because it is common and often even abundant it is described for 

 the benefit of those wlio may desii'e to use it. 



Its cap is very thin, convex or nearly plain, smooth or Avith a 

 slight scurfy roughness, sometimes with a small central depres- 

 sion or umbilicus, and when moist with a water-soaked appear- 

 ance, by the drying out of which moisture the color fades very 

 decidedly. When moist the color is a peculiar buff-red, dull red 

 or flesh-red, but when dry it assumes a kind of grayish or pale 

 ochraceous hue. The gills are broad, rather wide apart and at- 

 tached to the stem by their entire width. Sometimes they run 

 downwards a little on the stem and occasionally they have the 

 edge slightly excavated next the stem, contrary to the rule in this 

 genus. They have a peculiar pale flesh-color which is more per- 

 sistent than the color of the cap, and Avhich is one of the most 

 characteristic features of the species. They are apt to become 

 dusted with the white spores when mature. The stem is rather 

 long and slender, having a fibrous appearance externally and be- 

 ing stuffed or almost hollow within. There are many varieties. 

 In one, the moist cap is much darker than in the typical form, 

 and when dry much paler, but the gills have a beautiful deep 

 violaceous and quite persistent color. This has been called va- 

 riety amethystina. In another the gills are unusually pale, fad- 

 ing almost to whitish. This is variety paUidifolia. In a small 

 form growing in wet or damp places the moist cap is smooth and 

 so thin that it shows shadowy radiating lines extending from near 

 the centre to the margin. This is variety striatula. 



As usual, such a variable species is not at all particular as to 

 its place of growth, but may be found in woods, swamps or fields, 

 growing on naked soil or among grass, mosses or fallen leaves. 

 It is especially fond of growing in pine woods or groves. It may 

 be found from the beginning to the end of the season if the 

 weather is not too dry. It usually grows in groups or flocks and 

 makes up in numbers Avhat it lacks in size. The cap varies from 

 half an inch to two inches broad, the stem from one to three 

 inches long and one to three lines thick. 



There is a closely related but much larger mushroom, Clytocyhe 

 ochropurpurea, in which the cap is generally paler and the gills 

 brighter in color, having a purplish tint. It has a comparatively 

 shorter and thicker stem and the whole plant is apt to bo more 

 irregular and deformed and the gills transversely torn. This is 

 not known to be edible. 



The Rooting mushroom, Co7/i/&!*a rcrcZ^Vo /a, belongs to a closely 

 related genus of white-spored agarics and is recorded as edible, 



58 



