=Flesh= very thin, tough, becoming whitish; bell-shaped then convex, at
length expanded, umbonate, at length depressed round the conical,
prominent umbo, moist, virgate or streaked with innate fibrils radiating
from the center, otherwise almost even, smoky-mouse color, opaque,
margin naked. =Gills= adnexed with a slight decurrent tooth, slightly
sinuate, crowded, narrow, white then gray. =Stem= about 1 in. long and 2
lines thick, base slightly bulbous, tough, slightly striate, naked,
dingy-gray. =Spores= elliptic-fusiform, 10–11×5–6µ.
In gardens, on dung-hills, etc. Small, tough, color dingy, without a
trace of violet tinge. _Massee._
Edible. Cooks tender, and is of good flavor, notwithstanding its name,
which in no way applies.
=T. subpulverulen´tum= Pers.—slightly dusty. =Pileus= 1–2½ in. across,
convex then plane or depressed in center, even, innately pruinose,
hoary, white, whitish, grayish, margin extending as a slight rim
incurved beyond gills. =Flesh= white, thick, firm, hygrophanous. =Gills=
rounded without a tooth, close, narrow, white. =Stem= 2–3 in. long, 3–5
lines thick, equal, solid, somewhat striate, whitish.
=Spores= 5×3µ _Massee_; 4×3µ _W.G.S._
Biological grounds, University of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia. May to
November, 1898. _McIlvaine._
A species one is glad to find. It has a healthy substantial presence
full of promise. It is a solitary grower among grass on lawns and
pastures, but its individuals are neighborly. Caps and stems are
excellent.
[Illustration]
Grouped by F.D. Briscoe—Studies by C. McIlvaine. PLATE XXIV.
FIG. PAGE. FIG. PAGE.
1–2–3. CLITOCYBE 108 8. CLITOCYBE AMETHYSTINA, 107
OCHROPURPUREA,
4. CLITOCYBE 108 9. CLITOCYBE ODORA, 90
OCHROPURPUREA
(SECTION),
5. CLITOCYBE MAXIMA, 99 10. CLITOCYBE LACCATA, 107
6. CLITOCYBE MAXIMA 99 11. CLITOCYBE 100
(SECTION), INFUNDIBULIFORMIS,
7. CLITOCYBE NEBULARIS, 85
CLITO´CYBE Fr.
_Gr._—sloping. (From the depression of the pileus.)
=Pileus= generally fleshy, becoming thin toward the margin, flexible or
tough, plane or depressed, margin involute. =Gills= adnate or decurrent,
never sinuate. =Stem= confluent and homogeneous with flesh of pileus,
somewhat elastic, with a spongy stuffing, frequently becoming hollow,
externally fibrous. Universal veil when present conspicuous on the
pileus like frost or silky dew, but commonly wanting.
Growing on the ground, frequently in groups. The thinner and
hygrophanous species appear late in autumn. Some are quite fragrant.
Collybia, Mycena and Omphalia are separated by their stems being
cartilaginous, not externally fibrous as in Clitocybe. Tricholoma by its
sinuate gills.
Variations in species of Clitocybe are great. A few are easily fixed in
the genus, but many of them will puzzle the amateur and perplex the
expert. The gills are always attached to the stem, and usually run down
it. They are not notched next to the stem as in Tricholoma.
Like Tricholoma, Clitocybe has many species, most of which are common,
and are probably edible. I therefore give Professor Peck’s description
of all Clitocybes thus far submitted to him.
I know of but one species which is injurious to some persons—Clitocybe
illudens. Many eat and enjoy it. It does not agree with others. A few
untried species are suspicious to a like extent. Clitocybe illudens
possesses the property of phosphorescence.
Several species of Clitocybe have not been seen or tested by me, nor
have I information that these have been tested.
ANALYSIS OF TRIBES.
_A._ PILEUS FLESHY, OFTEN PALLID WHEN DRY, _not hygrophanous_.
Flesh firm, not watery, nor splitting into plates. Those which turn pale
in drying differ from Series _B_ by their silky luster.
DISCIFORMES (disk-shaped). Page 85.
Pileus somewhat equally fleshy; convex then plane or depressed, obtuse,
regular; gills at first adnate or regularly adnato-decurrent. Normally
solitary.
* Pileus gray or brownish.
