532 



The Nest-cap Ceaudopus (Edibee) 

 Claudopus uidulans Pers. 



Claiidopiis uidulans is a very pretty plant which grows on dead 

 branches, tree trunks, stumps, and logs during autumn. It is widely 

 distributed and sometimes one finds a log almost completely covered 

 with the beautiful yellow caps. The plant is closely related to the 

 genus Plcurotus, which it closely resembles but from which it differs 

 in the color of the spores. It is usually sessile, that is, there is no 

 stem and the cap is attached to the w^ood by one side like a shelf, 

 though sometimes it is narrowed into a very short stem. The plants 

 often grow very close together and so overlap one another. 



The caps are 2 to 8 cm. ( i to 3 inches) broad, nearly round or 

 somewhat kidney-shaped, and in young specimens the margin is rolled 

 inward. The surface is c^uite hairy or downy, especially tow?ard the 

 margin, and is rich yellow in color. 



The gills are broad, quite close together, and bright orange-yellow 

 in color, so that the lower surface of a group of caps may be even 

 more beautiful than the upper surface. The spores are pink. 



The odor of this plant is rather strong and somewhat disagreeable, 

 closely resembling the freshly removed intestines of swine. The flavor 

 is mild and pleasant but the flesh is generally somewhat tough so that 

 it must be well cooked. 



Collected in Champaign county. 



