322 MUSHROOMS, EDIBLE AND OTHERWISE 



Cystidia not very numerous on side of gills, varying from clavate to sub- 

 ventricose and sublanceolate, the free end more or less irregular when narrow, 

 rarely branching below the apex, and usually with a prominent broad apiculus or 

 with two or several short processes. Similar cells on edge of gills, but somewhat 

 smaller and more regular. 



Stem 'even at the base, tapering to a short root, transversely floccose, scaly 

 both above and below the ring. The ring membranaceous, not prominent but 

 still evident, about 2 cm. from the apex. Atkinson. 



The specimens in Figure 261 are very old plants. While the plant was in 

 season I did not photograph it, but when Prof. Atkinson named it I hastened to 

 find some good specimens but only two had survived sufficiently to photograph. 

 They were found October 15, 1906, on Mr. Miller's farm in Poke Hollow near 

 Chillicothe. 



Stropharia ster cor aria. Fr. 

 The Dung Stropharia. Edible. 



Stercoraria is from stercus, dung. The pileus is slightly fleshy at the center 

 but thin at the margin ; hemispherical, then expanded, even, smooth, discoid, 

 slightly striate on the margin. 



The gills are firmly attached to the stem, slightly crowded, broad, white, 

 umber, then olive-black. 



The stem is three inches or more long, stuffed with a fibrous pith, equal, ring 

 close to cap, flocculose below the ring, viscid when moist, yellowish. 



This species is distinguished from the S. semiglobata by the distinct pithy 

 substance with which the stem is stuffed, also by the fact that the cap is never 

 fully expanded. It is found on dung and manure piles, in richly manured fields, 

 and sometimes in woods. 



Stropharia ccruginosa. Curt. 

 Tin: Green Stropharia. 



^ruginosa is from aerugo, verdigris. The pileus is fleshy, plano-convex, sub- 

 umbonate, clothed with a green evanescent slime, becoming paler as the slime 

 disappears. 



The gills are firmly attached to the stem, soft, brown, tinged with purple, 

 slightly ventricose, not crowded. 



The stem is hollow, equal, fibrillose or squamose below the ring, tinged 

 with blue. 



