80 A CAT.yiiOGUE OF ESCULENT BRITISH FUNGI. 



Stem. Two to three inches long, white, spotted, lateral, continuous 

 with pileus, thick. Base attenuate, firm, woody. In youth bearing 

 fragments of veil. 



Section. Flesh white, yello^-ing where bruised, compact. Stem 

 solid. Gills white, at length yellowish, unequal, curved, forked, 

 narrow, decurrent. Odour and taste farinaceous. Spores white. 

 Obs. Pretty good whilst young. Like the Oyster to eat. — W. D. H. 



(55.) AGARICUS OSTSEATUS ; Pleurotus ostreatus ; The 

 Oyster of the Woods. 



Hahifat. On old trunks of ash, apple, labui-num, and other trees. 

 In imbricate tufts. 



Season. March to May. September to December. Common. 



Pileus. Two to six inches across, brownish, buff with grey 

 shading, paling at length, glossy in dry weather, clammy in wet ; 

 sub-dimidiate, conchate, ascending. Margin involute, rimulose. 



Stem, Absent, or short and lateral, continuous, small at base, 

 at length tomentose. 



Section. Flesh white, stained under cuticle, thick, firm. Stem 



solid. Gills white or pallid, unequal, distant, broad, decurrent to 



base and anastomosing. Odour aromatic. Taste agreeable. Spores 



white. 



Obs. Included in chapter vii. Most excellent and commendable. — IV. D. II. 



(56.) AGARICUS PETALOIDES; Pleurotus petaloides ; The 

 Petal-pprout. 



Habitat. On the ground or on buried stumps, in Avastcs and 

 woodlands. Solitary or grouped. 



Season. September and October. Rare. 



Pileus. Two to tliree inches across, pullid or grey-buff, thin, dry, 

 farinose; ascending, depressed, dimidiate. Margin sinuate, folded, 

 spathulate, or petaloid. Cuticle separable. 



Stem. Half to one inch high, white, compressed, flattened, lateral, 

 continuous, channelled and wrinkled. 



Section. Flesh whitish, thin, brittle. Gills pallid or greyish, 

 narrow, crowded, decurrent. Odour and taste farinaceous. Spores 

 wliitc. 



ObK. I have never seen it, but Cordier speaks well of its esculent qualities. — 

 W. D. 11. 



