4. Gills yellow, becoming gray, neither green nor epixanthum

purplish Probably in general appearance the Perplexing hypholoma most nearly resembles the brick-red Hypholoma, H. sublateritium; but it has often been mistaken for the tufted Hypholoma, H. fasciculare. From this it may be separated by the more red cap, the whitish flesh, the purplish-brown color of the mature gills, and the mild flavor. From H. sublateritium it is distinguished by its usually smaller size, more slender hollow stem, the yellow greenish and purplish tints of the gills, and the absence of a bitter flavor. Some may prefer to consider it a variety of this fungus, rather than a distinct species. Its cap is 1–3 in. broad, its stem 2–3 in. long and 2–4 lines thick. It commonly grows in clusters, though sometimes singly, on or about old stumps or prostrate trunks of trees, in woods or open places. The caps of the lower ones in a cluster are often defiled and apparently discolored by the spores that have lodged on them from the upper ones. It appears in autumn, and continues until freezing weather stops its growth. It is a very common species, as well as a late one, and may often be gathered in large quantity. Its flavor is not first quality, but with good preparation it makes a very acceptable dish. It has been tested by myself and correspondents several times, and has been proved harmless. _Peck_, 49th Rep. N.Y. State Bot. West Virginia, 1881–1885; New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, October to January. On stumps, roots, ground containing decayed woody matter. _McIlvaine._ H. perplexum is abundant in most if not all the states. I have eaten it and its allied species since 1881; dried them, pickled them, and fed them to many. If the collector gets puzzled, as he will, over one or all of these species, because no description fits, he can whet his patience and appetite by calling it H. perplexum and graciously eating it. =H. capnoi´des= Fr. _Gr_—like smoke, from the color of the gills. =Pileus= 1 in. sometimes 3 in. broad, _ochraceous-yellowish_, fleshy, convex, then flattened, obtuse, dry, _smooth_. =Flesh= somewhat thin, white. =Stem= 2–3 in. long, 2–4 lines thick, growing together at the base, _hollow_, equal, often curved and flexuous, _becoming silky-even_, pallid, whitish at the apex, here and there striate, becoming rust-colored under the surface-covering when old. Cortina appendiculate, white, then becoming brownish-purple. =Gills= adnate, easily separating, somewhat crowded, rather broad, arid, _at first bluish-gray then becoming brownish-purple_. Cespitose, fasciculate; odor and taste mild. On pine-stumps. Uncommon. _Fries._ =Spores= ellipsoid-spheroid, 7×5µ _K._; elliptical, brownish-purple, 8×4µ _Massee_. California, _H. and M._; Minnesota, not necessarily in fir-woods, _Johnson_; New York, on or about stumps or decaying wood of spruce. _Peck_, 50th Rep. Haddonfield, N.J., 1894. Pine roots and stumps, and on ground. Cespitose. September to frost. _McIlvaine._ A pretty species with caps up to 1½ in. across. =Stem= 2–4 in. long, ¼-⅜ in. thick, growing together (connate). The taste and smell are pleasant. The basket is soon filled from its clusters. There is not a better Hypholoma. The slightly soapy taste which attaches to most of the abundant and better known species is absent in this. =H. fascicula´ris= Huds.—_fasciculus_, a small bundle. (Plate XCVIII, p. 352.) =Pileus= about 2 in. broad, _light yellow_, the disk commonly darker, fleshy, thin, convex, then flattened, somewhat umbonate or obtuse, even, smooth, dry. =Flesh= _light yellow_. =Stem= very variable in length, hollow, thin, incurved or flexuous, fibrillose, of the same color as the pileus and flesh. =Gills= adnate, very crowded, linear, _somewhat deliquescent, sulphur-yellow then becoming green_. It is very easily distinguished from the preceding species by its _bitter odor and taste, light-yellow flesh, and somewhat deliquescent, sulphur-yellow then green gills_. It forms also more crowded clusters. There are many remarkable varieties; one _robustior_ (more robust), stem thickened at the base, another _nana_ (dwarf), both on the ground. Cespitose on old stumps and the ground. Extremely common. _Stevenson._ =Spores= elliptical, 7×4µ _Massee_; 6–7×4µ _K._; 6×4µ _W.G.S._; ferruginous purple, 6×4µ _Morgan_. “It is very usual to regard this as a poisonous species, but