496 



The; Semigi^obose Stropharia (Edibi^e;) 

 Stro/^/iaria sciiiiglobata Batsch 



This is a common and widel}' distributed mushroom. It grows on 

 dung and on tlie ground on rich lawns, pastures, and other grassy 

 places which have been recently manured, and may be looked for dur- 

 ing wet weather from April to November. The plants are usually 

 scattered, but sometimes grow in clusters, and occasionally two or 

 three may be found joined together at the base. 



The cap is i to 7 cm. (.5 to 3 inches) broad. In the smaller speci- 

 mens the cap is almost perfectly hemispherical; in larger specimens 

 it is more nearly flat. It is smooth but stickv when moist. It is rather 

 thin at the margin but thicker and fleshy at the center, and the color 

 is usually light yellow though occasionally it is nearly white or C[uite 

 dark. 



The gills are very broad and are attached scjuarely against the stem. 

 They become nearly black but are sometimes more or less mottled with 

 lighter and darker spots. The spores are blackish purple. 



The stem is 3 to 12 cm. ( i to 5 inches) long, slender and hollow 

 but firm, cylindrical, straight, sometimes slightly bulbous at the base, 

 smooth, but sometimes stickv. The color is usually yellowish, but 

 like that of the caj) it varies from whitish to cjuite dark, and is often 

 powdered with the dark spores. The ring is somewhat above the 

 middle of the stem and when moist it is sticky or gummy. There is 

 no volva. 



The variation in size of this plant is quite remarkable. If one who 

 does not know the plant were to find only the largest and the smallest 

 specimens shown in the photograph he would scarcely think them be- 

 longing to the same species, but with the whole series before us it is 

 easy to see that thev are really all the same. 



Although this mushroom lias never become very popular for table 

 use, the caps, wlien cooked, are reallv very good. 



Collected in Chami)aign county. 



