526 



Thk Slender Gai^era. Edibi^e 

 Galcra tciicra Schaeff. 



This little plant is common on lawns and pastures during wet 

 weather from ^lay to November. It usually grows scattered rather 

 than clustered, and springs up C|uickly, so that one sometimes goes 

 out in the morning and finds the lawn speckled with the delicate little 

 plants. 



The cap is bell-shaped and i to 2.5 cm. (.5 to i inch) high. When 

 moist the cup is pale rust-color or brown, Ijut as it dries off in the sun 

 it becomes lighter colored. It is commonly smooth but occasionally 

 one finds specimens that are covered with very fine, short, silky hairs. 

 When the cap is damp it is usually slightly striate, the striation lines 

 disappearing as the cap dries. 



The gills are attached scjuarely against the stem in the top of the 

 I)ell-shaped cap. They are close together, rather broad, and cinnamon- 

 brown in color but with the edges usually whitish. The edges of the 

 gills are sometimes more or less toothed or notched. The spores are 

 dark rust-color. 



The stem is usually 7 to 10 cm. (3 to 4 inches) long, straight, 

 slender and fragile, hollow, and nearly the same color as the cap. It 

 is usually somewhat shining and more or less striate toward the top. 

 There is no ring and no volva. 



This is rather a small plant to collect for the table, but sometimes 

 its abundance makes up for its small size. The caps are tender and 

 of good flavor. Cooked along with other mushrooms, it is a pleasing 

 addition. 



Collected in Champaign county. 



