178 A CATALOGUE OF BRITISH POISONOUS FUNGI. 



below. Gills dull pinkj-buff, thin, narrow, ntimerous, distant, 



rounded behind, free. Odour faint. Taste peppery. Spores 



white. 



Obs. Contains an irritant principle, but in slight degree. It must not be 

 mistaken for the Oread. — W. D. H. 



(XXXV.) MARASMITJS URENS ; The Stinger. 



Habitat. Amonfj fallen leaves. In clusters. 



Season. August to October. Pretty common. 



Pileus. One to three inches across, clay-yellow, or reddish tan, 

 shrivelled and pale in drought or age, smooth ; convex, then 

 expanded, plane, even. Margin thin, sub-involute. 



Stem. Two to three inches high, tint of pileus, pale, slender, 

 white-flocculose, cylindrical, naked. Base slightly thickened, sub- 

 villose. 



Section. Flesh white, membranaceous. Stem solid, fibrous. 

 Gills pale brown, numerous, narrow, firm, distant, remote. Odour 

 faint. Taste stinging. Spores white. 



Ohs. A species very like the preceding, both in appearance and deleterious 

 quality.— jr. D. H. 



Genus PAN US. 



(XXXVI.) PANUS STYPTICUS ; The Pill-sprout. 



Habitat. On dead tree trunks and stumps. More or less im- 

 bricated. 



Season. October to January. Not common. 



Pileus. About one inch across, cinnamon or pale tan, dry, 

 pruinose, paling in age, perhaps zoned, at length f urf uraceous ; 

 semi-orbicular or reniform, perhaps lobulate. Margin incurved. 



Stem. Half to one inch high, tint of pileus, pale, continuous, 

 lateral, ascending, dilate above, pruinose or furfuraceous. 



Section. Flesh yellowish, tough, not thick. Stem solid. Gills 

 pale cinnamon, narrow, crowded, serrulate, thin, unequal, venate, 

 branched, decurrent. Odourless. Taste insipid at first, soon hot 

 and acrid. Spores white. 



Ohi. The principle it contains seems to be merely a strong cathartic, without 

 other effect, The consequences of eating it are unpleasant rather than harmful 

 BO it had better be avoided. — W. D. H. 



