reticulated with anastomosing costæ (ribs or veins).
Under evergreens. North Elba. June. _Peck_, 51st Rep. N.Y. State Bot.
Since 1882 myself and friends have repeatedly eaten it. In no instance
was the slightest discomfort felt from it. It was always enjoyed. Mr.
Charles H. Allen, San Jose, Cal., writes to me that G. esculenta grows
plentifully in his region, and that it is not only edible, but he has
found it one of the best. But the species, though long ago esteemed
highly in Europe and by many in America, now rests under decided
suspicion. It is not probable that in our great food-giving country
anyone will be narrowed to G. esculenta for a meal. Until such an
emergency arrives, the species would be better let alone.
=G. cur´tipes= Fr.—_curtus_, short; _pes_, a foot. =Pileus= inflated,
gyrosely undulated, oblong, rotund, at first pallid then brownish;
margin of pileus closely adnexed to the stem. =Stem= irregular, short or
almost absent. =Asci= cylindrical. =Sporidia= .30×9µ fusiform,
uninucleate. Paraphyses clavate.
On the ground. Spring. Readily distinguished from other species by the
almost obliterated stem. Fries commends it highly as an esculent.
Separated from G. esculenta by paler color, shorter stem and different
spores.
=G. Carolinia´na= (Bosc.) Fr. =Pileus= rotund, base free, surface woven
into deep irregular undulating folds. =Stem= conical, sulcate. =Asci=
cylindrical. =Sporidia= 3–3.2×1µ; somewhat fusiform; paraphyses
thickened toward the top.
In woods. Esculent.
Massachusetts. _Sprague._
(Plate CXLVIII.)
[Illustration: GYROMITRA BRUNNEA.]
=G. brun´nea= Underwood—_brunneus_, brown. A stout, fleshy, stipitate
plant, 3–5 in. high, bearing a broad, much contorted, brown ascoma.
=Stem= ¾-1.5 in. thick, more or less enlarged and spongy, solid at the
base, hollow below, rarely slightly fluted, clear white; receptacle 2–4
in. across in the widest direction, the two diameters usually
considerably unequal, irregularly lobed and plicate, in places faintly
marked into areas by indistinct anastomosing ridges, closely cohering
with the stem in the various parts, rich chocolate-brown or somewhat
lighter if much covered with the leaves among which it grows, whitish
underneath; asci 8-spored. =Spores= oval, 28–30µ long, by about 14µ
wide, hyaline, somewhat roughened-tuberculate, usually nucleate, the
highly refractive nucleus spherical or oval, 11µ or, if oval, 14×11µ in
diameter; paraphyses slender, enlarged at the apex, faintly septate.
In rich woods, mostly in beech-leaf mold. Putnam county, Ind., May,
1892, 1893 and 1894. First found by Dr. W.V. Brown.
The plant is esculent, tender and possesses a fine flavor. Often as many
as 8 or 10 plants would be found in one small area, but the plant
appears to be local and never very abundant. Some single plants would
weigh nearly half a pound.
=MI´TRULA= Fr.
(Emended, _Massee_.)
Ascophore stipitate, fleshy. =Head= subglobose, ovate, or clavate, even,
glabrous, everywhere covered with the hymenium, adnate throughout to the
more or less elongated stem; asci cylindric-clavate, 8-spored. =Spores=
narrowly elliptic-fusiform, hyaline, continuous or septate, irregularly
1–2-seriate; paraphyses present. _Fries._
(Plate CL.)
[Illustration: MITRULLA VITELLINA.]
=M. vitelli´na= Sacc., var. _irregularis_ Pk.—_vitellus_, egg-yolk.
=Pileus= clavate, often irregular or compressed and somewhat lobed,
obtuse, glabrous, yellow, tapering below into the short, rather
distinct, yellowish or whitish stem. =Spores= narrowly elliptical, 8–10µ
long.
When the Irregular mitrula is well grown and symmetrical it closely
resembles the typical European plant, but usually the clubs or caps are
curved, twisted, compressed or lobed in such a way that it is difficult
to find two plants just alike. The plants are usually only one or two
inches high, so that they would scarcely be thought of any importance as
an edible species. But sometimes it grows in considerable profusion in
wet mossy places in woods, so that it would not be difficult to gather a
pint of them in a short time. Its beautiful bright yellow color makes it
a very attractive object. It is our largest species of Mitrula and
occurs in autumn.
