved, naked. =Flesh= white. =Gills= narrow, close, decurrent, whitish. =Stem= stout, rather short, solid, glabrous, equal or slightly tapering upward, often with a bulbous base, white. =Spores= elliptical, 8×4–5µ. =Pileus= 3–4 in. broad. =Stem= 1–2 in. long, 8–12 lines thick. Woods among fallen leaves. Catskill mountains. September to November. This large and robust fungus is closely allied to C. candida Bres., from which it differs in the naked margin of the pileus, the absence of any marked odor and especially in the more elliptical shape of its spores. The same plant has been collected in Maryland by Mr. L.J. Atwater, who considers it edible, having eaten it with satisfaction and safety. _Peck_, 49th Rep. N.Y. State Bot. This fungus is quite plentiful in Pennsylvania and in open oak woods in New Jersey. Its size and sometimes gregarious growth give it a permanent food value. Its texture is coarse, but when cooked it is highly satisfactory. =C. gallina´cea= Scop.—_gallina_, a hen. Application not apparent. White; acrid. =Pileus= 1–1½ in. across, rather fleshy at the disk, margin thin; convex then depressed, but not funnel-shaped, even, dry, opaque. =Gills= slightly decurrent, narrow, crowded, thin. =Stem= about 1½ in. long, 2 lines thick, equal, even, solid. Among grass, moss, etc. Resembling C. dealbata in form, but smaller, opaque, dingy-white, taste somewhat acrid. Stem solid, but not cartilaginous, about 2 in. long, equal, ascending or flexuous, excentric, at first floccosely mealy, always opaque, white. Pileus slightly fleshy, convex then plane, not depressed, obtuse, ½-1 in. broad, unequal, dry, pruinosely hoary; flesh white, compact, but thin. Gills adnato-decurrent, thin, crowded, plane. _Fries._ It loses its acridity in cooking and is quite equal to C. dealbata. =C. trunci´cola= Pk.—_truncus_, trunk of a tree. =Pileus= thin, firm, expanded or slightly depressed in the center, smooth, dry, white. =Gills= narrow, thin, crowded, adnate-decurrent. =Stem= equal, stuffed, smooth, often excentric and curved, whitish. =Plant= 1 in. high. =Pileus= 1 in. broad. =Stem= 1 line thick. Trunks of frondose trees, especially maples. _Croghan._ September. _Peck_, 26th Rep. N.Y. State Bot. =Spores= 5×3.5µ _Morgan_. Found on maple trees in West Philadelphia, Pa. Edible. Good quality. [Illustration: Grouped by F.D. Briscoe—Studies by C. McIlvaine. PLATE XXVII_a_. ] FIG. PAGE. FIG. PAGE.