Part 70 (1/2)

The stem is three to four inches long, slender, firm, equal, hollow, powdered above, whitish, sometimes tinged with red or yellow, slightly striate at the top, as will be seen in the photograph with a gla.s.s, generally stained with the spores.

The specimens in Figure 279 were found in a garden that had been strongly manured. It is usually found on dung and on gra.s.sy lawns during May and June. Captain McIlvaine in his book speaks of this mushroom producing hilarity or a mild form of intoxication. I should advise against its use.

_Anellaria. Karst._

Anellaria is from _anellus_, a little ring. This genus is so called because of the presence of a ring on the stem.

The pileus is somewhat fleshy, smooth, and even. The gills are adnexed, dark slate-colored, variegated with black spores. The stem is central, smooth, firm, s.h.i.+ning, ring persistent or forming a zone around the stem.

_Anellaria separata. Karst._

Separata means separate or distinct.

The pileus is somewhat fleshy, bell-shaped, obtuse, even, viscid, at first ochraceous, then dingy-white, s.h.i.+ning, smooth, wrinkled when old.

The gills are firmly attached to the stem, broad, ventricose, thin, crowded, clouded, cinereous, margin nearly white, slightly deliquescent.

The stem is long, straight, s.h.i.+ning, white, thickened downward, ring distant, top somewhat striate, bulbous at the base. The spores are broadly elliptic-fusiform, black, opaque, 107.

It is found on dung from May to October. It is not poisonous.

_Bolbitius. Fr._

Bolbitius is from a Greek word meaning cow-dung, referring to its place of growth.

The pileus is membranaceous, yellow, becoming moist; gills moist but not deliquescing, finally losing their color and becoming powdery; stem hollow and confluent with the hymenoph.o.r.e. As the generic name implies the plant usually grows on dung, but sometimes it is found growing on leaves and where the ground had been manured the year before. The spores are of a rusty-red color.

_Bolbitius fragilis. (L.) Fr._

Fragilis means fragile.

The pileus is membranaceous, yellow, then whitish, viscid, margin striate, disk somewhat umbonate.

The gills are attenuated, adnexed, nearly free, ventricose, yellowish, then pale cinnamon.

The stem is two to three inches long, naked, smooth, yellow. The spores are rust-colored, 73.5, Ma.s.see. 14-158-9. Saccardo.

This species is much more delicate and fragile than B. Boltoni. I find it often in dairy pastures. It is well flavored and cooks readily. Found from June to October.

_Bolbitius Boltoni. Fr._

BOLTON'S BOLBITIUS. EDIBLE.

The pileus is somewhat fleshy, viscid, at first smooth, then the margin sulcate, disk darker and slightly depressed.

The gills are nearly adnate, yellowish, then livid-brown.