FIGS. 1 to 3.--=Ag. (Collybia) fusipes= Bull. "_Spindle-Foot Collybia_."

EDIBLE.

Cap fleshy, somewhat tough, convex, then plane, smooth, even or slightly cracked in places, umbo evanescent, reddish brown; gills adnexed, nearly free, broad, distant, at length separating near the stem, firm, white, changing to fawn color, or pale brown often spotted; stem long, stuffed, then hollow, externally cartilaginous, contorted, swollen in the middle, cracking in longitudinal slits, fusiform, tapering narrowly to a rooted base, reddish brown. On stumps in woods in the autumn. Cap 1 to 2 inches broad; stem 2 to 6 inches long. This species is densely caespitose. It is very generally recorded among authors as edible, although the flesh is somewhat tough. It requires long and slow cooking. An English author recommends it for pickling. Only the caps should be used for this purpose.

FIGS. 4 to 6.--=Ag. (Collybia) maculatus= A. & S. (=Collybia maculata=). "_Spotted White Collybia_."

Cap fleshy and compact, convexo-plane, obtuse, smooth, even, margin thin, at first involute, turned inwards, white; stem long and stout, externally cartilaginous, ventricose, sometimes striate, tapering towards the base; gills free, or nearly so, narrow, crowded, somewhat linear, white, becoming spotted. Taste slightly acid. The whole plant is creamy white, becoming spotted and stained throughout with rusty-brown or foxy-red tints. The plants are usually large, long stemmed, and grow in irregular cl.u.s.ters on decayed tree stumps in woods. Specimens of a large size have been gathered in the fir woods near Mattapoisett, Ma.s.sachusetts. Cap 3 to 5 inches broad; stem 3 to 5 inches long. The variety _immaculatus_ differs from the typical form in not becoming spotted and in the broader gills, which are serrated.

FIGS. 7 to 9.--=Ag. (Collybia) velutipes= Curt. "_Velvet-Footed Collybia_."

Cap fleshy, thin, at first convex, then plane, obtuse, smooth, viscid, tawny or brownish yellow, turning dark; flesh yellowish and soft; gills slightly adnexed, pale yellow; stem tough, stuffed, externally cartilaginous, sometimes slender, but usually thick, covered with a brown velvety down, dark bay color. This is a very common species in some localities. It is densely caespitose, growing in heavy cl.u.s.ters on old logs and tree trunks in parks, woods, and gardens. The plants are quite gelatinous when cooked. Group figured from ill.u.s.tration by M. C.

Cooke.

Collybia _radicata_ Rehl. is recorded as an edible species. The plants have a thin, slightly fleshy cap, slightly umbonate, wrinkled, and glutinous at maturity; distant, white, adnexed gills, and tall, slender, rigid stem. The latter is often twisted and usually attenuated upwards, color pale brown. It has a long tapering root entering deeply into the soil. This species is solitary in habit, and is commonly found in gra.s.s, or near decayed stumps. Cap from 2 to 3 inches in diameter, stem 6 inches to 10 inches in length.

Collybia _esculenta_ Jacq., a small species found in pine woods as well as in pastures in the spring, is recorded as edible by a number of authors. In this species the cap is nearly plane, obtuse, and smooth, brownish; gills adnate, whitish; stem very slender, fistulose, equal, tough, smooth, reddish clay color, deeply rooting.

APPENDIX.

As Chief of the Division of Microscopy, U. S. Department of Agriculture, the author prepared for the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago a collection of models of edible and poisonous mushrooms, for which a medal and diploma were there awarded. The same collection, which now belongs to the Museum of the Department of Agriculture, was exhibited at the Atlanta Cotton Exposition in 1895, where a diploma was again awarded for it, and has since been exhibited at the exposition of 1897 in Nashville, Tenn. The models composing this collection, about one thousand in number, were made from actual specimens and colored to nature, the same species being generally represented by numerous specimens so as to ill.u.s.trate the various stages in the life of the plant, habit of growth, etc.

The following is a list of the mushrooms represented in this collection, among which there are types of most of the genera in which species recorded as edible occur:

Amanita _Caesarea_ Schaeff. "Orange Amanita." Edible.

Amanita _rubescens_ Pers. "The Blusher." "Reddish-Brown Amanita."

Edible.

Amanita _strobiliformis_ Vitt. "Fir-Cone" or "Pine-Cone Amanita."

Edible.

Amanita _pantherinus_ D. C. "Panther Mushroom." Poisonous.

Amanita _phalloides_ Fr. "Poison Amanita." Poisonous.

Amanita _muscaria_ Linn. "Fly Amanita." "False Orange." Poisonous.

Amanita _verna_ Bull. "Spring Mushroom." "Vernal Amanita." Poisonous.

Amanitopsis _v.a.g.i.n.ata_ Roze. "The _Grizette."_ "Sheathed Amanitopsis."

Edible.

Lepiota _procera_ Scop. "Parasol Mushroom." "Tall Lepiota." Edible.

Lepiota _racodes_ Vitt. "Ragged Lepiota." Edible.

Armillaria _mellea_ Fr. "Honey Mushroom." Edible.

Tricholoma _terreum_ Schaeff. "The Gray Cap." Edible.

c.l.i.tocybe _illudens_ Schw. "Giant c.l.i.tocybe." Unwholesome.

c.l.i.tocybe _odora_ Bull. "Odorous c.l.i.tocybe." Edible.

c.l.i.tocybe _laccata_ Scop. Edible.

Collybia _fusipes_ Bull. "Spindle-Foot Collybia." Edible.

Pleurotus _ostreatus_ Jacq. "Oyster Mushroom." Edible.

Pleurotus _ulmarius_ Jacq. "Elm Pleurotus." Edible.

Volvaria _bombycina_ Schaeff. "Silky Volvaria." This species has been recorded by some authors as poisonous. Hays, after testing it, speaks well of it, and states that is eaten on the Continent.

Volvaria _speciosa_ Fr. Not commended.

Pholiota _caperata_ Pers. Edible.

Agaricus _campester_. "Field Mushroom." Edible.

Agaricus _arvensis_ Schaeff. "Horse Mushroom." Edible.

Hypholoma _sublateritium_. "Brick Top." Edible.

Hypholoma _Candolliana_. Edible.

Coprinus _comatus_ Fr. "s.h.a.ggy Mane Mushroom." Edible.

Coprinus _atramentarius_. "Inky Coprinus." Edible.

Cortinarius _turmalis_ Fr. Edible.

Cortinarius _caerulescens_ Fr. Edible.

Hygrophorus _conicus_ Fr. Conical Mushroom. Has been recorded by a number of authors as poisonous. Some later writers speak of it as edible.

Hygrophorus _puniceus_ Fr. "Purplish Hygrophorus." Edible.

Hygrophorus _ceraceus_ Fr. "Waxen Hygrophorus." Edible.

Lactarius _deliciosus_ Fr. "Delicious Lactarius." Edible.

Lactarius _volemus_ Fr. "Orange-brown Lactarius." Edible.