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.
1. COPRINUS ATRAMENTARIUS, 373 3. PANAEOLUS SOLIDIPES, 385
2. COPRINUS MICACEUS, 378 4. PANAEOLUS SOLIDIPES 385
(SECTION),
=C. sterquili´nus= Fr.—_sterquilinium_, a dunghill. =Pileus= about 2 in.
across when expanded, conical, then expanded, sulcate more than half way
from margin to disk, at first villous or silky, disk rather fleshy with
rough scales, silvery-gray, tinged with brown at the apex. =Flesh= thin.
=Gills= free, ventricose, about 2 lines broad, pale then umber-purple.
=Stem= 4–6 in. high, slightly attenuated upward, white, fibrillose,
hollow, thickened base solid, and booted for about an inch from the
base, margin of sheath ending in a free border or ring.
On dung. A fine large species known by the scaly apex of the pileus, the
basal portion of the stem surrounded by a volva-like, adnate structure
with a free upper margin. The stem soon becomes black when bruised. Base
of stem not rooting but abrupt, and furnished with a few white fibers.
_Massee._
Edible, _Cooke_, 1891; also _Leuba_.
Nova Scotia, _Dr. Somers_.
This species is not reported as found in the United States.
** Atramentarii. _Ring imperfect, etc._
=C. atramenta´rius= (Bull.) Fr.—_atramentum_, ink. (Plate CII, fig. 1,
p. 372.) =Pileus= 1½-4 in. across, ovate, expanding, grayish, lead-color
or grayish-brown, with occasionally a few obscure scales on disk, often
covered with bloom; margin ribbed, sometimes notched, soft, tender.
=Gills= free, ventricose, up to ½ in. broad, crowded and at first
cohering and white with white floccose edges, then becoming black and
dissolving into ink. =Stem= up to 5 in. long, up to ½ in. thick, smooth,
whitish, hollow, at first spindle-shaped, then attenuated upward, with
more or less distinct ring near base.
=Spores= subcylindrical, large cystidia numerous, 12×6µ _Massee_;
9–10×6µ _K._; 9×5µ _W.G.S._; 8–10µ long _Peck_.
Indiana, _H.I. Miller_; Harrisburg, Pa., _Dr. J.H. Fager_; West
Virginia, _McIlvaine_.
The stem is obscurely banded within, by which it may be recognized with
certainty.
It grows singly or in clusters of many individuals on rich ground,
whether lawns, gardens, gutter sides, or in woods, but not on dung. I
know of a fine cluster growing year after year on a much-decayed
pear-stump. Occasionally it appears in the spring months, but is common
during the summer and autumn after rains, and from its first appearance
it occurs in successive crops until stopped by severe frost. It is
common in Europe and over the United States.
The flavor is higher than that of C. comatus. It should be cooked as
soon as gathered, and kept in a cool place until needed.
Analysis shows the following:
Two separate, freshly-gathered lots of this species were examined. The
one (_a_) contained six young small specimens weighing 5.5 grams, or .9
gram each; the other (_b_) contained eight mushrooms weighing 12 grams,
or 1.5 grams each. An analysis gave:
_a._ _b._
Water 92.31 per cent. 94.42 per cent.
Total solids 7.69 5.58
The dry substance contained:
Total nitrogen 4.68 4.77
Ether extract 3.1 5.7
Crude fiber 9.3 .....
Ash 16.8 20.1
_Lafayette B. Mendel_ in American Journal of Physiology.
=C. fusces´cens= (Schaeff.) Fr.—_fuscus_, dark or swarthy. =Pileus= 1–1¼
in. across, submembranaceous, ovate, expanded, dull, disk rather fleshy,
even or cracked into squamules, grayish-brown, disk reddish. =Gills=
adfixed, blackish-umber. =Stem= 4–5 in. long, about ¼ in. thick, equal,
fragile, hollow, subfibrillose. =Ring= indistinct or absent, whitish.
_Massee._
Smaller and more slender than Coprinus atramentarius. =Pileus=
brownish-gray, disk becoming reddish, not sprinkled with micaceous
particles, but at first covered with a mealy bloom. =Gills= adnexed,
attenuated from the stem to the margin, deliquescent. _Fries._
=Spores= elliptical, pointed at the ends, 10x6µ _Massee_; 10x5µ _W.G.S._
Solitary and in tufts. On stumps, trunks, etc. May to October.
West Philadelphia, Pa., _McIlvaine_.
