4G0 



Th?: Crested Lepiota (Edible) 

 Lcpioto cristata A. & S. 



The crested Lepiota is a small plant, but it is common and often 

 occurs very abundantly. It is found in the woods under trees, usually 

 among dead leaves, and is often especially abundant along the borders 

 of woods and in other grassy but somewhat shaded places. It occurs 

 either in clusters or scattered, and may be looked for from May to 

 September. 



The pileus is somewhat fleshy l)ut rather thin, at first bell-shaped 

 or convex, then expanded and nearly plane. The surface is at first 

 entirely dull reddish or reddish brown, but the cuticle soon breaks up 

 into reddish or reddish brown scales, and the background of the sur- 

 face is then white. The scales are often arranged in a concentric man- 

 ner. They are far apart at the margin and progressively more numer- 

 ous toward the center. The center of the cap remains smooth and 

 uniformly reddish l^rown because it does not expand so much at this 

 point and therefore does not crack. This gives the cap a crested ap- 

 pearance. The cap is from 1.5 to 4 cm. (.5 to 1.5 inches) broad. 



The gills are white, and free from the stem but cjuite close to it. 

 They are narrow and crowded close together. The spores are white. 



The stem is whitish, slender, cylindrical, and hollow. It is usually 

 smooth but sometimes has silky fibers on it, and is from 2.5 to 5 cm. 

 ( I to 2 inches) long. The ring is small and white and sometimes 

 breaks up and disappears. There is no volva. The white mycelium 

 is often c(uite conspicuous and may be traced for three inches or more 

 from the base of the stem. 



This plant has a rather strong odor which is somewhat offensive; 

 when cooked it is of good consistency and is sweet and pleasing to the 

 taste. Although it is a verv small mushroom, when it can be found 

 in abundance it is well worth collecting. 



Collected in Champaign and Wabash counties. 



