69 THE AGARICACEAE CF MICHIGAN 



causes the fine floccosity and is sometimes abnormally de- 

 veloped. The fine tomentum of the pileus is seen under 

 ' the microscope to be composed of long, intertwined fibrils 

 filled with reddish-yellow substance. This covering of pileus 

 and stem in well-developed specimens is quite marked and repre- 

 sents a sort of universal veil. This species must not be confused 

 with Clitocybe decora Fr., in which the gills do not become einargi- 

 nate, and the scales are blackish-brown and fibrillose. 



Var. variegatus (T. variegatus Fr.). Differs in smaller size, gills 

 white or whitish, scarcely tinged yellowish, and without sterile 

 cells. Flesh white or yellowish-white. New Richmond. Infre- 

 quent. In both the color varies somewhat, and the reddish scales 

 are sometimes practically lacking on the stem. 



725. Tricholoma venenata Atk. (Poisonous) 

 Botanical Gazette, Vol. 46, 1908. 



"PILEUS 4-7 cm. broad, convex-expanded, subumbonate, center 

 fleshy, moist, not viscid, pale buff to clay-color, minutely scaly with 

 fibrous scales, with a subtomentose area over the center, the scales 

 possessing the darker color, under the lens some of them appear 

 nearly black. FLESH white with a dull clay-colored tinge and 

 stain. GILLS adnexed, broadly sinuate, subdistant, whitish, thin, 

 dull clay color where bruised. STEM subbulbous, with a bulb like 

 that of Lepiota lenticularis (see L. fisheri), fibrous-striate, solid, 

 sordid white, becoming dull-clay color in age or when handled. 

 SPORES oval to broadly elliptical, smooth, 5-7 x 3.5-5 inicr., white. 

 CYSTIDIA none. ODOR and TASTE mild." 



Gregarious. On the ground in frondose woods. Rochester, Oak- 

 land County. September. 



This poisonous Tricholoma caused severe illness of a family at 

 Rochester, Michigan, who were advised that it was harmless 

 because of its mild taste and odor. The species was not 

 known to the persons to whom it was referred but it 

 was thought to be a Tricholoma and hence, since mushroom 

 . amateurs usually think that the species of that genus when 

 mild are perfectly safe, they felt safe in its use. It is only another 

 ens.' in favor of the argument that it is necessary to know mush- 

 rooms by their specific distinctions, and to use only those whose 

 identity is known to the user. Better learn a few species well than 

 take chances. The description is adapted from that of Atkinson, 



