84 A CATALOGUE OF ESCULENT BRITISH FUNGI. 



Gills pale dull pink at first, soon brown, broad, rounded behind, 

 free but approximate. Odour slight. Taste not marked. Spores 

 brown, scarcely purple. 



Obs. This is the common form of the cultivated Pratelle. But it varies a 

 good deal. I have seen specimens approaching in character to the Giant 

 Pratelle ; others again come near the habit of the Hedge Pratelle. The flavour 

 is always inferior to that of the White and Ked Pratelles, and the cultivated 

 plant seems to be less nutritious and not quite so digestible. — W. D. H. 



(62.) AGARICUS PILOSUS ; Psalliota pilosa; The Hedge 

 Pratelle. 



Habitat. Under trees, on hedge-banks, etc. Preferring marly 

 and gravelly soils. In small groups. 



Season. July to October. Not very common. 



Pileus. Two to three inches across, light tan, or tawny brown, 

 squamose ; at first globose, then convex. Margin thick, incurved, 

 compact, even. 



Stem. Two inches high, whitish tan, darkest below, thick, rigid, 

 bulbous. Ring whitish tan, thick, torn. 



Section. Flesh white, thick, hard, compact. Stem nearly solid. 

 Gills grey-pink, soon brown, broad, crowded, unequal, free but 

 approximate. Odour earthy. Taste insipid. Spores brown- 

 purple. 



Obs. This may be identical with A. elveusis and A. campestris var. vapo- 

 rarius "of some authors. It is not commendable, being tough, flavourless, and 

 indigestible. — Jr. D. //. 



(63.) AGARICUS PRATENSIS; Psalliota pratensis; The 

 Brown Pratelle. 



Habitat. Wet, low-lying riverside pastures. In groups, 



Siason. August to October. Common. 



Pileus. Three to si.x inches across, dull umber, mottled, 

 fibrilloso-squamosc; at first infolded, soon expanded, convex, 

 rounded, uneven. Margin thick, split. Cuticle soft, separable, 

 fragile. 



Stem. Two to three inches high, pallid, thick, rigid, rugose, 

 unequal. Ring filamentous, torn, brownish, evanescent. 



Section. Flesh pallid, thick, watery. Stem stuffed, often 

 fissured. Gills pale pinky brown at first, then brown, unequal, 



