Part 37

I have seldom found it, though at times it was quite common about stables in West Virginia. It has good mushroom flavor and is edible. It is stately, attracting attention by its peculiar cap.

=C. plica´tilis= Fr.—_plico_, to fold. =Pileus= 1 in. broad, dusky-brown then bluish-gray-cinereous, _disk darker_, dusky-brown or reddish, oval-cylindrical then campanulate, soon expanded, opening into furrows, _sulcate-plicate_, for the most part _smooth, disk broad_, even, _at length depressed_. =Stem= 1–3 in. long, fistulose, thin, equal, even, _smooth_, pallid, _somewhat pellucid_. =Gills= _remote from the stem_ and adnate to a _collar_ which is formed from the dilated apex of the stem, distant, gray-blackish. _Fries._

Very tender and fragile, but when scorched by the sun not melting into fluid. Very variable in stature and size. _Stevenson._

=Spores= 12–14×8–10µ _Massee_; broadly elliptic, 5µ long, _M.J.B._; 11–13µ _long_, 8–10µ broad _Peck_, Rep. 50.

Common in rich pastures, lawns, roadsides, etc. May to October.

West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, _McIlvaine_.

A neat little fungus often found in great plenty. Though small it is nevertheless edible and must be written with its edible companions.

=PANÆOLUS= Fr.

_Gr_—all; _Gr_—variegated.

(Plate CVIII.)

=Pileus= slightly fleshy, _not striate, margin exceeding the gills_. =Gills= ascending in a conical manner, slate-gray, mottled with the black spores. =Stem= polished. =Veil= woven, often absent. =Spores= black.

On the ground in rich earth, and on dung.

In the black-spored series Psathyrella is separated by the striate pileus, not exceeding the gills, Anellaria by the ring and Coprinus by the deliquescent gills.

Panæolus, in its entirety, has a precise looking membership. If the gills were cut from cardboard and fixed by machinery, they could not be more correct. Some of the species are among the earliest arrivals at toadstool lawn parties, and some are the last to leave. Several are culinary favorites, notably Panæolus solidipes. P. papilionaceus possesses intoxicating properties. P. campanulatus is reported to be a sedative.

The edible species are easily cooked and are exceptionally delicate and well flavored.

=P. retiru´gis= Fr.—_rete_, a net; _ruga_, a wrinkle. =Pileus= about 1 in. across, at first almost globose, then hemispherical, subumbonate, minutely mealy, opaque, moist, furnished with uniting raised ribs, pinkish tan-color; margin with irregular fragments of the veil attached. =Flesh= rather thick. =Gills= adnexed, ascending, 2 lines or more broad, grayish-black. =Stem= 2–4 in. long, about 2 lines thick, equal, pruinose, purplish flesh-color, hollow. _Fries._

=Spores= elliptic-fusiform, 11–13×7µ _Massee_.

On dung. Distinguished among the species of Panæolus by the raised ribs on the pileus and its appendiculate margin. The pileus is sometimes grayish. Closely resembling, superficially, Psathyra corrugis, which is, however, distinguished by the violet-black gills.

=Spores= elliptical, shortly fusiform, 20µ _Q._; 16×11µ _W.G.S._

New York, _Peck_, 23d Rep. West Virginia, 1881–1885. Pennsylvania, New Jersey, frequent on dung. June to frost. _McIlvaine._

P. retirugis is not a common species, and is a sparse grower, but is frequently found. It is seldom that a mess can be had at one time. It is an excellent species by itself and imparts a good flavor to others.

