500 



Thi-: W'KKrixc; IlVi H^.i.oMA (Kdiblk) 

 1 1 xj^liolouia lacryuial'Unilitui b'ries 



Hypholouia lacryuiabuiuluui may be lodkcd for in suitable weather 

 from July to October. It grows in wet places along ditches, under 

 bridges, in borders of woods, and in open grassy places. Tlie plants 

 are sometimes scattered, but more often they grow in dense clusters 

 of a few to man\- individual-. It i-^ -aid lo occur sometimes (»n de- 

 cayed wood. 



The cap is 2 to 8 cm. ( i to 3 inche.sj brixid. It is at hrsl C(jn\ex, 

 then expanded, often with a l)road elevation of the central portion, and 

 usually with irregular, radiating wrinkles. The surface is covered 

 witli silky threads or scales, whicli. ho\\e\er. are sometimes washed 

 off bv rains. The color is light or dark )ellowish, darker at the center 

 and becoming darker with age. C^ld s])ecimens are often stained black 

 where spores have fallen u[)on them or ha\e been washed upon them 

 by rains. The flesh is soft and brittle and whitish, Init S(»metimes 

 tinged with yellow or ])ro\vn. 



The gills are attached squarely against the stem and arc usually 

 notched (sinuate). They are at first wliitish or light yellowish, but 

 soon become darker and spotted with black or brown as the spores 

 mature. The (:(\'ji,(:, however, remains wliitish. In the morning or in 

 wet weather minute drop- of moi-iure are formed on the edges of 

 the gills, which accounts for tlu' common name — "The Weeping Hy- 

 pholoma". The spores are bro\\ni-h purple. 



The stem is 3 to 8 cm. (1 to 3 inche- ) kmg. straight or curved, 

 colored like the cap, -omewhat >cal\' a- far a- the attachment of the 

 veil, and smooth al)o\e. The inner \eil i> hairy and rather delicate. 

 It remains clinging to the margin of the cap, for the most part, and 

 disa])pears with age. 



Since this mushroom grows in dense clusters the caps are often 

 made irregular from mutual pressure. The plant seems not to have 

 been found abimdanlly in most regions, but it was very common at 

 Urbana during the season of 191 5. I have been unable to find any 

 definite record of its edibility. I have eaten freely of it, however, and 

 while I do not consider it one of the best of mushrooms, it is per- 

 fectly safe and compares very well with other species of Hyp/ioloina. 



Collected in Champaign county. 



