256 



MUSHROOMS, EDIBLE AND OTHERWISE 



Claudopus. Smith. 



Claudopus is from two Greek words : claudos, lame ; pus, foot. 



The pileus is eccentric or lateral like the Pleuroti. The species were formerly 

 placed in the Pleuroti and Crepidoti, which they very closely resemble, save in the 

 color of the spores. This genus formerly included those plants which have lilac 

 spores, but Prof. Fries limited it to those which have pink spores. The spores in 

 some species are even and in others, rough and angular. The stem is either 

 wanting or very short, hence its name. All are found on decayed wood. 



Claudopus nidulans. Pers. 



Nidulans is from nidus, a 

 nest. 



The pileus is sessile, some- 

 times narrowed behind into a 

 short stem-like base, caps of- 

 ten overlapping one another, 

 kidney-shaped, quite downy, 

 the margin involute, hairy to- 

 ward the margin, a rich yellow 

 or buff color. 



The gills are broad, moder- 

 ately close, orange-yellow. 



The spores are even, 

 3-5x1/*, elongated, somewhat 

 curved, delicate pink in mass. It is quite common in the woods about Chillicothe. 

 A maple log from which I secured the specimen photographed in Figure 208 was 

 completely covered and presented a beautiful sight. It has a rather strong and 

 disagreeable odor. It is edible, but generally tough, and must be chopped very fine 

 and cooked well. It is found in woods, on logs and stumps, from August to 

 November. 



Figure 208. Claudopus nidulans. One-half natural size. 

 Cap yellow or buff. Gills orange-yellow. 



Claudopus variabilis. Pers. 



Variabilis, variable or changeable. The pileus is white, thin, resupinate that 

 is the plant seems to be on its back, the gills being turned upward toward the light, 

 quite downy, even, being fastened in the center to a short downy stem. 



The gills are at first white, then of the color of the spores. 



It is found on decaying limbs and branches in the woods. It is quite common 

 everywhere. 



