178 KEPOET OF THE STATE BOTANIST 



the stumps of cut branches of standing elms. By its large size 

 and white color it easily attracts attention. Its cap is broadly 

 convex or nearly flat, quite smooth and usually white or whitish. 

 Sometimes it is centrally tinged with a rusty or dull yellowish 

 hue, and occasionally adorned with roundish spots as shown in 

 figure 2. I have never seen the American plant as highly 

 colored as some of the figures of the European plant. Some- 

 times the epidermis will be found cracked in small areas giving 

 to the cap a scaly or tessellated appearance, and occasionally it 

 cracks longitudinally. The flesh is firm and while. 



The gills are quite broad and not very closely placed side by 

 side. They are notched at the inner extremity as in species of 

 Tricholoma. They are white, or when old, tinged with yellow. 



The stem is firm and solid and united to the cap a little to one 

 side of the center. It is generally more or less curved. This is 

 especially the case when it grows from the side of the trunk of 

 the tree. It is commonly smooth, but sometimes a little downy 

 or hairy at the base. In color it is white or whitish. 



Cap three to live inches broad, stem two to four inches long, 

 one-half to three-fourths of an inch thick. 



It appears from September to November. It is not uncommon 

 to see this mushroom late in autumn growing on the elms that 

 have been planted as shade trees along the streets of our cities 

 and in our public parks. It grows especially on those that have 

 been severely trimmed or had their tops cut away. Its time of 

 appearance is so late in the season that it is not often infested by 

 insects. It therefore persists a long time and will keep two or 

 three days without harm. Its flesh is not as tender as that of 

 many of the mushrooms that grow on the ground, but it has an 

 agreeable flavor and is quite harmless. Most tree-inhabiting 

 mushrooms grow more slowly and are, therefore, more tough 

 and more slow to decay than those growing on the ground. 

 They are also less easily collected since they often grow high up 

 on standing trees. In consequence of their persistent character 

 they are easily dried and preserved for winter use. 



The Elm pleurotus sometimes grows on other than elm trees, 

 as the maple and j)oplar. Occasionally when growing from the 

 cut surface of an upright stump, or from the upper side of a 

 branch, its stem is straight and attached centrally to the cap. 

 Such a form has received the name Variety verticalis. A form 



