AGARICALES ^5 



may be found at all seasons of the year, from late spring to late 

 autumn, often growing in clusters from some old stump or log or 

 even on the standing trunk of some tree ; some of the species 

 are very small. Of the edible species (and none are known to be 

 injurious) the following are best known : * 



P. sapidus, easily distinguished by the pale lilac-tint to its 

 spores, which is more pronounced where they fall in considerable 

 quantity. The pileus is of a pale-brownish or ash-gray color and 

 measures from three to six or eight inches in width. 



P. ostreatus closely resembles the last, but has white spores 

 and frequently has no stem at all. It appears in autumn or late 

 summer. 



P. ulmarhis has white spores and usually an eccentric stem ; it 

 is usually of a firm consistency and frequently cracks are found 

 in the pileus. It commonly grows on elm trees, whence its name, 

 and appears rather late in autumn. 



Claudopus\ has salmon-colored spores. C. nidulans grows in 

 clusters on the underside of logs and is a handsome species, with 

 tomentose pileus and yellowish lamellae. 



Crepidotus\ has rusty-brown spores and is mostly made up of 

 small inconspicuous species growing frequently on much de- 

 cayed logs. 



2. With a central stun. 

 A. With black spores. 



The forms with black spores are mostly small mushrooms grow- 

 ing on the earth in pastures or occasionally on manure. Psathy- 

 rella'fy has a striate pileus and a cartilaginous stem, and Panaeolus || 

 has a fleshy stem and a smoothish pileus. 



* Some twenty-three species are reported from this country. Peck 

 (Reg. Rep. 39 : 58-67) describes the seventeen species found in New York. 



t Five species only are recorded from this country. Peck ( Reg. Rep. 

 39 : 67-69) includes descriptions of all of these. 



j About fifteen species are found with us. Peck (Reg. Rep. 39 : 69-73) 

 describes the eleven species growing in New York. 



| Some seven species occur in this country. Peck (Reg. Rep. 23: 

 102, 103) describes three species growing in New York. 



|| Six or more species grow in this country. Peck (Reg. Rep. 23: 

 100-102) describes five of these, 