C. fuscescens is tender, delicate and of excellent flavor. In this it
ranks with C. atramentarius.
(Plate CIV.)
[Illustration:
COPRINUS MACROSPORUS.
Enlarged one-third.
]
=C. macro´sporus= Pk. =Pileus= ovate, then expanded, rimose-striate
(cracked in lines), obscurely floccose-squamulose, white, the small even
brownish disk scaly. =Lamellæ= crowded, free, white then black. =Stem=
glabrous, white, with traces of an annulus (ring) near the thickened or
subbulbous base.
=Spores= very large, elliptical, 20–20.5 long, 12–16µ broad.
=Plant= cespitose, 2–3 in. high. =Pileus= 1–2 in. broad. =Stem= 1 line
thick.
Ground in open fields. Ticonderoga. August.
The prominent characters of this species are the cracked pileus,
squamose disk, free lamellæ and large spores. In its early state it
resembles some species of Lepiota. It seems to be intermediate between
the sections Atramentarii and Micacei. _Peck_, 31st Rep. N.Y. State Bot.
Found in quantity at Mt. Gretna, Pa. August to September, 1898, growing
among old stable bedding on parade ground.
C. macrosporus is an excellent species, higher in flavor than any other
Coprinus.
*** Pica´cei. _Universal downy veil, etc._
=C. pica´ceus= (Bull.) Fr. =Pileus= 2–2½ in. across, membranaceous,
ovato-bell-shaped, striate up to the disk, smoky-black, variegated with
large, irregular, superficial white patches. =Gills= free, ½ in. or more
broad, ventricose, grayish-black. =Stem= 5–6 in. long, base bulbous,
abrupt, otherwise equal, ¼-⅔ in. thick, white, hollow, fragile, smooth.
=Spores= elliptical, apiculate, 14×8µ; cystidia large, numerous.
_Massee._
Decaying trunks or branches of trees in woods. Lyndonville. June.
_Fairman._
The form here referred to this species differs somewhat from the
description of the type in being smaller, in having no bulb to the stem
and in having smaller spores. It is probably the “smaller variety
growing on rotten wood” noticed by Stevenson in his British Fungi. I
have seen the true form of the species from Kansas. The New York plant
seems to me to be worthy of distinctive designation, at least as a
variety, and I call it
Var. _ebulbo´sus_. Plant smaller. =Stem= destitute of a bulb. =Spores=
8–10×5µ. _Peck_, 44th Rep. N.Y. State Bot.
Minnesota, _Johnson_, 1897; Kansas, _Cragin_, 1884; Wisconsin, _Bundy_,
Nebraska, _Clements_.
Edible. _Leuba._
Large quantities grew on rotting chestnut and oak rails at Mt. Gretna,
Pa., from June to August, 1899. It is strong and unpleasant.
**** Tomento´si. _Pileus at first veiled with a loose hairy veil._
(Plate CV.)
[Illustration: COPRINUS FIMETARIUS.]
=C. fimeta´rius= Fr.—_fimetum_, a dunghill. =Pileus= 1–2 in. across,
membranaceous, thin, _at first cylindrical_, soon conical, _the edge at
length revolute_ and torn at the margin, _when young everywhere covered
with floccose-squarrose white scales_ (from the universal veil), which
separate from the vertex toward the circumference, at length naked,
longitudinally cracked, but not opening into furrows, the vertex which
remains entire, livid. =Stem= about 3 in. long, 2–3 lines and more
thick, hollow, fragile, _thickened and solid at the base_, attenuated
upward, shining white and downy with squamules of the same color.
=Gills= free, reaching the stem, at first _ventricose, then linear,
flexuous, black_. =Stem= when young curt and firmer. _Fries_.
=Spores= spheroid-ellipsoid, 15–18×9–12µ _K._; 15×9µ _W.G.S._;
12–14×7–8µ _Massee_.
Sometimes there is a root as long as the stem. _M.J.B._ Common on dung
heaps in successive crops. Spring to autumn.
Var. _pulla´tus_. =Pileus= with adpressed scales and tomentose, soon
naked, brownish, then blackish. =Stem= equal, becoming smooth.
On dung. Clustered. Stature of the type.
Var. _cine´reus_. =Pileus= membranaceous, floccosely mealy, then naked,
ashy-gray. =Stem= subequal, rootless, hollow to the base, often twisted.
=Spores= 12–8µ.
On dung and rich soil.