=P. fimi´cola= Fr.—_fimus_, dung; _cola_, to inhabit. =Pileus= ½-¾ in. across and high, slightly fleshy, convex bell-shaped, obtuse, glabrous, opaque, dingy-gray when moist, paler and yellowish when dry, with a narrow brown encircling zone near the margin. =Gills= adnate, 2 lines or more broad, gray, variegated with smoky-black. =Stem= 2–4 in. high, 1 line or more thick, equal, fragile, whitish, powdered with white meal upward, hollow. _Fries._

=Stem= soft, fragile, obsoletely silky-striatulate, 2–4 in. long. =Pileus= when moist commonly smoky-gray, when dry grayish clay-color, sometimes discoid. =Gills= semi-ovate with a minute decurrent tooth. _Fries._

West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey. Frequent. On dung and richly manured places. June to September. _McIlvaine._

P. fimicola is neither as large nor heavy as P. solidipes, but in other respects equals it.

=P. soli´dipes= Pk.—_solidus_, solid; _pes_, a foot. (Plate CII, fig. 3, 4, p. 372.) =Pileus= 2–3 in. across, firm, at first hemispherical, then sub-campanulate or convex, smooth, whitish, the cuticle at length breaking up into dingy-yellowish, rather large, angular scales. =Gills= broad, slightly attached, whitish, becoming black. =Stem= 2–4 lines thick, firm, smooth, white, solid, slightly striate at the top. =Spores= very black with a bluish tint. Height of plant 5–8 in. Dung heaps. West Albany. June.

A large species, remarkable for its solid stem. The scales on the pileus are larger on the disk, becoming smaller toward the margin. The upper part of the stipe is sometimes beaded with drops of moisture. _Peck_, 23d Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

West Virginia, 1881–1885. Pennsylvania, New Jersey, frequent on dung and dung heaps. May to frost. _McIlvaine._

On mature plants, or after rains, the scales are not always present.

P. solidipes is a handsome, readily recognized species of good weight and substance. It is one of the best of toadstools.

=P. campanula´tus= Linn.—_campanula_, a little bell. =Pileus= oval, bell-shaped or obtusely conical, sometimes umbonate, smooth, somewhat shining, brownish, with a peculiar gray or lead-colored tint, sometimes becoming reddish-tinted, the margin, often scalloped or fringed with the appendiculate veil. =Lamellæ= not broad, attached, becoming grayish-black. =Stem= long, slender, hollow, reddish, pruinose and slightly striate at the top, at length dusted with the spores.

=Height= 4–6 in., breadth of pileus 6–12 lines.

On horse dung and rich soil. June and July. Common.

In very wet weather the cuticle of the pileus sometimes cracks into scales or areas. _Peck_, 23d Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

=Spores= subellipsoid, 16–18×10–13µ _K._; 8–9×6µ _Massee_.

Mr. R.K. Macadam, Boston, Mass., informs me that he has information of a case of poisoning by this fungus. “The victim experienced dizziness, dimness of vision, trembling and loss of power and memory. He recovered after simple treatment and was well inside of 24 hours.”

A full account of this case is in “The London Medical and Surgical Journal,” Vol. 36, November, 1816. The poison acts as a sedative.

I have several times eaten of this fungus in small quantities, because larger could not be obtained, and with no other than pleasant effect. There does not appear to be any case of poisoning reported by it since 1816, which, considering the inquisitiveness of man, is singular. Caution is advised.

=P. papiliona´ceus= Fr.—_papilio_, a butterfly. =Pileus= subhemispherical, sometimes subumbonate, smooth, or with the cuticle breaking up into scales, whitish-gray, often tinged with yellow. =Lamellæ= very broad, attached, becoming black. =Stem= slender, firm, hollow, pruinose above, whitish, sometimes tinged with red or yellow, slightly striate at the top and generally stained by the spores.

=Height= 3–5 in., breadth of pileus 6–18 lines.

On dung and rich soil. Common. May and June.

A small form occurs with the pileus nearly white, scarcely half an inch in diameter, and the cuticle not cracking. _Peck_, 23d Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

The effects of P. papilionaceus are very uncertain. I have seen it produce hilarity in a few instances, and other mild symptoms of intoxication, which were soon over, and with little reaction. But I have seen, at table, the same effects from eating preserved peaches and preserved plums which had fermented. Many personal testings have been without effect. Testings upon others vary with the individuals. The fungus seems to contain a mild stimulant. It is not dangerous, but should be eaten with caution. Being of small size, and not a prolific species, quantities of it are difficult to obtain. Moderate quantities of it have no effect whatever.

