242 



MUSHROOMS, EDIBLE AND OTHERWISE 



I 'olvaria pusilla. Pers. 



The pileus is explan- 

 ate, white, fibrillose, dry, 

 striate, center slightly 

 depressed when mature. 



The gills are white, be- 

 coming flesh-color, from 

 the color of the spores, 

 free, distant. 



The stem is white, 

 smooth, volva split to the 

 base into four nearly 

 equal segments. The 

 spores are broadly ellip- 

 tical, 5-6 mc. 



This is the smallest 

 species of the Volvaria. 

 It grows on the ground among the weeds and is apt to escape the attention of the 

 collector unless he knows its habitat. It is quite likely that V. parvula is the 

 same plant as this. Also V. temperata, although it has a different habitat, seems 

 to be very near this species. The plants in Figure 195 were collected in Michigan 

 and photographed by Dr. Fischer. The volva is brown-tipped as shown in the 

 figure given. 



Figure 195. Volvaria pusilla. 



Volvaria volvacea. Bull. 



The Stove Volvaria. 



It is called "The Stove Volvaria" because it has been found in old unused 

 stoves. Pileus fleshy, soft, bell-shaped, then expanded, obtuse, virgate, with 

 adpressed black fibrils. The gills are free, flesh-colored, and inclined to deliquesce. 

 The stem is solid, subequal, white. The volva loose, whitish. The spores are 

 smooth, elliptical. 



This is a much smaller plant than the V. bombycina and grows in the ground. 

 It is often found in hot-houses and cellars. 