It was first reported as an edible species in the forty-second report.
Its flesh is tender and its flavor delicate and agreeable. _Peck_, 48th
Rep.
Ontario, _Dearness_ (LI. R. 4). West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania.
Common, gregarious in moist woods. September to November. _McIlvaine._
Those fortunate enough to find this species will hunt for it again
assiduously. Even raw, when cut in strips, it makes a picturesque and
delicious salad.
=SPATHULA´RIA= Pers.
A spatula.
Receptacle erect, spathulate, compressed, hollow, adnate to the stem,
down which it runs for some distance on opposite sides, everywhere
covered with the hymenium. =Stem= subcylindrical, hollow; asci clavate,
apex narrowed, 8-spored. =Spores= elongated, cylindric-clavate,
multi-septate at maturity, arranged in a parallel fascicle in the ascus;
paraphyses filiform, septate.
Distinguished by the broad, flattened ascophore running down opposite
sides of the stem.
Growing on pine leaves or on the ground among moss. _Massee._
Resembling a spatha, an instrument for stirring a liquid, shaped like an
apothecary’s spatula.
=Pileus= irregular, compressed, folded, running down into the stem on
either side.
=S. clava´ta= (Schaeff.) Sacc.—club-shaped. S. flavida Pers. Elvela
clavata Schaeff. (Plate CXXXVI, p. 508.) =Head= spathulate or broadly
clavate, obtuse or sometimes more or less divided at the apex, hollow,
much compressed, running down the stem for some distance on opposite
sides, glabrous, margin crisped or undulated, surface wavy or slightly
lacunose, yellow, rarely tinged red, .8–1.2 in. high, .6–1 in. broad.
=Stem= white then tinged yellow, 1.2–2.4 in. long, .2–3 lines thick,
hollow, cylindrical or slightly compressed; asci clavate, apex narrowed,
8-spored. =Spores= arranged in a parallel fascicle, hyaline,
linear-clavate, usually very slightly bent, multiguttulate then
multiseptate, 50–60×3.5–4µ; paraphyses filiform, septate, often
branched, tips not thickened, wavy. _Massee._
New York. Woods in hilly and mountainous districts. Common. _Peck_, 22d
Rep.
Professor Peck gives S. rugosa, which has the club wrinkled.
This odd, pretty little plant was found by me in great numbers at
Eagle’s Mere, Pa., August, 1897, growing among mosses. The contrast of
its bright yellow paddle-shapes against the moss-green is very pleasing
to one who loves choice bits of color. Its consistency when stewed is
tenacious but tender, and its flavor is delicate.
=GEOGLOS´SUM= Pers.
(Emended.)
(Plate CLI.)
[Illustration:
GEOGLOSSUM
GLUTINOSUM.
About nat. size.
]
Entire fungus more or less clavate, erect, the apical, thickened portion
everywhere covered with the hymenium; glabrous or hairy, often viscid;
asci clavate, apex narrowed, 8-spored. =Spores= elongated, arranged in a
parallel fascicle, cylindrical or very slightly thickened above the
middle, and inclined to become cylindric-clavate, brown, septate,
usually slightly curved; paraphyses septate, brown at the tips, often
longer than the asci.
Distinguished among the clavate species by the long, narrow, brown,
septate spores. The entire plant is black in all British species.
Growing on the ground, among grass, etc. _Massee._
=G. glutino´sum= Pers. Ascophore 1.5–2 in. high, black, glabrous;
ascigerous portion about ⅓ of the entire length, oblong, lanceolate, up
to .4 in. broad, obtuse, slightly viscid, more or less compressed,
passing imperceptibly into the somewhat slender, cylindrical, viscid,
brownish-black stem; asci clavate, tapering downward into a long,
slender pedicel. =Spores= 8, arranged more or less parallel near the
apex of the ascus, cylindrical, ends obtuse, 3-septate and clear-brown
at maturity, straight or very slightly curved, 65–75×5–6µ; paraphyses
numerous, distinctly septate, about 2µ thick, pale-brown, apex broadly
pyriform and filled with dark-brown coloring matter.
