156 



STUDIES OF AMERICAN FUNGI. 



FLAMMULA Fr. 



In the genus F/ammula, the pileus is tleshy, stem tleshy-fibrous, 

 and the gills adnate to decurrent. 



Flammula polychroa Berk. — This is a beautiful plant with tints of 

 violet, lavender, lilac and purple, especially on the scales of the pi- 

 leus, on the veil and on the stem, it occurs in clusters during late 

 summer and autumn, on logs, branches, etc., in the woods. The 

 plants occur singly, but more often in clusters of three to eight or 



Figure 147. — Flammula polychroa, under view. Cap vinaceous buff to orange buff, 

 scales lilac, purple or lavender; gills drab to hair brown (natural size). Copyright 

 1900. 



more. The plants are 4-7 cm. high, the cap 3-5 cm. broad, and the 

 stem 4-6 mm. in thickness. 



The pileus is convex, and in the young stage the margin strongly 

 incurved, later the cap becomes expanded and has a very broad umbo. 

 It is very viscid. The surface is covered with delicate hairs which 

 form scales, more prominent during mid-age of the plant, and on the 

 margin of the cap. These scales are very delicate and vary in color 

 from vinaceous-buff, lilac, wine-purple, or lavender. The ground 

 color of the pileus is vinaceous-buff or orange-buff, and toward the 

 margin often with shades of beryl-green, especially where it has been 



