1. CLITOCYBE MULTICEPS, 95 2. CLITOCYBE MULTICEPS, 95

VAR. II.—DIFFOR´MES. =C. decas´tes= Fr. _Gr._—a decade; a number of ten. From the stems being often joined in bundles of about ten. Densely cespitose. =Pileus= 5–12 in. across, soon almost plane, disk gibbous or obtuse; margin at first shortly incurved, then expanded, very much waved and often lobed, even, glabrous, dingy-brown or livid when moist, pale clay-color when dry. =Flesh= exceedingly thin except at the disk, whitish. =Stem= 4–7 in. long, ½-1½ in. thick, usually slightly thinner upward, rather soft, entirely fibrous, solid, white, usually curved and ascending, coalescent into a solid mass at the base. =Gills= adnato-decurrent, or often more or less adnexed, up to ½ in. broad, rather narrowed towards the margin, often wavy. =Spores= globose, smooth, 4µ diameter. On the ground and on sawdust. Albion, Orleans county, N.Y., _Dr. Cushing_. October, 1898. On ground in grassy places (Woodland Cemetery, May 22, 1897). _McIlvaine._ Particularly welcome to toadstool lovers are the early comers. The present species is among the first. It is rich in quantity, substance and flavor. =C. mul´ticeps= Pk.—_multus_, many; _caput_, a head. (Plate XXVII_a_, p. 94.) =Pileus= fleshy, thin except on the disk, firm, convex, slightly moist in wet weather, whitish, grayish or yellowish-gray. =Flesh= white, taste mild. =Gills= close, adnate and slightly decurrent, whitish. =Stems= densely cespitose, equal or slightly thickened at the base, solid or stuffed, firm, elastic, slightly pruinose at the apex, whitish. =Spores= globose, 5–8µ. =Pileus= 1–3 in. broad. =Stem= 2–4 in. long, 3–6 lines thick. Open places, grassy ground, etc. Albany and Sandlake. June and October. This species forms dense tufts, often composed of many individuals. In this respect it is related to such species as C. tumulosa, C. aggregata and C. illudens. From the crowding together of many individuals the pileus is often irregular. Sometimes the disk is brownish and occasionally slightly silky. The gills are sometimes slightly sinuate, thus indicating a relationship to the species of Tricholoma. The taste, though mild, is somewhat oily and unpleasant. The plants appear in wet, rainy weather, either early in the season or in autumn. Specimens have been sent to me from Massachusetts by R.K. Macadam and Professor Farlow, and from Pennsylvania by Dr. W. Herbst. _Peck_, 43d Rep. N.Y. State Bot. West Virginia, New Jersey, Mt. Gretna, Pa. In May, and in autumn months. Very variable in size, color, shape of gills, texture and taste. _McIlvaine._ The early spring clusters are remarkable for their tenderness and excellence. Clusters of hundreds of individuals grew abundantly at Mt. Gretna in May, 1899. When the fungus was young the gills were sometimes adnate, almost free, often decurrent. The varying color of oysters is well seen in C. multiceps. Edible. They should be well cooked. The addition of a little lemon juice or sherry conceals a slight raw taste sometimes present. [Illustration: Photographed by Dr. J.R. Weist—Painted by C. McIlvaine. PLATE XXIX_a_. ] PAGE. CLITOCYBE ILLUDENS 96 =C. illu´dens= Schw.—mocking, deceiving. (Plate XXIX_a_, p. 96.) =Pileus= fleshy, convex or expanded, smooth, generally with a small umbo. =Gills= not crowded, unequally decurrent, some of them branched, narrowed toward each end, the edge, in dry specimens, discolored. =Stem= firm, solid, long, smooth, tapering at the base. =Height= 5–8 in., breadth of pileus 4–6 in. =Stem= 6–8 lines thick. =Spores= 4–5µ _Peck_. Grows in clumps or large masses about stumps or decaying trees from August to October. Its bright, deep yellow is attractive from a distance. As many as fifty plants may form a cluster. Cap from 2–6 in., fleshy, convex or expanded, often with a raised center directly over the stem; flesh juicy and yellow; gills yellow, widely separated, running down stem unequally; stem long, firm, solid, smooth, tapering toward base. When cooked the taste is rather saponaceous. Strong stomachs can retain a meal of them, but the fungus generally sickens the eater. Many testings show it to contain a minor poison. It is not deadly, but should not be eaten. Bull. No. 2, Phila. Myc. Center. New York, _Peck_, Rep. 23–49. Well known in southern states. Indiana, _H.I. Miller_. The mysterious property of phosphorescence is possessed by this fungus. As heat is known to develop in masses of the fungus it is of interest to know whether it is from the phosphorescence or a ferment. Its radiance by night surpasses its splendor by day. Mr. H.I. Miller, of Terre Haute, Ind., first drew the writer’s attention to this quality. A large box of specimens sent by him retained their luminous quality after three days of travel to such an extent that the print of a newspaper could be read when held close to the mass. Mr. Miller writes: “There is something about this fungus which generates heat. When I bring in a basketful of it, for the pleasure its phosphorescence affords my friends, I find that after having been in the basket for two or three hours, and while piled one bunch upon top of another, that to insert one’s hand among the different clusters is like putting it close to a hot stove.” This fungus is so inviting in quantity and beauty that one turns from it with a regret that lingers. Eaten in quantity it acts upon some persons as an emetic. I have several times eaten of it without other than pleasurable sensations, but persons partaking of the same cooking have been sickened. =C. fumo´sa= Pers.