496 



The Semigi^obose; Stropharia (Edibee) 

 SfroMuiria sciiiiglohafa Batsch 



This is a common and widely distributed mushroom. It grows on 

 dung and on the ground on rich lawns, pastures, and other grassy- 

 places which have been recently manured, and may be looked for dur- 

 ing wet weather from April to November. The plants are usually 

 scattered, but sometimes grow in clusters, and occasionally two or 

 three may be found joined together at the base. 



The cap is i to 7 cm. (.5 to 3 inches) broad. In the smaller speci- 

 mens the cap is almost perfectly hemispherical; in larger specimens 

 it is more nearly flat. It is smooth but sticky when moist. It is rather 

 thin at the margin I)ut thicker and fleshy at the center, and the color 

 is usually light vellow though occasionally it is nearly wdiite or ciuite 

 dark. 



The gills are very Ijroad and are attached squarely against the stem. 

 They become nearly black but are sometimes more or less mottled with 

 lighter and darker spots. The spores are blackish purple. 



The stem is 3 to 12 cm. (i to 5 inches) long, slender and hollow- 

 but firm, cylindrical, straight, sometimes slightly l)ull)ous at the base, 

 smooth, but sometimes stickv. The color is usually yellow-ish, but 

 like that of the cap it varies from whitish to quite dark, and is often 

 powdered with the dark spores. The ring is somewhat above the 

 middle of the stem and when moist it is sticky or gummy. There is 

 no volva. 



The variation in size of this plant is quite remarkable. If one who 

 does not know the plant were to find only the largest and the smallest 

 specimens shown in the photograph he would scarcel}- think them be- 

 longing to the same species, but with the whole series before us it is 

 easy to see that thev are really all the same. 



Although this mushroom has never become very popular for table 

 use, the caps, when cooked, are really very good. 



Collected in Champaign county. 



