CORTINARIUS. 13 



Cortmarius is most nearly allied to FJammula, but in the 

 latter genus most of the species grow on wood, the gills are 

 often truly decurrent, and the spores are not bright ferru- 

 ginous. 



All the species of Cortinarius grow on the ground, mostly 

 in woods, or amongst grass under trees. 



The most natural of the genera of the Agaricinae, but not 

 easily defined by artificial characters. The veil and gills 

 afford the principal marks of distinction. Gills usually 

 becoming cinnamon-colour. Eare or wanting in hot coun- 

 tries, but generally abundant in northern woods. All are 

 autumnal. The appearance is verj^ di Cerent at different 

 stages of growth, and also depending upon the amount of 

 moisture present. It is necessary, therefore, to examine 

 s]')ecies in both the young and old stage. Some species of 

 Flammida resemble them, but are not likely to be confounded 

 with them. (Fries.) 



ANALYSIS OF THE SUBGENEBA OF COBTINABIUS. 



I. PiiLEGMACiUM. Frics, Epicr., p. 256. 



Partial veil cobweb-like. Pileus viscid, equally fleshy, 

 stem firm, dry. 



II. Myxacium. Fries, Epicr., p. 273. 



Pileus and stem both viscid ; flesh of pileus rather thin ; 

 the viscidity of the scarcely bulbous seem due to the 

 glutinous universal veil ; gills adnate or decurrent. 



III. Inoloma. Fries, S, M., i. p. 216. 



Pileus equally fleshy, not viscid, dry, not hygrophanous, 

 covered at first with innate, silky, fibrillose squamules. 

 Veil simple. Stem flet^hy, rather bulbous. 



IV. DermocybI':. Fries, Epicr., p. 283. 



Flesh of pileus thin and equal, watery or coloured when 

 moist ; dry, not viscid nor hygrophanous, at first villous 

 from an innate silkiness, but glabrous when adult; stem 