Var. _macrorhi´za_. =Pileus= at first with feathery squamules. =Stem=
short, hairy, rooting, sometimes more or less marginately subbulbous.
=Spores= 13–14×8–9µ.
On dung. Pileus pale and smaller than in the typical form, stem shorter,
with a more or less elongated rooting base. _Berkeley._
Of this very variable species there is a small form growing on decayed
wood in woods. It has the spores rather smaller than in the type, they
being 10–11µ long, 8µ broad. It might be designated Var. _silvi´cola_.
_Peck_, 43d Rep. N.Y. State Bot.
West Virginia, 1881–1885, May to October. _McIlvaine._
Common to the United States. Of excellent flavor and tender. It must be
cooked at once.
=C. tomento´sus= (Bull.) Fr.—_tomentum_, pubescence. =Pileus= very thin,
at first oblong-oval and floccose-scaly, soon bell-shaped, naked,
closely striate, grayish-brown or blackish-brown, often with a leaden
hue, finally expanded, the disk smooth, reddish or ochraceous-brown, the
margin turned upwards and much split or lacerated. =Lamellæ= closely
crowded, narrow, free, white then pinkish, finally black. =Stem= white,
tall, fragile, tapering upward, finely floccose-squamulose, hollow,
sometimes with a large tap root. =Plant= gregarious or cespitose.
=Height= 3–6 in., breadth of pileus 6–18 lines.
Very variable in size and color. The covering of the pileus is easily
rubbed off. It soon disappears and the plant quickly decays, seldom
continuing through the day. _Peck_, 23d Rep. N.Y. State Bot.
Mt. Gretna, Pa., about old picketing places in camp grounds. _Prof. M.W.
Easton_, July, 1898.
West Virginia, North Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, May to
September, on dung, rich ground, gardens and in woods. _McIlvaine._
Very delicate; of strong mushroom flavor. It is common, and can usually
be collected in numbers. It is of little food value in itself, but
yields an excellent flavor to anything it is cooked with. It must be
cooked as soon as gathered.
=C. ni´veus= Fr.—_nix_, snow. =Pileus= white, 1–2 in. across, thin,
ovate then bell-shaped, margin at length turned upward, split or covered
with a dense white, mealy or downy covering, slightly pink. =Gills=
_adnexed_, narrow, crowded, at first cohering, white then pinkish, then
black. =Stem= at first short, then up to 4 in., slender, attenuated
upward, covered with white down, fragile, hollow.
=Spores= 16×11–13µ _Massee_; 10×12µ _W.G.S._
Common on dung and dung heaps, clustered. May to frost.
West Virginia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New Jersey. _McIlvaine._
Very variable in size, but clearly distinguished by its snow-white color
and adnexed gills. Like all of the thin, delicate species of this genus
there is little substance left after cooking, but the savory flavor is
imparted to the cooking medium.
***** Mica´cei. _Pileus at first covered with minute, glistening scales,
etc._
=C. mica´ceus= (Bull.) Fr.—_mica_, grain, granular. (Plate CII, fig. 2,
p. 372.) =Pileus= thin, ovate, then bell-shaped, with the margin more or
less revolute, wavy, splitting, closely striate, with a few minute
scales and sparkling atoms, or naked, varying in color from
whitish-ochraceous to livid-brown, generally darker when moist or old.
=Gills= rather narrow, crowded, white then pinkish, finally black.
=Stem= slender, fragile, easily splitting, slightly silky, white,
hollow, often twisted. Plant mostly cespitose.
=Height= 2–4 in., breadth of pileus, 1–2 in.
Streets, yards and fields, on or about old stumps. May to September.
_Peck_, 23d Rep. N.Y. State Bot.
=Spores= elliptical, blackish, 7–8×4–5µ _Massee_; 7×8µ _W.G.S._; 10×5µ
_W.P._; elliptical, brown, 6–8µ _Peck_.
Var. _granula´ris_. Pileus sprinkled with granules or furfuraceous
scales. New York. August. _Peck_, 47th Rep.
Indiana, _H.I. Miller_; West Virginia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New
Jersey. May to October. _McIlvaine._
Common from spring until frost. This is the oval-capped toadstool found
in clusters about trees, posts, along grassy sides of pavements, popping
up, Brownie-like, from sodded places. Although small and thin, its
clusters soon fill baskets, and its continuous growth in some places,
from month to month, year to year, makes it one to be depended upon.
Stewed for ten minutes it makes a rich, luscious dish. C. congregatus
closely resembles it and is equally good.