—_fumus_, smoke. =Pileus= 1–3 in. across, fleshy, margin thin; convex, often gibbous when young, regular or wavy, even, pellicle not separable, glabrous, sooty-brown, soon livid or gray when dry. =Gills= adnate in regular forms, but often decurrent when the pileus is irregular, crowded, distinct, grayish-white from the first. =Stem= 2–3 in. long, 3–6 lines thick, almost equal, often twisted or curved, glabrous, dingy-white, apex mealy, solid, fibrous. =Spores= subglobose, 5–6µ diam. In woods. Autumn. Gregarious, somewhat cespitose, tough, rather cartilaginous. Pileus truly obtuse, never streaked, often regular. Smell none. _Fries._ Var. _po´lius_. Densely and connately cespitose. =Pileus= convex, then plane, obtuse, smooth, gray. =Stem= flexuous, smooth. =Gills= crowded, whitish. Edible. _Cooke_, 1891. Var. polius found growing in large quantities in Boston navy yard in stone barn. Determined by Professor Peck. A fair edible. _R.K. Macadam._ This woods-growing Clitocybe has been many times found by me in a hot-house in Haddonfield, N.J. Professor Peck confirmed my identification. Either its spores or mycelium had evidently been carried thither in the wood-earth used by florists. The hot-house crops appeared in March, and continued until June. Several of the plants showed an effort to comply with some condition unusual to them, by producing gills upon the upper side of the pileus. Those below were venose and crisped. This wild species had thus been brought into cultivation. The cultivated plants were much more tender than the wild. Both are excellent. =C. connex´a= Pk.—_connexus_, joined. From its relation to Tricholoma. =Pileus= thin, convex or expanded, subumbonate, clothed with a minute appressed silkiness, white, the margin sometimes faintly tinged with blue. =Gills= crowded, narrow, white inclining to yellowish. =Stem= equal or tapering downward, solid, whitish. =Plant= 2–3 in. high. =Pileus= 2–3 in. broad. =Stem= 2 lines thick. Ground in woods. Croghan. September. The gills sometimes terminate rather abruptly and are not strongly decurrent, hence it might easily be mistaken for a Tricholoma. The margin of the pileus is sometimes marked with slight ridges as in Ag. laterarius. The odor is weak but aromatic and agreeable. _Peck_, 26th Rep. N.Y. State Bot. Found in plenty in oak woods near Philadelphia, and in West Virginia; a few specimens in southern New Jersey. Autumn. Edible, and quite equal to most of the Clitocybes. =C. tumulo´sa= Kalchbr.—_tumulus_, a mound. Cespitose. =Pileus= 1–2 in. across, disk fleshy, margin thin; conico-convex then expanded, obtusely umbonate or obtuse, even, glabrous, brownish-umber, becoming pale, margin drooping. =Gills= more or less decurrent or slightly emarginate, crowded narrow, white, then grayish. =Stem= 3–5 in. long, unequal, usually thicker below, minutely downy, pallid, solid. On the ground in woods. Spring and autumnal months. Readily distinguished by the densely clustered habit, and the umber pileus. The gills are very variable, sometimes distinctly decurrent, at others rounded behind, and almost resembling a Tricholoma. =Spores= subglobose, 5–6µ. _Massee._ California, _H. and M._; New York, _Peck_, Rep. 42. Sent to me by Mrs. Mary Fuller, Washington, D.C. The specimens eaten were of good consistency and flavor. III.—INFUNDIBULFOR´MES. * _Pileus colored or becoming pale, etc., surface innately flocculose or silky; not moist._ =C. gigante´a= Sow.—_giganteus_, of gigantic size. =Pileus= 6–10 in. across. =Flesh= rather thin in proportion to the size of the fungus, white, or tinged with tan, glabrous when moist, slightly flocculose when dry; margin involute then spreading, glabrous, rather coarsely grooved. =Gills= slightly decurrent, broad, very much crowded, branched and connected by veins, whitish then pale tan-color, not separating spontaneously from the hymenophore. =Stem= 1–2 in. long and nearly the same in thickness, equal, pallid, solid. =Spores= white, 5×3µ. In woods, etc. A very distinct species, very showy, large, subcespitose, entirely whitish tan-color; without close affinities. Stem solid, compact, and firm inside and outside, 2½ in. long, ½ in. thick, equal, even, glabrous. Pileus depressed from the first, then broadly, _i. e._, plano-infundibuliform, thin but equally fleshy, soft, not flaccid, but easily splitting from the margin toward the center (almost papery and involute when old), upward of a foot broad, often excentric and generally sinuately lobed, moist and adpressedly downy when growing, slightly flocculose and cracked into scales when dry; margin at first very