Leucosporae 



almost central. The pileus is at first convex and horizontal, then pieurotus. 

 expanded and ascending. Stevenson. 



Spores 10-12x4-5/4 Massee; 7.5-10x4^ Peck. 



General over the United States. 



Var. glandulo sus Ag. g. Bull. With the habit of the typical form, 

 but larger. Pileus dark brown, becoming pale. Gills white, with scat- 

 tered small wart-like or glandular bodies. 



On trunks. A very constant but somewhat rare variety ; easily known 

 by the dark-brown pileus. The gland-like bodies on the gills are due 

 to the outward growth of the hyphas of the trama in minute patches 

 here and there. Massee. 



Var. euos'mus Berk. strong-smelling. Strong scented, imbricate. 

 Pileus fleshy, depressed, shining, silky when dry, at first white with a 

 tinge of blue, then brownish. Stem short or obsolete. Gills decurrent, 

 ventricose, dingy, white. Spores 1214x5^, pale pinkish-lilac. 



On elm trunks. Pilei very much crowded, 2 in. or more across, 

 deeply depressed, unequal, at first white, invested with a slight blue 

 varnish, at length of a pale brown. Stems distinct above, connate be- 

 low. Gills rather broad ; running down to the bottom of the free por- 

 tion of the stem. Spores oblong, narrow, oblique, white, tinged with 

 purple. The whole plant smells, when first gathered, strongly of tarra- 

 gon. B. and Br. 



Found at Richmond, Ind., Dr. J. R. Weist. On hickory stump at 

 Mt. Gretna, Pa., Mcllvaine; Haddonfield, N. J., T. J. Collins. 



This esculent fungus closely allied to P. ostreatus, and differing only 

 in having lilac spores, has been followed from book to book by a bad 

 reputation, probably because of its "rosy" or lilac spores all fungi 

 having pink spores having been, until recently, ignorantly branded by 

 authors as poisonous. The writer has eaten meals of it many times, as 

 have his friends. It is in every way equal to P. ostreatus. 



The rare qualities of this species are stated in the descriptive heading 

 of the genus. Its very name implies excellence. The camel is grate- 

 fully called the ship of the desert ; the oyster mushroom is the shell- 

 fish of the forest. When the tender parts are dipped in egg, rolled in 

 bread crumbs, and fried as an oyster they are not excelled by any vege- 

 table, and are worthy of place in the daintiest menu. 



P. saligfnus Schwam. salix, willow. Pileus 2-3 in. broad, sooty 



143 