On the ground among grass, etc.
The most important features of the present species are 3-septate brown
spores and compressed ascophore. _Massee._
New Jersey, _E.B. Sterling_. Mt. Gretna, Pa., August, 1899, gregarious
in wet ground. Over a quart found in one patch. _McIlvaine._
Stewed it is delicious.
[Illustration]
FAMILY.—=PEZIZÆ.=
=PEZI´ZA= Linn.
_Pezizæ_, a sort of mushroom without root or stalk, mentioned by Pliny.
Ascophore sessile, but sometimes narrowed to a short, stem-like base,
fleshy and brittle, closed at first, then expanding until cup-shaped,
saucer-shaped, or in some species quite plane or even convex; disk even,
nodulose or veined; externally warted, scurfy, or rarely almost
glabrous; cortical cells irregularly polygonal; asci cylindrical,
8-spored. =Spores= obliquely 1-seriate, continuous, hyaline (rarely
tinged brown), elliptical, epispore smooth or rough; paraphyses present.
_Dill._ Emended. _Massee._
The genus is large. Professor Peck reports 150 American species. Some
are large, others require the microscope to find them.
They are rather indiscriminate in their habitats; some are eccentric;
these grow on damp walls, on dung, in cellars and cisterns, on spent
hops and on old fungi. One or two species grow on sticks under water, an
unusual place for fungi of any kind. Minute species grow upon stems of
herbaceous plants; nine or ten upon the nettle. Two species contain a
milky fluid, P. succosa and P. saniosa. Many are known in Europe which
have not been found in America. European authors differ as to their
qualities; some call them insipid, some speak of them with kindly
respect. Much depends upon their cooking. They are, as a rule, tenacious
in texture. To cook them properly requires time and slow stewing. They
then become soft and rather glutinous. Their flavor is slight but
pleasant, and their consistency agreeable.
ANALYSIS OF TRIBES.
I.—ALEURIA. Page 553
Externally powdered or with a woolly scurf.
II.—LACHNEA. Page 558.
Externally hairy or downy.
III.—PHIALEA.
Externally almost naked, smooth. No edible species reported.
I.—ALEURIA Fr.
Fleshy or fleshy-membranaceous, externally powdered or with a woolly
scurf.
* Macropodes—_macros_, long; _podes_, feet. Stem firm, elongated,
furrowed.
** Cochleata—_cochleatus_, spiral. Subsessile, oblique or twisted.
*** Cupulares. Subsessile, regular.
**** Humaria. Small, somewhat fleshy, margin downy. (None known to be
edible.)
***** Enc[oe]lia. More or less coriaceous. (None known to be edible.)
* Macropodes. _Stem firm, elongated, etc._
=P. aceta´bulum= Linn.—a cup. =Ascophore= stipitate, cup-shaped, fleshy,
rather tough, disk dark umber-brown, externally paler and minutely
scurfy or flocculose; mouth somewhat contracted; 1.2–2 in. broad,
1.2–1.4 in. high. =Stem= .4-.6 in. high, often .4 in. thick, imperfectly
hollow, with parallel or anastomosing ribs, which continue for some
distance up the ascophore as branching veins, pale umber; cells of the
cortex give off short, rather closely septate hyphæ in groups; asci
cylindrical, 8-spored. =Spores= obliquely 1-seriate, hyaline, smooth,
broadly elliptical, ends obtuse, with a very large oil-globule,
18–22×12–14µ; paraphyses straight, septate, the brownish, clavate tip
5–6µ thick.
The fluted stem and veined outside of the excipulum mark the present
species. The colorless hypothecium is composed of very densely and
compactly interwoven hyphæ. _Massee._
Season spring.
North Carolina, _Curtis_; New Jersey, _Ellis_; Massachusetts, _Frost_;
Rhode Island, _Bennett_; Ohio, _Lloyd_, R. 4.
Esculent. _Cordier_, _Cooke_.
