474 



Rodman's Mushroom (Edibli;) 

 Agaricus Rodmani Fries 



Agaricus Rodiiiaiii is a very interesting mushroom because of its 

 peculiar choice of a place to grow. It occurs only along the streets 

 of cities, usually between the curbing and the walk or outside of the 

 curbing if the street is not paved. I have found it in Urbana in per- 

 fectly bare hard soil just outside of the wagontrack on an unpaved 

 street. More usually, however, it is found in grassy places. It is 

 usually found during May and June though occasionally it occurs also 

 in autumn. 



The cap is at first rounded, then convex, and finally nearly plane. 

 It is very firm and compact, thick, and heavy. The surface is smooth, 

 or sometimes slightly cracked at the center, and white. Occasionally 

 it becomes yellowish at the center. The flesh is white. The cap is 

 5 to lo cm. (2 to 4 inches) broad. 



The gills are close together and narrower than in most species of 

 Agaricus. They are free from the stem but reach clear to it and are 

 rounded at that end. When \'er}' young thev are white, but they soon 

 become pink or reddish pink and when old are blackish brown. The 

 spores are dark purple-brown. 



The stem is short, 2 to 6 cm. (i to 2.5 inches). It is solid, nearly 

 cylindrical, and not at all bulbous. Below the ring it is smooth and 

 white, but above the ring it is often scurfv or covered with mealy 

 scales. 



The ring is very peculiar and characteristic. It is very thick and 

 so completely double that it appears as two distinct rings on the stem. 

 This is probably due to the fact that the very thick veil is at first 

 attached to both the inner and outer surfaces of the edge of the cap 

 and when it is broken loose from the cap it remains as a double ring 

 on the stem. There is no volva. 



The flesh of this mushroom is very firm and meaty, but it is crisp 

 and not at all tough and its flavor is very agreeable. It is highly prized 

 by some people who are familiar with its c|ualities. 



Collected in Champaign county. 