possibly it is not so in reality.” _Cooke._ West Virginia, 1881, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, North Carolina, _McIlvaine_. A very common species appearing in October and lasting until well into the winter, growing in large, overlapping masses or in tufts from old stumps or roots, and about trees where decay has begun. Sometimes solitary. It is then short-stemmed and sturdy. There are several closely allied species. To know the one from the other, a careful study of the group is necessary. (See introduction to genus, H. epixanthum, H. sublateritium, H. capnoides, H. elæodes, and H. perplexum.) Old authors give it as bitter and poisonous. The bitter is not always present. Any there is disappears in cooking. It is not poisonous, but one of our most valuable species. I have eaten it since 1881. A little lemon juice or sherry will cover the slightly saponaceous taste sometimes present. The caps only are good. It makes a choice pickle and a good catsup. =H. epixan´thum= Fr. _Gr_—_epixanthos_, yellowish-brown. =Pileus= 2–3 in. broad, light-yellow or becoming pale, the disk commonly darker, fleshy, moderately thin, convexo-plane, obtuse or gibbous, even, _slightly silky then becoming smooth_. =Flesh= white, becoming light-yellow. =Stem= about 8 in. long, 3–4 lines thick, _hollow_, attenuated from the thickened base or equal; _floccose-fibrillose, pale rust color_ or becoming dingy-brown _below_, with a frosty bloom at the apex; veil hanging from margin of pileus, white. =Gills= adnate, crowded, _at first light yellow-white, at length becoming ash-colored_, not deliquescent, and not becoming purple or green. Strong smelling, odor acid; extremely variable in stature; not hygrophanous. _Fries._ =Spores= elliptical, 7×4µ _Massee_. West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, North Carolina. On oak, chestnut stumps and growing from tree roots in ground. October to December. _McIlvaine._ (See H. perplexum, H. sublateritium and compare descriptions.) This species, in common with its allies, is extremely hard to determine. When growing singly from roots or from ground heavily charged with decaying wood, it is a sturdy, solid plant; when in clusters the stem is longer, more flexible and the whole character of the plant is modified. Except for botanic purposes there is no occasion to puzzle over it. It is in every way an excellent and useful fungus. =H. disper´sus= Fr.—_dispergo_, to scatter. =Pileus= 1–1½ in. broad, _tawny-honey-color_, not hygrophanous, _slightly fleshy_, bell-shaped then convex, at length expanded, even, _superficially silky round the margin_ with the veil, or squamulose, otherwise even and smooth. =Flesh= thin, a little paler than the pileus. =Stem= 2 in. or a little more long, 2 lines thick, tubed, equal, _tense and straight_, tough, _fibrilloso-silky_, somewhat rust-colored, becoming dingy-brown at the base, pale at the apex. =Gills= adnate, thin, _ventricose, broad_, 3–4 lines, _crowded, at first pallid-straw color, at length crowded_, obsoletely green. _Fries._ Gills broader than H. fascicularis, etc. Solitary, scarcely ever cespitose. On pine stumps and the ground. April to November. =Spores= elliptical, 7×3–4µ _Massee_. North Carolina, in pine woods, _Curtis_; California, _H. and M._; West Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, New Jersey, _McIlvaine_. Difficult to distinguish from H. fascicularis when growing solitary. Its edible qualities are precisely the same. =H. elæo´des= Fr. _Gr_—_an olive_; _Gr_—_eidos_, appearance. =Pileus= brick-red or tan, fleshy, rather plane, somewhat umbonate, _dry, smooth_, opaque. =Flesh= yellow. =Stem= stuffed then hollow, equal, commonly slender, incurved or flexuous, fibrillose, of the same color as the pileus, becoming rust-color. =Gills= adnate, crowded, thin, _green then_ pure olivaceous. Cespitose. Odor bitter. On trunks and on the ground. _Fries._ =Cap= 1–2 in. across. =Stem= 2–4 in. long, ¼-⅜ in. thick, stuffed then hollow. West Virginia, 1881–1885, Haddonfield, N.J.; Pennsylvania. On stumps, roots and ground in woods, etc. _McIlvaine._ Not reported elsewhere. Its habit is the same as H. fascicularis, to which it is closely allied, and to me seems but a form of this very variable species. It is equally good. =H. sublateri´tium= Schaeff.