22 



MINNESOTA MUSHROOMS 



Clitocybe gigantea Giant Clitocybe 



Cap usually very large, 1-3 dm. wide, whitish or tan-colored, smooth, sometimes 

 cracking into scales when dry, plane, then depressed or concave, margin turned in at 

 iirst, more or less irregular and lobed : stem short and stout. 4-5 cm. bv 1-2 cm., 

 whitish or tan, smooth, solid ; gills short decurrent, whitish or tan, iinally tinged 

 with yellow or reddish, branched or connected by veins, broad and crowded ; spores 

 elliptic, 5 X 2fj.. The name refers to the size of the plant. 



On the ground in woods, from August to frost ; edible. 



Clitocybe maxima Great Clitocybe 



Cap usually very large, 1-3 dm. wide, whitish or tan, smooth or slightly 

 silky or scaly in age, concave, the margin turned in and somewhat lobed ; stem 

 stout, 8-10 cm. by 2-3 cm., whitish, somewhat fibrous, solid; gills long decurrent, 



Figure 12. Clitocvbe maxima 



whitish, not branched or connected by veins; spores elliptic, 5-6 X 3-4/a. The 

 name refers to the size. 



On the ground in woods, throughout summer and autumn : distinguished from 

 the preceding by the more funnel-shaped cap, and the whitish, long decurrent gills. 

 Coarse, but well-flavored and edible. 



Clitocybe illudens Orange Cone Saffron Top 



Cap large, 7-15 cm. wide, dark yellow or orange-brown, smooth, convex or 

 flat at first, then depressed or deeply concave, often irregular from mutual pressure ; 

 stem tall, 10-20 cm. by l-ljA cm., deep yellow or orange, smooth, solid; gills 

 running far down the stem, yellow to orange, distant; spores rounded, 4-5ju.. 

 The name refers to the deceptively attractive appearance. 



Growing in large clusters about old stumps or dead trees from August to 

 frost. Though not deadly, this plant is poisonous to nearly every one, and should 