=ANELLA´RIA= Karst.

_Anellus_, a little ring.

=Pileus= slightly fleshy, smooth and even. =Gills= adnexed, dark slate-color, variegated with the black spores. =Stem= central, smooth, shining, rather firm. =Ring= present at first, either persistent or forming a zone around the stem.

The species of this genus were formerly included in Panæolus, from which this is separated by the presence of a ring, more or less definite.

In other characters they are similar. As in Amanitopsis and Amanita.

(Plate CIX.)

=A. separa´ta= Karst.—_separatus_, distinct, separate. =Pileus= 1–1½ in. across, height about the same, ovate, then bell-shaped, not expanding, viscid, even, ochraceous, then whitish, shining, wrinkled when old. =Flesh= rather thick. =Gills= adfixed, ascending, thin, crowded, broad, 2–3 lines, grayish-black, margin paler. =Stem= long, 3–5 in., straight, base thickened, attenuated upward, whitish, shining, top somewhat striate. =Ring= persistent, distant. _Massee._

On dung. Rather variable in size.

=Pileus= bell-shaped, but very obtuse at the summit, ½-1¼ in. from the base to the apex, not expanding at the base without cracking.

=Spores= broadly elliptic-fusiform, black, opaque, 10×7µ _Massee_; ellipsoid, 16–22×10–12µ _K._; 16×11µ _W.G.S._

West Virginia, 1881–1885. New Jersey, Mt. Gretna, Pa., July, 1898, on dung. _McIlvaine._

A common, frequent species from May to October. It is substantial in flesh, excellent in substance and flavor. Cook soon and not over fifteen minutes.

=PSATHYREL´LA.=

_Gr_—fragile.

=Pileus= membranaceous, _striate_, margin straight, at first pressed to the stem, _not extending beyond the gills_. =Veil= inconspicuous. =Gills= sooty-black, _not variegated_. =Spores= black.

Closely resembling Psathyra in appearance, but separated by the spore color.

In the black-spored series Panæolus and Anellaria are distinguished by their pilei not being striate and Coprinus by its deliquescent gills.

The species are small and can seldom be gathered in quantity. But those tested have the full mushroom flavor and are valued for the flavor they give to less gifted species when cooked with them.

=P. gra´cilis= Fr.—slender. =Pileus= ½-1 in. broad, _sooty_, livid, etc., when dry, tan, rosy or whitish, hygrophanous, membranaceous, bell-shaped, obtuse, smooth, _even_, slightly and pellucidly-striate only round the margin. =Stem= 3 in. and more long, scarcely 1 line thick, tubular, _remarkably tense and straight_, equal, naked, smooth, whitish, _not rooted, white-villous at the base_. =Gills= wholly adnate, commonly _broader_ behind (rarely linear), almost _distant_, distinct, at first whitish, then cinereous-blackish with the black spores, _edge rose-colored_. _Fries._

When dry the pileus is soft to the touch. Gregarious, fragile. Very similar to A. corrugis, and there is a variety corrugated. _Stevenson._

=Spores= ellipsoid, 13–14×7–8µ _K._; 5×12µ _W.G.S._; 7×3–3.5µ _Massee_; 14×8µ _Morgan_.

New York, _Peck_, Rep. 23; West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, common, rich ground, June to October. _McIlvaine._

A common and beautiful fungus, growing in patches on rich ground. It is decidedly prim. Its conical cap is regular as an extinguisher. It pays to gather it for flavoring other species. I have not seen the corrugated form mentioned by Fries. P. graciloides Pk. lacks the rosy-edged gills; gills are whitish.

(Plate CX.)

=P. graciloi´des= Pk.—slender. =Pileus= thin, conical or bell-shaped, glabrous, hygrophanous, brown and striatulate when moist, whitish and subrugulose when dry. =Lamellæ= ascending, rather broad, subdistant, brown, becoming blackish-brown, the edge whitish. =Stem= long, straight, fragile, hollow, smooth, white. =Spores= blackish, elliptical, 15–16.5×8–8.5µ.

