ROS^ -SCORED AGARICS. 149 



CLAUDOPUS W. Smith. 



In the genus Ci J ihioptis, recognized by some, the pileiis is eccen- 

 tric or lateral, that is, the stem is attached near the side of the cap, 

 or the cap is sessile and attached by one side to the wood on which 

 the plant is growing ; or the plants are resupinate, that is, they may 

 be spread over the surface of the wood. 



The genus is perhaps not well separated from some of the species 

 of P/eurofiis with lilac spores like P. sapidiis. In fact, a number of the 

 species were formerly placed in Pleurotus, while others were placed 

 in Crepidotus among the ochre-spored agarics. Several species are 

 reported from America. Peck in 39th Report N. Y. State Mus., p. 

 67. et seq., 1886, describes five species. 



Claudopus nidulans (Pers.) Pk. — This is one of the very pretty 

 agarics growing on dead branches and trunks during the autumn, and 

 is widely distributed. It has, however, been placed in the genus Pleu- 

 rotus, as P. nidulans. But because of the pink color of the spores in 

 mass. Peck places it in the genus Claudopus, where Fries suggested 

 it should go if removed from Pleurotus. It seems to be identical with 

 Patuis dorsalis Bosc. It is usually sessile and attached to the side of 

 dead branches, logs, etc., in a shelving manner, or sometimes it is 

 resupinate. 



The pileus is sessile, or sometimes narrowed at the base into a 

 short stem, the caps often numerous and crowded together in an over- 

 lapping or imbricate manner. It is nearly orbicular, or reniform, 

 and 1-5 cm. broad. The margin is at first involute. The surface is 

 coarsely hairy or tomentose, or scaly toward the margin, of a rich 

 yellow or buff color. It is soft, but rather tough in consistency. The 

 gills are broad, orange yellow. The spores, pink in mass, are smooth, 

 elongated, somewhat curved, 6-8/< long. 



Figure 141 is from plants (No. 2660, C. U. herbarium) collected 

 in woods near Ithaca. 