** Pileus violet or reddish.
*** Pileus becoming yellowish.
**** Pileus greenish, becoming pale.
***** Pileus white, becoming shining white.
Distinguished from white hygrophanous species and white species of
Paxillus.
DIFFORMES (irregularly shaped). Page 94.
Pileus fleshy in the center, thin at the margin, at first umbonate, then
expanded and depressed, irregular. Gills unequally decurrent, longer in
some places than in others, sometimes rounded on one side of the stem or
only reaching it as in Tricholoma. Stem somewhat cartilaginous
externally, but fibrous.
Cespitose, often grown together at base, variable in form, sometimes
solitary.
INFUNDIBULIFORMES (funnel-shaped). Page 98.
Pileus becoming thin from the fleshy center to the margin, at length
funnel-shaped or deeply umbilicately depressed in the center. Stem
spongy, externally fibrous. Gills deeply and equally decurrent from the
first. Pileus often becoming discolored or pallid, not hygrophanous.
* Pileus colored or becoming pale, the surface (at least under a lens)
innately flocculose or silky, bibulous, not moist.
** Pileus colored or pallid, smooth, moist in rainy weather.
*** Pileus shining whitish, with scattered superficial flocci or
becoming smooth.
_B._ PILEUS FLESHY-MEMBRANACEOUS.
Flesh thin, soft, watery, hygrophanous.
CYATHIFORMES (cup-shaped). Page 104.
Flesh of pileus thin, consisting of two separable plates, disk not
compact, hygrophanous, depressed then cup-shaped; gills at first adnate
then decurrent, descending, straight. Color dingy when moist.
ORBIFORMES (round-shaped). Page 109.
Pileus somewhat fleshy, hygrophanous, convex then flattened or
depressed, polished, not squamulose nor mealy; gills plane, horizontal,
thin, crowded, adnate or decurrent with a small tooth. Color dingy or
becoming watery pale.
* Gills becoming ash-colored. Pileus at first dark.
** Gills whitish. Pileus becoming pale.
VERSIFORMES (variable in shape). Page 106.
Pileus thin, convex then deformed, tough, more or less squamulose or
furfuraceous; gills adnate, broad, rather thick, generally distant.
Color hygrophanous.
* Pileus squalid or brownish with dark squamules. None known to be
edible.
** Pileus bright, of one color.
_Series A._
I.—DISCIFOR´MES.
* _Pileus gray or brownish._
=C. nebula´ris= Batsch.—_nebula_, a cloud. (Plate XXIV, fig. 7, p. 82.)
The Clouded clitocybe, Clitocybe nebularis, takes its name from the
clouded-gray appearance of its thick cap, which is at first convex, but
when mature, either flat or a little depressed. Its flesh is white,
thickest in the middle, and in a vertical section is seen to taper
rapidly downward into the stem. The gills are close together and rather
narrow for the size of the plant. They are white or yellowish-white. The
stout solid stem usually tapers upward from the base and is whitish.
The cap is two to four inches or more broad, the stem one to two inches
long and about half an inch thick. The Clouded mushroom grows in woods,
and sometimes forms large tufts or clusters among fallen leaves. It is
found in autumn, but is not very common in this country. Authors differ
in their estimate of the edible qualities of this mushroom, but the more
recent ones generally agree in classing it as edible. “Mushrooms and
Their Use,” _C.H. Peck_.
=Spores= 4.5×3µ _Cooke_; elliptical 6×3.5µ _Massee_; 3×4µ _W.G.S._
There has been great diversity of opinion as to the edibility of this
species on the continent. Cordier and a friend suffered from it. Paulet
counseled mistrust.
This fungus is quite common in the West Virginia mountains and in some
parts of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, where I have found it. It is,
however, limited to localities. It is one of my favorites, being of
marked flavor and agreeable consistency. I have not known it to harm
anyone.
(Plate XXV.)
[Illustration:
CLITOCYBE CLAVIPES.
About two-thirds natural size.
]
=C. cla´vipes= Pers.—_clava_, a club; _pes_, a foot. =Pileus= 1½-2½ in.
across, rather convex at first, soon plane, at length almost obconical,
very obtuse, even, glabrous, dry, sometimes all one color, brown, sooty,
livid-gray, etc., sometimes whitish towards the margin, very rarely
entirely white. =Flesh= loose in texture, white, thin at the margin.
