Genus Lepiota 333 



scaly cap and stem, the peculiar spores, and the distinct but 

 deUcate annulus are some of the distinguishing characters. It is 

 related to L. Boudieri Bres. and L. castanea Quel. Both of 

 these have a scaly cap and stem; the first has a cottony annulus, 

 the latter emits a fragrance of balsam. From L. fulvella Rea it 

 differs in stature, color and its smaller spores. 



Lepiota brunnescens Pk. (Emended) 



Torrey Club Bull., 31: 177. 1904. 



Syn. Lepiota rufescens Morgan. Journ. Myc, 12: 246. 1906. 



Pileus 2-4 cm. broad, fleshy, thin, campanulate-expanded, 

 nearly plane, subumbonate, cuticle at first "pallid vinaceous 

 drab" (Ridg.), soon breaking into concentrically arranged, vina- 

 ceous drab, subsquarrose, small, fibrillose scales, which soon be- 

 come "blackish-brown" (Ridg.), and alternate with the slightly 

 colored flesh between, disk remaining even, glabrous and be- 

 coming blackish-brown, margin not striate; flesh thin, soft, 

 whitish or tinged vinaceous, becoming blackened towards the 

 margin of pileus; gills free, thin, crowded, " paUid- vinaceous 

 drab," rather broad, ventricose, edge white-fimbriate but be- 

 coming blackish-brown, or stained blackish; stem 4-6(7) cm. 

 long, 4-5 mm. thick above, tapering upward from a subclavate 

 base up to 9 mm. thick, stuffed then hollow, cortex rather soft 

 in texture, surface silky, " paflid-vinaceous drab" becoming 

 blackish-stained in age or from handling; annulus median, mem- 

 branous, at first erect-flaring, subpersistent, concolor, blackening 

 in age; odor fungoid; spores 6-8 X 3.5-4.5 fx eUipsoid, subacute 

 at one end, smooth, hyaline; cystidia none; sterile cells on edge 

 of gills slender, sublanceolate. 



On leaf-mold in swamps and grassy woods. Great Falls of the 

 Potomac, Virginia. August 20, 1918. 



Originally described from St. Louis, Missouri. L. rufescens 

 Morgan, from Ohio, is referred to it by Murrill as a synonym, 

 and this is undoubtedly correct. Murrill reports it also from 

 New York, New Jersey, and California. To quote Dr. Peck, 

 "This singular species when fresh resembles Lepiota cristata, but 



