Bhodosporae 



large species. The sight of it is stimulating to the mycophagist. He Piuteus. 

 then knows the toadstool season to be truly opened. 



Caps only are tender. The stems are edible, but they are not of the 

 same consistency as the caps, therefore will not cook with them. Fried 

 in a buttered pan or broiled, they are exceedingly toothsome. 



In October, 1898, a beautiful variety (see Plate LXI, fig. 2, p. ), 



occurred which I had not previously seen. It was sent by me to Pro- 

 fessor Peck. The plants grew in large clusters from rotting, refuse 

 straw in the ruin of a stable; the white, cottony mycelium running 

 upon and through the straw. The solid stems of some were straight, 

 others curved, ranging from 26 in. long, the taller ones tapering from 

 base to spindling apex, the shorter ones decidedly bulbous and ending 

 abruptly. They were twisted and delicately marked. These markings 

 break up into dark thread-like fibrils, leaving the stem striate and satin- 

 glossy. PileilS from 2-4 in. across, dark Vandyke-brown when young, 

 lighter in age, streaked, glossy. Gills at first white, tardily changing 

 to light salmon color, broad, ventricose, free. 



Taste and smell pleasant of almonds. Good, delicious. 



Professor Peck wrote of it: "It has the general appearance of 

 Piuteus cervinus, but these specimens seem to depart from the usual 

 form of growing in clusters from the ground, and in having an almond 

 flavor. Without knowing more about it I would scarcely feel justified 

 in separating it from such a variable species. As Fries sometimes re- 

 marks concerning variable species : Perhaps several species are con- 

 cealed under the one name, but a pretty full and accurate knowledge of 

 them is desirable if one is to split them up." 



This is excellent judgment. While I believe the above to be a dis- 

 tinct species, the disposition to make new species of varieties is regret- 

 table in many botanists. 



Var. Biiflii Berk., MS. Pileus 4-6 in. across, flesh thick, convex 

 then expanded, smooth, even, pallid, the disk darker. Gills free, 

 rounded behind, rather distant from the stem, crowded, > in. broad, 

 pale salmon-color. Stem 3-4 in. long, I in. and more thick, slightly 

 swollen at the base, fibrillose, pale brown, darkest at the base, solid. 

 Mas see. 



Pileus 6 in. across, expanded from bell-shape, ashy-white (oyster 

 color), glossy, like floss silk, silky fibrillose, irregularly corrugated. 

 Skin separable. Flesh spongy, pure white, like shreds of cotton, sep- 



245 