=Plant= gregarious, 4–6 in. high. =Pileus= 1 in. broad. =Stem= 1 line thick.

Ground in an old dooryard. Maryland. September.

This is allied to A. gracilis Fr., but the edge of the gills is not rosy. When drying the moisture leaves the disk of the pileus first, the margin last. When dry the plant bears some resemblance to large forms of A. tener. Under a lens the texture of the surface of the pileus is seen to be composed of matted fibrils. _Peck_, 30th Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

Pennsylvania and New Jersey, on ground about houses and stables, often in barn yards, after they have been cleaned out and are empty for the summer. _McIlvaine._

The whitish-edged gills with entire absence of rosiness on gill edges distinguish this species from P. gracilis Fr. It is frequent but not plentiful. Often a pint can be gathered. It has a fine mushroom flavor, resembling the delicate forms of Coprinus.

=P. atoma´ta= Fr.—_atomatus_, atomate. =Pileus= ½-1 in. broad, livid, when dry becoming pale tan or pale flesh-color, sometimes reddish, hygrophanous, membranaceous, bell-shaped, obtuse, _slightly striate_, when dry without striæ, slightly wrinkled, _sprinkled with shining atoms_. =Stem= 2 in. long, almost 1 line thick, tubular, equal, not rooted, _lax_, slightly bent (not tense and straight), _white and white pulverulent at the apex_. =Gills= adnate, broad, _ventricose, slightly distinct_, whitish, but cinereous-blackish with the black spores. _Fries._

Solitary or gregarious. Pileus changing like A. gracilis from livid to whitish and rose-color, but more fragile. _Stevenson._

=Spores= elliptical, 10×4µ _Massee_; 14×9µ _W.G.S_.; 11×8µ _Morgan_.

Chester county, Pa., June to September. _McIlvaine._

Several specimens were eaten. In flavor they could not be distinguished from C. micaceus. The scarcity and small size of the species make it of little value, save as a flavoring.

(Plate CXI.)

=P. dissemina´ta= Pers.—_dissemino_, to scatter. Found everywhere. Densely tufted. =Pileus= about ½ in. across, membranaceous, ovate, bell-shaped, at first scurfy, then naked, coarsely striate, margin entire, yellowish then gray. =Gills= adnate, narrow, whitish, then gray, finally blackish. =Stem= 1–1½ in. long, rather curved, mealy then smooth, fragile, hollow. _Massee._

Crowded. =Pileus= ovate, conical, at length bell-shaped, ⅓-½ in. from the base to the apex, striate and plicate, membranaceous, pale buff or reddish-brown, at length gray, becoming flaccid and dissolving. =Gills= distant, narrow, pale brown. =Stipes= 1–3 in. long, slender, weak, brittle, crooked, hollow, pale yellowish, whitish or grayish. Particularly partial to old willow trees, and when growing on a stump of a felled tree often covering nearly a square yard. _Grev._

=Spores= 8×6µ _W.G.S_.; 7.6×5µ _Morgan._

West Virginia, New Jersey, Mt. Gretna, Pa., about abandoned camp. Densely tufted. May to frost. _McIlvaine._

Patches of it are very common on old trunks, about decaying trees, on ground. The caps rarely reach 1 in. in diameter. The plants cook away to almost nothing, but they are of fine flavor, which they impart to the cooking medium.

=GOMPHI´DIUS= Fr.

A wooden bolt or nail.

=Hymenophore= decurrent. =Gills= distant, composed of a mucilaginous membrane, which can be readily separated into two plates, continuous at the edge which is acute and powdered with the blackish fusiform spores. =Veil= viscoso-floccose. Fleshy, putrescent, pileus at length the shape of an inverted cone.

A small genus with great difference among the species. Intermediate in habit between Cortinarius and Hygrophorus.

