THE WHITE-SPORED AGARICS 



159 



Figure 121. Pleurotus sapidus. One-third natural size, 

 showing imbricated growth. Spores lilac. 



Pleurotus sapidus. Kalchb. 



The Sapid Pleurotus. 

 Edible. 



Sapidus, savory. This 

 plant grows in clusters 

 whose stems are more or less 

 united at the base as in 

 Figure 121. The caps when 

 densely crowded are often ir- 

 regular. They are smooth 

 and vary much in color, be- 

 ing whitish, ash-gray, brown 

 ish, yellowish-gray. 



The flesh is thick and 

 white. The gills are white 

 or whitish, rather broad, 

 running down on the stem, 

 and slightly connected, at 

 times, by oblique or trans- 

 verse branches. The stem is generally short, solid, several usually springing 

 from a thickened base, white or whitish and either laterally or eccentrically 

 connected with the cap. 



This plant is classed with 

 the white-spored species, 

 yet its spores after a short 

 exposure to the air, really 

 exhibit a pale lilac tint. 

 This can only be seen when 

 the spores are in sufficient 

 quantity and resting on a 

 suitable surface. 



The size of the plant 

 varies, the cap being com- 

 monly from two to five 

 inches long. It grows in 

 woods and open places, on 

 stumps and logs of various 

 kinds. Its edible quality is 

 quite as good as the Oyster 

 mushroom. The only way 

 by which it can be distin- 

 guished from the P. ostrea- 

 tus is by its lilac-tinted 

 spores. It is found from 

 June to November 



Figure 122. Pleurotus sapidus. 



