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The Deceiving Ceitocvbe (Not Edibee) 

 Clitocyhc ilhidcns Schw. 



This very beautiful mushroom grows about the bases of stumps 

 and dead trees, or from underground roots, from July to October. It 

 usually grows in clusters of from ten to fifty individuals and some- 

 times is very abundant. The deep, bright yellow color of the entire 

 plant makes the clusters conspicuous from a considerable distance. 



The cap is 7 to 20 cm. (3 to 8 inches) broad, convex or nearly 

 plane, or sometimes somewhat funnel-shaped, but usuallv with a small 

 elevation at the center. It is smooth and often quite irregular in shape. 

 The color is Ijright yellow or orange-vellow. In old plants the color 

 is sometimes brownish. The flesh is thick at the center, but thin to- 

 ward the margin. It is whitish or yellow and has a strong odor and 

 a disagreeable taste. 



The gills are yellow, not crowded, narrowed toward each end, and 

 unec|ually decurrent, that is, some of them extend down the stem for 

 consideral)le distance and others not so far. Some of them are 

 branched. The si)ores are white. 



The stem is 7 to 20 cm. (3 to 8 inches) long, and tapers toward 

 the base. It is firm, solid, smooth, and colored like the cap, or some- 

 times brownish toward the base. There is no ring and no volva. 



It is too bad that this attractive plant is not edible, since it is often 

 so abundant that one could easilv collect several bushels. While it is 

 not deadly poisonous, most people are made ill l)y eating it, and it 

 should, therefore, be avoided. 



An interesting thing about this mushroom is that it is phosphor- 

 escent, that is, when fresh specimens are placed in a dark room they 

 emit a glowing light. For this reason the plant is sometimes called 

 "Jj^ck-o-lantern". 



Collected in Champaign countv. 



