126 MINOR PRODUCTS OF PHILIPPINE FORESTS 



Other species of Marasmius found, but which are too small 

 to be edible, are Marasmius erumpens Mass., Marasmius pa- 

 touillardi Sacc. et Syd., and Marasmius siccus Schw. 



Genus CORTINARIUS 



The spores are rusty-ochre, resembling in color peroxide ot 

 iron. A veil is universal, like a cobweb, distinct from the 

 cuticle of the pileus, of a different texture to the pileus, and 

 consisting of arachnoid threads. A similar veil is found in 

 Agai'icus, but it is there either partial, or continuous with the 

 cuticle of the pileus. The stem is superficial and confluent 

 with the hymenophore. The gills are adnate, membranaceous, 

 persistent, cinnamon-colored and powdery. The trama is 

 floccose. 



Various species of Cortinarius found in the Philippines 

 are edible. 



Genus VOLVARIA 



Fleshy, gills free, at first white, and later pink; spores el- 

 lipsoid, smooth and pink. Annulus none; volva present. It is 

 easily distinguished from all other pink spored genera by the 

 volva. The chief characteristics are that the bottom of the 

 stipe of the mature fungus is borne in a cup or volva and that 

 no ring or annulus is present. 



VOLVARIA ESCULENTA Bres. 



Volvaria esculenta is the most important and common edible 

 species of the Agaricaceae found in the Philippines. It grows 

 well on the decaying stems of abaka and banana, on rice straw, 

 and other waste organic matter. The mature fungus is easily 

 recognized by having pale, pinkish gills and a distinct volva or 

 cup at the bottom of the stipe. No annulus or ring is present 

 on the stem (Figs. 14 and 15). A complete description of the 

 species is as follows. 



Pileus fleshy, nearly plane or slightly raised into an umbo, becoming 

 broadly convex when old, slightly fragile, buckthorn brown, bearing fine, 

 hair-like scales, flesh white, turning brown when dried; lamellae thin, free, 

 white, becoming brown after six hours exposure to light; stipe tapering 

 or slightly narrowed towards the top, white, becoming pale brown when old, 

 solid and fleshy; volva mummy brown. No part of the volva remains on 

 the top of the pileus in the form of scales; annulus absent; spore print 

 pale brown; spores ovate, almost white, size 10 x 5 microns. 



Pileus 5-12 cm. broad; stipe 5-13 cm. long; 0.5-1.5 cm. thick; average 

 weight of each mushroom 25 gm. 



Volvaria esculenta is highly prized by all the Filipinos and is 

 collected during the proper season of growth. It is also culti- 

 vated in the abaka and the rice regions of the Islands on the de- 