****** Glabra´ti. _Pileus smooth, etc._
=C. deliques´cens= (Bull.) Fr. =Pileus= 3–4 in. broad, livid-fuliginous,
membranaceous, bell-shaped then expanded, smooth, but _dotted with
minute points on the disk_, never downy or split, the edge turning
upward and striate, the striæ broad but not deep. =Stem= 4 in. long, 2–4
lines thick, hollow, with a bark-like covering, equally attenuated
upward, _smooth, shining white_. =Gills= free, _at length remote from
the stem_, very crowded, flexuous, very narrow, only ½ line broad,
lurid-blackish. _Fries._
Frequent on stumps and among fallen leaves, sometimes in tufts. July to
October.
=Spores= elliptical, obliquely apiculate, 8×5µ _Massee_.
Sometimes confounded with C. atramentarius.
West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, _McIlvaine_.
C. deliquescens is of good size and quality. The stems do not cook well
with the caps. The flavor is the same as C. atramentarius.
=C. congrega´tus= (Bull.) Fr. =Pileus= ½-¾ in. high, cylindrical, then
bell-shaped, finally expanded and split at the margin, smooth, viscid,
margin slightly striate, ochraceous. =Gills= about 1 line broad,
slightly adnexed, white, finally becoming black. =Stem= 1½ in. high,
equal, smooth, hollow, whitish.
On the ground, also in hot-houses. _Massee._
Readily distinguished by the densely cespitose mode of growth, the small
size, the viscid, ochraceous, glabrous pileus which remains
elongato-cylindrical for some time, then becomes campanulate and finally
expands and splits at the margin.
Densely cespitose, fragile, readily distinguished from C. digitalis by
its much smaller size. _Fries._
=Spores= 7×8µ _W.G.S._; 10×5µ _W.P._
Fries and Cooke considered this a good species.
So closely allied to neighboring species that it is difficult to
determine it. Edible qualities are included in the alliance.
_B._ VELIFORMES. Pileus very thin, etc.
* Cyclodei. _Stem bearing ring, etc._
None edible.
** Lanatuli. _Pileus with superficial downy covering, etc._
=C. lagopus= Fr.—_Gr_, a hare; a foot. =Pileus= 1 in. broad, whitish,
disk livid, very tender, cylindrical then bell-shaped, when young
beautifully downy then naked, flattened and split, radiately furrowed.
=Stem= 5 in. and more long, 1 line thick, very weak, very fragile,
slightly attenuated at both ends, everywhere white-woolly. =Gills= at
length remote, narrow, black. _Fries._
Fries distinguishes two forms. A, _nemorum_. =Stem= slender, 4–6 in.
long. B, _viarum_. =Stem= 2–3 in. long. =Pileus= broader, livid. Both
forms are inodorous. The pileus of the long-stemmed form is sometimes
entirely clear brown, at others grayish with a brownish disk. =Stem=
very weak, 5 in. and more in length, 1 line thick, attenuated at both
ends. =Pileus= thin, expanded bell-shaped, about 1 in. across, when
young elegantly flocculose, then furrowed, disk livid. =Gills= rather
distant.
New York, _Peck_, 38th Rep.; Mt. Gretna, Pa., July, 1898, on rubbish
about abandoned camp. _Prof. M.W. Easton._
A strikingly beautiful species. Both forms were found in abundance,
tested and eaten with enjoyment. They are extremely delicate, and of
attractive but not high flavor.
=C. Virgineus= Banning. =Pileus= ovate, bell-shaped, or cylindrical,
pale ocher, the margin thin, torn, downy. =Lamellæ= narrow, close,
forked, at first white, turning dark but never black, adnexed. =Stem= 3½
in. long, stout, somewhat stuffed, attenuated where it meets the pileus,
flattened, downy. =Spores= black.
Cespitose or gregarious at the roots of trees or about old stumps. Also
found in Virginia.
The plant is not rapidly deliquescent, remaining perfect for some hours.
_Banning_ MS.
Maryland. Virginia. _Miss M.E. Banning_ MS. _Peck_, 44th Rep.
Chester county, Pa. New Jersey, about pear trees and stumps.
_McIlvaine._
This little Coprinus is a valuable species when found. A patch of it
about a tree or stump is treasure trove. Patches of it appear in July
and bear until October. The not-particular observer would mistake it for
C. micaceus.
*** Furfurel´li. _Pileus micaceous or scurfy, etc._
(Plate CVI.)