=Gills= deeply decurrent, continued down the stem as straight lines,
rather distant, flaccid, quite entire, broad, entirely and persistently
white. =Stem= 2 in. long, base ½ in. and more thick, conically
attenuated upward, rather fibrillose, livid, sooty, solid, spongy
within. =Spores= elliptical, 6–7×4µ.
In woods, especially pine. Resembling C. nebularis in color, but quite
distinct. Smell pleasant, entire substance soft and elastic. _Fries._
=Spores= elliptical, 6–7×4µ _Massee_; sub-ellipsoid, 5–7×3–4µ _K._; 6×8µ
_W.G.S._
Found in pine woods of New Jersey, and under spruce in West Virginia.
Its substance is spongy, therefore does not stew well. Cooked in any
other way it is delicate and of excellent flavor.
=C. gangræno´sa= Fr.—_gangræna_, gangrene. =Pileus= fleshy, convex then
plane, obtuse, whitish, at first sprinkled with white powder, then
naked, variegated, streaked. =Gills= slightly decurrent, arcuate,
crowded, dingy-white. =Stem= somewhat bulbous, soft, striate, spongy,
solid.
Stinking; large, flesh becoming blackish and variegated with black. Stem
curved, sometimes excentric. Pileus whitish, here and there greenish,
livid, etc. _Fries._
Var. _nigres´cens_ Lasch. Whitish; pileus thin, soft, at first convex,
obtuse then plane, somewhat umbonate, and somewhat depressed; gills
decurrent, very much crowded, narrow, stem solid, downy.
=Pileus= 2–3 in. broad. =Stem= 1¼-1½ in. long, 2–3 lines thick.
Odor rather sweet, taste unpleasant. _Cooke._
New Jersey, Haddonfield, pine woods. July to August. _McIlvaine._
This Clitocybe is in every way unattractive. It is not poisonous, but no
one would care to eat it.
(Plate XXVI.)
[Illustration:
CLITOCYBE MEDIA.
One-half natural size.
]
=C. me´dia= Pk.—_medius_, middle. Because intermediate between C.
nebularis and C. clavipes. =Pileus= fleshy, convex, becoming plane or
slightly depressed, dry, dark grayish-brown, the margin often wavy or
irregular, flesh white, taste mild. =Gills= broad, subdistant, adnate or
decurrent, whitish, the interspaces somewhat venose. =Stem= equal or but
slightly thickened at the base, solid, elastic, not polished, colored
like or a little paler than the pileus. =Spores= elliptical, 8×5µ.
=Pileus= 2–4 in. broad. =Stem= 1–2 in. long, 4–8 lines thick. Mossy
ground in deep woods. North Elba. September.
This species is intermediate between C. nebularis and C. clavipes. In
its general appearance, and in the character of the pileus and stem, it
resembles C. nebularis, but in the character of the more distant gills
and in the size of the spores it is nearer C. clavipes, of which it
might perhaps be regarded as a variety. Two forms are distinguishable.
In one the gills are more distant, slightly rounded behind, and adnate
or abruptly terminated; in the other they are closer and more distinctly
decurrent. The plant is edible. _Peck_, 42d Rep. N.Y. State Bot.
I have known this fungus very favorably since 1883, and regard it as one
of the best. I have seen it in the West Virginia mountains only, but it
will probably be found in cool, shaded, high localities all over the
country. Both it and the C. nebularis are well worthy of search.
=C. viles´cens= Pk.—_vilesco_, of little value. =Pileus= convex, then
plane or depressed, often irregular, glabrous, slightly pruinose on the
involute margin, brown or grayish-brown, becoming paler with age, often
concentrically rivulose. =Gills= close, adnate or decurrent, cinereous,
sometimes tinged with dingy-yellow. =Stem= short, solid, sometimes
compressed, grayish-brown, with a whitish tomentum at the base. =Spores=
subglobose or broadly elliptical, 5–6.5µ; flesh whitish-gray, odor
slight.
=Plant= gregarious, 1–2 in. high. =Pileus= 1–1.5 in. broad. =Stem= 1–2
lines thick. Grassy pastures. Jamesville, August. _Peck_, 33d Rep. N.Y.
State Bot.
A pale form of this species grows on sandy soil, in which the pileus is
smoky white, but it becomes grayish-brown in drying. The mycelium binds
together a mass of sand, so that when the plant is taken up carefully a
little ball of sandy soil adheres to the base of the stem. The stem is
sometimes pruinose. The flavor is mild and agreeable. _Peck_, 50th Rep.
