AGAEICINI. 45 



Sub-Gen. 6. Plexjrotus. Fr. Epicr. p. 129. 



Veil evanescent, or none ; pileus fleshy in the larger 

 species, with a smooth or ragged margin from the re- 

 mains of the veil; substance either compact, spongy, 

 slightly fleshy, or membranaceous ; stem mostly late- 

 ral or wanting, when present confluent and homo- 

 geneous with the hynienophore ; gills with a sinus 

 or broadly decurrent tooth. 



Hab. Most of the species grow on wood, a few only 

 Fig 37. on the ground. — (PL II., fig. 6, and fig. 37.) 



The species afe large, handsome, and polymorphic, but some are small and 

 resupinate ; they generally appear late in the year, and return, year after 

 year, to the same habitat more frequently than terrestrial fungi ; all are 

 harmless, and some edible. All the species become putrid when old, and 

 never coriaceous or woody. — W. G- S. 



Sect. 1. Lepiotaria. — pileus scaly. 



109. Agaricus (Pleurotus) coxticatus. Fr. " Large scaly 



Pleurotus." 



Pileus compact, excentric, villous, at length floccoso-squamu- 

 lose ; stem firm, fibrillose, veil membranaceous, torn ; gills decur- 

 rent, sub-distant, anastomosing behind. — Hym. Suec. j-j. 236. B. 

 ^ Br. Ann. N.H. 1865, no. 995. Saund ^ Sm. t. 4. 



On an old prostrate elm. Oct. Belvoir Castle. 



Pileus excentric, 7 inches across, expanded, swollen in the centre ; disc, 

 especially in the centre, broken up into brownish grey silky scales, which are 

 more minute towards the thin, strongly involute margin; veil woven, ad- 

 hering slightly to the stem and margin ; stem 3 in. high, 1^ in. thick, pit- 

 ted and silky below the evanescent ring, firm and tough, mottled ; gills rather 

 broad, pure white, very decurrent, anastomosing behind, sometimes forked ; 

 edge entire. Smell rather strong ; a large and noble species, perhaps too 

 closely allied to A. dryimis. — B. d; Br. Spores "OOOo X "0002 in. 



110. Agaricus (Pleurotus) dryinus. P. " Spotted Pleurotus." 



Pileus compact, hard, oblique, variegated with dark spot-like 

 scales; veil fugaceous, torn, white, ajDpendiculate ; stem lateral, 

 stout; gills decurrent, narrow, nearly simple. — Fr. Ejncr.p.l2d. 

 Nees.fiin. Buss. ii.t. 29-33. Vent. t.U J. 1-2. Sclucff.t.233. 

 Eng. Fl. Y.p. 70. Gard. Cliron. (1860)^^. 832. 



On trunks of ash, willow, &c. Oct. [U. States.] 



