380 PETCH : 



red-brown scales. In tlie larger examples the stem is paler 

 externally and internally tlian in the smaller. 



Gills qjale coffee coloured, broad (4 mm.), ventricose, free ; 

 spores white, elliptical, 5-7 X 3-5-4 a'. 



On the ground, among decaying leaves, &c., usually 

 gregarious. 



Lepiota pyrrhaes is the form with a well-developed ring : 

 L. russoceps is the same species without a ring, and without 

 scales on the stem. But though Berkeley and Broome made 

 this distinction in the descriptions, they failed to observe that 

 one of the figures in the painting of L. pyrrhaes had a smooth 

 ringless stem and matched exactly one of the figures of 

 L. russoceps. Earth on which L. pyrrhaes was developing was 

 brought into the laboratory and placed in a glass dish : the 

 specimens which developed subsequently had smooth stems 

 with no ring, and were undoubted L. russoceps. The veil of 

 this species is covered with red brown scales, of the same 

 colour as the umbo ; when the stalk is lengthening, the veil is 

 attached to the margin of the pile us, but sheathes the stem 

 more or less loosely, and as it is pulled upwards along the stem 

 these scales are left adliering to the latter. When, however, 

 it develops in the constantly satm'ated atmosphere of a double 

 glass dish, tlie veil separates from the stalk at the beginning 

 of expansion, and forms a horizontal sheet, stretching from 

 side to side of the pileus, with a central circular aperture 

 through which the stalk passes. Therefore no scales are left 

 on the stem, and the whole of the ruptured veil remains 

 attached to the margin of the pileus. This ringless, smooth- 

 stemmed form isly. russoceps, and is evidently due to weather 

 conditions. 



The name of this species as originally written on the figures 

 is L. pyrrhaces. The published name, L. pyrrhaes, is pi-obably 

 due to an error of transcription. 



In general appearance this species strongly resembles some 

 of the paintings of Lepiota. citrophylla B. & Br. , but the latter has 

 greenish-yellow gills. Apparently L. citrophylla was a common 

 species in Thwaites' time, since five of his gatherings were 

 given that name ; but I have not been able to find it during 

 the last four years. 