thin, involute, pubescent, soon spreading, glabrous, at length revolute, coarsely furrowed or radiately wrinkled. Gills slightly decurrent, closely crowded, almost 3 lines broad (2–3 times as broad as thickness of flesh of pileus), connected by veins, thin, fragile, straight, but sometimes varying to crisped and anastomosing, whitish then yellowish or tinged with rufous, smell weak. _Fries._ This species was placed in Clitocybe in Syst. Myc. and Epicrisis, but in Hym. Europ. Fries removed it to Paxillus in which he is followed by Stevenson. Cooke and Massee continue it in Clitocybe. Dr. Somers found one measuring over 15 inches in diameter. _R.K.M._ North Carolina, _Schweinitz_. Edible, _Curtis_; Wisconsin, _Bundy_; California, _H. and M._; Nova Scotia, _Dr. Somers_. Large quantities of Clitocybe gigantea grow in the West Virginia mountains, and in woods around Philadelphia. July to November. Its substance is coarse, but of good flavor. It should be chopped fine. =C. max´ima= Gärtn and Meyer. (Fl. Wett.)—greatest. (Plate XXIV, fig. 5, page 82.) =Pileus= as much as 1 foot broad, becoming pale-tan or whitish, _fleshy_, compact at the disk, otherwise thin, _somewhat flaccid_ (not capable of being split), broadly funnel-shaped, gibbous _with a central umbo_, always very dry, the surface _becoming silky-even_ or squamulose; margin involute, pubescent, always _even_. =Flesh= white, at length soft. =Stem= as much as 4 in. long, 1 in. thick, solid, compact, but internally spongy, _elastic_, attenuated upward, fibrillosestriate, whitish. =Gills= _deeply decurrent_, pointed at both ends, somewhat crowded, soft, simple, _whitish_, not changeable. The pileus is always very dry because the surface absorbs moisture. Odor weak, pleasant, almost that of A. infundibuliformis. On account of its gigantic stature and color, it has often been interchanged with A. gigantea Sow.; it is in no wise, however, allied to that species, but is so closely allied to A. infundibuliformis that it might be taken for a very luxuriant form of it. _Stevenson._ =Spores= 6×4µ _Massee_; 5×3µ, _W.G.S._ New England, _Frost_; California, _H. and M._ Common in the West Virginia mountains, mixed woods in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. June to November. _McIlvaine._ It is coarse, dry, hard, but chopped fine and cooked in various ways, either by itself or with meats, it is a good food. =C. infundibulifor´mis= Schaeff.—_infundibulum_, a funnel; _forma_, form. (Plate XXIV, fig. 11, p. 82.) The Funnel-form clitocybe, Clitocybe infundibuliformis, is a neat and pretty species easily recognized by the funnel shape of its mature cap and by its pale red color. When very young the cap is slightly convex and often adorned with a slight umbo in its center. As it matures the margin becomes elevated so that the cap assumes a shape somewhat resembling that of a wine glass. The margin is sometimes wavy. The flesh is thin and white. The gills are close, thin, white or whitish and decurrent. The stem is smooth, colored like or a little paler than the cap and mostly tapering from the base upward. The cap is 2–3 in. broad, the stem 1½-3 in. long and ¼-½ in. thick. The funnel-shaped mushroom grows in woods or copses in summer and autumn, especially in wet seasons. It is somewhat variable in color, but is usually a pale-red, tinged with buff, and sometimes becoming more pale with age. It delights to grow among fallen leaves, and often there is an abundant white cottony mycelium at the base of the stem. When it grows in clusters the caps are apt to be irregular because of mutual pressure. “Mushrooms and Their Use.” _Peck._ =Spores= 5–6×3–4µ _B._ Very common and in plenty after rains, when large patches of it may be found. I have usually found the light pinkish-buff color to abound, and the stem thinner than described by Prof. Peck. Size of cap from 1–3 in. It is a good, reliable food species. The stem should be removed, and the caps well cooked. ** _Pileus colored or pallid, smooth, moist in wet weather._ =C. subzonal´is= Pk.—_sub_, under; _zonalis_, pertaining to a zone. =Pileus= thin, centrally depressed or subinfundibuliform, marked with two or three obscure zones, with a slight appressed silkiness, pale yellow. =Gills= close, narrow, equally decurrent, some of them forked, pallid or yellowish. =Stem= equal, slightly fibrillose, stuffed, pale yellow. =Plant= 2 in. high. =Pileus= 2–3 in. broad. =Stem= 2–3 lines thick. Ground in woods. _Croghan._ September. _Peck_, 26th Rep. N.Y. State Bot. Found in oak woods, Angora, West Philadelphia, growing singly. Specimens few. Edible; pleasant. =C. gil´va= Pers.