=P. ma´cropus= Pers.—_macros_, long; _pous_, a foot. Solitary, 1–3 in.
high, cups 1–2 in. broad. The cups become expanded, and sometimes
reflexed; the exterior is ash-colored and clothed with little hairy or
villous warts, the hairs consisting of concatenate cells, their
extremities free. The stem is enlarged downward, often pitted,
occasionally becoming hollow with age. _Phillips._
Asci cylindrical, 8-spored. =Spores= 1-seriate, smooth, hyaline,
elliptical, 28–33×11–13µ; paraphyses straight, tips brownish and
thickened in a clavate manner up to 8–10µ _Massee_.
On the ground in shady places. Summer and autumn.
North Carolina, _Curtis_; New Jersey, _Ellis_; Minnesota, _Johnson_;
Massachusetts, _Frost_; New York, _Peck_, Rep. 22.
Esculent. _Cordier._
** Cochlea´ta. _Subsessile, oblique, etc._
=P. veno´sa= Pers.—_venosus_, full of veins. Smell strong, nitrous;
sessile or contracted into a short, stout, stem-like base; cup-shaped
and with the margin incurved when young, then expanding and the margin
becoming more or less split or lobed and wavy, 1.2–2 in. across; disk
umber-brown, externally whitish, minutely granular, and furnished with
rather stout, anastomosing ribs which radiate from the base; excipulum
pseudoparenchymatous, cells largest at the periphery, where some run out
as clavate, free tips; asci cylindrical, 8-spored. =Spores= obliquely
1-seriate, smooth, hyaline, often with 1 large oil-globule, elliptical,
ends obtuse, wall rather thick, 18–24×11–13µ; paraphyses septate, tips
clavate, brownish. On the ground. Spring. _Massee._
Massachusetts, _Frost_; California, _H. and M._; Rhode Island,
_Bennett_; New York, _Peck_, Rep. 24.
Edible. Has a most decided nitrous odor and also fungoid flavor.
_Cooke._
[Illustration:
Photographed by C.G. Lloyd, Cincinnati, O. PLATE CLII.
PEZIZA BADIA.
]
=P. ba´dia= Pers.—of a brown or bay color. (Plate CLII, p. 554.)
Gregarious or cespitose, sessile or narrowed into a very short, stout,
stem-like base and often more or less lacunose; subglobose and closed at
first, then cup-shaped or more expanded, margin entire or nearly so, the
entire cup often wavy, rather thick, 1.2–2 in. across; disk dark-brown,
externally paler-brown and minutely granular, often with a purple tinge;
hypothecium and excipulum formed of stout, septate, irregularly inflated
hyphæ, hypothecium compact, excipulum spongy and cavernous; cortex
compact, the hyphæ running out in irregular lumps to form the external
granulations; asci cylindrical, apex truncate, 8-spored. =Spores=
obliquely 1-seriate, hyaline, continuous, elliptical, with one large
oil-globule, minutely warted at maturity, 15–19×9–10µ; paraphyses
septate, tips slightly clavate.
On the ground among grass, etc., also on scorched places.
Readily distinguished by the bay or umber-brown disk, and the
minutely-warted spores. _Massee._
North Carolina, _Curtis_; California, _H. and M._; Minnesota, _Johnson_;
Nebraska, _Clements_; New York, _Peck_, Rep. 25.
Alabama. On ground, Alabama Bull. No. 80, West Virginia, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania. On ground. Frequent. July to October. _McIlvaine._
Esculent. _Cordier._
P. badia is frequent on bare ground, along wood roads, etc. In the West
Virginia mountains it occurs where there have been brush fires. It is a
meaty plant, without much flavor. It must be cut fine and slowly cooked
if stewed, or can be quickly fried in a hot buttered pan. It has more
flavor fried crisp than stewed.
=P. cochlea´ta=—spiral. Sessile, cespitose, variously contorted and
plicate, fleshy, brittle, disk umber-brown, externally paler and
pruinose, sometimes altogether paler and leather-color or pale
dingy-ochraceous, 2–3.2 in. diameter; when solitary or almost so, at
first globose, then expanding with the margin involute, finally
spreading and irregularly plicate; excipulum spongy and cavernous, due
to the loose weft formed by interlacing, hyaline, thin-walled, flaccid,
septate hyphæ, cortex compact, running out into irregular groups of
cells that form the scurfy exterior; asci cylindrical, apex slightly
truncate, 8-spored. =Spores= obliquely 1-seriate, hyaline, continuous,
smooth, usually 2-guttulate, 16–18×7–8µ; paraphyses slender, septate;
tip slightly clavate, often curved and sometimes branched.
