January, 1907] 



Mycological Bulletin No. 73 



293 



Fig. 223. Tri-cho-lo'-ma ter'-re-um. See text, opposite page. 



VOLVARIA BOMBYCINA. 

 M. E. Hard. 



This is one of our most interesting plants. Its manner of growth 

 will interest any one. The cut represents the plant when in the egg state. 

 The volva or wrapper, mottled brown color, quite viscid. It soon breaks 

 open at the top as will be seen in the cut. The volva has a silky ap- 

 pearance, but the cap or pileus is at first a pure silky white as will be 

 seen in the figure where the volva has begun to fracture. 



The plant grows quite large about Chillicothe. I frequently find it 

 ten inhces broad. It is entirely white, fleshy, at first round or oblong, 

 then bell-shaped, then convex, everywhere silky but when old it is apt 

 to be Iiairy scaled. The flesh is rather thin and white. 



The gills are not attached to the stem and very close together, broad- 

 er in the center, flesh color as soon as the spores begin to drop. 



The stem three to six inches long, solid, smooth, white, tapering from 

 the base to apex. 



The volva is soon split at the apex, membranaceous, viscid and per- 

 sistent. The spores are elliptical. 



It is usually found solitary, but sometimes a number will be found 

 growing from the same log. I have frequently seen a dozen growing 

 from a hollow beech log where the plants in Figure 224 were found. 

 Il is found growing in hollow trees, on decayed shade trees, or on de- 

 cayed branches in the woods. I have never eaten it but Dr. Curtis gives 

 it as edible in his list of edible mushrooms. It is found from July to 

 October. I found a specimen that measr.red eight inches across the cap 

 Saturday, September 29, 1!)0G. 