Universal =Veil= glutinous, at first terminating on the stem in a floccose ring soon disappearing. The =Gills= frequently admit of being detached and stretched out into a continuous membrane. _Fries._

A genus possessing several well-marked characters. The very decurrent gills differ from all others in their soft mucilaginous consistency. The spores are larger than usual in the Agaricaceæ and have the elongated spindle-shape found in Boleti. The stem and pileus are of the same substance, and the pileus and veil are both glutinous when moist. The spores have been described as greenish-gray becoming black, and as dingy-olive.

I have had opportunity to see but two species of this small genus—G. rhodoxanthus and G. viscidus. Of these the spores are decidedly olivaceous. If the six other species recorded as found in the United States are as creditable, they are well worth hunting for. G. Oregonensis Pk. is reported as edible and as a valuable food species in Oregon. The glutinous coatings to pileus and stem do not appear on the American form of G. rhodoxanthus in the localities I have found it in during fifteen years.

=G. glutino´sus= (Schaeff.) Fr.—_glutin_, glue. =Pileus= 2–5 in. broad, purple-brown, often mottled with black spots, fleshy, convex, obtuse, at length plane, even depressed, even, smooth, very glutinous. =Flesh= thick, about ½ in., soft, white. =Stem= 2–3 in. and more long, about ½ in. thick, solid, whitish, thickened and externally and internally yellow at the base, viscid with the veil, fibrillose or varying with black scales. =Cortina= often woven in the form of a ring, but soon fugacious. =Gills= deeply decurrent, distant, distinct, branched, quite entire, mucilaginous, 3–4 lines broad, _at first whitish, then cinereous_, clouded with the spores.

Trama none, wherefore the gills easily separate from the pileus. Taste watery, moldy. Odor not marked. _Stevenson._

=Spores= 20µ _Cooke_; 18–23×6–8µ _K._; 16–17×6µ _W.G.S._; 18–20×6µ _Massee_.

Distinguished by the bright yellow base of stem.

Pine woods. July to November. Nova Scotia. _Somers._

Edible. _Leuba._ Chiefly used for catsup. _Cooke._

Var. _ro´seus_. =Pileus= rose-color. =Stem= white, attenuated and rosy flesh-color internally at the base. Very distinguished, always smaller.

=Spores= 20–22×6µ _K._

Nova Scotia. Massachusetts. _Frost._

I have not seen this species or its variety. Eminent authorities vouch for its edibility.

=G. Oregonen´sis= Pk. =Pileus= at first convex, becoming nearly plane or somewhat centrally depressed, viscid, brown or dark-brown, becoming black in drying, taste sweet and pleasant. =Lamellæ= numerous, rather close, adnate or slightly decurrent, blackish in the dried plant. =Stem= short, solid, equal or slightly tapering upward, colored like the pileus. =Spores= oblong, 10–12.5µ long, 4–5µ broad.

=Pileus= 5–10 cm. broad. =Stem= 2.5–5 cm. long, 4–10 mm. thick.

Fir woods. Oregon. September to December. _Lane._

Dr. Lane writes that this species is edible and grows so abundantly in fir woods that it might be gathered by wagon loads and might be made a source of an abundant food supply. _Peck_. Torrey Bulletin, Vol. 25, No. 6, June, 1898.

(Plate CXII.)

=G. vis´cidus= Fr.—viscid. =Pileus= 2–3 in. and more broad, brownish-red, compact, at first bell-shaped, then expanded, umbonate, slightly viscous, shining when dry. =Flesh= yellowish. =Stem= 3–4 in. and more long, ½ in. thick, solid, equal or attenuated at the base which is rhubarb-colored internally, scaly-fibrillose, not very viscous, yellowish. =Cortina= very evidently floccose, not glutinous, woven in the form of a ring, but readily falling off. =Gills= deeply decurrent, distant, the shorter ones adnexed to the longer, not truly branched, at first paler, somewhat olive, at length brownish-purple, clouded with the spores. _Fries._

Hymenophore descending between the gill plates. Odor not unpleasant. _Stevenson._

Chiefly used in catsup. _Cooke._ Edible. _Leuba._ _Cooke._

North Carolina, Massachusetts, _Frost_. Minnesota, California, Pennsylvania.

