126 ILLINOIS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE 



middle of June to the end of August, and I have been able to 

 demonstrate repeatedly its attachment to the mycorrhizal 

 roots (Fig. 2). 



The second mushroom to which especial interest attaches is 

 Hypholoma lacrymabundum Fr. (Fig. 3). This mushroom 

 is reported in nearly all mushroom books as not common and 

 its edibility unknown. It is reported from the Chicago re- 

 gion by Moffatt, but the frequency of its occurrence there is 

 not noted. 



The plant is not difficult to recognize. The cap is light yel- 

 lowish, but becomes darker with age and may become stained 

 with black, especially when the spores are washed on to it by 

 rains. The surface is more or less covered with silky threads 

 and usually has irregularly radiating wrinkles. The gills are 

 attached to the stem and in the mature specimens are spotted 

 with black and brown due to the irregular maturing of the 

 spores. The appearance of the gills reminds one of some of 

 the dark colored Pholiotas such as P. squarrosa. H. lacry- 

 mabundum gets its specific name, meaning weeping or filled 

 with tears, from the fact that in the morning or in damp 

 weather the gills usually have minute drops of water along 

 their edges. The spores are black but with a purple tinge, 

 and the stem is the same color as the cap and usually more or 

 less loose scaly except at the top. 



The plant is by no means uncommon in this locality. It 

 was found first under a bridge within the city of Urbana, but 

 was later found in great abundance north of the city. It 

 grows either singly or in clusters, as many as fifteen having 

 been found in a single cluster. 



I ate freely of this mushroom during the past summer, and, 

 while I do not consider it among the best of edible species, 

 it is not dangerous and it compares favorably with other spe- 

 cies of Hypholoma. It may be looked for from August to 

 October. 



The third mushroom to which I wish to call attention is 

 Stropharia epimyces (Peck) Atk. (Figs. 4 and 5.) This is 

 the most interesting of all because it is parasitic on another 