—_sub_ and _later_, a brick. (Plate XCVII, fig. 3, p. 352.) =Pileus= 2–3 in. and more broad, tawny-brick-red, but paler round the margin and covered over with a superficial, somewhat silky, whitish cloudiness (arising from the veil), fleshy, convexo-plane, obtuse, _discoid_, _dry_, even, _becoming smooth_. =Flesh= _compact_, white, then becoming yellow. =Stem= 3–4 in. long, 3–5 lines thick, _stuffed, stout_ and firm, commonly manifestly attenuated downward, rarely equal, _scaly-fibrillose_, fibrils pallid, rust-colored downward. =Cortina= superior, at first _white, at length becoming black_. =Gills= adnate, more or less crowded according to stature, narrow, at first _dingy yellowish_ and darker at the base, _then sooty_, and at length inclining to olivaceous. =Spores= brownish purple. Somewhat cespitose. =Stem= incurved from position. There are many varieties: _B_, somewhat solitary, the pileus and stem, which is thickened at the base, of the same color, reddish. _C_, smaller, pileus light yellowish, the hollow stem equal. _Schaeff._ Var. _squamo´sum_, Cooke. Pileus convex, bright brick-red, shading to yellow at the margin, spotted with superficial scales. Flesh very thick, yellowish. Gills narrowish, adnate. Stem elongated, stout, pale above, rust-colored below, hollow, veil hanging from the margin when young. On trunks. A very beautiful variety, larger and more robust than the typical form. _Massee._ =Spores= 6×3µ. _W.G.S._; elliptical, sooty-brown, 8×4µ _Massee_. West Virginia, 1881–1885; Pennsylvania, New Jersey, densely cespitose on stumps and roots. October to long after frosts. _McIlvaine._ Edible. _Dr. Taylor_, 1893. Dept. of Agr. Rep. No. 5. H. sublateritium has many forms. Both Fries and Stevenson indicate this as a variable species and my own observation confirms the truth of this. This is a very common autumnal species, lasting into the winter. Old authors give it as bitter and very poisonous. I tested it in 1881 and have been eating it, in common with all Hypholomas I have found, ever since. At times it is bitter. I believe this to be due to the passage of larvæ through the flesh. Unattacked specimens are slightly saponaceous to the taste while others in the same bunch are bitter. VIS´CIDI. Pileus viscid, etc. (None known to be edible.) Velutini. _Pileus silky, etc._ =H. veluti´nus= Pers.—_vellus_, a fleece. Velvety. =Pileus= fleshy, thin, convex or expanded, brittle, minutely tomentose-scaly, becoming smooth, hygrophanous, yellow with the disk reddish. =Lamellæ= rather broad, attached, tapering toward the outer extremity, dark brown tinged with red, the edge whitish-beaded. =Stem= equal, rather slender, hollow, fibrillose, subconcolorous, white-mealy and slightly striate at the top. =Spores= black. =Height= about 2 in., breadth of pileus 1–1.5 in. Roadsides. Albany Cemetery. September. The pileus sometimes cracks transversely. _Peck_, 23d Rep. N.Y. State Bot. =Spores= 6×8µ _W.G.S._; elliptical, 10×5µ _Massee_. Often used in catsup. Innocent and edible. _Cooke._ West Virginia. 1881–1885, Pennsylvania, West Philadelphia, Bartram’s Creek, 1887, _McIlvaine_. Var. _leioceph´alus_ B. and Br. (_Gr_—smooth; _Gr_—head, from its smooth pileus). =Pileus= hygrophanous, rugged, smooth except at the margin, where it is fibrillose, pallid as is the stem, whose apex is mealy. Densely cespitose, much smaller than the common form, but apparently a mere variety, though a striking one from its smooth but very rugged disk. On old stumps. _Stevenson._ New York, _Peck_, 23d Rep.; West Virginia, West Philadelphia, Bartram’s Creek, Haddonfield, N.J., September to November. _McIlvaine._ Quantities of var. leiocephalus grow in the West Virginia forests on stumps and on the ground from decaying roots. 1½ in. is the limit of its width. Its frequent and dense clusters, its tenderness and delicacy of flavor make it a favorite. =H. aggrega´tum= Pk.—_aggrego_, to grow together. Densely cespitose. =Pileus= thin, convex or subcampanulate, grayish-white, obscurely spotted with appressed brownish fibrils. =Lamellæ= subdistant, rounded behind, nearly free, at first whitish, then brown or blackish-brown with a whitish edge. =Stem= rather long, hollow, somewhat woolly or fibrillose, white. =Spores= brown, elliptical, 8×4–5µ. =Pileus= about 1 in. broad. =Stem= 2–3 in. long, 1.5–2 lines thick. At the base of trees and stumps in woods. Alcove. September. The cespitose habit and obscurely spotted grayish-white pileus are marked features of this species. From H. silvestre the species may be distinguished by its smaller size, adnexed or nearly free lamellæ which have no rosy tint, and by its very cespitose mode of growth. _Peck_, 46th Rep. N.Y. State Bot. Mt. Gretna, Pa., about trees and stumps. September to November, 1898–1899. _McIlvaine._ Not reported elsewhere. The caps are oyster-color. Amateurs accustomed to the gayer colors of the autumnal Hypholomas will not suspect this of belonging to the genus, until the color of the spores is obtained. The caps are fine. =H. lachrymabun´dum= Fr.