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The Rooting Coi,lvbia (Ediblk) 

 Collybia radicata Jvehl. 



Collybia radicata is a very common and widely distributed mush- 

 room, and one that is easily recognized. It grows on the ground in 

 woods or groves or sometimes on lawns and other grassy places. It 

 is often found near stumps and sometimes grows upon rotten stumps 

 or logs. It grows singly, but usually when a specimen is found a 

 number of others will be found within a short distance. This mush- 

 room may be found in suitable weather from May to October. 



The cap is 3 to 10 cm. ( i to 4 inches) broad, fleshy but rather 

 thin, at first convex, then flat or with the margin upturned in old 

 plants, and sometimes with an elevation (umbo) at the center. The 

 surface is smooth but often wrinkled, especially toward the center, and 

 when moist it is sticky (viscid). The color varies from nearly white 

 in some of the smaller specimens to gray or brown in larger ones. The 

 flesh is pure white, rather thin, and tough-elastic. 



The gills are snow-white, broad, unequal in length, rather far apart, 

 and attached to the stem at the upper angle. The spores are pure 

 white and very abundant. A very perfect spore-print can often be 

 made from this mushroom in a few minutes. 



The stem is 10 to 20 cm. (4 to 8 inches) long, colored like the 

 cap, or sometimes paler and usually white at the upper end. It tapers 

 gradually upward, and at the lower end it is somewhat enlarged and 

 then tapers ofif into a long, slender, root-like structure in the ground. 

 It is this character that gives the plant its specific name. The stem is 

 firm, often twisted, and smooth but often striate or grooved. 



This is a very attractive and clean-looking species. The caps, when 

 fried, are sweet and pleasing to the taste. 



Collected in Champaign, Jackson, and Union counties. 



