50 THE AGARICACEAE OF MICHIGAN 



hard and woody at the ha.se where it is inserted, i. e., instititious, 

 on the ligneous substratum. Although normally eccentric or lateral 

 in our species, it may become central, especially when growing on 

 top of the substratum. Some species have adapted themselves to 

 the debris or humus on the ground, so as To appear terrestrial. In 

 one section there is often a definite veil, as in L. lepideus and L. 

 tigrinus but it soon disappears or only rarely remains on the stem 

 or on the margin of the young pileus as shreds or fibrils. The 

 SPORES vary in shape, in our species mostly elongated-oblong or 

 elliptical. Fries in characterizing the genus (Hymen. Europ.), as 

 well as Quelet (Enchiridion) and Patouillard (Les Hymen. 

 d'Europe), say the spores are subglobose. This is not at all the 

 case with all of our species, although it may apply to the majority 

 of tropical ones. Massee (Agaricaceae, Eur. Fung. Flora) records 

 comparatively few spore-measurements, so that the statement of the 

 above authors seems remarkable. The spores are white, smooth and 

 often no longer present in old specimens. CYSTIDIA are lacking. 



\This is a troublesome genus because of the fact that the nature 

 of the context, determines largely its place in the classification. 

 Hence various species have been referred here by .mycologists only 

 to be later removed to genera with fleshy or fibrous context. Orig- 

 inally the genus Panus was included and some authors still include 

 it. Panus rudis is commonly called Leaf inns Lecomtei, the latter 

 being a species we do not have with us. Lentinus strigosus Schw. is 

 also Panus rudis. Collybia lacunosa Pk. is often mistaken for a 

 Lentinus, and was erroneously referred to L. clirysopeplos B. & C. 

 in the 8th Eep. Mich. Acad. ScL, p. 34. Others have referred 

 Omphalia umbcllifera var. scabriuscula Pk. to L. clirysopeplos. 

 (See White's 2nd Rep. on Hymeniales of Conn., p. 22.) Certain 

 species of Clitocybe, like G. piceina are often quite tough, but differ 

 in the gills being discrete from pileus. Again, species of Paxillus 

 might be confused with this genus. It is well for the amateur to 

 compare the prominent characters of these different genera before 

 deciding on a determination. None are reported poisonous; their 

 toughness yields only to thorough cooking. They are hardly to be 

 considered delicacies, but according to Mcllvaine may be used to 

 flavor soups. The large L. lepideus is often common on railroad ties 

 and cut timber, and doubtless is an important agent in the decay 

 of wood thus attacked. 



The key will include also such species as may be looked for in 

 the state. The genus is represented by two sections : 