—_lachryma_, a tear. =Pileus= 2–3 in. broad, whitish when young, then dingy-brown, becoming pale around the margin, truly fleshy but not compact, convex, obtuse, scaly with hairs, the innate scales darker. =Flesh= white. =Stem= 2 in. long, 3–4 lines thick, hollow, somewhat thickened at the base, scaly with fibrils, becoming brownish-whitish. =Veil= separate, clothed with fibers, hanging from the pileus, white. =Gills= adnate, crowded, 3 lines broad, whitish then brownish-purple, edge whitish and distilling drops in wet weather. =Spores= brownish-purple. From mutual pressure the caps are often irregular. Very cespitose, firm. _Fries._ =Spores= brownish-purple, 9×4µ _Massee_. On ground and on trunks. Truly cespitose. Smaller than H. velutinus, but firmer, truly fleshy, not hygrophanous. Bushy pastures. Bethlehem. October. Our specimens do not agree in all respects with the published description of the species. The pileus is sometimes wholly destitute of scales and sometimes densely clothed with hairy, erect ones. The species is manifestly variable. _Peck_, 30th Rep. N.Y. State Bot. “Like H. fascicularis in quality. Intensely irritant. It is bound with the weight of its own guilt.” _Hay._ This is a good specimen of Hay’s comments. H. fascicularis is never irritant, is good eating, is innocent. There is irony in the comment of Dr. Cooke: “This doubtful species is used by the smaller ketchup makers.” I have not seen this species. When I do I shall eat it and expect to live. APPENDICULA´TI. Pileus hygrophanous, smooth. =H. incer´tum= Pk. (Plate XCVII_a_.) =Pileus= fragile, convex or subcampanulate, then expanded, hygrophanous, often radiately wrinkled, whitish with the disk yellowish, the thin margin sometimes purplish-tinted, often wavy, adorned by fragments of the white flocculent fugacious veil. =Lamellæ= close, narrow, whitish then rosy-brown, the edge often uneven. =Stem= equal, straight, hollow, easily splitting, whitish with a frosty bloom or slightly scurfy at the top. =Spores= elliptical, purplish-brown, 8×5µ. =Plant= gregarious or subcespitose, 2–3 in. high. =Pileus= 1–2 in. broad. =Stem= 1–2 lines thick. Ground among bushes. Green Island and Sandlake. June and July. The veil is sometimes so strongly developed as to form an imperfect ring. The color is nearly white from the first. _Peck_, 29th Rep. N.Y. State Bot. As the name indicates, I was uncertain whether this was a form of H. Candolleanum, to which it is very closely related, but as Fries says of that “Gills at first violaceous,” and as our plant has them at first white or whitish, I concluded to risk the uncertainty on a new species. I have seen Central Park, New York, well covered with it in May. It is also common in the vicinity of Boston. Of very agreeable flavor and delicate substance. The profusion of its growth compensates for its small size. _Macadam._ Indiana, _H.I. Miller_; Mt. Gretna, Pa., in great clusters between railroad ties and beside track, _McIlvaine_. Tender. One of the best. [Illustration: Photographed by Dr. J.R. Weist. PLATE XCVII_a_. HYPHOLOMA INCERTUM. ] =H. appendicula´tum= Bull.—a small appendage. From the veil adhering to margin of pileus. (Plate XCVII, p. 352.) =Pileus= 2–3 in. broad, date-brown then tawny, becoming pale yellowish when dry, fleshy-membranaceous, thin, ovate then expanded, at length flattened, obtuse, smooth, when dry slightly wrinkled, somewhat sprinkled with atoms. =Stem= 3 in. long, 2–3 lines thick, fistulose, equal, smooth, white, _pruinate at the apex_; veil fringing the margin of the pileus, fugacious, white. =Gills= somewhat adnate, crowded, _dry, white_ then flesh-colored, at length dingy-brown. Densely cespitose, very fragile and hygrophanous. Much thinner and more fragile than H. Candolleanus. It may be safely distinguished from species which are