FLAMMULA. 135 



The root consists of a hard and pointed termination of the 

 stem, covered with downy hbres, of a white-grey colour ; it 

 has no volva. 



The stem is three or four inches high, largest above, 

 tapering towards the root, often bent irregularly, of a pale 

 yellow above, brown near the root, and easil}^ divides in 

 yellow silky filaments. 



The curtain is a pale yellow colour, breaks like a fine and 

 delicate spider's web, of the finest silky down. It quite 

 vanishes before the decay of the plant. 



The gills in three series, narrow, thin, numerous, and 

 delicate ; while young of a pale yellow, afterwards changing 

 to a greenish-olive colour. They adhere to the stem by a 

 narrow claw. 



The pileus two or three inches in diameter, deflected round 

 the margin, where it is of a yellow colour, gradually changing 

 to a fine orange, as it approaches the centre, which is a deep 

 orange or scarlet colour. The flesh thick, brittle, and of a 

 pale yellow. 



Grows in woods about Halifax ; frequent in September 

 and October. (Bolton.) 



Var. superba, Mass. Pileus 4-5 in. across, convex, 

 obtuse then expanded, even, glabrous, bright deep orange, 

 disc darker ; flesh thin, with a reddish tinge ; stem 4-5 in. 

 long, |- in. or more thick at the apex, even, equal, attenuated 

 near the base, rooting, even, pale orange, stuffed; gills 

 decurrent, crowded, narrow, bright yellow. 



Agarkus (Flammula) fiisus, Batsch; variety; Cke., Illustr., 

 pi. 434. 



On the ground. 



Flammula astragalina. Fr. 

 Pileus 1-2| in. across, fleshy, convex then flattened, obtuse, 

 often flexuous, rather moist in rainy weather, but not viscid, 

 even, smooth, but when young silky round the margin with 

 the very thin, superficial, silky veil, orange- saffron, disc 

 deepest, margin pale ; gills adnate, crowded, 2-3 lines broad, 

 pale yellow, then somewhat ferruginous, margin flocculose 

 when young, flesh firm, black when bruised ; stem 1^-4 in. 

 long, 2-4 lines thick, equal or attenuated downwards, often 

 flexuous, pale yellow or tinged with red, base not much if 



