The Mushroom, Edible and Otherwise Part 20

Prof. Morgan of Preston, Ohio, gives the following description of the One-Brotherhood c.l.i.tocybe in the Mycological Flora of the Miama Valley: "Densely cespitose. Pileus fleshy, convex, then depressed, at first glabrous, then scaly, honey-colored, varying to pallid-brown or reddish.

The stem elongated, solid, crooked, twisted, fibrous, tapering at the base, pallid-brownish or flesh color. Spores white, a little irregular, .0055MM."

It might be easily taken for the ringless Armillaria mellea, but the decidedly decurrent gills and the solid stem ought to set any one right.

In very wet weather it soon becomes water-soaked, and is then not good.

It is found in woods about stumps, and in newly cleared fields about roots or stumps. From spring to October. See Plate XII, Figure 75, for an ill.u.s.tration. Bresadola of Europe has determined this to be the same as that described by Scoparius in 1772 as Agaricus (c.l.i.tocybe) tabescens. I have preferred to retain the name given by Prof. Morgan.

_c.l.i.tocybe dealbata. Sow._

THE WHITE CLYTOCYBE. EDIBLE.

Dealbata means whitewashed; so called from its white color.

The pileus is about one inch broad, rather fleshy, convex, then plane, upturned and wavy, smooth, s.h.i.+ning, even.

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

The stem is fibrous, thin, equal, stuffed. Spores are 4-52.5.

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

_c.l.i.tocybe phyllophila. Fr._

THE LEAF-LOVING c.l.i.tOCYBE. EDIBLE.

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

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

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

The stem is two to three inches long, stuffed, becoming hollow, silky, rather tough, whitish. The spores are elliptical., 64.

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

_c.l.i.tocybe cyathiformis. Bull._

THE CUP-SHAPED c.l.i.tOCYBE. EDIBLE.

Cyathiformis is from _cyathus_, a drinking cup; _formis_, form or shape.

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

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

The stem is stuffed, elastic, tapering upward, fibrillose, base villous.

The spores are elliptical, 96.

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

_c.l.i.tocybe laccata. Scop._

WAXY c.l.i.tOCYBE. EDIBLE.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Figure 76.--c.l.i.tocybe laccata. Two-thirds natural size.

Caps violet or reddish-brown. Gills broad and distant.]

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

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

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

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

[Ill.u.s.tration: Figure 77.--c.l.i.tocybe laccata. Two-thirds natural size.

Specimens growing late in the fall.]

Prof. Peck gives the following varieties:

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

Var. pallidifolia--gills much paler than usual.

Var. striatula--cap smooth, thin, so that shadowy lines are seen on cap, radiating from near the center to the margin. This grows in damp places.

Some authors make c.l.i.tocybe laccata a type for a new genus and call it Lacaria laccata.

_Collybia. Fr._

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

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

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

_Collybia radicata. Rehl._

THE ROOTING COLLYBIA. EDIBLE.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Plate XIII. Figure 78.--Collybia radicata.]

This, in its season, is one of the most common mushrooms in the woods.

It grows in the ground, frequently around old stumps, sometimes on lawns.