The entire substance is brittle and rather watery, and usually assumes a
yellowish tint when bruised. Smell and taste almost none.
Sometimes the ascophores are closely crowded, hence irregular and much
contorted, and resembling a foliaceous Tremella or a small specimen of
Sparassis crispa. _Massee._
New York. Ground in woods. Helderberg mountains and Greenbush. June.
_Peck_, Rep. 23; Alabama, _Peters_, Ala. Bull. No. 80; North Carolina,
_Curtis_; Massachusetts, _Frost_; Ohio, _Lloyd_, Rep. 4.
This species is quite insipid and somewhat leathery, but Mr. Berkeley
has seen it offered for sale under the name of Morell. _Badham._
Esculent. _Cordier_, _Cooke_.
=P. lepori´na= Batsch.—_lepus_, a hare. =Cup= 1–3 in. high, 1–3 in.
broad, gregarious, often cespitose; margin involute, divided to the base
on one side; disk even or rarely wrinkled, a shade darker than the
exterior; paraphyses slender, hardly thickened at the summits, but
almost invariably crooked. This fine species grows as large as O.
onotica at times, but is not so brightly colored, being throughout of a
sober tan-color, resembling common wash leather used for cleaning plate.
_Phillips._
Asci cylindrical, 8-spored. =Spores= obliquely uniseriate, hyaline,
smooth, continuous, 1–2 guttulate, elliptical, 12–15×7–8µ; paraphyses
filiform, septate, apex slightly swollen, and usually strongly curved.
On the ground in woods, among leaves, etc. _Massee._
California, edible, _H. and M._
Esculent. _Cordier._
=P. onotica= Pers. Very variable in form, usually elongated on one side
and ear-shaped, but sometimes almost equal-sided and entire, 1–3 in.
high, up to 2 in. wide, becoming narrowed to a more or less wrinkled,
short stem-like base; disk pale orange, usually with a rosy tinge,
externally pale tawny-orange. Asci elongated, narrowly cylindrical,
8-spored. =Spores= obliquely 1-seriate, hyaline, smooth, colorless, ends
obtuse, 1–2-guttulate, 14–15×8–9µ; paraphyses straight, septate, apex
clavate.
On the ground in woods, among leaves, etc. _Massee._
North Carolina, _Curtis_; Iowa, _Fitzpatrick_ (Ll. R. 4); New York,
_Peck_, Rep. 28.
Esculent. _Cordier._
=P. unici´sa= Pk.—implying one incision. =Cup= large, thin, split on one
side to the base, sessile or with a short stem, externally wrinkled,
minutely pulverulent under a lens, yellow, within pale-yellow slightly
tinged with pink. =Spores= elliptical, usually containing two nuclei,
12–15µ.
Ground in woods. Croghan. September.
The cups are about two inches broad. The species is related to P.
onotica. _Peck_, 26th Rep. N.Y. State Bot.
Minnesota, _Johnson_; Mt. Gretna, Pa. On ground in mixed woods, gravelly
ground. September to October. _McIlvaine._
Many specimens were found scattered and in patches, and were eaten. They
were of slight flavor but good.
=P. auran´tia= Pers. (Plate CXXXVI, fig. 3, p. 508.) Sessile or
protracted into a very short stem-like base, cespitose and irregular, or
growing singly and then circular in outline and regular, becoming almost
plane; thin, brittle, disk clear, deep orange or sometimes orange-red,
externally much paler, or sometimes almost white, with a pink tinge,
delicately tomentose, due to the presence of short, stout, blunt,
1–2-septate hyaline hairs; varying from ½-3.2 in. broad. =Spores=
15–16×7–8µ.
On the ground, often near stumps or among chips.