—_gilvus_, pale brownish-yellow. =Pileus= 2–4 in. broad, _pale yellowish, fleshy, compact, convex then depressed_, very obtuse, even, smooth, _dampish when fresh_, polished and _shining_ when dry, here and there spotted as with drops, the margin remaining long involute. =Flesh= compact, not laxly floccose, but at length fragile, _somewhat of the same color as the pileus_. =Stem= 1–2 in. and more long, ½ in. and more thick, _solid, fleshy_, stout, not elastic, somewhat equal, smooth, paler than the pileus, villous at the base. =Gills= decurrent, thin, _very much crowded_, often _branched_, arcuate, narrow, _pallid then ochraceous_. Odor not remarkable. The stem has been noticed at length also hollow, perhaps eroded by larvæ. It corresponds with the Paxilli. The primary form, which is very different from all the rest, is curt, obese, robust, scarcely ever infundibuliform. _Stevenson._ =Spores= 4–5×5µ _K._; 4–5µ _Massee_. North Carolina, _Schweinitz_, _Curtis_; Pennsylvania, _Schweinitz_; New York, _Peck_, R. 51, under pines. July to September. Mt. Gretna, Pa. July, 1898, ground, mixed woods. _McIlvaine._ =Pileus= 1–2½ in. across, depressed, almost infundibuliform, smooth. =Color= varied lemon to bright orange. =Flesh= lemon color throughout. =Gills= varying in color, usually same color as pileus. =Stem= all of one color, same as pileus, stuffed, sometimes short, and pointed, sometimes thickened at base. Taste and smell pleasant. Edible; good. =C. subinvolu´ta= Batsch.—turned under at the margin. =Pileus= brick color, convex, depressed, smooth, margin closely involute. =Flesh= pallid. =Stem= paler, stout, straight, somewhat equal, veined on the lower part with oblique coalescing slightly elevated wrinkles, tomentose and inclining to flesh color above toward the gills, base obtuse. =Gills= decurrent, rather broad, of the same color as the pileus. The stem is rough on the surface and destitute of luster. It resembles Paxillus involutus in size and habit, in the crenate and involute margin of the pileus, and in the stem being obsoletely veined at the base and tomentose toward the gills. _Stevenson._ New England, _Frost_; New York, _Peck_, Rep. 22. Edible, _Cooke_. =C. geo´tropa= Bull. _Gr._—the earth; _Gr._—to turn. From the turned down margin. =Pileus= 2–5 in. across. =Flesh= thick, white convex, then plane and finally more or less depressed, obtusely umbonate, the prominence remaining after the pileus becomes depressed, very smooth, even, margin thin, incurved, downy, pale pinkish-tan or buff. =Gills= decurrent, crowded, narrow, simple, white, then colored like the pileus. =Stem= 3–5 in. long, 1 in. or more thick at the base, slightly attenuated upward, compact, fibrillose, colored like the pileus or paler, solid. =Spores= elliptical, 6–7×4–5µ. _Massee._ In woods and on their borders. Often in rings or troops. Differs from C. maxima in being firmer, glabrous, and color much more variable; from C. gilva in the thinner pileus, less crowded gills, and white flesh. =Spores= 5–7µ _W.G.S._ In England and on the continent it is considered excellent and superior to most edible fungi. Found in West Virginia, 1881; Haddonfield, N J., 1891. Spring and autumn. _McIlvaine._ Edible, coarse, dry. In stews and mixed to form croquettes or patties, it is a desirable species, owing to its plentifulness. =C. splen´dens= Pers.—_splendens_, shining. Solitary. =Pileus= 2–3 in. across, flesh rather thick, white, plane then depressed or funnel-shaped, glabrous, shining, yellowish. =Gills= deeply decurrent, narrow, crowded, simple, white. =Stem= about 1 in. long, 3 lines thick, glabrous, colored like the pileus, solid, slightly thickened at the base or equal. _Massee._ In woods, among pine leaves, etc. Intermediate between C. gilva and C. flaccida. The typical form of C. gilva differs in the compact pileus, often with drop-like markings, the very much crowded, somewhat branched, pale ochraceous gills and flesh. _Fries._ Sent to me from Trenton, N.J., by E.B. Sterling. Edible; quality good, deficient in flavor. =C. inver´sus= Scop.—_inverto_, inverted. =Pileus= 2–3 in. across. =Flesh= thin, fragile; convex, soon funnel-shaped, margin involute, glabrous, even, reddish or dull brownish-orange. =Gills= decurrent, simple, pallid then reddish. =Stem= about 1½ in. long, 2 lines thick, glabrous, rather rigid, paler than the pileus, stuffed, soon hollow. =Spores= subglobose, 4µ diameter. _Massee._ Among leaves, etc. Gregarious, subcespitose, forming very large tufts, especially late in the autumn, deformed. Smell peculiar, slightly acid. Stem sometimes stuffed, usually hollow, hence compressed, rather rigid and corticated outside, not elastic, without a bulb, glabrous, whitish; the somewhat rooting base with white down, and often growing together in tufts, variously deformed, curved, ascending, etc. _Fries._ =Spores= subglobose, 4µ _Massee_; 3µ _W.G.S._ Closely resembles C. infundibuliformis, but differs from it in the color of gills and flesh. The entire plant is dark in color. Solitary; in troops; cespitose. Found in mixed woods. Haddonfield, N.J. Summer and autumn. That part of the plant which readily breaks away from the stem is tender and of good flavor. The remainder is tough. =C. flac´cida= Sow.