REPORT OF THE STATE BOTANIST IQI4 63 
The coming “fairy ring” mushroom is practically the only 
species of Marasmius that is used for food. It has a wide dis- 
tribution and is highly esteemed by the mycophagist. It has been 
shown that it is partially parasitic upon grass, often slowly killing 
it out in small areas. 
12 Marasmius spongiosus Berk. & Curt. 
Jour. Bot. & Kew Misc. 172. 1849. 
Pileus fleshy, broadly convex, obtuse or plane, 1-3 cm broad; 
surface whitish fuscous, whitish brown, or tan, the center darker; 
lamellae slightly adnate, subcrowded, moderately broad, whitish; 
spores 7-9 by 3-4 p; stipe 5-10 cm long, 2-4 mm thick, fur- 
furaceous-pulverulent to villous, the base thickened, more or less 
spongy, tawny to dark brown or almost black, often rooting, the 
rooting portion being 3-5 cm long. 
Among leaves and other vegetable debris in woods. Rather 
common. 
There is much variation in size in this species where it is found 
in different localities. It is possible that two or more species 
are confused under this name. Since there are all gradations from 
large to small plants, size alone can scarcely be taken as a basis 
for distinguishing separate species. The smooth pileus, tawny to 
dark brown, villous stipe, which is often spongy or rooting at the 
base, and the light-colored lamellae characterize our plant. M. 
semisquarrosus Berk. & Cooke does not seem to be distinct. 
M. spongiosus may possibly be known in Europe as M. 
Sameuropws (Pers.) fr--lious at least very. close to M. 
Sayearopis “(Pers.) Br fle. Hymen., pl. 174, fig. 2, and 
Cooke, Brit. Fungi pl. 1123, B(1077.B).] 
13 Marasmius dichrous Berk. & Curt. 
Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. II, 12:426. 
Bul. Buffalo Soc. Nat. Sci., 1:58. 1873 (As Marasmius caespit- 
osus Peck). 
Jour. Cinc. Soc. Nat. Hist., 6:192. 1883 (As Marasmiu's fagineus 
Morgan). 
Pileus subfleshy, convex, at length plane or depressed, 2-4 cm 
broad, gregarious or cespitose; surface not polished, dry, nearly 
smooth to rugose-striate, reddish or purplish pallid to alutaceous, 
becoming brown in dried plants; lamellae adnate, often becoming 
nearly free, close, narrow in front, often crisped, pale reddish; 
