A CATALOGUE OF ESGUIiENT BRITISH FUNGI. 83 



baliini, unequal, broadest in front, free. Odour strongly aroroatic. 

 Flavour aromatic and agreeable. Spores brownisK-purple. 



Obs. In chapter vii. Very wholesome and good. Substantial, but not so 

 dainty in flavour as either the White or Bed Pratelles. Much eaten in some 

 parts of the country, and looked upon with suspicion in others. There is a 

 variety having flocculose scales of a pale earth-colour ; they break up concen- 

 trically in maturity. — W. D. H. 



(60.) AGARICUS CAMPESTRIS; Psalliota campestris ; The 

 White Pratelle. (Tab. IV. fig. 26.) 



Habitat. In pastures. In groups, or scattered. 



Season. June to October. Common in September. 



Pileus. Two to three inches across, white, pex'haps at length 

 tinted with grey or brown, sericeo-flocculose at first, then smooth, 

 glistening ; at first almost globose, then expanding, obtuse, even, 

 convexo-plane. Cuticle projecting a little, and curled up at the 

 edge, separable. Margin at first involute, invested with veil. 



Stem. Two to three inches high, white, smooth, silky, thick, 

 slightly larger below, blunt. Ring medial, white, thick, often 

 fugacious. 



Section. Flesh thick, white, firm. Stem stuffed. Gills pink, 

 pale at first, becoming purplish, then brown and almost black, 

 numerous, broad, unequal, rounded behind, free but approximate. 

 Odour and taste agreeable. Spores brown-purple. 



Obs. In chapter vii. Usually accepted as the typical form. Perhaps it is on 

 the whole the commonest. This form seldom becomes large. To be eaten at 

 its best it should be gathered while the gills are still pink, not kept more than 

 half a day, and subjected to much less cooking than is commonly the practice. 

 —W. D. H. 



(61.) AGARICUS HORTENSIS ; Psalliota hortensis ; The 

 Garden Pratelle. 



Habitat. On prepared beds in gardens and forcing-houses, etc. 



Pileus. Two to three inches across, or more, dirty-white, 

 brownish, flocculose at first, soon fibrillose or squamulose ; at first 

 globose, soon expanding, obtuse, convex, plane. Margin at first 

 involute. 



Stem. Two to three inches high, white, dirty-white, brownish, 

 thick, rather fibrillo-squamulose. Ring fugacious. 



Section. Flesh thick, white, firm, not juicy. Stem nearly solid. 



