Agaricaceae 



Clitocybe. sometimes adnate, almost free, often decurrent. The varying color of 

 oysters is well seen in C. multiceps. 



Edible. They should be well cooked. The addition of a little lemon 

 juice or sherry conceals a slight raw taste sometimes present. 



C. illu'dens Schw. mocking, deceiving. (Plate XXIXa, p. 96.) 



PileilS fleshy, convex or expanded, smooth, generally with a small umbo. 

 Gills not crowded, unequally decurrent, some of them branched, nar- 

 rowed toward each end, the edge, in dry specimens, discolored. Stein 

 firm, solid, long, smooth, tapering at the base. 



Height 5-8 in., breadth of pileus 4-6 in. Stem 6-8 lines thick. 



Spores 4-5/x Peck. 



Grows in clumps or large masses about stumps or decaying trees from 

 August to October. Its bright, deep yellow is attractive from a distance. 

 As many as fifty plants may form a cluster. Cap from 2-6 in., fleshy, 

 convex or expanded, often with a raised center directly over the stem; 

 flesh juicy and yellow; gills yellow, widely separated, running down 

 stem unequally; stem long, firm, solid, smooth, tapering toward base. 

 When cooked the taste is rather saponaceous. Strong stomachs can 

 retain a meal of them, but the fungus generally sickens the eater. 

 Many testings show it to contain a minor poison. It is not deadly, but 

 should not be eaten. Bull. No. 2, Phila. Myc. Center. 



New York, Peck, Rep. 23-49. Well known in southern states. 

 Indiana, H. I. Miller. 



The mysterious property of phosphorescence is possessed by this 

 fungus. As heat is known to develop in masses of the fungus it is of 

 interest to know whether it is from the phosphorescence or a ferment. 

 Its radiance by night surpasses its splendor by day. Mr. H.I. Miller, 

 of Terre Haute, Ind., first drew the writer's attention to this quality. 

 A large box of specimens sent by him retained their luminous quality 

 after three days of travel to such an extent that the print of a newspaper 

 could be read when held close to the mass. 



Mr. Miller writes: "There is something about this fungus which 

 generates heat. When I bring in a basketful of it, for the pleasure its 

 phosphorescence affords my friends, I find that after having been in the 

 basket for two or three hours, and while piled one bunch upon top of 

 another, that to insert one's hand among the different clusters is like 

 putting it close to a hot stove. ' ' 



96 



