124 AGARICACE/E Pluteolus 



566. T. prseeox W. G. Sm., Agaricus prcecox Pers. (prcecox, early) 



a b c. 



P. convex, obtuse, smooth, whitish or whitish-ochre. St. hollow 

 above, mealy-floccose, white, sometimes with root-like fibres at 

 base. A. ample, fugitive, white. G. rounded-adnexed or sub- 

 adnate, at length fuscous. 



Said to be edible. Taste rank ; odour strong, not unpleasant. Gardens, 

 pastures, road-sides ; common. May-Oct. 3 X 4 X in. Sometimes 

 wholly whitish. May not be distinct from last. Sometimes gathered for 

 792. 



566a. T. sphaleromorpha W. G. Sm., Agaricus sphaleromorphus Bull, 

 (from the difficulty of distinguishing this from the two last 

 species ; Gr. sphaleros, delusive, morphe, form) a b. 

 P. globose, convex, plane, obtuse, even, smooth, expanded, white 

 or pale buff to ochre. St. stuffed, then partially hollow, in- 

 crassate and villose below, when young clavate, silky, pale 

 buff to yellowish. A. entire, median to distant, ample, mem- 

 branous. G. arcuato- or adnato- to sinuato-decurrent, yellowish- 

 white, becoming ochre, ferruginous-tan or brownish. 



Leaf-soil. Oct. 4^ X 3 X \ in. Must not be confounded with 565 

 and 566. 



XXIII. PLUTEOLUS Gill. 

 (Diminutive of Phtteus, Genus XIV.) 



Veil indicated by gluten, fibrillas and meal. Hymenophore distinct 

 from the fleshy stem. Pileus conical or campanulate, then expanded, 



Fig. 32. Section of Pluteolus reticulatus Gill. 

 One-half natural size. 



slightly fleshy, viscid, margin striate, at first straight and adpressed 

 to the stem. Stem fistulose, simple. Spores ferruginous or saffron. 

 Gills rounded-free. (Fig 32.) 



The species grow on dead wood, rotten sticks, etc. 



Pluteolus agrees in structure with Hiatula, Pluteus, and Pilosace. 



Species 567, 568 