—_flaccidus_, limp. =Pileus= 2–3 in. across, flaccid, orbicular, umbilicate, umbo persistently absent, margin spreading, arched, glabrous, even, rarely cracking into minute squamules, tawny-rust colored, shining, not becoming pale. =Flesh= thin, pallid, rather fragile when fresh, but quite flaccid when dry. =Gills= deeply decurrent, arcuate, crowded, narrow, about 1 line broad, white, then tinged yellowish. =Stem= imperfectly hollow, elastic, tough, 1–2 in. long, 2–3 lines thick somewhat equal, polished, naked, reddish-rust color, base thickened, downy. =Spores= subglobose, 4–5×3–4µ. Among leaves, etc. Gregarious, stems often grown together at the base. Sometimes solitary and regular. Summer and autumn. _Massee._ =Spores= subglobose, 4–5×3–4µ. Found in 1886 in West Philadelphia—oak woods. Since in New Jersey, North Carolina, and interior of Pennsylvania. Edible. Well cooked it compares favorably with C. infundibuliformis and others of like texture. *** _Pileus shining white._ =C. cati´na= Fr.—_catinus_, a bowl. =Pileus= 2 in. broad, at first _white, in no wise hygrophanous_, then passing into pale flesh-color during rain, and into tan-color in dry weather, _fleshy_, moderately thin, plane then funnel-shaped, always obtuse, even, _smooth_. =Flesh= thin, _flaccid_, white. =Stem= 3 in. long, 1½ in. thick, _stuffed_, internally spongy, _elastic_, tough, thickened and tomentose at the base. =Gills= decurrent, _straight, descending_, not horizontal, broad, not much _crowded_, persistently white. _Fries._ Ray Brook, Adirondack mountains. August. The pileus is at first white, but in wet weather it becomes pallid or discolored with age. The plants were found growing among pieces of bark of arbor vitæ lying on the ground. _Peck_, 43d Rep. N.Y. State Bot. Quite common in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey. Woods among dead leaves. August until frost. Edible. Excellent in flavor and quality. _Series B._ IV.—CYATHIFOR´MES. =C. cyathifor´mis= Bull.—_cyathus_, a cup; _formis_, form. =Pileus= 1½-3 in. across, flesh thin, plano-depressed when young, then infundibuliform, even, glabrous, hygrophanous, rather slimy and usually dark brown when moist, becoming pale and opaque when dry, undulate in large specimens, the margin remains involute for a long time. =Flesh= watery, similar in color to the pileus, splitting. =Gills= adnate, becoming decurrent with the depression of the pileus, joined behind, distant, grayish-brown, sometimes branched. =Stem= spongy and stuffed inside, elastic, at length often hollow, 2–4 in. long, 3–4 lines thick, attenuated upward, brownish-fibrillose, fibrils forming an imperfect reticulation, colored like the pileus or a little paler, apex naked (not mealy), base villous. _Massee._ On the ground in pastures and woods, rarely on rotten wood. Usually blackish-umber, but varies to paler grayish-brown, pinky-tan, pale cinnamon or brownish; then dingy-ochraceous or tan-color. Margin expanded when old, and also indistinctly striate. _Fries._ Var. _cineras´cens_ Fr. =Pileus= up to 1 in. across, thin, infundibuliform, pale smoky-brown. =Gills= decurrent, yellowish-white. =Stem= 1–2 in. long, 1½ line thick, grayish, reticulately fibrillose, hollow. =Spores= 8×5µ _W.G.S._; 10–12×5–6µ, _B._; 9×6µ _Morgan_. Mt. Gretna, Pa. Among leaves in woods. September to October. Gregarious. _McIlvaine._ Fair in quality. =C. bruma´lis= Fr.—_bruma_, winter. From its late appearance. =Pileus= about 1 in. across. =Flesh= thin, expanded, umbilicate then infundibuliform and usually variously waved and lobed, glabrous, flaccid, hygrophanous, livid, whitish or yellowish when dry, disk often darker. =Gills= decurrent, about 1 line broad, crowded, pallid. =Stem= up to 2 in. long and about 2 lines thick, nearly equal, slightly curved, glabrous, whitish, often compressed, imperfectly hollow. =Spores= 4–5×3–4µ. In woods, etc. Truly autumnal, being most abundant in November. There are two forms: (_a_) on pine leaves in pine woods; (_b_) among heather. (_a_) Stem rather firm, hollow, about 2 in. long, 2 lines thick, equal or slightly thickened at the apex, at length compressed, somewhat incurved, glabrous, naked, becoming livid, white when dry, base white and downy. Flesh of pileus membranaceous, at first convex, umbilicate, margin reflexed, about 1 in. across, then funnel-shaped, often irregular and undulate, up to 2 in. broad, glabrous, even, livid when moist, whitish then becoming yellowish when dry, disk at first usually darker. Gills decurrent, at first arcuate, then descending, 1 line broad, crowded, distinct, livid then yellowish-white, smell weak, not unpleasant. (_b_) Entirely watery white; stem hollow, somewhat striate, base glabrous; pileus infundibuliform, margin deflexed, milky-white when dry. Gills less crowded, but rather broader, whitish. _Fries._ =Spores= 3µ _W.G.S._; 4–5×3–4µ _Massee_. Edible. _Cooke._ =C. morbi´fera= Pk.