Sometimes crowded, large, with the margin raised and very much waved and
more or less incised, at others scattered, smaller, almost or quite even
and finally spread flat on the ground. Easily recognized by the large
size, bright orange disk, pale, downy exterior, and the broadly
elliptical spores covered with a delicate net-work of raised lines at
maturity. _Massee._
Massachusetts, _Frost_; Rhode Island, _Bennett_; Minnesota, _Johnson_;
California, _H. and M._; Alabama, _Peters_; New York, October, _Peck_,
23, 24 Rep.; Indiana, Richmond, November, _Dr. J.R. Weist_; West
Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania. On ground. September to October.
_McIlvaine._
Esculent. _Cordier._
At Mt. Gretna, Pa., patches of it twenty feet long, made the ground
along a road on the margin of a woods golden with its clusters. The
plants grew from sand mixed with leaf-mold. I have eaten it for fifteen
years. Fair flavor.
*** Cupulares. _Subsessile, etc._
=P. repan´da= Wahlenb.—bent backward. Clustered or scattered,
subsessile, contracted into a short, stout, stem-like base, which is
often rooting; saucer-shaped, then quite expanded and the margin more or
less split and wavy, sometimes drooping and revolute, extreme edge often
crenate; 1.6–4 in. across; disk pale or dark brown or umber, more or
less wrinkled toward the center, externally whitish, minutely granular.
=Spores= obliquely 1-seriate, hyaline, smooth, continuous, elliptical,
ends obtuse, 18–22×11–12µ; paraphyses septate, clavate and brownish at
the tips. _Massee._
On the ground, often in beech-woods; also on decayed trunks.
New York, _Ellis_; Minnesota, _Johnson_; Ohio, _Lloyd_, R. 4. New York.
Ground and decaying wood. Croghan. September. _Peck_, 28th Rep.
Specimens sent to the writer by Dr. W.B. Miller, Altoona, Pa., were 3½
in. across, and a beautiful velvety brown. Cooked they had a mushroom
flavor.
=P. vesiculo´sa= Bull.—full of bladders. Clustered, often distorted from
mutual pressure, sessile but more or less narrowed at the base, globose
and closed at first, then expanding, but the margin usually remaining
more or less incurved and somewhat notched; disk pale brown, externally
brownish and coarsely granular from the presence of minute, irregular
warts, 1.2–3 in. across. =Spores= obliquely 1-seriate, smooth, hyaline,
continuous, elliptical, ends obtuse, 21–24×11–12µ; paraphyses slender,
septate, clavate.
Var. _ce´rea_ Rehm. Similar in size, habit and general structure to the
typical form; differing in the wax-yellow color, the more distinct
stem-like base, and the slightly smaller spores, 18–19×10µ; very
brittle. _Massee._
North Carolina, _Curtis_; California, _H. and M._; Massachusetts,
_Frost_; New Jersey, _Ellis_; Ohio, _Lloyd_, Rep. 4; var. minor,
_Sacc._; Nebraska, _Clements_; New York, _Peck_, Rep. 25.
Esculent. _Cordier._
II.—LACHNEA.
=P. odora´ta= Pk. =Cups= .5–3 in. broad, gregarious or scattered, thin,
sessile, rather brittle when fresh, shallow, expanded or even convex
from the decurving of the margin, at first brownish, then white or
whitish, the hymenium ochraceous-brown; asci cylindrical, opening by a
lid, .01-.012 in. long, .0006-.0008 in. broad, paraphyses filiform,
obscurely septate, slightly thickened at the tips. =Spores= elliptical,
even, 20–22.2×10–12.5µ.
Ground in cellar. Maine. June. _F.L. Harvey._
The plant when fresh has the peculiar fungoid flavor suggestive of that
of chestnut blossoms. The species is apparently allied to P. Petersii,
from which it may be distinguished by its larger spores and distinct but
peculiar odor. The spores also are not binucleate, as in that species.
In drying, the hymenium is apt to become blackish. _Peck_, Bull. Torrey
Bot. Club, Vol. 23, No. 10.
A cluster 4 inches across, in general appearance resembling P. repanda,
was found by the writer at Mt. Gretna, Pa., June, 1898, growing from
between the staves of an empty flour barrel which was exposed to the
weather. The margin, instead of being revolute, turned inward (involute)
until it touched the short stem. The cluster was eaten and had the
flavor of P. repanda. In June, 1899, several pounds grew on and around
the same barrel. Professor Peck recognized it as P. odorata.