nearest to it by the gills being whitish then brownish-flesh color. Var. _lana´tum_. A curious form, densely woolly when young, traces of the woolly coat remaining at the apex when the pileus is fully expanded. Sibbertoft. B. and Br., 1876. _Stevenson._ =Spores= ellipsoid, pellucid, 6–8×3–4µ _K._; 4×6µ _W.G.S._; elliptical, 5×2.5µ _Massee_. Angora, West Philadelphia, October, November, December, 1897; Haddonfield, N.J., Mt. Gretna, Pa., cespitose and gregarious in woods about stumps. _McIlvaine._ “It is very common and edible.” _Farlow._ At Mt. Gretna, Pa., October, 1898, in great abundance. When found it was gregarious in large patches and cespitose on stumps. My identification was confirmed by Professor Peck. It dries well, and retains flavor and esculent qualities. Cooked it is among the best. =H. Candol´leanum= Fr.—After De Candolle. =Pileus= 2–4 in. broad, date-brown then becoming white, the top somewhat yellowish, somewhat fleshy, acorn-shaped then bell-shaped, soon convex and at length flattened, obtuse and unequal, smooth, even. =Flesh= thin, white. =Stem= 3 in. long, 2–4 lines thick, fistulose, solid at the base, somewhat thickened, fibrillose, white, striate at the apex; veil in the form of a cortina, web-like, appendiculate (depending from the margin of the pileus), white, at length becoming dingy-brown. =Gills= rounded-adnexed, then separating, crowded, violaceous then brownish-cinnamon, the edge at first whitish. Readily distinguished from neighboring species by the gills being at first beautifully dark violaceous, never flesh-colored. Densely cespitose, fragile, very hygrophanous. _Stevenson._ =Spores= elliptical, 8×4µ _Massee_. Edible, often used in catsup. _Cooke._ A species variable in color with the weather. Its gills are cream-colored at first, then purplish, then very dark. After rain the fragile cap often turns up at the margin and splits. It differs somewhat in texture from other Hypholomas, being more delicate in texture and substance. It is excellent. =H. suba´quilum= Banning.—_aquilus_, brownish, tawny. =Pileus= brown, convex, smooth, hygrophanous, often shaded into ocher at margin, veil delicate, silk-like, encircling and covering the marginal extremities of the lamellæ but forming no ring on the stem. =Flesh= white, turning umber when cut. =Lamellæ= adnexed or nearly free, close, forked, umber. =Stem= cespitose, regular, hollow, silky, white, 2–3 in. long. =Spores= brown, 4×5µ. _Banning_ MS. Druid Hill Park, Baltimore, _Miss Banning_; decaying wood, Adirondack mountains. August and September. New York. _Peck_, 45th Rep. N.Y. State Bot. H. subaquilum is closely allied to H. appendiculatum, but is distinguished by its darker colored cap and gills. Its edible qualities are the same. It is among the best. [Illustration] =PSILO´CYBE= Fr. _Gr_—naked; head. =Pileus= more or less fleshy, smooth, _margin at first incurved_. =Gills= becoming brownish or purple. =Stem= somewhat cartilaginous, rigid or tough, tubular, hollow or stuffed, often rooting. =Veil= absent or rudimentary, never forming a membrane. =Spores= purple, purple-brown or slate-color. Generally growing on the ground, gregarious, sometimes cespitose. Psilocybe is analogous in form to Collybia, Leptonia and Naucoria, which are distinguished by their spore colors. Separated from Psathyra by the incurved margin of the pileus. But one species of Psilocybe is herein given as edible. Of it, alone, the writer has had opportunity to eat meals. Several others of the species have been found by him and tested in small quantity. They are all of good texture, substance and flavor, though most are small. He is of the opinion that increased testing will prove the entire genus edible. Nothing can or should be prognosticated about a toadstool, but the indications are all in favor of Psilocybe. (Plate XCIX.) [Illustration: PSILOCYBE SPADICEA. Two-thirds natural size. ] =P. spadi´cea= Schaeff.