—_morbus_, disease; _fero_, to bear. =Pileus= thin, fragile, glabrous, convex, becoming plane or centrally depressed, slightly hygrophanous, grayish-brown when moist, whitish or cinereous when dry, sometimes slightly umbonate. =Gills= narrow, close, adnate or slightly decurrent, whitish or pallid. =Stem= short, equal, hollow, colored like the pileus or a little paler. =Spores= minute, broadly elliptical, 4µ long, almost as broad. =Pileus= .5–1.5 in. broad. =Stem= about 1 in. long, ⅙–¼ in. thick. Grassy ground and lawns. November. Washington, D.C. _F.J. Braendle._ The species seems related to C. expallens, but the margin of the pileus is not striate as in that fungus. The taste is very disagreeable and remains in the mouth a long time. Two persons were made ill by eating it, but their sickness lasted only about three hours. _Peck._ I have not seen this species. Its reputation is bad. Caution should be observed. V.—VERSIFOR´MES. _Pileus bright, of one color._ =C. trullisa´ta= Ellis. =Pileus= fleshy, plano-convex, at length depressed in the center, innate fibrous-scaly, becoming smoother on the disk, margin thin. =Gills= unequal, not crowded, coarse and thick, adnate with a decurrent tooth, at length white pulverulent, purple-violet at first, becoming dark brick-red. =Stem= stuffed, fibrillose, with a long club-shaped base penetrating deeply into the sand. =Spores= large, cylindric-oblong, 15–20µ. In old sandy fields. September to October. The interior of the stem in the young plant is like the gills, violet-purple, and the club-shaped base is covered with a tomentose coat, to which the sand adheres tenaciously. Related to A. laccatus and A. ochropurpureus B. Resembles the larger forms of A. laccatus, but it has a stouter habit, the pileus is more squamulose, the stem is bulbous or thickened at the base, the mycelium is violet-colored and the spores are oblong. Bull. Torrey Bot. Club, November, 1874. New Jersey, _Ellis_; New York, _Peck_, Rep. 33. Haddonfield, Watertown, N.J. Sandy soil in pine woods. _McIlvaine._ Densely cespitose. Caps and stems brown, glutinous and so incrusted with sand that it is almost impossible to clean them. Edible, but not desirable. =C. lacca´ta= Scop.—made of lac. (Plate XXIV, fig. 10, p. 82.) =Pileus= thin, fleshy, convex, sometimes expanded, even or slightly umbilicate, smooth or minutely tomentose-scaly, hygrophanous when moist, dull reddish-yellow or reddish flesh-colored, sometimes striatulate when dry, pallid or pale dull ochraceous. =Gills= broad, rather thick and distant, attached, not decurrent, flesh-colored. =Stem= slender, firm, fibrous, stuffed, equal, concolorous. =Height= 1–6 in., breadth of pileus 6 lines to 2 in. Common. June to October. An extremely variable and abundant species occurring almost everywhere throughout the season. _Peck_, 23d Rep. N.Y. State Bot. =Spores= 8–9µ _Massee_; 8–10µ _B._ Var. _pallidifo´lia_ Pk.—_pallidus_, pale; _folium_af. Gills whitish or pallid, decurrent. Var. _stria´tula_ Pk.—_stria_, a furrow. Pileus moist, smooth, thin, showing shading radiating lines, extending from near the center to the margin. In wet or damp places. A form occurs with a decidedly bulbous base. Gills appearing emarginate with a decurrent tooth. Clitocybe laccata is made the type of a new genus by Berkeley and Broome. Massee accepts the genus but it is not generally accepted by the standard authors. It is a well defined genus, and a fitting place for C. laccata, C. amethystina, C. ochropurpurea, C. tortilis, which it puzzles anyone to identify as Clitocybe. =C. amethys´tina= Bolt.—_amethystinus_, color of an amethyst. (Plate XXIV, fig. 8, p. 82.) =Pileus= 1–2½ in. across, dark-purple, umbilicate, smooth, minutely tomentose, involute. =Gills= dark-purple, decurrent, broad. =Stem= 2–3 in. high, fibrillose, purple, streaked with white fibrils, equal, densely covered with white tomentum at base. Also written _Clitocybe laccata amethystina_ Sacc. “In my opinion it is a good species and should be kept distinct as Bolton gave it, and not be tacked on to C. laccata as a variety. I should write it Clitocybe amethystina Bolt.” _Peck_, letter September 17, 1897. New York, _Peck_, Rep. 41; New Jersey, _Sterling_; Mt. Gretna, Pa., on wood soil, June to frost, 1897–1898, _McIlvaine_. Generally included in C. laccata as a variety, and has therefore been reported under that name. Great quantities of C. amethystina grew in troops on beds made up of wood earth about the cottages at Mt. Gretna, Pa. The woods over them is dense. The caps are tough, but they cook readily and make a pleasing dish. =C. tor´tilis= Bolt.—_tortilis_, twisted. =Pileus= membranaceous, convexo-plane then depressed, obscurely marked with radiating striæ. =Stem= hollow, twisted, fragile. =Gills= adnate, thick, distant, fleshy-rose, cespitose, small, irregular, pileus and stem rusty in color. Hard ground in an old road. Sandlake. August. A species closely allied to C. laccata and appearing like an irregular dwarf form of that species. Sometimes cespitose. _Peck_, 41st Rep. N.Y. State Bot. Excepting that this fungus is frequently found with C. laccata, and might be taken for a new species if not here described, it would not be separated from C. laccata. Its edible qualities are similar. =C. ochropurpu´rea= Berk.