l7fl THE AGARICACEAE OF MICHIGAN 



Bides of the gills, H. albidultim being the only one known to me 

 w iih cystidia. Sterile cells, usually elongated beyond the hymenium, 

 are found on the edge of the gills, and furnish important microscopic 

 details for the certain identification of many of the species of this 

 -runs. Their shape and size vary, and at maturity they give to 

 the edge of the j^ills a white, fimbriate or flocculose appearance. The 

 ODOR is often like that of radish, especially when the flesh is 

 nibbed or bruised. The TASTE also is sometimes radishy or bitter 

 and disagreeable. Mcllvaine, who studied the edibility of so many 



mushr us. has given us little information on this genus. Some are 



probably poisonous, and as far as known, even where a species 

 has been proved harmless, the taste when cooked is not found to be 

 appetizing, so that the Hebelomas are hardly to be considered of 

 much value for the table. This is a difficult genus for the amateur, 

 and much uncertainty is prevalent, even in the minds of mycologists, 

 us in ilie limits of the species. 



The genus may be divided into two sections, those with a cortina 

 when young, Indusiati; and those without a visible cortina. Denu- 

 de ti. 1 1 does not seem to me that Fries' section "Pusilli," which 

 included the smaller species, is a satisfactory grouping, and the 

 species which have been placed in "Pusilli" are distributed under 

 Indusiati and Denudati. Even the two divisions retained run into 

 each other imperceptibly. 



• Key to the Species 



(A) Stem solid, rarely becoming cavernous, 

 (a) Cortina present when young. 



Mil Edge of gills beaded with drops in moist weather; pileus pale 



yellowish-tan; odor of radish. . 496. H. fastibile Fr. 

 (bb) Edge of gills not beaded. 



(c) Cystidia numerous on gills; spores 6-7x3-4.5 micr.; gills 

 arcuate-adnate, rather narrow; pileus yellowish-tan, etc. (See 

 513. Fhimmula lenta.) 

 (cc) Cystidia lacking; spores larger. 



(d) Pileus conical when young, 2-3 cm. broad, pale yellowish, 



clay-color, darker on disk; stem slender. 497. H. mesopha- 



eum Fr. 



(dd) Pileus soon convex, umbonate or subumbonate. 



(e) Growing in open woods, fields, bare places, etc.; pileus 



2-5 cm., brownish-clay-color, rufescent. 499. H. pascuense 



(ee) In coniferous woods; pileus 5-7 cm., mature gills dark. 

 II. firmum Fr. 

 (aa) Cortina not present, 

 (b) Stem stout, scaly-torn, white; pileus large, sordid grayish- 

 brown to pale tan, odor of radish. 500. H. sinapizans Fr. 

 Stem flexuous, silky fibrillose, base enlarged by adhering sand; 

 pileus alutaceous to tan. 508. H. colvini Pk 