N.Y. State Bot.
Sometimes plentiful about Philadelphia. Edible. Caps tender, slight
flavor.
=C. comitia´lis= Fr.—belonging to an assembly. =Pileus= about 1½ in.
across, fleshy, convex, then plane, obtuse, even, glabrous, rather moist
but not hygrophanous, every part colored alike, sooty-umber, almost
black. =Flesh= firm, white. =Gills= very slightly decurrent, horizontal,
plane, thin, crowded, white. =Stem= 2–3 in. long, 3–4 lines thick,
equally attenuated upward from the base, glabrous, sooty, elastic,
stuffed. =Spores= elliptical, 7–8×4µ.
Damp places among mosses in pine woods, etc. Distinguished by the
blackish color of the almost flat pileus, and the very slightly
decurrent gills. Somewhat allied to C. clavipes, but firmer, smaller and
inodorous. _Massee._
Rather rare. Found in New Jersey among pines; in Pennsylvania in mixed
woods.
Edible. Good texture and flavor.
[Illustration:
Photographed by Dr. J.R. Weist. PLATE XXVII.
CLITOCYBE MONADELPHA.
]
** _Violet or reddish._
=C. cyanophæ´a= Fr. _Gr._—blue. =Pileus= 3–4 in. broad, becoming
bluish-dusky-brown, compact, convex then plane, obtuse, smooth. =Stem= 3
in. long, 1 in. thick at the base, attenuated upward, robust, solid,
smooth, _becoming azure-blue_ when young, _abruptly white at the apex_.
=Gills= deeply decurrent, crowded, violaceous, then becoming pale.
New York, Albion. In woods. October. Edible. _Dr. E.L. Cushing._
Specimens sent to me by Dr. Cushing are the first and only ones of the
species I have seen. The description is accurate. The spores were cream
color.
=C. monadel´pha= Morg.—_monas_, single; _adelphos_, a brother. From its
cespitose habit. (Plate XXVII.) Densely cespitose. =Pileus= fleshy,
convex then depressed, at first glabrous, then scaly, honey color,
varying to pallid-brownish or reddish. =Stem= elongated, solid, crooked,
twisted, fibrous, tapering at the base, pallid-brownish or flesh color.
=Gills= short, decurrent, not crowded, pallid flesh color. =Spores=
white, a little irregular, 7.5×5.5µ.
On the ground in wet woods, spring to late autumn. =Pileus= 1–3 in.
=Stem= 3–7 in. _Morgan._
Grassy places. Menands. Albany county. September. Edible. Resembling
Armillaria mellea, but distinguished from it by the absence of a collar
from the stem, by the more decidedly decurrent lamellæ and by the solid
stem. It is also more agreeable in flavor. It is related to C. illudens
in habit and manner of growth. _Peck_, 51st Rep. N.Y. State Bot.
=Spores= 8×5µ _Peck_.
October 15, 1898. Identified by Professor Peck. September until frost.
Grows in great clusters about roots, etc., at Mt. Gretna. Frequently
much water-soaked and uninviting. Taste variable, sometimes strong,
woody.
It is edible, but care should be exercised in collecting to get young,
fresh groups.
=C. socia´lis= Fr.—_socius_, a companion. =Pileus= about 1 in. broad,
pale-yellowish with a reddish tinge, fleshy, convex then expanded,
acutely umbonate especially when young, even, smooth, dry. =Flesh=
moderately thin, white. =Stem= 1 in. long, 2 lines or a little more
thick, solid, fibrous, commonly ascending, smooth, reddish, the rooting
base hairy. =Gills= plano-decurrent, scarcely crowded, becoming yellow.
_Fries._
A very pretty species, densely gregarious, inodorous. The stem is
sheathed-hairy at the base like Marasmius peronatus. Its greatest
affinity is with A. vernicosus, of which it is perhaps a variety.
_Stevenson._
Quite common in pine woods of New Jersey. Though small, goodly messes of
it may be gathered from its patches. The caps make a pleasing dish.
*** _Pileus becoming yellow._
None reported as tested for edibility.
**** _Pileus greenish or becoming pallid._
=C. odo´ra= Bull.—_odorus_, fragrant. (Plate XXIV, fig. 9, p. 82.)