—_ochra_, ocher; _purpureus_, purple. (Plate XXIV, figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, p. =82=.) =Pileus= subhemispherical, at length depressed, fleshy, compact, tough, pale yellow, slightly changing to purplish, cuticle easily separable; margin inflexed, at first tomentose. =Stem= paler, here and there becoming purplish, solid, swollen in the middle, occasionally equal. =Gills= thick, purple, broader behind, decurrent. =Spores= white or pale yellow. =Pileus= 2 in. broad. =Stem= 2½ in. high, ¾ in. thick in the center. August. On clayey soil in woodlands. Its spores darken when shed in quantity, have a granulated and light-lilac appearance. It is a solitary grower, sometimes reaching the height of six inches. The upturned, wavy pileus, showing the purple gills in contrast with the pale Naples-yellow of the cap is markedly attractive. The stem is often rough with fibers, hard and tough. The caps are tough. It grows in grassy woods and open places. The novice, even the expert, will be puzzled to place it in its genus. Specimens were sent to me by Miss Lydia M. Patchen, Westfield, N.Y., and E.B. Sterling, Trenton, N.J. I afterward found many at Mt. Gretna, Pa. I reported their edible qualities to Prof. Peck who wrote, September 3, 1897: “I have often wished it was edible, but it has such a disagreeable flavor when fresh that I have never ventured to eat it. I have known it to be mistaken for the common mushroom, but not eaten.” Though tough it cooks tender and is excellent. Stew and put in patties or croquettes. VI.—ORBIFOR´MES. * _Gills becoming ash-colored_. =C. di´topa= Fr. _Gr._—twofold; _Gr._—a foot. Probably from stems growing two together. =Pileus= thin, submembranaceous, convex, rarely with a small umbo, smooth, hygrophanous, brown when young and moist, grayish-white when dry. =Gills= grayish, close, thin, attached, not decurrent. =Stem= slender, equal, smooth, hollow. =Height= 1–2 in., breadth of pileus 6–18 lines. =Stem= 1–2 lines thick. Pine woods. West Albany. October. The plant has the odor and taste of new meal. I have seen no specimens with the pileus depressed. _Peck_, 23d Rep. N.Y. State Bot. =C. meta´chroa= Fr. _Gr._—changing color. Separated from C. ditopa by its thicker, depressed pileus, its thicker, less close gills, and the absence of odor. Pine woods. West Albany. October. _Peck_, 23d Rep. N.Y. State Bot. Moderately plentiful in New Jersey pines. September to October. Edible, tough; when well stewed of good flavor. ** _Gills whitish._ =C. compres´sipes= Pk.—_compressus_, pressed together; _pes_, a foot. =Pileus= thin, convex or expanded, umbilicate, glabrous, hygrophanous, brownish when moist, whitish or pale yellow when dry, margin thin. =Gills= close, subarcuate or horizontal, adnate or subdecurrent, whitish. =Stem= firm, hollow, generally compressed, slightly pruinose. =Spores= elliptical, 5–6.5×4–4.5µ. =Flesh= white when dry, odor slight, farinaceous. =Plant= gregarious, 1–1.5 in. high. =Pileus= 6–16 lines broad. =Stem= 1–2 lines thick. Grassy places. Albany. July. The moist pileus is sometimes obscurely zonate. The odor is not always perceptible unless the pileus is moist or broken. The stem is sometimes compressed at the top only, sometimes at the base only, and rarely it is wholly top-shaped. _Peck_, 33d Rep. N.Y. State Bot. Found on open lots in West Philadelphia. Though small it usually grows in troops which yield fair quantity. The caps are tender and of good flavor. =C. fra´grans= Sow.—_fragrans_, fragrant. Smell strong, spicy. =Pileus= about 1 in. across. =Flesh= rather thick; convex, soon expanded and slightly depressed or umbilicate, even, glabrous, hygrophanous, uniform watery-white, disk not darker, whitish when dry. =Gills= slightly decurrent, rather crowded, 1 line broad, distinct, whitish. =Stem= about 2 in. long, equal, slightly curved, elastic, glabrous, whitish, stuffed then hollow. In woods among moss, etc. Distinguished from other species resembling it in color and size, by the fragrant smell resembling aniseed. _Massee._ =Spores= 6×4µ. _W.G.S._ Found in West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania. July to severe frosts. _McIlvaine._ Edible. The strong taste of anise is not lost in cooking. =C. pino´phila=—pine loving. =Pileus= thin, convex, umbilicate or centrally depressed, glabrous, moist, pale tan-color, paler or alutaceous when dry. =Gills= moderately close, subarcuate, adnate or slightly decurrent, whitish. =Stem= equal, stuffed or hollow, glabrous or subpruinose, colored like the pileus. =Spores= nearly elliptical, 4–6µ long; odor and taste resembling that of fresh meal. =Plant= 1–2 in. high. =Pileus= about 1 in. broad. =Stem= 1–2 lines thick. Ground under pine trees. Albany and Ticonderoga. July and August. _Peck_, 31st Rep. N.Y. State Bot. Quite plentiful in pine woods of New Jersey. Edible; pleasant. [Illustration] =COLLY´BIA= Fr. _Gr._—a small coin. =Pileus= fleshy, usually thin, _margin incurved_ at first, not corrugated. =Stem= different in substance from the pileus, but confluent with it; hollow, with a cartilaginous bark, internally cartilaginous or soft, often rooting. =Gills= free or obtusely adnexed, membranaceous, soft. Growing on the ground, wood, leaves and decaying fungi. In Clitocybe and Tricholoma the