—_spadiceus_, date-brown. =Pileus= thin, submembranaceous, hemispherical, then convex or expanded, smooth, hygrophanous, pale grayish-brown and striatulate when moist, white or yellowish when dry. =Gills= narrow, close, attached, easily separating from the stem, at first whitish, then brown, tinged with flesh-color. =Stem= straight, equal, hollow, smooth, white. =Height= 1–2 in., breadth of pileus 1–1.5 in. =Stem= 1–2 lines thick. Grassy ground in yards and fields. Albany. June. Gregarious or cespitose. The pileus is fragile, the spores are brown. _Peck_, 23d Rep. N.Y. State Bot. =Spores= brown, 9×4µ _Massee_; purplish brown, 7.6×5.1µ _Morgan_. Haddonfield, N.J., October, November, December, 1896. In large patches and where stumps had been taken from the ground. _McIlvaine._ Var. _hygro´philus_ Fr. _Gr_—moist; loving. Pileus tawny, then clay-color. Stem 4–6 in. long, rather fusiform, rooting. Gills emarginate with a deeply decurrent line; at length umber-brown. Var. _polyceph´alus_ Fr.—_polus_, many; _cephale_, head. Densely crowded. Stem thinner, flexuous. Gills nearly free, at length tawny-umber. The plant is tender, cooks easily and is of fine flavor. =P. semilancea´ta= Fr.—_semi_, half; _lancea_, a spear. =Pileus= ½ in. high, not broad, various in color, becoming yellow, green, dingy-brown, somewhat membranaceous, _acutely conical_, almost _cuspidate_, never expanded, but the margin when young at first bent inward, _covered with a pellicle which is viscous and separable in wet weather_, slightly striate chiefly round the margin. =Stem= as much as 3 in. long, scarcely 1 line thick, tubular and _containing a pith_, equal, more frequently _flexuous_, smooth, _capable of being_ twisted round the finger, smooth, _becoming pale; furnished with a veil when young_. =Gills= _ascending_ into the summit of the cone, adnexed, almost _linear_, crowded, becoming purple-black. _Fries._ Gregarious, very tough. Pastures and roadsides, etc. Common. August to November. _Stevenson._ =Spores= ellipsoid, 9–16×4–9µ _K._; 14×9µ _W.G.S._ New York, _Peck_, Rep. 23; Novia Scotia, _Somers_. Var. _cærules´cens_ Cooke—becoming blue. Base of stem turning indigo-blue. Not common in America, but frequently found. According to M. C. Cooke—a careful authority—P. semilanceata has a dangerous reputation. It is said to have proved fatal to children when eaten raw. It is not deleterious when cooked. [Illustration] =PSA´THYRA= Fr. _Gr_—friable. (Plate C.) [Illustration: PSATHYRA GYROFLEXA. Natural size. (After Massee.) Omitted from Index to Species. ] =Veil= none or only universal, and floccoso-fibrillose. =Stem= somewhat cartilaginous, fistulose with a tube, polished, _fragile_. =Pileus= conical or bell-shaped, _membranaceous, the margin at the first straight and adpressed to the stem_. =Gills= becoming purple or brownish. _Slender, fragile, hygrophanous._ _Some of the last species of_ Hypholoma and Psilocybe _are very closely allied to them_. The Coprinarii are readily distinguished by the gills being white or ash-color, then black, _not dusky-brown nor becoming purple_. Psathyra corresponds with Mycena, Nolanea, Galera and Psathyrella. All the species grow on the ground or on trunks. _Stevenson._ But four American species reported. Small and unimportant. =DECONICA.= =Stem= tough; margin of =Pileus= at first incurved. =Gills= subtriangularly decurrent. Corresponds with Omphalia, Eccilia, Tubaria. Few American species. Small and unimportant. _Series V._ =MELANOS´PORÆ= (spores black). _Gr_—black; _Gr_—seed. Various as are the spore colors in this series (in its broadest sense), there is an entire absence of brown and purple shades in the black spores of four of the genera belonging to this group or series. In Gomphidius the spores are dingy-olivaceous. It is an outsider affiliating with thoroughbreds because of more technical congeniality than other genera afford. Like comets in the universe, it has no home. The singular genus Montagnites (of which but one species has been found in America, and that in Texas) has the relationship of spore-color. Panæolus, Anellaria, Psathyrella, when young, have gills free from each other; Coprinus, in early life, presents them pressed tightly together; as the plants age and the spores ripen, the entire gill structure becomes black and dissolves into an inky fluid, the color of which is due to the spores. The species are all of delicate body, and many of them add generously to table luxuries. =COPRI´NUS= Pers. _Gr_—dung. =Pileus= separate from the stem. =Gills= membranaceous, at first closely pressed together, cohering, at length melting into a black fluid. =Trama= obsolete. =Spores= oval, even, black. The extreme closeness of the gills and their entire deliquescence into a fluid, black from the spores, sharply define this genus and separate it from all others. At first the form is oval or