[Illustration:
COPRINUS DOMESTICUS.
Natural size.
]
=C. domes´ticus= (Pers.) Fr.—_domus_, a house. =Pileus= 2 in. broad,
fuliginous, disk date-brown, thin, ovate then bell-shaped, _covered with
small branny scales_, then opening into furrows and flattened,
_undulately sulcate_, disk obtuse, even. Stem 2–3 in. long, 2–3 lines
thick, fistulose, slightly firm, attenuated upward, _adpressedly silky_,
becoming even, white. =Gills= _adnexed_, at first crowded, distant when
the pileus is split, linear, _white then reddish_, at length
brownish-blackish.
A larger and more remarkable species than all the neighboring ones.
_Fries._
=Spores= 14–16×7–8µ _Massee_.
On much decayed wood, damp carpets, in cellars, etc. Often in clusters.
Mt. Gretna, Pa., _Prof. M.W. Easton_, July, 1898; West Virginia, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, _McIlvaine_.
C. domesticus is the largest of its section and is sometimes of
remarkable growth. I have seen it start from under a board in a cellar
and prolong its stems for over a foot to get its caps to air and light.
Under such conditions the stems are twisted in a confused mass.
It is very tender with a decided mushroom flavor. Cook at once.
(Plate CVII.)
[Illustration:
COPRINUS SILVATICUS.
Enlarged one-fourth.
(After Peck.)
]
=C. silvat´icus= Pk. =Pileus= membranaceous, with a thin fleshy disk,
convex, striate in folds on the margin, dark-brown, the depressed striæ
paler. =Lamellæ= subdistant, narrow, attached to the stem, brownish.
=Stem= fragile, slender, smooth, hollow, white. =Spores= gibbous-ovate,
12.7µ long.
=Plant= 2 in. high. =Pileus= 6–10 lines broad. =Stem= .5 lines thick.
Ground in woods. Greig. September.
The striæ extend about half way up the pileus. Allied to C. plicatilis
and C. ephemerus _Peck_, 24th Rep. N.Y. State Bot.
West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey. Frequent, but not common. On
ground in woods, August to October. _McIlvaine._
This pretty little fungus is frequently found. I have never been able to
get it in quantity, but have often eaten it. Its flavor is musky, rather
strong. It is edible, but is not obtainable in sufficient numbers to
make it of much food value.
=C. ephem´erus= Fr. _Gr_—lasting for a day. =Pileus= ½-¾ in. across,
very thin, ovate, then bell-shaped, finally expanded and splitting,
furrowed radiately, at first slightly scurfy, disk elevated, even,
reddish. =Gills= slightly attached, linear, white, then brownish, at
length blackish. =Stem= 1½-2½ in. high, 1 line or more thick, equal,
glabrous, pellucid, hollow, whitish. =Spores= 16–17×9–10µ.
On dunghills, manured ground, etc. To the naked eye appearing almost
glabrous, but under a lens seen to be distinctly scurfy. Known from
Coprinus plicatilis by the disk of the pileus being prominent and not
depressed. _Massee._
Common dung and dung heaps. May to October. New York, _Peck._ 23d Rep.
Of such size and delicate substance as to be of little food value. But
it has a strong mushroom flavor which is choice as a flavoring. It
appears during the summer months on dung and dung heaps. It must be
cooked as soon as gathered.
=C. semilana´tus= Pk. =Pileus= submembranaceous, broadly conical, then
expanded and strongly revolute, and the margin sometimes split, covered
with mealy atoms, finely and obscurely rimose-striate, pale
grayish-brown. =Lamellæ= narrow, close, free. =Stem= elongated, fragile,
hollow, slightly tapering upward, white, the lower half clothed with
loose cottony flocci which rub off easily, the upper half smooth or
slightly farinaceous. =Spores= broadly elliptical, 12.7µ long.
=Plant= very fragile, 4–6 in. high. =Pileus= 8–12 lines broad. =Stem= 1
line thick at the base. Rich ground and dung. Sandlake. August. (Plate
IV, fig. 15–18.) Allied to C. coopertus. _Peck_, 24th Rep. N.Y. State
Bot.
West Virginia. 1881–1885, Mt. Gretna, Pa. July to October. _McIlvaine._
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.
[Illustration]
=PANÆOLUS= Fr.
_Gr_—all; _Gr_—variegated.
(Plate CVIII.)
[Illustration: PANÆOLUS.]
=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.