Many grew under pines at Mt. Gretna, Pa., September to November. The gills seemed branched, but were grown together. Taste and smell pleasant. The caps are good, but not equal to G. rhodoxanthus.

=G. rhodoxan´thus= Schw. (Plate XCVII, fig. 4, 5, p. 352.) Solitary. =Pileus= 1–2 in. broad, cushion-shaped, reddish-yellow, sometimes with dusky hues. =Gills= arched, decurrent, orange-yellow. =Stem= attenuated, short, firm.

=Spores= oblong, 10–12.5µ in length. _Peck._ Olivaceous. _McIlvaine._

Solitary, gregarious or cespitose.

Among leaves and grass in shady places. August to October.

When the student has mastered the name and memorized the description, Gomphidius rhodoxanthus can not be mistaken for any other species.

It is not common in localities I have frequented, but its presence is pretty general in the United States, specimens having been sent to me from Georgia, Iowa, New York, New Jersey, etc., and I have found it in West Virginia, North Carolina, Woodland Cemetery, Philadelphia, and other places in Pennsylvania, from July to September, 1898, inclusive. Having enjoyed it in West Virginia in 1882, I was delighted to find it in generous quantity at Mt. Gretna, Pa., and to eat many meals of it. Its caps are not excelled by any edible fungus. They have solid, delicious substance and rich full flavor.

The plant is often cespitose. I have never found its cap viscid or glutinous. The cooked flesh has the latter consistency.

=MONTAGNITES= Fr.

After Montagne. (Plate CI, fig. 6, p. 368.)

The universal veil forming a volva, persistent. =Stem= dilated at the apex into a plane round disk, even on both sides, _to the margin_ of which are _adfixed the gills which are free, not joined by any membrane_, radiating, razor-shaped, persistent, obtuse at the edge. =Trama= cellulose. =Spores= oblong, even, black fuscous. _Fries._

A single species is reported from Texas.

FAMILY II.—=POLYPORACEÆ.=

Hymenophore inferior, facing the ground. Hymenium consisting of tubes with poriform mouths which are round or angular, sometimes sinuous or torn, lined with 4-spored sporophores and cystidia.

Fleshy, coriaceous or woody fungi, most abundant and luxuriant in warm countries. Intermediate between the Agaricaceæ and the Hydnaceæ, connected with the former by Dædalea and Lenzites, and with the latter by Fistulina and Irpex. _Fries._

Within this large family are famed edible species, notably in Boletinus, Boletus and Fistulina. In the woody species the razor-strop man finds material for his strops (Polyporus celulinus); the surgeon styptics; the peasant punk to catch sparks from his flint, and the 4th of July urchin a fire-holder to light his pyrotechnics. The Chinese have placed some species in their fathomless materia medica, while the Polyporus of the locust tree is used in America as a medicine for horses. No fungoid growth is more universal. They are the ever active pruners of our trees and converters of forest debris. They begin the task in Nature’s laboratory of changing decaying wood into assimilable shape as food to feed the very trees that dropped it. Some are of annual growth, others add to their substance year after year, often attaining enormous size. In summer and in winter they are ever present objects for interesting study.

SYNOPSIS OF GENERA.

BOLETINUS. Page 398.

Hymenium composed of broader radiating gills connected by very numerous more narrow anastomosing branches or partitions and forming large angular pores. Tubes somewhat tenacious, not easily separable from the hymenophore and from each other, adnate or subdecurrent, yellowish. _Peck._

BOLETUS. Page 404.

Stratum of tubes easily separable from the hymenophore. Stem central.

STROBILOMYCES. Page 475.

Tubes like Boletus, but pileus with large scales. Stem central.

FISTULINA. Page 477.

Fleshy, lateral, tubes crowded but distinct.

POLYPORUS. Page 479.

Stratum of tubes distinct from hymenophore, but not separable, not stratose; fleshy and tough, stipitate or sessile.

FOMES.

Tubes as in Polyporus, often stratose; woody, sessile; dimidiate. (No edible species reported.)

POLYSTICTUS.