cylindrical; most are furnished with a downy or scurfy veil often adhering to the pileus, sometimes forming an adhering volva at the base of the stem. Nearly all are ephemeral, many completely disappearing in a day. Cystidia (sterile cells) of large size are frequent on the gills of many species. [Illustration: MELANOSPORAE. _Hymenophore distinct from fleshy stem._ COPRINUS. _Hymenophore confluent and homogeneous with fleshy stem._ ANELLARIA. PANAEOLUS. Spores dingy olivaceous GOMPHIDIUS. _Hymenophore confluent with, but heterogeneous from cartilaginous stem._ PSATHYRELLA. MONTAGNITES. PLATE CI. CHART OF GENERA IN BLACK-SPORED SERIES—MELANOSPORAE, PAGE 368. ] The majority grow on richly manured ground or dung, some on rotten wood and other materials. Bolbitius, the only ally, has the same ephemeral existence, and grows in similar situations, but the gills only soften (not melting) and the spores are somewhat rust-colored. The blackening of the gills is not a process of decay, but is due to the growth of the spores, and the plant is still (before deliquescence) perfectly edible although not so inviting in appearance as before. Species of Coprinus are very common and are easily recognized by the deliquescent gills which, when mature, stain the fingers black. In “Once upon a Time,” when country people made their own writing inks, the convenient Coprinus gave its juices for this purpose. A little corrosive sublimate added to the boiled and strained fluid prevented it from molding. With few exceptions the species are small. They are tender, of real mushroom flavor and highly enjoyable. They make a thin, well flavored catsup, but are better used to give flavor to their less favored brethren. They stew in from two to fifteen minutes, depending upon the solidity of the species. ANALYSIS OF THE TRIBES. _A._ PELLICULOSI (_pellicula_, a thin skin). Page 370. Gills covered above with a fleshy or membranaceous skin, hence the pileus does not split along the lines of the gills, but becomes lacerated with the edges turned upward. * Comati—_coma_, hair. Furnished with a ring formed from the free margin of the volva. The skin of the pileus torn into innate scales. ** Atramentarii—_atramentum_, ink. Ring imperfect. Volva absent. Pileus dotted with minute innate scales. *** Picacei—_pica_, a magpie. Universal veil downy, at first continuous then broken up into superficial scales forming patches on the pileus. **** Tomentosi—_tomentum_, down. Pileus at first covered with a loose hairy down, becoming torn into distinct scales, at length disappearing. Ring absent. ***** Micacei—_mico_, to glitter. Pileus at first covered with minute glistening scales, soon disappearing. Ring none. ****** Glabrati. Pileus smooth. Veil absent. _B._ VELIFORMES (_velum_, a veil; _forma_, form). Page 380. Pileus very thin without a skin, at length opening into furrows along the backs of the gills and becoming folded in furrows. Stem thin, hollow. Gills wasting away into thin lines. * Cyclodei. _Gr_—a circle; appearance. Stem with a ring or volva. ** Lanatuli—_lanatus_, woolly. Pileus covered with superficial woolly floccules, at length disappearing. Ringless. *** Furfurelli—_furfureus_, branny. Pileus mealy or scurfy. Gills generally attached to a collar at the apex of the stem. Ringless. **** Hemerobii. _Gr_.—living a day. Pileus always smooth. None known to be edible. [Illustration: Photographed by Dr. J.R. Weist. PLATE CIII. COPRINUS COMATUS. ] _A._ PELLICULO´SI. Cap becoming torn, edge turning upward, etc. * Comati. _Furnished with a ring, etc._ =C. coma´tus= Fr.—_coma_, hair. (Plate CIII.) =Pileus= 2–7 in. high, white, fleshy, at first oblong, becoming bell-shaped, seldom expanded, when in mature deliquescing state, splitting at the margin along the line of the gills, the cuticle, except upon the apex, separating into shaggy, often concentric scales, at times yellowish, at others tinged with purplish-black. =Gills= free from the stem, crowded and at first cohering, broad, white then tinged with pink or salmon color, then purple to black and dissolving into ink. =Stem= up to 10 in. long, up to ⅝ in. thick, attenuated upward, most part concealed within the cap, hollow, but with spider-web threads within, smooth or fibrillose, white or lilac-white, easily pulling out of cap, brittle. =Ring= thin, torn, sometimes entire and movable. On rich soil, lawns, gardens, roads, dumps, especially