716 THE AGARICACEAE OF MICHIGAN 



ing the genus Paxillus as set up by Fries. It has seemed best, how- 

 ever, to follow Peck, by referring white-spored species with de- 

 current and separable gills, even if they anastomose on the stem, 

 to the genus Clitocybe instead of Paxillus. The VEIL is poorly 

 developed or entirely lacking in this genus. Where it becomes evi- 

 dent, as in G. praecox sp. nov. we have a transition to the genus 

 Armillaria. But no species in which the veil forms an annulus 

 can be included here. The SPOKES are white, mostly small, ellip- 

 tical and smooth in the larger number of species, globose and echinu- 

 late in others. As seen below, this character with others will be used 

 to separate the two subgenera. The spores of Glitopilus caespitosa 

 are only slightly tinged with flesh color, so that it is easily mistaken 

 for a Clitocybe. The TASTE is mild in nearly all the species; some- 

 times it is farinaceous; in G. piccina and a few others it is disagree- 

 able. Two species are known to be poisonous, viz. G. Uludens and 

 C. morbifera; as far as known, the others are safe, and become 

 tender and palatable when properly cooked. G. sudorifica Pk. (N. 

 Y. State Mus. Bull. 157 1 causes profuse perspiration and should be 

 avoided. 



The genus is large, and may be divided into two subgenera: 

 Clitocybe (propria), and Laccaria. 



The former is again divided into sections and groups as follows : 



SUBGENUS CLITOGYBE. 

 Section I. Pawilloideae. 

 Section II. Squamulosae. 

 Section III. Siccae. 

 Section IV. Hygroplianae. 



SUBGENUS LAGGARIA. 



K<H to the Species 



(A) Pileus hygrophanous, changing color from wet to dry weather; flesh 

 usually scissile. 

 (a) Pileus becoming furfuraceous-squamulose; spores spherical, mark- 

 edly echinulate; gills adnate. 

 (b) Plant large; stem 8 mm. or more thick; gills purplish. 796. 

 C. ochropurpurea Berk. 