substance of the stem and pileus is alike; they differ in the character of the stem. Tricholoma has no distinct bark-like coat, and in Clitocybe the stem is covered with minute fibers. In Mycena as in Collybia the stem is different in substance from the pileus, but is distinguished by the margin of the pileus being straight. It is most closely allied to Marasmius, which is characterized by its tough coriaceous substance, which when dried fully revives and expands on being moistened. The line between them can not always be closely drawn, and there are numerous species which it is difficult to place with certainty in either genus. This does not apply to the fleshy edible species of this genus as they are quite distinct from Marasmius. Peck’s 49th Report contains a monograph of the New York species of Collybia, supplemented by one of those found in other states. Several common, prolific, long-season, delicious fungi occur in this genus. They vary in size from “a small coin” to five inches across. They grow in woods, on wood, on ground, on leaves, on lawns and among moss and grass in shaded places. The writer has tested many species raw, and eaten small quantities cooked, which are not herein described for the reason that not enough of a species was found to test to full extent. So far as is reported and as his experience goes, there is not a poisonous species in Collybia. Many of them are strong in odor. [Illustration: Photographed by Dr. J.R. Weist. PLATE XXIX. COLLYBIA RADICATA. ] ANALYSIS OF TRIBES. _Series A._ GILLS WHITE OR BRIGHTLY COLORED, NOT GRAY. FLESH WHITE. STRIÆPEDES (striate-stemmed). Page 113. Stem stout, hollow or imperfectly filled with a spongy pith; grooved or striate with fibers. * Gills broad, rather distant. ** Gills narrow, crowded. VESTIPEDES (clothed-stemmed). Page 118. Stem thin, equal, hollow or with a pith, even, velvety, downy or covered with a bloom. * Gills broad, rather distant. ** Gills very narrow, closely crowded. LÆVIPEDES (even-stemmed). Page 120. Stem thin, equal, hollow, naked, smooth—except the base—apparently not striate, but some species are minutely striate under a lens. * Gills broad, lax, usually more or less distant. ** Gills narrow, crowded. _Series B._ GILLS BECOMING GRAY. HYGROPHANOUS. TEPHROPHANÆ. Page —-. Color brownish becoming gray. Allied to the last section of Tricholoma and Clitocybe, but distinguished from them by the cartilaginous stem. Some are strong scented. None known to be edible. STRIÆ´PEDES. * _Gills broad, rather distant._ =C. radica´ta= Relh.—_radix_, a root. (Plate XXIX, p. 112.) =Pileus= 1½-4 in. across, from convex to nearly plane, broadly umbonate, frequently wrinkled toward and at the umbo, glutinous when moist. Color variable, usually brown in grayish shades, from dark to almost white. =Flesh= thin, white, elastic. =Gills= white, thick, tough, distant, ventricose, adnexed, rounded or notched behind like Tricholoma, sometimes with a decurrent tooth. =Stem= 4–8 in. long, 3–5 lines thick, smooth, firm, same color as pileus, tapering upward, becoming vertically striate or grooved, often twisted, ending in a long, tapering, pointed root deeply planted in the earth. =Spores= elliptical, 14–15×8–9µ _Massee_; 11×17µ _W.G.S._; 11×9µ _W.P._; 16–17×10–11µ _B._ Often sombre, but erect, neat and handsome. Growing solitary and in troops in woods, usually near stumps, if much decayed, sometimes on them, or on shaded lawns and grassy places. June to October. Var. _furfu´racea_ Pk. =Stem= furfuraceous, less distinctly striate. Var. _pusil´la_ Pk. Plant small. =Pileus= about 1 in. broad, passing gradually into the typical form. =Stem= slender. Professor Peck says: “The variety furfuracea is common and connects this species with C. longipes, which has a villose stem and dry velvety pileus.” 49th Rep. Common to the United States. Edible. _Curtis_, according to Dr. F. Peyre Porcher of Charleston, S.C., was the first to declare this edible. A very attractive species. The purity of its gills is especially noticeable. I began eating it in 1881, and it has continued to be a favorite. The caps should be broiled or fried. They are sweet, pleasing in texture, and delicately flavored. =C. platyphyl´la= Fr. _Gr._—broad; a leaf. (Plate XXVIII, fig. 1, p. 114.) =Pileus= 3–4 in. broad, dusky and gray then whitish, fleshy-membranaceous, _thin, fragile_, soon flattened, obtuse, watery when moist, _streaked with fibrils_. =Stem= 3–4 in. long, ½ in. thick, stuffed, soft, equal, fibrilloso-striate, otherwise smooth, naked or obsoletely powdered at the apex, whitish, shortly and bluntly rooted at the base. =Gills= obliquely cut off behind, _slightly_ adnexed, ½ in. and more _broad, distant_, soft, white. Odor not remarkable. It inclines toward the Tricholomata in the _somewhat membranaceous cuticle of the soft stem_. _Fries._ =Spores= 13×19µ _W.G.S._ Solitary, gregarious, rarely clustered. On rotten wood, roots, ground near stumps, among leaves, etc. June to October. [Illustration: Grouped by F.D. Briscoe—Studies by C. McIlvaine. PLATE XXVIII.] FIG. PAGE. FIG. PAGE.