Fragrant. =Pileus= about 2 in. across, flesh rather thick, tough; soon
plane and wavy, even, smooth, pale dingy green, silky when dry. =Gills=
adnate, rather close, broad, greenish or pallid. =Stem= about 1–1½ in.
long, 2 lines thick, base incrassated, elastic, stuffed. =Spores=
elliptical, 6–8×4–5µ. In woods. _Massee._
Readily distinguished by the strong, aniseed smell, dingy bluish-green
pileus, and the pallid or greenish gills.
Sometimes somewhat cespitose. Tough; size variable, color varies between
pale green and greenish-gray, usually all colored alike, but the gills
are sometimes white; smell pleasant, spicy, especially when dry.
_Fries._
=Spores= 6×5µ _K._; 8×4µ _B._
A rather delicate, even exquisite dish. _Cooke._
Edible. Exceedingly spicy. The flavor is pleasant, but rather strong. A
few specimens mixed with others of like texture but less flavor make a
tasty dish.
=C. rivulo´sa= Pers.—_rivus_, a stream. (Named from rivulet-like streaks
on pileus.) =Pileus= 1–3 in. across, flesh thin, convex then plane and
depressed, obtuse, often undulately lobed, dingy flesh-color or reddish,
becoming pale, glabrous, then covered with a whitish down. =Gills=
slightly decurrent, broad, rather crowded, pinkish-white. =Stem= about 2
in. long, 3–4 lines thick, rather fibrillose, tough, elastic, whitish,
stuffed. =Spores= elliptical, 6×3.5µ. _Massee._
Among grass by road-sides, etc.
Not common, but when found it is basket-filling. I have found it in
Pennsylvania, New Jersey and West Virginia.
Edible. The caps are rather tough but become glutinous and tender when
well cooked. Flavor fine.
***** _Pileus white, shining when dry._
=C. cerussa´ta= Fr.—_cerussa_, white lead. =Pileus= 1½-3 in. across,
flesh thick at the disk, becoming thin toward the margin; convex then
almost plane, obtuse, even, minutely floccose then almost glabrous,
white. =Gills= adnate, then decurrent, very much crowded, thin,
permanently white. =Stem= about 2 in. long, 3–5 lines thick, smooth,
tough, elastic, naked, spongy and solid, white. Among dead leaves, etc.
Taste mild, smell almost obsolete. Stem rather thickened at the base and
often tomentose. Pileus said to be gibbous, but not umbonate nor
becoming rufescent. Gills not changing to yellowish. _Fries._
=Spores= 3µ _W.G.S._
Edible. Good.
=C. phylloph´ila= Fr. _Gr._—leaf-loving. Whitish-tan. =Pileus= 1–3 in.
across, rather fleshy, convex then plane, becoming umbilicate and
depressed, sometimes wavy, smooth and even. =Gills= thin, subdistant,
white then tinged with ocher, rather broad, very slightly decurrent.
=Stem= 2–3 in. long, equal, stuffed then hollow, whitish, tough,
silky-fibrillose. =Spores= 6×4µ.
Among leaves in woods, etc.
=Spores= 6×4µ _Massee_; 6×3µ _W.G.S._; 5.5×2.8µ _Morgan_.
Found at Devon, Pa., 1888; Angora, West Philadelphia, 1897. It is equal
to the Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster mushroom) in texture, but not so high
in flavor. Well cooked it is an agreeable and valuable food.
=C. pithyoph´ila= Secr. _Gr._—pine-loving. =Pileus= 2–3 in. broad,
dead-white when moist, shining whitish when dry, fleshy but _thin_,
rather plane, _umbilicate_, at length irregularly shaped, repand and
undulato-lobed, even, _smooth, flaccid_, the margin slightly striate
when old. =Stem= _somewhat hollow_, rounded then compressed, equal,
even, smooth, obsoletely or scarcely pruinose at the apex, white
tomentose at the (not bulbous) base. =Gills= adnate, somewhat decurrent,
_very crowded_, plane, 2–3 lines broad, distinct, quite entire, white.
Odor not remarkable, but pleasant. Gregarious, somewhat cespitose;
_white_ indeed, but when moist watery and _somewhat hygrophanous_, in
which it evidently differs from A. phyllophila. A. tuba, which appears
in the same places, is very like it. _Stevenson._
=Spores= 6–7×4µ _B._
Massachusetts, _Sprague_; New York, _Peck_, Bull. 1887.
