Order Hymenomtcetes. Tribe Pileati. 



Plate XI. 



AGARICUS VIRESCENS, schcep 



er. 



Green-warted Agaric. 



Series Letjcosporus. Sub-genus Russula. 



Spec. Char. Agabicus vieescens. Pileus from two to four iiidies across, never viscid, fleshy, fu-m, at first 

 globose, then lunbOicate, expanded, much depressed in the centre in age, but the margin always remaining plane, 

 obtuse ; the cuticle is shining, thin, transparent, splitting at the margin, pallid or variously shaded with ochraceous 

 tints, covered with a thicker stratum, which is opake, ceraceous, farinose, broken up at length into iiTegular warts of 

 a dull verdigris or glaucous hue. Gills pure white,, perfectly free, but in age appearing slightly decmi-ent from the 

 depression of the pileus, unequal, rather distant, forked pai-ticularly at the junction with the stem, exceedingly crisp, 

 fii-m, and brittle, varying greatly in breadth in difl'erent individuals, for the most part sub-lanceolate. Stem white, 

 sub-ri\'ulose, thick, nearly equal, hard, compact, not stuffed, but homogeneous, entkely composed of cells {spongioso- 

 solidus), softening in the centre with age. The flesh both of the stem and pileus pure white, " sweet and agreeable 

 to the tast«, like a hazel-nut " (Kromb.) ; the flavom- approximates to that of the Champignon (J. oreades), not at all 

 to that of lard, as in A. Jieterophyllm. Esculent ; most excellent. 



Agaricus virescens, Schceffer, Fries, ViUadini. 

 Rdssula Palomet, Tlwre, Persoon. 

 MoTjssERON Palomet, Paidet. 

 Champignon des Dames, Clusius. 



Eab. Under oaks and beeches, in woodland glades. Jidy to October ; rare. 



Vittadini is always most particular in giving the characters of a fungus, and carries liis descriptions 

 to the extreme of minuteness, so that, when he is right in the identification of any given species, there can 

 be notliing better said about it, and very little left to say. In the present case, the true A. virescens was 

 before him, and his portrait is the best extant ; unluckily, there our commendation must stop, for his account 

 of its qualities belongs in part to A. vescus. The Verdette has not the flavour he ascribes to it of " Cancer 

 astacus when broiled ;" A^ vescus does resemble sheU-fish more than flesh ; it has no " faint sub-nauseous 

 smell when fresh," but A. vescus may be fancied like lobster or crab, faint, but nothing like nauseous ; 

 that either of these delicate articles of food acquires a " smell of salted meat in drying" is'au imputation 

 we as confidently deny, as we confidently affirm that a rose, from wliich Italian noses are turned in disgust, 

 is very grateful to English organs. We should not have felt sure of our pretty greenish Agaric being the 

 Mousseron Palomet of Paulet, had not his countryman, Persoon, so identified it in his ' Champignons 

 Comestibles ;' he adds to his description of it in that work, " Its odour is very agreeable, without being 

 penetrating ; its flavotir is exquisite when cooked ; it is served at all tables, and is good with every sauce." 



