Leucosporae 



at iiH . It is generally found in clusters more or less dense. The Coiiybia. 

 color varies from yellowish to a dark yellowish-brown. The center is 

 darker than the margin. The cap viscid when moist, often irregular 

 from crowding. Gills may be rounded or notched at their attachment 

 to the stem, whitish or yellowish. Stem usually hollow, 1-4 in. long, 

 13 lines thick, whitish when young becoming colored with the dense 

 brownish velvety hairs. 



It grows on stumps, roots in the ground, trunks and earth heavily 

 charged with wood matter. I have found it in every month of the year. 

 The heavier crop appears in September, October and November, and 

 lasts until long after heavy frosts. Then sporadic clusters spring up 

 wherever the winter sun gives them encouragement. 



It sometimes does considerable damage to the tree so unfortunate as 

 to be its host. It begins its growth upon some injured or decayed spot 

 and by continually insinuating itself under the surrounding bark it, by 

 its mycelium and growth, pries the bark away from the wood until the 

 tree is entirely denuded. 



It is a valuable species, not only on account of its continuous growth, 

 but because of its plentifulness and excellent substance. 



** 



Gills very narrow, closely crowded. 



C. COn'fllienS Pers. Pileus %\ '2 in. broad, thin, tough, flaccid, 

 convex or nearly plane, obtuse, rarely somewhat umbonate, glabrous, 

 hygrophanous, reddish grayish-red or reddish-brown and often striatu- 

 late on the margin when moist, pallid, whitish or grayish when dry. 

 Lamellae narrow, crowded, free, whitish or yellowish-gray. Stem 2-5 

 in. long, 1-2 lines thick, equal, cartilaginous, hollow, clothed with a short 

 dense somewhat pulverulent whitish pubescence or down. Spores 

 minute ovate or subelliptical, slightly pointed at one end, 56x34^. 



Among fallen leaves in woods. Common. July to October. 



The plants commonly grow in tufts, but sometimes in lines or arcs of 

 circles or scattered. They revive under the influence of moisture and 

 thereby indicate an intimate relationship to the genus Marasmius. The 

 pileus varies much in color, but commonly has a dull reddish or russety 

 tinge when moist, sometimes approaching bay-red. It fades in drying 

 and becomes almost white or grayish-white, but sometimes the center 

 remains more deeply colored than the margin. The stem is commonly 



119 