Albion, Orleans county, N.Y., October, 1898, _Dr. Cushing_.
Several specimens received were clearly referable to C. pithyophila,
though varying in having caps deeply depressed but not umbilicate. The
white tomentosity at base was present but indistinct.
Four specimens were eaten and found good. Eaten enjoyably by Dr.
Cushing.
=C. fus´cipes= Pk.—_fuscus_, dirty; _pes_, a foot. =Pileus= thin,
broadly convex or plane, umbilicate, glabrous, whitish and striatulate
when moist, pure white when dry, odor and taste farinaceous. =Gills=
nearly plane, subdistant, adnate or slightly decurrent, white. =Stem=
equal, glabrous or slightly mealy at the top, hollow, dingy brown when
moist, paler when dry. =Spores= globose, 5–6µ.
=Pileus= 4–8 lines broad. =Stem= about 1 in. long. Under pine trees.
Carrollton. September. _Peck_, 44th Rep. N.Y. State Bot.
Edible. Its small size gives it minor importance, but a quantity of it
makes an excellent meal.
=C. can´dicans= Pers.—_candico_, to be shining white. Entirely white.
=Pileus= about 1 in. across, flesh thin, convex then plane or slightly
depressed, umbilicate, regular or slightly excentric, even, with an
adpressed silkiness, shining, shining white when dry. =Gills= adnate
then slightly decurrent, crowded, very thin, narrow, straight. =Stem=
1–2 in. long, 1–2 lines thick, even, glabrous, cartilaginous, polished,
equal, hollow, base incurved, rooting, downy. =Spores= broadly
elliptical or subglobose, 5–6×4µ. _Massee._
Among damp fallen leaves, etc.
Entirely white, small, rather tough; approaching Omphalia in the
structure of the stem. The following form is described by Fries as
occurring in pine woods: Stem thin, flexuous, base glabrous; pileus
plane, not umbilicate, naked (without silky down). Gills scarcely
decurrent.
A remarkable form but scarcely to be separated as a species. _Fries._
Quite common in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey. The caps are
excellent when well cooked.
=C. dealba´ta= Sow.—_dealbo_, to whitewash. =Pileus= about 1 in. or a
little more broad, white, _slightly fleshy, tough_, convex then plane
and at length revolute and undulated, always dry (not watery in rainy
weather), even, smooth, _somewhat shining_, but as if innately pruinose
under a lens. =Flesh= thin, arid, white. =Stem= 1 in. long, 2 lines
thick, _stuffed, wholly fibrous_, at length also tubed, equal, but often
ascending, whitish, mealy at the apex. =Gills= _adnate_, scarcely
decurrent, thin, _crowded_, white.
=Pileus= sometimes orbicular, sometimes upturned and wavy. _Odor weak,
pleasant_, but not very remarkable. Most distinct from A. candicans in
the nature of the stem.
Edible. Its top is _exceedingly like ivory_. Its charming flavor is
exceeded by very few other fungi. _Stevenson._
Among leaves and grass. Woodland Cemetery, Philadelphia.
This charming fungus is common over the land. I have known it since
1881, and found it from North Carolina to West Virginia.
=C. robus´ta= Pk.—_robustus_, stout. =Pileus= thick, firm, at first
convex, soon plane or slightly depressed in the center, glabrous, white,
the margin at first involute or decurved, naked. =Flesh= white. =Gills=
narrow, close, decurrent, whitish. =Stem= stout, rather short, solid,
glabrous, equal or slightly tapering upward, often with a bulbous base,
white. =Spores= elliptical, 8×4–5µ.
=Pileus= 3–4 in. broad. =Stem= 1–2 in. long, 8–12 lines thick.
Woods among fallen leaves. Catskill mountains. September to November.
This large and robust fungus is closely allied to C. candida Bres., from
which it differs in the naked margin of the pileus, the absence of any
marked odor and especially in the more elliptical shape of its spores.
The same plant has been collected in Maryland by Mr. L.J. Atwater, who
considers it edible, having eaten it with satisfaction and safety.
_Peck_, 49th Rep. N.Y. State Bot.
This fungus is quite plentiful in Pennsylvania and in open oak woods in
New Jersey. Its size and sometimes gregarious growth give it a permanent
food value. Its texture is coarse, but when cooked it is highly
satisfactory.