Guide to the Mushrooms 135 



PANAEOLUS retirugis (Fr.) from Latin rete, 

 net and ruga_, wrinkle. 



Cap. — Up to 1 inch broad, at first almost glob- 

 ose then expanding; never plane, slightly umbonate, 

 in wet weather has a water-soaked appearance and 

 is viscid ; in dry weather, dry and the surface crack- 

 ed and wrinkled which feature gives the mushroom 

 its name. Color dark smoky gray, becoming light- 

 er and shining. Sometimes tawny yellow. Center 

 much darker, often zoned wlien moist. Margin ev- 

 en, extending beyond gills, not striate, containing 

 V shaped particles of veil which is another charact- 

 eristic of this species. 



Flesh. — Rather thick, white. 



Gills. — Coming up to stem (adnate), quite broad 

 in middle, very regular, crowded, grayish black. 



Spores. — Elliptical-fusiform black. 



Stem. — 2 to 4 inches long about 1-4- inch thick, 

 equal, smoky gray in color, hollow, darker at base, 

 granular, bulbous. 



Ring. — The veil is very prominent in young 

 plants white arid quite stout, adheres to margin nev- 

 er to stem the spores at times fall and float against 

 stem forming a black ring but this is not to be mis- 

 taken for a true ring. 



Volva. — None. 



Odor. — Earthy. 



Taste.— UiU. 



