A CATALOGUE OF ESCULENT BRITISH FUNGI. 67 



Habitat. Oa trunks and roots of pines and other trees. Solitary. 



Season. April and May. Uncommon. 



Pileus. Half an inch across, orange red ; rounded, plane, even, 

 slender, smooth. Margin smooth, even. 



Stem. Two or three inches high, white, smooth, slender, naked. 

 Base elongate, villose, rooting. 



Section. Flesh white, or yellowish, thickish, tough. Stem 

 stnffed, white. Gills white, numerous, crowded, emarginate, free 

 or adnexed. Odour of radishes. Taste sharp. Spores white. 



Obs. The flat head and long thin stem gives it a likeness to a nail. It is a 

 good deal used on the Continent as a flavouring for sauces, etc. Scarcely of 

 much account. — W. D. H. 



(25.) AGARICUS ESCULENTUS ; CoUyhia esculenta ; The 



Nail-cap. 



Habitat. On the ground in pastures, heathy commons, and 

 woods. In groups and clusters. 



Season. March to May. Tolerably common. 



Pileiis. Half to one inch across, fawn or clay-colour, rounded, 

 nearly plane, smooth, not striate. 



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

 equal, tough, smooth, elongate, rooting, naked. 



Section. Flesh drab, thin, tough. Stem fistulose. Gills white, 

 broad, close, pliant, adnate. Odour faint. Flavour bitterish. 

 Spores white. 



Obs. Much esteemed in Germany. It is brought to market in immense 

 quantity, and is employed as a flavouring for sundry sauces and soups. — 

 W. D. H. 



(26.) AGARICUS FUSIPES ; CoUyMa fusipes ; The 

 Spindle-shank. (Tab. I. fig. 7.) 



Habitat. On stumps, and about the roots of trees. In dense 

 tufts. 



Season. June to October. Common. 



Pileus. Two to four inches across, tan or chestnut-brown, 

 darkest marginally ; rounded at first, then irregularly convex and 

 plane. Margin at first slightly incurved, soon expanding and 

 splitting. 



Stem. Three to six inches high, chestnut-brown, darkest below, 



