! 2 6 BASIDIOMYCE TES 



B. WitJi dark broivn spores. 



Several genera occur here, though most of them are incon- 

 spicuous and unimportant from an economic standpoint. De- 

 conica may be recognized by its decurrent lamellae ; we have 

 only one species. Psathyra, with two species, and Psilocybe, with 

 eleven, can be distinguished in their early stages by the incurving 

 of the pileus in the latter genus, while it is straight from the 

 first in the former. Pilosace, with lamellae free from the stem, 

 contains as yet only a single American representative. 



C. With rusty-brown spores. 



In this section we have only Pluteolus* and Galera,-\ distin- 

 guished from each other by the fact that the pileus is viscid and 

 the lamellae free or nearly so in the former genus, and the pileus 

 is hygrophanous or moist and the lamellae attached in the latter. 



D. With pink or salmon-colored spores. 



Several genera occur in this group ; among them Pluteiis can 

 be readily distinguished by its lamellae being separate from the 

 stem where it joins the pileus ; eleven species are known from the 

 United States. P. ccrvinus is one of the commonest species, 

 often appearing early in the season, usually growing from stumps 

 or old logs ; the pileus is grayish- brown with whitish lamellae 

 changing to flesh-color as the spores mature ; the stem is three to 

 six inches long, nearly equal and solid. 



Of the remaining genera Clitopilus and Eccilia have decurrent 

 lamellae. The latter, with three species, has a cartilaginous stem, 

 while the former, with fourteen American species,;}; has a fleshy 

 stem. 



At least two of our species of Clitopilus are edible : 



C. orcclla, sometimes known as the sweetbread mushroom, 

 grows in pastures and open places and has a slightly viscid pileus 

 and a soft context. 



* Of the eight species of Pluteolus five are known from America and 

 they are described by Peck (Reg. Rep. 46 : 58-61). 



f Galera is a larger genus Peck (Reg Rep. 46 : 61-69) describes 

 our twelve species 



\ All of these species of Clitopilus are described by Peck (Reg. Rep. 

 42 : 39-46). 