where ashes have been placed. Solitary or in large dense clusters. August until after frost, but it is occasionally found during the spring months. Spores elliptical, black, 13–18µ long _Peck_. Almost black, elliptical, 13–18×7–8µ _Massee_; 11–13×6–8µ _K._; 15×8µ _W.G.S._ Var. _brev´iceps_ Pk. =Pileus= before expansion subovate, shorter and broader than in the typical form, 1.5–2.5 in. high. Dumping ground. Albany. November. _H. Neiman._ _Peck_, 49th Rep. Coprinus comatus is common to the United States. In its perfection it is a stately and beautiful plant. I have seen it with the oblong cap eight inches long, but its usual height is from 2–4 in. It occurs after hard rain and often in the most unexpected places. It is a rather domestic species, usually in troops, but often in clusters of from five to fifty individuals. I have seen it lift firmly sodded ground about railroad stations, and again, bulging the surface of gardens like mole-hills. There are toadstools of higher flavor, but not one of greater delicacy. In this C. comatus is not excelled from its earliest stage until fully ripened. It is everywhere commended. Lafayette B. Mendel, in American Journal of Physiology, gives the following analysis: The specimens were freshly gathered and had not yet turned “inky.” They varied very widely in size, thirty-six mushrooms weighing 1485 grams, of which 980 grams belonged to the caps (pileus) and 505 grams to the stems. The average weight of a fresh specimen was thus: Pileus 27 grams Stem 14 — Total weight 41 A specimen which had attained the average growth weighed: Pileus 43 grams Stem 25 — Total weight 68 An analysis yielded the following results: Water 92.19 per cent. Total solids 7.81 The dry substance contained: Total nitrogen 5.79 per cent. Extractive nitrogen 3.87 Protein nitrogen 1.92 Ether extract 3.3 Crude fiber 7.3 Ash 12.5 Material soluble in 85 56.3 per cent. alcohol =C. soboli´ferus= Fr. =Pileus= 1½-2½ in. across, subcylindrical, then oval bell-shaped, lower half of pileus usually undulate but not furrowed or striate, disk obtuse, usually depressed, distinctly scaly, dingy white, toward the apex tinged with pale brown, scales darker. =Flesh= very thin. =Gills= free, tapering toward each end, ¼ in. or more broad, crowded, pale then blackish. =Stem= 5–8 in. long, ¾ in. thick at the base, slightly attenuated upward, silky-white, stuffed; toward the base there is a depressed zone caused by the edge of the pileus when young. =Ring= fugacious. =Spores= elliptical, 15×7µ. Amongst grass near to trunks, buried wood, etc. A very large and beautiful species, distinguished from Coprinus atramentarius, its nearest ally, by the larger size of every part, the costate (ribbed) or waved lower portion of the pileus, the truncate, depressed disk, with distinct squamules, the whitish color of the pileus, and the imperfectly hollow or stuffed stem. =Spores= elliptical, 15×7µ _Massee_. Almshouse grounds, Philadelphia. On maple roots in grass-grown places, May, 1897–1898. _McIlvaine._ Not previously noted in United States. C. soboliferus is a substantial food-giving species, very heavy for its size. It grows singly and in clusters and will immediately attract attention, wherever found. It is of fine flavor and substance. Cook at once. =C. ova´tus= (Schaeff.) Fr.—_ovum_, an egg. =Pileus= white, somewhat membranaceous, _at the first egg-shaped and densely imbricated with thick spreading concentric scales_, covered with an even hood at the apex, then expanded, striate. =Stem= 3–4 in. long, solid at the base, rooting, otherwise hollow, with spider-web threads within, attenuated upward, downy, shining white. =Ring= not very conspicuous and soon vanishing. =Gills= free, remote, slightly ventricose, at the first somewhat naked and remaining long shining white, _at length umber-blackish_, never becoming purple. Smaller, thinner, less handsome than C. comatus. For the most part solitary. _Fries._ =Spores= 11–12×7–8µ _Massee_. On rich ground, dumps, etc. Same habitat as C. comatus. West Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, New Jersey. _McIlvaine._ So closely allied to C. comatus that it is with difficulty distinguished from it. However, its edible qualities are the same, and into these the name does not enter. [Illustration: Grouped by F.D. Briscoe—Studies by C. McIlvaine. PLATE CII.] FIG. PAGE. FIG. PAGE.